62
Life is Always Full of Variables
Of course, I didn’t know where Layer’s house was. To me, Otto Layer was just a superior with a seemingly nice face but a bad personality, with vulgar tastes and a habit of shouting frequently. However, I had Sebastian, or more precisely, Sebastian ‘Riegel’. The one whose name is synonymous with money in Rotman, even more so than a black card. A wealthy man who could move from an enormous mansion to an even bigger one just because he felt like “getting rid of his Oriental taste.”
Sebastian’s money was truly impressive. It took only two hours to find out where Layer lived. As I clapped my hands in admiration of the power of money, Sebastian looked at me as if I were the most trivial thing in the world.
“I asked the Security Bureau.”
“Huh?”
“If I say I’m going to stir up their spy, wouldn’t they give me an address?”
Ah, right.
They can’t do it themselves, but I can. And if I’m going to do something they can’t, of course they’d be willing to give out an address.
Ah, I didn’t think of that. I’ve been so resentful of the company lately that my mind didn’t go in that direction.
“You still need to grow more,” Sebastian clicked his tongue and patted my head.
Hey, why are you treating me like a country bumpkin?
As I tried to swat his hand away, Sebastian smoothly avoided it.
Avoid? You jerk, I might not be able to keep up with you mentally, but physically… Oh!
I reached out, and Sebastian dodged. In that moment, I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him towards me. Seeing his blue eyes widen was an unexpected pleasure. I was about to lay him down on the carpet and climb on top when Kouri burst out laughing.
Ah, right, that guy was here.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been hanging out with this chaebol’s son lately, but I keep forgetting to mind other people’s presence. That doesn’t seem good.
I awkwardly got up and moved away from Sebastian, who asked, “Why?” There was even a hint of expectation in his question about why I didn’t continue. This kind of thing really proves he’s a pervert.
Kouri waved his hand at me, gesturing to continue, but how could I? I slowly backed away a few steps from Sebastian. I needed to get ready anyway. I was already wearing the uniform of the cleaning company that services Layer’s building, and I put on the cap that was on the table. It looked like a new uniform, but I had no idea where they got it from.
“They say everything has its rightful owner in this world,” Kouri said. He had offered to come with me, but I refused. I didn’t want many people involved in this. I alone was enough. So he was in his usual suit.
“Yeah, I never thought I’d end up like this either.”
Liking someone, getting engaged (semi-forcibly), and then probably getting married. I never thought this would happen. I never imagined I’d be thinking about marrying someone, let alone that it would be a man, and I certainly never dared to dream that I’d be looking towards the future with that person.
“Mrs. Riegel is very happy that Mr. Riegel has found his match. I suppose anyone who cares for Mr. Riegel would feel the same.”
Kouri didn’t say thank you explicitly, but his tone conveyed a sense of gratitude. I thought he meant I had found my match… Well, I guess we both have. I wonder if Sebastian ever imagined he’d end up with a civil servant who’s not so smart but good with his body? Moreover, an Asian, of the same sex, whose father is a priest? Not a chance.
Marriage…
I hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“I guess I’m lucky in love.”
I think it was the first time I sincerely used the word ‘lover’. I usually don’t like this word. It seemed too limiting of a relationship to use for Sebastian. A relationship that ends when you break up? If it had to be defined like that, I’d rather just call it FWB, friends with benefits. Friends don’t usually cut ties completely. Even if they grow apart, they can always become close again – that’s the versatility of the name ‘friend’.
But Sebastian was saying he wanted to become family. Family is different. Family is forever. Well, spouses can become strangers after divorce, but they still remain an endless tag in each other’s lives. It’s difficult to become complete strangers.
So now I can call Sebastian my lover. The hesitation just now was simply because I felt a bit shy.
Sebastian reached out his hand to me. When I took it, he pulled me sharply. But I didn’t let myself be pulled. Instead, I used the opposite force to pull Sebastian up. He got up with a dissatisfied look on his face, as if he had wanted to roll around holding me.
“Finally hearing you say ‘lover’.”
Sebastian seemed to have known that I didn’t particularly like that word. I thought he would know. He’s thorough when it comes to things about me.
“I prefer family.”
I like things that are eternal. I want something simple rather than someone who tells you to risk your life as a colleague and then plots something else behind your back. Family is family no matter what they do.
When I said this, my father just smiled bitterly without saying anything. I know too, that there are families worse than strangers. That family is just blood-related strangers in the end.
But still, to me, family feels like an immutable value. Yes, in the Security Bureau they call a guide rope the Holy Grail, but to me, family is like the Holy Grail.
Sebastian adjusted my clothes. Even though it was a garbage disposal company uniform, he carefully smoothed out the collar and creases as if it were a suit, and replied.
“I like family too. I like blood-related family, and I like family tied by sex, love, promises, and fate. But let me give you one warning at this point, Armin.”
Ah, but between family members…
Tap, tap, Sebastian patted my shoulders and smiled kindly.
“If you say something like ‘family members don’t have sex’, I’ll really make you cry this time? You think I’ve been tolerating you all this time for you to spout such nonsense? Got it?”
I was just about to say that. I shut my mouth tight and just opened my eyes wide. Sebastian’s eyes weren’t smiling at all. Seeing the shiny sincerity filling those eyes, I nodded unconditionally.
Otto Layer’s house was in a well-secured apartment. But one of the characteristics of such apartments is that they can’t thoroughly check every service company that comes and goes.
“Hello, they called from the 38th floor. They say there’s a smell coming from the garbage collection area.”
“Again?”
“Yes. Have a good day.”
In the early morning, the drowsy security guard let me in without even looking at me.
One of the features of this apartment was the introduction of an automatic garbage collection facility, but the problem was that it started breaking down frequently after about 20 years. Back then, when the country’s name changed from Blaiberg to Rotman, even during those turbulent times when the world was in chaos and unrest, construction companies were building apartments in one corner. And they believed that by the time the apartments were completed, new rich people would appear to buy expensive apartments, and that gamble paid off. This apartment was one of those, and as such, it had made a name for itself as a so-called ‘expensive apartment’. But since it’s actually a 20-year-old apartment, the interior is quite worn out, so people who move in all renovate before using it.
The fact that Layer deliberately moved to such an apartment probably means he wanted to brag about living here, mentioning the apartment’s name. He’s really quite a snob. Moreover, this apartment has 38 floors. In other words, Layer was living on the top floor.
The method of picking the front door lock is quite simple. There are ways to do it with one wire, ways with two wires, they’re all different, but there’s always a way to pick these electronic locks in such houses. Surprisingly, most people don’t disable the master key. Would Layer have disabled it? He’s a Security Bureau agent after all.
Ding, the door opened.
Right, of course he wouldn’t have disabled it. It’s a mistake to think that everyone in the Security Bureau is meticulous about security and good with machines. Layer’s brain works well, but he’s actually bad with machines. I don’t understand why he’s interested in yachts. Can he even handle a yacht? As far as I know, he can barely drive a car.
I walked in slowly. I didn’t even think about hiding my face. Hiding your face is something done by someone who wants to protect themselves, and I’m Armin Schnieke burning with revenge right now, so there’s no need for that.
Phew—hah.
Phew—hah.
Otto Layer was sleeping in the bedroom. Next to him, wearing silk pajamas, a woman was trembling, tied up…
Wait, who is that person? Why are they here? What’s going on? Is this Layer’s lover?
The situation has taken an unexpected turn. I had thought about gunshots, fights, even bombs, but I hadn’t expected to find a woman in a slip trembling. And she’s even tied up with rope? Rope? What’s with the rope in the 21st century? What is this?
The smell of perversion was overwhelming.
This, I’m not sure about.
I have no idea if this is a situation I can handle.
As I was trying to quietly back away, at that moment, my eyes met with the woman’s. To her, I probably look like a thief or a robber? Just as I felt a sense of doom…
“Help me!” she shouted.
What? This is even forced?!
Startled, I ran to her. Layer, perhaps having drunk alcohol, was groggily trying to get up. In the meantime, I quickly cut the rope binding the woman with the knife I was holding and scooped her up. As I quickly stepped back, Layer’s hand barely grazed the hem of her slip.
“Shit!”
What’s he saying? Why is he cursing? He must be crazy.
Honestly, this was more shocking than Layer being a Canaris spy.
“I’ll show you today, just you wait, I’ll kill…”
He probably meant to say “I’ll kill you,” but this time what he discovered was me, holding the woman. Layer’s eyes met mine and he blinked slowly. As if trying to gauge whether this was reality or a dream.
“Chief, are you crazy?”
This wasn’t my plan. I was supposed to appear silently, hold a knife to the sleeping Layer’s throat, and whisper softly, like the grim reaper, to provoke him. To touch on his fear and see how Canaris would react… That’s what I was going to do, but instead, only a shrill scream came out of my mouth.
“Are you crazy?! Who is this woman?!”
“That, that man tied me up! He, he invited me to his house after a date, and when we were, you know, doing that, he suddenly tied me up!”
“Wow, shit, that’s disgusting! And then?! Was it rape?!”
“And then he passed out and slept by himself! He’s insane!”
He tied her up… and slept?
This is weird, it’s disgusting. I don’t know, I’m scared.
I couldn’t put the woman down. She was clinging tightly to me. The house looked somehow dirty, and it felt wrong to put her down in just her slip. We stuck together like one body and slowly backed away. Instead of instilling fear, I was more scared.
“Hey, Schnieke. Wait, let’s talk, ah, my head’s not working. Wait,”
As the guy approached us, speaking in a hoarse voice, the woman and I screamed simultaneously.
