"…If they make me pay for the room when I check out, I'm really screwed…"
Jeong Tae-ui muttered, glaring fiercely at the Lipo Center.
Another day was coming to an end. The day after tomorrow was Friday.
If Ilay's routine was the same as before, he would come to Hong Kong on Friday night to handle company business at the Lipo Center over the weekend. Perhaps Jeong Tae-ui's brief respite would end then. But even so, what could he do? Once the weekdays rolled around, Ilay would have to return to the branch office. And Jeong Tae-ui, no longer affiliated with UNHRDO, wouldn't be able to follow.
Surely Ilay didn't plan to keep him cooped up in the hotel indefinitely. Only coming out on weekends to torment him and leaving him alone on weekdays. Surely not. It's not like he was some local mistress…
As he thought this, Jeong Tae-ui suddenly shut his mouth. The taste of beer instantly soured, and he muttered a disgusted sound before flopping face down on the bed.
"Has life really come to this, Jeong Tae-ui…? Yah."
Desperately trying to erase the disturbing word from his mind, Jeong Tae-ui struggled for a while before finally giving up and collapsing. He lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling with lifeless eyes.
Suddenly, a faint voice he had heard earlier flashed through his mind.
— "Keep your mouth shut and follow quietly. I won't stop you from seeing Jeong Jae-i."
"...."
He hadn't misheard.
Jeong Tae-ui lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, before suddenly sitting up. "I won't stop you from seeing Jeong Jae-i," Ilay had clearly said.
At least as far as Jeong Tae-ui knew, Ilay Riegrow was an unpredictable and hard-to-read man, but he wasn't one to make empty promises. Especially not that kind of promise. In fact, part of the reason Jeong Tae-ui had been quietly staying in the hotel, occasionally going out for walks, was because of that statement.
"Does that mean he's planning to drag my brother here?"
He muttered to himself before shaking his head. No, that idea was out of the question. The image of someone like Jeong Jae-ui being dragged around by someone else was unimaginable.
The most plausible explanation was, "If you behave, I'll let you go find your brother." But…
Who knows? Maybe Ilay had decided to be unusually generous and let Jeong Tae-ui off the hook.
"…People really come up with all sorts of thoughts when they have too much time on their hands."
The idea of Ilay being kind-hearted was as absurd as the image of Jeong Jae-ui being dragged around by someone.
Among the various possibilities, the most realistic one was simple: it was about interests.
Finding Jeong Jae-ui could be a threat to some, but for organizations or companies related to Ilay, it would undoubtedly be a significant advantage. At the same time, losing the opportunity to secure him first—Jeong Tae-ui personally didn't want to think of it in such terms, but from the perspective of an organization, Jeong Jae-ui was no longer seen as a human being—could result in a huge loss.
In other words, it would be beneficial for the organization, and by extension, Ilay Riegrow, if Jeong Tae-ui brought Jeong Jae-ui back. Since Jeong Tae-ui couldn't run away again and could be easily found no matter where he went, it made sense for Ilay to set aside petty grudges and send Jeong Tae-ui to Jeong Jae-ui.
"…But even so, it's not something I'm particularly keen on."
Jeong Tae-ui muttered bitterly. He just wanted to see his brother.
He didn't want to bring him back, rescue him, or anything like that. He just wanted to meet him somewhere, exchange a few words, ease his longing, and say, "Well, goodbye. See you later."
Jeong Tae-ui grimaced and scratched the back of his neck.
But even so, if Ilay offered to let him go on the condition that he bring his brother back, Jeong Tae-ui would naturally agree for the sake of his own safety.
As he thought about this, his chest and mind grew increasingly tangled, and Jeong Tae-ui absentmindedly tugged at his hair. All he could do was lament his unfortunate fate.
Jeong Tae-ui stood up abruptly. He had just returned to his room, but it already felt suffocating. When his mind was cluttered with thoughts, moving his body to distract himself was the best solution. He already knew that sitting still when feeling depressed only allowed the gloom to swell like a monster, eventually swallowing him whole. And that was never a pleasant feeling.
He realized it about half an hour after leaving the hotel. Jeong Tae-ui sat on a mid-level bench, sipping orange juice and looking up at the darkening sky. He thought quietly to himself.
Why did the tail suddenly double?
At first, he hadn't noticed. He had grown somewhat accustomed to the persistent surveillance over the past few days and had mostly tuned it out. He wasn't planning to do anything outrageous, nor did he intend to rush to the harbor and stow away on a ship. As long as he didn't overstep, the tail wouldn't interfere with him, and he wouldn't interfere with them either.
So he wandered the streets without paying much attention until, at some point, he suddenly realized something felt off. He had been casually pondering what it was when it hit him. The tail had doubled.
Jeong Tae-ui finished his juice in one gulp and chewed on the straw as he pondered.
'Did they add another tail after I tried to bolt to the airport? Even though both of us know it's just a formality, what's the point of adding another one?'
Jeong Tae-ui sighed. Besides, the new tail wasn't particularly skilled. Anyone with half a mind could shake them off.
"Even if I can't run off somewhere else, isn't this a bit much…? I'm not asking for some undetectable, super-skilled agent, but still, this is ridiculous."
Jeong Tae-ui grumbled as he chewed on the straw. Then he stuck the straw back into the cup and tossed it into the trash can next to the bench before standing up.
'Look on the bright side. Maybe they added another one so we can all hang out together.'
"Well then… let's play."
He had been bored anyway. He decided to take it as a good thing. Jeong Tae-ui slipped his hands into his pockets and walked slowly. As if taking a stroll—which he was—he climbed a gentle slope, casually observing his surroundings.
There were a lot of people around. A couple of blocks up, there were antique shops, and one block over was a place where movies were often filmed. A little further down was a main road. Even at this hour, with the sun long set, there were still plenty of people coming and going.
For such a crowded area, it wasn't particularly well-kept. Perfect.
If someone was skilled enough to tail others, they must be intimately familiar with the local geography. However, chasing someone is inherently several times more difficult than being the one being chased.
Jeong Tae-ui gradually quickened his pace. He turned into a narrow alleyway, then changed direction at the end of the alley, heading toward the main road below. He walked leisurely but at a brisk pace toward the street.
He couldn't hail a taxi. That would turn this lighthearted game into a full-blown chase.
If he continued down the main road, he would reach a traditional market frequented by locals rather than tourists. Passing through the unremarkable market, Jeong Tae-ui chuckled softly.
...Ah, the crowd has grown. Time to find a suitable spot.
Humming cheerfully, Jeong Tae-ui made a quick loop around the area before changing direction again.
He had already scouted a location. On the way there, he noticed a small side street that seemed decent enough. He briefly considered it but decided against it. While it might be fine for a casual chase like this, it could be risky in a more serious pursuit. One block over was a redevelopment zone. If he took a wrong turn at a critical moment, escaping would be difficult. Plus, if it came down to running, Jeong Tae-ui's leg wasn't in any condition for that.
"Hmm... That spot is still better."
His humming grew more lively, as if his mood had lightened. Having a tail wasn't so bad after all. Of course, he still disliked being followed, but it was infinitely better than having Ilay himself tailing him.
If the person following him had been Ilay Riegrow...
"...Why do I keep having these scary thoughts? I must be sick in the head."
Jeong Tae-ui rubbed his lips, which had lost their smile, and muttered to himself. If the tail had been Ilay, he wouldn't have even attempted this little game. If Ilay Riegrow were chasing him from just a few steps away, and he were desperately trying to escape...
"Ugh... No, no, why do you keep thinking like this, Jeong Tae-ui?"
He vigorously rubbed his pale lips. Just the brief thought sent a chill down his spine. It was pure horror. If that ever happened, he might die of a heart attack the moment Ilay grabbed his shoulder. Thinking back, the fact that he hadn't fainted when he encountered Ilay in the birch forest was proof enough that he was a remarkably brave and bold person.
Jeong Tae-ui rubbed his arms, which had gone cold despite the warm weather. As he did so, he arrived at the spot he had scouted earlier.
It was a pedestrian overpass, about one and a half stories high.
It was shorter than the average overpass, spanning a web of small side streets. However, it was still high enough that jumping down would be risky.
Jeong Tae-ui leaned his arms on the railing of the overpass and quietly looked down. The footsteps behind him slowed. The tail seemed to sense that Jeong Tae-ui's demeanor was different from usual and was watching more carefully, but they kept their distance, observing rather than closing in.
"If you think something's off, you should rush over and grab me by the scruff of my neck and drag me back, you fools…"
Jeong Tae-ui muttered as he looked down at the darkening alley. He glanced around. A few steps away, there was a decently large rock lying on the ground. He picked it up, feeling its weight in his hand. It seemed like a fragment broken off from a brick, large enough to fill his palm. It looked like it could even knock someone out.
Just below the overpass, a metal pipe or some kind of hook protruded from the roof of a building. Jeong Tae-ui tossed the rock up and caught it once, then hurled it with force at the hook. Clang! The rock shattered into two or three pieces and tumbled down, but the hook remained unscathed.
"Okay... Even if I fall from this height... I might get hurt, but I won't die."
He muttered to himself, shaking his wrist. It would be unfair to get hurt while playing around, but he couldn't help it. He took a couple of deep breaths.
In the next moment, Jeong Tae-ui flashed a bright smile toward where the gaze was coming from. He even waved. Simultaneously, he vaulted over the railing and threw himself off the overpass.
A short scream seemed to echo from a distance.
The building walls rushed past his eyes as the ground approached rapidly. Among them, the hook came into view. Jeong Tae-ui stretched out his hands precisely toward it. If he missed or failed to grab it, he'd have to brace for at least one broken leg.
"...!!"
It wasn't an easy task to catch a small metal hook while falling from a height, supporting his entire weight in an instant. The acceleration from the fall hit his arms hard. Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue briefly and frowned. Slipp! One hand grabbed the hook but slipped. He quickly steadied himself with the other hand, using it as a support to grab the hook again with the slipping hand. His body swayed precariously.
"Whoa... That was close, too close."
Jeong Tae-ui muttered softly only after firmly gripping the hook with both hands and stabilizing himself. His body, swinging like a pendulum, slowly came to a stop. Looking up, he saw a couple of people running toward him on the overpass. Looking down, the ground was about two meters below.
Jeong Tae-ui grinned at the tails he was seeing up close for the first time. "Bye-bye," he muttered in a voice so soft it was unclear if they heard him, then let go of the hook. A moment later, he felt the solid ground beneath his feet. He frowned again—this time more deeply—as he landed, putting most of his weight on his uninjured leg. Still, a sharp pain shot through the leg in the cast, and even the uninjured leg felt strained.
He rolled to disperse the impact, but he had to crouch for a few seconds, muttering "Ouch, ouch." After a while, he slowly stood up. His ankle hurt, but he confirmed he could still walk without major issues. Then, there was nothing left to do but run.
There was no rule preventing the tails from following him the same way. But seeing their flustered faces, Jeong Tae-ui felt a bit sorry for them. Smiling, he shouted loud enough for them to hear.
"See you back at the hotel later. I'm just going for a walk and then heading back."
With a light turn, Jeong Tae-ui limped but quickly ran off. Behind him, the men on the overpass shouted something, but Jeong Tae-ui pretended not to hear. It wasn't clear anyway, and if they were shouting in Chinese, he wouldn't have understood.
Jeong Tae-ui stopped only when he had distanced himself enough that he no longer felt the presence of the tails behind him.
Honestly, since he had managed to shake them off so easily—probably because they weren't prepared—he could have run as far as he wanted. But since he doubted he could stay hidden for more than a week, he decided to give up.
"Maybe I shouldn't have shaken them off. What if the tails triple starting tomorrow?"
Despite his words, Jeong Tae-ui showed no sign of regret as he strolled leisurely. His leg ached, but his mind felt refreshed. He tapped the cast, which he'd have to wear for a while longer, and thought, 'I guess my body is sturdier than I thought.'
'By the way, where am I?'
He could roughly guess his location. His sense of direction was reliable. Enjoying the unfamiliar scenery of the alley, he slowly made his way through the side streets.
It was a quiet residential area. Not completely deserted, but it had the typical atmosphere of an evening alley. Small shops were scattered here and there.
Even when he had tails following him, he had walked around as if nothing was wrong, but actually being free from surveillance felt special. Jeong Tae-ui let out a relaxed sigh.
Originally, he had planned to return to the hotel soon. There wasn't really anywhere to go, so he thought he'd head straight back. But feeling this relaxed was rare, so he slowed his pace.
A shabby little restaurant came into view. Realizing it was mealtime, he leisurely went in and slowly ate his meal. It wasn't particularly delicious, but he felt satisfied, perhaps because he was at ease. He even enjoyed the tea and fruit slices the kind owner offered. By the time he left, it was quite late. The sky was already dark.
"Guess it's time to head back."
Even if he got scolded over the phone by that guy after returning, he felt he could fall asleep in a good mood tonight. Jeong Tae-ui stretched and started walking. He headed toward the main road, passing through a narrow alley.
But then, something happened.
Jeong Tae-ui slowed his steps for a brief moment, then resumed walking as usual.
They had caught up.
"Impressive..."
Feeling the presence approaching from a distance, Jeong Tae-ui chuckled. He had shaken them off only to be found again, but he didn't feel too bad. It was like returning to reality after a fun game, so there was no reason to be upset. Jeong Tae-ui, who had planned to quietly return to the hotel, walked leisurely, not caring whether they were chasing him or not. The side street leading to the main road was quiet, and his footsteps echoed loudly.
The moon was visible in the distance. Enjoying the serene mood, Jeong Tae-ui strolled slowly, admiring the moon. However, it didn't take long for him to slow his steps again.
The strange feeling he had sensed earlier became a certainty as he slowed down.
The footsteps following him didn't stop. Even when Jeong Tae-ui came to a complete halt, the sound of approaching footsteps only grew faster.
And it wasn't just from behind. From the diagonal alley to his side, footsteps were also closing in.
It was instinct.
Perhaps it was just a passerby. But Jeong Tae-ui's body moved before his mind could process it.
He dashed toward the diagonal direction, where the footsteps were coming from. After a few steps, he swung his fist without a word at the man who appeared in front of him. The man flinched, slowing his steps, and barely dodged the punch.
And then, he immediately swung back at Jeong Tae-ui.
...Bingo.
At least it was good to know it wasn't just a passerby. But the situation was far from good, with another person rushing in from behind.
"Hey, listen up. Just because I played a little prank doesn't mean you start throwing punches..."
Whoosh!
The fist narrowly missed his nose. Jeong Tae-ui shut his mouth.
"Wait, this isn't a joke... If I get hit, I'm dead. Hold on, hold on, I was planning to go back to the hotel. I'm on my way back to the hotel right now, guys."
He shouted while dodging furiously, but it was no use. The two men swung their fists relentlessly, clearly intent on knocking him out and dragging him away.
Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue in frustration.
These were different men from the ones on the overpass earlier. So, the tails had indeed doubled, and these were the second set.
'Damn it, I messed with the first set of tails, so why are the second ones trying to throw punches?'
Jeong Tae-ui glanced around. Even in a secluded alley, it was unlikely that no one would pass by... He quickly scanned his surroundings. As if fate had intervened, a shadowy figure was turning into a distant alley.
Contrary to Jeong Tae-ui's relief, the men seemed to think they needed to finish him off quickly. Their punches grew fiercer, and one of them pulled something out of his pocket—a gray spray can. Jeong Tae-ui frowned. From experience, nothing good ever came from such objects. It was likely some kind of anesthetic or paralyzing agent. With that in play, time was running out.
"Have these guys lost their minds? They were following me quietly, and now they're going all out?!"
Jeong Tae-ui muttered under his breath. Clicking his tongue, he blocked the first man's kick with his elbow. At the same time, he cursed under his breath and kicked the second man in the throat with his casted leg.
'Ugh!' A scream erupted almost simultaneously from the man and Jeong Tae-ui. As he thought his ankle might never fully recover, Jeong Tae-ui reflexively blinked away the tears welling in his eyes. Spotting the spray can rolling toward him, he quickly grabbed it and swung it wildly at the first man's head.
'Damn it, what's going on? Why are these guys suddenly going berserk and trying to take me down?'
The spray can dented as Jeong Tae-ui used its edge to strike the men repeatedly. Seizing the moment, he held his breath, grabbed one man by the neck, and sprayed the canister directly in his face. A bizarre scream echoed before fading slightly.
Finally, Jeong Tae-ui hurled the spray can with all his might, hitting the man's head, then turned and bolted.
'That bastard Ilay, is he really coming after me just because I shook off his tails and turned off my phone for a bit? This is too much. We both know I can't go far anyway.' Cursing under his breath, Jeong Tae-ui sprinted to the main road. Glancing back, he saw no one chasing him. Maybe the men were still lying unconscious in the alley. But he had no intention of going back to check.
Jeong Tae-ui flagged down a taxi that happened to be nearby. After giving the hotel's name and watching the taxi pull away, he finally let out a long breath. His throbbing leg began to feel warm. 'I might really end up crippled at this rate.'
"So this is how they're trying to torment me... by driving me insane."
Muttering to himself, Jeong Tae-ui leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.
***
If only he had even the slightest inclination toward gambling, how appealing would it have been to freely come and go from the casino every day? Even better, he had a hefty sum of money (albeit someone else's) at his disposal.
No matter how much money one had, it could vanish in an instant at the gambling table. Fortunately—or unfortunately—Jeong Tae-ui wasn't particularly fond of gambling.
He could enjoy a few games with small stakes—a few dozen dollars, or even a few hundred, since it wasn't his money and he felt no guilt spending it. But he wasn't bold enough to dive into high-stakes games, nor did he enjoy losing to professional gamblers.
After playing a few rounds of poker at the 'for fun' blue tables inside the casino, Jeong Tae-ui quickly lost interest and got up to leave, scratching his head.
He hadn't left the hotel since returning the day before yesterday.
He had planned to enjoy a leisurely stroll, but after being aggressively pursued, he had no desire to go out. More importantly, his ankle was in terrible shape.
It had already been in bad condition, and he had overused it without giving it time to heal. Even a healthy ankle wouldn't have withstood that, let alone his injured one.
He managed to limp from the taxi to the elevator, but by the time he reached his floor, his body was swaying unsteadily. The moment he closed the door to his room, he collapsed on the spot. His ankle was one thing, but he must have inhaled some of the gas while spraying the men. The ground seemed to sway and dance before his eyes.
'I hope I can still get up…' That was the last thought in his mind before he passed out.
When he came to, he was lying in front of his room door, and the clock showed it was already past noon the next day. He had slept for over 12 hours without waking once.
At least the headache wasn't severe, so the gas probably wasn't too harmful. Counting that as a small blessing, Jeong Tae-ui got up. His mind was clear, but his ankle still hurt unbearably, and he was hungry and thirsty. Still, the rest seemed to have helped, as he could at least limp around. However, he had no desire to go out.
Jeong Tae-ui spent the entire day without leaving his room. After a simple meal from room service, he stayed in bed, flipping through the pages of an unfinished book. Occasionally, he moved his leg to check if the pain was subsiding, and reassured, he spent the rest of the day in his room.
He had expected a call from Ilay after shaking off the surveillance—he was fully prepared to exaggerate his ankle injury and complain about the tails—but surprisingly, no call came. Ilay must have known he had returned to his room, so perhaps he wasn't going to make a big deal out of Jeong Tae-ui shaking off the tails as long as he came back quietly.
After lounging around his room all day, eating, sleeping, and playing, Jeong Tae-ui eventually got bored and decided to venture out. He didn't feel like leaving the hotel, but exploring its facilities wasn't a bad way to pass the time. The casino would have been the perfect place to kill time if he were into that sort of thing, but unfortunately, he wasn't the type to get hooked on gambling. After a few games, he left.
He didn't mind having nothing to do and time to kill. After his discharge and before joining UNHRDO, he had spent a few months at home, enjoying himself without a care in the world. In fact, the only difference between then and now was that he couldn't meet friends. Back then, he could go out, read, sleep, and eat whenever he wanted. Now, he didn't even have to worry about how to make a living or earning money.
The only problem was one thing.
The uncertainty of when this peace would be shattered made it impossible to fully enjoy the leisurely time. The moment Ilay Riegrow appeared, this peace would be destroyed.
"Damn it. I wish I had just gone to Seringe alone and tried to find out about my brother."
The complaint slipped out unintentionally.
Even if he had nothing to do, having something to occupy his time would have been better.
After leaving the casino and walking up to the ground floor, Jeong Tae-ui paused as he reached the top of the stairs.
The sound of a piano echoed through the grand hall of the lobby. A jazzy rendition of 'Moon River' filled the space. Through the front windows leading to the garden, the sky was darkening. It would have been the perfect song to play a few hours later.
It was a song his mother used to play on quiet moonlit nights when he was a child. Hearing it after so long brought a wave of nostalgia and eased his tangled emotions. Jeong Tae-ui sat down at a table in the open café occupying the lobby. He thought he might enjoy a cup of tea while listening to the piano before heading back to his room. But as he sat down and ordered tea from the waiter, his gaze fell on a familiar face at the edge of his vision.
At a table not far away, a man who seemed to be waiting for someone glanced at his watch and flipped through some documents. Sensing Jeong Tae-ui's gaze, he looked up. Their eyes met.
'Where have I seen him before?' It didn't take long to remember. The last time they had met was in this very hotel, in this lobby. Only the table was different.
It was an arms dealer broker Jeong Tae-ui had dealt with before.
"…Ah."
"Oh…."
Though not close enough for a conversation, Jeong Tae-ui stood up and walked over without hesitation.
He wasn't exactly someone to be thrilled to see, but after days of not having a proper conversation with anyone, running into a familiar face felt oddly comforting. Come to think of it, since returning to Hong Kong, he hadn't met anyone he knew. The only people he'd spoken to were hotel staff and shopkeepers.
"Long time no see. You must have business here again today."
"Ah, yes. It's been a while for you too. Are you alone?"
The broker greeted him with a friendly smile. Jeong Tae-ui nodded and sat down across from him.
Though they had only met a few times, striking up a conversation wasn't as hard as he thought. Perhaps it was because they had shared a secret of sorts—a deal that couldn't be spoken of openly. Like people who share a secret, they exchanged pleasantries with a subtle smile.
"How's that cheerful friend who came with you last time? Is he using the item well? The quality was top-notch, no doubt. After talking to him a bit, I could tell he knew how to handle it properly."
At the broker's sudden mention, Jeong Tae-ui's face twitched slightly. The man's words had instantly brought a certain someone to mind.
'That bastard is probably holed up in his UNHRDO room, surrounded by his precious weapons, having the time of his life,' Jeong Tae-ui muttered inwardly. Outwardly, he forced a smile and said, "Well, the last time I saw him, he seemed to be doing fine."
'He loves his toys, huh? One of these days, I should raid his room, gather up all those weapons, and dump them in acid.'
In fact, out of sheer resentment toward Maurer, Jeong Tae-ui had tried to convince Ilay to let him come along when Ilay was leaving for the UNHRDO branch. Since things had come to this, he might as well go too.
Yeah, Ilay had made a strange face back then. It seemed he was genuinely surprised when Jeong Tae-ui insisted on coming along. Tilting his head, Ilay had stared at him for a while before asking bluntly, "Why?"
"I have business with Maurer."
When Jeong Tae-ui answered with a fierce yet serious expression, Ilay finally seemed to understand. Nodding a couple of times, he said firmly, "No. You're practically an outsider to UNHRDO now. You know UNHRDO doesn't allow outsiders without a specific reason."
"Come on, I just want to see that bastard Maurer once and then leave. I won't cause any trouble."
The more he spoke, the angrier he got, and he grabbed Ilay's sleeve. Ilay glanced at the hand gripping him and coldly shook it off.
"Rules are rules."
Jeong Tae-ui wanted to grab that icy mouth and shake it. 'Since when have you ever cared about rules?'
Under Jeong Tae-ui's fierce glare, Ilay smoothed out his wrinkled collar and added, "Besides, if you think about it, it's thanks to him that I was able to locate you."
Yeah, that was exactly what Jeong Tae-ui resented. The immense grudge he held—one that wouldn't be satisfied even if he strangled Maurer—was, of course, completely irrelevant to Ilay.
'It's because of him that I got caught by you again!' But Jeong Tae-ui couldn't exactly vent his anger at Ilay. As he seethed inwardly, Ilay, who had been about to leave the room, suddenly paused and tilted his head, as if struck by a thought. After a brief moment of contemplation, he muttered to himself.
"But… if it weren't for that prototype, he probably wouldn't have told me your location even if he knew it. Even before you were kidnapped, he never mentioned it during his regular communications with the branch."
Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue in annoyance. Yeah, if it weren't for Maurer's obsessive desire for that weapon, he probably wouldn't have revealed Jeong Tae-ui's location to Ilay. No matter how strained their relationship was, Maurer wasn't the type to do something like that out of spite. He hadn't snitched on Jeong Tae-ui just to screw him over.
But still.
The result was this situation.
"Damn that guy," Jeong Tae-ui grumbled. Ilay glanced back at him, his expression unreadable. He stared at Jeong Tae-ui's pouting face for a moment, then suddenly reached out.
A pale, smooth hand approached. Jeong Tae-ui instinctively flinched and stepped back. It wasn't a conscious decision—just a reflex. He had seen that hand turn blood-red in an instant too many times while standing beside Ilay. It was hard not to tense up.
The moment he stepped back, Jeong Tae-ui inwardly cursed. He didn't need to see Ilay's faint frown to know he'd made a mistake.
'But wouldn't you have stepped back too? It wasn't intentional—just survival instinct kicking in. What else could I do? No, actually, if it were you, you wouldn't have stepped back. You'd have counterattacked or just cut the hand off.'
As Jeong Tae-ui mentally rattled off excuses that would never be heard, he awkwardly glanced at Ilay.
Ilay slowly turned his hand over, palm up. He stared at it for a moment, then curled his fingers one by one into a loose fist. It was the perfect fist for knocking someone out.
"No, I didn't mean anything by it. I just… Ugh, if it were you, would you let a hand shove in and say, 'Go ahead, take my neck!'"
Jeong Tae-ui blurted out as Ilay's cold gaze fell on him. Ilay seemed to be considering something—most likely whether or not to throw a punch.
Jeong Tae-ui's guess was correct. After a few seconds of regretfully staring at his fist, Ilay slowly unclenched it. Then he reached out to Jeong Tae-ui again. This time, Jeong Tae-ui only flinched slightly but didn't step back. He just tilted his head back a little and looked down at the hand.
"…What?"
As Jeong Tae-ui muttered, staring at the palm now inches from his throat, Ilay said shortly, "Your neck. Go ahead and offer it."
"…."
He knew he'd misspoken, but was Ilay really planning to snap his neck?
Jeong Tae-ui glared at the hand. A pale, smooth hand had never looked so menacing—well, not for the first time, but no matter how familiar it was, its viciousness didn't diminish. Still, it didn't seem like Ilay would withdraw his hand if Jeong Tae-ui stayed silent. Clicking his tongue, Jeong Tae-ui resigned himself and leaned forward, offering his neck. The fingertips touched his throat.
And then.
The hand that could easily crush his windpipe grabbed Jeong Tae-ui's neck. The strong fingers pressed against his carotid artery, momentarily cutting off his breath. As Jeong Tae-ui instinctively frowned and exhaled sharply, Ilay pulled him closer without hesitation. With his other hand, he gripped Jeong Tae-ui's chin and tilted it downward. The unhesitating touch made it clear that this man's feelings were far from calm.
Jeong Tae-ui swallowed. Ilay's mouth covered his, leaving no room for even a breath to escape. Whether Jeong Tae-ui breathed or not, whether he choked or not, Ilay didn't seem to care. His tongue plunged deep into Jeong Tae-ui's mouth, catching the tongue that tried to retreat and biting down hard. A short cry escaped, but Ilay swallowed even that sound.
The hand that had been gripping his chin slid down his back, caressing as it went, until it reached Jeong Tae-ui's buttocks. The hand grabbed roughly, as if ready to tear into him, and Jeong Tae-ui reflexively leaned forward, pressing against Ilay. Their bodies were now flush against each other. Ilay's hand gripped his buttocks again, pulling him closer, and he slowly ground his hips against Jeong Tae-ui's—clearly making sure Jeong Tae-ui understood his intent—before suddenly letting go. Both hands dropped away as if nothing had happened.
Jeong Tae-ui coughed a few times and took a couple of steps back. Wiping his mouth and catching his breath, he glared fiercely at Ilay.
Ilay wasn't looking at him. He was checking his watch. He couldn't afford to delay any longer if he wanted to catch the last boat from Hong Kong to the UNHRDO Asia branch.
Suddenly snapping back to reality, Jeong Tae-ui quickly checked his own watch. He instinctively realized there was a very close relationship between the noticeable bulge in Ilay's pants and the remaining time.
Hearing Ilay click his tongue in dissatisfaction and seeing the time, which left no room for delay, Jeong Tae-ui felt his heart, which had momentarily raced, settle back into relief. He patted his chest.
"…Hurry up and go. I'd like to come too, but rules are rules, right?"
Forget Maurer—he needed to take care of himself first. He wasn't the type to harm himself to settle a grudge. Thank goodness. If there had been even five more minutes, Ilay would've undoubtedly tried to have his way before leaving.
Go, just go. Hurry up and leave.
Jeong Tae-ui secretly wished Ilay away while on the other hand, he stared intently at the incomprehensible man.
Of course, there were many things that were hard to understand, but one of those incomprehensible traits was this. Sometimes—usually in such cases—Ilay would narrow his snake-like cold eyes and look at Jeong Tae-ui as if he were coveting him. Most of the time, this coincided with moments of attraction. That aspect was hard to understand.
The very idea of choosing forced sex as a means to humiliate the other person in order to get revenge is something he really didn't like—but, well, given the situation, Jeong Tae-ui didn't feel the humiliation either—this method ultimately leads to the conclusion that one has to have sex with someone they don't want to. 'Is that good for you? Is it?!'
Jeong Tae-ui genuinely wanted to ask that, but if he asked and that guy stupidly said something like, "Ah, I see. Then I'll have someone else deal with you..." it would be a disaster.
Jeong Tae-ui pointed to the room door with his chin and said with a somewhat worried tone, "You'll be late, hurry up." Ilay raised an eyebrow slightly. The white hand that had been slowly stroking the swollen groin suddenly stopped.
"You look very pleased. Is it because I don't have much time?"
The voice that murmured slowly contained a faint laugh. 'Damn it. Whenever this guy laughs, it sends chills down my spine.'
The moment Jeong Tae-ui thought that, Ilay, without betraying that thought, unbuckled the belt. The clink of metal echoed unusually loudly in the room. Hearing the sound of the zipper being pulled down, Jeong Tae-ui looked at the clock again. Naturally, there was still not enough time. It was becoming increasingly insufficient. There was no time to waste rolling around in bed.
"Hey, you need to go back to the branch today...."
"Ah, I have to go back. I'll be there soon. Yeah, you said you had something to do with Maurer, right? I'll take care of that for you. When I come back, I'll bring you a gift. So you just wait here and rest for a few days. You won't be able to rest after that anyway."
"Yeah, everything's fine, but you don't have time...."
"Suck."
When Ilay lightly grasped and shook the object that was half-raised between the open lapels and spoke in a calm tone, Jeong Tae-ui lost his words.
"We don't have time, so let's finish quickly. Open your mouth."
"Hey, Are you really telling me to do that right now...?"
"The more time runs out, the more impatient I'll become, and I'll end up forcing things without even realizing it. So we should end this quickly and make it enjoyable for both of us before that happens. At least we still have some time for oral."
With a tone not much different from saying, "There's enough time to drink a glass of water before going out," Jeong Tae-ui looked at Ilay, who was approaching with a shocked expression. Eventually, when he reached out to press down on Jeong Tae-ui's shoulder, Jeong Tae-ui instinctively smacked his hand away and shouted.
"What do you mean enjoyable for both of us? Only you like it!"
"Huh?"
Ilay raised an eyebrow and muttered briefly, before chuckling softly.
"Yeah, now that you mention it, I guess that's true. Fine, next time I'll even pay you back with interest. But I don't have time right now, so you better understand. Open your mouth. ...If you even pretend to bite, I'll break your jaw."
"Wait, I don't need any interest or anything, I'm fine, hey, wait, wait...!"
Jeong Tae-ui vividly remembered how his voice sounded at that time. He could clearly recall how it started with confusion, mixed with half-sobs and curses, and ended with a muffled groan.
"Such things, by nature, need to be handled and cared for repeatedly to truly realize their value. At first, it might seem a bit off, but if you get used to it and become familiar with it, it will fit you perfectly."
"What do you mean 'fit you perfectly'? My throat almost got torn apart!"
Jeong Tae-ui, after unknowingly shouting out loud, realized his mistake when he saw the broker in front of him, who had closed his mouth in surprise and was blinking his eyes.
"No, I'm sorry... I was just thinking about something else for a moment. I've been a bit... busy with work lately."
Muttering and making vague excuses, Jeong Tae-ui hesitated in his speech. Absently scratching the back of his neck with a nervous hand, he felt the warmth rising to his earlobes and inwardly cursed.
Memories tend to resurface in a chain reaction the more you try to quickly erase them from your mind, so Jeong Tae-ui covered his mouth and bowed his head. Without even needing to look in the mirror, he knew that his face was indeed a sight to behold right now. His face was completely flushed, and the tearful expression on his face was undoubtedly a shameful sight.
It felt like his jaw was throbbing. Of course, it was just his imagination, but Jeong Tae-ui rubbed around his jaw for no reason.
Damn it.
The moment the massive flesh pounded against his throat, he couldn't breathe. It wasn't a metaphor; he truly couldn't catch his breath. The sensation of something hitting the uvula made him gag reflexively, but he couldn't even gag properly. He just heaved and struggled.
If it were up to him, he would have bitten him. No, if he could have, he would have just bitten him without thinking about the consequences.
However, whether he sensed something or had anticipated it from the beginning, the hand that was prying open Jeong Tae-ui's mouth tightened. With his mouth blocked and unable to make a sound, Jeong Tae-ui screamed in pain, though no one could hear him. He thought his lower jaw was about to separate from his upper jaw under that brutal grip.
The memory of that time made him grind his teeth just by thinking about it.
'Damn it. I had tried hard to forget and had almost managed to, but it came back to me again.'
Jeong Tae-ui remained still, and as the taste, smell, and temperature lingered in his mouth, he felt as if he might truly collapse and be unable to get up. He quickly shook his head vigorously. Then, suddenly, with piercing eyes, he glared at the broker. The broker, who had been looking at Jeong Tae-ui with a puzzled expression, flinched when their eyes met.
"Hey, you don't look so good today... Are you okay?"
"No, I'm okay. More importantly, how's business going lately? I heard the crackdowns have gotten stricter recently. It must be tough."
Jeong Tae-ui changed the subject. It seemed much better to quickly steer the conversation elsewhere.
"Crackdowns? They're useless. At most, they might catch some small fry. Someone like me? Even if the police showed up right here, it wouldn't faze me."
The broker smoothly followed Jeong Tae-ui's lead, waving his hand dismissively with confidence. Jeong Tae-ui nodded beside him.
Even if the man was prone to a bit of bravado, it was clear he had some confidence, given that he often arranged meetings in the same place despite the risks. After all, this wasn't an industry you could dip your toes into without some measure of trust.
The waiter brought the tea. Jeong Tae-ui gestured to the waiter, who had been heading toward the table where he had been sitting earlier, and called him over to this side.
Jeong Tae-ui glanced at the teacup already placed in front of the broker and picked up his own cup.
The conversation had stalled after a brief silence. The scattered topic hung in the air. It wasn't particularly comfortable being alone with someone who wasn't close enough to talk about anything without awkwardness.
Not one to overthink such things, Jeong Tae-ui sipped his tea slowly, thinking, 'What's the big deal?' It was the other party who seemed unable to bear the silence, as the broker glanced at his watch and muttered.
"It's about time…."
"…Ah. Then I should move—."
Jeong Tae-ui suddenly remembered something and set his cup down. He had been so lost in thought that he hadn't considered it earlier. Unless it was a deal that needed to be kept under wraps, there was no reason for someone else to join them at the table. It was obvious the broker wouldn't want that.
But when Jeong Tae-ui made a move to stand, the broker waved his hand.
"No, it's fine. There's still some time. Finish your tea. I came a bit early."
"Ah, okay…."
Jeong Tae-ui, halfway out of his seat, hesitated and sat back down. It felt awkward to move to another table and drink tea alone, so he decided to wait until the other party arrived and then head back to his room.
"By the way… do you have anything interesting these days?"
Jeong Tae-ui absentmindedly spun the teacup on its saucer and glanced at the broker.
Asking directly about what kind of deal was being made was taboo, so people usually asked indirectly. But Jeong Tae-ui wasn't particularly curious, and he didn't care who the broker was selling to or what he was selling. After witnessing large-scale arms smuggling firsthand, small personal weapon deals seemed as mundane as having a cup of tea in a place like this.
'Am I getting too used to this? Maybe there's something wrong with me,' Jeong Tae-ui thought bitterly. 'This is why society encourages drinking. It's not just about the individual becoming corrupted.'
The broker seemed to misinterpret Jeong Tae-ui's casual question. Apparently, many people were curious about who he sold to and what he sold, so he immediately took it that way.
He waved his hand dismissively and said nonchalantly.
"No, today's not a big deal. Someone asked me to get them a passport, so that's what I'm here for."
"A passport?"
Jeong Tae-ui froze, his fingers stilling on the teacup. A bitter and regretful memory surfaced.
"Even if you have hundreds of perfect fake IDs, you're bound to get caught somewhere if you're unlucky." He wanted to tell that to the unknown person who had asked for a passport, but doing so would likely make the broker glare at him for interfering with someone else's business.
"…."
At this point, he had no intention of trying the same method again—creating a new identity and attempting to escape. Unless he tried a different approach, the same method would likely yield the same result.
But still…
"A passport, huh… Is it usable?"
Jeong Tae-ui leaned forward and asked quietly. The broker raised an eyebrow and said confidently, "Of course! Want to see?" He rummaged through his pocket, clearly intending to show it off.
Swallowing the question, 'Isn't it risky to show a forged passport to a stranger?' Jeong Tae-ui took the red passport the broker handed him.
The identity his uncle had arranged for him before had been flawless. In truth, Jeong Tae-ui wasn't skilled enough to distinguish between counterfeit and genuine documents at a glance. Unless it was a particularly shoddy forgery, he couldn't tell what made one fake better than another.
So, he couldn't tell if the passport in his hand was something the broker could proudly boast about.
But flipping through it, it looked real enough… 'I wonder how experts tell the difference.'
Jeong Tae-ui fiddled with the passport, lost in thought for a moment. A fake identity... It was a method with significant limitations, especially for someone from a small country with its own unique language. Even Jeong Tae-ui, who had traveled abroad frequently since childhood due to his brother's influence, could speak English fluently—but his accent and intonation would inevitably give him away during prolonged conversations.
"Still, it's not a reliable method for long-term use…."
Jeong Tae-ui muttered to himself, shaking his head.
.....But it wouldn't hurt to know more about it.
"How much would it cost to get something like this made properly…."
But before Jeong Tae-ui could finish his sentence—
A hand suddenly reached over his shoulder from behind. A neatly gloved hand elegantly plucked the passport from Jeong Tae-ui's grasp.
"Wang Liming? Unless you're exceptionally fluent in the language, it's better to avoid forging identities from other countries."
The sound of flipping pages came from behind him.
Hearing that slow, calm voice over his shoulder, Jeong Tae-ui froze, not moving a muscle.
"Besides, with something like this, you'd get caught by the authorities before even making it past the airport gate. If you're going to get a fake, get a proper one. If it's absolutely necessary, I can introduce you to someone reliable. Tay."
"…I'll take you up on that later. Right now, I 'absolutely' don't need it. I was just curious about how much something like this costs. It's always good to know, right?"
Jeong Tae-ui emphasized the word "absolutely" as he turned around.
There was no lie in his words, but in this situation, even he could hear how fake it sounded. 'See? This is what happens when you're unlucky. No matter how good your fake ID is, if your luck's bad, this is what you get.'
Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue bitterly as he looked up at the tall man who had silently approached from behind. The neatly gloved hands looked particularly ominous. Those gloves would soon be soaked, and he could only hope it wouldn't be his blood staining them.
Ilay, dressed in an unfamiliar suit, flipped through the passport with an indifferent expression before glancing at the broker sitting across from Jeong Tae-ui. The broker flinched and nervously alternated his gaze between Jeong Tae-ui and Ilay.
"T-this gentleman, are you perhaps…?"
The broker stammered, trailing off, but it was clear he recognized Ilay. However, Ilay showed no such recognition.
"Ah, this is Ilay—Ilay Riegrow. He used to work with me at UNHRDO."
Jeong Tae-ui hesitated before revealing Ilay's full name, glancing at Ilay for approval. It wasn't exactly a secret, after all.
"Ah, I thought so! Mr. Riegrow from T&R, right? I've met your brother once before—"
"Were you planning to sell this guy a fake passport?"
The broker, visibly excited, tried to continue, but Ilay ignored him. Speaking as if discussing the weather, Ilay tossed the passport carelessly onto the broker's lap and turned to Jeong Tae-ui with a stern expression.
"It's not him, right? The one who made your passport?"
"Huh? Ah, no, probably not."
Jeong Tae-ui added, "Probably." In truth, he had never met the person who had made his passport. He had received the completed identity through a channel his uncle had arranged, but he doubted the 'master' behind it was this broker.
"Right. If it were someone Jeong Chang-in recommended, they wouldn't be peddling this kind of trash. Besides, I've been swamped lately and only just got some free time. You're lucky today. Go on."
Ilay's tone remained calm and detached. The broker, who hadn't even realized the words were directed at him, blinked in confusion.
But as the saying goes, even a dog can learn to recite poetry after three years. Jeong Tae-ui immediately frowned. The broker, who clearly knew of Ilay but didn't fully understand who he was, still hadn't caught on and was about to say something more. Ilay casually adjusted his glove.
"...Then I'll take my leave!"
Jeong Tae-ui downed his tea in one gulp, slammed the cup onto the saucer, and stood up abruptly. He stepped in front of Ilay, blocking his path.
Forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace, Jeong Tae-ui shook the broker's hand.
"I should get going too. The person I was waiting for just arrived. I hope your deal goes well today. Let's meet again if there's a chance."
"Huh? Ah, yes, but…"
The broker responded in a daze, still glancing wistfully at Ilay.
'Yeah, I get it. You want to chat with the brother of a 'big shot.' And this guy here is pretty famous in his own right—maybe even more so than his brother in some circles. I understand the desire to talk to a celebrity, but—damn it, you should at least know why he's famous, you idiot—' Jeong Tae-ui's kind heart was urging him to help the broker.
Jeong Tae-ui quietly grabbed Ilay's hand, the one that had been adjusting the glove, and forced a bright smile.
"Let's go to the room. I have something to talk to you about anyway."
"…."
Ilay's eyes narrowed. He seemed to already guess what was going through Jeong Tae-ui's mind. A faint, airy sound escaped his lips.
"Sure, I'm curious about what you want to talk about, but there's something bothering me first. Let's take care of that before we go up."
Ilay said this while lightly tapping the back of Jeong Tae-ui's hand, which was gripping his own. Jeong Tae-ui frowned.
"Hey, no matter what, this isn't UNHRDO. There's no extraterritoriality here. You can't just kill someone in the middle of a hotel—"
"…."
As if daring him to continue, Ilay raised the corner of his mouth slightly and looked down at Jeong Tae-ui. That smile was undoubtedly a sneer. Jeong Tae-ui shut his mouth. Ilay's smile deepened.
"I get what you're thinking, Tay. If that had been a proper passport, maybe. But I'm not so depraved as to lay a hand on some small-time peddler selling shoddy fakes."
Jeong Tae-ui stared at Ilay, his expression bitter. It was a statement that could easily be picked apart, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. The broker, who had overheard the comments about "shoddy fakes" and "small-time peddlers," turned pale, unaware that this was actually a stroke of luck. If he had been a master forger selling high-quality fakes, he might have been in real danger today.
Unlike Jeong Tae-ui, who had been having a streak of bad luck, the broker seemed to be quite fortunate. Just then, his client arrived, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, the broker left, still glancing back at Jeong Tae-ui and Ilay with regret.
Jeong Tae-ui and Ilay stood facing each other until the broker and the middle-aged man disappeared from view. Only then did Jeong Tae-ui let out a sigh and sit back down. A sudden wave of fatigue washed over him. He absentmindedly fiddled with the empty cup, staring as Ilay took a seat across from him.
"…Why are you here?"
Only now did Jeong Tae-ui ask the reason for Ilay's sudden, unannounced appearance. Ilay responded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"It's Friday. Did you forget?"
He had been thinking about it just the day before but had completely forgotten. Come to think of it, this man always came to Hong Kong on weekends to handle company business.
Ilay called a waiter to order a drink. His gestures were light and cheerful. As he had said, he seemed to be in a good mood today. He even smiled politely when he made eye contact with the waiter.
Jeong Tae-ui picked up the glass of water the waiter had filled, blinking blankly as he stared at Ilay. Sensing his gaze, Ilay looked back at him. When Ilay raised an eyebrow as if asking what was wrong, Jeong Tae-ui muttered awkwardly.
"No, it's just… you seem to be in a really good mood today."
"Hmm…?"
Ilay shrugged ambiguously.
'See? I knew it he's in a good mood. His eyes are even slightly curved.'
Jeong Tae-ui quickly shut his mouth, not wanting to provoke Ilay, who seemed unusually cheerful. It wasn't a bad thing. Dealing with Ilay when he was in a good mood was much easier than when he was in a bad one. Besides, it was the first time they'd seen each other in days, and it wouldn't do to ruin the mood.
There was just one thing that bothered him.
"Uh… could you take off those gloves?"
Jeong Tae-ui swallowed the rest of his sentence—'they look really menacing'—and asked. Ilay raised an eyebrow slightly but surprisingly complied, removing the gloves. The pale, beautiful hands that were hidden beneath those ominous gloves were revealed.
"Right, you liked these hands, didn't you? …Or maybe not. Like this…"
Jeong Tae-ui, momentarily captivated by the hands, flinched when one of them suddenly moved closer to his face. He reflexively leaned back and stared at Ilay. He quickly suppressed the instinctive wariness that had surfaced, but it was too late.
Ilay, who had been watching him intently, chuckled and withdrew his hand. Leaning back comfortably on the sofa, he asked, "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Huh?"
Jeong Tae-ui looked at him in confusion, wondering what he was talking about. After a few seconds of silence, he remembered what he had said to the broker earlier—"the person I was waiting for just arrived."
"Ah, that…"
Jeong Tae-ui scratched his head, trying to come up with an excuse. Ilay, seemingly amused, pressed further.
"I'm curious about what you wanted to talk about in the room."
"Uh…"
Jeong Tae-ui hesitated, quietly observing Ilay. In truth, there were many things he wanted to say. Most of them were difficult to bring up directly, but there was no shortage of topics. Especially after spending several days in what felt like semi-confinement.
Things like, 'How long are you planning to keep me like this?' or, 'If you're going to have me watched, at least use someone competent enough that I can't sense them.'
"Ah, right. You already know, don't you? That I have no intention of actually shaking off the surveillance and running away."
"Well, more like I can't run away," Jeong Tae-ui added, frowning. The thought naturally brought back the pain in his ankle. Ilay raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, gesturing for him to continue.
"Even if I got bored and shook them off for a bit to enjoy a leisurely stroll, huh? Since when do you beat up a patient with an injured ankle and try to drag them away with anesthetic spray? Do you know how much my ankle hurt after it was finally starting to heal?"
Ilay listened quietly, not taking his eyes off Jeong Tae-ui as he grumbled. After a moment of thought, Ilay's cold eyes wandered briefly before he spoke calmly.
"For a patient with an injured ankle, you sure managed to jump off a pedestrian overpass several meters high. When I heard that, I thought you'd fully recovered."
"That's… I thought it would be fine from that height. I didn't think you'd actually send people to beat me up over it."
"Right, that's what you're saying…"
Ilay muttered as if to himself. Jeong Tae-ui fell silent. Ilay's gaze, fixed on him, wasn't really looking at him. He seemed lost in thought. Suddenly, he chuckled.
"I thought it was strange that you came back to the hotel so quietly. Now I see why."
He laughed softly, clearly amused. Just then, the waiter approached and set a cup of tea on the table before retreating. Steam rose from the teacup.
Jeong Tae-ui frowned slightly, eyeing Ilay suspiciously. He tried to figure out why Ilay was suddenly laughing, but there were too few clues. He even wiped his face, wondering if something was on it. Ilay eventually stopped laughing, but the amusement remained in his eyes.
"I'll give you credit for your escape skills this time."
"Huh?"
"From the moment you jumped off that overpass, what happened afterward wasn't my doing."
Jeong Tae-ui stared at Ilay, wide-eyed. Ilay exhaled happily, as if pleased, and began putting his gloves back on. Watching the ominous gesture, Jeong Tae-ui tilted his head slightly.
"Why are you putting those back on?"
"I've been bothered by something since earlier, and I just figured out what it is. Wait here for a bit. I'll be back before the tea gets cold."
"But—"
Before Jeong Tae-ui could say anything, Ilay stood up and strode away with light but quick steps. Jeong Tae-ui was left staring blankly at his retreating figure, which quickly disappeared into the distance.
Just then, a man sitting on a sofa across the lobby, reading a newspaper, suddenly stood up and began running in the opposite direction. He was quite far away. Ilay, who had been walking briskly, seemed to smile slightly and quickened his pace. Soon, he too disappeared from view.
Left alone, Jeong Tae-ui blinked in confusion, staring in the direction they had gone.
"Huh…?"
Scratching his head in bewilderment, Jeong Tae-ui tilted his head. A bad feeling slowly crept over him—a well-founded premonition that something messy was about to unfold.
Jeong Tae-ui stared at the teacup in front of him, steam rising from it. 'Maybe I should just head back to my room now.' Even if he ended up witnessing something messy, it's a world of difference between seeing it in public and seeing it in private. Of course, there are times when being in a crowded place feels safer—like when it seems like he might become the victim of some gruesome incident—but this time was different.
Jeong Tae-ui glanced at the steaming tea, then looked in the direction where Ilay had disappeared. There was no sign of him returning. The distance was considerable. It would be hard to catch up to him unless he sprinted, and even then, it wouldn't be easy unless Ilay shot him in the leg and dragged him back…
Jeong Tae-ui shook his head.
'No, it's better to retreat to my room.' The fact that Ilay had put his gloves back on before leaving was unsettling. Jeong Tae-ui had no desire to let everyone know he was acquainted with a murderer or someone of that caliber.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he quickly gathered his wallet and jacket. Ilay knew where his room was anyway, so if he returned and found Jeong Tae-ui gone, he'd probably head there.
"Check, please…"
Jeong Tae-ui called out to a passing waiter, who smiled politely and pointed to the reception desk. Just as Jeong Tae-ui was about to get up and limp away, his attempt failed.
Before he could take more than a few steps from the table, a series of short screams and commotion erupted from the other side of the hotel, followed by an eerie silence, as if cold water had been poured over the scene. The waiter beside him also stared in that direction, dumbfounded.
Jeong Tae-ui, seeing the waiter's wide-eyed gaze over his shoulder, inwardly grimaced. He instinctively knew he was too late.
He didn't want to turn around. He wanted to finish paying and head back to his room as if nothing had happened. But faced with the stunned, horrified expressions of the people around him, Jeong Tae-ui could only sigh and slump his shoulders. When the silence stopped just a few steps behind him, he had no choice but to hear the voice calling him.
"Has the tea already gone cold? It shouldn't have."
The calm voice, as if nothing had happened, muttered in mild confusion. The sound of Ilay picking up the teacup and taking a sip echoed clearly in the silence.
"It's still warm. I told you to wait, Tay."
"...."
'Are you some kind of Guan Yu or something?' Jeong Tae-ui grumbled inwardly, his face stiff as he slowly, very slowly, turned around.
The scene he had anticipated—though not desired—unfolded before his eyes exactly as he had feared. Ilay casually tossed something he had been holding onto an empty chair next to him. Thud. What slumped onto the chair like a wet rag was—presumably—a person. To be precise, it looked more like a blood-soaked rag.
The man's face was so mangled it no longer resembled a human, but it was clear who it was. If Ilay had punched him twice, it wouldn't have ended with just a crushed face. An arm 'slightly' broken, a leg 'slightly' broken.
Jeong Tae-ui could picture it without even looking. Ilay must have caught the man as he frantically tried to escape, immediately breaking his legs to immobilize him. Then, he probably dragged him back, making sure he couldn't move—or even think about moving.
The man hadn't been jogging leisurely, yet Ilay had caught up to him so quickly from that distance. 'This guy really isn't human. He can't be.' Jeong Tae-ui decided that the next time he saw Kyle, he would seriously ask if the company's research institute was really focused on weapons.
Ilay took off his gloves, now stained black in places, and tossed them onto the man. Then he sat down and picked up the still-steaming teacup, taking a sip.
"...."
Jeong Tae-ui stood dumbfounded, barely suppressing the urge to flee the scene, and stared at Ilay.
"Why are you standing when your leg's still bothering you?"
".... I don't feel like sitting next to someone who looks like they're fighting for their life every second."
Jeong Tae-ui muttered inwardly, 'Ugh,' as he answered. Blood was seeping from the man onto the chair. Ilay chuckled softly.
"No, it just looks like he's bleeding a lot because he hit his head. It's not actually that serious. He'll be sent to the hospital, no life-threatening injuries. But before that, I need to ask him one thing."
Jeong Tae-ui stared at the pool of blood on the chair. 'It doesn't look like it's just a lot of bleeding…'
But, regrettably, Jeong Tae-ui knew the wisest course of action in this situation. Clicking his tongue, he walked over to the table and plopped down into a chair, muttering reluctantly.
"If you have something to ask, hurry up. I want to get back to my room as soon as possible."
Feeling the piercing stares of the people around him, Jeong Tae-ui glanced at the man with some concern, wondering if he'd even be able to answer. It seemed only a matter of time before the police arrived.
But Ilay, as composed as ever, turned slightly and gestured to a man standing by a pillar some distance away. The man nodded and made a call.
Jeong Tae-ui recognized him as one of the tails who had been following him. Suddenly, something occurred to him, and he turned his gaze to the bloodied man slumped beside him. Now that he looked closely, it took a moment to recognize him because his face was so grotesquely distorted, but it was the man who had chased him the day before. The one with the spray.
"Ah...."
As Jeong Tae-ui muttered, Ilay calmly sipped his tea and spoke.
"I wondered who was so eagerly watching you. Where did you pick up this tail?"
"Wasn't it you who put him there?"
In response to Jeong Tae-ui's question, Ilay pointed to the man by the pillar. Jeong Tae-ui looked suspiciously at the bloodied man.
"Then who's this guy?"
"Right, let's ask him that now. It won't take long, so let's get this over with and head up to the room."
Ilay set down his teacup. Then, with a calm expression, he asked the man, who seemed to have passed out.
"Who told you to follow him?"