Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Raised on Food (1)
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I answered the phone.
Before I could even open my mouth, a familiar voice came through from the other end of the line.
A smooth pronunciation underpinned by a layer of leisure.
[Good work on the reclamation battle.]
Why does he sound so pleased?
[Did you handle the funeral for your kin properly?]
For a split second, I nearly smashed the phone. The only thing that kept my grip in check was knowing that this phone Kudo bought me was ridiculously expensive.
I gritted my teeth, forced a smile, and bowed my head.
Behind a deserted building, away from prying eyes.
I steadied my breathing, then lifted my head again.
“You know we cremated him before discharge.”
We only handed over a portion of the organization to the lab.
The rest, we burned entirely. Yoon would have coveted that corpse. That’s why I entrusted Sion’s body to the crematorium myself. The staff placed the powdered remains in a small porcelain urn and handed it to me.
I buried it behind my cabin, under Newton’s apple tree.
Sion wouldn’t want to see a murderer’s home adorned with his ashes in a jar.
A neat chuckle came through the phone.
I furrowed my brow and waited silently for the laughter to subside.
[Good work. It seems your skills have mostly returned now?]
“Tell me about the game.”
I didn’t hide my curtness.
“Isn’t that why you called? You couldn’t have failed to track it down by now.”
[As for the games, we’ve acquired all series except A.]
The key is A.
He boasted about buying it and locking it away in a vault with ironclad security.
Of course, this man knew that too. He could acquire A if he wanted. But as expected, he wasn’t about to hand over what he had so easily.
[There’s a party coming up.]
“Ah.”
Just thinking about it gave me a headache.
“Don’t say I have to attend.”
[How else am I supposed to deliver the game to you?]
“I’ll come pick it up.”
Suddenly, the elder burst into laughter.
What?
This wasn’t the time for laughing. A sense of foreboding wrapped around me as I glared at the phone.
The laughter dragged on for quite a while.
Finally, Eric Airhart reined in his laughter, brimming with delight.
[That wouldn’t be bad either. Will you come to my mansion?]
The foreboding turned into chills in an instant.
My body shuddered as I replied.
“When’s the party?”
The elder laughed again.
Once the laughter stopped, he gave the party date. It seemed to be one of those gatherings for the elite. He briefly informed me of the schedule and dress code, then told me to bring Yoon along. The entire Choi family had received invitations too.
[It’d be lonely if you came alone.]
Ye-hyeon had already notified them of his non-attendance.
I ended the call without hiding my displeasure. At first, I’d been thrilled to escape video hell, but that joy had vanished like a mirage long ago.
I let out a heavy sigh and trudged back.
Pondering how to coax Yoon, who clearly wouldn’t want to go.
***
“Go by yourself.”
“You said you cherished me. You’re really sending me alone into that den of lunatics?”
“Elder. Act your age.”
“I’ll give you my organization.”
I placed a hand on my chest and stared at Yoon until he looked up.
His eyes widened round as he stared right back at me.
The deal was struck.
“You’re only interested in my body after all.”
“If you know, just finish watching the videos.”
I plopped down beside him, feigning hurt, but he replied without even glancing my way.
I smiled faintly and followed his order. Video hell resumed. The task of searching for something we didn’t even know what was, something that might not even be in the footage. But at least, there weren’t many videos left to review.
I hunched over, silently checking the footage.
But our efforts were in vain; neither Yoon nor I found anything special.
“Why do these recruits fight so pathetically.”
Yoon wore an expression like his eyes were rotting from his juniors’ dismal skills.
I kept my cheek pressed to the desk, unmoving for a long while.
Only when a sense of crisis hit—that I might fall asleep like this—did I pull myself up.
“The moment work’s done, sorry, but Senior, could you check what the K in From K stands for?”
“After the organization extraction.”
Yoon was thorough.
“Watch the videos again whenever you remember. Right now, the top priority is figuring out Titan’s strategy.”
Right.
Because of Sequoia’s words, I was stuck inside the core. We had to uncover Titan’s strategy.
Now that we’d reclaimed our target territory, the Badgers’ top priority reverted to rescuing civilians. Reclaiming land, predicting the economic, social, and cultural impacts of development, merging two cores into one—none of that was our concern.
The goal was reclaiming pre-war life.
Originally, Ye-hyeon had planned to send our TF, including me, outside the core to build a safe point in C Zone.
But Sequoia’s words had flipped the plan entirely.
We rode Yoon’s car back to the research building.
“Even playing K nonstop before discharge, I couldn’t find the easter egg.”
Of course, I’d searched everywhere too.
I’d even pinpointed spots that seemed likely to trigger a message upon interaction.
It was in the final stage. Behind the king’s throne lay a bloodied brush. You could use it to write on the stone wall. The words written in blood faded over time.
Probably, entering the right phrase would reveal the message.
The problem was, I had no idea what to write.
“If we knew who made the game, we might get a hunch.”
I muttered, and Yoon nodded silently.
He seemed lost in his own thoughts. Talking to him now would get no response.
So I shut my mouth and sank into my own musings.
Sunset dyed the car window. It was evening. My empty stomach protested for food. I dazedly thought about ordering Lexyck noodles.
Then I remembered Shu.
“Portal accidents.”
My abrupt mutter made Yoon glance at me.
I seized the chance to ask.
“Do they happen often?”
“Why suddenly?”
I briefly explained Shu’s visit.
Yoon stayed still until I finished. He watched me silently, expressionless.
Only when Black Badger HQ came into view did he respond.
“The diamond kid said that, huh.”
“Yes.”
“Not a bad guess.”
What?
I blinked. What was a good guess?
What guess?
I couldn’t fathom what Yoon had gleaned from my brief explanation. Shu hadn’t given me any real info beyond checking portal accidents.
Something I’d sidelined while reviewing videos.
I let my confusion show on my face.
Yoon watched the car descend into the underground parking.
“That rookie has low portal compatibility.”
“Does low compatibility cause issues? I tried getting tested last time but couldn’t.”
“Yeah. The lower the compatibility, the lower the odds of emerging safely from a portal. You need 80+ for guaranteed safe travel through portals, and below 75 bans you from using them. Diamond’s at just 77.”
“No way.”
Such a thing existed.
My eyes widened.
While the car parked itself, I dredged up old memories. Memories of looking up at my seniors with my mind blank.
People gazing down at me with bewildered eyes.
“Then he shouldn’t use portals, right?”
Shu had been there too.
“It’s under 80.”
“Stable portals reduce the risk. Anyway, he’s rarely deployed on missions requiring portals. Even accounting for that, Ye-hyeon said he showed enough promise to hire.”
“Why’s his compatibility low?”
“Just born that way.”
The car stopped.
Yoon turned off the engine. I got out following him. Now-familiar route. We headed to the elevator leading straight to the lab entrance.
Our footsteps echoed in the underground garage as I matched his stride.
“But how does that relate to my baffling entrance….”
“Portals still have lots of unknowns, so I can’t say for sure.”
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped in side by side.
Yoon glanced at the CCTV in the corner, then continued.
“Why not look up portal accidents like the kid said.”
We entered the lab.
The scientists greeted me warmly. Dark circles, unkempt hair. Wrinkled lab coats with coffee stains on the sleeves. Bloodshot eyes and dorky checkered shirts.
Yet these surprisingly charming researchers cheered like a hero had arrived the moment I entered.
I bashfully accepted their greetings and trailed after Yoon.
“Senior Mullen’s here today too.”
“If he weren’t, something’d be wrong.”
I muttered in awe at John Mullen standing like an ancient tree, and Yoon replied gruffly.
“Not a joke—keep that in mind.”
I gave him the organization.
Work ended. The moment it did, my eagerness for K’s meaning surged back, the impatience I’d suppressed boiling over.
Lately, with nothing to do, I’d sink into this anxiety. The fretful urge and guilt of needing to keep busy.
I had to reconstruct the past quickly and atone for my mistakes.
But Yoon remained coolly steadfast.
He told me to wait, then left.
I sat sullenly in his chair, couldn’t hold out, and ordered dinner.
Lexyck basic noodles.
A few scientists gathered around and ate with me.
“Tastes like crap.”
“Does it really?”
“Right? It’s good, right?”
I knew someone would appreciate this taste.
I beamed at the scientist devouring the Lexyck noodles.
It’s always the best, no matter when. I was thrilled another person shared this joy.
“You have great taste!”
[The shop ‘Lexyck’ rates 2.5 out of 5.]
The round AI slinked over, spinning above my head.
[238 people have rated it!]
What do you know, Martin.
***
Yoon returned only when I was talking with Barbie, who’d come to see me.
Senior Barbie Winter.
Surprisingly, she’d come about the apple wine I owed her.
“Dad wants to sell that apple wine at his restaurant.”
“…Doesn’t your dad run a huge restaurant chain?”
Smoky makeup and bright red lipstick. Her elegantly pinned blonde hair remained sophisticated.
Barbie wore towering black stiletto heels, at least 8cm. One leg was prosthetic, but indistinguishable to the naked eye.
Good thing she doesn’t go around in just pants anymore after that incident.
So thinking, I listened to her reply.
“Yeah. He wants it in the most high-end one. He’ll pay top dollar, so don’t worry.”
“No, it’s not about the price.”
Why does everything escalate like this?
“I don’t think it’s anything special to sell…”
“Don’t play dumb.”
The senior shot back.
“That was the best booze I’ve had in ten years.”
“Hmm…”
“I’m the restaurant owner’s daughter—who else are you gonna believe? I’ll buy it. Every last bottle.”
This is insane.
But Barbie wasn’t backing down. I scratched my neck awkwardly, then sighed in resignation. She’d asked so earnestly; might as well sell.
They’d price it fairly anyway.
Reading the yes in my expression, Barbie’s lips curved into a smile.
But the proud grin didn’t last.
Spotting something behind me, the senior jolted.
“Eek!”
I turned to see Yoon.
She’s scared of Yoon, huh.
I sullenly eyed my master, who’d silently approached, his face icy.
Now I got why the blonde senior feared him. Yoon wore coldness and innate cruelty like a cloak.
Approaching so soundlessly made him even creepier.
Choi Yoon didn’t twitch an eyebrow, as if used to Barbie’s reaction.
Looking at me, he said.
“Checked the name.”
My body jolted this time.
“Kairos. K, Y, R, O, S.”
“No fucking way.”
The reflexive outburst.
“Why that bastard?”
Sending me a message?
No,
Didn’t he side with Kyle?