He first set down his phone on the bed. It wouldn’t be strange if the Baeksa Faction had planted a location tracking function in this phone. He couldn’t carry something like that while tailing someone.
Kang Siwon grabbed only his wallet and carefully opened the room door. The corridor with its red carpet was quiet as a mouse. Still not letting his guard down, he stood in front of the elevator and pressed the call button.
The elevator, which had been stopped on the 0th floor as if Ju Xiang had just gone down, began to ascend. Even that time felt long to Kang Siwon. He was anxious he might lose Ju Xiang at this rate.
However, fortunately, as soon as he arrived on the 0th floor and left the hotel, Ju Xiang’s back came into view. He was heading somewhere with quick strides.
“……”
Kang Siwon followed Ju Xiang with his hood pulled down low. His heart pounded since this was his first time tailing anyone. If he got caught, it would be the end, but he didn’t want to miss this opportunity to find out what Ju Xiang—and furthermore, the Baeksa Faction—were up to. A strong doubt that even he himself couldn’t fully understand was moving Kang Siwon.
Even if his tailing was discovered, he could make up an excuse that he was looking for a restaurant. Repeating this to himself, Kang Siwon maintained a consistent distance and continued pursuing Ju Xiang.
* * *
Tailing Ju Xiang wasn’t as difficult as he’d thought. The narrow, bustling streets were optimal for hiding, and it was even getting dark at dusk. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice the tail, and Kang Siwon only needed to be careful not to lose him in the crowd.
But when Ju Xiang entered a decent-looking building, he had no choice but to stop.
It was a building that stood out as particularly tall even among the high-rise buildings lining Hong Kong’s streets. The lobby visible beyond the glass doors gleamed brightly, and a security guard stood at the entrance.
Could he enter a place like that? Kang Siwon hesitated while watching people enter and exit. Seeing that even people in ordinary t-shirts were coming and going, there didn’t seem to be any particular dress code. It seemed like a popular spot among tourists as well. Kang Siwon passed through the entrance pretending to be a tourist too.
“……Whew.”
Kang Siwon, having entered the lobby, let out a sigh. It was good that he’d entered the building, but he’d already lost Ju Xiang. Moreover, the lobby was excessively bright and open. It was a terrible location for tailing someone.
Anxiety crept up. After alertly surveying his surroundings, Kang Siwon decided to blend in among other people this time as well.
Just then, three men around his age were passing by. Quietly attaching himself behind them, Kang Siwon moved along with them all the way to the elevator as if their paths had coincidentally overlapped.
Of the six elevators, three were stopped at the 30th floor. Kang Siwon noted that number while boarding the arriving elevator.
“Ha, I’m hungry. We came all this way, surely it’s not closed, right?”
“Google Maps said until 10. It’s still 9, so it should be fine.”
The men murmured in English and pressed the 3rd floor. Watching the 3rd floor button light up, Kang Siwon also pressed the 30th floor. However, the 30th floor button didn’t light up. It seemed a card key was needed to go to the higher floors.
He tried pressing the 20th floor as a test, but it was the same. After going through the 19th, 17th, and 15th floors, when he pressed the 10th floor, the button finally lit up.
In the meantime, the elevator arrived at the 3rd floor. The door opened and the men filed out in a group. When the door closed again, silence settled in the elevator. Kang Siwon finally released the breath he’d been holding.
“Hah……”
At last he arrived at the 10th floor. Stepping out of the elevator, Kang Siwon carefully surveyed his surroundings. The entire floor seemed to be office space, but fortunately there were no people and all the lights were off. Thanks to the lights on in the corridor, at least it was enough to move around.
“Hmm……”
It seemed there wouldn’t be anything special even if he searched this floor further. After brief consideration, Kang Siwon looked for an emergency exit. If he went up through the emergency stairs, he might be able to reach the 30th floor.
In truth, there was no guarantee anywhere that Ju Xiang would be on the 30th floor. Even if he found him, it wasn’t certain whether he’d be able to obtain meaningful information. But he didn’t want to return empty-handed after coming this far.
Kang Siwon began climbing the emergency stairs. With each floor he climbed, his heart beat faster—not only from moving his body. A tension different from when he played spy at Sovereign Casino spread through his bloodstream to his entire body.
“……”
Reaching the 30th floor, Kang Siwon took a deep breath and grasped the emergency door handle. He’d steeled himself for the possibility it would be locked, but unexpectedly, the emergency door was open.
A faint jazz-style melody could be heard from the end of the long corridor. As Kang Siwon was about to head in that direction, he quickly hid behind a pillar, sensing a presence from the opposite corridor.
“Are you crazy? Where do you think this is, following me here?”
“You’re an uninvited guest too, aren’t you, hyung? How did you manage to get an invitation?”
“Right. Like you said, I had a hard time getting an invitation to enter. So just shut up. If we get kicked out like this, will you take responsibility?”
“Who do you think had an easy time getting in? If you’d contacted me on time, how nice would it have been for both of us?”
That sneering voice was definitely Ju Xiang’s. He spoke brazenly.
“You left Macau and came all the way to Hong Kong? You’ve really come far.”
“Are you making fun of me right now? Huh?”
The other person was somewhat full of indignation. Ju Xiang spoke as if soothing him.
“No, I’m doing this because I feel sorry for you, hyung. What did you do wrong? Let’s be honest, how many VIPs have you brought in until now, and they dump a person over a few pennies of rebate? This is exactly what they mean by discarding someone after using them.”
“Cut the honeyed words. So what’s your business?”
“I’ll be straightforward. Join our side. You’ve got a list compiled, don’t you.”
“What? Ha, that list is like my lifeline. If I hand it over to you bastards, what happens to me after that? Die just like that?”
“I’m not telling you to hand over the whole thing. Just give what needs to be given and the Baeksa Faction will guarantee your safety. Since you left Macau as good as expelled, you know well that no matter how much you hover around parties like this, you can’t hook new customers, right?”
The other person didn’t say anything. His hesitation reached even Kang Siwon. Ju Xiang didn’t miss that opening and pushed forward.
“Whether you think about money or safety, it’s beneficial to join hands with us. Frankly, do you even have a better option?”
“……If I hand over the list, are you going to use it to strangle my customers?”
“‘Former’ customers. And you’re the one in a stranglehold, aren’t you, hyung?”
“……”
“Bite first before being bitten. That’s the only way you can survive.”
A sweet proposal that he had no choice but to fall for even knowing there were ulterior motives. Ju Xiang’s voice resembled that of Manager Park when he’d proposed the spy work to Kang Siwon. From the circumstances, Kang Siwon could easily guess that the other person, who seemed to be a junket broker, would accept Ju Xiang’s proposal.
“I……”
As he swallowed dryly waiting for the broker’s next words—
The sound of dress shoes could be heard from afar. Heavy footsteps were heading this way. Kang Siwon wasn’t the only one who noticed.
“What?”
“Guards. Damn it, let’s get out of here first!”
Ju Xiang and the broker scattered as quickly as cockroaches. Kang Siwon also gritted his teeth and began running toward the other end of the corridor. Since the two had fled to the emergency exit, the only path left for him was this way.
If he got caught by the guards, who knew what commotion would arise. For Kang Siwon, who had many things to hide either way, not getting caught in the first place was the best option.
Tap tap tap tap—multiple footsteps echoed through the corridor. Were they chasing him? He wanted to check, but he couldn’t bring himself to look back. While running looking only ahead, the corridor gradually grew darker. Only the chandeliers hanging here and there scattered brilliant light, but Kang Siwon didn’t notice this.
“Huff, huff……”
The closer he got to the end of the corridor, the more clearly the illumination dropped. The faint jazz melody also grew louder, and he could even feel the vibration of the bass. Now even Kang Siwon could sense the change in atmosphere. There seemed to be some kind of club nearby.
“Huk……!”
The moment he turned the corner while gasping for breath, a different world unfolded before his eyes.
An arched entrance decorated with fresh flowers, guards standing watch beside it, people leisurely entering wearing dresses and tuxedos.
It was a party hall he’d only seen in movies.
“……I’m screwed.”
Kang Siwon muttered blankly. Since the music was that loud, he’d steeled himself for there being many people, but he hadn’t realized it would be such an elegant atmosphere. Wearing just a hoodie, he was completely out of place here. Already, several people were openly glancing at him.
But he couldn’t very well turn back now that he’d come this far. While he was stuck unable to do this or that, someone snatched Kang Siwon’s wrist.
“……!”
He reflexively tried to shake it off, but the other person’s grip was stronger. He advanced while firmly holding onto Kang Siwon’s wrist. Even while being dragged along helplessly, Kang Siwon tried to twist and pull his wrist free.
“Stay still.”
A low voice penetrated his eardrums. Kang Siwon stiffened in surprise. A familiar figure from behind entered his widened field of vision.
“……Ray Jun?”
