Chapter 192
On the road from Jinseong-gun up to Seoul—specifically, the moment when Kang Minjae, who had been silent for a good while, cautiously asked about the words I'd exchanged with Yoo Minhyuk.
"……By any chance, do you have some kind of pain like that?"
"No, I don't."
"……Then it was all an act?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa, seriously…… Whoa, whoa……. Lawyer, you could totally be a con artist. Whoa, I totally fell for it. Whoa, seriously……. I had no idea, and I was feeling all heartbroken thinking you really had that kind of trauma, couldn't even bring myself to say anything!"
Kang Minjae writhed in betrayal. The car jolted slightly, and I instinctively checked the rearview.
"No, whoa. Whatever you do, don't let Yoo Minhyuk find out. He'd get pissed and go back on handing over those documents, you know?"
"……."
"You were planning to say it's too late since we already have the key, right? But if Yoo Minhyuk digs in his heels saying he can't trust a lying lawyer to the end, even you wouldn't have a counter for that."
"Kang."
"Am I wrong? I'm feeling this betrayed too!"
"Kang, the car behind us."
My eyes were still fixed on the back. Kang Minjae thought I was changing the subject and kept blabbering on with a scoff. Finally, I raised my voice.
"Quiet down for a sec!"
"……Yes, sir."
Kang Minjae clamped his mouth shut in an instant.
"The car behind us. Doesn't it seem like it's been tailing us for a while?"
A black SUV. I'd first clocked it leaving Jinseong-gun. Spotted it again near Jeollabuk-do. Back then, I just thought, 'That car again? Must be heading the same way.' But now, nearly an hour later? Even if destinations align, sticking this close was suspicious as hell.
"……Yeah? I think I saw it earlier too. Hmm, but is it the same one? Looks like the same model, but I didn't memorize the plates."
Kang Minjae shrugged. Domestic make, decent price point—popular model, sure. Common on the roads, but still shady.
"Switch lanes once."
"Got it."
As Kang Minjae changed lanes, the tail smoothly followed.
"Peel off another way."
"Heading toward Sangcheon."
Kang Minjae swerved onto the Sangcheon exit without signaling. The tail hadn't expected it, braking hard before stubbornly pursuing.
"Definitely tailing us."
"……What?"
"Myeonghwa Pharmaceuticals, probably."
"Myeonghwa? So they've been on us since Jinseong?"
"Not sure if they were watching Yoo Minhyuk in Jinseong and followed us, or tailed us down from Seoul."
"What do we do? If we've blown Yoo Minhyuk's cover……."
I shook my head.
"Doubt it."
Taesik had pinned Yoo Minhyuk's location. I don't underestimate Taesik's intel, but Myeonghwa—a founding pillar, and Yoo Minhyuk knowing Antrozol Alpha's fatal flaws—wouldn't just let him vanish. Especially now, with the issue blowing up.
They might not have known at first, but post-scandal? They'd track him. Taesik found him in days; not hard for them either.
Spotting me and Kang Minjae meeting him? They'd tail to check what he spilled.
"How do we handle it?"
"If it's Myeonghwa, they'll stick till Seoul."
"……But we need the private vault for those docs. What then? Rush to Taesik in Seoul, hand off the key, have him grab 'em?"
Viable, but if they see us link with Taesik, tails on him too. They'd know something's in the vault. No key means they can't grab first, but problems abound: ambush on exit, or sabotage the vault itself.
I crossed my arms, humming thoughtfully.
"Kang, where are we?"
"Almost to Myeoncheon Rest Area. Around there."
"Midpoint Seoul-Myeoncheon? Yangsin?"
"Yeah, about."
I called Taesik right away.
"Boss, you meet Yoo Minhyuk okay? Haha. Thanks to you, I snagged two new rides, even interviewed some staff. Guy from my old crew—tight-lipped, real keeper—"
"Shut it and listen."
"Huh? Oh, got it."
"Send two guys to Yangsin Rest Area, Seoul-bound. Now."
"Now? Seoul side?"
"We're two hours out. Can you make it?"
"Hey, Sanggil. Check time to Yangsin Rest Area, Seoul direction."
Taesik sounded urgent too.
"Hour and a half."
"Good. Ones built like me and Kang—height too."
"……Disguise? Trouble?"
Taesik's voice edged with worry. Hearing that from the great Jang Taesik? Nostalgic.
"Some issue, but not life-or-death. Tailing us—shaking 'em."
"Ah, that's our specialty."
"Quick rundown. You'll beat us there—snap parking spot, plates, model. Text pics. We arrive, call. Meet in john."
"Roger. Then?"
"Swap clothes, keys. We take your guys' ride; they take ours. Lure 'em good—fast, good actors. Got it?"
"Yep. After rest area?"
"My place garage. Not registered, so ditched there. Change, send 'em home."
"Copy. They'll report positions. Sanggil's going—hit him up."
"Sanggil's buzzcut. Needs to match us."
"Ah, grew it out. Just like Kang's length. Told him it made him handsome, you forgetting already? Sanggil'll be bummed."
He grumbled on, but no time. I hung up and turned to Kang Minjae.
"You catch that?"
"Yep. So we swap with Taesik's guys, switch rides—what's the destination?"
"Straight to the private vault for docs."
"Got it. Whew, always wanted this spy stuff. Even as prosecutor, total fantasy. Never got the chance. Living the dream here. Heh heh."
……Good he's not scared, but treating it like a game? Problematic.
Just before Yangsin Rest Area, text from Sanggil. Photo as ordered: parking spot, plates clear.
I called him.
"Sanggil, it's me."
"Yes, Lawyer. See the text?"
"Yeah. We're here. Spot's right behind your ride. Heading to john—line long?"
"Packed. We're inside. First left stall, last two—us. You last one, Kang next. 'Out of Order' signs up—no worries."
Bustling rest stop john—low eyes on us.
I got out casual with Kang Minjae. Spotted the tail parking nearby. He stayed put, figuring we'd return. Bold in crowds, but his mistake.
"Line's nuts. Hurry."
Kang Minjae pointed, playing it up.
"Ugh, bad food? Gut's killing me."
Man couldn't hear, but Kang Minjae sold it—rubbing belly, grimacing like an ad. No need, but he was immersed; didn't disrupt.
Our turn: into assigned stalls.
"……What's all this?"
"Shh. Shh. Change quick, Lawyer."
Taesik's goon fussed loudly. Not just clothes—props on toilet lid: thick glasses, bucket hat, fake mustache, mask. Overkill, but thorough.
"Car key with Sanggil. Rest as Taesik said—details on call."
Handed my clothes, stepped out first. Head down to sinks; Kang Minjae emerged similar, washing up, chuckling at mirror.
"No way they'll spot us."
I shook wet hands, scanned exiting.
"By the car, smoking."
Kang Minjae beat me to it. Far off, tail lounged by his ride, us out of sight.
Who you calling dumb?
"Key?"
"Got it."
"Go on arrival."
"Yep. Man, french fry smell's killer."
Kang Minjae nearly derailed at snack butter aroma, snapped back, reached Sanggil's car.
Once in, I checked back. Tail still glancing john-ward.
* * *
"Key."
The counter guy—muscles bursting, tats everywhere—grunted. I handed Yoo Minhyuk's key. He inspected long, beckoned.
"One only."
Kang Minjae halted by thick arm.
Bunker-like steel wall: vaults packed. He hit matching number. Key, then fingerprint—open. Inside: small recorder, docs.
Sent exhausted Kang Minjae home. Home for change, back to office.
Long day, but work left.
As told Kang: copies, split storage—office/home. Myeonghwa tailed; caution key. They'd burgle my place sleeping, no shock.
Office dark. Unlocked, to copier. Loaded docs, sat for unchecked mail.
"……Battery dead."
Unplugged laptop drained. Crouched under desk for cord. Dark—no lights.
Reaching: thumb-sized square bump under desk.
Grabbed phone, lit it.
Damn, impressive.
Nearly whistled. A bug. Plain as day.