Hyungoh stared blankly at the spot where Michael had left before sitting on the edge of the bed. At least everyone’s safe. Hyungoh wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
Something dangerous is happening.
Hyungoh recalled the man who attacked Marsha in the backyard. Was it the mafia Herick had mentioned before? The Gostin organization that’s after Michael?
Deep in thought, Hyungoh furrowed his brow. I smell something fishy. It’s definitely connected to Uncle. Where the hell is that man anyway?
Though he desperately wanted to open the window and look around, he decided against it for fear of making himself a target. Somehow Uncle’s house seems safer than here. Ah, no. Considering the strong smell of blood Theo noticed at the front door, that place must not be safe either.
No safe place to retreat to. Thanks to Uncle and Theo constantly warning about this area, I knew something brutal like this might happen someday, but… Hyungoh rubbed his eyes. I’m already exhausted.
As he stood up from the uncomfortable thin frame that was hurting his backside, the paper in his pants pocket rustled. Hyungoh took out the letter again, the one Maria presumably gave to Hunter. A headache like an alarm came on as he tried to read the letter, but he’d long grown accustomed to such pain.
I don’t blame him.
Him.
Hyungoh muttered, digesting each sentence in the letter one by one, then closed his mouth at the word “him.” The man whom Mother felt sorry for. The man who would never get what he wanted until the end. The man who denied his distorted beauty.
The man who lived a life of despair.
What is this uncomfortable feeling? Hyungoh rubbed his temples with two fingers. Remember, Hyungoh. Remembering is the best solution.
Just then, a sudden gunshot rang out loudly. Hyungoh jumped in surprise, stepping back, and tripped over the bed frame. Was it outside? Hyungoh looked beyond the window.
Another gunshot rang out. Hyungoh, who had turned around to face the window, held his breath. This one sounded closer than the first. The vibration was also stronger. It was clearly a gunshot from inside the house.
Michael!
Hyungoh burst out of the room, flinging the door open. Leaning against the stair railing, he looked down to see Marsha aiming her gun forward through a broken window. Her shoulder appeared to be shot, with her clothes torn and blood flowing freely.
The man who was about to pull the trigger froze stiffly, smiling at Michael. Blood was flowing between his teeth.
Marsha pulled the trigger a couple more times. Bullets lodged in the back of his head and neck in a row. The man vomited blood on Michael. His pristine white shirt was stained red.
Hyungoh flinched momentarily before his eyes met those of the man sprawled on the floor. Blood seeped from the man’s body, forming a large pool.
Hyungoh watched the scene blankly with a dazed expression. Noticing Hyungoh, Michael slowly opened his mouth.
“…Choi.”
My angel.
Hyungoh slowly turned his head. His face, which had appeared soulless, turned deathly pale the moment he saw Michael.
You should have remained beautiful.
Michael’s blood-soaked appearance changed grotesquely. Shaggy hair, skinny body. Unkempt beard and dry lips with white flakes of dead skin. A kitchen knife was embedded deep in his stomach, with only the end of the handle visible.
The man who had been hanging his head finally looked straight ahead. His eyes were visible through his messy bangs. Even in his dying moment, they stubbornly maintained their light.
In the end, you too, you too–
He could feel his breath. Their eyes were so close they almost touched. A familiar face. Hyungoh’s mouth gaped.
Why do you look like me?
A thin line snapped. That’s what it felt like. In this moment, he couldn’t feel any pain. Even if Michael were to strike his head with a hammer.
I’ve found “him.” Hyungoh’s lips trembled as he whispered.
“Father.”
* * *
Hunter exhaled, tilting his head back as he smelled the steaming cocoa. With his eyes unfocused, he looked dreamy, as if about to drift off to sleep.
“Someone might think it’s drugs.”
“Not even close.”
Jennifer, who was helping Hunter with paperwork, let out a laugh.
“How’s the team atmosphere these days?”
“Peaceful as always.”
“Peaceful, huh. That’s the word I hate hearing the most.”
Jennifer, who had been flipping through papers, tensed up and pressed her lips together at his words. She wondered if she had misspoken.
“Peace makes humans lazy. It creates the illusion that living life might be surprisingly easy.”
“I suppose so.”
“Ah, no need to force yourself to agree.”
Hunter waved his hand at Jennifer’s tense appearance. Here we go again. Hunter put down his cocoa cup on the table and said:
“The younger you are, the more you shouldn’t be intimidated, Jennifer. Rebel against the old folks. They’re the opponents you’ll have to fight someday.”
“Haha… I’m not quite getting what you mean.”
“I’m saying you should have more defiance. You and Shane lack that.”
What’s the use of having the young ones dragged along? Jennifer gave a bitter smile as she grasped the meaning behind his words.
“You’re talking about the leader.”
Jennifer thought of Dylan, the current team leader. Though he seemed naive, he was so competitive that if he couldn’t win, he would torture himself by abstaining from food and drink for a whole week. She had heard he was a famous black hacker even before working as an organization hacker, which was why he took the leader position immediately after joining the Gostin Family.
Dylan was as stubborn as he was talented. Despite new hacking routes emerging as technology advanced, he clung to old methods. It was an era when even phones could access the internet, yet he remained in an age of pagers, leaving Shane and Jennifer frustrated.
“Yes. Dylan has good skills but is conservative. Time flows, but his methods refuse to improve.”
“What can we do? He’s the hacker who’s survived the longest in the team and delivers good results too.”
“Those results won’t last. Hacking technology is developing rapidly. The outdated generation Dylan belongs to is fading. Soon, you and Shane will have to shoulder the burden.”
Jennifer nodded in agreement with Hunter’s words, then suddenly opened her eyes wide. That means… As Jennifer muttered, Hunter shrugged.
Is he being phased out? How unfortunate. Jennifer thought. He’s been looking quite gaunt lately. Didn’t he say his son was giving him a lot of trouble?
“What is he doing now?”
“He should be resting in the security room. He had a meeting with the boss this morning.”
“Hmm.”
Meetings at every opportunity. Hunter narrowed his eyes.
Hunter was wary of Dylan. He had known about Dylan’s strong loyalty to Federico for a long time. Because of this, Dylan volunteered to be his eyes and ears. Annoyingly so.
“Jennifer, you can surpass Dylan.”
“That’s nice to hear.”
“I’m not joking. Don’t waste your talent because of his outdated system.”
Hunter said with a serious face. Seeing his sincere gaze, Jennifer, who had taken her hands off the documents, hesitated before eventually nodding.
“Hunter, the boss is calling for you.”
Mate burst through the door, shouting. Jennifer and Hunter both turned to look at him.
“Finally, I can go outside.”
Hunter rose from his seat with a relaxed smile. You’re the only one who’s happy about being summoned by the boss. Mate remarked incredulously.
“Jennifer, you can go back now. I’ll finish the rest.”
“Yes.”
Jennifer followed him outside. Mate clicked his tongue at her.
“Pathetic. Now you’re playing servant to Hunter too?”
“I’m doing this because I want to.”
“Suck-up.”
Mate snorted. Jennifer slightly bowed her waist to Hunter, showing respect until the moment she went down to the security room. That suck-up. At Mate’s disgruntled muttering, Jennifer playfully smiled.
“Don’t be too nice to them. Hackers are useless for expanding power.”
“Why do you think that?”
Mate and Hunter, who had boarded the elevator, faced each other.
“Why ask when you already know? They’re self-centered. Though they’re called a team, they’re all strongly individualistic, not the type to obey others, and above all, they don’t see the organization as a ‘family’ but just as a workplace.”
“They’d collapse foaming at the mouth if they heard you, Mate.”
“I bet they would. Because I’m exactly right. No matter how well you treat them, they’re only busy calculating what benefits they’ll get. Even Sergei, who shits blood trying to expand his influence, doesn’t bother with the hackers.”
“You don’t have to worry. Sergei can’t touch me.”
“Who said I was worried about you? I’m just giving you advice because you’re being too casual.”
I don’t want to see that bastard Sergei succeed. Mate gritted his teeth.
Hunter responded with a grin. Are you going to tell the boss that he’s a spy? Mate asked.
“I won’t.”
“What? Why?”
Mate raised his voice in surprise. Hunter, who had exited the elevator, adjusted his glasses that had slightly slipped down.
Because he already knows.
Sergei was as loyal to Federico as Dylan was. To be more honest, Sergei was so devoted to Federico that their relationship was suspicious. He was the type who would offer his liver and gallbladder if ordered. How could such a person suddenly betray the organization? Hunter tilted his head.
Of course, he was indeed a spy for Cenaline. On the surface, that is.
“He didn’t volunteer as a spy to betray the organization.”
“Huh?”
“He’s temporarily playing spy to eliminate ‘him’ who was a thorn in his side. Surprisingly, ‘he’ was also a thorn in Cenaline’s side. Their interests aligned.”
“Who is ‘him’?”
“A certain intelligent and righteous Asian. Additionally, someone destined to receive others’ jealousy due to overflowing charm.”
“…”
Federico couldn’t possibly have missed this. He was a man who would have noticed Sergei’s clumsy spying and more. He probably gave the tip about having a spy because he wanted an exciting situation. Wondering if ‘he’ can survive, showing interest.
“Since you played with me, now it’s my turn to enjoy.”
Hunter smiled. Sensing the extraordinary atmosphere, Mate let out a groan. The psychological warfare between the two vicious superiors was beginning again.
