Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Confrontation with Lou Wilson
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Lou Wilson's daily routine was the same as always.
He woke up in the morning and went for a light jog.
Then he returned home, had a simple breakfast with his family, and headed to work.
Screech—!!
Lou Wilson parked his car in the lot and was about to enter the detective agency.
"!!"
"Mr. Wilson. Good morning."
An unexpected figure blocked his path.
It was Lee Dae-hyuk, with his weary and exhausted face, accompanied by his bodyguard.
Even so, Lee Dae-hyuk extended his right hand toward Lou Wilson.
He was fatigued from the explosion the night before.
But now wasn't the time to worry about his body if he wanted to uncover the details of the incident and information about the secret organization.
'...I'll worry about my health later.'
Lee Dae-hyuk was convinced that Lou Wilson must have made contact with the secret organization in the past few days.
Using psychometry right now would make it easier to extract information.
"Your face looks terrible. Did something happen last night?"
Lou Wilson, eyeing Lee Dae-hyuk with a puzzled expression, shook his hand.
And then.
Flash—!
Just like always, Lou Wilson's thoughts and information flowed into Lee Dae-hyuk.
.
.
.
Doubt, anxiety, fear.
Following those three emotions, the face was still not visible, but....
'Who the hell... is this guy?'
He saw an Eastern man holding a teacup.
Once again, the Eastern man's face was not visible.
Still, he clearly witnessed the scene of Lou Wilson reporting to him.
Along with the emotions and thoughts he had felt at the time.
'This man sees me as a pet dog.'
'This man has no use for an old, worn-out pet dog.'
'So... what will happen to me?'
'Can I endure this humiliation... to the very end?'
.
.
.
Lee Dae-hyuk felt hope.
'It’s exactly as I expected.'
It seemed Lou Wilson had met the Eastern man after his own request.
That was why Lou Wilson's memories, information, and emotions from that time were still vivid.
On top of that.
'He’s already... found Stephen Gibson’s biological mother?'
Lou Wilson had located Stephen Gibson’s birth mother but hadn’t reported it to him.
It must have been on orders from the secret organization.
"......"
None of that mattered now.
The reason Lee Dae-hyuk felt hope was that Lou Wilson harbored resentment toward the organization.
'Coax him rather than threaten him.'
An ally with the same goal would be far more useful than a hunting dog forced to obey.
Lee Dae-hyuk released Lou Wilson’s hand, having changed his plan.
"Did you see the news about the explosion last night?"
At Lee Dae-hyuk’s question, the corners of Lou Wilson’s eyes twitched slightly.
He was asking about the explosion in a Silicon Valley residential area.
"Yes, I saw it on the news. An entire family killed... such a tragedy."
Lou Wilson immediately grasped it and drew a line.
"Are you here because of that incident? I can’t help with that. I’m a detective, not a forensic investigator."
If Lee Dae-hyuk asked him to investigate the explosion, it would put him in a sticky situation.
'It was probably those bastards who did it.'
Moreover, seeing Lee Dae-hyuk and his bodyguard’s haggard appearances....
He had a strong hunch they were connected to this incident.
"No way... Mr. Lee. Are you involved—no, caught up in that incident?"
"......"
"If that’s the case, go to the police station. If you don’t know the way, one of my staff can guide you."
Lou Wilson’s tone was softer and more serious than usual.
However.
'...Look at this guy?'
Lee Dae-hyuk, knowing his true identity, only felt disgust.
But he needed to win Lou Wilson over.
Even if it meant mixing in a little lie.
"Right before Michael died, he said this: that you’re part of that ‘organization’ too."
'......!!!'
At those words, Lou Wilson’s eyes flickered wildly for a moment.
Michael must be Stephen Gibson’s deceased bodyguard.
He had probably been blackmailed by the organization like Lou himself, then bought off.
And then caught by Lee Dae-hyuk.
'He must’ve blabbed and got killed for it.'
That much was predictable.
But why had his own name come out of that bodyguard’s mouth?
'It’s a lie. Still, it means he has suspicions.'
Lou Wilson kept a calm expression.
Thump-thump-thump—
But his heart pounded like mad.
Contrary to the rapid heartbeat, Lou Wilson feigned innocent confusion as he asked Lee Dae-hyuk.
"What are you talking about? Organization? You mean my weekend basketball club?"
Lee Dae-hyuk scoffed at Lou Wilson’s acting and shot back.
"I don’t know if it’s acting, hypocrisy, or fear. Are you that scared of that Eastern man?"
Lee Dae-hyuk had struck Lou Wilson’s weak spot.
"......"
Eastern man.
At those three words, Lou Wilson’s lips turned pale and trembled.
'This bastard knows about Yi Chenlian.'
Lou Wilson was thrown into confusion.
How did Lee Dae-hyuk know about Yi Chenlian?
But he was someone who knew how to survive crises.
If everything was suspicious and incomprehensible....
He should play dumb and deny it first.
"I’ll end this time-wasting here. You’ve ruined my morning, but I’ll let it slide for customer service."
With that, Lou Wilson turned away.
At that moment.
"Michael."
Lee Dae-hyuk shook his resolve.
"You’re next."
Halt—!!
Lou Wilson, who had been heading for the entrance, stopped dead in his tracks.
"You know it too, don’t you?"
"...You keep saying things I don’t understand, Mr. Lee. You must be really tired. Go home and rest."
Hostility crept into Lou Wilson’s voice.
His true feelings had slipped out unconsciously.
'Damn! That was a mistake.'
Realizing his error, Lou Wilson clenched his fist.
This kind of reaction would only fuel Lee Dae-hyuk’s suspicions.
But he couldn’t apologize or show panic here.
Stomp-stomp—!!!
Lou Wilson desperately hid his agitation and entered the detective agency.
Click—!!
Watching the closing door, Lee Dae-hyuk was certain.
'He’ll come around soon enough.'
The hostility Lou Wilson showed was directed more at the secret organization than at him.
That hostility would bring him an opportunity.
As Lee Dae-hyuk thought that, Yoon Tae-ho approached him.
"I don’t know what you talked about... but is it really okay to just let him go like that?"
Yoon Tae-ho had heard from Lee Dae-hyuk beforehand.
That the detective Lou Wilson he had hired was actually a member of that secret organization.
"Life in America feels like a Hollywood movie. Thriller genre."
Explosions, deaths, secret organizations, and the detective’s a spy....
Yoon Tae-ho’s head was spinning.
If not for Lee Dae-hyuk, he’d fly back to Korea right now where his family waited.
Yet Lee Dae-hyuk was doing something utterly incomprehensible.
Letting that damn detective go free when he deserved a beating.
"......"
Seeing Yoon Tae-ho’s frustration, Lee Dae-hyuk spoke with firm conviction.
"To use him, letting him go for now is the right move."
Even after hearing Lee Dae-hyuk’s answer, Yoon Tae-ho’s voice was filled with anxiety.
"From his expression, he seems to have caught on. It could be dangerous."
"He’ll be fine for now."
Lee Dae-hyuk shook his head at the concern.
Lou Wilson clearly resented the secret organization and the Eastern man.
If a little more time passed and that resentment grew?
'He’ll have no choice but to take my hand. Like a lifeline.'
"Just wait a bit longer."
"...Understood."
With Lee Dae-hyuk’s continued assurance, Yoon Tae-ho asked no more.
Once Lee Dae-hyuk decided, they would follow.
His job was just to keep Lee Dae-hyuk safe.
Yoon Tae-ho bowed his head silently in acknowledgment.
Glancing at him, Lee Dae-hyuk said.
"Let’s head to the hotel. We need breakfast and some rest."
***
Lou Wilson’s office.
Perched on his desk, Lou Wilson was deep in thought.
'Should I... report this?'
He didn’t know to what extent, but Lee Dae-hyuk clearly knew about the organization.
Reporting it immediately and letting the organization handle him would eliminate future troubles.
But.
'...Not my troubles.'
Perhaps... the organization’s unstable element could be the key to freeing his chains.
He couldn’t be sure how much power a rich man from a small country like Korea had....
'No need for excessive loyalty.'
Instead of calling the organization, Lou Wilson poured water into his glass.
Glug-glug—!!
He felt parched.
A vicious thirst that water couldn’t quench.
It was the thirst born from fear of Yi Chenlian and the organization.
Still, hoping this long, endless thirst would one day be quenched.
Swish—
Lou Wilson lifted the glass.
***
Three days later.
Michael and his family’s funeral was held at the church.
Since their bodies had been shattered by the explosion and couldn’t be recovered, the coffins were empty.
In front of the empty coffins, Michael’s family wept bitterly.
Some mourners shed tears along with them.
But the most special guest among them silently kept vigil without tears.
It was Stephen Gibson.
'Michael....'
Thinking of Michael, his loyal and one of his few true friends, made his chest ache.
The event was so absurd and sudden that shock overshadowed sorrow.
Who would’ve thought Michael would go like this.
'I thought I’d go first....'
Stephen Gibson let out a self-deprecating laugh.
An inexplicable pain continued.
It wasn’t a disease that would kill him immediately, but instinctively, he knew.
He was fated for a short life.
History proved it, didn’t it?
Geniuses blessed with talents that could change the world always died young.
'Because they possessed what ordinary people didn’t. But Michael, why you....'
Stephen Gibson silently reproached Michael in his heart.
But what was the point in blaming the dead?
'I’ll take care of your remaining family, so rest easy without worry.'
Stephen Gibson planned to deliver condolence money to Michael’s parents, who had lost their son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild.
A bit of money couldn’t fill the void of lost family, of course.
Rustle—!!!
Stephen Gibson rose from his seat.
His grief ended here.
Now, he had a mountain of tasks ahead.
Not just work on Aiphone, but hiring a new bodyguard, and....
"Huh?"
As he recalled his to-do list, Stephen Gibson’s eyes widened.
He spotted an utterly unexpected mourner.
"Mr. Lee?"
Lee Dae-hyuk, dressed in a suit, gave him a nod of greeting.
.
.
.
"I didn’t expect you to come even to Michael’s funeral."
In the church’s rear garden.
Lee Dae-hyuk and Stephen Gibson sat side by side on a bench nestled among flowers and shrubs.
"Fate is fate."
Lee Dae-hyuk gave a wry smile at Stephen Gibson’s question.
- Young Master. Don’t waste emotions needlessly.
"......"
Even if Yoon Tae-ho said it wasn’t his fault.
He still felt a twinge of guilt—no, regret—over Michael and his family’s deaths.
But attending the funeral was to meet Stephen Gibson naturally.
"Stephen. I have something to tell you."
"Hm?"
Lee Dae-hyuk had agonized over the past two days.
Through Lou Wilson’s memories, he already knew where Stephen Gibson’s biological mother lived.
He thought she’d take his hand eventually, but for now, Lou Wilson was still the organization’s member.
Even without him, who knew what the secret organization might do to Stephen Gibson’s mother.
So he wanted to find her and deliver her to Stephen as quickly as possible.
His plan was to reunite mother and son, then naturally bring up the surgery.
‘......’
But now, face-to-face with Stephen Gibson, the words wouldn’t come.
One wrong move could shatter the rapport he’d built.
'Suddenly saying, “I found your mother,” would make me look like a lunatic or con artist.'
Of course, since he’d actually found her, he wouldn’t be called a total lunatic or fraud.
Still, his intentions would surely be questioned.
'...Hmm.'
As Lee Dae-hyuk inwardly chose his words.
Suddenly, Stephen Gibson’s face twisted in pain.
"Urk."
"Stephen!"
Startled, Lee Dae-hyuk embraced Stephen Gibson, who clutched his stomach and doubled over.
'S-someone... it feels like someone’s ripping out my guts.'
Strangely, the pain had worsened over the past two days.
It was because he hadn’t drunk the drug-laced water Michael had given him for two days, intensifying the pain.
Unaware of that, Stephen Gibson just found his condition baffling.
'Yongwolwon! I need to go to Yongwolwon.'
Instinctively, Stephen Gibson thought of the Yongwolwon run by Yi Chenlian.
And at that moment.
"!!"
Lee Dae-hyuk’s face hardened.
The attire from Lou Wilson’s memories.
An Eastern man in the exact same clothes—‘Yi Chenlian’—was smiling at Stephen Gibson.
'Ha... fuck! He was already by Stephen’s side?'