Chapter 144 - Busan Trip (1)

Mirae was studying the notes laid on the bulletin board in front of her. On it were the pictures of Teppei, Shun Oguri, Madam Lim, Madam Hong and a sketch of Ziko based on how KJ described him. The pictures were arranged in a circle and there was a big question mark drawn on a paper placed at the center. Two big crosses were strewn on the pictures of Madam Lim and Madam Hong.

"Shun transacted a large amount of money to someone from the Cartel," she muttered. "Right after that, my parents were killed."

She drew a line between Shun and Ziko, with a question mark on it. "And both of them work for…"

She traced two lines towards the center. "The owner of the Cartel," she finished.

"Teppei and Madam Lim worked for Ziko," she mumbled joining two lines from their pictures to Ziko. "While Madam Hong was another leader of the Cartel…"

"In short, the three main leaders were Madam Hong, Ziko and Teppei," she concluded. "But after Madam Hong died, Ziko and Teppei became two dominant leaders…"

Mirae traced back the timeline of the Cartel's attacks. From what she could guess, the owner of the Cartel had to be somewhere between in his 70's to 80's. Grandpa Kwon had been dealing with the Cartel a little after his son and daughter-in-law had left the house. The organization was downlow so far but suddenly, it took momentum. 

If the owner of the Cartel had killed KJ's parents and had been trying to kill KJ since his childhood, then the owner must be quite old by now. Mirae had been suspecting this for a while. From what she had been informed by some of her spies in the underworld, there had been quite a few discords between the different factions of the Cartel. 

Lately, the wars between the factions have increased, as each group tried to establish dominance. She was also aware of the fact that they had a bounty out for the CEO of Abyss. Every leader of the Cartel was looking for her with a bloodthirst. It was not unsurprising but there seemed to be a competition between each of the groups on who will get to kill the CEO of Abyss first.

An aging leader who threw his trusted minions into a competition, she thought. But why?

The only conclusion she could come to was that there was some kind of succession war going on. So was the owner dying? Or retiring? Mirae doubted he would retire. The closest possibility was that he was dying. This will definitely weaken the Cartel a lot but Mirae was not satisfied at the fact that he was about to get an easy death. And even if she never met the owner of the Cartel, she knew that he would not die this easily. The succession war was a mere play for him. He was planning something big. But what?

She was deep in thought when the doorbell rang loudly. Startled, she quickly put on her mask and strode towards the door. She was not expecting anyone since both Ash and KJ were at the recording studio with the other members of EXOTIC. Peering through the door, she was mildly surprised. It was Hyun Jung.

"Hello Detective," she greeted.

"I'm sorry for intruding," Hyun Jung stated. "I needed your help."

"Please come in," Mirae stepped aside to let him in. Hyun Jung took off his shoes and entered the house. He had never visited her before nor did they ever interact much other than work so it felt a little awkward for him to be standing at her posh living room. Mirae sensed his hesitation.

"Don't feel awkward Detective," she assured him. "We may not be close but we're friends too! Please take a seat and feel free to speak your mind."

"Thank you," he said, sitting on the couch. He fidgeted uncomfortably. Mirae waited for him to talk.

"I...I wanted to talk about Somi," he finally managed to say.

Mirae masked her surprise. Even though Somi had told her that the person she was supposed to marry was Hyun Jung, it still surprised her that he would come to talk to Mirae about her. Unless…

"You know," she realized. 

"Yes," Hyun Jung admitted. "I know that she is Heroine. She told me."

Mirae did not say anything. Even though this information was detrimental and leaking it could be harmful to Somi and Abyss, Mirae knew that Hyun Jung was trustworthy. Moreover, she, too, had revealed her real identity to Ash and later KJ. 

"She did inform me of your shared past," Mirae informed him. "I'm guessing you know what happened to her?"

Hyun Jung nodded. 

"It was on the night before you two were supposed to be married," Mirae went on, her tone becoming bitter with every word. Just thinking of what happened to her friend made her blood boil. 

"She won't tell me about that monster," Hyun Jung said, clenching his fists. "I want to catch him and-"

"And what?" Mirae snapped. "Arrest him? Kill him? Will that make everything okay?"

"No," he said. "But I don't want her to live in fear that she will run into him again. So tell me, CEO. Who is it?"

Mirae sighed. "I don't know," she admitted. "Nor does Somi. I tried to coax her into giving us a sketch but she's so scared. The very thought of that person terrifies her. She can't think straight. The only thing I know is that he is from the Cartel. When she was a rising model, she caught the eye of some bigshot of the Cartel. He had propositioned her with a one night stand afterwards which he would sponsor her career. But Somi outright rejected him. When that man found out that she was about to marry you, he had her drugged and kidnapped on the eve before the wedding and…"

Mirae could not go on. A lump was forming in her throat and angry tears stinged her eyes. The very thought of her best friend's suffering made her feel guilty and furious. She was guilty that she could not help her friend and was furious because she wanted to kill that monster with her bare hands. 

"That damned Cartel destroyed many lives," Mirae stated, fury rising within her. "I won't spare those people. They have taken too many things from us. Not anymore."

Hyun Jung nodded, strengthening his vow to take them down. "Convince her to go to therapy," he requested. "Please. She may put up a tough front but she's breaking down from the inside. Please…"

His voice broke off. He was barely holding back tears. Mirae read the sadness hidden in him and she was glad that her best friend had someone as amazing as Hyun Jung who loved her.

"I can't lose her," he pleaded. "Not again."

Mirae reached out to hold his hand. "I'll convince her," she promised. "Don't worry. And we'll find him, Hyun. But in order to catch all the bigshots of the Cartel, we'll need your help. It all started with the murder of KJ's parents. We need to track down the detective of the case and ask him about the contents of Grandpa Kwon's computer. He may be able to help us get to the Cartel's owner!"

"Who is this lead detective?" Hyun Jung asked.

"Goo Soo Bin," Mirae replied.

"Goo Soo Bin?" Hyun Jung asked in surprise. "Detective Goo Soo Bin was the head detective of the case?"

"Yes," Mirae replied. "You know him?"

"Of course I do!" Hyun Jung exclaimed. "He's from our village in Busan. He transferred out many years ago though. I don't know if he still lives there."

"We'll have to go and find him then," Mirae said. "KJ is insisting on going this time. I keep telling him that he's not healed yet but the guy is just so darn stubborn."

"Let him come," Hyun Jung said. "Leaving him alone here will not be a good idea. Besides, I have a feeling he would heal faster there."

"Why?"

"It's his mother's hometown after all," Hyun Jung stated.