Chapter 150
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Pickpocket in Rome
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The pickpocket boy whose sleeve I'd grabbed yanked his arm with all his might.
He must have thought he could slip free since I was holding it so loosely, but there was no way he'd escape that easily.
“Mi dispiace……!”
Once he confirmed my hand wasn't budging an inch, he looked up at me with teary eyes.
“He says he's sorry?”
“Oh, admitting the crime?”
They'd planned the whole thing with a lookout, and now that he was caught, he was playing the pitiful card.
“Ah!”
This scream came from right next to Hwang Seoyeong.
The man who'd warned me about the pickpocket just moments ago had grabbed the lookout's arm roughly.
“What'd he say?”
“'You little punk, you were loitering around here last week too, weren't you?' And the kid's denying it, saying he has no idea what that's about.”
“Hmm.”
“Whoa, that startled me. How'd you grab him like that?”
Min Jeong-eun glanced at the pickpocket boy in utter amazement.
“Haha, I've got pretty quick reflexes.”
“Check if anything's missing first.”
I'd been sensing subtle glances from the start. They were clearly targeting me, the obvious tourist.
I knew nothing was taken, but I didn't stop our group—or anyone else in line—from checking their belongings.
After confirming her wallet was safe, Hwang Seoyeong let out a relieved breath and asked,
“So, what do we do with him?”
“Yeah, good question.”
I smoothly lifted the boy's arm.
Yeah... what should we do?
In the murim world, getting caught like this would've meant he'd be thanking his lucky stars if he only lost a hand.
This kid was gazing up at me with big, pleading eyes, as if begging me to let him go.
“Should we take him to the police?”
“They caught him red-handed with no losses—think they'll even take our report?”
“Doesn't look like a first-timer to me...”
Ever since I'd started wearing my Sichuan Tang family pouch, no one dared touch me. But before that, I'd dealt with a few pickpocket attempts.
The first one I caught was genuinely a kid new to theft. He begged forgiveness, blubbering about his sick mother, so I treated her and made him gather herbs as my servant for a while.
...But that was the only time it ended so nicely.
Another time, I fell for a kid's red-rimmed eyes, gave him some money, and later ran into him as a bandit when I was leaving town.
“Filing a report at the station and giving a statement would mess up our travel schedule.”
Hwang Seoyeong seemed to want to just let him go.
“It'd be a hassle. Last time I lost my phone, it took half a day at the station. I had no choice since I needed it for insurance, though.”
Min Jeong-eun chimed in.
“Are you tourists?”
Fluent English.
As the three of us debated what to do, the man from earlier butted in, still gripping the lookout's arm.
Hwang Seoyeong glanced at me, and with my nod to let her handle it, she replied,
“Yes, that's right.”
I could catch bits of the English, but I wasn't confident in communicating smoothly.
“I work at this gelato shop. Name's Roberto. If it's okay with you, I'll call the police. Sigh... this is the third time they've targeted customers in our line.”
“Oh my god!”
“So glad no one got hurt.”
He didn't seem like a rookie, and apparently the shop staff were fed up too.
“……!”
As I tried handing the pickpocket over to Roberto, the kid made one last desperate attempt to break free.
He even tried biting and kicking.
Of course, it didn't go anywhere.
I dodged the kick effortlessly and flicked his head with one finger, pinning both arms.
“Oh!”
A few people in line before and after us gave light applause.
Even Roberto looked impressed.
“Hold onto them until the police get here.”
He snatched both pickpockets firmly and dragged them inside the shop.
Then he and another employee started laying into them.
I saw him on the phone, so the cops would be here soon.
“Glad it worked out. That gave me a scare.”
“Tell me about it. What even was that? Italy's scary.”
“If we'd gotten robbed on day one, it would've ruined the whole trip. Good thing you noticed, Director. Ah, I should've told you about the lookout instead of answering him—sorry!”
“Nah, no need to apologize.”
There was a bit of a commotion, but we'd come for gelato.
Soon the line cleared, and we each ordered our picks.
“On the house.”
Maybe for catching the thief who'd targeted his shop, Roberto grinned and handed over a cup of tiramisu gelato.
“Oh, thank you.”
I thanked him and took it.
“Try a bite each.”
We each had one, and it was gone in seconds, but sweets have a way of lifting your mood instantly.
“Oh, fewer tourist groups now!”
With the shock settled, we headed back to Trevi Fountain.
A tour group had left in the meantime, so we got some great photos by the fountain.
We hit a few more spots, then checked into the hotel.
“Whoa, this hotel is insane! Can they really give us a room this nice?”
“They said it's the best available without a reservation. The Paris branch has tons of suites, so expect something good there too.”
“Why don't we get patients like that at our clinic?”
Hwang Seoyeong hugged a pillow in awe.
You could always pay for a stay like this.
“But that Italian guy earlier? Wasn't he super handsome?”
“Roberto?”
“Yeah, looked like a movie star!”
Hwang Seoyeong gushed dramatically. Didn't know she was into that type.
A blond, blue-eyed hunk selling ice cream did give off that “Ahh, so this is Italy” vibe.
“Chairman Richi's son is gorgeous too. Like a cute doll.”
“Really? Is he coming the day after tomorrow? Should I tag along?”
“Not sure. It's a weekday, so maybe he's at school.”
“How old? College student?”
“Elementary school.”
“Ugh!”
Hwang Seoyeong turned away in exasperation.
What would she even do with a college guy?
“Whatever! I'm just gonna stare at hot guys in novels!”
She huffed and turned on her phone for no reason.
The protagonist wasn't even a hunk— who was she crushing on?
I figured I should take a break from that mainstream fantasy.
Maybe it was the dream on the plane, but I'd been hearing faint voices like hallucinations all throughout sightseeing.
[Anything going on?]
Instead, I messaged Hwang Sanghun to check on the clinic.
Too early? Maybe he wasn't up yet.
[Yeah, just a bit busy. A few patients came looking for you, but I treated them fine, so no worries.]
He replied right away.
[Made it to Rome? Everything okay there?]
[Yep. Got here this morning, toured around—super fun. Almost got pickpocketed, but it worked out.]
Hwang Sanghun was a little shocked but relieved when I said nothing was lost.
Good to know the clinic was running smoothly.
Skipping the novel let me sleep soundly without dreaming of the fantasy world this time.
Vatican sightseeing was a breeze as a result.
Min Jeong-eun recommended a tour since Vatican has separate group entry lines, so we toured the museums with a pro guide.
Seeing sculptures by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and others I'd only heard of in ancient art class was mind-blowing.
We wrapped day two repeating “Wow, amazing! So cool!”
On day three, we browsed the piazza a bit before heading to meet Chairman Richi.
“You okay going alone?”
“What would I even do there?”
I asked if Hwang Seoyeong wanted to join, but she said it'd be awkward for everyone and passed.
“Gonna hit Trevi Fountain one more time. That gelato's gonna haunt me after we get back to Korea.”
Was it really the gelato she'd miss?
Anyway, I warned her to watch for pickpockets since I couldn't go together, and we split for a bit.
“Annyeonghaseyo!”
Chairman Richi greeted me just as cheerfully as last time.
If anything, being on home turf made him even more energetic.
“Hello. Hope you've been well? Paolo's doing great with no relapses, right?”
He lit up at my check-in.
“He's been fantastic, no tics at all. His social life improved too—they're all so grateful.”
Great news.
“Still keeping up with walking and running?”
I asked about his exercise too.
No need for lifelong meds, but staying active was key.
That question got him beaming again.
“Picked up soccer as a hobby. Might even join a tournament. They say it's all thanks to you that he's so active now.”
“Aw, I didn't do much.”
The praise kept coming, and I thanked him profusely for the hotel.
Everything was top-notch, especially the location near the sights.
The steak was incredible.
His overflowing charisma kept the chat engaging.
But after 30 minutes of catch-up, it was getting stuffy.
“So, just a hello, or can I take a quick look?”
Not that it mattered if not, but why squeeze this into my travel schedule?
Min Jeong-eun chatted briefly with Chairman Richi before translating.
“Not here for that, but he does have news to share.”
“Oh?”
Figured as much.
Sounded like no patient, though.
“He runs a small scholarship foundation. One of his top sponsors is a med student super into Eastern medicine, like him. Involved in acupuncture research since college, graduating soon. Got excited hearing about Paolo.”
“Nice.”
An Italian doctor interested in acupuncture?
Unique...?
I'd heard the US has tons of TCM docs and acupuncturist licensing.
Zero clue about Oriental medicine in Europe.
Min Jeong-eun conferred more with Chairman Richi and handed me his phone.
“He interned at the acupuncture association and co-authored this paper.”
She translated too.
Study on acupuncture helping PTSD from Italy's earthquake trauma.
Europe does research like that?
I skimmed pages, memorizing the acupoints.
...Wonder if it'd work on dimensional travel PTSD?
If the voices come back tonight, I'll ask Hwang Seoyeong to needle me.
“He's huge into acupuncture and herbs, always wanted to study in East Asia. Wishes he'd mentioned it sooner so you could've helped.”
“Oh... Tough from a scholarship recipient's spot.”
“Anyway, Chairman promised to fund his PhD if he gets in.”
“Where's he applying?”
Not China or Japan, telling me this.
“Korea University. So, if you're okay, could you write a recommendation for their lab?”
Figured it'd be my alma mater.
Why go to Korea for grad school in Oriental medicine if not Korea University?
“Of course. Might not help much, but writing one is no trouble.”
Professor Lee Minseok might value my letter. Others too?
Lee Minseok wouldn't turn away a grad student anyway.
“He says thanks a ton.”
“No problem.”
“And you run a clinic network, right?”
I nodded without thinking.
“While he's in Korea, how about teaching him your secrets and opening a Rome branch?”
“Kuh!”
I choked on my wine.
“Kuh, cough, cough!”
“He knows about 'Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital'—they have a US branch already... Worth a shot, right?”
Chairman Richi clenched his fist, eyes sparkling at me.
Min Jeong-eun translated dryly, but...
His eyes, gestures, hand motions.
Excitement overflowed from every bit of it.