CH 252

“We succeeded in opening his mouth, but there are a lot of things that are uncomfortable.”

In the early morning after the store closed, Go Dong-ju, who had gone down to the underground under Kwon Se-hyun’s order, returned to the office two hours later.

Go Dong-ju, who paused for a moment when he saw me sitting next to Kwon Se-hyun, continued his explanation without paying much attention.

“For now, it seems certain that other people besides the members of Gyeongseong have intervened. It’s a force called Sacheonghwa.”

“I think what Park Seok-jae said is true.”

“Yes. However, even the chief didn’t know in detail how many people intervened. Also, behind Sacheonghwa. When I hear him speak, it feels like they are holding hands for a moment because of a coincidence of interest.”

“What else did you find out.”

“It is said that there is one more place where Gyeongseong and Sacheonghwa are gathering, like the motel that Hyung-nim checked yesterday. It’s a construction site on the outskirts of Seoul.”

Go Dong-ju turned on the map with his cell phone and pointed out the exact location.

“After checking, it is said that the construction site has been postponed indefinitely due to legal issues. It takes about an hour by car to get there.”

“Since we found a motel on their side, they must have found a new place to gather. Or maybe they were using two places from the beginning.”

Kwon Se-hyun looked at me at the same time as he spoke. It was clear what he was thinking, so I only shrugged my shoulders. If you want to talk to me, send Go Dong-ju away. Then Kwon Se-hyun let out a deep sigh and asked Go Dong-ju again.

“…did he talk about anything other than the place?”

“Ahem. You know what, Hyung-nim.”

Go Dong-ju scratched his forehead with a puzzled expression.

“According to what he said, they will all gather at the construction site in four days. They said they were planning to get together and attack our store.”

“Attack…”

“The number is said to be well over 50.”

Kwon Se-hyun’s straight forehead was strained. Considering that the number of people in the store was less than 30, the difference was almost double.

“Even if it’s an attack four days later, it’s hard to believe.”

“That’s right. It’s already been two days since we took the chief… Even Gyeongseong would have noticed that the chief didn’t come back.”

There was a high possibility that the date or place would change. In the end, there was nothing to gain from touching the chief other than the certainty of the existence of Sacheonghwa.

“Hyung-nim, what are you going to do?”

“If the number moves like that, we won’t be able to attack right away, so we’ll have to think about it a bit more.”

“Is it possible to join force… with Seok-jae hyung-nim’s kids?”

“Well.”

Go Dong-ju hesitated, then carefully opened his mouth.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s a good choice.”

Go Dong-ju had never liked Park Seok-jae very much. He had a better eye for people than me, so he was worth to listen.

He couldn’t completely hide his feelings, so he would get into an argument with Park Seok-jae whenever he had a chance.

“Right. I have the same idea. Even if Park Seok-jae has many kids, it has nothing to do with us. We now have to do it ourselves, without anyone’s help.”

“Hyung-nim…”

“Don’t worry about unnecessary things and just wait. Leave the chief alone for later.”

“I understand.”

Go Dong-ju bowed his head and left the office. Kwon Se-hyun took a long, exhausted breath and rested his head on the back of the sofa.

“It’s complicated.”

“There’s nothing we can do. Even though he was called the chief, after all, he was just a middle manager in charge of the little ones.”

“Then we have to catch another guy, then?”

“Catch him or… go find him.”

At that, Kwon Se-hyun turned his head slightly and looked at me.

“Didn’t I say I would help. Don’t tell me you have forgotten my ability, have you?”

“Are you going to follow Gyeongseong?”

“There will still be a few people left around the store or near the motel we went to yesterday. If I follow them, we’ll get something more. I will also listen to some conversations in secret.”

“Then I will go with you.”

“How do I carry this big guy? I feel comfortable being alone.”

“Big. That’s too much.”

Kwon Se-hyun, who laughed, closed his eyes for a while and then opened them.

“As you said, if we find out where these guys are gathered and attack that place first… Things will get a little better.”

“Yes. If we break their arm or leg, we’ll be safe for a while. The problem is that we have to break the arms and legs of over 50 people.”

Kwon Se-hyun, who was listening to me with a faint smile on his face, felt frustrated and untied the black-tie that was holding his neck.

“Then I will have to decide the rest after looking for Gyeongseong. We can’t keep the chief in the underground forever. It’s impossible to kill him.”

“Hm…”

As I sat down, I turned in the direction where Kwon Se-hyun was and leaned my head against the back of the sofa and said.

“Why don’t you ask me?”

“What do you want me to ask you?”

“Future information. The existence of the Sacheonghwa and the location where the Gyeongseong people gather… and the information like when they attack. Why don’t you ask?”

“The future information you know… I know it’s over from the moment Gyeongseong attacked a day earlier.”

“……”

“That must have been the future you didn’t even know about. Then I can only think that the future has changed.”

“You’re pretty quick-witted.”

I expected it, though. There was no need to say no, so I lightly affirmed and got up from my seat.

“Then I will leave work today. Starting tomorrow, I will go out to reconnaissance around the area.”

“Wait.”

Kwon Se-hyun grabbed my wrist as I was about to leave the office.

“Are you just saying your words? I have a question, too.”

“What is it?”

“Why are you trying to help me?”

I felt the warmth on my wrists. There was an aura of faint vigilance in the black eyes that were staring straight at me.

“Didn’t you hate me?”

“I still hate you. But that…”

How could I explain this to Kwon Se-hyun? After hesitating for a while, I added.

“It’s an unavoidable part. Maybe Boss later… You will hate me in the same way.”

“I’m going to hate you?”

“Yes. I still don’t really like you. That’s it.”

I slowly pulled my wrist out of his grasp.

“The reason I help Boss is because I have information that I get along the way. As I get what I need, I will also help Boss. It’s not that hard for me.”

“…because you have the ability?”

“And that too… If you’ve read the novel, you know I’m much stronger than the average person.”

In particular, there wasn’t an item that could hold the talented people like the shutter item here and it was more convenient to work if you just avoid the eyes of the general public.

“And now that I don’t have any more information to tell you, shouldn’t I be more sincere in order to continue the deal?”

“Is that really all? Why are you helping me?”

“Yes. I’ll be on my way now. The rest will be done tomorrow.”

“……”

After cutting off the conversation and turning my back, Kwon Se-hyun couldn’t even hold on to me this time.

When I left the office and went down to the first floor, Ha Tae-heon, Kim Woo-jin, and Park Geon-ho, who were waiting for me, raised their heads. I told them to go to the hotel first, but no one listened.

“Did you wait long?”

“That’s all right.”

I had already changed my clothes, so we could go right back to the hotel. As I left Dies, the morning sun rising high in the sky shone overhead.

“How did the conversation go?”

“Um…”

I answered Ha Tae-heon’s question while stroking Kim Woo-jin’s hair, who was glancing at my face and was sticking to my side.

“As I expected, we didn’t really get anything from the chief. From tomorrow onwards, I will have to personally find the person related to Gyeongseong.”

“I will help you.”

Kim Woo-jin intervened with his eyes twinkling. Obviously, Kim Woo-jin’s ability to clone himself had a lot of places to use, but…

“No. You’re already known as a bartender in the store. There’s no way Gyeongseong doesn’t know us.”

As soon as I refused, the corner of his eye drooped downward. Park Geon-ho, who quietly listened to me, opened his mouth.

“Are you planning to check it out while flying with your ability?”

“If it’s late at night, I won’t be easily noticed. After all, they won’t be wandering the streets either.”

Whatever it was, it must be tomorrow. Things could be different again.

I lifted my face in the cool morning breeze. White clouds passing through the blue sky caught my eye.

* * *

The next day, after going to work with Cheon Sa-yeon, Woo Seo-hyuk, and Kwon Jeong-han, I went straight up the stairs.

Even if I went out to check, I had to wait until late at night. Until then, I was planning to stay by Kwon Se-hyun’s side or help serve as I had done before.

“Little guy.”

“Yes?”

I was just about to pass the second floor towards the office. Go Dong-ju, who was standing nearby, stopped me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ahem, that…”

He coughed and opened his mouth hesitantly.

“Do you have anywhere to go?”

Suddenly? I just arrived. Not understanding what his intention was, I asked just in case.

“Are you going to run me an errand?”

“No, it’s not like that… haa… okay.”

Go Dong-ju, who suddenly exhaled violently, bowed his head and shook his head. Then he put his hand on my shoulder.

“Dong-ju hyung-nim?”

“…I’m sorry, little guy.”

It was a heavy voice with no sense of playfulness. Then, realizing that something had happened, I narrowed my eyes.

“What is it. I’m fine, please explain.”

“I can’t explain. This… so… go up first. There is nothing I can do for you.”

A cold sweat was forming on Go Dong-ju’s forehead, standing under the store light, and the horribly distorted expression on his face was genuinely sorry for me.

My brain went cold in an instant. Chilling goosebumps rushed up my spine as if the blood in my body had drained under my feet.

“……”

Biting my lip, I passed Go Dong-ju and slowly climbed the stairs. As if submerged in water, all sounds around me were blurred.

I saw the door leading into the office in front of me. Standing in front of it, my shoulders stiffened with tension.

I remembered something from a very long time ago. One night with dark clouds as if it would rain at any moment. I stood in front of the door with a bottle of wine that felt cool. With that man and a door in between.

The situation back then and now wasn’t much different. I couldn’t run away.

The hand on the doorknob trembled slightly. As I pushed it with force, the door slowly opened, revealing the familiar interior of the office slowly.

The man sitting on the opposite sofa raised the corners of his lips softly and smiled. His platinum blonde hair was tinged with vermilion as the setting sun came in through the window next to him.