#8. Are They Actually Worried About Me?

Lee Mu-hyool felt nothing but immense guilt, recklessness, and blinding anger toward himself whenever he thought of Hyeon-sin.

"That kid probably doesn't even have a proper place to go now..."

Because he had to stay behind to care for Seo Si-on, the most dangerous operations were always left entirely to Hyeon-sin, leaving Mu-hyool trapped in absolute self-reproach.

"Is he not coming because our place is too small? Or did someone manage to follow him?"

"He's the type to strictly vanish and hide the moment a mission ends..."

Even though the two sat right across from each other at the dining table, their deep anxiety for Hyeon-sin kept them from even lifting their utensils.

"I feel like Hyeon-sin is taking on all the agonizing missions alone because I'm injured."

At Si-on's guilt-ridden remark, Mu-hyool rolled up his sleeves and pushed the bowl of stew closer to her.

"Don't you know the highly capable Agent S? He's a monster who can easily take on an entire army by himself."

Mu-hyool had always believed in that absolute fact. Hyeon-sin was an operative equipped with top-tier combat skills, and she was incredibly brilliant, possessing an exceptional talent for always anticipating what lay ahead.

"Still, he's the one suffering the most. Yet he always splits everything precisely with us down to the penny. It just makes me feel so terribly sorry..."

"We provide all the information, so don't lose sleep over that. Eat up, Si-on. You need your food before you can take your medicine."

Mu-hyool forced himself to ignore the dark shadow hanging over Si-on's face and took a large spoonful of rice.

Silence settled deeply between the two as they pictured Hyeon-sin fighting a lonely battle somewhere out there, and the pace of their meal slowed down to an absolute crawl.

= = =

Hyeon-sin felt like she was going to lose her mind at any second.

She hated herself to death for stepping foot in this place today. Who on earth were these extravagant men to go around digging thoroughly into someone's personal debt details?

"Kim Gang-mu, you really did a terrifyingly thorough job with the investigation. That woman actually had debt?"

"It looks like her parents set up the orphanage with a one-billion-won collateral loan, and they took out several hundred million more to keep it running after that. The wild part is, even though she vanished without a trace, she's been paying off that debt with absolute precision."

The sheer accuracy of Gang-mu’s words caused Hyeon-sin's mouth to drop open automatically.

"Was that woman a debtor? My, my."

The cold, cynical breath that escaped from Gye-yeong’s lips brushed past Hyeon-sin's cheek, leaving a visceral chill.

"Gye-yeong, don't even get me started. She's actually cleared a massive chunk of that debt. If she just takes a proper payout from us and hands the property over, she'll be instantly liberated from the crushing responsibility this ghost of a building inflicts on her. I really can't fathom what she's thinking."

A ghost of a building. Hearing them ruthlessly tear her place apart right in front of her face felt like a blade hacking at Hyeon-sin's heart. Yet, it wasn't entirely wrong. That suffocating sense of responsibility was exactly what pushed her onto the front lines of danger, serving as the sole engine that allowed her to endure each passing day.

"She'll come contacting us first once she's backed further into a corner."

"In any case, it's quite intriguing. It seems that woman lives a brutally fierce life, using whatever means necessary."

Listening to the conversation between Gang-mu and Gyoo-ryeon, Hyeon-sin slowly raised her head to look at them. Something hot welled up violently within her chest, but she mastered her emotions with superhuman patience. The three arrogant men were conversing as if playing a game, completely oblivious to the fact that the person in question was standing right under their noses, and Hyeon-sin was in no position to ever let her guard down.

"Gye-yeong, make sure you never show an ounce of sympathy. Women like that are always the most dangerous. When people are plagued by poverty and have their lives warped by money, their nature turns vicious, making them capable of absolutely anything."

Gang-mu delivered his sharp venom, his lips twisting into a cruel angle.

"Wow, our Kim Gang-mu is exceptionally terrifying today. I know, but while Gye-yeong is cold-hearted, I just can't do that. Getting deceived here and there is practically my specialty, you know."

"Han Gyoo-ryeon, that's exactly why you need to stay glued to my side for the rest of your life."

"Haha, see, my darling really is the best."

Gye-yeong maintained a heavy silence, while Gyoo-ryeon and Gang-mu bantered back and forth like a perfectly matched couple. But Hyeon-sin felt a searing pain as if her heart were being carved out, making it unbearable to listen to their voices any longer.

It was true that her life had been twisted by poverty, it was true that she currently lived a life saturated with deception as an agent, and it was undeniable that she lived a pitiful existence, constantly on the run from someone every day.

Stripped of even the will to argue back, Hyeon-sin slowly turned her body around. She had nowhere specific to go, but she wanted to escape their arrogant words even a second faster. Right then, Gyoo-ryeon stepped forward and patted Hyeon-sin on the shoulder.

"Let's see here. Hey kid, where exactly are you staying these days then?"

"Don't tell me you don't even have a place to sleep?"

"The orphanage was his home, but since it burned to the ground, it's only natural he's got nowhere to go, right?"

"Ah, dear me."

Only then did Hyeon-sin realize that Gye-yeong’s gaze, which had been silently evaluating her, had remained fixed on her the entire time, causing a violent shiver to run through her body.

"Well... I just go to PC cafes... or sleep at a friend's place."

"My, my. So you don't even have a fixed roof over your head? Then what money are you using to run that motorcycle?"

"I do various odd jobs... taking whatever comes my way to earn cash. I have to make a living, after all."

Having been driven out of the flathouse area and reduced to a life that was practically homelessness, Hyeon-sin offered the exact type of excuse a kid her age would typically throw out.

"Well, your big brothers here are almost done with everything. Once we acquire this spot, we're going to completely level this entire zone and open it up splendidly all the way to the main road."

"..."

Gyoo-ryeon’s confident boast made the world before Hyeon-sin go entirely dark. If they had already bought up all the surrounding properties, it was as clear as day how tenaciously they would hunt after this orphanage land.

The old woman told me to hold out even if it kills me... Is this truly the absolute limit?

Hyeon-sin stared at the hideously charred orphanage building with completely empty eyes, harboring a heavy despair. But suddenly, Gyoo-ryeon raised his arm, and the silver cufflink at the edge of his suit sleeve flashed coldly.

The chilly metallic sensation when his hand lightly brushed across Hyeon-sin's shoulder spiked her tension to its absolute peak.

"Hey there, cutie."

"Yes?"

Gyoo-ryeon whispered right into Hyeon-sin's ear like a sweet temptation. Unable to fathom what his intentions were, goosebumps broke out all over Hyeon-sin's body. Right then, the corners of Gyoo-ryeon’s lips curled up mischievously. It was an attitude resembling a clever cat teasing a mouse before eating it, yet he unexpectedly extended his hand out to Hyeon-sin with a soft demeanor.

"Want to come along with this big brother? You should work a part-time job at our company. I'll provide you with a perfectly clean place to stay, no questions asked."

Hyeon-sin wondered what kind of nonsense he was spouting at a time like this, intending to flatly refuse and turn away. However, Gyoo-ryeon leaned his head in even deeper, gripping her shoulders firmly to keep her in place.

"Don't worry, I won't give you a hard time. Just consider it receiving some benefits from our company's corporate social responsibility program."

From that moment on, Gyoo-ryeon began rattling off a series of extraordinary, highly tempting conditions that were bound to catch Hyeon-sin's ear.