Captives in the Courtyard
The guy hiding inside the house went down without much fuss. Unlike the ones I'd knocked out earlier, he wasn't an awakener— a light chop to the nape and he was out cold. His hands were stuffed with tiny cameras and bugs.
"Why the hell would you bring this crap into our house...?"
Good thing I hadn't killed him in a fit of rage. For now, I dragged all five intruders who'd targeted our home and tied them up in the middle of the yard.
I laid the still-damp Yelena in her room and cranked the boiler to max. That oughta wake her up once she got too hot.
"Ugh..."
The whip guy woke first. Then his three subordinates. The non-awakener who'd been skulking in the house stayed out cold for a good while longer.
"Wh-where... is this...?"
"Where else? My front yard."
"......"
"Don't worry. I didn't call the cops."
The three underlings let out small sighs of relief at my words. But the whip guy seemed to read between the lines—his face drained of color.
"Heh. Quick on the uptake."
"You bastard...!"
Crunch! Suddenly, the whip guy's cheek hollowed out. He was grinding his molars like he was trying to bite down on something hard.
But nothing happened. His eyes went wide.
"You... you son of a—!"
"Looking for these?"
I showed them the tiny beads I'd pulled from their molars while they were out. I'd checked for them ahead of time. I'd dealt with plenty of types like this back in that other world—guys always ready to off themselves if things went south.
Sorry, but no dice.
"Guh..."
"Anyway. You're the boss, right?"
"...Why'd you keep us alive?"
"Heh. Straight to the point. I like that."
The whip guy grimaced, twitching his eyebrows.
"Names and affiliation?"
"You think I'd tell you that?"
"Yeah, figured you wouldn't."
Truth was, I'd already checked. Didn't know their group, but names? Piece of cake.
"Here."
I pulled out the phones I'd confiscated earlier.
"You... you prick...!"
Back in my day, everything was password-locked. But tech's come a long way—just press their thumb to the sensor, and unlock.
"Boss man's phone was locked tight. But his grunts? Sloppy as hell. So... from the left: Yoo Kyung-jae, Jeong Cheong-jin, Ko Jae-jun. That right?"
The boss's was a work phone—nothing juicy. But the minions' personal ones? Names, contacts, the works. All laid out.
"You idiots..."
"Gasp..."
The whip guy glared at his men, and they paled.
"Man, your KakaoTalk history shows you're all tight. Same orphanage, huh? 'Neulpureum Orphanage'? Still chatting with the director and everything."
Checked their group chats—they were all from Neulpureum Orphanage. Close enough to have a dedicated chat with the director.
"Director's gotta be pissed. Raises you up, and this is how you repay 'em?"
"Ugh..."
"But hey. Not all your fault. The guy who raised you bears some blame too, right?"
"You... you don't mean...?"
"Heh. What're you imagining that you're stuttering?"
They all went pale, imaginations running wild. Felt a bit harsh, but I shook it off. Not like I'd actually go after some innocent director.
But you know what they say—threats and salt taste better the more you add.
...Do they?
Whatever.
"Sniff... T-Team leader... what do we do?"
"Guh..."
"What else? If you wanna see your director again, cooperate nicely."
"...You damn bastard!"
They thrashed against their bonds, but that was all they could do. I flashed a grin and murmured low.
"Who sent you?"
* * *
"Heh."
Luckily, they spilled quick. Got the basics. Now, what to do with 'em?
"Ugh...!"
Yelena stirred, still groggy and scowling. She pushed open the door, and our eyes met.
"Oh. You're up."
"You bastard...!"
Wham!
She charged the tied-up crew and unleashed a brutal soccer kick.
"Gah!"
The five bound men tumbled across the yard like a set.
"Whoa. Must've slept well. Full of energy."
"Soo-hyeok! We have to kill these guys!"
"Hm. Still thinking on it."
"Thinking?"
"Killing 'em feels off. They're from Cheonma Group."
"Cheonma... Group...?"
Yelena tilted her head at the name. She knew it—she knew about the Cheonma Bio Farm contract.
"What, thought it was someone else?"
"......"
"Heh."
She turned away, no comeback for my smirk.
"Anyway."
This was getting messy. Looked like neither side knew the other. They'd just gotten orders: "Install bugs at that house." End of story.
Question was why.
"You really don't know?"
"...No."
"For real?"
"F-For real! We don't know anything! We were just bodyguards for this guy...!"
One of the whip guy's minions blubbered it out.
"Truth?"
"Yes."
"Hm."
Seemed legit. At least for these four security goons.
Then the last guy wakes up and...
"Huh?"
His neck was twisted at a grotesque angle. No pulse, obviously.
My bad?
Come to think of it, I'd hit his nape pretty hard.
"Soo-hyeok. That guy's... dead?"
"...Yeah. Probably from your kick. Shoulda gone easy."
"...Sorry, Soo-hyeok."
"Nah, it's fine. Bound to happen. Scum like him deserves it anyway."
"Thanks, Soo-hyeok."
"Ahem."
Let's move past it.
"That Park Jun-tae manager. Brought gifts, seemed nice. But pulling this shady shit."
"Nah. Park Jun-tae's... not with Oh Jae-hyeon."
The whip guy muttered through his gloom.
"Faction?"
He gave the short version. TL;DR: This mess was stirred up by Executive Director Ju. Park Jun-tae was with Director Jin's side.
"Bottom line, we're Executive Director Ju's personal hunter team. Nothing to do with Park."
"So why'd your boss want bugs in our house?"
"Beats me."
"Why should I buy that?"
"...No reason. But why would I lie now? We're this deep."
"Ho."
"Whatever happens, we're dead meat. Boss won't let us walk. At least 'died on mission' saves face."
He hung his head in resignation. Couldn't help but chuckle.
Anyone'd think they botched some grand op.
"Face? Pfft. You hacks got any?"
"......"
Not like they'd get a statue. Just meant they'd avoid false charges making death look merciful.
"Fine, whatever. So let us go easy since we spilled?"
He nodded curtly.
"Hm."
Made sense. Seen plenty of faction infighting back in that monarchy world. Hero party slot caused plenty of it.
"Ah."
Then a fun idea hit.
Killing them now? Easy. But after?
Other world, no biggie. Here? 2023 Korea. Messy if word got out I'd killed anyone.
Especially by my hand.
"......"
I eyed Yelena silently.
Nah. Not her.
"Soo-hyeok. What were you just thinking?"
"Huh? Nothing."
"Felt creepy, Soo-hyeok."
"Sheesh. Nothing, I said."
Calm her down. If she got pinched for murder, Sujin'd be sad. And they started it.
"Ah."
A solid plan clicked.
"Hey. Name again...?"
"...Lee Sang-hoon."
"Sang-hoon. Let's do a job together."
"...What?"
He stared up, baffled. I grinned back.
* * *
"Sigh."
Sujin'd be home soon. Better avoid running into her. Fobbed her off vaguely.
"What'd Sujin say?"
"Not much."
"Good. Whew."
Squirt.
Yelena squirted mayo on her cup ramen. Made me wince.
"...That taste good?"
"My dad loved it like this."
"Always pulling the dad card."
"Wanna try, Soo-hyeok?"
"Pass."
Let her be. I turned back to the guys in the truck with us.
"You get it? What's next?"
"You're insane."
"Breaking into homes for hidden cams is crazier. Right, Sang-hoon?"
"Ugh..."
He flinched like a turtle, expecting a smack.
"T-Team leader? We really doing this?"
"...Dunno."
"Ugh."
Apparently, the dead guy had driven here. Now one of Sang-hoon's minions gripped the wheel.
Bump!
"Whoa!"
Rough driving—inexperienced. Yelena spilled a bit of ramen.
"This is your fault for wrecking my cup ramen."
"Ugh..."
"Wrecking? It's just dented."
Yelena gripped her chopsticks like a dagger, glaring at the driver.
"You bastard. Drive better. Won't miss next time."
"Y-Yes sir...!"
He nodded frantically. Yelena smirked, satisfied, and slurped more ramen.
Truck felt smoother now.
Squirt. Squirt.
"Ugh."
That mayo squeeeeze tho.
* * *
"Then we'll proceed as discussed. Farewell."
"Yes! Contact us anytime with questions."
"Sure."
Sujin exited the Overcheon Center after Park Jun-tae's polite bow.
From afar, eyes watched.
"Any contact?"
"Uh... checking."
Oh Jae-hyeon unlocked his phone anxiously. No response on the secure channel.
What? Trouble...?
"Ahem!"
Ju Ho-ryeong cleared his throat pointedly. Plenty of meaning there.
If shit hit the fan, he was out. Clean it up yourself.
"Just a moment, and it'll..."
"Hmph. How long?"
"Ugh..."
Couldn't end up as the sacrificial pawn. Not after clawing this far.
Chopping C-Team for security duty? Fine. But this?
These morons...!
Oh Jae-hyeon ground his teeth, dialing C-Team.
Then—
Crash!
A deafening clang drew eyes to the Overcheon Agricultural Center.
Thud!
"Wh-what?!"
Ju Ho-ryeong and Oh Jae-hyeon had ducked into the company cafe. Employees jumped, peering out windows.
"What's going on?"
Ju Ho-ryeong nodded from his plush sofa. Oh Jae-hyeon checked—then froze by the window.
"Hey. Oh Jae-hyeon. What is it?"
"Th-that...!"
"Tch."
Ju Ho-ryeong stood, annoyed. And saw—
"Kyaa!"
"Aaaah! What the hell is that?!"
A man with a grotesquely snapped neck sprawled over a wrecked car. Face familiar to both.
The installer sent to Park Soo-hyeok and Park Sujin's home that morning.
"Wh-why's that guy...?"
Ju Ho-ryeong muttered, then clamped his mouth shut.
"E-Executive Director...!"
"A-hem! Call security! And an ambulance!"
He switched to concerned stranger mode fast.
But Oh Jae-hyeon—
"That's not the issue!"
"You fool! What is?!"
"Executive Director!"
He pointed outside. Shattered windows on the tallest floor of Building A.
Fell from there, looked like.
Familiar spot. Especially to them.
The drop site: none other than Executive Director Ju Ho-ryeong's private office.
"What the actual fuck..."