SYNO Chapter 16
by Geli Cake“Every human carries their past and future. Because they’re trapped in the present because they can’t escape the past, and they’re stuck in place because they can’t realize their future.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?!”
“Even you are living, dreaming of the day you can be with your grandfather, aren’t you? Do you think other citizens of the Dependent Nation don’t have such simple dreams?”
Ssangryeong gritted his teeth.
His restrained body was as immobile as if cemented in place, and Pienne’s words prevented his thoughts from flowing as he wished.
Ssangryeong realized that his mind and body were completely under Pienne’s control.
Just as he briefly considered kicking the man in the shin, he froze.
“I will create order in this Dependent Nation.”
It was because of Pienne’s declaration in a low voice.
“Furthermore, I intend to create paved roads, usable buildings, proper jobs, and safe streets.”
“…What?”
“Then it will become possible. The citizens of the Dependent Nation will be able to escape their past, and with a foundation in place, they’ll be able to dream, even simple dreams.”
Ssangryeong’s eyes wavered.
“I will become that kind of ruler.”
Pienne had a knack for delivering sudden and embarrassing statements with a straight face.
His steady, slow voice carried a weight of solemn conviction, oddly inspiring trust.
Ssangryeong was taken aback by this unexpected campaign speech. He had never encountered a person in power who spoke to him like this.
Or rather, he doubted whether a ruler who harbored such thoughts for the corrupt Dependent Nation even existed.
Then, Pienne released his grip on Ssangryeong’s chin.
Ssangryeong reflexively took a few steps back from Pienne.
Even though he had distanced himself, he still felt as if he was trapped in Pienne’s large hand, as the man’s blue eyes remained fixed on him.
“Why are you telling me all this? What do you want me to do?”
Ssangryeong looked up at the man with wary eyes.
Pienne chuckled. He slowly took out a cigarette and placed it between his soft lips.
He took a deep drag, his cheeks hollowing, and slowly exhaled the smoke.
“Those children on the street. The reason they were at the drug deal.”
“…Fuck, which bastard has been talking about me?”
“That’s why I said it.”
“…….”
“Because you, Ssangryeong, who seems like you’d resist even torture, seem to be moved by worthless compassion.”
Pienne offered the cigarette, which he’d taken a puff from, to Ssangryeong’s lips.
It was a gesture offering him a choice, whether to smoke or not.
Ssangryeong stared at the cigarette held before him. A long trail of smoke curled upwards from the burning tip.
He had been forced into abstinence. Normally, he would have eagerly snatched the cigarette like a starving dog, but today, Ssangryeong didn’t.
He took another step back and spoke,
“Fuck off.”
His golden eyes, bright in the sunlight, stared directly at Pienne.
“If you’re going to spout such hypocritical bullshit, abandon your Home Nation identity first, Commander.”
He added,
“This Dependent Nation is nothing but a pile of trash discarded by the Home Nation, isn’t it?”
He’d almost been swayed by the man’s seemingly sincere words. The handsome man was saying all the right things.
Indeed, the Dependent Nation had become more orderly since Pienne took office as Commander.
And it was Pienne who established the laws.
‘But why do you think I would trust you? I’d rather trust a con man from the Dependent Nation than someone from the Home Nation.’
Ssangryeong was steeling his resolve.
Pienne said he would be a ruler who would instill a future in the people of the Dependent Nation.
That meant he wanted Ssangryeong to cooperate willingly for the sake of the Dependent Nation’s future.
Ssangryeong scoffed.
“You seem to be mistaken about something, I’m a criminal.”
He spat on the cigarette Pienne had offered him. The burning ember turned gray.
Pienne’s expression hardened.
Ssangryeong unfazed, smiled nastily.
“You’re talking about justice and righteousness nonsense to a criminal… honestly, I don’t understand what’s going on here.”
Pienne, his face colder than Ssangryeong had ever seen it, threw the cigarette to the ground. His impassive expression was chilling, but Ssangryeong didn’t stop talking.
“I don’t care whether the people of the Dependent Nation live or die. I can’t even take care of myself, let alone others.”
“Is that your answer?”
Pienne, tilting his head, asked in a low voice.
Ssangryeong felt as if he had been stabbed in the chest with a sharp dagger at the question that challenged his morality.
To be completely honest, , although he didn’t have the heart to dedicate himself to the Dependent Nation, he did hope it would become a more livable place.
He just didn’t expect it to be possible, so he didn’t hold onto that hope.
Above all, he wasn’t naive enough to blindly trust the words of a man from the Home Nation.
“Yes. I have no intention of using my information out of goodwill. If you need it, bring me money instead, Commander. Hmm?”
Ssangryeong smirked.
Though he was confined in a prison-like room in the government building and treated like a dog, he wasn’t about to become completely subservient to this Commander.
He hated being taken advantage of and treated like a slave.
Ssangryeong tightened the ropes he had loosened earlier, until his wrists ached.
‘Escaping from the rooftop is on hold for now.’
When Pienne had shown him the view of the Dependent Nation from the rooftop, he had caught a glimpse of something while looking around.
Dozens of soldiers stationed on the first floor, and a thick, white air mattress.
If he had tried to escape earlier, he would have landed on a soft mattress, making a fool of himself, or he would have been caught by the soldiers.
Ssangryeong glared at Pienne indignantly.
‘Did he intentionally tie me up with ropes that could be untied, instead of handcuffs?’
Seeing the manpower deployed on the first floor, he couldn’t help but be suspicious.
It wouldn’t have been a bad outcome for Pienne either way.
If Ssangryeong was caught trying to escape from the open rooftop, it would give Pienne more justification to detain him forcibly, and if he didn’t try to escape, it wouldn’t matter either.
‘This bastard, he has a nasty habit of setting traps everywhere, doesn’t he?’
It was the same with the drug deal where he was captured. Pienne had said it himself,
‘You’ve been through a lot. Finding you took quite some time.’
That meant he had set numerous traps to catch him, and that day, Ssangryeong had fallen right into one of them.
Plan A, Plan B…
How many more plans did he have?
Ssangryeong didn’t want to deal with this shady man any longer.
As he watched him with narrowed eyes, Pienne finally smiled softly.
“So, that’s your decision.”
He nodded slowly, looking benevolent, as if he understood the criminal’s circumstances and was about to let him go.
But his words were more vile and depraved than any criminal’s.
“If words won’t work, I have no choice.”
“…….”
“I will use every method at my disposal.”
His smooth smile disappeared. The previously lukewarm air suddenly turned cold around Ssangryeong’s arms.
He instinctively swallowed dryly.
Life in the government building was already stifling and unbearable, what other methods was he talking about?
Pienne spoke in a low voice to Ssangryeong, who was watching him with anxious eyes,
“I also have a hobby of forcing people to their knees1.”
Pienne glanced at the metal watch on his wrist with a cold, expressionless face.
After about three more seconds, the firmly shut metal door to the rooftop creaked open. As if it was programmed to open at a specific time.
“Commander!”
The officials saluted sharply as they entered and firmly grabbed Ssangryeong’s arms.
“We’ll take custody of the criminal, Ssangryeong.”
“Escort him.”
“Yes, sir!”
“To the one-pyeong2 solitary cell.”
“Pardon…?”
The officials, who had been about to drag Ssangryeong away, hesitated. The Commander’s order was quite unexpected.
The government building in the Dependent Nation wasn’t meant to be a prison.
The detention facilities within the building were only used to temporarily hold important criminals from the Home Nation before their extradition.
Even this was due to the poor state of the Dependent Nation’s correctional facilities.
It wasn’t realistically feasible to establish a detention facility large enough to hold everyone in the Dependent Nation, which had already become a haven for criminals, and the existing prison was decades old and barely functional.
Therefore, under the direct supervision of the newly appointed Commander Pienne de Laviste, a new, efficient, and practical prison was currently under construction.
‘If he’s talking about a solitary cell… it must be the storage room they’re using…’
The Commander wasn’t someone who enjoyed jokes. He was definitely ordering them to clear out the storage room and confine Ssangryeong in that cramped space.
The officials nervously broke out in a cold sweat.
‘Is that even allowed? The higher-ups instructed us to treat Ssangryeong with care.’