Fair Trade

Ten million dollars!

Gavin crumpled the Coke can, frantically brushed his hair, which was strewn in all directions, and murmured, “Did you say ten million dollars?”

It was an amount that could not be imagined with a public servant’s pay. Of course, Sei was aware of this. It wasn’t the amount Yuri offered, but the amount she proposed to him. Furthermore, Yuri stated that he would give her three times that amount, but his offer didn’t feel real because it wasn’t a realistic amount.

What difference would it make if I exaggerate a little?

When Gavin did not give an answer, Lily, who was leaning against the window and listening to their conversation, approached.

“Is that true? Yuri Petrov offered you ten million dollars? Not a million dollars, but ten million?”

Sei shrugged her shoulders.

“Isn’t it cheap for the price of my life?”

“I just want to live next to you. Man, I didn’t know there was a walking Powerball here.”

“You’re calling me a Powerball for only $10 million? It must take ten times that amount to be like a Powerball.”

Gavin, who was sweating over the conversation between the two women, got up and walked around the room, stroking his rough chin. A shadow cast over his anxious face. But he couldn’t give an answer right then and there. He’d have to submit a report to the government, but 100% payment was not possible. He couldn’t believe he was now being put under pressure to buy criminals with money.

“The FBI is a government agency, not a group of rich people. Do you really have to be this mean?”

“Then let’s just call it off. It’s not that I’m mean, it’s that I don’t have a blind sense of justice.”

Sei looked directly into Gavin’s eyes and raised her shoulders lightly. Then, he immediately lowered his voice with a serious face.

“Hey, Rose. I can put you in jail even now.”

“Without proof? Ah, I forgot, isn’t it your job to make evidence, like you did when you put my dad in prison?”

“Rose!”

“I hope you’re not the type of person who shouts first when you’re at a disadvantage.”

Sei wasn’t scared of him at all. With two mafia powerhouses on her both sides, she had no idea when she’d die. Or, considering the days she spent worrying about who would kill her, Gavin’s threats didn’t even reach the level to scare her.

“Uggh.”

Soon after, Gavin got on his knees and shook his head excitedly.

“Ha, hey, why the hell did you call me here if you were going to do this? Do you really think ten million dollars is the type of money that grows on trees?”

“I’m doing this because I know the value of money. I’ve lived in mud all this time because of your humble goodwill. But what? Wouldn’t you rather be off a leash than die a dog’s death? Even after breaking up my family, you had the nerve to say that!”

Gavin couldn’t say anything but just kept clenching his fists. He watched with his own eyes what kind of life she had lived so far. What kind of disgrace she had been subjected to, and how many times she had been exposed to close danger.

“You knew the culprit, but you ignored it for your greater good. What was the point of putting a leash on my dad’s neck? What about me and my mom? How I’ve lived, Gavin… You must’ve known.”

“That was not my intention. I’m sorry. But Jang Young-guk was an illegal immigrant. He couldn’t have been protected by US civil law! It was… It was truly the best I could do. Sorry.”

Sei exhaled slowly at Gavin’s act of sincerely apologizing and lowering his head. She was emotional for a moment, but her purpose was not to lament her situation. Lily also looked at the two of them with puzzled eyes. It was the first time she had seen Sei behave so emotionally.

“Anyway… don’t fit my definition to your standards. I was the first one to give you a chance. An opportunity to trade with me.”

“All right. Just give me that opportunity. Ten million dollars is not something that I or the agency can afford to pay you. Instead…”

Gavin, who was speechless, looked back and forth between Lily and her, then continued with a serious expression.

“I can provide you with an opportunity to get ten million dollars. It’s something neither I nor the agency can accomplish, but you definitely can.”

Sei’s eyes narrowed. Gavin has been more serious than he needed to be. He wasn’t the type to spout nonsense or joke around. So she became curious about his offer.

She nodded her head slightly as if to tell him to continue. Then, moistening his lips, he quickly shook his head and rubbed his hands to start talking.

“McKenzie Evans, the former governor of Texas. I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He’s a former naval officer who married Valentina Young of Vermilion Communications and turned his life around.”

“So?”

“This time, his daughter’s wedding will be held. I heard it’s going to be held on a private island in the Maldives. Do you know why? Because more than 50% of the people McKenzie Evans invited are criminals. If you put the bounty on their heads together, ten million dollars would be nothing.”

Is this what it feels like to wander through a maze with no exit?

Sei pressed her elbows on both of her knees and lowered her head.

“…So what? You want me to catch them? What’s wrong with your head? How can I catch the guys that even you can’t catch!”

“Listen to the end, please. You’re so impatient and short-tempered.”

“If you know I’m impatient, then don’t beat around the bush and just get to the point, okay?”

“Hey, Rose, I’m not asking you to catch them. All you have to do is get their faces and attach a transmitter to their bodies. You don’t have to be 100% successful. I’ll give you a list with names and bounties on them, so do as you please. I’ll make sure that the bounty will be all yours.”

Gavin was proud of himself for coming up with the idea and his eyes shone with pride.

Sei leaned against the sofa and stared at him, smiling.

Should I call him stupid or should I say recklessness seems like a daily routine for him?