By Zephyria 
Coming to his senses, Captain Kim Ha-yoon realized his hands were free. Opening his eyes, he rose from his seat and clutched his head. He remembered an injection needle being stuck in his neck right before he fainted, but nothing after that.
“Haa…”
His complexion darkened rapidly as he surveyed his surroundings. It felt like a childhood nightmare was being replayed. The scenery visible through the glass window was clearly the closed research facility in district d. To be exact, the room where Yona had been imprisoned.
He couldn’t understand why he was here. The only difference from before was that the entrance, which used to be accessed with a card, had been replaced with iron bars. And in front of the door were neatly folded clothes and a tray with bread and an unidentifiable can of food.
Fucking hell. He felt dizzy as he stood up. Moreover, one of his ankles was bound with a heavy iron chain. This is really something. Leaning against the wall, he went to the bathroom and turned on the water, just in case.
With sputtering noises, rust-colored water flowed out, eventually turning into fairly clean water. This place had been cut off from water and electricity for a long time, so he always prepared bottled water and a lantern whenever he came. Why was there water here?
Filled with doubt, he took off his soiled clothes and looked at the mirror in front of him. His face was a mess from how badly he had been beaten. It was the first time in his life he had been assaulted like this, and he could only let out a dumbfounded laugh.
After showering and changing his clothes, he went to the glass window and looked outside. He could tell it was daytime from the sunlight coming in through the opposite window. Just then, someone was passing by in the hallway, so he banged on the glass.
Normally, glass would have shattered, but this was special glass, strong enough to withstand a vehicle ramming into it. So, it must have held up firmly even during the explosion.
“Hey. Got a cigarette?”
The other person’s eyes widened at his words. Kim Ha-yoon recognized him belatedly. He had seen him a few times in district b. He was Ire’s childhood friend and lived with his grandmother, or so he heard. The last time he saw him was after Ire had escaped from district a.
—I don’t know anything. So, what happened to Ire?
He had feigned ignorance… What a cheeky bastard.
At the time, he had people monitor the guy, but after more than six months, there were no signs, and after his grandmother died, he disappeared completely, so he had only made a rough guess. That the two hadn’t met.
“I’m sorry! I really didn’t know!”
Gangsan ran away in a hurry, and Kim Ha-yoon pressed his throbbing temples. As if they had heard he was awake, several people came up a little later. Ire was among them. Forgetting that he had beaten him, he smiled with delight.
“Thanks for saving me.”
“……”
“Did I tell you? I missed you.”
Ire pulled two chairs that were nearby and handed one to Kim Ha-yoon. Behind him, Jang-cheon and Gilsu stood like rocks, armed to the teeth. Their grim expressions clearly showed their willingness to shoot at the slightest provocation.
Ire, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, had shed his boyishness and become quite manly, and his eyes were sharper than before. The thought that he had changed because of him brought a thrill rather than sadness, and he couldn’t help but berate himself as an incorrigible son of a bitch.
As soon as he sat down, Ire called out to him from across the table.
“Captain Kim Ha-yoon.”
His heart ached at the title he hadn’t heard in a long time.
“I’m not a Captain anymore. I got fired because of someone.”
Ire ignored him and continued to say what he had to say.
“We will be sending people to district a soon. We will make several proposals as a condition for releasing you, and if your father does not accept our demands, you will die. The same goes if you send the military here to save you. I hope you understand our intentions.”
Then, Jang-cheon, who was behind him, turned on the camera and filmed Kim Ha-yoon.
“Now, start.”
So, he wanted him to beg into that camera? To agree to their demands because he was captured? It didn’t matter what those demands were. He had a different question.
“How the hell did you get in here? How long have you been here? The water?”
There was an abandoned water tower, but it had been broken for a long time, and it would have required considerable skill to fix it. Where did they find someone in such a short time? Talented people were sometimes drafted into district a, but it was rare for someone who came in to leave the district. Unless they committed a very serious crime.
Only when his thoughts reached that point did he understand.
“Don’t tell me you took in and used the kids who were kicked out of our district?”
“Start recording again. If you talk nonsense again, I’ll shoot you, so speak properly.”
“Aren’t I a valuable hostage? Treat me properly.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Gilsu stepped forward and snorted.
“Tch. What a load of crap. What kind of big shot are you? Are you the Chairman’s son or something?”
“……”
Because both Ire and Kim Ha-yoon were silent, Gilsu froze with his mouth half open. Jang-cheon was just as surprised. He only knew that he was the son of a high-ranking official, but he never imagined that he would be the Chairman’s son.
Gilsu turned his body and lowered his voice so that only Ire could hear.
“Boss… is this okay?”
Kim Ha-yoon, who had been watching the situation silently, looked at Gilsu.
“During the subjugation two years ago, there were your commander and vice-commander who ran away to the mountains. Aren’t you curious about the rest of the story?”
At the story of the commander and vice-commander, Gilsu turned around without realizing it. Jang-cheon’s eyes also sharpened. He had run away and tried to find them, but he couldn’t find them at all.
“They offered the conditions first. They said they would give up the remaining members in exchange for citizen ID from district a.”
As soon as he heard those words, Gilsu shouted with a fierce face.
“Shut up! Do you think I’ll fall for such a lie!”
“If you don’t believe it, go and check it out. They’re living well, enjoying all the luxuries. You guys felt something was strange too, didn’t you? Didn’t you?”
Where did this son of a bitch get this bullshit! Jang-cheon stopped Gilsu from rushing in with his fist clenched. Ire gestured to Jang-cheon. It meant to take him out. Gilsu, who was being dragged out, screamed. I’m going to kill you with my own hands! Our commander would never do that.
When only the two of them were left, Ire looked at Kim Ha-yoon with a pathetic expression.
“You’re still good at pissing people off, aren’t you?”
“I’m the same as always. But you’ve changed a lot.”
“Cooperate. Or you will die.”
“Should I tell you about your younger siblings? How’s Matteo?”
Ire’s hand, which was touching the camera, stopped. His eyes, staring at Kim Ha-yoon, were filled with anger. Kim Ha-yoon made the first move when he didn’t say anything with his mouth tightly shut.
“Luca graduated from kindergarten. He was looking for you, so I promised to bring him.”
“……”
“Matteo is improving, albeit slowly. He sometimes asks me how you are.”
Kim Ha-yoon chuckled as he looked at the silent Ire.
“Judging by your expression, you know everything?”
“……”
“Who is it? Who’s the rat passing information to you like a mouse?”
Ire ignored him and turned the camera back on.
“Do it properly this time.”
As soon as he pressed the record button, Kim Ha-yoon leaned back in his chair and arrogantly raised his chin.
“Father. If you’re watching this, don’t look for me. Be happy as hell with Stepmother and have another kid while you’re at it. Ah, but you’re too old, so it might be difficult. Anyway, live a long and happy life. Thanks to you, I’m living a comfortable life. The end.”
He picked up the camera and stood up. He thought there was no need to listen anymore and was about to leave when Kim Ha-yoon called out to him.
“Sorry, it’s late.”
“……”
“I know I don’t have the right, but I missed you.”
Kim Ha-yoon’s shameless face was no different now than it was before. Thinking about how he had deceived and manipulated him so perfectly with that face, it wouldn’t be enough to kill him here. However, what bothered him was that his younger siblings and Matteo were in his hands.
“I’ll be back in an hour. If you’re still acting like this then, I won’t stop Gilsu even if he beats you to death.”
The door opened and closed as it was. Left alone, Kim Ha-yoon turned his gaze outside. Ire’s profile, passing through the hallway, was visible through the glass window. He thought he would be okay, but seeing his cold expression made his chest feel tight, as if a stone had been placed on it.
As soon as Ire disappeared completely, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes tightly.
Fucking hell… I should have done better from the start.