SYNO Chapter 31

Pienne was holed up in his office, buried under a mountain of paperwork. His pen moved and papers turned ceaselessly, but the thick stack of documents showed no sign of diminishing.

It was true that he had become much busier after being appointed Commander of the Dependent Nation than when he was a Brigadier General in the Home Nation.

Back then, his responsibilities were limited to his legion and a few additional tasks, leaving him ample time for personal training.

Now, he was tasked with cleaning up the massive garbage dump that was the Dependent Nation. There were countless problems to address.

Whenever he addressed one problem, another would arise, and the constant resistance from those vermin-like individuals from all sides made progress difficult.

‘Why did the President entrust the Dependent Nation to me?’

The thought occasionally crossed his mind when he was overwhelmed with work.

The current President was a remarkable leader, practically beyond reproach, even from a historical perspective.

He maintained a neutral stance, unbiased towards any particular faction, a mind that valued talent regardless of status, and possessed a wise and sharp judgment.

“Have you ever considered becoming a soldier?”

He had accepted the offer to become a soldier, inspired by the President’s leadership. He’d persevered, endured, and reached his current position.

He’d become a presidential candidate, something he’d never imagined.

And he had become the ruler of the Dependent Nation, a place he’d never cared about.

“I believe you can do it. I’ll entrust this task to you.”

All of it was the President’s will. He’d even suppressed the opposition from numerous factions to appoint Pienne.

He knew the President held him in high regard, but sometimes, he felt like he was being led in an incomprehensible direction.

Pienne twirled his pen in his hand.

‘There’s no point in overthinking it.’

This was what he wanted.

Those in power would have to do everything in their power to stop him.

Because the moment he became President, an unprecedented cleansing of the Home Nation would begin.

As he mechanically turned another page, filled with repetitive reports, 

[Ssangryeong Pursuit Report]

A report tucked between the documents caught Pienne’s attention. It was a report about Ssangryeong, who was either dead or in hiding.

He quickly scanned the report with practiced eased/

The contents weren’t particularly noteworthy.

There was no significant information about Ssangryeong’s whereabouts.

[Several relief goods and snacks, presumed to have been delivered to children, were found in four hideouts believed to have been used by Ssangryeong.]

[A thorough examination of the hideouts revealed almost no traces of personal use by Ssangryeong. It is presumed that the hideouts were used to shelter children and the sick of the Dependent Nation. Numerous drawings by children were found on the walls. See attached photos. Attached are also the analysis results of the bacteria samples collected from the hideouts.]

[Several coin purses containing small amounts of money were found. These are the same type of coin purses that Ssangryeong previously gave to children. It is presumed that these were assets set aside for distribution.]

…

Only these trivial things were found in the traces of Ssangryeong they had managed to find.

Pienne reread the two-page report several times. The children’s crude drawings in the attached photos stood out.

There was a drawing of a figure presumably Ssangryeong, surrounded by other affectionate drawings.

The bacteria analysis also showed an unusual pattern, showing a wide variety of strains.

It was unlikely that Ssangryeong had suffered from all of them.

As the report stated, it suggested that several sick people had stayed in the hideouts.

No one would believe it. That a dangerous criminal’s hideouts were being used like this.

Pienne recalled Ssangryeong’s clear face. The man whose vocabulary seemed limited to sarcasm and sharp curses.

But Ssangryeong was clearly soft-hearted, as rumored.

A foolish thief who wouldn’t back down from a stronger opponent, yet readily offered help to the weak.

‘How peculiar.’

At the same time, the image of Ssangryeong’s soft skin and flushed face, contorted in pleasure, flashed through his mind. A beautiful face that made him forget, every now and then, that the man was essentially a thief.

Tap, tap…

Pienne’s long fingers tapped rhythmically on his desk. He was lost in thought.

Dead or alive,

What was he going to do with Ssangryeong?

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

In front of the government building, where security had been tightened, the soldiers stared ahead with dumbfounded expressions.

“Is…is that…him?”

“Report to the higher-ups. Tell them a strange person has appeared at the main gate of the building.”

“Yes, sir.”

A white flag with the word “Surrender” written in large letters was fluttering in the wind. The young man holding the flag looked disheveled, as if he hadn’t washed in days.

It was the moment Ssangryeong, who had vanished without a trace despite a thorough search of the Dependent Nation, appeared at the main gate of the government building.

“You bastard Commander, come out here!”

The soldiers flinched every time he yelled. 

What in the world was going on?

Pienne, having received the urgent report, came out to the main gate. Despite the urgency, the man’s stride was unhurried and composed.

The Commander’s commanding presence stood out among the dozens of soldiers. Even though an escaped criminal had returned, his dignified posture and calm expression remained unfazed.

That unwavering composure irritated Ssangryeong. He yelled, his voice straining,

“I surrender, damn it!”

Despite his words, his burning eyes resembled those of a warrior facing a great battle.

Pienne, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, scoffed.

“Welcome back.”

The commotion at the main gate naturally drew the attention of those around them. Some of the officials recognized Ssangryeong’s face, having seen him during his confinement, but most didn’t.

It wasn’t ideal for Ssangryeong’s appearance to become widely known, so the Commander made a quick decision.

“You all seem to have a lot of free time.”

Pienne, glancing at the officials gathered in front of the building, ordered in a low voice,

“Disperse.”

“Yes, sir!”

Knowing they would be reprimanded if they stayed longer, the officials prioritized the peace of their own daily routines over the intriguing spectacle and began to return to their posts.

Only the officials of the arrest team, who had accompanied Pienne, remained at the now-quiet main gate.

The officials glanced back and forth between Ssangryeong and the Commander, trying to gauge the situation.

‘Why isn’t he ordering us to arrest him?’

It was time to give the order, but for some reason, the Commander was simply watching the criminal who had returned of his own volition.

It wasn’t like the Commander, who was usually decisive in these matters, to hesitate.

His gaze slowly scanned Ssangryeong’s body from head to toe.

Considering the numerous escape attempts he had caused while imprisoned in the building, it was puzzling to see him now meekly waving a white flag in surrender.

Ssangryeong felt the same way.

A strange tension hung between the of them, facing each other. A coldness, like the increasingly chilly weather.

Pienne gestured to the frozen arresting officers with his chin.

“Arrest him.”

“Yes, sir!”

As if trying to catch a giant snake at least two meters long, the officials cautiously surrounded Ssangryeong, their expressions serious. 

They couldn’t be sure what Ssangryeong, who had suddenly surrendered, might be plotting.

Ssangryeong frowned at the officials creeping towards him. He dropped the flag he had been holding and held out both hands.

“So slow. Hurry up and cuff me before I change my mind.”

Even after the silver handcuffs were placed on his wrists, Ssangryeong didn’t struggle or cause a scene.

Pienne, watching from a distance, narrowed his eyes.

They had wasted a considerable amount of manpower and resources searching for Ssangryeong for over a week. They couldn’t find his body anywhere, so they thought he might be dead.

If Ssangryeong was alive, he had to be in Pienne’s hands. Ssangryeong was a beautiful and dangerous weapon, capable of wreaking havoc in the Home Nation depending on who possessed him.

If Ssangryeong wouldn’t come to him, he was prepared to kill him and ensure no one else could have him.

And now, Ssangryeong had appeared with his own two feet, waving a white flag.

He looked somewhat thinner, but his physical condition was better than expected.

His expression was still defiant, but he had obediently allowed himself to be arrested without resistance. It was incredibly suspicious.

He had hidden so well, and now he suddenly appeared and surrendered?

What was his motive for all of this?

Pienne, pondering Ssangryeong’s intentions, turned away.

“Bring him in.”

He would find out soon enough.

There was no need to dwell on it here.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

Ssangryeong was brought to the reception room within the government building, where smoking was permitted. The Commander, who he thought would throw him back into solitary confinement, had led him here for some reason.

‘I’m back in this place, of my own free will.’

The room was filled with smoke, and he and Pienne were the only ones present.

The officials had left long ago at the man’s dismissal.

‘He’s probably planning to have a conversation with me.’

Despite that, Pienne remained silent. He sat in his chair with his legs crossed, smoking a cigarette and staring intently at Ssangryeong.

He wore an impassive expression, making it difficult to discern what he was thinking. Pienne’s sharp features appeared and disappeared behind the veil of gray smoke. 

Ssangryeong’s gaze was fixed on those piercing blue eyes, leaving him feeling uneasy.