Chick 267

267

Chapter Final Request

Inside the special interrogation room of the Awakened Management Bureau.

Daniella, investigator of Interpol’s Awakened Division (ECTF), glanced at the one-way mirror affixed to the wall.

Surely, Jin Siwon and his team were observing the room from behind that mirror.

After all, seated opposite Daniella was Dr. Alex Von, a prominent figure from the underworld whom Jin Siwon had personally apprehended.

Daniella had hurried to Korea in search of the man Jin Siwon had nabbed at the airport.

He seemed quite uncomfortable in his handcuffs, rattling the chain as he tugged at it.

[“With those frail arms, it’s impossible for you to break them. Why not give it a rest?”]

At Daniella’s sardonic remark, he slammed his cuffed hands down on the table, clearly agitated.

[“Bastard.”]

Daniella paid his curse no mind and pressed on.

[“Did you come to Korea to avoid Amakusa Reiji?”]

[“Did I? Should I be honored that someone of Reiji’s stature is after me? But too bad. That’s not why I came to Korea.”]

[“Otherwise, you’d have no reason to travel all the way from Mexico to this distant country. Trying to preserve your pride, is that it?”]

[“Do you want to chat, or just piss me off?”]

Daniella smiled brightly.

[“Both. Reiji must’ve hunted you down like a rat, and yet here you are—alive and kicking. Congratulations.”]

She even gave an exaggerated round of applause, prompting Alex to press a hand dramatically to his chest.

[“How generous of you, Daniella. My eternal thanks for your charming concern.”]

Daniella let out a dry chuckle.

He acted unconcerned about Reiji, but now Alex was bouncing his leg.

Well, it was only natural to be nervous.

Had Amakusa Reiji ever failed an assignment?

He must have felt death breathing down his neck.

[“Reiji will be coming to find his prey.”]

Daniella spoke in an almost murmured tone, and Alex’s eyes flickered.

[“Ah, so the famous Daniella. Turns out it’s Reiji you’re curious about—not me.”]

At his next words, Daniella’s eyes went wide.

[“Didn’t they say your dear friend died at Reiji’s hands?”]

In a voice gone cold, Daniella replied,

[“…My friend is just missing, that’s all.”]

[“Really? You think someone like Reiji would simply make your friend conveniently disappear?”]

[“You seem to know more than you’re letting on. Until now, you acted as if you knew nothing.”]

[“Given that your dear friend and I once worked on the same laboratory project, it wasn’t hard to feign ignorance.”]

His quiet snicker made her lower her gaze.

Truthfully, Alex wasn’t wrong—Daniella had hurried to Korea to seek out Reiji’s whereabouts.

Officially, she claimed to be searching for her missing friend, but in her heart, she was ninety-nine percent sure that Reiji had killed them.

Daniella’s closest soul mate had been one of the researchers on “Project Wilderness.”

But that meant…

[“You know Reiji has been hunting down and killing every single researcher who worked on Project Wilderness, don’t you? And that you’re the last one.”]

[“Is that so?”]

Alex shrugged indifferently.

[“Did any of those fellow researchers contact you before they died?”]

[“Well, I can honestly say we weren’t close enough to keep in touch. That was years ago, after all…”]

Alex folded his arms, lost in thought.

Since On Ijo had entered the 90th floor, she hadn’t come back down the Tower, and the project had petered out—ultimately, a failure.

When the end approached, the researchers from Project Wilderness dispersed one by one.

With the sole aim of inheriting On Ijo’s power, elite researchers from various countries had joined; no doubt, each wanted to take the data and create something of their own.

He, for one, had no interest in that.

Ever since joining the project, Alex had secretly funneled its research files into the underground market.

On Ijo’s research files? He had sensed they would be lucrative.

And his hunch proved right.

Countless unfortunate souls suffered in the shadows as a result of the leaked files, but their fates meant nothing to him.

Once he’d accumulated enough off-the-books funds, and the researchers began to scatter with On Ijo’s absence, Alex plunged fully into the underworld.

He’d simply realized he loved money more than research.

He’d found his true calling at last.

Alex rubbed his wrist where the handcuffs chafed.

Just a little longer and he’d be rid of these cumbersome restraints, and of the cheeky Interpol investigator too.

Soon, his partners would come to break him out.

There were more than a few people who’d have a problem if he ever spilled all the information he possessed.

It wasn’t Korea’s Jin Siwon or Interpol’s Daniella he needed to be wary of.

It was Amakusa Reiji.

Annoyed, Alex stomped his foot against the table.

[“Hey. Aren’t we done yet? How about some food, at least? Gotta eat before I can talk.”]

[“Alex Von.”]

[“Food! Give me food! I’m starving!”]

Bang, bang, bang!

Running out of things to say, are we? Daniella folded her arms.

[“I’ll be back, Alex Von. Eat well, and take care of yourself. And try to keep your face hidden so Reiji doesn’t find you.”]

Gritting his teeth—audibly—Alex shot back.

[“Yes, Daniella. In the meantime, I hope you find your missing friend.”]

[“…”]

Daniella sprang to her feet.

Behind her echoed Alex’s scornful laughter.

Biting her lower lip, Daniella opened the door to the interrogation room.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Standing directly in front of the door was Jin Siwon, spectacles perched on his nose.

He greeted her with a relaxed smile, and Daniella adjusted her interpreter device, smiling back.

“Thank you for the cooperation from Korea’s Awakened Management Bureau, Chief Jin. But if I might ask—would it be alright if I made a few more visits in the future?”

There were still things she wanted to inquire about, and she had a strong feeling that Reiji would come to Korea to find Alex.

If she wanted to confront Reiji, she had to stay in Korea, and for that, a convincing reason was needed.

Continuing the interrogation of Alex was a perfectly suitable excuse for her superiors.

Jin Siwon responded gently, as if reading her mind.

“As long as the only request is not to force my team out so the two of you can talk alone, you’re welcome anytime.”

“As the one seeking your kindness, I could never ask for that.”

Though the personal aspects of the case made public interrogation uncomfortable, she was still the guest requesting assistance from Korea.

Daniella managed a wry smile.

It was then—

“Ah, Investigator, please hold on a moment.”

Jin Siwon, as if spotting someone, brightened, and moved around behind Daniella.

“Guild Leader On!”

Guild Leader On? Really? Daniella turned and her eyes widened.

‘On Joorim?!’

The height, the striking looks, the glove on his left hand.

It was the very On Joorim she’d only seen through screens.

Daniella stared in awe as On Joorim greeted Jin Siwon without reservation.

‘Are they close?’

Even after defecting to Korea, she hadn’t expected the two to have any connection, given the vastly different lines of work.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the two as they spoke so familiarly.

It was that On Joorim.

A legend of the Tower. The undisputed strongest at present.

Despite the ever-present rumors, as an Awakened, he was someone to admire—and someone who piqued her curiosity even personally.

‘Maybe I should say hello.’

Daniella was debating whether to approach On Joorim when—

“Here, take this.”

Jin Siwon was handing On Joorim a mascot costume set.

On Joorim accepted it, staring daggers at Jin Siwon, face clouded with displeasure.

It was the Awakened Bureau’s tiger mascot outfit.

The main distinguishing feature was that, like something Groo would make, it was hideous.

“Is this really all you’ve got?”

“Oh, then you’re welcome to check the costume room. The rest are pretty much the same, though.”

On Joorim looked as if he’d love nothing more than to land a punch on Jin Siwon’s mild-mannered face.

“…Fine. This will do.”

With a sigh of annoyance, On Joorim began changing into the ugly tiger costume.

Stunned, Daniella’s jaw dropped open at the sight.

Even in America, On Joorim’s infamous temper was common knowledge.

‘On Joorim… that On Joorim… why on earth is he putting on a mascot suit?’