Chapter 20
Does this guy sit in front of a computer all day? Hyungoh typed with a welcoming smile.
- Hello, Taylor. It’s been a while.
- Are you very busy these days?
- Hmm, not really.
- Or were you really kidnapped?
Hyungoh, caught off guard, stopped typing. Did I tell him that much? He’d shared so many stories that he was starting to get confused about what he had and hadn’t told him.
Taylor Scofield. He was a black hat hacker living in seclusion in California. His parents divorced when he was seven, he dropped out of Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and now lived alone at the WestComfort Hotel in Huntington Beach, Orange County, barely making pocket money—though the amount was enormous to call it just pocket money—by accepting hacking requests. He was a thirty-year-old white man of Germanic descent.
There was a reason why the information about him was so specific. He was a black hat hacker who’d tried to hack Hyungoh’s laptop six years ago. At the time, Hyungoh, who’d been almost forcibly recruited into the police information security team and was getting used to that life, counter-attacked Taylor and successfully hacked his personal information. Of course, Taylor, unwilling to lose, also managed to hack Hyungoh’s personal information.
Hyungoh was dumbfounded. Trying to hack a personal laptop? This attack indicated that it had nothing to do with the fact that Hyungoh’s job was with the police. So, thinking it might be for personal reasons, he carefully deduced the culprit, but couldn’t think of anyone in particular. What’s the benefit of hacking my laptop? I’m just a rookie who joined the police organization only a few months ago.
That’s when Taylor sent his first message. While Hyungoh was contemplating how to handle his virus-ridden and hacked laptop, Taylor casually greeted him. Though they’d never met in person, they knew each other’s faces. They also knew each other’s names, when and where they were born, where they lived, and so on, to an intimate degree.
After ignoring his messages for several months, Hyungoh became curious about Taylor, who diligently sent greetings every day, and started exchanging messages. When Hyungoh asked why he’d hacked him first, Taylor answered that he’d been commissioned by someone. At first, of course, he wouldn’t reveal who that was. The most valued among the implicit rules of black hat hackers in the field was protecting the client’s personal information.
- Judging by your lack of response, I guess it’s true. Your limbs are still attached, right?
Hyungoh chuckled. Taylor had quite a free-spirited personality. He would approach Hyungoh directly saying, “I want to be friends with you,” and strike up conversations at random times. But how could a police officer become friends with a black hat hacker—he’d had such moral thinking at the time. When Hyungoh bristled like a cat on guard, Taylor, as if left with no choice, leaked the client’s information, which was taboo. In other words, he directly revealed to Hyungoh who had commissioned the hacking of his personal information.
Michael Gostin.
A member of the Gostin Family. Taylor said he wasn’t sure how high up in the organization Michael was. At first, Hyungoh was startled to hear the name, but upon sitting down and thinking about it, it made some sense.
Hyungoh, who’d fled from America, was afraid of being caught by Michael, but in another sense, he was also worried about him. Five years had passed since he ran away, and it had been quiet without any incidents related to Michael. Hyungoh was both relieved and puzzled. Michael had been so unstable back then.
I hope he hasn’t gotten hurt or anything. Sometimes he even felt guilty for abandoning Michael. Perhaps that’s why when he heard that Michael was the client, he felt somewhat relieved. Though the fact that someone wanted to dig up his personal information was scary. Taylor joked inappropriately that Hyungoh should be relieved there wasn’t a request for assassination.
By this point, Hyungoh started to worry about Taylor. He was one of the few hackers who survived independently, not belonging to any organization. For such a man to leak client information, which was absolutely taboo, for the personal reason of wanting to gain a friend’s trust. Taylor responded, “It’s just between you and me, so what’s the big deal?” But that was precisely the biggest problem, wasn’t it? The client Michael targeted for hacking was me!
Anyway, he was a fearless and unpredictable man.
- How have you been doing, Taylor?
- Seeing how you’re changing the subject, I guess you’ve already lost something. An arm or a leg?
- It’s not like that. I’m perfectly fine.
- Really? That’s good then. I’m always the same. A continuation of very boring days. So tell me about yourself. How does it feel to meet Michael again?
- I’m not sure myself.
- About what?
- Michael’s feelings.
- Oh, that line was very sweet.
- You know that’s not what I meant.
- Of course I know. You’re afraid of Michael, like you’re afraid of your mother.
Hyungoh frowned.
- I told you not to talk about that.
- What’s the big deal? We already know everything about each other, don’t we?
Taylor always said things that poked at Hyungoh. Over the course of a year, Taylor slowly broke down Hyungoh’s vigilance. They had similar senses of humor, and Taylor would casually share his personal stories with Hyungoh.
There was a lovers’ quarrel between gay men at Huntington Beach today.
My friend Timmy finally paid back the $50 he borrowed a few years ago.
Listen, among my clients, there’s a couple who deeply distrust each other, and I received hacking requests from both of them simultaneously.
My father passed away today. I don’t feel sad, but I don’t feel good either. What kind of feeling would you call this?
Hyungoh found him burdensome. He didn’t particularly want to hear about his personal affairs, nor did he want to be that close. Having a skilled hacker friend might be helpful, but that was the extent of the friendship he wanted.
But Taylor seemed to want a deeper relationship. Why with me? It was uncomfortable and questionable. Since when have we known each other that he wants a deep relationship? However, Taylor was almost relentless. He freely shared with Hyungoh everything from his surrounding people to his own scarred past.
He used me. I don’t want to be manipulated anymore.
Hyungoh’s face hardened at Taylor’s message. Taylor genuinely resented his father, who hadn’t met with him since the divorce. He always used me, and I was foolishly used like that. Like a puppet, like a finely crafted doll. Normally, Hyungoh would have just responded with a casual “Yeah” and moved on, but for some reason, he couldn’t easily reply to this message.
Hyungoh read the message over and over. A strange emotion surged. At some point, a bottle of soju was in Hyungoh’s hand. Why is my heart so hot? Hyungoh turned to find a calendar.
Ah. So today is that day. That’s why. Hyungoh laughed and drank straight from the bottle. It was his mother’s death anniversary, something he’d forgotten to observe for some time.
That day, Hyungoh, drunk, shared many stories with Taylor. There were countless typos, and most of the stories were incoherent, but Taylor silently listened. Though thinking of his mother was fearful and sad, he’d long forgotten his memories with her. He rambled on about his tumultuous life in America and how he nearly died because of Michael, whom he’d cherished so deeply.
- Why are you not responding again? Are you angry?
Hyungoh spent the following months agonizing in regret. That he’d so easily spilled personal matters that could become weaknesses to others. It was a stupid and foolish mistake. Die, Choi Hyungoh! He cursed himself while pounding his chest with his fist.
But contrary to his worries, Taylor didn’t use those stories for any blackmail or anything else. Taylor was definitely different from most cunning hackers. He even told Hyungoh to relax, saying he’d sent slightly distorted personal information to Michael. When a hesitant Hyungoh said, “How can I trust you?” Taylor replied, “You’ve been keeping my personal info and stories safe too, friend.”
- I’m sorry:/
Seeing Taylor apologize when there was no response, Hyungoh realized his mistake. Old memories had surfaced, and he’d spaced out for too long.
In any case, Hyungoh and Taylor had maintained a good relationship since that day. Sometimes Taylor would share good information about hacking with Hyungoh, and Hyungoh would also share new hacking information with Taylor. From exchanging trivial jokes to eventually opening up about their concerns, they’d become close enough to talk freely about everything.
Now, well, he’s a good friend, Hyungoh thought. Even though we’ve never officially met even once.
- It’s okay, don’t worry.
- Thanks for your generosity, haha:) By the way, you finally came to America?
- Yeah.
Hyungoh rested his chin on his hand with a slight smile. He felt like he knew what Taylor was thinking. Until now, communicating only through laptops in Korea and America, they’d felt somewhat distant. But now Hyungoh was in America, wasn’t he? It was much closer than across the ocean in Korea.
- Now I just have to look forward to the day we meet.
- That’s right.
- I’m looking forward to it?
- I’m a bit scared though.
- Of what? Of me?
- Yeah. What if a pot-bellied, bald old man shows up?
- Don’t do this to me, Hyungoh. You probably saw my picture when you hacked my personal information before, right?
- That was years ago. Of course, I thought you looked handsome in your pictures, but you know, time can be cruel.
- If you continue, I might cry.
“Haha.”
Hyungoh laughed. It felt like chatting with high school friends. In a word, it was comfortable. No need to be formal, no need to be careful with every word.
- But I guarantee you’ll be surprised when you see me. Probably in a good way;)
Hyungoh laughed again at Taylor’s confident message. In a situation where he’d been extremely tense, talking with Taylor was like a refreshing oasis. Taylor had become the only friend for Hyungoh, who hadn’t made friends his age since high school.
“What’s so funny?”
Hyungoh’s face stiffened, and he quickly closed his laptop. Somehow Herick had entered the room without Hyungoh noticing and was staring at him while leaning against the wall.
“He-Herick.”
“Why so startled? You weren’t looking at something weird, were you?”
“N-no, nothing like that.”
Herick glanced at the old, worn laptop. It was visibly an older model. Hyungoh discreetly hid the laptop behind his back.
“I told you to rest comfortably, but I didn’t expect you to be grinning like a pervert.”
Herick approached with heavy steps. Hyungoh swallowed hard. When was I grinning like a pervert…?
“So… what brings you here?”
Hyungoh, with his shoulders tensed for fear of having his laptop taken away, asked Herick. Herick stopped and raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Hyungoh’s tightly closed lips. You were laughing just fine earlier.
While Hyungoh had been known to laugh often before, this was the first time Herick had seen him smile so broadly. Yet in front of me, you only give fake smiles. Herick glared at Hyungoh with a displeased face, then suddenly tilted his head. No, wait. Had he seen Hyungoh smile broadly before?
“The boss is awake. He wants to see you.”
At the word ‘boss,’ Hyungoh’s heart sank. That ‘boss’ must be the ‘boss’ I’m thinking of… It has to be. This place where I am belongs to him after all.
Federico Gostin.
Federico Gostin had inherited all the honor and power of his grandfather, who was the origin of all mafia, the Sicilian Mafia, and had completely taken over the global prostitution and drug markets. Almost everything operated at his word. He’d gradually expanded his power by taking away the strength of other mafia organizations, and he’d succeeded in absorbing an organization that mainly dealt with arms trafficking, creating today’s Gostin Family.
Numerous criminal organizations would wet themselves at the mere mention of his name. That’s how influential Federico Gostin was. Although he was now an old man who’d aged to the brink of death, his power remained unchanged.
He’s a criminal. An unspeakably vicious, terrifying criminal.
And I have to meet such a man?
“He doesn’t like to be kept waiting, Choi.”
Herick said quietly as he helped Hyungoh up. Please, tell me it’s not that man. With each step he took, it felt like the ground was caving in. He almost wished he could sink into the ground.
“Why would he… want to see me?”
“Well, probably because of Michael.”
“Michael?”
“Yes. He’s curious about anything Michael shows interest in.”
Oh, right. Herick scrunched his face as if he remembered something. I almost forgot to mention this important thing. Herick stopped in the middle of the corridor. Hyungoh, with a pale complexion, turned his rigid head towards Herick.
“You, don’t bring up anything about Hunter in front of him.”
“…My uncle?”
“Yes, don’t even mention that he’s your uncle.”
Unless you want to be tortured with all your nails pulled out. Herick said. Hyungoh, who frowned at hearing the name after a long time, was puzzled by Herick’s words.
“Why my uncle? Did something happen?”
“Of course something happened.”
Herick laughed cynically. Hyungoh closed his mouth at the ominous atmosphere. Why is my uncle suddenly being mentioned here?
“You know Hunter was part of this organization, right?”
“The Gostin Family?”
“Yes. He was even an underboss.”
Hyungoh’s eyes widened. My uncle? Even just that one piece of information was enough to make Hyungoh gape in surprise, but Herick didn’t spare him and dropped a second bomb.
“But he ran away. He left the boss half-crippled and fled with a bag of money.”
