Half a month.

Sitting on a stool, leaning against the wall and staring at the ceiling, Jeong Taeui gradually felt as if everything would work out somehow. As someone whose goal is quietly living a peaceful life in solitude, he felt he was unlikely to do anything conspicuous, and fifteen days don’t really form a long period.

It’s a time too short to even make a friend, so how easy would it be to make an enemy?

‘Yes. Even if colleagues try to push their burden onto me, even if I’m labeled a traitor, I must never step forward. Unlike those who entered for the benefits within the institution and future guarantees, I was brought in on the premise of half a year’s limited time, so I’m entitled to that.’

Jeong Taeui easily justified himself and nodded satisfactorily.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, his uncle abruptly stopped his humming and spoke.

“By the way, from tomorrow until the end of joint training, don’t come to my room.”

Jeong Taeui tilted his head sideways. Through the open door, he could see his uncle’s arm, applying soap. Then he turned his head to look at the book thrown on the bed.

“I haven’t finished that book yet.”

“Take it for now. During joint training, private contact between members and guards is prohibited.”

His uncle added, with mock severity, that it’s actually prohibited in principle in ordinary times too.

Muttering internally about a 3500-dollar book being borrowed feeling a bit daring,…… Jeong Taeui picked up the book within reach. Then he lazily walked over and stood in front of the bathroom door.

“Uncle. If I die during training, please bury this book with me that I haven’t finished reading yet.

“People without children are not buried but cremated…… I’ll cremate you too.”

“You could at least say I won’t die.”

“Fate is…… Well, alright, in my opinion, you won’t die.”

After a brief pause, the uncle nodded and spoke casually. The casual manner made it even more genuine, causing Jeong Tae-hui to chuckle.

A strong stream of water soon flowed from the bathroom. It seemed that he intended only to take a shower today, not filling the bathtub.”

Jeong Taeui had to go back to his room. There was only today and tomorrow left for him to sleep comfortably. He needed to recover his exhausted strength before facing the upcoming storm.

But his steps seemed unwilling to obey. Jeong Taeui thought for a while and remembered a story buried like a burden in his heart for some time.

“……”

This wasn’t a pleasant topic, but he had to speak out. Jeong Taeui felt he needed to inform his uncle about what he knew.

He leaned against the bathroom door and looked up at the ceiling for a while before abruptly speaking.

“By the way, uncle, since when did hyung get involved in weapon development?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but after a moment, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. His uncle was silent for a moment.

“Where did you hear that news?”

His uncle asked in a low voice.

“From the broker of Laurent Gastiye’s book. I thought he was just an old book broker, but apparently not.”

“He told you everything. Did the kid call today?”

“No, not today. It was a while ago, and I forgot to ask you. Even if I was curious, it wouldn’t help…… It seems it was when you were living with me at UNHRDO, right?”

“Jaeui received many requests before that, but the official participation time can be considered around then. Did he say anything else?”

Although not intending to hide it, his uncle clicked his tongue. It seemed like news he didn’t want Jeong Taeui to know. It was understandable since it wasn’t something many should know.

“Nothing special. But is he still doing it?”

“No, he quit. From the start, he only intended to do that while at UNHRDO. Right after leaving, Jaeui received many invitations, but he rejected them all.”

That’s right. Jeong Taeui nodded.

After returning home post-military, Jeong Taeui occasionally saw Jaeui receive strange calls. International calls that made it clear the person on the other end was extraordinary. It didn’t surprise him because Jaeui received many such calls in the past. But from the start, he always wondered who these persistent people seeking his brother were, especially when Jaeui rarely went out.

Jeong Taeui leaned against the wall.

That’s enough. In fact, even if he continued weapon development, Jeong Taeui wouldn’t have much to say, but knowing he quit meant he wouldn’t overthink it. Next time he met him, he’d pinch his cheek hard. With such a good mind, why use it for things like that?

“So, I’ll be going now. After the joint training, can I come back here?”

“Of course.”

His uncle didn’t even poke his head out from the running shower and replied. Jeong Taeui extended his hand and waved the book through the bathroom door gap.

“I’m borrowing this book, uncle.”

“Yes, keep it safe. Replacing it would be a hassle.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I’m not planning to throw away $3500 like that.”

Jeong Taeui responded and headed for the door.

**********************

That day, a tense and bloody atmosphere filled the air from early morning.

As soon as Jeong Taeui woke up and stepped out of his room, he felt the brutal tension saturating the air, palpable in every inch of his skin.

After half of the members left the Asian branch for South America, the reduced numbers made the building feel empty. Yet, it was far from peaceful due to the severe tension.

Jeong Taeui felt bored seeing the stiff expressions on the faces he met on the way to the bathroom.

It wasn’t like mortal enemies were arriving, so why the stiff faces?

Jeong Taeui scratched his head and entered the bathroom, where Tou was brushing his teeth, likely after breakfast. He greeted Jeong Taeui with a toothbrush still in his mouth.

“Oh, Tay, you woke up late. Have you packed your stuff?”

“Look at all that foam…… Please, spit it out before speaking.”

Jeong Taeui stepped back and grumbled. Tou laughed and continued brushing his teeth.

But at least he looked more relaxed compared to the others. Jeong Taeui sighed, finally seeing a face not frowning early in the morning. He went to the sink beside Tou, turned on the warm water, and lowered his head so the water ran up his neck.

“I don’t have anything to bring, so what should I pack? Just need to take myself.”

“Well, you’ll be surviving for 15 days, so you better think carefully about what to bring.”

Tou said intermittently while rinsing his mouth.

Tonight, Jeong Taeui had to leave his room. Not just him, but all remaining members had to relocate. Members in less occupied rooms were temporarily moved to other rooms, making way for those arriving from the European branch.

On Saturday morning, all members headed to South America left for the airport, leaving only those staying behind.

Today was Sunday. Normally, it would be a leisurely day off, but no one was in the mood for that. In just a few hours, their near-arch enemies would swarm in.

Jeong Taeui was assigned to share a room with Tou, one of his roommates who had gone to South America, so he would take that bed.

After grumbling, “Damn it, why do I have to give up my room to those bastards,” members had to pack basic necessities and move out. Some even cleared out everything like moving house, not wanting those bastards to touch their stuff.

Jeong Taeui shrugged at Tou reflected in the mirror.

“If I need anything later, I’ll just stop by and get it.”

“I know. But if you run into a European in that room, it won’t be pretty.”

“Why? It’s still my room.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. It’s troublesome. It’s more serious than invading territory.”

“…… Really.”

Jeong Taeui mumbled, not understanding this complicated relationship.

The clock’s second hand slowly ticked. It was mid-morning.

Jeong Taeui took a dry towel from the shelf and wiped his face. His reflection in the mirror didn’t look good. Though he forgot upon waking, he seemed to have had messy dreams.

European branch members – as colleagues said – were unlucky and nasty. Though they might not realize it themselves, everyone seemed worried. Jeong Taeui thought he wasn’t someone to worry about such things, but it seemed otherwise.

What passed through his dream was a pair of black gloves. Wherever the gloves touched turned a dark red. The hand that lowered from a man’s neck as he collapsed with closed eyes still etched in his mind. It left a bloody red mark.

“……”

Maybe the leftover hot water at his nape had cooled, making his spine chill.

“What’s wrong? You’re just standing there.”

Beside him, Tou suddenly patted Jeong Taeui’s back curiously. Jeong Taeui, half-wiping his face with the towel, turned to look at Tou and curiously asked.

“He’s coming, isn’t he?”

“Who?”

“Rick.”

Tou shut his mouth, staring at Jeong Taeui as if the tense atmosphere spread to him too. After a while, he clicked his tongue and shrugged in resignation.

“Yeah, hard to say. Even after confirming the final list, it can change in special cases, so you can’t be sure. But if he comes…… the next two weeks will be grim. You’ll see things you’ve never seen in your life.”

Tou muttered something with a face as if bitten by an insect. This guy was present during the last joint training with the European branch, so he must have experienced all those situations. Even if he hadn’t personally experienced it, the bloody rumors from that time echoed through the branches.

“I heard some people are ready to slit his throat if he comes this time.”

Jeong Taeui mumbled, recalling what some men from other teams discussed in the break room and cafeteria. Tou’s face turned more serious.

“Yeah, if they could, they’d want to. None of us wouldn’t want to decapitate that madman and hang it on a pole. But……”

Tou didn’t finish, but Jeong Taeui could guess. It was extremely difficult or, if possible, would require more sacrifices than expected. Watching the video footage, he understood this. Don’t try to defeat that man; if possible, stay away from him.

“But the thing that bastard excels at is fighting, so if you mess with him, you’ll regret it immediately.”

Tou bitterly clicked his tongue. Jeong Taeui looked at him doubtfully and wiped water droplets from his chin. Tou looked in the mirror with a clearly displeased face.

“That bastard, I’ve heard that even for men, he makes the young and beautiful ones unable to walk. After training with the European branch, no pretty, young ones remain unscathed.”

“What……?”

Jeong Taeui doubted his ears for a moment, hearing those unpredictable words. After confirming he didn’t mishear, he doubted his understanding. Could those words mean something else? But seeing Tou’s expression, he realized he understood correctly.