March Novel (Completed) - Chapter 18

“Get up.”

The man rose again, as if he had seen all sorts of strange things. Sehwa also stood up and leaned his upper body forward. Holding the knife that had torn the drug-filled plastic bag, the man slid his fingers into the gap of the patch. Still, perhaps because Gi Taejeong had pulled it like a leash several times before and it had been constantly exposed to water, the space easily opened. With a rustling sound, the patch fluttered to the floor.

The man stepped back with a rather exaggerated movement, as if appealing to Gi Taejeong that applying the knife was not his own will. Sehwa neatly adjusted the front of his gown, which had slightly parted as his body swayed. The man’s gaze also involuntarily followed, but it didn’t seem to be lustful. It was more like he was simply surprised to realize that Sehwa was wearing nothing under his gown. Just curious about what was so great about this body that he had done business with his superior.

The rest of the work could be done with his eyes closed. He leveled the glass plate, put gauze on his index finger, and dipped it into the plastic bag. Five different things were prepared. Sehwa bit the gauze to taste it, then replaced it with a new one and scooped the powder onto the glass plate. Sehwa decided to use only two of these. He mixed an appropriate amount, pushed it into a syringe, and poured saline solution inside. He tapped the cylinder with his finger to visually check the concentration and then extended his hand to the man.

“Roll up your sleeve.”

The man obediently rolled up his arm. Sehwa caressed his forearm, pretending to look for a spot to inject. As expected of a soldier, he was quite muscular. It was easy to find a vein, but if he pricked it wrong, the needle might bounce back. Normally, with opponents like this, it’s quicker to aim for the neck with a small syringe from the start.

“Is that all?”

Gi Taejeong, who had been watching from behind, finally broke the silence.

“No, not yet…”

“It seems you’ve only been teasing me by showing your body as if you would, then not.”

“I haven’t given the injection yet…”

“It’s different from what you told me? You said you ambushed and killed people.”

“Huh? I didn’t kill them all… And I clearly said it wasn’t even at the level of an ambush…”

“With you wiggling in front of them like that, do you think drug-crazed bastards would just sit still? Get in.”

Gi Taejeong clicked his tongue, and the man straightened his clothes and stepped away.

“Wait a moment.”

He couldn’t even wait a little longer… Sehwa grumbled inwardly again. He was usually good at hiding what he really wanted to say, but it seemed to get worse in front of Gi Taejeong.

“You have to take this back.”

When he took out the money from his pocket, the man snorted.

“You didn’t take the drug.”

“It’s fine.”

“Really? Well, the money… even if it’s for travel expenses.”

He slid the banknotes away with his thumb, revealing the card hidden inside. The man’s eyes widened as he was about to return to his seat.

“You’re not taking this? Whatever it is.”

The man’s hands fumbled noisily as he frantically pulled out his wallet and rummaged through it. Gi Taejeong’s eyes, which had been mocking Sehwa, narrowed.

“I told you from the beginning that I didn’t have any great skills.”

Sehwa scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed. But he also felt a little relieved. Although it didn’t seem to be a positive direction, Gi Taejeong seemed to be interested again.

He wanted Gi Taejeong to continue to find him interesting. The fate of a toy that loses its owner’s interest is only disposal. That was the future Sehwa wanted to avoid most. So he wanted Gi Taejeong to continue finding him interesting. And if that direction wasn’t sex, it would be even better.

“Give it back.”

It was a murderous voice that would have cursed him if Gi Taejeong hadn’t been there.

“No.”

“What?”

“If you want this back, bring more money next time, client. You know you can’t use cards here, so what’s 70,000 won, 70,000 won?”

At Sehwa’s annoying voice, the man swung his hand, as big as a pot lid. Seeing him act without Gi Taejeong’s permission, it seemed he felt it was a greater disgrace to have his card stolen by a mere Zone 4 lower-class citizen without even realizing it.

“If you keep doing this, I’ll call the…”

His wrist, which was holding the money, was instantly grabbed. Anyway, the sofa behind him blocked any escape. Sehwa’s body was pulled forward. The area below his knee, which hit the table hard, throbbed.

“I told you to give it back.”

“I told you to bring money?”

“I told you to give it back?”

His wrist felt like it would break. Gritting his teeth in the stinging pain, Sehwa raised his other hand. The man, who was about to tear the banknotes wrapped around the card and take out the card he was looking for, felt a shadow suddenly fall over him and casually turned his head. And then.

“This…!”

His eyes filled with bewilderment as he discovered the syringe in Sehwa’s hand, which had suddenly appeared right in front of his nose. It was more a kind of dumbfoundedness than shock, like, “Just this little thing?”

“I told you I’d call the…”

Aiming at the carotid artery and tilting the needle was instantaneous. The moment he pushed the plunger with his thumb, the man violently shook Sehwa’s hand away. The partially injected drug, blood droplets, and torn banknotes scattered in the air. The syringe, which had not fulfilled its purpose, rolled forlornly on the floor. Roll, roll. The object, making a vulgar sound as if teasing someone, stopped moving as if dead at Gi Taejeong’s feet.

“It’s like this…”

Sehwa stammered, unable to bear the terrible silence that followed the farce. Gi Taejeong watched him with an expressionless face, saying nothing. He seemed lost in thought, kicking the syringe, and the people standing behind him discreetly left. Sehwa visually checked the condition of the man he had just dealt with. He seemed a little weak, but since nothing was properly injected, there wouldn’t be a big problem.

“He’s Lieutenant Kim’s stooge.”

Gi Taejeong plopped down on the opposite sofa. Perhaps because of the cigar he had put back in his mouth, his softly whispered voice scattered like a hazy mist.

“He was someone I was going to deal with anyway, so don’t worry about him.”

“Then were those people… earlier… spies, I mean, stooges?”

“Those people?”

“The ones who said to do whatever, to my eyes or tongue…”

“Well. Think whatever you want.”

From his indifferent reply, Sehwa somehow read the answer. The men who had washed him seemed to have suffered misfortune for no reason, not even being spies.

“I don’t think you’re in a position to worry about those bastards right now.”

Gi Taejeong was examining the end of his half-smoked cigar. His slightly tilted chin, lowered eyelashes, the melancholic shadow falling from his forehead to the bridge of his nose… He somehow resembled a forgotten dynasty from long ago. Aristocratic, elegant, yet fallen, and therefore forever out of reach.

“What if there was nothing to steal? If there was nothing to threaten with?”

“Then I’d deliberately give them a stronger one. So they’d remember and come looking for more.”

“Without the client knowing?”

“Yes, secretly.”

Of course, a kiss or two was sometimes a casual occurrence during that process, but he wasn’t so tactless as to readily admit that to Gi Taejeong.

“Even if they came looking, you’d probably say you couldn’t match the drug’s quantity, and eventually make the client beg first.”

“…That’s right.”

“Wow. You were a scary one, baby.”

Sehwa kept fiddling with the end of the knot. Gi Taejeong seemed interested, but he couldn’t tell if the direction was positive or negative.

“Do it again.”

When he looked up, Gi Taejeong briefly gestured with his chin.

“That thing from earlier.”

Gi Taejeong rested his elbows on his spread knees, lowering his upper body. He interlaced his fingers and very seriously scanned the items on the table.

“Putting the drug in, putting the syringe away, and then taking it out. Do it again.”

Sehwa, who had been waiting for the appraisal or punishment that would fall upon him, nodded and rubbed his sweaty palms on the floor. Scooping powder with gauze, filling the syringe… hiding it behind his back, in his gown pocket, or in his hand, then taking it out…

“Again.”

It wasn’t difficult, as it was something he did every day, but he couldn’t understand why Gi Taejeong kept repeating the process.

“Can’t you go any faster?”

Fortunately, after repeating it several times, his tension completely eased, allowing him to work at a speed similar to when he worked alone. Gi Taejeong, who had been gauging the time, gave the same command again.

“Again. Faster.”