D-Day
James received a text from Secretary Park early that morning.
[Start.]
“...”
After reading Secretary Park’s message, James headed into the living room without replying. Colt was there, busily getting ready for work.
“The driver’s waiting outside. Hurry up and go.”
“I got back late yesterday because I was on a business trip, and then there was a company dinner.”
Colt had recently been touring TY Telecom’s subsidiaries around the country. It was meant to remind the subsidiaries of the parent company’s authority, and as a bonus it had given him time to build friendly ties with the local executives.
“Well, well. Colt’s making excuses because he’s weak?”
“...”
“Since when do you blame it on drinking? You’re not the type to get drunk off a few cups, are you?”
“No, but...”
Training under the driver’s fierce mana had raised Colt’s tolerance to absurd heights. Unless he drank an enormous amount, alcohol never really touched him; his body simply broke it down. Colt complained that this was the only downside to learning mana, but it hadn’t stopped him from enjoying drink even more. Thanks to that, he had no idea what a hangover felt like and woke early every morning. So his excuse that he’d overslept because of alcohol was just that, an excuse.
“Actually, I ran into Hojung yesterday...”
“Right. I thought you were getting in late. No, that’s not even the right way to say it. You got back a little while ago, didn’t you? You weren’t there when I went out for my morning run, but when I came back you were in bed.”
Colt had been squeezing his dates with Hojung into the night hours because of his packed work schedule. Today, in the most literal sense, he had only barely slept enough to close and open his eyes in bed.
“You go on ahead and tell the driver to wait. I’ll wash up quick.”
“Got it. Come out fast. I’ve got a lot of outside appointments today too, so I’ll pass on your message and head out separately.”
“Colt!”
James went outside and asked Colt’s driver to wait a little longer.
“It looks like Representative Colt’s running late this morning. Sorry, but would you wait just a bit longer?”
“Oh, no trouble at all, Vice President.”
“Then I’ll head to the office first.”
“Yes, Vice President.”
James always drove himself to work in his own car. He held the title of vice president at the company, but he never had to deal with outside clients. He simply handled the bigger matters as a major shareholder.
“Why should I do all the company work? Major shareholders are supposed to have time on their hands.”
At first, James had decided there was something wrong with a system where he came to the company and reviewed approval documents himself, so he handed the entire approval line over to Vice President Hand. The result was the leisurely company life he enjoyed now.
It had also helped Colt adapt to the chairman’s seat more quickly, so James praised his own decision wholeheartedly.
“Two birds with one stone, a win for both sides, killing two birds with one stone, getting the fish and the handkerchief, eating the pheasant and the eggs... what’s not to like?”
When James arrived at the company and headed up, he greeted the people he passed as casually as ever.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Vice President.”
The employee at the front desk glanced past James and asked,
“By the way, I don’t see Representative Colt. He usually comes with you.”
They lived in the same house, so they arrived at work at almost exactly the same time most days.
“Representative Colt’s running a little late. Looks like the company dinner went on too long yesterday.”
“Ah. Yes. Understood.”
James stepped into his office and also nodded to the staff member outside the secretary’s office.
“Another easy day.”
“Heehee. Yes, Vice President.”
As James had become more free, the female secretary dedicated to the vice president had also been enjoying a relaxed company life. That had turned James’s secretary position into a coveted plum assignment.
“The office is off-limits today.”
“Pardon?”
“I brought lunch with me because I’m going to binge the rest of a drama I haven’t had time to finish. I need to concentrate, so take care of lunch yourself.”
Before coming up, James had even stopped by a convenience store to buy his lunch. A big tub of popcorn and drinks were tucked in with the lunchbox as well.
“Aren’t you being a little too obvious about slacking off?”
“Let’s slack off just for today. Just today. If anyone comes by, tell them I’m in an important video conference.”
Colt and James were both quite young, and because of that there was no distance between them and the employees. The atmosphere was completely different from the old executive office, which had once been packed with middle-aged men.
“I’ll defend the door perfectly.”
“I’m counting on Assistant Manager Park.”
“Yes, sir! Vice President.”
As soon as James entered his office, he locked the door.
Click.
Ready.
Thud.
He tossed the convenience-store lunch and snacks onto the sofa, then took out the burner phone he had been keeping separately in his inventory. It wasn’t his usual phone.
The coordinates are...
Following the text Secretary Park had sent, he now had to begin his own D-Day response.
Whoosh!
His figure vanished from the office.
* * *
Even from the back seat of the car Secretary Park was driving, Choi Jeong-san kept hunching his shoulders and cautiously watching the world outside the window.
“Secretary Park, no one really knows, right?”
Choi Jeong-san believed he was currently fleeing the prosecution’s dragnet. He also believed Secretary Park had been fired by James, who had taken over TY Telecom, because of their personal closeness.
“Yes. The prosecution is trying to secure your person, sir, but if they don’t know where you are, how are they supposed to carry out the investigation? No one besides me knows where you are, sir.”
“Right? I can relax now, right?”
Feeling the cold weight of the knife hidden in his coat, Secretary Park answered.
“Even so, don’t let your guard down completely. Not until we’re out on the open sea and aboard the ship bound for Russia.”
“Phew. My new identity and the money are ready too?”
Secretary Park laid out the plan for Choi Jeong-san’s future, a plan that covered every step of his escape from the investigation and flight overseas. On paper, it was far too thorough and perfect.
“Yes. The smuggling broker on that side has everything prepared. You’ll receive a new passport, and once you arrive in Russia you’ll board a flight straight to Europe. After that, you’ll be able to live comfortably.”
“And the captain who’ll take us out onto international waters is trustworthy?”
Even after hearing the perfect plan, Choi Jeong-san still wanted to keep checking because he couldn’t shake his unease.
“Yes. I told him to wait, so he should be anchored in Sokcho.”
This part had been James’s responsibility. He had said he would find a foreign captain who wouldn’t recognize Choi Jeong-san. He had also passed along word not to worry, since the captain would help Secretary Park if anything happened aboard the ship.
“Check again. If we get to the harbor and the captain isn’t there, that’ll be a disaster.”
“I’ll show you as soon as the captain replies.”
Vrrr.
Just then, Secretary Park was able to check a message that had come from an unknown number.
“He’s contacted me.”
It was a selfie of a rough-looking foreign man with a pipe in his mouth, taken with the ship behind him.
I’m Ready.
The text said the same thing: ready.
“The captain is waiting.”
Even while driving, Secretary Park held up the screen so Choi Jeong-san could see it.
“He’s a foreigner?”
“Yes. He had to be ignorant of domestic affairs. That’s why I found a foreign captain who won’t recognize you, sir.”
Secretary Park found the man’s rough features oddly reassuring. He was, after all, someone who would help him. But Choi Jeong-san seemed to like the foreign captain quite a lot as well, especially at the part about him not recognizing Choi Jeong-san.
“As expected. Secretary Park’s work was always perfect.”
“You’re too kind...”
After that, Choi Jeong-san apparently relaxed enough to fall asleep, and Secretary Park glared at him through the rearview mirror.
Today, you’re finished.
And for Secretary Park, it was also the day he would gain an extra ten billion won for his retirement.
* * *
The captain, who had been sucking on a tobacco pipe, lowered the phone in his hand and leisurely boarded the small but luxurious boat.
“This boat’s not bad. How much money did that fat bastard dump into it?”
A rough foreign captain was spitting out rough Korean. It was James, after all, his appearance altered by magic.
“Ah. I should check the news too.”
James opened his phone again on a hunch, looking to see whether any new articles had appeared. He had expected an obituary for Choi Tae-yeong, who should have died yesterday. But even though he had been checking since morning, no news article about the death had appeared yet.
“...Why is it late?”
In truth, his death had not been confirmed yesterday, but only today. Choi Tae-yeong, who usually liked his drink, had had a modest amount before bed and gone to sleep, so the housekeepers only discovered him collapsed over the table late this morning.
After that, they contacted Choi Jeong-pil in place of the missing Choi Jeong-san and arrived at the main house, where they were confirming the old man’s death.
James had thought there might be an obituary in the morning paper, but it would take a little more time before the news reached the press.
“If it’s not there, all the better.”
There was no chance now that Choi Jeong-san would learn of his father’s death and stop his overseas escape.
* * *
“Sir. Sir? We’ve arrived in Sokcho.”
“Grr... already?”
Choi Jeong-san, who had drifted off to sleep, woke groggily and realized he had reached the dock.
“My luggage.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Bring it quickly. Let’s go.”
“...Yes.”
Secretary Park comforted himself with the thought that today would be the last time he had to obey Choi Jeong-san’s orders, and took his luggage from the trunk.
Thanks to you, even the little bit of conscience I had left is gone, Jeong-san.
Secretary Park sharpened his killing intent as he stared at the back of Choi Jeong-san’s head.
* * *
When the two of them reached the dock, the rough-looking captain from the photo came out to greet them.
“Welcome to my ship. I'm Captain Mikhail.”
Even after the captain’s awkward English greeting with a Russian accent, Choi Jeong-san and Secretary Park silently walked toward the ship.
“...”
“...”
“You must be busy, right? Then let’s hurry.”
Captain Mikhail quickly set down the apple he had been eating and hurried toward the cabin.
Buzz.
The boat slipped smoothly out of the harbor and set off for the open waters of the East Sea.
Whoosh.
Feeling the wind from the ocean on his face, Choi Jeong-san tasted freedom.
We’ll be out of Korea soon. I’ll finally be out from under my father’s hand.
For Choi Jeong-san, who lived in deep fear of the brutal grip of Chairman Choi Tae-yeong, fleeing overseas meant freedom.
After putting Choi Jeong-san’s suitcase in the cabin, Park Jin-tae ran his hand over the inside of his jacket once more to check that the item was still there.
I have to end this in one shot.
Park Jin-tae had steeled himself to send Choi Jeong-san’s life to a very short end, so that nothing unexpected could happen.
“The weather is awesome today.”
The captain shouted loudly, as if to make sure the two of them heard.
...Perfect weather for the two of you to die.
All three of them were on the same boat, but each was thinking something different.
---