Captured (22) The enemy is close
First, I logged into the lab's server and checked the accounting ledger. It was a list of medicines purchased by our lab, but I hadn't been interested in them, so I didn't look at them. This was a top secret, accessible only to researchers with administrative authority. As the youngest member of the lab, it was my responsibility.I never thought it would be written like this...
The drug was being delivered to the laboratory directly managed by Director Kim Nam-jun.And...? Hmm...?I also saw a huge budget coming in through private donations. It seemed like all of this money was being spent on the lab... Where on earth did the money come from? Where did the drugs made in the lab go? Scary thoughts flashed through my mind.
I hope this premonition is wrong...
Click...!
Suddenly, the closed lab door opened. Oh, surprise!
""Dr. Heuk Hae-ju, you haven't gone home yet?"
It was Jung Ho-seok.
"Oh, what do you mean, Doctor? I haven't finished my thesis yet, so I haven't finished my PhD yet... That title is burdensome lol.
By the way, I was surprised when you came in so suddenly...
"It's advantageous for the youngest to finish work and go home on time, so why are you back? It's too late..."
I quickly closed the accounting books. My key person, Jeong Ho-seok... Thinking about Director Kim Nam-joon made my heart pound and I became even more nervous.
"Oh, I left my diary behind... hahaha
"I have an important note and it can't wait until tomorrow..."
Hoseok went to his seat with a bright smile and a pat on the back of his head as if he had made a mistake.
"Hmm... Hoseok, do you want to eat dinner together before dinner?
I'm also having dinner.."
I've always told him to keep me close. He's still a fledgling researcher, so it'll be hard for him to refuse my offer. I need to talk to Hoseok. While Hoseok went to his desk and grabbed his notebook, I also went to clean up my computer.
""Yes, I like it, sir."
. . .
I decided to eat dinner at an izakaya near the lab. I wanted to have a drink and eat some delicious food. I felt like a warm bowl of sake with tuna tataki would make all the fatigue of the day disappear, so it was my favorite place to visit alone sometimes.
To begin with, neither Jeong Ho-seok nor I were the type to get along personally with researchers, so this was our first time eating alone with Ho-seok. I noticed that Ho-seok, who'd ordered drinks, said he wasn't good at drinking.Haha, I couldn't refuse you because you were my senior in the lab, so I came all the way here...
I sat at the bar and ordered a plate of warm fish cake udon, my favorite tuna tataki, and a few skewers for my meal.
Despite feeling a little sorry, Jung Ho-seok ate the food that was served with relish. They chatted about this and that while eating.
Jeong Ho-seok had a married older sister, and because his home was in the countryside, he lived alone near the lab. Apparently, he had also been attending Director Kim Nam-joon's papers and lectures and had fallen for him. I felt a slight attraction to him, as he seemed to share similar feelings.
I once worked with Kim Nam-joon on a research project, and it seems that Director Kim Nam-joon was the one who first scouted me, telling me to come work after I finished my master's degree. (Oh, I'm a little jealous of that...)
Even everyday life seemed monotonous. Could it really be Jung Ho-seok who followed me that weekend? I suspected that it might be Jung Ho-seok, but now it's a little difficult to tell if it was him or not. Still, it was Jung Ho-seok who reported it...
I'm curious as to how you found out about the Badger Club... How should I find out...? It seemed like I still needed to find out more about Jung Ho-seok.
"Okay, shall we drink our last glass and then get up?"
"Yes, that's right. I'm already at a lethal dose.. haha"
Just as we were about to finish our last drink and leave, someone came into the store just as we were about to pay and leave.
"Huh..? Heukhaeju! What are you doing here..?
Who is this?"
This voice welcoming me is... the voice I met a few days ago.No, why are you here pretending to know me?......Jeon Jungkook approached and naturally placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Oh, what is it? It's so heavy.. Put your arms down, you little shit.. lol"
"Oh, okay, I see."
Jeong Ho-seok, who was about to leave, was standing there looking at us blankly.
"Ah, this is our lab junior..."
"Hello? My name is Jeong Ho-seok."
Jung Hoseok greeted Jeon Jungkook. Judging by the expression on Jeon Jungkook's face, he seemed to remember who it was immediately upon hearing the name Jung Hoseok.
""I'm Jeon Jungkook. As you can see, I'm your friend."
"How do you two know each other..?"
Jeong Ho-seok's question was sharp.What is this guy, Looking at Jeon Jungkook's face, he looks a little embarrassed and is looking at me..? Why is he pretending not to know me? I'm also really embarrassed.
"Ah, Jungkook is an old friend of mine..
Because the two of them wrote their master's theses on similar topics...
We were just acquaintances back then, but we've become really close recently.
I didn't know we would become such close friends now.."
I just roughly went around it.
"Oh, yes, I see...."
"Excuse me, Hoseok, do you want to go in first?
I guess I need to talk to him."
Since it didn't seem like Jeon Jungkook would fall right away, I sent Hoseok to help.
"Oh Hae-joo, do you want to call me for a second time?
The reckless Jeon Jungkook's eyes sparkled when I let Hoseok in.
He took a seat in the corner. Jungkook ordered various things with a bright face.Oh, I was trying to go in quickly...
"So, did you check what I gave you?"
Jeongguk asked curiously.What should I do with this guy...?
"I was going to tell you that separately anyway,
"Are you in a hurry..?"
"No, I was just curious... Isn't it okay for spies to have friends?"
"You're a police officer. That's why...
I don't really want to stand out.."
"Well, it doesn't seem like it's very noticeable around here... Jung Ho-seok went home too..."
Jeon Jungkook... You're so shameless... Ugh... Chief Kim Seokjin told me to meet him... So I had to endure it... I sighed deeply and answered Jungkook's question.
"I looked it up.
The laboratory that purchased the drug is Director Kim Nam-jun's personal laboratory.
I don't know how much it has to do with the director,
"If we just look at the facts, that's true."
I took a sip of the highball Jeon Jungkook ordered for me.
"I see..
You don't know Director Kim Nam-joon personally, do you?"
"Well, I don't know him personally, but
He was a scholar I greatly respected during my doctoral studies.
Even now... But...?"
"I see... I have a feeling that we're going to get entangled.."
"Oh, okay..."
"Is there anything else?"
"The hunt date has been set. It's in two months, and the location will be announced a day in advance. I'll send you the details in a file."
"Are you being called out again?"
"I think so... I think I'm going a little deeper into the organization now, and I'm starting to take on the work that Jinsoo used to do one by one."
I sighed in response to Jeongguk's words. With Jinsu gone, the tasks he'd handled seemed to be slowly falling to me. I was to be in charge of the meds for the next hunting festival.
"A new person in the organization started contacting me.
Jinsu was also a researcher in a similar field to me.
I think they probably think I'm the right person for the job.
I don't know what the hell you see in me..?"
Jungkook smiled at my words.
"You don't look so faithless..
By the way, I'm a little worried that something might happen if you keep calling me around..."
Jungkook affectionately tucked my hair behind my ears.
"What did he say... You have to help me break them up...
Let's separate the construction, okay? Detective Jeon Jeong-guk."
Jungkook's touch wasn't bad, but we need to distinguish between work and home... Jungkook, who kept touching my hair while repeating what I said, took his hand away.
. . .
A few days later, I met him at a cafe in front of the research center.
"You said Mr. Heuk Hae-ju, right?
Nice to meet you. This is Park Jimin, who contacted you via text message."
This person, who claimed to be a member of the Badger Association, asked me to take charge of transporting the drugs. It was moving very quickly, as we had only been in contact directly through text message for a short time, and we were already meeting in person.
Is it because the positions are empty because the field staff were arrested last time...? By the way, can you already leave the field work to me? Because I'm a related specialist? No, but this is too fast...?
Before I knew it, I was digging deeper and deeper into the badger group.
