Hong Min-beom hummed a tune while he drove his expensive car into the automated wash.
"Coming through!"
A worker at the entrance gave a short nod. "Yes, sir."
The moment the car disappeared inside, another worker in the corner pulled out a phone.
"Yeah. The car you mentioned just pulled in."
Inside the bay, the high-pressure jets began to hiss. They doused the car in a heavy spray. Min-beom sat back and relaxed as he watched the water blast against the glass.
"Nice."
A worker tapped on his window. "Just a moment, sir. We will be finished shortly."
Once the machines cut off, Min-beom shifted into drive and headed for the exit. He pulled forward but slammed on his brakes. A heavy metal barricade blocked the path.
"What the..."
He stepped out of the car and looked around the dimly lit bay. The floor was slick and soapy.
"Hey! Is anyone here?"
He shouted a few more times but the only response was the steady drip of water from the ceiling. Min-beom cursed and slapped the roof of his car.
"Damn it, where did everybody go?"
The shadows near the wall moved. Several men stepped out from the darkness. Before Min-beom could say anything, a heavy fist slammed into his jaw.
BAM!
"Aggh! What the—! Who are you guys?"
The men did not answer him. They swarmed him and rained down kicks and punches. Min-beom hit the wet concrete instantly.
"Keep the bastard down."
"Look at his face. What a pathetic sight."
"Want more? Huh?"
"Grab him. Strip him down."
Min-beom screamed and thrashed on the floor. He was no match for the thugs. A low voice echoed through the bay from the entrance.
"He is this way."
"Is he in there now?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good work. Take this and grab a drink."
"Thank you, sir!"
Im Jang-do walked in with the towering Kang In-beom by his side. Jang-do looked down at the shivering mess on the floor and clicked his tongue.
"Look at him."
Min-beom scurried backward like a wounded animal. His eyes were wide with terror. "Hey... hey, please..."
Jang-do turned to his goons with a mocking grin. "Whoa! You boys sure did a number on him."
The goons straightened up and bowed in unison. "Hello, sir!"
Min-beom's teeth chattered as he began to beg. "I am so cold. Please... can I please have something to wear? Please."
Jang-do did not answer. He just let out a sharp sneer. Min-beom pressed his forehead to the wet floor.
"God, I am... I am sorry. I am so sorry, sir."
Jang-do reached down and tilted Min-beom's chin up with a smirk. "Hi there."
Min-beom stared at Jang-do's face. Recognition finally hit him. His fear turned into a flash of rage. "You... You! It is you, isn't it? You son of a bitch!"
Jang-do's eyes went flat. The humor vanished.
"Jesus. Not too long ago, you were acting like hot shit. You really shouldn't have fucked around with us, prick. Did you think we would get scared just because your cousin is a cop? Huh?"
Jang-do leaned in close. His voice was a whisper.
"Let me teach you a lesson. Even a wild animal bites back if you hit it. It doesn't matter how much stronger you think you are. They just bite. Now then... strip."
Min-beom froze. "What?"
"Are you deaf? Take everything off. Including your underwear."
Min-beom's face went ghostly pale. "No... I get it now. I understand! Please, just this once, let me go."
The goons closed in again. Min-beom backed away and started sobbing. "Ugh, I am sorry! I really don't know what this is about, but I am really sorry!"
Jang-do let out a bored sigh. He glanced at In-beom. "Hey, In-beom."
In-beom nodded. He lunged forward and grabbed Min-beom by the throat. He hoisted him into the air like he weighed nothing.
CRACK!
In-beom slammed the man onto the concrete. He pinned him with one hand and grabbed a jug of industrial car soap with the other.
"Mmph! No—!"
In-beom forced the nozzle into Min-beom's mouth and poured the thick liquid. Min-beom kicked and clawed at the air. In-beom's grip was like an iron vise. Finally, In-beom pulled the jug away. Min-beom collapsed and started retching up blue foam.
"Please..." Min-beom gasped. "Just this once..."
"Let's wrap this up," Jang-do said coldly. "Are you stripping or not?"
"Don't kill me... please don't kill me..."
"I guess you are still thirsty."
In-beom reached for the jug again. Min-beom shrieked and waved his hands frantically.
"I will strip! I will do it! I will strip!"
Jang-do's predatory smile returned. "Good call. Now then, Director Hong, without further ado... let's see the show."
He pulled out his phone and hit record. The lens focused on Min-beom as he began to tear off his wet clothes. His whole body shook with humiliating sobs.
Jang-do watched the pathetic display. He thought the man looked like a rat. He should have just done this from the start.