The Two Faces of a Traitor (1)
For a brief moment, the room was filled with absolute silence. The police officer who had been laughing at Choi Yoon-gi—who had just been struck in the forehead with a spoon—the officer who had struck him with such nonchalance, and even Choi Yoon-gi himself, who had just shouted "Long live communism" with his own mouth, all made no sound. Just for a fleeting second.
"A-ah, no, this is... I mean..." Choi Yoon-gi tried to salvage the situation as quickly as possible, having absolutely no idea why he had said such a thing. But he was given no time to recover.
"This bastard really was a Red!"
The officer who had been eating his beef soup jumped to his feet, knocking the earthenware pot off the table where it shattered on the floor. He didn't even glance at it, charging toward Choi Yoon-gi like an enraged bull. Then, a heavy slap across the face. The impact was incomparable to anything he had felt before; it felt as if sparks were flashing before his eyes.
"Hey, you go report this to the section chief. I'm going to properly tear this guy apart."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than one of the officers walked out into the hallway and began climbing the stairs to the basement. "You've had it easy until now, haven't you? From here on out, it’s going to be a completely different dimension."
As the officer’s words faded, a mournful scream began to echo from one of the many rooms in the basement.
Choi Deok-bae stroked Johnson’s head, watching Choi Yoon-gi, who was currently being subjected to the "high-speed fan" treatment.
"I'll control that brat for just a moment."
Just as Fernandez had been affected, Johnson could exert a slight mental influence on a target of his choosing. And because Choi Deok-bae was capable of controlling Johnson, he had used him to induce Choi Yoon-gi to say things he "might" say. He couldn't force him to truly praise communism, but he could make him say things one might blurt out in a fit of rage. Even if only for a second. Of course, the target would try to fix the situation after blurting out such words, but depending on the location, there are times when a situation can never be salvaged. That was why Choi Deok-bae had set a trap from which Choi Yoon-gi could never escape.
'A traitor shouldn't just be punished; they must receive a definitive, absolute punishment. By any means necessary.'
Remembering the guy who had reported his own son for believing in Catholicism long ago, Choi Deok-bae let out a bitter laugh and began to fly toward where Yoon-gi was.
"That guy was really a North Korea sympathizer?"
In the office of the YK Department Store president, Ryu Geun-tae wore a look of disbelief. At his words, Superintendent Seo also nodded with a troubled expression.
"That’s right. At first, I thought my subordinates were just getting worked up, but they said he actually shouted 'Long live communism.' If it were just a trap, it wouldn't matter, but if he actually said it himself, the situation changes."
Ryu Geun-tae’s head began to spin. 'This isn't a matter for me to decide...'
It was Yoon-gi’s instruction that had turned Choi Yoon-gi into a fake sympathizer in the first place. Because of that, Ryu Geun-tae had no idea what kind of judgment to make now that the fake had become a real one.
"Superintendent Seo, what is happening to Choi Yoon-gi right now?"
"My men are investigating in detail how he ended up becoming a sympathizer. Anti-communism is the banner of the Republic of Korea, isn't it?"
"That’s right. Sympathizers must naturally be rooted out."
Ryu Geun-tae played along with Superintendent Seo while trying to discern Yoon-gi’s true intentions. "Superintendent Seo, by any chance, could I meet Choi Yoon-gi for a moment?"
"That guy?"
"Yes. If we use this opportunity well, I think it could be a huge benefit to you as well, Superintendent. I promise you. 'This' is good, but 'this' is also good, right?"
Ryu Geun-tae pointed to the sky with his left index finger and made a money sign with his right thumb and index finger. The left hand meant promotion, the right hand meant money. He had already delivered on the promotion, having secured a positive response during a meal with the Commissioner of the National Police Agency. But human greed for money is endless. Superintendent Seo, who had already experienced Ryu Geun-tae’s capabilities through the Commissioner’s call, swallowed hard. Then, a smile followed.
"When would you like to meet him?"
"I'm busy today, so that’s a bit difficult. How about around lunch tomorrow?"
"Then I will come to pick you up at that time."
"Ah, just in case, please make sure he’s in a condition where he can at least speak. It would be meaningless if I went all the way there to have a conversation and the other party was completely incoherent, wouldn't it?"
"Ah...! I will go back and instruct my men immediately."
"Good. Then, come back here at 11 o'clock tomorrow."
"Understood."
No sooner had Seo In-pyo left the office than Ryu Geun-tae also began to head toward Yoon-gi’s mansion.
"You guys get out. Don't let anyone into the basement."
At Seo In-pyo’s words, his subordinate officers answered loudly and headed up the basement stairs. A moment later, the sound of a door locking echoed, and Seo In-pyo scanned the entire basement, carefully checking to see if anyone remained.
"President Ryu, there is no one in the basement."
"There’s no chance anyone is wiretapping, right?"
"Yes, I checked under the desks and such just in case, and I didn't see any recording devices."
Having heard about this plan from Ryu Geun-tae this morning, Seo In-pyo had decided to join in and was helping very actively. As a result, the only three people left in the basement were Ryu Geun-tae and Seo In-pyo in the hallway, and Choi Yoon-gi, who was inside one of the interrogation rooms.
"Good, let’s go in."
Ryu Geun-tae entered the interrogation room and was initially somewhat surprised by Choi Yoon-gi’s appearance, but his reaction soon turned indifferent.
At first, Ryu Geun-tae had thought of it simply as information leakage, but as he heard more from Yoon-gi, he realized how serious betrayal was, and his affection for Choi Yoon-gi had vanished completely. In fact, Choi Yoon-gi had been planning to use Ryu Geun-tae’s goodwill to suck out information.
"Look here, Choi Yoon-gi."
Ryu Geun-tae no longer called him "Assistant Manager Choi."
"Ugh..."
Choi Yoon-gi, covered in blood scabs all over his body, barely managed to lift his head to look up at Ryu Geun-tae. His body was tied to a chair, leaving only his head free. As if he had discovered his savior, Choi Yoon-gi strained to shout, "P-p-p-president! P-please, s-save me. Please... I'm not a sympathizer. I'm really not a sympathizer..."
"Why would I?"
Ryu Geun-tae countered immediately, as if the request were absurd. "I don't have the magnanimity to help a traitor."
"President... please... I was wrong..."
"If saying you were wrong could absolve your sins, who in the world would follow the law? Don't you think? Besides, it’s not anything else, but you violated the most important thing in the Republic of Korea—anti-communism. It’s not persuasive to say you were wrong."
Listening from the side, Seo In-pyo completely cleared his suspicions about Ryu Geun-tae. He had been slightly worried yesterday after hearing his subordinates ask if Ryu Geun-tae might also be a sympathizer, but given Ryu Geun-tae’s words and his connections, he was now certain there was no such possibility.
"President... please... if I die, my wife and mother..."
"So what? If you hadn't been a sympathizer and had just followed my words well under me, you would have lived well for the rest of your life. You made a mess of things out of your own greed, and now you’re making excuses about your family? The world is a very convenient place, isn't it?"
"Ugh, sob, sob..."
Watching Choi Yoon-gi shed tears, Ryu Geun-tae bent his knees to deliberately match his eye level and asked subtly.
"Do you want to live?"
A lifeline appeared just as his emotions surged with tears. Choi Yoon-gi grabbed that lifeline immediately.
"Yes, yes...! P-please, save me. I will do anything!"
"Are you really capable of doing anything?"
"Yes! If I can just get out of here, I will do anything. Please... please save me!"
Watching the struggling Choi Yoon-gi, Ryu Geun-tae said briefly with a sinister smile.
"Then, become a real sympathizer."
At the Dae-YK office in Jamsil, where Kim Gi-deok was waiting. Not only Kim Gi-deok, but nearly twenty people were standing in four rows, listening to the person standing in front.
"Buy the land, no matter what it takes. Don't worry about the means or methods. What’s important to us is the performance. Understand? Don't worry about threats, bribes, or persuasion—just do it. We may belong to SES, but we aren't hired by SES to work like SES. Understand?"
A booming sound echoed, and a moment later, the people scattered to go to their respective offices, leaving only Kim Gi-deok and the man who had lectured everyone behind.
"Department Head Im, if this goes well, how much will we get?"
The man called Department Head Im was named Im Si-chan. Although he belonged to a security firm that dispatched personnel to SES, he was essentially a man directly under SES who handled all their dirty work. At 180 centimeters, he was tall for this era, and while not as big as Choi Cheol-ho, he had a sturdy build, white skin that didn't match his sturdy body, and a buzz cut. Even in his 40s, Im Si-chan had the appearance and temperament suitable for controlling people like Kim Gi-deok.
"Look here, Section Chief Kim. Have we been working together for only a day or two? Just say 'yes' when the higher-ups tell you to do something and get to work. Don't think useless thoughts."
Kim Gi-deok had asked just in case, but he couldn't even get his original investment back and just gave a bitter laugh.
"Understood. But, Department Head. What about Choi Yoon-gi? The guy who gives us information."
"Why about him?"
"I don't know the details, but there are rumors that he’s been fired."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Among the channels we created on the YK side, he was the only one in a relatively high position, wasn't he? So I can't be sure, but a guy from logistics said he 'seems to have been fired.'"
"Was he fired, or was he not? Be clear. Didn't you learn from me that moving with half-baked information is dangerous?"
"Hmm..."
"Find out for sure and report back. Understand? We need that guy to keep this job going. If their higher-ups suddenly change their minds and move the area from Jamsil to somewhere else, we’ll be nothing but empty shells."
"Understood."
"That aside, have you still not gotten photos of the YK executives? It would be easier for us if we knew their appearances."
"I had asked Choi Yoon-gi for that, but I haven't been able to reach him since yesterday."
"Have you checked his house?"
"His wife said he went on a business trip, so I’m waiting for now."
Im Si-chan nodded at the answer, feeling frustrated inside. 'Ha, if it were someone like Ryu Geun-tae, it would be much easier to take photos from the top, I don't know why they make us do it.'
But he couldn't reveal such inner thoughts. As Im Si-chan was in a foul mood, Kim Gi-deok asked a new question.
"What will you do if Choi Yoon-gi really has been fired?"
"What do you mean, what will I do?"
"He thinks he’s going to get a job at SES if he gets caught and fired, doesn't he? Is that even possible?"
Im Si-chan scoffed. "Are you asking seriously?"
Kim Gi-deok also let out a sneer. "Of course not. I’m just asking what you’ll do afterward."
"I’ll just throw him away. We aren't officially SES, so how can we get him a job? The guy who believed it is the idiot."
"Well, that’s true. You aren't thinking of using him on our side, are you?"
"Of course not. Where would I use a traitor bastard? You should never trust people who betray their own organization without a special reason."
"As expected of the Department Head. It’s good to work under you because you’re clear about your boundaries."
"Don't flatter me uselessly, go out and secure the land. The sooner you get ahead of others in performance, the easier it is for me to take care of you."
"Understood! Let’s see, shall we go to work~."
Kim Gi-deok hummed a tune as he rose from his seat and soon opened the office door. And through that open door, Kim Gi-deok could see police officers with menacing expressions.