Damn! Damn! Chapter 3

Linus was silent. Knowing what that silence meant, Achim wiped the area under his nose with his index finger. After a long moment, Linus called out, “Achim.” His stifled voice was full of concern.

It was only natural; he knew that asking to investigate someone meant Achim had already made up his mind to do something. It meant the water had already been spilled.

Moreover, the target wasn’t just anyone, but Michael Bernhard—a Royal Alpha, no less. It was only natural for Linus to be worried before even hearing what the job was.

Facing the continued silence, Achim shifted his eyes, feeling slightly awkward.

“The job fee is 500,000 euros.”

[…What did you say?]

“And that’s just the upfront payment.”

[Achim, stop. You’re scaring me. What kind of job pays that much money? You said you wouldn’t do dangerous work anymore. I even changed all your personal records so you wouldn’t have to, so this is a real problem for me.]

“I’ll give you half.”

[So, what is the job?]

Achim scoffed at the attitude that had changed as easily as flipping a hand. Before Linus could change his mind again, he quickly spoke up.

“I have to steal it.”

Achim said, tapping the pile of money in front of him with his fingertips.

“Michael Bernhard’s…”

[…]

“…semen.”

Linus was silent, just like Achim had been a few minutes ago. Then, without further ado, he hung up the phone. This was after he told him to wait.

Achim put his phone back in his pants pocket. He would likely get a call within 30 minutes at the earliest, or an hour at the latest.

Thump. Achim leaned back against the backrest of his old chair, then grabbed the Glock that had come into his field of vision and held it in his hand.

It was loaded, so if he pulled the trigger, the shell would immediately eject, and it would pierce whatever was in front of him.

Tap, tap. The sound of rain hitting the window was the only thing filling the narrow basement. In the quiet silence, Achim stared at the Glock in his hand for a long time, as if thinking about something.

The familiar feel and grip.

It naturally brought up scenes from his past.

“…”

After rubbing the Glock with his thumb for a while, Achim pulled the hammer back. With his thumb pressing the hammer, he gently squeezed the trigger and pushed the hammer forward again. A dull, muted sound rang out briefly.

After familiarly unloading the weapon, Achim slumped back onto the chair.

It had been more than 10 years. He had joined a small private military company when he was sixteen, a young age, and had lived as a mercenary there for about four years.

Back then, Achim’s leader would take any job as long as it paid. The level of danger was never a consideration, so Achim had to struggle to achieve every mission he was given.

Though it was physically and mentally exhausting, his natural agility and tenacious personality made it a perfect fit for his aptitude. The fact that he already had two subordinates despite his young age in an organization that prioritized career experience was proof of that.

However, after a series of events, he was forced out of the organization, and since then, Achim had been unable to work as a mercenary.

“…”

Achim habitually rubbed his right knee and looked around the narrow space. The only reason he stayed in this damp, musty basement, even paying such high rent, was one thing.

To survive.

It was while he was thinking about his past—the time when he was most brilliant and vibrant, yet suddenly plunged into the mud—that his pocket vibrated. Achim pulled out his beat-up phone. It was Linus.

Achim pressed the answer button.

“Are you done already?”

[Yeah.]

“Good work.” Achim replied briefly.

Linus’s ability to dig up information was so good that it was beyond doubt or dispute. He was someone Achim couldn’t help but trust, having come from the same orphanage and shared the same mercenary company background.

Even back in their mercenary days, Linus’s skills were proven—he preferred thinking tasks like figuring out the optimal routes, approaches, and stripping targets of their information over using his body.

It was, quite literally, a God-given talent.

[Honey.]

When Achim replied with a “Yeah,” Linus said:

[But it’s a bit strange.]

Achim immediately tensed up. “What is?” he asked, his tone guarded, and Linus replied.

[It’s too clean.]

“What?”

[It’s so clean that it’s actually strange. Have you ever heard of the ‘uncanny valley’?]

When Achim asked what that was, Linus explained the meaning and then continued.

[Michael Bernhard’s identity and status are that of a representative of an autonomous welfare organization with over 300 years of history, and he is a descendant of Benjamin Bernhard.]

“And?”

[That’s just the visible side, that’s what I mean. You know that for a guy in this category, if you dig this much, something usually comes out. Especially since it’s Michael Bernhard of all people. You know he’s more famous than the President, right?]

“I know.” As Achim answered, Linus spoke as if he were quite uneasy.

[I’ve never seen a guy who makes this much money be this clean… well, Michael Bernhard is closer to fame than money, though.]

Achim couldn’t easily contradict Linus. In fact, Linus’s intuition was quite accurate, and he was the type to say things that made sense to anyone listening.

However, given the situation, Achim couldn’t easily agree, so he remained silent. Then, Linus suddenly let out a short, scoffing nasal sound.

[It makes you damn jealous, doesn’t it?]

“…”

Linus said in a slightly sharp voice.

[A Royal Alpha, handsome, wealthy, and even acting as a pioneer of good deeds. Achim, you’ve probably seen his face, but this guy… it seems his personality is proportional to his looks. The media and the people, everyone is full of praise for him. It’s like he’s won the whole world over to his side. It’s surprising.]

“And you were the one doubting he was ‘too clean’ a moment ago.” Achim narrowed his eyes at the screen, as if staring down Linus, who was suddenly praising Michael Bernhard in an excited voice.

[Achim, why don’t you try seducing him instead?]

“…”

[That might be faster. You might even really turn your life around—]

“Shut up, Linus.”

[Hmm, maybe you’re right?]

When Achim spoke sternly, Linus cleared his throat.

[Anyway, here’s some good news. As expected of someone who leads a welfare organization, his character seems gentle too. ‘He is always kind and exudes a relaxed air.’ That’s something people who have actually met him often say. In fact, that’s what you were aiming for, right?]

The baseless belief that even if the job went wrong, Michael Bernhard would show leniency. As expected of an old friend, Linus had accurately grasped the inside of Achim’s head.

When Achim admitted it, Linus giggled, saying he knew it.

[Yeah, even if you get caught, maybe this guy will really show leniency just as you said. Although, that’s just wishful thinking at best.]

Achim let out a groan at the stinging remark. Linus giggled again.

[That aside, Achim, I have some good news.]

“What is it?”

Achim perked up his ears.

[This is very fresh news that just came in, about Michael Bernhard’s semen. It might actually be very easy to get.]

“Really? How?”

[Apparently, this is something even the government keeps secret, but they collect semen from Royal Alphas. Just like they preserve the nation’s cultural assets.]

It was truly something he was hearing for the first time. As Achim fell silent in concentration, Linus continued to speak.

[They collect the semen and freeze it. You know that freezing sperm is quite common, so you might already know… but the point is that it’s not voluntary. My guess is that the governments of each country probably convinced the Royal Alphas with some plausible excuse. There’s no need to explain the rarity of Royal Alphas. In reality, they’re just infringing on their human rights for the benefit of the majority.]

Achim nodded slowly.

“Then is Michael Bernhard’s frozen semen at the Bellevue Palace?”

Bellevue Palace was the President’s official residence. He wondered if it would be there if the government was taking the lead in managing it.

Just as Achim was about to voice his doubt about how having to break into the President’s residence was “good news,” Linus spoke one step ahead.