The Predator and the Prey

Do Guk who had been standing tall moved his steps to gather the towels.

He approached Lee Jacheong who had emerged from the bath and handed him a fresh towel.

The towel heavy with moisture dropped to the floor.

Taking the crisp towel Do Guk offered Lee Jacheong slowly began to walk.

“These individuals provide great help to our business and it does not look good for a man who is the CEO to keep avoiding them.”

Wrapped in a stark white towel he stopped after only a few steps.

Do Guk who followed behind also stopped and waited.

As he turned back and took a step closer the distance narrowed instantly.

“Come to Myeongilgak tonight.”

In the end this was the message he wanted to deliver.

Whenever Lee Jacheong attended important official functions Do Guk had always served as his closest protocol officer.

There was no way they did not know his face.

However a relationship had not been formed deeply enough to leave a lasting impression.

Therefore this was an order to make himself known to them using this gathering as an opportunity.

“……Yes Chairman.”

Faced with a seat he could not refuse Do Guk bowed his head.

A wet hand was placed heavily on his broad shoulder.

The grip tightened and the smooth fabric of his suit crumpled without resistance.

“While you are at it pick a girl today. If you say you like her I will make sure no one else touches her.”

Showing that they were of the same breed would make building a bond faster.

To call it a mere gathering for drinks and conversation was an understatement; the meeting was secretive and exclusive.

Lee Jacheong released his grip on the shoulder.

Then his hand cut through the air and gave Do Guk’s lower abdomen a light tap.

“As a man you ought to know how to play with a woman at your side. What is the use of keeping it down there if you never use it.”

Do Guk remained in his spot without even blinking once.

“A fellow who should be getting ready for marriage soon. Is that not so.”

With those final words Lee Jacheong walked away.

Staring silently at his retreating back Do Guk lowered his eyes.

‘What is your family background.’

‘……I have no family.’

Perhaps it was because he had never felt the sense of belonging that family provides.

He had never once thought about creating a family of his own.

His only memory of family was the final glimpse of his biological mother abandoning him at the orphanage.

He did not know how he was born or raised and he did not want to know.

However Do Guk had always lived being called the son of a prostitute and that stigma remained an unerring brand.

The organization was swarming with men obsessed with alcohol gambling and women but that was exactly why he refused to mingle with them in that manner.

He did not want to throw his body around in a low and filthy way.

He had no desire to align himself with men who viewed women as mere tools for satisfying their urges.

To prevent that he had to possess enough power so that no one could treat him lightly and Do Guk had reached this position by shaking off countless temptations.

He knew that Lee Jacheong valued his abstinence highly.

Restraining one’s instincts and suppressing oneself was no easy feat in this world.

Ah.

‘Ple, please…… save me.’

Except for that one young girl who kept getting under his skin.

The police possessed informants who provided unofficial assistance to investigations.

Most of them were former targets of investigation or ex-convicts who had already paid for their crimes.

For example people like Jo Seon the owner of an illegal private investigation agency or Madam Song who operated a VIP room salon.

However they were not always cooperative.

If they felt the profit did not outweigh the risk they were quick to protect themselves.

Madam Song who was needed for this operation was no exception.

Her reason was that she did not want to get tangled up in anything related to the Cheongun Gang.

If something went wrong not only her business but her life could be at risk.

She had even offered unsolicited advice telling them to give up now if they were planning a clumsy disguise.

That was until she saw Hae Su.

‘Inspector is this girl really a detective.’

The day Hae Su visited the shop with Inspector Hong those were the first words Madam Song said upon meeting her.

Hae Su showed her displeasure at the woman’s intrigued gaze but the Madam did not care.

Walking in a circle and scanning her from head to toe the woman finally broke the stubbornness she had shown earlier.

‘Well with this you might actually be able to pull off a deception.’

If she had continued to refuse they would have used any means necessary to make her cooperate but Madam Song suddenly became proactive as if she had never hesitated.

She even boasted that she would personally transform Hae Su with her own hands.

As the Madam said if they intended to deceive them on purpose amateur skills would not suffice.

Furthermore a reason had arisen why the infiltration absolutely had to succeed.

This was because Jae Woong who was working as a waiter and Min Gyu who was disguised as part of the cleaning crew had failed to gain access to the room presumed to be the meeting location.

Thus the only means of obtaining information was through Hae Su who would enter as a hostess.

To avoid being caught by them Madam Song’s help was essential.

Since she was an expert in this field there was no other choice.

“Wow……”

The Madam’s gaze trailing a long exclamation traveled from the bottom up.

Hae Su frowned while gripping the hem of her tight skirt.

“I was unsure when you were all covered up but now that I have dressed you like this you really look no different from my girls.”

Instead of her loose shirt and jeans she wore an incredibly uncomfortable dress that revealed her figure.

Her sneakers had been replaced by shoes of a precarious height.

“Are you just going to stand there awkwardly like that.”

“……”

Hae Su stared with wide eyes at the Madam as she walked away.

Madam Song walking with a light grace pulled out a chair and turned her head.

Seeing her tilt her head as if telling her to come and sit Hae Su finally moved her feet which had been stuck to the floor.

Sitting in the chair Hae Su lifted her gaze.

The moment she faced her reflection in the mirror she pressed her lips tightly together.

Standing behind her Madam Song undid the hair that had been tied up tightly.

The shoulders and collarbones that had been fully exposed were now partially veiled by her loose hair.

The Madam reached for a comb on the shelf in front of the mirror.

Brushing the hair gently she looked into the mirror with a sharp gaze.

“Are you nervous.”

At that question a tiny crack appeared in Hae Su’s composure.

She denied it late but the Madam did not seem to believe her letting out a soft laugh.

“There is no need to be nervous. I guarantee you if you do not make a mistake you will never get caught.”

At the Madam’s assertion Hae Su’s eyes locked onto her.

Madam Song stopping her combing met her gaze in the mirror as she felt it.

“You cannot fool those people with a mediocre face or body. Do you know how many girls they have met. One look and they know…… where this b*tch has been rolling around. So if someone who does not belong in this world acts like they do it is obvious. But the detective…… no Hae Su you do not show it.”

Hae Su let out a short hollow laugh and dropped her gaze.

That was just another way of saying she looked no different from the women who had been rolling around.

She was the daughter of a prostitute born and raised in a red-light district.

She had worked desperately to become a police officer because she wanted a different life but the traces she wanted so badly to erase could not be removed.

“It is a compliment.”

It was a nuance meant to be taken positively but Hae Su looked at her with an indifferent gaze.

Then reaching out she finally parted her lips.

“I will do it myself so give it to me.”

Sensing the gesture asking for the comb the Madam arched an eyebrow.

Eventually she shook her head and cupped Hae Su’s head with both hands.

Forcing her to look into the mirror again she gave a bright smile.

“Do not mess things up when they are almost finished; stay still. If you want to get out of there safely you had better listen to me.”

“……”

“But since there is no sweetness in your voice you should not talk much. Loosen up that expression too…… okay.”

A woman should smile.

The words Mi Yeon used to say when they lived in Sogol came to mind.

She said no matter how sh*tty things are if you smile you have already won half the battle.

However upon recalling those words Hae Su’s expression became even worse.

Myeongilgak was located on the outskirts far from the city.

It was a restaurant famous enough that people usually sought it out on purpose making it crowded.

But today it was silent.

This was because control had been established from the only road leading to the restaurant allowing only authorized vehicles to enter.

“Alright let us get out.”

The closed door opened and at those words the women began to exit the car one by one.

Following them out Hae Su scanned the surroundings with her large eyes.

[I and Inspector Hong will keep checking from the desk but if a problem arises you must get out immediately. You know what happens if things go wrong…… right.]

Myeongilgak was situated in a desolate suburban area and even if she managed to get out there were four men guarding the alley making escape nearly impossible.

Hae Su took a deep breath and exhaled her hands clenched tight.