SYNO Chapter 22

‘This is a question that doesn’t need any consideration anyway.’

Ssangryeong’s response to whether he came to steal or to be fucked was only one.

“Why are you even asking, when you already know? You’re talking to a notorious thief.”

Before Pienne could start lecturing him about the law, Ssangryeong hurriedly put up his prepared defense.

“It seems there are spies in this building. Some executives approached me with a request. They asked me to steal your Object. So, if you’re going to kill anyone, kill them.”

Having memorized all the laws inside and out, Ssangryeong also knew the loopholes in detail.

Someone who stole or attempted to steal a high-ranking official’s Name Object could be punished with death.

However, if the act was committed at someone else’s behest, the person who instigated  the theft bore the greater responsibility, and the thief could avoid execution.

Ssangryeong scoffed.

‘With all the crimes I’ve committed, this is nothing.’

One more attempted theft wouldn’t significantly change his punishment.

He was already a criminal beyond redemption.

‘And if the Commander wanted me dead, he would have killed me already.’

The fact that Pienne was providing him with food and shelter and delaying his extradition to the Home Nation meant he still had some use for him.

So, he wouldn’t be executed for a mere attempted theft…

“I’ve already apprehended those individuals.”

“…What?”

“And I intend to execute them according to the protocol.”

Ssangryeong’s eyebrows shot up at the unexpected words.

‘The executives have already been caught?’

Ssangryeong was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t close his mouth. They were so confident, yet so incompetent.

He’d taken a gamble on them since they were high-ranking officials, but it seemed to have backfired.

‘No, wait. On the contrary, maybe this bastard is just so competent.’

As Ssangryeong chuckled at the absurdity of the situation, a cold gun barrel pressed against his forehead.

His smile vanished.

The sight of Pienne’s long finger on the trigger brought back unpleasant memories.

“This is my bedroom, Ssangryeong.”

“…….”

“And I’m not that generous.”

Ssangryeong knew firsthand that this man was capable of killing.

Looking into Pienne’s sharp eyes, he realized one thing.

His plan to shift the blame to the executives wouldn’t work on this man.

“I’ll ask again. Did you come to this bedroom to steal?”

Ssangryeong’s eyes wavered slightly.

He had already given a clear answer that he came to steal, but Pienne asked again.

As if trying to force him to change his answer.

The gun barrel against his forehead seemed to press harder.

‘Fuck, what does he want? He looks like he’ll kill me if I say I came to steal again.’

But he couldn’t bring himself to say he came to be fucked, even if his mouth was torn apart. As Ssangryeong was thinking a way out of this situation, he suddenly felt a sense of unease.

‘Wait… Come to think of it, why isn’t this bastard doing anything to me yet?’

Pienne clearly knew everything. Yet, he hadn’t arrested or killed him, instead giving him choices.

‘That means, the answer Pienne wants…’

Ssangryeong’s eyes, scanning the man’s sharp features, widened.

After a moment of silence, Ssangryeong asked hesitantly,

“Commander. Don’t tell me…you want to sleep with me?”

There was no other reason for him to be so insistent on an answer, or to be straddling him like this.

It was a question that would fluster most people, but Pienne didn’t even blink.

He spoke in a low voice,

“Yes. If necessary.”

It didn’t sound like he desperately wanted it. His tone was so matter-of-fact, almost business-like, that Ssangryeong frowned.

“What kind of bullshit is that? You need to have sex with me? Why?”

“Consider it a form of… torture.”

“What…?”

Ssangryeong chuckled, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Ahh, you’re going to make me submit sexually? To force my cooperation?”

It was something he couldn’t understand, no matter how much he thought about it.

Romantic and sexual relationships between people of the same sex were common. The gender of one’s “Name partner,” ordained by fate, was random.

That wasn’t the issue. He had a different question.

“Don’t you know I’m a citizen of the Dependent Nation? Are you seriously thinking about having sex with me, a high-ranking official from the Home Nation? Are you on your right mind?”

There was a law that transcended even fate; the birthright.

The Home Nation and the Dependent Nation were polar opposites, like heaven and earth.

People from the Home Nation investigated their Name partners from a young age. And if they discovered their partner was from the Dependent Nation, they would kidnap them or sever a body part.

This was because there were, unfortunately, only two ways to erase the “weakness” engraved on the Name Object.

Either fall in love with your Name partner.

Or engage in continuous skin contact with them.

The people of the Home Nation, who had no intention of falling in love with someone from the lowly Dependent Nation, yet desperately needed to erase their “weakness” on their Name Object, often resorted to such unethical acts.

As a result, the Dependent Nation was filled with people missing body parts, and it was a frequent occurrence for someone seen one day to disappear the next.

Well aware of this terrible reality, Ssangryeong shuddered at the words “fate” and “Name.”

Such tragedies were all too common.

That’s why he loathed the people of the Home Nation. There was no reason to sympathize with those bastards who readily harmed and looked down on others for their own benefit.

‘But what about this Commander?’

He couldn’t understand it, no matter how much he thought about it. He knew Ssangryeong was from the lowly Dependent Nation, yet he was proposing to sleep with him.

The Commander, watching Ssangryeong’s changing expressions, lowered the gun he was holding.

“Aren’t citizens of the Dependent Nation… humans?”

Ssangryeong’s eyes widened at the casual question.

“…What?”

“All humans are equal by virtue of their existence. Regardless of gender, status, or origin.”

“…….”

“I’m a commoner. I grew up being looked down on in the Home Nation. I intend to reach the highest position in the Home Nation to shatter this rotten truth.”

His serious words, devoid of humor, stirred a complex mix of emotions within Ssangryeong.

‘What is this guy…?’

It was the first time he had learned that the Commander was a commoner. He barely knew anything about “Pienne de Laviste” and had naturally assumed he came from a prestigious background, considering his rank as Brigadier General.

But to hear that he wasn’t…

‘Is that even possible?’

Could a commoner rise to such a high rank in the strictly hierarchical Home Nation?

‘Then were his words before… sincere?’

A few days ago, on the rooftop of the government building, Pienne had said these words.

‘I will create order in this Dependent Nation.’

‘Furthermore, I intend to create paved roads, usable buildings, proper jobs, and safe streets.’

‘Then it will become possible. The citizens of the Dependent Ntaion will be able to escape their past, and with a foundation in place, they’ll be able to dream, even simple dreams.’

‘I will become that kind of ruler.’

He had thought Pienne was spouting nonsense to manipulate him, but it aligned perfectly with what he’d just said.

Alarm bells rang in his head. He instinctively knew that there wasn’t a shred of lies in Pienne’s words.

The realization that this man was fundamentally different from the common scum of the Home Nation shook Ssangryeong to his core.

He was speechless for once.

‘I felt like this on the rooftop before, too.’

An unpleasant tingling sensation spread through his chest. It was as if the man’s pure conviction was persistently searing his corrupted self.

Pienne, seeing Ssangryeong’s confusion, slowly opened his red lips.

“You said you wouldn’t cooperate with me, Ssangryeong.”

“…….”

“I’ll ask one last time.”

“…….”

“Will you cooperate willingly?”

The question, less forceful than before, almost sounded gentle. And he almost nodded.

Ssangryeong lowered his gaze.

If the Commander’s words were sincere, if a man like him became the President of the Home Nation, he felt a flicker of hope that the world might become better than any of the bleak futures he had imagined.

If that were possible, wouldn’t it be alright to offer the vast information he possessed? Then the Dependent Nation wouldn’t be looked down upon anymore. Perhaps the world could really change.

But what was he supposed to do?

Ssangryeong pictured himself.

‘Who am I to sacrifice myself for the world?’

He was a criminal who had committed countless crimes to survive, a selfish person who prioritized survival over morality.

If he simply handed over all his information like a fool, swayed by the Commander’s beliefs, what would become of him?

The life he had built on evil would crumble in an instant. He would lose the identity he had desperately clung to.

Ssangryeong wanted to protect himself, more than he wanted to protect the world.

His life was already too tainted to pretend to be virtuous.

“You’re truly amazing. You almost had me.”

Ssangryeong chuckled dryly.

Running his tongue along the inside of his cheek, he continued with determination,

“I don’t know if it’s pride or something, but I don’t think I can cooperate with you. It just doesn’t sit right with me.”

Looking at Pienne’s hardened gaze, Ssangryeong forced a nasty smile.

“Try me.”

While provoking the man with his defiant words, a sense of competitiveness stirred within Ssangryeong.

Since he couldn’t escape anyway, he became curious to see what this rigid and formal Commander would look like undone in bed.

“Torture me. Don’t you want to hear the words of cooperation from my mouth?”

He’d never considered it before.

That he would willingly submit to someone, especially a Brigadier General from the Home Nation.

“I gave you a chance.”

Pienne’s blue eyes were darker than ever. He roughly pulled off his tie.

“It seems being taken against your will is your preference.”