SATURDAY 69

“Kid… Kidnapping?”

I asked again, wondering if I had misheard him. Kidnapping. However, I soon realized for myself that I hadn’t misheard. When the call was cut off, hadn’t they said there was a loud noise along with threatening sounds in the local Philippine language?

“It almost happened, but fortunately, the bodyguards are excellent.”

Mr. Taeseon shrugged his shoulders. His story went like this: on the way from Manila Airport to the lodging, armed assailants attacked the car. They looked like locals in every way and were carrying guns.

Mr. Taeseon, who had been in the middle of a call, hung up for the moment and left the response to the bodyguards. The bodyguards also quickly drew their weapons.

Actually, the kidnappers made a mistake from this point. They should have prevented the bodyguards from drawing their guns in the first place. Whether they felt burdened by engaging in a shootout in the middle of the city, the kidnappers pointed a gun at the head of the youngest secretary who was at the wheel and forced their way into the car.

The bodyguards were also in a difficult position. No matter if they were robbers — they said they thought they were robbers at the time — if they killed them instantly and those men had a connection with the police, things could get complicated. This was especially true because Mr. Taeseon was not the type to hand out bribes to high-ranking officials.

However, at that moment, Jin Chaeha — a twenty-five-year-old who hadn’t been a secretary for long, as Mr. Taeseon described him — suddenly let out a roar, grabbed the muzzle aimed at his head, and swung it away.

The kidnapper, who never imagined a young man with a small build of only 150cm would act like that, stood there dazed and fired toward the windshield, which shattered, sending fragments pouring into the car.

In that gap, the bodyguards overpowered the kidnappers and pushed them out of the vehicle, then started the car even with the windshield shattered. Then… they said motorcycles followed from behind while firing guns. Right in the middle of the road….

In the Philippines, there are police guarding every large building. Seeing them engage in an open shootout in such a place, I thought they must have someone very powerful backing them up.

With driving skills unimaginable for his age and experience, Jin Chaeha even shouted at another secretary, Mr. Jang Minsu — who was beside him screaming and crying — saying, ‘It’s distracting, so be quiet!’ as he sped through roads where taxis, buses, and private cars were tangled together like a spiderweb.

Once they reached a crowded area, the kidnappers could no longer fire their guns. Eventually, they were unable to overtake them in the heavy traffic on the main road and fell behind.

…It was a relief they were more scatterbrained kidnappers than expected. No, was it that Jin Chaeha and the bodyguards’ evasion skills were just that superior? It wouldn’t have been easy to escape motorcycles while in a sedan.

To avoid location tracking, the group apparently discarded their respective cell phones on the street, abandoned the car in the middle of the road, and walked into a small hotel in Manila. There, they checked in under a bodyguard’s name. It was a hotel so small that as long as the representative checked in, they didn’t even check the passports of the rest of the party.

Of course, in that process, a bit of… cash was delivered to the hotel owner. Mr. Taeseon was not a person so rigid as to be stubborn about such things.

Hiding in that hotel, they refrained from making calls out of concern for potential wiretapping, stayed for a while, and eventually rented out the entire hotel, waiting until it was safe.

‘Until it was safe’ meant until the Chairman of Joyfood received word and came to find them personally.

The Chairman of Joyfood was a man of great power within the Philippines. There are rumors that he could do business with such boldness because he was connected to the President. Since such a person came in person, their safety was now guaranteed.

Mr. Taeseon first expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chairman and promised to visit again in the near future, then headed straight to Manila Airport. It seems the Joyfood Chairman not only permitted this but even lent him his private jet.

It seems they couldn’t let their guard down even at the airport because someone might have been looking for an opening. Mr. Taeseon spoke of these events in a light tone, but in reality, that tension and anxiety must have been extraordinary.

“Then did you come straight to the hospital from the airport? How did you know…?”

“I heard it from Mr. Chaein. That you went to Inhyun University Hospital. It’s obvious…. The Shaman and the Professor must have called you out.”

Since it was an indisputable fact, I quietly shut my mouth. For some reason, I felt like a fool for going without suspicion just because the Shaman called. However, I know myself — I would probably go again the next time there is a summons from the Shaman.

“Inyoung-ah.”

“Yes….”

“Do you know who sent the kidnappers? And do you know what they were trying to do?”

“To kidnap Mr. Taeseon and….”

I couldn’t bring myself to say the next words. Would they have done that just because they had no one to play with? Naturally, it would have been to kidnap and kill him.

But would there be someone harboring such a grudge against Mr. Taeseon? Perhaps someone who found the contract with Joyfood uncomfortable.

As I was lost in thought, Mr. Taeseon said nonchalantly.

“Why think so hard? It’s the Shaman and the Professor.”

“….”

I stared blankly at Mr. Taeseon. After looking at him like that for a long time, I frowned and shook my head side to side. A contract killing. In my head, I now know that the Shaman and the Professor are bad people. But… to the point of a contract killing, isn’t that a bit too much of a stretch?

“You think it’s a stretch, don’t you?”

…How did he know….

As I hesitated, Mr. Taeseon moved closer to me and checked the IV while speaking. As if it were no big deal.

“A killer… it’s so cliché in this day and age.”

“….”

“But they do those cliché things, those childish things, the things no one would fall for. By ghostishly finding an opponent it will work on.”

I blinked. I was the one who was falling for those cliché things, those childish things, and those things no one would fall for every single time. But… even if I know it’s a lie, even if I notice something is wrong, it is simply difficult to disobey the words of those two.

To be honest, I didn’t like those two as much as I used to. No, it was actually closer to dislike. But I keep following their words. I get curious if I don’t hear from them, and there are even times when I want to contact them first. Even I think I’m a severe case.

But no matter what….

“Inyoung-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know who turns up when you investigate the background of all those Koreans who die abroad?”

“….”

I don’t know. I shook my head.

“Koreans who have a grudge against that person or are entangled in money issues.”

As I opened my mouth in surprise, Mr. Taeseon stroked my hair and laughed.

“Nine times out of ten, that’s how it is. There’s a reason people say you can hire a Filipino killer for 300,000 won. Though in reality, it’s not 300,000 won.”

I didn’t want to know the real price. I was just curious how Mr. Taeseon knew.

“And I already finished the investigation while coming back to Korea. The kidnappers… they probably intended to kidnap and murder me, but the mastermind is Jang Sehyeon.”

“Professor Jang…?”

“Yes. Your favorite Professor Jang.”

Saying so, Mr. Taeseon tapped the tip of my nose as if teasing me. It felt like he was playfully rebuking a child who was slow to understand.

“How….”

“Someone like Jang Sehyeon has at least one connection in the Philippines. He made the request through that connection. The kidnappers have all been arrested for now… but there’s no knowing when they might be released. To go back to the Philippines, I have to settle things with Jang Sehyeon first.”

I couldn’t believe it. To think such a story, something that would only appear in a movie, happened to Mr. Taeseon. Moreover, hearing the story, it truly was a touch-and-go situation. If the youngest secretary hadn’t shown such wit, there’s no telling what would have happened.

“Ah, that’s right. I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you either, Inyoung. Honestly, even the hotel phones weren’t in a situation to be trusted, and although I received a new cell phone after arriving in Korea, I spoke with Mr. Chaein first and then flew straight to the hospital.”

“That’s okay…. Ah, no, it’s not okay. I was worried….”

“I’m sorry.”

Seeing Mr. Taeseon’s eyebrows drooping low, it became difficult to say anything more. I was simply confused.

Professor Jang tried to kill Mr. Taeseon? Really…? Who could easily believe this?

But if it were true….

“Is it for certain…?”

“Hmm?”

“About Professor Jang. That the Professor… to Mr. Taeseon….”

“Yes, it’s certain. I’ve found all the evidence. Though I won’t use it to pressure him just yet.”

“….”

Something surged inside my head.

A kind person. A good man. The humorous and gentle Professor. And the Shaman who occasionally took my side and listened to me in a desolate household.

The images of those two slowly… flickered out like illusions in my mind.

“It might be hard to accept, but there is one more thing to tell you, Inyoung-ah.”

“Yes….”

“Your parents’ accident.”

I stared blankly at Mr. Taeseon.

“That was Professor Jang’s doing as well.”