Chapter 211
Before heading to work, I stopped by Taesik's office.
"Where's Sanggil?"
"He's been tailing that Lee Se-hyung guy since dawn, stuck at his place."
"Nothing else dug up in the meantime?"
"Afraid not."
It had been nearly a week since Sanggil started shadowing Lee Se-hyung, but aside from the date he visited Myeongun University Hospital for rehab, nothing special had turned up.
"Getting urgent?"
"A bit."
The head of neurosurgery had returned from a business trip to a hospital in Cologne. That meant Lee Se-hyung's fake surgery wasn't far off. Whether he'd already gone and handled the paperwork or just had a chat, we couldn't say. Either way, our deadline to uncover the truth was before he left the country. After that, it'd be too late. He'd just claim his recovery was going so well he could walk sooner than expected, and we'd have nothing to say.
"Lee Se-hyung's heading to Germany soon. We need to nail down the date."
"...To find that out, we'd probably need to bug him, huh?"
Bugging. Now that's an idea. It wasn't like we needed it for legal evidence anyway.
I stared at him instead of answering. Taesik stared back blankly. After holding my gaze for a long moment, realization dawned, and his eyes widened as he shouted.
"You want me to bug him?"
"I never said that."
"...Right, yeah. You didn't say that, Counselor."
"I just meant use every means at your disposal. Don't misunderstand."
"Haha, got it. I'll make a quick call then."
Taesik pulled out his phone right there and dialed Sanggil. He winked at me, then stepped into the boss's office. I crossed my arms, eyeing the firmly shut door.
Just pinning down Lee Se-hyung's departure date would be good enough. Better if we got more, of course.
"Hello, Mr. Choi Sanggil?"
"Oh, yeah. Hello."
Sanggil bowed ninety degrees to the approaching staffer. This was the Light and Salt Disabled Welfare Foundation, where Lee Se-hyung worked as a welfare officer. Today's role: a kind-hearted guy so moved by Lee Se-hyung's documentary that he'd volunteered for the day.
"Perfect timing—it's bath day today, so we needed extra hands. Do you need a volunteer confirmation certificate?"
"Nah, no need for that!"
"Haha. Come this way then. I'll get you a T-shirt to change into, and just follow me. Got it?"
"Yep!"
The black T-shirt sported a big red heart in the center, with "Light and Salt" in cute lettering. Bible verses adorned the facility walls, and staff called each other "Pastor," marking it as a Protestant foundation.
Working a con at a religious place. One slimy bastard like that could tarnish the whole group.
The changing room walls were plastered with clippings of the foundation's past activities. And the face appearing most often? Lee Se-hyung, son of Assemblyman Lee Jeong-chan.
'Does your God know you're committing these sins?!' Sanggil glared at a beaming photo of Lee Se-hyung, cursing inwardly.
Hmm, come to think of it, God's all-knowing, so yeah, He probably does.
'And He's just watching? God, that's cold, ain't it?'
Ah, right. Lawyer Cha Juhan said he'd expose it all. So He'll drop the hammer then.
'You're on the job, huh? Sorry for the misunderstanding, God bro.'
After trash-talking God in his head—better safe than sorry about hell—he apologized just in case.
He changed and stepped out to find the staffer waiting.
"Today’s bath day for our residents, so plenty of other volunteers will show up."
"Got it. First time, but I'll give it my all!"
"You'll pair up with another staffer, two per group. If anything unexpected happens, follow the staffer's lead."
"Yep."
They took the elevator, walls plastered with posters. Lee Se-hyung's photo took center stage, of course. Staring at one, Sanggil casually spoke up.
"Staffer?"
"Yes?"
"Not sure if I should say this, but honestly, I never cared much about disabled welfare before."
"Haha, really? Life's tough these days—no shame in that. People like you volunteering mean the world."
"Truth is... I got really moved by that rebroadcast documentary on Lee Se-hyung. Losing both legs in a sudden accident but not losing hope, spreading God's gospel to the world, humbly serving the lowly... It hit me hard."
Sanggil recited lines he'd memorized from the foundation's newsletter like a recorder. The staffer lit up.
"Lee Se-hyung's amazing, right? Son of Assemblyman Lee Jeong-chan, could live easy, but chooses the hard path. Lots of folks like you come after seeing his doc."
"I see... Is Lee Se-hyung in today?"
"Of course. He'll run programs while we handle baths."
"Great, I might meet him then. I admire him so much—would love to shake his hand."
"Haha, sure. He'd love meeting someone like you. Try during lunch; I'll introduce you. Here we are."
They stepped out to a circular auditorium-like space. Lee Se-hyung would run programs here while they bathed residents. More people than expected. Sanggil hated even washing himself sometimes—bathing others? Daunting. But rewarding work, so he steeled himself and headed to the baths with his assigned staffer.
Four hours later.
"Hah, fuck..."
He clapped a hand over his mouth, worried someone heard the curse. Luckily, no one around. Those four hours? Top five toughest in his life. Even the staffer apologized, saying a few hated baths and they'd gotten all of them.
Still, did some good—feels kinda proud. Probably shaved ten steps off my hell sentence.
Sanggil, who'd never volunteered before, felt oddly purified. Maybe he'd do this occasionally.
"Sanggil! Time to eat!"
His bath buddy staffer approached.
"Oh, yeah!"
Finally, time to meet Lee Se-hyung. Residents had eaten and moved to other programs; staff remained for meals. And there was Lee Se-hyung at a nearby table.
"Sanggil, you wanted to greet Lee Se-hyung, right?"
"Oh, yeah. Haha, huge fan..."
"Come join us."
Lucky break. Sanggil followed to Lee Se-hyung's table.
"Lee Se-hyung, this is today's volunteer, Choi Sanggil."
"Hello! Choi Sanggil here. Honored to meet you."
Sanggil set his tray down and extended a hand. Lee Se-hyung smiled and shook it.
"Hi. Tough work today, huh?"
"Nah, no biggie. I've admired you forever—thrilled to meet you!"
"Our Sanggil here's full of spirit, eh?" the staffer chimed in approvingly.
Lee Se-hyung nodded, pulling out the chair beside him.
"Sit here."
Jackpot. Sanggil inwardly cheered and sat. He'd only tailed from afar before; this was his first close encounter. Looks could deceive—nothing like his dad Lee Jeong-chan. Genuinely kind-faced. That probably helped his public appeal.
Sanggil shoveled in big bites, sidelong-glancing. He'd fake dropping his spoon to plant the bug on the wheelchair.
"I'll head out first."
But Lee Se-hyung, who'd started earlier, finished and lifted his tray. Damn. Plan B.
Sanggil stuffed the rest in his mouth and stood.
"I'm done too!"
"Sanggil, starving? Eat more."
His cheeks puffed, the staffer looked up. Sanggil shook his head.
"Nah! Hey, staffer—coffee? Vending machine up front."
"Uh... sure."
Lee Se-hyung eyed the pushy Sanggil uncomfortably but smiled and nodded. Image maintenance, probably. Sanggil didn't want coffee with a con man either, but work was work.
"Great!"
Trays returned, Sanggil approached waiting Lee Se-hyung.
"Staffer, if it's not rude... mind if I push your wheelchair?"
"It's electric..."
"...Still, it's my dream to push Lee Se-hyung's chair once!"
Sanggil bowed deeper than ninety. Lee Se-hyung looked pained but sighed.
"Fine. Haha..."
Sanggil darted behind, palming the bug from his pocket.
"Coffee's on me."
At the machine, he fished out coins.
Lee Se-hyung seemed adjusted to the enthusiasm, just smiling agreement.
"Oops."
Sanggil fumbled a coin to the floor.
"Dropped it. Hold on."
Pretending to pick it up, he slapped the bug under the wheelchair.
"What coffee?"
"Black for me..."
"Got it."
Feeding coins, Sanggil smirked inwardly.
Chug that coffee before your scam blows wide open. Heh. Vending machine joe's premium, but you order black... Fool who doesn't know good taste...