n

n

n“Good idea,” Min Sung said.

n“I hope you enjoy your meal.”

nHo Sung Lee bowed and then sat down in order to enjoy his meal.

nMealtime began.

nThe stir-fried glass noodles with rice contained abalone and the glass noodles themselves were so intense that the vast flavors quickly penetrated through the belly.

nBut Min Sung controlled his place so that he didn’t eat too quickly.

n

n

nHe enjoyed the flavors slowly and surely.

nLike Ho Sung Lee said, the peppers were spicy, helping to alleviate the greasiness of the dish.

nAnd the sweet sauce was probably a secret of Chef Woong Jang, but he definitely imitated it well.

nAt this rate, he was definitely a top pupil.

nHow much more could he grow if he officially learned?

nHo Sung Lee’s cooking was so impressive that just imagining it made him surprised.

n“You should be a chef, not a hunter.”

n“Stop it. You’re making me sad.”

n“Okay.”

nMin Sung focused back on the food.

n

n

nSeeing how he couldn’t stop thinking about how delicious it was while eating it, he was definitely impressive.

nHo Sung’s skills were improving by the day.

nHo Sung Lee was smart and quick-witted, but he was good at cooking as well. There was no better man to be his secretary.

nMin Sung enjoyed the delicious stir-fried glass noodles with rice and nodded.

n“Ho Sung.”

n“Yes?”

nHo Sung Lee, who was just about to start eating, put down his spoon and waited for Min Sung to continue.

n“If you happen to be captured as a hostage, don’t irritate them for no reason.”

n“… Pardon?”

n“I’ll save you.”

n

n

nHo Sung Lee stared at Min Sung blankly.

nMin Sung sensed it and nodded.

n“No need to thank me. I think you’re worth saving.”

n“Do you mean it, Sir?”

n“Yeah.”

nHo Sung Lee looked at Min Sung with admiration.

n“I’m surprised.”

n“Why?”

n“Before today, you had no intention of saving me if I was to be captured as a hostage.”

n“Of course.”

n

n

nHo Sung Lee stared at Min Sung and then dripped in a cold sweat.

n“I didn’t know you were so certain about it.”

n“Is there a problem?”

n“No. I’m just surprised. Anyway, I’m relieved. I’m glad you’ll save me if I become a hostage.”

n“But if you become a hostage, you’ll be the one to be disappointed because you’ll put me in a difficult spot.”

n“What am I supposed to do?”

nHo Sung Lee expressed his annoyance in a playful manner.

n“I’m saying, since you did well so far, keep up the good work. I’m going to keep eating. Shut up.”

nMin Sung went back to eating.

nHo Sung Lee smirked.

n

n

n“Don’t be so cautious. With my outstanding ability, I’ll surprise you just like I did today.”

n“I told you to shut up,” said Min Sung with a spoonful of glass noodles on his spoon.

nHo Sung Lee nodded with a scared face.

n“Go ahead, Sir.”

nBowl snickered from underneath the table.

n***

nA young boy glanced around while covered in blood and ran down the street.

nHe looked to be around 8 years old.

nDespite being exhausted, the boy used all his remaining energy to run in his bare feet.

nAnd as soon as he found the house he was looking for, the boy slowed down. He opened the door and went inside.

nThe boy caught his breath as he glanced around him.

nWhen a young woman saw the boy covered in blood, she gasped and dropped the bowl she was holding.

nThe bowl broke against the floor.

n“…”

nIn the midst of silence, the boy and the woman’s eyes met.

nAfter that, the woman realized who the boy was.

n“Alfie?”

nAs soon as the woman asked, the boy nodded and approached the woman with a gulp.

n“I heard the soldiers got rid of the Gorgo Family. Is that true?”

nThe boy named Alfie looked up at the woman and asked.

nThe woman wiped the boy’s face and looked at him with worried eyes.

n“What happened to you?”

nThe woman asked.

nAlfie looked up at the woman with teary eyes and expressed his urgency.

n“I have to meet them. Where are they?”

nAlfie asked in desperation.

nThe woman sighed. She looked down at Alfie and put a new wet cloth in the child’s hands.

n“Wait here and wipe off the blood. I’ll go talk to them.”

nThe woman tapped the boy on the shoulder and went upstairs.

n***

nAfter finishing his meal, he took a rest before taking off again.

nHe heard a knock, and when Min Sung opened the door, a female waitress with freckles stood in front fo him in fear.

n“What is it?”

nWhile the waitress hesitated, he heard someone coming up the stairs.

n“Sir… Sir!”

nThe little boy laid down in front of Min Sung’s feet and grabbed onto his pants.

nMin Sung looked down at the boy with irritation.

n“I’m begging you. Please save my mother. I’m begging you! Please!”

nThe boy pleaded with his head on the ground.

nAlfie was trembling.

nNot long afterward, Ho Sung Lee appeared in front of the waitress, Alfie, and Min Sung.

n“What’s going on?”

nHo Sung Lee asked with a suspicious face.

nMin Sung sighed and gestured toward Alfie with his chin.

n“Listen to his story.”

nMin Sung then went downstairs.

nHo Sung Lee approached the boy covered in blood and kneeled in front of him to be at eye-level.

n“What’s your name?”

n“Alfie,” replied Alfie with shaking eyes.

n“Have a warm cup of tea with me.”

nHo Sung Lee helped him up and then went down to the first floor with the waitress.

nHo Sung Lee got a table near the window and sat across from Alfie.

nHe had already asked the waitress to bring them some tea.

nAlfie, who was sitting in a chair, looked around with his focus on various parts of the space around him.

nThat proved how anxious he was.

n“Tell me. What’s the matter?”

nHo Sung Lee asked in a kind voice.

nAlfie’s small eyes began to well up.

n“Pheus’ group killed my father and took my mother and sister!”

nAlfie said in a tearful voice.

nHo Sung Lee knitted his brows and stared right at Alfie.

n“Who’s Pheus?”

nAlfie explained what he knew. From what he heard, it sounded like Pheus was the leader of Haikman Port City.”

n“Do you know why he took them?”

nHo Sung Lee cautiously asked.

n“They said they were going to be used as a sacrifice.”

nHo Sung Lee squinted his eyes.

n“… Sacrifice?”

n“Yes. He took them to use them as a sacrifice.”

nHe asked a few more things, but that was all Alfie knew.

nHo Sung Lee placed the warm tea that the waitress brought in front of Alfie and then got up to find Min Sung.

nMin Sung was already at a street stall nearby eating something.

nWhen he looked closely, he saw that Min Sung was eating fruit.

n“Sir,” called Ho Sung Lee as soon as he got near.

n“This is good. It tastes so new to me,” said Min Sung as he looked down at his fruit with a serious face.

nHo Sung Lee contemplated.

nHe wasn’t sure if he should tell Min Sung about it or not.

nAfter all, he only acted on things with clear objectives.

n“What is it?”

nMin Sung asked as he looked up at the sky lit with the red sun while chewing on his red fruit.

n“In order to have a sacrifice, Pheus killed that boy’s father and took his mother and sister. It sounds like the father died while trying to protect his family.”

nHo Sung Lee only said what needed to be said.

nHe didn’t add any personal perspectives to the story.

nMin Sung was always the one to make decisions, so it wasn’t wise to add his emotions.

nFor that reason, Ho Sung Lee stopped there and waited for Min Sung to respond.

n“Who’s Pheus?”

nMin Sung asked after taking another bite of his fruit.

n“I asked that question as well. It sounds like he’s the leader of Haikman Port City. He’s a ranker.”

nMin Sung threw away his stick and picked up another one.

n“Pay for it.”

nMin Sung chewed on his fruit while walking.

n“Where are you planning to go?”

n“To Pheus.”

nHo Sung Lee looked at Min Sung with a straight face and then paid the owner of the street stall before chasing after him.

n“Please wait at the hostel. I’ll look into Pheus’ location and report back to you.”

nMin Sung chewed on his fruit and admired the scenery around him while nodding at Ho Sung Lee.

n***

nHis hands were sticky from eating fruit.

nAs soon as he entered the hostel after washing his hands, the boy who was still covered in blood stood while trembling at the entrance of the restaurant.

nMin Sung stared at Alfie.

n“… Are you going to help me?”

nAlfie asked with eyes of desperation.

n“I’m not sure if I’m helping but something like that.”

nMin Sung walked to the window. He sat down and ordered a coffee.

nThe boy followed him and expressed his gratitude.

n“Go away,” said Min Sung with cold eyes.

nThe boy gulped. He looked at him in trust and then left the hostel.

nAnd not long afterward, Ho Sung Lee came back to the hostel.

n“I find out where Pheus is,” said Ho Sung Lee with a nervous face.

n“Let’s leave after this cup of coffee.”

n“Yes, Sir.”

n“Don’t just stand there. Sit down.”

nHo Sung Lee bowed and pulled a chair for himself.

n“Phew. Anyway, Beatrice is a mess.”

n“…”

n“Even if Pheus dies, the vicious cycle will continue, and we’ll end up in our own land. Then new scumbags will take over Haikman Port City again.”

n“That applies to anywhere,” said Min Sung as he stared out the window with blank eyes.

n