SOG Ch 108

Gyeong Hye-in smiled. How amusing. She gazed at the nonchalant Jae-chan with a relaxed demeanor. Though it was intentional from the start to go along with the opponent’s scheme, she put on a cheerful voice.

“Perhaps you might remember?”

“Are you kidding?”

Chang-hyun slammed the table. Jae-chan sighed and gently comforted the flushed and agitated guy beside him.

Nonetheless, Chang-hyun was acting calmer than usual in Gyeong Hye-in’s presence. If it had been anyone other than Gyeong Hye-in, he would have immediately grabbed her by the collar, saying, ‘Are you kidding me, you fvcking idiot?’ Even in a situation where he was hanging on the edge of a cliff, it was clear that he was paying attention to that person.

For some reason, Gyeong Hye-in just stirred the shake with a straw. Then she continued her statement.

“Yeon-oh was spiking a girl’s drink, I heard there’s another drug in that guy’s glass.”

Her sharp jawline pointed to Gyeong Chang-hyun.

“Then two of Yeon-oh’s friends came and took the girl and that guy. That’s it.”

Silence fell on the table for a moment.

“… You said you didn’t remember.”

Chang-hyun’s voice was low, but Gyeong Hye-in ignored it. Chang-hyun complexion turned red again as he mumbled, and Jae-chan quickly grabbed his forearm. He asked Gyeong Hye-in,

“What you said was not captured on CCTV.”

“Do you think they are idiots? They probably make sure not everything is visible on CCTV. When the girl and Chang-hyun left, they likely snuck away from a blind spot.”

Hye-in spoke emotionlessly as if she was reading a statement.

She stared at the two stiff people and recalled the truth of that day that she had heard from Jeong Yeon-oh.

Jeong Yeon-oh and his friend have been using the Talk Machine app to illegally purchase various drugs. Choosing easy targets and regularly drugging them for pleasure was routine.

That day, Jeong Yeon-oh’s group was in search of prey. At that time, Gyeong Chang-hyun called. Even so, the three people who wanted to try out the newly acquired unusual drug had mischievous thoughts.

‘Let’s give it to this bastard today.’

While he may have been the president’s nephew, Chang-hyun had a tendency to lack in one way or another, unlike the perfectly composed Jae-chan. Even when they tried to have some fun together, it was ridiculous when he’d say, ‘My mom said I couldn’t do it.’ with a snotty attitude. And such thoughts had been accelerated as Jae-chan, who used to cover up for his shortcomings, had distanced himself from the group.

‘There is only one drug.’

‘And that’s to drug the girl and give that bastard something else. Something clean.’

Jeong Yeon-oh said. The new drug was rumored to have messy effects like causing respiratory distress and intense thirst. Since Chang-hyun was still the president’s nephew, they were hesitant to administer the new drug with dramatic effects to him.

‘Then let’s make that idiot lose his mind.’

The three chuckled as they hung out near the pub where Chang-hyun had gone. They had the layout of the pub and nearby CCTV locations all planned out. The busy hours at the pub, the right timing to slip the drugs into the drinks, and even the method.

They waited at the alley and in front of the restroom, each luring a girl and Chang-hyun respectively. They headed to the newly nearby motel with a poorly secured place perfect for their plans.

If Gyeong Chang-hyun didn’t touch his prey when it was within his reach, he’d be an eunuch. The whole story unfolded after leaving the sleazy motel, exchanging vulgar remarks.

Of course, it was likely a sanitized version of events compared to reality, given that Jeong Yeon-oh had conveyed the message while looking at Gyeong Hye-in. It probably involved even more deplorable situations.

“Is that enough?”

After finishing her brief reminiscence, Hye-in asked with a deep smile. Chang-hyun couldn’t keep his mouth shut, and Seon Jae-chan was frowning.

“…”

Jae-chan fiddled with the tissues scattered randomly on the table. The bartender had advised that if there were separate culprits, they might know the blind spots of the pub’s CCTV. Gyeong Hye-in’s testimony also aligned with that.

So, was the unknown man next to Gyeong Hye-in supposed to be Jeong Yeon-oh? His hands looked big for that guy.

“Please testify like that.”

It was when Jae-chan lowered his head in acknowledgment of the sudden testimony.

“Why should I?”

In a curt response that felt like boiling hot wax, Gyeong Hye-in brushed off the request.

“What you just heard was a lie? I made it all up.”

Smiling with her teeth showing, Gyeong Hye-in took a sip of her drink through a straw. In fact, she hadn’t even considered telling the truth to the police from the beginning until now.

Gyeong Hye-in glanced at the snotty cousin being restrained by the composed Jae-chan. She knew a bit about that Guide. The son of Union hero Seon Min-yeol and Go Woo-jin’s Pair guide. Lately, he’s been involved in all sorts of incidents and has been in trouble.

A variable. Or an unknown factor.

GyeongHye-in tilted her chin sideways as she lazily observed Jae-chan. She asked, accentuating her uplifted eyes.

“What will you do if I help you solve this problem?”

Jae-chan, who was calming the fussing Chang-hyun, answered.

“As I said before, I will replace Jeong Yeon-oh.”

“What does Jeong Yeon-oh do? And what do you have to offer? You’re even discarded within your own family.”

Gyeong Chang-hyeon forgot how angry he was at Hye-in’s words and looked surprised. Jae-chan answered without the slightest agitation.

“No matter what you say, I have a loyalty that won’t waver. Hearing such words only makes me want to be acknowledged more purely based on my abilities.”

GyeongHye-in twisted her lips into a bitter smile. ‘Purely based on my abilities.’ He seemed to be whispering sweet nothings to Go Woo-jin or Han Taehoon, the leader of Guide Team 1. But was it really his own ability?

‘No. Is that kind of skill also considered an ability?’

As the clock struck past seven, the shop became even busier. The door creaked with each guest’s entry and exit, while the chaotic urban noise occasionally sliced through the air.

“I’ll do anything.”

After the door had opened and closed a few times, GyeongHye-in organized her thoughts. Muttering to herself, she took out a small pill bottle from her pocket.

“Do you know what this is?”

Jae-chan’s expression did not change. Meanwhile, Chang-hyun felt a chill down his spine at her continued words.

“It’s what the girl who was with Chang-hyun ate.”

Jae-chan stared at the round blue capsule in the glass bottle. It was a look he was familiar with. TZ, the “Thirsty Zombie.”

“Why do you have drugs?”

Jae-chan asked.

“Because I gave it to Jeong Yeon-oh.”

Hye-in answered.

More precisely, she had provided Jeong Yeon-oh with the means to access the drugs. Hye-in rolled the smooth glass bottle in her hand. This new drug, which had begun to be clandestinely referred to as “TZ” among drug dealers, was manufactured at the research institute under the control of her father, President Gyeong Jeon-seok.

It had completed its second-phase clinical trials and was now being slowly introduced to the general public by Hye-in herself in preparation for the third-phase trials. She had subtly tagged Jeong Yeon-oh to access channels selling “TZ.”

If Jeong Yeon-oh were to be investigated, she could also be implicated. Therefore, she had no intention of providing any testimony.

Of course, it was not that she was reluctant to conduct a police investigation itself. She didn’t want to create an excuse for ‘someone’ to find out that she was even slightly involved with drugs.

She hoped it would pass quietly.

Hye-in glanced at him sharply. Unfortunately, Seon Jae-chan’s interference had raised another variable. While his personal presence was minimal, he had always been involved in significant events within the Union since last fall.

‘Even without that, it seemed like Go Woo-jin had discovered the TZ distribution channel.’

Was he associated with him? Hye-in pondered deeply as she set down the damp shake cup. Like an annoying dampness, completely eradicating the variable known as Seon Jae-chan was impossible. Especially since Go Woo-jin had been going around with him these days.

If so, it would be reasonable to make a different choice. If possible, go for the fun side.

Hye-in weighed several possibilities and came to a conclusion.

“Take it.”

Guide Seon Jae-chan showed no significant change in expression. He was surprisingly adept at managing his facial expressions for his age. Hye-in twisted her lips and opened the lid of the glass bottle, then extended it towards him.

With a click, a blue drug the size of a fingernail shook very lightly inside the bottle. Jae-chan felt the unique color, appearance, and faint fragrance very closely. It was indeed TZ.

“Swallow it down deliciously. Then I’ll help you. I’ll neatly take care of that guy’s business for you,” Hye-in nodded toward Chang-hyun. 

“Don’t you want to?” It was a moment of mischievous smile.

Jae-chan took out the medicine and swallowed it right away without water.

“Hey… !”

Chang-hyun, who until then had been frozen by the unexpected situation, suddenly stood up and grabbed Jae-chan’s shoulder. However, the pill slid smoothly down his throat, clearly visible as it moved along the long neck.

Hye-in was equally surprised. She took a moment to relax and hurriedly stretched out her hand. He grabbed Seon Jae-chan’s chin and made him open his mouth.

Nothing. His mouth was empty. He had indeed swallowed it.

“-Why?” 

Jae-chan, who had obediently opened his mouth, asked.

“Was it not enough?” 

Hye-in’s meticulously groomed eyebrows furrowed slowly.