Ha-eun shifted slightly, turning to face Joon-ho more directly, her expression becoming more serious. "Those guests… they're not just business associates. They're friends. People I've known for years, through various ventures and encounters. The Italian, Marco, I met at a conference in Milan three years ago. We've stayed in touch, helped each other with introductions, shared opportunities."
"And the Russian?"
"Alexei." Ha-eun supplied. "A more complicated relationship, but ultimately valuable. He moves in circles that most people never access—Russian oligarchs, Eastern European power brokers, the kind of connections that can open doors or close them, depending on how they're used."
"And Camille?" Joon-ho asked, though he thought he already knew the answer.
