SYNO Chapter 26

The man climbed the ladder attached to the building’s wall, reaching the rooftop in no time.

Pienne, having moved from the North Gate to the rooftop above the South Gate, calmly surveyed the scene below, unfazed by the strong wind and loud noise from the helicopter.

For some reason, the large metal gate at the South Gate had been knocked down. This must be how the Dependent Nation thugs were able to invade after being bribed.

Bang! Bang! 

The soldiers, having received confirmation of the shoot-to-kill order, fired at the at the people in black hoods.

As the relentless shooting continued, resembling a massacre, panicked people began to scream and flee. They trampled and pushed each other in a desperate attempt to survive, a scene straight out of hell.

midst the chaotic crowd at the South Gate garden, Pienne’s eyes quickly scanned the crowd, searching for his target.

About 175 centimeters tall, a lean physique with visible bones, a characteristic swagger, and the habit of warily scanning his surroundings.

He searched meticulously, from the corpses strewn on the ground to those running for their lives, but there was no one who resembled Ssangryeong.

Where could he have gone?

Pienne calmed his rising anger and began to deduce calmly.

Brigadier General Lucas’ men must have released Ssangryeong from the solitary cell. Dealing with them could wait.

The problem was Ssangryeong’s movements.

Brigadier General Lucas had arranged helicopters at both the South and North Gates and had deliberately chosen the North Gate for his departure, summoning Pienne there.

He had also bribed people in advance, dressed them in black hoods, and positioned them at the South Gate.

Judging from this alone, the escape route Lucas had planned for Ssangryeong must have been the South Gate.

The South Gate.

Tap, tap…

His fingers, tapping on his pistol, slowed down. A glint appeared in Pienne’s blue eyes.

Would Ssangryeong really have followed Lucas’ plan so readily?

Pienne scoffed.

“There’s no way.”

The Ssangryeong he knew would have flipped them the bird and chosen a third option. Having found his answer, Pienne looked away from the South Gate.

There were two possibilities left.

Ssangryeong wouldn’t have chosen the West Gate, as it was closer to the Home Nation. That left only the remaining route, the East Gate, which led to the river.

Turning around, the man headed towards the rooftop of the East Gate building, his expression hardening.

‘So he still has the energy to escape.’

Even during their sex last night, Ssangryeong had repeatedly tried to feign unconsciousness, so Pienne had only let him go after securing his promise of cooperation.

Even for torture, he wondered if he had gone too far. He felt a pang of guilt as the image of Ssangryeong crying out beneath him flashed through his mind.

And yet, he was running away now?

Pienne sneered. Not only had Ssangryeong broken his promise of cooperation with him within hours, he was also attempting to escape.

Should he have broken his legs?

No, should he have thoroughly worn him out in bed last night, leaving him unable to move a finger?

Reaching the rooftop above the East Gate, Pienne looked straight ahead. He could see the wide river, resembling the sea, beyond the dimly lit wall.

Only the sound of rippling water filled the air; not even the chirping of insects could be heard.

They didn’t usually station men here. The river’s current was too strong, and it was easy to lose your footing and fall to your death or drown.

But the reckless Ssangryeong would willingly jump in, even risking his life. Even knowing how many lives the Deruns River had claimed.

Pienne slowly aimed his pistol at the river.

Calculating the elapsed time and Ssangryeong’s speed, he should be appearing any moment now.

Yes…within a few seconds.

As Pienne counted down the seconds in his head, his eyes suddenly widened.

A figure, similar in build and gait to Ssangryeong, appeared. Though the figure was wearing a black hood, he was certain.

It was definitely Ssangryeong.

Just as he was about to shoot and apprehend him, Pienne narrowed his eyes. Ssangryeong’s movements as he climbed overt he wall didn’t look right.

His awkward posture and groans, as if he had been hit in the groin, grated on Pienne’s nerves.

The man finally understood.

Why Ssangryeong had chosen the dangerous river instead of the prepared escape route at the South Gate.

In his current condition, he must have judged that he couldn’t escape through the South Gate, which was heavily guarded by soldiers

So he’d chosen to entrust himself to the strong current.

“…….”

Pienne’s pistol remained aimed at Ssangryeong. If he shot now, Ssangryeong’s escape would be thwarted. Killing him outright wasn’t impossible either.

Pienne frowned. 

What was stopping him from pulling the trigger?

Last night’s passionate sex that had left him breathless?

Ssangryeong’s battered body?

Some ridiculous sense of courtesy towards someone he had taken the virginity of?

“Damn it.”

As he hesitated, he met Ssangryeong’s eyes just as he was about to jump over the wall.

He saw Ssangryeong’s golden eyes flicker in fear.

“Ssangryeong.”

His low voice wouldn’t have reached that far. But as if he had heard him, Ssangryeong swallowed hard and hurriedly threw himself over the wall.

Into the embrace of the Deruns River, with its fierce current.

Splash! 

Ssangryeong thrashed in the water. Judging from his arm movements, he seemed to know how to swim, but unfortunately, the Deruns River was a treacherous river that even the best swimmers couldn’t navigate safely.

“Ssangryeong.”

Pienne tightened his grip on his pistol.

He had repaid the guilt he felt from last night by giving Ssangryeong that brief moment as he climbed over the wall.

Now, only his duty as Commander remained.

“I can’t let you go completely.”

His blue eyes, focused on his target, followed Ssangryeong’s movements in the water.

Bang! Bang!

Two gunshots rang out.

Ssangryeong, hit by both bullets, was swept away by the current and disappeared from sight.

Pienne continued to scan the Deruns River for a long time, but the dark-haired figure didn’t resurface.

Pienne slowly lowered his gun, his expression cold and hard.

He had avoided vital spots, but Ssangryeong would be bleeding profusely in the water, so he would most likely die.

If Ssangryeong died, he wouldn’t fall into anyone else’s hands. It meant one less nuisance to deal with, which wasn’t a bad outcome.

On the other hand, if by some miracle, Ssangryeong survived…

Pienne would have to recapture him and confine him somewhere where only he could see him. That wasn’t a bad outcome either

The Commander turned around.

He intended to take down Brigadier General Lucas and his helicopter, after the pathetic schemes he had pulled.

He would even crash it if necessary.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

Ssangryeong, who had been shot twice, drifted down the Deruns River, finally managing to grab onto a tree branch and pull himself onto the riverbank.

“Haa, haah, ugh…”

His vision blurred. Combined with dehydration, he had almost crossed the threshold of death.

He hadn’t really expected to be shot, and after not being shot for so long, the pain was excruciating.

‘Damn it, I owe Lucas one.’

Ssangryeong frowned.

Normally, being shot and swept away by the current would quickly lead to death from blood loss.

But he had a secret weapon.

The pill that Lucas’ men had given him when he was released from solitary confinement.

“This is a drug secretly manufactured in the Home Nation. The Brigadier General asked me to tell you that if you take this, even major wounds will stop bleeding immediately for a day.”

He knew what it was from his time hiding in the Home Nation. A forbidden drug created by those with noble bloodlines to survive dire situations.

Information about it was scarce, and even if you knew about it, ordinary people couldn’t obtain it due to its rarity and high price.

Since Lucas was a Brigadier General from the Home Nation, he would have been able to access such a drug. And he wasn’t the type of guy to be stingy with it either.

But it was just unsettling. There was always the possibility that someone who betrayed you could easily betray you twice.

“Damn it, he wants me to take this? How can I trust whether this is a drug or poison?”

“He told me to tell you this if you refused. ‘Ryeong, I’m sorry for deceiving you about my identity. But that doesn’t mean the kindness I’ve shown you was a lie. I got this drug for you, just in case. It’s very expensive, so take it.’”

“Oh, how kind of him. Tell that Home Nation Brigadier General of your something for me. You lying bastard, go fuck yourself in prison.”

Despite his words, he had snatched the pill given by Lucas and swallowed it.

Even though Lucas had deceived him, he knew that his well-being was very important to the man.

‘It’s quite effective.’

The fact that he was still alive proved the expensive drug’s potency. He would have been dead otherwise.

“Haa…”

Ssangryeong exhaled deeply. Perhaps because of the polluted air of the Dependent Nation, the night sky above looked dark and gloomy. Not a single star to celebrate his survival and escape left a bitter taste in his mouth.

‘Life is so futile and fucked up.’

Ssangryeong winced at the throbbing pain in his left arm and shoulder. Pienne’s handsome face kept flashing through his mind, as vivid as the pain.

“That bastard…”

There were three things that bothered him.

Firstly, why didn’t the Commander shoot him when he saw him climbing over the wall?