Queen (3)
Actor was startled by Raymond's declaration that he wanted to meet Jang Cheon.
"Are you saying you'll reveal your identity and meet Jang Cheon?"
"That's right."
Actor knew Raymond was no ordinary man, but he hadn't expected such boldness.
In other words, it meant he'd come down on a special mission from above.
"He's still staying at the HT Group Residence since the invitation, so contact is possible... but it's too dangerous."
"Then get in touch with him."
"I know you're a Murim expert, team leader. If I may be so bold, you're not on Jang Cheon's level—not enough to kill him."
"You're right. I'm not."
Raymond showed no displeasure or wounded pride.
"Don't take this the wrong way. I'm saying it for your sake, Inspector."
"Go ahead."
"You could end up dying a dog's death if you meet him half-heartedly."
Actor pulled out all the stops, even using provocative words like "dog's death" to dissuade him. It might have been a test thrown out to gauge his reaction.
But it didn't seem like mere bait. Raymond insisted on meeting Jang Cheon to the end.
"I'll handle it."
"The Bulldog investigator vanished while probing Jang Cheon. If you end up the same, what am I supposed to do?"
"Don't worry about that."
It was another response implying a separate mission.
Is he here to kill Jang Cheon?
Actor wondered if that might be the case.
Pretending ignorance, Actor asked, "Why do you want to meet him so badly?"
"I can't tell you."
Raymond shot him a "that's enough" look. Actor let out a light sigh and backed off.
"Understood. I'll contact Jang Cheon."
"Queen will be thrilled, right? She won't show it, but she'll love it."
"You know the boss gets it. Queen doesn't express herself well. Please understand."
"Ah, why am I so excited? It's like heading out to meet a beauty."
"We haven't met yet."
"No way you're talking about Queen?"
"Correct."
"You at least sent a telepathic greeting?"
"Not yet."
"My god! A guy? No, even a passerby would say hi."
"Take it slow. First, deal with the inspector who's come to Actor."
"Forget the inspector—just wipe him out and go on a date with Queen!"
It was said in jest, but half-serious.
"You two are impossible. Where's Queen now?"
"Sightseeing downtown."
"At least you know where she is."
"Enough about Queen. What about Actor?"
As Jang Cheon turned serious, Bishop matched his tone.
"Actor and the inspector are at the small theater. Someone who looks like the inspector's entourage has been coming and going. No bugs inside, so we don't know the situation there."
They'd left only external surveillance active, avoiding internal monitoring to protect Actor if the inspector caught on.
Regarding the inspection, Actor had to fend for himself.
Just then, the landline in the lodging rang.
"Call coming in. Talk later."
"Yes, boss."
He hung up on Bishop and answered the room phone.
"Jang Cheon?"
Actor's voice. Contacting via the residence front desk landline meant he was under surveillance.
"Yes, this is he. Who's calling?"
Jang Cheon answered as if speaking to a stranger.
"I'm from the side you just killed off."
Jang Cheon's tone turned icy instantly.
"And?"
"I'd like to meet."
"No business with your kind."
Jang Cheon hung up—a Hollywood-style act to sever any apparent link with Actor.
Sure enough, Actor called back.
"Don't hang up. Hear me out."
"Speak."
"My superior has something urgent to tell you."
Jang Cheon paused as if pondering, then issued a cold warning.
"Pull any tricks, you all die."
"No worries."
"Time?"
"Whenever suits you."
"Call back in one hour. I'll give the meet spot."
"Perfect."
Raymond had been listening in on the call.
After hearing it all, he drafted a report on the investigator's disappearance. It was straightforward.
Actor cleared of suspicion in Bulldog disappearance. Jang Cheon's involvement confirmed.
He uploaded it, then spoke to his subordinate.
"Drake Team?"
"On standby."
"Heard the rumors about Jang Cheon?"
"Yes."
"Tell them to get their heads straight if they want to go home alive."
Raymond's eyes sharpened like a gambler on the eve of battle.
Queen and Ben stood atop an observation tower overlooking the city.
They'd toured landmarks, dined at a cozy spot, shopped at a department store, and strolled through a park.
"Korea has changed so much."
"You've been before?"
"Yes, long ago."
Ben's eyes grew distant with resurfaced memories.
"I met the woman I loved here back then."
"Really? What happened?"
Ben smiled.
"I was twenty-three. Not the age for love to bloom."
"Ben."
She looked pitying.
"Haha, ancient history."
Ben had lived his life as a bachelor. Queen always felt sorry for him, and hearing this old love story stirred it anew.
Queen rarely showed emotion. Many mistook her stoic face for anger.
Ben hated that misunderstanding. He'd known her since birth.
Raised in a strict clan, she hadn't laughed much as a child.
Then her parents died in an accident, plunging her into deep grief.
Instead of comfort, the adults around her fought over the clan leadership. In that chaos, she lost her smile entirely.
Even when she grew up and reclaimed the clan, she didn't smile. The wounds ran too deep.
Ben was the only one who'd always protected her.
He'd tried to bring back her laughter, but it was no easy task.
Recently, she'd started smiling a bit—after meeting Jang Cheon. That's why Ben liked him.
"Uncle."
"Yes, miss."
"Stay healthy."
Queen turned to Ben.
"You know I'm still clumsy. Protect me until I get better."
"Miss."
"Yes."
"Don't worry too much. Everyone stumbles through life awkwardly."
Queen gazed at Ben.
"They just get better at hiding it with age—one year, two years at a time."
Queen smiled faintly.
"I want to age quickly. Like you, Ben."
Ben gave a warm smile. He'd protect and care for her until his dying breath. He'd shield her from any threat.
Only time slipped through his grasp.
I wish I could be young like you, miss.
Knowing he couldn't, this trip to Korea mattered deeply. The door to someone who could protect her in his stead remained shut.
And Ben knew.
Queen hadn't fully opened her heart either.
Two people with hearts sealed shut.
He could only hope that, before he died, these two wounded souls would fling their doors wide for each other.
On the outskirts far from downtown, in a vast empty lot like a wasteland, Jang Cheon stood alone.
Abandoned buildings dotted the area—no one lived here. Construction had halted midway, leaving concrete skeletons with exposed steel beams everywhere.
A single car pulled up to where Jang Cheon waited.
Raymond was driving himself.
He stepped out and approached Jang Cheon. His steady gait revealed him as a considerable expert.
"First time meeting. I'm Raymond, head of Inspection Team 3."
"No need for titles. I don't even know your organization—or its name."
"Fair point."
"Why'd you want to see me?"
Jang Cheon was more polite than on the call, making the man feel respected.
Whether it led to carelessness or goodwill, it'd help somehow.
"I have a proposal."
"What?"
Words Jang Cheon never expected came from Raymond's mouth.
"We want to hire you."
Jang Cheon was taken aback. He'd half-guessed it from the meeting request, but not that they'd actually try to recruit him.
"I killed your organization members. Just recently, the one sniffing around me too."
Mentioning he'd killed Bulldog cleared Actor from suspicion. Meaning, at least today, he had no intent to kill this special inspector.
"I know. I'm the special inspector sent to probe that. The investigation's done. Reported upstairs already."
The report mention was loaded. Finishing his duties before coming meant he'd staked his life here.
"Whose idea to hire me? Yours?"
"Hardly. I'm just a cog in a huge machine—dispensable screw at best. Orders from above."
"Above, huh. Wonder where that came from."
Raymond dodged a direct answer.
"I know the Murim Alliance Leader hired you. Can't we do the same?"
Jang Cheon guessed their game. Hire him, then order the leader's hit.
Or lull him into security, then strike.
Either way, it was opportunity. A golden chance to burrow deep inside. No need to fight endlessly regenerating limbs.
Cut off the head in one stroke.
"How can I trust you?"
"True. Trust doesn't come instantly. That's why we work together first. Prove it on the job."
"I'm expensive."
"We're loaded. What's your price?"
"Depends on the job."
"Regardless of the job—how much to hire you outright?"
Jang Cheon didn't answer right away. The figure he named would shape what followed.
"Money alone won't hire me."
"What do you mean?"
"I need to know whose job it is—and what the job is."
Raymond's face darkened slightly. "Who" and "what" were hard to reveal. His weapon was "how much."
Jang Cheon said, "If you won't say what, at least tell me who ordered it."
The toughest "who" of all slipped from Jang Cheon's lips.
"I need to see your organization's head."