“What!”
Son Yowan’s mouth gaped.
‘What!’
This time he was really surprised. So much so that sweat poured from his scalp.
‘As expected, that future information is useless! Totally useless!’
But the Squad Leader’s bombshell statement didn’t end there.
“If it’s really true, then the culprit who created the Goeidam here might be former Captain So himself. Everyone, didn’t you think it was strange? The timing when my superior entered Manghyang.”
The General lifted his drooping eyelids with a flash as if realizing.
“You people! You didn’t come to rescue us from the start but came here on a different mission! Right, I wondered how you knew we were detained and came to find us. Also, the timing when your superior infiltrated Manghyang was before the Goeidam occurred. But if you came to catch that dog Yeowon, it all makes sense…!”
Listening to the General’s dignified anger, Son Yowan went ‘Huh?’ a few beats late.
‘Dog, dog Yeowon.’
Somehow that noona’s side, even when cursing, seemed actually rougher than the Teacher who was a one-tool with the three-piece set of ‘you bastard’, ‘this fellow’, ‘vulgar guy’.
“That’s correct, Your Excellency.”
“Then answer me. Do you judge that dog Yeowon created the Goeidam, detained us who are the Godfather’s close friends, and used the Goeidam to kill your superior?”
“I’m not qualified to judge that…”
“I know your rank is quite low! But right now, aren’t you the only one who can judge?”
“We-well, in my personal opinion, I think the possibility is high.”
The General let out a groan.
“Then from outside, the Goeidam…”
“Can’t be broken from outside.”
“Then what should we do?”
“It must be resolved within the influence zone where the Goeidam drifts.”
“So the story ultimately comes to that…”
After the Squad Leader beyond the wall apologized repeatedly, he mentioned the ‘tree in the forest’ again.
“First, you must find the tree in the forest. This is all I can tell you. Actually, after former Captain So betrayed, the Godfather doesn’t trust anyone. So we also said we should give you a more detailed explanation, but in the end we failed to persuade him… The Godfather said that now the only ones he can trust are those present here. Please break the Goeidam and come out, I beg you.”
At those words, no one could answer rashly.
***
People began their search in a straightforward, linear manner. That meant they were scouring every forest within Manghyang.
“I’d rather pan for gold on a sandy beach!”
The person who burst out with that frustration was, naturally, the Teacher. Son Yowan was beginning to think he should call him “Mr. Grumbles” or “The Mouth That Never Stays Shut.”
However, this time, even Son Yowan agreed with his opinion.
This place is ridiculously huge.
The property had originally encompassed several hills, and later additions included landscaped gardens and greenhouses, so there were places that could be considered “forests” in every nook and cranny.
Still, Son Yowan was certain this would be the last search. It wasn’t that he was prophesying they’d find the “tree” in this forest…
“This is maddening! The sun’s already setting?”
…It was because the sun had started to go down.
“How about we go to our rooms, get some lamps, and meet back here?”
“You must be dying to get killed, Director. You want to wander around at night, searching through forests in an area where Goeidam are circulating? If you want to die, do it by yourself!”
“But that Goeidam appears perfectly fine during the day too, doesn’t it?”
“D-Director-nim. What you’re saying is true, but it’s a fact that Goeidam generally appear more frequently in dark places than bright ones, and in places with fewer people rather than many…”
Son Yowan half-listened to the people’s conversation while looking around. When he shaded his eyes with his hand, the view was manageable despite the glare.
The scenery really is killer, now that I think about it.
It was an impression that had come flooding back after being forgotten since the incident occurred.
Manghyang, with its abundance of trees, was dyed in the peak autumn colors throughout the entire property. The harmony of the dazzlingly blue sky above and the blazingly red maple trees beneath it, along with ginkgo trees that looked like they were hung with gold, was a work of art in itself.
In the Peripheral District where Son Yowan grew up, such orderly natural scenery was a luxury. That’s why, even while spending his time at Manghyang steeped in alcohol and card games, Son Yowan would often quietly gaze at the scenery. Even with the situation having become like this, the vivid autumn colors filling his field of vision were still incredible…
“What is it, Yoan?”
Perhaps having noticed Son Yowan looking puzzled, the Actor called out to him.
“It’s nothing much.”
When he looked at the Actor, he momentarily thought, Of all times for him to come back, it had to be when we’re wandering all over the place. But Son Yowan swallowed those words and only said this:
“I was just thinking about how fast the sun’s setting.”
“Right? Time just flies when we’re wandering around like this.”
The Actor let out a deep sigh.
“Are you tired?”
“Huh? Oh, no. It’s not that.”
“What do you mean it’s not that. That’s why you should’ve just stayed at the lodging.”
The Actor had come along on the search even though Son Yowan, who was an outsider among the VIPs, had joined—but the Magician and Assistant were exceptions.
“How could I do that? It’s not like I’m sick, and I don’t have to take care of anyone who’s sick either.”
Since it was just something he’d said anyway, Son Yowan didn’t argue further. Honestly, if the Actor had really stayed behind, Son Yowan would’ve been in trouble with no one to cling to—rely on.
“B-but, Yoan.”
“Mm.”
“Are you planning to keep staying with former Captain So? You’re going to leave, right? He’s dangerous. If you don’t know how to get away, I, I can help you…”
The Actor, who had been speaking to Son Yowan with difficulty, realized midway that he wasn’t listening to him at all and was staring fixedly at something.
“Hey, Noona!”
Then he suddenly raised his hand high and shouted.
“Can’t you keep your mouth shut!”
The Teacher, who had been looking for someone to vent his anger on anyway, immediately glared at Son Yowan and yelled, but Son Yowan didn’t even glance in his direction.
“Noona, Noona. And Director Hyungnim. This youngest one has something he’s curious about.”
Then he smiled broadly and spoke familiarly to the General, who was his grandmother’s age, and the Director, who was his father’s age.
“What is it, Yoseop-gun? If it’s not urgent, let’s talk later.”
“I don’t know The Godfather very well, so I’m asking—is he a bit clueless? Or is he just really spiteful?”
“You crude thing! Who are you insulting right now!”
“No, I was just thinking it’s strange. It’s not like The Godfather doesn’t know the situation we’re in, but in this situation, asking us to find a tree in a forest is… well, trading your wits for red-bean jelly…”
“Ahem, Yo, Yohan-gun!”
“Yep. I was wondering why he’d give us such a time-consuming riddle.”
The General, who had subdued the Teacher with a glance as he was about to yell again, turned her gaze to Son Yowan. It meant for him to speak.
“Didn’t that Squad Leader hyungnim say this earlier? That The Godfather said this:”
“I’ve hidden a tree in the forest, so find it. Through it, you’ll be able to hear the detailed story I’ve recorded in advance.”
“It’s probably not a real tree, right?”
“We anticipated that much. However, we’re doing this because we can’t know what ‘tree’ The Godfather is referring to, so we have no choice but to…”
“The recording seems to be the point.”
“That’s why we don’t know where that recording is hidden.”
“From what I’ve seen while staying at Manghyang, the second most common thing here after trees is this.”
Son Yowan wiggled his finger right next to his ear.
“Radios.”
People’s gazes rapidly exchanged in that moment.
“That’s… right.”
The person who covered his mouth and muttered that was the Director.
“Of course!”
Then, like someone whose thoughts had been blocked by a log that was suddenly removed, he rapidly poured out his speculation.
“A tree in the forest meant that! Among the many radios decorating this place, there’s one special one that can pick up The Godfather’s signal! Probably we input a specific frequency. Right, the Squad Leader said that! He said if we find the ‘tree,’ we can operate it through a method only we know!”
As people listened to his words as if entranced, Son Yowan thought:
Like he’s rapping. Anyone watching would think his job was rapper, not director.
While Son Yowan was having his habitual random thoughts, the Director’s story continued and eventually reached its conclusion.
“Frequency, frequency. Then it must be numbers. Since it’s a number both The Godfather and we can think of simultaneously, it seems we need to trace back old events between us. However, since The Godfather has never even met the young people among us, we must find that key. Then the problem is where that specific radio is. Ah, Yohan-gun! What help are you trying to offer this time! A young person’s sharp inspiration is always welcome!”
