As Jahm arrived in front of Minister Kang's private estate, the large, iron gate remained shut. A guard stepped forward and asked, "Who are you?"
Jahm calmly answered, "I'm the Minister's new driver."
The guard squinted at him. "Where's your estate ID?"
Jahm paused. He had forgotten—it hadn't been handed to him yet after passing the final assessment. "Call the Minister's assistant," he said firmly. "She'll confirm who I am."
Skeptical, the guard picked up his phone and called. The assistant answered angrily, "Why are you calling me?"
"There's a man here who says he's the new driver for the Minister," the guard explained.
The assistant's tone changed. "What's his name?"
The guard looked at Jahm. "Name?"
"Lance Gonzalez."
The guard repeated it into the phone.
Suddenly, the assistant snapped, "Let him in immediately! Hurry! The Minister is almost done eating."
The guard shouted to his colleagues to open the gate. As the gate slid open, Jahm smoothly drove his Mustang into the estate. He parked it and made his way to the designated Rolls Royce—his official ride for driving the Minister.
He pulled up to the grand front entrance just as the Minister exited. Their eyes met for the first time.
The Minister immediately smiled. "You look strong and refined."
Jahm simply nodded.
The Minister chuckled. "No need to be shy or scared. I'm your boss, but you can be formal without fear."
Jahm replied, "Yes, Minister."
At the Seoul Government Complex, one of the Minister's guards opened the door for him. His assistant, who had been waiting, handed Jahm the official estate ID. "So you won't have problems next time," she muttered.
The Minister looked at Jahm. "I hope I'll be able to trust you someday and make use of your full potential."
Jahm smiled lightly. "I'll do everything to earn your trust."
The Minister gave a small nod and walked away with his assistant and two guards into the building.
After parking the Rolls Royce, Jahm walked to a nearby convenience store for a drink. Coincidentally, Han Hanni, whose news company The Seoul Eye was nearby, invited Jun-wo join her there before they left for their next shoot.
Hanni bought some noodles. Jahm had just arrived and spotted the last bottle of root beer in the fridge his favorite. But Hanni saw it too. Both hurried toward it and reached at the same time.
They looked at each other, both surprised.
"Excuse me," Hanni said, "I touched it first."
Jahm smirked silently, raising an eyebrow but said nothing.
Jun-wo noticed and asked, "What's going on here?"
Jahm let go of the bottle with a shrug and reached for a Royal instead. Hanni, now holding the root beer, glanced back at him with a puzzled expression, then gave a slight scowl and walked to the counter.
Jahm mumbled under his breath, "That was my favorite drink…"
As he walked back toward the complex, he saw four men harassing an elderly man across the street. Coincidentally, Hanni and Jun-wo had also been nearby. Just as Jahm was about to shout, Hanni stepped in first, her voice firm and fearless.
"Hey!" Hanni yelled. "Leave him alone, you good-for-nothing thugs!"
Jahm froze, surprised to see her again. With a hint of irritation, he muttered under his breath, "That's the rude woman from the convenience store."
She turned to Jun-wo. "Start filming this."
The thugs laughed and taunted her. Hanni stepped closer, arguing with them. When one thug raised a fist to strike, Jun-wo jumped in to defend her but he was quickly struck, knocked out cold.
One thug raised a piece of wood to hit Hanni.
Then came Jahm's voice: "That's prohibited.harming a person in public according to Article 257 A person who inflicts bodily harm upon another shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 2 years or by a fine of up to 5 million won. and Article 298 A person who commits an indecent act on another by force or intimidation shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine up to 15 million won."
Hanni turned in surprise. "You You're the guy from the convenience store!"
The thugs laughed again. "Looking for death, old man?"
Jahm replied in fluent Spanish, "El que busca la muerte, la encuentra."
One charged at him. Jahm dodged easily and twisted the man's arm until it broke. The other three attacked together. Jahm sidestepped two and landed a punch on one's jaw. The one with the stick swung violently, but Jahm avoided the blows and snapped the thug's arm too. One last punch landed on Jahm's face, cutting the side of his eye.
He touched the blood and said, "Not bad. But not good enough."
Jahm struck him in the stomach, then the face. All four thugs ran off, groaning in pain.
He handed money to the old man. "Don't wander here again."
The old man thanked him quietly, eyes filled with gratitude.
Hanni stood speechless. "Who… are you?"
Jahm ignored the question. "You need to call an ambulance for your cameraman and next time, be careful"
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked off.
"Thank you!" Hanni shouted.
"Okay," Jahm replied.
Hanni thought, So rude. But… there's something good in him.
As the sun began to set, Jahm waited outside the Seoul Government Complex for the Minister. On the ride home, the Minister asked, "Are you ready for what's coming? What I might ask of you?"
"I'm always ready, Minister" Jahm said.
The assistant chuckled. The Minister grinned.
Once private estate, the Minister stepped out and said, "Be prepared."
Jahm gave a nod, parked the Rolls Royce, and walked to his Mustang parked nearby.
Back at the safe house, it was already night.
When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Justice cooking in the kitchen.
"Why'd you cook so much?" Jahm asked.
Justice replied, "We have to celebrate, bro. You made it inside the lion's den."
Jahm smiled faintly.
"Sit down, it's almost done, bro."
After dinner, Jahm showered. When he came out, he found Justice on the couch, drinking soju alone while watching TV. Jahm walked out of the bathroom shirtless, a towel slung over his shoulder as he used another to wipe the water dripping down his defined abs and the scarred muscle around his shoulder.
Justice held up a glass. "Come on, don't tell me those abs are just decoration. Drink with me!"
Jahm shook his head, chuckling, and sat down.
As they neared the bottom of the bottle, Justice noticed Jahm staring blankly.
"You good? Something happen this morning,bro?"
Jahm replied softly, "No."
Justice leaned in. "Then why do you look so deep in thought,bro?"
Jahm turned to Justice and said, "The Minister told me to be ready. he didn't say what for,what do you think the Minister's going to ask me to do?"
He didn't feel nervous, just wondering if this would end up being something he'd have to face on his own.