Captivated (20) Formal Dinner
Kwak Jin-soo was the one who suggested the Badger Club to me when we met at an academic conference. I was presenting my research that day, and after the presentation, he asked if I could talk to him. Naturally, I assumed he had questions about the research, so I gladly made time. However, the only thing he suggested to me was the Badger Club. Since it was outside my interests, I had originally tried not to pay attention to it. So, my first meeting with Jin-soo was not very pleasant. Since we often ran into each other at academic conferences, I didn't reject him out of courtesy. I contacted Kim Seok-jin about this, and only after I decided to work as a spy did I respond to Jin-soo that I was interested in the club.
Jinsoo said that members without sponsorship or background in the purification system had to maintain contact with the organization for 2-3 years to participate in the hunting festival. When I expressed my desire to participate in the hunting festival, Jinsoo started taking me to regular meetings. It seemed to me that Jinru was the group's practical worker. He accepted new members from somewhere and contacted executives. He also received the drugs used in the hunting festival from somewhere, though I don't know where. Since animalizing the victims was a very important part of the hunting festival, I guess the drugs were used in that area.
Squeak...
The taxi stopped and I got out of the taxi.
The hotel where the formal dinner was held was located in the heart of the city, but it was a bit of a walk from the subway station. I tried to dress up, but compared to the expensive clothes worn by everyone around me, I felt quite shabby in my black SPA brand dress.
After being guided by the hotel staff to the Sapphire Hall, this time someone who was in charge of the meeting guided me to my assigned seat.
"You can sit over here."
Fortunately, since this was a reserved seating area, I didn't have to worry about where to sit, even though I wasn't particularly close with anyone, which was convenient. I was sitting near the entrance, and I sighed slightly as I looked at the large chandelier in the center. Jinsu, who had grown up poor like me, longed for this kind of upper class society, and he seemed content to belong here. (I'm not sure if this group that commits inhumane acts is actually upper class, though...) I've never really wanted to belong to a group like this... Seriously, sometimes I wonder why I'm here.
At the request of Chief Kim Seok-jin, I have been participating in a meeting for a year to destroy the hunting festival here, but I have not had a chance to participate in the hunting festival except for the last time when Jin-su invited me as an observer, and since I only gave minimal information at the meeting, I wondered if I was being of any help to the police.
With Jinsoo gone, there were only about ten minutes left until the formal dinner, but time passed very slowly. Usually, when he came to our regular meetings, Jinsoo had work to do, just like the staff member who had shown me to my seat earlier, so I helped him with that.What should I say today...It's really inconvenient and there's no way around it.
While regular meetings are usually attended by mostly working-level officials, the formal dinner gathering was attended by not only them but also high-ranking officials. For some reason, it felt different than usual. There was a seat at the far end of the table I hadn't seen before. The room was a bit chaotic, with several familiar faces absent from the previous hunting festival incident. Perhaps that's why... I had a feeling someone I'd expected to appear, someone who met my expectations.
I was somehow holding on while feeling nervous.
After the appointed time had passed and we were all in a mess greeting each other, someone in a red suit with brown curly hair and shining eyes appeared from inside.
"It's been a while. Hello. This is Kim Taehyung."
He sat at the very top. His striking appearance alone gave off an ominous aura.I don't think it's a badger... This energy... is of a much higher rank than ours...As he emerged, the atmosphere became quiet. He spoke with a smile on his face.
"Isn't today the first formal dinner gathering in a while..?
Have fun...."
When I asked people around me, I found out that Kim Taehyung was the biggest supporter of this place and that he rarely showed up for regular meetings. When Kim Taehyung showed up, the chaotic atmosphere cleared up and became friendly again.
As expected, it was as expected.
As Kim Taehyung finished speaking, all sorts of luxurious dishes I normally wouldn't pay attention to were served, one by one. Starting with Korean beef tartare, caviar served on a tiny mother-of-pearl spoon, a fatty foie gras steak, and so on... Why do I have to eat these dishes in any particular order? Why can't I just eat whatever I like the most? I thought as I put the caviar, with its pungent, oceanic flavor, into my mouth.It really doesn't suit my personality.
This group is run by donations from various sources, in addition to the participation fees of those who participate in the hunting festival. As someone who has not yet participated in the hunting festival and was attending this group as a future practitioner rather than a sponsor, I had never paid any such fees, which may be why I found the food even more uncomfortable.
After finishing the meal, a meeting was held to decide on the next hunting festival.
"I heard the police raided this time,
“Shouldn’t you be saving your body?”
When one member spoke, Kim Tae-hyung, who was sitting at the top, smiled arrogantly.
"We shouldn't be shaken by such things.
Besides, wasn't it the hunting festival that only took place once a year...?
I think everyone must have waited so long...
Let's reschedule it for about two months later.
"How about we try to make the supplements a little more thorough this time..?"
Kim Tae-hyung's words stirred a stir in the room. There was no discussion at all about the officials arrested this time, like Kwak Jin-su. It seemed they had simply been forgotten. People were gradually becoming convinced by Kim Tae-hyung. They seemed to believe in his economic and political background.What on earth is behind this? Wouldn't it be logical to protect yourself?Although I don't understand, it was ultimately decided that the hunting festival would be held in two months.
. . .
After the meeting ended, people began to wander about, each engaging in their own social activities. Waiters with trays of finger food and champagne circulated among the laughing and chatting members. I usually helped Jinsu out during these times, but today, with Jinsu gone, I had to remain still, like a sack of barley. I attended the meeting, but the unpleasant feeling kept making me shy away.
"Mademoiselle...? Her name is..."
I was startled by someone calling me from behind and turned around to see it was Kim Taehyung who was over there earlier.
"Hello, my name is Heuk Hae-ju. I am a researcher at the 000 Research Institute.
"Yes, I am Kim Tae-hyung, the representative of R&V."
I grabbed Kim Taehyung's hand as he asked for a handshake.Hot and sticky feeling...I had a feeling he was at least as strong as a jaguar. Normally, it's polite to not show off your energy, but this man was strangely letting out a little bit of his energy.
It's a little threatening...?
""Who introduced you, Haejoo? I'm seeing you for the first time.."
Ah, this person is such a top member that he doesn't show up often, but he's managing his members in some way...? He's even showing interest in me, who's been hunkering down in a corner... Should I at least pretend to be embarrassed in front of this arrogant man...?
“I came in through an introduction by Kwak Jin-su.
Although we are not in the same research institute, we are friends with whom I often interacted regarding research at academic conferences."
Kim Taehyung seemed unfamiliar with Kwak Jinsu, seemingly asking a question to the attendant following him. When the attendant answered, Kim Taehyung nodded in agreement.
I came here because of Jin-su's introduction, but it felt so awkward that Jin-su wasn't there. I can't help it... Kwak Jin-su, you're probably in that interrogation room by now... The cold cement room and the rattling of handcuffs suddenly came to mind.I wish you boxing, buddy.. Please don't meet Jeon Jungkook..
While I was waiting for Kim Taehyung to pass me by, lost in thought, the look he was giving me was really sticky and unpleasant.
"So... what do your parents do, our Haejoo?"
There was talk that members were selected based on their background, and as expected, a census was conducted right away.
Those who joined the group had two main roles: sponsors and practitioners. Many sponsors came from wealthy families, so asking about their parents wasn't considered rude. For sponsors, things like the family's assets and influence within the business community were important factors to consider. If I were running around with Kwak Jin-soo right now, they'd know I wasn't here as a sponsor, but as a practitioner, so the question wouldn't have been so necessary.I guess I should answer first...?
"I don't have parents. They passed away a long time ago.."
"Oh my, what the heck, where are you hurting?"
Kim Taehyung suddenly stroked his chin as if he was interested.
"No... he was murdered?"
He answered with a somewhat rebellious look in his eyes. It meant that I shouldn't talk to him anymore.
"You said he was murdered...? Did you catch the culprit...?
It must have been a long time ago when you were young. It must have been really hard~"
"I don't know the culprit. It was hard, but
I studied really desperately and thanks to that I got here.
The fact that my parents are no longer here
I'm not particularly unhappy or distressed."
I smiled faintly and answered. Please... I wanted to just pass it by without saying anything more... But Kim Taehyung's eyes sparkled as if he was interested in my answer.
"Oh.. well, my parents in heaven must be proud that my little daughter is now grown up and working at the most successful research institute in our country.
Mr. Haejoo, I like your spirit.
"Excuse me... It was nice talking to you."
Kim Taehyung left the banquet hall after finishing his conversation with me.What the...? Was there something strange in the conversation?I felt a little regretful because I felt like I said something that would make Kim Taehyung remember me.
Suddenly, I looked around and saw people leaving one by one.I guess the meeting is being organized now...I also hurried out of the banquet hall.
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*All stories come from the author's head.
Unauthorized distribution and reproduction are prohibited.
©️ Earthquake in My Head (2023)
