Chairman Ha Cheolgon's mansion in Seongbuk-dong.

It was the evening before Lunar New Year. The family had taken their seats along the long dining table.

Braised short ribs, grilled fish and a neat spread of five-colored namul had been set out in careful rows. But nobody pressed food on anyone.

Ha Cheolgon ate without a word.

While their father worked his spoon and chopsticks, the rest of the family kept to small talk.

"Where's Eunhui?"

Ha Cheolgon looked up from his rice and asked.

A few of them traded uneasy looks.

Only after that brief exchange did Ha Seonhui, the eldest daughter, speak.

"She tested positive for COVID. She said she couldn't come this time, in case she gave it to the family."

Ha Cheolgon looked at his daughter. Ha Seonhui dropped her eyes to a spot beside the soup bowl on her right.

Tak!

Ha Cheolgon set his spoon down on the table.

"Pathetic bunch."

His low voice froze everyone at the table.

A grandson who had just been scooping up soup put his spoon down too.

No one asked who he meant. Each of them felt that whoever asked would be the one who had to answer.

"Has something happened?"

Ha Seonhui kept her voice soft, doing her best to sound calm.

Instead of answering, Ha Cheolgon slowly looked around the table. His children, their husbands and wives, the grandchildren too.

Whenever they gathered, these faces checked what everyone else had gained in the meantime before anyone got around to being glad to see one another.

"Am I supposed to hear about this family's business from outsiders?"

Ha Seonhui's face went stiff. Ha Donghun pulled back the hand he'd been reaching toward his water glass.

How much had Father heard? What had he confirmed, and who had he checked with?

Each of them had something different on their mind. So no one could be the first to speak up and explain.

"Do you know what the most frightening thing in a war is?"

Ha Cheolgon put the question to all of them. Of course, no one answered.

"An…