The man who was searching the room with a lantern in the darkened room was startled by a sudden scream and hurriedly turned around. The man’s face could not be seen because of the thick curtains, but it was clear what he was doing. The man, who was surprised by Lee Won’s sudden appearance, looked around and tried to run away. Lee Won, who saw him heading straight for the door leading to the study, jumped in without hesitation.
“Where are you running off to, you punk?!”
Lee Won grabbed his shoulder out of the blue and threw a strong punch. The man fell down without even screaming. Lee Won immediately turned on the light to check the man’s identity. However, as soon as he reached out to the wall, the man rolled over and grabbed Lee Won’s leg. Lee Won hit the floor with a loud noise, and a fight broke out. Fighting in a dark room means that there are multiple opponents.
It was more difficult than that. In a situation where he could not find the opponent's weak point and hit it, Lee Won and the man threw punches and kicks at each other, occasionally missing, and rolled around the room. The man was trying his best to escape somehow. The fists he was shouting anxiously kept grazing Lee Won's cheeks and missing. Lee Won avoided his punches and at the same time, bent down and kicked the man's shin.
all.
There was a clear, crisp sound of bones colliding, and the man screamed. Lee Won did not miss his chance and reached out toward the wall. That was when. Suddenly, he thought he heard the sound of a car engine outside the mansion. It was a mistake to stop without thinking. The man did not miss his chance and suddenly grabbed Lee Won's shoulder and elbowed him in the temple. In that moment, Lee Won held his breath and collapsed. At the same time, he heard the man running around the room like crazy. Lee Won felt dizzy and staggered to his feet.
“This kid, isn’t he standing there…?!”
The moment he groped his way out while screaming, the bright lights inside the room suddenly poured in and Lee Won had to tightly close his eyes.
“Why are you doing that? What’s going on?!”
The butler who came running in a hurry asked hurriedly. Lee Won confirmed him by voice and opened his mouth with his eyes closed.
“Who… Have you seen anyone suspicious? They just left my room.”
“Yes? I haven’t seen anything like that…”
He stuttered in a voice that clearly showed his confusion. Lee Won clutched his forehead and let out a deep groan from deep in his throat. Then came the sound of urgent footsteps approaching.
“What’s going on? What do you hear?”
“Wait a minute, isn’t that bleeding? Mr. Lawyer, take your hand off me.”
“Hey, over there! Call a doctor, right now!”
In the midst of the chaos that had suddenly taken place, Lee Won felt dizzy and collapsed on the spot. He realized belatedly that his hand covering his forehead was soaking wet. It was only later that he confirmed the identity of the liquid that was stickily soaking his hand. Lee Won, who barely opened his eyes, directly witnessed the red blood that had pooled at his feet. Another voice was heard among the men who were making a fuss.
“What are you doing now, beggar?”
A familiar, cool voice rang in his ears. The men’s murmurs suddenly disappeared, and he felt them all bend down in a hurry. Lee Won lifted his head while pressing his hand against the bleeding wound. There stood Caesar with a surprised look. There was no trace of his usual smile on his face as he looked down at him, standing in the same attire as when he had seen him in the morning. Caesar, who had been silent for a long time with a pale complexion, opened his mouth. Lee Won saw it in an instant. His expression hardened coldly. It was the same face he had when he had pointed a gun at the child and himself. Lee Won spoke before Caesar could open his mouth.
“Someone broke in.”
Caesar paused for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“…Intrusion?”
Caesar's voice was quiet, but Yi-won felt even more eerie because of it. Yi-won spoke while forcibly squeezing the blood that kept flowing down between his fingers.
“I think it would be a good idea to check the surroundings first, since it hasn’t been that long since he ran away.”
As Caesar glanced at them, a group of men quickly turned around and ran outside. Seeing the rest of the group disperse and start searching the house, Caesar quickly bent down and extended a hand to Iwon.
“I think it would be better to get treatment first, and then I’ll listen to the story.”
Although he was reluctant, Yi-won accepted his favor. He had been bleeding so badly that he felt dizzy even when sitting down. He didn’t want to show that he had fallen over while being stubborn. He obediently took Caesar’s hand and stood up. Then, his eyes met the butler’s, who had been staring at them with a hardened face. He immediately lowered his head and said.
“I apologize, Tsar. I was not careful and this accident happened to the guest. I will make sure it never happens again. I apologize.”
The butler, who usually looked at Yi-won with squinted eyes and a displeased expression, was apologizing repeatedly in a completely different attitude from his usual arrogant demeanor, and Yi-won looked at him with a strange feeling. Caesar looked down at him with a cold face and opened his mouth.
“Let’s hold them accountable later. First, you search the house too. See if you can spot anyone suspicious.”
"All right."
The butler immediately turned around and walked away. His face, with his head bowed, was darkened.
“Go to my room first.”
Yi Won said to Caesar, who was about to take Yi Won with him.
“Wait a minute, I need to check my room first.”
Shaking off Caesar, who was trying to continue to support him, Lee Won walked into his room. The moment he entered the room, Lee Won thought that he had accidentally entered the study. Of course, it was a bedroom. Lee Won slowly looked around one by one with a frown. All of his few personal belongings were out and scattered. Lee Won glanced at the briefs that were halfway out of the drawer, then immediately took out the drawer and turned it over. Ignoring the underwear spilling out, Lee Won checked the bottom of the overturned drawer. There was an envelope of documents secured with tape.
“What is that?”
When Yi-won took off the envelope, Caesar asked in surprise. Yi-won answered indifferently.
“I left the important documents with me, I don’t know what might happen.”
Caesar, who had been waiting for Yiwon to check the contents of the envelope, opened his mouth.
“What’s missing?”
At Caesar's question, Yi Won closed the envelope again.
“Okay, this is safe.”
Yi-won sighed as if he was tired and sat down on the bed. In this mansion with such tight security, it was no coincidence that a thief broke into Yi-won’s room. It was definitely related to the case Yi-won was investigating. Who on earth could it be? While he was silently lost in thought, Caesar suddenly asked.
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
Lee Won answered indifferently.
“A little, nothing much.”
His blood-soaked hand kept slipping. Yi-won pressed his temple again, and he could sense a different scent mixed with the smell of blood. It was the faint scent of the cologne that Caesar used to give off. When he raised his gaze, Caesar was holding out a handkerchief. It was the handkerchief that was stuck in Caesar’s suit jacket. As he stared blankly, Caesar grabbed Yi-won’s hand and pushed the handkerchief inside. Yi-won said nothing as Caesar placed his hand over Yi-won’s wet hand and pressed it firmly.
Suddenly, Caesar raised his other hand. The hand that seemed to hesitate for a moment carefully brushed back Yi-won’s flowing hair. Yi-won left it alone this time as well. Caesar’s face, looking down at Yi-won, returned to its usual state. Yi-won looked at him again, feeling a strange sense of dissonance. Caesar opened his mouth. What was he trying to say? When he suddenly became curious, Caesar closed his mouth again. Instead, he turned his head and changed the subject.
“It looks like the doctor is here.”
At those words, Lee Won heard the sound of a car engine approaching quickly amidst the voices and footsteps of men chattering here and there.
The house was a complete mess, and the sound of violent footsteps and shouts continued without ceasing. Caesar was standing with his arms crossed and leaning against the wall, and Yi-won sat silently while receiving treatment, not saying a word. The bleeding had barely stopped, but the wound was quite large, and the doctor had to sew three or four stitches on one side of Yi-won's forehead with the medical equipment he had brought.
“It won’t leave a scar, right?”
Caesar spoke for the first time to the doctor who was wrapping the bandage. The doctor was so startled that he dropped the bandage. As a result, the bandage wrapped around Lee Won's forehead flowed down, and instead of the doctor, he quickly
Lee Won, who had been holding the pole in place, opened his mouth.
“You can think of it as having a tattoo.”
“You have such a tasteless tattoo. What a pain in the ass to even have a hobby.”
Caesar spoke absentmindedly and glanced at the doctor. The doctor hurriedly cut the bandage and answered.
“Oh, it’ll be okay. Yes, it’s not a big wound, yes.”
The doctor, sweating profusely, finally finished the treatment and packed his medical bag. The staff member who opened the door late reported in a quick tone.
“Tsar, I searched the house and the garden, but there was no sign of anyone suspicious.”
Yi-won immediately looked back at him with a frown. As soon as the stranger left, he immediately chased him away. There was a gap, but it was not long. And then the members of the organization came running, but he was gone? Yi-won’s expression quickly turned into a look of disgust. Caesar asked his subordinate.
“Any signs of intrusion?”
“There wasn’t any.”
Caesar opened his mouth to give the same answer.
“Have you seen what kind of person he is?”
When Yi-won raised his head, Caesar was looking down at him. Yi-won shook his head.
“No, the room was dark… so I just assumed it was a man based on his general build.”
Caesar muttered as if talking to himself.
“You hit me and ran away. You must be pretty good at it.”
Lee Won said indifferently.
“Let’s see how well you do when the same situation arises.”
Caesar smiled briefly and then turned his head away. The staff member who had been waiting for him immediately became nervous and lowered his head. Caesar opened his mouth.
“Strengthen security, it’s clearly your fault that there was an intruder.”
A sneer formed on Caesar's lips.
“There’s an intruder in the mansion. I’ll have to check in the mirror first thing in the morning to see if the head is still attached.”
The organization member quickly lowered his head with a hardened expression.
“I’m sorry, Tsar! It won’t happen again.”
“Go away.”
At Caesar's words, the members of the organization quickly closed the door and disappeared. When the two were left alone, Caesar turned his gaze to Lee Won.
“The documents are safe and there’s no suspicious people.”
“I can’t believe I missed it.”
Caesar narrowed his eyes as Yi Won frowned and muttered to himself.
“Yeah, that’s really strange.”
Lee Won, who was deep in thought, did not realize what his quiet, ominous voice meant.
The morning dawned in a chaotic atmosphere. Instead of the messy room, Lee Won, who was guided to another room, tossed and turned all night and fell into a light sleep. He finally opened his eyes. Rubbing his puffy eyes, he went outside and saw a man in a suit standing in the hallway. It wasn’t just one. Lee Won, who saw the men walking around here and there, exchanging fierce glances, walked with a reluctant expression.
As always, the butler who followed him as soon as he left the room personally guided him to the dining room. Under the sharp gazes of the Ruskies, he straightened his back and walked. The first thing he saw was the back of Caesar sitting with his back turned to Lee Won. The man who was standing next to him and whispering something immediately straightened his back and shut his mouth when he saw Lee Won. Lee Won was not in a good mood, but considering the situation, he pretended not to know and continued walking. As Lee Won sat down, Caesar, who had been watching, opened his mouth.
“We’ve strengthened security.”
I already know. Three or four men walking up and down the hallway were the norm, and there were also men in suits standing in every corner of the restaurant. Lee Won felt like he was going to get indigestion and started eating with a sullen expression. Thinking about these men loitering around the house all day made his chest suffocate. Caesar spoke to Lee Won, who was silently cutting bread and putting it in his mouth.
“You don’t have to look so annoyed, the security is only on the outside of the mansion. The inside of the mansion will be the same as before.”
Caesar added as Yiwon turned his gaze.
“It must be the work of an outsider, so as long as you make sure the outside of the mansion and the garden are well-guarded, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Caesar smiled as if to say, “Is it okay now?” Yi-won did not follow suit, but the men who had been standing still were startled here and there, and he could see them without any filter. Yi-won felt a strange feeling and turned his head as he saw Caesar’s face smiling at him, oblivious to the commotion around him.
As soon as Caesar left for work, the men who had been roaming around the mansion disappeared in an instant, just as he had said. Instead, the number of people guarding the outside of the mansion and the garden seemed to have increased, but Lee Won was satisfied that they were out of sight for the time being. He would probably be locked up in the study anyway, but he couldn’t help but feel nervous. Lee Won shook his head as he recalled what had happened this morning. If he imagined that happening every time he left the study, he even thought that it would be better to stay locked up until all the work was done.
As he shook his head as if trying to shake off the uncomfortable imagination, a knock was heard from outside. After a moment of waiting for an answer, the door opened and the butler looked inside. He slowly peeped his face out, but when his eyes met with Lee Won’s, he seemed to pause for a moment. The butler’s face soon returned to its usual expressionless expression and he opened his mouth.
“Let’s take a break for a moment.”
He came in with a tray before Yi-won could speak and bowed politely. I thought he would leave tea like he usually did, but he was different today. The butler put the tray on the floor where Yi-won was sitting, straightened his back, and sat down facing him. When Yi-won opened his eyes in surprise at the unexpected action, he placed a teacup in front of Yi-won. Yi-won was surprised again. Why is this person like this?
It was difficult for Yi-won to adapt to the sudden change in attitude of the man who always looked at him with unkind eyes. The butler said with a blank face to Yi-won's reaction, who was just watching from afar.
“Yesterday, you were really surprised, weren’t you?”
The sound of black tea being poured into a teacup could be heard. The butler poured an appropriate amount of well-brewed black tea and placed it in front of Yiwon.
“It was my fault that you got hurt. I apologize.”
Lee Won shook his head at his sincere apology.
“No, it’s okay. The butler didn’t do anything wrong. Fortunately, nothing was missing…”
The butler smiled at Yiwon for the first time. Yiwon spoke while holding the black tea that the butler pushed for him.
“I will drink well.”
The butler nodded slightly in exchange for the suggestion. As Lee Won took a sip of tea, the butler, who had been staring blankly, opened his mouth.
“I didn’t know you were such a good fighter.”
Lee Won accepted the light compliment and smiled back.
“I just protected myself. I was lucky.”
The butler soon spoke with a worried face at Lee Won's answer.
“Was there anything missing?”
Lee Won nodded.
“Yes, the important documents were still there. That’s a relief.”
The butler looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“…Is that so…”
Yi-won brought the tea back to his mouth. Suddenly, he felt a bitter taste. Did he brew the black tea too much? When he thought of Caesar, who didn’t like the black tea the butler brewed, his vision suddenly became blurry. Yi-won blinked with his brows furrowed. An eerie silence flowed, and the butler smiled. His eyes were not smiling at all.
Suddenly, he felt dizzy. The butler in front of him appeared to be two people. For a moment, Lee Won looked down at his teacup. The brown black tea was shaking dimly.
What the heck is this…?
Lee Won, who was about to stand up, fell back down. When he thought, “Oh no,” he had already dropped the teacup. The hot black tea poured out and spread over the documents. Oh, this is why I didn’t want to eat while working. Lee Won suddenly thought through his hazy consciousness. His eyes closed immediately, and he collapsed on the documents.
The black sedan parked on one side of the garden was silent with the engine off. The suffocating silence filled the car as well. The acrid smoke of a cigar spread behind the man who was holding his breath with great tension. The man sitting in the driver's seat, listening closely, was suddenly startled. He heard the situation through the earphones in his ears and looked back through the rearview mirror.
“Tsar, the rat has bitten the cheese.”
“Wow,” a long puff of smoke was heard. The blond man reflected in the rearview mirror was seen making a faint sneer. Caesar, who was sitting deep in his seat smoking a cigar, opened his mouth.
“Then shall we go catch some rats?”
Where is it, where is it, it must be in here.
Igor, the butler, hurriedly went through the papers. He picked up any papers he could find and rummaged through the drawers. He must have hidden them somewhere. Igor, who had been turning around in a hurry, stopped in his tracks due to the throbbing pain.
He ended up sitting down. He crouched down, clutching his shins, and his gaze turned resentfully toward Lee Won.
Yi-won was still unconscious. He had taken a strong drug, so he wouldn't come to his senses easily. Igor bit his lip and glared at him. It was all because of this man. From the beginning, it was all because of this man.
I must leave this mansion. Igor searched the papers scattered on the floor like a madman. He couldn't go back empty-handed. Tyutchev would be furious, and his life would not be guaranteed. Suddenly Igor noticed an envelope hidden under the sofa. For a moment, his eyes widened. Igor bent down and felt the floor. He felt the thick texture of the paper on his fingertips. Igor barely managed to take out the envelope and hurriedly opened it, his eyes widening.
This is it.
It was when Igor's face brightened.
Crunch.
The next thing he heard was a heavy metal noise from above his head. Igor froze for a moment. In his wide-opened field of vision, the long legs of men surrounding him were instantly reflected. He slowly raised his head and saw a dozen or so gun barrels pointed straight at him. Igor, frozen in thought, heard the quiet sound of footsteps.
“Oh, Igor.”
Caesar walked in between the men who had quickly stepped aside. The silver-clad Tsar smiled coolly at him.
“The tail is finally caught.”
Igor swallowed dry saliva with a pale, tired face, but said nothing.