If you think about it carefully, there’s nothing strange at all, it’s not like he’s just a stranger who’s only met Kyle for a few days and he doesn’t even know anything about him and yet he’s still sitting in this mansion as a guest or something. So there’s no reason Maurer couldn’t be here. Besides, the owner of this house is also an arms dealer and Maurer is a weapons fanatic.

Thinking back, he seemed to have heard that Maurer also knew Ilay’s family. It is said that before joining UNHRDO, he worked for Riegrow’s company. So Maurer’s stay in this house is much more understandable and reasonable than his presence here.

“There’s someone resting here, oh yeah…… it’s Kim.”

Even though Jeong Taeui was covering his face, Kyle still spoke as if he recognized him immediately. Kyle explained to Maurer who was next to him: “This is a guest of mine who has been staying here for several days.”

“Ah, is that so?” – Maurer replied indifferently and seemed to have no interest in Jeong Taeui. The footsteps gradually moved away, he changed the subject: “This garden is still as wonderful as ever. The birch grove leading to that path is still here, right?”

At the same time, Kyle’s footsteps also faded away, bringing with them the sound of Taeui’s heart pounding.

So what about the flight next Saturday night? Does he mean Maurer will stay here until then?

Then the possibility of meeting each other directly will increase and that is something he never wants.

He has to leave here now, even tonight. It would be a shame to have to give up such a wonderful and comfortable hiding place like this, but if he stayed here, this perfect hiding place would sooner or later turn into a tiger’s den.

Plus, he and that damn bastard can’t help each other in life, and that damn bastard is even more of a threat than Lieutenant Kim.

But anyway, it would be good if he could leave this place quietly without attracting attention, then there wouldn’t be any more trouble.

Half of Taeui’s body was tanned by the harsh sunlight, but he didn’t even dare to turn over because he was afraid the towel would fall off, so he just lay there motionless like a dead fish.

After the two of them left this place, he swore that he would immediately run into his room and observe their every move, the silhouettes of those two people still lurking within the range he could see even though They moved a few steps away from this place. 

However, right at that moment.

“Kim, how long are you going to lie around like that? You should get up and walk around a bit. It’s lunch time. If you don’t eat properly, you’ll get a stomach ache.”

A cold, shrill voice echoed from the glass door.

Ah, Rita.

Although the old woman seemed distant, in reality Taeui was still grateful for her kindness, who worriedly took care of him and everyone at every meal. But not at this moment.

Jeong Taeui pretended to be asleep, lying quietly without moving or answering.

“Oh, Rita. Just leave him alone. He seems to be sleeping very deeply.”

Even though Kyle said so, Rita still walked out of the glass door and walked towards Taeui.

“If he naps that much, his biological clock will be upset and his health will decline, master. Kim has been lying here since 10 A.M, looking at his tanned skin. If I watch it, he’ll get burned later.”

‘Rita. Rita. Thank you. But this isn’t fun at all so please leave me alone. Unless you want to see me dead.’

 Even though Taeui is not the type of person who can reassure others, now he is crying tears of blood. The whispers and pleas with all her heart did not reach Rita’s ears.

“Kim, wake up!”

His vision was instantly possessed by the bright sunlight. In front of him, Rita, with her gray hair tied in a neat bun, looked down at him. And across the bench behind the beach, Kyle stood there looking at him, smiling calmly.

“Hey Kim, you probably slept late yesterday. Wake up, the sun is already at its peak.”

“Aha…., yes….”

Jeong Taeui answered awkwardly and immediately looked away.

Behind Kyle, Maurer approached the birch forest. He looked toward the forest and sighed in admiration before turning back.

“Wow, it looks beautiful from afar, I want to walk here in the evening, I also have to see you—” – Maurer said and the smile suddenly disappeared from his face.

That’s because he saw a familiar face also staring at him.

“Yes, it could have been developed and improved, but my father had no intention of changing the forest like that even if he gave him thousands of gold, so I kept it as it is.”

Kyle looked back at Maurer with a smile, over his shoulder, Taeui’s facial muscles stiffened like a ghost. His eyes opened wide to look at Maurer and then gently moved his lips to make a mouthpiece: “Shut up.”

Maurer also widened his eyes at Taeui. Kyle saw that expression and immediately turned around in confusion. Jeong Taeui pretended to smile as if nothing happened and then approached Kyle.

“Thanks to you, I can relax like this….. Who is this?

“Ah, it’s a friend I’ve known for a long time. Maurer. His name is Maurer Keith, currently working at the Asia branch of UNHRDO. He’s an outstanding talent. Maurer, say hello to him, Mr. Kim has been staying at our house for a few days now.”

Errors in pronunciation are no longer a concern now. Jeong Taeui smiled and bowed his head to look at Maurer.

“Hello, I’m Kim Young Soo. It’s because of Mr. Riegrow’s hospitality that I’m able to stay here. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Haha, just call me Kyle. I already mentioned it when talking about my little brother Riegrow, doesn’t it sound very suitable to me?”

While Kyle laughed with a gentle voice, Taeui and Maurer’s intense gazes were meeting each other.

Later, when Rita went back into the mansion, the old woman called out to Kyle.

“Master, Gail has been waiting for 2 hours and wants to see you. I’m sorry to interrupt but please stop by the drawing room before going to the dining room.”

“Gail? Two hours? What’s so urgent? ——Oh, I’ll leave first, you two just go to the dining room and eat first.”

“No need, I’ll wait for you to come and eat together. It’s better for everyone to eat together.”

Jeong Taeui answered politely with a smile that did not reveal any suspicion. Kyle laughed again haha ​​glanced at him and then disappeared into his villa.

The timing matched as if everything was pre-arranged. Now, there are only two people left, Taeui and Maurer.

As soon as Kyle and Rita disappeared, the social smile disappeared from Taeui’s face.

“Okay, let’s go to the dining room? Rita cooks very well.”

“Um, it’s true that Rita’s skills are great. But—Kim Yong Soo?!”

“Call me Kim.”

“Okay. Kim.”

Maurer nodded as he called his name again with an unpredictable smile on his face. A very generous and kind smile. He nodded a few times, um, and then shook his head again and stopped suddenly.

“Kim. Why are you here Tay! Since when did your last name change to Kim!”

Maurer’s cry sounded no different than a scream. And before the screaming ended, Taeui flew into a rage.

“Shut mtf up!”

Taeui resisted the thought of taking the towel wrapped around his head, stuffing it straight into Maurer’s mouth and ripping his head off.

‘Why? Why this guy? If one of the guys from UNHRDO came here like Tou, Alta, for example, they would definitely know how to keep their mouth shut. But in the end, why does it have to be someone who is hostile to you like this! I’ve never heard that this guy is a person who knows how to keep his mouth shut.’

While Jeong Taeui was angry, Maurer looked at him with wide eyes and said: “You just stole and screamed*”, then hit him on the chest. Even though he didn’t do anything wrong, it was a gesture that showed he had no good intentions.

(Maurer plays on words: *적반하장/Jeong-ban-ha-jang, meaning both stealing and yelling, the first letter coincides with Taeui’s last name, Jeong.)

Jeong Taeui originally thought that today he would quietly pack up his things and leave in silence, but still couldn’t help but immediately come closer and grabbed Maurer’s neck. The confused man glared at him.

“Bastard. I gave you back that gun, didn’t I?”

Above all, you must fence first. Jeong Taeui growled softly without threatening claws. Maurer frowned. He answered reluctantly.

“I got it.”

“So what else do you want from me? I don’t owe you anything anymore.”

“Debt and hatred are inherently separate matters. Debt can be repaid, but revenge is never forgotten. Do you know how many nights I cried myself to sleep after losing that precious child? Even now, just thinking about it makes me….. “

“Sorry.”

Taeui quickly stopped him. Maurer was so confused and surprised by Jeong Taeui’s sudden apology that he could only remain speechless. He looked at Taeui with a strange face.

“Hey, I still have a lot to say. If you apologize, how can I express my dissatisfaction?!”

“Oh sorry! Okay, if you want to vent your anger then feel free to vent your anger on me! Don’t mind me. But after you’ve finished talking, forget all those grudges, forget everything Forget about my existence in this world, and forget about ever seeing me here!

Jeong Taeui still held Maurer’s neck and shook him violently before screaming.

‘What is Maurer?’

He blinked a few times then suddenly narrowed his eyes.

“……..Aha.”

He clicked his tongue inexplicably as if he had discovered something. Jeong Taeui was a bit restless.

He didn’t know what that expression meant, but it certainly wasn’t something good for him. Besides, he quickly noticed the issue of weapons that Taeui had mentioned earlier.

“He, isn’t it strange to suddenly disappear like that… as expected, you intentionally caused an accident at the branch and escaped.”

“…..”

Taeui was speechless. He quietly looked into Maurer’s eyes.

What is he trying to predict and what conclusion does he want to draw? Speculating on a situation even when you don’t understand it clearly are the basics that you were taught at UNHRDO.

He was worried that Maurer would say something that would kill him when he looked at him like that, but fortunately, he spoke confidently as if it was the only thing he could think of.

“Did you… do something to Xinlu?”

He calmly said, there was no doubt that he could only guess that much. His brain went blank for a moment, it was completely different from what he had been anxiously waiting for just now.

But on the contrary, his chest suddenly tightened when he heard those words. Anxiety crept in from the name that he could not expect. Why did Xinlu appear in Maurer’s story…

“Xinlu? Why Xinlu? What happened?!”

Jeong Taeui unconsciously increased his weight on the already relaxed hand still placed on his body. Maurer, who was caught once again raised his eyebrows in confusion and tilted his head to look at Taeui.

“What did you do Xinlu?”

Taeui couldn’t answer the question and could only squeeze his hand harder.

“Xinlu left! Right after you disappeared for a day or two!”

“What…? Why….”

Taeui stopped shaking his hands and looked at Maurer blankly as if he didn’t understand what he just said. Maurer grumbled.

“How the hell do I know why? You disappeared and so did Xinlu. I also thought you had an accident. There were rumors spreading that it was because you raped Xinlu and ran away.” but Xinlu was injured and had to leave.”

He grabbed Taeui’s hand that was still holding his neck and pulled it away.

“Damn it, why did I meet you here?”

Maurer muttered, and that was exactly what Jeong Taeui wanted to say. He looked at him with skepticism then bowed his head and sat down. I don’t even have time to think about that rumor.

Xinlu left UNHRDO.

Whatever the reason is, perhaps half of it also belongs to him.

“Xinlu…., he said he really liked working there….”

Xinlu once suggested that they both leave the branch, but he also knew how much Xinlu liked and suited UNHRDO. So I hoped he wouldn’t give up just because of me.

Jeong Taeui left without saying goodbye, because he didn’t know what to say. Furthermore, he was too tired at that time. He fell into a muddy puddle deep underground and even thought he wouldn’t be able to hold on anymore. Now, he wishes he could say that. If time could turn back, he would say goodbye properly.

But what if, even if the two of them meet again someday in the future and talk together, the fact that he missed the best time to meet each other cannot be changed.

Jeong Taeui quietly lowered his gaze to his feet and then finally raised his head. Maurer looked down at him with a forced face.

“So…, where did Xinlu go? And what is he doing now?”

Taeui asked helplessly, he frowned.

“I don’t know how, let me go to his house and see ha!.”

“This inhumane bastard. After all, you two are colleagues in the same branch. Aren’t you worried at all about him suddenly quitting his job?”

“Hey you brat….! Why should I worry about Xinlu? He doesn’t care about my life or death! He’s originally the young master of a wealthy family for several generations, so Maybe I’ll go home and start a company or something. Why should I worry about someone who’s alive better than me?”

With a dissatisfied face, Maurer raised his voice. Taeui looked at him and took a deep breath. He wishes someone would knock him out right now.

That’s right. Although Xinlu in his impression is just a weak and fragile child, in reality he is a smart and intelligent young man. He can do everything well even when no one cares about it. If he can walk on a new path without him in it, then that’s the best thing for him.

It’s not exactly Xinlu who needs to worry here, but himself. Taeui struggled to stand up with difficulty. He thought he would have to warn Maurer again but he was too exhausted.

“You know, don’t tell anyone in this house that you know me, don’t tell anyone that you’ve seen me here. I mean forget me. We both don’t want anything to do with the other person, right?”

Taeui said in a mocking voice, Maurer looked at him distortedly. He glanced at Taeui and suddenly spoke as if he was holding Taeui’s tail.

“Thinking back, there’s nothing interesting about it so I don’t really care about it but….., you, there are some strange rumors about Rick too.”

*BAM*

Taeui suddenly showed a shocked expression as if he had just had a hole punched in his face without realizing it. He felt Maurer’s eyes staring at him and hastily pretended to be calm, but it was too late. Indeed, at times like this, he is very sharp.

“Actually, it’s you…you’re the one who shouldn’t be caught, right…?”

He slowly spit out each word. Taeui figured that if he tore off his mouth and tongue right now, it would be even more pleasurable and smoother than tearing silk. But before Taeui could put the idea into practice, Maurer narrowed his eyes and muttered in a creepy voice.

“There was a time when that crazy guy seemed to be in a very bad mood and kept injuring others innocently.”

Jeong Taeui frowned at Maurer’s words. He clicked his tongue and whispered. He could only reluctantly lick his lips and whisper in his mouth.

“I don’t know. I didn’t do anything.”

The words seemed to just lack the words ‘I’m lying.’ So obvious that he himself could feel it. But Maurer scratched his head as if not satisfied with that answer and muttered to himself.

“Damn it. I don’t know if it’s because of Xinlu or not. Because he became insane, I didn’t even dare to talk to him. If I said something against his will, in his madness he would wring my neck. What should I do? Those few days I had to try to live like an invisible white lotus flower.”

Maurer said as if it was a pity that he couldn’t talk to Taeui here to witness the scene of his head falling and bleeding. Jeong Taeui wanted to wipe away the tears in his heart when he heard those words but at the same time felt relieved. No matter how scared he was, he couldn’t afford to have to communicate with Ilay anymore.

Looking at Taeui’s relaxed appearance, Maurer snorted and groaned.

“But what if I let out even a single piece of news that reaches the ears of the man who just left? Even if I don’t say it directly, there is no shortage of ears here in the forest. And it can completely spread transmitted at breakneck speed.”

Taeui suppressed the thought of immediately stuffing the rag into the mouth of the man in front of him.

“Should I tell Tou about this when I return to the branch?”

This damn bastard.

Taeui thought he would be very pleased to cause trouble for him.

The three words – “I am sorry” – just slipped out of his mouth not long ago and he even pretended to be weak for a moment. But now that he had been teased to the limit by those words, he had already thrown his disguise into the chicken coop. Taeui opened his eyes wide, with a tired expression, he looked down at Maurer.

“Ah, okay…. So are you okay with those beautiful babies that you have hidden all over the room? Those babies are probably still sleeping soundly in drawers, under the bed mattress, in the blankets and in the bedroom and cabinet?”

“They’re not there anymore, my dear friend! I moved them to another place because I was afraid guys like you might touch them!”

Maurer’s voice was weak as if he wanted to cry from worry. Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue and casually said: “Aha”, and smirked. They were still there, even if he had moved to another place, there would be no place to hide them unless he took them off the island altogether. So, he could only hide it in his room.

“You know that it’s forbidden to keep personal weapons in the branch, right?”

“This… Why is you bastard suddenly here? I know everything!”

With a groaning voice, Maurer’s mind was numb. That’s right, that’s right. Jeong Taeui felt like he had an opening in his stomach. At least he has a lifeline to make sure he doesn’t get stabbed in the back.

“Maurer.”

When Taeui seriously called out to him with a low voice, as if he had guessed, Maurer remained silent for a moment before answering bluntly.

“Say.”

“When you come back, don’t tell anyone about me, don’t say anything, got it? And I won’t report it to the branch either. You know, everything is fine. Right?”

“Okay. Then keep your mouth shut. But if there’s an unscheduled room check and if anything happens to my pretty babies, I’ll take it as a problem from you and I’ll tell everything too.”

“……. Whatever.”

Taeui wasn’t sure when such checks would be carried out, but there were two random inspections a year on average. By that time, he will no longer be here and may have left Europe altogether.

When that time came, even if the monster’s fangs could reach here, it would be too late.