Some trafficking is highly visible, such as street ion. But many trafficking victims remain unseen, operating out of unmarked brothels in unsuspecting—and sometimes suburban—neighborhoods.

“Buy one?! Are you insane? That’s illegal. We’ll get charged by doing this.”

“What other ideas have you got?”

Myungsoo paused, “We can ask around.”

“And who would voluntarily admit that they are a victim? Or say that they were a trafficker?”

He became quiet.

“I know you want them safe. I understand your morals. But sometimes if you want to save one’s life, you must break some rules. And as you said, there are approximately 27 million victims. So in this case, you’re trying to save 27 million lives, by breaking one rule.”

“Who knows if I can save that many people.” He muttered.

“Even if you fail. You would still save one person.”

“What?”

“You can save that one person you bought.”

“Buying people sounds so inhumane.”

Sunggyu sighed, and handed him a file. “What is this?” Myungsoo asked.

“Your new identity. If you change your mind, everything is in there. Make sure no one sees this. Not even people you trust.” Sunggyu said. “The reason I win most of my cases, are because you have to prove someone’s innocence by ruining your own.”

Myungsoo looked at the other, shocked.

“If they knew what I have done over the years to prove someone’s innocence, I would have been in jail by now.”

“Why risk yourself for someone else? You get the money anyways.”

“What about you? Why were you so mad when you lost? You got your money.”

Myungsoo sighed, “I don’t know.”

“Because it mattered to you. Just like all my clients and all my cases. I only chose them because they meant a lot to me. Which was why I was determined to win. Not everything is about money, Myungsoo. If it were, I wouldn’t be a lawyer. You don’t know how many cases I have turned down, just because of I didn’t agree with them. You don’t know how much money I have lost because of the cases I’ve turned down. But in the end, I still feel great, because I’ve done my best to prove the innocent, innocent.”

“So you’re practically a con lawyer.”

“Are you going to sue me?” He smirked.

~

He stood in a line with a group of other people. All wearing minimal clothing. Some faces that were familiar to him. Others he had never seen. Nonetheless, they were all there, standing in front of a window. A window so tinted, that all they saw were their reflection. He stared at his reflection. His weary face. His pale complexion. Who was he? His eyes were fixed on his own reflections. He hadn’t dared to glance anywhere else. If he did, he would practically be asking to get hurt. Not that he cared. Darkness and pain were the only security he felt nowadays. It was his own twisted way of assuring him that he would go to heaven soon, as he hoped that the pain would be so bad that eventually he’d give up and go to heaven. Heaven or hell. He didn’t care. Anywhere was better than here.

But they were always so cruel. Because the moment he feels himself slipping, was always the moment they brought him back to life. He could never escape his nightmare.

~

Myungsoo let out a loud sigh, as he loosened his tie. He threw his suit case containing the files of his new identity onto his bed and fell tiredly onto a chair nearby. He eyed the suitcase and thought back what the elder lawyer had proposed.

Change his identity.

Buy a human.

Simple as that.

But it wasn’t. It was illegal and it went against all his morals, and everything he had learnt.

But it seemed like the only way to win.

To win and save millions of lives.

Maybe he could do it. If he went to jail. That’s one life for a million.

He sighed again, looking at the time. 12:03 AM.

~

Sunggyu found himself wandering the most streets most notoriously known for their illegal ion. Following the directions he was given to a small brothel, he entered, bracing himself for anything that could be thrown at him.

He scanned the room and instantly saw a small wooden door. No Trespassing. It had said. He knew that he’d have to get in there, somehow.

He focused on a group of men, obviously in a gang, eyeing him. Without a single thought, he grabbed a glass beside him and walked out.

Knowing that he was now a suspicion to the gang, he continued to walk to his car that was parked 10 minutes away in the outskirts of this city.

“Hey!” One of the men shouted.

Sunggyu began to act drunk, swaying from side to side, as though he hadn’t had a care in the world.

“Maybe he isn’t what we think he is.” Another piped in, not so quietly, “He looks stoned.”

“He’s a cop.” Another said, “Undercover. I haven’t seen him around.”

Sunggyu began to sing loudly, silencing them all, before throwing the glass to the other side of the road.

The gang averted their focus on the broken glass, and Sunggyu took this chance to sprint to his car.

~

A week had passed and Myungsoo found himself sitting in front of the other lawyer, once again.

“You what?”

“I went there. I know where they deal.” He said quietly. “Are you going to do it?”

“How do you know?”

“I told you. I went there. I didn’t see it, but I saw the room. And I got chased, because I think they knew that I knew what was going on.”

“So you want me to go there?”

“Yes.”

“What if I get killed?”

“As long as you have the money, you won’t. I know how they act.”

Myungsoo looked outside the window, pondering what he should do, before nodding. “Alright. Even if I save one life, I’ll at least be happy to know that I tried.”

Sunggyu nodded, “Give me the files, I will explain to you your new identity. Remember, once you go there, there’s no turning back.”

~

It had been half a month since the conversation, and here he was, in front of a suspicious brothel. He looked around, knowing that if anyone saw him here, he would lose everything.

“Who are you?” A menacing voice barked.

Myungsoo’s heart beat quickened, however he continued to show no emotion. “L.”

“L.” The male repeated. Myungsoo threw his identity at the man, who caught it swiftly. He nodded, and allowed him to pass.

Myungsoo carried the suitcase. The suitcase filled with piles and piles of cash. He sat down on a chair he was led to. An empty, dark room, with only a chair and a table beside him. A table which had a small button.

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