JANUARY 9, 2017 [Incheon, South Korea]
"What about your word!" screamed Mr. Hwang as he was being dragged by Minsung Kang's men towards the infamous Game Room of the Kang Mansion.
"Word?" sneered Minsung. "Look who's talking about words and loyalty. Mr. Hwang, tell me, do I need you anymore? I guess not. I was grateful to you - until you tried to edge me out. This is your fault."
"Kang! Don't do this! I have a family! If you kill me today, they'll starve to death!" cried Mr. Hwang.
"Understood," Minsung replied coldly. "Then how about ending their suffering with a single gunshot instead of starvation? What do you think of that, Mr. Hwang?"
"No way! You bastard! Don't you dare go near my family!"
"Hey!" Minsung called to his men holding Hwang down. "Don't you wanna play games?"
"Yes, boss!" they replied in unison.
"Then what are you waiting for?" he said, turning away.
The men dragged Mr. Hwang inside. His deafening screams and pleas echoed briefly before fading into silence.
"Such garbage…" murmured Minsung, walking toward his private bar within the mansion.
"Hello, sir," greeted the lady bartender as he approached the counter. "Rough day?"
"Same old..." Minsung sighed, while removing his coat and putting it on the chair.
"That one cocktail you prepared the other day... what was it called?" he asked, scratching his head.
"No need to stress, sir - I've got you," the lady replied cheerfully, already preparing the drink.
"What was your name again?" Minsung asked.
"It's Joomi, sir," she said softly.
However, it wasn't - she lied. She was Jangmi Choi, yes, the infamous assassin from ONHO - The Killer Rose herself.
A week earlier, Jangmi had infiltrated the Kang Mansion, posing as a personal bartender under the alias 'Joomi Kim', in order to take out Minsung Kang, her first assignment of the year. She applied facial prosthesis on her face, making her completely unrecognisable from Jangmi, except for those eyes which have seen a lot.
"There you go, sir - your special cocktail!" she said brightly, her tone at odds with her true nature.
Minsung took a sip, bliss spreading across his face.
"Ahh, just like last time - magic! I'll call it the Miracle Cocktail. I don't care what its real name might be!"
"Sure, sir. Whatever you like," she replied, smiling faintly.
"I wonder, Joomi," he mused. "What's with your hands? You blend flavors with such precision - it's craftsmanship. They are true wonder!"
"The pleasure's mine, sir. If you don't mind me asking, was your previous bartender not quite up to your taste?"
"Of course not! It's better we don't talk about her. After I kicked her out, I thought a woman couldn't be both gorgeous and skilled at the same time - until I saw you. You're perfect! In every sense."
"That's so kind of you, sir," she said lightly.
Meanwhile, at the ONHO headquarters, Cheon was finishing his weekly reports. This was his routine work as the Chief Operating Officer of the organisation.
"Finally done..." he exhaled, closing the last file. "Now only Jangmi's left. I wonder if it's the right time to call her."
He dialed anyway.
It was past midnight. Minsung had left for "business" an hour ago. Ensuring she was not being watched, Jangmi picked up the call.
Jangmi: Hmm?
Cheon: Cheon here.
Jangmi: I know. What is it?
Cheon: Don't you know?
Jangmi: Reports, I suppose.
Cheon: Correct. Seems like a pressing mission right? - no contact since infiltration.
Jangmi: It's been complicated...
Cheon: I understand. Want me to extend your deadline?
Jangmi: No need for that. I'll finish by the 21st.
Cheon: Still assertive, huh? Very well. Well, if you ever get into any trouble, which I know, you'll not be facing lately, don't hesitate to reach us out.
Jangmi: Good night.
Cheon: Same to you, Jangmi. Oh! rather - Joomi!
She hung up, hopped into the bed for her quarter - socks and sweater still on, and stared blankly at the false ceiling.
JANUARY 11, 2017 [Incheon, South Korea]
For days, Jangmi had searched relentlessly for a blind spot within the villa, the deadline looming over her head - only ten days remaining. Today, she finally had her window.
Minsung and his men were out finalizing a deal. Only the gatekeepers, cooks, seven servants, and "bartender" Joomi Kim remained inside. The opportunity was too good to be missed.
Eventually Jangmi found herself in the hallway leading to the ominous Game Room. She moved cautiously down the hallway her phone equipped with ONHO's special surveillance detection application, developed by the techs of ONHO, exclusively for their employees. When the application is on - a vibration would confirm the presence of surveillance cameras as well as wiretaps inside the room. Surprisingly enough, her phone did not vibrate even for once since she stepped into the hallway.
As she tried to reach for the Game Room door, she felt a tap on her shoulder from the back.
"Excuse me - what do you want?"
Jangmi turned sharply as one of Minsung's most trusted maids stood there with curious eyes.
"Oh! Nothing special," Jangmi said quickly.
"Who are you by the way?"
"You don't know me?" Jangmi replied. "I'm Joomi Kim, Mr. Kang's new bartender. Been working here for about ten days."
"Oh, so you're Joomi. I've heard of you!" the maid replied. "Well, what brings you here?"
Jangmi thought fast and answered -
"Actually, Mr. Kang once mentioned about a jacuzzi, specially meantfor the female staff, within the mansion, to me. I was just trying to find it..."
The maid looked at her quietly.
"But please - don't tell him!" Jangmi replied in an act of plea. "I shouldn't have come this way. I'm sorry!""
The maid smiled faintly. "You don't need to apologize. Don't worry - Mr. Kang won't know about it. This hallway doesn't have cameras anyway." she continued - "The jacuzzi's the other way - come on, I'll show you."
"Did you say there are no cameras here?" Jangmi asked.
"Yeah. Not here, and not inside that room either." said the maid, pointing towards the Game Room door.
"Oh, that's good…or I'd have been in trouble!" she said under the veil of Joomi's jolly attitude.
"For sure," the maid chuckled, genuinely leading her to the jacuzzi.
As they walked, Jangmi thought to herself,
"That's it. That's your graveyard, Minsung Kang. It's not long before we bid goodbyes to each other!"
JANUARY 13, 2017 [Incheon, South Korea]
It was nearly midnight when Minsung burst into the bar, stumbling and collapsing on the floor. He was heavily drunk - reeking of cheap alcohol.
"Sir, are you alright?" asked Jangmi, feigning concern.
"I'm fine… no, actually, I'm not," he said in a dizzy tone. "Joomi, make me that Miracle Cocktail. Maybe then I'll be fine."
"Sir, maybe skip tonight. You've had enough," she suggested. "I think that would be better for you..."
"Better?" he scoffed. "If you want me better, prepare the cocktail quickly! I don't like asking twice!"
She was obliged to prepare the drink.
His expression softened instantly with the first sip.
"Paradise!" he sighed.
"Feeling better now, sir?"
"By miles!"
"Since I joined, I've never seen you like this."
"Of course you haven't. It's been a while since I had the local beer. The branded stuff tastes rich - but it's hollow from within. Nothing beats the local ,well, except for your cocktail!"
She stayed quiet, letting him talk, until he asked something abrupt and unexpected.
"Joomi, tell me - do you follow politics?"
"Not much, but I stay pretty much updated."
"Then you must have heard of Yinam Jang, haven't you?"
Jangmi was pretty much shocked - she never imagined that Minsung would ever bring up Yinam's name in their casual conversations. She decided to play along:
"I might have," she said.
"What's your opinion on him?"
"I'm not very confident of that…"
"What?" frowned Minsung. "Are you afraid thinking I'll kill you if I don't like your opinion? Don't worry, I'm not one of his boot-lickers."
She chose her words carefully and thought of the best tactical answer to retrieve as much information as possible from Minsung, as Yinam was her next target and also, he's the one who commissioned the assassination against Minsung.
"While I haven't formed a strong opinion, there are times I question if his public image accurately reflects his true nature."
"Whoa! You've got intellect, Joomi! Maybe I should hire you as my PA!"
"Isn't that largely the case for most political figures? Or did you happen to meet him in person and discover something more intimate?" her voice dropped slightly.
"Yeah, I have met him in person, several times, since my very childhood. My father and he were friends from college. And Yinam, that old bastard took advantage of that and used my father as his pawn and my father too, kept wagging his tail for him like a loyal dog"
"I see..."
"You know what, I still believe Yinam poisoned him ten years ago when they went to the bar. No one else does, but I do, and that is what should matter, after all I'm his only son... After his death, I was bound to inherit this mafia mess and had to wag my tail for Yinam for a long time as well..."
Jangmi listened silently, sipping black coffee, which he prepared for herself amidst their conversation.
"But soon I realized something" he continued - "What my family did was wrong. I felt disgusted whenever I was addressed as the son of a mafia - a literal criminal! I never wanted this kind of life - I had always loved mixology - crafting colourful and delightful drinks. However I could never master it...."
For a brief second, Jangmi felt something she has not felt for a long time - was it, Pity? Empathy?
Minsung continued while twirling the empty glass of cocktail with his fingers -
"But now I've learned to live on my own terms" he said. "If they see me as a mafia, so be it. I'll use it for my advantage. I'm sure Yinam's furious after I killed his pawn, Hwang, that disgusting traitor!. Deception, deception, deception!"
He exclaimed as he stomped his fist on the table, causing the empty glass to chink.
"But even after everything, I still provided aid to Hwang's family. I don't even know why....?"
"Perhaps you're not a bad person after all," Jangmi murmured, not loud enough to be heard by Minsung.
She added - "Sir, I think you should go to bed now, it's too late...You need some good sleep."
"Looks like I made you bored with my nonsense" Minsung chuckled.
"Anyways, you're right, I should get going now...good night Joomi."
He entered drunk - left drunk but with a drastic emotional change. He entered the bar with unshared resentments in his heart and poured it all out through his conversation with someone who would be taking his life eventually - perhaps....
When he left, she stared at the door, whispering,
"I promise you, Minsung Kang - you won't have to suffer much longer in this rotten world."
JANUARY 14, 2017 [Incheon, South Korea]
A blackout plunged the Kang Mansion into total darkness.
It was almost midnight and as usual, Minsung, already drunk, was present at his bar for the cocktail.
"I'm scared of the dark..." Jangmi muttered as she tried to mix Minsung's usual drink.
"Me too," he replied from across the bar. "But since you're here, I've got nothing to fear..."
Joomi (Jangmi) - How long until the power's back?
Minsung - No idea. Try asking Lee.
Joomi (Jangmi) - And where's Mr. Lee?
Minsung - Oof! You're persistent, aren't you Joomi?
Joomi (Jangmi) - I can't help it, sir. The dark terrifies me.
Minsung - Alright, come with me.
He extended his hand in the dark.
"Hold on, or you'll trip and hurt yourself."
She took his hand - his first gesture of trust since she arrived at the mansion.
They made their way down the hallway towards the Game Room. Jangmi could feel him limping amidst the darkness as he was drunk.
Joomi (Jangmi) - Where are we going anyway?
Minsung - There's a room at the end of the hallway. It has a separate circuit. It's possible that it would still be working. We'll wait there until the power comes back.
When the door opened, a disgusting stench - a mixture of rotting corpse, blood and chemicals and medicines hit them. Interestingly, both were unfazed by it. Both of them had already seen and experienced terrible things in their life - in Minsung's line of work, death and bloodshed are almost inevitable while Jangmi was an assassin herself, having already claimed well over 30 lives.
As he turned on the lights, the mystery of the Game Room was unravelled - Roulette tables, human-shaped dartboards, nail-covered beds, suspended dummy heads, and blood-stained metallic baseball, chairs with cuffs, syringes, bottles - filled the room.
As they were inside the room for a while, Jangmi slowly moved towards the baseball bats as Minsung looked at her.
"You watch baseball?" Minsung asked.
"Yeah. It's my favorite sport" she replied, picking up a bat.
"Nice! Who's your favorite player?"
She turned towards him, eyes cold, and slowly started walking closer, while juggling the bat with a single hand. She stopped right behind him, and in his ears, she whispered -
"Ever heard of…striker Jangmi Choi?"
"What-" he began, but the bat struck him hard, knocking him down partially, before he could act.
"What! What are you doing, Joomi?" he groaned.
"What I was meant to do," she said calmly.
She pulled out a rope she had hidden in her gown.
"I want you to listen closely Minsung Kang..." she said sharply while untangling the rope.
"I'm not a bartender nor my name is Joomi Kim. My name is Jangmi Choi, and I am an assassin"
Minsung kept staring at her while lying on the ground - confused and hurt.
"I was hired by Yinam Jang to eliminate you".
"No… you're lying," Minsung gasped. "Joomi, come back to your senses! Did I do anything to upset you?"
"I'm in my right mind." she said. "And, I was never meant to be anything to you, but your killer."
He broke into tears. He had been deceived again.
"Why are you doing this to me? Oh God! Why! Deception… deception… deception…"
Jangmi stepped closer, kneeling beside Minsung who was lying and panting helplessly.
"Im sorry I had to do this" she whispered, looping the rope around his neck firmly.
Minsung did not try to defend as that would be completely useless - he was already drunk and now partially knocked down by a heavy metallic bat.
With a final rasping breath and saliva flooding out of his mouth, Minsung managed to whisper -
"Just like I said the other day… your hands are a true wonder, Joomi..."
"Minsung Kang..." she said, tightening the rope, "Take this as the final deception of your life before ascending to a better place."
Moments later, he was still. His blood-red, tear-streaked eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, as his pulse rate dropped to null.
Jangmi hung the body from the ceiling, stitched his lips shut, placed a rose between them - her signature mark - and slipped out the window opening into the deserted backyard and disappeared into the cold, foggy night.
As she walked down the empty lane, she asked the operators at ONHO, to inform the police about the murder. She walked into a nearby motel for the time being.
"Chief!" shouted Yeongseok. "At he Kang Mansion!"
The police barged into the Kang Mansion breaking the midnight silence.
"Team A, secure the perimeter!" ordered Inspector Kangmin. "Team B, follow me!"
"Goodness gracious, this is getting out of hand," muttered Sergeant Jongsoo as he turned towards Yeongseok who was looking at Sooah, who seemed hopeless and defeated.
"The Roses have been delivered," Jangmi reported to Cheon over the phone while removing her facial prosthetics and wig, inside the washroom.
"Well done, Jangmi. Stay at the motel for now." he instructed.
"Hmm" she murmured, her voice weary.
"You alright?" he asked.
"...Good night, Cheon."
She hung up the call with that.
She lifted her face and started at her reflection on the sink mirror - she looked at the face which was hidden under the veils of sunshine and rainbows for a fortnight, finally revealing the true self - or perhaps the duality of her nature.
Moments later, Sun entered Cheon's office.
Sun - How is it going Cheon? Did Jangmi contact you? She was supposed to be done with Minsung Kang today...
Cheon - She did it.
"What! Amazing!" Sun grinned. "Now that's Jangmi for us!"
Back at the mansion, the power flickered back to life - as expected.
Eventually, the police breached into the Game Room where Minsung's corpse hung lifelessly - his lips sewn shut with a rose in place.
"Chief…" Kangmin reported quietly. "Looks like we failed again."
Jongsoo sighed, staring into the misty night. All the other officers outside, got the message just by looking at his face.
The midnight fog weighed heavy on the city, and on every conscience present at the scene - hopeless and ominous.