Chapter 219

Chapter 219. The Kidnapper and the Swindler (4)

I had made a mistake.

For days, I had been unable to sleep properly due to persistent nightmares, and meeting Yang Hyewon had left me more exhausted than usual.

As a result, the moment she left, I inadvertently dozed off.

The damned scenario I had witnessed during the trial replayed in my dreams.

To make matters worse, right before Kim Yul woke me, I had been dealing with a fiend disguised as Yeonwoo.

Multiple complications resulted in my blunder.

‘Yeonwoo might not be a unique name, but still.’

For the first time, I had leaked personal information about my family, something I had never done before.

My principle dictated that, if necessary, I should silence the other person, even if it meant killing them.

This wouldn’t change even if it was Kim Yul.

I no longer had qualms about murder and had steeled myself to face bloodshed if needed.

Besides, Kim Yul had never defeated me in one-on-one combat.

Silencing him would not have been a difficult task.

However, my hand landed not on Kim Yul’s neck, but his shoulder.

I gritted my teeth and leaned forward.

Soon, the distance between Kim Yul and me was barely a finger’s breadth.

“You didn’t hear anything just now.”

My unwavering gaze pressed him for a response, and Kim Yul gulped nervously before speaking.

“What… uh, what did you say? I didn’t catch it clearly….”

Feeling that was sufficient, I ruffled Kim Yul’s hair.

Because, somewhere along the way, I became fond of him.

Because we were comrades who had shared the trials of war.

And for a myriad of other reasons, I broke my own rule.

I did not know how this choice would affect the future.

‘Right now, I’m sick of the scent of blood.’

Especially if that blood belonged to someone close to me, I didn’t want to see it.

Rubbing my tired eyes, I wiped the sweat-soaked dampness off my face.

“… Want me to get you some water?”

I shook my head lightly at Kim Yul’s question and asked another.

“By the way, what about the task?”

Checking the chat log revealed no messages about returning or intentions to return.

Wondering if he had come back for an urgent matter, I inquired.

“Ah, right. I couldn’t enter the temple because of the magic ban, but…”

Gulping down his saliva, Kim Yul began speaking in a bright tone, as he usually did.

“I heard from the clan’s stronghold that they’re setting a trap. Midnight two days from now, and they said to gather more poppy magic stones before then. What should we do?”

If Kim Yul heard it firsthand, there wasn’t much room for doubt.

“Nothing changes. We proceed as planned.”

“Okay, then. I’m leaving now, I’m hungry.”

When I waved my hand as a response, Kim Yul’s presence faded away.

I continued sitting, eyes closed, resting against the couch while exhaling a deep breath.

Though nightmares haunted me, drowsiness quickly overcame me.

But thankfully, I didn’t fall asleep again this time.

Because my sight, which gradually blurred, saw Kim Yul departing in the distance.

I stretched out my hand.

Picking up Rice Cake, who was perched on the sofa backrest, observing Kim Yul’s retreating figure.

What I saw through my mind’s eye was Rice Cake’s view.

“Stop.”

Murmuring with a weary tone, Rice Cake disconnected the link.

And then, like finding its spot, she rested on my thigh.

‘It’s become its designated seat.’

It had been a few days since I decided to take proper care of it.

During that time, I observed Rice Cake carefully.

I wanted to understand more clearly its abilities.

I discovered several unexpected truths.

‘It seems it can see and feel as if my senses are its own.’

Calling from quite some distance, it would hastily come running in response to my soft murmurs.

In almost every moment, it felt like it saw and heard what I did.

‘But it only shares its vision when it wants to.’

More accurately, since I couldn’t see through its eyes, it seemed to forcefully show it.

For this beast from another world, sharing vision and experiencing empathy seemed natural.

But I, being human, could not communicate that way.

So Rice Cake appeared to artificially reveal its perspective to me.

“Tsks…”

Honestly, I wasn’t too pleased.

It essentially meant there was yet another entity capable of watching me wherever I was.

‘The lingering gazes from the departing system already annoy me.’

The idea of someone peering into my mind was discomforting.

‘The slight consolation is that it obeys my words unconditionally.’

Basic commands like bite, run, stay were just the beginning.

‘It comprehends complex orders like hiding something somewhere or monitoring someone.’

Once, I assigned it to observe Yang Taeho as an experiment.

Almost 24 hours a day, without sleep, it kept its eyes on him and promptly delivered every move to me.

It would execute whatever task I instructed.

It seemed disconcerting to the point of being unsettlingly blind in its devotion.

‘Perhaps because it finds me essential for its survival.’

Though it was merely speculative at this point.

‘Besides that, it seems it’s quite cunning.’

It had a perceptive sense of the shift in its circumstances.

It was clear when it clung to me the moment I allowed it near.

Until now, it had not ventured onto my bed.

Now, it claimed a spot beside my pillow.

‘Oh well, it’s better than being foolish.’

Sweeping my dampened hair back, I lifted Rice Cake and put it aside.

My skin felt unpleasant from sweat and dampness.

‘Might as well take a bath now.’

Seeing as this body would be offered in a sacrificial ritual, wouldn’t it be better to keep it clean?

Thus, two days later, after soaking in warm water, come midnight, the entire building was shrouded in a black mist.

The Hamas Clan had attacked our party’s stronghold.

* * *

In front of the temple within Loborre Castle.

Voices were heatedly raised from within the building used by the Players’ Association.

“I’m telling you, those bastards did attack our party building!”

It was Kim Yul, his face haggard as if he hadn’t slept all night.

Seated at a paperwork-laden desk across from him, Lily exhaled a shallow sigh, looking weary.

“We cannot designate suspects merely based on suspicions. This matter…”

“If you’re talking about evidence, you know they’ve been buying poppy magic stones on the black market, nuna!”

“It’s already been explained that they were stolen from us.”

Responding wasn’t Lily, but Mayak, shrugging his shoulders as he cheerfully added.

“President, our guys are so busy trying to catch the thief now they can’t even go hunting.”

“Like hell anyone would buy that!”

Kim Yul shouted explosively and pounded the paper-strewn desk with a resounding bang, splitting it in half.

As a result, the towering stack of documents collapsed in a flurry.

“Stop with the pathetic excuses and tell me right now! What have you done with K hyung?”

It had only been half a day since K had gone missing following the night’s attack.

Lily, who had been staring forlornly at the fallen papers, slowly rose from her seat.

And she began gathering the documents with practiced hands while continuing her words.

“First, Kim Yul, this isn’t a private setting. Mind your language. And Pudding, don’t just stand there watching; intervene.”

“Ah, u-uh, I’m sorry.”

With stiff movements, Yang Taeho pulled Kim Yul back.

Stammering, as if unsure what to do, he eventually helped with collecting the papers.

Meanwhile, Lily addressed Mayak.

“Next, Hamas clan leader. Investigators from the association will be deployed soon. Cooperate fully to ensure a smooth investigation.”

“Ho? Is the association planning to get involved?”

“We can’t overlook this situation now that suspicions have been raised.”

“Are you aiding the convenience of those who raised the suspicions?”

Mayak, clicking his tongue, pointed in Kim Yul’s direction as he spoke.

“Suppose we did attack these guys’ shelter. Isn’t it more of a statement than a regulation issue? Are you ignoring the fact that those guys interfered with our clan members first?”

“…”

“If no casualties occurred, why should the association step in at all? Isn’t it aiding them by doing so?”

Casting an amused expression, Mayak gazed up at the empty space.

“I also have people to report to. They informed me that my messages to K are getting through fine. That means he’s alive, and there’s no reason for us to be investigated, is there?”

Mayak argued with frustration lacing his voice.

To this, Lily looked up from her crouched position.

She intensely studied Mayak, as if piercing through to discern his motives.

After a long moment of scrutiny, Lily resumed gathering the papers she had been reaching for, her words turning pragmatic.

“We are not investigating a murder but moving to prevent one.”

“Huh?”

“Without evidence, we can’t be sure Hamas Clan made an attack. And granting a hypothetical where there was an assault, without casualties, there wouldn’t be direct repercussions.”

But just because there aren’t casualties now doesn’t guarantee none in the future.

“There is potential for the missing person case to escalate into a murder case. It seems reasonable for the association to step in for prevention.”

Why do you seem sure no casualties might emerge from this incident?

Could it be that you know the fate or location of K, who vanished last night?

Mayak’s cheeks twitched at Lily’s probing query.

“Given the credible suspicion that he’s been taken timely to prepare for potential murder, we will proceed with dispatching investigators.”

“…”

“Don’t worry too much. If today’s suspicions are purely coincidental, the investigation will reveal that.”

When Lily stood up, hugging the gathered documents, Mayak offered a sharp-edged smile.

“Yes, it will be revealed.”

Inviting them to search all they wanted was what he meant.

Mayak had confidence.

Confidence that they wouldn’t find anything.

Because K wasn’t with any of their related circles in the first place.

“Seems like the discussion is settled; I’ll be on my way.”

Casting a sidelong glance at Kim Yul, still glaring venomously, Mayak left the office leisurely.

After Mayak’s presence had retreated significantly.

“Nuna, I’m sorry, did I scare you? I’ll handle the cleanup and take care of everything before I go.”

Lowering his posture, Kim Yul hastily gathered the papers together while apologizing.

His voice also shifted, softening as if it never held a hint of anger before.

At this, maintaining her aloof and professional demeanor, Lily laughed lightly.

“I did get startled. Your performance was so convincing.”

“Talk about startled, I froze up and couldn’t say anything. Why are you so good at acting?”

Yang Taeho, who was helping Lily collect the papers, chimed in.

Kim Yul’s lips curved into a playful smile at their compliments.

“Was it passable?”

“Are you kidding? I genuinely thought something happened to K.”

“Ahem, well, I did take some acting classes.”

“Wow!”

“It’s not such a big deal. By the way, nuna, your act was impressive too. Do CIA agents learn acting?”

“We do train to maintain composure…but what you saw was genuine, not an act.”

The three continued their conversation unhurriedly.

As if the disappearance of K hadn’t impacted them in the slightest, they remained as relaxed as usual.

Damn System

TL’s Corner:

Kim Yul was an aspiring idol before the game started, and showed his talents quite convincingly.