ANTITOXIN Chapter 24

“Didn’t you say earlier that he was a secretary?”

At the man’s point, Executive Director Hwang’s face turns pale. Thanks to this, Seolwon could roughly grasp what had happened while he was unconscious. It seemed that an interrogation similar to the current one had passed between the two, and Executive Director Hwang had temporarily fudged it with a lie.

“I’m, I’m sorry! It’s the truth this time! Truly, I just brought him along because I was asked to! Sleeping together and things like that are absolutely…!”

“Okay. Let’s say it is, then what was the purpose of the request?”

“Th-that much, I don’t really know…”

Executive Director Hwang, who truly did not know what President Kim’s purpose was, looked at Seolwon. It was a signal that it was his turn.

“That…”

Seolwon’s mouth, which had opened reflexively, closed right back up again. Because he knew how what he was about to spit out would sound to that man.

Let’s say he honestly reveals that he is actually a semi-shaman, and because he received a request from a person named President Kim, he intended to read the fortune of the arms broker they met today. Would he really believe it? …No, it was highly probable he would take it as bullshit.

“…”

“…”

“…Haa.”

In the silence filled with tension and anxiety, the man, who had been waiting for an answer for a while, unexpectedly let out an exaggerated sigh.

“You’re burning my heart out already. Well, it’s more fun if it’s not easy.”

He displayed his uncomfortable feelings. Seolwon could clearly feel the threat contained within that infinitely light tone.

Tsk! Clicking his tongue, he gave Seolwon a wink with one eye.

“Good, then let’s go the thrilling route. Actually, that side is more to my taste too.”

A peculiar smile is appended to the end of his words. Seolwon swallowed dry saliva before he knew it. Both his expression and what he was saying… were unusual.

“Woo-sik.”

While locking eyes with the tense Seolwon, he called out to someone. The person who showed a reaction to the call was his subordinate standing on the right. As if he immediately realized what was desired even without concrete instructions, the subordinate fumbled around the back of his pants and approached the man. Meanwhile, the man lifted one arm and extended his palm sideways. Soon, the subordinate, who approached right behind the man, placed something upon his hand. Seolwon, who immediately recognized what it was, sucked in his breath.

It was a gun.

“Ta-da! It’s the tool of truth.”

Just like a child holding a toy, the man smiles mischievously. It was right then. An acrid scent brushed the tip of Seolwon’s nose. Pungent like a freshly lit match, yet cold and harsh like burning metal… it was the very smell of gunpowder he had caught from the business card President Kim gave him.

And so, finally,

“…!”

Seolwon realized. That it was this man.

Yes, it was this man. Not the man wearing glasses seen inside the room, but this very man is the arms broker President Kim was looking for.

How could this be.

The belated realization accompanied a powerful shock. Even when he didn’t know his identity, he knew he was an extraordinary person. But now that he knew his identity, a horror incomparable to before rushed in.

Naturally, the wretched plight of the wandering spirit murdered by that man resurfaced in his mind. He was an opponent who ruthlessly inflicted harm upon a person who was doing a background check on him. A gun is gripped in that opponent’s hand right now. No matter how much Seolwon had been through all kinds of hardships, he couldn’t help but be frightened. At this moment, that man was felt as an existence more terrifying than an evil god wearing his grandmother’s skin.

Click.

The man, who was enjoying the sight of the terrified Seolwon, deactivated the safety catch ostentatiously.

“I told you. As a rule, when a person is faced with a life-threatening crisis, they are bound to become honest.”

Seolwon was also in agreement. A time when facing death was indeed the moment a human could be most honest.

It is a gun held in the hands of an arms broker. It was difficult to harbor expectations that it would be an imitation or a toy. It was also difficult to harbor hope that he actually wouldn’t shoot. There is no compassion within that man. Even if he knew nothing else, that much he could know for certain. Because he had seen the proof vividly.

Truly facing a life-threatening crisis, Seolwon trembled all over, feeling the sensation of his blood running cold. There were many times he had thought it would be better to die than to live like this. Exhausted by a life afflicted with shamanic illness, afflicted with nightmares, afflicted with ghosts, and afflicted with money, there were times he had truly tried to die. Despite that, he was scared right now. He didn’t know he would realize like this that a survival instinct still existed within him too.

“Now, it’s time to become honest.”

Soon, the man hooked his finger on the trigger. And he aimed the muzzle.

Toward Seolwon?

No, toward Executive Director Hwang.

“Heek!”

Executive Director Hwang jerked his body, startled out of his wits. The one startled was the same for Seolwon as well. It was natural since the muzzle he thought would point toward his side pointed in the exact opposite direction.

“I’ll ask you just one last time. Tell me what kind of relationship you two have. Accompanied by an explanation that I can be convinced by.”

The place the muzzle pointed toward was Executive Director Hwang, but the side the question pointed toward was Seolwon. In the event he failed to convince him this time as well, it was evident he would blow Executive Director Hwang’s head apart. Just like he had done to the wandering spirit that was attached to President Kim. It was equivalent to Executive Director Hwang’s life hanging on Seolwon’s mouth.

“Just why… why are you doing this.”

Seolwon appealed with a tearful face.

He could not understand the man’s actions at all. Rather, it would be different if he asked what kind of bastard are you, but why does he keep digging into the relationship with Executive Director Hwang.

To Seolwon’s appeal, the man replied in a casual tone.

“Why else, isn’t it obvious? I’m doing it to clean things up for you.”

On the contrary, it was a manner of finding Seolwon’s lack of understanding strange.

Clean things up? Just what?

Seolwon revealed his question with his gaze. Tsk, clicking his tongue as if frustrated, he added a kind explanation.

“Look here. If Mr. Han Seolwon is a whore bastard, then I can just give money and buy him. But he has a lover? It’s a bit improper to touch him then. I have a conscience too. Since I’m the pure-hearted type, I also can’t tolerate two-timing. So, what can be done if you two are in that kind of relationship. I’ll have to get rid of that bastard, right? That way, Mr. Han Seolwon will become a person without a lover.”

…What is he talking about, that human.

Seolwon ended up making a blank expression at the logic that was bizarre beyond measure. Even while forgetting the fear that had reached the extreme.

Because he can’t touch a person with a lover, he will kill the lover? Could that really be an idea that comes from a person with a conscience? In the first place, if it were a normal person, they wouldn’t even think about killing a person for such a reason.

“Did you understand?”

No way.

Seolwon shook his head. Then the man scratched his temple with the muzzle and blabbered as if talking to himself.

“As expected, you do have a bit of a blank beauty.”

It was a statement attacking his character disguised as a compliment. Before Seolwon could feel anything from it, the man’s refreshing voice followed.

“Well, it’s fine. Since I’m smart. At any rate, since I told you why I’m doing this, you should answer now, right?”

No sooner had the words ended than the muzzle aimed back at Executive Director Hwang. Hik! Executive Director Hwang, who had been relieved for a brief moment, began to tremble all over again, letting out a breath-stopping sound.

“Ha, Han, Mr. Han Seolwon! Just, tell him everything? Huh? We are truly nothing to each other, aren’t we? We just saw each other for the first time today, didn’t we? Right? Huh?”

Executive Director Hwang, drenched in tears, appealed. That voice was exactly like a goat’s bleat. Nonetheless, Seolwon hesitated. The form of the wandering spirit still remaining in his memory blocked his throat. Right now, that muzzle is pointing toward Executive Director Hwang, but what if he tells the truth? What if he says he tried to dig into what kind of person he was just to earn some money? At that time, his own head might get smashed.

Toward the hesitating Seolwon, the man’s urge soon dropped.

“Since I am generous, I’ll give you 3 seconds.”

The terrified Executive Director Hwang shouted while shifting his buttocks.

“No! Wa, wait, wait a minute!”

The man started the countdown, paying no heed.

“3.”

“Huuugk, Ha, Mr. Han Seolwon!”

“2.”

“Han Seol, Mr. Han Seolwon! Hey, you! You son of a bitch! Just speak! I said speak!”

“1.”

Creak, it was right at the moment the man’s finger was about to pull the trigger.

Finally, Seolwon opened his mouth.

“I received a request!”

The hurried exclamation succeeded in making the man’s finger stop. By a hair’s breadth, the bullet was not fired. Though, he didn’t withdraw the gun either.

“A request?”

The man picked out the word corresponding to the core out of Seolwon’s answer. After that, he asked while furrowing his brows.

“What kind of request?”