Strange would be too nice of a word to describe my current circumstances. One moment I am about to play Royal Road and the next I am on a subway bound to Myeong-dong. To be specific, I am meeting up with my boss at the crime scene.
The coincidence was worth marvelling. Two men both of whom have no connection in the real world go missing exactly the same day – 6 days ago. If I hadn’t heard of Jae-sun’s case, I would have never considered the work of a serial criminal at work.
There were many things to consider here: two men are missing, both went missing on the same day, the mysterious gaming capsule in the shape of a coffin, and lastly the weird symbols engraved in the rooms. Some how all of this is strangely related. Assuming the men haven’t been killed, this is still pretty dark. It takes a twisted mind to do something like a serial kidnapping.
I get off at my stop and head over to the victim’s house…specifically, the victim’s father’s house. This is the typical, rich 28-year old son mooching of the parent’s wealth case. Choong-Hoon greets me at the door – there is a grim silence in the air.
“What did you think?” Choong-Hoon asked me.
“This is why I said it would better to meet in person.” I replied as I passed him my phone. I left the screen open to the photo Jae-sun sent me.
Choong-Hoon’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment before returning to their previous calm. He stood up and pulled out a pack of smokes from his back pocket. He offered me one, but I politely decline – you’d think he’d remember I don’t smoke after the 100th time I have said no.
“When did you find out?”
“Just before your call. It happened to a friend of mine.”
Choong-Hoon took in a deep drag and then silently stared at the ceiling. Maybe a minute had passed before he spoke again, “You think it’s the same person?”
“The engravings are identical. It’s like seeing the same handwriting.” I replied seriously.
“And the cops thought this was a simple missing person?” Choong-Hoon asked in concern.
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I thought for a moment before speaking up, “The two crimes happened in different districts. I think it might take them some time to link these two cases…I just got lucky.”
“When did that happen?”
“Same day as yours.” I replied as Choong-Hoon entered work mode. He was seriously considering the possibilities. This was certainly going to make a big story especially since serial kidnapping wasn’t your every day news.
“This won’t do….” Choong-Hoon muttered while lost in thoughts.
I raised my face with a puzzled expression.
“We need a story not just facts. Why these two men? What’s their link? What do those symbols mean? Get my drift?” Choong-Hoon asked.
That nearly scared me, thankfully, it was the same old speech. I don’t need facts – I need a story.
“I get paid my usual rate?” I asked with puppy eyes.
Choong-Hoon shook his head in refusal. “You are too expensive for a temporary worker. I’ll pay you half your daily rate.”
“But my work is twice as good as permanent employee.” I stressed on ‘permanent’ to remind him the reason I am temporary is because he hasn’t offered me a permanent contract.
Choong-Hoon gave me the same apologetic look that he always does, “It’s been a difficult year. They are even forecasting a recession. I can’t increase the headcount in my department just like that.”
My shoulders slumped in disappointment – it’s not like he hasn’t said this before. It’s always the same old story with him. “But Sunbae, you promised me after the ponzi scheme, you would talk to your boss.”
Choong-Hoon pulled out another cigarette from his pack. “I did and he told me that even though the work was good but we didn’t get all the facts first…”
“That’s because Sunbae began use a different investigator after I got you the lead…” I rebutted. Hey, don’t blame me for ditching me and getting someone worse than me.
Choong-Hoon looked like he had been placed between choosing his life and a hard place. He finally caved in. “Fine, give me a 40% discount and I’ll set you up with an interview…”
I give him the – ‘do you think I am idiot’ stare.
Choong-Hoon continued ignoring me, “I’ll also talk to my friend to pay you an investigator’s fee if you find out what happened to his son. This is the best I can do.”
“Interview this week.” I insist.
“Deal.” Choong-Hoon happily agreed with a crooked smile on his face.
I feel as though I have been taken advantage of yet again.
***
“Uncle, this is the man I said who would help me investigate your son’s case.” Choong-Hoon spoke to an old wrinkly short man.
The old man slowly raised his head and looked at me. You could see the pain in his eyes of losing his son yet mixed in there was a determination not to give up. You can tell a lot about people by just looking into there eyes – at least my instinct has never been wrong.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Stan.” The old man spoke as he stared into my eyes. “How confident are you that you can find my son?” He asked a no-nonsense direct question to me.
Finding his son? I don’t know how deep this rabbit hole will go. Honestly, I don’t know. “…”
Choong-Hoon panicked seeing my silence. “Uncle, don’t worry…”
The old man silenced Choong-Hoon with a single glare.
“I am not confident at all.” I replied after carefully thinking it over.
The old man didn’t even bat an eye lash at my reply.
“However, I can investigate and tell you what happened here. If that means as a result your son is found, then that’s all it means.” I continued.
The old man nodded his head at my words. I think that’s his approval – I get paid directly by him for my investigation.
Choong-Hoon who had nearly lost all hope of hiring, suddenly seemed completely refreshed.
“When can you begin?” The old man asked – I could hear impatience in his voice.
“Right now.” I coolly replied. “To start with, can we have that VR capsule moved to my apartment?”
“eh?”
“Huh?”
It seems I surprised everyone in the room with my request.
If it wasn’t anymore obvious – the only link between the two missing people is the gaming capsule. I am convinced that the mystery to solving everything starts from this gaming capsule.