Code S

Incheon International Airport. The Immigration Office.

"Team Leader, a Code S watch list flag just went off for Gong In-bae. He's entering Korea," reported Choi Eun-chae, an immigration officer, as she stared at the name flashing on her monitor.

"Really? Which agencies requested the notification?"

"The NIS and the police."

"Did you send the alert?"

"It's sent automatically."

"Then that's that. Don't worry about it."

"But, Team Leader..."

"What is it?"

"Wasn't Gong In-bae someone we were about to remove from the Code S list because all suspicious circumstances had been cleared?"

"We were, weren't we?"

"Then why are the NIS and the police still keeping tabs on him?"

"Eun-chae, have those bastards at the NIS or the police ever given us a reason when they make these requests?"

"No, sir."

"That's just how they operate. They think we're their personal errand boys. They just tell us to let them know when he arrives. How are we supposed to handle things if we don't even know the details? But whenever we ask, they just say it's 'classified.' I swear, everything is classified to them. So don't lose sleep over it. Just send them the notification like they asked."

"Understood. Should we remove him from our own Code S watchlist then?"

"Leave him on. If the NIS and the police are watching him this closely, we should at least keep track of his movements too."

"Understood."

At the Jeollanam-do Provincial Police Agency's Violent Crime Investigation Team 3...

"Team Leader, they say Gong In-bae is entering Korea."

"Through Incheon?"

"Yes. He arrives at 8:00 PM tonight."

"What? That's less than five hours from now. He must have bought a ticket at the airport and boarded immediately. Gyeong-uk, with me. We're heading straight to Incheon."

Inside the car heading to Incheon.

"But Team Leader, isn't Gong In-bae just an ordinary civilian? He has no criminal record, his military service record is clean, and his employment is solid. He seems perfectly clean."

"Gyeong-uk. Have you ever seen a criminal walking around with 'I am a criminal' written on his forehead? You've caught enough bad guys to know this. It's always the guy you least suspect who turns out to be the culprit."

"That's true, but Gong In-bae has absolutely no criminal history. I'm just curious why you're so fixated on him, sir."

Moon Gang-su paused for a moment, then spoke in a hushed tone, as if sharing a piece of highly classified intelligence known only to him.

"A rumor spread recently that there's a real shadow boss behind the Daehun-pa."

"Ah! I heard that rumor too, but isn't it just a rumor?"

"You know Geun-su from the Daehun-pa, right?"

"You mean Jeong Geun-su, the second-in-command?"

"Yeah. That guy is an old-school romantic. Once he accepts someone as his boss, he'd follow them to the depths of hell. If he doesn't, he wouldn't bow even if his skull was cracked open. Word is, there are only two people in this world that Geun-su has ever called 'boss.' Seo Dae-hun and Gong In-bae. Just those two."

"Isn't that a bit too flimsy to base a suspicion on?"

"There are other suspicious things. Some say he funded them, some say he helped bring down the Geumho-pa, and others say he personally took part in the violence."

"But those are all just allegations, aren't they?"

"That's why we're going to find the evidence now. To dig up whatever proof might be out there. So stop complaining and just drive."

"Yes, sir."

"By the way, didn't you say Gong In-bae runs a travel agency in the Philippines?"

"Yes, that's what our background check showed."

"Could he be supplying drugs from over there?"

"His travel records are too sparse for that kind of suspicion."

"Hey, who smuggles drugs on their own person these days? They use cargo or international mail."

"But doesn't almost all of that get caught by customs? Besides, the biggest drug manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia isn't the Philippines—it's the Golden Triangle."

"Who doesn't know that? I'm just saying he's suspicious, so let's keep an eye on him. If we watch him and there's nothing, we drop it. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If we find a problem, we bust him. Simple as that."

"Yes, sir. Understood."

A funeral hall at a university hospital in Seoul.

Having come straight from the airport, I paid my respects to CEO Jang Yun-mi.

"Please accept my deepest condolences."

"Thank you. How did you make it all the way here? It's so far."

I had expected her to be utterly consumed by grief, but CEO Jang Yun-mi's expression wasn't too dark. I heard her parent had been ill for a very long time. As the saying goes, there are no filial pious children at the end of a long illness; prolonged caregiving is more than enough to exhaust anyone.

"Of course I had to come. You scolded me before for not letting you know about things."

"Going from Seoul to Mokpo is different from flying all the way to Korea from the Philippines."

"It's a quick flight."

"I just felt bad. Thank you for coming. Please, have some food, and let's talk in a bit."

"Sure."

After paying my respects, I noticed Dae-hoon sitting in a corner. As I walked over, the Daehun-pa members sitting behind him stood up and greeted me first, bowing politely at a perfect ninety-degree angle.

"It has been a long time, Boss."

"What do you mean, 'Boss'? I told you guys to just call me mister. Have you been well?"

"We've been doing great thanks to you, Boss. Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me? You should thank Dae-hoon. Go on, sit down and eat comfortably."

Only then did I lock eyes with Dae-hoon.

"You're here?"

"Yeah."

We exchanged only those brief words, drank a few glasses of soju over bowls of spicy beef soup, and stepped outside. There were simply too many eyes and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ears around to have a proper conversation. In particular, two unfamiliar men had been staring intently at our table, which made me cautious. We finished our meal quietly and left.

"Want to grab another drink?"

"Sounds good. It's about time I had a drink in Seoul."

Seoul, visited after so long, was vastly different from my memories. Though it was the city where I was born and raised, it felt increasingly distant. The rapidly changing cityscape felt unfamiliar, yet I still liked Seoul.

The place Dae-hoon took me to was an establishment in Gangnam—what people commonly referred to as a Ten-Pro room salon.

"They say this place has the most beautiful girls in the country. I got a recommendation."

The luxurious interior caught my eye the moment we stepped inside. Even though it was underground, the high ceilings kept it from feeling cramped. A glittering chandelier hung overhead. I should bring Manager Kang Jae-ho here next time. It'll make for great interior design reference.

"Welcome. I don't think I've seen you before. Is this your first time at our establishment?" A beautiful female manager greeted us as soon as Dae-hoon walked in.

"President Kim of Hyeonjin Distribution recommended this place. Said all the prettiest girls in Korea are gathered here."

"Oh my, you're guests of President Kim! He's one of our top VIPs. I'll have to take extra special care of you then. Do you mind if I call you President?"

"Do whatever you like."

Since when did Dae-hoon become a 'President'? Yet Dae-hoon replied naturally, as if the title didn't bother him at all. Ten-Pro salons really were something. They could turn even a gangster into a respectable president.

"Then we shall serve you with the utmost care."

"I'm just having a drink with my friend, so you don't have to go overboard. Just keep the alcohol flowing."

"Oh, but President Kim would scold me if I did that! I must do my absolute best."

"Do as you please. Just don't interrupt us too much. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠We haven't seen each other in a while, and we have a lot to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠catch up on."

"Yes, of course. You must be in a wonderful mood, President. You haven't stopped smiling."

"Of course I'm happy. It's hard to catch a glimpse of this guy's face. He plays hard to get."

"Is that so? Then I'll make sure to give you an unforgettable night. Oh, where are my manners? I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Dan-a, the manager of Onyx. You can look forward to tonight."

"Really?"

"We have some new girls who just started, and they are breathtakingly beautiful and cute. I'll send them in. They're our establishment's aces."

"Aces?"

"Of course. Since you came through President Kim, we have to treat you to the absolute best."

"Alright. Send them in."

"I'll prepare only the finest of our aces."

Manager Dan-a guided us to the most exclusive VIP room located deep inside the establishment. Even in the midst of this, I found myself checking for emergency exits. Habits are terrifying things. Scanning the layout and locating the exits whenever I entered a new place had become a deeply ingrained reflex. Leading us to the largest room at the very back, the manager gave us a flirtatious smile.

"I'll have the drinks brought in while the girls get ready. Please enjoy a light beer in the meantime."

As soon as she stepped out, food and alcohol were brought in without us even ordering. The massive table was quickly laden with an array of dishes and bottles.

"Shall we start with a drink?"

Dae-hoon picked up a bottle, and I held up my glass. We clinked our glasses and drained them in one go. Even though it was the same brand of beer, it tasted different from what I drank in the Philippines. Was it the water? The atmosphere? Or was it because I was drinking with Dae-hoon?

A moment later, the door opened, and the women called "aces" walked in. Six or seven girls wearing tight, short dresses entered, trailing a heavy scent of perfume. The manager hadn't been exaggerating; every single one of them was stunning. They looked even more beautiful than the celebrities on television. With faces and figures like theirs, they could easily have been models or actresses.

Manager Dan-a asked with a smile,

"You can choose whichever girls you like, President."

"Alex, you choose first. I'll let you have first pick."

"I don't mind. They're all fine."

"Is that so? You greedy bastard. You want them all. Hey, girls! My friend here wants all of you tonight. Everyone, take a seat."

You crazy bastard, that's not what I meant. I meant I didn't care who sat next to me, not that I wanted to keep all of them for myself.

"Wow, really, Oppa?"

"You're so cool, Oppa."

"But Oppa, you're so handsome!"

"Are you a model, Oppa? You're so tall, and your physique is amazing."

"Whoa, look at his forearms. Look at those veins popping. I absolutely love forearms like this."

The aces chimed in one by one as they sat down, subtly touching my forearms and hands. Do they always touch people so freely?

"Alright, let's start with a drink."

Dae-hoon took the lead and began pouring the drinks. Pouring, drinking, pouring, drinking. The alcohol flowed rapidly, the music started playing, and some of them began to dance. Honestly, it was fun. Back in the Philippines, I rarely had the chance to just drink and let loose like this, but being in Korea made me feel strangely at ease. Was it some kind of home advantage, despite the unfamiliarity? At the very least, it was a country safe from gun violence, which allowed me to let my guard down. I joined in on the fun, downing the drinks poured for me and shouting out songs at the top of my lungs, even though I was a terrible singer. Screaming like that felt incredibly liberating. It was refreshing. The aces seemed to be having a blast too, swaying and dancing with abandon. After partying for who knows how long, I sat back on the sofa, exhausted, only to be handed another drink. Ah, so this is why people come to Ten-Pro salons, I thought. Embarrassingly enough, this was my first time at one. They truly were top-tier professionals. Even if I just glanced at something or merely thought about it, the girl next to me would anticipate it. If I looked like I wanted a drink, she poured it. If I took a sip, she fed me a snack. If I looked like I wanted to sing, she was already waiting with the remote control. But as we kept partying hard, my physical limits began to catch up with me. We had played a bit too hard. Eventually, everyone ended up slumped across the sofas.

"Man, a jjakdaegi would hit the spot right about now."

One of the aces muttered under her breath. We must have become too comfortable with each other in a short amount of time, seeing how she failed to distinguish between what she should say in front of customers and what she should only say among themselves. Honestly, I could understand it to some extent. Most of the patrons who frequented these places were older men. You needed serious money to come here, after all; the drinks were incredibly expensive. If they weren't old geezers, the main clientele consisted of a handful of young, crazy rich kids. There were almost no young, normal customers. On top of that, there were six or seven of their colleagues and only two customers. Drinking, singing, and dancing with people of a similar age must have blurred the lines for them, making them forget whether they were working or just hanging out. With the alcohol flowing and dopamine spiking, combined with physical exhaustion, it wasn't surprising that she might crave a hit. I understood. It happens. Though I had also seen plenty of people die from doing exactly that.

Sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, the girl quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Don't misunderstand, Oppas! I just meant a vitamin shot we take when we're tired. Yeah, that's right, vitamins. That's what I meant."

"Yeah, exactly. Vitamin injections are great. You guys should try it sometime. It completely revitalizes you."

"They say it's really good for your body."

The aces began making up terrible excuses, but my expression had already turned cold, and Dae-hoon noticed. Even so, Dae-hoon didn't yell or scold them.

"How about we take a short break? We need to rest a bit and have a private chat. We'll call you back in a bit. Go get some rest."

"Okay, Oppa. We'll be waiting."

"Me too."

The aces left the room. Dae-hoon and I were left alone in the massive VIP suite. I asked casually,

"Are drugs common here too?"

"Extremely common. It's skyrocketed. Seoul probably has the worst of it."

"What about your guys?"

"We don't touch drugs. The moment you get involved with that stuff, you hit rock bottom. But it's not easy."

"Why?"

"Because junkies who've tasted the stuff elsewhere keep looking for it. If we tell them we don't have any, they just go to other establishments to play. That's the hard part. We're losing customers right before our eyes."

"Really? So it's hard to run a business without drugs?"

"Having drugs definitely helps business, but I don't want to make money by selling that poison to people. It doesn't just end with a good night out."

"That's true."

"Maybe because they know that, but the Chinese syndicates have been flooding the market with massive quantities lately."

"From China? I thought drugs were strictly banned in China."

"Exactly. I heard they execute anyone caught with drugs over there. So they can't distribute it in China, but they still want to run a drug business. And what do you know, our country is right next door. A drug blue ocean. The prices are high here, too. That's why an insane amount is pouring into Incheon and Pyeongtaek right now. Most of the drugs distributed in the metropolitan area are probably Chinese."

"What about the gangs in the metropolitan area? Don't they control it like you guys do?"

"If they unified the territory under one syndicate like we did, control would be somewhat easier. But there are too many gangs in the metropolitan area, so it's a free-for-all. No one calls you out for selling drugs, and as long as you don't get caught by the cops, you make a fortune overnight. That's why they're trying to pull in even larger shipments now."

"So the Chinese are flooding the country with drugs."

"Yeah. Because drugs are pure profit."

This was unexpected. I had thought Korea was a drug-free zone, but apparently not. It seemed there were far more ordinary people looking for drugs than I had realized. The nightlife industry had reached a point where it could barely function without them. It wasn't even the gangs pushing the drugs; the customers were demanding them first. That was how deeply and widely drugs had penetrated society.

Personally, I didn't care much whether people did drugs or not. I believed that taking drugs was a matter of personal choice and individual freedom. If someone wanted to ruin their own life, why should I care? If they wanted to do it, let them. Yet, it was also true that I felt a certain aversion to drugs. It never just ended with the individual. It spread like wildfire, and it was often used maliciously, like date rape drugs. If possible, I wanted to stop it, but the scale of the problem was too massive for me to handle alone. Still, those Chinese bastards are really getting on my nerves. The ones who tried to steal the GoGo Casino source code were Chinese, and now the ones flooding the country with drugs are Chinese too. I don't like them.

Outside the Onyx room salon in Gangnam, Seoul.

Two detectives from the Jeollanam-do Provincial Police Agency's Violent Crime Investigation Team 3 were staking out in their car. They were tailing today's target, Gong In-bae, to monitor his movements and see who he was meeting.

For starters, they had confirmed his meeting with Seo Dae-hoon, the boss of the Daehun-pa. They had also witnessed the gang members bowing to him at a ninety-degree angle. They had listened intently to catch their conversation. Yet, the only words exchanged after sitting down to eat were, "You're here?" and "Yeah." They had simply eaten their beef soup and left. In fact, it had taken them less than five minutes to finish and walk out.

After driving four hours to Incheon International Airport to verify his identity, tailing him all the way to the funeral home, they had only managed to observe him for a mere five minutes. And those five minutes were just watching him eat soup. Right after that, he had disappeared straight into a Ten-Pro salon. Once he was inside, there was no way to know what he was doing. Their only option was to wait out here. To watch and wait until he came out.

But is it normal to party in a Ten-Pro salon for this long? It felt like it had been over four hours since they went in. What on earth are they doing in there that's taking so long? The night was long. Eating cup ramen to stave off hunger, they kept their eyes glued to the entrance of Onyx.

A nearby gamjatang (pork bone soup) restaurant.

Dae-hoon and I were having another round of soju over a steaming pot of pork bone soup. When we paid the bill at Onyx, we had asked for a good gamjatang place nearby, and the staff told us there was one right outside the back door, so we had headed straight there.

Pork bone soup was one of the dishes I missed most in the Philippines. The savory richness of the wild sesame powder delighted my palate. This place is really good. And so, as the night deepened, Dae-hoon and I continued to clink our glasses of soju.