Participant 2 – Grasp of Swindlers: Episodes 7-8

by mistyisles

At what level does scamming the scammers make one complicit within the unique rip-off? And simply how huge of a danger is our charming swindler keen to take to get the job achieved? These are questions our characters should confront earlier than lengthy — that’s, in the event that they don’t get themselves into a large number too huge to speak their approach out of first.

 
EPISODES 7-8

Murderous actual property fraudster Mr. Myung isn’t any idiot, so the lure Ha-ri has laid for him is each elaborate and dangerous. On the floor, although, it’s a simple rip-off: Soo-min dangles 20 billion received in entrance of Mr. Myung, promising that if he contributes 30 billion of his personal to make up the 50 billion they’ve pledged at hand an notorious yakuza boss for a villa public sale, he’ll get a majority reduce of the ensuing income. They’ve already given him convincing profiles of the individuals Ha-ri supposedly scammed to get the cash within the first place, and Mr. Myung himself admits he virtually fell for it. However it’s far too good of a proposal to be legit, so he kidnaps Ha-ri and Soo-min as a substitute. Impressed as he’s by Ha-ri’s techniques (and sheer audacity), he’s not about to allow them to reside.

In fact, the remainder of the workforce isn’t far behind, and Prosecutor Kwak brings within the cavalry earlier than Mr. Myung could make good on his risk. However when Mr. Myung slips away, Prosecutor Kwak doesn’t give chase… as a result of Ha-ri has lastly crossed a line Prosecutor Kwak can use towards him. These “pretend victims” who have been financially ruined so Ha-ri might tempt Mr. Myung with 20 billion in money? They’re actual. Ha-ri’s personal teammates are blindsided by the revelation, and appalled that he selected to screw over harmless individuals to take Mr. Myung down. Cornered, Ha-ri grabs Soo-min and makes use of her as a hostage till he can escape on Jae-yi’s bike.

Solely a cellphone name from the president stops Prosecutor Kwak from arresting the remainder of the workforce as accomplices. Again at headquarters, additional revelations progress from unhealthy to worse. The yakuza boss? Additionally actual. And he’s captured Ha-ri — therefore the ransom video we noticed in final week’s flash-forward. If the workforce and Mr. Myung don’t fork over the 50 billion tonight, they’ll all pay with their lives. As a preview of what that may appear to be, he stabs Ha-ri within the thigh.

Mr. Myung complies with the demand, demurely accepting the person’s reward for his sensible frauds. And simply once I’m fuming at Ha-ri for going to such lengths over somebody who isn’t even the ultimate boss, Ha-ri struts out of the shadows and thanks Mr. Myung for confessing. Thank goodness it was all smoke and mirrors and faux blood in any case: the yakuza boss was Director Hwang in disguise, and the victims have been keen contributors. Every of them misplaced a beloved one to Mr. Myung’s frauds, and so they have been greater than keen to assist Ha-ri carry him to justice as soon as and for all (and sure, they’re totally compensated after the very fact). In fact, earlier than Mr. Myung ever reaches the police station, he will get a name from Jeffrey Jung and instantly takes a capsule that kills him, whereas the cops transporting him do nothing to cease it.

Then it’s onto the workforce’s subsequent task: exposing the reality behind an enormous, politically influential cult. SUPREME LEADER LIM SANG-SHIK (Heo Sung-tae) is responsible of nearly each atrocity you may think, from declaring himself god and extorting cash out of his congregants to organ trafficking to designating a bunch of “heavenly brides” for himself and his high-ranking males to reap the benefits of. However everybody who speaks out towards him both “repents” publicly or goes lacking (or each), and he has loads of highly effective backers.

Enter our workforce: Soo-min and Jin-woong posing as new converts, Jae-yi made up as a rich aged lady (a main goal for Supreme Chief Lim’s extortion), and Ha-ri within the position of a seminary graduate trying to attempt his hand at preying on weak individuals’s religion. He strokes Supreme Chief Lim’s ego, hailing him as a masterclass in cult management, and slowly however absolutely wedges himself between the chief and his right-hand man. The workforce even lets stated right-hand man witness Jae-yi eradicating her make-up so he’ll appear to be a jealous liar when he accuses Ha-ri of fraud and Ha-ri presents the precise lady Jae-yi was pretending to be (as with the actual property case, she misplaced her husband to the cult and fortunately performs alongside in hopes of seeing justice served).

Issues get a bit sticky, although, when Supreme Chief Lim invitations Ha-ri to a lavish banquet for his handpicked “Messengers,” the place the Heavenly Brides are introduced in to entertain the boys. Although Ha-ri can barely conceal his disgust, conceal it he should or fully blow his cowl (and, judging from what we all know of Supreme Chief Lim, presumably find yourself on that organ harvesting desk). It’s apparent he’s not having fun with himself, although, so Supreme Chief Lim instructions him and some different new Messengers to, erm, placed on a present with their Heavenly Brides on the entrance of the room.

It’s approach past uncomfortable, however fortunately Ha-ri deliberate forward. Immediately, everybody sinks to the ground in a deep sleep, and Ha-ri makes certain Supreme Chief Lim sees him do the identical. Soo-min drugged all of the drinks, however Ha-ri took an antidote forward of time so he might keep alert whereas everybody else conked out. For the reason that drug doesn’t present up in anybody’s system, and Ha-ri feigns sleep alongside the others, Supreme Chief Lim is unsettled however none the wiser.

In the meantime, Jin-woong has been getting acquainted with a younger Japanese lady named MINA (Yurina Yanagi), a faithful believer and the daughter of a former Heavenly Bride. She and Jin-woong are smitten from their first assembly, however guess who else has his eye on Mina? Should you guessed Supreme Chief Lim — who it’s insinuated may be her father — I’m very sorry to say you’re proper.

After lastly dismissing his right-hand man and putting in Ha-ri in his place, Supreme Chief Lim calls Mina to his non-public “prayer room” so he can take out his pent-up aggression on her. Earlier than he can, Ha-ri units off the fireplace alarm and distracts the guards, and Soo-min distracts Supreme Chief Lim with an “pressing secret alternative.” The issue is, Supreme Chief Lim can inform one thing is up. He might not suspect Ha-ri as a lot anymore, however he’s fairly darn certain Soo-min is making an attempt to rip-off him, so he turns his aggression on her as a substitute.

I discover it actually fascinating having these two circumstances one proper after the opposite. Mr. Myung was repeatedly touted as an opponent so just like Ha-ri he might solely be caught by a fraud that may idiot Ha-ri himself, which lent credibility to the declare that Ha-ri had really crossed a line within the course of. How far Ha-ri is keen to go to ensure his plans succeed is a captivating query that I hope the remaining episodes proceed to discover. However between the 2 targets this week, I’d say Supreme Chief Lim is basically the one testing Ha-ri’s moral limits. It’s one factor to rent pretend fraud victims and fake to get your self tortured; it’s one other to convincingly play alongside when individuals are actively being harmed earlier than your eyes.

After which there’s the query of whether or not working for the president is one other lure in and of itself. I’m glad Ha-ri no less than is aware of the president is watching him, and I’m not terribly stunned Director Hwang stories Ha-ri’s each transfer as nicely, but it surely’s nonetheless unsettling to say the least. Particularly since they’re slowly studying how Ha-ri’s thoughts works — which he’s stated time and time once more is precisely how he traps his targets.

 
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