Simultaneous Disappearances (1)
Hwanak Neighbourhood, which had become the site of an incident, had its redevelopment temporarily suspended.
This was due to awareness of the conflict between Gunbaek and the original residents becoming widespread after the media had focussed their attention there.
“No need to worry. As they say, behind every crisis lies an opportunity. I’ll be meeting with them soon to give them my thanks.”
There shouldn’t be anything that could overturn the plans for redevelopment.
However this would all depend on how the Gunbaek Construction would choose to stabilize their image following this controversy.
“Hm. In any case, please give them a few words from us as well. Tell them that we’d like to thank them for their cooperation.”
“I’ll do that. Okay then, guess I’m the first to finish work today.”
“Yeah, yeah. Take care on your way there.”
Now that Chu Oh-Myeong’s case was wrapped up, I could finally rest a little.
With a skip in my step, I caught a taxi.
***
At a mansion in Seoul.
Although I hadn’t spent long here, it still felt like my childhood home.
“Young master!”
Chief Kim came running out to meet me in house slippers.
All because there was someone here who was waiting for my return.
“Please come in. I was just about to call everyone to come and eat.”
I had heard that Go Dae-Man would discreetly hold his birthday at his own home every year.
Since everyone in the family was usually busy, I guess this was the best way to get all of us together.
The moment I entered the door, I could see the rest of the family sitting in the living room.
“Hello.”
As I called out a greeting, the godfather of all Korea lazily turned his head towards me.
“You’re back.”
As always, Go Dae-Man had a warm voice.
“Many happy returns on your birthday.”
I said this, while placing a fruit basket on top of the table.
In the next moment, I was surprised by Madam1 Lee Mi-Sook’s reaction.
“How thoughtful of you, but this is too much. Have you eaten yet? Let’s have something to eat first before we talk.”
Huh? What’s going on?
Although these words might sound normal if anyone else was hearing them, when they were directed to Go Ji-Hun in particular, it felt very strange.
“We were all waiting for you.”
What on earth? These words were the last straw.
I turned to stare at Chief Kim in utter bewilderment.
He waved his hand, beckoning me to just head on to the dining room.
A sumptuous feast had been laid out on the table. A full spread of all sorts of delicacies covered the tabletop.
After having eaten cup noodles for my meals every day, my whole body felt like it had been salted dry.
So I gulped down the food without even stopping to chew.
When I was about half-way through, the Madam suddenly spoke up.
“How has your work been?”
Really, what’s going on with her?
Although I was suspicious, I replied without making a fuss.
“Just so-so. It’s busy, but nothing I can’t handle. And it’s also very rewarding.”
“I saw the article. It said that you had rescued a kidnapped person?”
“I couldn’t have done it alone, the whole team put in a lot of hard work to get it done.”
I guess it was now time to reveal the point that she had slowly been circling to.
Lee Mi-Sook gently laid down her spoon.
“By any chance, do you know Congressman Jang Man-Chun?”
Congressman Jang Man-Chun.
The former leader of the Nara-Sarang Party2, the second largest of the opposition parties.
Although he had stepped down after being defeated in the presidential election, he was one of the most prominent politicians in terms of recognition and influence.
I nodded my head.
“I know of him. I don’t think there is anyone in the whole of Korea who doesn’t know Jang Man-Chun.”
“Congressman Jang Man-Chun is my father’s- no- your maternal grandfather’s old college classmate.”
“So what?”
“The congressman has a granddaughter. She should be slightly younger than you.”
It looked like this might be a long conversation.
Although Lee Mi-Sook had suddenly brought up this topic, no one else had even contributed any questions.
This meant that everyone else, other than me, knew about this.
“Please, go on.”
“However, a few days ago, his granddaughter went missing.”
Oh my. So this was about a case.
“At first they thought that it was just her being her usual rebellious self, but in the end, they couldn’t contact her no matter how hard they tried.”
“So that means she often runs away from home.”
“Although they’re hoping it isn’t a kidnapping, since there hasn’t even been a call asking for money… It’s like she just vanished into thin air.”
Hey now. Wait a minute.
It felt like I had heard of this somewhere before.
The disappearance of the granddaughter of a famous legislator.
“For now, they’ve said that they’ll file a missing person report. They’ve also hired a few private investigators, and they’re even exerting some pressure through their personal connections.”
“So?”
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“So they contacted me after seeing you save that kidnapping victim not long ago. They just hope that you might be able to help them out.”
That case certainly was creating large ripples through the media.
Footnote:
1. Just to be clear, this Madam had the meaning of ‘the lady of the house’. It has a completely different context to Madam Shim’s case.
2. Nara-Sarang translates to Country-Love, or love of the country.