Among the men staying at Kyle’s house – except for Christoph – Ivan was considered quite handsome and good-looking, and was thought to be the youngest among them. Even though he was very handsome, he didn’t have a childish appearance, so no one realized it. Later, when it was mentioned, it turned out he was 4-5 years younger than Jeong Taeui, which surprised Taeui.

So, just how old was this kid when he got involved in such serious matters? Thinking that he must have been a promising talent from an early age, on the contrary, Ivan turned out to be a young man who behaved very properly. The first thing he said when he sat upright in front of Jeong Taeui was:

“Rick is the most valuable person among us.”

“If it’s about money, I’ve already heard enough of that yesterday.”

When Taeui waved his hand, saying that trick had already been used, Ivan smiled and shook his head.

“No, it’s not about money. A man cannot be evaluated by money. The most important criterion to assess a man is still his capability, isn’t it?”

Aha. So that was the key point for him. Capability, huh…… also one of the most frequently mentioned conditions.

Taeui lay on his side, propping himself up with one hand on the bed, eating blueberries piled high in a large bowl, while looking at Ivan as if to tell him to continue. By the third day, his mood had shifted to a ‘let’s see how it goes’ kind of attitude, and he even looked forward to seeing what strategy they would bring out today. That morning, Ivan had come to Taeui’s room, sat upright on the chair next to the small table, and continued speaking.

“The reason Rick is so valuable is precisely that. Once he takes on a mission, no matter what happens, he will complete it by any means necessary.”

Taeui nodded as he recalled many things from the past. Clearly, from the perspective of someone assigning tasks, Ilay seemed like a very reliable ally. But from the perspective of an opponent, there was certainly nothing worse.

“It’s hard to imagine, but has he never failed? Don’t tell me that in over 10 years of work, he’s completed every mission perfectly without failing even once?”

“Hahaha, not at all. It’s not like he always gets tasks that suit him, and moreover, if something reaches Rick’s hands, it’s usually because the situation has already become too difficult or the task is extremely complex to succeed. In a field where luck accounts for seven parts and skill only three, I’m sure you know there’s no such thing as a 100% guarantee.”

“And yet his value is still that high?”

“Even if he doesn’t achieve perfect results, at least Rick maintains a 50-50 ratio or brings something valuable. On a personal level, if Rick can’t accomplish a task, then no one can.”

Ivan asserted, and Taeui somewhat agreed. Indeed, the things he was determined to do had never completely failed.

“He’s infamous as a madman, with such a terrible reputation, yet he still managed to get into UNHRDO. So, what do you think the reason is? Even though all the Instructors opposed him, he completed every test perfectly, so there was no reason to kick him out…… Of course, there must have been some kind of under-the-table agreement between T&R and UNHRDO for him to get in.”

Ivan spoke ambiguously, and Taeui could only remain silent and listen. Recalling that hidden story, Taeui couldn’t help but feel bitter. Was that agreement still being upheld?

Since Jeong Jaeui had withdrawn from weapon development, Jeong Taeui no longer needed to worry about it, but it remained a bitter memory for a long time.

“As you know, Rick’s personality is just like that. Naturally, the grudges he accumulated in the past are countless. Back in the Private Task Force, it goes without saying, and I heard he caused no small amount of trouble at UNHRDO as well. Just the letter R from Rick’s name appearing is enough to make many people grind their teeth.”

“Of course. Just from what I know, it’s more than I can count on two hands.”

Taeui muttered as he recalled the countless times he had heard complaints and curses about Ilay to the point his ears felt like they were growing scales. Not to mention others, even Taeui himself had almost died of anger because of him. Perhaps later, when he dies and is cremated, the amount of relics accumulated because of him would be enough to fill a bowl……, Taeui nodded as he thought about it.

“Even so, no one thinks Rick will die unexpectedly. There are countless people who wish for it, but no one truly believes it will happen. Because no one can take Rick down.”

“With that many grudges, he should have died long ago, but here he is, still alive and well.” – Ivan spoke with a tone that was both sarcastic and admiring, even smiling warmly.

“I don’t like Rick much either, but I really have to acknowledge his abilities. I’m not lacking in skills myself, but there have been many times I thought I shouldn’t go up against him. Others in the Private Task Force feel the same way. Whether it’s personality or talent, they’re all people who don’t back down from anyone, but when it comes to Rick, everyone takes a step back.”

At that point, Ivan suddenly smiled – not the polite smile from before, but a clear expression of amusement – and looked directly at Taeui.

“So, when Rick went mad searching for you, the one who disappeared from UNHRDO, everyone cheered in delight. They wished for the future of someone named Jeong Tay whom they had never met.”

“……”

That was a story from a distant past. For Taeui, it was a painful memory where he had to risk his life to make it happen, but it turned out to be someone else’s joy. Truly…… bitter.

“Even when he stormed into Al Saud’s mansion in Seringe to find you, only to lose you right before his eyes, my god, that day we really felt like we were in a festive atmosphere. Never had we seen him go that crazy before.”

“……”

‘Ilay…… you should have lived better…… though it seems it’s already too late.’

Taeui chewed on a blueberry bitterly, mumbling as if he were groaning.

“Wasn’t there anyone worried about my safety even when that madman caught me……?”

“Hahaha, worrying wouldn’t have helped. Even if we were worried, that concern couldn’t have held onto the hem of his pants, and besides, none of us were kind enough to pity a fool who dared to run away from him.”

Taeui decided not to say anything further. The more he spoke, the more he felt himself sinking into the abyss of painful memories from the past.

Ivan looked at Taeui, who was chewing with a gloomy face, with an expression that seemed both amused and indifferent. When Taeui’s irritated gaze glanced over, Ivan slightly opened his mouth.

“At that time, I thought. If you were caught by Rick, there would only be two outcomes. Either you’d die in an unimaginably horrific way, or……”

“Or……?”

“……become like you are now.”

“Like this, huh.” – Ivan said as he pointed toward Jeong Taeui.

Taeui, who was leisurely leaning against the bed and eating fruit, raised his eyebrows in confusion when he realized he was being pointed at.

“I’m quite sensitive, you know. My grandmother was a Gypsy, famous for her accurate fortune-telling, so maybe I inherited that bloodline. I always have a sense of what’s right, whether something will go smoothly or face obstacles, and my feelings have never been wrong. Moreover, I’m quite perceptive.”

“So, did you foresee that I would end up like this thanks to that intuition of yours?”

When Taeui mumbled in disbelief, Ivan laughed and said: “Not entirely because of that, but I did have a premonition.”

“At that time, when we went to the Al Saud’s mansion in Seringe, I was there too. I was the first to chase after Rick, who had already gone ahead to find you. That’s why I saw Rick tumble off his motorcycle while chasing the car you were in.”

Hearing Ivan’s account, Taeui recalled a distant day. The events of that day were still vivid in his memory, always accompanied by a bitter feeling.

“When I approached Rick, he stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the car that had already disappeared from sight. He didn’t move a muscle. It was the first time I’d seen Rick like that, and I thought: ‘Maybe he got shot in the head……’”

“Missed it. Tsk. All for nothing. But it’s okay, if we chase after them right away, we can still make it. Let’s go, Rick…… Rick?”

When Ivan clicked his tongue and spoke indifferently, lightly patting Rick on the arm as he stood frozen like a statue, Rick’s lips barely moved, murmuring something indistinct. The sound was so faint that, without careful attention, it would have been impossible to catch his words.

“He has gone. On his own.”

“Not out of anger, but…… how should I put it, ah yes, his voice was like a candle just extinguished. It was a truly strange feeling…… and at that moment, I had my first premonition.”

Ivan lightly tapped his temple as he spoke.

The memory of that day – Jeong Taeui getting into Xinlu’s car to chase after his brother, Ilay following behind, and finally the image gradually fading into the distance – all of it came back as vividly as if it were yesterday. Along with the feelings from that moment.

Taeui gently patted his chest, where his heart was throbbing painfully, and let out a deep and melancholic sigh. Meanwhile, Ivan laughed and continued speaking.

“That premonition became certain when Rick chased you to Johannesburg. Because you had made Rick so furious, we all thought for sure you were as good as dead. Anyway, our work was done, so everyone dispersed, and I stopped by Rick’s room to say goodbye. He was packing his things. But then he picked up a pair of gloves and just kept fiddling with them.”

Contrary to Ivan, who was cheerfully laughing and saying: “Even bringing a dozen pairs of gloves wouldn’t be enough”, Taeui couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. Indeed, in that situation, with his personality, it wouldn’t be surprising if he threw away all ten pairs of gloves just to turn himself into minced meat. Thinking of this, Taeui silently sent a word of thanks to someone up in the high heavens.

“Finally, he stuffed the pair of gloves into the deepest corner of his bag, the hardest place to reach…… And at that moment, I was certain. This was bound to end up this way.”

Ivan concluded the story with a faint smile.

Taeui gently patted his chest, where his heart was throbbing painfully, and let out a deep sigh. Reflecting on it, he couldn’t help but be amazed at his own recklessness and boldness. The fact that he was still alive was truly a miracle. If he thought about it carefully, wasn’t he just as lucky as Jaeui-hyung……?

“Well, just admit it, Tay.”

At that moment, Ivan suddenly dropped a completely unrelated remark, causing Taeui, who was holding another blueberry, to look at him in surprise.

“What?”

“Rick has never been obsessed with anyone as much as he is with you, and you’re probably the first and the last. Even after several years have passed, instead of diminishing, that obsession has only gotten worse. And from what I see, time isn’t going to solve this.”

“Uh…… um…… maybe…… probably……”

“But, there’s no one as talented as Rick. It’s just a matter of time, whether it takes more or less, but the things he’s determined to do have never failed. A man so talented that no one can compare! Isn’t that amazing?”

As the topic seemed to circle back to the original point, Taeui tilted his head in confusion.

“From the perspective of a man, there’s a bit of envy or admiration, but if you’re asking about sexual attraction, not really……”

“A man that capable, a man who can accomplish even the impossible, you won’t be able to get away from him.”

“Huh?”

‘Oh, somehow it feels like the topic has veered off a bit.’ – Taeui thought in that moment, but Ivan continued speaking softly yet with firm determination.

“No matter how much you struggle to escape, it’s already over. A man so powerful that he can do anything he wants, and clings so tightly that no one can do anything about it, there’s no way you can escape. There’s no way to run anymore, so just accept it and live with him, Tay.”

“…… Were you certain that things would turn out like this? Like: ‘That guy’s done for’, something like that, huh?”

When Taeui hesitantly asked with a doubtful expression, Ivan didn’t reply and simply smiled.

‘Well, I’m not even thinking about escaping or avoiding it anymore, so it doesn’t really matter, but why is his smile so irritating……?’

Taeui looked at Ivan with a darkened expression, and Ivan gently spoke again.

“When you’ve reached the end of the road, and all the exits are completely blocked, just let your mind relax. How about something like this?”

“…… Like what?”

“Even if you try to escape, you’ll only end up failing and facing a terrible situation, it’s as clear as seeing fire in front of you. So, let’s just consider this life a lost cause, and decide to love this guy to death――something like that.”

“…… It’s not entirely wrong, and in reality, I was planning to live like that anyway……”

Taeui looked at Ivan with a gloomy face, then reached out for a blueberry. But when his hand touched the large bowl full of blueberries, he immediately picked up the entire bowl and threw it straight at him.

“You little brat, where do you get off scaring me like that?”

The anger he had been trying to suppress finally erupted.