Contract

A class society born from the wall of wealth inequality, Korea. There was a young man who lived, experiencing its cruel aspects firsthand. ‘Lee Han’, an orphan who had to fight the world alone without any connections. His pockets were always light, but he prided himself on being second to none in diligence. He struggled fiercely, but had to kneel repeatedly before the harsh reality.

It was a series of frustrating days, but Lee Han never let go of the string of hope. Believing that light would be seen someday, he ran forward looking only ahead. Then one day, a ray of light seemed to shine. He discovered an announcement for a building manager position with a fairly high annual salary and various welfare benefits guaranteed. Lee Han was bloodshot and wanted to seize the opportunity. He mobilized everything he had, from facility management certifications to special employment bonus points, and jumped into the application.

On the day he received the acceptance notice like a miracle and headed to the interview, Lee Han’s heart was pounding. He was filled with anticipation that he could finally step out of this rough world. But everything changed in an instant. The meeting with Chairman Park. Entering his splendid and imposing office, Lee Han felt suffocated. The gap in the world could be so big.

,There’s a reason why I specially picked a young man like you.

Chairman Park finally opened his mouth. Lee Han instinctively felt that something was unusual.

,Poor but tenacious, and above all, desperate. Like you.

Chairman Park was an old man of 90 years. His wrinkled face, already withered skin, and powerless drooping shoulders told that he was a man facing death. But his eyes were different. A chilling vitality rose from his deep, dark eyes. It was a fierce look that seemed accustomed to intimidating and threatening someone.

Chairman Park came to Lee Han and whispered in a low voice.

,Sign the non-disclosure agreement. Promise you’ll never reveal what I tell you to do.

Lee Han hesitated, but soon succumbed to Chairman Park’s coercive gaze. There was an irresistible sense of intimidation in his eyes. He guessed that it could be used for crime, but he had no choice but to pick up the pen. Lee Han, who lacked legal knowledge, did not know that the pledge was actually ineffective.

The moment he finished signing, Lee Han’s cell phone vibrated. It was a message that 10 million won had been deposited. Lee Han stopped breathing. A huge sum of money that he could not touch even if he saved his entire life came to him in an instant. The joy was short-lived, and soon a chilling premonition enveloped his body.

,Good. Now, I’ll tell you the real reason I hired you.

Chairman Park continued.

,Your job isn’t just building management.

,You’re going to sleep with the women who live in this building. And you’re going to film the scene and send it to me.

Lee Han was speechless with shock. An unknown fear climbed up his spine. He couldn’t understand this nightmarish situation. But there seemed to be no option to refuse. Looking at the 10 million won, Lee Han was intuitively aware that there was already a line he had crossed.

,But how do I find the women who live in the building? I don’t even know who lives there…

Lee Han was still confused. But Chairman Park’s answer was chillingly cold.

,That’s up to you. Whether you threaten them, date them, or even rape them. Send me a video every two months, no matter what. That’s your mission. But if you commit a crime, you have to be careful not to get caught.

Lee Han’s whole body was covered in goosebumps. Was he telling him to cross the line now? Was he telling him to commit a crime? With terrified eyes, Lee Han looked at Chairman Park. The old devil was smiling.

,I have a strange sexual desire. Watching other people’s affairs. If you satisfy that, you’ll enjoy unimaginable wealth and glory.

Sweet words of temptation. A huge sum of 10 million won. He wished all of this was a nightmare, not reality. But the balance in his bank account on his cell phone screen was too vivid.

,That amount is just the beginning. I’ll give you more money every time you make achievements besides your salary.

His bleak past flashed through his mind like a panorama. A tiring life. An invisible future. A reality that seemed to collapse. On the one hand, he felt a terrible sense of disgust, but on the other hand, a sweet temptation raised its head.

Lee Han squeezed his eyes shut and opened them. He looked straight at Chairman Park. And he nodded. There was no choice. Even though he knew it would lead to the path of destruction, he ended up shaking hands with the devil.

Lee Han left Chairman Park’s office with heavy steps. He could hear the devil’s laughter behind him. Walking down the hallway, Lee Han thought about what the contract he had just made meant. He would destroy someone’s life and enter the path of crime, while his own life would gain the affluence he had so longed for.

Chairman Park, left alone in his office, smiled contentedly. He felt a sense of joy imagining the pure and poor young man gradually becoming tainted with desire and evil. What sweeter pleasure could there be in the rest of his life?

,The process of a blank soul being defiled and tainted. The sight of purity collapsing in the face of money and physical pleasure. That’s the only pleasure that will soothe my final years.

Chairman Park tilted his head back and laughed softly.

The young soul’s struggle. The battle between desire and purity. There was an old devil who felt pleasure watching all of that. It was the last pleasure that a person on the twilight of life could enjoy.

—

A week passed. Lee Han was already getting used to his job as a building manager. Thanks to advanced AI technology, most of the work was automated, and Lee Han’s main task was simply to check that the system was working properly. The work was very little, but the salary was quite high. It seemed to be intended for the special work that Chairman Park had ordered.

Lee Han recently learned that this building was part of a social welfare project by the chairman of a large corporation. It was a rental apartment for young couples and young professionals. In fact, newly married couples and young people were often seen throughout the building.

Walking down the hallway, Lee Han suddenly remembered what he had to do. He had to have a relationship with a woman living in this building and film the scene, as Chairman Park had ordered. A sense of guilt washed over him. He was in pain at the fact that he had to leave scars on someone’s life and step into the path of crime.

But the moment he opened his cell phone and checked his bank balance, Lee Han’s heart wavered again. Chairman Park was depositing a huge sum of money as promised. The amount was much larger than the money he had given him at first. He was filled with fear, but the memories of his terribly poor past came to mind. He could change if he only did this. Soothing himself, Lee Han made up his mind.

Lee Han slowly walked towards the entrance of the building. He began to think about how he could do what Chairman Park wanted and who to approach. His head was full of dizzying thoughts. He sighed deeply. He was in pain, but it felt like he had already crossed a river he couldn’t turn back.

It was then that Lee Han was walking towards the entrance of the building. Someone came up to him and greeted him.

,Hello? Are you the new manager?

Lee Han was startled and looked at her. She was a young and elegant woman. Her simple yet beautiful appearance was impressive. She gave Lee Han a warm smile and headed to the garbage dump with a garbage bag.

,I can’t do that to someone like that…

Lee Han’s heart ached. How could he lay a hand on such a kind and gentle woman?

It was then. Suddenly, someone called out to Lee Han in a sharp voice.

,Hey, mister! You there, mister!

When he turned around, a young woman was glaring at Lee Han with an angry face.

,The noise between floors is too loud. Can you make an announcement right away?

It seemed that the noise between floors had increased as more people moved in recently. Lee Han tried his best to calm the woman down.

,Yes, I’m sorry. I’ll make an announcement right away.

The woman with the sharp impression was still annoyed. She was beautiful, but her personality seemed prickly.

Lee Han was also getting angry, but he held back and sent her back. Returning to the management office, he sat in front of the microphone and broadcast a warning. Then he let out a deep sigh.

In an instant, the images of the two women flashed through his mind. The elegant and gentle woman he saw for the first time. And the sharp-looking woman he just met.

Lee Han, who was in a bad mood, eventually decided to make the prickly woman his first target. He thought he would feel less guilty if it was her. Anyway, he couldn’t disobey Chairman Park’s orders. Gritting his teeth, Lee Han began to make his next plan.

Lee Han stared at the tightly locked door on one side of the office. Chairman Park had warned that opening that door would start a contract that could never be undone. It was an entrance that only Lee Han could open, accessible only with his fingerprint.

Lee Han slowly closed his eyes and opened them, then approached the door of fate. When he brought his trembling hand to it, the door slid open with an electronic beep.

The inside of the door was dark and quiet. When Lee Han turned on the lights, an unbelievable sight unfolded. Dozens of monitors filled the wall, and the screens vividly showed the scenes from all over the building.

,That’s why he started the welfare project. This was the purpose from the beginning.

A chilling truth was revealed. The monitors showed every detail of each unit’s living room, room, and even bathroom. It was a device that could monitor the entire household and peep into the residents’ entire private lives.

Lee Han trembled with shock, fear, and guilt. He had witnessed the reality of the crime that Chairman Park had committed. But on the other hand, a strange thrill enveloped his whole body. Something like anticipation was rising.

With trembling hands, Lee Han manipulated the control panel and changed the screen here and there. By chance, the house where the prickly neighbor he had seen earlier lived was caught on the screen. She was sitting on the living room sofa watching television.

Lee Han’s eyes began to change. It was a lustful, lewd, and greedy gaze. The pure young man was now falling into a huge whirlpool of evil. The moment he crossed the line, he took a step into a point of no return.