Rainbow City Chapter 20

Seokhwa didn’t insist on walking by himself. He simply looked down at the Adam that he had dealt with and slightly parted his lips. The Adam’s corpse, killed by a gun, was relatively intact, but those destroyed by Seokhwa’s hands were beyond the point of being able to see. His internal organs were scattered on the ground, and an overwhelming stench rose, making Kwak Soohwan finally clench his teeth. If there was hell, it might look like this. Interpreting the trembling of his body in a different sense, Kwak Soohwan patted his thigh again, telling him to calm down.

Seokhwa hugged him a bit tighter, putting some tension in his neck.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“Major Kwak, are you okay?”

“Dr. Seok?”

Seokhwa used the flashlight to illuminate the stairs leading to the side door.

“I’m fine.”

Exiting outside, Kwak Soohwan took in a deep breath of the cold air.

“Were they rebels?”

“…I don’t know.”

No, I don’t even know if I should answer like this. He risked his life to save me, shouldn’t I be honest and tell him everything?

“I’m sorry.”

Seokhwa blinked his eyes.

“Why?”

“Because the guy supposed to guard you didn’t do his job properly.”

In such a situation, anyone would have been helpless. Even he lost consciousness, so he didn’t know what had happened. The only sure thing was that before the vehicle overturned, Seokhwa stretched out his arm to minimize the impact on his body.

Kwak Soohwan, instead of rushing through the main gate via the back door, walked around the building. Over there, a jeep was illuminating the darkness, and only when he reached the back door did he release Seokhwa.

“Doctor! It’s the doctor! Doctor, are you okay?! Are you injured anywhere?”

Chaeyoon, sitting in the back seat, quickly opened the door and had a worried expression on her face. “Are you okay?” she said, looking down, revealing the bandage wrapped around her thigh. Blood was seeping through the white bandage.

“For now, get in. Let’s head to Yeouido,” Seokhwa nodded, climbing into the back seat. Kwak Soohwan took the wheel, and Yang Sanghoon sat in the passenger seat. A mark indicating the Gwacheon branch was on the leather seat of the jeep.

“Captain, your leg… are you injured?”

“This? It’s okay. I’ll heal quickly even if I’m wounded. How about Dr. Seok? Really okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. But the wound seems quite deep.”

“No need for stitches. Are you sure you’re okay, Dr. Yang? Want some peanuts? Lt. Yang found a bunch in your backpack that Ddol-su rescued from the car.”

Seokhwa glanced at his backpack placed in the middle of the back seat. “Lieutenant, stop talking and let Dr. Seok rest.”

Kwak Soohwan drove without letting his guard down. “You must have been shocked. Take a nap while we head back to Yeouido,” Yang Sanghoon said, and Seokhwa nodded in gratitude. He was barely holding on with his mental strength. The impact when the vehicle collided had caused some symptoms of mild concussion. He had almost vomited a few times but managed to suppress it. Seokhwa took a towel from his backpack and carefully wiped the glass between the window and his head. Suddenly, his body shifted towards Chaeyoon.

“I’m fine here; it’s my thigh that’s injured.” Chaeyoon grinned and pointed to her injured left leg. Seokhwa was startled and tried to sit up again, but Chaeyoon’s strength was faster.

“I don’t want to bleed all over the place while Dr.Seok is trying to sleep.”

“Why are you being like this? I just wanted you to sit comfortably. Why is it such a big deal? I am venting because I couldn’t catch that bastard.”

“That bastard?” Seokhwa, trying to get up, was still held in place by Chaeyoon’s strength.

“Yeah, the one I made my leg like this. Wearing a strange white mask and attacking for real, he’s damn strong. No joke. If it weren’t for me but Yang Sanghoon, he would’ve been done for.”

“Hey! Try sticking close and you’ll know!”

“It’s amusing to discuss up to the hands. Major Kwak, did you bring Dr. Seok from the underground? Then, did the doctor see that bastard’s face?”

“No.”

“He had it covered up to his eyes. So, let’s stop talking about it in front of Dr. Seok.”

“The guy Dr. Seok missed right in front of his eyes.”

“I’ll stop now.”

Anticipating another argument, Seokhwa quietly spread Chaeyoon’s legs and crouched down.

“Captain.”

“Huh?” Chaeyoon grinned as she looked down at Seokhwa.

“I’ll take care of it next time.”

Before she could finish speaking, Kwak Soohwan forcefully pressed the accelerator.

“If you’re going to put it that way, I guess I should carry him first.”

“What’s this, he seems jealous.” Chaeyoon chuckled.

***

Upon arriving at the Yeouido shelter, the jeep, along with their clothes and weapons, underwent thorough disinfection procedures. There was no exception for humans.

Whether infected or not, the condition of wounds was thoroughly examined. Chaeyoon, with vein injuries, had to stay longer due to blood tests.

Seokhwa also had to wait for a considerable time in the examination waiting room before receiving confirmation that there was no major issue with his body. Although he wanted to lie down and rest in his room, he was immediately summoned to the 58th-floor senior executives’ conference room. The incident was significant, and the upper management took an interest, considering that a senior researcher had been kidnapped.

“Dr. Seokhwa. We will start with a physical examination.”

Seokhwa stood in front of the senior executives’ conference room and spread his arms and legs. A military personnel carefully inspected his arms and legs, then sent a clear sign. When the door to the conference room opened, the intense aroma of scented candles penetrated the lungs. The golden lights illuminated the interior as warmly as the fragrance of the candles.

Despite being a conference room, it was adorned with an expensive carpet without any gaps. From rarely seen artworks to stuffed animals now extinct and glossy leather sofas, it was a space where researchers or ordinary soldiers couldn’t even dream of. And on the central sofa, Seokhwa recognized a face he was well acquainted with. It was Major General Lee Yeontae, commonly known as Three-Star.

Due to his lofty status, opportunities to see his face were scarce, and Seokhwa could count them on one hand. The last time he saw him was before going to Jeju Island, and at that time, Lee Yeontae held the rank of Major. It seemed he had been promoted during my time on Jeju Island.

“Dr. Seok, have you been well?”

Major General Lee Yeontae, who was stretching his arms on the sofa, rose with a hearty laugh. Despite being a military officer, he was not wearing military boots but instead donned leather shoes.

“You’re still the same. Where on earth did you stash your socks, haha.”

Yeontae, aware that Seokhwa’s gaze had fallen on the shoes, laughed heartily. It was only then that Seokhwa realized he was also wearing sneakers with bare feet.

“This friend is still not talkative. Come and sit. You must have been quite surprised. Have a warm cup of tea.”

Yeontae pushed Seokhwa’s back, leading him to the sofa. Following the Major General’s lead, Seokhwa walked over and settled his buttocks onto the leather seat. The cushioning sensation against his body was quite comfortable.

“Dr. Seok probably wants to rest quickly, but there’s quite a commotion among the higher-ups. There were even talks of confining Dr. Seok and having the Presidential Guards investigate, but I personally volunteered to handle it. How about it, Dr. Seok, are you okay?”

“Yes.”

It was a kind of veiled threat, urging Seokhwa to honestly disclose all the details of the incident. Seokhwa lifted the teacup and looked underneath. Smooth without any imperfections, the bottom of the elegant cup was inscribed with French.

“What are you doing now?”

Yeontae furrowed his brows.

“The teacup is beautiful.”

“I see. Want to take it?”

Yeontae forced a smile.

“No, thank you.”

As he felt before, Yeontae wasn’t exactly a pleasant conversationalist.

“Now, Dr. Seok, rather than that, shall we hear the story from the moment you entered the lure surveillance office? Who was the one who first suggested going to the zoo?”

Seokhwa recalled that it was Chaeyoon who made the suggestion.

“Captain Chaeyoon brought up the story first.”

“Yeah, that’s right. We sent the Immortal Division guys to the zoo with Dr. Seok. What happened next?”

Seokhwa explained in detail to Yeontae about his experiences at the lure surveillance office and everything that happened until he left there and the incident occurred. Yeontae didn’t write separate notes or record the conversation; there should be video recording devices in this room.

“So, you have no memory after the car accident?”

“I lost consciousness at the time of the accident. I didn’t even know I was kidnapped. When I came to, Major Kwak Soohwan had come to rescue me.”

“Yeah, I see.” Yeontae, who seemed to be suspicious, had a somewhat uneasy expression on his face. Seokhwa stared at Yeontae with a blank expression, waiting for something else to be said.

“So, Dr. Seok, you didn’t come face to face with the one who kidnapped you?”

“That’s correct.”

“Dr. Seok.”

Yeontae, sitting across from him, crossed his legs. The kindly smile on his face transformed into a different form. His forehead had a touch of silver, making his demeanor a bit stern.

“I don’t understand why Dr. Seok is lying to me.”

Seokhwa continued to gaze at Yeontae without expression. Whether Kwak Soohwan had briefed him beforehand or not, he didn’t know. He didn’t even know if Yeontae was aware that he had a conversation with the kidnapper. Therefore, Yeontae is just testing him.

“I have not lied.”

“Then, isn’t it because of the shock of the car accident that your memory isn’t clear?”

“Major Yeontae, I don’t know why I was kidnapped. Isn’t that the truth the Presidential Guards should uncover?”

“Huh, look at this guy.”

Yeontae laughed sarcastically. He picked up the internal phone, made a call somewhere, and after listening for a moment, spoke a single sentence. How many seconds passed as they looked at each other; then, the door opened, revealing someone. It was Kwak Soohwan, still wearing military boots. There was no sign of battle on his body; he seemed to have showered in the examination room. He was dressed in a stiff, newly issued uniform.

“Yeah. Major Kwak, come and sit here too.”