I Hate Persistent People (2) 16: Chapter 16.
I Hate Persistent People (2) * * * There was no way the security cameras had recorded him.
Hyeon-yul was certain of it.
The Manager’s expression alone made it obvious that he had come armed with evidence that did not exist.
“…” The Manager fell silent.
There was nothing.
That villainous bastard had not appeared in the footage.
It made no sense.
A person had been murdered, yet no one had been seen entering.
The bastard must have used some kind of power.
“I see it was nothing but speculation after all.
I couldn’t understand why you suspected me in the first place, but now I do.
You’re the ones who have been talking behind my back and spreading rumors.” Hyeon-yul spoke as though he had finally understood everything, wiping the last traces of blood from the corner of his mouth.
“W-What are you talking about all of a sudden?!” “You have a guilty conscience, so you’re treating me like a murderer.
It’s strange how you’re accusing me without any other reason at all.” “Because you’re a villain!
You must have used your powers to avoid the security cameras!” That villain had joined the Black Eagles, not the White Sparrows.
Naturally, he had to possess some kind of power.
“By that logic, every Black Eagle would be capable of it, wouldn’t they?” Shinwoo said with a laugh.
Every Black Eagle possessed abilities.
If they accepted the Manager’s argument, all of them had to be included among the suspects.
“Since you’re so eager to suspect people, why don’t you include me too?” Shinwoo’s smile grew sharp.
Even the black walls he summoned could penetrate glass.
Why shouldn’t he be considered a suspect?
“Ah, why not make everyone on Team 3 a suspect?
That would be much more convenient, wouldn’t it?” “Are you defending that bastard?” The Manager’s face twisted as Shinwoo answered him.
“Just as you’re acting for your colleague, we’re speaking up for ours.” The corners of Shinwoo’s mouth rose.
The Manager, who had flinched earlier, glared straight at him with eyes that seemed to have lost their reason.
The tension escalated far beyond what Hyeon-yul had expected, so he quietly interrupted.
“What an interesting theory.
So what time did it happen?” “Seven thirty-five in the evening.” The Manager answered without hesitation.
If anything, he looked at Hyeon-yul as though he were an idiot.
Hadn’t the fool just dug his own grave?
“Where were you at that time?” The Manager’s eyes brightened, and a faint smile spread across his face.
He looked like a man who had already won.
‘What an idiot.’ “Manager, you’re making a mistake.” While everyone waited for Hyeon-yul to confess, Shinwoo issued a stern warning to the entire group, including the Manager.
He spoke as if Hyeon-yul’s innocence had already been established.
“Do you think everyone connected to you will get out of this unharmed?” After delivering that weighty warning, Shinwoo turned to Hyeon-yul with an expression of complete trust.
It was an enormous burden.
Hyeon-yul really had killed the man.
But there was only one answer he intended to give.
“Around that time, I was eating coffee and cake at a café near my home.
I can tell you which one, so you can ask them to check their security footage.” He did not bother mentioning that the café was a considerable distance from the place where he had killed the man.
“You must have…
left your seat!” The Manager raised his voice to conceal his panic.
Surely not.
“I did.” “See?!” “I stepped into the restroom for a moment to wash my hands.
Is there something wrong with that?” “…What?” “And there is someone who saw me there.
Are you going to claim I arranged that too?
Or will you say I fabricated the entire mission?
I had no idea you thought so highly of my abilities.
Should I thank you?” Hyeon-yul stared at the Manager and delivered the last remark with open sarcasm.
The man had nothing to say.
“How much more do I have to do?” Hyeon-yul asked, tilting his head slightly.
“You don’t need to do anything else.
I received a text yesterday about where you were, so I already know.
You were eating cheesecake then, weren’t you?” Shinwoo’s words surprised Hyeon-yul.
He hadn’t expected Nayun to tell Shinwoo that much.
“If you find it hard to believe, take a look.” Shinwoo held out his phone so everyone could read the messages.
[Choo Nayun: Heeeeeey!] [Choo Nayun: Earlier, around seven thirty?
I was on a mission when I saw Mr.
Hyeon-yul, you know?
He was right in my scope.
I probably shouldn’t text him, right?
If I asked whether he likes cheesecake, would he run away?
If I told him I know a really good place, would he freak out?] [Choo Nayun: Heeeeeey, why are you ignoring me when you’ve read this????] [Choo Nayun: Do you want to die???] “You see?
If you’re going to say we coordinated this too, go ahead.
We and the villain must have planned the mission together, and the police who arranged the mission must be in on it as well.
Oh, and you, the Manager who brought us the information, must be part of the same conspiracy.
I’d love to know just how far our reach extends.” The Manager froze as he looked at Shinwoo’s phone.
His legs appeared to give out, and he sank to the floor.
No.
It wasn’t true.
It really wasn’t him.
Only then did the color drain completely from the Manager’s face.
“Was it fun whispering behind my back and then making a fool of me in public?” Raising his voice so everyone could hear, Hyeon-yul slowly approached the Manager.
“Does none of you understand the meaning of ‘enough’?” He looked at the people whose gazes were fixed on him, one by one.
His eyes rested briefly on a particular individual.
The Black Eagle who had been talking to the Manager Hyeon-yul killed before was lingering here too.
‘You’re next.’ This time it had been a Manager.
Why couldn’t he kill a Black Eagle too?
‘You should have known when to stop.’ They were the ones who had crossed the line first.
Who wouldn’t lose his temper when someone tried to take away his livelihood?
“After seeing this, how could anyone believe this place is the Black Eagles’ Nest?
I can’t see any difference between you and the villains.” Hyeon-yul narrowed his eyes.
He looked as though he had more to say, but stopped himself and simply wore an expression of utter disgust.
“Especially you.” He grabbed the Manager by the collar.
For the briefest moment, a mocking smile crossed his face.
‘I won.’ When the Manager’s face contorted, Hyeon-yul let go of his collar and straightened up.
“I won’t put up with this anymore.
I’m filing a formal complaint, so go ahead and keep talking if you want.” He snorted at them and walked away without looking back.
‘The rumors should die down soon.’ Only the ringleader remained.
Since he had already drawn his blade, he intended to finish the job cleanly.
* * * Hyeon-yul trudged toward the bus.
It was the same route he always took, but his legs felt especially heavy today.
—Those rotten bastards, seriously!
When Haeryeon had started swearing without any restraint the moment she saw him, he’d flinched, thinking she might be about to fire him.
—…Sorry.
That wasn’t directed at you, Mr.
Hyeon-yul.
I meant those bastards.
She had reacted as if she’d witnessed the entire scene herself.
—I’m going to formally refer this incident to the police, so go home for now.
I’ll contact you whenever there’s progress or anything else to report.
Take some time to calm down at home.
Apparently busy, Haeryeon left as soon as she finished speaking.
‘She doesn’t suspect me.’ Hyeon-yul found it remarkable.
Both Haeryeon and Shinwoo had to know what kind of power he possessed.
‘Or do they simply not want to suspect me?’ Either possibility was fine.
Besides, Nayun had actually seen him at the café, and its security footage provided firm evidence.
“…Hey.” The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but Hyeon-yul pretended not to hear and kept walking.
He was too exhausted to get mixed up with anyone else.
“Hey, Seo Hyeon-yul.” Only then did he stop.
Turning his head, he saw Ye Juhyeon, the leader of Team 7.
“Yes.
What is it?” “Didn’t you hear me?” Juhyeon was holding her phone, rapidly moving her thumbs again with an irritated expression.
What on earth was she always typing?
“No, that’s not it.
Given what happened today, I assumed it was someone calling out to me because of the incident.
You already know about it, Team Leader.” “The whole thing was disgusting.” Juhyeon stopped typing and frowned.
They had even tried to frame him for murder.
They had gone far too far.
“What did you need?” “What do you think?” Juhyeon lightly waved the phone in her hand.
“Come with me for a minute.” “Right now?
If it’s something we can discuss over the phone…” “I don’t have your number.” “But you’re a team leader.
Can’t you access everyone’s numbers?” “What are you talking about…?
That’s…” Juhyeon nearly blurted out that doing so would violate his privacy, then stopped herself.
Would there have been such a thing at a company run by villains?
She gestured for him to follow and started walking.
Hyeon-yul looked longingly at the bus before reluctantly going after her.
Several people stared at them, but he ignored their gazes.
* * * Juhyeon stopped near the back entrance of the central building.
It was more secluded than he had expected, the kind of place people rarely visited.
Still, Hyeon-yul checked his surroundings to be safe.
“There’s no one here, and even if there were, they wouldn’t be able to listen.” At her words, Hyeon-yul glanced at a security camera.
Its light had already gone out.
“I see.” “Where did you get this?” Juhyeon lightly waved the phone she was still holding.
“Just as I told you before, I stole one of the phones belonging to the Manager who followed me because he wanted to make my life miserable.” “Why did you think to steal it?” “It was suspicious that they were moving together in a group.” Juhyeon’s response to his answer was a silent ‘I knew it.’ She should have realized when a mere rookie had confidently made demands of someone in her position.
‘This rookie has good instincts.’ She gave a faint scoff before continuing.
“Turns out there were lots of deleted messages.
I restored them and found out he was secretly communicating with someone.” Juhyeon took a phone from her pocket and handed it over.
[SDSF213: Lead the Eagles’ movements over here.] [SDSF213: I’ve already sent the bait.
They won’t know.] [SDSF213: Just send that thing over here properly.] Hyeon-yul read the messages calmly, then his brow furrowed.
One phrase in particular caught his eye.
‘That thing.’ What else could it mean?
It was an expression commonly used at companies run by villains.
‘…An experimental subject.’ Hyeon-yul slowly raised his head.
These were obviously messages between a Manager and someone working with the villains.
‘Is that why they couldn’t find the third location?’ —It might be difficult to investigate the third location.
The place was blown apart when a villain we’d never seen before attacked it.
Hadn’t Nayun told him that?
An unfamiliar villain had launched an attack.
‘The information was leaking already.
…Fine, but why are they collaborating with villains in the first place?’ Leaving everything else aside, Hyeon-yul could not understand why anyone would join hands with villains.
Did they naively believe the villains would fulfill their promises?
‘Ah, were they as stupid as I was and got used?’ The man was dead, so Hyeon-yul could not ask him for an explanation.
But he could reach a neat conclusion on his own: trusting a villain was stupid, and working with one was even stupider.
“You discovered this.
And because of you, we’ve uncovered something shocking.” Juhyeon spoke with a grave expression.
The messages clearly proved someone on the inside was secretly cooperating with villains.
The system depended on trust between Black Eagles and White Sparrows, and now that entire foundation was in danger of being shaken.
“And the Manager who died this time was mixed up in it too.” “That person as well?” “Yeah.
He was in one of the deleted group chats.
He was one of them.” ‘…What?
So killing him was the right call after all.’ Hyeon-yul swallowed the smile threatening to spread across his face.
“What do you think about the situation?” When Juhyeon asked, he looked at her.
‘What does she mean, what do I think?’ He had no idea what she wanted.
Villains had behaved like villains, and some idiot had let himself be used.
What was so exceptional about that?
‘…But I can’t say it like that.’ *101 Ways to Succeed in the Workplace.* According to that book, offering a plausible answer when one’s superior asked a question was an efficient way to handle things.
In other words, he should tell Juhyeon what she wanted to hear.
And she clearly considered this a very serious situation.
“I consider it extremely serious.” Hyeon-yul spoke gravely.
Juhyeon looked at him with a trace of expectation.
“This could damage the trust between Black Eagles and Managers.
But I don’t think that’s the most important issue.” “It’s not?” “If even Black Eagles are involved, wouldn’t that change the situation completely?” “…What?” Juhyeon’s face immediately twisted.
Whether she’d refused to consider the possibility or simply hadn’t thought of it, her expression grew incomparably more troubled.
‘What a shame.
A Black Eagle is already involved.’ Hyeon-yul knew the answer.
After all, the man was one of his targets.
“What are you getting at?” “I expected there to be trouble inside the organization after I joined.
But didn’t today’s events show that they are moving in an organized manner?
I don’t believe this is something simple.” “…You’re right.
They tried to frame you for murder, didn’t they?
It would have been just enough to get you expelled.” “I know this tactic.” “What tactic?” Juhyeon asked immediately, then apparently thought better of it and corrected herself.
“I’m not asking out of curiosity.
I mean that I’d like to draw on your knowledge.” “Splitting an organization apart from the inside.” “Splitting it apart?” “Yes.
And I’m the perfect person to use to create internal division.” Hyeon-yul slightly raised his eyes.
Why else would they go to such lengths to drive him away?
“Who else knows about this?” “Just you and me.” “Haven’t you told Team Leader Haeryeon?
Would you prefer that I tell her?” “No.
I was planning to do it myself.
This is something I should report personally.” It was a serious matter, and Juhyeon had only told Hyeon-yul first because she believed he needed to know.
“Have you noticed that strange things have been happening since you arrived here?” “I understand why you might suspect me.
But I came here wanting to join so badly that I cut off my own superior’s head to do it.
Why would someone like me destroy this place?
I’ll protect it no matter what.” Hyeon-yul made himself perfectly clear.
As long as the employment contract was honored, he would always be on the Black Eagles’ side.
Juhyeon still watched him with suspicion in her eyes.
“Don’t forget that I’m always watching you.” “I won’t forget.
May I leave now?” “Fine.” Hyeon-yul said goodbye and hurried away without a hint of reluctance.
Juhyeon tapped the screen of her phone with one finger.
‘They said the wounds looked like an animal had torn him apart.
But I heard that rookie uses a dagger.
So who on earth is the killer?’ The fact that Hyeon-yul had once been a villain still bothered her quite a bit.
* * * ‘…Who killed him?
Did that rookie bastard do it?’ A man gnawed at his finger, then reached for a glass of liquor nearby.
The instant he’d heard that a White Sparrow had died, he’d gone out.
He had used paid leave yesterday, thinking things might become troublesome.
Surely that rookie wouldn’t dare attack in a place filled with people.
Loud music pounded in his ears.
Lights flashed so brightly they hurt his eyes, and at that moment he felt a burning pain in his abdomen.
STAB.
“Hello.” Hyeon-yul had appeared and stabbed the Black Eagle he intended to dispose of in the stomach.
“…?” The Black Eagle could not comprehend what was happening to him.
“Have you been trembling like the pathetic idiot you are?” Hyeon-yul whispered into the Black Eagle’s ear.