Jang Cheon's Ransom (2)
Raymond returned to the small theater and dialed his superior from the cramped office behind the stage.
"...The Drake team has been wiped out. No, Jang Cheon isn't injured. No. It didn't even take a full minute.
Yes, confirmed. As I mentioned earlier, he's demanding we raise his bounty tenfold. We can think of it as punitive compensation for trying to kill him.
No, I tried to stop them any way I could, but the Drake team acted on their own."
It wasn't an entirely accurate report. The Drake team had indeed acted independently, but he hadn't stepped in to halt them.
"To hear Jang Cheon's price, we'll need someone high-ranking enough that he'd acknowledge it. Yes.
If we want to eliminate him, it'll take a team far stronger than Drake's. Yes. I'll await your contact."
Raymond ended the call and wiped his sweat with a handkerchief. Cold sweat had poured from him. Since pledging himself to the organization, today was the first time he'd been so shocked and tense.
Now he just had to wait for further orders. Whatever decision came would be relayed from above.
A knock echoed then.
"It's Actor."
"Come in."
Actor entered the office.
"How did it go?"
Raymond slumped into a chair, his expression betraying that he'd barely escaped with his life.
"Glad you made it back safe."
Raymond readily admitted the truth.
"Jang Cheon is far more skilled than we imagined."
"Does that mean you've confirmed his abilities? Were you trying to take him out?"
"The organization wants to recruit him."
Actor was genuinely startled—this wasn't acting.
"They're trying to recruit Jang Cheon?"
"Yes. The order was to attempt recruitment first, then eliminate if refused. We failed at both."
"You failed, yet you survived how?"
"He wants to join our organization—for a very high price. He's using me for that."
"Ah!"
Actor realized things were unfolding exactly as Jang Cheon wanted. Of course, he couldn't show agreement.
"He's too dangerous to bring to our side."
"Far more dangerous than I described. But that's precisely why recruiting him would be the greatest achievement."
Raymond had explained the full situation to Actor for a specific reason.
"Actor. Will you help me?"
"Help how?"
"Work with me from here on."
In other words, become his direct subordinate.
Actor feigned contemplation. He had to tread carefully with Raymond until the very end.
Actor asked cautiously.
"Why me?"
"You know Korea better than anyone."
At the honest reply, Actor spoke frankly.
"I'll be honest too, since you think so highly of me. Recent events have cut my line."
He meant his mid-level superior. Raymond wouldn't take on a new subordinate without checking his background—likely already done.
Actor was leveraging his now-meaningless tie to that mid-level boss as justification to accept.
"They probably cut it so you'd grab a stronger line."
As Actor opened up, Raymond smiled.
"Let's do well together."
Actor gripped Raymond's extended hand firmly.
Asia's head, Sing, took the call tensely.
"...Understood. I'll handle it personally."
Sing ended the call politely.
But his true feelings followed.
Bang!
His phone flew and shattered against a rock by the hot spring.
"Damn it! Son of a bitch!"
Ominous premonitions never missed their mark.
The order—delivered dead-center like a bullseye through the shattered security camera lens—was to head to Korea and deal with Jang Cheon.
Then someone approached.
It was the kimono woman who attended Sing, now dressed in a suit with a travel suitcase in tow.
"How'd you know?"
"News from the palace always reaches the eunuchs and maids first."
"You seem thrilled. This a game to you?"
"Yelling at me won't change it. You have to go anyway."
"Damn it!"
His gut feeling had been off since that cursed American ABSS report. Just hearing Jang Cheon's name soured his mood, and now he was headed to Korea.
"Since you're going, might as well enjoy it. Let's see what this hotshot Jang Cheon's all about."
Jang Cheon sat on the HT Group Residence rooftop, drinking.
No word from Actor, but it didn't faze him.
Inspector Raymond was sharp—that reassured him.
No variables possible. Most arose from unforeseen people or situations.
This was predictable. Smart versus smart: the smarter survived. Jang Cheon rated Actor's intellect and survival instincts highly.
Then someone stepped onto the roof.
Queen approached lightly and stood beside him. Her familiar perfume wafted—long missed.
They gazed at the nightscape in silence. Jang Cheon spoke first.
"Congrats on the win."
"Thanks."
Queen eyed him.
"Did you watch?"
"Just the finals."
In truth, he'd reviewed every match he missed due to work, but didn't brag.
"How was it?"
Undeniable anticipation lit her face.
"You did well."
"Skills improved some?"
Jang Cheon just smiled. Queen sighed.
"Guess not. I trained hard this time."
"This plateau's unavoidable."
He'd hit the same wall at her level.
"You breezed through."
"I got lucky."
"Must be superior talent."
"Not effort?"
At his teasing, she replied.
"Yeah. Probably not."
She'd earned the right to say it—her effort was immense.
She'd never surpass him, but aimed to match closely.
Her goal: never be seen as someone to protect, no matter the moment.
That single drive fueled her. She'd realized people could devote everything to one simple thing.
"Oh, met that woman."
"Who?"
"Lee Yeon. Pretty, right?"
Queen subtly gauged his reaction.
"Yeah. Good person."
"Not pretty?"
He turned to her.
"She is."
"More than me?"
A stranger might think her serious.
But Jang Cheon read the subtle playfulness in her eyes—Ben might catch some too.
This expression was for him alone. He played along.
"Hmm."
"Hmm?"
He gave an ambiguous smile, gazing at the view. Lee Yeon held her own anywhere.
But in beauty, few could rival Queen.
That didn't make Lee Yeon lesser.
Sacrificing for family—some might call it foolish drudgery—but Jang Cheon saw true value.
She protected hers. He hadn't.
Lee Yeon cheered him. Queen made his heart race.
That answered her, but he held back.
Such words would deepen their bond, leading to an end he knew.
He could love Queen, but building a home? No. Just love... would betray her.
"They think we fought."
"Seems so."
"We didn't."
A flicker of regret crossed her face—only he caught it.
He trusted himself with cold decisions.
But with her? Less so.
Hence occasional retreats inviting misunderstanding. They bungled even basic distance, let alone push-pull.
"Everyone's curious about you."
"Really?"
He looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
"They'd notice whoever took my spot. They like you that much."
Real Championship caliber meant mastering her mind better than most. Yet with him, emotions surged.
Both proved no one's perfect.
"I think it's because it's you."
"You really believe that?"
"Still don't see it."
Her incredulity prompted his phone.
"Fine, I'll prove it."
He called Phone, switching to speaker.
-Boss.
-Phone, Queen's here. On speaker.
Clattering chaos erupted—Phone fumbling or the crew eavesdropping rowdily.
-Say hi.
-No, can't. Switch it off!
-It's speaker.
-Absolutely not. Sorry, hanging up.
-Phone.
-Tell Queen hi for me.
Phone hung after his piece—panic clear.
"Still think it's me they like?"
Queen laughed—a rare sight, making her stunning.
"Not just Phone."
As he dialed again, she grabbed his hand.
"It's fine. Calling for this is rude to them."
"Believe me now?"
No answer, but her face softened.
She shifted topics smoothly.
"Things going well in Korea?"
"Tough opponent."
He briefed her briefly.
"The one's behind it isn't ordinary. International network, massive funds likely.
One of their top brass is coming to Korea soon."
"Need help, just say."
"That's why I called you."
More pleasing than "missed you." You need me.
"Beer?"
"Sure."
He cracked a can for her.
They toasted with cans.
The nightscape gleamed, beer chilled, Jang Cheon beside her.
Far better than her Real Championship triumph.