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The message of a wandering ghost behaving politely in someone else’s house. For some reason, that phrase stuck in my mind. Was it because of the wandering ghost? I had an ominous feeling. I regretted not stopping Lee to ask him before he chased after the guy, and then it occurred to me that Lee might have pretended to chase him just to get away from me.
After the engagement party ended and all the guests had left, I did a final security check and returned to my room. Come to think of it, this was the first night I’d be sleeping in this room. After being in a house that seemed like it belonged in an ancient Asian country all this time, seeing Sebastian with his blonde hair and blue eyes in this perfectly modern, albeit luxurious, house was quite a novel experience.
Why did you indulge in such Oriental fetishism all this time?
Because of ‘Lee Shin-yeon’?
I figured there must be more to it than that. Sebastian is the type to love passionately. There’s only one chair in his heart. The moment he placed me in that chair in his heart, he erased Lee Shin-yeon. His attitude was unwaveringly resolute.
“Some male prostitute told me to relay a message to you.”
“Male prostitute? Someone with that profession came to our engagement party?”
His words conveyed pure curiosity rather than displeasure at such a person attending the engagement party. As if wondering, ‘How did someone with that job get an invitation to our engagement party?’ I continued without mentioning Lee’s name, who I assumed had accompanied the guy.
“He said there’s a message from a wandering ghost. Said he’d come at midnight the day after tomorrow.”
“A wandering ghost…”
Sebastian chuckled. He seemed to immediately recognize who the wandering ghost was. He shook his head, and based on his reaction, Kouri clicked his tongue, saying, “They’re really something.” Why did everyone seem to recognize this wandering ghost so easily? What was it?
When I stared at Kouri, he explained:
“It’s a famous line from the Communist Manifesto. ‘A specter is haunting Europe — the specter of communism.’ So, it means it’s a messenger from the Canaris group.”
Well, damn.
I was impressed. The guy was quite something. If I had understood that there, I would have broken his limbs. There’s no way I would have let a messenger from the group that ambushed my engagement party leave unscathed. He knew that.
Being a real freelancer isn’t for just anyone, I tell you.
Next time I meet him, I’ll have to split his lips before he can open his mouth to play tricks.
As I quietly tucked away the cruel thoughts I couldn’t show Sebastian deep in my gut, Kouri spoke:
“In any case, it’s now certain. Canaris has split.”
“Yes, not only has it split, but the division has become apparent. His control has crumbled, and the need for internal reorganization has emerged if he wants to exert influence. So he will definitely come in.”
Sebastian’s expression sharpened. I could tell by instinct, even if I couldn’t explain it logically. Everything Sebastian had done regarding Canaris until now was to draw ‘him’ in. Why didn’t he tell me who he was? The reason was understandable. Because I couldn’t keep that secret. Not because I have a loose tongue, but because I’m likely to fall for leading questions. Yeah, I know what that is. I’ve seen my team members fall for my interrogation techniques multiple times. They didn’t betray us. They just lacked the discernment to understand what the other person intended with their questions.
“There shouldn’t be any more dangerous situations. We’ll do our best, but using Riegel as bait to set a trap is still dangerous.”
What did I just hear?
Sebastian used what as bait to set a trap?
“We’ve never even caught a shadow of the guy who’s been evading us all this time, let alone his tail. Being overly cautious won’t get us anywhere. Don’t worry about me. I have you all, and most importantly…”
Sebastian’s eyes turned to me. Those eyes were filled with intense trust and affection.
“I have Armin.”
His eyes, saying he would be safe, showed not even a hint of doubt.
That’s when my mind started working.
Did Sebastian really gather my enemies here without knowing anything? That can’t be. He has set up some kind of plan. Even at this moment, I can’t see into Sebastian’s mind, so I don’t know why he needed the bastards who want to kill me for this plan. But Sebastian gathered them because he needed them. And Sebastian deliberately held the engagement party at this mansion, brought in the security bureau, and poured in enormous security personnel. He knew. That Canaris had split, and that the Dagoba side was trying to kill him.
At that moment, I understood what it means to snap. My body moved on its own.
“Schnieke!”
Someone screamed. Was it Kouri? Or maybe the second one? Well, it doesn’t matter. I accurately reached Sebastian and held a knife to his neck. Sebastian blinked slowly, seemingly surprised by my speed. He didn’t seem to have expected me to do this, nor this speed. Seeing him with the most stupid expression I’d seen since I met him, I felt my anger boiling over.
“You used yourself as bait?”
“It’s not like that,”
“Answer me straight. Is that what it is? Don’t think about deflecting.”
I pressed the blade closer to Sebastian’s neck. As a small cut appeared, Sebastian seemed to realize I was serious and sighed, “Haa.”
“It was the only way to draw Canaris in. I’m not trying to use you or deceive you,”
“I know. That’s not why I’m angry, Sebastian.”
I don’t care if you use me or deceive me. I might feel bad about it at the time. But that’s something that can be overcome with your apology and my forgiveness. But.
“Do you think you can control every situation?”
You can’t stake your own life.
“How long do you think it would take me to end your life? No, not just me, anyone in this room could easily take your life. Do you really think you can control all these things, all these people?”
I was so angry I almost cried. Yet strangely, my voice came out cold.
“You can’t know everything or prepare for every situation. You need to be a bit more humble.”
I’m not sure how I’m looking at Sebastian. I hope it’s not with contempt. Because I don’t contempt him.
I threw the knife at the youngest who was trying to sneak up behind me. As he dodged, the knife stuck in the wall. I don’t want to say anything to the youngest. It’s commendable that he tried to do something when his employer’s life was threatened. Of course, in a real situation like this, needlessly provoking the hostage-taker would only make things worse, so later the youngest will probably get an earful from Kouri.
“Don’t follow me.”
I roughly pushed Sebastian away and left the room. I felt disgusted.
I need a drink. I really didn’t think I could stay sane today.
I knew Sebastian was trying to get revenge. But how could I have known he’d stake his own life instead of solving it with his brains and money? The most annoying thing is that even in this situation, I’m worried about myself thinking, ‘Shit, what if I rolled my eyes wrong earlier? I hope it didn’t look like contempt.’ I don’t like myself for this, but what can I do if I don’t want Sebastian to get hurt?
I called a taxi from Sebastian’s house and asked to go downtown, but when I got off, I didn’t know where to go. Thinking about what was in this neighborhood, I realized. There was one guy I knew living in this area. And that bastard’s house has an insane amount of alcohol.
I went to that house and rang the bell like crazy until someone finally burst out from inside.
“Ah, fuck, who the—”
Lee, who had burst out, stopped with an “Oh” and stepped back. This bastard, why are you subtly undressed? It’s only 6 PM, why are you half-naked? While I was thinking this was weird, the bedroom door behind Lee opened and a smug face appeared. Ah, isn’t that the freelancer bastard who was talking about ghosts? Why is this guy in his underwear too?
I guess they really are that kind of relationship. Lee, either embarrassed or a bit annoyed at having his privacy invaded, glared at me.
“You usually call before coming, why…”
I stepped inside and closed the front door. I still remember getting reported for noise at Layer’s house. Of course, it would be much louder with the front door open.
“What’s your relationship with that bastard?”
When I asked bluntly, Lee’s eyes darted anxiously.
“Huh? Well, um… I guess we’re more than friends but there’s some skinship involved?”
“Really? Then I guess you won’t miss him much if he disappears from your life?”
You don’t expect someone who acted as a messenger for the group that attacked my engagement party to stay alive, do you? Well, if everything we wished for came true, I’d wish for all those Canaris bastards to be dead too.
When my fingers made a cracking sound, Lee flinched and grabbed me. When I glanced down at him, he smiled brightly.
“You came to drink, right? I have a lot of good alcohol.”
“Why are you calling yourself ‘hyung’?”
“Don’t worry about such trivial things.”
“Okay, forget that, I just want to deal with that bastard—”
“He’s just like a waiter. Ignore him and talk to me. You came to my house, right? Let’s be polite, Armin.”
I wanted to tell him to let go, but Lee wouldn’t release me. Then he shouted, “Waiter, what are you doing? Set up the drinks, quickly!” The guy looked a bit annoyed. Just as he was about to curse, I turned to look at him. If he cursed, proving he wasn’t a waiter, I was ready to start by smashing his face into the wall. However, as soon as he saw my face, something seemed to occur to him and he smiled broadly, saying, “Yes, customer, please wait,” before quickly retreating into the room.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
