Rainbow City Chapter 25

[Open.]

[Code number 310, Dr. Seokhwa’s residence forcibly opened.]

Seokhwa’s body, which had been lying on the floor after someone opened the door, was pushed aside. Seokhwa, still pressed against the door, opened his drowsy eyes. Three men in military uniforms were looking down at him. On their sleeves was a familiar eagle emblem, the insignia of the Rainbow City Guard.

“We apologize for the intrusion, Dr. Seokhwa. We had to forcibly open the door as there was no response to the bell. Please forgive the rudeness.”

“…It’s okay.”

“If you’re awake, you should come with us.”

It seemed unlikely. Was the concern from yesterday turning into reality today? However, Seokhwa’s facial expression remained unchanged. Two guards approached and lifted Seokhwa’s body.

“Can I take a shower before we go?”

“Yes, we’ll wait.”

Seeing that they didn’t drag him away abruptly, it didn’t seem like a major issue.

Seokhwa took out a chocolate bar from the drawer and ate it to gather his thoughts. While he leisurely ate, the guards appeared to be bored, but he took his time to replenish his energy. He moved to the bathroom, took a shower with cold water, cleaned up, and when he came out, the guards, as if signaling him to come out now, had already opened the door. Finally, he took three stamina-enhancing pills in sequence and washed them down with water.

Following the guards, Seokhwa took the elevator to the third basement floor. Originally a parking lot, it had been renovated into the Guard’s offices and investigation rooms. It had been a long time since Seokhwa had come here, and the eerie atmosphere still didn’t feel familiar.

After passing several offices, a steel door appeared at the far end. Seokhwa’s eyelids twitched several times as he saw the sign saying “Investigation Room.” There’s nothing to be afraid of. There’s nothing to fear. I haven’t been involved with the rebels; I just had suspicions about Dr. Oh’s death.

“Please go inside.”

The heavy door of the investigation room opened, and Seokhwa entered without hesitation. Inside, there were several rooms with steel doors. Seokhwa entered the third investigation room. The interior was divided into a waiting area and an interrogation room with a two-way mirror. Looking through the magic mirror at the area where the microphone and video recording devices were running, he saw a man sitting. Seokhwa was pushed again, this time towards the door next to him.

The man inside stood up with a pale expression as Seokhwa entered.

“Have you arrived, Doctor?”

The magic mirror inside only reflected the man and himself like a regular mirror. The epaulettes of the man who approached for a handshake were silver.

“I am Major Yoo Jungkyung from the Guard.”

“I am Seokhwa from the Research Division.”

Seokhwa glanced at the extended hand and went straight to the chair that seemed to be his. He pulled out the stiff chair, sat down, and rested his hand on his thigh.

A bald eagle tattoo, identical to the Guard’s mark, was inked on Major Yoo Jungkyung’s nape. Given that it extended to his body, he undoubtedly took great pride in being part of the unit.

“Have you had your meal? If not, I can arrange for a meal to be brought in for you.”

“I had a chocolate bar.”

“Haha, a chocolate bar, huh.”

Jungkyung laughed, as if asking, ‘What’s that?’ With a raised eyebrow. The Major sitting across the table swiftly turned the file that had been on the table towards Seokhwa. Glancing down, he saw detailed notes about the time he connected to Mother and the reports he made to Lee Yeontae.

“I assume you were surprised to be called to the investigation room suddenly.”

“I wasn’t surprised.”

Haha, is that so? Jungkyung responded to Seokhwa’s calm demeanor with a forced smile.

“There’s nothing to worry about. We just brought you in to clarify things more definitively. After all, you are the chief researcher of our Rainbow City; we can’t handle it recklessly.”

“Proceed.”

Jungkyung had interrogated numerous soldiers, researchers, and even rebels. They usually showed emotions on their faces or in their actions, but the doctor in front of him was hard to read. Seokhwa neither looked surprised nor appeared anxious.

When he asked about the situation during the infiltration into the Guard through the radio, there was no significant reaction either.

“You must have had a tough time yesterday. Being suddenly kidnapped and all. You were accompanied by the pride of the impregnable unit of Yeouido Shelter—Major Lee Chaeyoon, Captain Yang Sanghoon, and Major Kwak Soohwan. The car you were in overturned, right?”

“Yes.”

“Captain Yang Sanghoon was driving. However, it’s quite puzzling that Captain Yang couldn’t avoid the car chasing them. Not only that, even if the car overturned, with three S-class individuals, it’s surprising that they lost sight of you, Doctor. Of course, you mentioned that you fainted, so you wouldn’t have known the situation.”

Could it be that they are now suspecting the impregnable unit?

Seokhwa had a premonition that he needed to be even more careful with his words from now on.

“You were kidnapped at a place called Honey Motel, and we rescued you through GPS. You mentioned that you didn’t see the kidnapper, right?”

He had to answer carefully. He had said he didn’t see them yesterday, but reversing that statement now could raise suspicions.

“I did hear the kidnapper’s voice.”

Jungkyung furrowed his brow.

“Yesterday, you clearly stated that you didn’t meet them, didn’t you?”

“I experienced confusion due to concussion.”

“…”

Jungkyung clasped his hands and placed them on the table. The courteous smiles were now gone, replaced by an intense eagle-like gaze, scrutinizing Seokhwa like prey.

“Go on.”

“The kidnapper mentioned Dr. Oh’s death to me. In fact, even now, my memories are a bit jumbled, and I don’t remember the details.”

“Yeah?”

A low, threatening voice hit him. Seokhwa raised his eyes and stared at the Guard Major.

“You’re supposed to be smart, a genius. But why the confusion in your memory?”

Seokhwa slowly closed and then opened his eyes.

“I had a mild concussion, confirmed yesterday in the examination room. It’s natural to have confusion in my memory.”

“Why would someone like you try to access Guard classified documents?”

“I had the level of clearance to access classified documents. But yesterday, it was impossible. Who blocked it?”

Seokhwa asked without hesitation. It seemed like his energy would quickly drain if he exerted too much force when speaking.

“Dr. Seok, suspicion arises when you’re not being honest, right?”

Jungkyung reached out, pulling a metal cart placed next to the table. On the cart were items that looked threatening, such as knives or forceps. Seeing dried blood on them suggested that they might not be mere intimidation tools. In the second compartment of the three-tiered cart, there was also a truth serum developed by Dr. Wonho that was still in use.

“We don’t doubt Dr. Seok, but, as you know, ambiguous answers are not what our superiors want, right? If necessary, we can administer the truth serum. But, Doctor, you seem delicate, and I’m afraid to administer it without caution, as it might be fatal.”

“You can administer it. I’ve only spoken the truth.”

Thud! Jungkyung slammed the table harshly. Then, he forcefully grabbed Seokhwa’s arm and secured it to the table. Seokhwa had not resisted so far.

“How weak do you have to be to die? But, Doctor, human life is surprisingly resilient. It doesn’t die so easily.”

I know. That’s why I’ve managed to stay alive until now.

Seokhwa swallowed the sarcastic remark. Jungkyung poured the amoeba-like solution onto the needle and inserted it into Seokhwa’s arm. He pulled up the piston, drawing in just enough solution not to reach a lethal dose.

Why was the Guard so determined to extract information? He was the one who got kidnapped, so why the suspicion and interrogation?

After Dr. Oh’s death, Seokhwa came to Yeouido Shelter, and the superiors mentioned blocking contact with Dr. Oh. But upon arriving here, he immediately went to Dr. Oh’s residence… Perhaps he had already raised suspicions from that moment.

It felt like the snare was waiting under the leg that he was stretching forward. When Jungkyung was about to inject the syringe, Seokhwa opened his mouth.

“Let’s disinfect first, and I’ll administer it myself.”

“Oh~ Really? I hate those guys who call themselves doctors for this reason. Just take it as I stick it in.”

With a slight poke, he inserted the needle into the center of the elbow, then pushed the piston.

With a swift motion, Jungkyung tossed the used syringe to the floor and grabbed Seokhwa’s collar, slamming him onto the table. The impact made Seokhwa cough involuntarily.

“Can you understand if I’m a bit rough, Doctor? From the beginning, coming to my investigation room means they don’t want leniency. I tend to be a bit rough. Now, let’s wait a bit until the effects of the medicine spread.”

“I can’t breathe.”

He was pressing down on Seokhwa’s back so forcefully that it was indeed difficult to breathe.

“What?”

The person who had leaned in closely whispered, asking him to say it again.

“I can’t breathe.”

The guy who had come close once again whispered, “Doctor, you have a really nice scent, huh? Maybe it’s because you’ve eaten only good things and lived comfortably. While I’m sitting here waiting, did you even take a shower? But seriously, after receiving all kinds of good treatment, why bother mingling with the rebels?”

If it were someone else, they might have protested about when they had done such things. Of course, as Kwak Soohwan had suggested, simply having doubts about the superiors could be considered a rebellious idea.

“How about it? I heard they made this medicine to spread its effect faster. Is this also made by those doctor guys?”

“…”

Jungkyung grabbed Seokhwa’s hair and swiftly lifted his head. To Seokhwa’s surprise, his face was not just pale but almost turning blue.

“What? What happened yesterday? Let’s talk, okay? Do you know about that? A long time ago, when I first joined as a fresh Guard Major, I stabbed Dr. Oh’s thigh with a syringe at least twenty times. Wow, that stubborn guy, his will was so strong. What was his name? The inspiration that was executed for working with rebels. Wonho? Ah! Wonho! How was that inspiration when I interrogated him,”

“Major Yoo Jungkyung.”

Seokhwa called out to him with his hair firmly in Jungkyung’s grip.

“Huh?”

“My head hurts.”

The guy, who had stiffened his expression, chuckled and let go of Seokhwa’s hair. He then sat him upright in the chair and casually brushed off his clothes.

“If the doctor says so, I’ll let go. Now, shall we try again from the beginning? What conversation did you have with the kidnapper yesterday?”

“…The kidnapper mentioned Dr. Oh’s death to me. In fact, even now, my memories are so jumbled that I can’t recall the details.”

“Oh, really?”

Jungkyung wrinkled his nose a few times as if he were irritated. Saying that one can’t remember is almost no different from the answer he gave earlier, and he must have felt teased. Jungkyung waited patiently, suppressing his anger until the medication took effect. The amount administered to Seokhwa was enough to express what he had been doing all day, even if an elephant had come.

“What conversation did you have with the kidnapper yesterday?”