Chapter 58 #21 Monster of the Red Death Society (3)
“Some annoying pest has latched onto our little princess?”
The head of the Red Death Society, Sima Heon—Suo Mosian—frowned at the report from his subordinate.
Due to Suo Haozhu's sensitive temperament, he couldn't station guards too close to her, but eyes were always watching the girl who might bolt at any moment. The news his subordinate brought today was enough to turn Suo Mosian's stomach.
The bastard who'd stuck to her like a leech all day yesterday, sweet-talking her.
From the photo, the guy's looks didn't sit right with Suo Mosian at all. Slimy like a gigolo, with a sly, rat-like grin.
Suo Haozhu was his finely honed blade.
She was his weapon, his future. He couldn't tolerate anyone messing with that future.
“Track him down and kill him, by any means necessary.”
The subordinate nodded at Suo Mosian's order and vanished. It was almost time for Suo Haozhu to arrive. Just as Suo Mosian set breakfast on the table, she emerged from her room.
“Has our princess arrived?”
“Yeah, Papa. Good morning.”
As they ate breakfast together, Suo Mosian probed her gently.
“Nothing out of the ordinary yesterday, right?”
He scrutinized her face desperately as he asked. Whether she noticed the sharp gaze hidden behind his smiling eyes sweeping over her, Suo Haozhu replied in her languid drawl.
“I don't remember yesterday at all.”
“Ah, right. You've been emptying your mind clean every day lately, haven't you? Papa forgot again.”
Suo Mosian pulled Suo Haozhu onto his lap and whispered affectionately.
“Papa will remember all the important stuff from now on, like we said. All that head pain comes from holding onto useless memories, remember?”
At his words, Suo Haozhu parted her lips slightly.
“Papa, do you know what I did yesterday? Something felt different from usual, but I can't remember.”
“Yesterday?”
“Yeah.”
Suo Mosian narrowed his eyes. Was she remembering what happened? No, given how much she loathed his words, she'd have erased it all. Maybe just a faint afterimage lingered. It happened sometimes.
“No, nothing happened at all.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Suo Mosian had no intention of letting that bastard cross paths with Suo Haozhu ever again. So yesterday didn't happen. He stroked her cheek and whispered.
“You trust Papa, right?”
“I do.”
She hesitated but nodded.
“Good. Papa trusts our princess too.”
He pulled her into a light embrace, a deep smile playing on his lips as he murmured.
“So do what Papa says.”
Just like always, without a shred of doubt. Live for this Papa.
Suo Mosian desperately hoped she would.
Baek Dosan said he was heading back to Korea.
“Got some urgent business back home. Besides, there's nothing more I can do here anyway.”
Fair enough. He'd come to bridge the gap between us and Jang Liuwian. With that done, no need to stick around.
“Take good care of my kids.”
Baek Dosan nodded at my words.
“Even if you lot end up not being of this world anymore, I'll look after them.”
“Hm.”
That kind of service wasn't exactly welcome. Grinning as if it were a joke, he added,
“Jang Liuwian might be fine, but Tian Clian doesn't like you guys much.”
“Tian Clian?”
“The woman behind Jang Liuwian.”
Ah, right. The one who'd eyed me with open disdain.
“Heard she opposed bringing you here from the start. Jang Liuwian might play nice on the surface, but that woman? Not a chance.”
This was a warning.
Makes sense—we must've looked useless. Though we'd at least tipped them off about the raid.
“Got it.”
I saw Baek Dosan off with those words. Back at the hotel, Han Seohyun asked,
“Where to today?”
“Got a meeting lined up.”
“You're really going to see that girl?”
Having scouted the scene via his rat yesterday, Han Seohyun was more wary of Suo Haozhu than ever. Best to give him a task in times like these.
“How's the search for that 'Papa' going?”
“Still looking. Lost one of my rats yesterday, of all times.”
“Ah.”
Probably caught in Suo Haozhu's strike. No wonder he was keeping his distance.
“Please find him. We need that guy.”
Han Seohyun pouted but nodded.
“Fine.”
Kim Jaeho was nowhere in sight. I headed to the gelato shop where I'd met Suo Haozhu. No set time, so I'd wait here and see.
But after hours, no sign of her.
“Maybe.”
I needed to see her face to persuade her or whatever. But she wasn't showing.
I checked other spots just in case—same result.
'Did she erase her memory?'
High chance.
Something tugged at my chest.
Even though I'd half-expected it, yesterday's intimacy had felt so genuine.
“Standards vary.”
For her, that was like arm-in-arm soulmates.
But soulmates or not, it meant nothing.
I never got to see Suo Haozhu again.
You can't pick stars without looking at the sky, or mulberries without seeing the host. I trudged back to the hotel, dejected.
Only Han Seohyun was in the room.
“Where's Jaeho?”
“No idea. He was fidgeting earlier and bolted out.”
“What the hell is he up to.”
Han Seohyun nodded at my mutter. He was worried about Kim Jaeho vanishing too.
“How's the Papa hunt?”
“He's holed up tight. Not in the area. So I made a pact with some local birds today.”
Rats were great for stealth but lousy for wide coverage. I nodded at his explanation.
“What'll you do if you find that Papa?”
“Talk first.”
“Talk talk, or...?”
“Or what?”
“You know what I mean.”
Her blush as she said it was hilarious. Teased the kid too much. Leaning against the bed, I spoke slowly.
“That bastard's worthless alive. Gotta kill him.”
“Finding just him ends it all?”
I replied,
“Don't worry. We'll save the Silver Moon Society somehow.”
“……We'll save the Silver Moon Society somehow.”
Hiding in the shadows and overhearing, Tian Clian scowled. Arrogant fools. Powerless nobodies thinking they could save anyone? They hadn't even stopped yesterday's raid.
Tian Clian toyed with the dagger in her bosom. She could slit their throats right now.
Jang Liuwian said there was no loss either way, but she'd hated dragging these guys in from the start.
Better an honorable end.
Than being jerked around by such presumptuous scum.
Then that bastard appeared before her again.
The one from yesterday.
Usable among the riffraff. But still no match for the Red Death Society's monster.
“Told you I'd kill you if you showed.”
“I'm here to protect you. Your leader had a tail today. Know about it?”
Kim Jaeho grimaced and nodded. That's why he'd been prowling outside—killers lurking nearby.
“Your leader said he'd save us somehow. Whether you can or not, who knows.”
Tian Clian narrowed her eyes and said,
“Fail to keep that promise, and you'll die by my hand, no matter what.”
After Tian Clian vanished, Kim Jaeho glared at her retreating form, eyes narrowed.
“Creepy bitch.”
Better if I killed her first. As he pondered, a familiar voice called from behind.
“Jaeho! Where are you? Dinner time—hurry up!”
Kim Jaeho dashed down.
Couldn't miss dinner.
I showed up at the gelato shop daily like clockwork. Two straight days of nothing.
But today was different.
“Oh, you showed.”
I'd just raised my hand to the emerging Suo Haozhu when she charged at me.
“Huh.”
Attack? I tensed to summon mana—then her hand seized my wrist.
“Uh?”
Immense force yanked me along. Suo Haozhu dragged me by the wrist at full sprint.
“Uwaaah.”
By the time she stopped, my whole body felt crushed. My wrist was swollen red—bruised, maybe fractured. Swallowing the pain, I rasped,
“What the hell?”
“We can't meet.”
“Say what?”
“Papa hates it. He tried to kill you—know that?”
I blinked.
“He did?”
No clue. No attacks the last two days. Her next words explained.
“Yeah, but I killed them. So no problem.”
……You took care of it.
“You're weak. Don't want you dying.”
Not that weak. Ego bruised a bit. Still, thanks were in order.
“Appreciate it.”
“Whatever.”
She waved it off like nothing, embarrassed.
'Yeah. Let's gloss over the details.'
Smiling at Suo Haozhu, I said,
“So, what're we playing today?”
Keep her happy first.
“You said you'd teach me 'Go Pebbles'!”
“Sure. Let's do 'Go Pebbles.'”
I headed to a nearby park with her.
“Not the Go salon?”
“'Go Pebbles' needs an empty spot.”
Especially with her. In a deserted area, I pulled out my thin board and stones.
I explained the rules simply.
“Easy. Hit my stone with yours to knock it off?”
“Yep. Last stones standing wins.”
Then practice. My black stone knocked hers off.
Her eyes sparkled.
Her turn.
Shwing!
Her flung stone rocketed through the air. I ducked fast.
It shattered a nearby rock.
“……From now on, 'Go Pebbles' only in empty places.”
She nodded solemnly.