By Zephyria It was the first time Cheong had been seen again since Sakdal.
Of course, what was moving in front of him wasn’t the real Cheong, but a video. Still, from Mu-hae’s perspective, who had deliberately avoided even going near Sakdal, it was equally unpleasant.
Now he knew why the robot was submerged in the Osu River. Considering how it had deliberately made crackling sounds with its mouth as if mocking him, it had intentionally put the car in the water.
To make it hard to find. And even if found, to make it unsettling. It was a clear declaration that someone was openly involved in the secret Return flight, and that it was him.
Anyone with a brain would worry about how far Cheong’s information had spread.
‘Didn’t you say he knows his place?’
Jin Mu-hae raised an eyebrow and recalled Gu-reum’s words. She had clearly said there was no need to worry about him.
No, thinking about it again, Mu-hae’s question, ‘Isn’t it dangerous that he knows about the Return flight?’ was answered with, ‘He knows exactly how far his actions are tolerated and acts accordingly.’
It meant that Cheong wouldn’t reveal the existence of the Return flight or use it to threaten Gu-reum’s safety. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t bother or annoy Mu-hae.
“Blueberry cinnamon roll.”
Joo-oh, sitting on a nearby sofa, muttered while looking at the air. He seemed to be thinking about what happened in Sakdal as well.
At that time, Joo-oh was blank, then grimaced, repeating what he didn’t like. But when that guy touched him, he became docile as if by magic.
Pfft. Mu-hae removed the storage device with a calm face. Although he felt disgusted, he wasn’t so easily swayed by others’ provocations.
Instead, he decided to guess Gu-reum’s reaction. Whether Cheong would do anything that would directly harm her. What this data meant to Gu-reum.
‘It’s certain that he was trying to help me with this robot…’
There was code for his father’s system somewhere underground, and Gu-reum had given it to Mu-hae.
But it wasn’t just for that kind reason that she asked for the robot to be retrieved. The videos played before the code was discovered showed countless traces of Gu-reum trying to find gaps in Goryeo City.
So Cheong didn’t take the robot or the storage device. He just dumped it in the water.
From Gu-reum’s perspective, that data was better off disappearing than falling into anyone’s hands. Only Jin Mu-hae would be troubled by not finding it.
‘She’ll just let it go.’
Gu-reum is expensive. She’s not free enough to crack down on talent who don’t have hostile intentions towards her.
Mu-hae, who sensitively realized this fact, frowned slightly. Even if he told Gu-reum about this, she probably wouldn’t lend a hand.
Rather, she might use it to test him someday. Jin Mu-hae was starting to feel it. Her instructions were a deal and a kind of training at the same time.
The latter purpose might be a favor to Gu-reum, but for him, who was already dealing with so many complicated things, it was unnecessary help.
“Jin Mu-hae.”
After staring silently at the turned-off panel for a long time, Joo-oh approached him, padding softly.
Are you angry? His red eyes seemed to ask. Mu-hae didn’t answer and put the storage chip in his pocket.
His black hair was a little damp, as he had just come out of the shower. For some reason, Mu-hae reached out to him.
Then, smack, Joo-oh put his cheek there. He blinked as if asking why he wasn’t stroking him.
The annoyance that had been scratching at his insides subsided instantly. Mu-hae moved his thumb slightly and gently stroked the smooth face.
He could feel Joo-oh’s lips twitching and smiling under his palm. His eyes were also slightly closed, and he definitely looked happier than when someone else touched him.
“Jin Mu-hae. Let’s go play.”
“Where are we going to play all of a sudden?”
“I have money. I’ll buy you something delicious.”
He hadn’t given him money recently, so he must be talking about the Deal he made in Sakdal.
He was about to ask if it was still left, but he stopped. The money Mu-hae had won that day was almost double the usual amount, so Joo-oh must have a considerable amount of money as well.
It was a problem that he was constantly buying things to eat… but Mu-hae was responsible for his food, clothing, and shelter as compensation for making him work.
There was no equipment to repair, no bullets or batteries to fill, so he could indulge in snacks as much as he wanted and still have money left over.
“Don’t, save your money.”
“They sell fried meat sandwiches outside the park.”
“Just because you earned it easily once doesn’t mean you can spend it easily, right?”
“And there’s a pie shop next to it. Director Gil will like it.”
Whether he nagged or not, Joo-oh didn’t even flinch. No matter what the other person said, he stubbornly said what he wanted to say.
He even swallowed when he mentioned the fried meat sandwich. Right now, that’s all that was on his mind. A delicious snack that was sizzling and fried well, sandwiched between soft bread.
His expectant face was annoying, so he pinched his earlobe, and he made a pleasant sound.
How should he correct this attitude of being rewarded for saying he would buy him food? After thinking for a moment, Mu-hae sighed briefly and ruffled his hair roughly.
“Go out. Go buy that fried meat or sandwich.”
“It’s a fried meat sandwich.”
“And when you go out to work outside the City, stop bringing smelly food. It attracts Beasts.”
“Hmm… what if I bring it without it smelling?”
“Do you think Beasts or Aberrants have the same sense of smell as humans?”
“What if I can’t smell it either?”
At the relentless question, Mu-hae clicked his tongue softly and turned away.
Because he knew very well how great Joo-oh’s sense of smell was. Besides, seeing him so persistently questioning, it seemed that the fried meat sandwich would be in that guy’s bag on the next job.
“Do whatever you want.”
Jin Mu-hae went up the stairs first and answered casually as he passed by.
Joo-oh, who heard the small voice like a ghost, laughed and hurried after him.
It seemed that Cheong would be interfering in this work and bothering him. That blue-haired bastard’s wicked video was nothing more than a declaration of intent to do so.
Still, as Gu-reum said, he wouldn’t be able to reveal the existence of the Return flight, and for now, Mu-hae had obtained more of his father’s records without any major problems.
It was thanks to Joo-oh being by his side. The lucky totem that Cheong coveted. He was now following Mu-hae, looking only at Mu-hae.
“Don’t grab other people’s waists and come up on your own.”
A strange sense of superiority smoothed out his hardened forehead and subtly painted satisfaction on it.
“What are you guys doing here at this hour?”
“It’s midday.”
“I heard you were going to Jaegang District?”
“We go back and forth. We slept here a few days ago too, why do you keep trying to get rid of other people’s perfectly good houses?”
“What do I care? I’m just here all day.”
Director Gil, who was busy turning a wrench at the Electronic Store, greeted the large figure entering casually.
He put down the tool he was holding with a clanging sound and took off his oil-stained gloves.
“What are you trying to fix?”
“The hook ejection port is a bit wobbly.”
“It’s just old, what can you do. Take it out.”
“Ah. And this.”
Mu-hae put the box he was holding on the workbench. Colorful fruits were clearly visible under the plastic wrap on the top of the box.
At the look that asked what all this was, Mu-hae shrugged and gestured to the side.
“Pie. It was damn expensive. Someone kept begging me to buy it.”
The fruits, which looked like they had been preserved in sweetener, didn’t look fresh, but they were definitely more expensive than other desserts. The brownish pastry looked so crispy that it would crumble if touched.
Director Gil glanced at Mu-hae with a surprised look, then shifted his gaze to Joo-oh.
“The guy you picked up is better than you.”
“Do you like this kind of thing?”
“What’s not to like.”
He took the pie box without refusing and shook it slightly towards Joo-oh.
It meant he would enjoy it. Director Gil couldn’t say mushy things, so he often brushed off thank yous like that.
Joo-oh nodded as if he understood everything, as if he had experienced him before.
“And I have something to ask you.”
As Jin Mu-hae threw out the words, Director Gil’s eyes became serious. He stopped holding the pie for a moment and stared at Mu-hae quietly.
“Go inside. I’ll bring out something to drink with this.”
Director Gil took a long breath and pointed to the door leading to the house.
“I don’t really like tea.”
“Do you think I’d give that to a rough mouth like you again? Get a drink from the refrigerator. The tea is for, what’s his name.”
“I’m Joo-oh.”
“I’ll give it to Joo-oh.”
Director Gil dusted off the dust on his clothes and moved into the house.
Mu-hae gestured for Joo-oh to follow and strode after him.
“I don’t even drink those carbonated drinks.”
“Then drink water. You’ll drink anything when you’re thirsty outside, so stop being picky.”
Even though he threw the words out lightly, the corners of his mouth were slightly hardened as he rummaged through the cupboard.
He had guessed it too. That Jin Mu-hae had found the hideout under Jaegang District.
He must have found something there, so he came running to ask.
“So. What’s it like where people live?”
Clang. Director Gil put down the bottled water and tea on the tea table and asked.
He himself was living outside the formal residential area, so it was a self-deprecating remark.
“It’s similar here and there.”
“Are you blind?”
“It’s just that the buildings look normal… and the streets are safer at night.”
He must have lived in Central when he was young. He didn’t want to remind him of his lost past, so he changed the subject, only to hear harsh words.
Jin Mu-hae glanced at the cup filled with plain water and waited quietly until Director Gil sat down.
Clack. A few of Joo-oh’s fruit pies were placed in front of them. Only after Director Gil sat on the opposite sofa did the real conversation begin.