Chapter 263

Hwagun Reservoir lay just outside Seoul. If they left right now, they'd arrive by ten at the latest—plenty of time. As I shared the text I'd received, Taesik slammed both hands down on his desk and shot to his feet like he'd been waiting for this moment.

"Let's go, Lawyer!"

He looked thrilled at the chance for a mission that wasn't his usual background check drudgery, slinging his suit jacket over one shoulder with a stylish flair.

"Don't we need to come along too?"

"If Choi the reporter and Jo Bongjun tag along, that's three cars—too much hassle."

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠brushed it off curtly and tossed the car keys to Kang Minjae.

"You're taking me?"

He caught them with both hands, his face lighting up with delight. I just needed a driver, but he was acting like I'd handed him the keys to the kingdom—made me half want to snatch them back. Wonder if he realized that.

"If you don't want to, fine."

"No way! Come on, Lawyer, don't be such an amateur. Like I'd ever say no."

Fretting that I'd reclaim them, he stuffed the keys deep into his inner pocket and hustled after me.

Taesik and his crew would take their car; Kang and I would ride together in mine. Just in case Lee Jeongchan's people were watching, Taesik made a show of departing separately from somewhere else.

Truth be told, bringing Kang along was like carrying a good-luck charm. If this was a setup—and Jo Bongjun was right, if they planned to bash my head in with a frying pan and drag me off—then they'd likely have eyes on us from the moment I set out. But with Kang Gwanung's grandson in tow, at least they wouldn't try faking a traffic accident to take me out. Even a frying pan swing might give them pause with those eyes glaring from the passenger seat.

Lee Jeongchan was a politician, after all.

Whether he knew it or not, the pumped-up Kang started humming in the driver's seat and launching into his nonsense.

"Hwagun Reservoir's famous as a fishing spot, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Went night fishing there a few times with buddies back in the day. So much fun. Oh, this homeless dude stole our smokes once, and the shop auntie said he was notorious for it—we'd picked the wrong mark. Probably swiped more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too, 'cause our snacks and booze were gone! And get this, it's kinda slippery if you sit too close to the water? One friend nearly tumbled in...."

I sat shotgun, searching Hwagun fishing spot on my phone while half-listening to Kang's ramble. Looked like folks fished even at dawn—not packed, but decent turnout.

Was Lee Jeongchan hitting the rods to clear his head before his prison stint? I'd heard no such thing, but it wasn't implausible.

I nodded along vaguely, staring out the window. I didn't know the first thing about fishing, hated bugs, but if he insisted we cast lines together and chat, I'd have to turn him down. Idle thoughts like that.

"There's this killer pollock hangover soup spot there."

In the lull, Kang piped up slyly. It was nine now; nav said they'd pull up around 9:40. Appointment at eleven—not rushed.

"Then let's grab a bowl each."

"Yes! Hell yes!"

Kang nodded like a bobblehead and stomped the pedal, eager for his soup.

"Keep the speed steady."

"Got it."

At this rate, they wouldn't get me via Lee Jeongchan's plot—they'd both end up crossing the rainbow bridge thanks to Kang's lead foot.

"No exact spot at Hwagun Reservoir, right?"

By 10:30, Taesik and his team were scattered nearby, keeping watch. Kang and I grabbed coffees at the reservoir entrance shop. Half an hour early, but no sign of Lee Jeongchan.

The shop area was lit up bright, but past that into the reservoir? Pitch black. A quick peek showed anglers toting high-lumen lanterns each. Scattered lights inside, sure, but mostly shadows.

Even if Lee was in there, he wouldn't be visible. Common sense said near the entrance if no precise spot given. Otherwise, he'd confirm my arrival and text a follow-up.

"...Hmm."

Eleven rolled around. Coffees drained, no passersby. I called Lee—no answer.

Something come up? Or was it a trap after all?

Mind churning, Kang pointed into the darkness.

"Just to be safe, wanna loop inside? He might be deeper in."

"Yeah."

Past the shop into the reservoir proper, a few anglers dotted the perimeter. Reservoir was big, so they spaced out wide—but sparse enough that their lantern glow barely pierced the gloom.

"What a joke. Lures you out, ghosts, no contact."

We circled, peering casually at the anglers' faces. No Lee Jeongchan anywhere.

"Weird."

"Think he broke into your place while you were out? Bugged it or something?"

"House has nothing worth taking. I'll sweep it with a detector. Office and studio too."

"Sigh. Total waste."

In his previous life, Lee ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jeongchan had deep ties to Wooshin. Once president, he'd funneled them massive contracts, ballooning their empire. So if he had dirt to spill, it'd be explosive, whatever it was.

That was why I'd risked it. Now? Frustrating.

"Head back for now."

In the end, after wandering till midnight, they caught nothing and returned to Seoul empty-handed.

From that day, I called Lee Jeongchan whenever I had a gap. Left a few texts too—no replies. His trial loomed a week out, and once it kicked off, meeting would be tougher. Urgency gnawed at me.

But nothing.

Meanwhile, presidential election prep hit full stride. Word from Lee Se-hwa: camp launch date set.

"Hey, Cha lawyer. Come on in."

Lee Se-hwa had summoned me to a Korean banquet spot to intro folks she'd meet at today's camp launch. I'd pledged to join her camp, so helping her out was the real way to square that debt.

I'd crammed on Free Justice Party brass right up till now.

"Looks like no one's here yet."

"Called you early on purpose. You don't know our party folks well yet, so figured I'd give the rundown. They don't know you either, so I briefed 'em. Your stiff personality? Perfect recipe for misunderstandings with first-timers."

She had me pegged. Truth was, I had a few traits tailor-made to rub old-school types the wrong way.

First, I didn't smile much. Not on purpose—just couldn't fake it well. People said it was lack of practice, but nope. Forced grins looked off, soured my face worse.

Second, zero charm offensive. Maybe why I envied Kang Minjae. Clueless on elder-pleasing jokes or witty comebacks.

Socially, I'd caught plenty of "rude punk" flak from elders. And election camps? Elder central.

"Oh, Representative. Mind if I ask something while we've got time?"

"Shoot."

"About former Representative Lee Jeongchan."

She shrugged at the name.

"More to check on that guy? Minghwa Pharma's wrapped."

"No, it's personal. About Lee himself."

"What happened?"

Her puzzled look screamed, What business would you have with him? It hit home: to anyone who knew our history, this "personal errand" reeked of oddity.

When Lee first dangled Wooshin intel, I'd figured smart move on his part. But no-show at Hwagun, then radio silence? Maybe I'd been naive about him.

"His trial's a week away, right?"

"Yep."

"Just curious if he's prepped. No news lately."

"That blew up ages ago—news dried up. You're dominating headlines with the fresh Hanyeong Group Seol Hyo-seok mess. Man, you own Korea's issues."

She chuckled teasingly. I'd hoped she'd know if trouble hit Lee, but no red flags. Back to intros, briefing the day's meets. I pored over her handouts, committing to memory.

Thirty minutes in.

"Huh?"

Our ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠phones buzzed in unison.

"Weird coincidence?"

She eyed my ringing phone, waggling hers.

"Pick up. I'll take mine."

We pressed phones to ears simultaneously.

Park Younggi's voice crackled urgently from the receiver.

"With Representative Lee Se-hwa."

"...Go ahead."

What?

"...The Lee Jeongchan I know?"

"Cause of death?"

"What the..."

"Yes."

"Tell me why."