p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Prologue/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Chikka Chikka Chikka./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Bang Bang Bang./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Dragon Motors, once a content, unexciting motor company, now echoed with a disturbing choir, a horrific blend of screams, the crack of heavy clubs colliding with scrawny bones, bullets screaming as they escape the confinements of their cold, metal barrels to burry themselves into the warm skulls of rioting strikers, and the deafening screeching of police helicopters circling the chaotic scene, each sound moulding together and resonating across the night./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Strikers scramble across the ground like cockroaches as the night's heavy downpour beats their bleeding, motionless coworkers, washing their wounds out of pity and drumming on every surface, attempting to motivate the living./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Hwang In-ho enters the scene with a mask of pure horror instantly plastered onto his dripping face, already splashed with speckles of blood from surrounding fights. He joined the police to be true, to be just, to protect the less fortunate, ending discrimination to make everyone equal and make the world a perfect place once more. Realization collides with him like a bullet wedging into his shoulder as he realizes this world is as realistic as a child's imagination./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""What are you doing, you fool!", In-ho's chief bellows as he beats the face of an unconscious striker, coating his club in thick, red liquid that shimmers in the moonlight, "Do you want to be shipped back to military? Then get fucking involved!"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Blinking, and attempting to steady his shaking hands, In-ho scans his surroundings, spotting his closest friend in the police force, Seo-Joon, through the pouring rain and overwhelming darkness, as he battled with two strikers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Ignoring the thoughts that, this scene, men in uniforms, sweat and blood sprayed across their dripping faces as the rain pounds on their skulls, dripping down their backs and onto their hands as they beat the life out of scrawny, powerless young men, is the rawest portrayal of humanity, In-ho grasped his own smooth club of icy, tempered steel and let thoughts, excuses, overtake his mind as he sprinted towards his coworker./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Serve those higher up, those who actually contribute to the economy./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"They matter most, they make my life, my family's life, better./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"What will these sad, skinny men ever do, except drink and smoke and litter our streets?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Seo-joon struggles with the two men, each with dripping, messy long hair, tattered clothing and, despite their weak bodies, determination in their heavy eyes that reveals to their strong minds clearly as two blood-shot windows. Their bony fingers are curled around rusting, metal bars./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""In-ho!", Seo-joon shouts over the downpour, bullets and echoing screeches, "your pistol! Pull out your pistol!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Both workers instantly snap their necks towards In-ho, their resolve washing away like dark blood in the rain, allowing for fear to enter their bodies. Still, they stand their ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"One worker steps forward, lowering his bar./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""I've worked here for 16 years. My wife is 9 months pregnant", the striker yells, "We deserve better than this!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The yelling attracts more cops, who, satisfied with the bloody, silent pulps they've created, sprint towards the two men, whose faces contort in desperation and fear. The worker that shouted steps back, wide-eyed and sheepish for drawing the unwanted attention. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The second worker runs forward, brandishing his bar and swinging it towards Seo-Joon. In-ho stands frozen as the dripping metal collides with Sea-joon's face, transforming his nose into a contortionist and sending a fountain of blood, black in the darkness, down his crushed face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"In-ho screams in anger, letting muscle memory control his mind as he grabs his pistol, clicks off the safety and brings the barrel into his line of sight. Raindrops bounce off the dark, icy metal, coating it in tiny, shining circles that quickly escape from the evil instrument, running off its sides and pooling like blood on the floor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"As his finger jumps to the trigger, an image overtakes In-ho's mind, battling and defeating his muscle memory and grit. An image of Jun-ho. A 6 year old boy curiously engaging in one of his common interrogations./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Why did you wanna be a cop, In-ho?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Well, this town is overcome with corrupt people, bad people that value the lives and freedoms of the wealthy over the poor. I want to change that. I want to finally make society… fair./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Fair? How?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"You know when you play with Sang-hyuk, and Jin-woo? You wouldn't like it if they decided they could make the rules for the game, so they can easily get by, and you'll lose. You want the game to be fair, right? /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Yeah./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Well, I want to make life fair, too. For everyone./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"One person can do that?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"If they're determined enough, yeah./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Sick! I wanna be a cop, too. I'll shoot the bad guys to find out all their secrets… so everyone can win the game, and feel like they own the world! I bet people would be a lot happier if they always won their game. I'm always way happier after I win./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"I'm sure you are. Just remember, if you become a cop, listen to your head and your heart. /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"What else could I listen to, In-ho?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Your corrupt, rich boss, that takes bribes and smokes and gambles. Never listen to those people./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The memory feels like a blow to the stomach, an epiphany of shame and realization. Jun-ho would be disappointed if he saw the older brother he looked up to in this moment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"In-ho slowly relaxed his grip, loosening his fingers and letting his pistol fall. He saw it in his mind, the weapon tumbling towards the ground in slow motion, before he heard the emthud/em, emsplash /emand emscrape /emof it colliding with the puddled, concrete ground. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The strikers eye the pistol, righteously suspicious, untrusting. In-ho began to slowly lift his arms, ready to offer a truce with the young workers, until a small, speeding metal cylinder wizzes past his head, brushing In-ho's ear before burying itself into the second worker's skull, exposing white bone and squirting blood-soaked matter out of the wound, coating the first striker's face from behind. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Then, time begins to play in fast-forward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Officers lunge at the living worker, throwing him against the ground and each roughly pressing pistols against his quivering, blood-soaked body./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The source of the bullet, the chief, harshly slams the barrel of his gun into In-ho's temple./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"A feeling briefly overtakes his mind, a strange sensation that he is floating to the moon, playing with the stars, before the chief grabs him by the collar and screams in his blood-splattered face, adding an additional coating of saliva and cigarette breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""What the fuck is wrong with you!", he screams, "That man was beating your colleague's face in with a metal bar, and you emdrop your gun? /emDo you have a emmental illness?"/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"In-ho finally returns from his flight to the moon, his thoughts quickly arranging themselves to form their own, his own, opinion. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""That man had no choice", In-ho deadpans, "we started the attack first, they were…trying to defend themselves. Why must be carry out the orders of their bosses when their actions were legal?"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The chief grabs In-ho by the shoulders and slams his spine into an icy, concrete wall, bringing his face close enough for In-ho to see the plaque on his yellow teeth./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Listen here, you little shit. You know what type of person you are? To check whether something is emshit/em, or soy bean paste, you'd have to try it to know the difference", he hissed, letting out a single guffaw. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""You want to know why we carry out the choices of the bosses? Because they're the ones with the Won. Not these emscum /emthat would give us nothing in return for saving their insignificant asses"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The chief's face inched closer to In-ho's as he spat his last words onto the stony-faced cop's drenched, blood speckled face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""So, are you going to prioritize the lives of the little children that run around, playing their games and waving their signs, or are you going to prioritize the lives of the emimportan/emt people in society; the ones with the money?"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"In-ho meets the eyes of his chief, maintaining his composure as he spits his last words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Of course, I'll always meet the needs of the VIP's. What could make our emgames /emmore fucking fair than that?"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Chapter 1 – Incorruptable/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"4 years later, May 2015/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;" /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Every year, since 1988, the poor, the debt, the…insignificant, have been disappearing; one day they're calling their family, gambling, spending time at the market. The next, they're gone"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Chief Hwang In-ho stood, composed, as he presented his case to the other police chiefs from across South Korea. Being promoted for his incorruptibility and fair views was a surprise to all, but he would take full advantage of this position, and make his and Jun-ho's vision come to life./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Have they fled the country, fearing the police, their lone sharks, and the disappointment in their family's eyes? Or, is something more sinister happening here, in a land meant to pursue peace and security?". He paused, meeting each chief's equally tired and serious eyes, before continuing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""These people are, seemingly, unsignificant. No one gives a shit about the debt-consumed low-lifer that decides to get lost and never speak to their family again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""But, when you're a low-lifer like this, all you have is family. They're the only good thing in your sad, meaningless, small life, that makes you feel happy, and big. That's what's so strange about these disappearances- they're all leaving their loved ones behind. And, even stranger, 40% of the missing persons had family members pass away, due to medical issues that are highly expensive to treat, just weeks after they disappear. These people would not ditch their family like that. I am sure"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The chiefs around the room gaze at the pristine, white ceiling of the meeting room, hopefully deep in thought and not overcome with thoughts of emwho is this idiot and why the hell is he a police chief?/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"In-ho opens his mouth, ready to continue his case, when the office door flings open, and Kap-Soo, a young, scruffy secretary, unceremoniously bursts inside the quiet, reserved area. Suddenly realising his intrusion, Kap-Soo straitens his back, nervously running one hand through his black, dishevelled hair and using the other to smooth the creases in his starched, crumpled shirt, as if playing some kind of nerve-racking coordination game./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Uh, Chief Hwang In-ho?", Kap-soo stuttered, "Someone is here to…see you. Now"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"In-ho opens his mouth to protest, annoyed but amused by the young man's excessive nerves, until the glass door swings farther, and a bright figure instantly catches In-ho's eye. A man standing behind the door, dressed in a bright-pink jumpsuit, with a hood, black gloves, and boots. A white circle sits in the top half of the man's strange, black mask. At first, In-ho thinks the man is some kind of joke, until the full demeanour of the strange figure seems to resonate./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The figure stands strangely, still, his gloved hands clenched over his front pockets as if he's hiding something, something more mysterious and threatening behind his innocent, bright pink outfit. An image of a children's toy found in a box of weapons- rusted knives, clubs and pistols- comes to In-ho's mind, a strange juxtaposition of innocence and danger./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Hwang In-ho's mind instantly begins to produce various arguments, excuses, to convince himself that following this man is the right choice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"People rarely come to see me. I've already presented almost all my information, I should let my theory sit for a while before I start to sound even more ridiculous. I should take advantage of this strange situation, I may never be able to discover the secret behind this strange man./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Finally, Chief Hwang nods, turning to the other, amused chiefs./span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""I'll be back shortly. Please, look through the files whilst you wait"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;" /span/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"In-ho follows the strange, mute guard, through the front office, expecting to be consumed in the usual buzz of officers, but instead faced with silence. The facility was completely empty. Frozen in abruptness and shock, In-ho simply stood, feeling his heart beat as a racing blow rippling through his whole body./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The masked man continued his path, his movements controlled, robotic as he reached a gloved hand and dragged a storage unit away from the facility's grey, brick wall, revealing a man-sized tunnel leading into darkness./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The guard's childish pink suit became engulfed in black, the only trace of his existence being heavy, echoing footsteps; a hollow sound that seemed infinite as it bounded off the passage's cavernous walls. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"In-ho's pulse lowered, matching the pace of the masked man's uniform steps, as he, too, became swallowed by darkness./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Bare, stony corridors, each magnifying the eerie resonation of footprints, replaying the thumping sound through their cold, empty spaces. Like a confused animal using only echolocation in the sudden absence of all its senses, In-ho followed the ringing of vibrations to find his way as he weaved through the dark style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Finally, the guard stopped outside a rusted, steel door, deep, golden light peering from underneath, standing stationary against the wall opposite, remaining mute and motionless. Suspecting that the strange guard wouldn't answer any questions he puts forward, and wanting to remain composed, In-ho simply presses his palm against the door, its icy surface biting his skin, and pushes it open./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Then, he freezes, trepidation engulfing all senses./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The freezing room was dimply light by rich, orange lamplight, illuminating its contents./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"In its centre, a glossy, wooden desk sits on a velvet, rich blue carpet. Behind the desk, a man in a dark, pristine suit perches on a luxury, leather armchair, his hands folded on the desk and a glittering, jewelled owl mask concealing his face. Two of the pink guards stand on each side of the man, each with triangles instead of circles printed on their mask, and each holding a large, black firearm. The steel door emslams /emlike a gunshot behind In-ho, causing his blood to leap as he stands, frozen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Hwang In-ho, please, sit down", the owl-man speaks in a voice rich in tones; wizened, gravelly, playful, cheery, dangerous, threatening; the words almost seemed rehearsed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Cautiously, slowly, and somehow not overly threatened by this raspy owl man, In-ho pulls a plush, velvet stool out from under the desk and, slowly, sits down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Why do you want to see me?", he asks, tracing the intricate carvings into the stool's varnished wood, concentrating on the slow motions of his finger. The movement helps him control the muscles in his face and throat, maintaining a façade; a composed demeanour./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""I want to talk to you, about your theories", the man's voice remains friendly, but In-ho can detect splashes of warning behind the words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""My…theories?", he asks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The masked man remains still and silent as the guards behind him instantly cock their rifles, unsubtly aiming their barrels centimetres from In-ho's head. His heart begins to thump, slamming itself against the bars of its ribcage to flee from the situation, but In-ho remains his composure, wearing a mask, hiding his emotions, just as much as everyone else in the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Your theories, about the missing people", the owl man continues, his voice still dripping with cheer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Well…" In-ho deadpans, "All I know is that people are going missing. Poor people, people in debt. Living people in debt, with families that love them and file missing persons cases. To me. You seem in the position to know more about those cases than me so, hey, why don't emyou /emtalk to me about that? Because I, for one, know nothing."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The owl man sits motionless for a moment, then reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out 5 colourful, small stones./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Gonggi stones./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The man gazes at them for a moment, as if they call back an ancient, but happy memory from the depths of his mind./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""When I was young, me and my friends could never make a decision on what to do, so we played Gonggi to decide who would pick our game. I had so much fun, immersing myself in the simple yet colourful and intricate world of Gonggi, that I forgot the honour of choosing our game was at stake", the owl man chuckled, "I won every time, so much that we argued and decided to change our rules. But I didn't care, because, no matter what we played, I always had so much fun."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The owl man laid the small, bright stones on the desk, spacing them evenly apart on its drab surface. The colourful children's toys were so out of place in the dark, dangerous room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Let's play a game. If I catch the most stones, you will pay me with your body. If you catch the most stones, I'll pay with information. I'll tell you anything you want to know"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"Despite the fierce adrenaline rushing through his veins, his thundering heart, and the ferocious fight-or-flight sense fighting to overcome his thumping mind, In-ho had to cement his cheekbones in place to stop a smile slicing through his face as a memory overtook his senses./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"10 year old Jun-ho and 26 year old In-ho sit cross-legged on the ground, the colourful Gonggi stones laid evenly on the floor in between them./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Why are we playing this game again?", Jun-ho asks, his wry smile evident in his tone./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""Four years ago, I told you how I want to make society fair, correct?", In-ho answered, "well, today at work, I was thinking about it, and thought I'd show you what exactly I meant"./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""I know what you meant, In-ho!", Jun-ho laughed, "my friends cheat at /span/emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"mugunghwa kkochi piotsseumnida emall the time. I know what it feels like when the game is unfair"./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""Do I really need an excuse to play games with my younger brother? If this isn't convincing enough, I'll come up with another one."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""No, In-ho", Jun-ho grinned "this excuse is fine"./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"In-ho stared the owl man in the eyes, and, despite the quiet room's thick tension and the black barrels aimed at his head, he finally let a grin creep across his face and held out his hand./span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""You've got a deal"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;" /span/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"The owl man began the game, skilfully tossing the Gonggi stones into the air with swiftness and dexterity, each finishing their dance of pattern and colours carefully in the palm of his hand. His movements were nimble, agile and clearly the work of a person that had played and won this game his whole life./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"After he had flicked all his stones into the air and perfectly caught them on the back of his hand, the owl man poured them into his other palm and held them to In-ho./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;""You're turn", he spoke in a voice abundant in joy and eagerness, either at playing a game and returning to his childhood, or eagerness to finally wedge a bullet into this nosy chief's skull and paint the walls with his blood./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"In-ho calmly accepted the stones from owl man's steady palm into his shaking hands, the only part of his body where he's never been able to disguise emotions, feeling their smooth surfaces against his trembling fingers, and laid them out on the desk. Breathing deeply to steady his hands and calm the nervous buzz threatening to break his composure, he began./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"In-ho gracefully tossed the grape-sized stones into the air, catching them flawlessly each time, allowing himself to relax slightly. He had played Gonggi with Jun-ho countless times, and, despite the many years it had been since the brothers played the game, discussing how to make it as unfair as possible- giving one player bigger stones, making them close their eyes or toss them a metre into the air- his muscle memory returned with ease, transporting his mind into the rhythm of the game as he caught the vibrant stones on his knuckles, almost as smoothly as the owl man./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"When the owl man offered that they play once more, In-ho didn't object./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"As In-ho immersed himself in the game, letting its rhythm overtake his mind, the room's atmosphere shifted. The passion evident in memories of Jun-ho and his passion to stay alive in the moment swirled together, melding, as the tiny, colourful stones consumed his thoughts. The owl man became less of a threatening figure in a mysterious mask, likely responsible for the disappearance of hundreds of people, and more like a worthy opponent engaged in a simple, fun game that transformed them both to a simpler, better time in their lives./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"Finally, when In-ho handed the Gonggi stones back to the owl man after a flawless round, he simply shook his head and released a slow, wheezy laugh. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""You're a worthy opponent, In-ho. A very good player", he bantered, taking the stones, scraping them against the desk and concealing them in his blazer pocket once more, lifting his gaze to stare into the distance of his memories, "It's been such a long time…since I played such a good game."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"In-ho simply sat, his hands folded on the desk, mute, only interested./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""When I played with my friends, we always joked, they said I had fingers agile as a empepeo, /emand they would practise and practise, and get really good at flicking the stones into the air and catching them on the backs of their hand", the owl man continued, rubbing his right palm over his left knuckles and chuckling, "but I was always the best player. Thank you for letting me have fun again. I spend so much time watching the games, I forget how much I enjoyed playing them so long ago…I forget how fun they are."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""You like gambling, sir?", In-ho asks after a beat, trying to sound casual, interpreting the man's simple chatter with a buzzing mind. The owl man's head instantly snaped back in place./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""Hm?", he asks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""You mentioned games. Horse racing? Gambling? I gamble a little myself. It really does bring us back to the simple rules and high stakes of…childhood", In-ho laughs, resisting the urge to continue tracing the smooth patterns of his stool to keep his thoughts arranged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""Yes", the man states wistfully, "gambling, I guess you could say that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""Horse racing?", In-ho pushes in a friendly tone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""Very…very similar to horse racing. And…more fun to watch"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""Does this…gambling…involve people? You know, people that like to gamble?"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"The owl man suddenly stares at In-ho, his simple yet piercing brown eyes becoming suddenly apparent through the glamour of his jewelled mask, until they glazed over once more, overtaken by a memory./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""In-ho… I am an old man. A sad old man, yet even when I was young, I was still sad"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"Hwang In-ho leaned forward slightly, still meeting the owl man's eyes, despite the brown irises becoming cloudy and distant. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""I wanted to feel like a child again. Playing games, risking, forming alliances to be the best player…So, I got together with some younger colleagues of mine, and we set up a game. It has a great prize, the best we could provide, so the players really enjoy themselves."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""A game?", In-ho asked, "and…the players? I'd bet they're people who'd really appreciate that prize", In-ho tried to quip in a joking tone. The owl man continued staring into the distance, eyes covered in a glossy layer of remembrance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""The games are very simple, but sometimes people get too carried away thinking of the prize. They forget to think about each other. When I watch them, I remind myself why I don't trust people. We…we'd all eliminate each other for that prize"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""Eliminate?", In-ho asks "where do the players go after they're eliminated?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""The players…they see the games as their refuge, as much as I see it as mine. They don't want to return to their horrible lives. I bet…when they're eliminated, they feel like they're trapped. In a box. And the box is on fire, and the smoke and flames are overcoming them. They're trapped in the mess they've made for themselves, the mess they'd probably rather emdie /emthan return to"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"The owl man turns to In-ho suddenly, his tone becoming desperate, tragic, begging./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""If I tell you everything about my games, will you cancel your investigation? They bring me so much joy. My games are an escape for so many people. They choose to play, choose to leave their sad lives and family behind, for this escape"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"Hwang In-ho stares at the deep-coloured wooden desk, letting thoughts and memories bound around his skull. He remembers the many times he'd played with his brother, remembers comparing society to the games they played, remembers saying how children's games were perfect, an ideal world where everything was fair. But he also remembers making Jun-ho swear to never be corrupt, to never listen to the rich men in their suits who thinks they're bigger than you because their bank account is./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"But Hwang In-ho let the former thoughts swarm his brain, overcoming the latter. Excuses, excuses, always beating his values out of the picture with clubs of justification once something new opens up in his life, something bigger he could work towards, something that interests him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;"In-ho held out his hand once more to the strange man in the owl mask and the suit, his pink guards still standing with their pistols aimed at his forehead./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""Deal"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Chapter 2 – The Games/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""I hold my games once a year, during late June. We invite players to attend by letting our representatives meet them in a time of trouble, asking them if they wish to play some games to pay off their debts. We offer a lot of money to the winner, a lot of money, but, sometimes, they vote to terminate my game. They always come skuttling back after they discover the box they're trapped inside, a box only an incredible sum of money could break them out of./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""We keep our games fair, like horse racing. These people are treated like rats in the real world, so we create a fake one for them, where they can each have an equal chance of success. We want to give these people an opportunity to live like children again. To live in a world where rules are simple, and everything is fair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""But…this is the real world. And my players, they're only doing it for the money. They're only doing it to win. They'll betray their closest friend if they get the chance./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black; background: white;""Me and my colleagues, these people would not have this opportunity if it weren't for us. We take them to the games. We take care of them while they're there. And we supply the prize they all go crazy for. But the games need to be fun for us to watch…otherwise the very important, my colleagues people wouldn't provide. Otherwise, the players wouldn't care about a world of equality and fairness. When you get to my age, you know it's impossible to trust another person in a world without hierarchy. It's our nature to want to become above someone else, to become richer, stronger, better. There's no such place as a world where people are content with their hierarchy. People don't see a point in living in an equal world, in being a child again, without promise of money. They'd rather return to lives of fraud, and gambling, and sadness"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho remains speechless, attempting to analyse the owl man's every word, but instead analysing himself. Was a world where everyone is treated equally really possible, when the current world was full of betrayal, empty of trust? Is it possible to be an incorruptible chief?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Once more, an image of young Jun-ho fades into In-ho's mind. His brother was only 23, but equipped with morals unwavering and true as a titanium border. In-ho had helped sculpt this wall throughout Jun-ho's childhood, teaching him to be honourable and just. It was not fair to his younger brother to listen to this rich, masked man in a suit./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""How can you be so sure?", he asks, using a friendly tone whilst not overly disguising the underlying hostility in his words. The man simply shook his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""One of my colleagues, an American man, rich, and excellent in economics, told me a story once, The emPrisoner's Dilemma./em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Two gang members are both involved in a crime, and are captured and taken to court. If one of the criminals reports the other's involvement, they get off the hook, and their rival serves three years. He called this the dominant strategy, and the human's natural urge to dominate their enemies will make them almost always make this choice. But, if the criminal's rival also reports the first criminal's involvement, which is almost inevitable, they both serve two years./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""What, if there was a solution, one that is fair to both criminals, and doesn't rely on betrayal to succeed? What if, if both criminals admit to their crimes, they each serve only a single year? They don't betray each other. They both get a third of their worst sentence. My colleague called this the Nash Equilibrium, the best decision to be made, that benefits both criminals, benefits everyone. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""So…so many of these Equilibriums exist in society. People can almost emalways/em come to a decision to benefit each other and ensure that nothing bad will happen to them. If this is true…why? Why do we always choose to betray one another, when we know the risk, when we know there must be a better option? Why must we always watch our backs in times of vulnerability, in fear that our friends will stab us in the back?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The owl man meets In-ho's eyes with a look of intensity, as if expecting an answer. In-ho simply sits, silent, speechless. The room was deathly quiet, his own light breaths the only sound filling the void of auditory emptiness./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""What does that have to do with anything?", Hwang In-ho asks quietly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Silence continued to fill the room as the owl mask simply stared down In-ho, considering his question./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""It has to do with everything, Hwang In-ho", the owl man begins slowly "It shows how our values are as futile and ephemeral as the money that shapes them"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Silence seemed to be the room's only occupant./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Then, Hwang In-ho asked some questions, shook the hand of the owl man for the third time, and left to return to his office and call off his investigation, knowing the true beauty and purity of what the owl man's games stand for, knowing that purity was worth more than a few pitiful lives./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"After the steel door slammed behind him, the pink guards lowered their rifles, and lifted their radios out of their left breast pocket. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""No", Oh Il-nam uttered firmly, "call it off"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""You don't want us to continue?", the guard 034 asked, lowering his radio./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""He reminds me of my son", Il-nam said quietly, "I like that man. Tell Frontman not to shoot him. And tell him to be ready for retirement"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Chapter 3 – Jun-ho/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"No masked man escorted Hwang In-ho as he returned to the recognizable parts of his facility./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Winding through chilling, echoing rooms, he walked, alone, rubbing his thumb over the smooth piece of card the owl man handed to him during their last handshake as thoughts bounded against his skull./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Morals were a strange thing, these thoughts said; a single encounter with a friendly, threatening man in a suit and a hidden face can rotate your entire world./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"But he had been naïve. After 18 years of working as an officer in the most corrupt and least economical town in South Korea, he should have known a world inhabited by people, human people, can never be fair, never be free of prejudice and betrayal./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"These thoughts clouded In-ho's vision, invading his every sense to such an extent that he thuds straight into a large figure. At first, In-ho, his mind elsewhere, is unfazed, until his location sinks in. No casual encounter can occur in dark, hidden tunnels in a police station. Stepping back and squinting in an attempt to identify the figure, In-ho distinguished the shadow of a middle-aged man squeezed inside the lowest-ranking uniform in the South Korean police. His blood danced like colourful Gonggi stones as his unfocused mind instantly identified the figure./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"His old chief./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Hwang?", the figure questioned, apparently instantly recognising his old recruit. The former chief's focus alternated focus between In-ho and the direction he came from as he narrowed his dark, bead-like eyes, "what were you doing down there?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""That's none of your business", In-ho uttered, stoic./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The former chief squinted his eyes, glaring at In-ho and pressing his lips together, before shoving him out the way, sauntering in the direction In-ho had come from, the direction towards the masked men./span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Hwang In-ho didn't even turn around, refusing to give that snake a second thought. These rooms were probably used for briberies or drug deals. He was mostly terrified he'd get caught, and didn't want to stand in the darkness of those corridors for another style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd frankly, he didn't give a shit about whatever his former chief was involving himself in. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;" /span/p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Hwang In-ho's hands were still shaking as he stood before the door of apartment 132, fighting with a set of rusted, trembling keys as he finally span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spaninserted the right one into his home's ancient lock and emclicked /eminside the reserved space he loved, longing to sit alone and drink./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"His beige walls were occupied by photos of his Mother, his brother, Jun-ho, and Police Force certificates, from when he was first enlisted in the academy in 1994, to his recent promotion as chief the year before. The small space was dotted with worn furniture, but empty of cans of alcohol and junk like others often were. He lived alone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Heavy breathing filled the apartment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho's blood curdled as he slowly creeped inside, his eyes scanning every surface in search for the source of the sound. Perhaps another masked guard, with a rifle. Or the man in the owl mask. In-ho had thought he could trust them…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Muscles tense, padlocked in place, pupils darting around…until his tense, probing eyes settled on the image on Jun-ho sprawled out onto a run-down coach, his limbs spread in various directions. He looked like an intoxicated starfish. Jun-ho's muscles instantly released./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Laughing as his key emclicked /emin place, In-ho ambled behind his coach, pressing his hands into the scruffy material./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Jun-ho, what are you doing?", he chuckled, "aren't you meant to be on nightshift?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Jun-ho's eyes flickered open, a smile stretching over his skin as he brushed greasy, dark bangs out of his worn eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Brother!", he exclaimed, trying to sound enthusiastic, but emitting rasps instead of words, "you caught me. You know how much I hate work. Always skipping"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho chuckled and shook his head, thumping down onto the coach next to Jun-ho and leaning back. Jun-ho hadn't missed a shift in the 2 years he'd been an officer until that day. Whilst forming the thought that Jun-ho must be seriously sick to be missing a day at work, In-ho noticed his bloodshot eyes, the raw, red scratches patterning his legs and arms, the layer of sweat coating his pale skin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho's forehead tensed, his voice lowering./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Jun-ho, are you alright?", he asks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Jun-ho simply shook his head and closed his eyes, collecting his flayed limbs and rearranging his body into a natural position./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""I'm fine. My chief sent me home this morning, said I looked like I'd just watched a man slit his own throat, I was shaking or sweating or something. Didn't want to go to the house…emeomeoni /emwould freak"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""She would", In-ho confirmed grimly, "you're a mess"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"A mother, who ages with nothing except two sons, will worry about everything, as her children emare /emher everything; the only luxury in her life. Even if these sons grow successful, buying a real house, real food, real clothes, the mother would still be dominated by her worry for her everything./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho couldn't let this happen to himself, letting determination build throughout his life, letting it dominate his mind in the place of worry. Whilst other children's minds were occupied with games and fictional characters, In-ho's was blanketed with promises of mending the society that had wedged a bullet into his father's head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""How was work?", Jun-ho rasped, his eyes resting. A light gust of guilt blew over In-ho's mind but quickly passed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Fine, fine", In-ho said, dismissively, as a power overcame his mind and poured himself a shot. Jun-ho's eyes shuttered open slightly at the light, innocent emtinkling/em of glass and bubbling of liquid, a small smile sprouting across his sweating skin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""You're lying", he whispered, before lowering his eyelids. In-ho's hand began to quiver slightly as he knocked back the brown, burning liquid and poured another glass, dressing in a mask of nonchalance and humour/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""What?", he laughed, his hand still quavering./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Last time you drank that stuff was 4 years ago, after you went to that corrupt worker's strike attack. The one at the motor company?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho blinked, trying to knock back his third shot silently, letting the nagging voices of morals, ricocheting off the sides of his skull, become silent, letting his mind quieten and body buzz with peace./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""I must've just forgot I owned this stuff", In-ho laughed, loudly embanging /emhis glass against his glossy coffee table once his mind finally fell silent. Jun-ho just shrugged, squeezing his eyes shut, and began raking jagged fingernails over raw skin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Jun-ho, stop", In-ho hushed, grabbing his brother's hand. He almost flung away from his brother's damp, pale skin in shock; dry and discoloured, Jun-ho's arm felt like tissue paper, and was dripping with blood from where his gnawed nails raked over its dry, thin surface. In-ho's mask of composure dropped to the ground as shock and horror overcome his face. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Jun-ho sat still for a moment, as if his state was a shock to him as much as it was to In-ho, lowering his gaze as his eyelids began to strobe uncontrollably./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""I-I'll call a doctor", Jun-ho stuttered, attempting to push his paper thin, quivering body off the coach, damp patches of sweat in its wake./span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho barely had time to cry out in protest before Jun-ho shuddered to his feet and slid one food in front of the other. Both brothers felt equally in pain as Jun-ho's knee bucked, his entire body collapsing as he emslammed/em his jaw harshly onto the coffee table and his instantly eyelids stopped strobing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;" /span/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Agency FB',sans-serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Hwang In-ho's insides were ramen. Delicate, stringy, it emcrunched /eminto millions of tiny straw-like pieces whenever he moved. His hands hadn't stopped quivering since he watched his brother's unconscious body smash against the /In-ho squeezed his palms into his eye sockets, pushing away the memory that was continuously roaring through his mind./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The look of simple shock as Jun-ho discovered the very state of his own body. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Blood squirting out from under his jaw as it thudded in the stiff corner of the coffee table, dotting its shining surface with glossy red./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The worst part wasn't watching his brother's blood splatter; it was his hesitation to call an ambulance, knowing the cost of hospital admission, and still used to a world empty of money, of safety. The thought disgusted In-ho, summoning a new wave of bubbling thoughts on the unfairness and equality of his town. When he remembered what had happened earlier that day, this disgust only grew, redirecting towards himself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Sir?", a light, polite voice inquired. In-ho slowly raised his head, meeting the eyes of a young women he recognized as the Hospital's receptionist. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"God, he was sitting in the Hospital? How long had he been there? /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Sir?", the girl offered again, slightly more impatiently, "your brother, we-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Jun-ho!", In-ho gasped, his head finally clearing as he leaped out of his seat, "is he…is he alright?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The receptionist simply sighed sympathetically, lowering her deep brown eyes. To another man, this woman would be beautiful; cute and short wavy dark hair, doe eyes with thick, curvy eyelashes, glossy, light pink lips. Not to In-ho. He only found beauty in fulfilling his passions, not in any other kind of desire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Sir, your brother has experienced a very serious kidney failure. If he doesn't receive a transplant within…", the lady pauses, pursing her lips, "…actually, come with me", she finished, flicking her bouncing hair as she broke eye contact, spun around and began strolling towards the Hospital's front desk. In-ho followed with legs of jelly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The receptionist sat down behind a glass counter in a starkly white, sterile space, and began neatly gathering sheets of paper. In-ho's worn, bloodshot eyes couldn't make out a single shape./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Mr Hwang In-ho", she began, dropping any bubbly tone from her voice and adopting an emotionless deadpan, "your brother, Hwang Jun-ho, is suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease, more commonly known as end-stage kidney failure"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The ramen in In-ho's stomach began to boil, stretching and tightening around his chest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Unfortunately, at this stage, Hwang Jun-ho has waited much too long without investigating his symptoms, so we cannot engage in simple treatments like dialysis. He will have to receive a kidney transplant", she finishes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho merely leans his side against the counter, speechless, lowering his gaze to the ground, wearing his usual mask of composure as emotions exploded inside him like fireworks, each hitting differently with equal amounts of pain. Anger, fear, helplessness and anxiety all took turns detonating throughout his body, releasing powerful sparks that twisted, fried and disintegrated his twisted anatomy. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""How much is the surgery?", In-ho asks quietly. Of course, he didn't give a shit about the price, but, untrustful of himself to ensure that his mask remains intact, he tried to develop a normal hospital conversation in his mind. It acted as a handrail, something for his mind to grasp onto in his roller coaster of mental distractions./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The girl lifted a sheet of paper. Her doe-eyes instantly changed, and her lips pressed together in trepidation./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""With your insurance, ₩ 52,527,200", she almost winced, briefly glancing at In-ho apologetically, "The healthcare system is still suffering from Black Monday, so we need an upfront payment. Um, in cash"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho emptied his lungs, entirely ridding his body of air as he rubbed the tired skin under his eyes. 52 million won was less than 43 million away from encompassing his entire annual income./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Your sure that's with insurance?", he winced, despite knowing the truth. South Korea had been suffering ever since the economy unceremoniously crash landed, like a kite into a dumpster fire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Yes, I'm sure sir. Without the insurance, the operation would be 106 million won". /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Well thank God for insurance/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;". Another thought that sent memories spiralising, transporting him once more to a time when he would have been more likely to run away from an ambulance than call one if his brother fainted on his apartment floor. Of course, he would be living in more of a minuscule, concrete room than an apartment if that were the case./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Hwang In-ho refilled his lungs with sour, sterile hospital air and sucked his life up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"He would be poor, but he would have a brother. A laughing, talking, living brother./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""When do you need the cash by?", he asks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The receptionist looks up from her desk in shock, probably not often being in a situation where someone can afford, or is at least willing to afford, to provide medical care to their relative./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Umm", she stutters, smiling nervously as she spreads papers around her desk, "we need it at least a day prior to the operation. But you're donating your own kidney, it can be only a few hours"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Hwang In-ho instinctively snapped his hand, holding it on the skin above his own kidney. A part of himself, inside his brother. How poetic./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho almost smiled thinly in relief- his brother will be alive! - when the receptionist's calm, friendly persona dropped, returning to a pitied wince./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Sir, one last thing…", she disclosed, "if your brother doesn't receive a kidney transplant within 7 days…he will die"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Chapter 4- Desperation/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""What?", In-ho blurted, his hands shooting towards his face and running through greasy, dark hair. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The nurse sighed in trepidation, before repeating herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""If Hwang Jun-ho doesn't receive a kidney transplant within 7 days, he will not survive"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho felt frozen, trapped under a river coated in ice, his body burning and shivering as he bangs on the river's concrete surface, desperate to save his brother, but floating in his overwhelming state of mind, feeling helpless, useless, feeling overcome with that desperation./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The single word, emdie/em, despite how he knows his brother could be fine in a few hours if he keeps his shit together, seemed to chip at the part of In-ho's brain that kept him emotionally stable since the day he found his dad's dead body, opening a wave of uncontrollable, raw emfeel. /em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho squeezed his eyes shut, urging himself not to break down in the moment someone needs him the most. He… he…./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"He has been assigned a job./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Yeah, yeah, a job. Very important./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Saving the life of a client. It requires no physical hazards for himself. A series of simple tasks that will be very rewarding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"As In-ho's mind processed the situation, analysing it emotionlessly like he did everyday in the office, it became easier and easier to remain intact./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"He straightened his back, clenched his steady fists by rigid, determined legs, lifting his chin to meet the receptionist's eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""I'll go to an ATM. I'll bring the cash right here, right now. You can cut out my kidney, and I'll wait right here until my brother is ready to go home. Is that all I need to do?"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The receptionist blinks her eyes a few times before subtly shaking her head, then nodding violently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Yes, yes that's all, sir. The atm is around the corne-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"A deep, resonating buzz cuts the girl off, replacing her words with its urgent tone. Hwang In-ho felt his phone vibrating impatiently in his pocket, before pulling it out and, without a word to the receptionist, answered and stepped away from her blindingly white counter./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Good evening, sir, Hwang In-ho speaking", In-ho voiced calmly to his boss./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""I know who you are, Hwang", the voice asserted, causing a ripple of blood to spread through In-ho's body, "an anonymous source just informed us that you cancelled your investigation due to accepting a bribe earlier today. We didn't expect such a thing from you, and were going to tell them to get lost, when we noticed all security camera footage, from the moment you left your office, to the second you stepped back inside, has been erased. I thought you weren't like the others, Hwang, I really did". The superintendent sighed, his voice dripping in anger and shame./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""We don't tolerate bribery in my station. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""You're fired"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Then, silence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"But Hwang In-ho's fist didn't clench. He didn't shake. He didn't sweat, he didn't run a hand through dishevelled hair, didn't tense the muscles in his forehead, didn't force the air from his lungs./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"With steady hands, he straightened his tie, casually sauntered towards the receptionist and smiled with the perfect level of politeness; one that radiates confidence, friendliness, instead of shyness and anxiety./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Excuse me, madame", he quipped, "I've just got to make a quick call, but I'll be back in a moment"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"He didn't wait to see her reaction before turning away and walking into the men's bathroom./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"As he pressed his palm into its chilling, metal door, he was confronted by an image of his own, emotionless face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"An act that should have finished chipping In-ho's mask away, breaking it, revealing the debris of a sad, broken man, only hardened it, strengthening the mask with hardship, with resolve./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Because the moment someone sees who you really are behind your mask, you might as well be dead. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"People don't like seeing the rawness, the ugliness, the hidden side of a person's life./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"He had learned that from watching his father. And where was his father? He wouldn't be surprised if the remains of his lead-loaded bones weren't still scattered in an alley somewhere downtown. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho marched into the empty bathroom, standing in a spot far away from the image of his own falseness as he pulled the owl man's card out of his pocket. Three shapes were printed onto its worn, cardboard surface; a circle, a triangle and a square. Flipping the card around, he was presented with a phone number. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"4230 1007/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho began to quickly generate a conversation in his head as he dialled the number./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"A colleague at work bumped into me. I must have let my mask drop for a moment. He sensed my determination. He felt my nervousness. And he saw the security footage, or rather, the lack of security footage, thanks to you, so now I'm knee-deep in /I did you a great favour today. And I really enjoyed playing with you./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"I really need a bit of cash right now, so if those games are still running, I'd like to express my interest./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Then, someone picked up the phone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Do you wish to participate in the game?", a deep voice immediately answered. Hwang In-ho was speechless for a moment, not expecting such an immediate offer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""If you wish to play, please state your name and date of birth"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"A quiet voice at the back of In-ho skull began hissing into his brain, urging him to hang up, to search for another job, to forget about his encounter with the owl man, the masked, pink guards, their black rifles. These warnings quietly echoed, bouncing off the sides of his skull as he responded./span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Hwang In-ho. February 2supnd/sup, 1976"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;" /span/p
/div
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""I'll be back here in six days with the money", In-ho stated to the receptionist, who looks unconvinced but still smiles, or more accurately, grimaces, in return./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Please, make sure my brother is taken care of", he says, smiling back. Pity returns to the receptionist's eyes as her own kind expression becomes sincere. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""I will, sir"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"As In-ho turns to talk away, he becomes face-to-face with a large, grim looking man with a neat haircut, clean-shaven face and pressed, black suit. The man eyes his inferior in disgust, shoving In-ho aside with broad shoulders and, as soon as his eyes lay eyes on the receptionist, transforming his demeanour into one of friendliness and, if possible for him, approachability./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Evening, darl, my…uh, sister, is due a pancreas transplant tomorrow", he purred, leaning onto her desk and flashing a crooked grin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Amused by this enormous, pug-faced man's attempt at…whatever the hell he's trying to do, In-ho took a few steps forward before taking a knee, pretending to tie his shoe as he listens eagerly. He's always been entertained by the actions of the rich; they want everything their eyes touch. Fascinating, how, the more you become closer to having everything you would ever imagine, the more you want anything you could ever imagine./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""I'm just here to…deposit the payment for her surgery"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Yes, of course sir", the women faltered, followed by the shuffling of papers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Damn, these shoes are pretty tough to tie, /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"In-ho muses to himself, emI might have to kneel here for a while…/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Since you don't have insurance, that'll be 175.7 million won", she said, "That needs to be upfront, in cash"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""175 million? Damn girl, I should've gotten that insurance, eh?", he said, releasing an overly loud and obnoxious guffaw that likely sprayed saliva in her face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""I'm sure you'll be able to afford it", she snaps, her words damp with sarcastic politeness./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Eh, eh, eh, alright, I'll pay. Does it have to be cash, right now? Because I've got a lot in the account, I can bring it over in a week or so. No need to use those fancy, penny-picking machines", he chuckled. The women paused, briefly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""Fine", followed by the sound of an angry pen scraping against paper, "only because you look like a man that has that kind of money"./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;""And you look like the kind of lady who can afford a phone", the pug-man quipped, "mind if I have…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"Hwang In-ho would never find out the rest of that man's pathetic dialogue; he was already out the door, onto the street, headed to the area the man on the phone instructed him to./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"The unfairness of his shitty situation made him want to smash that man's nose impossibly emdeeper /eminto his thick, flabby skull. But the unfairness of the real world wasn't applicable to him anymore./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"He was about to enter a world where everything was fair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"He was about to play some games./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;" /span/p