By Zephyria 
Ire stared blankly at the gray wall in front of him. What had happened to Matteo? His brothers? Had Kim Ha-yoon killed them all in a fit of anger? Anxiety crept up from his toes again. He buried his face in his hands, holding his breath and waiting for time to pass, when the door burst open without warning.
“Out. You have a visitor.”
He was dragged out in handcuffs and walked down the hallway, escorted by armed inspectors. This was the basement of the Intelligence Agency building, where not a single ray of sunlight entered, and they had to rely solely on the lights hanging from the ceiling.
Seo Young-jun had once told Ire about this place. The detention facility within the Intelligence Agency housed not simple criminals, but people who were a threat to the system and could not be controlled. There were also soldiers who had disobeyed orders, but he never imagined he would become one of them.
“Who is here to see me?”
The inspector did not answer Ire’s question. There were small doors everywhere they passed, and faint voices could be heard from beyond them, perhaps from others who had been dragged here like him. Then, suddenly, a loud voice burst out.
“Ire!”
Surprised, he turned to see someone’s face flash briefly inside the bars. The inspector struck the bars with his club! “Get away from the door! You little bug!” Then another inspector next to him muttered, “Damn rebel bastards,” wishing they would die soon.
Only then did Ire realize it was one of the Sewer Trio.
So, he was still alive…
After going above ground, the inspector shoved Ire into a room. The arrangement of a desk in the center with chairs on either side was reminiscent of an interrogation room. He sat down in the chair in handcuffs and looked around. Cameras were rotating everywhere, filming.
And a moment later, the door opened and someone came in.
“You look rough.”
Kim Ha-yoon pulled out the opposite chair and sat down. His arm was bandaged, and his face was paler than before, probably because he had lost a lot of blood. It was ridiculous that he was the one pointing out that Ire looked rough.
“You wanted to see me?”
Ire clasped his handcuffed hands tightly together. He tried his best not to show any emotion. Here, he was completely at Kim Ha-yoon’s mercy. Confronting Kim Ha-yoon rashly would clearly not get him anywhere. He had to be patient now. If only he could get what he wanted.
“Please let me go back to District B.”
Kim Ha-yoon made a displeased expression and gestured outside. Soon, the inspector guarding the entrance came in.
“Turn off all the cameras.”
“Captain, but according to regulations…”
“Shall I call your superiors one by one?”
“I’m sorry.” Soon, the blinds were lowered, and all the lights on the cameras in the room went out. Completely alone, Kim Ha-yoon took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. But instead of lighting it, he just repeatedly opened and closed the lid of the lighter.
“Send you back? To where you used to live?”
“Yes…”
“Unexpected. I thought you’d try to kill me as soon as you saw me. You seem naive, but sometimes you’re very cunning. Of course, I like that too.”
“…”
“But what to do? I don’t want to let you go.”
Ire bit his lower lip tightly. Anger began to boil from deep within his stomach. He tried to calm his rough breathing and did his best to persuade Kim Ha-yoon.
“You lied to me… Matteo didn’t have surgery… So, our contract was null and void from the start.”
“If I had left your adoptive father alone, he would have died. I took him in and saved him. Even though I used your blood instead of his heart.”
He said it as if there was no problem. Seeing him openly say that he had used his blood, Ire almost forgot that his hands were tied and lunged at him. His clasped hands trembled slightly, and Kim Ha-yoon noticed it, letting out a soft sigh.
“Give me time. I’ll fix Lee Seon-jae somehow.”
Ire glared at Kim Ha-yoon at his brazen attitude.
“Liar… You ordered him to be killed.”
“You misunderstood.”
Ire let out a burst of laughter and poured out accusations at Kim Ha-yoon.
“You deceive people to the very end. You son of a bitch.”
“Yeah, just lash out at me. Until you feel better.”
“Don’t pretend, you bastard! You never treated us like people from the beginning! You just saw us as tools to satisfy your desires! Was it fun? Did you enjoy watching me? How did it feel to see me being fooled like an idiot? Weren’t you scared when we had sex? If I had known this would happen, I would have made you like Matteo! I should have, you bastard, I… I’m such an idiot… to you… to a bastard like you…”
Tears were about to spill. The smile disappeared from Kim Ha-yoon’s relaxed face, and Ire bit his lower lip until it bled to avoid showing weakness. Still unable to control his emotions, he slammed his head on the desk.
Bang-bang-bang- As he hit his forehead hard, Kim Ha-yoon pulled the chair back with a screech and covered his head. “Stop it.” Ire pushed himself up and roughly shoved Kim Ha-yoon away. Their bodies overlapped, and he ended up sitting on top of Kim Ha-yoon.
Not satisfied with that, he strangled Kim Ha-yoon with his handcuffed hands.
“Die! Just die! You son of a bitch!”
Kim Ha-yoon’s face turned redder and redder, and the veins on his forehead stood out, but he didn’t push Ire away. No, he was actually smiling. Seeing him chuckle made Ire feel as if someone had poured cold water on a burning fire.
Empty, hopeless, and despairing…
No matter how hard I try, I can’t hurt this man.
His hands lost strength and collapsed powerlessly. The pent-up resentment burst out, and his sobs turned into wails. Why did you do this to me, why to us…! He couldn’t bear the thought that he had considered him a benefactor, even for a moment, and had been excited. He thought it would be better to die here.
Kim Ha-yoon gently stroked the top of his head as he wept, lying face down.
“Give up. Crying won’t change anything.”
And then, a chilling whisper.
“I have no intention of letting you go. Never.”
Gilsu leaned his face against the small bars on the door and called Ire. But there was no response. As he was about to call again, the inspector appeared like a ghost and struck the bars. He threatened that if he made another sound, he would smash his mouth.
Gilsu returned to his spot and laughed hollowly.
“See? It’s all over.”
“Why was that guy arrested here?”
“He must have caused an accident in the military. You saw his temper.”
“What kind of accident could he have caused?”
The three of them were silent, staring blankly into space. Lately, the inspectors had been treating them well without even cursing, which meant that their days were numbered. They had resigned themselves to their fate, so they didn’t feel wronged or resentful. Until an unexpected person appeared.
“If he had helped us, this wouldn’t have happened. You moron.”
“What power does he have to help us? He can’t even take care of himself, that’s why he’s here.”
“They said he had a special ability. Was it a lie?”
“I told you, being handsome is also an ability.”
“To be talking about looks even after coming all the way here. Baek Seol is definitely crazy.”
“Shut up.”
The three of them sighed simultaneously. What had happened to the runaway leader and deputy leader? What about the other surviving members? They sometimes harbored vain hopes that they would come to rescue them. Of course, that was impossible. This place was like an impregnable fortress. But still, just once…
“Huh?”
Baek Seol looked down at his feet. Jang-cheon’s gaze followed.
“Why? What’s there?”
“I thought I felt the ground shake just now?”
“Surely not. I didn’t feel anyth-“
A dull sound echoed from below the building. Then, vibrations traveled up through the floor. Damn, it was an earthquake. Area C was a place where earthquakes occurred as often as breathing. In comparison, District A had fewer earthquakes and lower intensity.
That’s probably why the upper class had settled here from the beginning. To prepare for all dangers. Even the sandstorms blowing from the western desert had less of an impact here.
“Damn world. I wish it would all collapse.”
Jang-cheon muttered and flopped down on the bed. Baek Seol also lay down and covered himself with a blanket. In fact, compared to the warehouse in the military, life here wasn’t bad. There was a separate toilet, and decent food was provided every meal. Except for the fact that they would be executed in a few days.
He closed his eyes quietly, hoping that the night would pass slowly. Then, feeling death approaching, he unconsciously pulled the rough blanket up to his chin. In the quiet silence, a sudden roaring sound came from the ground.
Then, the vibrations began. The vibrations, which he thought would stop soon, gradually intensified, and the walls and even the lights on the ceiling creaked and shook. Feeling that something was wrong as they shook so violently that they could not stand, the three of them got up.
Then, a terrible sound of the entire building twisting and a deafening alarm sounded. Gilsu hung on the bars and shouted to be let out, but no one came, only an announcement to evacuate was broadcast.