Recently, a secret club well known among the newly wealthy was located in a surprisingly quiet area. When one or two luxury cars parked at the outskirts of the city—where few people passed by—large men guarding the club approached to check identities and then guided the visitors inside through a specially prepared door.
Who owned the club or what its true purpose was didn’t matter. It was enough to get whatever one wanted. Inside, just as many demands were fulfilled as there were visitors. Nothing was impossible—as long as one had money and power.
“Welcome, brother.”
Dmitri, who was enjoying himself with several women at a large table in a private room, immediately raised a hand in greeting when he saw Caesar enter. The butler courteously guided Caesar to the table and stepped aside, and without expression, Caesar clasped Dmitri’s hand.
But a firm handshake wasn’t enough. Dmitri pulled Caesar toward him and passionately kissed his cheek. Caesar endured it—but not the lips.
“That’s enough.”
Caesar stopped Dmitri’s advancing kiss with a short remark and plopped down opposite him. Dmitri made a displeased face.
“You used to let me do that when we were kids.”
“Because you were a kid.”
Caesar said indifferently and drained the glass before him. The woman sitting next to him immediately filled his glass with vodka. Less than five minutes since entering the club, about a dozen women already surrounded Caesar.
Though they tried to flatter him, the women hesitated to rub against him—because they already knew who he really was. Their job was to hold their breath and wait to give their bodies when he wished.
But unlike the nervous women around Caesar who only watched and waited, Dmitri’s women laughed and busied themselves touching and kissing him. Unlike Caesar’s silver-wolf-like appearance, Dmitri had dark brown hair and deep green eyes. His looks and personality were complete opposites.
Even the atmosphere separated by the large table they faced each other across was distinct. One side was like the arctic cold, the other a tropical rainforest. Though cousins, how could they be so different? People always thought that whenever they saw them. Unlike Caesar, who never touched or glanced at the women, Dmitri sat with a woman on each arm, one on his lap, and two draped over his shoulders, busy kissing each one in turn.
Including the women pushing to take the spot on Dmitri’s arm, more than ten women bustled around him. Yet Dmitri showed no neglect to a single one. When a beauty who had failed to sit beside him shot a sulky glare, Dmitri laughed aloud and kissed her exposed chest vigorously.
“So, Caesar.”
Dmitri was one of the few who dared call him by name. Smiling at the woman’s slackened expression, he continued:
“How’s the work going?”
Caesar answered shortly.
“Smoothly.”
As Caesar sipped vodka, Dmitri frowned. That was a signal for the butler, who swiftly gestured. The women, like a swarm, rose simultaneously and disappeared in an instant. The once crowded table was now left with just the two men. Even the butler vanished, and Dmitri shifted his gaze from the tightly shut private room door to Caesar.
“You’ve seen the documents about Zhdanov, right?”
Caesar again answered briefly.
“Of course.”
“So, you still plan to continue?”
Dmitri’s question met silence from Caesar. Dmitri, a cousin and childhood friend, was a former KGB agent and now the owner of this secret club. Though “former,” he still had KGB ties. There was no information he couldn’t obtain. The information he brought was therefore reliable. With a serious expression, Dmitri continued:
“He’s holding on for now, but if the investigation team finds a decisive blow, it’ll be over immediately. Give it up, Caesar. If Zhdanov becomes a nuisance, I’ll take care of it.”
A cold sneer twisted Caesar’s lips.
“You think I’d fear some Zhdanov?”
His quiet, slow retort made Dmitri immediately step back.
“Of course, I didn’t mean that.”
“That’s enough.”
Caesar poured vodka into an empty glass. Dmitri glanced down and spoke.
“Still, it’s better to withdraw since there’s no benefit.”
Dmitri’s softened tone drew an unexpected short laugh from Caesar.
“To tame a tiger, you have to feed it.”
“A tiger?”
Dmitri tilted his head, but Caesar didn’t explain further and drained his glass. As he stood, Dmitri spoke again.
“I heard Mikhail collapsed.”
Caesar looked down at him sharply. Though “Mikhail” was a common name in Russia, the one they referred to was only one.
“He’s reached an age to be careful.”
Caesar’s calm words prompted Dmitri to continue.
“Within Mikhail’s organization it’s hushed up, but rumors have already spread secretly. Since Lomonosov’s side has no heir, if Mikhail falls like this…”
Dmitri trailed off, but they both knew the conclusion. A faint smile crossed Caesar’s lips.
“Russia will be in my hands.”
“To the Tsar.”
Dmitri said meaningfully and downed his glass in one. Caesar turned to leave the private room. Just as he grasped the door handle, Dmitri suddenly said:
“The room at the end of the hall on the right.”
Caesar glanced back; Dmitri gave a bitter smile.
“Take it easy; those are top-class girls.”
Without further words, Caesar left. Like a signal, the women rushed in to compete for Dmitri’s side. Behind their scuffle, the butler hurried in.
“We’ve prepared ten, as ordered.”
“All right. Plenty of liquor stocked?”
The butler nodded grimly.
“Three times the usual amount. We even told the supplier to be on call all night.”
“To get him drunk, we’ll need an enormous amount. Keep the drinks flowing nonstop. Never let it run out.”
Dmitri smiled kindly at the blonde beauty sitting beside him after reaffirming his command. The woman across quickly spoke up to catch his attention.
“But Dmitri, does he really handle ten women in one night? Alone?”
In disbelief, Dmitri laughed loudly.
“Can’t believe it, huh? Though he looks chaste on the outside, his true nature is a beast.”
Dmitri recalled with a nostalgic expression.
“We only had sex once together.”
Vodka was poured into Dmitri’s empty glass. Raising it, he continued.
“I bought and rolled five women. Want to know what happened the next day?”
The women’s eyes widened at Dmitri. He smirked.
“Three ended up hospitalized. They couldn’t handle him alone.”
Sucked in breaths echoed. Unsure, they exchanged looks. Dmitri drained his glass and put it down.
“Since then, he drinks endlessly during sex. Guess why?”
No one answered. Dmitri didn’t wait.
“He drinks until he’s so drunk he can’t get it up—then he stops.”
The private room fell silent. Facing the speechless women, Dmitri smiled faintly.
“That guy? He never gets tired.”
Still no one spoke, but Dmitri raised his vodka with a delighted look.
“Let’s see how long it lasts this time.”
The fierce cold that had raged began to abate. Waking at his usual time, Lee Won felt the unusually warm weather and got out of bed in a light mood. He planned to handle some personal matters today—a simple schedule: take the tram to the end of the line and meet someone at an address.
The only clue.
Lee Won looked down at the note in his hand. He tried not to get his hopes up but couldn’t help the slight lightness in his chest.
“I’m going.”
After saying goodbye to the grandmother who saw him to the front door, Lee Won hurried off. Walking through Russia’s still harsh winter streets, he absentmindedly thought, It’s warm today, and then smiled bitterly. He had gotten quite used to Russia. When he first came, he felt like he’d freeze to death before even lasting a day.
Seven years already…
He suddenly recalled that day and his eyes grew misty.
— Lee Won, can you do this for me?
He remembered his mother’s weak face as she gently touched his cheek. He sighed thinly and steadied himself. I have to try. I’ll find her, for sure. Clenching his fist lightly, he stepped forward more determinedly.
Shaking in the tram that rattled across the vast land, Lee Won finally arrived after a long time. The outlying city where farmers bought small plots or villas was quiet on weekdays.
A foreigner walking the calm rural streets always stood out. For some reason, Lee Won naturally drew gazes wherever he went. As usual, when a rural woman farming her field stared at him, he smiled briefly in greeting.
After the awkward greeting and her continued glances, Lee Won hurried toward the address on the note. Walking alone along the quiet country road for a while, he finally reached his destination.
He knocked lightly; after a moment, a voice answered.
“Who’s there?”
Following the thin, trembling voice of an old man came footsteps. Waiting for the man to appear at the door, Lee Won’s heart timidly fluttered. Until now, he’d had nothing but dead ends. This was the first lead in seven years. Maybe this time.
The doorbell jingled, and the door opened. Beyond the worn threshold, the old man’s wrinkled face faced Lee Won. Wearing a bright smile, Lee Won greeted habitually.
“Hello, I am lawyer Jung Lee Won.”
The old man looked suspicious, as if wondering what a lawyer was doing. Lee Won took out his business card and added,
“Are you Mr. Sibernik?”
“That’s right.”
Still casting doubtful glances, the man listened as Lee Won nervously said,
“I came to ask something. Do you happen to know a Korean woman who boarded here about 30 years ago? Her name was Jung Soo-yeon, or Soo-yeon Jung.”
The old man blinked blankly for a few seconds, then suddenly his face showed surprise. Lee Won’s heart pounded violently.
Lee Won returned late that night, his steps dragging and energy gone. The clue had been found.
The old man remembered his mother. But that was all. A kind and excellent lady from Korea. He only barely recalled that she left abruptly one day. It was difficult to get the information Lee Won wanted from him.
Noticing Lee Won’s clear disappointment, the man sadly offered to check with a village girl who had been close to Lee Won’s mother. Of course, she had long left the village and would be hard to find, but he promised to try and held Lee Won’s hand firmly.
Is this the end?
Lee Won sighed again. Finding the old man’s house had been a huge effort. Few remembered events from nearly 30 years ago. Even when clues were found, the trail usually went cold. For now, he could only wait for the old man’s contact.
Back to square one.
Lee Won drooped his shoulders, unable to hide his emptiness. The café was dark. The grandmother must have gone to bed early. Carefully, Lee Won entered through the back door and changed from his dusty shoes to slippers.
He had no energy left. I’ll wash and sleep. Lee Won climbed the creaky stairs quietly. The lock still gave trouble. Opening the door, he finally exhaled deeply. He paused, noticing something left on the floor.
A letter envelope pushed under the door. It didn’t look suspicious. Ripping it open, Lee Won plopped down on the bed and idly searched his pockets, then gave up. His mind was full of cigarettes, but there were none left. He’d smoked a whole pack on the way back.
With a bitter sigh, he inspected the thin envelope. Frowning, he thought,
…What’s this…?
Inside was only one ticket. Lee Won stared at the ballet ticket for the Bolshoi Theatre’s performance, scheduled for tomorrow evening. What was this? Then he found a thin business card inside the envelope and understood.
— Caesar.
Seeing the same card he had received before, Lee Won recalled tomorrow was the deadline Caesar had set. Was the answer to come then? Leaving only the ticket after coming all this way—what was he thinking? Frowning darkly, Lee Won put the ticket back in the envelope and set it on the table. He had no intention of watching the performance, but had no reason to avoid meeting the man. Whether Caesar agreed or not, Lee Won had prepared for either outcome.
I hope we don’t waste each other’s time.
Lee Won showered quickly and went to bed, putting the difficult day behind him.
When the night passed, the cold weather returned and darkness frequently fell. Lee Won pulled up his coat collar and braved the biting wind to reach his destination.
The tram, prone to breaking down, stopped two stations away again. Waiting for the next tram was torture. Gritting his teeth, Lee Won ran furiously those two stations.
“Welcome.”
When Lee Won finally arrived, he was out of breath, face flushed red, and shoulders heaving. After a brief greeting, he left his coat at the entrance and finally regained his senses. Feeling his frozen brain thaw slightly, he surveyed the interior.
The grand old theatre was crowded with people dressed formally for the performance, chatting in small groups. Would he find the man among them?
His worry was unfounded. A quick scan of the hall led Lee Won to spot the man immediately. Sitting cross-legged on a sofa, he was reading a pamphlet. His slow, simple movements of turning pages were impressive enough to make Lee Won sigh.
The man’s perfectly tailored dark brown suit was simple yet elegant, but the diamond tiepin holding his neat tie seemed to speak volumes about him. Lee Won noticed how passersby couldn’t help but steal glances. He wondered how their reactions would change if they knew this man was mafia. The thought intrigued him, but he could not know.
Without delay, Lee Won approached. Stopping in front of him, Lee Won spoke, gazing at the gold-tinted hair shining under the indoor light.
“Mr. Caesar.”
At the deep voice, the man looked up. His intense silver-gray eyes, like a snowstorm sky, met Lee Won’s. Caesar had no particular reaction, just closed the pamphlet and smiled faintly.
“You’re here.”
Startled by the unexpected smile, Lee Won relaxed momentarily. The pure innocence in Caesar’s faint smile made him doubt that this man was an executive of a vast mafia organization—though he knew it was true.
How could someone so pure smile like that? Lee Won was briefly mesmerized, but the spell broke quickly. When Caesar stood, his towering shadow cast over Lee Won, forcing him back to reality.
Grateful for his regained composure, Lee Won spoke in his usual tone.
“Now please give me your answer.”
At that moment, the bell announcing the start of the performance rang. Lee Won glanced away, then back at Caesar, who looked toward the stage and spoke.
“It will start soon. Let’s go in.”
“What did you say?”
Startled, Lee Won’s voice sharpened. But Caesar remained unperturbed, holding the folded pamphlet in one hand and grabbing Lee Won’s arm with the other. Lee Won stopped in surprise, but Caesar pulled him forward.
“I only came to get your answer. I don’t intend to watch—”
“You’ll answer after watching.”
Caesar’s words stopped Lee Won. Looking up in confusion, he heard Caesar ask casually,
“The answer was due today. Still five hours left—can’t you be patient that long?”
Though the tone was unchanged, Lee Won realized Caesar was teasing him. He had not anticipated hysteria or anxiety. Gritting his teeth, Lee Won shot back,
“I hate wasting time.”
“Calling Giselle a waste of time—that’s harsh.”
Caesar looked at Lee Won with a bored tone, as if to say, So what now? The answer was already decided. Stubborn, Lee Won glared at him and said,
“I hope it’s worth the precious time I’m investing.”
A faint smile appeared at Caesar’s eye corners. Lee Won instinctively sensed he was genuinely smiling.
“Giselle is worth it.”
The bell rang again. Just before the door closed, they entered the theatre.
The Russian ballet company’s performance stole their souls. It was almost regrettable to watch such a show in these circumstances. Giselle, a country girl deceived by a philandering nobleman, chooses death. The troupe was excellent, but Lee Won couldn’t fully enjoy it.
His mind raced anxiously about what answer the man would give and when. After the short intermission, Lee Won barely calmed himself. The man intended to talk after the performance. The more anxious Lee Won got, the more it would please him. It will never go his way. Resolute, Lee Won focused fully on the show.
Unlike the cheerful first act, the second was dark and still. The fragile ballerina’s body drifted like a spirit in the air. Betrayed, dying, yet clinging to love. Giselle’s sorrowful movements to save her man held the audience breathless.
Lost in the performance, Lee Won’s nose tingled. He calmed his breath, then suddenly heard a low whisper.
“Answer my proposal.”
At Caesar’s low voice, Lee Won’s attention snapped back. He perked up to listen, waiting for the reply. Caesar paused, then whispered,
“There can be no negotiation or reconciliation with me.”
Lee Won froze. Just then the lights went out and applause thundered. The performance was over. People cheered, clapping enthusiastically, but Lee Won didn’t move. His mind spun slowly, struggling to accept the reality.
So I forced myself to watch the performance side by side with this man just to hear a refusal.
Caesar stood. Lee Won blinked, dazed, looking up. Caesar smiled faintly as he looked down at him.
“Dinner together?”
“Hah!”
The exclamation escaped uncontrollably. Lee Won’s expression twisted instantly. He stood abruptly, glaring.
“Do you think I’m going to eat dinner peacefully with you now?”
No more manners or civility. Lee Won shouted violently. Caesar opened his mouth.
“Well, aren’t you?”
Surprised by the question, Lee Won ignored him and turned away.
Son of a bitch. I should have stabbed him in the heart with that pen.
Unable to hold back his rising fury, Lee Won stormed out of the theatre. Watching his back, Caesar smiled mysteriously but didn’t stop him.
Watching their scene from a secret place, a man hurriedly hid and pressed a button on his phone.
“Yes, Congressman Zhdanov. It’s me. I’m calling to report something...”