Chapter 16: I Don’t Like Clingy Things
There was no way he was caught on CCTV.
Hyeon-yul was certain.
He could tell from that guy's expression that he had come with evidence that didn’t exist in the first place.
“……”
The manager shut his mouth.
It wasn't there.
That villain bastard hadn't been recorded.
He thought it was absurd.
Someone had died, yet no one had entered.
He must have used some kind of power.
“It seems like a simple guess.
I didn't understand why you suspected me in the first place, but now I get it.
You’re the ones who badmouthed me and spread rumors.”
Hyeon-yul spoke, wiping the remaining blood from his mouth as if he knew everything.
“Suddenly, wh-what are you talking about!”
“You’re treating me like the culprit because you feel guilty, aren’t you.
It’s strange how you’re pushing me without any other reason right now.”
“Because you’re a villain!
You must have used your powers to avoid the CCTV and not get recorded!”
That villain came in as a Black Eagle, not a White Sparrow.
Naturally, he definitely had some kind of power.
“If we’re jumping to conclusions like that, then wouldn’t any Black Eagle be capable of it too?”
Shin-woo said with a chuckle.
All Black Eagles possessed powers.
Borrowing those words, it was only right that everyone should be included.
“While you’re at it with the suspicion, why don’t you include me too?”
Shin-woo’s smile turned sharp.
The black wall he summoned could even pierce glass windows.
Why couldn’t he be a suspect?
“Ah, why don’t you just list all of us in Team 3 as suspects?
That would be much easier.”
“Are you defending that guy right now?”
The manager’s face distorted.
“Just like you’re acting for your colleague, we’re speaking up for our colleague too.”
The corners of Shin-woo’s mouth lifted.
The manager, who had hesitated, also stared straight at Shin-woo as if he had lost his mind.
As the atmosphere grew more tense than expected, Hyeon-yul quietly stirred the waters.
“That’s a very interesting guess.
So, what time was that?”
“7:35 PM.”
The manager didn’t hesitate.
Instead, he looked at Hyeon-yul as if he were stupid.
Hadn’t he dug his own trap?
“Where were you at that time?”
The manager's brightened eyes and the slowly spreading smile belonged to someone who had already grasped victory.
How foolish.
“Manager, you’re making a mistake right now.”
While everyone waited for Hyeon-yul’s confession, Shin-woo sternly warned everyone, including the manager.
It seemed as though Hyeon-yul’s innocence had already been proven.
“Do you think everyone associated with you will be safe?”
Shin-woo spoke heavily, then gave Hyeon-yul a look that conveyed trust.
It was very burdensome.
Because it was true that he had killed him.
However, there was only one thing Hyeon-yul could say.
“Around that time, I was having coffee and cake at a cafe near my house.
I’ll tell you the name of the place, so you can request they check the CCTV.”
Although he didn't mention it, the distance between the place where he killed the guy and the cafe was considerable.
“You must have… left your seat!”
The manager raised his voice, trying to suppress his fluster.
No way.
“I did leave.”
“See!”
“I stopped by the restroom briefly to wash my hands.
Is something wrong with that?”
“……What?”
“And there’s someone who saw me there too.
Are you going to say I arranged that as well?
Or perhaps you’ll claim I orchestrated the mission itself?
I didn’t realize you rated my abilities so highly.
Should I say thank you?”
Hyeon-yul stared intently at the manager, his tone sarcastic.
He couldn't say anything.
“How far do I have to go?”
Hyeon-yul asked, tilting his head slightly.
“There’s no need.
I also know your whereabouts from yesterday because I received a text.
You were eating cheesecake at that time, weren’t you?”
Hyeon-yul was surprised by Shin-woo's words.
He hadn’t expected Na-yoon to send such details to Shin-woo.
“If you find it hard to believe, take a look.”
Shin-woo showed the text message.
[Chu Na-yoon : Yaaaaaaah]
[Chu Na-yoon : Earlier, around 7:30? Saw Mr. Hyeon-yul while I was on a mission? He was right in my scope, but I probably shouldn't text him, right? If I ask if he likes cheesecake, he'll run away, right? If I say I know a really delicious place, he'll freak out, right?]
[Chu Na-yoon : Yaaaaah why are you ignoring me when I'm looking????]
[Chu Na-yoon : Wanna die???]
“Do you see?
If you’re thinking of saying this was staged too, go ahead.
That the villain and we jointly planned the mission, that we’re in cahoots with the police who connected the mission, ah.
And that the manager who gave us the news is also in on it?
I’m curious too, just how far does this conspiracy reach?”
Seeing Shin-woo’s phone, the manager froze on the spot.
As if the strength had drained from his legs, he soon collapsed onto the floor.
It wasn't true.
It really wasn't him.
Only then did his face turn deathly pale.
“Isn’t it enough to gossip behind someone’s back, is it fun making a fool out of someone so openly?”
As if addressing everyone, Hyeon-yul raised his voice and slowly approached the manager.
“Do none of you know the meaning of ‘moderation’?”
He looked at each of the gazes fixed on him.
Hyeon-yul's gaze lingered on one person for a brief moment.
The Black Eagle who had been talking to the manager he killed last time was also loitering here.
‘You’re next.’
This time it was just the manager, but why couldn't he kill a Black Eagle too?
‘…You should have known when to stop.’
They were the ones who crossed the line first.
His livelihood was almost taken away; who wouldn't lose their temper?
“Seeing this kind of behavior, who would think this place is the Black Eagle’s Nest?
I really don’t see any difference between a villain and you.”
Hyeon-yul narrowed his eyes.
He looked like he had something more to say but stopped.
He just wore an expression of utter disgust.
“Especially you.”
Hyeon-yul grabbed the guy’s collar.
He smirked briefly.
I won.
As the man’s face contorted, Hyeon-yul released his collar and stood up.
“I won’t tolerate this anymore either.
I’ll file a formal complaint, so feel free to keep chattering if you want.”
Hyeon-yul scoffed and left the spot.
‘The rumors will settle down soon.’
All that remains is the instigator.
Since he had already drawn his sword, he intended to clean things up neatly.
Hyeon-yul trudged towards the bus stop.
It was the path he always walked, but his legs felt particularly heavy today.
—These rotten bastards, really.
Seeing Hyeon-yul, Hae-ryeon suddenly cursed without filter, making him flinch, wondering if he was getting fired.
—…Sorry.
That wasn’t directed at you, Mr. Hyeon-yul.
It was meant for those guys.
She reacted as if she had been there.
—I’m going to formally request the police investigate this case, so Mr. Hyeon-yul, you should head home now.
I’ll contact you with updates or anything else as they come.
Rest up and collect yourself at home.
Seemingly busy, Hae-ryeon just said that and left.
‘She doesn’t suspect me.’
Hyeon-yul found it strange.
Both Hae-ryeon and Shin-woo should know what kind of power he possessed.
‘Do they just not want to suspect me?’
Either way wasn't bad.
Conveniently, Na-yoon had even seen him.
The cafe's CCTV was also solid proof.
“…Hey.”
It was a voice he seemed to have heard somewhere, but Hyeon-yul pretended not to notice and kept walking.
He was too tired to get involved with anyone else.
“Hey, Seo Hyeon-yul.”
Only then did Hyeon-yul stop walking.
When he turned his head, Ye Ju-hyeon, the Team 7 leader, was there.
“Yes. Please speak.”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
Ju-hyeon, with an annoyed expression, held her phone and was rapidly moving her thumb again.
What on earth was she typing?
“No. That wasn't it, but because of today’s events, I thought someone else was calling me.
You already know about it too, Respected Team Leader.”
“It was utter crap.”
Ju-hyeon stopped her finger movements and frowned.
They even tried to frame him for murder.
They crossed the line way too far.
“What is it?”
“What do you think?”
Ju-hyeon lightly shook the phone in her hand.
“You, come see me for a moment.”
“Right now?
If it’s something we can discuss over the phone……”
“I don’t have your number?”
“But you’re the Team Leader.
Aren’t you able to access things like phone numbers?”
“What are you talking about…? That’s……”
The words ‘invasion of privacy’ almost came out of Ju-hyeon's throat, but she stopped herself.
Would such a concept exist in a company run by a villain?
Ju-hyeon gestured with her head and moved away.
Hyeon-yul looked longingly at the bus but reluctantly followed her.
Many eyes were on them, but Hyeon-yul ignored them.
Ju-hyeon stopped near the back door of the central building.
It was more secluded than expected, not a place people usually came to.
But just in case, Hyeon-yul looked around.
“Nobody’s here, and even if they were, they can't hear.”
At Ju-hyeon's words, Hyeon-yul looked at the CCTV.
Its light was already off.
“Is that so?”
“You, where did you get this?”
Ju-hyeon shook the phone.
“As I told you then, I stole just one of the phones belonging to the manager who was tailing me to screw me over.”
“Why did you think to steal it?”
“Them moving as a group was suspicious.”
At Hyeon-yul’s answer, Ju-hyeon thought, ‘As expected.’
She had recognized it when he, a mere newbie, had boldly made a request to her, a team leader.
‘A newbie with good instincts.’
Ju-hyeon scoffed lightly and then opened her mouth.
“Looking at it, there were many deleted messages.
I recovered and checked them, he was colluding with someone.”
Ju-hyeon took a phone out of her pocket and held it out.
[SDSF213 : Lure the Eagles' movements this way.]
[SDSF213 : I've sent the bait, so they won't know.]
[SDSF213 : Just send that thing over here properly.]
Hyeon-yul's brow furrowed as he calmly read the texts.
His gaze fixed on one of them.
That thing.
What could that be?
It was a term commonly used in the company run by the villain.
‘……Test subject.’
Hyeon-yul slowly raised his head.
Anyone could see these were texts colluding with a villain.
‘Is that why they couldn’t figure out the tertiary location?’
—Figuring out the tertiary location might be difficult.
The place got busted because a villain we've never seen before attacked.
Hadn’t Na-yoon told him?
That a never-before-seen villain had attacked.
‘Information was already leaking.
...Right.
Setting that aside, why collude with a villain?’
Putting everything else aside, Hyeon-yul couldn't understand why someone would join hands with a villain in the first place.
Did they naively think the villain would actually grant their wishes?
‘Ah, were they tricked because they were foolish, like me?’
Since the person was dead, he couldn’t hear an explanation, but Hyeon-yul could reach a neat conclusion.
Trusting a villain was foolish, and joining hands with a villain was even more foolish.
“You discovered this. And we learned a shocking truth.”
Ju-hyeon said with a grave face.
This clearly revealed that there was someone inside colluding with villains.
The relationship between Black Eagles and White Sparrows was built on trust, and this system was now on the verge of being severely shaken.
“And the manager who died this time was also involved.”
“Him too?”
“Yes.
He was in the deleted chat room.
He was one of them.”
‘…What the. Turns out I did a good job killing him.’
Hyeon-yul swallowed the smile trying to break through.
“What do you think of this situation right now?”
When Ju-hyeon asked, Hyeon-yul looked at her.
‘What does she mean, what do I think?’
He didn't know what she meant by that.
The villain simply acted like a villain, and the guy who got used was just foolishly used.
What was so special about that?
‘…But I shouldn’t think like this.’
101 Ways for a Smooth Office Life.
According to that book, when a superior asks, giving a plausible answer is efficient.
In other words, the answer was to say what Ju-hyeon wanted to hear.
Ju-hyeon was currently viewing this situation very seriously.
“I view it seriously.”
Hyeon-yul began speaking heavily.
At his answer, Ju-hyeon’s eyes held a hint of expectation.
“This is something that could shake the trust between Black Eagles and managers.
However, I believe that’s not the important part.”
“Not the important part?”
“If a Black Eagle were also involved in this incident, wouldn’t the story change completely?”
“…What?”
Ju-hyeon’s face immediately contorted.
Whether she hadn't wanted to think this far, or hadn't intended to, her expression became incomparably graver than before.
‘Tough luck. A Black Eagle is already involved.’
Hyeon-yul knew the answer.
Because he was his target.
“You, what do you mean by that?”
“I expected things internally to get noisy when I joined.
But today’s incident, isn't it clearly an organized move?
I don’t think it’s a simple matter.”
“…That’s true.
They framed you for murder, didn’t they?
Just enough to get you kicked out.”
“I know this kind of tactic.”
“What is it?”
Ju-hyeon asked immediately, then seemed to realize her mistake and belatedly added something else.
“I wasn’t asking out of curiosity, I meant let’s borrow your knowledge.”
“It’s about causing internal division within the organization.”
“Division?”
“Yes. For internal division, aren’t I the most suitable target?”
Hyeon-yul slightly raised his eyes.
If not that, would there be any reason to ostracize him?
“Who knows about this fact?”
“Just you and me.”
“Haven’t you told Team Leader Hae-ryeon? Shall I tell her?”
“No. I was planning to. It’s right for me to be the one to say it.”
It was a huge deal, and she had merely informed Hyeon-yul first because he, at least, needed to know.
“Do you know strange things have been happening since you came here?”
“I understand you suspecting me.
But I’m the guy who even cut off his boss’ head because I wanted to get in here.
Is it likely that someone like me would destroy this place?
No matter what happens, I will protect this place.”
Hyeon-yul stated it clearly.
As long as they honored the employment contract, he would always be on the Black Eagle’s side.
Ju-hyeon still looked at Hyeon-yul with suspicion in her eyes.
“Don’t forget I’m always watching you.”
“I won’t forget.
Then, may I leave first?”
“Yes.”
Hyeon-yul bowed and then hastened his steps as if he had no lingering attachments.
Ju-hyeon touched her phone screen with her finger.
‘They said it looked like marks from being mauled by a beast.
I heard he uses a dagger.
Who on earth is the culprit?’
Ju-hyeon still felt quite uneasy about the fact that Hyeon-yul used to be a villain.
‘……Who killed him?
Did that newbie bastard kill him?’
The man stopped biting his finger and grabbed a nearby liquor glass.
As soon as he heard the news that the White Sparrow had died, he came right out.
He had just taken paid leave yesterday, worried something troublesome might happen.
If it was a place with many people, that guy wouldn’t be able to act recklessly.
Loud music assaulted his ears.
Just as the lights spread so bright they hurt his eyes, he felt a searing pain in his abdomen.
Stab.
“Good evening.”
Hyeon-yul appeared, stabbing the abdomen of the Black Eagle he was here to dispose of.
“……?”
The Black Eagle didn't know what had just happened to him.
“Were you trembling nicely like an idiot?”
Hyeon-yul whispered in his ear.