Boy Monster Chapter 17

The lineage they inherited wasn’t from a specific country, but from the entire world throughout history, and the countries that sympathized with their cause weren’t limited to one nation either. Within the shadows of history, there were several presidents, ministers, prime ministers, and kings around the world who secretly supported their centuries-old purpose. Their aspirations for the next generation’s human improvement were as grand as the dream of leaping into space. Humanity’s desires were gradually becoming a reality in the unnoticed shadows.

“How many hundreds of years have we waited? To open the history of human improvement, creating a single race of those with spiritual powers…”

The doctor, barely containing his excitement, called for “Assassin Achilles.”

“This is our chance to snatch Jae Eunho without revealing our identity. We’ll disguise it as a revenge attack by the Philippine drug cartel on the detention center. Take Jae Eunho while pretending to eliminate that Shi Taehyun.”

“Is it finally starting?”

“Yes, isn’t it exciting? It doesn’t matter if you shoot and kill anyone who gets in the way. You can be a little reckless. Once Jae Eunho is on our side, we can control everyone’s minds.”

The doctor and the assassin exchanged excited words. The doctor gave a warning in a firm tone.

“It’s crucial to knock Jae Eunho unconscious before his ability control is released! Normally, he’s just a lame brain. You have to knock him unconscious before he turns the detention center upside down. Disguise yourself as a prison guard, knock on his dorm door, and immediately shoot him with a tranquilizer gun. He’s not an easy opponent, so never let your guard down. I emphasize.”

“Yes.”

“Make sure to incapacitate Jae Eunho first, then kill Shi Taehyun.”

“Understood.”

“If possible, find out his identity before killing him. If the situation doesn’t allow it, killing him takes priority.”

The start, after a long wait, boosted the assassin’s morale. The doctor looked at the empty glass tube installed in the middle of the hall, waiting for its owner.

“We finally meet, Jae Eunho, the immortal being…”

:･⚜️⊹.️

The sun had set. The red sun illuminated the bridge across the Han River. Jae Eunho sat at his desk, lost in thought.

—The modern and contemporary history lecture will start in two days. It’s a week-long rehabilitation program, but don’t drag it out for a full week. We’re keeping quiet about the SaHwelju to the higher-ups and proceeding secretly, so it’ll be troublesome if it takes too long. We’ve prepared accommodations inside the detention center, so stay there, investigate closely as much as possible, and find out quickly.

—It’ll only take a few hours. Just make sure my ability control is released properly.

—Alright. Jaewoong will enter as an inmate in the cell next to Shi Taehyun and monitor his movements. Can you stay awake for about two days?

—Ah…! Yes! Of course. It’ll be fun, experiencing prison life!

—Why am I excluded? One first-class agent should go with you.

—Choi Jungkyung’s role is already decided. He’ll join C.R.P.T. (1)

Jae Eunho as the rehabilitation program lecturer, Choi Jungkyung as a patrol officer, and Hyeon Jaewoong as the inmate in the cell next to Shi Taehyun – they would work as a team. There was still a day left, but he kept checking the time. It wasn’t due to the tension from the cruel acts committed by that Shi Taehyun.

Eunho couldn’t focus on the operation and kept fiddling with the corner of the photo album. He spent an hour reminiscing, looking at the film photos dating back to the 90s, 80s… all the way to the 40s.

‘It can’t be Hwonwoo, can it?’

Jae Eunho remembered the boy’s face more vividly than the photo. Still, he wanted to confirm it with his own eyes one more time. Although it wasn’t in Eunho’s album, there was one photo left in the NIS confidential files. A group photo of all the Hwelju and Yeonri of the Sashimcheon family.

‘Should I go see it now?’

He could see it quickly if he went to the NIS, but he hesitated. His heart was in turmoil. It was a faint, lingering nausea, like seasickness, that wouldn’t go away.

‘I wonder if Hwonwoo had a son or daughter… and that’s why a child resembling him appeared.’

Just as he was about to get up from his seat, putting aside his useless thoughts, Lim Geonhwi opened the door.

“Did you see the photos I sent?”

Eunho skillfully hid the album under a book. Looking at his phone, he saw several nude photos of himself had arrived via text message. They were photos taken during their recent sexual encounter. Eunho felt a wave of nausea looking at himself smiling on the bed in the dimly lit room. He deleted the photos and replied casually.

“Your photography skills are improving.”

“You’re my most prized rarity. You know that, right?”

“I know. That’s why you embarrassed me with a public wedding ceremony.”

“A mystical body that has died and revived seven times… I’m the only one in the world who possesses this. You’re worth the enormous price of scrapping a national defense project.”

Lim Geonhwi approached him from behind and asked, his intellectual voice reaching his shoulder.

“Why are you going to the detention center? It’s already been handed over to the Special Crimes Investigation Team and the police.”

“There are many suspicious aspects about that eighteen-year-old suspect. There’s a high possibility he knows something.”

“So, other intelligence officers should finish that investigation. I’m asking why you’re going there yourself.”

Eunho had a plausible excuse.

“Work is better than house arrest.”

“Ah.”

Lim Geonhwi gave a short reply. Moved by some reason today, he wrapped his arms around Eunho from behind.

“If I stop you from going, you’ll just escape again, won’t you?”

“Let go. The operation starts tomorrow. Take care of it yourself!”

“If you cum in one minute, I’ll give you a reward. If you say ‘good’ right before you cum, an even bigger reward awaits.”

Looking at the “S.E.T.U. Biological Weaponization Project — DENIED” file on the bookshelf, Eunho bit his lower lip hard. The feel of the leather gloves digging between his thighs was unpleasant.

:･⚜️⊹.️

Passing through the main gate of the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, Jae Eunho checked his props once more. Lecture materials, casual suit like a university lecturer, slightly old-fashioned shoes, a moderately priced wristwatch. He didn’t need to check his glasses since he already wore them.

A prison transport vehicle carrying inmates entered from behind. He stepped aside to let the transport bus pass and checked his radio.

“Everyone, confirm your positions.”

—Inside the bus.

—I’m right behind you, Jungkyung hyung.

Choi Jungkyung, disguised as a prison guard, and Hyeon Jaewoong, wearing prison clothes and handcuffed, were inside the transport vehicle. Jae Eunho quickened his pace, following the bus.

—Captain, those clothes suit you well, too. If you could wear comfortable clothes instead of suits sometimes…

—Be quiet, Hyeon Jaewoong.

—Yes.

Their radio communication ended there. The operation officially began as Jae Eunho, arriving at the detention center’s administrative office, greeted the warden and prison guards using his alias.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Inho, in charge of the lectures. Thank you very much for preparing accommodations inside the detention center.”

“Welcome, sir. Please unpack and join us for lunch later.”

“Yes.”

“Would you like to take a look around?”

The prison guard routinely offered a tour of the detention center. Eunho seized the opportunity and replied that he would like to see the solitary confinement cells first, as he had always been curious about them.

The guard seemed bothered, but perhaps assuming that a group capable of suddenly arranging a rehabilitation program and requesting accommodations must have strong backing, he accepted Eunho’s request without complaint.

Three guards accompanied him to the solitary confinement building. It would be good to see the suspect’s face in advance since they would meet anyway. Several layers of iron bars opened, revealing a long corridor. The corridor, lined with doors with small windows, was silent.

The guard shook his head and started small talk.

“There’s a heinous criminal who just came in yesterday. I saw the photos from the scene, wow… He’s completely crazy.”

“Oh, really? The inmates in solitary confinement won’t be attending my lectures, right? Haha.”

Jae Eunho made an appropriate joke as he peered inside the cells. The guards’ footsteps and the sound of Eunho’s shoes echoed and mixed subtly in the hallway. Limp, limp, but he quickened his pace.

“Whew—!”

A loud whistle, startling enough to make the guards jump, cut through the hallway along with his haha, laughter. Then a deep voice called out to Eunho.

“Korean history expert, Mr. Jae Eunho.”

It was a booming voice coming from only one cell, while all the other cells remained silent. The guards didn’t say anything, but Eunho could guess who the voice belonged to.

“Your footsteps are sexy. Are you wearing dress shoes? I love dress shoes, welcome!”

Another whew whistle blew. The guards checked Eunho’s complexion. Eunho said he was fine and headed towards the door where the voice had come from. The white bars grew closer.

“Ah… Fuck, I’ve been waiting so long…. Welcome…”

As Eunho reached the door and looked inside the window, Bang! a loud bang shook the door and walls.

What appeared at the window was irezumi covering a bare chest. He had hung himself from the bars, chin-up style, so only his upper body was visible first. It was behavior that made one wonder if he hadn’t fully recovered from the drugs yet. Hell burned within the brown prison uniform. Devils engulfed in flames and curses shimmered on his toned flesh. Because of his large build, the images moved significantly with each breath he took.

“I’d also like to learn about modern Korean history. Do you offer private tutoring?”

Shi Taehyun, who had climbed down without a sound and grabbed the bars, grinned. Their eyes met across the thick wall. Shi Taehyun, facing Jae Eunho through the bars, was silent. It wasn’t just silence that passed between their gazes. A coldness concealing a fierce turbulence penetrated deep into their pupils.