The Perfect

There’s a word I’ve never used in real life but often appears in my novels: love. Many of the protagonists’ counterparts have uttered this word. Naturally, they were all die-hard lovers of my protagonists.For them, love was something they couldn’t give up, even if they lost all their wealth, contracted a terminal illness, or were exiled to an island. Love was like that. Pure, noble, yet desperate and poignant, a greatness to which they devoted their entire being. But Clicker uttered that word in a situation where it should never have been mentioned.“That’s nonsense!”I jumped up and shouted. It really didn’t make sense. So Yangsimless can’t catch me because of love?!“What kind of nonsense is this?!”I was so agitated that I was panting. I raised my hand to point but stopped when I felt other eyes on me. I had forgotten. Ah, CEO Na was here. He looked at me strangely. …Damn.“Hey, don’t you think your words are too harsh?”Clicker glared at me. I glanced at CEO Na and mumbled, my momentum slightly deflated.“No, I just.”“Of course, it’s nonsense and bullshit!”What?“We all know it’s bullshit that Director Kook loves someone. How could that selfish bastard know love?”Clicker spat out vehemently and quickly added.“What I just said is purely my personal, immature opinion, so don’t take it to heart. But that’s our thought! I can’t stand it when someone who doesn’t even know him says such things!”“I’m sorry.”“Alright then!”Clicker turned his head with a huff and met CEO Na’s gaze. He froze just as I had earlier. I may have a big mouth, but you’re no different.“Uh, CEO Na. So.”“There seems to be a big misunderstanding about Director Kook. He’s a normal person who knows love.”No way.“He’s just dull when it comes to feelings of liking someone. He can’t distinguish whether his feelings are affection or not. If not for that, how would I, his cousin, know that his instincts fail because of affection?”The shock hit me like a double whammy. What? Cousin? That vile Yangsimless and the noble prince are related by blood? And that guy has experienced love? What a tragedy for the other person. Then Clicker asked boldly.“I’ve always been curious. I heard there was only one time when his instincts failed without the person being dead. Who was it?”“I can’t define who it was.”What does that mean? I interjected, puzzled.“Why? Was it a dog or something?”I couldn’t imagine CEO Na flustered. Even now, he didn’t show any signs of being flustered. Just expressionless. But even with his mouth closed, I felt he was flustered. His pupils trembled slightly. After a moment, he slowly spoke.“It’s Director Kook’s privacy, so it’s not my place to say.”It’s a dog. It’s a dog. He showed affectionate interest in a dog. He couldn’t possibly like a person. But did he try to take revenge on a dog? Did he steal its food? I turned my suspicious eyes and met a gaze identical to mine. I wasn’t the only one thinking this. Feeling a sense of camaraderie with Clicker, I flinched simultaneously. Damn, why should I be on the same page as Clicker? Clicker’s expression soured, probably thinking the same. He concluded to CEO Na.“Anyway, the person Director Kook can’t find this time must be dead.”Why would I be dead… I could be. Yeah, I could just say I’m dead. Then Yangsimless would immediately accept the reason he can’t catch the target. He’s persistent, so he’ll look for evidence, but I’m a Special Department employee. Checking dozens, hundreds of death lists daily was my job.Of course, I’d need help from the Population Management Office to forge documents, but luckily, I knew someone there. That person was Manager Yoo, rumored to be the strictest in the office’s history. Normally, I wouldn’t dare ask him for such a favor, but my life was at stake.Fortunately, I knew one of Manager Yoo’s secrets. I didn’t want to use it, but if it meant escaping Yangsimless, I’d even go to the King of Hell. Smiling at my detailed plan, I quickly hid my smile and greeted the two watching me.“I’ll be going now.”As I stood up to leave, Clicker hurriedly followed me out.“Excuse me.”“Yes.”“Are you going home?”“…”“Aren’t you going home?”Why is he asking where I’m going? I answered suspiciously, and he frowned.“I was going to tell you not to go that way because the east road is blocked due to an accident.”Oh, I thought he was following me to harm me. I smiled and thanked him, then turned to leave. But he called me again.“Excuse me. Are you walking back? By bike? Or bus?”“I’ll walk. Why?”“No reason…”He mumbled and walked away. It felt strange, but I just wanted to go home and finish writing. The new villainous supporting character had endless material. Yangsimless, you’ll be cursed by my readers for a month.Excited, I left the 4K office. My mind was so full of novel ideas that I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings. I thought I heard footsteps behind me and turned briefly, but dismissed it as my imagination. Still, I remembered Clicker’s words at the alley junction.As Clicker had mentioned, the path I usually took through the residential area was indeed blocked by yellow construction barriers. I craned my neck to see inside, but there didn’t seem to be any actual construction going on. Normally, I would have found it strange, but since Clicker had warned me, I didn’t question it and turned to head down the embankment by the river. It was the fastest route besides the alleyway.It was midday, and the embankment was mostly empty, with only a few elderly people using the exercise equipment. Not many people dared to exercise leisurely, knowing that Heartless could appear anytime and anywhere. Yet time heals all wounds, and as Heartless sightings in urban areas became rare, people began to let their guard down. It also helped that more people carried safety lights and firearms.But the real reason why this place was so tranquil had nothing to do with time passing or the presence of weapons. It was simply because the sky was too blue. The lush grass along the narrow riverside was a vivid green. There was a single road separating it, but here, it smelled of nature, and the breeze gently caressed my face like a fan. Sometimes, peace might be just this simple and insignificant.That’s why I felt so good. I could be content with such simplicity. I stopped walking and leisurely took in my surroundings. There were people on the embankment across the river too, but lost in thought, I barely noticed them and looked away. Despite the world being infested with Heartless, moments like this made me completely forget and relax. Of course, that’s how life goes.Even problems that torment you 24/7 can be forgotten for a moment. It doesn’t have to be in a place this peaceful; there are moments when your brain decides to take a break and zone out. In the past, these moments used to make me anxious. Why am I like this? If I let my guard down, Heartless could attack any moment. I shouldn’t forget the problems I’m worried about even for a second. Back then, I used to drive myself hard like that.Not that those times were bad. There’s no definitive way to live life. Back then, I believed that was the best way to live, so it was the right way to live. Now, being a coward and relaxing by looking at my surroundings is also the right way to live. If I felt so good that I started singing and dancing like a madman right here, it would be the same. Someone was actually living that life across the embankment.“Let it go! Let it go! Can’t hold it back anymore… mmph!”A madman had appeared in the peaceful embankment. And he was horribly out of tune. I wanted to look, but getting involved with a madman could lead to unnecessary trouble. While interest in Heartless had waned, the town still had its fair share of lunatics.Fortunately, the noise didn’t last beyond a few bars before stopping abruptly, allowing me to resume my thoughts. I was very satisfied with my current life. Now, this life felt like the right answer, making me certain that I no longer wanted my past life. I didn’t want to go back. Though I had sometimes wondered what I would do if I had to return to the past, I decided to think lightly of it.Would something serious enough to make me go back to my old life really happen? Such a situation would only occur if my life was in danger, but I was living safely. It was especially unlikely in peaceful places far from power plants like this. Unless someone deliberately threw danger in my path.“Ahhh! Run! Heartless!”An old man came running towards me, shouting. At first, I thought they were filming a movie. Wasn’t this place all about peace with blue skies, sparkling streams, and a gentle breeze? Why here? However, I hesitated reflexively at the word Heartless.“Heartless? Where…”“Run!”The old man shouted again and sped past me like a flash. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Heartless out of nowhere? And how could an old man be that fast? Despite my confusion, my body reacted first. I started running after the old man. I barely caught up to him and asked,“Sir, where is the Heartless…”“Shut up and run!”He sped up again. Lost him again. What, was he wearing Air Jordans? …He was. I widened my eyes. Those were a rare limited edition pair, with only a few hundred in the world. Did they coat the soles with eel extract? Determined to keep up with the old man’s pace, I asked again,“Where, gasp, is the, gasp, Heartless…!”The old man suddenly stopped. I did too, narrowly avoiding crashing into him.“…fine.”“Pardon?”“El Niño. It’s fine.”The old man mumbled the same words again, so I leaned in to hear. El Niño? Unusual weather phenomenon? Why suddenly…“Ah! Heartless!”Gah! I mentally screamed. Damn, almost burst my eardrums because of the old man.“Run!”“…”“It’s Heartless, run!”The old man warned again. But this time, I didn’t run as he said. I didn’t look around for Heartless. Instead, I took a step back. But that was it. Thud, a hand landed on my shoulder, preventing me from retreating further. The owner of the hand asked me,“Where are you going?”The old man’s eyes glittered with madness.* * *Seungjae was displeased with the situation. When had he ever liked anything Director Kook did? At least when working, there was a sense of duty in earning money and dealing with Heartless. But now, he was following Director Kook purely for personal revenge. And the target was a pathetic Special Department employee. Seungjae couldn’t understand. The guy who bragged about being a coward, why hadn’t Director Kook taken revenge on him yet?“This time, it’ll be for sure, right?”The person next to him glanced sideways. Meeting his gaze, Seungjae flinched. Why the scary look… Oh. Seungjae realized he had spoken formally. This guy believed he had to speak formally if the other person did, so he hated it when someone spoke formally to him when he wanted to speak informally. Regardless of age or rank. For Seungjae, who was younger than Director Kook, this was good but also more uncomfortable. But Seungjae chose discomfort out of fear of Director Kook’s grudge.“This time for sure?”“If you don’t believe it, go check for yourself.”“No, I’m just worried Director Kook might keep stressing over this…”“If you’re worried about my stress, do your job properly. Every payday, it pains me to give you your salaries.”Seungjae’s hand also trembled. Annoying bastard! He wanted to smack the guy’s head but barely held back, not wanting to get involved. He was being paid a hefty sum to tolerate this guy.“Of course it’s for sure. We’ll present Heartless right in front of him. He wouldn’t beg me to save him then, would he?”Director Kook’s confidence made me hesitate to argue. However, looking at the Special Department employee across the river, I couldn’t help but ask.“But, CEO. Doesn’t that guy need to know Director Kook is here to beg for his life?”How would he recognize them from across the river? He hadn’t turned around or shown any signs of noticing them since leaving the office. So even if a horde of Heartless appeared before the Special Department employee, it would be useless.“Of course, he knows I’m following him.”Is it instinct again? While I doubted, Director Kook offered a reasonable explanation.“How could he not notice someone as attractive and impactful as me following him?”“……”Seungjae turned his head again. The Special Department employee was enjoying his walk so much, he wouldn’t notice even if Heartless greeted him from beside.“But what if he doesn’t know…?”“Hey.”Gulp. Seungjae bowed his head again. Director Kook never considered others’ opinions, but how could one not be curious? Seeing the lingering doubt on Seungjae’s face, Director Kook clicked his tongue.“Watch this. It will make it clear.”What am I supposed to see? Before he could ask, Director Kook’s mouth opened wide. Very wide, and a loud noise erupted.“Let it go! Let it go!”Yikes! Seungjae covered his ears and stepped back. Singing “let it go” in broad daylight? What the heck… But soon his face turned pale. Director Kook wasn’t just crowing.“Can’t hold it back anymore-ore! Let it… mmph!!”Director Kook suddenly had his mouth covered and angrily pushed Seungjae’s hand away. Seungjae rolled on the ground like a leaf in the wind, his shock lingering.“What the heck are you doing?”What do you mean? Seungjae had simply rid the world of a villain ruining a great song. How dare he sing “Let It Go.” Not any other song, but “Let It Go,” a song that never failed to move him to tears. Seungjae got up from where he rolled, relieved that Director Kook had stopped singing. The song had been an assault on his ears. He would have to listen to the original version all day to soothe his traumatized ears.“I was worried about your throat. No need to waste your precious voice on a mere Special Department employee.”“That’s your reason?”“Sorry. Actually…”“I know. You were worried he might fall for my singing.”“……”Seungjae turned his head again. The Special Department employee was still in another world. He must have been deeply lost in thought to not even turn at the noise. Then Director Kook pointed at the Special Department employee and asked.“See, I was right, wasn’t I?”“About what?”“He knows I’m following him.”Without even looking? Seungjae sent a doubtful look. Director Kook responded to the skepticism.“He’s not even glancing this way on purpose. Pretending not to know.”On purpose?“I even sang, but he’s pretending not to hear to avoid looking. Can’t you see he’s gritting his teeth, trying not to turn around?”His calmness was like a Buddha’s.“He’s consciously not turning his head even though I sang. It’s proof he’s very aware of me.”Seungjae alternated looking between Director Kook and the Special Department employee. Despite his doubts, he knew Director Kook’s instincts about enemies had never been wrong.“Hmm, then Heartless just needs to show up.”“They will, soon.”Seungjae actually didn’t know where Director Kook had brought Heartless from. They wouldn’t follow orders, and did he put them in a capture cage? When Seungjae asked, Director Kook’s answer was simple.“I just let them loose, and they run.”They just run? As Seungjae wondered, an old man running fast came into view. Really fast. And what he shouted could be heard across the river.“Ahhh! Run! Heartless!”Instinctively, Seungjae’s hand moved to grab his gun but stopped. That old man’s face looked familiar.“Huh? Isn’t that the private request Director Kook took this time?”“Yeah.”Director Kook answered coolly. Seungjae’s face also turned cool, as pale as a sheet. The request Director Kook took had just come in that morning. The fact he caught a Heartless and chased the Special Department employee in half a day was shocking, but there was something more important. The identity of that old man.“CEO, even if he’s Heartless, using him as bait isn’t right. He asked for secrecy…”“When did I use him as bait? I just left him alone, and he ended up meeting Han Jemyung while running around.”The old man who had been running alone was now running with the Special Department employee behind him.“The Special Department employee wouldn’t know the old man is Heartless. Oh, he stopped.”The old man stopped running, and so did the Special Department employee. They seemed to exchange a few words. Though Seungjae couldn’t hear what was said, he clearly saw the Special Department employee retreat. It was finally the moment of truth.The Special Department employee, realizing the old man was Heartless, would beg for his life as Director Kook wanted. Why wouldn’t he? The old man grabbed his shoulder tightly as he tried to back away further. Now, fear would spread across the Special Department employee’s face… And then, it happened. The old man let go and just turned around.“What?”Seungjae stepped forward, puzzled. Why just turn around? Though the distance made it hard to see clearly, the unique aggression of Heartless had been evident on the old man’s face. So why didn’t he lunge at the Special Department employee? He had his hand on his shoulder. Meanwhile, the incredibly lucky Special Department employee jumped back and started running in the opposite direction like a madman, away from the Heartless.“CEO, the Heartless is escaping…”Seungjae’s urgent voice trailed off. Seeing the Heartless escape was no longer important. Gulp. He looked at Director Kook and involuntarily swallowed. Despite his expressionless face, Seungjae couldn’t get closer. He followed the escaping figure with his eyes.Director Kook wasn’t watching the Heartless. Only when the Special Department employee was no longer visible did he turn his body. Director Kook familiarly took out his axe and finally began chasing the old man. Seungjae followed him, holding his breath. The murderous intent from Director Kook felt especially strong.“Oh, crazy old man. I almost died.”* * *As soon as I stepped into my safe home, I let out a sigh of relief. It was like a bolt from the blue, encountering Heartless while leisurely walking on the embankment. And he was wearing limited edition Jordans. No wonder the old man’s steps were so light with those expensive shoes.But encountering Heartless was just bad luck. Wearing such precious shoes to run around as Heartless. I must be careful not to become Heartless. Well, it’s not something I can control, but still. Reflecting on the lesson, I opened my notebook. Since I was allowed to rest at home when there was no work, I decided to unleash my creative energy.Director Kook, I will make you despised by my thousands of readers. Although I actually have around 350 readers, if each of them curses three times, that’s over a thousand. I organized the pre-written content for a long time. With so many evil deeds to write, I typed away without pause. Hours had passed before I knew it, and I still had endless content to write.I planned to include scenes of extorting meal money in every episode, and just transcribing the selfish words I heard would fill the pages. I felt proud, thinking I could publish daily this month, when my editor called. It was unexpected. She usually didn’t call unless it was urgent due to expensive call rates.“Yes, PD.”[……]There was silence on the other end of the line.“Hello?”[Is this Writer Han?]Why is she asking? I asked why curiously, and after a pause, she repeated the question.[Is this Writer Han?]“Yes, what’s the matter? Is there a problem?”[Are you alright, Writer Han?]“Yes, I’m fine. Why are you asking…”Suddenly, something crossed my mind. I turned pale, stood up, and shouted.“Gasp, did my work get cut? They’re telling me to stop posting? The publisher said it’s too childish to handle…”[No, it’s not that.]Really? Trembling with fear, I confirmed several times before she finally laughed.[Yes, you can keep writing and posting. I’m just relieved that nothing happened. I thought you might have become Heartless.]“Me? Why would you think that?”[Well,]She hesitated, then lowered her voice.[A company that hunts Heartless requested member information.]“Me?”[No, it wasn’t for you, but the requested ID only clicked on your work. And the IP address matched yours… XXX is your sub-ID, right?]“Yes… But why request info for that ID?”Why me? That ID was only used to increase views on my novel and for nothing else. Except for sending a message to my fan, Soondungi, once. Could that have been the issue? But there was nothing problematic in that message. Her question came through my confusion. Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?“I’m not Heartless. You know I work for the Special Department.”[Yes, that’s why I contacted you first. So why did they request such data?]“Which company requested it?”[There was a business card… Sorry, I can’t find it. I’ll let you know when I do. They asked for the data by tomorrow, what should I do?]“You can give it to them. Just don’t mention that I’m a writer.”Assuring her it was fine, I ended the call. I was still puzzled after hanging up, wondering why they were investigating my ID. The ID was registered under a deceased person’s information. It seemed I’d need to visit the office tomorrow. It was probably a small company mistakenly investigating the deceased’s information.Dismissing it, I tried to log onto the site to check the reactions to the massive novel update I posted overnight. I was excited to see how people would react to the villain’s appearance. They would now pity the protagonist, Siwoo, even more. CEO Na would look more impressive because of the villain. Just as I was about to open the site…Ding-dong—At first, I wondered what the sound was. Living on the 15th floor, it was hard for solicitors or deliveries to come by, so it was unusual. It was the first time the doorbell had rung since I moved in. I went to the entrance and looked through the peephole. I met eyes with someone who had pressed their eye right against the other side.“Gasp!”I was startled and stepped back. What the heck?Bang, bang, bang, bang!The person outside pounded on the door.“Wh-who is it?”The pounding stopped. But the silence was more eerie. Afraid the person would look through the peephole again, I pressed myself against the wall.“Who-who is it!”“……”“If you d-don’t leave right now, I’ll c-call the police!”There was no response. Fearful, I held my breath and pressed my ear to the door, then cautiously took a step forward.Ding-dong—Gah! I screamed internally and stepped back again.“G-get lost! I’ve called the police…”“Is this Mr. Han Jemyung?”The intruder knew my name. And the voice sounded familiar.“Wh-who is it?”“It’s me.”Who’s “me”? How am I supposed to…! Tap. I took a big step back. Damn, it was Yangsimless. I tried to retreat further.“Mr. Han Jemyung. Instead of stepping back, why don’t you open the door?”Flinch. I stopped my retreating foot.“Wh-what brings you here?”“Are you hiding a Heartless inside? Please open the door.”Damn, damn, damn. I cursed internally and reluctantly opened the door. I barely cracked it open when suddenly it was yanked from the outside. Gah! As I stumbled back in surprise, Yangsimless stepped inside.“Director Kook, how did you…”He glanced around the interior above my head and then looked down at me.“That’s what I should be asking. How are you here?”How? Because it’s my house.“I received a tip that the person I’m looking for lives here. This person.”He showed me a sketch with his foot. Unbelievable. Did he really get a tip with this sketch? Which blind person…“Someone must have misunderstood.”“It was a tip from a security guard who spoke directly with this person.”That guard spilled everything. He patted my shoulder, telling me to hang in there. But I didn’t feel betrayed. Considering the trouble the guard must have gone through with this guy, I was grateful he held out this long.“Then why are you here, Mr. Han Jemyung? Where is this person?”“That person is dead.”The words slipped out before I knew it. I hadn’t even prepared any documents, so my voice trembled with panic. What if he asked for the name and body right now?“It seems like the person who lived here before I moved in. That person is dead. I-I work for the Special Department, you know. Of course, you’d be curious about who that person was. I-I’ll get you the documents soon. So, that person is dead, so…”“Understood.”“What?”“I said, understood.”It ended so anticlimactically. I almost asked, “Why?” He had been so persistent with the flyers and searching. Under my skeptical gaze, he took off his shoes and stepped inside. He slowly scanned the interior.“It’s shabby.”Even I couldn’t help but frown. Is it as shabby as your personality?“Why does a house you just moved into look like it’s been lived in for years?”He was someone you couldn’t let your guard down around. I responded calmly.“I’m naturally very shabby.”“It shows.”I looked at him suspiciously again. Did he already know everything and was just pretending not to, trying to provoke me to death?“Director Kook, if you have no business here, please leave…”“Shabby Mr. Han Jemyung, are you busy?”“I am.”“Why? Busy being shabby at home?”He was definitely more irritating than usual.“What does it matter to you if I lounge around or stand up in my own home?”“I’m curious. For someone who almost died, you seem to be lounging around quite shabbily.”While I hesitated, he stared at the entrance to my bedroom and then strode towards it. Wait, my notes and memos for my novel are spread out in there?! I hurriedly ran ahead of him and blocked the door.“What are you doing?”Though I blocked him, he kept walking towards the door. I had to back up until my back hit the door. Only then did he stop and look down at me.“Are you hiding a secret in this room?”“What does that have to do with you, Director Kook?”“So you are hiding something.”Damn.“There’s nothing. Why are you rummaging through someone else’s house?”“I have a bad feeling about this room.”Is he saying my novel is Heartless-level? What’s wrong with my novel?“Save those instincts for catching Heartless and stop messing around in someone else’s house.”“Is that my fault?”“What?”“It’s the fault of this house for making me want to mess around.”What kind of person is this? He glared at the door once more but eventually turned around.“Aren’t you going to offer something to a guest?”I wanted to serve him a bowl of poison, but I had nothing prepared. I just stared at him in disbelief as he turned his head.“Are you still in shock from almost dying?”“You keep mentioning that I almost died, but I don’t understand why.”“You were grabbed by a Heartless on the embankment.”Huh? How does he know that?“No need to pretend to be surprised. You must have known I was watching.”“What?”“Well, now you’re consciously aware of me, but you don’t want to admit you were pretending not to notice.”What is this lunatic talking about?“Director Kook, there seems to be a big misunderstanding.”“Misunderstanding? Is it a misunderstanding that you defeated a Heartless without lifting a finger?”At that moment, I made a mistake. I didn’t react at all. After a few seconds of silence, I forced a clumsy smile.“Yes, it’s a misunderstanding. I was just very lucky. I don’t know why the old man just left.”Yangsimless stared at me expressionlessly. I desperately racked my brain. I needed to add evidence to make my story plausible. I needed a reason why I was so lucky. I replayed the moment in my head and thought of something.“The old man seemed more like he had dementia than being a Heartless.”Right, the old man showed moments of Heartless aggression, but his words and actions were childlike, like someone with dementia. Fortunately, my guess seemed correct. Yangsimless’s eyebrows furrowed.“The old man had dementia, right? But he became a Heartless?”“……”“Yes. That’s why he let me go. He already had a brain disease, so even as a Heartless, he acted differently. There was a reason I was lucky. Haha-”I laughed heartily but then froze. A smile had appeared on Yangsimless’s previously cold face. Damn, why is he smiling?“A Heartless with dementia suddenly losing aggression could be a groundbreaking scientific discovery. Don’t you think?”“Well, maybe not a scientific paper.”“We should inform the Heartless research lab immediately. As a Special Department employee, you’re the most credible witness.”“Well, it might have been a coincidence.”“Coincidence? You said it was because of the old man’s dementia. Or does dementia not matter? Coincidence. A Heartless spared you by coincidence? Then the reason for that coincidence lies with you. Oh, is the reason in that room?”Yangsimless glared at my bedroom door. He was determined to open it and check inside. If this lunatic found out I was writing romance novels, how much more would he mock and belittle me? He took another step towards the door. I quickly blocked him.He pushed against me, trying to reach the door, but then stopped. I glanced up as I held him back. He stood still, looking down at me. Then he suddenly leaned his head towards mine. I realized. Gasp! My double crown! I shoved him away and stepped back. My heart pounded. Did he notice? But Yangsimless just frowned with a strangely stiff face.“What’s that smell?”“Smell?”“Your hair smells good. What did you wash it with?”“C-cucumber soap?”His eyes narrowed. He didn’t seem to know what it was. That’s why he was muttering nonsense.“Smells amazing.”“Director Kook. The old man spared me because of his dementia…”“Then let’s confirm it.”How?“Let’s ask his family or acquaintances if he showed any strange behavior after becoming a Heartless.”“……”“Let’s go.”“Why should I?”“If you don’t want to, I’ll go alone and find out why he grabbed your shoulder as if to kill you but then let you go. But if he’s a normal Heartless…”He took a step closer, narrowing his eyes.“I’ll thoroughly investigate not just that suspicious room but your entire life, piece by piece, to find what you’re hiding. Including the secret of the cucumber soap.”He turned around. I watched him walk confidently to the door. But before he put on his shoes, he turned back. I was already calling out to him.“W-wait a minute.”He looked at me expectantly. Speak, his arrogant expression said. I reluctantly opened my mouth. Forcing out words I didn’t want to say, my voice cracked.“I want to help with the investigation.”Yangsimless smiled triumphantly at me.“Since you volunteered, I won’t pay you a single penny.”* * *Seungjae thought that if the world ended, the rich would survive along with cockroaches. The house, spanning thousands of pyeong, was a paradise on earth. The large garden, like a forest, had ponds, ornate fountains, several pavilions, and even an artificial stream. At night, blue lights illuminated the vast house as brightly as day.Lights that others used for survival were mere decorations here. And more guards than lights protected the house like a fortress. It looked safer than a nuclear power plant. Was such tight security necessary? It seemed excessive.He had visited many wealthy homes, but none were as extreme as this. Of course, he didn’t mind the heavy security. It wasn’t annoying to see the rich spend their money. The owner of this house was the daughter of a major corporation’s chairman, and the person who hired 4K was the chairman’s son. And now, the daughter and son were discussing this matter. Like most siblings, they didn’t get along.“Are you crazy, Oppa? Hiring someone to kill our father! Are you out of your mind?! How could you do that to him?!”A middle-aged woman screamed. Her face was flushed red with anger, and her hands trembled. The man facing her, of similar age, looked annoyed.“Stop being unreasonable. What do you expect me to do when our father has become Heartless?”“It’s not even certain yet. We don’t know for sure if he’s Heartless. And as his children, we should have ordered to capture him alive, not kill him. Even if you’ve been waiting for him to die, this is too much!”“Watch your mouth.”“It’s not a lie. Everyone knows you’ve been threatening and intimidating him to take over the company. So when the doctor said he might be Heartless, you jumped at the chance to call hunters!”Tears welled up in the sister’s eyes. Her brother’s eyes twisted further in disdain.“Don’t be a hypocrite, damn it. You’re only making a fuss because if he dies now, you can’t change the will.”“What did you say?”“You can’t touch the will. You know that greedy old man would never split the company. So the company is mine. You better get ready to grovel at my feet. I’ll take everything you have and fire all your annoying employees. And this creepy house? I’ll demolish it in no time. I’m curious to see what your face will look like then.”He sneered at his sister in front of everyone. This wasn’t the first time, and she looked at him with pure disgust. The onlookers weren’t surprised by this exchange, except for one person.“Excuse me.”Seungjae looked to the side, annoyed by the voice calling him. The bothersome Special Department employee asked.“Are they half-siblings?”“Why?”“They’re being too harsh.”“……”“That guy called his sister a damn bitch. Didn’t you hear?”“Hey. Why are you whispering? It’s creepy. Everyone’s gone.”The Special Department employee mumbled awkwardly.“We’re not alone.”There were still guards around. Seungjae ignored him and turned on his tablet to check the house layout.“Excuse me.”“What now?”“Why are the guards glaring at us?”So annoying.“They’re hired by the chairman’s daughter. The son hired us.”“And?”‘And?’ I’ve explained everything.“You saw how they don’t get along. Satisfied?”“Why don’t they get along?”Seungjae frowned. Seriously, so many questions.“Why do you think? It’s obviously about money.”“Is it?”Why did Director Kook bring this guy along to be a nuisance…“I thought they were watching us like thieves. So they’re worried we might steal something.”This time, Seungjae didn’t think ‘annoying.’ Instead, he wondered, ‘What’s he talking about?’“Thieves?”“They’re watching us because they think we might steal something.”Seungjae finally looked at the guards. Some were indeed watching them closely. Initially, he thought they were just wary of another company, but their gaze had a different intent. The Special Department employee was right; they were being watched.“But from the argument, it sounds like the son is taking all the assets, yet the house is full of guards hired by the daughter.”“The daughter lived here with the father.”“Oh, so she genuinely cares about him.”Well, that’s true, Seungjae nodded but then frowned.“How do you know if she’s genuine? If you’re here to help, don’t speak carelessly.”“You’re right. I shouldn’t speak carelessly. It’s not like the great 4K would side with a money-grubbing son to kill his father.”For a moment, Seungjae understood Director Kook’s feelings. If the Special Department employee had been a bit more sarcastic, he might have developed a grudge. But the next question erased that feeling.“By the way, this house is huge. It took five minutes to drive from the gate to the building. The chairman could be hiding here, and we wouldn’t know. Right?”Seungjae silently checked the house layout on his tablet. Damn, how did he know?* * *Yangsimless, who had threatened me into infiltrating the Heartless chairman’s house, leisurely appeared as the sun was setting. His arrival made the guards’ gazes even more hostile. They were definitely watching us excessively. Either they were guarding against theft or had a history with Director Kook’s nasty temper.It was likely the latter. As soon as Director Kook arrived, he was summoned by the client. It was the large room where the siblings had been fighting fiercely. The walls were lined with photos depicting the company’s history, likely the chairman’s study. Photos of the chairman in his youth at construction sites in the US, South America, and Europe filled the room.The room was filled with memories of a past when the chairman operated on a global stage. Now, the room was occupied by a child who wanted to sever his father’s head. The chairman’s son, annoyed from waiting, smiled at Yangsimless. A true businessman.“It’s been a day already. Can you catch him?”“That’s not important. Catching a Heartless is easy.”“Then what is important?”