Chapter 478: Operation: Clown's Play.
Chapter 478: Operation: Clown's Play.
The Night Street, where the dark desires of Users come to life, is always bustling. Even if it is a space where inhumane acts that deviate from ordinary thinking are the norm, in Coran, where such things are all but officially legalized, there is nothing to hold one back.
“Uncle! I’ll be taking him again today, you hear?”
“W-Wait! N-No! I don’t want to! Proprietor! Proprietor!”
A youthful scream echoed faintly. It came from a young boy, one with a pretty face and delicate features for a male.
But no one paid him any mind. Everyone here simply roamed the Night Street in silence, each seeking their own purpose. It was a common sight, especially in this red-light district where brothels lined the streets, bathed in a crimson glow.
A moment later, two platinum coins clinked as they fell into a chubby hand. The fat man handed the boy over to the woman without another word.
The look on the boy’s face as he was pulled into the woman’s arms was quite a sight. The faint glimmer of hope he’d held was gone, replaced by an expression of pure terror, like livestock being led to the slaughter.
As the woman hummed and walked away, dragging the staggering boy with her, the fat man spat on the ground and turned around.
A short while later.
A man abruptly appeared on the now slightly quieter street. He wore a faded robe pulled down low, obscuring his face, but he was remarkably tall.
The man glanced around for a moment before quickly following the fat man into the building he had entered. As soon as he stepped inside, loud music and cheers hammered at his eardrums, but the man paid them no heed and went straight to the counter.
However, he was forced to stop the moment he arrived.
“…”
The counter was empty. The woman who used to greet him with a practiced smile was nowhere to be seen; in fact, no one was there at all.
The man lingered in front of the empty counter for a moment. Then, after another look around, he cautiously stepped inside and examined the area behind it.
After searching for some time, the man quietly slipped back out. He then moved swiftly toward the stairs and began to climb. His hands, now slick with sweat, were clenched tightly around something.
The second-floor hallway was silent. There were no faint moans, and the subtle, hot wind that always seemed to linger here was absent today. An unidentifiable silence was the only thing that filled the corridor. A seed of anxiety began to sprout within the man, but he hurried across the hall nonetheless.
He stopped in front of a door—the third room from the left end of the hallway. He placed his clenched hand on the doorknob, his movements looking rushed.
Click!
The instant he heard the small noise, the man opened the door and slipped inside without hesitation. Almost simultaneously, he quickly shut the door behind him.
A moment later, the sound of the door closing completely echoed in the room. When he turned to face forward, the man—Park Hwanhee—could finally let out a breath of relief.
“Haa~. Y-You’re here, Hyung-nim.”
“Why are you calling me ‘Hyung-nim’?”
A sullen voice replied, but Park Hwanhee didn’t let his smile fade. Compared to the inexplicable anxiety that had gripped his entire body just moments ago, the presence of the man he called ‘Hyung-nim’ in this room gave him a sense of baseless relief.
Park Hwanhee continuously patted his chest as he walked toward the man.
“Hyung-nim… Ah, my apologies. Mercenary Lord.”
That was right. The man standing opposite Park Hwanhee was none other than the Mercenary Clan Lord, Kim Soohyun. He had agreed to meet Park Hwanhee at dawn today and had arrived at the location in advance.
As Park Hwanhee, having hastily corrected himself, took a seat, Kim Soohyun immediately held out his hand. Park Hwanhee reflexively reached into his coat, then suddenly gave a bitter smile.
“Isn’t this a bit much? I thought you’d at least ask how I’ve been.”
“What, did something happen?”
“Nothing major… It’s just that the person who’s always at the counter wasn’t there today.”
“Ah. She went missing.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said, she went missing.”
For a second, Park Hwanhee’s face stiffened. In contrast, Kim Soohyun’s expression was utterly nonchalant.
Park Hwanhee felt dazed for a moment. But when the outstretched hand gestured a couple of times as if to hurry him, he fumbled inside his coat and pulled out a thick set of records. Kim Soohyun snatched it from him and began to scan the documents, his eyes moving rapidly.
Silence descended for a while.
Flip… flip…
It was then that the hand, quietly turning the pages, suddenly froze. At the same time, the corners of Kim Soohyun’s mouth curled up as he spoke in a dumbfounded voice.
“They’ve really been lining their pockets. Truly impressive.”
“…Isn’t it the same everywhere?”
“I suppose so. In any case, it’s none of my business, but good. This should be enough.”
“Not even a single ‘good work’ for me?”
His voice was genuinely hurt. Kim Soohyun, tucking the records into his coat, glanced up at Park Hwanhee.
“What’s with you today? Are you that desperate for my praise?”
“No, it’s not necessarily that… but I’ve been living on edge for the past few days. A simple ‘good work’ wouldn’t hurt, would it? Haha.”
“I don’t know. Are we close enough to pat each other on the back and say ‘good work’? Ours is a transactional relationship. Here.”
“That’s so cold… Whoa.”
Park Hwanhee, still speaking with a hurt tone, shut his mouth as something came flying at him. He barely managed to catch it and saw that it was a bag. A very heavy bag, filled with something. He looked up, his eyes asking what it was, and Kim Soohyun nodded his head as he continued.
“Take a look. And I’m going to explain the plan now, so listen carefully. Look while you listen.”
His tone could be considered coercive.
But ever since that day—the day he was saved from despair—Park Hwanhee had done exactly as Kim Soohyun instructed. It didn’t suit his original personality, which was to take the lead, but he had never once suffered a loss by following orders. Knowing this well, Park Hwanhee obediently untied the bag and listened intently.
Kim Soohyun began to speak.
As time ticked by and the story unfolded, Park Hwanhee’s expression went through a variety of changes. He pulled something from the bag and nodded, he raised his head in shock, and at times, he furrowed his brow deeply.
By the time Kim Soohyun finished his story, the final expression on Park Hwanhee’s face was one of sheer dread.
“…That’s terrifying.”
“Hm? Did I hear you wrong?”
“No, not at all. I mean… I’ve memorized everything.”
“Good. Put everything you took out back in.”
Park Hwanhee let out a long sigh. He clicked his tongue inwardly. How could this man say such things so calmly? This was a situation where one wrong move could cost him his life.
But he didn't voice the thought. The plan had begun the moment the story started. A moment ago, it might have been different, but complaining now would only hurt him.
The reason Kim Soohyun had taken him in was because he was useful in some way, and right now, he was fulfilling that purpose. The moment he ceased to be useful, he might not just be cast aside—his very life could be in danger.
With that thought, Park Hwanhee began packing the items back into the bag, cautiously glancing forward. Kim Soohyun was just getting up from his seat, stretching with all his might.
In that instant, Kim Soohyun suddenly looked down, and Park Hwanhee couldn’t help but meet his gaze. His hands, which had been moving steadily, froze.
And in that moment, Park Hwanhee spoke without thinking.
“Mercenary Lord. There’s one thing I’m curious about.”
“‘Why did you save me?’ If that’s the question, let me inform you that this would be the third time you’ve asked.”
“I know. It’s not that.”
“Oh? Then what?”
Kim Soohyun’s eyes widened as if telling him to go on. A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind, but the die was already cast. Forcing his heart, which had begun to pound like a drum, to calm down, Park Hwanhee opened his mouth quietly.
Have you… ever considered that I might betray you?
“By any chance… is Hangyul okay? I heard he was very sick.”
But the words that came out were completely different from his true thoughts. Staring into those eyes, which held not a shred of emotion, he found it impossible to say what he truly wanted.
Kim Soohyun smirked. He shrugged once and spoke nonchalantly.
“If you’re so worried, go visit him in the hospital. After this is over, of course.”
“…Pardon? You’re telling me to visit him? Me?”
“Yes.”
“But… you know, don’t you? I… Hangyul’s girlfriend…”
“Don’t underestimate him. Hangyul might be quiet on the outside, but he’s got a backbone. Aside from being swayed too easily by sentiment, he understands this world almost as well as you do. If you go, he probably won’t slam the door in your face, at least.”
“S-So, does that mean he’s completely forgotten Yuna? Isn’t he even curious about what happened to her?”
Though he had changed the subject, this was also a surprising revelation. Park Hwanhee’s voice rose noticeably.
But Kim Soohyun didn’t answer further. He simply shrugged his shoulders again. His attitude seemed to say, Find out for yourself. As Park Hwanhee moistened his dry lips, he suddenly felt a hand brush past him in the air. The bag was once again bulging.
Kim Soohyun walked to the door, calmly pressed his ear against it, and muttered.
“Well, that’s everything we needed to discuss. Now we should get ready to escape… Ah, wait, Park Hwanhee. I just remembered there’s something else I have to say.”
“Yes?”
At the mention of more to say, Park Hwanhee hurriedly tied the bag shut. Just as he was about to stand up, he realized his body wouldn’t move.
Wondering what was happening, he looked around.
“Hup…”
Park Hwanhee barely managed to stifle a scream. His own shadow, cast on the floor, was slowly rising to choke him.
“You can betray me. If you want to.”
But before he could even process it, a cold voice flowed into his ears, and Park Hwanhee experienced his mind going completely blank. A stuttering voice escaped his lips.
“What… does that…”
“Salmun told me. They said not to trust you. And now that I think about it, Shin Hyuk knew who you were, didn’t he?”
“That… I told you about that before. In fact…”
“Who said otherwise? I’m just answering the question you really wanted to ask earlier.”
“…”
“Anyway, just keep this one thing in mind. If you want to betray me, do it. You can. But remember this one thing.”
Park Hwanhee swallowed hard as a chilling sensation touched his neck.
Kim Soohyun pulled his face away from the door and slowly turned around. Looking at Park Hwanhee, who was still sitting in the chair, he bared his pearly white teeth.
And then.
“If you’re going to do it, you’d better make sure you don’t get caught.”
The moment Kim Soohyun’s uniquely cold voice rang in his ears, Park Hwanhee felt a frost-like chill spread through his entire body.
*
From a building that still bathed the street in a crimson light and exuded a strange scent, a User trudged out.
He wore a faded robe pulled down low, so his face wasn’t clearly visible. His only distinguishing features were his great height and a noticeable bulge in one part of his robe.
The man looked around before turning in one direction. Whatever had put him in such a good mood, his steps seemed endlessly light as he headed for a corner alley.
But the moment he took a step into the dark alley, the man was forced to stop against his will.
Thwack!
As soon as he entered, someone swung a club fiercely, striking him on the head.
“Urk…! Mmph! Mmph!”
The man staggered but managed to lift his head, only to be brought down again by another blow from the club. At the same time, a hand with enough force to shatter his jaw clamped over his mouth, cutting his scream short.
Then, a series of bludgeoning blows followed. It seemed more than one or two people had been waiting.
After several dull thuds echoed through the alley, the man’s body went limp.
A moment later, he was slung over someone’s shoulder and quietly disappeared into the darkness.
The man regained consciousness when he was thrown onto the floor of a pitch-black space where nothing was visible. He grimaced as his head throbbed and writhed as his entire body ached.
It was then that he realized he couldn’t move. The man let out a pain-filled groan and looked down at his body.
His hands were tied behind his back with a thick rope, and his feet were bound as well. A tight gag was stuffed in his mouth.
Only his eyes were free. The man struggled to move his head. He instinctively raised his gaze forward.
Suddenly, a raw scream tore from his throat.
“Kh-Khuaaaaaaaah!”
A corpse was dangling before him. It was a severely mutilated corpse, its head and body separated. The head, with its tangled hair, was hanging from something nearby, while the headless body, completely naked, was hanging right beside it.
But there was another reason the man was screaming.
The identity of the face, with its eyes wide open and tongue lolling out, was none other than the woman who had greeted him at the counter just a few days ago.