PTT - 48

After receiving the text, Baek Si-heon headed to the same upscale izakaya he had visited with Moon Jin after work. Though irritation surged through him at Bang Won-gyeol’s unilateral transmission of only the location and meeting time, the man was the mayor of Seoul. He needed to uncover what hidden agenda prompted this summons.

A kimono-clad Japanese staff member opened the door to the Sakura Room with a polite gesture. Inside sat Mayor Bang Won-gyeol and Chief of Staff Min Young-nam. The only difference from their previous visit was the absence of Chairman Baek Hwa-cheol.

Si-heon raised an eyebrow slightly as he entered the room. Bang Won-gyeol, sipping sake, waved him over with a hearty laugh.

“Sorry for calling you out so suddenly—I’m glad you came. Did traffic delay you on the way here?”

“I’d like to ask why you summoned me, Mayor.”

“Oh ho, our young man is as impatient as Chairman Baek, I see. Let’s start with a toast first. As always, I’ve yet to find sake as delicious as this one…”

“I drove here myself. I’ll respectfully decline.”

Something about this situation had felt off for a while now. Si-heon wasn’t officially Hwa-cheol’s successor. If Bang wanted to maintain friendly ties with Hwa-cheol, he should have called Woo-hyuk, Si-heon’s half-brother. Yet, Bang specifically requested Si-heon through Moon Jin. Why?

“Come now, don’t be so stiff. You can call a designated driver if you’re worried about driving. Shall I even cover the fee for you?”

“Mayor.”

“Hmm… well, alcohol isn’t exactly healthy anyway.”

At Chief of Staff Min’s quiet interjection—like a transparent presence—Bang backed down. For a brief moment, Si-heon’s eyes flickered with realization.

The relationship between these two was anything but ordinary. Instinctively, he sensed that the balance of power tilted heavily in one direction.

With sharp eyes piercing through the mask of truth, Si-heon spoke.

“What is the reason you called me here? Without Chairman Baek present.”

“Well, you see… I have informants everywhere…”

Setting down his empty sake cup, Bang stroked his chin with a meaningful expression.

“I heard rumors that our Baek Si-heon is involved in some secretive work. Quite the ace at your company, they say.”

“…”

“Oh, no need to look so surprised. I’ve worn the golden badge for nearly twenty years. In politics, you learn to gather all sorts of information eventually.”

“Then let’s get to the point.”

Si-heon’s voice dropped coldly as he stared directly at Bang.

The man already knew Si-heon was affiliated with the NIS. How had he uncovered such a meticulously concealed identity? Chairman Baek didn’t know his son was a Black Agent. This left only one plausible conclusion.

‘He must have planted spies within the organization.’

Though the NIS operated under strict secrecy, its workforce numbered in the thousands. A four-term congressman like Bang could easily embed informants if he wished. Alternatively, it was possible he obtained Si-heon’s information from a high-ranking official.

Regardless of how he found out, Bang Won-gyeol was now a dangerous individual aware of Si-heon’s true identity.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Well then. It seems your company has rather rigid policies. I’m well aware. Since you seem eager to skip the pleasantries… Baek Si-heon, how about we shake hands and form an alliance?”

Mayor Bang grinned slyly, his face overlaid with the image of a greedy monkey. Beside him, Min remained silent, sipping water.

“I’m looking for a more reliable informant, as you might imagine… After all, I’m a leading candidate for the next presidency. You’ll likely end up working under me soon enough. Wouldn’t it be wise to secure your position early?”

“You want me to become your eyes and ears?”

“Aha, such eloquent phrasing! Yes, let’s go with that. Be my eyes, ears, hands, and feet—if possible.”

Si-heon swallowed a bitter smile. Now he understood why he’d been summoned. His confrontation with Moon Jin had merely been a test phase.

“If I become your informant, what do I gain?”

“You catch on quickly. Impressive for someone so young. Well then… What would satisfy our Baek Si-heon? Money? Power?”

“No.”

Si-heon felt his blood run cold. With an indifferent gaze and a faint smirk, he spoke in a low tone.

“I’d like you to help ensure Chairman Baek Moon-jin is arrested.”

“Hoh… If Chairman Baek heard this, he’d be heartbroken.”

“Tax evasion, sexual assault, bribery. There’s plenty of material already. These aren’t fabricated charges—it shouldn’t be difficult for you to compile them and leak them to the press.”

“Well, a man needs ambition. Fine. Here’s my card. Keep it safe—I’ll contact you again.”

Patting his belly, Bang pulled out a business card from his wallet and offered it. But instead of accepting it, Si-heon turned his head to the right. His gaze landed squarely on Min Young-nam. His dark eyes gleamed sharply.

“I think I should receive the card from this person instead.”

Min’s lips curled into a faint smile at Si-heon’s cutting remark. Clearly, she appreciated his perceptiveness.

She tilted her chin slightly, locking gazes with Si-heon for a prolonged moment. Invisible sparks crackled in the air.

---

That night. On the 67th floor of the five-star Venesel Hotel, where the minimum cost for a one-night stay exceeded a million won, groans echoed from the innermost suite.

“Ugh…”

A middle-aged man, stark naked, crawled on all fours like a dog. His skin flushed red from arousal, from face to neck. Prostrating himself before someone seated on the bed, he cautiously touched the tip of her stiletto heel.

“Gah! Aaargh!”

A sharp slicing sound cut through the air. The woman wielding the leather belt showed no interest in the man, her attention fixed on the tablet in her lap.

“Master, Master… What are you doing, hmm?”

“Hmm?”

“Ahh… sorry… gghhk!”

As the man pawed at her stocking-clad leg, seeking attention, he moaned in agony. Yet, despite the pain—or perhaps because of it—he wore an expression of ecstasy. Leaning forward, his triple-folded belly hung grotesquely.

Who could imagine that Bang Won-gyeol, a nearly twenty-year veteran of the golden badge, harbored such masochistic tendencies? Humiliation meant nothing to him as he crawled on polished knees, mimicking an animal.

“You’re being particularly annoying today, Mayor Bang.”

“S-sorry… ghk…”

“Shut up and stay still unless you want more trouble.”

Bang looked up at the woman sitting cross-legged on the bed. It was his chief of staff, Min Young-nam. Her pale, emotionless face scanned the tablet screen as she pressed the stiletto heel firmly into Bang’s groin.

“Guh… haa… gghk!”

Unbearable pain radiated outward from below, coursing through his body. Unable to shield himself, Bang writhed like a bug sprayed with pesticide, belly-up in agony.

Min didn’t spare him a glance. To the outside world, their relationship appeared professional—a four-term congressman and his loyal aide. But in truth, Bang was nothing more than an aging, pitiful man who knelt before a younger woman, reveling in degradation.

This twisted dynamic had persisted for over a decade, with Min firmly holding the reins of control. Never once did the balance shift.

To Min, Mayor Bang Won-gyeol was merely a puppet to further her grand ambitions. Though some called him the “face” of their operation, he was far too decrepit to truly deserve the title.

‘Baek Si-heon.’

Flipping through photos displayed on the tablet, Min’s eyes sparkled with intrigue. This man was certainly worth investigating further.

Rising from the bed, Min pressed her heel harder into Bang’s thigh, recalling the defiant gaze of the man she’d met just two hours prior. A desire to pluck those untamed wolf-like eyes from their sockets and roll them beneath her fingertips welled within her.