Hong Min-beom hummed a tune as he drove his prized car into the automated wash.
"Coming through!"
A worker at the entrance gave a short, clipped nod. "Yes, sir."
The moment Min-beom's car disappeared inside, another worker in the corner discreetly pulled out a phone.
"Yeah. The car you mentioned just pulled in."
Inside the bay, high-pressure jets began to hiss, dousing the car. Min-beom sat back, relaxed, watching the water spray against the glass.
"Nice," he muttered.
A worker tapped on his window. "Just a moment, sir. We'll be finished shortly."
Once the machine cut off, Min-beom shifted into drive and headed for the exit. But as he pulled forward, he slammed on the brakes. It was a dead end.
"What the..."
[CAR WASH EXIT - NO PARKING]
A heavy barricade blocked the path. Min-beom stepped out of the car, annoyed, and looked around the dimly lit bay.
"Hey! Is anyone here?"
He shouted a few more times, but the only response was the steady drip of water. Min-beom cursed, slapping the roof of his car.
"Damn it, where did everybody go?"
That's when the shadows moved. Several men stepped out from the darkness. Before Min-beom could process who they were, a fist collided with his jaw.
"Aggh! What the—! Who are you guys?"
The men didn't answer. They swarmed him, raining down kicks and punches. Min-beom hit the wet concrete instantly.
"Keep the bastard down."
"Look at his face. What a pathetic sight."
"Want more? Huh?"
"Grab him. Strip him down."
Min-beom screamed and thrashed, but he was no match for the seasoned thugs. Then, from the entrance, a low voice echoed through the bay.
"He's this way."
"Is he in there now?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good work. Take this and grab a drink."
"Thank you, sir!"
Im Jang-do walked in, flanked by the towering Kang In-beom. Jang-do looked down at the shivering mess that was Hong Min-beom and clicked his tongue.
"Look at him."
Min-beom scurried backward like a wounded animal, his eyes wide with terror. "Hey... hey, please..."
Jang-do turned to his goons with a mocking grin. "Whoa! You boys sure did a number on him."
The goons straightened up and bowed in unison. "Hello, sir!"
Min-beom's teeth chattered as he began to beg. "I'm so cold. Please... can I please have something to wear? Please."
Jang-do didn't answer. He just let out a sharp, jagged sneer. Min-beom pressed his forehead to the wet floor.
"God, I'm... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, sir."
Jang-do reached down and tilted Min-beom's chin up with a smirk. "Hi there."
Min-beom stared at Jang-do's face, recognition finally hitting him. His fear momentarily flared into rage. "You... You! It's you, isn't it? You son of a bitch!"
Jang-do's eyes went flat. The humor vanished.
"Jesus. Not too long ago, you were acting like hot shit. You really shouldn't have fucked around with us, prick. Did you think we'd get scared and apologize just because your cousin's a cop? Huh?"
Jang-do leaned in close, his voice a lethal whisper.
"Let me teach you a little lesson. Even a wild animal bites back if you hit it. Doesn't matter how much stronger or weaker you think you are. They just bite. Now then... strip."
Min-beom froze. "What?"
"You deaf? Take everything off. Including your underwear."
Min-beom's face went ghostly pale. "No... I get it now. I understand! Please, just this once, let me go."
As the goons closed in again, Min-beom backed away, sobbing. "Ugh, I'm sorry! I really don't know what this is about, but I'm really sorry!"
Jang-do sighed, bored. He glanced at In-beom. "Hey, In-beom."
In-beom nodded. He lunged forward, grabbing Min-beom by the throat and hoisting him into the air like he weighed nothing. He slammed the man onto the concrete, pinned him with one hand, and grabbed a jug of industrial car soap with the other.
"Mmph! No—!"
In-beom forced the nozzle into Min-beom's mouth and poured. Min-beom kicked and clawed, but In-beom's grip was like an iron vise. Finally, In-beom pulled the jug away. Min-beom collapsed, coughing and retching up blue foam.
"Please..." Min-beom gasped. "Just this once..."
"Let's wrap this up," Jang-do said coldly. "Are you stripping or not?"
"Don't kill me... please don't kill me..."
"I guess you're still thirsty."
At Jang-do's signal, In-beom reached for the jug again. Min-beom shrieked, waving his hands frantically.
"I'll strip! I'll do it! I'll strip!"
Jang-do's predatory smile returned. "Good call. Now then, Director Hong, without further ado... let's see the show."
He pulled out his phone and hit record. The lens focused on Min-beom as he began to tear off his wet clothes, his body shaking with humiliating sobs.
'Rat-like bastard,' Jang-do thought, watching the pathetic display. 'Should have just done this from the start.'