Must be avoided far first. Just like that, Kwon Taek Joo was about to listen instinctively when a vibration sounded from inside his coat. Hiro Sakamoto's phone is in the outer pocket, so the current vibration must have come from the phone used to communicate with the headquarters.
Head of Department Lim said he would send a photo of the partner participating in this campaign with him. Kwon Taek Joo put his hand in his jacket and took out his phone. Indeed, a photo was sent from Head of Department Lim.
He immediately checked the photo. It takes about 2 or 3 seconds for the device to load the image on the screen. 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds. Kwon Taek Joo taps on the message 'Download complete.' The awaited photo quickly filled the screen.
"Hmm? It's me."
Almost half of the time he dropped his phone on the ground, because someone's voice suddenly intervened.
Kwon Taek Joo just rolled his eyes silently and looked down at the floor. A huge shadow coming from behind was swallowing him. Just looking can tell who it belongs to without looking back, because that strong smell of wood seems to paralyse olfactory cells.
Gazprom's representatives did not show up in the end. The group of people waited to eat and drink together for a while and then broke up. The tired Japanese delegation after a long flight also dispersed to its room. Thanks to that, Kwon Taek Joo was able to complete the work earlier than expected. The real problem is just beginning now.
Kwon Taek Joo couldn't even enter the room but just lingered at the door the whole time. It took him a while to take a deep breath and open the door.
His eyes were directed at the table next to the window. The murderor bastard was sitting on the armrests of a chair and looking out. It seems that it will be more comfortable with his long legs. A powerful source of pressurised energy flows from the broad shoulders and a strong back. Perhaps realising that his eyes were looking at him, he quietly turned his head.
The light dyed the hairs mixed between yellow and white brightly shone. Eyebrows are long, gentle but still show sharpness and sophistication. The long lashes that cover the eyes carry a potential ferocity, and the transparent pupils like blue sea water carry a calm cold touch, forming a unique work of art. The high and straight bridge of the nose exudes a natural beauty that turns its gaze to the lips.
His face was smiling brightly, but the tension did not subside. Human eyes can't lie, so those smiling lips exist a fake.
Although his overall face is extremely beautiful, Kwon Taek Joo can't feel any sympathy. When he met him, the air particles around him seemed to freeze. The eyes seem to be quietly looking at the writhing prey, unlike the eyes of a human being.
He warmly turned to Kwon Taek Joo who was standing in the doorway.
"Just come in and don't be shy."
The guest host was completely reversed. He nodded and took off his coat, then suddenly he turned his head, because the strong scent of cigars was all over him. It's not too strong, but he found it very uncomfortable, I don't know if it was due to the image of the first time the two met.
As if he didn't know the aversion on Kwon Taek Joo's face, he reached out and offered to shake his hand.
"I'm Zhenya."
Kwon Taek Joo stared at Zhenya's hand in front of him. Is this what hit a human's eyeball? That thought suddenly flashed when suddenly that hand reached out. Kwon Taek Joo was unconsciously startled without knowing that his upper body was also shaking.
The long white fingertips stopped in front of Kwon Taek Joo's left chest. His lungs suddenly constricted so that he could not breathe normally. Those still standing fingers soon began to sway as if teasing Kwon Taek Joo. The overwhelming tension seemed to be relieved. A look of dissatisfaction was evident on his face. Zhenya chuckled and gently tapped his hand on him.
"You don't seem very happy, do you?"
"Why not? 'But if you let me hit you a few times, I'll be happier.'"
Kwon Taek Joo gritted his teeth, his strength on his lower jaw. Maybe just seeing it as a joke, Zhenya just laughed and ignored it.
"So what's your name?"
"You know."
"That's hard to pronounce. Is there an easier name?"
'If it's too difficult, don't call.'
Zhenya stared at him at the blunt answer. His lips still drew a long curve and his eyes were unusually shining. Just like that, the silence enveloped. Kwon Taek Joo suddenly felt uncomfortable when he was observed without any measures to deal with it.
'A moment later Zhenya said, "Hear you went to the police station?"'He broke the lingering silence. Zhenya even smiled shamelessly, as if he had forgotten everything that had happened before. Kwon Taek Joo looked at him and did not answer. No, it's no different from vigilance. Intuition tells him that Kwon Taek Joo himself must not reveal any loopholes with him.
Zhenya didn't mind and left the table and went to the mini bar. He looked through the small bottles on display there and took out some whiskey. He quenched his thirst that way and shrugged.
"There is nothing to be so wary of. I'm just helping a colleague who is in danger."
He talked about unusual things as if they were normal. Kwon Taek Joo continues to closely monitor Zhenya.
"When have you been following me?"
"Since when? In the first place."
Was he at the airport from the beginning? Does that mean he set the right time to contact Kwon Taek Joo then chase when he was kidnapped and saved him? So why didn't he reveal his identity at that time?
Zhenya suddenly grinned. It seems that Kwon Taek Joo's doubts have been seen through.
"The head office told me to wait obediently until today. 'If you hadn't been arrested so shamefully that day, I wouldn't have had any reason to come out.'"
Zhenya chuckled with his whiskey-drenched lips. The shame that Kwon Taek Joo has been trying to suppress for so long now resurges. The person he thought had extraordinary powers unlike humans turned out to be his colleague. Kwon Taek Joo's pride is traumatised.
"The first impression is really unforgettable. 'You also show me what it's like to poke others in the eye.'"
Kwon Taek Joo clicked his tongue in response. There is no reason to feel inferior just because he is your partner. He and Kwon Taek Joo are the same team. That only fact blew away fear for the first time in his life. Zhenya scoffed at the unexpected criticism.
"Are you a pacifist?"
"I like everything neat."
"Neat and efficient, like shooting? Or bombing? Then there's nothing fun."
He shook his head with a bored expression and then tapped his temples with his fingers.
"Think about it. Who doesn't want to be special, right? Everyone wants the last moment of breathing to be as sacred as possible. But how useless and trivial would it be if their deaths were lumped in the corner of an article called 'deaths by shooting'? If they are pierced in both eyes, they can take one more headline. Wouldn't it be better?"
It's just a fallacy. The fallacy of a psychopath trying to justify his nefarious behaviour. Kwon Taek Joo replied sarcastically.
"If one day I fall into your hands, please kill me meaninglessly."
"Hmm. It's a little difficult, but I'll think about it."
Zhenya paused for a moment as if to think about something and then he continued
"Don't worry too much."
"Because if you don't harm me, it won't happen. 'Looking at that, I'm just a legitimate Defence.'"
"Are you a pacifist?"
Kwon Taek Joo responded to the sarcastic comments Zhenya said a while ago. He laughed and threw at him the bottle of whiskey he was drinking. The small bottle was more than half empty. Without hesitation, Kwon Taek Joo put his mouth in the bottle and drank all the rest of the wine. His tongue tingled as if his oesophagus was burning.
At that moment, Kwon Taek Joo's phone rang from inside the jacket he had taken off. He put down the empty bottle and took out his phone. This time too, a photo was sent from the headquarters. After a while of waiting, a mysterious-looking Russian filled the screen. Is this 'Psych Bogdanov' they told you to be careful?
Kwon Taek Joo vaguely speculated, but before he realised it, Zhenya approached and snatched his phone.
"I was told to be careful with that guy. Do you know him?"
Zhenya narrowed his eyes to examine the photo and nodded.
"Of course. I know. Very clear too."
"What kind of person is he?"
"It's better not to touch. I've never seen anything good about messing with him."
"Is Morgan's death related to this guy?"
"If it's Morgan, do you mean American before? Let's see, maybe it's that crazy guy's trick, maybe it's not. Don't mind. You don't have to come here to take revenge. Let him play his game, and we do our job."
'It's your mouth that you call him a madman, it seems that this guy is an unpredictable great man.'
Kwon Taek Joo shook his head. Zhenya just chuckled. Even if he himself is Psych Bogdanov, he will believe it immediately. He couldn't even imagine that someone like him would call that name crazy without hesitation.
Either way, if you get involved in this, it doesn't help, it's best not to collide with the top book. There was no need to worry about someone he hadn't even met. Currently Kwon Taek Joo has to focus on the assigned task.
"I heard you know the political structure and cash flow here, don't you?"
"Of course. If you want, I can list it for you anytime."
His confident appearance did not seem to be useless fanfare. It seems that accepting a partner you don't want, and making the most of it, is a good idea. The problems that have happened since the beginning seem to be being solved smoothly.
Kwon Taek Joo felt relieved after a long time and then gave instructions.
"First of all, I hope you will pick out people who are knowledgable about underground arms trading, regardless of whether they are capital providers, actual developers or entrepreneurs involved in trading. If you want to meet 'Anastasia', you have to attack first."
When it comes to 'Anastasia', Zhenya's eyebrows are slightly raised. It's not an obvious change for Kwon Taek Joo to notice right away.
But just for a moment, he nodded gently again and looked at understanding, then immediately took his coat and stood up.
"Then get ready tomorrow and continue."
Kwon Taek Joo stood up and followed Zhenya. Why are you so happy to hear that he will leave? Kwon Taek Joo followed closely behind him as if to drive away not only Zhenya but also his characteristic scent. He stretched out his hand and opened the door himself.
Zhenya obediently went out. 'Instead of saying go away, Kwon Taek Joo said ''See you tomorrow".' Then he closed the door but it didn't close. He looked down curiously, a shoe protruding from the doorway. Kwon Taek Joo looked up at Zhenya with a displeased expression. He tilted his head and end down slightly, the eyes of the two met.
"Let's slowly remove that mask."
The voice was mixed with gloomy laughter. Kwon Taek Joo frowned and glared at Zhenya. He grinned again and stood up straight and walked to the other side of the corridor. Kwon Taek Joo looked until the elevator door closed and then he closed the room door.
The elevator door quickly opened. A man was standing inside making eye contact with Zhenya. He stood in front of him and turned his back. While the elevator quickly went down to the first floor, the man behind him suddenly spoke.
"What should I do?"
Zhenya looked at the decreasing number of floors on the display board and thought something. The mouth on his always calm face suddenly lifted. He muttered in a languid voice.
"Blow it all away. Don't leave a cave for him to hide."
***
Early morning. The hotel room doorbell rang. Kwon Taek Joo checks the mask on his face and looks at his watch. It's only 8 a.m., it's still a long time before the scheduled cleaning time. There is also no official schedule of the visit delegation today. Or Zhenya? If so, it seems that he is more diligent than he seems.
He stroked the artificial skin on his face and went to the door. The outside suddenly spoke before he could ask who it was.
"Room service."
Kwon Taek Joo sceptically opened the door but he didn't seem to hear it wrong. A dedicated trolly is set up in the hallway in front of the room. A waiter in a hotel uniform politely greeted him.
Kwon Taek Joo poked his head out of the corridor. It's still early so the surroundings are very quiet. The waiter asked "Can I come in?" When he stood right in front of the door.
"It seems that you have found the wrong room."
"It's true that room number 911, ladies and gentlemen.'"
"But I don't call room service."
"Ah, someone else asked."
"Other people? 'Is that ever that name?'"
"As a representative of Gazprom."
"Ah," Kwon Taek Joo laughed as if what he just thought was silly. Even though he is a colleague, he is no different from a murderer. What to expect from such a name?
If it was sent by a representative from Gazprom, would this be an apology for what happened yesterday? Not only did he not attend the luncheon arranged by himself, but even his agent did not come. If Kwon Taek Joo refuses, they will probably contact him again. There is no need to attract unnecessary attention with useless mistakes.
He knocked his head inside the living room. The waiter lowered his head slightly and gently pushed the car in. The food is brought in and placed on the table by the window. The waiter left after placing the silver tableware neatly and asked to call him if he needed anything more. Kwon Taek Joo also doesn't understand why this strategy is so luxurious.
All dishes are covered with foil. But the faint scent told him that it was Russian borsch soup, toast, bare eggs, fruit and coffee.
Kwon Taek Joo slowly glanced across the table, with a card inserted on the note shelf. Must be the greeting written on it. He looked down at the content on the card indifferently. Only one word is written there. The four letters clearly engraved caught his eye.
B.o.o.m.
"Shit."