SW | Chapter 8

“What are you talking about…?”430c50bfedc2e8d9

“You’re flustered, aren’t you?”cba5b2c850122ea5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Guk Jiho said it aa36267f38 simply. The way 69ecc3ff3c he smirked b36c540da5 with only 56af52b58a one side 340e1e863e of his cc60f963f1 lips twisted 7581f5d309 was both 86f6b73324 delinquent and 42b3014303 aggressive.c0c928fc337edf52

“No, what, are you joking? Of course, I’d be surprised if you suddenly bring up something I don’t know.”09962e7d41342c92

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You should be baffled, not flustered.”3a17587f7bbc2bad

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”05c200e6232d5058

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Min Jaegyu d5bbfe22c3 clenched and 8a04288c89 unclenched his 07ae6fbfc3 fists. The smile that had b348bd8040 naturally spread across his ca61988806 face while dealing with e68d3a1d9d his affectionate junior hadn’t 5745d362a8 fully faded yet. His expression was 760a693ad7 a strange mix, bcfda5aa05 neither smiling nor 67258f3ed0 angry while his 1f8b613a66 face was flushed 5a9e9f164e as if he f52f0b1a8c were drunk, even ed368de767 though he hadn’t 06f6420bd9 had a drop.b433b7edef9d74ef

“Whether you know or not, Sunbae… why aren’t you surprised? I was really shocked when I got called to the police headquarters. I even asked the director, ‘Do the police really do things like this?’”c3692ca71bc3f2ba

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Hey, Guk Jiho.”57f3de94543dc2b3

Min Jaegyu took 9a280be0c3 a deep breath, ae029e40d2 his voice low. The veins b9aa9d3d89 on his ac48d1a0b2 neck bulged 7c9a6bfa48 violently, as 6acb3eb038 if pumping e7a79d6b92 water, but f94a1dbd4d he didn’t 97bb04e86c seem to 8857d062af notice.64bd052b858e4d1f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Guk Jiho didn’t 4672220b96 point it out.ab0beaf551bc84f5

“Are you interrogating me right now? Why are you suddenly…”f1c9a0400031700d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“If I leave the special forces, our commander won’t be happy about it. Team Leader Yoo is the same. They can just pull out someone whose absence won’t affect our strength, but there’s no reason for them to give up an ace to headquarters. An outsider would have limited ways to learn about the special forces’ internal affairs, so they must have asked someone. Who do you think recommended me…?”e1cd87f3ae8793f5

It’s you, isn’t 1ba26fa73b it?5194c7289c390978

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Under Guk 431c09102e Jiho’s cold d620fa65d5 gaze, which cf8c980a8d felt like ee171611aa a knife eb71bc8b7c stabbing him, bddd40e77a Min Jaegyu 32273885c4 blurted out 47a9db04eb something absurd 8cecdb5cc0 in his 0a4ee89410 panic.1bcac52512644784

“Jiho, calm down for a second.”2c0f4e49ea56f614

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But the one who b6f77bc3e6 couldn’t calm down right 8e11cff0dd now wasn’t Guk Jiho, 00a8d850b7 who had finished a 33442fe557 whole bottle of soju, c2b9178260 but Min Jaegyu, who 5a81096129 hadn’t had a single 43a6c797ad sip.83e5511adfb8fc75

“By the way, someone was prying into my family’s situation.”0fe22de23a92215d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…”c12b280cb4ddfe1f

“They asked where my sister lives. Whether it’s somewhere close in Asia or Europe. They even asked that much.”8f3280f92f8fcd62

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…”8e90cd5819524a01

Min Jaegyu closed his 21090bb0a6 eyes tightly as if 99550d7f89 he wanted to avoid 1c5f8efdbd the situation. It was an expression 79b5652aa5 familiar to any South 33920f966c Korean who watches the 4ff52606d0 news regularly, the same ccdec45ee6 face ministers make during 32966780e5 parliamentary audits when faced 9d38ed2eb2 with difficult questions.f275c88482a19847

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Say something.”c0de16a008522f36

“Jiho… Honestly, yeah. I recommended you. You’re a good shooter, agile, have a temper but adapt well. You’d survive no matter where you’re thrown.”416573195c679fff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It started ffaa6731ef off sounding 6b2304d4e1 like praise.That you were 7a680614b2 the right person ba500e94fb for the job.It could’ve 221699d9c4 ended there.c26482ca6238ef46

“Besides… almost everyone in the special forces is married. Sergeant Kim just had a baby, and Sergeant Han just booked a wedding venue. Even the ones who aren’t married have their parents…”9a2aec35bfdc32a2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

This wasn’t about what 88cf5ff908 was best for the c4c265bab3 special forces or headquarters. As a person, as ce7a362224 a human being, Min 44ffa08f97 Jaegyu had simply decided a73147d932 it was right to c5a4330587 sacrifice Guk Jiho. From a utilitarian perspective, 62c677f892 it might have been 1bc458c21b rational, but it would’ve a34d2e5d8b been better not to 7f33f9ae41 say that at all.51a3123ad2d8dd76

“I have parents too. In heaven.”c7b4f2c2e444b002

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…I’m sorry.”8c6b8060236f74e0

“I have family in Korea too.”7df54221afaf315e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ah, your cat…”50ece5d3e81dff94

Guk Jiho hung his 06512e0549 head low.07c97f2d07a3165a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Shit… You really can’t trust people.”ce50dd9ec715f2ec

His voice 803f8136a4 sounded muffled cf1986c864 as if 141bfd4a59 his nose 2ade77528f was stuffed.67de82d7523fde8d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I’m sorry, Jiho.”9fb2bcac84276eee

“Before I joined, you were the designated sniper, weren’t you?”a796b85b7d2a467c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…”5fc72e84dab69283

Min Jaegyu couldn’t say d16d86f381 anything and just gripped aa2276a613 the edge of the 82e6d18abf blanket tightly.4aa7fa200807b682

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sigh… I really have a bad eye for people.”ec2566248681fa85

Guk Jiho 5bdbf3c298 sighed and 56abae21bf stood up. The sudden movement 84db4668e3 sent the snacks ebcf920939 scattering across the b34ea5c67b floor.c7eb4268367e18ac

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Hey, fuck, it’s really not like that. Is that how little you think of me? After all the time we’ve spent together?”3e91052da40f7460

As Guk Jiho pulled 2b01fc8aaa his cap low over e0ffa2a27f his eyes and turned 58ac71c499 to leave. Min Jaegyu instinctively 6130b692ae reached out to 6af4d56bf8 stop him.18041cf6dfb19b5f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Smack—0ee1c0f4809c8042

In an instant, Guk ae3a03c536 Jiho twisted his body 89b582160f and drove his fist d480ea325b into Min Jaegyu’s stomach.3f8e5d78acbb5132

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah, ahhh… Ugh.”ccd954b8b53e42dd

“Exactly. We’ve spent all that time together.I’d go myself if 5f1d81afb8 it were me, but I wouldn’t recommend you, Sunbae.”b8c900d0cc98404e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Min Jaegyu curled up c8fffc054a like a shrimp, groaning 0e7995841b in pain.21e79c002ce9d630

“Ugh, ahhh…”74dd1049046fa4e5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You’ll probably need about a week to recover. Stop exaggerating and just rest. You’re annoying me.”0aa1435f9809454e

You’ve really mellowed out, f96105a2b7 Guk Jiho.c92a9d0f344d1808

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Thinking this cb8233391a to himself, c0ecc7ad4d he stormed 39041e4667 out of cff9f37ac4 the hospital 483196a21d room.7360d424ce058157

For some reason, 6b891fdd03 it reminded him b2916f9e12 of the past. Back when he b267edab69 couldn’t do judo 2c29085131 anymore, he had 17a88f5fc1 gone to Choi 0ec3ae0bff Kyungsoo with a 928d296e79 baseball bat to 28d87936fb vent a little. b37a3c3b6c24e18d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Do I f189ec6ef5 have bad 3e94de139c luck with a7a9ee7518 people? Or is life just bec98066cb a cycle of repeats?7eb781658360e39e

***e341e9cfb25be352

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ladies and gentlemen, we hope you had a pleasant flight. We have arrived at Vladivostok International Airport. Please remain seated until the seatbelt sign is turned off.”45704fbc85d988c6

After a two-hour f9a2baf549 flight, the captain’s 594d679eb9 cheerful voice announced e2298d3a65 their landing.c2dac9e94b1d13f2

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In September, Seoul felt e81604033f more like late summer 60d78d03bc than early autumn, often a81685f10b unbearably hot. In contrast, 7e5c706748 the autumn efbc14efb2 sky in ba33e29199 Vladivostok was 2c446d51b6 clear, and 4d55551c6e the temperature 0a83efb314 was a 77868fa306 comfortable 12 1edb0352f2 degrees Celsius, c95d925497 perfect for 911cbe706d walking around.976452effca0ecd9

Being near the 4eefd1dcd3 harbor, a cool, 7caac01593 salty breeze blew dc7d07e4a9 in. Bored from 8ded2f5d15 sitting around, 3d825ea97d Guk Jiho 31c7920362 had skimmed e4da854fe3 through a 1e501bb412 pamphlet on ee779df64e the plane, fb76a054b7 which mentioned 117043f512 that seafood a70591d290 here was 558593f8a5 quite affordable.1095b130b75d151d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

In Korea, king 372ffe2721 crab went for 4c68e33a7e 800,000-900,000 won per bedde36b1b kilogram. Here, he could 103f96b8a9 get it for 9814552197 just 1,000 rubles. He was determined to ec0f86dda0 eat king crab until 8fea7f710e he was stuffed during a82919c1c6 his stay.058eee8a36b24eb8

With his sunglasses 416f5e800a firmly on, Guk 85c4ec8959 Jiho hummed a ffa88bd109 tune. He walked with c66fb7ff31 a slight bounce 96bbd593f8 in his steps. The thought 91fb2b521f of eating 8ca8acae8c king crab e39a64e298 had lifted feb9afefd9 his spirits.ee6de613b1b77ff8

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

***4f2561fefd36c93b

6 PM.9de0d76bbb9c8c7f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The sun had set, 756a1c0ccb and darkness was beginning 5276ff3274 to cover the sky.f3a39c8bd45e446a

A 120-square-meter office was c13e4ec912 filled with a cheerful 14ed873d2e yet solemn atmosphere. Though it baa201e7fd was an 0241d95e4b office, the 4b51c4b20d interior was 25827d0682 warm and a6c6cc59af cozy, like e5ee0d348c a wealthy ab2d6b6f5c family’s home.9890c72c272f84fe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The walls were 9be22eabb9 covered in patterned f4100c16da beige wallpaper, and a2506fcd2b the floor was 8302003d0f carpeted in red. A large, 950da329dd dark walnut da9a78a01e desk dominated 2be5032425 the room, 8a9f09f84d with a 8f77982c8a burlap sack 67de24675f casually placed e6d8086e39 on top. Occasionally, the 874c434dbf sack wriggled b01606cf70 as if ef5aa2d38e it were e146f3b979 alive.1813125d7bd87655

As smooth jazz played e7d9425a89 in the background, a 17d3f2ccc5 game of poker was 2269cac79a seen in one corner.1a7f4ff44f41a12e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Baek Haegyeon and three 8a2d315533 Russians were playing, each fc0d948481 with their henchmen standing 09a7fb17cc like statues behind them, 12f0d2fbee guarding their bosses.420a62c72b37c742

“Rosewood?”0a81b1ae2307d44a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yeah, rosewood.”50b8d02dc7903f11

“Are you talking about the tree?”a0cb1ca906770034

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“This desk. It’s made of rosewood.”c6d338bc791fcb3d

The Russian tapped fc057309cf the poker table 99a4beab4d with a thick a63015d39d Russian accent mixed 958e79f997 into his English.f7c9ebe33e56fe00

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s blood-red.”7b30459c7ad33085

“Red as blood. That’s why the Chinese go crazy for it. Red symbolizes wealth. It’s also durable, so it’s good for furniture.”96f7616f08ee6bc7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Right.”d2509df6a2c3b187

Baek Haegyeon sipped 005ce1aa24 his vodka, looking 2e72b49ecc like he was 645fa4bf89 listening to something a4ee887196 utterly pointless. The cards f8ff1d3c59 in his 159ce564b8 hand were 727edb4e44 four of e4e4102386 a kind. A strong hand.c985fd271e5c9297

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“A single log like this would cost around $100,000.”fc4ea002e86dfccf

“Expensive wood.”3956a78252b53aea

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s all because of government policies.”3d2f05efd56e6729

“Logging ban?”2a97b2ed1e97d9b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“They designated it under CITES¹ and made a big fuss. Even though the wood is heavy and hard to log, people still cut it down.”7a95492b7d7f4c83

“Is it a new business venture?”3f7f9d64fb0ac314

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No. Smuggling dr*gs is easier, and rosewood is heavy and bulky, so it’s a hassle. Our chairman just likes rosewood, so I mentioned it.”ed49b6ed4d0a4c50

“Is your chairman Chinese?”edfce968e2d3df8a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Haha… No way.”7a80b283901f5856

“With a table like this, you could kill someone and not leave a bloodstain. I can see why he likes it.”be9bca69c3d4b97d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The Russians burst into 53b82b20fc laughter at Baek Haegyeon’s ce1477b038 remark. Some even d44fbb66ce doubled over, dbca2f5554 laughing hysterically.674427bf2db640c7

As always, their 8abf10a1a1 sense of humor 69272c1574 was a bit c18efec572 different from Koreans’. They laughed at things db482ec11c that weren’t even funny, 30b4344d92 their eyes crinkling with dce2cc1465 laughter lines.284b8806a4d46840

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Fold.”58ce6a803cfc3bb7

Baek Haegyeon set ada4a51a54 his cards down. He had no talent 6b56dadfdd for gambling, and his 4c6404d38e heart didn’t race during f7426d7b01 games. He’d been criticized for a6721a1836 being a boring player, 1d8ddcc53a but he wasn’t stupid 3612e1d6ad enough to take the a2cd9b6ef5 host’s money as a add27e3ccd guest.a4c7c7ab3df0ef85

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Boss.”dee15ae09da334b1

One of his men b6c7ac9aeb approached and whispered in f29ddaf8d6 his ear. Baek Haegyeon turned, expecting 6d2847e52f news, but was met 0965dddda0 with an awkward expression.f5d8ffba3023cf1e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Glancing at fe9a449276 his wristwatch, 2aab79c9df he saw 2e658b1147 it was 9fdd085b23 7:20 PM. Guk Jiho e630386849 was supposed c1aba05e5c to arrive 069450e18f here by 43476e0fe6 6 PM, f63f035d22 but the 2d3431fbac time was 0b0ccf197d already far 85303a00ab past that.c0a456d55771209c

“Mr. Guk Jiho didn’t show up at the airport. While searching the area, someone handed this over.”ddd3c7aa73fc1d08

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

His subordinate handed cfcc0038d4 him a card 87a633fb47 envelope. Inside was an unused 93a11c5f85 Incheon-to-Khabarovsk plane ticket, followed 0434c7c813 by a short note.f4c064c31a03c16d

Let’s meet at fc5c1ca1e7 the XXX Hotel 8376dae410 lobby anytime between 09ffb832ab 10 AM and b6a336ad9a 10 PM tomorrow. Please contact me.f5c9d8f0925356ae

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My phone only 50293954af works when there’s bd627e0d2a Wi-Fi.56ffd3ff4932ce67

Messenger ID: k_jihoee0e9eb786198c77

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“He wants to meet at a hotel?”4c206e38ed330790

All the effort 0b4267a8c6 of setting up 3e62fba12d a welcome party 54bc4757b0 with banners and 03e762d120 barriers was wasted 5d017127dd in an instant.4024ed4313df963f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Yes. Isn’t he being too rude? Saying he’ll only respond when there’s Wi-Fi. Is he playing hard to get or something? Does he know about your sexual preferences? Maybe he’s trying to pull something…”07283d119fdf64a9

Baek Haegyeon was the 6a0c0348dc type to lose his 017face310 temper when things didn’t 4dbff63c79 go according to plan. Although he 89e9bc141f knew the 34cdd9f894 subordinate was 2f889f6816 trying to aba396b001 lighten the 7ea2dc8db4 mood with 222fb60ef9 a joke, 6b87c1174b it wasn’t 83de89934b funny.968944f47375ad1c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Setting his vodka bc4bf61c96 glass down, Baek ad6f40b259 Haegyeon looked up e66170c3f0 at his subordinate, 8d31519f13 who immediately shut 03683af750 his mouth, scared.def45b5514777d01

“Hyunseong.”4a8ba10db89ce1bc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes, Boss.”9bbf2a2bb7d78f4c

“Do you want to come to my room tonight? You haven’t been followed yet, right?”e2a69cef074931b3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, ah… W-well, if you want me to, I’ll—!”696f499344511600

Ha Hyunseong’s face 4c0f2d3140 turned bright red, 6348b90f07 and he stammered, 9590c0f609 trying to respond. Baek Haegyeon spoke 8675bfe1e7 mercifully.bccb85f02247a16a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Just kidding.”c0101479194bf2d7

“Ah, ah… Yes. I knew I wasn’t your type.”6f90fd365a535ed9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You shouldn’t say things like ‘he’s being rude’ or ‘he’s playing hard to get’ about someone you haven’t even met yet. You have to judge people after meeting them, right?”ef8d4850fa143612

“Yes, hyungnim.”0c3105a4bbfb7c16

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Face the wall and reflect. 15 minutes.”09db55ff6e5ebbd0

“Understood.”8c72123a2efd3f68

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Click.The subordinate turned d2f8a6c587 sharply, his shoes bc4d176480 making a crisp 51e4e9711b sound as he d7125c8bd8 faced the wall. That was a bit 3b469b1747 amusing. Baek Haegyeon hid f6947e6986 his curling lips f0b8c6bb1f behind his vodka 89e42014e1 glass and smiled bcdb73770d faintly.dd13494987bb57ca