Chapter Text
Seringe Island
Area: Approximately 840 km². Population: About 150,000. Located about 45 km off the coast of Tanganyika in the Indian Ocean. A flat island made of coral limestone, it has a tropical monsoon climate. The rainy season is from April to May, and the dry season with fresh southwest monsoons is from June to October. Another rainy season occurs from November to December, followed by a hot dry season with northeast monsoons from December to March. The average annual rainfall is around 1,500 mm, and even during the hot dry season, the wind makes it relatively pleasant.
The main crops are coconuts and clove trees (used for spices), and rice is cultivated in low-lying areas. Other food crops and fruits are also grown, and fishing helps the residents achieve food self-sufficiency.
* * *
Jeong Tae-ui stared at the paragraph as if he were trying to memorize it whole, then closed his laptop.
What did it matter how many square kilometers an island off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean was, or how many people lived there, or what its climate and industries were like? A map would have been more useful, but no matter which mapping service he searched, nothing came up.
Kyle had said it was a small island. Even if it was small, with an area slightly less than half of Jeju Island, finding one person there wouldn't be easy. Fortunately, according to Kyle's brief but useful explanation, the areas where people mainly lived were divided into three or four regions. Among them, the villas of foreigners—mostly wealthy individuals from the Middle East—were concentrated in parts of the southeastern coast.
Somewhere there, Jeong Jae-ui was. Or at least, there was a high possibility he was.
Jeong Tae-ui limped to the bed and flopped down. The sun was high in the sky. Though the awning blocked it from reaching inside the room, the light spilled through the wide-open window, shimmering brightly, which was often used in place of a door.
He draped one arm over the large window, which was barely a hand's width higher than the bed, and gazed outside. A cool, blue pool was just a few steps away. Lying on the bed, Jeong Tae-ui absentmindedly tapped his cast-covered leg and stared at the pool. And at the empty beach chair beside it.
On the chair, a book lay open, face down, as if someone had just been there. Now he noticed a half-finished can of beer on the small wooden table next to it.
"...."
Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue and glared at the can. It was a Schultheiss. 'Damn it. I can drink beer too. Did you drink it all by yourself?'
Jeong Tae-ui grumbled inwardly, thinking of the man who had been sitting there just moments ago.
After a late lunch, while Jeong Tae-ui lounged in his room, that man—Ilay Riegrow—had brought an old book from the study and sat by the pool to read. When it got too hot, he'd jump into the pool for a swim, then come back out and pick up the book again. It was the picture of a leisurely vacation.
Jeong Tae-ui found it quite fortunate, but surprisingly, Ilay didn't interfere with whatever Jeong Tae-ui did. Whether he napped in his room, snacked in the dining room, or rummaged through books in the study, Ilay didn't interfere. Instead, he swam in the pool or read, enjoying his own leisurely time.
Then again, maybe it wasn't so surprising. It had been the same at UNHRDO. Outside of official duties, Ilay didn't care what Jeong Tae-ui did. In fact, Ilay Riegrow was indifferent to everyone. While he seemed to see through everyone, that very trait could be terrifying at times.
But even so.
Occasionally, he had an animalistic sense that made the person next to him shudder. Perhaps that was connected to his ability to seemingly see through anyone.
For example.
Earlier, when Jeong Tae-ui, sitting by the window fiddling with his laptop, got up to get a snack from Rita and happened to glance outside. Ilay had just finished swimming and was drying himself with a beach towel before sitting down on the chair and opening his book.
While staring at Ilay, who paid almost no attention to his movements, Jeong Tae-ui briefly lost himself in thought. If he pretended to go to the store for ice cream and then made a run for it, would he succeed? He considered it with about 50% seriousness. If it were anyone else, Jeong Tae-ui might have tried it. In a one-on-one situation, it's harder to guard than to escape. He was confident he could get away safely.
But that guy was anything but ordinary....
Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue inwardly and sighed as he watched Ilay flip through the pages.
It was then.
"The success or failure of an endeavor often depends on judgment. This premise can be applied to most situations.... What might seem like ordinary wisdom is often the most crucial. Don't you think?"
Tapping the page with his finger, Ilay suddenly read out a passage. Startled, though he didn't show it outwardly, Jeong Tae-ui rubbed his chest as if nothing had happened and tilted his head. Ilay glanced at him briefly before returning to his book.
"It doesn't seem wrong."
But what's the point? Jeong Tae-ui shrugged. Ilay, without looking up, muttered as if it were nothing.
"For example, choosing the best time for a risky adventure... Even that alone shows decent judgment. Whether the adventure is realistically possible is another matter."
"...."
Jeong Tae-ui lightly tapped the floor with his cast-covered foot. His body, sluggish like waterlogged cotton since morning, remained motionless for a moment.
'Damn it. What kind of guy is he?'
Jeong Tae-ui cursed inwardly and headed to the dining room. He had thought about going out for ice cream—with no ulterior motive—but the idea quickly faded.
After getting an egg tart from Rita and quietly returning to his room, Jeong Tae-ui glared at Ilay, who was peacefully reading by the pool, before opening his laptop. Around that time, Rita came to call Ilay. There was a call from Hong Kong, so he needed to go to the study.
At the mention of a call from Hong Kong, Ilay made a displeased face, as if he'd been interrupted during his vacation, but he left without protest.
"Well, it must be annoying to be disturbed by work while relaxing like that..." Jeong Tae-ui muttered to himself as he focused on his laptop. But as soon as Ilay disappeared from view, he frowned.
But come to think of it, Ilay wasn't on vacation. He had gone AWOL. For him to be annoyed by a call was downright shameless.
"A call from Hong Kong. Probably urging him to return soon. ...When will he leave?"
Rolling onto his back on the bed, Jeong Tae-ui muttered as he stared at the painfully bright blue sky.
But what he really wanted to know wasn't when Ilay would return to Hong Kong. It was what Ilay planned to do with him. Unless Ilay quit UNHRDO, he would have to return to Hong Kong. And at that point, what would he do with Jeong Tae-ui?
Let him go willingly, drag him to Hong Kong, eliminate him cleanly, or break his limbs and lock him up somewhere.
As Jeong Tae-ui listed the possibilities, he shuddered and stopped counting. The last option was the worst. The third option might be better. The first option seemed impossible, and considering the circumstances, the second was the most likely...
"But I don't like that either."
Jeong Tae-ui sighed and muttered.
If it had been yesterday, he might have resigned himself, thinking, "If I'm with that guy, it doesn't matter where I go." But now, Jeong Tae-ui had somewhere he wanted to go.
Seringe.
Where his brother was.
The place where his brother, whom he hadn't seen in so long despite all his efforts, might be.
Jeong Tae-ui squinted at the blinding blue sky. Covering his forehead with the back of his hand to block the light, he suddenly muttered to himself.
"Kidnapping and confinement…"
It felt unfamiliar.
Jeong Jae-ui and kidnapping. While it seemed like a perfect match, in reality, there were few combinations as mismatched as this.
There had always been countless individuals and organizations coveting Jeong Jae-ui. Those willing to resort to extreme measures like kidnapping were beyond counting. Yet, not a single one of those attempts had ever succeeded. If Jeong Jae-ui had truly been kidnapped and confined…
"Unless the perpetrator is luckier than my hyung…"
"Such a person probably doesn't exist, but even if they did, someone that lucky wouldn't have needed to kidnap Jae-i in the first place."
Suddenly, a low voice came from right beside him.
Damn it. Can't a guy even joke around?
Jeong Tae-ui closed his eyes completely. Maybe it was his mood, but his leg suddenly felt even sorer.
He distinctly remembered closing the door when he came in, and if his memory served him right, the hinges were stiff, making a faint creaking sound whenever the door was opened or closed. Yet, somehow, that man was leaning against the doorway without a sound.
"Peaceful, isn't it? The sunlight must be making you sleepy."
"...Yeah.... I barely slept last night."
Jeong Tae-ui tried to sound as lethargic as possible as he muttered. It wasn't hard since he actually felt sluggish. He wanted to keep his mouth shut while his eyes were closed, but he knew without testing it that the right to remain silent wouldn't work on this man.
"Was the bed uncomfortable? My brother puts a lot of effort into the guest rooms. Even the bed you're lying on now was specially ordered and took months to arrive."
Ilay, who had been standing as quietly as a cat, stepped into the room. The wooden floor creaked faintly. Jeong Tae-ui's temper flared. His fists clenched involuntarily.
'Was the bed uncomfortable? How can you even say that, you bastard?'
But Ilay—that damn Ilay Riegrow, whom his brother had euphemistically described as having a "peculiar personality"—must have known exactly what he was saying. As Jeong Tae-ui reflexively grabbed the blanket in frustration, Ilay lightly tapped the knuckles of his clenched fist.
"Why are you clenching your fists…? Planning to wrestle a bear or something?"
At the voice tinged with a subtle laugh, Jeong Tae-ui opened his eyes slightly. He saw long, pale fingers gently tapping his knuckles. The glass-like nails glistened in the light. Indeed, Jeong Tae-ui's ordinary, unremarkable hands were more suited for holding weapons or throwing punches.
But Jeong Tae-ui subtly moved his hand away from those pale fingers and muttered.
"I swear to heaven, if anyone's wrestling a bear, it'll be your hand, not mine."
Ilay laughed. Then he sat on the edge of the bed. The blanket covering Jeong Tae-ui's body was pulled down a bit, but the mattress didn't budge.
For a moment, Jeong Tae-ui thought he was like a feline. But what kind of feline could take down a bear…?
Jeong Tae-ui buried his face in the blanket and shook his head, fidgeting. His condition wasn't great today. His mind had been wandering since morning. He couldn't focus on a single thought. He used to pride himself on his concentration, even when his body wasn't feeling well, but it seemed even Jeong Tae-ui was past his prime now.
After letting out a short sigh, Jeong Tae-ui suddenly turned his head. Since Ilay had sat down, he hadn't made a sound. A predator being this quiet was unsettling.
The moment Jeong Tae-ui's gaze turned toward Ilay, something flew toward him. Jeong Tae-ui barely managed to catch it before it hit him square in the nose. It was a beer can.
"Just took it out of the fridge, so it should be cold."
"...Thanks."
'It would've been nicer if you'd handed it over properly,' Jeong Tae-ui thought as he carefully popped the tab, making sure not to spill the beer. If he hadn't caught it or dodged in time, his nose would've been in bad shape.
Grumbling under his breath, Jeong Tae-ui downed the ice-cold beer in one go. He let out a long sigh. He hadn't realized how thirsty he was.
After finishing the beer, he felt even thirstier.
Shaking the empty can regretfully, Jeong Tae-ui considered getting another one but suddenly looked at Ilay.
Ilay was staring at him. His eyes were sharp as blades but indifferent. The way his fingers tapped on the sheet suggested he was deep in thought.
"...."
Jeong Tae-ui frowned slightly.
'Wait a minute.... He doesn't seem upset, so what's he thinking about while staring at me like that?'
Jeong Tae-ui pulled the enamel teapot on the bedside table toward him. He bit the short spout and tilted the teapot. Rita would have been horrified, but there was no helping it. The cup was on the bookshelf right behind Ilay. He was thirsty, but not so much that he absolutely needed water. However, sitting there silently while being stared at made him feel awkward.
At this point, the only thing that could have Ilay so deep in thought was probably the call from Hong Kong earlier.
Come to think of it, Ilay had left without filing for leave, almost hijacking a private jet without following any procedures. Even Jeong Tae-ui, who didn't know much about UNHRDO's various regulations, could tell that Ilay had messed up big time. Though, compared to the countless incidents he'd caused before, this was relatively minor. Whether he had to write a bunch of reports, get demoted, or be confined to the detention section, Ilay wouldn't bat an eye.
"...."
The prison... If only he could be locked up there for a few months, that would be more than enough.
Jeong Tae-ui removed his mouth from the teapot. Then, glancing at Ilay, he spoke up.
"You got a call from Hong Kong, right? From UNHRDO? Probably because of you coming here. ...Oh. Or is it related to the arms deal?"
It wasn't until he opened his mouth that he remembered the latter possibility was quite plausible. But regardless of the main issue, there must have been some mention of his unauthorized departure from his post.
Ilay raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded. Then, shrugging nonchalantly, he said.
"It wasn't anything special. Just a message telling me to come back as soon as possible. They even said to return by tomorrow. It was a message signed by the General Director himself."
"By tomorrow? If it's by tomorrow…—"
"Considering the time difference, I'd have to leave today."
Ilay finished the sentence Jeong Tae-ui had left hanging. Jeong Tae-ui stared at him blankly for a moment.
"Today..."
He turned his gaze to the clock on the wall. The sun overhead was beginning to set. There wasn't much time left in the day. Depending on how you looked at it, you could say there was still a fair amount of time, but it certainly wasn't enough to prepare for an immediate international departure.
Jeong Tae-ui closed his mouth and silently looked at Ilay. For a moment, he recalled the first possibility he had considered earlier but quickly dismissed it. He knew life wasn't that easy.
"If you're leaving today…"
Jeong Tae-ui slowly began to speak. Then he waited for Ilay to say something.
Ilay remained silent for a while. As if he had a lot to think about, he tapped the sheet with his fingers for a while before finally stopping.
"Are you planning to go look for Jae-i...?"
But the words that came out of Ilay's mouth were somewhat unexpected. At the same time, Jeong Tae-ui realized that this was the most crucial keyword. It was also unexpected. While it was the general way of rational people to first gauge others' intentions, he hadn't expected this from Ilay. He had thought Ilay would enforce his own will regardless of Jeong Tae-ui's wishes, as that seemed more like his style.
"...Yeah. Are you going to help?"
Jeong Tae-ui forced a smile and asked in return.
This man had to go to Hong Kong. Jeong Tae-ui wanted to go to Africa. Would Ilay simply let go of Jeong Tae-ui, whom he had just caught? It didn't seem likely. That's where the conflict arose.
Ilay's gaze narrowed as he looked at Jeong Tae-ui. His eyes, sharp as thin glass blades, always sent a chill down Jeong Tae-ui's spine, no matter how many times he'd seen them.
Jeong Tae-ui pouted and grumbled, dropping his forced smile.
"Stop glaring at me. I'm not asking for your help. Just don't get in my way."
The last sentence was what Jeong Tae-ui wanted most. And it was also the future he hoped for.
Ilay's lips curved ever so slightly. It was hard to tell if he was smiling or not as he spoke.
"To cut to the chase, Jeong Tae-ui, you're flying to Hong Kong with me tonight."
"...."
Jeong Tae-ui frowned. Then he glared at Ilay with displeasure.
'Yeah, I figured it would come to this. This is just like him.'
"Why did you even ask if you were going to do this anyway?" Jeong Tae-ui muttered bitterly and sighed. Now was the time to seriously think about what to do.
If Ilay Riegrow simply dragged him to Hong Kong without a second thought, there was no way Jeong Tae-ui could avoid it. There was no way to escape while this man, with all his limbs intact, was watching him with both eyes open. Nor did Jeong Tae-ui have the ability to confront him head-on, knock him down, and get past him.
'Then, like last time, should I wait for him to let his guard down, drug him, and make a run for it...? ...But if I do that..., unless I get a new ID, I'll be caught by the scruff of my neck before I even reach the airport gate.'
'It might be quicker to just get a new identity. Though I'm not sure if that's possible with this man watching me. Besides, he's not the type to fall for the same trick twice.' Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue, scratched his head vigorously, then glanced up at Ilay.
"Do I have any right to refuse?"
"No."
The calm reply came almost before Jeong Tae-ui finished speaking. He'd expected as much.
"What if I make a quick stop somewhere else first?"
"From Berlin to Dar es Salaam, then transfer to a small plane to Seringe, find Jae-i there, then back to Dar es Salaam——no, Johannesburg would be faster from there, then via Johannesburg to Hong Kong. If you can make it by tomorrow, that's fine too."
"...."
Jeong Tae-ui lost count of how many times he'd wanted to tear that smug mouth wide open. He gave up trying to keep track, as even his fingers weren't enough.
There were so many things he wanted to say, but he knew full well that none of them would make a difference, so he kept his mouth firmly shut. Ilay, who had been staring at him intently, suddenly spoke.
"Tay. You might have thought about this before."
"...?"
"Jae-i is ridiculously lucky. Even if he was kidnapped and confined, no one would take that at face value. If he really wanted to, getting back home without a scratch would've been nothing. But despite that, there's been no contact at all. Not even with you."
"...."
"Have you ever thought that maybe Jae-i doesn't really want to see you?"
Jeong Tae-ui stared at Ilay. There was no teasing or probing in his tone. He spoke casually, as if simply stating a thought that had crossed his mind.
"Well...that could be true. If that's the case, even if I go to Seringe, I probably won't get to see him."
Jeong Tae-ui shrugged and muttered.
Even if Jeong Jae-ui were right outside that door, if he didn't want to see Jeong Tae-ui, there would be no way for Jeong Tae-ui to meet him.
"But I don't think that's likely. Just because he might not be thinking about seeing me doesn't mean he actively dislikes me."
Jeong Tae-ui waved his hand dismissively.
In truth, it was impossible not to have thought about it. Even around his birthday, a time when they usually contacted each other, he hadn't been able to reach his brother. So, of course, he couldn't help but wonder. Maybe his brother was so engrossed in something that he didn't have the time to think about him.
"Dislikes me, huh... That's a possibility. I hadn't thought of that."
Jeong Tae-ui muttered with a hint of admiration and nodded. It was a premise that could easily be considered, yet he had never thought of it. But even as he considered it, it still didn't seem likely.
Ilay, who had been silently watching Jeong Tae-ui nod his head calmly, raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You two seem to get along well as brothers."
"Hmm? Well, it's not so much that we get along... It's more that there's never been a reason for us to not get along."
Jeong Tae-ui added, "My brother and I don't have personalities that would clash. It's not that we get along well, but rather that our traits don't overlap enough to even say we don't."
They certainly weren't the kind of brothers who were inseparable. They had never gone to arcades together or played baseball or basketball. But neither had they ever clashed over conflicting preferences.
Thinking about it, their relationship might seem rather bland.
But even so.
"I want to see him."
'So, I don't want to go to Hong Kong with you.'
There was no way Ilay didn't understand what Jeong Tae-ui meant. He was the kind of man who could sense even what Jeong Tae-ui didn't want to reveal. Ilay's gaze narrowed further. Jeong Tae-ui met that inscrutable gaze head-on.
"Jeong Tay. Do you think you have a choice in this?"
"...I don't?"
Jeong Tae-ui rolled his eyes for a moment, then muttered cautiously. Just three seconds ago, he had been somewhat confident, but now that reality had dragged him back, he was faltering.
As Jeong Tae-ui hesitated, Ilay remained silent for a moment before asking again.
"If you don't, are you planning to tie me up and run away again?"
"Well..."
The words 'maybe I will' didn't come out.
Jeong Tae-ui had always thought he was pretty good at dodging questions or deflecting, but he realized he might need to revise that opinion. Dealing with someone as unpredictable and sharp as Ilay was exhausting. Lies rarely worked on him, and Jeong Tae-ui didn't want to obediently follow him around either.
But Jeong Tae-ui soon sighed and shrugged. No matter how much he agonized over it, he already knew what he had to do.
Even if not everything, most things could be resolved with time. Depending on how much time and whether he had the patience to wait, the difficulty might vary, but in the end, there were few problems time couldn't solve. Whether it took a few months, a few years, or even longer, Jeong Tae-ui could eventually break free from Ilay. Anger and obsession faded with time. Then, one day, Jeong Tae-ui would get another chance. He never believed he'd be without an opportunity forever.
'...Though, with this guy, there's a good chance he'd just kill me outright once he got bored, which is a bit of a problem.'
Jeong Tae-ui scratched his cheek and clicked his tongue, still somewhat dissatisfied. Finally, he made one last feeble attempt to resist.
"By the way. If we find Jae-ui hyung, wouldn't that be great news for your company? You've been looking for him all this time, right?"
"The company? Hmm. It's not like the company's going to collapse, and besides, that's not my department."
Ilay waved his hand lightly, as if to say the company was his brother's responsibility, not his. Jeong Tae-ui tried again.
"Then what about UNHRDO? (Not that I think you feel any attachment to it, not even a fingernail's worth.) But it's still the organization you're part of. Don't you want to help find someone they've been desperately searching for?"
"Me?"
Ilay's reply was just that one word. And that one word said everything.
Jeong Tae-ui, who had inadvertently earned himself a mocking laugh, thought to himself, 'I should've expected this.' He knew full well that saying something like that wouldn't get him a response like, 'Oh, you're right. Go ahead and find him then.' So why had he even brought it up? The most incomprehensible thing, upon reflection, was himself.
"Tay. Then let me turn that question back to you."
"...?"
Jeong Tae-ui looked at Ilay suspiciously at his sudden words.
"Jae-ui, as you said, is undoubtedly a key figure for T&R, UNHRDO, and other related organizations. In other words, now that there's a lead on his whereabouts, there's no shortage of people rushing to rescue him. So why do 'you' have to be the one to go save him?"
"Save him? I'm not trying to save him. I just want to see him."
"Besides, it's not like my brother is in a situation where he needs saving," Jeong Tae-ui added, shaking his head.
Even though his uncle's request for Jeong Tae-ui to look for Jae-ui might not have been purely out of brotherly affection, Jeong Tae-ui still wanted to see him. He was curious, especially since they hadn't been in contact. And in this situation, the red thread his brother had cut still lingered in his mind.
'I guess my luck's been messed up ever since I lost contact with my lucky brother,' Jeong Tae-ui grumbled to himself, then suddenly looked at Ilay. Ilay, who had been staring at him without any reaction, slowly began to speak.
"Do you want to go?"
The destination didn't need to be specified. Jeong Tae-ui hesitated for a moment, then sighed.
"If I want to go, will you let me?"
"No. You're coming to Hong Kong with me on the plane tonight."
Jeong Tae-ui unconsciously frowned slightly. This guy hadn't been playing word games earlier, so what was this about?
"Ilay. Think about it. You're not the kind of person to fall for the same trick twice. I know that much. And you know that I know that. So, even if I go to Africa alone to find my brother this time, you'll be able to track me down quickly anyway. So there's no reason to drag me along to Hong Kong. You can always find me and tighten the noose whenever you want."
Jeong Tae-ui spoke with genuine seriousness. Ilay chuckled softly.
"Tay. You're forgetting one thing."
"What?"
"I've told you before. To you, who finds being with me utterly unbearable, I said: live miserably until you die."
"...."
As he said, Jeong Tae-ui had forgotten. He had been foolish to forget, even for a moment, the relentless and vicious nature of this man.
Jeong Tae-ui got up from the bed without hesitation. He grabbed the shirt draped over the chair and slipped his arms into it, muttering.
"Fine, let's go, damn Hong Kong. Lock me up in the prison or dump me in the ocean with cement shoes, do whatever you want."
'If the flight is tonight, I don't know when this guy plans to leave the house, but he can't afford to take his time. There's not much to pack, but I should tidy up a bit and say goodbye to Kyle, Rita, and the others. Even if it's just a phone call or a note for Kyle, who left for work after a late breakfast, I'd like to say a proper goodbye. I'll probably see them again someday, but still.'
'Damn it. I'd already half given up on my life the moment I was caught by this guy, but the fact that I can't live my life on my own terms still twists my stomach.'
"Once the whereabouts of someone who's been missing are discovered by one person, the news spreads in an instant."
Ilay's voice reached Jeong Tae-ui's ears as he dressed, his discomfort plain to see. Jeong Tae-ui glanced over his shoulder and muttered sulkily.
"Yeah, the fact that my brother might be in Seringe will probably leak out everywhere. There'll be no shortage of people trying to pull him out, even if it's not me."
'So, we're going to Hong Kong,' he grumbled.
The wooden floor creaked as Ilay stood up. In just a few steps, he was behind Jeong Tae-ui, reaching out to pinch his ear. The slow, gentle yet relentless twist of his fingers made Jeong Tae-ui wince and turn his head.
"I'm not talking about Jae-i."
"…?"
Jeong Tae-ui shook his head, and Ilay released his ear. Covering his ear with one hand, Jeong Tae-ui looked at him in confusion.
The whereabouts of someone who had been missing. In this context, it naturally referred to Jeong Jae-ui.
Jeong Tae-ui tilted his head slightly and stared intently at Ilay. After a moment of deep thought, he blinked, but Ilay remained silent, seemingly unwilling to speak. Jeong Tae-ui, meeting Ilay's gaze as it bore down on him, eventually furrowed his brows slightly and muttered, almost to himself.
"Me...?"
"Yeah, you."
Jeong Tae-ui stared blankly at Ilay with a dazed expression, then slowly tapped himself with his index finger.
"Well...that's...I guess since even my uncle knows where I am now. So what of it?"
"If someone tries to snatch my prey, even for a moment, it's not exactly pleasant. If I leave you in Hong Kong and go to the branch office, I can handle any issues immediately if something happens. But if it's not that, then as soon as I leave Germany, they'll probably pounce."
Jeong Tae-ui still had a dazed look on his face.
It wasn't the first time this man was spouting nonsense that was hard to understand, but until now, Jeong Tae-ui had generally been able to make sense of it. This time, however, he couldn't. But since Ilay wasn't the type to spout useless nonsense, it must be that his own understanding was lacking.
But even so....
"Who else would target me besides you?"
Jeong Tae-ui muttered incredulously. People tend to judge others based on themselves, but even so, he hadn't lived his life in a way that would make enemies everywhere he went. He didn't remember doing anything that would make people want to kill him.
As Ilay had mentioned, it wasn't just Jeong Jae-ui who had been missing for a while. Although for a much shorter period, Jeong Tae-ui had also been unaccounted for.
But Jeong Jae-ui and Jeong Tae-ui were different. No one was looking for Jeong Tae-ui. Unless there was someone with a special grudge who was persistently chasing him—someone like the guy in front of him.
"Why wouldn't there be? Just off the top of my head…."
As Jeong Tae-ui scoffed and spoke, Ilay clicked his tongue and opened his mouth. But he stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth again.
"Off the top of your head, what?"
Jeong Tae-ui urged him on, but Ilay just stared at him coldly. Under that gaze, Jeong Tae-ui slowly averted his eyes, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. 'If you don't want to talk, fine,' he grumbled.
Ilay suddenly muttered softly.
"Jeong Jae-i...."
"...?"
"Maybe that side will be more troublesome."
Jeong Tae-ui frowned slightly. The topic was jumping around oddly, and just when he thought he had a grasp on it, it slipped away again. Jeong Tae-ui let out a deep sigh and tugged at his hair in frustration.
"So. You're saying that someone, who I don't even know, has a grudge against me and might kill me before you do, so I should go to Hong Kong with you? Or should I just suffer every day?"
He wanted to say it with obvious anger, but it didn't go as Jeong Tae-ui had hoped. Even if he had, the person listening wasn't the type to care much, and while Jeong Tae-ui wasn't exactly pleased, he wasn't angry either.
Muttering in a drained voice, Jeong Tae-ui thought to himself. 'So this is what happens when you mess up once, run away, and get caught. I guess this is what they call karma.'
Ilay, who had been staring at Jeong Tae-ui as if deep in thought ever since entering the room, reached into his pocket, pulled out a phone, and tossed it to Jeong Tae-ui. Reflexively catching it, Jeong Tae-ui looked at the phone in his hand with confusion.
"Think whatever you want. The trip to Hong Kong isn't changing. We're leaving in 30 minutes, so call my brother and let him know. It'll connect directly, so no need to go through multiple steps."
"Ah, yeah."
Jeong Tae-ui grumbled unhappily and turned on the phone. Then he suddenly frowned.
Leaving in 30 minutes. As if lightning could roast beans.
As he started dialing a number he had memorized, Jeong Tae-ui called out to Ilay, who was heading toward the door.
"You said you came on a private jet, so there's no set flight time. Why the rush to leave in exactly 30 minutes?"
Thinking about it, time-wise, they could have had a proper farewell dinner after Kyle returned and still made it back on the private jet with plenty of time.
"...."
Ilay stopped walking and slowly turned around. Seeing the faint look of disbelief on his otherwise expressionless face, Jeong Tae-ui quickly looked back down at the phone screen.
Right, there's no way the pilot, who was forced to come here, would just sit around waiting for some instructor. And if it wasn't a personal private jet but a UNHRDO one, the schedule would already be tightly packed. Any disruption would cause significant issues.
"Talk about being in a rush.... Is the flight booked?"
More to himself than asking, Jeong Tae-ui muttered, and Ilay, who was just stepping out of the room, answered.
"Of course. Passport number JR0203314, Mr. Kim Young-soo."
".... Your sarcasm is truly top-notch…."
Jeong Tae-ui muttered, sounding exasperated, and Ilay chuckled a few times. After a brief pause, he turned back to look at Jeong Tae-ui. Reluctantly, but calmly, he said.
"Keep your mouth shut and follow quietly. I won't stop you from seeing Jeong Jae-i."
"Huh?"
Jeong Tae-ui, who had the phone to his ear as it rang, gave Ilay a slightly dazed look. He hadn't misheard, but the statement was unexpected, making him wonder if he'd heard wrong. But before Jeong Tae-ui could ask for clarification, Ilay turned and walked out of the room, leaving those words behind.
By the time the ringing stopped and Kyle's short "What's up?" came through the phone, Jeong Tae-ui was still staring blankly at the spot where Ilay had disappeared from view.
* * *
Kyle was a busy man.
Even now, he had a phone pressed to his right ear, receiving a direct call from across the ocean. In his right hand was a pen, and in his left, a sheet of paper that James had brought in just five minutes ago, saying it had just come through the fax.
Truth be told, most of the work was handled by James. In fact, more than 90% of the tasks were likely resolved by James before they even reached Kyle. James was an incredibly capable secretary. Though he did tend to nag a bit too much, considering the past when Kyle had been buried under piles of work, stressed to the point of needing psychological counseling, and even threatening to quit, Kyle had no choice but to endure.
Today, after having a late breakfast and arriving at the office, Kyle sighed at the mountain of work piled on his desk and muttered, "There's too much work." But under James's sharp gaze—who had woken up at 5 a.m., arrived at the office by 7 a.m., reviewed the day's tasks, and then gone to pick up his boss at his house after 9 a.m.—Kyle had no choice but to swallow his words.
In reality, James had half given up on his boss. Kyle was undoubtedly a brilliant man, often referred to as a prodigy by some, but he was far from diligent. If it weren't for Kyle's exceptional intellect, the company would have collapsed long ago.
Knowing Kyle's capricious nature and lazy tendencies all too well, James handled most tasks himself unless it was absolutely necessary for Kyle to intervene. Kyle, of course, was more than happy—delighted, even—to let James take care of things. And given the sheer volume of work, James made sure to compensate himself handsomely, with a hefty salary.
As such, any documents that made it to Kyle's desk were those that he 'absolutely had to see.'
"That's why it's even more annoying. There's not a single task I can slack off on or half-heartedly push through. Not one! Not a single one. Damn it, that work demon."
As soon as James handed over the fax and left, Kyle began grumbling and badmouthing James. Hearing this, the friend on the other end of the phone laughed.
["Why don't you tell James that? Ask him to lighten the load."]
And just as the friend expected, Kyle jumped.
"Don't joke around. If I do that, he might actually quit this time, and then I'd be done for, completely done."
["Haha, you do know. If James ever quits, let me know. I'll snatch up that capable guy right away. I'm sure there are plenty of others eyeing him too."]
"No, no. If you take James, you'll have to take me along too."
Kyle shuddered at the thought of life without his far more capable secretary. Even as he spoke in that timid tone, his cold, calculating eyes scanned the document, making checkmarks here and there with his pen.
Just then, his phone rang from his inner pocket.
Kyle gathered the pen and paper in one hand and pulled out his phone. Seeing the number on the screen, he raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What's this guy calling for?"
["Did you get a call? Should I call back later?"]
"No, it's Ilay. He'll probably just say what he needs and hang up, so it's fine. But why is he calling all of a sudden? I just saw him a couple of hours ago."
["Ah, it's Rick. Probably saying goodbye. He has to return to the branch office by tomorrow."]
"Is that so? Then he must be leaving today. No, but that guy isn't the type to do something as cute as saying goodbye. Hold on a second. …What's up?"
Kyle put his friend's call on hold and answered the phone. His brother wasn't the type to call without a reason, and even less so for trivial matters. As for saying goodbye? That was out of the question. Even his brother knew that, so it was clearly a joke.
But the response to Kyle's blunt greeting was a hesitant, soft voice.
["Kyle? It's Tae-ui."]
"Tae-ui?! Oh, hey."
Kyle pulled the phone away from his ear to double-check the screen. The number was indeed his brother's. With a mental question mark, he tilted his head but still softened his voice instinctively.
"What's up, calling on Ilay's phone? Did he tell you to call or something?"
He laughed, half-joking, but Tae-ui on the other end hesitated again.
["Well… I'm about to leave for Hong Kong. With Ilay. If I had known earlier, I would've said a proper goodbye this morning, but it's all so sudden… I'm sorry. And thank you. I owe you a lot for everything."]
"Huh? You're leaving? When?"
["In 30 minutes."]
Hearing Tae-ui's somewhat embarrassed mutter, Kyle fell silent for a moment.
"At least stay for dinner. This is too sudden."
["Ah, I'd like to, but Ilay seems to be in a hurry. He has to return to the Hong Kong branch by tomorrow."]
"That's his problem. Send him ahead and stay a bit longer."
["It's not up to me."]
"Tell him you're not going, no matter what."
["…Then I'll really die."]
The voice on the phone suddenly turned somber. Kyle felt a pang of sadness too. He understood the reality of that statement all too well. He had always thought no one was as unfortunate as himself for having such a peculiar younger brother, but now he wondered if there might be someone even more unfortunate than him.
"Alright, then be careful. It's a shame. If you ever come to Germany again, make sure to visit."
["Yes, I really owe you a lot. Thank you."]
Both Kyle and the young man on the phone were the type to not drag out conversations once a decision was made.
After a few more words of farewell, the young man hung up, and Kyle sighed lightly, putting the phone back in his pocket. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, blinking a couple of times, before picking up the call he had put on hold.
"Sorry, did you wait long?"
["Two minutes and a bit. It's fine. I was sorting out some work too. So, what did Rick say?"]
"Hmm. It was a goodbye. He said he's leaving for Hong Kong right away."
["…."]
A brief silence came from the other end of the line. No doubt his friend was pondering the connection between Rick and a farewell.
"It was your nephew. I thought it was Ilay when his number showed up, but it wasn't."
["Ah. Tae-ui? He's going to Hong Kong? Not Tanzania? …Ah. Well, he did get caught by Rick."]
The voice on the phone muttered, ["Poor kid,"] without a hint of jest. Kyle wholeheartedly agreed. He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly muttered under his breath.
"That's really strange, really strange…."
The soft, ambiguous mutter must have reached the other end, but his friend didn't ask anything. Well, it wasn't just him who found it strange. Kyle pondered for a while but, unable to reach a conclusion, finally asked his friend.
"What exactly did Tae-ui do to Ilay to run away like that?"
["…Who knows. He was quietly enduring, but at some point, his stress levels must have hit a breaking point… …It might be partly my fault."]
His friend's voice grew somber too. Kyle tilted his head in confusion. His mind was still foggy, but he decided to drop the topic for now. He had already skimmed through the fax in his hand.
"By the way, your nephew—our institute's greatest public enemy, that genius—seems to be in Seringe."
["Did you get some new information?"]
"Yeah. It seems to be related to Rahman Abid Al-Saud."
["Rahman… Ah. The man under Prince Al-Faisal, right?"]
Kyle pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow.
It wasn't exactly surprising, but even so, this friend never failed to amaze him. Of course, he knew the friend had his own intelligence network, but knowing about that man was a different matter altogether.
"You know a lot. He's a man who's kept a low profile, never standing out. I only heard his name while searching for Jae-i's whereabouts."
["No, it's a coincidence. A few years ago, I happened to meet him. Well, more accurately, I saw him while he was attending to Faisal. We didn't talk much, but I remember him because, even though he's royalty, he's far down the line of succession."]
"You remember him because he's far down the line of succession?"
["Hmm… He was a regrettable figure."]
After a moment of choosing his words, his friend spoke carefully. Kyle sighed.
"A regrettable figure, huh. …You have a good eye. He's the one who helped Faisal's business grow after Faisal switched sides early in the royal power struggle. It's not widely known, though."
["Ah, I see. So he's like James from T&R, then."]
Hearing the laughter in his friend's voice, Kyle grimaced.
"Well, you could say that. If you mean someone who wields real power. Anyway—it seems that friend of ours has taken our researcher away very politely, secretly, and somewhat forcefully.'
["…But as far as I know, Faisal doesn't deal in military supplies."]
"Exactly. There are a few possibilities we can consider. We'll need to look into it more."
["Hmm. Does Rahman have a villa in Seringe?"]
"Yeah. He bought up the most expensive piece of land there. And for about a year now, Raman's health has been declining, so he doesn't come out often."
His friend hummed thoughtfully. Over the phone, Kyle could almost see him nodding.
Kyle skimmed through the documents Gable had sent again. Based on the information, he noted down additional things to verify or eliminate possible scenarios. Handing this memo to James would only add to the workload, and he could already feel the sharp glare coming his way. He wished he could solve it by giving a hefty bonus, but this was beyond what money could fix. (If he said that, he'd likely be scolded to just do the work himself.)
"Hey, Chang-in. I'm scared of James."
As he read through the notes he'd scribbled on a few sheets of paper, Kyle muttered heavily. His friend, seemingly at a loss for words, made a half-hearted attempt to console him.
"So, you take responsibility for pulling Jae-i out of there, alright?"
["Huh? Oh… sure, I'll do that. Not sure how well it'll go, though."]
"It's not just James I'm scared of. Our institute director is terrifying too. Just mentioning Jae-i's 'J' makes his eyes bloodshot. He's determined to dissect that damn genius's brain before he dies. He's even seriously considering studying neuroanatomy to make it happen."
His friend burst out laughing. Kyle sighed. "It's not a joke," he muttered weakly, but his friend showed no signs of stopping.
["Well, if Gable looked into it and contacted you, there's a good chance Jae-ui is there. So the question is, how did that lucky kid get kidnapped and held for months…."]
Finally calming down, his friend muttered, still with a hint of laughter in his voice. And Kyle, knowing full well what his friend was thinking, answered succinctly.
"He probably doesn't want to leave, that's all."
There was no other answer. Unless Jae-ui's incredible luck had suddenly vanished overnight. But what reason would there be for decades of good fortune to disappear just like that?
["Well… maybe someone cut the thread."]
His friend suddenly muttered. The ambiguous remark, almost like he was talking to himself, made Kyle raise an eyebrow. But without further comment, he pressed the button to call James and picked up the next document.
"Anyway, that's all the news for today. I'll leave the rest to you."
["Alright. It doesn't seem like it'll be smooth sailing. …I might suddenly develop a grudge against Maurer."]
After a moment of deliberation, his friend sighed and muttered a few words of farewell before hanging up.
* * *
The Lipo Center didn't seem quite right today.
The thought crossed Jeong Tae-ui's mind, but he quickly shook his head. No, it wasn't just today. He had a feeling that the Lipo Center would never look normal to him again in his lifetime. Unless T&R moved out of there… but even then…
"No, even if they relocate, the Lipo Center is already etched into my mind as a deep trauma."
Jeong Tae-ui muttered softly, gazing vaguely at the Lipo Center visible through the transparent glass across from him.
'Perhaps the Chinese feng shui masters were onto something,' he thought, before turning his head away. He then grabbed a beer from the minibar in the room.
It had been a few days since he arrived in Hong Kong. Jeong Tae-ui was effectively confined to a hotel room across from the Lipo Center.
Well, it wasn't confinement in the strictest sense. Jeong Tae-ui was free to enjoy the casino or bar in the hotel, or even venture outside to explore the city. He could call anyone he wanted, though there weren't many people he felt like calling.
Even now, he had just returned from wandering the streets out of boredom after giving up on reading the books he had bought a few days ago and left piled up in the room.
"But even so, if there's surveillance, it's still confinement, isn't it?"
Jeong Tae-ui grumbled under his breath. Who knows? Maybe there were surveillance cameras or listening devices in this room too. But he didn't care. Let them listen if they want. It's not like he was saying anything wrong. For days now, Jeong Tae-ui had been trapped behind invisible bars.
As soon as they returned to Hong Kong, Ilay had left Jeong Tae-ui alone in the hotel and gone straight to the UNHRDO Asia branch. With only a vague instruction to "behave and stay put," Ilay disappeared without further explanation, leaving Jeong Tae-ui momentarily stunned.
Ilay was gone.
Without Jeong Tae-ui even trying to escape or seize an opportunity, Ilay had turned his back and left first.
For a brief moment, Jeong Tae-ui wondered what kind of trick this was, but the thought quickly faded.
When he thought about it, unless Jeong Tae-ui came up with a brilliant plan, there was no way for him to escape even if Ilay disappeared right in front of him. Not without a passport or any form of identification, or resorting to illegal means like stowing away. And of course, no sane person would attempt to stow away without proper identification.
Identification.
It was the most basic requirement for doing anything illegal. Without it, there were very few options—practically none, if safety was a concern.
He briefly considered forging a new identity and running away again, but he dismissed the thought as soon as it came. Ilay wasn't the type to fall for the same trick twice, and the number of skilled forgers who could create a convincing fake identity were limited. Jeong Tae-ui had no way of contacting such a forger without going through someone else, and even if he tried, he could vividly imagine Ilay sitting in the forger's place, waiting for him.
Enough. Even when he's behaving, his life is always hanging by a thread. There's no need to risk it further.
Jeong Tae-ui lay sprawled on the bed for a while before suddenly sitting up. He looked out the window.
The imposing Lipo Center was the first thing that caught his eye, and he instinctively frowned. It was positioned so clearly in view that he almost suspected Ilay had chosen this room on purpose. Jeong Tae-ui quickly turned his head away.
Though the sun had long set, the city streets were as bright as day. From this vantage point, the bustling metropolis looked strangely unfamiliar. Jeong Tae-ui had returned to this city not long after leaving it.
'It's a bit pathetic, running away so boldly only to end up back here…'
Jeong Tae-ui scratched his head awkwardly and turned away.
It was his first day back in Hong Kong, a place he thought he wouldn't return to for a long time. And for now, at least, he was alone. To prepare for the bleak and miserable future ahead, he decided to sit by a harbor overlooking the Kowloon Peninsula and drink a beer by himself.
He half-expected someone to be waiting outside his room to stop him, but no one interfered as he left the hotel. It was as smooth as could be. For a brief moment, as he stepped out of the hotel, he entertained the futile hope that he could just run away.
But then, Jeong Tae-ui suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"...."
He looked up at the reddish night sky, devoid of stars, and let out a sigh.
'Let's see, one tail behind me… two… no, just one.'
As he casually walked out of the hotel's main entrance, he suddenly stopped about ten steps away and stared blankly at the sky. Behind him, the bellboy gave him a puzzled look. And somewhere further away, another pair of eyes watched him.
After standing there for a moment, Jeong Tae-ui suddenly chuckled and walked on, limping slightly on his still-healing leg.
Ilay probably didn't think he was that stupid. He must have known Jeong Tae-ui would notice the tail. With his leg in this condition, it would be hard to escape even an average pursuer. Somehow… yeah, there's no way he'd just let his prey roam free and disappear. No, it wasn't even about surveillance. It was just a way to remind Jeong Tae-ui that he wasn't truly free. No matter where he went, he was still behind invisible bars.
It wasn't particularly unpleasant, but if he wanted to feel annoyed, he could easily find reasons to be annoyed…
Jeong Tae-ui strolled aimlessly down the street, gauging the situation. He couldn't be sure, but if he wanted to, he could probably shake off the tail. After all, he was confident in his ability to escape, at least from an average pursuer. If there was only one tail, and if his leg were in better shape, he could have just sprinted away like a 100-meter dash.
Even though his leg wasn't fully healed, he considered giving it a try but ultimately gave up. As long as they weren't actively harming him, he didn't feel like wasting his energy. Besides, even if he managed to shake off the surveillance and escape Hong Kong, he honestly didn't think he could evade Ilay Riegrow, especially since his identity was already exposed.
If he ran away and got caught again… oh, what a glorious life. He might really lose his limbs this time.
Jeong Tae-ui's heart raced as he recalled the chilling moment he had faced Ilay in the birch forest. If he had been even slightly weaker-willed, his heart might have stopped right then and there.
Having an unfamiliar gaze following him wasn't pleasant, but there was nothing he could do about it. He went into a bookstore that was still open late, bought some books, wandered the streets, bought a drink, visited the night market for some snacks, and even browsed through a camera equipment store, though he had no real interest in it. Finally, he stopped at a shabby little bar by the harbor, had a couple of beers, and returned to the hotel.
Throughout all this, the gaze followed him relentlessly, but there was no interference. If he thought about it differently, having this faint, almost imperceptible presence following him was far better than having Ilay himself by his side.
It had been the same ever since.
Whenever Jeong Tae-ui went out for a walk—or more accurately, the moment he left his room—the tail would follow him persistently. But there was never any interference.
The day before yesterday, curious to see how far this non-interference would go, he packed only his passport and wallet and took a bus to the airport. He had even entertained the faint thought that if no one stopped him, he might just slip out of the country. But, of course, they wouldn't let him go that far. As soon as he arrived at the airport, his phone rang. It was an unknown number, but he had a pretty good idea who it was before he even answered.
'No, I wasn't really planning to leave, I'm not that stupid,' he thought frantically as he prepared his excuses. But as expected, the voice on the other end sounded more annoyed than angry, as if he had anticipated this exact scenario.
["Anyway, your passport—or rather, Kim Soo-young's passport—won't let you leave the country, so just look around the airport and head back. I'm busy right now, so don't make things difficult."]
With that, he hung up without waiting for a response.
Jeong Tae-ui stood dumbfounded in the middle of the airport, glaring at his phone. He let out a hollow laugh. A travel ban. Of course, there was no limit to what Ilay could do. He had even gone so far as to impose a travel ban, making Jeong Tae-ui feel like some kind of major criminal. He almost felt like breaking the neck of the tail following him and stowing away on a ship.
But in the end, Jeong Tae-ui had no choice but to follow Ilay's advice, tour the airport, and return. And that day, as soon as he got back to the hotel, he emptied the minibar. Starting with the overpriced 500ml bottle of water that cost as much as a cocktail at a bar, he poured all kinds of drinks and snacks—except the beer—down the toilet, and even though it cost a fortune, he didn't bat an eye as he vigorously scrubbed the diamond-encrusted spoon with a cotton ball.
But now that he thought about it…