Fifteen minutes before the appointed time, on the first floor of Hotel Reykjavik Lights.
I got off the elevator and walked toward the lobby sofa.
I stopped and furrowed my brow.
Why is she sleeping here?
Roche was leaning against one end of the sofa, sound asleep. Her face looked haggard all over, like she hadn't slept properly.
I thought about poking her awake repeatedly, but decided to wait a bit instead.
There was still time before our appointment.
I sat down on the sofa across from her.
And watched Roche as she slept.
Gulp.
She's going to get a stiff neck sleeping like that.
Her neck was bent almost like a foldable phone.
I hesitated, tapping my leg, then stood up.
The angle was too severe to ignore.
If I left her like that, she'd be in pain all day.
I crept closer and reached my hand toward her face.
I just needed to adjust the angle quickly.
The moment my fingers touched her cheek, Roche's eyes snapped open.
And almost simultaneously.
Swoosh!
The pen in her hand swung around.
A movement as natural as a pre-programmed algorithm.
"...Ah."
She tried to stop once she realized it was Jinhyuk, but there was no need.
One of my fingers was already resting on the hand heading for my throat.
An optimal defense that blocked the path entirely, with no wasted motion.
A faint smile curled at the corner of Roche's mouth.
As expected, he doesn't die easily.
Oh, shit.
Jinhyuk swallowed dryly.
A brutally lethal sleep-defense sequence.
I almost got a hole in my neck worrying about someone else's stiff neck.
"Sorry. You were sleeping with your neck bent at a bad angle."
"No, I'm the one who should apologize."
Roche withdrew her hand and leaned back into the sofa.
"Until now, anyone who approached me while I was sleeping was trying to kill me."
"Oh... I see."
I knew she wasn't an ordinary researcher, but now I'm even more curious.
What kind of person is she that even her sleep is targeted?
"This is the first time someone worried about my neck. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. You're giving me a ride, after all. But are you some kind of special forces operative?"
"I'm just an ordinary researcher?"
Roche smiled and stretched.
Jinhyuk rummaged through his bag and pulled out a drink, handing it to her.
"What's this?"
"A high-caffeine fatigue recovery drink. It'll make you feel reborn."
"There's no label. That's highly suspicious."
"It's homemade."
"Oh? Quite the multi-talented person. I'll enjoy it."
She took it and downed it in one gulp.
A moment later, her face twisted.
"I didn't tell you beforehand in case you wouldn't drink it, but the taste is absolutely terrible."
That wasn't an exaggeration.
I knew because I'd been the first to try it when Elia made it.
It doesn't taste like anything from this world.
"Hoo! Hoo!"
Roche barely swallowed and let out ragged breaths.
"Wow. That was close. I almost threw up again for the second day in a row."
"You threw up yesterday too?"
"I drank a lot."
"Oh."
"Don't make a note that I'm someone who throws up often. It's only about once every two days."
Instead of answering, I gave her a thumbs up.
I quietly made a mental note anyway.
"The fatigue is really gone. It was worth holding it down."
"Right?"
I smiled with satisfaction.
It might taste awful, but Elia's potions always work.
"Shall we go?"
"Let's go."
We left the hotel side by side.
The Icelandic morning breeze greeted us.
Since it wasn't winter yet, it was warmer than I expected.
"Looks like we're heading to the exploration ship."
"Yeah. People must be coming from various countries."
The crowd grew thicker as we neared the harbor.
Jinhyuk rubbed his chin.
Judging people by appearance is a bad habit.
But he couldn't help forming a question mark.
These were supposedly authorized researchers from various countries?
Their looks and vibes would make you believe they were mercenaries fresh off a war.
Even the few who were neatly dressed had eyes that looked completely unhinged.
If anything, they seemed more dangerous than harmless.
Look at those staring contests.
With people like this gathered, the tension was immense.
They openly sized each other up, sneering.
But why was it that this brutal atmosphere reminded him of his first day of high school?
I was scared back then.
Peers full of youthful energy gathered from all over.
It felt like a fight for the pecking order would break out any second, just like in school dramas.
But in reality, there was no fighting. We just hung out, played soccer, and went to PC rooms every day.
Maybe it's the same here.
Maybe it's just the initial atmosphere that's hostile. Once we're on the ship, everyone will get along... Click!
Not far away, a gun was aimed.
Fortunately, not at us.
"Do I have to blow your head off for you to stop staring?"
"I feel like you'd keep staring even if it was blown off. Your face is pretty exceptional."
"Then should I blow it off?"
Just as the trigger seemed about to be pulled.
"Fighting is your freedom. But please return the tickets you were issued."
A man in a suit stepped between them.
The woman who had been aiming the gun shrugged.
"Tch. Keep your head safe."
"Worry about your own face."
As she backed off a few steps, the man in the middle adjusted his glasses.
"I'm Vigar, an agent of the Icelandic government. I'll be assisting you from boarding the exploration ship to arrival. But before that, I have a request."
Vigar looked around at the gathered people.
"Please remember that the exploration ship is provided as a courtesy by the Icelandic government."
"Courtesy? Isn't it just so we don't barge in by force and take a ship instead?"
"Thoughts and judgments are free, but you must follow my control. I don't want problems on the ship since people from various countries are gathered."
"Excuse me! Can I ask a question?"
A girl from the back raised her hand.
She looked at most a year or two older than Eugene Hee.
"Go ahead."
"What is Iceland hiding? What are you so nervous about that you're keeping it all locked up? If the marine ecosystem is wrecked, is it a weapon worse than nukes?"
"You're here to find that out, aren't you? Search well with your abilities. Then you'll get your answer."
A meaningful smile formed at the corner of Vigar's mouth.
"That's if there's anything to find, of course. Alright, we can't delay any longer. Questions end here. We'll board immediately. Follow me."
Jinhyuk and Roche, who had paused, also followed Vigar.
Not long after, they arrived at Pier 11.
Docked there was the exploration ship they would take to Greenland.
A massive icebreaker equipped with various gear at the bow.
Jinhyuk's eyes sparkled.
He'd only seen these on TV, and now he was actually riding one.
"By the way, Miss Roche."
Jinhyuk, watching the boarding process, lowered his voice.
"Yes?"
"Is this okay? It looks like they're checking something."
"They're verifying tickets. We have tickets, so no worries."
Roche held out two tickets.
The words "United States of America" were written large in English.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
Was it because he was a coward?
Seeing the country name on the ticket made him more anxious.
Roche might be fine, but he was clearly Asian.
"Next."
Before his anxiety could fade, they reached the entrance.
An armed man held out his hand.
Roche handed over the tickets.
The man's sharp eyes scanned Roche and Jinhyuk.
"Seven tickets were allocated to the U.S."
"Only two of us came. The others weren't feeling well."
"Is that so."
The man nodded and stepped aside.
"Thank you."
Jinhyuk and Roche passed through naturally and entered the exploration ship.
Roche smiled.
"No problem, right?"
"Phew."
Jinhyuk let out a sigh of relief and gave a thumbs up.
After taking a few more steps, he looked back.
It didn't matter who the tickets were originally issued to or if they were the intended people.
The only thing being checked was the authenticity of the tickets.
They don't care who rides.
He slowly looked around the exploration ship.
Maybe there was nothing here.
Maybe they just planned to take the people on board to their destination.
* * *
After waking up from a long, stretched-out sleep.
In the ship's restaurant located inside the exploration ship.
Jinhyuk patted his stomach after finishing his meal.
"The food is good. The ingredients are fresh too."
"It should be good, considering how much they're charging. Right?"
Roche put down her fork.
Her face was smiling, but it was full of discontent.
"I thought since Iceland was being 'courteous,' at least the meals would be free. But no. The tickets were disgustingly expensive too."
"So it wasn't free after all."
"Various interests were probably at play. The countries with more influence and more to give probably bought more tickets. Your phone doesn't work either, right?"
"Yeah. It didn't work at the hotel either. From around midnight."
Roche looked around the exploration ship with an amused expression.
"Did you know? On any ship, from the moment it sets sail, the captain's word is law."
"Yeah. It's an isolated space. Hard to give or receive help."
"Right. Whatever happens on the ship, the captain decides whether it gets known or not. Especially when communications are cut off like now. So."
Roche smiled lightly.
"Let's not stab each other in the back. We're still allies. We're all we can trust, right?"
"Of course."
After a moment of thought, Jinhyuk continued.
"But Miss Roche. Why me?"
"Because you're handsome?"
"That's not it."
"Well, that's just a bonus."
The corner of Roche's mouth lifted.
It was a different smile from before.
"Because you don't seem like you'll die."
"From what?"
Roche's outstretched finger pointed at herself.
"From me."
"Oh."
So she's saying she'll kill me someday.
I shouldn't have asked.
I'll have to strike first.
I can't just take a planned betrayal lying down.
I'll hit her first.
"Well then..."
Jinhyuk, about to ask something else, stopped.
"Jinhyuk?"
Roche tilted her head at Jinhyuk, who had suddenly frozen.
What's wrong with him?
"Hold on."
Jinhyuk got up from his seat and walked to the railing.
"What's up, kid? Seasick?"
"If you're going to puke, do it somewhere out of sight. Don't ruin my appetite!"
"Leave him alone. He's cute. Still a kid."
People called out from all directions, but Jinhyuk paid them no attention.
He just leaned over the railing, staring at the pitch-black sea.
"This bastard doesn't listen to a word anyone says. Go somewhere else and do it!!"
Jinhyuk twisted the wrist that came flying at the back of his head.
"Kyaaah!"
With a scream, Jinhyuk shoved the kneeling man away.
This isn't working.
It's too vague from here.
He stripped off his shirt and climbed onto the railing.
"Uh... Uh..."
And before anyone could stop him, he jumped.
Into the minus-two-degree water.
A sea of death where severe cold shock sets in after just one minute.
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T/N:
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