BAI Ch 16

“Really?”

“My family used briquettes too.”

Shin Haebeom shrugged.

“Yena, strangely, came home early that day. I went into cardiac arrest, but they said I survived thanks to excellent first aid.”

“…”

“At first, I resented it. I had no future. My existence was a burden to those around me, just by being alive. My efforts were never rewarded. When I realized that it was the result of an unimaginable, enormous force at play… I completely collapsed.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I’m saying we’re similar.”

Ryujin scoffed.

“Not similar, but in similar situations.”

“Is that so?”

“Still, I’m not trash like you. I wouldn’t trample on others and hurt them like you do.”

Ryujin spoke as if making a promise to himself.

“I will never become like you.”

“No matter what?”

“I’d rather die than become like you.”

“You’ll change your mind once you’ve died and come back to life.”

“I already died once. The day Noona died. That day… I died with her.”

Ryu Yeonwoo’s life ended there. Ryujin glared at the tip of the smoldering cigarette.

“Noona wasn’t an adulteress.”

“That’s for the world to judge.”

“What right does the world have to judge Noona?!”

Ryujin’s voice rose in anger.

“Who are you to judge her so carelessly! I’m saying she wasn’t! You know nothing about Noona, yet you write articles as you please, spread baseless rumors, nitpick, and over-interpret…! Do you think I don’t know you did that on purpose?!”

“There’s no smoke without fire.”

“Shut up!”

Shin Haebeom’s eyes narrowed.

“What did you say?”

“Because of people like you…!”

Ryujin’s eyes widened, brimming with tears.

“Because of people like you, who spread those rumors for fun, for entertainment!”

“Calm down, Jung Ryujin.”

“Take that back. Take back what you said about the smoke and the chimney!”

Shin Haebeom looked at Ryujin, who looked ready to pounce on him. Was it affection for Noona in his eyes, or anger at having his faith denied?

“Then let’s make a bet. Did Ryu Yeonbi have an affair with Kwak Jaeheon, or not?”

“Don’t joke around!”

“You don’t actually know, do you?”

“Why wouldn’t I know?! She’s family!”

“There are things you don’t know, even if you’re family.”

Because they were the closest, there were secrets they wanted to hide.

Shin Haebeom thought of his deceased parents. When he was young, he couldn’t understand them. He only realized it after a long time. He never wanted to burden the people he cherished and loved most with his pain and suffering. Because he didn’t want to infect them with his darkness. Because he didn’t want to see them disappointed in him.

“No.”

Ryujin’s voice was filled with resentment.

“Noona wasn’t that kind of person.”

“So you’re betting she didn’t have an affair?”

“I won’t bet on Noona!”

“Don’t do that, Jung Ryujin. It makes it seem like you don’t trust your Noona.”

“I don’t care what you think. It’s enough that I believe her.”

Shin Haebeom sneered.

“That’s called delusional thinking.”

“…”

“It doesn’t matter if you tell yourself you believe in Noona. No one will care. You know how self-serving the world is. Bad news never goes away. It might seem like the hype has died down now, but if something similar happens, Ryu Yeonbi will be dragged back into the spotlight. And your life will be shaken every time. Is that okay with you? Letting other people control your life?”

“That’s why… I accepted your absurd demand.”

“Then make up your mind and act like a bitch. Stop making that pathetic face.”

Shin Haebeom frowned. His left ear throbbed. Ha Shinsung’s Karambit knife, which had caused all this, was in Shin Haebeom’s uniform pocket, along with the Desert Eagle.

Shin Haebeom took out the knife and gun and placed them on the table.

“Recognize these?”

Ryujin’s eyes widened.

“Where did you get those?”

“Ha Shinsung is looking for you.”

Ryujin gasped. He remembered the last time he saw Ha Shinsung. The contemptuous voice, the wounded eyes.

“Why?”

Ryujin asked.

“Does he still have something to settle with me?”

“From the organization’s perspective, it’s inconvenient for you to be alive.”

“He wants me dead?”

Shin Haebeom didn’t answer, but Ryujin lowered his head. He thought <White Lion> might feel that way. It was understandable. The pledge clearly stated that he would commit suicide if he failed the mission.

Ryujin’s hands, resting on the floor, trembled.

When he tried to kill Jin Chiwoo, he really wanted to die. But not now. Ryujin didn’t want to die.

Ironically, Shin Haebeom had given him a reason to live.

He pointed to his left ear.

“I tried to catch him, but he got away. See this?”

Shin Haebeom ripped off the gauze without hesitation. Ryujin winced. A pungent smell wafted through the air. He didn’t know if his earlobe, with a chunk of flesh missing, would ever return to its original shape. That’s how serious the wound was.

“Ha Shinsung did this.”

“…”

“That bastard is out of his mind. Imagine if you were his target. It wouldn’t have ended with just an ear.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“You have nowhere to go back to. Ha Shinsung will be arrested soon, and I’ll stake my entire career and honor on getting that son of a bitch the death penalty. Let’s watch that bastard breathe his last from the best seats.”

He never had anywhere to go back to in the first place. But that didn’t mean he wanted to watch Ha Shinsung die. To Ryujin, who remained silent, Shin Haebeom said,

“This is a gift for your cooperation.”

“You call that a gift?!”

“I told you not to make that face!”

A glass flew and hit his collarbone. Shin Haebeom’s movements were lightning fast.

Ryujin scrambled back. He thought, as expected. He was always violent, and now he was drunk, so it was only natural.

He’d held out for a long time. Ryujin, head bowed, stared at the glass rolling on the floor.

“I’ll… do what you tell me to. Because that’s the way to ruin Kwon Joohyuk. But I won’t become the person you want me to be. Never, I will never become a piece of trash like you.”

Trash. Shin Haebeom laughed hollowly.

“Who do you think is doing you a favor right now?”

“You want something from me too. This is a deal. So I don’t have a reason to be grateful to you.”

Ryujin squeezed his eyes shut. He wondered what would fly at him this time. Fists or kicks would be fine. In the worst case, Ha Shinsung’s Karambit knife might come flying.

Ryujin knew how indifferent Shin Haebeom was to violence. He would probably kill someone, say “oops, my bad,” turn around, and forget about it the next day. Shin Haebeom was a man with a broken heart, or rather, a broken brain.

“Jung Ryujin. Open your eyes.”

Shin Haebeom’s voice was close by.

“Open your eyes.”

Ryujin shook his head, eyes still closed. He felt like he’d be slapped across the face if he did what Shin Haebeom said.

Shin Haebeom chuckled above him.

“I like that.”

Shin Haebeom’s hand reached out. His palm was hot. Ryujin turned his face away to avoid him.

“That line you just said is good.”

What line?

Ryujin was confused.

Shin Haebeom, who created a chilling atmosphere and then suddenly spoke in a soft voice, was truly a psychopath.

A strong force yanked his collar. Ryujin’s eyes flew open.

Shin Haebeom’s wet tongue slipped between his lips.

“Ugh… uh…!”

Ryujin couldn’t withstand Shin Haebeom’s weight. His arms, braced on the floor, trembled and his elbows buckled. As Ryujin fell back, Shin Haebeom’s large hand supported the back of his head.

A gasp escaped his lips.

“Get off.”

Ryujin wiped his wet lips with the back of his hand.

“Get off me!”

Shin Haebeom wasn’t someone who would back down at a shout. He slipped his hand inside Ryujin’s t-shirt.

The loose shirt crumpled and rode up. A hot palm groped his chest, stomach, and sides. Shin Haebeom deliberately touched his nipple. Ryujin glared at Shin Haebeom’s smiling face.

“You bastard… get off!”

Shin Haebeom had intended to do this from the beginning. It was to vent his frustration over having his ear torn by Ha Shinsung.

“Get off me!”

Ryujin pushed Shin Haebeom’s shoulder. He swung his fist at his face and struggled.

A wildly thrown punch landed on Shin Haebeom’s cheek. It was a solid hit, but Shin Haebeom didn’t flinch. He didn’t even lose his smile.

Ryujin vaguely realized. Shin Haebeom was drunk. He was enjoying this.

Shin Haebeom’s hands pulled down his pants and underwear. Despair spread across Ryujin’s face. Stroking his pale cheek, Shin Haebeom said,

“You will become like me.”

It sounded like a curse.

“If I bite the dragon’s neck, you will rip out its guts…”

Ryujin blinked. Shin Haebeom wasn’t drunk. He was insane.

“…and we will share it. From head to tail, every last scale, everything.”

He heard the click of handcuffs. It was something Shin Haebeom carried with him as a special agent. In the blink of an eye, both his hands were bound and secured above his head. When he screamed, his underwear was stuffed into his mouth. Tears welled up in Ryujin’s eyes.

Shin Haebeom’s hands grabbed Ryujin’s ankles and spread them apart. With his genitals exposed, Ryujin bit his tongue, wanting to die. He knew all too well what was about to happen.

Ryujin’s ankles, held by Shin Haebeom, were raised towards the ceiling. Ryujin kicked frantically, but his knees were hooked over Shin Haebeom’s shoulders, and his lower body was lifted into the air.

A hot hand kneaded his buttocks, then spread them apart. Shin Haebeom stared at the still-healing wound. He placed his thumb at the entrance of the hole and pressed down hard.

“Ugh…!”

Ryujin’s head fell back. Shin Haebeom clicked his tongue and looked around for something that could be used as a lubricant. He grabbed the first thing he saw rolling on the floor; it was a bottle of alcohol.

Shin Haebeom picked something up. Ryujin’s pupils dilated at the sight of it. He shook his head frantically. Alcohol was out of the question. He could actually die. The problem was that Shin Haebeom was out of his mind.

He couldn’t even imagine what a madman, who shoved his cock into tight orifices not meant for intercourse, turning them to shreds, was capable of. Ryujin started to cry. Fear pressed down on his entire body.

Just kill me. If you hate me that much, just kill me. Don’t torture me like this…

He wanted to speak, but couldn’t, and tears welled up.

Shin Haebeom tilted the bottle. The remaining alcohol poured out, soaking Ryujin’s genitals, stomach, and chest. It even drenched between his buttocks.

The pungent smell of alcohol mingled with Shin Haebeom’s lotion scent.

It was the lotion he applied to his hands every time he returned from the bathroom.

Ryujin’s jaw trembled. He turned his head and gritted his teeth. The sensation of Shin Haebeom’s fingers spreading his hole was vivid.

Entering. Long, thick fingers. Each knuckle prominent.

Knowing it was unavoidable, Ryujin wanted to skip over the entire ordeal. He screamed internally countless times. I’ve had enough, stop it, it already hurts, so stop poking around and just shove your cock in! Thrust and shake and cum and finish it!

“Relax.”

Shin Haebeom laughed. He stroked Ryujin’s knee draped over his shoulder. His hand moved down to his thigh.

“Relax… You’re like a piece of wood.”

The hand massaging his thigh moved towards his genitals. As his fingers parted his pubic hair and kneaded the flesh, Ryujin’s vision blurred.

Ryujin couldn’t understand. Why did all these rapists, knowing full well he couldn’t get hard, insist on touching him? Did they think it would be different if they were the ones touching him?

Ryujin stared at Shin Haebeom’s hand stroking his shaft and rubbing his glans, trying to elicit some kind of response. In his hands, every part of his body felt like a toy.

When Ryujin glared at him with wet eyes, Shin Haebeom curled his lip.

“Impotent bastard.”

Ryujin wanted to shatter his jaw. If only he could.

“If you don’t relax, it’ll tear.”

No matter how many times it happened, he could never get used to the feeling. Ryujin shook his head, sweating cold. It wasn’t something he could control. It hurt so much, it just hurt…

“Relax…”

Shin Haebeom grabbed Ryujin’s hips and shook them. His thin waist, suspended in the air, trembled.

“Stubborn.”

Shin Haebeom lowered his head and looked at Ryujin’s pained face.

Disheveled bangs, sweat beading on his forehead. Tightly furrowed brows. Eyes squeezed shut. Tears streaming down his cheeks.

Ryujin, gasping for breath, whimpering, looked beautiful and lovely.

He gripped the backs of Ryujin’s knees and lifted his legs higher. The orifice, engulfing his cock, stretched vertically. Shin Haebeom thrust, putting his weight behind it. Ryujin, his mouth gagged, thrashed his head violently, his short hair scattering on the floor.

Shin Haebeom reached out a hand. He touched Ryujin’s sweaty forehead. Brushed back his damp bangs, and found the scar on his temple. Ryujin couldn’t avoid his touch.

“I like it….”

Shin Haebeom murmured.

Ryujin opened his eyes slightly and looked at Shin Haebeom kissing his knee. He wondered what he liked so much. The hole that was being torn to shreds every time he thrust? Or the sight of his agony?

“I like you, Ryujin.”

Of course you do, you’re so pleased you’re out of your mind. You’re ecstatic to have someone you can control and play with as you please.

Fire sparked in Ryujin’s eyes. As if responding to his defiant gaze, Shin Haebeom moved his hips. He was tireless. He relentlessly pounded, thrust, and spilled.

Ryujin felt the semen flowing into his rectum and clenched his fists. His toes curled.

His head swam. He couldn’t breathe. Every time Ryujin’s eyes rolled back, Shin Haebeom splashed alcohol and water on his face, preventing him from losing consciousness. Ryujin was almost grateful for this merciless act. He wouldn’t be able to tell if the liquid drenching his cheeks was tears or something else.

Finally, when Shin Haebeom finished and pulled out, when the gag was removed from his mouth, Ryujin felt relief. When Shin Haebeom nibbled and kissed the inside of his thighs, he even hoped he might remove the handcuffs. Blood and semen mixed and flowed from his torn hole, but he thought it was over.

It wasn’t. Shin Haebeom pulled on the handcuffs, forcing Ryujin, who had collapsed with his legs spread, to roll over onto his stomach.

“Ah, ow!”

Ryujin felt humiliated, sprawled like a dog, especially with Shin Haebeom’s groin right in front of his face. He tried to push himself up with his elbows, but Shin Haebeom grabbed his hair.

His low voice commanded.

“Open your mouth.”

His erect cock rubbed against Ryujin’s eyelids and cheek. Ryujin wanted to turn his head, but his hair was trapped, and he couldn’t move. The thick glans pressed against his tightly closed lips. Ryujin clenched his teeth and resisted. The pressure on the back of his head intensified. It felt like his scalp was being ripped off.

“Just listen… Don’t piss me off.”

Shin Haebeom grabbed Ryujin’s throat with his other hand.

“Do you want your bones broken to learn your lesson?”

Terrified, his lips parted. The blunt glans immediately invaded. It filled his throat in an instant. The hot, hard shaft stabbed and churned inside his mouth. Ryujin felt his vision whiten.

Breathe… I need to breathe…

He couldn’t. Coarse pubic hair rubbed against his nose and cheeks. Physiological tears streamed down his face. Held captive in Shin Haebeom’s grip, Ryujin stared blankly with his mouth open. He moved his hand roughly, seemingly expecting no technique from him. Shin Haebeom grabbed Ryujin’s hair and tilted his head back, allowing the semen to flow down his throat. It coated his palate and tongue.

Shin Haebeom thrust his hips. Ryujin cried, clawing at the floor. His fingertips split and bled. Semen he couldn’t swallow spilled from his lips and dribbled down his prominent neck muscles. Finally, Shin Haebeom stopped moving. He rubbed his wet cock against Ryujin’s eyelids and cheeks. Shin Haebeom opened his palm. Ryujin’s ripped-out hair drifted in the air.

“Ah…!”

A foot as big as his hand stomped on his shoulder, pushing him backwards. Ryujin fell back. Shin Haebeom climbed on top of his limp body. He spread his legs and grabbed his hips with both hands, lifting his waist into the air. He brought his glans to the entrance of his torn, bleeding hole again. Entry was easier this time. It was already wet. But not for the receiver. The fresh wounds in that already sensitive area throbbed, making tears flow even without movement. The renewed pain of penetration was excruciating.

“Ah, ugh! Ahh… Ow!”

He almost bit his tongue. If it weren’t for the long fingers invading his mouth, Ryujin would have surely fainted, choking on blood. Ryujin blinked. He reached out towards Shin Haebeom’s face as he moved violently. His arm trembled from shoulder to fingertip.

“What?”

Ryujin moved with all his might. Shin Haebeom looked puzzled, then chuckled and pressed his cheek against his palm. He was drunk. Shin Haebeom was not in his right mind. That was why he was more cruel than usual, but also why he showed flashes of human vulnerability. He laughed and intensified his thrusting. Their faces drew closer. Their breaths mingled. The back of Ryujin’s head slammed against the wall repeatedly, but he felt no pain. This was his only chance. A crossroads between life and death.

Sweat dripping from Shin Haebeom’s temple trickled between Ryujin’s fingers. He traced Shin Haebeom’s cheek, feigning a gentle caress, then gripped the scar on his left ear, the one Ha Shinsung had torn, and yanked it with all his might.

“Ugh!”

Ryujin felt the world flip. When he came to, Shin Haebeom’s elbow had slammed into his jaw. Managing to sit up, Ryujin saw Shin Haebeom kneeling on the floor, clutching his bleeding ear. He didn’t scream.

He didn’t cry or moan in pain. The stoicism of someone accustomed to enduring agony blazed in his wide eyes. It didn’t mean he was okay. It meant that if Ryujin didn’t escape now, torture far worse than anything he had endured awaited him.

“You little shit.”

Shin Haebeom growled, rising to his feet, blood dripping from his ear. He looked like a cornered beast baring its fangs. Ryujin stumbled back towards the door. His legs were weak, so he pinched and clawed at his bruised thighs to stay upright.

“Ah, ah….”

It wasn’t a cry of surprise or fear. It was the thrill of finally landing a blow against that bastard, a sensation that shot down his spine.

I have to escape now. If I miss this chance, I’m dead. Shin Haebeom will kill me. Ryujin flung open the door and ran.

He stumbled several times in the hallway. He got up when he fell, and if he didn’t have the strength to stand, he crawled. Ryujin ran frantically towards the back door of the annex. He felt as if Shin Haebeom’s hand would reach out from behind and grab his hair at any moment. When he finally reached the end of the hallway, Ryujin forgot he was barefoot, naked from the waist down, and that clotted blood and semen were dripping from between his buttocks. None of that mattered.

Ryujin tumbled down the steps. His head hit the dirt, and dust flew into his mouth. His shoulders, elbows, and knees scraped against the ground. It didn’t matter. Even amidst the agonizing pain that wracked his body, he laughed. He had escaped Shin Haebeom. Ryujin hid in the dense bushes between the annex and the main building of Howollu.

Tall trees grew thick there, obscuring him from view. He pulled down the hem of his t-shirt and wiped his face. No matter how much he wiped, the coppery smell wouldn’t go away. The scent of Shin Haebeom hung in the air.

He spat repeatedly. He stuck his fingers down his throat, churning the contents of his stomach. He felt like if he could just throw up once, this disgusting feeling would disappear. Ryujin retched again and again, his hands braced on the ground. A bit of vomit mixed with stomach acid came up. His throat burned. The sputum he coughed up was tinged with bloody froth. Tears welled up and spilled over.

Crawling, Ryujin reached the sprinkler and turned it on. He rinsed his face and mouth in the mist-like spray. Hot tears mingled with the cold water and dripped down his face. His head, shoulders, and chest were soaked.

Ryujin cupped his hands, filled them with water, and brought them to his abused backside. He couldn’t clean himself thoroughly, but it was the best he could do for now. The absurdity of having to clean himself like this, crouched like a dog, was overwhelming.

He wished it would rain. If there was a torrential downpour, a raging storm with thunder and lightning that could wash away the world, then he felt he could finally cry out loud.

Instead of collapsing on the ground in sobs, Ryujin pulled himself up, using a tree for support. His knees trembled, but he somehow managed to stand. As he took a step, his foot screamed in pain. He must have stubbed it on the doorstep when he escaped the annex. His toes were bruised black and blue.

Ryujin limped, looking around. Shin Haebeom was more than capable of chasing after him. By now, his rage must be consuming him. If caught, Ryujin wouldn’t die peacefully. He had to keep moving. He had to get further away.

He walked through the unlit forest, guided by the moonlight.

The unpaved ground was littered with debris that crunched and squelched under his bare feet. Dirt and sand, fallen leaves and branches, dead insects, even animal feces… Ryujin tried not to think about any of it.

With every step, his head throbbed from the beating. His legs gave way several times, sending him tumbling to the ground. But each time, Ryujin forced himself to get back up. The desire to collapse and lose consciousness was overwhelming, but the image of Shin Haebeom’s hand reaching out from the darkness kept him going.

Ryujin headed downhill, hoping to find a road, and if it was a road used by people, perhaps someone he could ask for help. Of course, there was no guarantee that ‘someone’ would be willing to offer a helping hand.

But anyone would do. Even if the devil himself appeared, it would be better than Shin Haebeom, rampaging behind him.

How long had he been walking?

Finally, Ryujin’s feet touched smooth asphalt. A paved road. Cars drove here.

This is it. Here, I can ask someone for help…

As he raised his head, two blinding white lights filled Ryujin’s vision. A deafening horn blared.

In the moment the world went white and began to shake, the final moment as the massive Parthenon-like front grille of a car loomed before him, absurdly, the person who flashed through Ryujin’s mind was Shin Haebeom.

His hands gripped the steering wheel, trembling. Sweat dripped from his temples down his cheeks. Reality slammed into him.

He almost hit someone.

Kwon Sehyuk unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped out. The smell of burning rubber was overpowering.

“Hey!”

He yelled.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Kwon Sehyuk was furious. If he had been driving any faster, if he had noticed the figure emerging from the darkness any later, if he had braked even a second later… The thought made him dizzy.

For the past two days, Kwon Sehyuk hadn’t been able to focus on anything.

He kept making mistakes he wouldn’t normally make. Each time, his uncle’s blatant disappointment and criticism stung. When asked if something was bothering him, Kwon Sehyuk couldn’t answer. What could he say? Uncle, I lost a cigarette case with drugs in it at Howollu.

He tried to forget about it. The more he tried, the more anxious he became. So, Kwon Sehyuk made a decision. He wouldn’t sit idly by, waiting for time to pass. He would take care of this himself.

He told no one. After his last schedule for the day, he put his plan into action. His Rolls-Royce Phantom, a gift from his maternal grandfather, was his only companion. Kwon Sehyuk wasn’t afraid. Looking at the chrome front grille, reminiscent of an ancient temple, gave him courage.

So, this wasn’t something that could be dismissed as a near-accident. Kwon Sehyuk knew. If an investigation were to happen, everything about him would be exposed. Why were you at Howollu at that time? Without a reservation. You could have called the establishment about a lost item. So, what did you lose?

Kwon Sehyuk swallowed hard. This man wouldn’t know whose life he almost ruined.

He grabbed the man by the collar.

“If you want to die, do it quietly at home! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

“Let go of me.”

The voice was familiar. The man pushed Kwon Sehyuk’s hand away and stepped back. The streetlight illuminated his face.

Kwon Sehyuk was speechless. The disheveled hair, bruised cheek, and split, bloody lip were secondary. The man was practically naked. He wore only a loose t-shirt. His feet were bare, without even socks. Kwon Sehyuk quickly averted his gaze from the man’s lower body.

“Excuse me…”

He swallowed.

“Were you robbed?”

“Don’t you remember me?”

“What?”

“We met before. In the Howollu garden.”

“Ah!”

Back then, the man hadn’t stepped out of the shadows. He had been wearing a hat. All Kwon Sehyuk remembered was a pale, slender jawline and a husky voice.

The voice was the same. Kwon Sehyuk sighed in relief without realizing it.

“Are you alone?”

“Uh, yes. Today…”

He started to answer casually, then stopped. That wasn’t important right now.

Kwon Sehyuk hurriedly took off his coat. He draped the black trench coat over the man’s shoulders. The man flinched, but didn’t refuse the gesture. Shame and cold probably outweighed his pride.

As Kwon Sehyuk stepped back after offering the coat, he noticed the man’s bare feet.

“Oh, for god’s sake…”

“What?”

“Why are you acting like this right now?”

Kwon Sehyuk took off his shoes. He left them on the asphalt, stepped back, and said,

“Put these on. Even if they don’t fit perfectly, tying the laces will keep them from slipping off.”

“…”

“I, I can’t give you my socks!”

When Ryujin shook his head, Kwon Sehyuk pounded his chest in frustration, looking like King Kong.

“What are you doing….”

“What are you doing out here like this?!”

“You asked if I was robbed.”

“Really?”

“Are you coming or going?”

“What?”

“If you were heading to Howollu, give me a ride.”

“Oh, uh…”

Kwon Sehyuk opened the passenger door. Then it suddenly hit him. He should ask if the man had picked up the cigarette case.

But now wasn’t the time. He didn’t know if the man had actually been robbed, but he was clearly injured and exhausted.

“Are you sure it’s okay to go to Howollu?”

“Yeah.”

“I think I need to go to a hospital…”

“I don’t have the money or the time. I’ll take care of myself, so don’t worry about it.”

Just like last time, the man wasn’t friendly towards Kwon Sehyuk. He was curt, even though he was in a vulnerable position. Kwon Sehyuk tried not to judge him. He figured it was a defense mechanism, a way to protect himself in this vulnerable state.

Kwon Sehyuk pointed to the glove compartment.

“There’s some food in there.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Something sweet might make you feel better.”

“I don’t want to get your expensive car dirty and have you charge me some ridiculous fee.”

Kwon Sehyuk parked on the shoulder and reached under the passenger seat where Ryujin was sitting.

“What the…!”

“Here.”

A large chocolate bar landed on Ryujin’s lap.

“You carry this around?”

“Emergency rations. Tell me if you need more; I have plenty. I added extra storage options when I got the car.”

“To hide things like this?”

“I’m a man of many secrets.”

“Bullshit.”

“That’s harsh, coming from the person whose life I just saved.”

Ryujin fiddled with the chocolate.

“You’re really conscious of how others see you, huh?”

“I have to be. It’s my job.”

“Job?”

“I live off people’s attention, just like celebrities and politicians.”

His uncle and mother both emphasized the same thing. Public recognition was key. How the public perceived him was crucial. They told him he needed to be careful, that the smallest mistake could haunt him for life… He knew. That’s why he was trying so hard to fix this.

Kwon Sehyuk watched as the man snapped off a piece of the chocolate and put it in his mouth.

“So, are you going to tell me your name now?”

“Are you that curious?”

“Meeting like this twice, I think it’s fate.”

“Fate, in this situation? You’re kidding.”

Kwon Sehyuk lowered his head and said, “Ah,”

“I guess you’re right.”

The chocolate melting on his tongue wasn’t as sweet as he’d expected. It was dark chocolate, almost bitter. Ryujin was now holding the bar with both hands and munching on it.

Kwon Sehyuk, with a slightly awkward expression, handed him a bottle of water.

“You must have been hungry.”

“I’ve been wandering for a long time.”

His words were clipped.

“It’s cold. My feet hurt. And it’s so dark I could barely see…”

“You weren’t seriously trying to kill yourself, were you?”

Ryujin didn’t answer, silently eating the chocolate. Kwon Sehyuk stared at him for a moment, then turned back to the steering wheel.

“Let’s go.”

Kwon Sehyuk had a lot of questions. Why was he hiding his identity? Was he really robbed in the forest? Did he find anything in the garden? But he couldn’t bring himself to ask. The man’s face, holding the chocolate wrapper, eyes closed, looked so forlorn, so exhausted.

“Do you want more snacks?”

“…”

“Hello?”

Kwon Sehyuk glanced at the passenger seat. The man had fallen asleep, his face buried in the car seat.

“…”

Now that he was aware of it, the man’s soft snores sounded as loud as thunder. Kwon Sehyuk pulled over under a streetlight and looked at him. The shadows of his eyelashes, reflecting the light, were long.

“Excuse me…”

He reached out, but stopped short of shaking the man’s shoulder. He didn’t want to wake him. Kwon Sehyuk turned on the heater. There was a blanket in the back seat, one he kept for his younger brother. It was a child’s blanket with cartoon characters, but it was all he had.

He gently covered the man with the blanket. The man whimpered and his eyelids fluttered, but he didn’t open his eyes.

Shin Haebeom ran to the bathroom. He examined his bleeding ear in the mirror. The stitches Choi Yushin had sewn had burst. Shredded flesh, matted with coagulated blood, hung loose. Blood covered his ear, face, neck, and even the collar of his open shirt.

He rummaged through the shelves, looking for the first-aid kit. Items clattered to the floor, knocked over by his rough movements. He didn’t care. He found the antiseptic, sprayed it on the wound, and slapped on a bandage.

He splashed cold water on his face, washing away the grime. As the alcohol wore off, the blood cooled. Instead of grabbing his car keys and running out, Shin Haebeom stared into the mirror. There was only one person Jung Ryujin could possibly turn to for help at Howollu. But Shin Yena was his informant.

He looked around the room. It was a mess. He dialed a speed-dial number on an old cell phone. It rang twice.

—Yeonji-dong speaking.

“Jung Ryujin escaped.”

—What?

“Don’t tell the staff. Search quietly. I’ll look around the area.”

—Understood. Explain later.

Shin Haebeom grabbed the cutter knife and Desert Eagle lying on the floor. It was strange that Jung Ryujin hadn’t taken these fine tools with him. Was he that scared? Then he shouldn’t have provoked him in the first place.

Shin Haebeom turned on the hallway lights. Jung Ryujin’s escape route was revealed.

He followed the trail of bloodstains on the walls and floor. He almost wanted to commend him for going out the back door. It wouldn’t do him any good to be seen by people in that state.

Curiosity trumped his anger. How far could he possibly get, barely able to walk, bleeding all over? Inside Howollu, Shin Yena would find him, and even if he escaped, there was no need to worry. In the middle of the night, in these mountains, running around naked, he was a sitting duck.

Shin Haebeom would bet his entire month’s salary that Jung Ryujin was collapsed somewhere on the mountainside. If Jin Chiwoo were here, they would definitely be making bets. You say thirty minutes? I say fifteen. I’ll find Jung Ryujin and finish him off within that time.

Headlights cut through the darkness. A subtle vibration traveled through the car seat. Shin Haebeom tapped the heart-shaped keychain hanging from the rearview mirror. It brought back old memories.

Operation Rabbit Hunt.

A family had been murdered in a quiet rural village. The suspect was a powerful figure in the local organized crime syndicate, so the local police hadn’t actively pursued the case. Eventually, the incident came to light through whistleblowers within the community, angered by the corruption within the investigative agencies.

The president saw this incident as a challenge from local factions against the central government. Enraged, the “Iron-Blooded Il Sung” immediately dispatched the Central Military Police. It was a long-term assignment away from home, and the targets were armed gangsters, not ordinary protesters, so the Military Police were uneasy. No one said it openly, but it was a mission everyone wanted to avoid.

Shin Haebeom volunteered, replacing Choi Geumho, who was desperately trying to get out of the operation. When he stepped forward, Jin Chiwoo and Gi Woohee followed, and ultimately, the entire Paohuai Squad participated. They didn’t receive any words of gratitude. The atmosphere was more like, So, you finally understand your place.

It bruised his ego, but Shin Haebeom didn’t care. He focused on the fact that this was a direct order from the president. This was an opportunity. He had to succeed. He’d participated in countless operations and taken down numerous criminals, but his blood had never boiled like this before.

Presidential aide Kwon Joohyuk personally came to encourage the soldiers. The slogan of eradicating local gangsters who preyed on helpless citizens ignited a sense of justice in everyone.

Local residents actively cooperated with the investigation. The elderly and children saw the soldiers, with their impressive uniforms and advanced weaponry, as heroes. The energetic young soldiers even managed to strike up a rapport with the village women.

Shin Haebeom received a heart-shaped keychain as a gift from a little girl whose father had been beaten to death by gangsters. He accepted it, not wanting to dismiss the young lady’s kindness. He intended to return it with a box of snacks on his way back.

In the end, he couldn’t return the keychain. On the final day of Operation Rabbit Hunt, when they’d located the gangsters’ hideout, cut off their escape routes, and cornered them completely, the besieged criminals attacked the villagers in retaliation. Even a three-month-old baby wasn’t spared from the indiscriminate gunfire and slashing. Their crime? Cooperating with the damned “soldiers.”

Darkness filled his eyes, reflected in the rearview mirror. The smile had vanished from Shin Haebeom’s face.

Kwon Sehyuk looked down at the sleeping man.

If he wanted to, he could find out anything about him. His name, age, school, family relations. With a single order, a neatly organized file would arrive on his desk within three days, at most, or half a day, at the least. That’s what Secretary Lim was for.

The problem was his uncle. His uncle monitored and controlled his every move. He wouldn’t turn a blind eye to Kwon Sehyuk investigating someone.

Kwon Sehyuk took the chocolate wrapper from the man’s hand and crumpled it into the car ashtray. Perhaps roused by the rustling sound, the man stirred and sat up, his expression dazed.

“Oh, um, you were sleeping so soundly.”

The man looked around, then abruptly said,

“You smoke weed?”

“What?”

The man’s gaze was fixed on the ashtray. Kwon Sehyuk fumbled to close the lid, but the man’s hand stopped him. He burst out,

“What are you doing?!”

“Let me see.”

“What? Why? It’s just a trash can.”

“Can’t you even tell the difference between tobacco and weed?”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Idiot, if you’re going to smoke this stuff, you need to clean up properly. The smell is this strong, and no one told you?”

Kwon Sehyuk clamped his mouth shut. He hadn’t thought about cleaning up properly. He was used to his friends taking care of it for him.

He thought that if it wasn’t visible, it was fine. He hadn’t realized the smell would spread just from opening the ashtray lid for a moment.

Kwon Sehyuk wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. Now everything was clear. If this man could smell the weed, he must also know what was in the cigarette case.

“You have my things, don’t you?”

“What things?”

“Don’t play dumb. I know everything.”

“Speak clearly. What things?”

Kwon Sehyuk sighed.

“A cigarette case. It’s stainless steel, with a lot of scratches on it.”

“Is it old?”

“What?”

“I asked if it’s an old item.”

Kwon Sehyuk stammered, “Yeah, well, it was my father’s.”

Ryujin stared at Kwon Sehyuk. So it was President Kwon Ilhyuk’s.

“He left it at our old house when he visited. When I was little.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“You’re going to complain even if I tell you?”

Ryujin turned his head.

“I’m glad I found it.”

“Ah, I knew it.”

“Why are you relieved?”

“Well, I saved you, didn’t I? We’re even. Let’s settle this amicably.”

“Look at this guy. Do you even know who I am?”

“A temporary gardener at Howollu. And I know you’re not a bad person.”

Ryujin frowned.

“You don’t know me.”

“Why not? We’re friends now.”

Ryujin was dumbfounded.

“Are you high?”

“I’m not. They say three coincidences make a connection. We’ve already had three. The Howollu garden, this road, and my cigarette case. I think there’s something to this.”

“You crazy bastard, if you try to pick up girls like this…”

“Why are you taking it that way? Do you think you’re a woman?”

Smack. Kwon Sehyuk, hit in the back of the head, whimpered with a shocked expression.

“You just….”

“Yeah, I hit you. If you keep acting like this, I’ll really kill you.”

“Do you really want to get arrested?! You think you’ll get away with this?!”

“Go ahead, arrest me. I’ll just expose your drug use.”

“Oh, for god’s sake!”

“Please think before you speak. Which of us has more to lose, you or me?”

Kwon Sehyuk shut his mouth, not because he was afraid of the man, but because he was impressed by his audacity and fearlessness. Of course, the man seemed to think he’d intimidated him. Just look at that smug expression.

“You little punk, who are you trying to fool?”

“Hey, listen to me.”

“What.”

“We can both win here. You seem young, working must be tough, right? I can, how should I put this… Ah, this sounds weird…”

“Support me?”

“Wait, I’m trying to find a better way to say it.”

“Idiot, just say it. Support is support.”

“Fine! Financial support. I’ll give you that. Just give me back my things and keep your mouth shut.”

Ryujin stared at Kwon Sehyuk, thinking, What an idiot, what a fool.

Is this really Kwon Ilhyuk’s son? Was everything I saw just clothes, hair, and luxury brands?

He felt a pang of self-deprecating despair. Both Shin Haebeom, sharpening his knives to stab this fool in the back, and himself, willingly dancing to his tune, seemed equally pathetic.

No, wait.

This is definitely a sophisticated image management tactic.

This was the prince, backed by Kwon Joohyuk, the man who’d made Shin Haebeom a national star. His nickname was MVP for a reason. He was acting arrogant now because he knew how to persuade and manipulate someone who held his weakness. Once he achieved his goal, he’d change his attitude in a heartbeat.

Ryujin sighed in relief. He’d almost fallen for it.

He fingered the fabric of Kwon Sehyuk’s coat. It was soft and well-made. The label would probably reveal it to be an expensive, high-end brand. And Ryujin didn’t trust people who wore clothes like this.

“I don’t need money.”

Kwon Sehyuk looked surprised. The fact that Ryujin considered this an act made it even more disgusting.

“I don’t need connections either.”

“Then what do you need…?”

Kwon Sehyuk smiled. He tapped the steering wheel lightly and asked in a bright voice,

“Are you interested in me now? Because my life isn’t as perfect as it seems?”

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

“Will you return my things if I do?”

“You drug addict, you can’t even keep a simple promise.”

“What about you? Do average people distinguish weed from tobacco just by the smell? You recognized it because you know it too.”

“I’m clean.”

It wasn’t a bluff. Ryujin could be dragged to the Disciplinary Department right now, have his hair pulled out, and still maintain his innocence. He’d never touched the products sold at <White Swan>.

Ha Shinsung had told him. In the symbiotic relationship surrounding drugs, the dealer always had the upper hand. Addicts never ratted out their dealers to investigators. If it got out that they had, no one would sell to them again.

“First-time offenders usually get off with probation or a fine. But the first thing they do when they get out is go find their dealer and buy more.”

Ha Shinsung had said it so casually.

“They can’t forget. The moment they think they’ve quit is the most dangerous. So, don’t you ever touch that stuff, even if you’re curious. It’ll hook you instantly.”

He’d forgotten how he’d responded. He thought he’d just nodded silently. If someone asked him if he felt guilty selling drugs… he would dare to say no.

He wouldn’t feel an ounce of guilt. Compared to what he’d lost, this was nothing.

Ryujin looked up, meeting Kwon Sehyuk’s smiling face.

“How much do you have left?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I think I can help you.”

“What?”

“It’s good to switch suppliers often. There’s no loyalty in this business, no matter how long you’ve been dealing. I’ve seen plenty of trash who cut their product with other powders. And they gradually raise the price. Treat you like a beggar if you ask for a discount. Well, I guess you wouldn’t have experienced that…”

After a heavy silence, Kwon Sehyuk asked, “Where do you get your drugs?”

“That’s a difficult question to answer.”

Kwon Sehyuk was speechless. He couldn’t understand what was happening. Was this his plan all along? To become his supplier?

“So, what’s it going to be?”

“Hold on. Let me think.”

The man scoffed.

“No amount of scheming will change the outcome.”

“Just be quiet!”

He knew he should refuse. Someone who hid information about himself while digging into his deepest secrets was definitely dangerous.

There was no guarantee that this man was a real dealer. He might have ulterior motives, using the offer as a cover. The problem was that the offer, that damn offer, didn’t sound bad at all.