PTT - 10

At the pointedly meaningful gazes, Raon blinked. Taking Marble’s place in the field operation was not at all difficult for her. 

In fact, it was part of her duty as a team member. However, the real issue was… 

She stole another subtle glance at Siheon. Since their reunion at the NIS an hour ago, they hadn’t exchanged a single private word. 

The already awkward tension between them made the idea of going on a mission together quite uncomfortable. 

‘Right. Work is work, and personal life is personal life…’ 

Raon nodded firmly, trying to convince herself with what seemed like an obvious logic. The lingering discomfort in her heart was just an unfortunate side effect. 

“Ugh… I’m sorry, Raon. I couldn’t even take you home last night… I’ll treat you to a meal tomorrow.” 

“No need, Marble. Just rest. Don’t worry about it.” 

“In that case, Rak will continue investigating Cheon Seong-won’s associates, and Ray will keep digging into the mafia connections. Raon… you’ll come with me.” 

After issuing his crisp instructions, Siheon turned to look at Raon. Without giving her time to mentally prepare, he headed toward the meeting room door. The operation had begun. 

* * * 

Garam Gallery, located in Samcheong-dong, wasn’t particularly renowned for its long history, but it had earned a respectable reputation among collectors. 

The slush fund Cheon Seong-won amassed through art purchases was estimated to exceed 10 billion won. While it wasn’t uncommon for chaebols to evade taxes, the involvement of overseas organizations had broadened the scope of the problem significantly. 

If mishandled, this could escalate into a diplomatic issue. It was crucial to confirm whether Cheon Seong-won was funding the mafia and, if so, how he was laundering the money. 

‘You can tell they’ve greased a few palms around here.’ 

Raon glanced around the space. The interior featured a striking contrast of black and white. The pristine white walls displayed canvases spaced several meters apart. 

Holding onto Siheon’s arm, Raon moved slowly, lowering her voice when she sensed someone approaching. 

“Target approaching from 2 o’clock.” 

Though her report was quiet, her gaze remained fixed on the painting in front of her. 

Exactly three seconds later, a gallery curator with chestnut hair approached them, wearing a practiced business smile. 

“Hello. Are you Mr. Kang Hyun-jung and Ms. Min Ji-hyun?” 

“Yes, that’s us.” 

“Nice to meet you. You can call me Director Kwon. I’ve been briefed on your request. You’re looking for artwork to display at your Paris branch, correct?” 

“This way, please.” Director Kwon gestured to the right with a soft smile. Her long, wavy hair swayed gently as she walked. 

Siheon and Raon followed behind, pretending to exchange affectionate glances like a loving couple. 

‘This kind of thing suits Marble perfectly…’ 

Acting was something Raon loathed. She’d rather roll on the ground or run until she tasted blood in her throat than engage in such performances. 

Moreover, having Baek Siheon as her partner made it nearly impossible to focus properly. Shaking off the foggy thoughts clouding her mind, Raon swallowed a sigh. 

Once they reached the fourth exhibition hall, Director Kwon handed them her business card and struck up a conversation. 

“How did you find today’s exhibition? Though relatively new, Kim Myeong-hak’s use of color is among the best in Korea right now. He’s one of the gems our Garam Gallery has discovered.” 

“Yes, it was quite impressive, but… To be honest, we’re not very interested in domestic artists. Their modernity feels somewhat lacking compared to foreign artists. There’s a lack of freshness and impact, which is disappointing.” 

Siheon tucked the business card into his pocket, wearing an expression of dissatisfaction. By now, he had fully immersed himself in the role of Kang Hyun-jung, the 34-year-old businessman. 

Kang was characterized by his tendency to devalue Korean works after being exposed to French culture and his elitist attitude. With an arrogant demeanor, Siheon stroked his chin and raised an eyebrow. 

“Does this gallery only represent domestic artists? I heard otherwise.” 

“Of course, we also collaborate with internationally renowned artists. We have hundreds of affiliated artists. Do you have any particular favorites?” 

“Well… I’m particularly fond of French artists like Henri Ouieng and Jacques Nouaille…”

Siheon flicked his fingers casually as he glanced at Raon. 

“My wife has recently taken quite an interest in Russian artists. Something original and sophisticated would suit her taste.” 

“Oh, I’d prefer brushstrokes without hesitation—bold yet refined works are more to my liking. You understand what I mean, Director Kwon, right?” 

Raon tilted her head with a bright smile, the long blonde wig tickling her nape. Though she knew nothing about art, her comments perfectly fit their pretentious newlywed couple act. 

Their performance seemed to have worked. Director Kwon pressed her lips together tightly, forcing a smile. Her expression betrayed her thoughts: Do I really have to deal with collectors like this?

“Of course. I think I understand the kind of style you’re looking for. We have several Russian artists under contract with our gallery, ranging from newcomers to well-established names. Next time you visit, I’ll prepare a selection of pieces for you.” 

“Oh my…! Thank you so much, Director Kwon! I’m so glad we came here today. Somehow, I had a feeling Garam Gallery would be just the place to find something perfect for us.” 

With exaggerated enthusiasm, Raon threw her arms around Director Kwon in a hug. The real reason was to attach a tiny bug to the collar of Kwon’s jacket. 

“I’ll be waiting for your call from now on! I’ll even put your number up at my office and in the living room of our honeymoon suite.” 

With a natural gesture, Raon planted light air kisses on both of Director Kwon’s cheeks, pretending to give her French-style greetings. 

Though Kwon looked startled, Raon shrugged playfully, smiling innocently like a clueless child. 

“You know bisou, right? It’s a French greeting.” 

“Honey, you’re making Director Kwon uncomfortable. This is Korea, after all—they might not expect that kind of thing.” 

“Oh, no, it’s fine. Then I’ll contact you soon… Excuse me for a moment.” 

Bzzt, bzzt. Unable to hide her unease, Director Kwon’s pocket vibrated. She pulled out her phone and checked the caller ID, her expression subtly shifting. Noticing this change, Raon turned to Siheon. 

“By the way, honey, can we eat samgyeopsal instead of pasta later? I’ve been craving Korean food lately…” 

“What kind of low-class suggestion is that? If anything, let’s go for steak.” 

While they bantered casually, their focus remained entirely on Director Kwon. Baek Siheon, who played along naturally, also concentrated on the sound of the call. A few steps away, Director Kwon furrowed her brow as she answered the phone. 

“What? Another auction in Russia? I thought I was going crazy with the jet lag already… Yes, yes, I know how important VIPs are. Hold on—I’ll call back in five minutes.” 

After snapping irritably into the phone, Director Kwon glanced around cautiously before ending the call. She then returned to the couple with another practiced smile. 

“I apologize for the interruption—it was urgent business. If it’s okay with you, may I call you again in a few days? I’ll make sure to prepare only the finest works for you.” 

“Of course. Please take care of it. Our husband understands how crucial communication is in business, right, dear?” 

“Yes, Director Kwon. Thank you for your hard work. Let’s wrap things up here for now.” 

“Let’s look around a bit more before we leave. I’m not hungry yet.” 

Director Kwon bowed slightly and quickly exited the exhibition hall. The irregular clacking of her high heels against the marble floor echoed behind her. 

At that moment, the cheerful smile vanished from Raon’s face. Returning to her usual cynical demeanor, she swiftly scanned the area. 

“The wall ahead conceals a blind spot. Shall we connect now?” 

“Yeah. We should finish this before any problems arise.” 

Although they had obtained formal court approval for wiretapping, if anyone noticed, it could complicate matters significantly. The key to this operation was keeping it hidden from Cheon Seong-won and his associates. 

Moving to a corner out of the CCTV’s range, Raon retrieved a device from her pocket and plugged in a wired earphone. It was connected to the bug she had planted on Director Kwon. 

“…Shall we listen in?” 

She handed one earpiece to Siheon. While headquarters could monitor through speakers, sharing earphones was the best option given their current situation. 

Naturally leaning closer to Raon, Baek Siheon inserted the earpiece into his right ear.

Due to the height difference of more than 20 centimeters, Siheon had to slightly tilt his upper body forward. As the distance between them narrowed, a strong woody fragrance wafted over her. 

In the delicate and tense atmosphere where their proximity felt almost palpable, Director Kwon’s voice came through the earpiece. It seemed she had called someone else back, and her tone was laced with irritation. 

Holding their breath, Siheon listened intently to the voice coming from the earpiece, his brow furrowing as he raised an eyebrow.