Only the Depraved

IX.

IX.
'The Garden'
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30 minutes to the start of 'The Harvest'

Detective Park

Seonghwa stepped out of his car and handed his keys to the valet. The massive white mansion sat in stark contrast to the sandstone orange and streaks of coral of the setting sun. The tropical wind blew warmly through the palm trees and made him break out in a sweat inside his tailored suit. He looked over the vast estate from behind his dragon mask as more guests began to filtered in with dusk.

His plan was locating Seunghyun and searching the property for whatever information he could get ahold of on the ring. If his suspicions were correct this party could be an elaborate ruse for a sale. This also meant that The Garden had definitely turned into a lions den as his boss had warned him.

He would probably lose his badge for this. Hell, he may even lose his life tonight if he didn't watch his back. But one thought of all the innocents that suffered and died at the hands of Seunghyun made his blood boil with righteous fury.

There's no way I'm leaving here without what I need to put that monster behind bars for the rest of his fucking life...

He placed a cigarette between his lips and lit up. He inhaled deeply and looked over the guests as he blew out a plume of white smoke. Men and women continuously filed inside the double doors in designer suits and glittering gowns. It became apparent that the guests tonight were all extremely well off but one guest in particular caught Seonghwa's attention.

The male stood off to the side with a cigarette perched between his lips as well, his stringy red hair in his eyes. He was rail thin beneath his torn jeans and plain white shirt. He didn't belong in the crowd that had gathered here. His haunted eyes shifted from behind the mask of a white rabbit before finally settling on Seonghwa. He froze for a moment before tossing his cigarette to the ground and snuffing it out under his heel.

The boy from the diner, Seonghwa contemplated as he narrowed his eyes at him. He took another drag from his cigarette before flicking it to the ground. Bahk Hong-gi I believe was his name. At least that's what he claimed...

From his appearance and his suspicious behavior earlier Seonghwa could only guess that he was enduring withdrawals. He was too gaunt and shifty to be anything else but a junkie. Seonghwa had seen enough of them while working the beat that he could easily pick one out of a crowd.

Seonghwa watched as Bahk crammed his hands into his leather jacket and swiftly made his way inside. Detective Park wondered what would make someone like him desperate enough to risk sneaking into an elite party. He was either incredibly dumb or just shit luck for crashing the wrong party.

Especially one as dangerous as The Harvest.

He made a mental note to keep an eye on him throughout the party. He was acting far too suspicious for Seonghwa to just ignore him.

The detective brushed a cautionary hand over the top of his concealed gun. He wasn't sure what exactly he'd be faced with but he was prepared for whatever awaited him. With a deep breath he ascended the steps and walked through the open doors of The Garden, letting his righteous hate of the man who brought him all the way here fuel him forward.

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Choi Jongho

Jongho looked over his expensive heather gray suit with an appreciative whistle. San had expensive tastes and the suit he had provided him hugged his toned body in all the right ways. Not that he planned on staying in his clothes long if tonight was going to go the way he planned.