FBF chapter 11 part 2

The more I delved into the case, the more serious the seniors came to mind. Even though the private party was attended mostly by those who were discreet, rumors had spread gradually. Even the industry insiders who were reluctantly invited couldn’t deny the existence of the party. However, they remained tight-lipped about what happened at the party. It was as if they were overly cautious, not simply to avoid attracting the attention of a well-known director in the industry. In fact, this reality only strengthened my belief that someone with the power to silence those who expose the truth lay behind these drug parties. Choi Hyuk-jun, Taehang Construction, and Choi Jeong-ho.

“You don’t need to worry too much. Although it may not be visible right away, personnel will be deployed around the villa, and just in case, we have someone from our side as well.”

Ha sunbae, who was driving in place of the manager, glanced back through the rearview mirror. His gaze shifted from the actress to me. He even chuckled when he saw the mask I held in my hands.

“Hey, Detective Ji. How long are you going to hold that? You should start wearing it; we’ll arrive in five minutes.”

It was clear that he noticed I was just holding the mask and was teasing me about it.

“…Yes.”

I swallowed a sigh and lifted the mask. I had already realized that it wouldn’t be easy to delay any further as we passed the last signpost. To ordinary people, it might seem ridiculous to hide out in a deep, secluded mountain villa doing drugs while mimicking a Western ball with masks, but I could no longer afford to be dismissive of it.

Maybe it was fortunate that the mask I would wear was more ordinary than the white mask the actress next to me was wearing. It was a black mask designed to cover only the right side of my face. The fabric was densely covered with black beads, which I hoped would prevent my identity from being easily revealed unless someone looked closely. The president of Hyun-woo’s agency had introduced me as a rookie actor about to debut. They had sent us two masks in advance to be used as entry passes for the party, this one could cover my face more effectively.

Once I put the mask on roughly, I turned my head sideways. The face that had looked relaxed while talking to Ha sunbae suddenly stiffened when our eyes met, as if he realized I was a police officer and that what I was about to do was anything but ordinary. I kept my gaze on his face and spoke.

“Once we enter, we will, of course, spread out, but I’ll confirm you’re in a safe place first before moving separately.”

“Ah….”

“I promise I won’t put you or my team in danger, so there’s no need to be afraid. Just think of it as acting if it gets too difficult.”

“Acting?”

“Yes. It’s an action movie, but you won’t need to do any action in this context. The wire will only be set up for me.”

In this case, it wouldn’t be a wire, but a radio. When I pulled out a small radio attached to my earlobe for him to see, he smiled.

“What do I do? It would take me a long time to shoot an action movie like that. But I’ll do my best to learn in real time today.”

Seeing him spill out details that weren’t even asked about seemed to ease his tension significantly.

“Well, if you go into movies later, you could create a character similar to our Detective Ji and act it out.”

Pretending not to listen, Ha sunbae chimed in cheekily. It seemed like he was trying to relieve the tension that had been tightly coiled around Kang Woo-jin, who had stayed stiff the entire way.

“I think you could shoot it yourself, Detective Ji.”

Kang Woo-jin, glancing at me, smiled while joining the conversation. Fortunately, his face looked completely relaxed now. I confirmed that the speed and attitude of his body turning toward the driving seat to engage with Ha sunbae appeared much more natural. Lowering my gaze, I caught the sound of stones rolling beneath the car as we entered the unpaved road.

“Oh, you can’t cast me. There aren’t many detectives who can pretend to be actors, but there are plenty of actors who can pretend to be detectives, so consider that carefully.”

“Haha. Can it really work that way?”

“Of course. It’s a rare talent in the Narcotics Unit. If it weren’t for Detective Ji, many cases would’ve collapsed. Even during the undercover operation at the host bar, if it hadn’t been for our Detective Ji….”

“Really? You went undercover at a host bar too?”

While skillfully turning the steering wheel, Ha sunbae kept his eyes sharp, scanning the surroundings. The night was black with not a single star visible. The dark road without streetlights was too dim and dangerous to drive relying solely on headlights.

Fortunately, our location was being relayed in real time in a group chat. I could see the points closest to the designated destination. The GPS attached beneath the van was sending this data. The team members who had hidden their car near the villa reported that there seemed to be no peculiarities, and the van carrying the celebrity arrived and left without any incident. The numbers of the cars that appeared were being reported. We compared and contrasted those numbers with the pre-collected information. After a set time, the vehicle registration numbers alternated with the corresponding celebrities’ names. I brought my gaze down.

[291Na 2321]

Underneath the latest message, someone was displaying that they were typing. I held my breath, keeping my eyes on the number. If I remembered correctly, I already knew this number.

[Choi Hyuk-jun has arrived.]

My prediction was right. I raised my head, staring into the darkness visible beyond the windshield. Choi Hyuk-jun was there, hidden where the headlights couldn’t illuminate. The bird emblem carved into the massive iron door, towering above the height of an adult male, faintly glimmered.

“Oh my, has he entered already? Pretending to be an athlete, he even makes female guests sit on his lap-”

I spotted the guards guarding the door. Even from afar, they looked large and intimidating. I noticed that they, having just allowed someone through the iron door, began to slowly turn towards us.

“Sunbae, I see the door.”

“Uh? Oh… Okay.”

Ha sunbae turned off the dome light. This was another requirement from those who sent us the masks. The manager couldn’t attend the party. Only invited actors could enter, and they could only get out of the car after the guards’ permission was granted. The car slowed down, its distance from the iron door decreasing.

“Seon-uk-a. They say it’s going to snow today.”

As Ha sunbae turned to speak, the guards moved. Their slow strides toward the car focused solely on the license plate. It seemed they were comparing it with the vehicle registration number received in advance from the company. The white light from their flashlights was so bright it penetrated even the heavily tinted windows.

“Have you checked the weather forecast?”

“Uh. I don’t know about Hongcheon, but in Seoul, it’s bound to start at ten.”

“I didn’t think it’d snow until we left.”

“The weather agency could be wrong. Happens once in a blue moon.”

“Still, if that’s the case, we should finish quickly and head home.”

“Well, that could be good. I let you know that I booked the dinner location this time, right? It’s near the police station, but if there’s a surcharge and the road is bad, I won’t be able to get back home.”

After a brief pause, one of the guards nodded to signal that the confirmation was complete. Upon closer inspection, the guards were also wearing masks. While entry required identity verification, it felt like an obvious procedure that nobody could confirm each other’s identities. I turned away while observing them give a signal that it was okay to lower our arms. Kang Woo-jin, who had been anxiously biting his lips, managed to give a faint smile as our eyes met. I asked, confirming.

“Do you remember where you put your handkerchief?”

Since I had personally dropped bait, the operation was scheduled to proceed swiftly. I wanted to conclude the situation inside the villa within an hour at the latest, or at least two. The handkerchief, upon which I had sprayed the substance that could make him faint, was the last line of defense for the possibility that Kang Woo-jin might need to bring the drug to his mouth before that happened. Since I had mentioned this several times before our departure, Kang Woo-jin nodded and lightly tapped the inner pocket of his jacket where the handkerchief lay, indicating he was ready.

I leaned toward the driver’s side to signal that I was prepared. Just then, I met Ha sunbae’s gaze. He, who could unexpectedly discuss the weather forecast even while facing adversaries, took advantage of the brief gap created by the flashlight held by the guards to whisper. His hand pretended to touch the passenger seat headrest, grazing by, confirming the position of the radio rested against my right ear. I could feel the cold object going a little deeper into my ear canal. In a low, fast voice, he whispered information.

“The guy on the right has a gun on his waist.”

“Okay. I saw it.”

Ha sunbae, hearing my response, turned back to his original position. I heard the door open, presumably from a button press.

“Today, don’t go playing the brave hero, kid.”

It sounded like a casual comment one might make while packing school supplies for a kid headed to school. I chuckled lightly in reply and stepped out of the car first. Following behind me, Kang Woo-jin wore a composed expression. Perhaps the advice to treat the situation as acting had been effective. Knowing that I was recognized as a rookie, he seemed to understand that he should lead to appear more natural, assuming a senior demeanor as he stepped forward. The formal suit I hadn’t worn in a while felt overly tight, revealing the presence of devices clinging to every corner of my body with every step. However, I walked as though I were someone who felt no discomfort at all. The guards did not take their eyes off us as we approached.

As we took five steps, they signaled us to lift our masks. After a moment’s hesitation, Kang Woo-jin calmly lifted his mask, and I followed suit. Flash! The camera flash went off. The guard with the camera approached us at the door. The large iron door eerily opened with no sound at all. Kang Woo-jin and I stepped inside. At the end of the path stood a grand mansion that emitted a subtle light in the darkness.

‘Did you forget your umbrella?’

A vivid memory surged back. A house like a villa that one could only visit if invited. A pond in the yard and a three-tier fountain. A space that exuded no feeling of life, merely glistening on the surface.

Entering the space copied from Choi Hyuk-jun, I adjusted my mask again.

The bait was me. I would have to wait and see who would take the fishing pole up.

Immediately upon entrance, they held us side by side. Though the person wearing a mask appeared too short and small to be a guard, the way they stood blocking the two men who looked down at us emanated an oddly strong presence.

“All personal items, including mobile phones, need to be left here before entering. We will store them safely so you can take them with you when you leave.”

Kang Woo-jin couldn’t hide the surprise on his face as he turned to look at me. I nodded in agreement, signifying it was necessary. I had anticipated this beforehand. To keep the space completely secret, they couldn’t allow unnecessary information to leak from attendees. Taking phones was a primitive method but at the same time very effective. This space, where only invited guests could enter, meant only those permitted could leave. For someone, this could even be an act of blocking an escape route. If the rookie actor from Hyun-woo’s agency hadn’t collapsed here, they wouldn’t have been able to escape at all. I recalled Hyun-woo’s earlier words.

“The director Kim Myung-rim is notorious. Apparently, there’s a villa in Gangwon-do where he invites actors once a month for a wild time. Word got out that it’s chaotic. They keep attendees detained until sunrise, letting them unleash all sorts of their worst behavior and abusing their power.”

“I’ve hear of a rule. They say nothing that happens inside is to be disclosed. It seems to be acting like a secret club where they enforce strict silence on the attendees.”

I presented the burner phone I had prepared in advance. The man accepted it and passed it to the side. A waiter wearing a bowtie placed the phone into a ziplock bag. The same manner of phone collection was offered to Kang Woo-jin, and the man stepped back, bowing politely. He was overly courteous, as if he were a butler or a manager, and he wore a mask that resembled snake skin. The mask that covered down to his chin looked luxurious at first glance and more elaborate than the one the waiter was wearing. I turned my gaze away from him. In the back, I noticed a waiter holding the doorknob.

“Well then, enjoy your time.”

The moment the door opened, a volume of music blasted through, filling my ears to the point of explosion. I had thought the party would be excessively quiet, but this was probably due to the people unable to surpass this door not needing to be informed. It didn’t take much thinking to realize that the soundproofing erected for such a purpose was tremendously effective. The banquet hall resembled a medieval mansion, with long drapes hanging from the ceiling. The music was so loud it was almost dizzying.

It was dim inside the banquet hall, as if they intentionally minimized the light. Unless someone approached closely, it was nearly impossible to recognize who was who in this dark space designed to reflect the intentions of the space planner. The masked attendees moved restlessly as if wandering around. They seemed to know exactly where they were going, occasionally pausing to scan their surroundings. Kang Woo-jin, who stood with a vacant expression, stiffened in surprise when someone brushed past him twice, moving closer to me afterward.

“It’s crazy. Did you see the person who just passed by? It’s Seo Ann-na!”

His voice was incredulous. Even I, who had no interest, recognized her name, so she was undoubtedly a big star for Kang Woo-jin, who probably never expected to see her here. I remembered that her name hadn’t been on the list of celebrities I had acquired in advance and turned my head away. Seo Ann-na was ascending the staircase leading to the second floor. With each movement of her dress hem, the spiral staircase became more visible. She was not alone; even in a place where not even a manager could accompany her, a figure that appeared to be a bodyguard stood next to her. At the entrance to the dimmer second floor, a large guard stood.

As the bodyguard beside Seo Ann-na approached and spoke to her, the guard opened the door at the top of the stairs.

Without any need for anyone to explain, I understood. The second floor housed VIP rooms, spaces that were not accessible just because someone entered here. Scanning the long table behind which I had failed to identify anyone since entering the banquet hall, I turned my head.

Choi Hyuk-jun was not here. Therefore, I had to go to the second floor.

Our eyes met with a passing waiter. They were the only ones moving light in this deliberately darkened space. A small candle sat between the trays they carried, surrounded by champagne glasses. Anticipating why I was staring, he extended the tray. I snatched two champagne glasses, handing one to Kang Woo-jin as I whispered.

“Follow me.”

Though no one approached, I felt their attention draw toward us the moment the waiter came closer. Everyone in the banquet hall knew we were newcomers. According to prior testimonials from rookie actors, the exploratory phase was quite extensive. The new addition to the crowd must prove their eligibility. The method of evaluation was unclear, but he remembered waking up alone at the center of the long table after he had lost consciousness momentarily. He couldn’t see the faces of those around the table, but their clock behind them had its hour hand pointed to eleven.

The grandfather clock was situated in the gap between the windows. It blended in almost unnaturally in this space designed to resemble an abandoned mansion. I leaned against the grandfather clock. The curtains hanging by the side were brushed aside slightly. I handed Kang Woo-jin a glass of champagne behind the grandfather clock.

“Drink.”

“…Is it okay?”

Instead of answering, I raised a finger to indicate. It was the finger that had just dipped briefly into the champagne glass. If there were drugs in the glass, my finger should have shown some reaction when I pulled it out, but it did not react at all. Perhaps this was a way to evaluate the qualifications of the rookie who would share secrets together here. Or it could be a method to make them faint.

I brought the champagne glass to my lips and added a cautionary note.

“Only accept drinks given to you by the waiter with a dot on their chin. If you ever receive something from a different waiter, discard it behind the clock. So, it’s best not to leave this place.”

People were chatting in clusters around the banquet hall. The lips under the masks moved in various directions, but the voices were quiet. This must have been the intention of the space’s designer. The loud music felt like it was even trying to drown out the sound of our hearts, suitable for making people forget the passage of time and the space they occupied. The group huddled in the corner increasingly glanced our way. One even turned fully toward us. They might come toward us the moment I moved away. I caught the glimpse of a figure that had just brushed past a waiter carrying the glow of light, confirming my suspicions about the jawline that showed beneath the mask. I recognized this actor from the list I had reviewed beforehand. The actor’s agency was neither friendly nor hostile to us. It signified they were gauging whether to cooperate with the investigation. The actor probably had some knowledge of what was going on.

“Are you leaving? I mean… is it okay if I’m alone?”

I turned towards Kang Woo-jin. The moment our eyes met, he knitted his brows and took a sip of the champagne. Though his face still looked anxious, his eyes sparkled with determination as if he had resolved something.

“Ah… I don’t know. Whatever will be, will be. I’ll try to hold on for now.”

Since he had been sitting beside me during our last briefing, he likely had a rough idea of how the operation would unfold. Therefore, he must also know that I couldn’t stand right by his side the entire time. I added in a small voice, just loud enough for him to hear.

“There’s a fire extinguisher behind the clock. If you throw it out the window, it will break.”

After seeing him pretend to check behind the grandfather clock, I shifted my steps. The waiter, whose tray had only a nearly melted candle left, was approaching the door at the left edge. The moment the door opened, the bright light poured in briefly before vanishing along with the waiter. The curtain hanging beside it fluttered as if it were swept away by the wind. I kept my gaze on that lingering image and reached out to stop a waiter passing by.

“Where’s the restroom?”

The waiter with the dot on his chin pointed to the opposite side of the banquet hall. It was towards the door the waiter had just entered. I lightly nodded in thanks, picked up another champagne glass from the tray, and headed for the restroom.

Under the dark light, the mask seemed somewhat plausible; however, under the bright light, it appeared a bit clumsy. It wasn’t snake skin at all. I scoffed lightly and touched the bowtie once more while gazing into the mirror. No sounds emanated from the last stall, where I had previously heard someone muffled by the socks stuffed in their mouth. It was unclear if they had followed the advice to remain silent or had merely given up.

Wearing the mask, dressed in a purple shirt with a bowtie, I was passed off as someone similar. Following a person of similar build certainly paid off. I shrugged my shoulders and dug my fingers deep into my ear. A few twists around the compact radio caused static and raw noise to pour out all at once.

“Captain.”

After just a short wait while fastening the cufflinks on my shirt, the sounds from the radio stabilized rapidly. Clearer sound quality came through, along with the captain’s voice.

-Where are you?