seattlejaycees Chapter 68 : Chapter 68
Chapter 68 : Chapter 68
Chapter 68
January put down the liquor glass on the desk and slowly rolled the remote control with his fingertips.
He muttered lowly as if chewing over his inner thoughts.
“Lee Ju-seong and Park So-yul. Everything started when these two became intertwined in Round 1. My judgment that I should pay attention to Park So-yul at that time was not wrong.”
It was then.
The control room entrance door opened quietly, and a unique leisurely gait entered against the hallway lighting.
It was July.
“January, you are watching a quite stimulating video for a sleep-inducing one.”
January responded without even looking back while keeping the video in a paused state.
“What brings you here at this hour? I thought you hated overtime.”
July let out a chuckle filled with laughter and quietly sat on a chair placed slightly away.
Then he leaned his upper body forward and placed his chin under his interlocked fingers.
“In the eyes of January, who is a workaholic, everyone must feel like they are working loosely. So for what reason are you working overtime today?”
At July's question, January put down the remote control and this time slowly turned his gaze to July.
The mask receiving the light from the fluorescent lamp was revealing a particularly cold outline.
“I ended up seeing the Round 3 video at the upper management.”
January's fingers fumbled with the mouse and then brought up a folder on the monitor.
The folder name was written as ‘3rd_round_RAW’.
January's words continued.
“They seemed to be showing great interest in the existence of the traitor mentioned by Lee Ju-seong.”
July tilted his mask obliquely to the left.
As the lower part of the mask moved away from the jaw, faint lips were revealed.
July opened his mouth after taking a sip of water from the bottled mineral water he brought.
“Is it not a trivial matter for those who live with the perception of being beings above the clouds?”
January picked up the crystal glass instead of the remote control.
The liquor contained in the glass shook.
“If that were the case, it would be much easier for me to work too. However, the higher-ups are expecting that Lee Ju-seong has the potential to develop into the ideal research model they have so long desired.”
Disposing of Lee Ju-seong felt like putting a scratch on a goose that lays golden eggs.
Keeping him as he is carried the risk of him being a false listing because his performance so far was thanks to a traitor.
Either way, the keyword ‘traitor’ mentioned by Lee Ju-seong in Round 3 was an obstacle.
They were placed in a difficult position where they couldn't just openly use Lee Ju-seong, nor could they just openly discard Lee Ju-seong.
Both the dealers on the field and the upper management of the organization, that is.
July spoke while gently shaking the mineral water bottle.
The water inside the plastic bottle fluctuated messily here and there.
“As August said, it would be good if the traitor Lee Ju-seong mentioned was nothing more than a fake traitor.”
January nodded and said.
“If that were the case, I could have breathed a sigh of relief too.”
“If things really don't work out, couldn't we just hand August over to the upper management? By attaching the label of a traitor. Anyway, she is the most likely candidate for the traitor too.”
“July, what do you think? Do you think August will be able to present a new suspect?”
“Since her own tail is on fire, she will produce a result somehow. I think it is the most constructive choice for us to think of a way to hold Lee Ju-seong so he can't leave in our own way.”
January held the remote control again at July's words and then pressed the play button of the video.
The video that had been stopped began to flow again.
Park So-yul inside the monitor began to move vividly.
“I happened to find the answer for that just now. I intend to focus on Park So-yul rather than Lee Ju-seong himself.”
“Park So-yul? Isn't she the woman who has completely established herself as Lee Ju-seong's assistant now.”
“More than an assistant. Without Park So-yul's ability, Lee Ju-seong's combat power drops by half. Lee Ju-seong himself must be aware of this fact too.”
“Aha, I understand. You're saying you'll pressure Park So-yul to make Lee Ju-seong have no choice but to overexert himself.”
Since the previously attempted operations had failed twice, he had no choice but to admit it now.
That it was impossible to achieve short-term results against Lee Ju-seong.
Of course, it was unknown whether the upper management would trust January for a long time until Lee Ju-seong's balance was wiped out.
However, even if he had to shoulder the risk, there was no choice but to play each move step by step for now.
Because a man named Lee Ju-seong was a formidable opponent enough to require more time and effort than now.
January said calmly while staring at Park So-yul on the screen.
“Weakness is always something that blooms within the bond with others.”
July stood up, taking his body off the chair.
“If that is indeed January's intention, we dealers will simply follow silently. I hope it leads to good results. I will be heading in now.”
January said while still keeping his gaze fixed on the monitor.
“Did you not stop by the control room because you had business?”
July stopped as he was about to head out and glanced at the main monitor.
On the main monitor, the scene where Lee Ju-seong leaned over in front of April's body was being shown.
At a glance, it looked like he was persistently checking April's life or death.
But if you changed the point of view, it also looked like a different appearance.
For example, picking up a certain object.
July walked toward the elevator with his back to the main monitor.
“I came to find an object, but that is no longer necessary.”
Then, he muttered chillingly while fixing his crooked mask straight.
“I remembered where I left it.”
***
Around the time midnight had passed, a strange atmosphere was flowing inside Lee Ju-seong's room.
A pair of a man and a woman sitting across from each other with a coffee table in between.
Right now, August was sitting in front of me.
The postures of August and I were very contrasting.
I was sitting comfortably crookedly while leaning my right arm on the back of the chair.
August was sitting in a stiff posture with her lightly clenched fists placed on both knees.
Comfort and stiffness were forming a clear contrast.
There was a corresponding background for the one-on-one meeting with August to be achieved in the middle of the night.
I held my wrist vertically so that the screen of the Money Watch would be reflected in August's eyes.
“I have something to say, so I want us to meet just the two of us. I'm making it clear that I didn't contact you with the intention of being close to you. Keep in mind that you are a player and I am a dealer…… You sent this message an hour ago.”
August moved her shrinking body with stiff movements and then crossed her legs while her whole body jolted.
She was struggling to pretend she wasn't nervous.
A finely trembling voice flowed out from inside the mask.
“It's, well, something like a sudden inspection. Since you are a person of interest.”
“Heh, shall I guess why you came to visit? You're trying to narrow the distance with me and naturally make me confess the identity of the traitor, right?”
“Don't jump to conclusions as you please. It might be for another reason. I am in a position where I have to be conscious of you forcibly, whether awake or asleep.”
“Why are you hiding things between us? As I said, you must have defended me in front of January, right? And January must have instructed you to find out the identity of the traitor, saying he would give you a grace period.”
I pressured August by adding the words, “If you don't find the culprit within the grace period, August will be selected as the traitor, right?”
August's shoulders jolted every time I spoke a word.
Even though she was on edge as if she had vowed not to lose in the battle of nerves just when she entered this room, the determination from that time was nowhere to be found and she was already caught up in my pace.
I provoked August while tapping the bed sheet with my palm tap-tap.
“If it's a beauty trap, I'll welcome it anytime. Come in boldly.”
In the end, it was August who flared up, standing up abruptly and forgetting to maintain a cold attitude after being swayed by me.
“W-W-Who said they're using a beauty trap against the likes of you? You have no filter!”
“You can't even take it when it's given.”
“Goodness, I hear all sorts of things in my life. I can seduce someone like you as much as I want if I set my mind to it, you know?”
“I don't know if you'll regret later, saying you should have tried it when a beauty trap would have worked.”
Putting aside August's clumsy approach, it was a good thing that August visited me at this time.
Because I was just about to approach August first anyway.
I calmed my playfulness and took out a small medicine bottle.
“Let's stop joking and talk about realistic things. I will give you a hint about the traitor.”
August placed her palm on the top of her mask and shook her head side to side.
“I feel like I get dizzy every time I talk to you.”
“Is that not the privilege of the one who has seized the initiative of the conversation.”
“I'm saying that because the temperature difference at each moment is so severe that even a sunfish wouldn't survive.”
“The hint. Do you need it, or do you not need it?”
August read the sincerity in my voice and tidied her breathing.
Then she asked back in a much more subdued tone.
“Are you serious?”
“You must think the traitor and I are lifelong friends.”
“Hmm, I roughly get what you mean. You mean you are also in a position where you have to play a game of nerves with the traitor?”
In reality, the traitor had used my fake traitor operation against me, and I, having noticed this, was also in a position to uncover the identity of the traitor.
Since there are severe restrictions on my actions to personally uncover the identity of the traitor, I intend to subcontract it to August instead.
Although August is interpreting it in a different sense.
“Investigate this medicine. Then you will be able to narrow down the list of suspects for who the real traitor is.”
“How about just refreshing me and confessing who the traitor is?”
“August, you should accept a favor as a favor. If you get greedy, you'll get an upset stomach.”
“Favor? Is it a favor? To me, it feels like nothing but being used.”
It was August who quickly picked up the medicine bottle I held out even while knowing she was being used.
For her, who had to find the traitor as soon as possible, there was no other choice.
Having to be victimized while knowing it.
That was August's current situation.
“Interpret it as you please. What is clear is that I am giving August an opportunity.”
“Because you have a strong sense of unpredictability, I can't feel at ease. I'm anxious about what you're aiming for this time too.”
“You don't have to be anxious.”
I stood up while leaning my hand on the table.
Then I leaned my upper body deep forward and gripped the lower part of August's mask with my hand.
I tilted the mask back before August even had a chance to resist, and whispered softly as if tempting her toward the face of a cool beauty with asymmetrical bangs.
“I say with certainty, I need August. So from now on, if business arises, please visit without hesitation.”
August stared at me with a stiffened face.
I thought she would be flustered, but unexpectedly, she swung her arm horizontally and lightly pushed my arm to the side.
Cynical speech flowed out from between her glossy lips along with a snort.
“Right, right, you mean you need my ability, right? Keep making a fool of me at a moderate level.”
Then, she turned her body sharply while putting the medicine bottle in her pocket.
A cold wind rose once, and it was August who went out after opening the door harshly.
I threw the last remaining peppermint candy into my mouth while hearing the sound of the door closing.
“Whether the purpose of the traitor will be a gain or a loss for me. It would be fun to bet on that too.”
***
Meanwhile, outside the door, August stumbled and then leaned her palm against the wall.
She didn't have the mental room to even remember that her mask had been tilted back.
A sense of heat was turning on August's face.
“He needs me...... which side is it really?”
She tried to act calm so as not to show signs of being flustered, but she was greatly shaken psychologically.
After being confused for a long time, she reached a conclusion.
She reached the conclusion that she should contact him more if only to find out which side it was.
Furthermore, it was clear that obtaining the medicine bottle was a great harvest no matter what anyone said.
Since there was a separate person who greatly contributed to achieving all these results.
It was none other than the Doctor.
August rejoiced at the increased possibility of clearing her name and slowly covered her face by pulling the mask down.
Before the mask completely covered her face, a smile formed on her glossy lips.
“I'll have to convey my thanks to the Doctor soon.”
***
The morning when the rest of the previous day ended and a grim atmosphere began to flow again.
The sunlight was blue and heartless as always, but the air above the playground was subtly tense.
Players scattered into different groups and scanned their surroundings without letting their guard down or having unspoken conversations.
Among them, Park So-yul and I were mixed.
“What kind of game have they prepared this time?”
I responded to Park So-yul's question half-heartedly.
“That is something we won't know until we hear the rules.”
“I hope it's a rule where we don't meet as enemies if possible.”
“Even if we happen to split up, it will be no problem. Since it's between you and me, So-yul.”
“It reminds me of Round 1. Did you say that as long as I don't betray first, there's no way Ju-seong will betray first?”
“I did.”
“Even after returning, what you said back then kept coming to mind.”
Conversations full of harmony without a hint of pretense were exchanged.
That the trust between the two of us was solid was something that didn't need to be said twice by now.
I had no doubt that we would be able to maintain the friendly atmosphere between the two of us this time too, unless something special happened.
It was then.
[In a few moments, Round 6 will commence. In this round, 20 players selected from another island will join. Since additional personnel will be entering soon, please everyone wait in the center of the playground.]
As soon as the announcement ended, a group of people walked out through the hall.
Strangers entering one after another.
They were the 20 new players who had come over from another island.
They were wearing the same Money Watch as us, and tension and distrust were mixed in their expressions.
The look in their eyes was different from the start.
Not the eyes of those who have finished adapting, but the look in the eyes of those who grit their teeth to survive.
It was the moment that group set half a foot on the playground.
“That person is...... ha, haha, I didn't expect to reunite this quickly.”
Park So-yul's shoulders trembled finely, and her gaze precisely captured one point.
The rough emotions she had been suppressing because she was in front of me until now were leaking out.
Like steam venting from a pressure cooker that was in the middle of cooking.
Her lips opened on their own and then convulsed as she gritted her teeth.
“Fucking bastard.”
A small voice burst out of her mouth.
Anger seeped into her eyes, and toxicity seeped between her teeth.
A middle-aged woman with permed hair mixed in the group entering the playground.
Since it was a face I had encountered through the drama, she was familiar.
Her identity was Park So-yul's mother.
It was Park Ok-young, the person who ruined Park So-yul's life.