Chapter 17
I was waiting for someone in a café where calm classical music was playing.
After a while, Lee Hae-mi entered wearing a white wool coat and a fur hat, then sat down in front of me.
“You could’ve just told me over the phone. You didn’t have to come all the way here.”
“My mother told me to before she left. And rather than just waiting at home, I wanted to do something—anything—to help Ji-jin oppa.”
When I had called Kim Gi-jin’s grandmother, Madam Lee Hwa-young, the person who answered was Lee Hae-mi.
Madam Lee Hwa-young had said she had gone to Jirisan to pray.
“It’s a prayer for Ji-jin oppa. Before leaving, she told me a few things.”
“What did she say?”
“She said you’d get a call from the lawyer within a few days. And that you’d ask about a certain person.”
“She knew I’d call in advance?”
“Yes.”
—Wow. That grandmother really is something. She’s basically a shaman… she predicted the future like a ghost.
The red-eyed entity beside me clicked its tongue in amazement.
“So what answer did she leave behind?”
Instead of answering, Lee Hae-mi handed me a photo.
It showed a man with unusually pale skin, thick caterpillar-like eyebrows, and a tall, sharp nose.
—Huh? This guy… don’t tell me?
The red eyes looked at the photo, then at me.
It was Kang Du-sik.
A man whose striking looks must have easily drawn Song Seul-gi in.
Most importantly, even in the photo, a murky dark coffee-colored aura surrounded him—clear evidence of addiction.
Kang Du-sik was clearly addicted not only to gambling, but also drugs.
“How did you get this photo?”
“Before leaving, my mother told me to trace Gi-jin oppa’s social media, then find Song Seul-gi through it. She told me to gather every young man who appeared in her posts, so I collected them all.”
“And Madam Lee Hwa-young picked this one?”
“Yes. She said this was the person you were looking for.”
Madam Lee Hwa-young was clearly gifted in foreseeing things.
“Song Seul-gi called him ‘Genie.’ And he called her ‘Princess.’”
Lee Hae-mi pulled out her phone and showed me a photo of Song Seul-gi and Kang Du-sik together.
They were on a boat, smiling with their faces close together.
“When was this taken?”
“It was uploaded to Song Seul-gi’s Facebook about a month ago.”
“Did Gi-jin know?”
“Gi-jin oppa is simple. If a woman flatters him in front of him, he doesn’t even want to consider the possibility she might have other intentions. Or rather, he just doesn’t care. Women always approached him whenever he wanted anyway.”
The way she said it, Lee Hae-mi sounded almost like she was Gi-jin’s older sister.
She had apparently spent the last few days thoroughly digging through both Gi-jin’s and Seul-gi’s social media.
“Do you know when Song Seul-gi and Kang Du-sik started their relationship?”
“If we combine what’s on social media, probably back in high school. Then Kang Du-sik got into gambling and fell into hardship. After that, Seul-gi went after Gi-jin oppa, who had money. They likely met again after Du-sik got a job at a restaurant and got back on his feet—but then he fell back into gambling again.”
She already knew a great deal about them.
“Send me Kang Du-sik’s photo. Thank you. This will help a lot.”
As I stood up, Lee Hae-mi spoke.
“Lawyer-nim, I want to help too.”
“How?”
“Aren’t you going to find him now? I want to help you look.”
“Kang Du-sik is dangerous. He’s an addict.”
“I understand. I won’t get in your way. Please let me help.”
She was far more mature than someone in her early twenties should have been.
—They say two heads are better than one. If she wants to help, let her.
Even the red eyes seemed to like her.
Lee Hae-mi and I split up and began searching game rooms around the area.
More accurately, the three of us—including the red eyes—spread out and searched everything nearby.
Game rooms plastered with ads, places called “Game Land,” “Adult PC Room,” “Game Center,” and places with words like poker, go-stop, or gambling—most of them were illegal gambling dens.
Some were hidden in converted homes or offices, which were harder to find, but we checked every place we could.
Some illegal gambling spots refused walk-in customers.
They would check faces at the entrance and turn away anyone who wasn’t a regular, saying they weren’t operating today.
In those places, the red eyes went in and checked people one by one.
We searched like that for over two hours.
Then I got a text from Lee Hae-mi.
—Come to the Dooly Adult PC Room on the second floor of the alley at Samgeori intersection.
She had apparently found something.
I ran there immediately.
As soon as I entered, thick cigarette smoke filled my vision—just like any other adult gambling den.
A large man with a buzz cut and full tattoos blocking his neck and arms stepped in front of me.
“What do you want?”
He looked ready to throw me out.
Not unfamiliar—I’d seen places like this before.
But Lee Hae-mi was inside.
I could’ve dealt with the man easily, but a fight here would only draw attention.
Fortunately, the situation resolved more easily than expected.
“Honey.”
From inside, Lee Hae-mi waved at me.
“Uh… yeah.”
I responded.
The large man looked back and forth between us, then stepped aside.
I walked over to her.
As I moved, I scanned the interior.
There was a counter near the entrance, where a man in his 60s—likely the owner—sat smoking and watching monitors.
About 20 computer stations lined the room, but only 8 were occupied, including Lee Hae-mi.
“How did you get in here?”
I asked quietly.
“Sometimes being a woman helps. And if you look like you’ve got money, the entrance opens easily. I paid 300,000 won in cash and exchanged it for game credits.”
She showed me a receipt-like ticket. She must’ve been carrying cash in her handbag while searching gambling dens.
“Where did you get the money?”
“Mom’s card. Well… technically my stepmother’s.”
She pulled out a gold card and showed it briefly.
I nodded.
“Look left.”
She lowered her voice further.
The seat next to her was empty. One seat beyond it, a man was sitting.
Pale skin, thick eyebrows, sharp nose bridge.
Kang Du-sik.
No doubt.
His face was easy to recognize.
He was chain-smoking, fully absorbed in a poker game. His hair was greasy, and he looked like he hadn’t gone home in days.
An empty bowl from delivery jajangmyeon sat beside him.
“What now?”
“Call the police.”
I took out my phone and searched for Detective Jo Yang-su’s number, but he was already on another call.
Then it happened.
“Time to go home already!”
The large man from the entrance grabbed Kang Du-sik and pulled him up.
“Just one more round. Please, just one more.”
Kang Du-sik clung to him desperately.
“Sir, you’re out of money. Go home.”
The man shoved him away, and Kang Du-sik fell backward onto the floor.
In that instant, his submissive expression flipped completely.
“You bastard!”
Kang Du-sik pulled something from his chest and rushed forward.
A sharp metallic object reflected the monitor’s blue light.
“What the—!”
The large man stepped back, surprised.
Blood appeared where the blade cut his tattooed arm.
But he was experienced.
It wasn’t a fatal wound.
Now he was angry.
Kang Du-sik, holding a kitchen knife awkwardly, looked far more dangerous.
He had entered this place already carrying the knife—and now he had no way out.
“You little bastard…”
The large man moved in like he could crush him with a single punch. Kang Du-sik was cornered, swinging the knife wildly.
“Stay back! Stay back!”
The man’s back heaved with rage.
Kang Du-sik looked like he might be disarmed and beaten to death.
If he died here, saving Gi-jin would become harder.
I rushed forward and stood between them.
“Please calm down.”
Both of them looked at me.
“If you fight here, you’ll both get seriously injured first. And if another violent incident happens, the police will shut this place down. I don’t think that’s what you want, right, sir?”
I glanced toward the owner.
He watched expressionlessly, arms crossed, as if waiting to see what I would do.
Fortunately, the large man didn’t move until the owner gave an order.
I turned to Kang Du-sik.
His eyes were bloodshot.
Exhaustion, fear, and madness mixed in them like a demon at the gates of hell.
He looked ready to stab me at any moment.
Something felt wrong.
Not just exhaustion.
A dense, swirling brown aura.
He was on drugs.
An alarm rang in my mind.
Drug users don’t feel pain properly. Their fear disappears—and their strength increases.
“Mr. Kang Du-sik. Song Seul-gi is looking for you at the hospital.”
At my words, his expression went blank, like a power outage.
Doubt, hope, denial, acceptance—all clashed in his eyes.
“Seul-gi…?”
Then he shook his head.
“You’re lying, bastard.”
His eyes glinted like a demon’s.
He stepped toward me.
I slowly backed away, looking for something to defend myself. I spotted Lee Hae-mi’s handbag within reach.
I grabbed it, stuffing a drink can inside.
Swish. Swish.
Kang Du-sik swung the knife.
I blocked with the bag, waiting for an opening.
The bag had a strap.
If timed right, I could both block and counterattack.
I wrapped the strap around my hand.
Swish!
As he lunged, I threw the bag at his knife hand.
Clang!
The knife fell to the floor.
Without hesitation, I swung the bag back using its momentum and hit his head.
Thud!
He staggered.
I kicked his stomach.
“Ugh!”
He doubled over, and I kicked his back, knocking him down.
The large man and I both moved in at the same time.
“I’ll kill you all… I’ll kill you all…”
Lying on the floor, Kang Du-sik screamed and struggled.
By the time the police arrived—called by Lee Hae-mi—he was fully subdued.
“Your expensive bag got ruined.”
I handed Lee Hae-mi the torn handbag with the broken strap.
“It’s fine. But Lawyer-nim… you look so calm. How are you so good at fighting?”
She looked at me with wide eyes.
“I guess I grew up a bit rough.”
I smiled.
She shook her head in disbelief.
We headed to the police station to give witness statements.
