It was a place filled with humid air. Was it because of that lake? Hyungoh looked around trying to find the disappeared woman, when his attention was caught by the unusually glowing lake.
A dense shadow spread across the water’s surface. As he tried to approach the lake out of curiosity, Hunter finally came into his view.
“Uncle······?”
Hunter realized something was wrong with his state. Normally, he would have been terrified seeing Federico and the men standing in the forest. Whether his vision had narrowed or he had injured his head, he was approaching Hunter with a dull face, without any hesitation.
“Don’t come.”
“Why not?”
“······Look around once and think about who walked into a tiger’s den on their own feet.”
Following his words, Hyungoh obediently looked around. After tilting his head in confusion at the sight of Marsha and the mysterious man standing right next to Hunter, his mind gradually cleared when he discovered Federico watching him with interest from a wheelchair.
“Oh······.”
And then the Gostin men standing like hyenas with fire in their eyes. Only then did Hyungoh realize what kind of situation he was in and hesitated.
How did I end up here······. Feeling confused, Hyungoh shot Hunter a look asking for help. But soon he realized that even Hunter was in a position where he couldn’t move freely, and bit his lip in despair.
“Have you been well, Mr. Choi?”
Federico spoke up, breaking the brief silence. Hunter put his hand to his forehead, seeing Hyungoh’s pale face. What was that kid thinking, coming here alone?
“Look, Fede. Shouldn’t we cleanly end matters between just the two of us?”
“Haha. Why are you so tense?”
What happened to your big talk about ruining my plans? Hunter gritted his teeth at the genuinely cheerful laugh. That was when he believed Hyungoh was safely under FBI protection.
“I didn’t expect to be so severely stabbed in the back by someone I thought was on my side.”
Hyungoh shrank back, feeling unnecessarily guilty at Hunter’s negative energy.
“I only want to do one thing today, Hunter.”
Federico, who had barely stopped laughing, nodded slightly toward Hyungoh.
“To uproot the seedling of that long-cherished wish you’ve been yearning for.”
“······.”
“It’s unfortunate for that child, but what can we do? It might even be better for him to meet his end here and now.”
“You’re talking nonsense.”
“At times like this, you’re really shameless. In the end, that child only has two choices, doesn’t he? Either die by my hand, or live a life worse than death while being used by you.”
Hyungoh couldn’t believe his ears. Me, what? Federico alternated his gaze between Hunter, whose face had hardened, and Hyungoh, then continued in a somewhat excited voice.
“Child, think carefully. Your one and only uncle has dragged you into this situation to fulfill his own selfish desires.”
Like a cunning snake. He doesn’t care about your feelings at all. Hyungoh clenched his fists as Federico looked at him with pitying eyes.
“Whether you get hurt, suffer, or even if you end up with lifelong trauma because of his plans, he will never stop.”
“······Don’t take those words too seriously.”
In one ear and out the other. Hunter said, rubbing his furrowed brow. But Hyungoh’s expression only grew darker.
“……It’s somewhat true though, isn’t it?”
Hunter looked up abruptly, surprised by the unexpected response.
“What did you say?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? After you’ve been trying to use me all this time.”
“What are you talking about? When did I ever······”
“Then why did you bring me to America eleven years ago?”
Why indeed. Because you felt sorry for a nephew you’d never even seen before? Hunter was momentarily speechless at Hyungoh’s aggressive questioning, likely due to the resentment he’d been harboring all this time.
It was barely possible for them to escape this situation if they worked together, but he didn’t seem willing to help at all.
“Get a grip. This isn’t the time to show hostility toward me.”
“······You’re avoiding the answer again.”
“I told you. The more we fight, the more we fall into that guy’s trap.”
Hunter suppressed his anger born from frustration. The plan wasn’t just going wrong; it was now heading for the distant mountains.
Taylor should have arrived by now, so it’s only a matter of time before he finds this place. Then I need to divert Federico’s attention somehow to buy time. As Hunter fell into deep thought looking for a solution, Hyungoh addressed him again.
“When will you ever answer me? Am I supposed to act like a puppet according to your wishes again this time, without knowing anything?”
“Stop it, Hyungoh.”
“Stop what! If you had told me everything from the beginning, we wouldn’t have ended up in this situation!”
Hyungoh grabbed his head. The injustice was unbearable.
“If it weren’t for you, if it weren’t for you······”
“Choi Hyungoh!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Hunter’s expression turned grim. Hyungoh froze at his intense voice, which he had never heard before.
“Stop trying to ruin my plans.”
It was a cold statement. Looking shocked, Hyungoh pressed his lips together and lowered his head deeply.
Regretting his words, Hunter adjusted his glasses irritably. Damn it. He regretted it even more feeling Federico’s gaze watching him and Hyungoh with great interest.
“······So I don’t know.”
Hyungoh mumbled.
“I don’t even know what your plan is, so how can you tell me not to ruin it?”
When I know nothing, like an idiot. Hyungoh’s wide-open eyes flashed fiercely.
Hunter tried to say something but swallowed his words again. This is driving me crazy. Calming Hyungoh down seemed to be the most urgent priority.
“Tell me. Why are you doing this to me?”
Hyungoh staggered toward Hunter. It felt like all the emotions he had been suppressing were about to burst out in an instant.
The calm lake visible behind Hunter excited Hyungoh even more. It was a strange phenomenon. Why did he lose his rationality whenever he stood in front of this lake? It seemed like he had experienced this before.
His steps quickened as this dizzy, nauseating feeling wasn’t unfamiliar. Whether it was due to his heightened emotions or not, Hunter’s expression looking at him appeared extremely distasteful. That expression saying he was pathetically inadequate, that he was deeply disappointed for failing to meet expectations.
“What do you want me to do!”
Without realizing it, the feelings he had been suppressing well until now forced their way out of his throat. Federico, who had been carefully observing Hyungoh, quietly gestured. Then one of the men hiding behind the trees aimed a sniper rifle at Hyungoh.
Hunter noticed the gun barrel slightly protruding from the undergrowth, sensing the tense atmosphere. That gun barrel was pointed solely at Hyungoh without the slightest hesitation.
No.
Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but as if to tell him there was only one option anyway, his body moved on its own.
Bang.
After his brain froze momentarily due to the loud gunshot, Hyungoh blinked at the warm embrace that enveloped him.
“Uncle······?”
He instinctively hugged Hunter back, who was holding him tightly. When he let go of Hunter, his body collapsed powerlessly. Trying to quickly catch him, Hyungoh lost his balance and fell backward.
Heavy. As he struggled to lift his upper body, Hyungoh stared blankly at his own hands, soaked in blood.
Blood?
When he felt Hunter’s back with trembling hands, blood gushed out from behind the roughly pierced suit, staining the grass red.
