Aera recalls their previous conversation with Lucas. 'All you have to do is remain with us for a month. Just one month, after that you may decide whether or not you wish to continue with us. You can return here if you don't wish to stay with us. Nobody can stop you.'
She then reflected over her drink at Jenny's restaurant yesterday. 'What if they knew where I was staying and my friends? What if they harm my friends? Should I tell them about Lucas's proposal and that I'll be spending a month with my parents.'
She spoke to herself, "Is Lucas the one who frightened me with those thugs. Because he wants me to leave with him… What was his intention behind those actions?"
Han-na shook Aera awake by shaking her. "Aera, come to your senses. We are out of time. Aera…" Han-na shouts.
"First, we must leave this apartment; your brother is waiting downstairs." He took Aera's hand and walked out of her apartment.
He tries to leave. But Aera stopped him, Han-na exclaims, "What Aera?"
Aera says, "Backside… On the backside of the apartment, there is a step. Come on this way." To get away, they both took the stairs.
Lucas enters the flat at the same time. He pulls open the door that was already open. When he entered, he noticed the trolley bag beside the door. "Aera, are you here? Come on out… It's getting late."
Lucas has checked all of the rooms, but she is not present. "Where has she vanished to? Has she gotten away from me?"
"Check down there, if you see Aera, catch her," Lucas said on his phone.
Aera and Han-na exited the building. Unfortunately, those guys were aware of their presence. One of the thugs yells, "She is there. Go after her."
While those thugs are chasing Aera and Ha-na, they take off sprinting. They both took to the streets and little alleyways, but were pursued by thugs.
"What happened?" Han-na inquires when Aera comes to a halt. "Hurry up, Aera. They've been keeping an eye on us."
Aera panting heavily, "There is no way forward here. That's where the road stops."
While they were conversing, a gang of thugs entered the street. But Aera and Han-na were not nearby when those thugs saw them.
When one of the thugs phones rings, he answers it in speaker mode. "Did you catch her?" Lucas says on the other end of the call.
The thug replied, "No boss. They were missed."
Lucas yells, "I'll pay twice, catch her at any cost. If anyone tries to defend her, kill them without hesitation. I'll take care of the rest."
While both of them were hiding under the car, the phone conversation overheard Aera.
Those thugs left after a few minutes. Han-na and Aera emerged from beneath the car. They then ran away in a different direction.
When Anderson tries to call Aera, his phone beeps, "The number you have dialed is unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone."
Rang walks in, "You've been still trying to reach her? Give it a break, please hand over phone."
He snatches Anderson's phone, which leaves him stunned, "76 times...! Why had you tried 76 times to call her?"
Anderson's face appears weary, and his eyes are red. "Is it something bad that happened to her? Why didn't she even pick up the phone once?"
"Ander, take it easy. Perhaps she was preoccupied with something else or had forgotten to charge her phone. Take it easy on yourself. First clean yourself... Then…"
Anderson asks, "What then?"
"About Johnson... He is currently in Korea. Our guards discovered where he had been staying."
"Are you going to throw him a big welcome party…? Bring him here quickly."
"Mr. Lee, Jeson and his wife checked out of the hotel this morning," Park says as she enters the meeting room.
Lee said, "Start the car. We shouldn't miss them again. Everyone, hurry up." Everyone rushed out of the room.
"Mr. Lee, have you had any idea where they went?" Park inquired, who was driving the car.
"I had no idea. They checked out at 10 A.M., so they are still in Seoul. They haven't strayed that far."."
Jeson called out Bo-ra's name, but she was lost in thought. She remembers them drinking at Jenny's restaurant yesterday. She recalls the puzzled expression on Aera's face.
Bo-ra cries out unexpectedly, "Stop the car."
Park abruptly made the break. Everyone shook and moved in front of the movement because of the unexpected break.
Mr. Lee asks, "Bo-ra, what's wrong with you?"
"Aera..., I think we should check Aera's house first."
Everyone was staring at her.
"What's your name, by the way? Ahh… Jenny... Aera's best friend, right?" asked Lucas.
Jenny's restaurant was filthy, with damaged tables, and chairs, as well as broken glasses.... The place appears to be in a state of chaos. Jenny's forehead was dripping with blood.
"Answer me... Ms. Jenny," said Lucas, placing his shoe on Jenny's chair
Jenny said, "I swear, I have no idea what you are talking about? Why did Aera run away, out of the blue?"
"I'm curious as well; she's a close friend of yours. She hadn't told you that she was leaving me today, had she?"
"No."
After give some thought, he said, "I believe you. Tell me firsthand if you know anything about her. Take care of your wounds."
Bo-ra rushed over to Aera's apartment. She yells while opening the door, "Aera… Aera... She isn't here."
Park speculated, "Perhaps she left with them."
Bo-ra explained, "No. Aera would never do such a thing, without even telling us. "
"Then explain about this," Lee says as he show Bo-ra the trolley bag. "I believe she intended to depart with them, but she didn't. She probably got away from them."
While they were speaking Bo-ra's phone rings. She replies, "Hello…." "What?" "Jenny…"
They rushed towards Jenny's strewn-about eatery. Strangely, Bo-ra looked around, went near Jenny. "Blood...! What happened, Jenny?"
Lee inquired, "Was Lucas here? Looking for Aera?"
Jenny explains, "Yes. He was the one who smashed everything. He appeared to be a bit of a loose cannon. He was acting like a monster... Aera had never previously noted his obnoxious behavior."
Bo-ra says, concerned, "Come, I'll treat your wound."
"It's not a big deal."
As Park enters the restaurant, Bo-ra questioned him, "Is Han-na still not answering his phone?"
"Yes…" he replies.
Jenny remarked, "I believe, Han-na is with Aera."
Lee wonders, "What? How did you know?"
"When Lucas arrived, he indicated that she was accompanied by a man. He was inquisitive about him. But I remained silent about him. I'm sure Han-na is watching out for her."
"Eat this." A bowl of soup is moved towards Aera by Han-na. Aera, on the other hand, appears to be in despair. Both are at a small restaurant with only one light and an unkempt atmosphere.
He adds, "Don't worry, they won't know about this place. No one will ever claim that this as a restaurant." He looked around the desolate place. "However, the flavor is fantastic... You appear to be quite frail, so eat it. Please taste this dish."
Aera slowly taste the soup, "You, too, eat."
Han-na said with a smile, "Yes." "There is motel nearby, we spent the night there. We will discuss these things in the morning."
"Yes," Aera responded without looking at him, her attention focused on her food.
Han-na gives her the room key, "I am next to your room. If you need anything, just knock on my door. Importantly, don't switch on your phone."
"Yes," as she said, she walks into the room.
While the door swings upwards, Anderson enters the underground pathway, which was quite dark. One or two lights turn on as he steps in. Rang is also walking in his nearby.
There is a man seated in a chair. His mouths were covered and his hands were tied. Anderson makes the eye gesture of pulling the man's mouth coverings off. The scarf around his mouth is untied by one of the guards.
"Do you know who I am?" Anderson said this while standing close to the man.
"And… Ander…"
"You seem to have forgotten my name. Then, I will tell you my name. My name is Anderson."
"Ander... Anderson..."
"That's right, that's how everyone spells my name. So, since I'm bored, how about we play some games? How about a game of billiards, horseback riding, or... a gun shooting game?"
He takes his pistol from his pocket and places it on the table "Untie his hands as well."
He draws the pistol closer to him, "Take this gun, and shoot me. That's exactly what you want."
"Forgive me Anderson… sorry..."
Anderson chuckles, "Forgive... You are the one who put me in this awkward situation. I never treated you as a business partner. I treated you as if you were a pal… How dare you backstabbed me...?" he yelled angrily.
"Tell me what insisted you, did things like that… and you are holding hands with whom?"
Johnson begged, "Spare me… Please… I will tell you everything. Jeson is the one who insisted on me…"
"Here we go again. You're lying to me yet again."
Johnson knelt on the floor, his hands trembling. "I am saying true, believe me. Jeson gave me the task of organizing the meeting at the Dutch club."
"Better, if you shut your mouth." Anderson scratches his brow, "Rang, kill him."
"Ander… Ander…" Johnson screams. Anderson got up and moved out of that place.
Next morning, Han-na knocks on Aera's room door. But she didn't answer. He called her name numerous time, "Aera, now I am coming inside." He enters the room and searches for her, but she is nowhere to be found.
"Where did she go?"
"Are you looking for me?" says Aera, who is standing behind him.
Han-na startled, "You startled me. Where have you been?"
"Just get some air. Then we are leaving, right?"
Lim hands over Han-na's bike, "Aren't you two hurt?"
Han-na responded, "No worries. We are just fine."
"You two should go to Mr. Lee; he will help you."
"I considered it as well. Mr. Lee, on the other hand, is an untrustworthy individual. He keeps a lot of things hidden from us. Also, Lucas should have paid a visit to Mr. Lee's place for Aera."
Lim asks, "Then, we are you planning to go?"
"We are going to Busan since I have a relative there. I'll figure out what's going on after a while. Also, inform Bo-ra that when she is alone, Aera is with me."
"Yes, the two of you, be careful," says Lim.
Han-na passes her the bike helmet, "Take a seat Aera."
Aera questions as they ride in the bike together, "Which relative are there in Busan?"
Han-na replies, "I don't have any relatives in Busan. I lied to him."
"What? Stop the bike…"
Aera stepped off the bike and asked, "Then where exactly are we going?"
"To find Anderson…"
"Anderson! How? Did you find out where he's been staying?" she intriguedly asked.
"No, but sort of. I came across a man who has been engaged in Mafia-related activities, such as gambling and clubs..., If we start with him, we will gain something about Anderson. But, we have a problem."
"What problem?"
"I know nothing about him, expect his name. While I was waiting for his address, an unexpected situation occurred. Don't worry, we will find him. He's in Seoul."
Rang enters in Anderson's work-room, "You've mentioned when talking to Johnson that he was lying, what's that even mean?"
"That is…" He tries to tell, but a guard appears out of nowhere. "What's the matter?"
A guard replied, "The girl you mentioned, I went through her location, but she isn't there?"
"What does that mean? Check carefully once more…"
"Sir, I checked thoroughly three to four times, sir, but she isn't there."
Anderson gets confused. While Rang says, "Sir, then I'll go and check for her."
"No need. I will go."
Rang interjects, "If somebody sees you, sir, that will put you in danger."
"Something feels off. Two days have passed and I still can't get to her phone. She is now missing. I have no patience, not anymore. Rang…, stay here and be vigilant."
"Sir…"
"Calm down. I won't get caught in any one's hand."
"What are you two doing here? I didn't ask any ones help, just leave." said Jenny to Park and Jeong.
While Bo-ra enters the restaurant, "I am the one who requested them to arrange the restaurant in a good manner. Why?"
Jenny states, "I don't want to arrange it."
"Why Jenny? How on earth could you run a business in this condition? You go and get some rest, we will take care of it."
Jenny said, "Stop it. How could I do business with this state? Still not having any news regarding Aera. Is she alive or not? That's the thought that keeps running through my head. We have to find Aera first, until then the restaurant is closed."
Jenny adds, "And don't move anything in my place. Leave it as it is."
Aera said hopelessly, "No one knows that man. We've been searching for him all day. I am too worn-out."
"We searched half of the pubs," says Han-na as she hands her the water bottle. "He will definitely be found if we look him for another day. Don't be hopeless, then."
"Yes," her gaze was drawn to the phone booth as she spoke.
Even though she didn't ask, Han-na can tell, understands from the way she looks. "No, Aera."
"Just one time. Only one…"
"Never, no way… It's risky to call them. What if Lucas knew about our whereabouts?"
Aera says, "I'm just going to make sure they're all right. I will talk to them in a minute, I swear. You hold on here." As she said, she approached the phone booth.
Han-na sighs, "Yes, one phone call, what would happen?"
After a short while, Han-na checked his watch and turned to face the booth. Aera wasn't there. He was shocked, "Aera… Where she is gone?" as he ran around the area.
He looked in all directions for her, eventually he saw Aera. He ran into her, grabbing his hands, "Aera, where are you going? Are you okay? Why do you look so upset? What happened? Tell me."
Her expression seems so blank, as Aera pulls his hands away from her clutches, "Get back to your place..."
"What are you speaking?"
"I am going to Lucas."
"Lucas…!"