#144

The deliberation didn’t last long. There was neither time nor room for it.

“Prosecutor, I have a favor to ask.”

“Speak.”

“I want you to question Ki-beom about Kwon Il-taek’s case. More specifically, about Kwon Il-taek’s youngest son, Kwon Yong-joon.”

The sharp-witted Prosecutor Jeong immediately understood what Tae-heun was implying.

“With the police swarming around and a van ready, setting the mood will be a piece of cake.”

Prosecutor Jeong said with a confident expression.

“Don’t interrogate him too harshly.”

When Tae-heun said sternly, Prosecutor Jeong retorted, “You little prick, being so sensitive.” When Tae-heun questioned if this was the time to joke, Prosecutor Jeong raised both hands in surrender.

“Alright, alright. Why are you glaring like that? But were Kwon Yong-joon and Yoon Ki-beom really close?”

“Yeah, very close.”

Close to the point of jealousy. He was also the man who had monopolized Man’s cock for a long time. The thought made his stomach churn for no reason.

“Even after he scammed you?”

“It was that bastard’s father who scammed us.”

“Still. I don’t understand.”

Prosecutor Jeong frowned.

“Don’t try to understand, just do it. You’re good at what you do, Hyung. I’ll do what I’m good at.”

“Alright. Fine, let’s do that.”

They quickly came to an agreement.

In truth, Tae-heun’s idea was flimsy. So flimsy that even the most ignorant the man would never have fallen for it under normal circumstances.

But the surrounding environment was perfect for deception. Three vans full of police officers, three thugs, and the appearance of a prosecutor. It was a tense situation for anyone to see. An atmosphere that would intimidate anyone. Especially a farmer unfamiliar with such situations.

If they were to ask about Kwon Il-taek’s case, especially about Kwon Yong-joon, the man would naturally worry about Kwon Yong-joon.

“Tell him he called here around 2 PM on Tuesday.”

Tae-heun quickly recited the scenario.

Two days ago, on the dog days of summer when it was raining, Tae-heun had visited the Man’s house. After having lunch together, they each took a shower and changed clothes.

That day, the man stubbornly insisted on cleaning the bathroom. He seemed to need something to focus on without thinking, so Tae-heun let him do it. The the man diligently scrubbed the tiles after spraying strong bleach.

Tae-heun did the dishes and laundry. There were about three or four calls for the man at that time. The old man from the persimmon tree house in Angol called to ask if he was okay, Ms. Hyun-sook asked for headache medicine, and the Village Chief asked him to stop by Choi Gi-cheol’s place and bring something. Tae-heun answered all the calls and relayed them to the Man. So it was easy to deceive the Man.

“You always have such clever ideas.”

Prosecutor Jeong praised sarcastically.

“I’ll be outside, sweet-talking Yoon Ki-beom, so you start packing your bags.”

“Just one more thing.”

Prosecutor Jeong, who was about to leave, stopped and turned around.

“Can you catch Lee Seok-doo and Lee Hyun-joon?”

“I’ll catch them. I’ll definitely catch them and throw them in jail.”

“How?”

Prosecutor Jeong stared intently at Tae-heun.

“Shit. I’m the bait, aren’t I?”

No wonder he kept pushing him to go to Pyeongtaek.

No matter how ready Prosecutor Jeong was to give his life for Lee Seon-jae, he was still a prosecutor. A man with clear goals. That’s why Tae-heun liked Prosecutor Jeong. Because he was a man who wasn’t swayed by emotions. To accomplish great things, you have to be willing to sacrifice.

“You little shit. Listen to the way you talk.”

As expected, he didn’t deny it.

“Yeah, you’re the bait. When those bastards are desperately looking for you, we’ll hit them hard.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“You said that when I handed over the warehouse location too.”

At Tae-heun’s words, Prosecutor Jeong clicked his tongue.

“It’s not like we didn’t expect Lee Seok-doo to fight back. But this time, we can definitely get it done.”

Prosecutor Jeong said with genuine conviction. He seemed to have caught a real lead. When it came to Il-gwang, Tae-heun should know everything, but strangely, Prosecutor Jeong was being tight-lipped.

Is it something directly related to Lee Seon-jae?

Lee Seon-jae was himself, yet Tae-heun acted as if he were referring to a third party. He had lived under another name, and in just two months, he had truly become that person. It was easier than he thought. Suddenly, he thought of the Man. The the man who had lived as Yoon Ki-beom for ten years. If he was like this, how much more would the man be?

He quickly brushed the thoughts away.

“Okay. I’ll give them a fun time.”

He grinned.

Without the man knowing, he planned to have some fun on his own.

“Alright.”

With that, Tae-heun and Prosecutor Jeong each went to work.

As soon as Prosecutor Jeong left through the gate, Tae-heun went to the chicken coop. He wondered how the Watcher had managed to hide here, avoiding the dogs, but there were traces of digging from the forest towards the chicken coop. He was certainly dedicated.

Fortunately, the bag Tae-heun had hidden was still there. It was buried shallowly, but the area covered with planks was overgrown with weeds. Tae-heun removed the planks and pulled the bag out of the dirt. He dusted it off and placed it on the porch. That was all.

He planned to leave everything here. The expensive suits, the Italian shoes, the watch worth the price of a decent house. It was a place he would return to, or rather, a place he desperately wanted to return to. Except for the clothes and shoes he was currently wearing, he didn’t take the cheap work clothes and sneakers he had bought with the man either. After all, if the Watcher had been watching them all day yesterday and today, he would have noticed Tae-heun and the Man’s attire. So there was no need to make things easier for them.

The the man wouldn’t have much to take either. He was a man who had little to begin with. Besides, he would think he was just going to help Kwon Yong-joon for a while, so a few sets of underwear and clothes to change into would be all he needed.

He felt sorry for leaving the the child behind, but that was it. There was no hesitation. Tae-heun prepared to run away with the Man. It was an urgent situation, but thinking of it as a romantic escape made him feel excited. He was ready for a proper trip.

* * *

Yoon Ki-beom was flustered. Honestly, he couldn’t think straight.

He couldn’t believe that he was sitting face to face with a man who introduced himself as Prosecutor Jeong Jae-jin in a dark van. It felt surreal. Ki-beom had almost faced this situation once before. He had narrowly avoided it, but the fear of that day enveloped him. He clasped his hands together to keep from trembling. He squeezed them tightly until his fingernails dug in.

The prosecutor had been silent for five minutes. He kept flipping through documents and glancing at Ki-beom, as if he was observing something. Then, he finally opened his mouth.

“You know Kwon Il-taek, right?”

His tone was somewhat arrogant and indifferent. Moreover, he referred to the Chairman by his name without any honorifics. Even if he was a prosecutor, Ki-beom thought it was too much to do to an elderly man in his seventies.

“…Yes.”

“You also know Kwon Yong-gi and Kwon Yong-jae.”

“…Yes.”

Ki-beom answered as carefully as possible. It was the only survival method he had learned in the orphanage. Don’t say anything. Only answer the questions you’re asked. Especially, don’t even encounter the police.

But somehow, he had known Detective Oh Dae-Ho for ten years. Well, he wasn’t a bad person. He had been rude to him, but that was probably unavoidable. Because the real Yoon Ki-beom was a criminal. To be exact, it was a case with only circumstantial evidence and no concrete proof.

Wait, the real Yoon Ki-beom? Then does that mean there’s a fake one too?

No matter how flustered he was, Ki-beom clicked his tongue at himself for having such absurd thoughts.

“You probably know Kwon Yong-joon too.”

At the name Kwon Yong-joon, Ki-beom returned to reality.

“…Yes.”

“Have you heard where those people are?”

“Ah… that, Detective Oh, no, Detective Oh Dae-Ho said…”

The prosecutor frowned as Ki-beom trailed off.

“Answer only with yes or no.”

That’s right. Only answer the questions you’re asked.

“Ah, yes. I heard they’re in Incheon.”

“You heard correctly. But there’s a problem.”

The prosecutor leaned forward. His face was so close that they were almost touching. Ki-beom leaned back as far as he could against the seat, but there was nowhere to go. Even in the dim light, he could see the prosecutor’s eyes gleaming.

Ki-beom swallowed hard.

“How close are you to Kwon Yong-joon?”

The way he asked was somewhat unpleasant. It sounded almost sarcastic.

Does he know about my relationship with Yong-joon?

No. There’s no way he could know. He reassured himself that he was just being paranoid.

“We’re very close.”

Ki-beom answered firmly. It wasn’t like he was too cowardly to say they weren’t close when they were. Especially if it was about Yong-joon.

The only person who knew who he was. The younger brother who had remained silent until the end, even knowing that. The grateful guy who had helped him in every way to live as Yoon Ki-beom. Compared to that, sucking a cock was nothing.

Even if the Chairman had scammed them, even if he and Ji-hye ended up on the streets, he wouldn’t resent Yong-joon in the slightest. He wanted to do anything he could to help.

“Where did you hide him?”

He asked abruptly. His tone was harsh, unlike before.

“Where did you hide him?”

He could feel the prosecutor’s breath. An unpleasant, hot breath. Ki-beom struggled to keep his eyes open.

“Who…”

“Who else but Kwon Yong-joon!”

The prosecutor snapped in a low voice.

Even though it wasn’t loud, Ki-beom was startled. His tone was so sharp that it felt like his body was being cut. He was a terrifying man.

Ki-beom was completely intimidated.

“I didn’t hide him.”

“You don’t know where he is?”

“Yes. I don’t know.”

Ki-beom shook his head vigorously. He clasped his hands together even more tightly.

“Oh, come on. It’s no use hiding him. If he gets caught by the loan sharks, he’ll die. It’s better to hand him over to us.”

“Excuse me?”

“You don’t seem to understand the situation, but there’s a 100 million won reward on Kwon Il-taek. Right now, all the top gangsters in the country are looking for him with their eyes burning.”

As he said this, he leaned back again.

He sighed and took out a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket, offering one to Ki-beom first. Ki-beom took the cigarette with both hands. His hands were shaking uncontrollably, against his will.

“You’re just farming in this rural area, so you probably don’t know, but those guys are vicious. They’re the kind of guys who cut off your fingers and toes if they catch you.”

He kept saying scary things.

Ki-beom knew that world well too. He knew it too well, and it tormented him. He had stolen Yoon Ki-beom’s identity because he never wanted to face that world again, but the prosecutor didn’t know that and treated him like an ignorant peasant. He wanted to shout that he knew more than you did, that he had experienced more.

The prosecutor lit the lighter. Ki-beom didn’t want to smoke, but he had no choice but to take the cigarette. He puffed on the cigarette and lit it. Watching Ki-beom smoke, the prosecutor also put a cigarette in his mouth.

He must be in his late thirties or early forties. The prosecutor’s features, illuminated by the lighter, were rugged. He was far from handsome, but he was the type that the elders would like, saying he looked manly. Unlike his rugged face, his fingers were long and beautiful. They were the hands of someone who had only studied his whole life. The people Ki-beom had met during extracurricular activities mostly had hands like that.

The prosecutor, noticing Ki-beom’s gaze, stared intently at Ki-beom. Ki-beom quickly lowered his gaze.

“Where were you around noon on Tuesday?”

The prosecutor asked in a somewhat gentler tone.

“Tuesday, you mean…”

“The dog days of summer. Can’t you even remember what happened two days ago? It was raining, you know.”

“Ah. I was in the guest room then.”

“The whole time?”

The prosecutor asked the next question before Ki-beom could even finish speaking. He felt breathless for no reason.

“Ah, no. I stopped by the house for a bit.”

“What time?”

“Around 1 PM.”

“Until what time?”

“Until 2:30.”

“You must have received it then.”

The prosecutor smiled meaningfully.

Received what?

Ki-beom stared at the prosecutor. He couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“I’m asking if you received a call from Kwon Yong-joon. What did Kwon Yong-joon say?”

It was the first he’d heard of it.

As Ki-beom just blinked, the prosecutor looked like he was about to die of frustration.

“Kwon Yong-joon called Yoon Ki-beom’s house at 1:58 PM! Do you think I came here without any evidence?”

The prosecutor’s voice rose.

Yong-jun called?

Ki-beom tried to recall what happened two days ago.

Two days ago, it rained on Chobok. That day, he went home with Tae-heun, ate noodles, and then they each showered. He was so restless that he insisted on cleaning the bathroom.

Ki-beom liked the smell of bleach, which everyone else found harsh. Bleach that washed away all kinds of grime and residue. With it, even the dirtiest things became clean. Feces and urine, semen and bodily fluids, and blood too.

Ki-beom scrubbed the bathroom floor with a happy heart. Then his stuffy heart felt much better. He was so focused on cleaning that he didn’t know what was happening outside. There was a phone call. He remembered hearing the phone ring from far away. Tae-heun answered all of them and told him what they were about. Nothing important.

Ah. So Yong-jun called then too.

Tae-heun didn’t tell him about Yong-jun’s call. That was the only explanation.

“…Did he say? Huh?”

At the prosecutor’s urging, Ki-beom remembered that he was in the van again.

“What did Kwon Yong-joon say? Where is he?”

“I didn’t receive it.”

“Then who did?”

The prosecutor slashed the air with his clenched fist. He looked like he would have slammed it on the desk if there had been one.

“That…”

He didn’t want to say Tae-heun’s name. He must have had a reason for not telling him.

“Did the person inside receive it?”

“I’m not sure.”

Ki-beom mumbled.

“Yoon Ki-beom.”

The prosecutor sighed. He openly wore a look of disdain.

“I’m a prosecutor. It’s really not good to be uncooperative with me.”

“Yes.”

“You really didn’t receive it?”

“Yes. Really.”

Ki-beom nodded, his eyes sparkling. He did his best to show that he was telling the truth.

“Okay, whatever.”

The prosecutor backed down.

“Let’s say that’s the case.”

He still didn’t seem to believe him.

“Let’s stop here for now. Don’t do anything foolish to hide Kwon Yong-joon, even for his sake. That’s the way to save Kwon Yong-joon. According to the documents, his father and Hyung ate everything up, and he didn’t know anything. So, what I mean is, even if he’s caught, he won’t go to jail.”

Prosecutor Jeong, who had been arrogant and intimidating a moment ago, changed his attitude and explained kindly.

“Yong-jun won’t go to jail?”

“Yes. He won’t go. Absolutely. I guarantee it.”

That’s a relief. Ki-beom felt relieved. Yong-jun would never survive in prison. He would be hurt both physically and mentally.

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

Ki-beom regretted his earlier actions, wondering if he had given the impression that he knew about Yong-jun. He should have just kept it to himself. What an idiot.

The prosecutor stared at Ki-beom again.

“But your face is a mess too? Did you fight with the friend inside?”

He asked with curious eyes.

“Ah. No. It’s nothing.”

Ki-beom raised his hand and touched his face. The bruises and wounds were fading day by day. But unlike his face, his body was covered with traces left by Tae-heun. As he thought about it, his whole body suddenly heated up, and blood rushed to his lower body. At the same time, he was startled.

You pervert. You’re worse than scum.

Father whispered in his ear, mocking him. The sound was so vivid that it gave him goosebumps.

Ki-beom tried to cover his ears but barely stopped himself.

He felt a chill. He was ashamed of himself for suddenly having such lewd thoughts in a serious situation with the prosecutor. He deserved to be cursed by Father, he blamed himself.

“Handsome people are handsome no matter what they do. The world is so unfair.”

The prosecutor opened the door of the van, saying something frivolous.

Ki-beom squeezed his eyes shut at the sudden light.

Chapter 145