Even people who had never seen the youngest son of the Ringa family would nod and say, "Ah, that very one..." — among those who knew, he was famous. The Ringa family was well-known in the business world. Especially in the neighboring Southeast Asian countries tightly controlled by Chinese diaspora forces, including mainland China, anyone involved in politics or business would surely have heard of the name.
The head of the household, Ring Huireong, was already over seventy but was still more vigorous than his eldest son, who was close to fifty, and commanded the family firmly. The family doctor and others assumed he would easily live past one hundred.
No one would say he was an old man destined to die easily. From his youth to the present, he had spared no means or method to make the family bigger and stronger. He was a cold-blooded man with no pity. Many had come at him with knives in broad daylight, and several had sent professional assassins to deal with him more seriously.
Surviving numerous life-threatening situations since his youth, he grew stronger and harsher each time, and by the time he was in his fifties, no one dared to touch him anymore.
No one could have imagined something would happen to this cold, ruthless man who showed no humanity — that was around that time.
His eldest son, nearing thirty, had a son, making Ring Huireong a grandfather relatively early, and not long after, he was delighted to have a youngest son even younger than his grandson.
While on business in a small mountain village, he fell at first sight for a young woman not yet twenty, brought her back immediately, and settled her in a separate building. It seemed she was not there of her own free will, as they kept people around the annex for a while to prevent her from going outside until she became pregnant.
Ring Huireong marrying a wife was nothing unusual. Even if she was the seventh wife to enter his house, it wouldn't be strange if the eighth or ninth followed. He had a habit of capriciously taking wives and quickly discarding them when bored.
Though the young woman was as beautiful and charming as any man’s desire, she was no exception. A man like Ring Huireong, having experienced some of the most beautiful women in the vast Chinese land, usually would only be infatuated for a few days before turning cold and indifferent again. Women said to be as beautiful as peonies and tree peonies had already passed through his hands many times, and everyone expected the young woman to follow a similar path.
Therefore, when Ring Huireong was deeply enamored with her for months, years even, and ignored other women, everyone was surprised. In fact, they were already amazed. That cold man, as if meeting his first love, had a bright and excited expression whenever he visited her, clearly overwhelmed by love.
Everyone was shocked. Even he, who sharply cut off those who did not suit his will like a blade, could lose himself madly for someone.
Also, when she gave birth to a son, all watched the outcome tensely. Probably the most nervous was the eldest son who had already established himself in the Ringa family, or the eldest wife of Ring Huireong’s mother, Ring Huicheong.
As expected, Ring Huireong was happier than if he had gained the whole world when he got the youngest son, even younger than his grandson. He declared he wouldn't mind even putting the child in his eye and doted on him dearly, always keeping the boy within sight while he was at home. Even the dearly loved eldest grandson could not compare to the youngest son.
Had that woman been more spirited and ambitious, the power structure within the family might have changed. Ring Huireong poured fervent affection on her, seemingly willing to grant any of her requests.
However, she was always quiet and timid, just as her expression seemed gloomy and anxious, fearing harm might come to her or her son. Perhaps that was wise. She knew that fanatical wives could do harm to her anytime, and no matter how much Ring Huireong protected her, once something happened, it would be too late.
Thanks to that—or maybe because the grown sons found it ridiculous to compete over a tiny baby, or perhaps because they still feared their tiger-like father even in old age—the youngest son grew up safely, beloved enough to be called the “little master” despite all the petty worries.
Thus, the youngest son of Ringa was famous even before birth. As he grew, his fame only increased with his father’s full love. When he was very young, some people whispered behind his back with scornful eyes, saying the father was bewitched by taking a young concubine in his old age, but as the boy grew, some added, “I can understand why he adores him so much.”
The child, overflowing with parental love, was truly adorable. His gentle and lovely face, much like his mother’s, and his friendly personality with a constant smile that did not shy from strangers, made him win people’s hearts easily. He was even thoughtful and intelligent, so many sighed and praised, “If I had such a beautiful child, I couldn’t help but love him.”
That was the youngest son of Ringa.
Yuri Gable had also heard rumors about that son, though not very detailed, only the floating gossip. That he was very beautiful, just like his mother, was known, and despite his youth, his skills were excellent enough to rank among the top at UNHRDO, and he was a kind and courteous young man.
But when Yuri Gable saw the young man he had heard so much about, he thought:
No way he’s a spoiled rich kid. He’s basically a carbon copy of his father.
Yuri had seen both the young man’s father and mother. It was at Ring Huireong’s sixtieth birthday party, not invited but happened to be there by chance. That was about ten years ago.
At that time, Yuri had visited the eldest son’s house on business and was unexpectedly invited in for a meal. From a distance, he saw a woman who looked to be about twenty, riding a flower palanquin into the hall of a man over fifty. She was indeed very beautiful. Although already in her thirties, her youthful, innocent face resembled a hydrangea wet with rain—quiet and pure, with a wistfulness that captured hearts. And the man sitting right beside her, turning sixty, emitted such an overwhelming aura that even without her by his side, anyone could tell, “That man is the head of this house.” It was like a huge tiger disguised in human skin sitting there.
Indeed, such a man could only be called the master of that family, Yuri thought and nodded to himself.
And the young man before Yuri now looked exactly like his father. At least in Yuri Gable’s eyes.
He understood why people said he resembled his mother. Looking closely at the face, he had inherited her exquisite beauty. But unlike his mother, whose expression was as melancholy as a May hydrangea in silent rain, the son was like a peony blooming lavishly under a golden sun. Though his face was adorably cute, there was a dangerously flashy aura.
That was because he had his mother’s beauty but his father’s presence inside him. Unlike the delicate and timid flower of his mother, the son’s flower carried the tiger-like spirit of his father who commanded heaven and earth. That’s why the son gave off an immediate sense of danger.
No, he might really be dangerous.
When Yuri met those jet-black eyes that seemed indifferent to him, he shuddered inwardly as if pricked by a poison dart.
This was troublesome.
“When he was young, he was just pretty…”
Yuri muttered to himself without realizing it. A man walking a few steps ahead glanced back sharply. Yuri quickly shook his head to signal it was nothing. The man then turned his attention forward again, as if to say, “Whatever someone mutters behind doesn’t matter right now.” Indeed, he probably didn’t have the headspace to focus elsewhere.
Yuri sighed. The German man standing opposite the splendid young man was himself a dangerous human being—so dangerous he barely deserved to be called human.
But this young man somehow also felt dangerous, not as boldly, but still dangerously.
Unfortunately, Yuri was pretty perceptive. If not, he wouldn’t have earned Kyle’s trust in this industry.
Actually, Yuri considered himself lucky. Not bad at his work, but he thought of himself as lucky. Things usually worked out fairly well. Even now, when asked to find a legendary genius who had disappeared without a trace, and people all over the world were searching for a single strand of hair, Yuri was managing.
That luck actually came from his keen instincts, and now that instinct was telling him this situation didn’t look good.
Anyone who knew the people here would say the same. A very bad situation.
Apparently, the cause of this entire situation was the awkward-looking East Asian man standing vaguely between the two.
That was Jung Tae-ui, the genius Jung Jae-ui’s only younger brother and the companion of the German Illei Ligrow, who preferred to keep his distance to stay alive.
Before arriving on this island, Yuri had been enjoying a peaceful and quiet time in his own way.
He had been chasing Jung Jae-ui, the genius who had suddenly disappeared, for nearly a year. He had searched every remote corner and had only recently caught a lead, coming to this island with a certain degree of confidence. A cautious man by nature, Yuri considered the possibility Jung Jae-ui might not be here, but over fifty percent chance, he expected the genius to be hiding here.
Now that the matter was nearing an end, Yuri felt good. His face rarely showed emotion, but since arriving on the island, he had been enjoying a leisurely and comfortable mood. Not just because the work was almost over. This was an island — surrounded by generous seas, a place one would want to visit even paying for it.
Once this was over — once Jung Jae-ui was found — the contract with T&R would end. He had received renewal offers from T&R a few days ago, and other organizations impressed with Yuri’s skills had also offered contracts.
He hadn’t decided whether to renew with T&R or move elsewhere, but at least, after this, he planned to relax on this island for about a month. Days spent without work stress, immersed in the sea, sounded wonderfully relaxing.
Just as this hopeful feeling of the end approaching came to Yuri, those two people arrived.
Illei Ligrow, the employer’s brother, and Jung Tae-ui, the target’s younger brother.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jung Tae-ui.”
When Yuri went to greet the two at Dar es Salaam Airport, shaking hands with the young man who extended his hand, he examined him carefully. So this was the lucky man from the rumors, he thought.
Recently, it had become well-known in the industry how the madman Rick had turned T&R’s intelligence division upside down to find someone, rampaging like an invincible tiger. The whole industry was abuzz: what had that person done to make Rick so furious, who was that person who turned the organization upside down and then vanished, and what would be that person’s fate?
Yuri had only heard that the target had finally been found recently. Actually, the matter was interesting but not Yuri’s business, so he hadn’t paid much attention. But he couldn’t ignore the news that the two main subjects of the rumors were coming together to Seringe.
“Who? Jung Tae-ui? The brother of Jung Jae-ui? With Rick? ...He’s coming intact, right?”
It was natural to ask James who had delivered the news. It was surprising that the target, who had been the cause of Rick’s rampage, was still fine. Yuri admired how lucky the brothers were to escape Rick’s wrath unharmed.
Anyway, the two who appeared at Dar es Salaam Airport looked fine, and Yuri brought them to Seringe just a few days ago.
That lucky young man, who had tangled fiercely with Rick yet remained intact, was revealed that very evening to have really been unlucky. Or rather, whether it was good or bad was unclear, but Yuri leaned toward bad.
Yuri already knew Ligrow didn’t discriminate between male or female partners. So when he happened to witness them physically entangled that day, he wasn’t surprised. Knowing what it meant to be with Ligrow, Yuri just pitied the young man.
But what really shocked Yuri and made him pity the young man came afterward.
One idle afternoon, Yuri saw the young man swimming back from the sea, spreading out a very poor map on the table in the courtyard, twirling a pen between his fingers. Ligrow was sitting diagonally across from him, watching the young man.
Ligrow’s gaze, narrow like a cat in the sun, never left the young man.
"........"
Again, Yuri was perceptive. He could see clearly the young man’s situation now. In short, the companion who would walk his life was decided beyond doubt.
Feeling a little pity for the young man, Yuri thought it would be okay — the calm and cheerful young man would probably not be unhappy in any situation. Bad luck doesn’t necessarily mean misfortune.
Yuri accepted this and decided to wait for the young man to safely reunite with his brother and finish his business.
He had no idea such a variable would appear then.
“Well found. No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find a trace. Thanks to you, I got to see my brother again.”
Watching the young man speaking to Ligrow while staring at him, Yuri clicked his tongue quietly. His indifferent face didn’t change much, but he was actually quite embarrassed.
He knew someone was following them.
Since they arrived on the island, someone had been subtly approaching them. Even if Anna—the landlady of their lodging, who was not close to them—hadn’t tipped him off that a cousin had asked about a guest, Yuri would have noticed. After spending some time on the island, how could he miss such a subtle presence?
Who was that unknown person chasing? Since their arrival, it could be Ligrow, Jung Tae-ui, or the emerging Jung Jae-ui. The most likely was someone trying to intercept the whereabouts of Jung Jae-ui, who was highly valuable, or someone targeting Ligrow, who had enemies everywhere.
Yuri had obtained a list of people who entered Seringe around the same time through his superiors, and when he found the famous youngest son of Ringa on it, he recalled hearing that Ringa was also after Jung Jae-ui’s brilliant mind. He thought their target was likely Jung Jae-ui.
Many were after Jung Jae-ui, and many groups as powerful as Ringa, so caution was necessary, but Yuri didn’t think it was something to worry too much about.
But no way.
“Hey, kid. That’s mine. Don’t you dare touch it.”
Hearing Ligrow’s low threatening voice, Yuri looked at the three in turn with a bewildered yet indifferent expression.
As perceptive as he was, Yuri was not so foolish as to not understand what they were talking about at this point. Yet mentally, he still felt puzzled.
“I’ve seen all kinds of strange and bizarre things in my life, but I never imagined I’d see Ligrow and the youngest son of Ringa fight over a man right before my eyes.”
It was not exactly shocking, but a bit ridiculous.
These men, who could easily have countless beauties at their disposal, were now murmuring “oh dear” over a seemingly ordinary and pitiful man.
Yuri stood like a straw man, completely ignored by all three, watching the scene silently, thinking how strange the world was.
But Yuri wasn’t the only one bewildered. Jung Tae-ui, the main party involved, looked even more troubled as he stared at them. His gaze was mostly fixed on the youngest son of Ringa, probably still not fully understanding who the youngest son really was. He looked at him as if baffled whether this was really the person he knew, like being hit unexpectedly on the back of the head by that pretty face.
Yuri looked again at the youngest son of Ringa.
He was indeed pretty. Beneath his bright and lovely smiling face were sharp eyes and expressions closely resembling his father. Outwardly, he was beautiful. He looked like he could charm any woman or man at will.
But you have to fool the surface, because a tiger cub wearing human skin isn’t really human.
Jung Tae-ui seemed pretty perceptive in this regard, but apparently not so. Or perhaps he was so enchanted by the youngest son’s smiling face that he didn’t notice. Judging by the atmosphere among the three, it was probably the latter.
Yuri was at a loss because this ridiculous situation came before even finding their actual target, Jung Jae-ui. The longer this absurd incident dragged on, the more troublesome it would be.
He wanted to contact Ringa right away and say, “Take your precious youngest son away,” but that seemed impossible now. He wasn’t sure how well Ringa understood the situation, but they apparently knew their precious youngest son was causing trouble somewhere. The heavy security detail proved that.
"........"
Yuri checked the gun tucked inside his clothes. Somewhere far away, the muzzle of a sniper rifle was silently insisting on its presence by pricking the back of his head. The deadly aura warned that even a single move toward their young master would be met with immediate fire.
Yuri’s hope to resolve this peacefully seemed unlikely. At that moment, the youngest son drew his gun and aimed it at Ligrow.
“Ligrow. I’m using it.”
It was neither a threat nor a warning. It simply meant announcing what was about to happen. His voice, as black and calm as his eyes, conveyed that fact. Ligrow’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Danger.
Warning lights flashed in Yuri’s head.
At this moment, Yuri had to decide — to make enemies with Ringa or to risk even worse consequences.
There had probably never been a choice that caused such a huge conflict in such a short time.
But once the decision was made, the action was quick.
Yuri drew his gun and pulled the trigger. At the precious youngest son of Ringa.
Bang — The gunshot sounded sharply, but only Yuri heard the recoil and the shot. The silenced gun made only a small dull noise and spit fire.
At the same time.
Without scream or groan, the young man looked at Yuri with a slightly surprised face. As if noticing the person standing there for the first time. His gaze lingered on Yuri with a stunned look as if a rock had fired the gun.
Then suddenly, his gaze blazed with anger, scolding the one who interfered with his business.
“....._.”
Subtly, barely noticeable, he flinched involuntarily. Like accidentally hitting a vigorous beast.
“Kill him.”
Unaware of Yuri’s sigh for the seemingly bleak future, Ligrow, who was saved by Yuri’s help — no one, not even Yuri himself, would have thought so — muttered casually.
Yes, if Yuri hadn’t shot the young man’s wrist to make him drop his gun, if the young man had shot Ligrow, he would have killed him. Without even thinking about Ringa’s terrifying retaliation later. Ligrow was the kind of man who calmly did truly reckless things.
Yuri doubted whether what he did was wise and answered bluntly.
“Take that dangerous role yourself. I have no intention of making enemies with Ringa.”
Ligrow glanced at Yuri and snorted. Shooting the precious youngest son already and then saying that — Yuri found it funny even himself.
“Seems like you’ve already made a mistake.”
“No, I’m risking my life here.”
Yuri clearly felt the muzzle of a sniper’s rifle aim precisely fixed on his head. The finger on the trigger could move once and say goodbye to this world.
...It wasn’t so unfair.
No regrets, no lingering attachments. If it was in this deep blue sky and the jewel-like blue sea, dying would be happiness. If he could be buried in that beautiful sea, nothing more would be needed. But whether it was good or bad luck, that wish wouldn’t be fulfilled here. Even as the young man’s terrifying gaze flew toward Yuri, he didn’t feel the sniper’s bullet piercing his head.
“What the hell is that? You wanna die, kid?”
The young man’s lovely face spat out a curse right away. Not just words, but with eyes cold enough to kill. Yuri hesitated what to say as the young man took the blame alone.
Jung Tae-ui asked the young man anxiously.
“Shinru, are you hurt badly?”
At that moment, the young man’s cold gaze turned pitiful and sad like a dog, so blatantly that Yuri was dumbfounded.
“It hurts, brother. I think my wrist bone is broken. It really hurts.”
His trembling voice seemed about to burst into tears, and Yuri shut his mouth completely.
Indeed, that’s why he gave in.
Almost no man could resist tears if that flower trembled and cried. Even if that flower was a man so beautiful.
Behind Jung Tae-ui, who approached the young man’s wrist, Yuri lowered his gun. He felt the presence of the sniper still aiming from afar. Jung Tae-ui, pitying the young man’s actions, surely knew the sniper was actually aiming at himself.
This time, Yuri took the role of an observer. More precisely, he watched the young man, Ring Shinru.
If needed, he intended to kill Jung Tae-ui. He said he wouldn’t let anyone else have him if he couldn’t keep him himself. Wearing the arrogant and dogmatic face of a ruler.
“I tried to take him by force. If that failed, I was going to take his corpse back.”
Muttering to himself as if still wondering what to do, the young man smiled at Jung Tae-ui. As cute and lovely as usual.