Chapter 32
Herick limped down the hallway. When a subordinate offered him crutches, he irritably waved them off. Although his doctor had firmly instructed him to use crutches for the time being, Herick always ignored her. It would heal with time anyway. As it always had.
He strode down the stairs on his injured leg without the slightest grimace. The atmosphere around him was so frigid that his subordinate didn’t even dare try to support him.
The security room door flew open. The hackers sitting at their stations turned their heads in surprise. They couldn’t help but be shocked again when they saw Herick’s condition. Cracked lips, blue bruises scattered all over his face, and his rolled-up sleeves revealed small holes where IV needles had just been removed, still oozing blood.
Jake’s face hardened when he saw Herick. Herick’s pale, cold face contrasted sharply with the blue bruises coloring his eyes and cheekbones.
“Where’s Choi?”
Herick approached Jake and asked, eyes wide.
“How would I know? He ran away…”
“Ran away? He ran away?”
Herick laughed coldly. Jake, who’d been avoiding eye contact, glared at him briefly.
“Calm down, Herick.”
“Right. It’s true that Hyungoh ran away.”
“And stole the list of Cenaline executives.”
“And left Jake’s arm like that.”
People stood up from their seats, trying to calm Herick down. Facing them as they took Jake’s side, Herick laughed once more.
“Do you think so too?”
Herick asked Jennifer, who’d been sitting silently. She hesitated, as if contemplating her answer, then finally sighed.
“It’s a situation where we can’t help but be suspicious. There’s no choice.”
“Ha.”
Herick glanced at Jake’s heavily bandaged arm.
“You’re saying Choi did this?”
Herick grabbed a screwdriver lying on the desk and, before anyone could stop him, quickly stabbed it into Jake’s arm. Jake stared blankly at the sight of only the handle protruding from his arm, then let out an agonized scream. Several shocked gazes fixed on his arm.
“That was an incredibly amateurish excuse, Jake.”
Herick grabbed Jake’s chin forcefully, holding it in place, and continued.
“How lightly must you regard our organization to try such a trick?”
“Ugh, you bastard…!”
“Surely you don’t think Michael was fooled by your pathetic lie?”
Herick twisted the screwdriver handle. Blood gushed out, soaking the bandage. As Jake reached toward Herick while suppressing his groans, the subordinate behind Herick grabbed Jake’s wrist and twisted it behind his back.
“Your stupidity doesn’t even make me laugh anymore. Did you really think Michael wouldn’t know?”
“…”
“There’s nothing in this world he doesn’t know. You were the one who constantly praised him, saying he was like an omniscient god looking down on humans from heaven. Have you forgotten that too?”
“I never decei— AAAAGH…!”
Herick pulled out the screwdriver and this time stabbed Jake’s hand. Jake’s eyes trembled as the screwdriver pierced through his hand and embedded itself into the desk. Blood bubbled up from the back of his hand.
“Useless bastards.”
Herick muttered as he looked over the team members who were slowly backing away. All of them worthless.
Herick moved. He had to go see Michael. This could turn into a disaster. It would be terrible if that guy lost his mind.
I hope I’m not too late.
Michael wasn’t in his room. When Herick caught a man loitering in the corridor and asked, he was told that all executives were currently gathered in Federico’s room. Ignoring the man’s question about whether he hadn’t received the notice, Herick quickly left. How could I have time to receive a notice when I just regained consciousness? I barely found out Choi disappeared. Herick clicked his tongue.
Arriving at Federico’s door, Herick spotted Marsha standing against the wall and stopped. Marsha slowly lowered her hand, which had been holding a phone to her ear. After staring at each other silently for a moment, Marsha opened the door for him. Herick nodded slightly and went inside. A dark, oppressive energy greeted him.
Marsha closed the door. Then she picked up the phone again. The monotonous connection tone wouldn’t end. Her gaze swept over the tightly closed door. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
***
The car raced along, facing the wind. The smell of the ocean seemed to be wafting in already. So this is Huntington Beach. I don’t know how much time has passed, Hyungoh thought.
“How much farther?”
“Still quite a ways to go.”
Hyungoh was reminded once again that the United States was an extremely vast country. He fidgeted anxiously with his fingers. This is driving me crazy. Is it okay to waste so much time?
“Hey, Theo.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Do you… still like my uncle?”
It felt like a waste to spend such a long time doing nothing. As he tried to ask some questions he’d been curious about, Theo replied curtly.
“What do you think my reason is for even playing chauffeur to find Hunter?”
“…What exactly do you like about my uncle?”
“I wonder.”
Hmm. Theo tilted his head, then answered.
“His personality?”
“…”
“Come on, his personality.”
“That’s the one thing I absolutely cannot relate to.”
“That’s because you don’t know him.”
Hunter’s so gentle. Hyungoh shook his head in disbelief. Even Theo, who’d said those words, had a smile playing at his lips.
“You’re right. I don’t know my uncle well.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“We weren’t that close.”
“It shows.”
“So you tell me.”
What kind of person is my uncle in Theo’s eyes? Hyungoh asked in a serious tone. The smile gradually disappeared from Theo’s lips.
“That’s a difficult question.”
“I think I need to know about my uncle now.”
“Well.”
It’s simple when I think about it. Theo shrugged.
“The person who killed my father.”
“…What did you say?”
“I was about twelve. He killed him quite cruelly, which was thankfully beneficial.”
Hyungoh thought he might have misheard. Theo glanced at Hyungoh, who blinked in bewilderment, then chuckled.
“Don’t think too deeply about it. The guy deserved to die.”
“What…?”
“He was just one of the many pieces of trash around the neighborhood.”
Theo spoke as if it were no big deal. Hyungoh, who’d been processing Theo’s words in his mind, slowly turned his head to stare straight ahead.
My uncle killed Theo’s father?
How should I take this? It was complicated. My uncle has killed someone before. And it was Theo’s father. Theo’s strange too, speaking about such a heavy topic as if it’s nothing. Even if he didn’t get along with his father, still—does it make sense to like someone for that reason?
Ah. Well, Theo’s always been like this. Someone who dismisses heinous crimes as simple happenings. Hyungoh thought while pressing on his throbbing head.
“Ah. I see it there, the building.”
Suddenly spotting something, Theo pointed. Hyungoh raised his head to look in that direction.
“WestComfort something Hotel.”
“What? Already?”
I thought you said we still had a long way to go. Hyungoh, who’d been slouching, quickly sat up straight and spoke with an excited voice louder than usual.
“It’s still far by car. Look, there’s traffic.”
As Theo said, countless cars were packed tightly in front of them. What’s with all this traffic? Theo clicked his tongue. It’s not like we’re in the middle of New York.
Hyungoh stared at the hotel sign barely visible beyond the cars stuck together like a swarm of ants. WestComfort. It was definitely two or three times taller than the other buildings.
Taylor is there.
His heart pounded. Finally. He began feeling impatient. He wanted to run in right away and search for Taylor. What if he missed him by a hair’s breadth? What if, after all this effort to find him, he’d already left?
It seemed faster to just walk. They were completely trapped, blocked front and back with no room to move. Hyungoh, who’d been clenching and unclenching his fists repeatedly, took a deep breath as if making a big decision.
“Sorry, Theo.”
“What? Hey, wait…!”
Hyungoh burst out of the door and ran. Honking erupted from all directions. Theo opened the window and stared at Hyungoh’s retreating figure in disbelief.
Hyungoh ran and ran. An elderly person walking their dog looked at him running frantically with a puzzled expression. Every minute, every second was precious. After running a considerable distance without rest, he was out of breath, but Hyungoh didn’t stop.
Only when the pain felt like his heart would explode from beating so fast did Hyungoh finally reach the hotel entrance. When a group of tourists with large backpacks opened the door and went in, Hyungoh hurriedly followed them inside.
What room number was it? Hyungoh exhaled heavily. I can’t remember which room it was. What should I do? Should I ask? Looking around, Hyungoh frowned. Then he made an effort to move his trembling legs toward the counter.
“Excuse me…”
“How can I help you?”
An employee holding a phone noticed Hyungoh, who was hunched over and gasping for breath as if he might die, and smiled brightly.
“Whew, so… I have an acquaintance staying here, but I forgot the room number… Is there any way to find out?”
“If you give me the name, I can connect you by phone.”
“Taylor Scofield…”
“Please wait a moment.”
The employee sat down, typed on the keyboard, checked something on the screen, and picked up the phone to dial a number. So his name is on the list. Hyungoh’s expression relaxed slightly in relief. It might be someone with the same name, but I still have a good feeling about this so far. He painfully straightened his back and caught his breath. Thinking he might have calmed down, he placed his hand on his chest, but his heart was still beating fiercely.
After exchanging a few words on the phone, the employee smiled brightly again. She handed him the phone.
Is this my chance to hear his voice for the first time? Hyungoh swallowed dryly. He took the phone and held it to his ear. His hand was already clammy and slick with sweat.
“Hello.”
[So you’re Hyungoh.]
“…”
How did he know it was me just from hearing my voice? Hyungoh’s shallow, rising breath filled the brief silence.
[You managed to find your way here. Well done.]
So why don’t you come up to room 1718 now, he added in a voice tinged with amusement.
The low, resonating voice was remarkably relaxed. Is it Taylor? Hyungoh hurriedly moved toward the elevator.
17th floor. It seemed to be the highest floor in the hotel. Hyungoh got in the elevator, pressed the button, and suddenly looked in the mirror. His sweaty bangs were plastered to his forehead. After staring blankly at the mirror for a moment, Hyungoh adjusted his clothes. Don’t be nervous. Stay calm, Choi Hyungoh.
The elevator doors opened. It was very quiet, footsteps silent on the plush carpet. Room 1716, 1717, 1718. He stared blankly at the door knocker shaped like a lion with a rope in its mouth. His hand moved. He lightly grabbed the cold ring and let it go, making quite a loud sound.
“Welcome.”
A man who appeared from around the corner of the corridor suddenly spoke. Blond hair and blue eyes. If Michael’s hair color gave off a warm feeling, this man’s hair felt sharp and cold. The same went for his eyes. As Hyungoh stared at the man approaching with one corner of his mouth turned up, he suddenly widened his eyes at a memory that flashed through his mind.
He looked exactly like the photo of Taylor that Hyungoh had obtained while hacking. The man, dressed in a red suit with a coat draped over it, stood next to Hyungoh.
“Let’s go in.”
The man spoke in a whisper and carefully opened the door. A spacious living room came into view, with a large chandelier above it being the first thing to catch the eye. As Hyungoh walked in one step at a time with a completely stiff face, the blond man quietly watched him while leaning against the door. When Hyungoh stopped, the man nodded slightly.
What is he trying to do? Why is he telling only me to go in? While Hyungoh was looking at the man with suspicious eyes, a familiar ringtone faintly echoed from the stairs on the upper floor.
Take me to church, I’ll worship like a dog—
His heart sank.
A small match fell and ignited something living and breathing inside Hyungoh. The ringtone was no longer audible. It felt like all noise had been blocked out.
Hyungoh’s breathing gradually intensified. His footsteps began to quicken. He climbed the stairs forcefully, as if he might break them.
The smell of cocoa.
He stepped onto the last stair. Cool outside air came in through the half-open window. The sweet cocoa smell grew even stronger. Hyungoh silently stared at the back of a man standing in front of the window, holding a white mug. He turned around slowly.
“Hello, Hyungoh.”
It’s been a while.
Hunter raised his cocoa cup high and grinned.
