Bohemia Church (1)
I decided to tell Lee Jung-woo what I had to say before revealing the pendant's location.
"Jung-woo."
"No?"
"Have you ever heard of the Bohemia Church?"
Of course she had. It was the name of the channel that first hit 50 million subscribers on S-Tube, one of the three major broadcasting platforms and the world's largest video upload site.
"That cult?"
"Well... not wrong."
There's a saying that as long as humans exist, religion won't disappear. But in this cyberpunk future, traditional faiths based on Christ like mainstream Christianity or Catholicism, or Hinduism-derived ones like Buddhism and Won Buddhism, had long faded into obscurity. Still, people craved something to believe in. That's how the Bohemia Church was born—a so-called cult with 72.8 million channel subscribers as its flock, devoted to its leader, the S-Tuber and high priestess Iris Adler.
"No, why bring up that cult outta nowhere?"
"The pendant you're looking for? Iris Adler has it right now."
"What'd you say? That thorn bitch has my old man's pendant?!"
"It's because of her hobby. She's a collector."
"What the hell does that thorn bitch being a collector have to do with her having my old man's pendant?!"
"You can ask at the pawnshop where Lee Ho-cheol left it, but I suspect the owner sold it at auction. Iris Adler just bid on it like any other item."
I called it a suspicion, but it was definitely auctioned off. Lee Ho-cheol had pawned his pendant at an old shop in Dongdaemun run by a former subordinate. But the moment that guy heard Lee Ho-cheol was dead, he dumped it at auction.
"That's how it is? Tell me the pawnshop location later. So that cult thorn bitch really has it?"
"Yes."
"Of all people, her... What a pain. Total pain."
"Don't worry about that. I've got a way."
"A way? What is it?"
I explained my plan to Lee Jung-woo.
"So you're saying we use her live show's handshake meet-and-greet afterparty as our shot?"
"Yeah. Once we make contact, we'll figure something out."
In a month, Iris Adler's fifth-anniversary live debut concert was set for the Meta Arena in Dobong-gu, Meta Seoul. Why would the head of a religion do a live show? Because before she was Bohemia Church's leader, she was a singer. And with over 70 million S-Tube subscribers, it wasn't weird for her to perform live anyway.
"Ticketing starts tonight at 8 PM, so I'm counting on you."
"Damn... Fine. I'll round up the crew and snag tickets."
"And my place to stay..."
"Don't sweat it. Crash at one of my officetels."
"Thanks."
That night, after a brutal 1:2500 competition ratio, we barely snagged two seats.
For the next month, I planned how to get a one-on-one with Iris Adler. It seemed tough meeting the head of a cult alone, but one idea clicked.
"That should do it."
The two-hour live started at 6 PM tonight. It was 4:34 PM now—I needed to get moving. I headed to Lee Jung-woo's place.
"You made it?"
"Yeah, you holding up okay?"
"No, you think I wouldn't be?"
"Nah, not that. But you're not coming with?"
Lee Jung-woo had messaged me yesterday that she couldn't make the live. Why tell me the day before when we'd planned this from the start? Made me rework everything...
"My face is too well-known, kid."
"Fair point."
I'd forgotten for a sec. Lee Jung-woo was a popular broadcaster herself—top 10 on her platform. Anyone seeing her meet Iris would get suspicious for sure. But something bugged me: she pulls in huge crowds, so why hasn't TL Group done anything? They don't see her as a threat? It nagged at me.
"We booked two seats, right? Since I can't go, I'm sending someone in my place. Duk-cheol! Get in here!"
Lee Jung-woo yelled toward the door, and in walked the massive skinhead guy I'd seen at Night Bunny—the one who'd dragged off that punk.
"You called, sis?"
"Duk-cheol, you're escorting Ae-ri."
"Got it, sis."
"Duk-cheol's my right hand—totally reliable."
No need to say it; he looked straight-up solid and trustworthy.
"Take care of me, Duk-cheol."
"The pleasure's mine, Miss Ae-ri."
"M-Miss..."
Being called "miss" felt kinda embarrassing. Guess my identity still leaned guy-ish... No! I had to hold onto my male sense of self... What was I even thinking...
"I'll finish prepping and wait out front by the parking lot."
"Sure."
Duk-cheol bowed to Lee Jung-woo and left to grab his stuff. I said my goodbyes and followed.
"Wait long?"
"No, not that lo—huh?"
I'd been waiting a bit in front of the parking lot when I heard Duk-cheol's voice. Turning, I saw him holding light sticks in both hands, decked out in what they call "hot pink" fan gear.
"Pfft!"
Laughter burst out. That huge guy in that getup? Too hilarious to hold back.
"Puh... Sorry. But... Duk-cheol, what's with the outfit?"
"First time at a live show like this, so I searched it up... Said to wear this, so I did. Something wrong?"
"No, it suits you great."
"Really? Then let's head out."
I spotted his ears turning a bit red as he went for the car. Kinda cute for such a big guy.
Whoa! Not again. Thinking a guy's cute? Is my body changing messing with my head?
I hopped in the passenger seat after he pulled up, and we headed to the Meta Arena.
I met up with Duk-cheol after parking and stared at the sea of people.
"Fucking horde. For real."
> Entry time approaching. Please line up slowly and enter in order.
Tickets were cyber-digital, so gates scanned them automatically. Nice perk of this world—cut down on scalping. Though it didn't eliminate black market hacks entirely. Hackers still slipped through sometimes; catching them perfectly would be tough in reality.
"This many people... how long till we get in?"
We'd come early, but we were near the back of the line. Overheard folks saying they'd queued since yesterday. Dedication like that? Wild.
Michael Jackson probably didn't have lines this nuts. Or did he? Hell if I know.How many here were Bohemia devotees? Probably over half. Kinda made followers feel like idol otakus. Seeing folks dressed even flashier than Duk-cheol just reinforced it.
After ages, our turn came. Green light at the gate—we passed through to the venue.
"Seats... over there."
Lucky to score assigned seats, we found ours and sat.
"Great view."
"I picked 'em."
"You, Duk-cheol?"
"Thought it'd have the best stage sightlines. Glad you like."
More thoughtful than his size suggested.
> Live starts in 5 minutes. Seated guests, please stay in your seats. Standing area guests, maintain order. Thank you.
Sitting and waiting, five minutes flew by. The dome arena lights dimmed to black. Then spotlights hit center stage—the floor split, revealing tonight's star.
"Everyone! Thank you for coming to my fifth-anniversary live! Hope you all have a blast... Opening song, Salve, munde!"