"He is someone who not only understands how Russia works, but is also familiar with the geography, power and route of money there. His expertise will prove invaluable. Come the day after tomorrow, he will be the first to reach out after assessing the situation. I'll send you a picture of your new partner at the right moment, so ensure a thorough inspection."
I thought about it. Someone who knew Russia well would surely come in handy. Although I like being alone, I still hoped they won't be a burden to me.
"Starting tomorrow, you will directly meet with the key figures involved in the contract. It's imperative that you familiarize yourself with the LNG facility's construction details."
Communication was abruptly cut off before Kwon Taek-joo could respond. One file after another arrived, all dispatched by Lim.
With a disapproving expression, I opened the attached file. A 527-page PDF containing all the details of the Russia-Japan contract and materials regarding the LNG facility construction lay before me.
"..."
Kwon Taek-joo, his gaze fixed on the document brimming with minuscule text, suddenly turned his head. An invitingly warm bed tried to lure him, but he had no choice. He released a long sigh, stretching his schoulders and hoisted himself up.
He popped open the mini-fridge and retrieved a beer. After nearly halving the frothy contents, he returned to the table. Settling down, he took a deep breath, and after a prolonged absence, he could finally show his academic talents.
~~~~
Kwon Taek-joo sat in the restaurant, caught by extreme boredom. Dignitaries from Russia and Japan were to convene there for a luncheon. Thankfully, he hadn't aroused any suspicions among the Japanese officials.
He held no interest for his superiors' subordinates. His task was to navigate through today's luncheon safely and attend the forthcoming celebration in a few days. The moment he stepped into the gathering of Russian political and business elites, his role as Hiro Sakamoto would conclude.
Abruptly, I glanced at my wristwatch. The scheduled lunch time was noon, but the hour hand had already surpassed '23:00' and was heading towards midnight. Those who had arrived on time uncomfortably remained seated for nearly 30 minutes.
The Gazprom CEO had yet to make an appearance. Gazprom executives repeatedly phoned their company to ask about the CEO, and it was pitiful to witness their struggles, unable to sit properly and silent.
"... Mr. Sakamoto?"
My attention was seized by the distracting spectacle, causing me to miss the Russian official's question.
"Yes? Oh, I'm sorry... What did you say?"
"I heard something terrible happened on the day you arrived in the country. Are you all right?"
"Ah, yes. The Russian police arrived in the nick of time, and I managed to escape unscathed. They even escorted me back."
"How can I ever apologize for this... I'm deeply sorry for putting you through that."
"No need for apologies. Shouldn't I be the one apologizing? I should have been more cautious, but I let my guard down."
It was a reprehensible reply. Nonetheless, the other party continued to apologize incessantly. Soon, even the Japanese delegation began bowing in unison, expressing their regrets for causing concern. There were a lot of apologies, each more profuse than the last.
My stomach suddenly churned. As I rose from my seat, the delegates from both sides fixed their gaze on me. I, Kwon Taek-joo, who had intended to sneak away, offered an awkward smile and begged their pardon.
"Excuse me for a moment."
I closed the door behind me and released a long sigh. Hah, I even pretended to wash my hands before exiting. As soon as I grappled with my constricting tie looking in the mirror, I heard the Gazprom executive standing in the corridor engaged in an long phone call. He spoke impatiently, his voice elevated despite the phone's proximity to his ear.
"Where is the CEO? What?! Has he departed? Who decided that?"
I tiptoed past him. Soon, his suppressed frustration spilled over.
"Deputy? What are you talking about? The representative is on his way?!"
I had no trouble blending into the conversation. But Gazprom's CEO, the most important person, isn't coming... my patience is coming to naught. I clicked my tongue and calmly made my way to the restroom.
The restroom was only accessible through a separate corridor. I opened the door, its height matching the soaring 5-meter ceiling, and entered. As a habit, I scanned the interior before proceeding. It wasn't overly crowded.
I quietly caught my breath and approached the sink. As I dried my hands, I reflected on my recent actions. The previous night, I had dozed off while reading the PDF file sent by Lim. Aside from a slightly disturbed dream, it wasn't a bad night. I might have slipped into a brief nap due to my overall exhaustion, both mentally and physically.
Yesterday, I finished reviewing the Director Lim's remaining PDF files in the morning and met the Japanese delegation's headquarters at the airport in
the afternoon. From then until just now, I continuously monitored the situation, and it appeared there were no significant blunders. Also, thanks to the contract data I had memorized over the past two days, I could follow the conversations effortlessly.
Then, a voice reached my ears from outside the restroom door. It belonged to a man. If he wasn't holding a lengthy monologue, he seemed to be conversing on the phone. Could it be a Gazprom executive? As the doorcreaked open, his voice became clearer. In an instant, my entire body tensed.
"... No, I did arrive, but I thought it would be boring."
Badump.
It felt like I had encountered him somewhere before. But where? It wasn't a distant memory, nor had I heard that voice frequently enough to become familiar with it. Yet, it was a moment that had remarkably seared itself into my mind.
Struggling to recall the memory that seemed to hover at the edge of my consciousness, I heard the voice again.
This time, he was right behind me.
"Let's be clear. If you need to leave anything behind, my recommended job will suffice."
It was him. I was certain without even glancing back. Two days ago, it had been crystal clear that I had crossed paths with a murderer, a crazy one at that. As soon as I realized I was in danger, every sense in my body sharpened. The first to awaken was my sense of smell.
I detected the faint scent of smoldering damp leaves, mingled with the unmistakable aroma of cognac and the rich fragrance of Cohiba Behike cigars. An irresistible allure pressed upon my senses. I could still recognize the smell from him even though he was not smoking.
His voice continued from behind him. The man stopped at the door and continued his phone conversation.
Among all time, the killer had to appear here. Now. Behind me. What a fucking coincidence.
Then, suddenly, I felt his gaze. He hadn't turned around or met my eyes in the mirror, but I was certain. He was looking directly at Kwon Taek-joo himself. A shiver ran down my spine.
"Yeah whatever, alright? I'll call you later."
Perhaps it was my imagination, but his tone seemed slightly strained. The man hung up. The Inquisitive gaze behind me grew more distinct. In the restroom, devoid of the phone's ringing, it was now just him and me.
I kept washing my hands, all while tracking his movements. My gaze remained fixed on my own hands, not betraying any acknowledgment of knowing his presence. The tension was thick.
Time crawled by. How long had it been? The man's footsteps, which had halted, resumed again.
He took the sink right beside me. Soon, water gushed forth with a gurgling sound. He began to rinse his hands lightly. With that small action, the aroma of Cohiba, which clung to him, grew more potent.
Simultaneously, the memory of when I first encountered that scent came rushing back.
I acted as composedly as possible, my feigned indifference masking my awareness of him. I switched off the tap and dried my hands with a towel. I didn't know why the killer had appeared at this place and time. If it was a coincidence, it was an incredible one. Given his financial status, it's no surprise he could afford to come to a place like this.
The real issue here was that I was trapped in this closed space with him.
Avoid. Right now, avoiding being in the same room as him is top priority. I could feel the pressure in my head escalate with each passing moment.
I tossed the damp towel aside and attempted to make my exit cautiously. In that instant, the man spoke to me, stopping me in my tracks.
"Aren't you going to say hello? It's been a while. Were the Japanese really this impolite?"
I didn't look back. I couldn't even bring myself to twist the doorknob I had grasped. I had no idea what might happen if I made a hasty move. Even ifsomething unfortunate occurred within this space, even if he snapped and ended my life, no one would know until it was too late.
While I hesitated, he continued, "That's hardly the manners of a samurai,"
taunting me like that, huh? The tone was relaxed, but it carried a discomfiting undertone.
Afterward, he fell silent. I, Kwon Taek-joo, who had focused all my senses on his presence behind me, finally managed to leave without uttering a word.
As soon as the door closed, and I was separated from him, I exhaled a sigh of relief. My heart raced, and for the first time in ages, I felt very anxious.
I needed to escape for now. That's what my instincts urged me to do. Suddenly, my phone vibrated within my jacket. Since Hiro Sakamoto's cell phone was in my outer pocket, the current vibration must had come from the phone I used to communicate with HQ (the headquarters).
Who is it? A call from HQ? Come to think of it, Director Lim said he'll send me a picture of my soon-to-be partner.
I reached into my jacket and retrieved my phone. Indeed, a picture had been sent by Lim.
Without hesitation, I examined the photos. The device took a few seconds to fully display the image on the screen. One second, two seconds, three seconds. I tapped the notification labeled 'Download complete.'
The eagerly anticipated picture filled the screen when I heard a chuckle.
"... Hmm? Isn't that me?"