Chapter 40
Jennifer stretched as she entered the hacking security room. As she yawned, the man sitting beside her yawned too.
The team members sitting in front of their computers looked like candles about to melt down. Hey, have you tried that video game? I noticed it’s collecting all the servers’ personal information. Two men holding donuts in both hands snickered.
In this seemingly peaceful space, Shane rushed in and urgently shouted:
“Hunter’s back!”
“What?”
“Who?”
“Hunter?”
“The Hunter I know?”
“Everyone calm down and get back to your places!”
The startled people quickly tidied up around their desks and adjusted their clothes. One man turned bright red as he hurriedly stuffed a donut into his mouth, looking like he might burst.
“Everyone’s working hard. That’s good to see.”
Hunter came down the stairs with relaxed steps. The people who had been moving in perfect unison suddenly froze.
“I heard you successfully blocked attacks from Mandro Family hackers. But as a result, one file got locked up?”
“Yes, but fortunately that file wasn’t very impor—”
“There are no ‘not very important files’ among those under my management, Dylan.”
Hunter approached Dylan, who was sitting awkwardly, as if unsure whether to stand or remain seated.
“How many years have you been working here now?”
“Huh? Ah… um, how many years… about thirteen years, I think…”
Dylan answered while scratching his head.
“That’s a long time.”
“It’s been a long time.”
“Goodbye, Dylan.”
“You’ve worked hard all these years.”
Other team members, watching Hunter’s reactions, chimed in one by one. Wait, wait, am I being fired? Dylan, turning pale, mouthed to Jennifer sitting next to him. Well, you survived for thirteen years. Quite persistently. Jennifer muttered with her teeth clenched, then turned her head away from him.
“I, I have a twelve-year-old son.”
“He’s quite grown up.”
“When I was that age, I was already preparing to become independent from my parents.”
“Why make a big deal about that? At that age, I killed my parents.”
“Hey, bringing up family matters is cheating.”
“What’s wrong with all of you!”
Dylan wailed. While everyone turned away from Dylan, Hunter alone laughed.
“I’ve heard about your son before. He handles machines as well as you do, I hear?”
“Ah, yes. He even managed to track an IP after peeking at some pictures of his girlfriend posted on social media, with a little tweaking.”
“Haha, be careful. You might lose your position to your son if you’re not careful.”
By the way, what’s your son’s name? Jake. As Dylan answered with slumped shoulders, looking exhausted, Shane approached from the side and added: This is a bit awkward to say, but he’s really a disrespectful kid. The fact that such a kid even signed a premarital chastity pledge as a devout Christian—I nearly threw up laughing.
But he’s a sensitive child at heart. Dylan clenched his fist.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve been about to throw up since the moment I stepped in here. What’s this smell like rotting food?”
Hunter brought his finger close to his nose. Shane flinched and discreetly grabbed his collar to sniff it.
“David.”
David, who had been trying to suppress his cough due to a donut stuck in his throat, was so startled that he fell to the floor. Hunter, standing behind him, stepped back and sighed.
“Why is everyone making such a fuss?”
Hunter tapped the large trash can placed behind David. I told you to empty it on time. Even though this is a basement, smells don’t dissipate easily.
As soon as Hunter finished speaking, David got up and lifted the trash can. I’ll dispose of it right away. With a solemn tone, David went up the stairs with movements as disciplined as a soldier. Hunter, who had been watching David’s retreating figure with arms crossed, turned his head to find himself making eye contact with a red-haired man who respectfully put his hands together in front of him.
Hunter stood blankly for a moment, at a loss for words. I knew I was sensitive before, but was I really so frightening that they needed to be this tense? In the uncomfortable atmosphere, the earpiece in Hunter’s left ear suddenly made frequent noises.
[“…money…”]
It was just at the moment when he’d been thinking this method wasn’t very good since he’d only been hearing rustling sounds until now. Several hours had passed since he’d dropped him off on the street, and now they were finally beginning their tearful family reunion. Hunter frowned at the rustling sounds interrupting the flow.
[“Wait, your body is…”]
[“It’s fine. It’s nothing.”]
[“…”]
[“…”]
[“Go to your room and rest for now.”]
[“Yes.”]
[“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”]
[“It’s okay.”]
[“No, really…”]
She let out a deep sigh. It’s because of my greed. Her voice sounded heavily suppressed, as if holding back tears.
[“Actually, I’m not sure.”]
Taylor said. Unlike her voice filled with emotion, his voice was dry and barren.
[“This isn’t your fault, Mother.”]
[“Taylor…”]
[“If I were to hate you too, I would have no reason to live anymore. I’m just tired of blaming.”]
[“…”]
[“Father is enough as a target for my anger. Though I can’t even remember his face anymore… The more I resent him, the more he fades from my mind. I wonder why.”]
[“That’s… another part of you erasing bad memories to protect yourself.”]
[“A kind of self-defense mechanism.”]
[“It’s a good thing, Taylor. Come here.”]
[“No, it’s not good.”]
Taylor’s voice suddenly gained strength.
[“If I erase Father from my memory, all this anger will be directed toward you, Mother.”]
It was a cold reply. A mother-son relationship marked by deep love and hatred, Hunter thought.
Jennifer. Hunter called her, pointing to his earpiece. Jennifer, who had been watching his movements, nodded and sat down at the computer.
[“You look very tired, Taylor.”]
Get a good night’s sleep. Let’s talk again tomorrow. As Samantha tried to smooth things over, Taylor spoke again.
[“The people who kidnapped me, they probably aren’t related to the Cenaline Family.”]
Hunter leaned in closer, wondering if he had misheard. David, who had emptied the trash can and was making a commotion coming down the stairs, immediately froze when he met Hunter’s now-irritated eyes.
[“What do you mean?”]
[“An Asian man with dark brown hair and glasses, the one who called you earlier. Do you know him?”]
[“An Asian man… could it be Hunter Kim?”]
Hunter, Hunter Kim. Taylor repeated his name in a murmur.
“Right, because I’m the only Asian man with dark brown hair and glasses on the planet.”
Hunter sneered in Korean. Jennifer, who was typing, tilted her head at his words.
[“It’s true that he helped me… but something feels off.”]
[“The Gostin Family, then.”]
Samantha’s voice had hardened. Hunter clicked his tongue and pulled out his earpiece, tossing it to Jennifer. She reached out and caught it as if she’d been waiting.
After all the trouble I went through to save him. Hunter checked his wristwatch. I’ll need to meet him as soon as possible to avoid being falsely accused.
“I’ve found his location.”
Hunter stood behind Jennifer and confirmed Taylor’s location on the computer screen. Write it down. Hunter ordered with a snap of his fingers. David, who had been quietly moving the trash can, jumped in surprise and said, “Yes, sir,” while picking up a pen.
Jennifer, who had been fiddling with the earpiece, put it in her ear. What else do you hear? Shane asked. Jennifer, who was about to shake her head, suddenly frowned.
“What? Did something happen?”
“No, it’s been disconnected.”
But… Jennifer glanced at Hunter. Hunter, who had been intently staring at the computer screen, noticed her gaze and tilted his chin as if asking what was wrong.
“Do you think the other person knows they have a device attached to them?”
“They don’t know.”
“They don’t know?”
With an ominous feeling, Hunter closed his mouth. His eyes urged Jennifer to continue speaking.
“He just spoke directly to the device. He said, ‘I’ll be waiting for you, Hunter’…”
