Cold City Romance Chapter 12.1

“I didn’t come to Korea to do errands like this…….”

In the early dawn, Hyun Jaehwi, wrapped in a shower gown, received a bag containing clothes from the man who had come to the villa in Hwacheon.

“My mission is to persuade my superior and escort him back, not to clean up my superior’s privacy. Personal matters like this are troublesome.”

The man, an Asian mixed-race individual with blood from multiple nationalities, spoke Korean that was more perfect and fluent than his native language. The man had grown up in Korea, his mother’s country, until he was fifteen years old.

Snatching the heavy bag from his hand, Hyun Jaehwi laughed.

“In Korea, there is no one I can trust. They are all eyes, ears, hands, and feet of my family. They are nothing but limbs monitoring me.”

Hyun Jaehwi spoke toward the man, who was a Korean-American of quarter mixed heritage from England, Hong Kong, and Korea, and who was both his subordinate and his staff officer at the same time.

“Right now, the only one I can trust here is you, Joseph.”

Just in time, Joseph had come to find Hyun Jaehwi in Korea a few days ago, carrying a special urgent message and mission from the organization.

Hyun Jaehwi, who was full of suspicions, basically trusted no one. Therefore, he had no choice but to make such a personal request to Joseph, who was both his subordinate and staff officer out of necessity.

First, Joseph was currently staying at Hyun Jaehwi’s residence. Second, although he was Korean by descent, he was culturally closer to an American and was ignorant about Korean celebrities like Cha Dokyung. Third, over the past ten years, he had been the closest and most reliable friend who had grown up together in the organization from a young age and shared hardships and joys.

Joseph looked around the interior of the old-fashioned house that highlighted natural affinity and the beauty of empty space. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, a cool valley and the serene morning forest scenery unfolded as if in a distant, tasteful landscape painting or folding screen.

“By the way, this place is called Hwacheon, right? The scenery is nice? It’s worth taking emergency leave to Korea.”

Hyun Jaehwi and Cha Dokyung had ended up soaked down to their underwear and unable to move, thus trapped in this villa.

After the salt body dissipation, moving Cha Dokyung, who had fallen into a deep pseudo-sleep state as if unconscious, without anyone witnessing it was an impossible request unless in a relationship of perfect trust.

The current Cha Dokyung, who had forcibly used his ability to dissipate the salt body, would not wake up from sleep in any physical situation. He would fall into a long ‘transcendental sleep’ state for about half a day.

From safely transporting Cha Dokyung to his home bedroom without being discovered by anyone, to restoring everything back to its original state as if nothing had happened—that was all Hyun Jaehwi’s responsibility.

As Cha Dokyung had requested, he had already taken care of all the instructions not to leave any traces of the night the two had spent together in this villa.

“Stay quiet and wait here.”

Hyun Jaehwi picked up the clothing bag Joseph had brought and locked the bedroom door.

First, he took off the shower gown and changed into the shirt and pants that Joseph had brought.

Even to that pale and elegant body sleeping on the bed without a single thread of clothing, Hyun Jaehwi carefully dressed it. Because Joseph had randomly pulled clothes from his home closet, all of them were loose on Cha Dokyung, exposing his collarbones entirely.

Cha Dokyung, who had entered a perfect salt body erasure state, was deeply asleep without the slightest movement, like a corpse, with an angelic face.

Hyun Jaehwi easily lifted up Cha Dokyung, whom he had dressed.

When Hyun Jaehwi opened the bedroom door and appeared carrying someone deeply asleep in his arms, Joseph’s eyes widened in surprise, and he scanned every detail of the person in his embrace with sharp eyes to figure out who on earth it was.

Joseph slyly rolled his eyes and chattered on in his characteristic soldierly tone.

“So, this must be that harsh first love you’ve been enslaved to for the past ten years? The one you said would have completely forgotten your existence…….”

“Hah, enslaved…….”

‘Enslaved.’ 

Dominant types generally like to use that word. Conceptually, it is calling the state where dominance is submitted to as love in their language.

Fundamentally, dominant types possess a strong dominant temperament that places them above others. Dominant types, who are controllers that submit to no one, choose one person in their lifetime and submit only to that person. So, to them, what is the difference between love and submission.

Joseph came closer and carefully scanned the beautiful face held in his arms, the long neckline like a deer’s, and the red traces of passion stuck all over the collarbones.

“That…… it must have been hot, huh?”

Hyun Jaehwi glared at him in silence without responding.

“Pathetically, because of the passionate traces left by Jay, that white body is all mottled and messed up.”

Hyun Jaehwi stepped hard on the instep of Joseph, who had come close as if to tell him to shut up, and trampled it with all his might. However, Joseph paid no mind and acted nonchalant.

“He’s so elegant and beautiful that anyone would fall for him at first sight, right?”

“…….”

“Jay, now I get why you ignored all those countless omegas who were clinging to you for the past ten years. That mild-mannered guy had his eyes on top of his head.”

Joseph laughed while scanning the pale and precarious face embraced by Hyun Jaehwi.

“Unless it’s someone with such a beautiful body and face, it wouldn’t satisfy your tastes.”

Hyun Jaehwi ordered in a commanding tone.

“Stop talking nonsense and lead the way!”

“Don’t give orders! This is outside your authority.”

Joseph stiffly lifted his head.

“I need to accurately figure out why you gave up promotion and returned to Korea again.”

Hyun Jaehwi covered Cha Dokyung’s face in his arms as if to protect it from Joseph’s lecherous gaze.

“As expected, it’s because of this incredibly amazing reason here.”

Hyun Jaehwi’s car left Hwacheon in the early dawn.

In the back seat, Hyun Jaehwi carefully held Cha Dokyung, laying his head on his own lap so that his body would be comfortable. Joseph, gripping the steering wheel, glanced at the two in the back seat through the rearview mirror and chattered.

“To think that you were doing this again after coming all the way here……. You didn’t tell me about removing your first love’s elemental.”

Hyun Jaehwi sneered lowly.

“No matter where I go, it seems like it’s my damned fate to live doing that kind of thing.”

“Thanks to that, you haven’t lost your touch. When you return, the prison is full of vicious elementals that you have to interrogate and erase…….”

“…….”

“There’s no one in the organization who can make elementals confess and dissipate as quickly as you. Without you, I’m the only one dying like a dog, and it’s not like we can suddenly find a dominant esper somewhere, so CID is currently facing a very serious manpower shortage.”

Although Joseph vented complaints about intelligence agency work, Hyun Jaehwi did not pay attention to his words and lowered his head.

He stared blankly at the bare face of the indifferent cold beauty lying on his lap with her eyes closed and even her consciousness absent.

For the umpteenth time, without realizing it, he touched those pretty lips with his finger again. The red and lacquered lips were not dry, feeling soft and jelly-like to the touch. The steady breathing touched the tips of Hyun Jaehwi’s long fingers. Even his sleeping face was the one and only person who disturbed his heart this much.

Others evaluated Hyun Jaehwi as a person who showed cold and resolute decisiveness without blood or tears in front of decisions more than anyone else. However, even though he had resolved to leave, to organize, to break up, the fact that his will was shaking until the very end like this—was it really because, as Joseph said, he, a dominant alpha, had submitted to him.

Hyun Jaehwi spat out in a heavy low tone.

“I haven’t decided yet on early return.”

“Robert Choi personally sent me to Korea right away and told me to bring you back no matter what. Since one of the intelligence alliance commanders has intervened in your matter, your father’s influence as a chaebol in this small country won’t work anymore.”

Joseph added once more, as if brainwashing, the words he had repeated countless times and persuaded him with just two days ago, as if fed up.

“As I said, the establishment of the East Asia base branch of the Central Control Intelligence Agency was confirmed for Korea, located between China and Japan, just a few days ago at the international conference.”

“…….”

“In a few years, Robert Choi, the Korean-descended commander, will eventually be appointed as the head of the East Asia branch.”

“…….”

“For Robert Choi to consolidate his forces, he needs you, a core esper and one of the unit leaders of the Control Intelligence Agency. As you know, contribution and performance are the most important indicators for becoming the head.”

“…….”

“The commander will immediately deploy you to the special classified operation jointly conducted by the United States and Asia this time. He hopes you will establish major merits. In terms of achievements using esper units, no one in CID can match your performance.”

Hyun Jaehwi half-listened, gently brushing up Cha Dokyung’s hair with the tips of his thick-jointed long fingers. A clear and pretty forehead was revealed.

“This is the perfect opportunity. Since the Korean-descended commander has designated you to groom as his successor, in a few years, when the East Asia branch is established in Korea, Robert Choi will become the head of the East Asia branch, and you will be promoted at ultra-high speed and get your stars. It means you’ll become a colonel.”

The plan for the ‘East Asia base branch’ of the ‘Central Control Intelligence Agency (CID)’, an independent international organization not affiliated with any specific country and a special international military organization supporting the allied nations, to be established in Korea was something that was utterly distant and opaque, at least until Hyun Jaehwi obtained a grace period of two years.

The conference announcement had been just a few days ago. If that fact had been confirmed in advance from the beginning, Hyun Jaehwi would not have leisurely received the grace period or returned to Korea.

However, Hyun Jaehwi maintained an attitude of lukewarm indifference throughout.

Even though the greatest opportunity where dreams and ambitions could be realized just by reaching out was right in front of him, Joseph, who had pursued dreams and ambitions with him in the organization since childhood, could not help but feel indignant at his current half-hearted, indecisive attitude.

“It was Robert Choi who promoted a kid just over twenty to unit leader. It’s time to repay him. You must return to the center with me within a month no matter what! After that, you and I have to play dead for a few years and give the commander the best performance.”

Hyun Jaehwi sneered coldly. That was the price of the endless lobbying his chaebol father had done to Robert Choi, who had risen to the position of the first Korean intelligence alliance commander.

However, if Hyun Jaehwi had not received perfect scores in the evaluation scores that convert classified operation achievements and contributions, and in the ESP ability test for promotion criteria. If he had not passed the screening with an overwhelming difference among the promotees, all of this would have been absolutely impossible.

“Jay, you have to go back. My promotion depends on your choice.”

Joseph, who was two years older than Hyun Jaehwi, was a language expert who spoke Korean, Chinese, and English at a native level, and he was one of the most outstanding ability-wielding executive members renowned for his strategic acumen.

“So, that’s the reason they sent you. The reason they sent a cunning subordinate staff officer blinded by success and ambition to me.”

Joseph, gripping the steering wheel, clicked his tongue as if it was pathetic.

“The one who most desperately wanted the East Asia branch of the international center to be established in Korea…… Jay, it was you.”

“…….”

“Your precious body does not have the time to frivolously play around controlling the elemental of your first love lying there.”

Hyun Jaehwi looked down at Cha Dokyung’s face and replied.

“Yes, I know. It was a pointless waste of time.”

It was a face that was chillingly emotionless and cold-hearted.

“So, I ended it all with my own hands. I cut off all the remaining lingering attachments and possibilities.”

Hyun Jaehwi spoke while his hands, which had gripped the elemental’s neck, trembled faintly. Since he had removed the aggregate of instincts that pursued pheromones from him, there was no longer any reason for Cha Dokyung to desire him. Now, all points of contact had disappeared.

A hollow silence lingered in the car for a long while.

“Joseph, I am different from you. As for ambitions regarding success or honor…… well, now I am even questioning whether I want that anymore.”

In fact, Hyun Jaehwi was thinking of abandoning everything if Cha Dokyung wanted it.

He was prepared to discard all of his classified affiliation and position, and if he wanted it, to build an ordinary family with him. With a child resembling him…… no, a child is not necessary. Simply, he wanted to live in this Korea as his partner with Cha Dokyung.

What Hyun Jaehwi truly desired was not something as trivial as a year-long physical relationship. If this was what submission of a dominant meant, Hyun Jaehwi had wanted to submit to Cha Dokyung from that very first moment they encountered each other after ten years.

“You spoiled brat, that must be because your father is a chaebol in this country. For someone like me who has nothing but this ability and dominant traits, this is an urgent opportunity that will absolutely never come again.”

“…….”

“Asian espers are still being discriminated against within the international intelligence agency. If Korea becomes the East Asia base headquarters, the situation for all of us, including you, will change completely. Among them, since you possess the highest abilities and overwhelming achievements, if you properly seize this opportunity, in the future, you will become the East Asia director succeeding Robert Choi.”

Joseph’s goal was to promote Hyun Jaehwi, the best talent with a perfect background, to success, and thereby secure his own promotion as his closest staff officer.

Hyun Jaehwi sneered coldly at Joseph.

“Why not become the director yourself instead of a staff officer.”

Joseph sighed in frustration and replied.

“If that special and superior ability you have, the highest ESP test scores, and the achievement indicators from classified operations you accomplished as a unit leader were all mine……. I would have already done that and more by now. Moreover, you were even born with a perfect background that can support your honor and success with money and power.”

“…….”

“There is no reason for the alliance commander not to pull you in. Your solid chaebol father, who has a close relationship with Robert Choi and lobbied him to secure a grace period of a whopping two years so that you could enjoy a normal person’s life.”

“…….”

“Your father would also be proud of that highest honor if you become a colonel, go through the alliance commander, and eventually become the director in the future.”

Even because of his father’s endless lobbying and connections, Hyun Jaehwi would ultimately walk the best elite course succeeding Robert Choi, the only Asian alliance commander. That was because Robert Choi had personally persuaded the chaebol chairman, the current president, to send the seventeen-year-old him to the organization, emphasizing honor and insisting that it had to be that way.

Until he met Cha Dokyung, that had also been Hyun Jaehwi’s only dream and goal, running forward with his eyes fixed ahead.

“In a few years, you will kiss the back of my foot and thank me for dragging you out of Korea.”

“I politely decline.”

Hyun Jaehwi gave a cold, wry smile.

“The East Asia base branch establishment has been confirmed for Korea, and in a few years, Commander Robert Choi will be appointed as the East Asia director…… yes, as you say, this is the opportunity of a lifetime for me.”

The dream and success he had so long awaited were right in front of him. It was the moment when his grand ambitions would be realized. If Robert Choi became the East Asia director in the Korean branch, Hyun Jaehwi’s honor and career would be on a smooth path. The control powers in Asia, which were discriminated against internationally, could also gain equal opportunities. There was no longer any reason to remain in Korea.

“Tell the alliance commander that I will return to headquarters early. However, it is in exchange for fully fulfilling the conditions Robert presented to me.”

Finally, Hyun Jaehwi could leave Korea without any lingering regrets. However, even though the grand ambitions and ideals from his young days that he had so desired were now approaching right before him, for some reason, it did not feel as joyful as he thought. It was because of this man sleeping with his head on his lap, with a serene and noble face.

Cha Dokyung’s disturbing salt body, the elemental, could be controlled as much as he wanted. If he set his mind to it, he could enjoy eternal pleasure with Cha Dokyung in his instinctual state forever. However, what Hyun Jaehwi wanted was never such a thing.

Hyun Jaehwi, who had dissipated countless fake elementals until now, wanted the real thing, not a fake illusion. The boy who had been infinitely young before Cha Dokyung manifested had harbored a crush in his heart for the real Cha Dokyung, not an illusion. It was not about wanting just the shell.

Therefore, if it is not the real Cha Dokyung, it is utterly useless. In the end, if the real Cha Dokyung does not want him……. If the Cha Dokyung who returned to rationality rejects him until the end and hurts him at every moment, if he abandons him at every moment, how futile would that be.

Therefore, it was proper to pursue substantial power and ambitions rather than futile illusions. To sever the lingering attachments, he had dissipated even the salt body with a ruthless heart. There was no need to waste any more time. Now, all that remained was to completely part from Cha Dokyung and leave this Korea.

In the distance, the Han River began to come into view. The car was already approaching Cha Dokyung’s residence.