Year-End Party (1)
Security Chief Hong Tae-sik watched Jeong Yeong-gi's car pull away on his computer screen. His visit had, of course, been reported straight to Hong Tae-sik, the head of security.
The intelligence director himself came in person?
Jang Cheon was no ordinary man, that much was clear.
He clicked his mouse.
Jang Cheon's profile appeared on screen. But all he could access was the first page of basic info—name, age, that sort of thing.
The buttons for pages 2 through 7 were grayed out. Locked. And where a normal person's file might run to two pages at most, maybe three, this Jang Cheon had a whopping seven.
Just who the hell is this guy?
Hong Tae-sik called in the martial artists on security duty and asked if anyone knew anything about Jang Cheon. No one did.
But he couldn't go poking around blindly just to figure out who Jang Cheon was. If word got out about the assassination plot, all hell would break loose.
Then his speakerphone crackled, and his secretary's voice came through.
"Team Leader Kwon Hyeok-su and Agent Lee Yeon have arrived."
"Send them in."
The door opened, and Kwon Hyeok-su and Lee Yeon stepped inside.
Lee Yeon was tense as a wire. To the security agents, Hong Tae-sik was scarier than the chairman himself. They usually only called in Team Leader Kwon, but today they'd summoned her too.
"Kwon, you know the VIP Jang Cheon? Grant whatever he asks for."
"Up to what limit, sir?"
"Anything related to this year's year-end party."
"Even if he asks for VIP-related files?"
"Yes. Even those."
"Understood."
Kwon Hyeok-su didn't pry. He didn't need to; he could guess. There was a security issue tied to the year-end party. But Kwon never made the mistake of pressing his boss on things left unsaid.
Hong Tae-sik's gaze shifted to Lee Yeon.
"You're in charge of Jang Cheon?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Anything unusual when you brought him in?"
"Unusual how, sir?"
"Anything worth noting. Phone calls with anyone."
"Nothing like that."
"You'll be his dedicated handler. Report his every move to me until the party's over."
"Understood."
"You're dismissed."
Kwon Hyeok-su and Lee Yeon left the office.
In the lobby, Lee Yeon asked, still on edge.
"Something happen?"
"Told you. Play dumb. Smart way to survive corporate life."
"Yep. Play dumb. Cowardly survival tactics."
"Don't dive into the storm. Might not look cool, but you won't die."
"Won't die, but won't find any treasure islands either."
"No treasure islands in this world. Just deserted isles without a scrap of food. Lee Yeon, let's stick around a while."
"We have to. My little brother's starting college next year."
"Your brother? That snot-nosed kid? Already?"
Lee Yeon sighed.
"Anyway, forget Cinderella. Looks like I'm playing spy."
She'd had a hunch that the man the chairman met that night—when Kwon had been away—was Jang Cheon.
Just then, the lobby elevator doors opened in the distance, and Jang Cheon stepped out.
Kwon Hyeok-su said, half-serious, half-joking.
"Look at that. Shows up like a tiger right on cue."
"I'm off to get bit by one."
"Keep your head on, and you'll live."
"Right! If I can't be Cinderella, I'll be the zookeeper."
Far off, Jang Cheon seemed to catch their banter and let out a faint chuckle.
Lee Yeon grinned wide and headed his way.
"Hello."
Jang Cheon greeted her politely in return. He was the type who only said what needed saying, which made casual chit-chat tricky. Easier if he were like Park Gwang-cheol, yapping nonstop.
"The chief gave me special orders. Anything you need, just say the word."
"I need full backgrounds on everyone attending the party, security staff included—even the invited VIPs."
"Got it. I'll prepare them."
As she turned to go, Jang Cheon asked.
"Mind if I ask something personal?"
"What?"
"Have you taken the BST?"
The unexpected question startled her.
"How'd you know?"
"You looked at my sword before you looked at me today."
"Oh, did I?"
"Why the sword first?"
"No special reason. My eyes just drifted there."
"The first day we met, you looked at my sword before me too."
"Oh. Sorry if that bothered you. Nice sword, by the way. I failed the BST twice. Black mark on my history. Guess I'm still hung up on it, staring at swords without thinking. Really sorry."
Becoming a Murim person was her dream.
But she hadn't told a soul at work. This was her first time admitting it to anyone outside family.
Caught off-guard by him calling her out on eyeing the sword first. She couldn't remember if she had, but it was possible. The regret lingered.
She recalled the day she failed the BST.
Her second try—taken just for experience—was even worse than the first.
She'd trained harder, but the results tanked.
She'd felt fine leaving home, but by the test site, her energy had vanished.
Yeah, luck's part of skill.
Still, all that BST prep had gotten her this big-corp security gig.
Then Jang Cheon said abruptly.
"What about three times?"
"Pardon?"
"They say three times for anything important."
She'd never considered retaking it, so she didn't know what to say.
Someone called from behind.
"Oh, who do we have here?"
Park Gwang-cheol and Hwa-ran were heading their way.
Seeing Jang Cheon and Lee Yeon together again soured Park Gwang-cheol's face for a split second. Then he flashed his cheeky grin.
"Our thrifty VIP."
Jang Cheon looked puzzled, so Park Gwang-cheol laughed.
"Haha, caught you yesterday by chance. Modest ride for a VIP."
"I see."
"Park Gwang-cheol."
"Jang Cheon."
They shook hands.
"Fate brought us together. Grab a bite?"
"Later. Got plans now."
Jang Cheon said his goodbyes and left.
Staring at his back, Park Gwang-cheol muttered.
"Stand? One busy dude."
Then he eyed Lee Yeon.
"My future star's right here, humble as can be. Dinner together?"
"Sorry, guess I got star vibes too. Busy. Catch you later."
Lee Yeon smiled and headed the opposite way.
Park Gwang-cheol glanced between them, then said to Hwa-ran.
"Their lives are so busy—why am I the pissed one?"
"Greed."
"Greed?"
"You want that girl. She'd taste better with that guy as a side dish. But his sword scares you off the table."
"Nailed it. Makes me madder."
"Let's eat. I'm hungry."
"Keep pigging out like that, and 'has-been' sticks."
Hwa-ran stopped dead and glared. Park Gwang-cheol snapped more.
"What? Hit me or something?"
"Some words you say, some you don't. You got the temper monopoly?"
"Embarrassing me here?"
"Asshole."
"What? You wanna—"
Park Gwang-cheol raised his hand, but Hwa-ran didn't flinch.
"Even toys have manuals. People don't? I told you—thugs don't know basics. You're not a thug, right?"
"Damn bitch, judging me."
Park Gwang-cheol couldn't bring himself to hit her. He lowered his arm and stalked to the car.
Hwa-ran watched his back, a tangle of emotions in her eyes. Then she trotted after, linking arms like nothing happened.
"Hubby, I'm hungry. Buy me something yummy!"
"Crazy bitch, piss off."
But he didn't shove her away and got in the car together.
Lee Yeon and Kwon Hyeok-su watched from behind a lobby pillar as they drove off.
"Total psychos."
Kwon Hyeok-su asked at Lee Yeon's words.
"Still wanna slot them in your 'adventure' category?"
Lee Yeon couldn't say yes.
"Misc for now."
That evening, Lee Yeon visited Jang Cheon's room.
"Hope I'm not interrupting."
"No, just resting."
Her eyes went straight to the sword by the bed.
Really hung up on failing the BST?
"Everything okay with the room?"
"Fine."
"Here's the attendee list you wanted."
She handed over a USB drive.
"No printing. Return it when done. Leak it outside, and HQ legal comes after you."
Finishing the formalities, she sighed lightly.
"Doubt this'll even help."
She was skeptical about the list's usefulness.
"Hundreds of guests plus security staff, and the party's in two days?"
"Yeah, I couldn't investigate them all. But they will get investigated."
"Meaning?"
"Not me—experts in this will handle it. A team equipped to crack it in two days."
"Ah! But you can't leak it outside."
"People I trust. Don't worry. Any leak fallout's on me."
She hesitated, unsure how to take it.
"If it bothers you, report up the chain. That's what legal's for. I'll coordinate with my own team."
"Okay."
She'd talk to Kwon first.
He has his own legal team? And he's Murim?
As she turned, Jang Cheon asked.
"Do you know what's going on?"
"No."
"But you don't ask?"
"Team leader said play dumb on risky stuff. Hate to admit it, but I'm taking his advice."
"Wise team leader."
Of course, just checking the VIP list screamed security breach.
"One question, if you don't mind?"
"Sure."
"Why'd you tell me to take the BST earlier?"
His answer caught her off guard.
"Sword suits you."
She hadn't expected that. From Park Gwang-cheol, it'd be a line. From Jang Cheon, it felt sincere.
"Never worn one."
"Scared of swords?"
"No."
"Take the BST again. Miss the timing, regret festers."
"Yeah. I'll think about it."
"Overstepped? Sorry."
"No, not at all. I'm grateful."
"Thanks for the list."
"Rest well."
She said goodbye and left.
One word echoed as she walked the hall.
BST.
But she shook her head, shoving it down. To her now, the BST was an impossible dream—a luxury.