SYNO Chapter 19

As if confirming Ssangryeong’s suspicions, Malcolm didn’t answer. Robert also remained slumped over, seemingly too weak to speak.

Ssangryeong, looking back and forth between the two, clicked his tongue.

“Even so, does it make sense to come here? Don’t you know you’re criminals? How could you walk into this place, knowing what might happen to you?!”

Despite his harsh words, he understood their decision to some extent.

Living as a member of an organization was like a double-edged sword.

As long as you remained a useful member, you could live without worrying about food, clothing, or shelter, but the moment you lost your value, you instantly became a target for other members.

You would be force to live a life on the run, constantly looking over your shoulder.

In such a situation, the ‘government building,’ the only safe haven in the Dependent Nation, must have seemed like the most logical refuge to Diana.

As Ssangryeong fiddled with his handcuffs, lost in thought, Malcolm, who had been silent, spoke in a slightly trembling voice,

“Mr… Ssangryeong.”

“What.”

Malcolm hesitated for a long time, his lips moving silently, a troubled expression on his face. As if he was about to say something he didn’t want to.

Seeing his unusual demeanor, Ssangryeong anticipated the words to come.

“Could you… cooperate… with the Commander?”

He knew it would be something along those lines.

Ssangryeong’s expression hardened.

His prediction was spot on.

Malcolm’s voice, as he lowered his gaze, became increasingly desperate.

“I know it’s shameless of me to ask… but I… I don’t want to live like this anymore. I feel so sorry towards you, Mr. Ssangryeong, and I feel like there’s no hope left in my life, I just want to… hang myself.”

Malcolm, who always maintained an upright and dutiful demeanor, was now pleading desperately.

“But, Mr. Ssangryeong, I can’t… I can’t die because I keep thinking about my daughter. She won’t even have food to eat tomorrow if I’m gone… I’m afraid she’ll suffer in this harsh Dependent Nation if I’m not there to protect her, how can I…”

“Shut up. I don’t want to hear it.”

Unable to listen any longer, Ssangryeong turned his head away sharply.

Malcolm stifled his sobs. The sight of it irritated Ssangryeong even more.

Ssangryeong, pacing the room with his hands tied behind his back, suddenly stopped and glared at Malcolm.

“You’re right, Malcolm. You’re incredibly shameless.”

“…….”

“What kind of deep connection did we have? Did I owe you something? Fuck, we just worked together a few times, how can you ask me for such a favor?”

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

“You guys are so incredibly shameless. You abandoned me and ran away, and now you crawl back and have the audacity to ask me for a favor? What is this, if not treating me like a fool?”

Ssangryeong blurted out his thoughts, his words unfiltered,

“Why do you think I let you go? I took the fall so that you could live with your daughter and live like humans, instead of all of us dying together. And this is how you fucking repay me?”

Ssangryeong sighed, muttering curses under his breath.

Even if he blamed them, the true culprits were elsewhere. Lucas, who had heartlessly abandoned his own men who just barely escaped. And Pienne, who was now using the two men who came to the government building as hostages.

Being manipulated by these two powerful men is likely the most they can handle in their desperate situation.

The sight of their bowed heads, filled with shame, made his blood boil.

‘Pienne, you’re truly something.’

This was definitely the most agonizing form of torture he had experienced so far.

He felt more suffocated now than when he was force-fed root vegetables.

“So, what did they promise you? In exchange for persuading me?”

Malcolm, silent for a moment, spoke in a low voice,

“They promised to support and care for us and our families… for the rest of our lives. He even outlined a very detailed plan, almost too good to be true.”

“The Commander?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, hah, I do all the work, and others reap the benefits.”

Ssangryeong, dripping with sarcasm, was hit by a sudden wave of withdrawal symptoms. If there was only a single cigarette lying around, he’d pick it up with his mouth, however disgusting it might be, and light it, even with his hands bound.

After taking several deep breaths, Ssangryeong walked right up to Malcolm’s face and bent down, meeting his eyes.

“Look, Malcolm.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t understand why everyone, including the Commander and you, keeps seeing me as some kind of saint.”

Ssangryeong continued, his expression blank,

“I live for myself.”

“…….”

“And my spiteful nature is just like a tree frog’s¹, so I hate doing what others tell me to do.”

“Mr. Ssangryeong…”

“Whether or not I help someone is my choice. You have no right to beg me. Besides, we weren’t that close, were we?”

He coldly defined their relationship.

“You can’t be my hostages. Therefore, you can’t be my weakness either.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize. You’re desperate, grasping at straws. Still, it can’t be helped that I feel disgusted.”

Malcolm’s hazel eyes wavered. Ssangryeong stared intently at the subtle flicker in his eyes, then turned away with a frown.

There were times when he felt an inexplicable surge of compassion for others, even surprising himself. But no matter how pitiful others might be, his top priority was his missing grandfather and his own well-being.

He could accept a drug deal out of pity for the street children, but he would never die for them. It was the same principle.

He walked towards the door and kicked the solid metal door mercilessly.

Bang! Bang!

“Open the door, you bastards! I’m not going to cooperate, so just open this damn door!”

As he yelled loudly enough to shake the building, several officials rushed in and grabbed his arms.

As he was being dragged back to solitary confinement, Ssangryeong didn’t look back.

Stupid Malcolm, Robert, Pienne, Lucas.

‘I will never do what you want.’

His golden eyes gleamed fiercely.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

As the torture escalated, so did Ssangryeong’s escape attempts.

He tried his best to escape the building whenever he saw an opportunity.

Shouts of “He’s escaping! Catch Ssangryeong!” echoed constantly through the building.

After numerous attempts, there was even a glorious moment when he reached the back door on the first floor.

Although he was caught right before escaping and shared a passionate kiss with the floor.

Ssangryeong gritted his teeth more and more with each passing day. The image of the damn Commander, who tormented him but never showed his face, kept flashing through his mind.

“Just you wait until I see you. I’ll bite that handsome nose of yours off.”

Just as he was making those grim promises, the steel door to his solitary cell opened noisily, as usual. Ssangryeong stared directly at the entrance with a look of utter disgust.

What delightful form of torture awaited him today? He was almost looking forward to it.

Creak, but the people who opened the door weren’t the usual officials. Ssangryeong scanned the newcomers from head to toe.

They were wearing clothes made of much finer fabric than the usual officials’ uniforms.

‘Are they executives?’

Their slender faces, which looked like they were oozing with oil, were different from the regular lower-ranking officials. Perhaps hey might even be from the Home Nation.

They looked around the cell with disdain, then looked down at Ssangryeong, who was lying comfortably with his head pillowed on his arm.

Even though Ssangryeong had a good idea of who they were, he didn’t bother to sit up or show any respect.

Instead, he remained slouched, swinging his legs and only lifting his golden eyes to look at them.

“What do you want?”

“Huh… Just as I heard.”

At his rude tone, the executives started whispering amongst themselves. Ssangryeong, unfazed, picked at his ear.

“So, what is it? Is today a special event where I get to meet the executives? Will the Commander grace me with his presence next?”

“Sit up straight. We have important matters to discuss.”

“Nah, I’m comfortable like this. If you guys don’t like it, you can also lie down.”

The old executive with the furrowed brows tensed his jaw. The other executives tried to calm him down, saying,

“You have to be patient. We only have today.”

“Ahem…”

The man, clearing his throat unpleasantly, parted his dry lips and addressed Ssangryeong.

“Do you want to escape Commander Pienne’s clutches?”

It was the condescending tone typical of those in position of power, offering a favor. Ssangryeong raised an eyebrow.

‘Not “Commander-nim²,” but “Commander Pienne.”’

Someone of lower rank than Pienne, the highest-ranking official in the Dependent Nation, was addressing him so casually.

Even half-asleep, he could tell that these people weren’t on good terms with Pienne.

‘Are they internal dissidents? Or from a different faction?’

Ssangryeong found it amusing that their petty internal power struggles had reached even him, a mere criminal. 

How desperate were they?

Unaware of Ssangryeong’s mocking thoughts, the executive continued,

“Frankly, your existence is quite troublesome for us. So, how about I tell you a way to escape the Commander’s grasp?”

“…You’re offering me a way out?”

Ssangryeong narrowed his eyes.

The toad-like man was smiling slyly.