SYNO Chapter 37

Lucas could have thrown something in a fit of rage. The aide instinctively tensed, bracing himself.

“…I see.”

But contrary to expectations, Lucas was calm. He rose from his seat, his large frame towering.

“Let’s return to the Home Nation.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And there, we shall discuss Pienne de Laviste’s punishment.”

“Yes, I’ll make the arrangements.”

The aide bowed respectfully and left Lucas’ room. Only then did his tense body finally relax.

‘The special investigation committee has already been convened.’

There were more than a few officials in the Home Nation who were eager to take action against Commander Pienne.

This was a golden opportunity. The Commander, who rarely showed any flaws or weaknesses, had caused the death of a major criminal and had arbitrarily attacked and detained another potential candidate for president.

It was undoubtedly a huge incident, enough to shake the Home Nation.

With this as leverage, the first order of business would be to discuss stripping Pienne de Laviste of his candidacy.

‘The Commander will be summoned back to the Home Nation as well.’

A chaotic fight was inevitable. Which side would be swept away in the raging current?

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

In the early dawn, as the sun began to rise faintly, a small argument was taking place in front of a massive warship, large enough to carry a thousand people.

“What the fuck! Are you kidding me? You want me to board a warship to the Home Nation?”

Ssangryeong struggled with all his might, refusing to board.

“I’m not going! No, I can’t go!”

He’d been enjoying life for the past few days, being served rare delicacies he’d never tasted before and sleeping in a soft bed.

He’d even thought he should have made a deal with Pienne sooner.

Of course, those clumsy, idiotic guards had been a constant annoyance, but over time, he’d grown used to their presence and tried to ignore them.

But now, they had woken him up at the crack of dawn and were telling him to board a ship.

It was clearly a warship, the kind used by the military. The only destination for such a ship, unless it was for war, was the Home Nation.

He’d run away to avoid the Home Nation, and now they were trying to drag him back?

It seemed they were finally going to extradite him to the Home Nation, as was their initial intention when they first captured him.

If he had known this was what the cooperation agreement meant, he would have spat on it instead of stamping his fingerprint.

“Let go of me while I’m asking nicely. Before I bite you.”

Ssangryeong glared at Frederick, who had a firm grip on his arm.

Frederick sighed deeply.

‘It’s a good thing I came out early in the morning.’

He didn’t want rumors spreading if other soldiers saw Ssangryeong being forced onto the ship. He intended to get Ssangryeong on board first, discreetly.

“This is driving me crazy. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you this, Ssangryeong, but you need to fix that tone of yours. It could get you into serious trouble.”

“Would you speak politely if you were being dragged back to the Home Nation? Do you even understand how a criminal feels?”

“You’re not going as a criminal.”

“Oh, really? A criminal is a criminal, dammit.”

Ssangryeong grumbled and kicked the air.

Frederick smiled faintly, watching Ssangryeong act like an enraged bull.

‘Is it really possible to educate Ssangryeong?’

He hadn’t explained the situation to Ssangryeong in detail yet. How could he explain the whole story – that Ssangryeong was now officially dead, that his identity had been erased, that he would become Commander Pienne’s secretary, and that they had to go to the Home Nation together for related matters?

Ssangryeong would start cursing before he could even finished speaking.

That’s why he had planned to explain everything calmly, from start to finish, in a more peaceful place.

As Frederick rubbed his forehead, trying to come up with a good solution,

“Frederick.”

Frederick turned his head sharply at the low voice.

A tall man in a black coat was walking towards them, the clicking of his polished shoes echoing.

The crimson lights of the harbor shone brightly behind him.

Commander Pienne, his hair slicked back to reveal his forehead, looked even more imposing than usual.

Even in a large crowd, it would be easy to identify him as the leader. His dignified gait and upright posture exuded an air of authority.

On the other hand, this damn Ssangryeong…

“Hey, Commander! You came at the right time. Even if I made that rotten contract with you, is this right? You’re trying to send me back to the Home Nation, damn it?”

He was so unreasonable that Frederick felt embarrassed to be even standing next to him.

“You’ve only kept the food, clothing, and shelter part of the agreement; have you fulfilled any other part properly? And you’re trying to put me on a warship like this?”

The Commander walked straight towards Ssangryeong.

Frederick watched the two approach each other anxiously.

‘Ssangryeong is incredibly rude. If the Commander slaps him, I’ll have to deal with the aftermath.’

The ruthless Commander, who was not known for holding back, might resort to force and drag Ssangryeong onto the warship.

He had to intervene before things got out of hand.

“W-Well… I’ll somehow get Ssangryeong onto the warship…”

Frederick couldn’t finish his sentence.

“…!”

Pienne, reaching Ssangryeong, pulled him close by the nape of his neck and kissed him softly.

Ssangryeong’s amber eyes widened in surprise at the sudden kiss.

The lapping sound of the waves, the salty smell of the sea.

And the incongruous kiss between the two men.

Frederick felt as if he was witnessing the end of the world. Or perhaps he was trapped in a terrible nightmare.

He had heard a rough explanation of the contract between the two, but he still couldn’t get used to it.

Even if Ssangryeong’s presence was absolutely necessary… for the Commander to engage in continuous physical contact with such a scoundrel…

The Commander, who willingly dedicated himself to the country, was the epitome of a true leader.

After the kiss, short yet seemingly long, Commander Pienne spoke calmly,

“Get on board.”

He gestured with his chin towards the inside of the warship.

He was demonstrating that he was faithfully fulfilling the contract. Ssangryeong, whose heart had nearly stopped, glared at Pienne’s calm face.

“Is being dragged back to the Home Nation part of the cooperation agreement?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not a fair trade. What kind of idiot would get dragged back to the Home Nation for just a kiss? Do you know how hard I worked to escape from there?”

Compared to being imprisoned in solitary confinement for violating the contract and being dragged back to the Home Nation to face unknown horrors, the former was a better option.

Of course, if that happened, he would never be able to erase his weakness.

“I’m not going. The risks outweigh the benefits.”

As Ssangryeong waved his hand dismissively and turned to walk away from the warship,

“Shall we have sex here then? In that case.”

Ssangryeong frowned at the softly spoken words.

Pienne was slowly taking off his coat. Ssangryeong’s eyes were drawn to the man’s solid physique beneath his shirt, and the image of their passionate sex flashed through his mind.

“I don’t mind.”

“…….”

“Whether it’s inside or outside.”

The man’s indifferent gaze, in the wide-open space of the harbor, seemed capable of violating anyone at any moment.

‘That’s not the point, you crazy bastard.’

Even with the horrified Vice Commander covering his ears right next to them, Pienne remained unfazed.

‘This is the first time I’ve ever felt sorry for the Vice Commander.’

Ssangryeong chuckled and retorted,

“Is erasing my weakness the issue here now? If I go back to the Home Nation and get caught, my weakness becomes meaningless.”

While stalling for time, Ssangryeong calmly thought things through.

‘Isn’t there a way to avoid going?’

Returning to the Home Nation was far too dangerous for him. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every high-ranking official there was after him.

Of course, aside from Lucas, no one there knew what he looked like…

‘But I can’t refuse because of the contract.’

This was the first time Pienne had requested his cooperation after the agreement. To willingly follow him back to the Home Nation.

But no matter how he calculated it, it was a losing proposition for him.

‘Ahh, if only Pienne wasn’t my partner, I wouldn’t have to worry about this, fuck…’

He seemed to be standing too close to the entrance of the warship. If he got grabbed and thrown inside, it would be over.

Ssangryeong boldly took two steps back.

“As I said, I absolutely can’t go. My life is my top priority.”

He spoke firmly and took another step back.

Pienne glanced at the Vice Commander.

“Frederick. Haven’t you explained the situation to him yet?”

“Oh, yes… I was planning to explain everything calmly once we were on board. He’s so unreasonable that I thought it would take some time.”

Judging by Ssangryeong’s pouting lips and wide, defiant eyes, his uncooperative stance was clear.

Pienne glanced at his wristwatch and spoke monotonously.

“Ssangryeong. You’re currently presumed dead.”

“…What?”

“So, no one in the Home Nation will try to capture and kill you.”

His unwavering blue eyes spoke the truth of the unbelievable words.

There was no point in questioning whether it was true. Commander Pienne was capable of making a living person dead.

Besides, this man wouldn’t make such a frivolous joke at a time like this.

Ssangryeong, dumbfounded, couldn’t speak. After a long moment of moving his lips soundlessly, he furrowed his brows and asked.