# Chapter 28
“Have you ever been to a club?”
“No.”
I thought so. Je Sano dancing at a club would be beyond cognitive dissonance—it would be cognitive destruction. It was also hard to imagine someone who wouldn’t even drink the beer offered at simple company dinners drinking alcohol at a club.
“What about you?”
“Me? Well… once or twice, I guess?”
At those words, Sano’s eyes narrowed like a snake’s.
“So you’ve been enjoying all sorts of entertainment.”
“Hey, what do you mean ‘all sorts of entertainment’…”
“You hedonist.”
His face was colder than ever as he said that. Hearing those words from that perfectly proper face made Iyeon feel as if he really did have a wayward past. A remarkable talent for gaslighting.
“Alright, alright.”
Iyeon pouted and quickened his steps. But Sano, with his longer legs, caught up with him immediately by slightly widening his stride. The pointless rebellion was quickly thwarted.
The club could only be reached after going into the inner part of the main street and winding through several alleys. Ironically, the space, now somewhat distant from the noisy sounds of bars, bordered a road with nothing but a driveway.
Unless they resembled Earth animals closely enough to be mistaken for one like Mungchi, mutants with distinct physical features like Flock Phoenix or Smoke Fox would be too conspicuous to come through streets where people walked. They probably mainly used the method of briefly parking their cars here to enter. It was a plausible arrangement.
There was no proper sign at the entrance. There was no need, since everyone who came was invited. As Iyeon approached the door, a large man standing in front blocked him.
“You can’t enter carelessly.”
“I have an invitation.”
When Iyeon held up his phone screen, the large man scanned it with something like a barcode reader and then stepped aside to open the door.
“You may enter.”
From beyond the door came music so loud it hurt the ears. A beat similar to a heart rhythm pounded. Iyeon signaled to Sano with his eyes and stepped inside. Mungchi, quick to catch on, followed Iyeon.
The interior was similar to a typical club. A DJ was playing music on the stage, and psyche lights and stage lights continuously moved to partially illuminate the dim space.
Along the narrow corridor, going down half a flight of stairs, there was a large hall with tables arranged around the edge. Not only was the first floor with the hall filled with tables, but also the second floor, which had an open center allowing a clear view of the stage below, was efficiently packed with tables, most of which were fully occupied.
There were several mutants out with leashes on, and near tables full of laughing, chattering people, there was at least one cage the size of a stool.
‘That must be the cage.’
From Iyeon’s brief look around, there were hardly any empty cages. It wasn’t hard to guess what had been put in them without looking closely.
“Are they all superpower mutants?”
“Who knows.”
Small mutants that could fit in cages of that size were usually lower-grade mutants without higher consciousness. However, regardless of grade, a mutant was still a mutant—dangerous creatures that ordinary people couldn’t control. From what Iyeon could see, there didn’t seem to be any particularly impressive superhumans in the club.
In summary, it was a gathering place for humans who were brave because they were stupid.
The scale was larger than expected. At a glance, there seemed to be over a hundred people. For something called a membership club, it was teeming with as many people as an ordinary club.
Iyeon slightly furrowed his brow and took out his goggles, putting them on top of his head. Wearing them on his eyes would be too conspicuous, so this was a temporary measure. He was planning to pass it off as retro fashion if needed.
“Hyegang, is it too noisy?”
– It’s fine. I can adjust the equalizer.
Fortunately, the music was loud enough to drown out the sound of Iyeon communicating with Hyegang. At some point, a communication device had also been placed on Sano’s ear.
“I’ll go buy some drinks. Take Mungchi and find somewhere to sit.”
“What drinks?”
“That’s club culture, dummy. Just trust your hyung and follow my lead today.”
“You never cease to amaze me…”
Ignoring Sano’s muttering, Iyeon turned toward the bar set up on the side. Mungchi, who was about to follow, was stopped by Sano pulling him back with his foot.
After briefly checking that the two were staying put, Iyeon ordered two glasses of whiskey. Due to the crowd, the bartender merely nodded and immediately went to take another order. Guess I’ll have to wait a bit. Iyeon perched on the high chair in front of the bar.
His ears were already ringing. He’d probably have to give up on his hearing for half a day even after leaving this place. Since his ear health was already gone, he might as well enjoy the music. As Iyeon was bobbing his head to the rhythm in a state of thoughtlessness:
“Nice goggles. Where did you buy them?”
A suddenly oily voice infiltrated his ear. What the? Iyeon slightly furrowed his brow at the presence that had abruptly drawn close and turned his head. A man adorned with flashy decorations was swaggering and smiling.
I understand the music is loud so you need to speak closely to be heard, but isn’t this too close? It was close enough to feel his breath. Iyeon backed his upper body away from the uncomfortable behavior when Hyegang’s teasing voice came through.
– Our hyung is getting hit on, so popular.
He was just saying whatever since it wasn’t his problem.
“I couldn’t find anything nice, so I customized them.”
Whatever the man’s intentions were, it seemed best to match the atmosphere. It’s not like making casual conversation was difficult… When Iyeon similarly put his face close to the man’s cheek to speak, the club man shouted, “Just as I thought!”
“I saw you from a distance and could smell a fashion person~ Want to join our table?”
– Is this really flirting?
“I have companions with me.”
Ignoring Hyegang, who was commenting as if watching a movie, Iyeon declined, but the club man persisted, saying it would be fun.
“Come on, I’ll buy the drinks. When you come to places like this, everyone splits up and has fun separately anyway, and just goes home together. Hmm? Let’s go together.”
“No, it’s just that…”
“I’m in the mood! Choose whatever drink you want! It’s all on me!”
“…”
Really?
– Ah. Hyung’s tempted.
Well, opportunities to drink expensive alcohol aren’t that common, right? Since I need to gather information anyway, wouldn’t it be okay to sit at that man’s table for a moment and have a conversation? Iyeon started rationalizing while pretending to consider. Since it’s going to take a while for the drinks to come anyway, I could just stop by for a bit…
“What are you doing?”
The club man’s hand, which had been draped around Iyeon’s shoulder in a friendly manner, was forcibly removed. It was rare for a voice to be transmitted so clearly through the loud music.
When Iyeon turned his head, Sano was standing there, making it quite clear that he was displeased. His steeply raised eyebrows looked menacing.
“Wow, he’s really handsome…”
The club man murmured as if entranced. His gaze was fixed on Sano’s face. Not only him, but people around were also whispering and glancing at Sano. It was indeed a face one couldn’t see often.
“You told me to trust you and follow, but you were planning to abandon me.”
“What about Mungchi?”
Sitting on the high chair brought them to the same eye level. Caught red-handed trying to play hooky, Iyeon pretended to be clueless and changed the subject, when a rustling was felt from beneath the chair. Looking down, he saw Mungchi raising his upper body and looking at Iyeon.
“Wow! Is this yours? Must be well-trained?”
The club man, who had been staring at Sano to an uncomfortable degree, finally shifted his attention to Mungchi. Unlike other mutants that were either in cages or on leashes, he seemed fascinated by Mungchi’s free state. Iyeon gave a suitable response.
“Yes. Cute, isn’t it?”
“What kind is it?”
“I’m not sure. It seems like a species that hasn’t been discovered yet.”
“Cool!”
Since he couldn’t straightforwardly say it was a Blue Tiger, Iyeon hedged. Fortunately, the club man seemed to believe it without suspicion.
“Let’s go.”
The vibration reached Iyeon’s back every time Sano, who had somehow pressed close behind him, spoke. What happened to the concept of personal space… Iyeon, who almost tensed up momentarily, barely managed to ignore the warmth and displayed a friendly smile.
“Anyway, as you can see, I need to take care of my companion here.”
Though he hadn’t done what he was supposed to, it was good timing. When Iyeon pointed at Sano, who was glaring daggers at the club man, the latter seemed a bit taken aback by the fierce gaze but clapped his hands and exclaimed cheerfully:
“Both of you come! I thought you were looking after your companion because there weren’t enough of them, but what’s this!”
To not be intimidated by Je Sano’s glare, at this point, this club man was more impressive than most mutants. Inwardly applauding his spirit, Iyeon replied. This was exactly what he wanted.
“Oh, shall we then?”
Seeing how readily Iyeon accepted, Sano’s brow furrowed.
“What are you doing?”
Despite the threatening growl, Iyeon remained unfazed. He even went so far as to put his face close to Sano’s ear and whisper.
“Hey, this is a good opportunity. He said we can have lots of expensive drinks over there.”
“…”
He seemed intent on going to the club man’s table and emptying someone else’s wallet. Sano was just getting tired of having a partner who was so passionate about bankrupting others that one might wonder if he’d grown up hungry.
“You’d sell me too if someone paid enough.”
Sano’s voice, as they followed the club man’s guidance side by side, was heavily laced with sarcasm.
“How could you say that?”
Iyeon frowned as if it was absurd.
“I’d at least listen to how much they’re offering first…”
“Is there a need to keep ears that only listen to useless things?”
“I should be saying our Sano is the most precious in the world.”
Sano didn’t even snort. He seemed already sulking.
