Chapter 219 - Soo Bin's Story (1)

KJ and Mirae arrived at the hospital together. They were accompanied by KJ's men. After capturing Ziko, they have increased the security around themselves in order to stay alert. The Cartel probably received word that Ziko was captured. They might strike anytime and it was best to be on high alert. 

Hyun Jung was waiting for them outside Soo Bin's room. Somi was also there. 

"Did he regain consciousness?" KJ asked. 

"Yes, but the doctors are checking up on him right now," he said. "Let's wait for them to come out."

KJ nodded while Somi took Mirae aside.

"Mirae, are you sure this man's words can be trusted?" she asked. She was skeptical of the man inside the ward. "What if he's lying? Or what if it's a trick?" 

"Doubt it," Mirae said. "He worked on KJ's parents' murder. He knows the details. If the whole feud with the Cartel started from there, then he'll have the details."

Somi pursed her lips. Her eyes fell on the two figures approaching them. 

"Isn't that Dasom and Hyun Jung's partner?" she frowned. 

"Oh yeah," Mirae said, glancing around. "They were held as hostages alongside Goo Soo Bin. They've helped us a lot last night." 

Eli ignored the idiot walking beside her. It was just her bad luck that she ran into him while entering the hospital. Dasom, on the other hand, was deliberately provoking her. She amused him with her expressions. 

They greeted the others. "How is he now?" Eli asked. 

"He'll be fine," Mirae assured her. "He wouldn't have been alive if you hadn't saved him." 

"I only endangered his life," she muttered but Mirae waved off her worries. 

"It all worked out for the best, alright?" she consoled her. 

She glanced at Dasom, noticing that he looked worried. 

"What happened?" she frowned. Before he could speak, the doctor came out.

"He's still weak," he stated. "So I can allow only one visitor." 

"KJ should go," Dasom spoke up. Everyone turned to look at him. "You should go there alone and talk to him." 

"But everyone here should know what he has to say," KJ frowned but Dasom shook his head. 

"I'll explain everything to them," Dasom stated. "The old man…he told me everything last night. I can tell the others. But you should listen to his story from him. He owes you that." 

KJ was nervous. He wanted to know the truth but also dreaded it. 

He took a deep breath and entered the room. Goo Soo Bin was lying on the bed, weak. His hair has gone completely white as years of torture had aged him. 

"Detective?" KJ called out to him. The old man slowly turned to face him. KJ took a seat next to the bed. 

"Do you recognize me?" he asked tentatively. 

"Kwon Jiwon," the detective said in a raspy voice. "I know you very well." 

"I'm sorry for what you had to go through," KJ apologized. "It was all because of my feud with the Cartel. I really wished you didn't have to go through such torture…" 

"I deserved it," the old man said. His voice was regretful and pained. "After what I did to your mother… I deserved it."

KJ felt his breath stop. "What do you mean?" he asked. "What happened to my mother?" 

The old man's eyes were tearing up. "The story I'm about to tell you will shatter you," he warned. "All I would request to you is not to let it tarnish the image of your mother. She was a wonderful woman and loved your father very much." 

"Tell me the truth," KJ demanded. "Nothing but the truth. Just tell me." 

The old man hesitated before he started to narrate. 

"It all started thirty three years ago," he began. "Back in Busan, your mother was a fun loving girl. She was barely nineteen and a prankster. Everyone in the neighborhood loved her. She was the light of the small town." 

"Sia lived with her parents, Song Jinki and Kang Mina. They doted on her. Sia was their only child and she was a bright student. She loved to sing. She had a flair for it. You get your talents from her." 

He gave KJ a small smile. 

"Her father was an honest businessman. He owned a small winery in the village. It wasn't a big business but it was enough to sustain them. It was enough to help Sia complete her school education." 

"But Jinki was in debt," Soo Bin went on. "At that time, I was a rookie detective in Busan. I lived near Sia's house with my wife. Her parents helped us out since we were a young couple so our families were close. At that time, Jinki was in debt. He borrowed a large amount of money from the village's money lender, Jang Kiho. "

"Meanwhile, I was looking into a series of mysterious disappearances of young women. Many girls were going missing from around the village. Families were terrified that their daughters would be kidnapped. The police were baffled. We heard rumors of a certain cartel carrying out the abductions but no one knew who was responsible for it."

"Kiho began to pressurize Jinki," Soo Bin recalled. "To return the money. Jinki was in a tight spot but managed to collect the money. In the meantime, Sia's best friend was found r.a.p.ed and murdered in an alley after she was kidnapped. Sia was distraught. She began to petition for a thorough investigation into the case but there were no leads. Until… "

He paused to take a deep breath. The memory of that night still haunted him. Even remembering that night scared him. 

"Until one night, Jinki went to Kiho's house to return the money. That was when everything changed."

"What happened there?" KJ asked. He did not realize that he was holding his breath all throughout the story. 

But Soo Bin was too scared. The image of that night only increased his anxiety. 

"Detective Goo, please tell me," KJ pleaded. "What did he see?" 

"There," Soo Bin gulped. "He witnessed something which would destroy his family. Forever."