Detective Jeon (2) : He, Never Left | JJK

Ch18. Welcome Home!

On the forbidden second floor of the grand mansion, a tense standoff unfolded. Jeon and Taehyung, their fingers firm on the triggers of their guns, faced two bewildered figures - Mr. Laurent, and the elderly owner of Villa Les Musique, whose face bore a striking resemblance to the bald man they had glimpsed in the dining hall the previous night.

Jeon's gaze pierced through the room as he locked eyes with the old man, who was trembling under the weight of the situation. With a cold, commanding gesture, Jeon demanded, "Open the wooden box." The old man complied, revealing an antique timer with a creamy patina. Jeon's mind raced, but he wasn't surprised; this was just another puzzle piece in a game he seemed destined to play. Jeon was trying to make sense of everything. "Does this belong to any of your family members?" he further asked. The old man's eyes widened in surprise as he confirmed that the wooden box had belonged to his great-grandmother, a legendary chess player. Taehyung relayed the information, still puzzled by how Jeon knew all this.

"Ask him if she died because of a heart attack during her fourth final match," Jeon maintained his gaze on the man.

"He said yes but how do you know all this?" Taehyung was equally confused as the other three.

Jeon couldn't help but flash a proud smile as he remarked, "I think he understands Korean pretty well. Am I right?" The old man's expression softened, and he dismissed Mr. Laurent to prepare lunch, signaling his willingness to speak alone with these two unexpected guests. With deliberate care, the old man produced a locked safe, placing it ceremoniously on the center table. Jeon had been waiting for this moment, his mind filled with anticipation. The old man inquired, "You know the code?"

Jeon confidently replied, "1-9-9-5." The safe surrendered its secrets with a satisfying click. Inside lay a leather file, its pages filled with confidential legal documents. The old man took out his spectacles from the front pocket of his coat and wore them. "Let's see. Are you Mr. Jeon Jungkook? May I see your ID please?" Jeon placed the gun down and showed him his ID. "Hmm... I see." said the old man.

As Jeon complied, the old man's gaze shifted to Taehyung, scrutinizing him from head to toe. "These are confidential legal documents," he began. "Do you want to discuss this in front of your gentleman friend here, Mr. Jeon?" Taehyung set his gun down and made a move toward the exit, but Jeon stopped him, "You don't have to go anywhere. Stay." It was a pivotal moment, a testament to their growing bond and mutual trust. "Please, proceed."

"As you wish Mr. Jeon. My job here is to convey the message and do the other legal formalities. Hope I have your earnest attention..." With Taehyung back in the room, the old man started to convey the astonishing revelation. "Kim Aera, the previous owner of this property, has left it to her only daughter, Kim Aeseok. Miss Aeseok will inherit Villa Les Musique when she turns eighteen. Until then, Mr. Antoine Dupont that is I am entrusted with its care, legally bound to transfer the property to its rightful owner."

Jeon and Taehyung exchanged incredulous glances, struggling to absorb this newfound information. Mr. Dupont, maintaining his composure, explained further, "We received a phone call from Kim Aera-shi, who informed us about the ownership transfer years ago. In a signed letter, she provided the details to make these changes official, along with mentioning her blood relative, Mr. Jeon Jungkook. We further received the copies of your ID attached in it along with Miss Aeseok's date of birth."

"Why have you never tried to contact him all these years?" Taehyung queried, his voice filled with a mix of frustration and curiosity.

Mr. Dupont continued, "Miss Aera refrained us from making any contacts unless she said so or the family members themselves contacted us. All I was ordered to do was hand over the property to Miss Aeseok on her eighteenth birthday. She must be only five years old by now."