Chapter 74: Testing the Waters (1)
Hyeon-yul sat at his desk, looking at the computer.
He was transferring and examining the information from the cell phone he had taken from another villain involved in the highway bombing incident.
He had let them say their last goodbyes, and the chip had already been removed, so tracking was impossible.
Hyeon-yul examined the information one by one, looking through various details via messages.
It contained everything from simple tasks to private conversations they had among themselves.
What Hyeon-yul focused on was content related to corporations.
Villains already taken down, villains being taken down, villains in preparation.
They were categorized in several ways like this.
There were small ones to quite large ones, making him wonder if it was a gold mine.
The rank of the owner of this cell phone might be higher than he thought.
He found a recently shared message, and a corresponding photo was attached.
Linda.
Prunal.
The names and logos of the two companies were visible.
[Ah, here? They sell drugs here?]
[Isn’t Linda a cosmetics company, and Prunal a milk company?]
[0000 : Right.]
[0000 : I heard it’s there. That, what was it.]
[What is it?]
[0000 : They sell special drugs related to test subjects?]
Hyeon-yul’s eyes lingered on the spot for a moment.
‘Linda. Prunal.’
Hyeon-yul committed the two companies to memory.
[What? Didn’t that happen last time too? About, 4 months ago?]
[It happened then too, but is it real this time? We only destroyed innocent places.]
[No. Should I say innocent places.]
[Anyway, it’s true we tried to get close to drugs.]
[0000 : It seems real this time.]
[0000 : We’re investigating more closely now, so for now, standby.]
[Just hope it’s not.]
[0000 : Anyway, start with the work you’re doing now.]
[0000 : You got the data, right?]
[Got it.]
[Our team is investigating.]
[0000 : Keep up the hard work.]
[0000 : That’s the way for the boss, and the way for us.]
[Got it.]
The conversation ended there.
Hyeon-yul briefly looked away and recalled what the man who owned the cell phone had said before he died.
―The boss’ child was dragged away as an experiment subject and died. …So, wherever drugs are used, he interferes, erases it, or summons Black Eagle.
The place where that man belonged, unbelievably, seemed to be doing the work of erasing drugs.
Looking not only at this conversation but also at others, it seemed as if they were crazed to erase all drug factories existing in this land.
‘It’s peculiar.’
Hyeon-yul couldn't help but think so.
Villains must be killed.
That thought, limited to that boss, had loosened a little.
Leaving him alone might be useful, and he also thought that meeting that boss might lead him in the direction he wanted.
Having eliminated countless drugs, wouldn't he know where the drugs used on his own body came from?
‘I need to find out where he is first.’
He knew that had to be prioritized.
The next problem was what to do with the information he had just found out.
‘…Should I tell the team leader? What would happen if I did?’
Hyeon-yul couldn't make a judgment on that point.
If he tried to hide it, there were many overlapping parts, and the speed was also disappointing.
The number of things he had to do alone had increased too much lately.
He had resolved not to overwork himself, so he had to maintain a moderate pace.
But telling Hae-ryeon brought various concerns to mind.
He could even get caught for what he had done.
He thought Hae-ryeon had the power and intelligence to reach that level of information.
Hyeon-yul looked at the cell phone.
He knew all too well that trust was an absurd existence.
He also knew that relying on flimsy trust only increased uncertainty.
―Hyeon-yul. Someday, I hope you’ll try trusting someone other than me. I hope your world will become wider.
It was something Jeong-min had once said, but he couldn't follow it.
His world was always bound to be narrow, and thinking of anyone other than Jeong-min was an act that gnawed away at his life.
Nevertheless, Hyeon-yul felt strange about the fact that he was even worrying.
Hyeon-yul fiddled with the cell phone and then raised the corners of his eyes.
―It’s incredibly different. I can’t say it like that. But I can say it will be a little different.
‘……Let’s experiment.’
If this was a direction advantageous for survival, he was thinking of tapping it very carefully.
Now, he also needed to know how to use the power that Black Eagle possessed.
Hae-ryeon swept her hair up.
―I have something to tell you later. Could I see you a little earlier?
To hear such words from Hyeon-yul.
‘…What is he going to say?’
Hyeon-yul had already handed over the information on the test subjects.
She, too, had been continuously searching for the number REX―3333 among the test subject data, but it hadn't been found yet.
While organizing the effects and routes of drugs used at the experiment site, she found it insufficient and added where he had found it and what those villains were operating.
Since there were also villain factions that had already been erased, that notation was not omitted.
‘It’s a relief that it was organized properly, and it’s a relief that it’s completed today.’
Hae-ryeon let out a sigh of relief.
She hoped it would feel like some kind of gift.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of the knock, Hae-ryeon went outside.
“Welcome, Mr. Hyeon-yul."
"You worked too hard yesterday."
"It was your day off.”
“Not at all."
"I wasn’t the only one there.”
“I heard that you were the first to notice, Mr. Hyeon-yul?”
“It’s just that my senses are more developed than others.”
Having developed senses wasn't very good.
Hyeon-yul didn't continue his sentence.
“I’m asking just in case."
"Is it okay to carry out a mission even if I don’t come to work?”
‘Ah, is it because of yesterday’s incident?’
Recalling the movie theater incident, Hae-ryeon smiled slyly.
“Just because you don’t come to work doesn’t mean you’re not Black Eagle, Mr. Hyeon-yul, right?"
"As long as you’re Black Eagle, you can respond to an emergency situation at any time."
"Of course, it would be good if you report it afterwards.”
After informing him, Hae-ryeon observed Hyeon-yul’s expression.
His brow furrowed ever so slightly.
Did he not understand?
“So, are you saying it’s alright for me to move alone?”
Hyeon-yul asked if he had understood correctly.
Probationary period, coming to work and leaving work, various things swirled in his mind.
“Of course, I want to say no, but the law recognizes it as Black Eagle activity if the target is a villain."
"However, we team leaders never recommend it.”
“Is it because I could die?”
“That’s right."
"The probability is too high."
"One might step forward out of bravado or a sense of justice."
"But the results are so tragic that we mostly don’t tell them about this part.”
Hae-ryeon answered and then looked at Hyeon-yul with an anxious gaze.
Why did he say such a thing?
Why did he suddenly say he had something he wanted to say?
“……Mr. Hyeon-yul, by any chance, did you move alone?”
“Yes.”
Hyeon-yul answered.
“Are you hurt anywhere?"
"According to what I received from Teacher Jeong-min today, the medicine Mr. Hyeon-yul changed to isn’t right for you, is it?”
“Ah."
"It just trembles.”
Hyeon-yul tentatively extended his hand.
It was trembling.
Hae-ryeon’s expression hardened.
It was not a good sign.
Wasn't it the same as an injury?
“I haven’t gone to the teacher yet."
"The story might get long, so I came to the team leader first.”
“You can tell me."
"I’ll listen to anything.”
“Team Leader, you once told me that I was a little different.”
“That’s right."
"I also added that I couldn’t say it was completely different.”
“I cannot explain the power I possess."
"It’s full of strange things."
"So there are things I cannot tell you.”
It was a power that shouldn't have existed in the first place.
It was forcibly created through experiments.
Therefore, it was difficult to define it as anything.
Was the darkness itself him?
Or did he, who was forcibly holding his body together with medicine, not exist, and was he just a part of the darkness?
“When I went on a mission with Sister Chu Na-yoon, an enemy appeared, and I discovered something from that enemy.”
“…You discovered something?"
"I didn’t receive such a report.”
“I couldn’t say.”
“Because of the power you possess… is that it?”
“Yes.”
Hyeon-yul answered, then fell silent for a moment before opening his mouth again.
“If everyone knew all of my power, anyone would covet it."
"When they found out I was a test subject, the ending was always predictable.”
There was no lie in what he had just said.
It was the truth.
“They no longer see me as a person.”
Hyeon-yul said all this nonchalantly, as if talking about someone else.
He was so used to it that there was no other reaction he could offer.
Hae-ryeon’s eyebrows drew together.
“I’m not scared."
"Since Black Eagle cannot use the methods I’ve always used, I hid it in the hope that such an unfortunate incident would not occur.”
Those who coveted him.
Those who found out he was a test subject.
Everyone wanted him, and the end was always one.
Death.
But Black Eagle was a difficult place for that.
He had to work here.
No matter how much of a Black Eagle he was, he could kill once or twice if necessary, but a series of deaths beyond that would only create a situation where even internally, they would have no choice but to suspect him.
He did not want a situation where he was kicked out of Black Eagle.
“It was the same this time."
"I hid it because I couldn’t explain how I found it.”
“Is there more besides this?”
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me?”
“I am currently relying on an uncertainty close to a gamble."
"Requesting more than that is very difficult.”
Hyeon-yul looked at Hae-ryeon warily.
He had already made many decisions.
He couldn't offer more than that.
Wasn't it because it was Hae-ryeon, because she was the team leader of Black Eagle, that he had said this much?
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hyeon-yul."
"I didn’t mean to rush you."
"I just wanted to know if it was an incident I could cover."
"I won’t rush, I’ll do it slowly.”
Hae-ryeon realized she had been hasty.
The time needed to approach each person was different.
Hyeon-yul needed to be viewed over a long and narrow period.
Hae-ryeon pulled her body back.
“What did you hide from that day’s incident?”
“I realized that the villain who attacked the highway was different from the villain who planted the bomb.”
“They were different?”
“Yes."
"So I went to find out where they came from.”
“……Alone?”
Hae-ryeon’s expression hardened.
“I went alone.”
Hyeon-yul answered, taking out his cell phone.
“I obtained the cell phone of one of the employees there.”
Hae-ryeon no longer opened her mouth.
What was she thinking?
“I couldn’t find out who the boss of that faction was."
"However, that place was unusually eliminating drugs distributed by villains and punishing the villains who spread those drugs.”
“…Huh?”
He didn't know about other things, but what he just said sounded very strange.
Why would a villain do such a thing?
“I was also quite puzzled."
"I don’t know more than that."
"I believe you will investigate further details.”
Hyeon-yul pointed to the cell phone.
With Ju-hyeon’s ability, couldn't she catch something even bigger?
“I don’t think you said all this just to give me this information."
"What do you want from me?”
“Please allow me to conduct my own investigation.”
“No.”
Hae-ryeon said firmly.
“I will tell you what I will investigate and what can be gained from the results.”
“Still no, Mr. Hyeon-yul.”
At Hae-ryeon’s successive refusals, Hyeon-yul’s eyes turned cold.
“Mr. Hyeon-yul."
"Don’t look at me with bad eyes and listen.”
“Yes.”
“The problem Mr. Hyeon-yul is facing right now is that you can’t reveal how you obtained that information, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“I won’t ask how you obtained the information."
"Instead, just tell me whether you obtained it by killing or not."
"That’s enough."
"I’ll officially put it on a mission."
"Operate proudly as Black Eagle.”
“Why should I do that?"
"If I just hide the incident itself and bring the information…….”
“Because Mr. Hyeon-yul is no longer a villain.”
“…….”
Hyeon-yul was at a loss for words.
He reacted as if he had learned a fact he hadn't known.
But soon, Hyeon-yul returned to his usual self.
No matter how much one washed and washed, a cloth dyed black would not turn white.
Hae-ryeon must know that too.
“Mr. Hyeon-yul is Black Eagle."
"You might have had to do that all along until now, but now you don’t have to operate from behind the scenes."
"You can act as you please, Mr. Hyeon-yul."
"But don’t hide in the darkness anymore.”
Hae-ryeon had upright eyes.
A strong force he had never felt before seemed to be approaching.
He didn't know what this emotion was.
He didn't know well, but it was an answer he had never heard before.
“To be honest with you, I also covet Mr. Hyeon-yul’s power.”
“Did you covet it?”
The bewilderment disappeared.
Hyeon-yul’s gaze towards Hae-ryeon did not change.
“Of course."
"Mr. Hyeon-yul’s power is enough to speed up this force moving in the right direction.”
Because he had shown how much he could do now, it made her anticipate what he could do in the future.
He was a person with that much potential.
“I’m always grateful and always happy that Mr. Hyeon-yul came to our team, you know?”
Hae-ryeon smiled brightly and gently closed her eyes.
Even though it was a common saying, hearing it from Black Eagle was different.
They were saying the same thing, but he didn't know why it was different.
“……It’s because you don’t know me, Team Leader.”
Hyeon-yul explained.
He didn't know how something like that would come back to him later.
So he had to extinguish that emotion in advance.
Doubt surged.
Why didn't she doubt his words?
Why did she look at him without seeing him as different?
“We can get to know each other more."
"Mr. Hyeon-yul, you, Ms. Na-yoon, Mr. Shin-woo, and Mr. Ji-hwan don’t know each other well either, right?”
“It would be better for you to think of me as a component."
"Otherwise, you might regret it.”
Hyeon-yul warned, but Hae-ryeon smiled cheerfully.
“I don’t like that."
"Mr. Hyeon-yul is not a component in the first place."
"There’s no one to replace him.”
“…….”
Hyeon-yul was at a loss for words again.
It was difficult.
It was as difficult as when he first faced Jeong-min.
“Ah, shall we make a bet?”
Hae-ryeon raised the corners of her lips.
“Later, about whose words were more correct.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Isn’t it fun?"
"The winner buys a meal.”
“Isn’t it the loser who buys?”
“Because they won, they’re happy.”
“…I, I don’t know.”
“Anyway, Mr. Hyeon-yul."
"You worked hard."
"I didn’t even know you were struggling alone.”
He might say he wasn't, but he must have been tired.
How long had he been living like that?
“I’m sorry about that part, and thank you for telling me like this."
"From now on, I won’t send Mr. Hyeon-yul alone.”
Before Hae-ryeon’s words even finished, Hyeon-yul stood up from his seat.
But Hae-ryeon was calm.
Hyeon-yul seemed as if he was overwhelmed.
If he said more, he might burst from being overwhelmed.
‘This far.’
Hae-ryeon smiled inwardly.
She learned one more thing about Hyeon-yul.
He was clumsy not only with conversation but also with emotions.
Much, much more than she usually thought.
“Stop by Teacher Jeong-min’s place, Mr. Hyeon-yul.”
“…Yes, understood.”
Hyeon-yul, unlike usual, left the room with quick steps, and Hae-ryeon looked at her cell phone.
She smiled brightly.
He might not be aware of it himself, but that was the trust Hyeon-yul had given.
‘…Ah, this is so good.’
Hae-ryeon was happy, and happy again.
‘This time, this time for sure, …let’s protect it for sure.’
She clenched her fist tightly.