LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 79
Episode 79
“Thank you for the meal.”
After courteously greeting the lady at the restaurant, Jeong Ah promptly headed towards the changing room.
By this time, most of the day shift staff had already clocked out, and the night shift personnel had just started their duties, leaving the detention center rather quiet.
She lived alone near the Seoul Detention Center.
To save on food expenses, she usually had her dinners taken care of within the detention center itself.
This habit often resulted in her staying back an hour later than usual.
After changing her clothes in the changing room, she stepped outside to find it had already grown dark.
With winter settling in, the days were short.
She walked slowly down the sloping road outside the External Gate.
The atmosphere in the Seoul Detention Center had not been good since the escape of death row inmate Kang Tae-eun.
With staff being rotated on search duty for Kang Tae-eun, the remaining personnel showed obvious signs of fatigue due to their workload.
It had been a while since they had any official gathering.
Rumors circulated that something terrible had happened following Kang Tae-eun’s escape.
She shook her head, trying to shake off thoughts of Kang Tae-eun.
Thinking about such a person after work only served to tire her out.
Click-clack.
As usual, she headed towards the bus stop.
Though it wasn’t usually a crowded area, today, the street was eerily empty.
A flickering streetlight, still broken, blinked erratically in a disorienting manner.
As she pondered submitting a complaint to the Uiwang City Hall, she suddenly felt an odd sense of unease.
Without realizing it, she stopped in her tracks.
She gazed at a large ginkgo tree to her left.
It was a tree that had always been there.
Nothing had changed.
So why did it feel so strange?
For a brief moment, she stood there, staring intently at the tree.
But she couldn’t decipher the reason behind her feelings.
Ultimately, she resumed walking.
Just as she found herself lost in thoughts about why she felt that way…
“What a sharp lady.”
Suddenly, a voice echoed in her ear.
Startled, she turned around.
But there was nothing there.
No sign of anyone, not even a trace.
Only empty air surrounded her.
Goosebumps prickled her skin.
This wasn’t a dream.
It wasn’t an illusion.
That voice was real.
It was definitely real.
With a terrified expression, she turned and began to run.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s fun when the prey struggles.”
The voice came again.
This time, she didn’t even dare to look back and kept running.
A person.
She saw someone in the distance.
Help.
She had to call for help.
“No, no.”
“Ugh!”
She felt something invisible covering her mouth.
She thrashed about, but it was as if she were bound by an unyielding force.
“Do you know the Blood Point Technique? It’s a great technique for disobedient cats.”
Thud.
A sharp pain stabbed at her lower back, and she lost consciousness.
◈ ◈ ◈
“Uh… isn’t this place expensive?”
Kang Baek mumbled, a bit intimidated by the luxurious decor of the restaurant.
He typically didn’t dine in expensive places like this due to his lifestyle.
They had come to an agreement to take a drive without a destination and decided to relax at Seoul Grand Park while spending some time there.
Eventually, they had entered the direction of Baekun Lake for dinner.
“Well, it is a bit pricey for an average public worker.”
Si-hyun said as he opened the menu.
“But how do you know about such a place?”
“I’ve come here a few times with my ex-girlfriend.”
“Just with your ex? I bet your current girlfriend would be upset to hear that.”
“Hey, I’ve told you I don’t have a girlfriend right now!”
“Sure, sure.”
“….”
Si-hyun flipped through the menu with a look of disbelief.
“I’ll have the Hanwoo beef tenderloin steak. What about you?”
“Uh, I’ll have the same.”
“Medium?”
“Y-yeah….”
“Need some wine?”
“You have to drive, right?”
“I can’t drink. You can.”
“I won’t drink either.”
“Okay.”
Si-hyun placed the order.
A little while later, soup and bread arrived at the table first.
As Si-hyun broke the bread, he said, “Eat up.”
“Huh?”
“I’m paying, so eat as much as you want.”
“Wha– no, hyung. Why would you embarrass me like this? You should definitely go Dutch.”
“I earn more money than you. I have several years of seniority.”
He omitted the talk about the raid for now.
“Still….”
“Alright, alright. I don’t always pay; it’s just this one time, so don’t feel too burdened.”
“If you say so… then I’ll eat well. This bread is delicious.”
Kang Baek broke the bread in half and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing with delight on his face.
He quickly finished off the rest of the bread in just a few chews, swallowing it down.
“…yeah, yeah. Eat well.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Should I ask for more bread?”
“Yes, yes.”
“Could we get some more bread here, please?”
Slurp.
Kang Baek polished off the soup in the blink of an eye like it was an appetizer.
“Hyung, I’m going to the restroom.”
“Yeah, ah, but can I order some wine? I suddenly feel like having a drink while eating….”
“Oh, sure. Do as you wish. You can order something expensive, so pick anything.”
“Thanks!”
Kang Baek’s eyes lit up as he examined the menu.
Seeing this, Si-hyun chuckled softly and stood up.
As he passed between tables on his way to the restroom, he suddenly spotted a familiar warning sign for the first time in a while.
A warning sign.
[Warning: An extremely notorious individual has been detected nearby.]
Unknowingly, Si-hyun hesitated.
…Extremely?
What qualifies as C-Class?
Decent would be B-Class.
The worst would be S-Class.
So, extremely must be A-Class?
That was the only conclusion he could come to.
If it were just A-Class, he might have found it curious but wouldn’t have thought much of it.
But it just had to be a notorious figure.
In his past experiences, he had never encountered a notorious person without getting entangled somehow.
And those entanglements had mostly been of the worst kind.
[Warning: It is advised to check the information on that individual.]
Of course, another message popped up, suggesting he check for information.
Si-hyun stole a glance at the person indicated by the message.
It was a man who appeared to be in his 40s.
The vibe he emanated was sharp, like a blade.
As if someone had forcibly chiseled his face.
Si-hyun made his way to the restroom first.
Staying put for too long would draw attention.
Fortunately, it seemed the man was unaware of Si-hyun’s presence.
After using the restroom, Si-hyun intentionally walked slowly.
This allowed him to check the information rapidly.
As soon as he entered a range where he could confirm the information, Si-hyun quickly scrolled down to read.
[Exceptional Assassin]
Name: Black Moon (흑월)
Gender: Male
Occupation: Assassin
Renown: Renowned
[Bounty]
The Arm of the Black Cross – Black Moon is a member and arm of the infamous assassin organization, Black Cross, on the Reiter Continent. He is one of the ten elite assassins possessed by the Black Cross, having perfectly handled numerous demanding contracts.
– Affinity for Darkness: All stats increase by 240% in dark places, and the efficiency of all skills increases by 60%.
– The Arm of the Black Cross is referred to by a nickname assigned by the organization rather than by their name.
– The Arm of the Black Cross cannot refuse the organization’s orders.
[Stats]
Strength 614 (B)
Agility 889 (A)
Wisdom 437 (C)
Stamina 756 (A)
Mental Strength 822 (A)
Magic Power 753 (A)
‘Black Cross, huh?’
Another Black Cross?
Damn it.
It was hard to hold back the foul language.
What the hell is wrong with these people that they can’t leave him alone?
Rubbing his temples as if his head hurt, Si-hyun returned to the table.
Was he going to get involved again this time?
He hoped not, but based on his past experiences, the chances were high.
What on earth was their purpose this time…?
If the other party had hostility against him, it would be a real headache.
It wasn’t just C-Class; it was A-Class.
Having met Cheonbyeon, who was S-Class, he had been lucky enough to bypass it, but there was no guarantee he could do that now.
If it wasn’t just hostility but intent to kill, it could truly mean the end of life.
“Hyung, the steak is here. Let’s eat.”
Oblivious to the situation, Kang Baek spoke with a cheerful expression.
“Ah, yeah. I should’ve eaten earlier.”
“Hey, no way you eat the main dish first, hyung. Come on, sit down quickly.”
“Yeah.”
Si-hyun sat down and took out a notepad and pen.
It was something he always carried around as a habit from his days as a correctional officer.
“What do you think about this?”
As Si-hyun wrote something in the notepad with a curious expression, he said.
– That guy in white clothes behind to the left, let me know as soon as he gets up.
That was what he had written in the notepad.
He intended to convey his thoughts through writing instead of speaking directly.
He knew just how sensitive an advanced Awakened Being’s senses could be from experience.
That’s why he chose a different medium to communicate.
“…Ah, okay. I think it’s decent.”
Seeing the contents noted down, Kang Baek caught on and played along.
“Really? Then that’s a relief.”
Si-hyun took back his notepad.
Then he picked up his knife.
“Alright, let’s eat well.”
◈ ◈ ◈
He couldn’t fully concentrate on the meal.
The Black Cross man behind him was bothering his mind.
Kang Baek, unlike moments before, was eating with an awkward demeanor.
Fortunately, the man didn’t seem to be paying any attention to them.
Still, Si-hyun couldn’t relax until that man completely left the table.
And there was something weighing on his mind.
He couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.
Halfway through the steak, Kang Baek’s expression shifted a bit.
“How’s work going?”
Work?
He could guess what that meant.
He’s up.
Si-hyun quietly set down his fork and knife and reached for his cup of water.
Seeing this, Kang Baek also subtly lowered his utensils.
Si-hyun could tell that he was on the verge of standing up.
“It’s getting easier now.”
He answered, taking a sip of water.
“Ah, I see.”
Kang Baek also wet his lips with water.
“Um… have you finished eating?”
“Yeah, I’m full.”
“I’m also full. I think I might have eaten too much bread earlier.”
“Then shall we get going soon?”
“Yeah, let’s.”
“I’ll take care of the bill.”
Si-hyun picked up the check and stood up first.
While doing so, he casually glanced around the establishment.
He caught sight of the man descending the stairs.
It was odd.
Clearly a member of the Black Cross, yet he showed no interest in them here.
This was different from before.
It was as if he didn’t realize who Si-hyun was.
Si-hyun checked the bill while peering out the window.
The man was heading toward the parking lot.
He clicked his car key from a distance, and one of the parked vehicles lit up.
Si-hyun quickly confirmed the model.
It was a black mid-sized sedan, a Cadillac.
Fortunately, it wasn’t one of those ubiquitous domestic cars, making it easier to identify from afar.
“Let’s hurry.”
Si-hyun urged Kang Baek.
He intended to follow the man.
He didn’t know why he felt this way.
He understood it could be a dangerous situation.
But something about it gnawed at him, and he couldn’t just ignore it.
He wanted to know where he was going.
“Got it, hyung.”
Kang Baek replied without hesitation.
He was also very curious about why Si-hyun suddenly acted this way after spotting the man.
However, he recognized that now wasn’t the time to ask.
He had enough sense to know that.
Kang Baek couldn’t hide the curious look on his face as he followed Si-hyun down the stairs.
The man was already sitting in the driver’s seat, starting the engine.
Si-hyun quickened his pace.
If they fell further behind, they wouldn’t be able to track him.
“Get in quickly.”
As the man’s car was about halfway out of the parking lot, Si-hyun and Kang Baek jumped into theirs.
Si-hyun hastily started the engine.
“Let’s go.”