“A few days ago, I finished the beer you sent me. It was really good.”

Jeong Taeui remembered the purpose of the call and greeted the person. Kyle responded cheerfully.

[“Oh, that’s right. I’m glad to hear you liked it. That beer was one that Changin happened to try and enjoy when he visited Germany a long time ago.”]

“Uncle Changin?”

[“Yes. Speaking of which, it won’t be long before your uncle and your brother arrive in Frankfurt. No. Perhaps in about ten days? Or maybe even less?”]

If it was only about ten days or less, it wouldn’t be too far off from the day the succession decision was made.

However, Jeong Taeui – who had given up on Frankfurt – responded indifferently: “That’s right.”

[“If you’d like, I can send you more beer. James is currently in that area.”]

“Yes, that would be great.”

Jeong Taeui thought for a second, then smiled brightly and agreed. He then remembered something and added,

“Oh, if you send me beer, could you also send me the cheapest 500ml bottle of water?”

[“Bottled water? 500ml? The cheapest kind?”]

Kyle repeated the unexpected and confusing request in surprise. Jeong Taeui glanced around the room which was empty of Ilay and continued,

“When you sent me the beer, Ilay grumbled that he didn’t even get a cheap 500ml bottle of water.”

[“What? That guy never sends me anything, not even a 10-cent euro candy! He’s always only thinking about giving gifts to you, Taei!”]

Kyle immediately grew angry.

“Haha, that guy is a bit stingy.” 

Jeong Taeui smiled and reassured Kyle by mentioning that Ilay was the type who would chase someone with an anti-tank gun just because they slapped him and ran away. Kyle then agreed enthusiastically and continued bad-mouthing his younger brother.

Jeong Taeui thought – ‘These two brothers, really……’ – before politely responding to Kyle and ending the call.

Hearing his voice for the first time brought back memories of Berlin, making Jeong Taeui feel a little better. The thought that he would be back there soon made him even happier.

He lazily lay down on the bed and rolled back and forth. He buried his face into the soft blanket and stretched out, his hand touching the floor. The soft carpet under the bed tickled his fingers.

As he slowly rubbed his hand on the carpet and engrossed in playing with the floor, he suddenly felt his hand touch something hard and cold.

“……?”

Jeong Taeui, lying on his stomach, fumbled under the bed. The sensation of something hard and smooth, like a box…… flat and quite large.

“Hmm……? Under this bed is a clothing box…… but it doesn’t look like one and it doesn’t feel like it should be stored under the bed……”

Jeong Taeui slowly pulled it out. It was heavy, but not immovable. With more effort, it gradually slid out.

What he dragged out from under the bed was a box. A large black metal suitcase.

And Jeong Taeui remembered seeing this box before. When he had first come to this room.

“Oh, this is……”

This was something he couldn’t talk about with anyone, nor was it something he could mumble to himself about. A listening device.

Jeong Taeui stared at the suitcase which only brought to mind criminal activities, then tapped it lightly with his knuckles before unlocking the case.

Remembering that he hadn’t thoroughly examined it before, he wondered about its structure this time. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen a listening device, but most of the ones he’d seen were for educational or demonstration purposes and he’d never used one with such a high-frequency range.

“The structure…… the basic parts seem similar.”

Although the circuitry was complex, a quick glance was enough for him to understand its basics.

“If I want to activate it…… let’s see…… first, I need to connect this circuit here…… Hmm, this doesn’t seem to be in the right place……”

As Taeui fiddled with someone else’s device, he forgot about everything else. His eyes sparkled with concentration as he focused on the machinery.

He’d always loved these things since he was a kid. Household appliances that weren’t too complicated – he would disassemble and reassemble them. If something broke, he could just ask his brother to fix it, so there was nothing to worry about.

He easily reconnected all the broken circuits, then flipped the switch a few times. Soon, the red light began to blink.

“Yes, yes. This is how it should work…… Let’s see if it functions properly?”

Jeong Taeui brought the headphones closer and put them on. There was no sound. He waited for a while, but nothing could be heard. He waited a bit longer, but the situation didn’t change.

“……Could I have connected the circuits wrong?”

Jeong Taeui scratched his cheek, then focused on the device again. He lay on his stomach and propped his chin on his hands and stared at the inside of the suitcase on the floor for a long time before frowning and scratching his cheek again.

“I don’t know. Everything seems right……”

He had no intention of using the listening device for its actual purpose. The thought didn’t even cross his mind. It was just that when a device that was supposed to work didn’t function, he began to doubt his understanding of machines.

“Hmm…… could someone have changed the frequency?”

Jeong Taeui scratched his head with his fingers and frowned.

But after a few more minutes of thought, he still couldn’t figure it out, so he decided to give up and thought: “Forget it.”

At that moment, he seemed to hear a faint sound from the headphone he had on one ear.

“Oh, wait. Did I just hear something?”

Jeong Taeui, who had reverted to a childlike fascination with machines, mumbled excitedly. He increased the volume a little.

Although he couldn’t quite make out what it was, a quick, steady sound grew louder. Alongside it, another sound started to mix in and also grew louder.

*――Click.*

After hearing that sound, Jeong Taeui realized the previous sound he had heard came from outside the space where the signal device was installed. And the sound just now was the door opening.

[“Will they only officially notify us on the last day of the deadline? I can guess their intention, but it’s a hassle.”]

As soon as Jeong Taeui heard the voice from the headphones, he fell silent.

Someone had entered the room with the lights still on, but asking where the room’s owner was—it turned out he was inside the headphones. If the signal device’s position hadn’t been changed, he was likely eavesdropping on Richard’s room.

[“Yes, but who knows? Maybe at the last minute, they might suddenly present a completely different condition.”]

[“That might be better for you.”]

It seemed the signal device’s position hadn’t changed. Richard’s voice could be heard clearly.

And only then did Jeong Taeui realize he was playing with a listening device. Thinking about it now, this was indeed a criminal act……

Jeong Taeui thought with a slight pang of conscience that it might be better to remove the headphones, switch off the device, unplug the wires and put the suitcase back under the bed. But just as he was about to remove the headphones……

[“What did Malik say?”]

Suddenly, a familiar name was mentioned. Besides the two voices present, there was no other sound, so it seemed Richard was asking Ilay.

[“Hmm?”]

[“If Aziz is looking for Tay and Malik is looking for you, their tasks might be similar but not the same. I can somewhat guess what Aziz said, but……”]

Richard trailed off. Ilay was silent.

At that moment, Jeong Taeui remembered. Not long ago, he had asked Ilay a similar question. But the conversation had shifted before he could get an answer.

……Eavesdropping does have its advantages…… Jeong Taeui thought, rummaging through the suitcase for another headphone.

To say he felt no pangs of conscience would be a lie, but Jeong Taeui forced himself to think: ‘After all, Ilay brought this upon himself’ and temporarily locked the door to his conscience. At the same time, he calculated that since Richard’s room was in the west wing of the The East Wing building, if Ilay left the room, he could quickly tidy up and put the suitcase back under the bed without being caught.

However, what Jeong Taeui heard through the headphones wasn’t the answer he was expecting.

[“You know everything, yet you’re asking me this. So, what’s your intention?”]

There was a faint hint of a smile in his voice. After a moment, another light laugh followed. Then Richard responded, his tone as if he was surrendering.

[“I just didn’t know what you planned to do next, so I asked.”]

[“My plan? It’s simple.”]

Ilay replied indifferently.

[“It’s really hard to get rid of and not likable…… So, it’s best to hide ‘it’ somewhere no one can see. And if possible, it’s even better if it’s a place where it will never be discovered.”]

[“Haa.”]

Richard sighed briefly, making it hard to tell if he agreed or disagreed. Then, after a moment of thought, he continued,

[“They’ve offered conditions that don’t sound bad, but who knows if it’s genuine or just another scheme…… Personally, I’m more inclined to the latter.”]

[“The latter, huh. It seems you think they have something else in mind.”]

Ilay’s tone carried a hint of amusement. Richard responded,

[“For example. If I were them, once I obtained the treasure I wanted, I’d burn the map so no one else could get it. It’s best to eliminate insecurity at its root.”]

[“Ah…… but in this case, it’s not possible. If the map is destroyed, the treasure will disappear too.”]

Jeong Taeui lay on his stomach then resting his chin on his hands. He listened to their conversation while blinking.

What are these people talking about…… It sounds like they’re deciphering a code.

Jeong Taeui scratched his head and clicked his tongue.

He was starting to feel like he was seriously involved in eavesdropping. If he continued like this, he might really end up deep in criminal activity. It felt like he was already in it up to his knees.

Thinking back, this didn’t seem to be the first time he had eavesdropped on one of their serious conversations…… As he recalled, a memory suddenly flashed in his mind.

That’s right, it happened before. That time, he accidentally eavesdropped while escaping and unknowingly hid in the place where they were talking. He had no intention of eavesdropping. But then, many things happened that night that he didn’t want to remember……

Painful memories suddenly surged up, making Jeong Taeui feel a lump in his chest.

Now, even when deliberately eavesdropping, he felt nothing. But back then, even without intending to, he still got into trouble. It seemed this world wasn’t entirely fair.

“Maybe I shouldn’t listen anymore…… let’s stop.”

This time, Taeui really intended to take off the headphones. But just as he removed one earphone and was about to take off the other, he unexpectedly heard a name that made him pause.

[“Treasure…… Ah, speaking of which, Christoph said not long ago that Jeong Tay looked more radiant almost glowing.”]

When someone mentions your name, it’s impossible not to listen. And the topic had shifted to something entirely different.

“……”

Jeong Taeui calmly put back the earphone he had just removed.

After a moment of silence, Ilay muttered: [“Hmm”] then asked,

[“Do you mean like a Thangka painting? The one with a circular halo around the head?”]

[“Yes, maybe like that.”]

Jeong Taeui remained silent.

A Thangka painting…… Could it be that I’ve been deified without knowing it? But considering how Christoph treated him daily, he never seemed to consider him anything sacred.

Jeong Taeui still couldn’t figure out what Christoph was thinking – completely unaware that words could be misunderstood – and slightly tilted his head.

Saying that he looked radiant? Even with a slight misinterpretation – No, even with a correct interpretation – it’s still a statement that makes one feel awkward. But now, more than the awkwardness, what concerned him was Ilay’s subtle silence.

[“Do you find it bothersome?”]

Jeong Taeui almost nodded in agreement when he heard Richard’s voice through the headphones. However, before Ilay could respond, Richard continued.

[“And then he added. If someone looks better than usual, it’s a sign that the other person has fallen for them.”]

Ilay murmured softly: [“Hmm……”] a noncommittal sound.

[“What about you, Rick? The first time I heard you went through all that trouble to pull some guy out of Raumaan’s mansion and bring him back to Berlin and settle him down. Quite a few people were surprised.”]

After Richard asked that. Ilay had been silent for a long time and finally responded.

[“As for looking better than usual, I’m not sure. Because I know exactly how that person really looks. I remember clearly what his eyes, nose, mouth, hands, feet, even his fingers and toes look like, as if they were captured in a photograph. I’ve never seen him look different from reality…….Does that mean I haven’t fallen for that guy?”]

Taeui could hear Ilay chuckle softly.

Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue. He didn’t know how to react in this situation. Moments like these made him glad he was eavesdropping without anyone knowing.

[“Hmm…… doesn’t look radiant almost glowing, huh?”] – Ilay

[“I’ve never seen anything like that before.”] – Ilay

[“Really? Christoph said that Jeong Tay looked radiant almost glowing.”] – Richard

[“He’s really gone mad.”]

“Hey, hey. You don’t have the right to say that!”

Jeong Taeui muttered angrily, even though he knew no one could hear him.

Even knowing that he looked ordinary and wasn’t particularly outstanding, having someone who had lived with him for years react to a compliment that he looked decent with – “He’s really gone mad” – made Jeong Taeui slightly doubt his relationship with Ilay and all he could do was clutch the pillow tightly in his hands.

[“But even without looking radiant…… sometimes, that guy seems dangerous to me.”]

Ilay seemed to be pondering for a moment and continued in a calm tone.

[“Dangerous?”]

Richard repeated, as if surprised by those words. Jeong Taeui also tilted his head in confusion.

He had never heard such words before. So, he couldn’t understand their meaning.

[“If that’s the case, it truly is fatal.”]

Suddenly, Ilay’s voice carried a hint of laughter. That voice with a touch of bitterness, strangely brushed past his ears.

Fatal. Those weren’t words that this man could easily say.

[“Why? Are you afraid that if he grabs a knife and stabs you in the neck, you won’t be able to defend yourself?”]

[“No way. He’s not that kind of person. If it were someone else, maybe but Taei would never intentionally harm me.”]

Ilay responded immediately, as if he didn’t need to think about it. This time, it was Richard who fell silent. And Jeong Taeui could guess the reason for that silence. He himself found it hard to say anything.

He had never thought that Ilay doubted or was wary of him and in fact, he had never had any intention of harming him. However, he didn’t expect Ilay to trust him so firmly.

Jeong Taeui smiled shyly. Perhaps the years they had lived together had finally accumulated and built a relationship as solid as a tall tower.

[“It’s surprising, Rick. Can you trust a person that much?”]

After a moment of silence, Richard spoke with genuine surprise. Ilay: [“Huh?”] responded.

[“No, that’s not what I mean. I just meant that Taei isn’t foolish enough to intentionally harm me.”]

“…….”

A tower, huh…… There’s a saying: ‘The higher the tower, the easier it collapses’, Jeong Taeui once again clutched the pillow in his hand.

[“So, what about him do you consider to be fatal?”]

Finally, Richard erased his surprise and instead asked with interest. Ilay paused for a moment, as if arranging his thoughts, then spoke slowly.

[“For example, this: I can’t live alone anymore but he can live alone anytime.”]

[“Hmm……?”]

[“Sometimes, because of work that I have to leave home and during those times, I occasionally think that without him……everything in this world feels utterly meaningless”]

Jeong Taeui remained silent.

Suddenly…… suddenly…… he felt that he shouldn’t continue listening.

This wasn’t something Ilay intended to tell him. From the start, he didn’t intend for him to hear this. So maybe he shouldn’t listen anymore.

Jeong Taeui felt his face heat up for no apparent reason and he rubbed his flushed face with the back of his hand and stared at the listening device with embarrassment. Turning it off wouldn’t be right but not turning it off wasn’t an option either and now it had become something extremely difficult to deal with.

[“Dull…… But you still manage to live.”]

[“But I don’t want to live my whole life like in a monastery, as if there’s no alcohol, cigarettes, or women.”]

As Jeong Taeui looked at the listening device with a serious expression, he suddenly felt as though he had been reduced to something like alcohol, cigarettes and women, causing him to bury his face in the pillow.

Their conversation seemed to have a logical flow but it was so disjointed and hard to follow.

[“It’s truly fatal.”] – Richard

Richard laughed. He added a comment that sounded like agreement: [“You can live without alcohol, cigarettes, or women but it’s also impossible to live without them.”]

[“But Taei can live without those things.”]

Ilay’s calm voice continued.

Jeong Taeui’s expression suddenly changed.

That was the meaning of ‘Fatal’. Something you can’t live without. Even if you’re breathing, it doesn’t feel like you’re living.

But what was fatal to Ilay wasn’t fatal to Jeong Taeui. That’s what he was saying.

Suddenly, Jeong Taeui felt a sharp pain in his chest. He couldn’t tell if it was due to frustration, anger, or disappointment.

Life is sometimes harsh. Even if someone close to you dies, you still continue to live. You may lament why that person is gone but you still breathe even if you feel like you can’t survive without them—you still continue to live.

So, the statement: “I can’t live without you” isn’t entirely true. Everyone knows that. But at the same time, people also know that it is true in a different sense.

Jeong Taeui frowned and scratched his head. He slowly lifted his face from the pillow and glared angrily at the listening device as if it were Ilay. Then he sighed.

“Can I even live alone anymore?”

He sighed and muttered to himself in a frustrated tone, tapping his fingers lightly on the edge of the metal suitcase. He couldn’t hold it in without saying something.

“Why do you think I was living peacefully in Berlin? I did that to be with you. The reason I didn’t leave – no matter how uncomfortable it was—is because if I got taken away by mistake, it would be difficult to see you again…… Do you think I don’t like you? If I didn’t like you, would I endure all those hardships, spending years in bed with you? I’m not a masochist. It’s all because I like you—I like you.”

Jeong Taeui mumbled to himself in annoyance, then suddenly fell silent. His face burned. Even talking to himself felt embarrassingly awkward. So how could he say it directly?

“Oh god…… What am I doing? This is so embarrassing……”

Jeong Taeui buried his face in the pillow again. Even the feeling of the fabric touching his lips made him feel so embarrassed that he ended up biting into the fabric.

“……”

Then he lifted his head again and rested his chin on the pillow.

“What a strange personality…… Pressuring others and forcing them to say such embarrassing things and then talking about what’s fatal and deadly…… You’re the one who’s fatal and deadly.”

The complaints kept pouring out and if he decided to say everything, he might be talking all night long.

“But I say I like you 2-3 times a week. So where did all the things I said go? I guess you never actually listen to what other people say. Don’t expect me to say it again.”

Jeong Taeui mumbled like someone drenched in rain but then couldn’t stand it anymore and sat up abruptly. He felt embarrassed with himself for saying those things and embarrassed with the person who made him feel this way.

“Hurry back…… so I can get the money.”

He sighed and muttered about the ultimate goal for the day.