PTT - 33

“Forgive me, but it would be difficult for me to drink since I drove here. I hope you understand.” 

“What impudence is this? Refusing a drink offered by your elder! If driving is the issue, we can simply have Park, the chauffeur, take over...” 

“Oh, no need for such agitation, Chairman Baek. Back in our day, we forced drinks on each other, but these days, being too pushy like that can cause real trouble. Drunk driving is a serious offense, after all.” 

Chairman Baek’s face subtly twisted as if silently fuming at his son’s refusal to cooperate. His thick eyebrows twitched like an angry dragon. Despite the palpable tension between father and son, Mayor Bang Won-gyeol merely chuckled with a warm, affable smile. 

“I hope I haven’t upset you by calling you here when you’re so busy. Chairman Baek has been singing his son’s praises nonstop, so I was curious to meet him… But alas, it seems my expectations were misplaced. Such a striking young man—I mistook him for a Hollywood actor walking in!” 

After clinking glasses with Moon-jin in a toast, Bang Won-gyeol flashed a sly grin. Siheon now understood why his father had brought him along to this gathering. Without changing his expression, he responded indifferently: 

“The son you mentioned doesn’t seem to be me, but I’ll gladly accept the compliment.” 

“...Baek Siheon!” 

“These days, young people’s jokes are hard to decipher. Still, what’s done is done. Ah, why has the atmosphere turned so tense? Before diving into boring business talk, let’s eat first.” 

The room fell silent momentarily before Mayor Bang burst into hearty laughter, slapping his knee. Yet, the fragile tension between father and son showed no signs of easing. 

‘This is far enough.’ 

Pushing Moon-jin’s buttons any further wouldn’t do anyone good. Siheon swallowed a sip of hot water from his white cup and pressed his lips firmly shut. He wasn’t sure whether Mayor Bang was aware that Chairman Baek had a love child—or rather, multiple illegitimate offspring—but it didn’t matter now. 

“By the way... if I may ask, who is the person sitting beside you?” 

Moon-jin, barely containing his irritation, glanced diagonally across the room. The middle-aged woman seated quietly next to Mayor Bang had not uttered a single word since they entered the private room. Her black hair was neatly tied back without a strand out of place, and she appeared to be in her early fifties. 

At first glance, one might mistake her for the mayor’s wife, but Moon-jin knew he was unmarried. Her silence and stillness, even as she sat motionless without touching her drink, raised suspicions. Yet, she remained as quiet as a ghost despite the attention directed her way. 

“Ah, you mean our Chief Min? She’s my senior aide. Very reserved and tight-lipped, as you can see. Hoho, don’t mind her—let’s continue with our meal.” 

At the mention of “aide,” Moon-jin’s eyebrow twitched slightly. He had assumed she was the mayor’s mistress, given her proximity. Typically, aides or secretaries waited outside until discussions concluded, yet here she sat, occupying a prominent seat. Chairman Baek clicked his tongue inwardly as he swallowed another sip of sake. 

‘His tastes are certainly questionable… Even so, does he have to be this blatant?’ 

Whether Mayor Bang noticed Moon-jin’s inner thoughts or not, he picked up a slice of sashimi from an elegant porcelain plate. Chewing noisily on the lightly blanched sea bream, its skin still intact, his demeanor lacked any semblance of refinement. 

Unbothered by the sound of his chewing, he scooped up a generous dollop of wasabi with his chopsticks, savoring its sharp aroma with a broad smile. 

“Ah, the sashimi here is truly exquisite! I could ask for an entire tub of this wasabi. Chairman Baek and your son should dig in quickly.” 

Yet among the four people in the room, only two continued eating. Both Chief Min and Baek Siheon maintained rigid postures, showing no intention of touching their food. 

An hour passed, then two. As time dragged on, the number of emptied sake bottles on the table steadily increased. The conversation naturally shifted from business matters to cruder topics. Mayor Bang, thoroughly intoxicated, swayed side to side as he guzzled sake straight from the bottle. 

“You know, these youngsters today are just so finicky. Chairman Baek, where do you find the time to entertain them? You must be quite the romantic type.” 

“As for me, I’m not particularly interested in such pursuits. Besides, Mayor, you’ve had quite a bit to drink.” 

“Aigoo, how can a businessman lack boldness? Let’s finish just two more bottles before wrapping up, shall we?” 

Though Moon-jin was also tipsy from keeping pace with the mayor, he hadn’t lost control enough to indulge in vulgar banter. Meanwhile, Siheon sipped only water, his thoughts drifting to his phone in his pocket. Had Raon visited the hospital? Was she resting well? A cascade of worries tugged at his mind. 

“Ah, look, another bottle’s already empty. Hey, what’s-her-name, bring us two more bottles…” 

“Mayor.” 

“Hmm?” 

As the crimson-faced mayor, his belly jiggling, attempted to rise, Chief Min—who had remained silent throughout—finally spoke. Her voice, devoid of inflection, carried an icy authority that commanded attention. 

“You’ve had enough. That’s enough for tonight.” 

“But come on, Min. Don’t be so stiff. Some days are like this, others aren’t.” 

Ignoring her warning, Mayor Bang shook his head dismissively and reached for his empty glass, as if intent on licking the last drops of alcohol clinging to it. At that moment, Chief Min grabbed his wrist firmly. Her frosty tone cut through the air like a blade. 

“I said to stop.” 

“No, no, I’m just enjoying a rare night out with Chairman Baek here, bonding over drinks…” 

“Mayor Bang Won-gyeol.” 

Their dynamic defied the typical relationship between a mayor and his aide. In fact, it almost seemed as though their roles were reversed. With a sour expression, Mayor Bang reluctantly shrugged back into his suit jacket. 

“Alright, alright. Chairman Baek, let’s call it a night. Seems I’ve overindulged.” 

“It’s late. Shall we get going? Would you like us to escort you home?” 

“Nah, no need. Our driver’s waiting outside. Oh, and your son hardly touched his meal—what a shame. Nice meeting you.” 

“…Yes.”

Baek Siheon’s sharp gaze lingered on them as he slightly tilted his chin upward. At the same moment, the soft glow of moonlight spilled over the izakaya, enveloping the space in a gentle light.

---

The Next Morning 

“Huu…” 

In the spacious boxing gym, heavy breathing echoed through the air. Usually bustling with people training during peak hours, the gym was blissfully empty in the early morning, offering ample room to move freely. 

From newly recruited NIS trainees to seasoned Black Agents, martial arts training was mandatory for everyone. Even employees who spent their days glued to computers in the data room were required to maintain combat readiness—because in their line of work, anything could happen at any time. 

Yoo Raon was no exception. On days when she wasn’t assigned a mission, she visited the boxing gym daily to train both her body and mind. After warming up to get her blood flowing, she slipped on her red gloves, feeling her heart race with anticipation. 

Punching the sandbag continuously for twenty or thirty minutes made her feel as though all the stress buried deep within her chest was being released into the air. 

Jab-cross, jab-cross. With a towel draped around her neck, she swung her fists rhythmically. Each time her gloves struck the sandbag, a satisfying thud resonated through the gym. Thanks to Rhea’s chrysanthemum tea the night before, she had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep. 

Of course, thoughts of Jeong Ah-young inevitably crept back into her mind upon waking. But Raon wanted to stop doubting someone she wasn’t even sure about—it was eating away at her. That’s why she had come to the gym. She hoped that by throwing punches without thought or interruption, she could clear her mind completely. 

“…Hah!” 

With a short shout, she delivered a powerful hook. The once-sturdy sandbag swayed back and forth from the force of her blow. 

When she first started kickboxing, Raon could barely last a few minutes before collapsing in exhaustion. But after two years of consistent practice, she had grown stronger. Facing her progress day by day gave her a sense of stability, both physically and mentally. 

‘I need to grab some water.’ 

Her forehead glistened with sweat after relentlessly swinging her fists. Taking off her gloves, she turned to head toward the water cooler. 

Just then, slow claps echoed behind her. 

Clap, clap, clap.