Are these guys really just here to drink?
Jack glanced toward the bar, slightly skeptical. Behind a few stunning female bartenders, the shelves were neatly lined with hundreds of Suntory whiskey bottles.
Suntory wasn't just known for its oolong tea—it was the third-largest liquor manufacturer in the world, with its Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki, and Miyagikyo brands enjoying massive global popularity.
This bar operated more like a whiskey tasting lounge, focusing almost exclusively on Suntory's whiskey lineup, with only a handful of cocktail options on the menu.
Casually selecting a booth, Jack ordered a bottle of Yamazaki 18, dropping over $1,000 for the privilege. He waved off the manager offering a VIP card and poured two glasses—each about one-third full.
From the moment they had sat down, Park Min-young had been glancing around restlessly, sneaking side glances at Jack.
When he finally gave her a subtle nod, she exhaled in relief and leaned into him, whispering, "You found him?"
Jack pulled out his phone, launched the malware program, and selected Zhou Xingzhe's marked number. A 180-second countdown appeared on the screen.
"Act natural. It'll be done soon."
He handed her the whiskey glass to calm her nerves and slightly tilted his head. "Our guy is two tables behind us."
To her credit, Park Min-young resisted the urge to turn around. Instead, she leaned closer against Jack, playing the part of an affectionate girlfriend, whispering in his ear.
Not that she would have seen anything anyway—the wooden dividers between the booths were just high enough to block direct lines of sight. Jack had deliberately chosen this spot.
Several patrons had glanced their way when they entered, including Zhou Xingzhe and his two lackeys.
But a foreign man with a local beauty? That wasn't unusual in a place like this. Once they settled in, the attention quickly shifted away.
Three minutes passed without a hitch. No sudden interruptions, no unexpected twists. The program confirmed the virus had been successfully installed.
From now on, every call Zhou Xingzhe made or received would be automatically recorded. His phone itself was now a live listening device.
Koreans were notorious for getting rowdy while drinking—often kicking off their shoes and sitting cross-legged on chairs like they were about to lounge on a heated floor.
There was no way Zhou Xingzhe and his guys had come to this kind of high-end place just to drink. Their behavior suggested they were waiting for someone.
Jack slipped in a Bluetooth earpiece to eavesdrop, but before he could focus—he noticed something odd.
Park Min-young's glass was already empty.
"Slow down. If you like whiskey that much, you can take the rest of the bottle home and drink it slowly."
Her cheeks were already flushed, and Jack frowned. Whiskey's no joke. 43% ABV, no ice… what kind of monster downs it like that?
"What, you want me to sit here and not drink? That would look suspicious," Park Min-young teased, exhaling warm, whiskey-laced breath against his cheek.
Damn, that's actually kinda seductive.
"Still, don't chug it. I don't want to have to carry a drunk girl home later." Jack poured her just a sip more—barely enough to coat the bottom of her glass—then tuned back into the conversation behind them.
Zhou Xingzhe and his men were indeed waiting for someone. Their brief exchanges revealed they were expecting a Chinese man called Chairman Bai.
Jack frowned. The hell?
Up until now, their intel suggested that Ichijo-gumi handled both the production and distribution of HYPER. Zhou Xingzhe and his men were just their protectors.
Where the hell did this Chairman Bai fit in?
And judging by Zhou Xingzhe's tone… he was the one needing something from Bai, not the other way around.
Before Jack could ponder further, a soft giggle disrupted his thoughts.
"I have a secret to tell you," Park Min-young whispered conspiratorially, her breath warm against his ear.
Jack turned his head, puzzled—only to see the 700ml bottle of Yamazaki 18 was already half empty.
Her flushed face, drowsy eyes, and the way she clung to his arm—yeah, she was drunk.
"You Korean girls always drink like this?" Jack muttered. One person drank all that? Jesus, the snacks haven't even arrived yet.
"Shhh. Listen. I really need to tell you this secret," she slurred, slapping his hand away as he tried to take her glass.
Jack sighed. "Fine. What is it?"
"Hehe…" She giggled drunkenly. "I'm Park Min-young. I have guys with seven-figure salaries throwing themselves at me all the time…"
Then her face fell.
"But instead… I fell for a guy who's almost forty."
Jack blinked. Huh?
"Wait, go on." He took a sip from his own glass, suddenly curious.
"But that bastard—" she pouted, "—even though he likes me too, he still ran back to the North."
Jack nearly choked on his drink. "North?"
"The North?"
"You mean North Korea?"
"Mhm." Park Min-young pouted, slapping his thigh. "He said we can't be together. Unless I somehow 'unify the peninsula' or some crap."
"Unify my ass! Like that's something I can do!"
Jack was momentarily stunned. Wait… so she fell in love with a North Korean cop?
That was wild.
The only reason a North Korean officer would've been in South Korea would be… some sort of joint operation? A special task force?
Jack vaguely recalled an old 80s movie—Arnold Schwarzenegger's Red Heat, where a Russian cop had to team up with an American officer.
Did some K-drama just straight-up rip that premise and slap it onto the Korean peninsula?
"Well, you could try to unify the two Koreas," Jack smirked. "If you pulled it off, you'd definitely go down in history."
Park Min-young scowled and punched his arm. "Men are all the same—terrible!"
She dramatically downed another glass, looking ready to drown her sorrows.
"You puke, I'm stripping you down and throwing you in the bathtub before taking you home."
Jack warned, snatching the bottle and placing it out of reach.
Just then, a large group entered the bar.
A bald, lanky man led the way, bowing obsequiously.
Behind him walked a woman—likely in her early 30s, with sharply contoured features and an ABC-style makeup look.
She was flanked by four men in black suits and white dress shirts, clearly bodyguards.
Jack's eyes narrowed.
Chairman Bai… is a woman?
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