84.
“…I’m sorry. It doesn’t seem to be him this time either.”
The forensic pathologist, who had been examining the remains of an unidentified person abandoned in an unnamed field, raised his head with an apologetic expression as he spoke to Choi Jae-won.
Upon receiving a report that unidentified remains with a build similar to Ryu Ho-yeon’s had been discovered on an island in Southeast Asia, Choi Jae-won had immediately boarded a plane accompanied by the forensic pathologist. Over the past several years, he had made dozens of similar short trips for the same purpose, and not once had he achieved his goal. At this point, he wasn’t sure whether that was fortunate or unfortunate.
In any case, the pathologist had nothing to apologize for after completing his duty. The doctor probably wasn’t truly sorry but was simply expressing appropriate regret, knowing how long and obsessively Choi Jae-won had been pursuing this matter.
Maintaining desert-like dryness even under the damp, moisture-filled air had somehow become Choi Jae-won’s specialty. With a voice and expression as parched as if they might crack at any moment, he numbly nodded and said, “Is that so.”
The Choi Jae-won who used to hold his breath in anticipation and repeatedly fall to his knees in despair whenever skeletons or partially decomposed bodies with similar height or skeletal structure to Ryu Ho-yeon were found was nowhere to be seen. He had grown numb to despair and emptiness.
“Yes, I’m sorry I haven’t been able to help every time, Guide Choi Jae-won.”
“Don’t say that. I’m grateful just for your company each time.”
Every time he departed through the private jet terminal at Gimpo, Choi Jae-won’s feelings were split exactly in half. Half hoping to find some physical evidence to confirm Ryu Ho-yeon’s death, whether remains or belongings, and half hoping not to definitively confirm Ryu Ho-yeon’s death, just in case.
Neither his grandfather, who readily provided the private jet, nor the government official who arranged for a National Forensic Service pathologist to be available at any time, expected any results. It was merely a formality honoring Choi Jae-won’s devotion.
Nearly ten years would have been more than enough time to properly mourn the dead, but no one dared criticize Choi Jae-won. The person he was so desperately searching for, Ryu Ho-yeon, was someone worthy of such dedication.
No matter how much money or time was wasted, Choi Jae-won had to find him. Though he had almost given up, though he knew the probability of Ryu Ho-yeon’s death was high… if Ryu Ho-yeon had truly left him behind, he had to search the entire Earth to at least find his remains.
Recovering Ryu Ho-yeon’s dead body would be the final task of his life. Choi Jae-won truly believed this.
“Why don’t you get some rest on the way back? Your complexion is really…”
“I’m fine.”
Choi Jae-won drew a line with a slight smile and businesslike tone. He had aged enough to realize that pretending to be coldly aloof would only make things more troublesome. His diplomatic smile was more effective than any sharp barrier.
After handing over the remains of a man in his 20s who wasn’t Ryu Ho-yeon to the local police and turning away, a lukewarm relief finally seeped into a corner of his heart. Though he thought his feelings were split evenly, it seemed his reluctance to accept Ryu Ho-yeon’s death still held a slight advantage.
Even on the plane back to Korea, he kept refreshing his email inbox on his tablet. It was an anxious compulsion, fearing he might miss new information if he blinked for even a moment. His bloodshot eyes showed red veins, as if every blinking moment was too precious to waste.
At Gimpo Airport, his grandfather, who had now passed the chairmanship to Choi Jae-won’s father and completely retired from the front lines, was waiting for him.
In the limousine crossing the busy streets of Seoul, his grandfather neither urged nor nagged him, but simply gazed at his irritable grandson’s face. Though Choi Jae-won sensed his grandfather’s concerned gaze and thoughtfulness, he showed no particular reaction. His busy eyes and fingers continued to hover needlessly over the tablet.
Finally, while waiting at a traffic light near Gwanghwamun, his grandfather, unable to remain silent any longer, spoke heavily.
“…Inseok-ah.”
“Yes, Grandfather. Please speak.”
“How long are you going to live like this? This old man can’t die in peace because of you.”
“…”
A few years ago, he might have cheekily replied, “It’s good for you to live longer because of me,” but Choi Jae-won maintained his silence. During the time the twenty-four-year-old Choi Jae-won had become thirty-three, his grandfather’s time hadn’t stood still. He was an old man approaching ninety, truly not far from his final day.
Maintaining this pointless silence was the maximum respect he could show.
“…”
“Haaah…”
His grandfather, seeming to understand his feelings, released a deep sigh like a burden. Even during this, Choi Jae-won’s finger refreshed his email inbox once more. That’s when it happened. One new email arrived with a ping. He immediately checked the contents.
It was news that a diamond necklace had been discovered in a black market somewhere in Latin America. How brilliant and dazzling the cutting of the 3-carat diamond was wasn’t his concern. What caught his attention was that the serial number engraved on the side of the diamond…
“G-Grandfather.”
“What is it now?”
“Please turn the car around immediately. I need to go back to the airport.”
…matched exactly with the identification number of the diamond ring he had placed on Ryu Ho-yeon’s finger.
“Jae-won ah, you rascal! Stop this already! You need to learn to let go of those who have passed!”
“Turn the car around right now. Or you can just watch me open the door and jump out.”
“Aack…!!”
Chairman Noh’s face became violently mottled with anger, knowing all too well that his grandson was more than capable of doing just that.
The tenacious parental love once again raised the white flag. Chairman Noh turned the car around, driving back through Seoul’s busy streets, and meanwhile, Choi Jae-won had someone bring the diamond’s certificate from the main house directly to the airport.
Though no longer affiliated with the Center, he was still a Guide. As an S-class Guide, Choi Jae-won could visit any country on Earth without a visa. The destination was Tumbes, a coastal city in northwestern Peru.
His sudden decision would force many attendants who had just started heading home to return to Gimpo before they even reached their houses, but that wasn’t Choi Jae-won’s concern. As always, he settled the matter easily by generously increasing their salaries.
Economic abundance had always been on Choi Jae-won’s side from birth. This time was no exception. If he had gone through a commercial airline, he would have wasted a full 24 hours on travel time including transfers, but he was able to reach his destination with only about 15 hours of flight.
Throughout the journey, the private jet was essentially a small conference room. With the financier keeping his bloodshot eyes wide open, no one was bold enough to slip away and rest first.
If the diamond from Ryu Ho-yeon’s ring had been found there, there must be other traces as well. He had to find them somehow. Either Ryu Ho-yeon himself or traces of his death.
Though using a private jet, it was still a long journey. Fatigue strongly pressed down on his entire body, too intense to endure with mental strength alone. Choi Jae-won once again chewed on the already tattered inside of his cheek. The familiar taste of blood and sharp pain rushed in, temporarily driving away drowsiness.
And finally, they arrived at the airport.
“Are you the local guide who was supposed to meet us?”
The hastily arranged local guide was waiting for them. There was supposedly only one person in the area who spoke Korean this fluently, so there wasn’t much choice. He needed not just someone who could translate Spanish well, but an informant who also knew the intimate local situation.
“…Yes, are you Choi Jae-won-ssi?”
From the gloomy appearance with a hat pulled low, to the unpleasantly rough voice that sounded as if it had been scraped with sandpaper, somehow the first impression wasn’t particularly good. Not to mention the long-sleeved t-shirt stubbornly worn despite the hot weather, which looked stifling just to see.
“Yes. I’ve prepared all the places we need to visit and transportation arrangements. I don’t need guidance, just make sure there are no errors or inconveniences in communicating with the locals. Let’s depart right away.”
Anyway, as long as the job was done well, that was all that mattered. With that thought, Choi Jae-won lightly left the airport. A pre-arranged local vehicle was waiting for them. First, it was time to verify the actual necklace.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
