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Chapter 86
The next day, we checked out of the hospital ward at 5 am.
Jung Garam had installed some surveillance skills in Bae Jaemin and Moon Issak’s rooms. According to him, Moon Issak must have been itching to go to the [Black Market]; he immediately checked out after dinner.
Seo Dawon, after hearing that, had said, “We’d better get out of here quickly as well. It’s not good to run into Bae Jaemin too often.”
“Um. Yeah.” So, I woke up Kim Sangyoon who was deep asleep and told him that we’d be leaving the hospital at dawn. We stayed up all night waiting for Bae Jaemin to fall asleep.
“I think he’s asleep. He’s completely stopped moving.” Jung Garam said.
At the Treasure Hunter’s signal, we hurried to the first-floor lobby. I was nervous, but, fortunately, we didn’t see Bae Jaemin.
“…..?”
However, unlike the first day we checked in, the annex was cluttered. It was dawn–the sun was yet to rise…Why were there so many people here compared to the first morning?
“We got your car on standby.” Just in time, a young hospital valet employee politely extended Kim Sangyoon’s care keys to the Warrior.
I asked him a question, as if I were entertaining a casual, passing thought. “It’s dawn, but it’s so crowded?”
“Ah, yes. There’s an event prepared in the afternoon.” The employee smiled and answered kindly at the sudden question. I nodded and didn’t ask any more questions.
Of course, it’s not like I trusted his answer. The facial expressions and actions of the Ahn Hospital employees who were rushing about didn’t seem like those that seem to be in a hurry to prepare for an event. Most of all, unlike before, no security guards were covering the small hallway next to the pool.
“Haaah…” I was not the only one to notice this strange sense of disharmony; Kim Sangyoon who bobbed his head silently while he was in the lobby as we were checking out sighed deeply as soon as the door to his car closed.
Then, with an anxious look on his face, he asked as if he was hanging onto me for dear life, “U-um. We aren’t going to get into trouble, are we? The atmosphere is a bit frightening…”
“It’s probably…not our fault?”
“Right? If we were caught, they wouldn’t cordially see us off like this.”
“Yeah…..”
Despite my reassurances, I was also similarly nervous. I looked at Seo Dawon sitting in the back through the rearview mirror.
Seo Dawon stared straight at me, already predicting that I would look towards him, and shook his head. He responded, reassuringly, “It’s probably because of Koo Hui-seo, but that incident can’t be traced back to us. So, don’t worry.”
“We divided and plotted an elaborate plan for that reason.” Jung Garam chimed in.
We drove quickly on the quiet road.
“If, by any chance, something happens, please contact me immediately.” Kim Sangyoon said as he patted my chest. We arrived in front of my home far sooner–the ride took far less time than it took to drive to the hospital. Judging by his words and attitude, he looked far more frightened than me; I had to appease him, saying everything would be fine.
***
Rrring–
“……Huh?”
As soon as I entered the home–after reassuring Kim Sangyoon and sending him off–my cell phone suddenly rang, surprising me.
I was a bit flustered–the caller was a strange number I did not recognize and I had no one intimate enough to call at this hour; suddenly, though, I remembered I gave my contact information to Koo Hui-seo. A bit doubtful, I took the call… “… Hello?”
[Did you get home safely?]
It really was Koo Hui-seo.
As soon as I heard his voice, I tried to hand over the phone to Seo Dawon.
However, Seo Dawon gestured as if he wanted me to be the one to receive the phone call. Noncommittally, I placed the receiver back on my cheek and continued, “Yes. I’ve arrived safely.”
[The conversation with Mother went well. She doesn’t seem to be suspicious of me, either.]
At the good news, I released a sigh and looked at Seo Dawon. He also nodded, as if he could hear the phone call well.
Then, Koo Hui-seo continued after a brief pause. [I’m supposed to meet my brother next week as well.] He said that after escaping from the war, Koo Kyungman contacted him first.
That younger brother did not show his face in front of him for two years as he rotted away in Ahn Hospital, but, after leaving the ward, he contacted him to say his greetings within two hours. Koo Hui-seo’s laughing voice seemed somehow hollow and eerie.
[He pretended to be so concerned about my health…so, I lied a little.]
“What kind of lie……?”
[I told him that my mother had released me since it wouldn’t be long before I died. When I said I wanted to see him at least once before he died, he tried hard to suppress his joy.]
I nodded–it was a pretty plausible lie. Originally, ‘Koo Hui-seo’ was someone that cared a great deal for his brother, so I thought that Koo Kyungman wouldn’t suspect him. “That’s a good plan.”
[Mother said she would be out of the house next Thursday, so that’s when he’d said he’ll come. And, this is my personal opinion…I don’t think Kyungman will come empty-handed that day.]
“Empty-handed?” I tried to read between the lines.
Koo Hui-seo continued without delay [He’ll definitely try to kill me through poison. He’s never been a patient child… After all, he would have no reason to hold doubts until time is up if he goes through with his scheme.]
Though I was stunned by his words, I didn’t show any outward signs of surprise. I looked at Seo Dawon, as if asking what we should do.
He answered without much hesitation, “He has a point. I guess we’ll have to prepare in advance.”
As if responding to Seo Dawon, Koo Hui-seo said, [So, I’m saying…Would Lee-kyung-nim like to visit that day as well? I don’t yet have many cards up my sleeve…Just in case I need help.]
Although it seemed like he needed Seo Dawon’s outstanding ability rather than me…Anyway, Seo Dawon nodded at his words. “I understand,” I replied to Koo Hui-seo.
* * *
“Long time no see.”
It was soon the D-day that Koo Hui-seo talked about.
Seo Dawon and I waited for night to fall and went to the designated address we were given.
There stood a large and luxurious mansion–not on the hub’s main street but at the outskirts. Koo Hui-seo appeared when we, after passing through ginormous gates, knocked on the door to the three-story mansion.
His complexion definitely looked more human than the last time we saw him, but he still looked quite thin. In addition to the cane he was holding, it didn’t seem like he was back to normal yet.
“About Seo Dawon-nim…” Koo Hui-seo said.
“He’ll join when Koo Kyungman arrives.”
“Ahh… I see.” Koo Hui-seo must have thought I came alone, but I had not yet summoned Seo Dawon because of the 30-minute limitation.
However, I couldn’t confess that restriction to Koo Hui-seo, so, keeping Seo Dawon in view, I nonchalantly asked, “What about Koo Kyungman?”
“He’ll be here soon; he already notified me that he departed from his home.”
Seo Dawon walked around the house, checking its interior; next to him, Jung Garam was doing the same. “What do you think about asking Koo Hui-seo for this house?” Jung Garam sat on a fancy sofa, tapping his feet on the ground. He didn’t seem to be paying close attention, but his slouched attitude only surfaced for a moment.
“I hear a car.” The treasure hunter lowered his voice, informing us of the outside situation. “He’s arrived.”
As Jung Garam said, the man exiting the car was Koo Kyungman
Koo Hui-seo checked the situation through an intercom screen. “You may wait here.” He said, opening a small door next to the living room and guiding me into the secret space.
There was an ingenious gap in the wall in the secret room through which you could see the entirety of the living room but still remain hidden from those within that room. It seemed to be a space designed for this purpose in the first place.
“The servant will guide Koo Kyungman around. There’s no fear of getting caught unless you make a loud noise, so please keep an eye on me from here.”
“All right.”
After our talk, Koo Hui-seo left the secret room; not long after his departure, the door to the living room opened.
As Koo Hui-seo had said, his brother followed a servant into the living room. Though I had never actually seen him with my own eyes, the man that appeared was not that different from how he looked in Seo Dawon’s memories. I felt a strong sense of repulsion as my insides writhed.
“You’ve come.”
“Hyung-nim.”
However, the rising disgust soon subsided. The door opened again and Koo Hui-seo entered, pushed in a wheelchair by another servant.
As soon as he saw Koo Hui-seo, Koo Kyungman jumped up and knelt at his brother’s feet, shedding tears. To a stranger, the sight would depict a perfect brotherhood.
TL: It’s been a while since we’ve had a bonus chap >.< Thanks What?Duck! for the kofi!
I’ve been translating a bit slower bc of PhD program applications~ Still, thank you for reading!