Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Eyes That Show Only What You Want to See (2)
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Haedong Hotel's Emerald Hall was packed with politicians, business leaders, and high-ranking officials.
Photographers from Haedong Ilbo were busy flashing their cameras, while reporters from various media outlets chatted among themselves.
Dong-jin felt the piercing glares from Dongguk Ilbo's young president and the Central District Prosecutor but kept scanning the room diligently.
"You're Reporter Park Dong-jin, right? I'm Park Young-ho."
A man strode up to Dong-jin, who was sitting alone and awkwardly looking around, and extended his hand for a shake.
"Ah! You sent the invitation?"
Dong-jin shook his hand reflexively, and Young-ho smiled in response.
"Yes, I really wanted to meet you, but with the current situation, it was hard to do it openly due to prying eyes, so I slipped you an invitation. Today, they've invited reporters from all the major papers, so it might draw some stares, but no real suspicion."
Dong-jin thought of the aggressive looks from the Dongguk Ilbo president and the prosecutor and finally smiled.
"I understand. The Dongguk Ilbo's President Choi is your brother-in-law, right? So, what brings you to me?"
"It's about my friend. Let's talk privately in a side room shortly. Does that work for you?"
Dong-jin couldn't refuse the polite demeanor.
At that moment, a young man's voice rang out toward President Park, who was greeting the guests.
"President Park! Long time no see. Haha, happy birthday!"
He looked to be in his mid-twenties.
Shouting toward President Park—who was old enough to be his grandfather—he dragged a large bag into the hall.
Dong-jin glanced around at this odd behavior, quickly checking people's reactions.
The Dongguk Ilbo president, clearly recognizing the young man, bowed deeply in greeting.
A few people around President Park also bowed politely to him.
But everyone else just stared at the rude young man with puzzled looks.
'Who is that guy?'
Dong-jin discreetly snapped a photo of him with his phone.
Young-ho, standing beside him, glanced back subtly and whispered,
"That's dangerous."
Unlike Young-ho's attitude, Haedong Ilbo's President Park warmly welcomed the young man.
"Teacher! Please come in. I'm deeply grateful you remembered my birthday."
President Park welcomed him without a care for the surrounding stares.
Young-ho, standing next to Dong-jin, went pale and just stared at the bag the young man had dragged in.
This man was the one from the video Young-ho and his friend Yoo-bin had secretly filmed ten years ago, capturing a murder scene.
Unlike Young-ho, he looked exactly the same as he had a decade ago.
"Director Park Young-ho, why haven't you greeted me? Not happy to see me? Haha."
The young man spoke to Young-ho with an expression that could be either joke or sincerity.
Young-ho's face flushed as he bowed deeply in respect.
"It's an honor to see you, Teacher Paeng."
The young man's rare surname, Paeng, stuck firmly in Dong-jin's mind.
It seemed Young-ho had mentioned it on purpose.
* * *
Lucifer and Jijang, who had helped Byung-su on Jirisan Mountain, arrived late at the mountain lodge only to face Na-rae prying into their identities. Feeling uncomfortable, they parted ways hastily and walked all the way back to Seoul.
"What the hell happened to you guys?"
The motel owner, who anyone could tell was an ex-thug at first glance, poked his head out from the counter and shouted.
But despite his looks, he rushed out and greeted Lucifer and Jijang politely.
"The weather's been nice lately, so we hiked to Jirisan and back, and our clothes got dusty. Don't mind it."
Jijang, grateful for the warm welcome, smiled broadly.
"You walked there and back? My goodness! I was worried since you hadn't called or shown up in ages. You must have had a tough time."
"We wanted to hitch a ride like normal folks, but we don't have the experience... Anyway, owner, what's wrong with your complexion?"
Lucifer brushed the dust off his clothes casually and asked the motel owner.
The owner, with his buzzed head and muscular build straining his shirt, had teary eyes.
"I was waiting to discuss something with you two when you came back. Perfect timing."
Since last winter, Lucifer and Jijang had stayed at the motel and befriended the owner while chasing a vengeful ghost that had killed itself there.
Moreover, Lucifer had him sell gold weapons he crafted, taking a hefty commission, so they were treated like royalty.
"Come on, let's hear it."
Lucifer listened attentively, and the owner dragged them behind the counter to vent.
"My cousin ran a small business into the ground, and seeing me run this motel in Jongno, he opened one in Gangnam about ten years ago."
"Gangnam! Heh, I've been there once and know it well—lots of people around, perfect for booming business. Good for him."
Lucifer acted knowledgeable, and Jijang nodded in admiration.
"Oh, you've already been there. You get it. Gangnam."
"Of course! So, what's the problem with that motel? Tell us."
"As you both know, Gangnam motels do great business. Day-use rooms are always packed. But weird stuff started happening after it opened ten years ago."
"Weird stuff... Must have been worrying you."
"I didn't know because he never told me. The worries piled up recently, and a few days ago, he finally collapsed. Now his kid's taking over and came to me—that's how I found out."
"Heh, must have been stressful with your cousin collapsing."
"It's not that. I invested five hundred million when it opened, but now the kid says he can't run it anymore and wants to sell cheap. But..."
"Selling at a loss must be worrying."
"Not even that. Rumors say it's haunted, so if we sell now, my five hundred million investment goes poof."
"Haunted...?"
"Yes. And there's a bank loan too. Nothing to salvage. Gotta take care of the kid, but no one's buying."
The motel owner teared up as he complained.
The soft-hearted Jijang wiped the owner's face with his dusty sleeve to comfort him.
"Looks like stray ghosts snuck in instead of guests. Heh, that's why motels always make me uneasy. Open doors day and night—ghosts or demons can just wander in. Should lock 'em tight."
"Motels go bankrupt if you lock the doors."
"Really? Then put scary-looking Four Heavenly Kings statues at the entrance like temple guardians. Anyway, we get your troubles. We'll rest today and check it out in a few days. Don't worry too much."
At Jijang's ready agreement despite the exaggeration, the owner's face lit up with a grin.
"You'll need travel money for Gangnam. Take this, sell it, and keep your cut. Thanks."
Lucifer pulled a golden dagger from his bosom and handed it over.
The owner's eyes widened, pointing at the gem on the hilt.
"This is...?"
"A ruby. Not enough? We're heading up to rest. Come if you need more."
As Lucifer stood after handing it over, Jijang followed and murmured,
"Your weapon-making skills are really useful here."
Feeling generous at the praise, Lucifer replied,
"It's nothing—just a little trick. Let's wash up and get some green onion pancakes—you love those."
* * *
The intercom buzzed in Lucifer's room after his shower.
"Teacher, may I come up?"
"Sure. Bring Jijang on your way."
After hanging up, the motel owner entered with Jijang—and a worried-looking man behind him.
"This is my nephew, Yoo-bin. Yoo-bin, greet the teachers."
The man beside the owner bowed deeply.
"I'm Yoo-bin. I've come seeking your help."
Realizing this was the nephew, Lucifer and Jijang nodded in acknowledgment.
"Long journey—well done."
Their suite was the motel's largest, but with the owner's and Lucifer's builds, the sofa was too small, so they all sat on the floor.
"Tell us. What's going on at your motel?"
Yoo-bin was impressed by their fluent Korean and began.
"Ten years ago, my senior year of college, my father took over the motel. My uncle invested, we got a bank loan, renovated, and opened. I helped out the first few months."
"A fine young man."
At Jijang's praise, Yoo-bin blushed and bowed his head.
"No issues back then, and being in Gangnam, business was good. But around April a few months after opening, weird things started. I was abroad for training then."
Yoo-bin omitted the hidden camera he and Young-ho had set up, sharing only helpful details.
"Weird things... What kind?"
Jijang stroked his bald head with his skinny hand.
His scarred, rugged face was softened by kind eyes, calming Yoo-bin.
* * *
There's this room 204.
On Fridays or the night before holidays, it's usually fully booked...
But guests in 204 would freak out and bolt from the room often.
Once, my father grabbed a guest who fled at dawn and asked,
"What happened?"
The female guest, crying, said...
She'd fallen asleep early, but the room was freezing, so she tossed and turned, then opened her eyes to see a naked woman on the sofa beside the bed, staring at her.
The guest was so shocked she couldn't even meet her eyes, just trembled...
The eerie woman looked at the male guest sleeping on the bed and said, "I'll go wash up first," then got up and went into the bathroom.
That's when the female guest woke her boyfriend.
The guy, skeptical, went to the bathroom and flung open the door.
The light was on bright, but no one was there...
Standing at the bathroom door, he said, "See? No one's here!" and headed back to bed...
But the female guest was speechless, tears streaming, trembling on the bed.
And beside her, the naked woman looked up at the male guest and said,
"You gonna kill your girl too?"
After that, more guests reported seeing the naked woman in 204.
Father stopped taking bookings for it altogether.
But one day, the intercom rang from room 205.