Chapter 370: Dyeing (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 370: Dyeing (3)
From the 77th floor to the 77th floor.
Arriving at the Tower Lord's office, which offered a panoramic view of Gangnam, her expression was even stiffer than usual.
“Haaah.”
Han Ju-hee sank into her chair, her body melting into the backrest.
Just a moment ago, she had felt on top of the world.
For years, she had been stuck, making only minor achievements but never advancing to the next stage.
She had finally broken through that wall, discovered a new realm to reach, and even learned the method to do so, and yet…
“…How did he know?”
How on earth did he know about the existence of Hexagram to ask her such a question?
“I’ve been managing all the information.”
Within South Korea, not even ten people, including herself, knew of their existence.
Even they only knew because she had intentionally leaked the information to them.
There was only one way to acquire information that was so thoroughly under her control.
‘Either extract it from a Hexagram member or take it by force.’
The number of members stationed in the country was very small.
Even then, they were living under cover identities with no specific orders from the organization. In such a situation, if there was a member from whom information could be taken…
“Haaah.”
Someone came to mind.
The organization's rookie who had brazenly ignored all proper procedures and barged in to demand a meeting with her.
He was an arrogant talent, scouted by the organization for his abilities.
She didn't know exactly what his ability was, but he was so cocky, relying only on that, and kept pestering her. She had put him firmly in his place and warned him.
‘I clearly warned him to just do his job and get lost…!’
That if he didn't want to end up burned and useless somewhere, he should just finish his job and disappear quietly.
She immediately sent a query through the secret messenger used within the organization.
Had anyone been contacted by him recently?
To that question, everyone replied.
They hadn't.
That meant the last person to see him was none other than herself.
The system was structured so that all domestic activities were ultimately reported to her.
She was one of the most influential figures in South Korea.
If she knew what happened and how, there was no information she couldn't eliminate.
And yet, for there to be no news at all, the reason was obvious.
‘Either captured or dead.’
Either way, it was certain he had crossed a river of no return.
“Haaah.”
Her workload had just increased.
She had to find out how far the name Hexagram had spread and deal with them.
One might think a name getting out was no big deal, but she was resolute.
‘They must not be known yet.’
They were trying to paint a picture so grand that even her eyes, watching from a step—no, several steps back—could not take it all in.
The vulnerability of painting such a grand picture is that it's difficult to respond to every little disturbance, big or small.
What if, while you're busy painting on the left, someone leaves a stain on the far right edge?
Even if you paint over that part and add more color, the fact that a flaw was created there doesn't change.
When the level of completion drops, its value inevitably falls with it.
‘I can't let that happen.’
Therefore, just as she had done until now, she had to thoroughly control all information about them.
Continuously, until they finally finished the underdrawing and revealed themselves.
She left a message in the messenger window floating on her monitor.
[Find everyone in the Association who knows the organization's name and silence them.]
Seeing a reply arrive shortly after, she closed her eyes with a look of relief.
But her worries didn't end there.
‘Kim Do-jin…’
What should she do with this man who had mentioned the organization's name to her face?
To eliminate future trouble, there were two options.
Either eliminate him or erase his memory.
If not that… she could also consider recruiting him into the organization, but…
“That would be impossible.”
Watching him, she found herself unconsciously comparing him to her husband.
They were that similar.
The aura he gave off on the surface was quite different… but the inner self he occasionally revealed was so alike.
That's why she realized recruiting him was next to impossible.
If he was truly like her husband, then he would be the same.
“He's not the type of person to ever be under anyone…”
A person who would bend to the point of breaking and yield on matters he could concede.
But on matters where compromise was impossible, he wouldn't even bend, let alone break, even with a knife to his throat.
The very reason she fell for him… and now, the strength and weakness that had driven her heart away.
In the end, to eliminate future trouble, she had no choice but to kill him or erase his memory…
‘Eliminating him is impossible.’
He was the key.
The only key that could lead her magic to a different dimension.
Even erasing his memory was just as impossible.
‘The procedure is too unstable.’
She had heard that sometimes, in the process of removing memories, the person would become an imbecile, or other memories would be erased along with it.
If she messed with his memories and his magical knowledge was wiped out, wouldn't that be the same as killing him?
In the end, there was only one option she could take right now.
“There's no choice… I'll have to leave him be.”
To the question of whether she knew about Hexagram, she had answered honestly.
That she knew.
With that, the restriction of having to speak only the truth was gone.
So, she added a false explanation afterward.
That it was a mysterious organization with nothing known about it, and that she would pass on any information she received about them.
So… she told him not to act rashly.
Having said all that, the probability of him using his right to ask about it again was low.
‘But it's not zero.’
So she planned to prepare some information in advance.
If she concocted some plausible-sounding information and gave it to him before he exercised his right, he probably wouldn't waste a precious question on it.
“…This should be enough for now.”
Having sorted out her complicated thoughts, Han Ju-hee immediately closed her eyes.
The sensation of the mana in the air piercing her entire body still lingered, however faintly.
Her mind was gradually drawn into a state of ecstasy.
* * *
From the 77th floor to the 77th floor.
Boarding the elevator that had just returned from a round trip of a whopping 154 floors, I headed for the first floor.
“Hmm… was my question too shallow?”
I didn't learn much from this question.
To my question of whether she knew about Hexagram, she answered that she did.
That was it.
There was no guarantee the explanation she added afterward was the truth, so I had to take it with a grain of salt.
“Ah, there is one more thing.”
Her answer, which forced Hexagram into the mold of a mysterious organization.
From this, I could deduce one more thing.
That Han Ju-hee and Hexagram are connected in some way, and quite deeply at that.
She tried to put a leash on me.
Telling me to stay put, that she would get the information on them for me.
But there's one thing she's overlooking.
The fact that I, too, have wrapped a thin thread of yarn around her neck—one that will grow into a leash.
“It might take some time… but that doesn't matter.”
Now that I've opened the floodgates, I'll have more and more opportunities to meet her.
In the process, I'll ask shallow questions, just enough to create small ripples on the surface, and break down her guard.
If I plunge in too deep, too quickly, she might try to kill me.
So I'll approach slowly, very slowly, and stain her with my aura.
Going deep comes after that.
After I've made it so she can't be hostile to me, can't kill me.
“It's not really my kind of thing…”
It's not something I enjoy.
Staining someone with Greed, an aura that even I haven't fully grasped, is an act of invading and harming the unique color or flavor that person possesses.
To use an analogy, it's like using a cheat code or a hack in a game.
It makes things incredibly easy, but it's a method that invades and destroys the unique flavor of the game.
Besides, staining someone as I please is an act of taking away their freedom.
“But I have no choice.”
I'm someone who values emotional connection just as much as physical pleasure.
It's a method I should never use on a woman I truly want to win over, but she is the exception.
I turn around and look up at the top of the building I just left.
“…There's no such thing as an emotional connection to build between you and me anymore, is there?”
That time has long passed, and I have no desire for it.
Therefore, I don't feel even a shred of guilt.
I just want to stain her and drag her into a quagmire as quickly as possible.
I just want to dig up the secrets I never knew and completely wipe away this old, stubborn knot of emotion that never seems to go away.
To do this, I need regular meetings.
So, I leave her a message.
[Kim Do-jin: The sensation you felt today will disappear in a few days at most. To make it last longer, and eventually maintain it indefinitely, it's best to imprint the sensation frequently.]
She'll understand what I mean by this.
What I'm trying to say.
Not long after, a reply arrived.
[Han Ju-hee: I'll contact you soon.]
Satisfied with the reply, I shove my smartphone into my pocket.
I've finally laid a hand on Pandora's box.
As long as my will doesn't break, whatever is inside that box will soon be unearthed, piece by piece.
I truly hope.
That she hasn't crossed the line.
This isn't a wish for my sake, nor for hers.
It's for our daughter, Seo-yeon, who will be deeply hurt when she learns everything.
Even if she became a rotten wife who distanced herself from her husband and created countless secrets.
I hope she hasn't become a rotten mother who can never be forgiven by her own daughter, no matter how much she apologizes.
That was the last remaining thread of hope I had for her.