Back into the Dragon's Maw (2)
A while later, evening had fallen. Jaehyuk arrived at the bar Taeseok had mentioned and scanned the room until he spotted him knocking back soju by himself. He walked over and sat down across from him.
“Hyung. Why are you drinking alone?”
Taeseok didn’t answer. He simply poured more liquor into his glass, then let out a heavy sigh that looked like it might flip the table over.
“……Jaehyuk. What the hell is this…? It’s not like it was just anyone… How did you end up a corrupt cop who took bribes…? This has to be fabricated, right…? Tell me it is.”
“Yeah… it is.”
He wasn’t wrong. The story about Jaehyuk accepting bribes was a carefully orchestrated joint production by the police and the NIS, designed to let him slip smoothly into the Gangryonghoe.
Taeseok drained another glass, refilled it, and emptied the bottle completely.
“Boss, two more bottles of soju, two beers, and a half-and-half boneless chicken, please.”
Jaehyuk flagged down the server and placed the order. Once the man disappeared into the kitchen, Taeseok tossed back another shot, his face now flushed with alcohol.
“What the fuck is wrong with the Korean police? Not a single decent bastard in the whole damn force? My little brother is a corrupt cop? Took bribes? Ha! What a load of fucking horseshit!”
“Hyung… about the bribes…”
“Exactly. It’s a false charge. A total frame job! I know you’re not the kind of guy who’d do something like that… I know it better than anyone… Why the hell don’t they see it…?”
After raging for a while, Taeseok gradually fell quiet and let out another long sigh. Then, as if he’d completely given up, he spoke in a resigned voice.
“Jaehyuk. Since it’s come to this, just drop everything and look for a different line of work. If you need help with anything, call me.”
“Uh… yeah…”
“Sigh… Yeah, fuck it. Good riddance to that worthless police force. Let’s start fresh!! Fighting, little bro! Fighting!”
Sigh… What am I supposed to tell him later…?
Jaehyuk felt grateful that Taeseok was furious on his behalf, treating the matter as if it were his own injustice. At the same time, it worried him.
If he starts running around trying to clear my name and ends up digging into Project information, it’ll cause problems. I need to have a word with Chief Ma Seungcheol or the team leader later.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, their food arrived. Taeseok’s gloomy expression vanished instantly. Grinning ear to ear, he mixed soju and beer for Jaehyuk.
“Our little guy… is abso-fucking-lutely not a corrupt cop… No way, you fuckers… It’s all made up… Hic…”
“You’re wasted, Hyung. Let’s get you home to sleep.”
“I’m not drunk, you bastard!!!”
Supporting the completely hammered Taeseok, Jaehyuk flagged down a passing taxi. They climbed into the back seat together and headed for Taeseok’s house.
“Ugh, the smell of booze…”
When they reached the apartment, Jaehyuk opened the door and dumped Taeseok onto the bed.
“Hic… My brother’s not a corrupt cop, you bastards… It’s not true, you fucking idiots…”
If this ever gets out, I’m going to get the shit beaten out of me.
As Jaehyuk thought that and stepped out of Taeseok’s place, his phone vibrated. He answered.
"Inspector Park Jaehyuk?"
“Speaking.”
“Should I call you Mr. Park Jaehyuk now? After all, you’re no longer a police officer. Not officially.”
Jaehyuk immediately sensed the caller was connected to the Big Brother Project.
“Would you happen to be from Nae-gok-dong?”
Nae-gok-dong was slang used by police and prosecutors to refer to the NIS.
“Come downstairs first. Get into the black Genesis in the back seat.”
The line went dead.
Jaehyuk walked down to the apartment entrance and saw the black Genesis parked right in front. The rear window slid down. A neatly groomed man in his early forties wearing a black suit looked at him.
“Sit next to me.”
Jaehyuk climbed in. The man spoke to the driver.
“Drive.”
The car pulled away smoothly. The man handed Jaehyuk a business card and introduced himself. Jaehyuk read it carefully.
“I’m Lee Yeonghwan, the one assigned to direct the Big Brother Project from the agency side.”
“Daekyung Trading…?”
“Ah, that’s a ghost company we use to mask our identities as agency personnel.”
“I see.”
“In any case, Mr. Park Jaehyuk, you will head to Suwon one month from now—November 27th.”
Suwon…? In my previous life I was sent to Incheon… Well, regression doesn’t mean everything will play out exactly the same.
Jaehyuk felt a brief flicker of surprise but quickly set it aside and focused on Lee Yeonghwan’s words.
“There is a Gangryonghoe executive named Seo Myungwoo currently managing Suwon. He’s a subordinate of Ha Seongjun, the syndicate’s third-in-command. These documents contain profiles of Gangryonghoe members connected to Seo Myungwoo.”
Seo Myungwoo manages Suwon? In my last life he was running Incheon… Things have already changed.
Yeonghwan handed over the files. They contained detailed profiles on Seo Myungwoo, Im Kanghun, Ha Seongjun, and other personnel affiliated with the Crown Hotel.
“May I ask one favor?”
“Go ahead.”
“Could you provide me with every piece of information you have—not just on the Crown Hotel, but on Crown Holdings and all its subsidiaries as well?”
In his previous life, Jaehyuk had focused solely on his assigned mission. He had only gathered intelligence on the Crown Hotel and the primary target, Crown Holdings, leaving information on the other subsidiaries to the other undercover agents. Because he hadn’t properly analyzed the full strength of the Gangryonghoe, he had been unable to respond effectively when attacked by Crown Capital and the other branches. That lack of preparation had cost him his life.
The Gangryonghoe had far too many dangerous individuals. Ju Taeyeol was the biggest variable, but Cha Junkyeong, Oh Hajun, Ma Duwon… they were all extremely dangerous.
“Hmm… Carrying that much data might make it difficult to stay organized during the mission. If everyone simply handles their own part—”
“What if something happens to one of us? Shouldn’t the others be able to step in and take over? I don’t believe this is the kind of operation where we only mind our own assigned roles.”
“If that’s how you see it, Mr. Park Jaehyuk… then I’ll make sure you receive all the intelligence we’ve gathered on the Gangryonghoe.”
“Thank you.”
The Genesis eventually stopped in front of Jaehyuk’s building. The driver spoke up.
“We’ve reached your destination.”
Before Jaehyuk could step out, Lee Yeonghwan added one last thing.
“An Intelligence Officer—I.O.—will be assigned to each undercover agent as backup in case of emergency.”
“Like field agents? Jason Bourne types?”
“Not quite. Their role is to monitor your movements, report to command, and—if they determine you’re in genuine danger—do everything within their power to extract you.”
Everything within their power… Which also means they’ll abandon us if the risk becomes too high.
“In one month, proceed to Suwon and infiltrate the Gangryonghoe through Seo Myungwoo or his subordinates. You are expected to follow our directives, but field decisions are yours to make.”
“Understood.”
Jaehyuk opened the door. Just before he closed it, Yeonghwan called out again.
"One more critical matter regarding this operation."
Jaehyuk turned back. Yeonghwan’s expression had hardened.
“If your identities are exposed and it creates a public scandal, the command will deny any and all connection to you. Remember that.”
So that’s what “within their power” really meant.
“Understood.”
Jaehyuk closed the car door. Before heading inside, he stood for a moment, steeling himself for what lay ahead.
It begins again. I’m stepping back into the dragon’s maw. This time I will avenge my uncle… and I will not meet the same end as before. Never again.
Roughly one month later.
After lying to his family and friends that he was moving for a new job, Jaehyuk arrived in Suwon and settled into a small studio apartment. Once he finished unpacking, he sat down and meticulously read through every document on the Gangryonghoe that Lee Yeonghwan had provided.
Crown Capital’s Ju Taeyeol… This bastard was UDT? Not only that, he operated as a mercenary in the Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia. Several of his men are ex-special forces mercenaries too… No wonder he felt so dangerous last time. Those specs explain everything.
Jaehyuk absorbed every detail. Many of the faces in the files were familiar.
Good thing I asked for the full package. This will make dealing with them far easier than in my previous life.
His phone vibrated on the desk. He picked up.
"Is everything proceeding as planned?"
“Yes, Uncle. I’m currently memorizing the materials.”
The caller was Ma Seungcheol, the police commander overseeing the operation.
“Good. To infiltrate through Seo Myungwoo, request entry. When he tests you, pass it. The test will likely involve fighting and defeating his subordinates.”
“……May I carry out the operation my own way?”
“Your own way?”
“From my research, Seo Myungwoo shows far more favor toward those invited by himself or Ha Seongjun than those who simply ask to join. Therefore, I plan to pick a fight with him first and attack.”
“You’re going to attack Seo Myungwoo to get on his good side?”
“He has an insatiable appetite for talent. If someone demonstrates outstanding ability, he’ll recruit them even if they once pointed a blade at him. It’s the influence of his boss, Ha Seongjun. If I can leave a strong impression by challenging him directly, he’ll try to bring me in.”
“Hmm… But there’s a chance he could kill you during the confrontation…”
“If I show the right amount of spirit, he won’t kill me—he’ll try to recruit me. After I refuse a few times and then pretend I have no choice but to accept, he’ll welcome me with open arms.”
This was a tactic Jaehyuk had observed during his previous infiltration attempt in Incheon. He had watched Seo Myungwoo subdue a bold challenger, then recruit him after taking a liking to his courage. In truth, not only Seo Myungwoo but also Ha Seongjun and his men tended to be generous toward talented individuals who left a deep impression.
“How did you obtain this information?”
“It came up during my deeper review of the materials.”
Ma Seungcheol was silent for a moment, clearly weighing the idea, before answering.
“Very well. Try it your way first. If it fails, we’ll prepare an alternative on our end.”
“Understood.”
Meanwhile, Jeonghan was in Incheon—the very city where Jaehyuk had begun his infiltration in the previous timeline.
Let’s see… My infiltration target is the Crown Hotel… So I need to meet this person here?
Inside his own studio, Jeonghan had been reviewing Gangryonghoe materials. He stopped on the profile of Im Kanghun, Ha Seongjun’s subordinate.
Im Kanghun. Known as Ha Seongjun’s right-hand man and most trusted confidant. I need to find him, catch his eye, and use that to enter the Crown Hotel.
After studying the documents thoroughly, Jeonghan noticed a job posting on his laptop for irregular staff at the Crown Hotel. He stood up.
First, I’ll get hired through this posting. Then I’ll figure out exactly how to make a lasting impression on Im Kanghun.
Jeonghan left the apartment, got into his car, and drove toward the Crown Hotel to begin his employment.