Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Cancun Getaway
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“ I saw it a few days ago.”
Yesul said, her gaze fixed on the asphalt ground.
“What?”
“Hyungbin kneeling on the street.”
Hyungbin fell silent, something clicking in his mind.
“Was it because of what you did before?”
“Yeah... Since I have sins to atone for, if kneeling and begging gets me forgiveness, then I should do it.”
“Couldn’t you just pretend it never happened and live on?”
Yesul knew she herself wouldn’t do that, yet here she was asking Hyungbin why he couldn’t just live easily.
“I’m not some great person going around begging for forgiveness. I’m a selfish bastard. I’m scared that the people I hurt later might hold grudges and go after my little siblings.”
Yesul quietly watched Hyungbin. His words said one thing, but the way he’d begged back then had looked utterly sincere. Could someone apologizing out of fear of repercussions do it with that much sincerity? The Hyungbin she’d seen so far didn’t seem like the type to act, which made his apology feel even more genuine.
The two sat on the roadside like that, talking until the drinking session ended.
“You got drunk and cried? Yesul did?”
That Yesul had cried was the most shocking part of Sanghun’s story. The only real emotional display he’d seen from her so far was when she’d sacrificed herself for him in her previous life. The subtle ones only he noticed didn’t count.
“She was bawling her eyes out.”
“Wow...”
If the two of them were happy, he had no reason to complain. He knew how hard Hyungbin had been living lately. He’d been shocked to hear that whenever he had time, Hyungbin was going around apologizing to those he’d wronged and giving them compensation. Fortunately, since he hadn’t committed any major crimes, most had accepted the apology and money and forgiven him to some extent.
He’d known Hyungbin wasn’t some irredeemable villain. He’d just taken the easy path when circumstances were tough. Give him the right environment, and not only was he no villain—he was kinder than Ri himself.
“Good for him.”
“... Another couple joins the ranks.”
“Another?”
“Jaein hyung is dating a woman who joined the research division.”
“Oh?”
“Isn’t that abuse of power? Seducing a subordinate.”
“Sanghun, if you’re jealous, just say you’re jealous.”
“I am jealous. Sob.”
“Oppa, try this.”
Nayeong prettily arranged a variety of in-flight meals on a plate from the private jet’s galley.
“There’s stuff like this too. Traveling with Eres let me experience luxury, and now I get why it’s nice. Back then, I wouldn’t have known without trying that lifestyle.”
“So you liked traveling with Eres because of that?”
Nayeong pinched his side.
“No, it’s not that I liked it because it was Eres, ow ow ow.”
It didn’t hurt, but he pretended it did.
“Hmph... I know you’re faking it.”
Nayeong saw right through his exaggeration, but when he played along by acting hurt, she let go of the pinch. Then she headed back to the spread of in-flight meals to browse some more.
“Unnie should grab something too.”
At first, Nayeong hadn’t approached Yesul, who had that cold expression. But once she realized it was just her face and that Yesul was actually incredibly kind, she’d taken the initiative, grabbing her hand and leading her around or looking after her.
“Unnie, this is champagne, but it’s sweet and delicious. Try some.”
Nayeong offered Yesul a glass of champagne poured into a pretty flute.
“No!!”
Every man on the plane shouted at once.
“Why... why?”
Startled, Nayeong flinched and turned around with a baffled look.
* * *
After the boisterous flight, they arrived at Cancun Airport in Mexico. Post-Gate incident, Mexico couldn’t defend its vast lands, and the government lost power. Afterward, cartels protected certain cities from Gates and monsters. Naturally, they also reaped the profits and ran the cities. The government was little more than a shell for international negotiations.
They’d held onto a few key strongholds, one being the resort area of Cancun. It wasn’t quite what it used to be, but luxury resorts still operated.
Who’d come to a chaotic mess like this? But there was an unwritten rule that cartels didn’t engage in illegal activities in Cancun, and they upheld it well. The cartels maintained security better than the police and provided luxurious services beyond imagination. Thanks to that, it became a hotspot for wealthy tourists.
“Alright, we’ve got some time, so let’s relax.”
They had about six days ahead. A massive horde had suddenly appeared nearby, but they didn’t know which Gate exactly. They’d have to scout around while staying here.
The plane door opened, and humid air greeted them.
“Oppa, it would’ve been nice if your mom and my mom came too.”
“We’re fine, but it’s too hot—they’d have a hard time.”
Plus, with the incident’s timing and location unknown and a massive battle expected, they hadn’t brought the mothers along.
“Señor Ri, welcome. I’m Pablo, assigned to guide you.”
As they disembarked, a local in a suit waited in front of what looked like a stretched Hummer limo. He greeted them fluently in Korean, not a drop of sweat on him despite the heat and his suit.
“Ooh... Up! Up!”
The Oh brothers repeated the one Spanish phrase they’d learned on the plane: “Hello.”
“Up, señors. Please get in.”
“Ooh.”
The Oh brothers and Sanghun marveled at the limo. Ri wanted to gush a bit too but stayed composed since the others were already overdoing it, and boarded quietly.
“Why do guys love cars so much...”
Yesul and Nayeong held hands as they got in.
“Isn’t this a bit much?”
The interior was garishly flashy. The leather was glossy in a way that felt less classy and more like something flashy new-money types would use for parties.
“Señor, apologies. We had to procure a bulletproof vehicle in a hurry, so this was the best available.”
Pablo, in the passenger seat, bowed his head through the partition window separating front and back.
“It’s fine. But is a bulletproof car necessary?”
“Your resort area is safe, but the road there isn’t entirely.”
Their limo set off, escorted by vehicles front and rear.
“It wasn’t this bad before, but with the government defunct and cartels taking over, security has worsened. There’s the cartel’s unwritten rule against touching tourists, but we’ve prepared thoroughly just in case.”
“Hmm...”
No one even tensed at his words. They were all Hunters themselves, and he was S-Rank—who’d mess with them?
The car moved, and they gazed at the scenery through the windows. The lush tropical trees lifted their spirits just looking at them.
But that good mood didn’t last minutes.
On the way from the airport to the resort, endless slums of ramshackle plank houses stretched out. On the slum floors lay people as if dead. It wasn’t just hunger—they looked like their souls had fled their bodies.
“A new designer drug has been trending lately.”
As they stared in silence, Pablo added.
“Drugs did that?”
“They pour every penny into drugs—how could they live properly?”
Korea had started seeing drugs trickle in, but compared to other countries, it was relatively safe from the threat. Seeing the drug problem of the Americas firsthand soured his mood.
“The ocean!!!”
The bad mood vanished at the sight of the brilliant blue sea. It wasn’t his country’s problem to worry about anyway, and he couldn’t fix it.
It was the same ocean, yet the vast, clear expanse viewed from a distant land felt different from Korea’s seas.
“This is a private beach, accessible only to Señor Ri’s party. However, please contact me if you venture beyond here.”
Following Pablo’s guidance, they changed into swimsuits in their rooms and headed out.
The guys swam in the blue sea or played with a ball, while Nayeong lounged drinking beverages, enjoying a leisurely vacation. Beside her was Yesul, blushing in the bikini Nayeong had insisted on.
“Yesul, you didn’t have to force yourself.”
“Huh? Oh...”
“What? She forced you? Why didn’t you say no.”
With her usual blank expression and inability to refuse, Nayeong must’ve thought it was fine. Feeling bad, Nayeong handed over a cover-up, and Yesul’s face finally relaxed a bit.
After enjoying the sea, they returned to find resort staff had set up a table, chairs, and large parasol on the sand for a seaside banquet. Eating while facing the ocean in their private space made him think having money was nice.
“Hyung, why’d you have us bring all our gear on a vacation?”
“You never know. That’s how the world works.”
“Hmm...”
After the banquet, they returned to their rooms for round two.
The group loved fun by nature, and with work and training set aside for a long-overdue vacation, they fully unwound.
Strong liquor bottles lined up, and only Ri, Hyungbin, Yesul, and Nayeong remained sober. Well, Nayeong was drunk but didn’t show it. It reminded him of that first trip they’d taken together.
“I’ll take a walk.”
As the alcohol stench filled the air, Yesul stood and glanced at Hyungbin before heading out.
Hyungbin just quietly cleaned up.
“Not going after her?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll handle cleanup. Go after Yesul.”
What a dense guy.
“Oh, right right. But why the sudden formal speech?”
“Just felt like it. Go on.”
He was old enough now, and he didn’t feel like bantering informally with someone trying to make amends for past mistakes.
Hyungbin gave a slight bow and left.
* * *
“They’re eating well.”
“Yeah. I don’t even know why people drink.”
“With your build, I figured you could hold your liquor.”
“I get that misconception a lot.”
“Me too. We’re alike.”
“Heh heh heh heh.”
Hyungbin laughed like an idiot. The two walked the beach, chatting about nothing much.
Hyungbin spotted men watching them from afar.
“Huh? That’s too many. Should we head back?”
Yesul hadn’t noticed the men yet, so he turned around first. In their distracted walk, they’d reached the boundary Pablo mentioned without realizing.
“Yeah.”
“Hey.”
But the men didn’t let them go. Five locals approached, the front one speaking.
“What’s up?”
Yesul, better at English, replied.
“Just asking for directions.”
The smiling man kept approaching. His stride was light, matching his expression, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts like someone out for a casual stroll nearby.
“Yesul.”
Hyungbin stepped in front of her, blocking the approaching man.
“We tourists. Don’t know.”
Hyungbin’s eyes caught the weapons on their waists. Thoughts raced: How many lost people with weapons wander here? What’re the odds they’re friendly?
“We know you’re tourists.”
“What?”
The man kicked Hyungbin’s knee.
“Argh!”
The strong blow buckled his stance.
Smack!
A fist slammed into Hyungbin’s lowered face.
“Hyungbin!”
As Yesul reached for the fallen Hyungbin, one thug grabbed her wrist.