Mutual Recognition - 2
"Sir, please step back."
"...Pardon?"
I'd rushed out in a panic, but first things first—I introduced myself and tried to calmly sort out the situation. I couldn't just let people who'd entered my territory go without any response. At the very least, I wanted to confirm whether they had any hostile intentions toward us. Lately, the women had been moving around Anseongu without me more often, and in the worst case, if the base got attacked while I was away, it wouldn't be something we could laugh off. We'd built plenty of facilities at the base, and our stockpiles were far greater than before. Somehow, I had to eliminate any potential causes of trouble.
"Why?"
But the women in front of me were reacting differently from what I'd expected. They weren't outright hostile toward me, nor did they reveal who they were or state their purpose. Instead, they looked at me with eyes full of concern, as if I was the one in danger.
"The woman behind you is a heinous criminal who committed terrible murders. She could harm you at any moment."
"I might buy the first part, but the second? No way in hell."
I gave an awkward smile and glanced back at the women behind me.
...Huh?
I'd assumed they meant Soi, but no. She looked just as baffled as I did, staring at the visitors.
"Now you're spouting pretty words..."
Seohee was the one who actually reacted, though.
"I ain't saying my hands are clean of blood, but you bitches got no right to say that shit."
"How brazen, opening your mouth like that."
"Even when I killed, it was 'cause of you fuckers' shitty orders—otherwise, I wouldn't touch 'em."
Thinking back, I hadn't heard Seohee's voice truly laced with anger all that often. But right now, she was pissed. Growling like a lioness robbed of her cub.
"I fucked off when you told me to, you cunts."
"Trying to deny it?"
"I'm ex-Seven Seed. What're you gonna do about it now?"
"And after that, you killed our members. Where'd you put their arms and legs?"
"What the fuck—"
I reached out and calmed Seohee down.
"Don't talk in riddles only you two get. Let's chat with me instead."
"...If you're going to defend her, Seven Seed will consider you an enemy."
"Is your group Seven Seed?"
"...You don't know?"
The woman stared at me in shock.
"Wouldn't be surprised. Anyway, I run a small group myself. Nice to meet you. Kim Sunwoo."
She fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"Shin Yeonhyeon, from Seven Seed."
I left my companions there and approached Yeonhyeon calmly.
"..."
Yeonhyeon watched me warily.
First, I need to ease their suspicions.
They didn't know my strength. Specifically, how overwhelmingly powerful I was. But they surely grasped my importance. I was a man, and they'd seen Seohee—the one they valued—obey me.
So, I needed to act bolder. Make them think they could kill me anytime, let them believe they controlled the situation.
"Please explain slowly, from the beginning."
"...We need a moment to gather our thoughts too."
"Gather your... thoughts?"
"We hadn't heard of a group here, and we didn't come to Anseongu to visit your organization, Mr. Sunwoo."
Yeonhyeon stared at me, tense as if ready to draw her gun at any second. But I could tell. Her eyes might be on me, but her pupils weren't—they were fixed on Seohee. Primed to fire at her any moment.
"They were exiled from our organization. Criminals who deserved death, released only because of personal connections."
"Who the fuck are you to yap about shit you don't know?"
Ignoring Seohee's glare, Yeonhyeon continued explaining to me.
"But they went further, slaughtering our settlers. Brutally."
"...What?"
No matter how I thought about it, that didn't add up.
"She... did that? When?"
I love Seohee. But separately from that, I had no intention of denying clear facts. If they sought to punish her for past crimes, I'd help soothe their anger and let her atone.
"Three days ago."
"That's straight-up impossible."
Whether I trusted Seohee or not, it was physically implausible.
"Around here?"
"No. In Seven Seed territory—a squad guarding a supply point was murdered."
Seohee and I exchanged awkward smiles.
"Last check: Did anyone see her kill them directly? Any evidence?"
If Yeonhyeon nodded, I'd see her differently. Not as righteous fury over unjust deaths, but as an obvious enemy trying to frame Seohee and steal her from me.
"...No."
Thankfully, she didn't cross that line.
"But we have a witness who saw her subordinate involved."
"Ah..."
A bad memory surfaced, and I lowered my head silently.
"I cut ties with those bitches. Some fucked-up shit went down. Ain't got nothing to do with me. Happy?"
"Nonsense, Han Seohee. Everyone in Seven Seed knows how much you cherished your subordinates."
"Thought I did, but guess they didn't see it that way. If we're splitting hairs, yeah, my fault mostly."
Come to think of it, Seohee never resented or raged at those women. She'd just shake her head, calling herself an idiot, saying it couldn't be helped.
"Anyway, we're done."
"We can't trust your word. Even in Seven Seed, you deceived people with your slippery tongue."
"I ain't the deceiving type... Don't you guys have experts for that in Seven Seed?"
"Are you hiding your claws now to take over the organization? When the time comes, your subordinates might show up, kidnap this man, and rape him."
"That how I look?"
"Rough types like you could easily rape a low-level man."
"Wrong."
Seohee shook her head firmly.
"Don't need to rape Sunwoo for sex. He's already fucked every hole of mine... turned me into his cumdump."
"...?"
"And I couldn't anyway. I'm already his slave. Way before your 'three days ago.'"
"No way..."
Yeonhyeon trailed off in confusion.
"Someone like you? You'd die before becoming a man's slave."
"Thought so too, but life happens. Anyway, got nothing to do with me."
Yeonhyeon pondered, then looked at me with trembling eyes.
"I want to hear more. About your group, and why Han Seohee became a slave."
"Hmm... Might be private."
"At least how she and her subordinates parted ways. The story might take time—mind if we follow to your base?"
"Of course."
I nodded with a smile. When I first saw them glaring at Seohee, I'd tensed up. But they seemed reasonable enough.
Showing the base makes me a bit uneasy...
But hiding it now wouldn't really conceal anything. Anyone with a brain would sense something off about that massive tower anyway.
"...Follow me."
I led them to my base.
/////
I guided them to a quiet spot, poured tea, and entertained them calmly.
"So... that's how it happened."
I explained meeting Seohee, what she'd been through, how she became my slave. I figured no need to reveal everything, but Seohee wanted to lay it all out openly.
Having heard it all, Yeonhyeon alternated glances between me and Seohee.
"Exaggerated, surely. How could you so easily stop a charging Seohee bent on killing..."
"Eh, just happened."
"If true, how's Han Seohee even alive? Slave or not, hard to swallow."
No good explanation. I just smiled in response.
"Anyway, if that's true, no need to worry. But if you spot those criminals, please let us know."
"Of course..."
I glanced at Seohee's expression. It looked complicated—maybe even sad. A mix of emotions her eyes couldn't hide, defying simple words.