The Lunchbox(?) Bag
All sorts of debris were scattered across the road, with cars toppled or overturned to the side...
Just a few dozen minutes ago, the tunnel had been quiet, but now it was chaos after a collision between two vehicles.
In this situation, In-hyuk held onto his senses inside the car that had flipped upside down.
'Doing this stuff again like I used to on missions... It really feels like death...'
It had been an assignnt to intentionally overturn the opponent's vehicle to make it look like an accident.
He had just watched the car in front use the sa technique he had employed himself.
Of course, an ordinary person wouldn't even be able to attempt such a thing.
However, In-hyuk possessed experience from UID and enhanced physical abilities that set him apart.
Thanks to that, he had been able to control things to avoid major injury even in the aftermath of an accident.
'More importantly, are they really connected to UID, after all...?'
He had suspected this ever since soone tampered with the brake pushrod.
But experiencing the exact sa process firsthand was almost laughable.
'At this rate, the others should appear soon.'
Just as expected, a tow truck suddenly appeared from sowhere, and two n got out.
In-hyuk watched the scene through the crumpled car window.
To other people, they would just look like typical tow truck drivers, but In-hyuk sensed a chill from them.
'They're the guys Charybdis has had eyes on.'
Song Hyun-jun and Kwon Kyung-min. They'd been identified while monitoring the Daemyung Detective Agency.
Their next moves were obvious.
They'd check whether the target was dead, and if not, make it look like a fatal accident.
The two n guided the traffic jamd cars at the back to pass through the side.
Then, conversation began to drift over.
"I'll finish quickly, so keep guiding traffic."
"Hyung! Can I do it this ti?"
At Kwon Kyung-min's question, Song Hyun-jun, about to start walking, furrowed his brow.
"You?"
"I'm curious what the last face looked like of the guy that Hyung Pyo couldn't deal with."
It was clear now that the man just ntioned was Pyo Jun-woo.
"Isn't this just self-satisfaction? Didn't you get bullied by Pyo Jun-woo back at the camp?"
"Hey! That was ages ago! Can't I do it this ti then?"
"Then don't ss around and finish it so it looks natural, as planned. If there are strange marks, it'll only raise unnecessary suspicions."
"Nobody knows that better than !"
With a shout, Kwon Kyung-min bead and approached In-hyuk's car.
"Whew! I hope he isn't completely dead already."
Still strapped in and overturned like the car itself, In-hyuk gingerly undid his seatbelt, ready to respond to any attack.
'Not yet?'
anwhile, Kwon Kyung-min had reached the front of the car and bent down to take a look.
Just then, a siren blared from the tunnel entrance.
Wee-oo, wee-oo—
A fire truck, completely unexpected in their plan, entered the tunnel.
Startled, Kwon Kyung-min froze, while Song Hyun-jun, who was directing traffic, hastily grabbed his radio.
"This is Bravo. Bravo. Ergency. Ergency. The fire truck is here."
[Target status?]
"... Not yet."
From inside the car, In-hyuk caught fragnts of their conversation as the siren wailed.
The fire truck was getting closer.
Kwon Kyung-min's radio went off again.
[This is Charlie. Switch to Plan C and stand by. Switch to Plan C and stand by.]
The arrival of the fire truck had forced a change in plans.
With a look full of regret, Kwon Kyung-min exchanged glances with Song Hyun-jun, then headed towards the car of their fallen colleague.
Watching them, In-hyuk felt a brief sense of relief.
'They arrived at the nick of ti.'
The fire truck had been called in by Hong Yu-geon, who had been waiting outside the tunnel.
In this situation, avoiding their suspicion as much as possible, this was the only way to respond.
The fire crew quickly managed the scene.
In-hyuk, too, was rescued from the car and sent about 10 kiloters away to the ergency room at Andong Seongseo Hospital.
Before long, In-hyuk found himself lying on the ER bed, never having lost consciousness.
"I heard the car was seriously wrecked... With these minor injuries, it's a miracle. Sa for those gentlen."
This ca from the doctor, who had finished treating In-hyuk's light contusions.
At the sa ti, the doctor's gaze shifted to two other n lying on other beds.
Kim Jun-hyung and Lee Chang-su.
They'd been victims overturned along with In-hyuk due to the car's brake malfunction.
Of course, In-hyuk knew they were colleagues of the n with the tow truck.
"... It really is a relief."
"Still, since there could be internal injuries, I recomnd you get further tests after finishing the IV fluids."
"I'll do that."
When the doctor moved away, In-hyuk cast a discreet glance at the two on the other beds.
Since they'd missed his chance at the tunnel, he could still be targeted here in the hospital.
IV drip in hand, In-hyuk approached the two.
"I'm sorry, the brakes didn't work so I had no choice but to crash. I've already called the insurance company, so I'll cover all the costs. The cars are likely totaled... I'll make it up to you with a similar model at similar value."
The two, who'd been lying tensely, exchanged glances in surprise at In-hyuk's unexpected behavior.
The older one, Kim Jun-hyung, spoke up.
"... No need. It's my fault—I got angry and blocked the way."
It seed they wanted to stage the situation as a case of road rage driving.
"Still, it's my responsibility. Oh, could I get your business card?"
Since their identities couldn't be exposed, In-hyuk purposely asked a question they'd want to avoid. Kim Jun-hyung made an awkward face.
"I don't have any business cards."
"Then may I have your number so I can get in touch later?"
"No, let's handle everything through the insurance company."
He was noticeably uncomfortable.
Just then, two n entered the ER, asked the nurses sothing, and approached In-hyuk.
"Are you Mr. Kang In-hyuk?"
"That's ."
"We're from Andong Police Station, Traffic Investigation Unit. It's regarding the accident at Geomam Tunnel. We'd like to hear your account... Are you able to talk now?"
"Sure, let's go."
In-hyuk accompanied the police out of the room.
anwhile, Lee Chang-su, sitting on the bed, turned to Kim Jun-hyung.
"Hyung. What do we do now?"
They were surprised that the target In-hyuk had only minor injuries, and they hadn't expected him to approach them first in the ER.
Kim Jun-hyung checked his phone. Despite the cracked screen corner from the crash, a ssage had arrived.
.
.
.
Bravo team's Song Hyun-jun and Kwon Kyung-min waited in the parking lot near the ergency room.
Song Hyun-jun grumbled in the tow truck.
"So, it's on hold..."
Charlie team, who had just been in charge of operations, sent word to that effect.
"We just have to wait like this?"
"Judging by the situation, we might go with Plan C... Let's see for now."
The two had been seen by the firefighters at the tunnel, so they stayed outside to monitor the hospital rather than go in.
Kwon Kyung-min asked curiously,
"But we tampered with the radio repeater too, so how could the fire truck get there so quickly?"
Song Hyun-jun shook his head.
"Impossible. Soone definitely intervened."
"Don't tell ... our plan got leaked?"
"There's always that chance. That's why Charlie isn't making a move right now."
Plan C was for Alpha, who was taken to the ER with Kang In-hyuk, and the backup Charlie team to cooperate.
But they were hung up on who had called in the fire departnt.
"So, it might get canceled entirely?"
"Charlie's discussing it with the Organization; we'll have to see what they decide."
More than mission success, avoiding exposure was most important.
Then, instead of a radio ssage, a phone call ca from Charlie.
[Target is in good condition, but today's mission is canceled. Alpha, handle the situation by the manual, Bravo team retreat as quickly as possible and return to HQ.]
It was as feared.
"Understood."
Song Hyun-jun replied without hesitation.
Since there was clear evidence of a leak, it was too risky to press ahead.
After finishing the call, he left the hospital parking lot, with Kwon Kyung-min showing open dissatisfaction in the passenger seat.
* * *
As the sun was setting, In-hyuk was transferred from Andong Seongseo Hospital to a single room in a general hospital in Gangnam.
The injuries were minor scrapes, but he took the opportunity to be tested for other conditions as well.
Just then, his phone rang—it was Hong Yu-geon.
Charybdis was currently tailing one of the people who'd targeted In-hyuk.
[I finally found out why they were after you so badly, boss!]
At the sudden good news, In-hyuk's eyes widened.
"Did you et whoever hired them?"
This was because, even within the Daemyung Detective Agency, there had been absolute secrecy regarding the client.
'It makes sense they'd go et if things weren't going as planned.'
He could easily deduce the situation. Hong Yu-geon continued.
[I was watching those guys return to the office, and Lee Daemyung moved himself. I decided to follow him, just in case, and he t with so woman.]
"What was the reason?"
[I just sent you a taping I got through long-distance eavesdropping. Listen for yourself.]
Along with the reply, a file attachnt arrived by ssage. In-hyuk turned down his phone's volu and listened.
[... If you started the job, shouldn't you finish it by any ans necessary? That guy, at least, should have been dealt with no matter what!]
A woman's sharp voice—it was Jeon Hae-in, the mistress of KQ Group. Then ca Lee Daemyung of the Daemyung Detective Agency.
[We suspected there was a leak in the plan. If they know about our relationship with you... it could get dangerous.]
[So what do we do now?]
[It's not like the Chairman even knows about Kang In-hyuk yet. Why are you in such a hurry?]
With that sly retort, Jeon Hae-in's voice grew even sharper.
[Because it's only a matter of ti?!]
[Has Chairman Kang made a move?]
At his suspicious question, Jeon Hae-in hesitated.
[This afternoon, attorney Kim, who's handling the will, visited the residence in Hanam.]
[Did he find sothing out? But the chairman knows nothing about the existence of an illegitimate child, right?]
[He might have found out while looking into that woman, trying to keep it from us.]
At that point, In-hyuk stopped the recording.
Now he understood why, in his previous life, the original Kang In-hyuk had been forced to die in a staged accident.
The illegitimate child of Kang Cheon-gyu, chairman of distribution giant KQ Group.
His wife, Jeon Hae-in, who learned the truth, would never have left him be.
After all, she'd been willing to have him killed just because the heir, Kang Do-young, had feelings for Tae Ju-ha.
Lost in thought for a mont, In-hyuk said to Hong Yu-geon,
"Pull everyone from Daemyung and tail only that woman."
Hong Yu-geon was startled.
[Huh? We just got so major info! You're pulling out already? Shouldn't we watch a bit longer?]
As he said, there might still be more to uncover. Of course, In-hyuk knew this well.
"Now that we've moved ahead, they'll start sweeping their surroundings, too. Leave any gadgets that'd be hard to retrieve, and pack everything else up tonight."
[Got it. By the way, I didn't expect the boss to be a chaebol's bastard. Is this... good news?]
Hong Yu-geon easily accepted and teased him. But for In-hyuk, it was not welco.
"Not really. Oh, soone's coming—call when you're done."
Shortly after ending the call, soone's presence that had been lingering outside the hospital room opened the door.
The person who appeared was none other than Go Mi-ah.
Surprised by her unexpected arrival, In-hyuk's expression changed.
"What brings you all the way here?"
"Our employer almost crossed the Jordan thanks to a traffic accident."
"I didn't expect you to co without warning."
For so reason, all the surveillance put on him by Daemyung after the accident had disappeared.
Maybe it was because the people assigned to In-hyuk had shown their faces.
"A surprise is only a surprise if you do it suddenly!"
Go Mi-ah said this as she set down a basket of fruit and a lunchbox(?) bag nearby.
"... Why did you bring all this?"
"I heard you'll be here a few days. I thought hospital food would be bland, so I made sothing myself."
"You didn't have to go to such trouble..."
Before he could protest, Go Mi-ah popped open the lid of the lunchbox.
"I made Korean eggplant rice and squid soy stir-fry for a real homade feel!"
The nas sounded plausible enough.
But the rice was a purple hue, like blueberries, and the squid was black, as if stir-fried in ink.
"... Why is the rice that color?"
"Why? Because it's eggplant rice, obviously."
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Called it...
Also, I feel like a woman that can't cook is a bit cliche...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】
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