Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Unpleasant Morning
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“...”
The moment Justice first laid eyes on the Director's files, a thought crossed her mind. Could the Director have deliberately written these suspicious details about Crow to deceive someone?
These were files that Crow himself could potentially access if push came to shove. And yet, he'd written phrases like that so blatantly?
No, suppose he did it to lay a trap. Then who exactly was the Director trying to fool with all this?
“...”
To trick Crow? Or to mislead her—Justice herself—once she started digging through the files after his death?
Her head throbbed. Justice wasn't particularly skilled at psychological warfare or mind games like this. Those were usually the Director's or Crow's domains.
Now, there was no one left to consult. Justice had to tear her hair out and figure it all out on her own.
“Did you find anything?”
“Just hand it over to the forensics team.”
The other agents glanced at Justice, chiming in with their own opinions on the Director's leftover files.
With Justice now filling the Director's role, no one could demand access to the predecessor's documents. Only she had the authority to approve them as evidence.
“...Not yet.”
That said, some voiced their discomfort. In the emergency of the Director's murder, they argued that evidence needed securing first—classified or not.
But even they couldn't push too hard for the files. If they did and a leak caused trouble later, the blame would fall squarely on them.
So every decision hinged on Justice, and her decisions hinged on the Director's files.
“...”
Of all people, the Director had been suspicious of Crow and keeping tabs on him.
And then he'd been killed amid all that.
At the murder scene, they'd found a gun with Crow's fingerprints and ammo issued to him.
“Damn it.”
Of all things,
the Director had died while investigating Crow and this REP plan.
“Hoo...”
Justice couldn't keep her composure. She covered her entire face and let out a heavy sigh. Her body trembled unsteadily.
“...I'll handle investigating what the Director left behind. Open up all of Crow's security feeds and personal files for review.”
Little by little, her faith was crumbling.
All the evidence pointed to Crow.
Even the Director himself had singled him out.
“This is an order under Director authority. Hack if you have to.”
If Crow turned out to be tied to REP, what measures would she even need to take?
For the first time, Justice lost her confidence.
She prayed to God that Crow had nothing to do with it.
...Of course, that wasn't the case.
Crow had been conducting a covert investigation with the Director. No one else knew about their collaboration.
His hidden dossier even contained concrete details on the REP plan, including a list of targets.
Crow had been too competent.
He'd gathered more intel than the very ringleaders running REP like a tight-knit web.
————————————
“Crow.”
Scardi loved people like that. Capable ones...
Rin, who'd been by her side for decades, and Crow, now kneeling before her, gauging her mood—they were both people Scardi adored.
If only her world consisted of people like them, she could call her life a resounding success.
“Hard to get ahold of. Here.”
Of course, Crow taking a cigarette from Scardi right now didn't scream competence. He used to be the biggest thorn in villains' sides.
Now, he adapted perfectly to his circumstances.
Kneeling meekly, surrendering to Scardi's favors.
“...Th-thanks.”
Their eye levels made their power dynamic crystal clear. Crow kept glancing between the cigarette and the floor, while Scardi looked down, scanning him from head to toe.
He already owed her so much. Food, and now cigarettes too...
“Smoke it easy. No need to hold back.”
Buried under her mounting favors day by day—to the point of suffocation—Scardi's relaxed attitude only made Crow uneasy.
“Debt's debt. This is this. I can always lend you a lighter. To you.”
“Uh, y-yeah... Sure...”
Still, with junkie tremors in his hands, Crow lit up diligently.
“Hoo, ugh...”
Finally, the pain eased a bit. The withdrawal faded.
But strangely, the moment his body and mind found even slight relief, tears welled in Crow's eyes.
Tears that felt foreign even to him. He'd never realized he was such a crybaby.
No matter how much he'd pushed his body to ruin in agony, he'd never shed a drop.
Now, driven to the mental brink, soaked in drugs and ruin, he wept with regret. Recalling the freedom of old days he'd never reclaim...
“It's okay to cry. It happens.”
Even that seemed like some kind of charm to Scardi.
To the fragile, sickly man with reddened eyes, overcome by his broken body and spirit, she offered a few words of comfort and a gentle touch.
Her stroking hand started atop his head and trailed to his cheek. Scardi felt pity for the broken man—and an irresistible cuteness.
“Stand up. There. Sit here.”
So she pulled him to sit beside her, wrapping him in a warm embrace. Feeling his firm body and soft skin through the prison uniform, Crow finished his cigarette.
“...”
It definitely had nicotine in it. He wasn't sure if it matched what Orca injected, but it clearly helped with withdrawal.
Crow knew it. Yet now, he couldn't endure without Scardi's cigarettes. Sex chased the cravings only so far.
“What about breakfast?”
“Anything... I'm good with whatever...”
Knowing that made her embrace feel safe. In this mess, Scardi was the only one wielding her own power freely.
“Finish that, then bring Lily too. We'll eat together. Oh, and Creep... Hm, no. Bring Creep as well.”
“...Okay.”
Docile. Obedient.
Scardi didn't mind this Crow at all.
If anything, he appealed to her more than before.
His cheek twitched with every breath against it.
His lower half, already honestly swollen, throbbed cutely.
She wanted to strip him bare and sate her urges right then, but Scardi restrained herself once more, content with his warmth.
Everything had its proper time.
Scardi knew it wasn't yet her moment to claim Crow.
A little longer.
Just a bit more.
Until he became a boy suited to her.
Just a little more.
Crow leaving the room looked like an office worker trudging home after an exhausting day. But it was only 7:20 a.m. The prison day was just beginning.
He walked along the C Wing wall to Lily and Creep waiting for him.
“Oppa.”
“Honey!”
Creep and Lily, fresh from a quick post-roll-call shower, greeted him. Creep's not-so-peaceful shower showed in red welts and scratches on her body. Lily, of course, was unscathed.
Lily used to rage and demand Creep be kicked out.
Now she seemed to be looking after her.
Probably because traveling together drew revenge from Creep's old crew, taking it out on Creep.
Before, they'd kissed up out of fear.
Now Lily could scold her freely, fearless.
Of course, pinning it just on that felt dubious. Still, Crow said nothing, quietly accepting it.
What he could do was limited anyway.
Drawing attention to his own body instead of Lily's was his best shot.
As long as he didn't block her path, that was a win.
Pitying Creep, who grinned through the beatings and called him “honey,” but he couldn't worry about her comfort anymore.
Sharing a cell was blessing enough.
No one welcomed Creep. The irredeemable serial killer who only caused trouble...
“Honey! Let's eat quick, yeah?”
Yet with Crow around, she beamed like an innocent kid, rubbing against him.
“...”
A morning full of heavy thoughts. Crow fiddled with his full cigarette pack, staring blankly into space with hollow eyes.
Mealtime loomed in minutes, but for now, he craved a break. Holding Lily all night had left him off-kilter.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Mealtime.]
But the mealtime announcement blared soon after,
and a line naturally formed.
As inmates cut ahead in groups of four or five,
two guards shoved into C Wing.
The daily rhythm shattered. Inmates' eyes turned to the guards—what was going on?
Thud, thud—
Slightly urgent footsteps crossed C Wing straight to Crow.
“Crow, the Correctional Officer is waiting for your interview.”
He hadn't even eaten breakfast yet.
Orca was looking for Crow.