Chapter 145 - Busan Trip (2)

Kj woke up early next morning. Even though he came home late at night due to his unending schedule, he had to drag himself off the bed. He would be heading off to Busan with Ash, Mirae and Hyun Jung. Mirae had advised him not to go since he was still healing, but KJ insisted on going. It was his mother's hometown after all.

His suitcase was already packed. He took out a large cage out for Jade. Even though Jade hated to be caged in, it would be difficult to keep him still during a long trip. The cat was purring impatiently. He did not like to be woken up this early in the morning.

"You're still quiet," KJ said, stroking the cat's ginger fur. Jade had told him that he needed time to gain his spirit energy but did not mention how long he would take. The more time Jade took to heal, the more worried KJ was getting. What if he never heals? What if Jade never returns? The ominous thoughts were filling his head.

Picking up the mute cat, he tried to coax it into the cage. But the cat was too stubborn and threw a tantrum. Finally, KJ gave up trying to lock it in a cage. He would have to carry it on his lap all throughout the ride.

Sighing at the long ride ahead of him, KJ rolled out his suitcase towards the elevator while Jade trotted beside him. While he was waiting for the elevator, the door next to his house opened. Ash came out, carrying a bag and a suitcase while Mirae followed him wearing a mask, a pair of sunglasses and loose baggy clothes. Her hair was hidden underneath a cap. 

"You sure you wanna go?" Ash asked him. "You're still not completely healed."

"I'm fine," KJ reassured him. 

"Liar," Mirae stated. "You're still having trouble walking."

"Tch!" KJ scoffed. "I'm fine. Nothing will happen."

Mirae rolled her eyes but did not say anything. They got onto the elevator and descended towards the car park. Hyun Jung was waiting there in his SUV. They had decided that it was better to ride in Hyun Jung's car since it was not easily recognizable like KJ's and Mirae's. Ash loaded the bags in the back while KJ and Mirae climbed inside. Taking the passenger seat in the front, KJ buckled his seat belt. Hyun Jung was already in the driver's seat.

"Ya'll ready?" he asked. 

"Let's go," Mirae nodded. Hyun Jung revved up the engine and they set off. 

Thankfully, there was little traffic on the road and hence the journey took around four hours. By the time they had checked into a hotel, it was almost noontime. Ash and Mirae took one room while Hyun Jung and KJ took two different rooms. KJ could not help but feel pangs of jealousy as he watched Ash and Mirae head into their room to freshen up. Hyun Jung noticed KJ staring longingly at Mirae as she walked towards her room. He frowned but did not comment.

"We'll meet in an hour," Hyun Jung said.

"Huh?" KJ asked, still distracted.

"I said we'll meet in an hour," Hyun Jung repeated loudly.

"Oh! Alright. I'll head off to rest then."

KJ hurriedly scurried to his room leaving Hyun Jung suspicious. Carrying Jade in one arm, he closed the door behind him. 

"Snap out of it!" he scolded himself. "There is no time to get jealous over your best friend's girl!"

Despite finding out the truth about his past, KJ did not want to come in between Ash and Mirae. He had lost his chance and he knew it. All he wanted to focus on was bringing down the Cartel. Somehow.

He took a long shower, trying to calm his mind. He tried to think about the upcoming meeting with Goo Soo Bin. Will he finally find out who really killed his parents? Was it the head of the Cartel himself?

After an hour, he went downstairs to see the others have arrived and were waiting for him. 

"Where does he live?" KJ asked Hyun Jung. 

"Somewhere in Jung District," the latter replied.

"He had retired from the force ten years ago," Mirae stated, glancing through a file. "Since then he had been living a relatively quiet life."

"He was a celebrated policeman," Ash supplied. "He has many enemies within the Cartel as well. Some of their best men were sent behind bars all thanks to him. If the President of the Cartel was not so secretive, Goo Soo Bin could have caught him as well."

"Do we have an address?" KJ questioned.

"No, but I have a rough idea where his house might be," Hyun Jung said. "Besides, he is quite well known in the area. Someone will be able to pinpoint his house."

KJ nodded. They got into the car and once again, drove off towards the main city. 

"We're nearing the shopping district," Ash said, checking the map on his phone. "Where did you say he might live at again?"

"I think he moved somewhere around the hospital at the shopping district," Hyun Jung frowned. 

"Shouldn't we ask around?" Mirae suggested. "

They had been driving around for two hours, trying to find the house. The police station nearby had no records of his address since his retirement. 

"We've passed by this shop two times already!" KJ complained. "Are you sure it's this area?"

"I can't seem to find it," Hyun Jung groaned. "Mirae is right. Let's ask around."

He parked the car at the side of the road and all of them got off.

"Ash and I will take the south side," Mirae said. "You two can take the North. We'll meet back here in half an hour if we can't find him."

"Gotcha," Hyun Jung said while KJ nodded. They put on their masks and split into two groups. Each of them had old pictures of Goo Soo Bin with them.

"Excuse me, have you seen this person in this area?" Mirae asked a passerby, showing him a photo of Goo Soo Bin. But he shook his head and went on his way.

"Hi, do you know where this person lives?" KJ inquired a guard of a shopping mall but he too shook his head.

"Please look closely," Ash requested another passerby but was ignored.

No one seemed to know where Goo Soo Bin lived. It was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth. After half an hour of searching, KJ returned to their meeting spot. Ash and Mirae, too, shuffled towards him.

"We asked everyone we could find," Mirae said. "No luck."

"No one seems to know him," Ash frowned. "But he was a popular cop! How come no one recalls him?"

"Maybe he moved out of this area a long time ago," KJ shrugged, feeling dejected. The detective was his last hope of finding his parents' killer.

"Guys!" 

They looked around to see Hyun Jung running towards them. 

"Did you find him?" KJ asked excitedly.

"No," Hyun Jung said. "I didn't find him. But I found his daughter's whereabouts. She lives in a narrow alley next to the hospital."

"What alley?" KJ asked. "We didn't see any alley there and we passed by two times!"

"It's apparently well hidden," Hyun Jung said. "Only when you look closely, you'll notice it. Let's go!"

They followed Hyun Jung back towards the hospital. He led them to a very narrow opening beside the hospital building. At first glance, it was not noticeable but upon a closer look, KJ could tell it was an alley.

"She lives here?" he asked, scrunching his nose. The place smelt like a mixture of garbage and sewage. Even with the masks on, the smell was making them wince. Only Hyun Jung remained unaffected since he was used to such stenches from his everyday police job.

"Why is the daughter of a popular policeman living in such a dire condition?" Mirae asked. 

"Poverty," Ash said. "It hit her hard."

The alley led to a rundown house. It looked as if no one lived in it and the walls were shabby with blackened paint. As they approached the house, the smell got worse. A small door came into view.

"It seems as if someone died in here," KJ whispered. 

"Stay behind me," Hyun Jung ordered them. He took out a gun and aimed forward. 

"I'll take out my gun," Mirae said, pulling out a pistol from her jacket.

"You use this?" KJ asked in surprise. "And you."

He turned to Ash who was not unsurprised by the fact that she had a gun with her.

"You let her use guns?" KJ questioned him.

"The leader of a mercenary team has a gun," Ash said. "It's not uncommon. Besides, Mirae was in the military. I'm sure they taught her to shoot there."

Mirae smiled smugly. "This one is quite useful," she said.

"Forget about the gun!" Hyun Jung exclaimed. "Let's go in."

They stepped onto the broken floor which creaked under their steps. Hyun Jung went up and cautiously rang the bell.

"Ms. Goo!" he called out. But there was no response.

"Ms. Goo!" Hyun Jung cried a little louder. "Are you in there?"

"Maybe she's out," Ash said.

"Or on a date," KJ commented. 

"Let me knock on it," Mirae said, charging forward. She rapped at the door.

"Ms. Goo!" she exclaimed, her voice tone raised. "Open up! We need to talk to you about your father!"

She kept on knocking but no response. "She isn't replying," Mirae said. "We'll have to come back tomorrow."

"You're right," Ash said. "Let's go"

They were about to turn away when the door opened.

"Come in," a raspy voice called them in.

They glanced at each other. Hyun Jung took out his gun while Mirae kept a firm grip on hers. They entered the destitute house to find an aging woman with fully white hair summoning them. She was completely wasted and her hair was milky white. Even though she was in her forties, she looked much older than that.

"Come in," she repeated. The four of them looked at each other. 

Time for some truth, KJ said as he entered the house.