Vol 6 Chapter 38

After hearing Kapros's words, Je-hwan's mouth opened as if dumbfounded for a moment, but soon he smiled slightly and his eyes showed a small light of happiness. His hair, shimmering a bright blue in the sunlight coming through the kitchen window, looked beautiful.

"Alright."

The "fighting" method was carried out just like that time, the moment when they first connected emotionally - Kapros extending his hand first and Je-hwan reaching out with the opposite hand, gripping firmly as if arm wrestling. The firm resolve felt in their clasped hands seemed to say not to even think of approaching without proper determination.

While challenges had always been something Kapros liked, this time the subject was a person, so he couldn't be certain how it would turn out. He smiled silently as he released his hand.

"It's fine if you come later, but I don't know how long I'll be playing the game. Tell me exactly when you'll come."

While in MIST, Kapros couldn't know if someone was outside his house. Until now, he had never had visitors, but today would be different. Hearing Kapros's words, Je-hwan fell into thought for a moment.

"The

n at six o'clock."

"Six o'clock... alright."

And unlike when he had arrived, Je-hwan left the house quietly. The house, now alone again, felt strangely difficult to adjust to, even though that should have been normal. Kapros shook his head while looking at the room that seemed wider than usual, then headed to the room with the capsule to connect to MIST.

Yoon Seok-ho sat in his office, reading the last page of a document he was holding with inscrutable eyes. Finally, as his eyes stopped moving at the last period, his fingers that had been tapping the armrest also stopped. Nam Mugeon, waiting in front of him, stiffened his shoulders at the ominous atmosphere.

"Um... would it be alright if I went out and came back later to report?"

In fact, Nam Mugeon had come to make a simple report but had been caught by Yoon Seok-ho's order to "report after I finish reading" without even getting to make his report, and was now very eager to escape the room. Since Mugeon's report wouldn't even amount to three lines anyway, it didn't really matter when he made it, but he felt like he was being needlessly tortured at this time.

"Why leave? I'm done reading now, so go ahead."

However, the cold-hearted Yoon Seok-ho merely told him to make his report now, still wearing an uncharacteristically sharp expression. Frozen and unable to respond as usual due to the pressure, Mugeon stumbled forward.

"There's no- nothing special. My team members are just doing their usual work... and regarding the spy in the GM department that you asked us to look into before, we're gradually investigating and observing, so I came to tell you that we should know something soon. That's all."

"To think you still haven't found anything, it seems we'll really have to wait until the 23rd to catch their tail. Well, fine. You may go."

Yoon Seok-ho gave only a brief answer before lowering his gaze back to the documents. Though Mugeon wanted to quickly escape the pressure as desired and leave through the door as fast as possible, Yoon Seok-ho's unusual attitude bothered him greatly.

When he glanced back with just a few steps left to the door, he saw Yoon Seok-ho still wearing a serious expression. Based on all his past experience, that expression clearly meant nothing good would come from getting involved.

Even the couple ring he wore, shared with his lovely Soyoung, seemed to be saying, "Yes, hurry and get out of here! You know nothing good will come from getting involved!" and though Mugeon took another step toward the door, he soon found himself caught in hesitation again.

How could he not be concerned when someone who usually overflowed with confidence was wearing such a serious expression? He felt that he, who had handled all sorts of miscellaneous tasks until now, had some right to know.

Finally, while still conflicted about whether to grab the doorknob, Mugeon ignored his couple ring's screaming concerns and turned around sharply.

"Um... sir."

"What? You're still here?"

That, that, that hateful tone!

Though he wanted to turn and run away right then when he saw the frowning response to his carefully voiced words, a sword drawn must cut something, right? Mugeon swallowed hard and alternately called upon God, Buddha, and Soyoung in his heart.

"How could I just leave when your expression is so grim? After all, I'm, I'm sort of your fellow alumnus, Branch Manager. Haha, hahaha. What's wrong exactly? Are you feeling sick or..."

His tongue felt like it was having a seizure as he tried to express concern while forcing an uncharacteristic laugh. However, hearing Mugeon's words, Yoon Seok-ho instead looked more puzzled.

"What's wrong with you, are you sick?"

"..."

I'll never worry about this person again!

As he watched Mugeon's face turning various shades of red and blue while inwardly wailing, Yoon Seok-ho suddenly burst out laughing.

"Ah, really. You look like you'd kill me if I teased you twice. I'm joking."

"Wh-what did you say?"

The moment he saw that familiar charming eye-smile, Mugeon felt all the tension leave his body and let out an indignant cry. Yoon Seok-ho continued laughing while slightly loosening his tie.

"Well, well. You even show concern when I'm a bit serious, so unlike you. Actually, though you pretend not to, in your heart you..."

"What nonsense are you talking about?!"

"Sorry, sorry. You're not my type."

"I have Soyoung!"

After teasing his subordinate, who was about to fall backward with his hands on his temples, a few more times, Yoon Seok-ho quietly opened his mouth while looking at Mugeon, who had completely lost the will to respond.

"It wasn't anything special. We just received a unilateral notice that the headquarters will be sending someone for an audit inspection of our branch soon."

"What?"

"The board of directors must really dislike me."