The Devil and the Angel
There were three ways to enter Boseok-ri from Sekki House.
First, the main road, which was the only way to enter by car.
Since it was a road where cars could come and go, it was well-maintained and easy to access.
Second, a shortcut that only people, bicycles, and motorcycles could use.
This path ran between fields, making it difficult for anyone who didn't know the area to use.
And the path Dojin was currently using was this very shortcut.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
Was it thanks to his recent workouts?
Despite running a considerable distance, Dojin maintained a stable breathing rhythm.
Kki-yak!
Kkya-ak!
Thankfully, they're nearby.
For a while now, the cries of Hwindung-i and Cheongdung-i had been fixed in one spot.
The truck was likely stopped there.
Since the security team was guarding the exit out of the village, retrieving the stolen dogs was only a matter of time.
The problem is the thief.
If they were Korean, it would actually be fine.
Most thieves wouldn't be able to abandon their cars, so they would either get caught or be arrested shortly after fleeing.
The problem was if the culprit was an illegal immigrant.
If you don't catch illegal immigrants on the spot, they are hard to track down.
Since their very status was illegal, they didn't have anything under their own names.
Phones, houses, cars, even bank accounts.
They lived in Korea, but they were ghosts who didn't officially exist, so standard investigation methods wouldn't work on them.
Therefore, to wrap things up cleanly, he had to catch them right here.
Otherwise, a resentful criminal might return in the future.
"Huff, huff, huff."
Just as he began to feel slightly out of breath, Dojin arrived at the location indicated by Hwindung-i and Cheongdung-i.
It was the yard of an abandoned house on the outskirts of Boseok-ri.
The moment he spotted the familiar truck, Dojin thought it was finally over.
However...
"Whew, damn it!"
Why did bad premonitions never miss?
He had finally found the truck, but the driver's seat was empty.
He looked around to see if they were hiding nearby, but unfortunately, the surrounding area was just an empty lot with nothing but the abandoned house.
Even the house was completely collapsed, leaving absolutely nowhere to hide.
"First, I need to share the situation."
Dojin pulled out the walkie-talkie clipped to his waist and explained the situation to Eunseob.
Since the culprit had abandoned the vehicle and fled, the target of their search had to change from a car to a person.
"Understood. Still, please move together with the security team members sent to your location. It could be dangerous."
"Yes, understood," Dojin replied readily.
Although he had rushed over alone because the situation was urgent, he had no intention of facing a criminal by himself.
"They should be arriving soon."
Due to the nature of the countryside, there was nothing blocking his view, so he could see the people running toward him.
Although the distance was quite far, it wouldn't take long for the security team, who never neglected their physical training.
Just then, barking sounds began to reach Dojin's ears.
Woof! Woof!
Bark! Bark!
Pant, pant!
Whimper...
"Ah, right."
Hearing the various dog noises, Dojin hurriedly headed toward the truck's cargo bed.
He needed to check on the dogs' condition, but he had forgotten about it because he was too focused on the thief.
"Ugh, they wrapped this up incredibly tight."
The truck was not only covered with multiple layers of thick waterproof tarps, but rubber straps were also tightly wound over them.
The madness of not allowing even a single gap was even blocking the sounds from inside.
If Dojin hadn't had experience loading cargo onto trucks while working at factories, it would have been difficult for him to untie the tightly bound straps.
"Phew, finally untied... What a psychopath."
After barely untying all the rubber straps and pulling off the tarp, Dojin looked inside the cargo bed and cursed under his breath.
It was a metal cage, commonly referred to as a chicken coop.
Dozens of dogs were crammed inside, their bodies contorted because they had been forced into the tiny compartments.
Whimper...
Pant, pant...
Woof, woof!
The dogs began to cry in unison upon seeing Dojin.
At a glance, their condition was terrible.
Because these furry animals had been stuffed inside and tightly wrapped without any ventilation, most of them had lost consciousness.
Only the dogs that had been caught recently were crying as they looked at Dojin.
Just then, gasps of horror erupted behind Dojin.
"Oh my god..."
"What in the world is this..."
Dojin turned his head and realized the voices belonged to the security team members who had run over to help him.
"Their condition is very bad. One of you, please drive this truck back to the house immediately. There's nowhere around here to give them water."
"Yes, sir."
At Dojin's words, the youngest member of the security team nodded and headed to the driver's seat.
However, he soon returned to Dojin with a troubled expression.
"Um, Director. The keys aren't in the car."
"Sigh, I guess he took them with him."
It was only natural when he thought about it.
Unless someone was chasing right behind him, there was no reason to run away and leave the car keys behind.
"It's a shame we don't have a water truck."
As summer ended, the various water slides installed on the playground had been dismantled.
Naturally, the water truck that refilled them was no longer needed and had been returned, but today, he sorely missed it.
They said they would deploy a water truck once the temporary shelter is built.
It was a vehicle Hyeseok had specially added to prevent any unfortunate incidents like before.
But that was a matter for the future.
Right now, they didn't have the proper equipment.
In the end, Dojin had to use a rather inefficient method.
"Team Leader, we need water here. Please load ten, no, twenty liters onto my truck and send it over."
After requesting help from Eunseob over the radio, Dojin left only the personnel needed to manage the site and headed toward the village.
Now that the urgent matter was handled, it was time to catch the culprit who caused this mess.
Outskirts of Boseok-ri.
A figure was running through this area, where only abandoned houses remained.
"Huff, huff, huff."
The man, Pang Guang, ran quickly between the abandoned houses before crouching down to scan his surroundings.
Unlike the area he just passed, which had scattered abandoned houses, there were almost none along the path ahead.
For someone who had to escape secretly, this was not a good situation.
Just then, a sound broke the silence from inside his jacket.
Whimper... Whimper...
"Shut your mouth! Do you want to be ripped apart right here?"
At Pang Guang's chilling threat, the dog in his arms shut its mouth.
However, even that didn't lessen Pang Guang's anger.
"Thank your bloodline. If you weren't an expensive breed, I would have just sold you for dog meat."
At Pang Guang's words, which sounded like the threat of a wild beast, the dog trembling in his arms shook even harder.
Only then did he seem somewhat satisfied, and Pang Guang began to scan his surroundings again.
All the while, curses kept flowing from his mouth.
"Damn Korean bastards. What is there to gain by chasing me like this?"
Pang Guang tightly gripped the radio scanner in his hand.
When he first bought it, he had wondered if it was worth spending so much money, but now that he had it, nothing was more useful.
Being able to intercept police and fire department frequencies, as well as various private radios, was a massive advantage.
It meant he could commit crimes while avoiding people.
And he could avoid dangers like today's in advance.
He had been lurking near Sekki House when he heard a voice from the scanner and smiled.
He already knew the people inside communicated via walkie-talkies.
It had been a bit difficult to find the frequency, but he had finally caught it.
He had planned to listen to their radio and steal one of the dogs they raised at the decisive moment.
That is, if he hadn't heard the transmission that followed.
"The white truck near the house, that's the dog thief. I'm heading down now, so please block the road naturally until then."
Startle!
Pang Guang jumped up at the unexpected radio message.
He had never imagined his identity would be exposed here.
"Damn Korean bastards!"
With a curse, Pang Guang quickly started the engine.
Being shocked was one thing, but that wasn't what was important right now.
He didn't know how they found out, but since his theft had been discovered, he had to get out of here quickly.
It was just as he was about to leave the village.
"Yes, Team Leader. We are returning now."
"A white truck should be heading your way right now! Block the road and don't let it pass!"
"What? Ah, yes!"
Hearing the radio transmission intercepted by his scanner again, Pang Guang hurriedly spun the steering wheel.
He frantically looked around, but he couldn't see any way to escape.
Since it was a typical countryside area and not a city, there were no detour routes other than the national highway.
"Damn it! What a tiny country!"
Banging his steering wheel in frustration, he eventually drove onto the only path he could see.
However, he soon realized something was wrong.
He could see the road leading to the end of the village was blocked.
In the end, he abandoned the car, taking only the valuables.
Although it was a waste to lose the unregistered car and the dogs inside, it was better than being caught and deported back to China.
Whimper... Whimper...
"Come here!"
Even in his haste, Pang Guang did not forget to grab the dog in the back seat.
This dog was the most expensive thing he had.
Of course, Pang Guang found the fact itself absurd.
"Löwchen? What kind of dog is so expensive?"
Its overall appearance was just like a common mutt you could find anywhere in China.
If his partner hadn't told him, he would never have imagined that a dog like this was worth over ten million won.
That was why this dog hadn't been sold to a slaughterhouse or an illegal animal testing lab like the others.
"Have you spotted anyone suspicious?"
"We're searching the southern part of Boseok-ri, but we don't see anyone like that."
Grit!
Pang Guang gnashed his teeth at the conversation coming from the scanner.
He was running away now because the situation was unfavorable, but he planned to return someday and repay today's humiliation.
The price for a mere citizen of a small country to chase someone from a great nation like him had to be paid.
"Whew, I just need to cross that mountain."
Regulating his breathing, Pang Guang spoke as he looked at the mountain visible in the distance.
If he crossed the mountain stretching north of Boseok-ri, a small town would appear.
If he took a taxi from there to a larger city, they wouldn't be able to chase him anymore.
Just as Pang Guang steeled his resolve and was about to run again...
Tweet! Tweet! Tweeeet!
"W-what?"
At the sudden sound of a whistle, Pang Guang quickly looked around.
And he saw it.
A child standing a short distance away from him was blowing a whistle.
"Y-you! What do you think you're doing! Stop that right now!"
Flustered, Pang Guang shouted at the child.
He wanted to run over immediately and snatch the whistle, but the situation was not in his favor.
While he was on the outskirts of the village, the child was further inside.
Aside from the distance, going over there risked exposing his face to the villagers.
So he tried to stop the child with threats, but...
Tweet! Tweet! Tweeeet!
The child paid no attention and kept blowing the whistle.
She didn't even seem to think of avoiding his gaze, even though their eyes met.
"Y-you... You little brat!"
Unable to hold back any longer, Pang Guang lunged toward the child.
However, Pang Guang couldn't get close to her.
A dog appeared out of nowhere and blocked the path between them.
Growl...
"...Huh? Are you barking at me right now?"
Pang Guang let out a hollow laugh at the fact that a mere dog was growling at him.
To him, dogs were nothing more than a means to make money.
Whether there were a hundred or a thousand of them, they were creatures that couldn't make a peep and would cower before him.
Yet, the mutt in front of him was daring to bare its teeth at him.
Growllll...
"...Fine, perfect. Even if I'm busy, I'll rip your mouth open before I leave."
With those words, Pang Guang pulled a pair of nippers from his pocket.
It was a tool he used to open dog cages, but right now, he intended to use it as a weapon to punish this insolent beast.
*Step, step.*
*Shuffle, shuffle.*
As Pang Guang steeled his resolve and strode toward the dog, the dog took a few steps back.
Seeing that, Pang Guang smiled, thinking of course, but his smile instantly contorted.
Growl...
The dog was clearly afraid of him, yet it refused to back down from the fight.
That insolent attitude finally snapped the last thread of Pang Guang's sanity.
"You bastard!"
Just as Pang Guang lunged at the dog and tried to strike down with the nippers...
*Dash!*
"Who do you think you're calling a bastard?!"
With those words, a young man leaped out and kicked Pang Guang squarely in the ribs.
*Thud!*
"Urgh!"
Was it because of the unexpected impact?
Pang Guang was sent flying sideways even faster than he had run.
"Cough... Urgh..."
Rolling on the ground in an instant, Pang Guang clutched his ribs and groaned.
The pain was so intense that the nippers he had been holding had flown far away.
The young man, Dojin, walked over and kicked the nippers far away.
"This guy is completely insane. Attacking an innocent child? And trying to kill the dog that blocked you?"
"..."
Whimper...
At Dojin's appearance, Sun-jam, who had been blowing the whistle, and Ttorang-i, who had been blocking Pang Guang, gathered by his side.
Dojin patted them both once and glared at Pang Guang again.
He was already pinned down and bound by the security team.
Normally, he wouldn't have been subdued so helplessly, but the aftermath of the blow he received from Dojin was too severe.
Just then, Pang Guang's chest squirmed, and a dog popped out.
Whimper?
The dog, about half the size of Ttorang-i, looked around once and then lunged straight at Pang Guang.
"Aaargh! Ah! Let go! Let go of me!"
Growl!
It happened in the blink of an eye.
Fortunately, the security team quickly pulled the dog away, but by then, one of Pang Guang's ears was already torn and tattered.
However, the dog didn't seem satisfied yet.
Approaching Pang Guang slowly, it raised its right hind leg.
*Trickle...*
"Ugh! Hey! Get lost!"
"...He's got quite a temper too."
At the sight of the dog executing the most humiliating revenge regardless of species, Dojin quietly covered Sun-jam's eyes.
"Sun-jam! Are you okay?"
First floor of the annex.
The door to the lodging Dojin had prepared for Shanhu's family burst open, and Shanhu flew inside.
He had been working on something else until just now and had only just heard about Sun-jam.
"What happened? You snuck out of the house to catch a criminal?"
"..."
At Shanhu's words, Sun-jam quietly lowered her head.
Indeed, Sun-jam had been getting scolded until just a moment ago.
On the way back, she was scolded by Dojin.
After returning, she was scolded by her mother, Altani.
And now, her father, Shanhu, had joined in.
Everyone was united in scolding her for her recklessness.
But why was that?
She didn't feel bad.
Dojin, her mom and dad, and even Ttorang-i, who was comforting her...
Perhaps it was because she could feel how much they loved her.
Grin.
"Huh? Sun-jam, why are you smiling? You're being scolded right now! You need to reflect on your actions!"
Seeing Sun-jam's smile, Shanhu looked at his daughter in disbelief.
And the same went for Altani, who had been disciplining her daughter on her husband's behalf until just now.
"...I'll step out, so you two talk."
If Altani was present, Sun-jam wouldn't speak.
Even if they were scolding her, they needed to hear the child's side of the story, so Altani tactfully gave them space.
Shanhu nodded at his wife's consideration and said,
"Yeah, thanks. Sun-jam! What you did this time was extremely dangerous! Are you reflecting on it properly?"
"...Yes!"
"If you know that, then why did you... Huh?"
*Freeze!*
Both Shanhu, who was scolding Sun-jam, and Altani, who was leaving the room, froze.
Although she was in the middle of leaving, Altani was still in the room.
But Sun-jam, their daughter, had spoken.
It was only a single word, but this was a monumental event.
"Su... Sun-jam? Did you... just?"
"D-did you speak?"
Approaching Sun-jam, Shanhu and Altani asked in trembling voices.
Their eyes showed they desperately hoped they hadn't misheard.
Looking at the two of them, the angel smiled.
Then she reached out and took Shanhu's hand.
"...So... rry. Da... ddy."
Having squeezed out the words with difficulty, the angel reached out her other hand and took Altani's hand.
And with effort, she uttered the remaining word.
"Mo... m."
On the day they defeated the devil who stole mute beasts, the angel who regained her voice descended upon them.