As I observed him carefully, Grandfather said.
"Go to Mu-hyeok's room and talk."
I got up from my seat and headed to my room on the second floor. He also followed me up the stairs. Entering the room, I sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him again.
Without even asking if he could sit, he looked straight at me with an expressionless face, not avoiding my gaze. He was also observing me.
"What were you doing before you came here?"
"I was in Africa."
"Africa..."
I had thought his skin was tanned brown, but it seemed he got it in Africa.
"What did you do there?"
"I worked as a mercenary. I quit and returned after receiving a call from Elder Brother Myeong-hun."
Seeing him mention Manager Ha's name, they seemed to be very close.
"What is your relationship with the manager?"
"We grew up together since we were young."
"Hmm... is that so?"
Even as he answered, there was no change in his expression at all. It almost felt like I was talking to a robot.
"Can you listen only to me while escorting me? No matter what anyone says, whether it's Manager Ha or Grandfather, can you listen only to my words?"
"Yes, I returned to the country with that intention. However, I haven't decided if I will follow you completely yet."
I gave a small smile at Ma Seok-dae's words.
"You can think about that slowly while following me around. For the time being, you don't have to go with me when I go to school. You can accompany me on my other schedules."
"Understood."
I didn't know if he would completely become my person, but his way of speaking his mind without lies made him more trustworthy. 'But a mercenary. Did Manager Ha also live as a mercenary?
Since they knew each other from a young age, if they had a connection since their teens, I might be able to find out about Manager Ha as well.' Even while I was thinking, he stood up straight in silence.
"Ah, you may leave."
Ma Seok-dae bowed his head in greeting and went outside.
Ha Myeong-hun and Ma Seok-dae were sitting facing each other.
"You have aged a lot too."
"Is it really the time for you to say that to me, Brother? Your face looks really worn out."
Gladness showed on the faces of the two who had been expressionless all along.
"Settle down in Korea now. Don't keep wandering around foreign countries. Stop the mercenary life where you never know when you might die."
"Hahaha, for you to say that to me, Brother. You shouldn't be the one saying that."
The two continued their conversation by asking how each other had been.
"Serve the Young Master well. You know that his words come first, no matter what anyone else, including me, says, right?"
"Yeah, once I experience if he is someone I can truly follow and make up my mind, I'll do so even without you telling me, so don't worry."
Trust in Ma Seok-dae was visible on Ha Myeong-hun's face.
"I emptied the room next to mine, so use that, and let's gather everyone together once. It's been a long time since we saw each other. I'll get permission from the Chairman and let you know."
Ma Seok-dae nodded.
"Is everyone doing well?"
"It's always the same. They only move when I call, otherwise, they all just live their own lives."
"Is the Chairman thinking of handing everything over to the Young Master?"
Ha Myeong-hun shook his head.
"I don't know. Don't try to find out about that, and don't pay it any mind. When the Chairman retires, I will disappear with him. You just need to take over."
"Okay."
"Just serve the Young Master well. I introduced you because you are the one I trust the most."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
It was when I was spending my time doing nothing in particular after being introduced to Ma Seok-dae.
"I thought about what you said last time... I will accept your help."
Han Min-gyeong had called me out to meet her alone and said this. I welcomed her words with a smile.
"You made a good choice. Don't feel burdened."
"Thank you. I'm going to say I'll only do my tutoring and everything else until this month and then quit. Once I graduate and start working, I'll pay you back slowly."
She hadn't answered for a few weeks, so I had been giving up...
"Of course. Were you planning to run off without paying it back?"
I played a light joke to ease her burden.
"I'll send two million won to your account every month."
"Huh? That much?"
I nodded at Han Min-gyeong, who opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"Don't worry about your family's matters, and focus on studying. Take the exam with us, and don't worry about money until you graduate from college. Let me know if you need anything."
"...I'm sorry, but I can't refuse."
Right now, the monthly salary for new college graduate employees at large conglomerates was around five hundred thousand won at most. So hearing that I would support her with two million won every month, Han Min-gyeong couldn't hide her surprise.
"There's nothing to be sorry about."
I meant it. Compared to Han Min-gyeong's true worth, it was nothing. A smile never left my face at the thought that things were going well according to plan.
"Ah! And let's keep it a secret from the others. There's no need to mention it first. Right?"
Relief was visible on Han Min-gyeong's face as she nodded at my words. We changed the subject and talked about the bar exam before parting ways. Next, I went to Myeong-soo's house to meet Hyeon-seong's father.
"Hello, sir."
I greeted Hyeon-seong's father, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, and he welcomed me gladly as expected.
"Mu-hyeok, you look good. Seems like Seoul life is treating you well?"
A drinking session was already underway. I naturally joined the table.
"Take a drink from me."
It was Hyeon-seong's father pouring soju. I received the drink with both hands, drank it right away, returned the glass to him, and poured him a drink. Hyeon-seong's father laughed heartily.
"To think the day has come where I'm drinking with you kids, time really flies. You know how much I suffered cleaning up your messes whenever you caused trouble, right? Don't do that anymore."
Then he drank the drink I poured him in one gulp and stood up.
"Also, Mu-hyeok, follow me so we can talk a bit."
While Myeong-soo and Hyeon-seong looked at Hyeon-seong's father with puzzled expressions, I followed behind him and entered Hyeon-seong's room. Once the door closed, Hyeon-seong's father took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.
"You remember what you asked me for back then, right? About your parents' case. No matter how I look at it, it's strange. The investigation records are lacking. It felt like they just pretended to do a rough job."
Wrinkles formed on Hyeon-seong's father's forehead.
"Is that so?"
Blowing out cigarette smoke and showing a bitter expression, Hyeon-seong's father carefully started speaking.
"With my intuition from working as a detective for decades, there is definitely something. I want to dig into it a bit more, but since it's a case from almost 20 years ago, all the detectives in charge back then have retired and are gone."
"Do you know who they are?"
He nodded heavily.
"But two of them have already died. One of them supposedly emigrated overseas, but I don't know exactly where."
Hmm... overseas.
I should look into it. Hyeon-seong's father watched me lost in thought before adding.
"No matter how I look at it, it's too strange to call it a simple robbery. I don't know if I should be saying this..."
He hesitated while flicking his cigarette ash.
"It's fine. Please tell me."
Hyeon-seong's father checked my face once and dropped his gaze.
"A robbery-murder usually just involves taking valuables, they don't do it so severely... like that."
As he picked his words, he squeezed his eyes shut.
"Ah! I'll just say it. There were too many stab wounds to call it a robbery-murder. It was worse on your mother's side."
The more I heard, the more my expression twisted without me realizing it. It was hard to manage my facial expression, so I raised my hand and covered my mouth. Seeing my expression, Hyeon-seong's father stopped talking.
"Please continue."
"...From my point of view, it seems like your mother was the target. In cases like this, it's usually correct to view it as a grudge or a contract killing. If it had been a proper investigation, they would have caught onto that and investigated in that direction, but instead, they just poked around some local ex-convicts and let it fizzle out."
"...So you're saying it wasn't a simple robbery-murder?"
Nodding, Hyeon-seong's father stubbed out his cigarette.
"That's what I think. I'm planning to dig into it more, but I don't know if anything will come out. Still, I'll keep looking into it. Are you okay?"
My mind became complicated. 'They ran all the way to Busan and were living there, so there's no way they could have had a grudge against them. Could it be the work of someone connected to Grandfather?
No, if they had a grudge against Grandfather, it's strange that they went as far as a contract killing and then kept it hidden from Grandfather all this time.'
"Are you okay? Hey, Mu-hyeok!"
I snapped out of it and raised my head, seeing Hyeon-seong's father looking at me with worried eyes as I was thinking to myself without answering.
"Yes... It was just a bit unexpected so I was flustered... Thank you for looking into it."
"Hah, there's nothing to be thankful for. If I had known it would be like this, I would have looked into it sooner. I'm sorry. I couldn't even imagine it. I just thought they had passed away, who would have known there was such a hidden story."
"No. I couldn't imagine it either. If it weren't for you, sir, I wouldn't have been able to find out this quickly."
"No. I should have paid more attention."
Seeing Hyeon-seong's father blame himself, I calmed my anger and looked at him.
"...Please don't tell Grandmother."
"I know. How could I say something like this to your grandmother. Anyway, Hyeon-seong's mother has been visiting her often these days. It seems she's going in and out together with Myeong-soo's mother. You don't have to worry too much about your grandmother. If anything happens, I'll call you right away."
They are truly thankful people. It was a moment where I regretted living my past life forgetting about such people. Myeong-soo and Hyeon-seong's families were always like this.
Even when I used to go around causing trouble with Myeong-soo and Hyeon-seong, it wasn't 'Don't hang out with our kid', but...
"Stop causing so much trouble. Mu-hyeok, you should worry about your grandmother. Imagine how upset she must be."
It was like this. Hyeon-seong's father patted my shoulder.
"Anyway, I'll look into it a bit more, so just wait a bit longer. Let's head out. The kids are probably waiting."
"Thank you."
The man who patted my shoulder opened the door and went out first. I also watched his back for a moment before following him out.
"What is it, what did you two talk about for so long?"
Myeong-soo spoke to Hyeon-seong's father with slightly slurred pronunciation. He flicked Myeong-soo's forehead and sat down.
"Stop fooling around."
"Father~ Take a drink from me!"
But when Myeong-soo poured him a drink, Hyeon-seong's father received it with a smile.
"Have a drink too."
I sat down while watching Myeong-soo offer a glass to me as well.
"Father! I love you!"
Myeong-soo acted cutely toward Hyeon-seong's father and raised his glass. Hyeon-seong's father drank with a smile, and we clinked our glasses. The next day.
Hyeon-seong's father woke us up as we were sprawling on the floor.
"Stop sleeping, get up and eat your food."
When I forced my heavy eyes open, got up from my spot, and walked over to the dining table, Hyeon-seong's father was waiting for us with bean sprout soup he had boiled, having bought the bean sprouts at some point.
"Oh! Father!"
Rubbing his eyes, Myeong-soo sat down and gave a thumbs up toward the father.
"Crazy guy. Just eat your food."
We all sat down and literally drank the bean sprout soup.
"Phew~ Looking at how you guys live, I can't help but worry. I know Mu-hyeok does well on his own, but what are you two going to do? Hyeon-seong, what happened with the national team? Why aren't you saying anything."
Hyeon-seong avoided his father's gaze. Hyeon-seong's father tilted his head.
"Why? Did you fail? How strange. You didn't have anyone close to your level back in high school, right?"
"..."
Frustrated by Hyeon-seong not answering until the end, his father raised his voice.
"Why can't you speak? Did something happen?"
"...No. Nothing happened."
"Ah, you frustrating punk. Just spit it out."
I looked at Hyeon-seong, wondering what was going on.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"No." "Really? It seems like something is wrong though?"
"Nothing."
In Hyeon-seong's expression as he refused to answer until the end, I could see his absolute determination not to speak. Hyeon-seong's father seemed to know that as well, so he just sighed after asking a few more times.
I lifted my soup bowl to drink and glanced at Hyeon-seong out of the corner of my eye. '...I guess I should look into it?'
< Grudge or Contract Killing. [Paid Serialization Begins] > The End