SYNO Chapter 33

‘Is he really thinking of jumping me? Here?’

Even though he’d blatantly declared his desire for sex while stripping, Ssangryeong hadn’t expected the Commander to press so close.

Just as the smooth texture of Pienne’s uniform began to feel uncomfortable against him, making him tense his buttocks, the man whispered in a low voice,

“You’re acting like a novice.”

He could now feel the strength in the hand that had been gently gripping his nape.

“You should know. The basic rules of a transaction.”

The…basic rules…of a transaction.

Ssangryeong’s eyes flickered nervously.

The rules of transactions differed between the Dependent Nation and the Home Nation. Since the Home Nation was inhabited only by those with verified identities, transactions were conducted based on officially recognized contracts between the parties involved.

However, the Dependent Nation was completely different. The majority of people living there didn’t even have proper names. Therefore, when conducting transactions, the first step was to show each other their “Name Objects” as a form of collateral, instead of identification cards.

It was an act of promising commitment to the transaction, even while acknowledging the inherent danger in revealing one’s weaknesses and destined partner.

And now, Pienne had mentioned these transaction rules to him.

Ssangryeong stared at the man and glared at him.

‘I guess I underestimated Pienne.’

He’d tried to portray himself as someone blinded by lust, returning to the government building of his own volition, but unfortunately, Pienne seemed unwilling to play along.

‘He realized I came back because of the Name Object issue, not because of lust.’

Otherwise, there was no other reason for him to mention the rules of a transaction and implicitly demand to see his Name Object.

Ssangryeong zipped up his pants, which he had previously pulled down.

‘It’s pointless to keep up the act now that he’s seen through me.’

In a way, this was better. He could drop the awkward pretense of being a perverted idioy.

“My Name Object isn’t here. I didn’t bring it.”

“Just tell me where it is.”

“No. I have no intention of bringing it here.”

Ssangryeong met Pienne’s gaze with defiant eyes. He was in a vulnerable position, but he didn’t want to put his life on the line by revealing his weakness.

Pienne said without blinking,

“Then the transaction is off. I can’t let you go again, so you’ll be confined to solitary confinement, wasting your time. Let me know if you change your mind.”

The man, speaking coldly, was about to raise his arm to summon someone. Ssangryeong quickly grabbed his arm.

“Aren’t you a bit hasty? Don’t you want to talk things over?”

“Are we in that kind of relationship?”

“We could be. Depending on the outcome of the transaction. Don’t you think?”

Ssangryeong pulled the man’s thick arm, attempting to make him sit at the negotiation table next to them, but the heavy, muscle-bound body wouldn’t budge.

Ssangryeong’s eyebrows twitched like a trampled worm.

‘This is so damn humiliating. Between two men.’

Giving up on forcing him to sit, Ssangryeong irreverently leaned against the table with one leg crossed over the other, placing a hand on his hip.

“Ahh, right. Speaking of transaction rules. Don’t you know? Revealing the Name Object before a transaction is a two-way street. If you want to see mine, you have to show me yours too. Can you do that? Do you want to try it? Shall we have a conversation with our lives on the line?”

As he taunted him with all his might, Pienne sat down in a chair and casually crossed his legs.

“Sit down.”

“Answer me. I’m asking if you’re going to show me yours, damn it.”

Despite his combative words, his cornered self naturally landed in the chair opposite Pienne.

Realizing he had obediently followed the man’s order, Ssangryeong suppressed his frustration. For some reason, whenever he was with this bastard, he often found himself losing face.

Pienne, with his arms crossed, spoke casually.

“Aren’t you the one who wants the transaction?”

“…This is getting ridiculous, Commander. You’re in a tough spot too, aren’t you? Don’t you need my help? It wasn’t long ago that you were obsessed with catching me. Have you forgotten?”

“I do need your help. Things would be much easier if you cooperated.”

“Then…!”

“But that’s just Plan A.”

Hearing the indifferent tone, Ssangryeong closed his parted lips.

The man didn’t continue. It was a chilling omission, as if he had Plan B, C, and D ready.

‘So, in conclusion, not actually desperate for my help?’

Having correctly interpreted the situation, Ssangryeong finally adopted a serious expression.

‘What the hell. Is he serious? Or is this some kind of advanced psychological warfare to gain an advantage in the negotiation?’

That couldn’t be it. He’d never seen anyone from the Home Nation who wasn’t desperate for his existence.

But seeing the Commander’s unconcerned expression, he realized that this transaction was a highly disadvantageous game. Especially since, in his experience, Pienne was exactly the type of person to act this way.

‘That son of a bitch…’

Ssangryeong ran a hand down his gaunt face. Just as he was about to calmly consider his options, Pienne asked casually,

“Ssangryeong. Am I your destined partner?”

Ssangryeong, who had been about to brush it off, couldn’t believe his ears.

“…What?”

“You must have heard.”

For a moment, Ssangryeong couldn’t control his expression.

So this was what it felt like. To have it confirmed by one’s destined partner.

Instead of romance, there was a sense of foreboding. Instead of excitement, there was anxiety. And a sense of defeat.

“It seems you’ve learned my real name. While you were on the run.”

The man made a near-accurate guess. He slowly propped his head on his hand and chuckled.

“If Ssangryeong was truly blinded by lust, he would be in a brothel. You like money too, and you’re pretty.”

His low voice echoed through the room.

“So, you want to sleep with me?”

Ssangryeong’s eyes wavered slightly.

Strictly speaking, that was the implication, but Ssangryeong felt a strangely cold wind sweep through his chest.

The Commander was impersonal. Even though the subject of the transaction was his own body, he spoke about it as formally as if it were someone else’s. And even though the subject was the other party’s precious “destined partner,” he treated it like a commodity to be priced.

A man completely consumed by reality and calculations.

A man who achieved his desired results, no matter the cost.

This was the moment Ssangryeong was once again reminded of who Pienne le Laviste was.

He’d always felt it. Pienne tended to easily utter words others would hesitate to speak, as if he were the absolute authority who didn’t need to consider anyone else’s feelings.

Ssangryeong’s golden eyes turned cold.

‘What’s the point of being surprised? Even with all the talk of reforms and whatnot, he’s still just a bastard from the Home Nation.’

He’d been tense all this time, acting like a complete fool. Seeing the man truly dedicated to the transaction, Ssangryeong decided to stop overthinking.

He’d been unnecessarily nervous, even though Pienne was supposedly his destined partner.

What was so great and amazing about this guy anyway?

Ssangryeong scoffed.

“Yeah. I’m in a situation where I have to have sex with you. Happy now?”

Relaxing his stiff body, Ssangryeong slumped back on the sofa and spoke curtly.

“Tell me clearly whether you’ll make this deal or not. Don’t play games with me. If you’re not going to talk, then let’s just call it quits. I’ll admit that my judgment was a fucking mistake and rot in solitary confinement. And by the way, I can’t show you my Object, even if it means having my organs harvested. If that’s a prerequisite, let’s end this conversation here. Okay?”

Since the atmosphere wasn’t going his way, Ssangryeong decided to go all out, saying whatever came to mind.

The filter warning beeped intermittently in his head, but he gritted his teeth and ignored it.

‘Fuck it, what else can I do? I might as well protect my pride since everything else is screwed.’

“The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it gets. Hey, Commander. Do you think I’d show you my Object, the one with my weakness written all over it, after crawling all the way back here and even taking my clothes off just to erase it?”

Seeing Ssangryeong, who had thrown etiquette out the window, Pienne chuckled. He gestured with his chin, as if to tell him to continue.

It was a rather intimidating expression, but Ssangryeong wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. He waved his hand dismissively and grumbled.

“Ugh, my damn fate… Why did you have to be my destined partner? My life has never gone the way I wanted. Everything that could be exposed has been exposed, I’ve been caught… Just drag me back to the Home Nation and sell me for a high price. I’m tired of running. Got a cigarette? Give me one with a strong nicotine kick.”

Pienne’s blue eyes fixated on Ssangryeong’s constantly moving lips and fair hands. Unable to watch any longer, the man clicked his tongue.

Crash! He kicked the table with his boot, the sound of shattering wood echoing loudly. Startled by the sudden noise, Ssangryeong stopped talking and his eyes widened.

His heart almost leaped out of his chest.

Pienne, looking at the finally silenced Ssangryeong with an exhausted expression, held out a piece of paper and a pen.

“Write this down.”

“…What?”

“A cooperation agreement. Party A, Pienne. Party B, Ssangryeong.”

“Why the fuck am I Party B…”

“Shut up and write it down.”

His tone was coercive, as if the unspoken threat of “if you don’t want a hole in your head” hung in the air. Resentment rose to Ssangryeong’s throat, but he swallowed it down.

‘Let’s at least hear him out.’

Despite his defiance, he knew better than anyone that reaching an agreement was the most rational course of action. If he played his cards right, he might be able to avoid further imprisonment, get some decent food, and erase his weakness.

The man in front of him was a powerful figure who could make all of that happen.

Pienne began reciting the terms of the agreement in a dry, monotone voice.