2.1 The First Leap (3)

Yoo Jeong-ham replied, “Yes,” but the call had already ended. He thought about it every time, but Gye Do-hyeop’s personality was truly something else—making it painfully obvious that he found it tedious to answer questions, only to curse up a storm alone afterward. However, while he wouldn’t give straight answers, he was the type to take a huge share of the burden in actually solving the problem, so Jeong-ham didn’t have any particular complaints. Yoo Jeong-ham had long since sold his soul to the thoroughly intuitive and brilliantly capable Gye Do-hyeop.

Not only him, but most of the counter-terrorism team members who had followed Deputy Director Gye to the NSSD were the same. Catching the bastards who stirred up the country like kindling required not just intelligence, but a great deal of intuition. As environments became harsher and chaos erupted over religion and ideology, terror sites—where interests became entangled simultaneously—became even more dangerous. The Security Department’s counter-terrorism team, who had to walk the line between life and death in those places, often died without a single letter of their names ever appearing in the news.

That was how it was until he arrived. Gye Do-hyeop had been a special hire brought in from the outside after catching the eye of the Security Department Head at the time. The group that had previously been vicious about seniority stopped holding ambiguous grudges against Gye Do-hyeop in exactly one week. It happened on the day a terror warning was received, threatening to blow up the government building.

Just as the employees were evacuating to the bunkers and the counter-terrorism team members were moving in an orderly fashion, Gye Do-hyeop stormed into the control room alone. After quickly scanning the employee list and several days’ worth of surveillance footage, he located the intruder’s path and the installed bombs in just 17 minutes. Not only that, but he picked out the group of suspects from among the numerous people entering and exiting the building. At the time, there were 180 employees working inside the building, and 24 homemade bombs were discovered. It was a truly insane start.

‘First, filter out the security team employees who didn’t come to work today, then identify the personnel who repeatedly entered and exited only on that bastard’s workdays. Then, cross-reference the blueprints with the directions they took to enter areas without cameras and check the ventilation shafts that a person of that build could fit through within the visited time. Is this actually hard?’

The expression on his handsome face as he finished his indifferent explanation—one that seemed to say, Is it for real that dozens of people were running around because they couldn’t think of something this obvious?—made him widely disliked by everyone. Of course, it was a conclusion that could have been reached through an emergency meeting, but in a desperate situation where they didn’t know if there were actually bombs or when they might explode, the fact that he had immediately shoved himself into the control room and completed a hologram with a long red line marking the movement path was staggering in many ways.

When asked how he predicted the bombs wouldn’t explode immediately, he said he knew by listening to the distorted voice in the warning call. But when he explained it as, “Just, like, from the breath or the vibe,” his Seonbae, unable to take it anymore, screamed, “What the fuck is that?!”

Even after that, Gye Do-hyeop saved many lives. That was excluding the innocent victims who were nearly caught up in terror incidents. He saved and kept his teammates alive with logic and reflexes that were hard to argue against. Furthermore, he was so adept at coaxing terrorists with a level of natural tact that made one wonder if it was even right; it was Gye Do-hyeop who annihilated the most vicious and troublesome armed group. The reason was, of all things, internal division caused by sowing discord.

Ultimately, the reason why all the current team members, including Yoo Jeong-ham, obeyed and followed Gye Do-hyeop unconditionally was—setting aside the dozens of lives they owed him—simply because that was the highest probability of survival. As long as they did as he said by his side, they always returned alive, whether it was a terror site or a surprise attack. In a department where one might die and not even leave behind a decent corpse, that was the greatest trust a superior could give a subordinate.

After Gye Do-hyeop was drafted from the Security Department’s counter-terrorism team to the NSSD, the Security Department visit our sitedisappeared due [unauthorized copy]to departmental restructuring, but the fact that its duties were essentially completely absorbed by the NSSD was an example of Gye Do-hyeop’s presence.

Aside from his ability and looks, he was a man whose everything else was generally crooked and a mess. That was why Yoo Jeong-ham needed a bit of time to process the situation unfolding before his eyes recently.

‘They slept. They slept.’

The next morning was the same. Yoo Jeong-ham felt certain as he looked at Geum Seoul sitting in the living room of Gye Do-hyeop’s house. Gye Do-hyeop’s pheromones were layered over Geum Seoul in shimmering waves. Considering the boy’s own pheromones were weak to begin with, he wondered how much had been layered on. As soon as he entered the house, only Gye Do-hyeop’s pheromones were detectable. Was there a pheromone neutralizer here? He reflexively thought of his belongings, but if this was his boss’s intention, he couldn’t recklessly erase it.

Today, they planned to go to the neighborhood where Geum Seoul used to live early on. Following Deputy Director Gye’s instructions, they had brought in the people who had searched the building last time, and as soon as a few questions were asked, the schedule was set. He had given No Pil-gyu a plausible excuse regarding work, but since it was still a delicate matter, the only people entering the neighborhood were Geum Seoul, Yoo Jeong-ham, and Deputy Director Gye.

“I heard you already know the Deputy Director’s name and affiliation. I’m Yoo Jeong-ham. I’m a bit late with the introduction, aren’t I? I’m sorry. My job is a bit… like that.”

“No. I understand.”

Geum Seoul quickly waved both hands. He had heard the name before, but he decided not to mention it.

“The two of us will go today, and the Deputy Director will move separately.”

Yoo Jeong-ham let out a secret, deep breath. Of course, Deputy Director Gye’s choices had never been wrong, but he couldn’t help feeling uneasy at times like this. What if Geum Seoul were captured by Gwak Chun-young’s side later, and then blurted out the names of himself and Gye Do-hyeop? No matter how he thought about it, killing him before that happened seemed like the best option.

“Ah, would you like to open this?”

Yoo Jeong-ham handed over the shopping bag he was holding. The movement of the hand reaching inside to rummage through it was docile.

Of course, from the first time they met, Yoo Jeong-ham had felt sympathy for Geum Seoul. It was similar to the feeling one has when seeing a young child begging while digging through a trash can in the neighborhood. And now, he was pitiful in a different sense. Both the fact that he had been swept up in this work, and the fact that he had caught Gye Do-hyeop’s eye because of those looks. The reason he kept sighing was also out of pity. He feared that by continuing to be caught up in various dangerous matters, his fate would take a sharper turn than if he had just stayed hidden, eventually leading to a tragedy. Like Lee Hee-jung, who had been an ordinary Jewel Omega but was ultimately murdered with his eyes gouged out.

“…Do I do this?”

“Ah. Yes. It’ll be better to wear it when you go outside.”

The disguise Geum Seoul had used before was quite cheap and crude, but the ones Yoo Jeong-ham handed over now were clearly much more expensive. Even though it must have been awkward since it was slightly different from what he used, he rustled with small hand movements, applying adhesive and covering his nose. Following that, the way he clicked in the fake braces looked almost practiced.

Geum Seoul, whose face had quickly returned to something similar to before, followed Yoo Jeong-ham out of the house. Since no silicone padding had been prepared, the clothes remained baggy. He had suggested wearing new clothes, but Geum Seoul stubbornly changed back into the long-sleeved shirt he had first worn.

Climbing into the backseat, he leaned his back against the seat quietly and gazed out the window. The black car seat felt cool, so he rubbed the leather a couple of times with his open palm.

Seoul still didn’t know what had happened to Park Gil-pyeong that day. Why did the CEO, who had been chasing him so terrifyingly, suddenly disappear from the window frame? Was he still in the neighborhood? Had something happened without his knowledge? Perhaps he had found the Deputy Director before him and hidden away. Based on the circumstances, he thought the Deputy Director might have taken down Park Gil-pyeong, but the hands of the man who had reached out to him then were empty, and there was no other presence nearby. He couldn’t be certain based on suspicion alone.

Rini saw my face too…

Thoughts began to flood in. In any case, he would find out once he returned to the neighborhood. Geum Seoul repeatedly clasped his hands tightly into fists and then opened them. Although the disguise he had put on earlier sufficiently hid his face, it Read on Read BL Novelsdefinitely felt different visit our sitefrom usual, so visit our sitehe touched his nose every now and then. The oversized clothes felt empty, and his mouth kept going dry.

Throughout the quite long journey, Geum Seoul did not close his eyes. Every time Yoo Jeong-ham, who had turned off the autonomous mode and was driving manually, glanced at the rearview mirror, Seoul would clench his fists, bite his lower lip, or pick at his fingernails.

“The house… is there anything uncomfortable?”

He threw out a question to break the awkward atmosphere. Looking out the window, Seoul turned his head toward the front seat. The car stopped by the roadside after receiving a signal.

“No. Thanks to you.”

Just then, people passing by were visible through the windshield. Geum Seoul, who was about to add something, widened his eyes slightly. The entire front windshield transformed like a transparent screen, and thin rectangular borders appeared around the faces of the pedestrians, with text floating above them.

●

SYSTEM

Target 004

C / No unusual history

The thin green letters followed a passing woman before disappearing. This time it was a young man.

●

SYSTEM

Target 006

D / History of identity disguise / Low risk

“…….”

As Geum Seoul stared blankly, Yoo Jeong-ham looked back and, following his gaze, explained with an “Ah.”

“It’s a program installed only in our vehicles.”

“What are those alphabets? Are they like grades?”

Dividing people by grades was something Geum Seoul was familiar with. However, it didn’t show whether those people were Trait-bearers or Commons; only the alphabet was written.

“Um, this is in all the cars… Even with unauthorized copyautonomous driving, there are times when accidents can’t be avoided. In [unauthorized copy]those cases, these things judge on their [visit our site]own. Who is better off getting hurt.”

“…What?”

At the slightly surprised voice, Yoo Jeong-ham gave a troubled smile. It was a sensitive topic. That’s why other autonomous vehicles hid the design so it wouldn’t be visible, but in cars used primarily for work, it was set to be visible on the head-up display for convenience.

“What is the criteria?”

“I’m not sure about that either, but probably things like whether they have a criminal record or how much they contribute to society…”

“Ah…”

Geum Seoul made a small sound. In other words, if a situation arose on the road where either he or another person had to be hurt, the autonomous car would hit him. At the shrinking voice, Yoo Jeong-ham quickly waved both hands.

“I don’t know the detailed criteria either. And since everything is made so well these days, accidents like that rarely happen.”

“Ah. Yes…”

It was the kind of thing usually found in TV shows or documentaries. It had already been commercialized to the point where everyone who could afford it used the function, so it was already too late to discuss the morality of it.

When the signal changed and the car started again, Geum Seoul turned his head back to the side window. Suddenly, he thought unauthorized copythat in unauthorized copytoday’s world, the plight [visit our site]of people who weren’t Jewel Omegas wasn’t much different. Of course, he himself was useless to a degree that couldn’t even be compared.

Even though Seoul hadn’t made any mistakes, Yoo Jeong-ham continued to glance at the rearview mirror for a long time as if reading his mood. He understood that it would be hard to accept, having come to Seoul from a place where one would never see such things. He tried to think of a topic to change the atmosphere, but he kept his mouth shut, fearing he might accidentally fuel the fire. Just as the car was driving up a hill, a call came in.

Click.

Prick. It was Gye Do-hyeop’s voice. Geum Seoul’s gaze shifted toward the center fascia next to the driver’s seat. Until a moment ago, he had been nibbling his lips, but now his upper body leaned slightly forward. Even though the call was full of nothing but scolding and wasn’t particularly welcome, there was a slight spark of life in his eyes.

“We’ll arrive soon… We’re going up. Ah, I see it. I see it. I see it.”

The call ended without a response. Common so-called phone etiquette was nowhere to be found. While Jeong-ham had long since adapted to the tone of his boss, who had discarded his personality, it could be a shocking experience every time for the timid Geum Seoul.

“His way of speaking is a bit… harsh, isn’t it?”

It sounded as if he were starting to badmouth his boss, but it was actually the opposite. He had intended to follow up with, ‘Our Deputy Director’s words are a bit off-putting, but…’ However, the answer was somewhat unexpected.

“Still, his actions aren’t like that.”

“…….”

He wanted to ask back if Seoul had ever seen Gye Do-hyeop in visit our sitethe field. Because the heavy car had to [Read on Read BL Novels]move along a bumpy visit our siteoff-road path, the question didn’t come quickly. In the meantime, Geum Seoul added first.

“He swears, but the content isn’t bad or critical. And his voice is really nice…”

“Ah… That’s, right. I guess so. His voice is really nice… Critical… is…”

He felt the need to argue that the recent snap about eating the accelerator like a snail eating lettuce was a compliment, not a criticism. However, he lost all will to fight at the part, ‘And his voice is really nice.’

Were the insults he had endured in his life so severe that his boss’s swearing sounded sweet? But his attempt to understand Geum Seoul in that way was meaningless. His voice is really nice? It was a pure compliment, but the slightly excited heart contained within it was transparently visible.

Regardless of what feelings the two held for each other, Geum Seoul looked too fragile in front of Gye Do-hyeop. He was certain that anyone who brought him before the man would reach the same conclusion.

Naturally, their visual chemistry was excellent. It was a masterpiece-like splendor, where it wouldn’t be strange to say they were a pair that might meet once in a thousand years, but their personalities were polar opposites. The timidity of rubbing fingernails and biting lips for long periods, and the insane violence of letting out stifled, excited laughter while snapping someone’s teeth one by one and arranging them by size to the tune of do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-si-do—it seemed they could hardly harmonize.

Yoo Jeong-ham, who had opened and closed his mouth a few times, pressed the accelerator firmly and parked the car in an open lot. He didn’t add a single word until then. It was because he felt that the moment he moved his tongue, he would spit out an insult toward his boss. No matter what slander he spoke about Deputy Director Gye, nothing would be false and everything would be a fact, but regardless, he had to endure.

“He’s coming.”

Geum Seoul muttered, pressing himself against the window. As he said, Gye Do-hyeop, who had been smoking a cigarette in a corner of the parking lot in front of the small open space, was extinguishing the ember and walking toward the car that had just shut off its engine. While Geum Seoul was unbuckling his seatbelt, the rear door opened from the outside.

“You came fucking fast. Why didn’t you just come tomorrow?”

“Yes. But, I couldn’t find my sneakers. I wore the ones you gave me.”

“I threw those away thinking they were rags. Those are sneakers? Even a neighborhood dog wouldn’t chew on those.”

“…They’re the first sneakers I ever bought with my own money.”

“They did look fucking sturdy. Anyway, wear them. They’re pretty.”

While the conversation between the two continued, Yoo Jeong-ham trudged out of the driver’s seat. The tone was distinctly different from the words he had poured out over the phone earlier. Even though they had arrived faster than the scheduled time, he had asked if they were driving a snail, yet he was telling Geum Seoul that they were pretty.

Come to think of it, it was exactly as Geum Seoul said. Profanity was mixed in, but the content wasn’t bad or particularly insulting. Rather, it sounded closer to the opposite.

Moreover, Geum Seoul was also strangely odd. He cut off Gye Do-hyeop’s comment about coming tomorrow with a simple “Yes” and immediately started talking about himself. What is with him? Am I crazy? Or has that ghost finally gone completely insane? Or is everyone crazy? Confused, Yoo Jeong-ham hurried his steps before he could be cursed at further.

“Does that hurt less?”

He thought it was an abrupt question, but realizing Gye Do-hyeop’s gaze was on the corner of the mouth, he quickly nodded. It was a comment about the fake braces. Then, Gye Do-hyeop’s thumb pressed the lower lip. Since it seemed he wanted to check, Geum Seoul opened his mouth slightly. However, instead of examining the inside of the mouth as he did at home, only a short laugh was heard. Along with a mutter of, “Bullshit.”

“We’re going up on this; have you ever ridden on the back?”

Gye Do-hyeop pointed to a slender motorcycle parked to one side. Even at a glance, it looked sleek, incredibly expensive, and high-quality. When he replied “No,” Gye Do-hyeop answered, “Mm. I figured,” and shoved a full-face helmet down over his head.

“Get on. As long as you hold onto my waist tight, your head won’t get cut off.”

“…….”

Geum Seoul, who could only blink while wearing the heavy helmet, didn’t move for a while. Similarly, Gye Do-hyeop, who had put on his own helmet, finally turned around. Even though everything except the eyes was covered, he could tell why the pupils were rolling around.

“Scared?”

“Will my head be cut off if I hold it wrong?”

Gye Do-hyeop’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. It wasn’t directed at the hesitating Geum Seoul, but rather because he wondered if the words he had just spoken were too harsh.