Chapter 82
Taesik's car wound through bustling streets teeming with people before slipping into a labyrinth of narrow alleys. Even though they hadn't gone far from the main drag, the crowds vanished in an instant. Threading carefully between cars packed tightly along the alley, the vehicle soon pulled up in front of a shabby commercial building.
"This is where the NIS guy and I grabbed some makchang last week. Not the best, but cheap as hell, so whatever."
On the first floor of the building sat a makchang joint with a rickety A-frame sign that looked ready to collapse. Next to it were a hardware store and a tiny pub, neither exactly sparkling clean.
Kang Minjae, who had gotten out of the car following me, glanced around curiously.
"Who's this NIS guy that we have to come all the way out here to meet?"
"You'll see when you meet him."
Taesik led the way inside. The stairwell to the basement was topped with a dead neon sign reading norae jupjeom—a karaoke bar. The walls were plastered with song selection charts from various vendors, jammed together haphazardly. It was early March 2009, but the latest listings were from February 2008, suggesting either zero maintenance or no business at all.
"Ah, shit. If that NIS bastard finds out you brought someone to his turf, he won't freak the fuck out, right? The guy's skinny as an anchovy, but when he loses it, he goes full apocalypse mode."
Taesik muttered at the karaoke bar entrance. When I jerked my chin for him to open the door instead of jawing, he sighed and kicked the metal door with a loud bang-bang.
The clamor echoed sharply enough that Kang Minjae clapped his hands over his ears. Moments later, frantic footsteps approached, and the door cracked open.
"We're not open. Go somewhere else."
A gaunt man with a grimy look snapped curtly. Eyes barely open, like he'd just rolled out of bed, Gukjeongwon clearly hadn't recognized Taesik yet. As he tried to slam it shut, Taesik jammed his foot in the gap.
"Hey, open your damn eyes. Sun's high in the sky and you're still crashing like an idiot?"
"Huh? Jang Taesik?"
Only then did Gukjeongwon rub his eyes, pick at the crust, and peer at us. The first time I'd met him, his hair had been long and shaggy; now it was a shoulder-length bob, probably still growing out. I itched to tell him seriously that long hair didn't suit him, but as a total stranger, it'd just come off as meddling.
"Who's that ridiculously handsome guy behind you? Doesn't look like he's in your league. Movie star or something?"
Gukjeongwon eyed Taesik suspiciously. Taesik glanced at me, then whispered to him.
"Be honest, I'm hotter, right?"
"Bullshit. Anyway, what the hell do you want?"
"This guy's here to see you. You gonna keep us standing out here? Move. Your dump's so pathetic, no need to be embarrassed."
Taesik flung the door wide, and Gukjeongwon, unable to resist the force, tumbled ass-first to the floor. Scrambling up on his bony limbs, he glared at Taesik and grumbled.
"All brawn, no brains. Fucking asshole. Wonder when he'll finally croak. Sigh, whoever you are, come on in."
Gukjeongwon flicked on the lights in the dim interior. A single orange bulb provided just enough glow to make out shapes. It didn't look like it was still operating as a karaoke bar, but the space screamed it anyway. The presumed counter was buried under a mountain of instant ramen cups, and the commercial fridge overflowed with pouch soju.
"So, handsome stranger, what brings you to see me? You look way younger than me—cool if I drop the formalities?"
Gukjeongwon lit a cigarette with a match and asked me.
"He's six years older than you, you rude little shit."
Taesik smacked Gukjeongwon's head, knocking the cig from his mouth to the floor. Gukjeongwon seemed more shocked that I was his senior than by the hit, his jaw dropping.
I couldn't help chuckling. Astonishingly, this exchange matched the first meeting from my previous life exactly.
"Ahem. Sorry, hyungnim. That okay?"
"What hyungnim? Call him Lawyer Cha. Lawyer Cha, got it?"
I had no idea why Taesik, who usually called me an asshole, was suddenly playing drill sergeant, but we couldn't waste time on this pointless banter.
"You look about six years younger than me—mind if I speak casually?"
"Ah, sure. Lawyer Cha."
Gukjeongwon nodded obediently, suddenly polite.
"Nothing major. Just need you to analyze a video. Enhance the quality if possible."
"Hmm, quality enhancement. Tricky stuff. Gotta see the footage, but under ten minutes starts at a million won minimum. Longer than that, my price. No haggling. Deadline depends on the state too—at least two weeks."
"Two weeks? You slack for two and cram it all on the last day. Can't you do it in one?"
Gukjeongwon's eyes bulged like they might pop out as he stared at me, then shot Taesik a glare.
"You told him? You wanna die?"
"No! For real, I'm innocent this time. How'd Lawyer Cha even know that?"
"I saw you."
Gukjeongwon sighed deeply and stood.
He glanced back at me. "Got the video?"
I pulled the USB from my inner pocket and held it up. He nodded.
"This way."
Gukjeongwon led us down a hall crammed with rooms to the one marked "End." No lights inside, but the massive karaoke table was lit by monitors, and behind them, server towers spewed blinding blue and red LEDs. Even a brief stay made my eyes ache, like my vision was deteriorating. Scattered snack wrappers, crumpled soju pouches, and moldy ramen cups turned my stomach. It hadn't been this bad in my previous life—did meeting him years early mean enduring this mess now?
"Urk!"
Kang Minjae actually dry-heaved after scanning the room.
"Hand over the video."
Gukjeongwon plopped his ass into a narrow clear spot amid the trash and extended his hand. I placed the USB on it; he plugged it in and opened the file.
"Oh, this! Jeong Yeongjun's video, right? Shit, I sent this to you yesterday, asshole. You were bitching so much to save you!"
Gukjeongwon cackled; Taesik sighed, probably embarrassed about his Dae-cheol excuse, though I'd never bought it.
"But what do you want analyzed? Thought it was some trial CCTV since you're a lawyer, but maybe you're into... porn?"
"What do you take me for? No. Jeong Yeongjun's our client. Hoping to spot clues in the footage, so enhance it."
Kang Minjae bristled. Gukjeongwon scratched his scruffy beard.
"Hm. Jeong Yeongjun denies knowing anything, huh? You're defending him?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"What specifically? Gotta focus enhancements there."
"Uh, ID the guy filming. And the location in the video."
"Just enhance the whole 24 minutes."
Gukjeongwon turned to me like I'd said something outrageous.
"Pardon? Look, Lawyer Cha, you might not know, but in this biz, there's the original immutable law. Even a god like me has limits if the source quality sucks."
"Hey, Gukjeongwon. Don't play dumb and haggle."
"...Pardon?"
"You can do it. Sure, one day might be tight, but minus sleep and meals, a week tops, right? That's your skill level."
"What? No, wait..."
Gukjeongwon looked genuinely flustered, repeating "no, wait" while staring at me. Then the sparks flew at Taesik beside him.
"Fuck! What the hell is this guy? Jang Taesik, you blabbed everything, didn't you? Thought I was hooking you up after ages, but you fuck me over?"
"I didn't, you psycho! Never even mentioned you to him! He just demanded to meet you today outta nowhere!"
"Then how's he know everything? Seriously?"
Gukjeongwon gnawed his grimy long nails in confusion.
"Don't worry. I'll pay plenty. As long as the results are good."
"...For real?"
"Jang. Ever known me to stiff on payment?"
Taesik shook his head.
"Hm, if this greedy fucker's on board, must be legit. Advance a million won first."
Still demanding upfront—same as ever. He'd blamed a past scam in my previous life; guess that'd already happened. I'd anticipated it and stopped by the bank. I pulled a million-won check from my wallet, shoved aside some snack bags to clear space, and signed it.
"Exactly one week. Pay the rest the second I get the video. Late? 200,000 won a day penalty, so hit the deadline."
"What? No such thing exists! You're hilarious, man. Was gonna cut you slack 'cause you're hot, but who the fuck adds 200,000-won dailies?"
"Don't be late."
"True, but... that pressure kills the vibe. Can't work under those terms."
"Fine? Report you to the district office and shut you down? What ward is this—Yeongdeungpo-gu?"
"Sorry. I'll contact you in a week."
He slid the check toward himself. I nodded. Business done. We'd already burned too much time—back to the office.
"Take care, Lawyer Cha."
The now-compliant Gukjeongwon saw us off not just at the karaoke door but all the way to the building entrance. As Taesik's car pulled away, I checked my phone. New message from Jeong Yeongjun.
Whether it's the video or Im Hyeong-o's side... something's gotta turn up.