By Zephyria “Hey, do you know who I am?”
The protagonist of the voice that echoed loudly in the middle of the corridor was Ero. He waved his arms around, expressing his presence, and stopped the steps of two reporters who were going to the opposite side.
“I am the Joker of this league! The main character of victory and the right-hand man of the King! Follow me if you want to get information!”
The reporters, who were wandering around the building because they had suddenly popped out from the corner, scanned him with bewildered eyes. It was rather suspicious because he revealed his identity so confidently, as if he wanted them to hear it. His voice was also theatrical.
However, as his appearance in sight matched the clothes on the last passer list written in the notebook, his attitude of listening immediately changed.
They scribbled ‘JOKER’ next to the memo and hurriedly ran away. Ero, who had collected two new reporters, went up the stairs on the second floor of the operations headquarters.
Five or six reporters who had been chasing him from the beginning followed him like a tail. Ero deliberately made loud footsteps to send a signal to an unspecified number of people in the vicinity. He was planning to buy time by spinning around appropriately because he was confident in his running.
After a group of people rushed away, Leonardo, who was hiding behind the stairs and watching his actions, rubbed his forehead.
‘Why is he saying such things as the King’s right-hand man?’
Judging from the fact that he was revealing the alias Joker without hesitation, Ero might be enjoying this situation of being famous. He was worried that the guy might be caught and reveal information about him.
However, since he was playing the role of bait instead of him, who was not in good condition, Leonardo had his own gratitude. In the meantime, the security personnel who moved under instructions turned the curve and headed up the noisy stairs. The two groups, who did not recognize each other’s existence, moved away in opposite directions.
The first basement floor of the north building had a passage for authorized personnel only that led to Entrance C. Leonardo thought that he would be able to shake off the reporters by passing through the passage, whether he arrived at the restricted area or was caught by the Council guys.
He was now really going to be protected by the Council. He couldn’t help but laugh and recalled the guide map he had seen while wandering around earlier. Finding an escape route by looking at the floor plan was something he had often done in previous missions, so the road was clear in his mind.
However, he seemed to have underestimated the thugs who were blinded by betting information. As the destination gradually approached, an even greater commotion than before grabbed his ankle.
Leonardo’s pace slowed down rapidly. Instinctively, he put his back and palm against the wall and only tilted his head to check the situation beyond the corner.
‘Crazy….’
“If you continue to do this, we will have no choice but to arrest you all! Step back!”
“I heard that some people have already gone in? Why are you only stopping us?”
“Aren’t you going to bring those people back?”
“We can’t let them take the lead….”
“You have to cooperate so that we can go and sort out the situation!”
He cursed involuntarily. The corridor was full of people on one side. Moreover, the fire door was half-lowered above them. Perhaps the reason for the existence of that fire door was to block the heat of the swarming people. It also meant that the road he had to take was blocked.
Six members were guarding in front of it, and they seemed unable to move easily because they were stopping the crowd who were peeking around, hoping to get something.
“If you don’t step back in three seconds, we will suppress you all on charges of obstructing official duties!”
“Oh, there!”
While the member was making a threat, the person at the very front pointed at the front with his arm. The place he pointed to was the corner where Leonardo was peeking out. Leonardo, taking a breath and sticking his body to the wall again, turned to the opposite side without regret. At the same time, screams erupted from the blocked passage, but there was no way to know what had happened.
Leonardo, who had given up on heading to his destination, began to knock on the tightly closed doors one by one from then on. It seemed better to hide appropriately until the Council arrested all those guys.
The problem was that the security was so thorough in this place that there was not a single door that was accidentally left open. Every time he turned the doorknob, only a clattering noise was heard, and it wouldn’t push at all. In the meantime, the sound of thumping footsteps and screams came close.
If a participant used force in a place other than the match, their right to participate would be revoked. It was a matter that was also specified in the rules, so Leonardo quickly let go of the doorknob he had been holding, shuddering at the annoyance.
He ran around the maze-like corridor and punched every door he saw, but the result was the same. In the meantime, people who heard the sound and gathered persistently pressured him to tell them his league alias.
Ah, anyway, it’s just an alias, should I just tell them and run away? The thought of wanting to be comfortable popped out involuntarily as his vision blurred and he ran out of breath. But when he thought about whether they would really step back if they heard the alias, he shook his head involuntarily.
If they catch him, they will try to check his face next, and they won’t let him go easily.
“Ah, please, just one, just one open—.”
Leonardo, who was shaking the last door at the end of the corridor, muttered as if begging in his anxiety. He bit his lip at the pressure that was tightening around him from all sides.
Then, he hurriedly turned the curve, holding the cloth he had wrapped around his head with his hand because it looked like it was going to be messed up.
He hid his presence while suppressing the sound of his footsteps. It was the moment when his body went out first, and he brought the mind and gaze that had been focused on the back forward.
“…!”
A shadow fell in front of his eyes. Unable to overcome the inertia of running, he ran straight into it.
A shock like hitting a rock occurred.
“Are you okay?”
Ero, who had fallen awkwardly, was helped up by a Council member. The member appropriately brushed off the dust and stains on his clothes.
“Everyone in this place is arrested on charges of trespassing in a restricted area. If you resist, we will suppress you with force immediately.”
Ero and the reporters who were chasing him were already surrounded by security personnel. The reporters, who couldn’t even curse and were gasping for breath, sighed as if they were disappointed. Soon, they changed their attitude and began to plead with the members.
“No, sir, we didn’t come in on purpose….”
“We didn’t know it was a restricted area, can you please forgive us just once?”
“There are signs saying ‘Restricted Area for Authorized Personnel Only’ all over the operations headquarters, does it make sense that you didn’t know? In addition, the act of exerting psychological and physical pressure on league participants by using your status as a journalist is subject to punishment for obstructing league operations and public order. You must come with us.”
The reporters’ wrists were handcuffed one by one. They all made groaning noises, but no one resisted. Since they were the ones who had been recklessly committing acts of violence from the beginning, they seemed quite familiar with this situation, and they only stuck out their tongues with a pitiful expression.
On the other hand, Ero had a more nervous face than relieved at the sudden situation. He looked up at the member who had helped him up and asked falteringly.
“Am I also being arrested…? Surely I won’t be disqualified, right?”
“Currently, a travel ban has been issued for all participants in Group F. You are not under arrest, but we ask for your cooperation as you will be escorted to a controlled area. Whether or not your right to compete will be revoked is a matter for the competition organizers to decide, so I cannot say anything at this time.”
Ero’s mouth felt parched. He could appeal as a victim and possibly get away with it, but he was worried about potential disadvantages in a situation where passage wasn’t guaranteed.
He dragged his stiff legs and obediently followed the line of security personnel. Then, he suddenly stopped and urgently shouted.
“Ah, there’s one more person being chased!”
The hand that wrapped around the back of his waist was very large. The strong force supporting his tilted body contained an affection that made his heart lean.
Leonardo, who reflexively grabbed his forearm and clutched his throbbing nose, looked up at the other with wide eyes. The expression of the person looking down at him wasn’t much different.
“……”
“……”
The two were speechless for a while.
It was because when you witnessed something you had been desperately searching for right in front of you, you forgot how to react.
Leonardo stared blankly at the handsome man’s deep eyes. It was as if lines had been added to the face he had always imagined, making it even more three-dimensional. Maybe it was just his imagination, but the cologne smelled stronger today. The presence that brushed the tip of his nose flowed into him and consumed his mind.
The cologne brought back the image of him just before their separation. Only breathing raggedly, his rigid blue eyes slowly moved to scan his disheveled appearance.
Leonardo was caught in the illusion that the hand reflected in his gaze was caressing his cheek. If the arm and hand supporting his back hadn’t gripped his waist, he would have certainly thought so.
The skin that touched through several layers of fabric was hot. Even the smallest, most subtle movements were stimulating enough to spread into blatant agitation.
But the emotion was fleeting.
“Where did they go?”
“The entrance is blocked, though?”
The hushed voices of unwelcome guests echoed from the other side of the passage. Leonardo was the first to react.
As he flinched and looked back, Hugo, not missing the sight, stared in the same direction. Soon, his neatly furrowed brow slightly narrowed.
Looking back at Leonardo, he murmured briefly.
“This way.”
A low voice that gave him stability tickled his forehead. Hugo straightened Leonardo so he could regain his balance, then quickly snatched his lost hand. He swiftly led him beyond the corner of the hallway he had come from.
Leonardo, caught in his firm grip, followed Hugo with stumbling steps, unable to explain the situation. Even so, he couldn’t take his eyes off the man’s profile, which was visible at an angle.
Could it be that he couldn’t believe it? It was hard to tell if what he was facing was real. Ridiculously, Leonardo raised his other hand, the one not being held, and grabbed Hugo’s forearm, who was leading him away.
It was purely a desire to confirm.
Hugo’s grip flinched at the touch. However, he only glanced at his person and didn’t stop walking. Rather, he tightened his grip to prevent him from escaping.
It took both of them quite a while to break their entangled gazes and look ahead.