Rainbow City Chapter 91 - Exclusive Extra (24)

The veins on Kwak Soohwan’s forearm, gripping the bar tightly, stood out, branching like rivers. It was clear he was holding back the urge to pounce. Seokhwa tapped Kwak Soohwan’s forearm with the garlic he held.

“Handsome Chef Kwak, I’m hungry.”

“Just give me one more minute.”

At that, Kwak Soohwan’s hands moved even faster. He crushed the garlic Seokhwa had peeled and added it to the marinade, followed by the duck meat. Then, with his gloved hands, he massaged the meat, pressing firmly as if the marinade would be fully absorbed by the meat from his sheer strength. Although they had a dining table, they usually ate at the home bar when grilling meat.

Finally, he placed the marinated duck on the preheated grill. Despite his promise, more than a minute had passed, but the aroma was so good that the wait didn’t feel long. While he was cooking the duck, Seokhwa scooped rice and took side dishes out of the refrigerator. Though they often prepared the main dish themselves, they relied on store-bought side dishes for simpler accompaniments.

Having set the table, Seokhwa was now just waiting for the meat to be done. In the meantime, Kwak Soohwan’s phone rang.

“Can you get that for me?”

He was focused on stir-frying the duck.

“Sure.”

Heading to the living room to get the phone, Seokhwa raised his voice slightly.

“It’s Major Yang Sanghoon.”

“Then just ignore it.”

“It might be something urgent.”

For some reason, Kwak never saved the numbers of Yang Sanghoon or Lee Chaeyoon, but Seokhwa could quickly recognize the number at a glance.

“I’ll put it on speaker.”

Sitting back down, Seokhwa pressed the call button. It was said that soon there would be cell towers installed in Gyeonggi-do, but for now, not many people had cell phones. Seokhwa rarely used his, except to message or call Kwak Soohwan.

“What.”

Kwak Soohwan broke the silence while stir-frying the duck.

— What are you eating? It sounds like something’s grilling.

“Just get to the point.”

— I heard one of the people you brought in is a mutant, right?

“So?”

— They’re transferring him to our training center. But that guy’s a murderer, right? You think he can be rehabilitated?

“They claim it was self-defense, but there’s no way to verify that.”

— The prime minister told me to get testimony from the refugees.

“Good luck.”

— Damn it! Why do I have to do it when this was your mess in the first place!

“My apologies, Major Yang Sanghoon.”

— Dr. Seok! You’re there, too. Haha, of course, you’d be together. By the way, thank you so much for removing the stitches so neatly. The wound healed up really well.

“Glad to hear that.”

— I’ll drop by soon to treat you both to a meal.

“You idiot, why would you visit our house to treat us?”

— I’ll bring meat with me.

“Buy it outside.”

— Are you grilling duck right now?

Seokhwa quickly turned his head toward the living room window, though the curtains were tightly drawn. Kwak Soohwan looked just as bewildered.

“Can you really guess what we’re eating just by the sound? You and Lee Chaeyoon must be on the same wavelength.”

— The owner of Green Mart said you and Dr. Seok bought duck meat today. It was super fresh, so I got some too.

It turned out that both Yang Sanghoon and Lee Chaeyoon lived close enough to Green Mart to be regulars there.

“If you’re done, hang up.”

— Oh, by the way, I’ll be out of the city starting tomorrow. Just letting you know. Lee Chaeyoon won’t be around either.

Currently, Kwak Soohwan was stationed at the Gangnam shelter, while Yang Sanghoon and Lee Chaeyoon were stationed at the Yeouido shelter.

“Where is Major Lee Chaeyoon going?”

Curious, Seokhwa asked on Kwak’s behalf.

— She got deployed to Paju due to a terrorist incident.

There had been talk of reviving the master system, especially around Paju. Though Seokhwa couldn’t understand why people would long for that time again, he figured it wasn’t worth overthinking. Fortunately, there weren’t many who supported the movement.

“Then I’ll be reporting to the Yeouido shelter starting tomorrow.”

— Got it. I had some business with the Gangnam shelter anyway, so I’ll pass that message along.

“Take care.”

Kwak ended the call and turned off the burner heating the grill.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“The smell was so good, I didn’t mind,” Seokhwa replied.

Kwak Soohwan scooped some rice into his spoon and added a piece of duck and some chives. Seokhwa opened his mouth and accepted the spoon over the grill. He had scooped the rice earlier because he couldn’t handle it too hot, so the temperature was just right. After chewing the food thoroughly, more than twenty times, Seokhwa swallowed and spoke.

“It’s absolutely delicious.”

He then raised his thumb, mimicking Kwak Soohwan. This time, Seokhwa made a lettuce wrap filled with plenty of marinated duck. He leaned forward slightly and brought it to Kwak Soohwan’s mouth, which opened wide in anticipation. Not only did Kwak Soohwan devour the wrap, but it seemed like he was ready to eat Seokhwa’s hand as well, stuffing it all in one bite.

As if the flavor was enhanced by Seokhwa’s touch, Kwak Soohwan suddenly adopted a more serious tone.

“Why did Dr. Seok give this servant such delicious duck?”

“Because you’re pretty.”

At the compliment, Kwak Soohwan raised both hands and cupped his chin, as if posing cutely. Seokhwa chuckled softly and resumed eating. There was something magical about being with Kwak Soohwan—each day felt fulfilling, and every hour seemed fresh.

“Did you know duck is also good for stamina?”

“Then I’ll eat a lot more.”

Seokhwa eagerly dug into the duck. Seeing this, Kwak Soohwan glanced down at his own thickened body below the table. Maybe today would be a good day for more than just walking as exercise. He swallowed his thoughts and continued the meal with Seokhwa.

Though Kwak Soohwan finished eating in fifteen minutes, he watched Seokhwa the entire time. Seokhwa seemed to enjoy the food more than usual, eating a larger portion than he typically did. Afterward, they cleaned up together, but since Kwak Soohwan was quicker, he took charge of the dishes. Seokhwa brushed his teeth, excited for their promised walk, and stepped out of the bathroom just as Kwak Soohwan finished the dishes and was about to head in.

Blocking the doorway, Kwak Soohwan put on a playful tone.

“Hey, handsome hyung.”

Curious about this sudden role play, Seokhwa paused briefly before responding.

“…What is it, handsome dongsaeng?”

Kwak Soohwan laughed heartily, the kind of laugh that could clear the air.

“You need to pay a toll if you want to pass.”

“How much?”

Kwak Soohwan extended his arm toward Seokhwa, blocking the door.

“A hug, and I’ll let you through.”

Seokhwa walked over and hugged him, then swiftly ducked under Kwak Soohwan’s arm, escaping. Pretending to miss catching him, Kwak Soohwan marveled aloud.

“Fast, so fast. Is your last name Jeongwang by any chance?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Strange.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re as fast as lightning.”

Seokhwa couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at the absurd joke. Kwak Soohwan’s playful nature was never-ending.

Having finished brushing his teeth, Kwak Soohwan casually took off his workout shirt, revealing his defined abs under the bright light. Seokhwa briefly glanced at his own less-toned stomach but quickly dismissed the thought. He was just grateful to be much healthier than before.

“Do you want me to grab you another workout shirt?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Kwak Soohwan stepped toward Seokhwa and scooped him up in his arms. Being lifted like this was so common now that the sudden change in perspective didn’t faze Seokhwa anymore.

“Beep beep, Dr. Seok’s weight has increased by 0.5 kilograms.”

After returning from God’s Fortress, Seokhwa had lost more than 2kg from his already thin frame. Gaining weight wasn’t easy, but losing it happened in a flash, which made Kwak Soohwan feel a little unfair.

“Are we showering now?”

Seokhwa asked, looking down at Kwak Soohwan as they moved toward the bathroom.

“Yeah.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to shower after the walk?”

“We just had a restorative meal.”

Kwak Soohwan’s eyes glinted suggestively, and Seokhwa knew exactly what that meant. Although they’d been physically close just the other day, he wondered if it was happening too often. Still, he thought it was better to engage frequently than to save it all for one intense session.

When Kwak Soohwan held back, his stamina would reach levels Seokhwa couldn’t possibly match. But more than just that, he found himself wanting to be with Kwak Soohwan as often as possible.

Entering the shower booth, Kwak Soohwan undressed Seokhwa’s top.

“I feel like I’m becoming more of a pervert. I even find myself thinking about you while I’m working,” Seokhwa confessed, helping with the rest of the undressing.

“If that’s the case, then I’m beyond saving. Dr. Seok occupies 99.9% of my brain.”

Seokhwa knew it wasn’t possible, but he understood it was just a metaphor.

“What about the remaining 0.1%?”

“I leave that bit empty so you can breathe.”

The percentage left no room for any “breathing space” at all.

“Not even a little breathless.”

“Then 100 percent.”

Seokhwa smiled and hugged him tightly. Music from the gramophone flowed in through the open bathroom door, but it was soon drowned out by the sound of the shower.

Showering together like this often reminded Seokhwa of the container they stayed in at Haenam. There wasn’t any hot water, but because he had taken all the cold water on himself, Seokhwa hadn’t felt cold at all.

“Do you remember when we first went to Haenam? Major’s treasure chest.”

Now, warm water enveloped both of their bodies.

“Every single bit of it.”

Kwak Soohwan shielded Seokhwa’s forehead with his hand to keep the water from splashing, then tilted his head and lightly kissed his lips. Seokhwa pulled down the hand that was shading him and stood on his toes to wrap his arms around Kwak Soohwan’s neck.

As their lips touched, the water from the shower mixed with their kiss, making their mouths wet in no time. They kissed for so long that Seokhwa had to drink some of the water, and he swallowed several times because he couldn’t control his breathing.

“Ah, my dear’s stomach is going to fill up with water.”

“I’m full.”

Already having eaten a large dinner, Seokhwa’s stomach was comfortably full. Kwak Soohwan rubbed Seokhwa’s stomach with his large hand.

“But where did all that food go?”

“It’s digesting. Let’s start by washing your hair.”

Kwak Soohwan had already squeezed out some shampoo.

“Close your eyes.”

As he worked up a lather on Seokhwa’s round head, Seokhwa obediently closed his long lashes. The scrubbing sound was so satisfying that Seokhwa’s lips relaxed into a slight smile. While washing his hair, Kwak Soohwan slipped his tongue into Seokhwa’s slightly open mouth, then teased the inside with a quick flick. Seokhwa’s body flinched from the sudden sensation, but he didn’t open his eyes.

“Alright, rinsing now.”

Kwak Soohwan pulled the showerhead from its holder and let the water flow from top to bottom. The white foam slid down Seokhwa’s smooth, naked body. Watching him like this, it seemed as if Seokhwa was a being born out of the foam.

While the suds were rinsing off, Kwak Soohwan watched reverently, then lathered up a shower puff. As he washed various parts of Seokhwa’s body, his touch was extra gentle on Seokhwa’s soft underarms and groin. Seokhwa’s delicate skin felt smooth against Kwak Soohwan’s rough hands, hardened by a life of hard work. His arousal was already pressing against Seokhwa’s body, occasionally poking him.

Seokhwa’s own member responded quickly, growing harder in Kwak Soohwan’s hand. He tried to calm his excitement as he continued to wash himself, though much more quickly than he had washed Seokhwa. In the meantime, Seokhwa held the showerhead for him.

As most of the foam washed away, Seokhwa suddenly reached out and grabbed Kwak Soohwan’s member. The sight of Seokhwa’s white hand gripping his large erection was almost dizzying. As if in return, Kwak Soohwan wrapped his hand around Seokhwa’s member as well.

At the same time, his other hand slid between Seokhwa’s buttocks. Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be any lingering effects from their sex two days ago, as Seokhwa’s entrance was tightly shut.

“Let’s keep it simple today.”

“Are you swollen?”

Seokhwa’s direct question made Kwak Soohwan gently rub the area with his fingers. Ha… His excited breath brushed against Seokhwa’s chest, warmer than the water.

“No.”

“Then I want to penetrate.”

Before Seokhwa could finish his sentence, Kwak Soohwan hugged him so tightly that his ribs were almost crushed. The force caused Seokhwa to let go of his grip on Kwak Soohwan.

“You can’t just throw words like that around. Your words are like bullets. What if my head explodes?”

Seokhwa patted Kwak Soohwan, who was still holding him tightly, and thought for a moment before speaking again.

“Then I want to insert.”

Immediately, Kwak Soohwan’s muscles seemed to swell, and in one swift move, he spun Seokhwa around and pulled his buttocks apart. Caught off guard by the sudden exposure, Seokhwa flailed for a moment before grabbing onto Kwak Soohwan’s wrist. Without hesitation, Kwak Soohwan slid his tongue between Seokhwa’s cheeks.

“Ahh….”

The sensation of his tongue on his entrance made Seokhwa clench reflexively. Kwak Soohwan soothed the tightly closed entrance with his wet tongue, moving down to tease his perineum. The dual sensations, soft and stimulating, made Seokhwa’s pre-cum slowly drip from his member.

Seokhwa held onto Kwak Soohwan’s biceps, trying to support himself. If he let go even a little, he felt like he might collapse. But Kwak Soohwan wasn’t content with just licking—he tilted his head and sucked on Seokhwa’s perineum. The sensation tugged at his testicles, drawing a low moan from his mouth.

Not stopping there, Kwak Soohwan also sucked on Seokhwa’s entrance. The mix of feelings—like his bottom was going to fall out or like he desperately wanted to be penetrated—came and went in waves.

“Ah…!”

Seokhwa’s entrance, swollen from all the sucking, was now invaded by Kwak Soohwan’s thick tongue. His thighs trembled. As his entrance was being teased, pre-cum continued to flow from his tip. Kwak Soohwan’s hands gripped Seokhwa’s now-flushed buttocks, spreading them wider. As Kwak Soohwan’s tongue traced along the stretched entrance, Seokhwa couldn’t help but dig his nails into Kwak Soohwan’s arms.

“Not that… not that…”

“This isn’t it?”

He kissed Seokhwa’s buttocks as he asked back. Seokhwa relaxed his legs and lowered himself onto Kwak Soohwan, trying to align his entrance with the hard shaft.

The moment the tip of Kwak Soohwan’s member kissed Seokhwa’s entrance, he abruptly stood up, firmly grabbing Seokhwa and carrying him straight to the bedroom. Seokhwa’s body twitched several times from the emptiness down below.

“If we do it in the bathroom, it’ll be too hard on you.”

Seokhwa didn’t disagree, so he remained quietly in Kwak Soohwan’s arms until they reached the bed. Kwak Soohwan tossed aside the neatly spread blanket and laid Seokhwa down on the soft sheets. Wet hair clung to Seokhwa’s face, so Kwak Soohwan gently brushed it aside, revealing his smooth forehead.

Without hesitation, Seokhwa grabbed the lube from the bedside table. After being teased and licked so much, his senses were already on fire. He squeezed a generous amount of the gel into his hand and began rubbing it on Kwak Soohwan’s already erect member. The thick shaft swelled even more under his touch.

Bulging veins snaked along the stiff shaft, and when Seokhwa ran his fingers over them, precum gushed out of Kwak Soohwan’s member.

“Does it hurt…?”

Seokhwa asked as he traced the veiny shaft with his fingers again.

“No, it feels fucking amazing.”

Encouraged by the response, Seokhwa gripped his member even tighter. Kwak Soohwan let out a deep, shaky breath at the stimulation. Seokhwa’s hand wasn’t particularly strong, and compared to what Kwak Soohwan could do, it felt almost ticklish, but the pleasure that radiated through his body was intense.

“Growing nice and strong?”

Seokhwa teased as he petted the head of the shaft with his palm, making Kwak Soohwan laugh out loud. His already swollen shaft, yearning to enter Seokhwa, continued to leak precum.

“Already grown quite a lot.”

Though it was his member being handled, Seokhwa’s own eyes were clouding over with arousal. Seokhwa, lying sideways, rubbed the swollen shaft against his own entrance.

“God, if you keep this up, I’m really going to pass out.”

“You always say that… but then…”

It was always Seokhwa who ended up passing out. He rubbed the head of Kwak Soohwan’s member against his now slightly loosened entrance, moving it back and forth like kneading dough. His twitching hole responded by trying to grip the head of Kwak Soohwan’s member.

Seokhwa tried to push it inside but kept slipping out of the still-tight entrance. He looked up at Kwak Soohwan from his position on his side, meeting eyes that were clouded with lust, looking wilder than usual.

A droplet of water fell from Kwak Soohwan’s wet hair and landed on Seokhwa’s waist. The seemingly insignificant sensation made Seokhwa’s body tremble.

“Ahn!”

In one swift motion, the head of Kwak Soohwan’s member forced its way in, stretching his entrance taut. Seokhwa’s hands trembled as he let go of Kwak Soohwan’s member, his lower body desperately trying to grip and release the intrusion. The wet shaft slid deeper inside, lubricated with the gel.

Kwak Soohwan gently laid Seokhwa flat on his stomach, pressing down with his weight. While he normally kept his weight off during casual touches or when leaning against Seokhwa, during moments like this, he pressed down heavily. The comfortable pressure helped ease the initial pain.

With each thrust of the swollen head, veins brushed against Seokhwa’s inner walls, sending electric currents from his hips to his head. When Kwak Soohwan thrust fully, the slick shaft slid in with no resistance, all the way to the base.

“Hahng…!”

Seokhwa gripped the sheets, a high-pitched moan escaping his lips. His stomach felt full, completely stuffed with Kwak Soohwan’s member. As he exhaled roughly, Kwak Soohwan slipped a hand between Seokhwa’s stomach and the bed.

“Ahhn!…”

The mix of sharp pain and pleasure pierced Seokhwa’s entire body. Kwak Soohwan stroked his swollen belly with the palm of his hand.

“Wow, baby, your belly really is full.”

Even in the height of his excitement, Kwak Soohwan didn’t forget to tease Seokhwa.

“Don’t…”

“I’m not doing it hard.”

“It still feels… weird…”

“You don’t like it?”

Kwak Soohwan whispered as he planted a kiss on Seokhwa’s nape.

“…No.”

Seokhwa admitted it wasn’t because he disliked it, placing both hands on Kwak Soohwan’s arm that was resting on his belly. Kwak Soohwan, in response, pulled his hips back slightly before pushing deep again, moving slowly but fully.

The sticky sound of the gel echoed in Seokhwa’s ears, causing a ticklish sensation. Kwak Soohwan bent down and licked Seokhwa’s ear, sucking his soft earlobe into his mouth and running his tongue along the inside. The wet and lewd sound filled his ears, making him feel as though even his hearing had become sensitive.

Kwak Soohwan mirrored the action on the other ear, thrusting his hips as he did. Seokhwa, unable to take the stimulation, clapped his hands over both ears to block out the sounds. Kwak Soohwan chuckled, his body shaking from laughter. He straightened up and, while keeping Seokhwa between his legs, spread his buttocks apart.

“Hngh… It’s… opening up.”

Seokhwa’s hole, tightly gripping Kwak Soohwan’s member, stretched taut, glistening lewdly with the gel. By now, Seokhwa should have grown somewhat accustomed to taking his size. If he’d stretched him with fingers first, he’d probably have started moving right away, but since he had gone straight for penetration, Kwak Soohwan had to hold back for quite some time.

With Seokhwa’s buttocks spread wide, the sight of his member sliding in and out was clearly visible. When he pulled back, Seokhwa’s hole stretched as if being pulled along, and when he pushed back in, the inner walls tightened and pulled him in deeper. With each deep thrust, the tip of his member repeatedly slammed against Seokhwa’s inner wall, causing him to cry out in thin, desperate moans.

The moment Seokhwa felt the rough veins graze against his prostate, he grabbed his own shaft. His erection, already pressed between the bed and his stomach from Kwak Soohwan’s movements, was highly stimulated. It wasn’t a lack of stimulation that made him act, but rather an effort to stop himself from finishing too quickly. Seokhwa squeezed tightly, trying to prevent himself from reaching the edge too soon and tiring out too fast. Sensing this, Kwak Soohwan pushed even deeper, adding more pressure.

“Ahh…! I-I think I’m close,” Seokhwa gasped.

Kwak Soohwan chuckled lowly, encouraging him to keep going.

“Hah, no, babe. I can hold it.”

“I-I can’t… ahh, I’m going to come.”

Though it was practically a plea for him to stop, Kwak Soohwan drove in even harder. He pulled out almost entirely before thrusting back in with his full weight, slamming in to the base. He repeated this, alternating between pulling out to the limit and pushing in halfway just to hit Seokhwa’s prostate again and again.

The erratic movements left Seokhwa unable to respond, and despite his tight grip on himself, he couldn’t stop from climaxing. Kwak Soohwan, feeling the overwhelming tightness from Seokhwa’s release, kept encouraging him to keep going.

“Hah, hang in there. You can do this.”

“Agh! Ah… I… I can’t… stop…!”

Kwak Soohwan pushed through the now incredibly tight walls, his thrusts lifting Seokhwa’s abdomen. Even after Seokhwa had finished climaxing, he continued to spill out thin liquid. Despite the relentless pounding, Seokhwa’s insides squeezed tightly as if they had never opened.

“Ahhk…!”

Kwak Soohwan pressed his weight down even more, forcing his way through the constricting passage. Just as Seokhwa let out a cough, Kwak Soohwan lifted his upper body by crossing his arms around him. Seokhwa’s chest heaved, soaked in both his own release and the thin liquid.

He couldn’t even swallow properly, so Kwak Soohwan licked Seokhwa’s damp jaw and teased the inside of his mouth. Though exhausted, Seokhwa turned his head to receive the kiss. Now straddling Kwak Soohwan’s thighs, only half of Kwak Soohwan’s length remained inside.

After barely shaking off the aftershocks of his climax, Seokhwa started to move, lifting and lowering his hips subtly. It was at that moment, with such weak motions that felt almost thirst-inducing, that Kwak Soohwan firmly grasped his waist.

“…I’ll do it.”

Declaring that he would take charge, Seokhwa reached back and pushed Kwak Soohwan away. Despite trying to thrust down, he held back and allowed Seokhwa’s strength to push him away. Naturally, as he leaned against the headboard of the bed, Seokhwa, exposing his back, grabbed each of Kwak Soohwan’s thighs tightly. In reality, he was more like a burden than someone who was gripping tightly like stone.

Seokhwa repeatedly lifted his hips upward and then brought them down. The sight of his body enveloping Kwak Soohwan’s length made every blood vessel in his body feel like it was expanding. Kwak Soohwan didn’t take his eyes off Seokhwa’s movements. Whether it was too challenging to push all the way in or simply out of fear, he only inserted halfway before slowly moving forward.

Kwak Soohwan couldn’t hold back any longer when Seokhwa’s soft cheek brushed against his shin. To make it worse, Seokhwa had slumped forward, leaving only the tip of his head barely grazing the trembling, pale opening.

Kwak Soohwan lifted Seokhwa’s upper body and pressed his dry chest against Seokhwa’s back. The deepened penetration caused Seokhwa to let out a breathy, excited gasp. Kwak Soohwan began kissing and sucking on Seokhwa’s pale neck and shoulders, leaving no area untouched. At the same time, he wrapped his hand around Seokhwa’s cock, which was somewhere between soft and firm. As he shook Seokhwa’s length without moving his own hips, the inner walls clamped down hard on the column inside.

Kwak Soohwan was so aroused he felt he could climax without even moving. He bit into Seokhwa’s shoulder and sucked, leaving a vivid mark on his white skin. As he marked Seokhwa’s neck with more of his traces, his thumb gently stroked the sensitive tip of Seokhwa’s cock.

“Move… please…” Seokhwa panted.

“Should I move?” Kwak Soohwan teased.

“…Yeah.”

“How should I?”

He twisted his hips in slow circles as he spoke.

“In… pull it out and put it back in,” Seokhwa breathed out, tilting his head back to rest against Kwak Soohwan’s shoulder. Kwak Soohwan kissed Seokhwa’s parted lips before gently lowering him down while still inside. As his cock swirled inside Seokhwa, the latter reflexively clutched his stomach. Kwak Soohwan lifted Seokhwa’s legs, placing them over his shoulders, and moved his hips while gripping his own length.

The slapping sound echoed as he thrust into Seokhwa, his hand tightening around Seokhwa’s cock, making Seokhwa whisper for him to squeeze harder. But Kwak Soohwan gripped him firmly, enough to stop Seokhwa from finishing too easily.

“Ahh!” Seokhwa yelped, eyes snapping open as he looked down at his own cock, surprised at the intensity. For a moment, he seemed worried it might have been crushed. Kwak Soohwan couldn’t hold back his laughter and lowered himself, wrapping Seokhwa in a tight embrace.

“Don’t you trust me?” he teased.

Seokhwa, too out of breath to respond, simply reached out to pull Kwak Soohwan into an embrace, holding him close. With their arms wrapped around each other, Kwak Soohwan began thrusting harder. The sound of the gramophone playing music had faded from their awareness, completely drowned out by their intense focus on each other.

“Ahh, it feels so good, Soohwan… so good,” Seokhwa moaned breathlessly.

“So good… I feel like my head’s about to explode too,” Kwak Soohwan replied, his voice strained with tension.

With a swift motion, he pulled out completely, only to slam back into Seokhwa’s twitching hole. He didn’t stop at just one thrust—two, three, and soon an uncountable number as he relentlessly pounded into him.

Seokhwa’s hands instinctively cradled Kwak Soohwan’s head, as if trying to protect him. Don’t let it explode… he thought, holding him gently. But Kwak Soohwan couldn’t hold back any longer and spilled his cum deep inside Seokhwa.

“Damn…” he cursed softly, his body freezing in place. He had planned to finish outside since Seokhwa had work tomorrow, but there was no stopping the unexpected assault.

As Seokhwa embraced him even tighter, he could feel the warmth of the cum filling him up. It pounded inside, just like Kwak Soohwan’s unyielding energy.

After a long, drawn-out climax, Kwak Soohwan pressed his lips deeply to Seokhwa’s forehead. Even as he was pressed down into the bed, Seokhwa didn’t loosen his arms around him.

“Haah… what if you bruise again?” Kwak Soohwan murmured, concerned.

Truthfully, Seokhwa’s body was already far more marked elsewhere than just his forehead. He would probably need to wear a turtleneck tomorrow to hide the bruises, though the weather wasn’t exactly suited for it.

“I don’t bruise that easily anymore,” Seokhwa reassured, though his skin was still as delicate as ever. Feeling guilty for having released inside, Kwak Soohwan pulled back slightly, and as he did, cum spilled out from Seokhwa’s now gaping hole. Seokhwa’s brows furrowed slightly, the small reaction revealing just how intense the sensation was.

“I’m sorry. I was planning to finish outside today,” Kwak Soohwan said.

“Why?” Seokhwa asked innocently, placing his hand beneath him.

“Because you have to go to work tomorrow.”

Sometimes, after finishing inside, Seokhwa would get a stomachache.

“I’m fine with it…” he replied, feeling a sense of longing.

His insides, which had closed tightly, seemed to open again, as if pleading for more.

“You know I have a short patience. We can’t do that,” Kwak Soohwan insisted, pressing a kiss to Seokhwa’s cheek.

“You have plenty of patience, though…” Seokhwa retorted, slightly fatigued but reaching out to wrap his arms around Kwak Soohwan’s neck, lifting his body up. He soon released his grip, pushing gently against Kwak Soohwan’s chest, making him fall back dramatically.

Even now, cum was still dripping from Seokhwa’s softly opened hole. Seokhwa sat down, still aroused, with Kwak Soohwan’s member resting behind him. He felt the slickness of gel and cum on his lower abdomen. Reaching back, Seokhwa gripped Kwak Soohwan’s hardened length, rubbing it between his cheeks.

“Ah, seriously, I’m going crazy. Let’s go eat duck tomorrow, okay?”

Hearing Kwak Soohwan’s excited voice, Seokhwa eagerly took him in, swallowing him down. His insides, already swollen from countless thrusts, embraced Kwak Soohwan’s member gently. Seokhwa sank down fully, his body giving in to the sensation.

“Haah…”

At the same time, Kwak Soohwan gripped his erect member. With the prostate continuously stimulated and his already sensitive colon overwhelmed, he couldn’t help but shoot out his cum with just a grip. Although he had some vigor, it barely managed to land on his abdomen instead of shooting far. No matter how active the sperm might be, the main body was weak, and this aspect hadn’t changed.

Kwak Soohwan ran his hand over the cum that had fallen on his abdomen and then licked it up eagerly.

“Stop… eating it,” Seokhwa said.

“But you eat it too,” Kwak Soohwan replied.

“I… don’t really eat that much.”

Seokhwa placed both hands on Kwak Soohwan’s abdomen and began to move his hips back and forth. The inside felt completely heated with the deep penetration. The walls pressed against each other, making it hard to keep his mouth closed.

“You often eat it from here, don’t you?”

As he spoke, Kwak Soohwan thrust his hips up sharply. Seokhwa’s body lifted slightly with the force before coming back down.

“Haah…!”

It felt as if he was penetrating deep enough to pierce through to the top of his head.

“I-I don’t eat it… while pulling out everything,” Seokhwa stammered.

The now weakened Seokhwa slowly lowered himself into Kwak Soohwan’s embrace. Soohwan held him tightly, thrusting his hips forcefully. The sensation of his limp, soft cock rubbing against his stomach felt endearing. With each thrust that pierced his intestines, a thin fluid leaked continuously from his cock.

As Seokhwa, in response to the rough movements, instinctively moved upward as if trying to escape, he ended up in a position where he was only clinging to Kwak Soohwan’s face. Soohwan, without stopping his thrusts, bit down hard on the nipple in front of him.

“Ha… So-Soohwan…”

The overwhelming pleasure made Seokhwa’s nerves surge wildly, his skin tingling all over. As the sensations became too much and Seokhwa tried to pull away, Soohwan pressed down firmly on his back with one hand. With the other arm wrapped tightly around his waist, Soohwan bit down on Seokhwa’s nipple while thrusting roughly from below. Seokhwa, unable to move, was held tightly by Kwak Soohwan and could only let out fevered moans.

Seokhwa clung tightly to Soohwan’s head, fearing that his body might completely give out from the intensity.

“Soohwan… Soohwan…”

He kept calling out to him, his chest still being sucked. Though he knew they should stop, Kwak Soohwan had no intention of escaping Seokhwa’s grip. Despite Seokhwa’s soft whispers that it was too much, Soohwan couldn’t stop his relentless movements.

He thrust faster than Seokhwa’s body could keep up with, until there was a loud sound as he drove his length in deeply. Then, pulling out all at once, he left Seokhwa’s trembling body.

“Ahh!”

The sudden emptiness left Seokhwa in distress. Grabbing his own member, Soohwan stroked it quickly, releasing himself, with his seed spilling not only on Seokhwa’s backside but splattering all the way up his back. Despite the mess, their arms remained wrapped around each other, holding on.

Seokhwa’s arms finally began to tremble, and soon after, his exhausted body went limp in Kwak Soohwan’s embrace. His once rapidly rising and falling chest gradually calmed down. Kwak Soohwan, despite still being hard, set aside his own desire and gently stroked Seokhwa’s back.

With soft kisses, he pressed his lips to the crown of Seokhwa’s head as Seokhwa barely managed to keep his eyes open.

“Baby, let me clean you up, and then we can sleep.”

Seokhwa had no strength left to even lift a finger. Kwak Soohwan effortlessly picked him up and carried him to the bathroom, his large strides leaving drops of semen scattered on the floor.

He adjusted the shower temperature and, holding Seokhwa close, let the water rain down on them. Rubbing soap on their bodies with only his hands, he cleaned them off. As Seokhwa groaned weakly, Kwak Soohwan soothed him while also ensuring any remaining traces of their release were washed away. He quickly finished the second round of their shower before Seokhwa’s energy could completely drain. Finally, he wrapped Seokhwa’s body tightly in a large towel.

Carrying Seokhwa, bundled up in the towel, Kwak Soohwan returned to the bedroom, pulling back the sheets. Since they usually kept a waterproof sheet prepared for sex, the mattress remained dry. He laid Seokhwa down, spreading a new sheet over him. Seokhwa, now cocooned in the towel with just his face showing, looked up at him. Smiling at the sight, Kwak Soohwan gently dried Seokhwa’s hair with a smaller towel.

“I can handle this much…”

“Didn’t I say it’s my time for self-care? If you stop me, I’ll wither away.”

With that, Seokhwa quietly let him take care of him. By the time his hair was reasonably dry, Kwak Soohwan had already fetched underwear and pajamas, quickly dressing him. Meanwhile, Kwak Soohwan’s hair and body had dried as well. He lay down next to Seokhwa, naked, and pulled him into his arms.

“Already going to sleep?”

Despite his words, Seokhwa’s eyes were already half-closed.

“There’s no such thing as ‘already’ when you’re sleepy.”

“You can go and do something else while I sleep…”

“Why do you keep trying to send me away? Do you not want me beside you?”

“No, not at all. I like it…”

Seokhwa rubbed his cheek against Kwak Soohwan’s arm. The gentle look in his eyes as he honestly confessed made him seem all the more lovable. It was only then that the soft sound of jazz music reached their ears.

“But you don’t have to go to the Yeouido shelter for work.”

“I’m still on vacation. It may sound like I’m going to work, but I’m just following you around like a bum.”

He had applied to transfer to the Yeouido shelter multiple times from Gangnam. The reason he had accepted the rejections so easily each time was that Lee Chaeyoon and Yang Sanghoon were in Yeouido.

“These days, there’s no danger…”

“To me, everywhere is an enemy.”

Kwak Soohwan looked at him with sharp eyes, as if he were facing a real enemy. Seokhwa let out a faint smile.

“Then where are you planning to go?”

“I’m going to be your little shadow.”

“You can’t come into the underground lab.”

“How about you teach me science instead? Let’s quit being soldiers and do research together.”

Imagining Kwak Soohwan holding a thin glass tube with his large hands felt a bit out of place. Seokhwa shook his head weakly.

“Huh? Are you giving up on me being ignorant too?”

“You’re not ignorant at all. You’re incredibly smart.”

If he hadn’t had a brain as exceptional as his physique, he wouldn’t have experienced this happiness. The rebellion would have failed.

“Then teach me well.”

“Do you know how?”

“No, please teach me.”

Kwak Soohwan blinked rapidly, like a child seeking attention.

“When I was at the learning center. There was a brief time when I taught lower grades. I was much weaker back then, and I sometimes collapsed onto the desk in the middle of class.”

“What were the actual teachers doing?”

“The person in charge of the lower grades suddenly passed away, so since I had the highest academic performance, I had to take over for just a week. At the time, I was in the graduating class.”

The learning center included elementary, middle, and high school, as well as university courses. Thanks to the advancement system, Seokhwa completed his studies faster than others.

“But before two days even passed, another student took over teaching instead of me.”

Kwak Soohwan thought it might have been because Seokhwa was too weak. However, he didn’t want to voice this thought and simply waited for him to continue.

“I… really couldn’t teach. One of the students in that class was the son of a general from Jeju Island. The general came to the learning center himself, pointed at me, and told me to quit. He said I was a weakling, like an anchovy, and that I had nothing in my head.”

Seokhwa recounted the incident indifferently. Kwak Soohwan’s temple pulsed with anger.

“Do you remember that bastard’s name?”

“…No. But I really wasn’t good at teaching. They said you have to teach at the students’ level, but I couldn’t do that well.”

He added that he couldn’t gauge how much the students understood or what level of knowledge they had. Kwak Soohwan had meant his question as more of a joke, but Seokhwa gave it serious thought. He never brushed off anything and always listened carefully, trying to offer more in any way he could. In moments like this, Seokhwa seemed like the strongest person.

“Geniuses are all like that. Look at me.”

Seokhwa simply waited patiently with gentle eyes for him to continue, as if he expected the typical “I’m watching” line. Whoever his partner was, they were clearly very capable in learning.

“When my subordinates practice shooting, I wonder why they can’t hit the target. During airstrike drills, I also wonder why those idiots can’t dodge my punches. It’s so obvious to me.”

“It wasn’t obvious to me…,” Seokhwa muttered.

“Well, you’re a researcher, so it’s natural that you can’t see it. That’s why, whether it’s studying or exercise, geniuses like us can never teach ordinary people.”

Again, with this way of flattering him. Seokhwa never thought of himself as a genius, but he didn’t deny Kwak Soohwan’s words either. If Kwak Soohwan insisted he was a genius, he’d rather just acknowledge his younger brother’s whims.

After a long day that included interrogating Ilwol and dealing with the standoff against Lee Heechan, today had been exhausting. Seokhwa worried that if he slept now, he’d wake up in the early hours of the morning, but he could no longer fight off the drowsiness. He reached out and rested his arm on Kwak Soohwan’s forearm, finding a more comfortable position.

“…Goodnight.”

Seokhwa whispered softly, and Kwak Soohwan replied.

“See you tomorrow.”

Seokhwa fell asleep, already excited about seeing him first thing when he woke up.

***

“Dr. Seok, find out all the generals from Jeju Island who graduated from the learning center in Seokhwa’s year.”

Cha Hakhyun promptly responded to Kwak Soohwan’s order with a “Yes,” but he was curious about the reason.

“From one-star to four-star generals, all of them?”

“All of them.”

“Should I include those who’ve passed away?”

“Include everyone.”

In the underground military police office, Kwak Soohwan was fiddling with a completed cube, mixing it up and then rapidly restoring the colors as fast as he scrambled them.

“What are you standing around for?”

Kwak Soohwan cast a glance at Cha Hakhyun, who hesitated to leave. Sitting in his chair, he stretched his legs out onto the desk, tossing and catching the cube.

“Are you going to kill someone?”

Cha Hakhyun asked seriously. It was clear this was about Seokhwa, and he was certain it wasn’t anything good.

“Do I look like a murderer to you?”

“Well, if you count Adam as a person…”

Kwak Soohwan let out a dry laugh.

“From the prime minister down, they’ve all gotten complacent. Start by running the full length of the Yeouido Shelter from the first floor to the top ten times. Go.”

“If I do that, it’ll take longer to find the generals.”

Cha Hakhyun bowed his head apologetically.

“That won’t do. Fifteen times, go.”

Faced with an even harsher punishment, Cha Hakhyun’s face turned pale. Rising from his chair, Kwak Soohwan approached him and patted his shoulder.

“Look at this soldier’s soft body. You’ve become a general, and now you’ve got nothing to fear, huh?”

Kwak Soohwan understood that military discipline had weakened over time. The world had become a much more comfortable place to live, after all. But the people protecting the core of the city, the shelter, couldn’t afford to slack off.

Cha Hakhyun glanced down at his own belly and sighed. Since becoming a general, he hadn’t participated in proper training. He now fully realized what it meant to grow complacent.

“I’ll go run the 15 laps now.”

“Forget it. From now on, run two laps every day, and afterward, look into what I asked.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Kwak Soohwan left the military police office, still holding the cube. It was technically work, but as he had told Seokhwa, his duties were almost leisurely. He wore his uniform, but there wasn’t much for him to do at the Yeouido Shelter.

While Cha Hakhyun climbed the stairs, Kwak Soohwan took the elevator to the rooftop. With the Mother System dismantled, there were no traces of it anywhere in the shelter.

He opened the rooftop door and pulled a pack of cigarettes from inside his uniform coat. The rooftop and the floors below housed anti-aircraft facilities, where the defense forces were stationed. Two soldiers were standing guard by the Vulcan cannons, which could counter aerial bombardments.

Nodding slightly in response to the salutes from the soldiers, he headed toward the helicopter landing pad. A helicopter bearing the Emperor Penguin insignia was already parked, suggesting Lee Heechan had arrived.

Only then did he light his cigarette, taking a long drag. Feeling the vibration of his phone, he reached into his pocket. It wasn’t yet lunchtime, so it couldn’t be Seokhwa calling. He slowly took out the phone.

Just before the call disconnected, he answered, seeing an unregistered number.

“Yes, this is Kwak Soohwan.”

— Aren’t you at the Yeouido Shelter?

The caller was Lee Heechan.

“Yes, I am.”

— Come to the prime minister’s office on the 60th floor. The head of the Owl family is here too.

“On my way.”

He replied quickly as if he would head down right away, but in reality, he took his time, leisurely smoking his cigarette while looking down below.

The reconstruction of the Hangang Iron Bridge was nearly complete, and many of the corroded apartment buildings had been restored and inhabited. At least in cities like Seoul and Busan, it could be said they were free from Adam’s threat.

After decades of being under threat, people had quickly grown accustomed to peaceful lives in just a year. Some had used Adam to selfishly fulfill their desires, and now, in times of peace, it was probably even worse. Kwak Soohwan recalled the information he had on the Owl family.

They had not only stolen development techniques by planting someone in a mobile phone manufacturing plant, but they had also rigged bids in apartment redevelopment auctions, pocketing massive profits. The official auction date had been set for the 5th, but they had pressured the organizers to move it up to the 3rd.

Having finished his cigarette, Kwak Soohwan flicked the butt into the ashtray nearby. He briskly walked down the stairs instead of taking the elevator. As he walked, he composed a message on his phone.

♥Sex Addict♥

Babe, I’ll be in front of your lab before lunchtime. See you soon.

After sending the message, Kwak Soohwan put his phone back into his pocket. Since Seokhwa never checked his phone while working, he wasn’t expecting a reply. However, his phone vibrated in his pocket again, surprising him. He smiled broadly as he took it out, eager to see the response.

☺Toad Finance☺

𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒖𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝟏𝟎𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒚! 𝟑𝟎−𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒙𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆! 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝟏𝟎 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒚! 𝟑𝟎-𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒙𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆! 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒖𝒑𝒕𝒐 𝟏𝟎𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒚! 𝟑𝟎−𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒙𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆!!!! 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒅𝒂𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 ★𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎☆!!!

☛ Call us using this number, and we’ll provide you with a heartfelt consultation.☚

Expecting it to be from Seokhwa, the spam message was an annoying letdown. Currently, only a handful of banks were authorized by the city government, and Toad Finance was one of them. Instead of blocking the message, Kwak Soohwan called the number directly.

— Hello! This is Toad Finance. Did you call after seeing our message?

“I’d like to apply for a loan.”

— Yes, yes! That’s possible!

“A million green.”

— …Pardon?

A million green was an amount most people couldn’t even imagine.

— As a soldier, you can borrow up to a maximum of a thousand green!

The bank representative, clearly believing he’d misheard, responded with excessive politeness.

“And how did you know I’m a soldier?”

— Ah, aha…! So you are a soldier!

Is this guy out of his mind? Kwak Soohwan muttered to himself, and the representative suddenly hung up. Realizing something wasn’t right, they must have fled in a panic. It seemed that city military information had been sold to the bank, though they didn’t appear to know that he was specifically Kwak Soohwan—just that his phone number had been among the soldiers’ data.

Kwak Soohwan immediately called the Gangnam Shelter’s criminal investigation unit. The separation of powers was still premature, and the military remained responsible for maintaining law and order in the city.

— This is Lieutenant Park Kyungwon from the investigation unit.

“It’s Kwak Soohwan. Put Moon Gil on.”

— Yes, Lieutenant General! Connecting you right away.

The voice on the other end instantly recognized him and didn’t bother with further verification. It wasn’t long before the call was transferred to Moon Gil.

— Chief! You called for me! Your loyal subordinate, Moon! Gil!

“Cut the noise. There’s someone who sold military info to Toad Finance. Track them down and bring them in.”

Moon Gil erupted in anger at the news.

— Did Toad Finance contact you too, Chief? Those lunatics! Talking about loans without knowing how rich our Chief is!

Though Moon Gil’s point of anger was odd, Kwak Soohwan didn’t care.

“Hanging up now.”

— Wait, Chief!

“What?”

— Please come back soon. I love you, Chi—

Click. Kwak Soohwan ended the call without fully listening, a disgusted expression on his face. His phone rang again, making him frown, expecting it to be Moon Gil or Lee Heechan. Surprisingly, it was Seokhwa.

♥Sex Addict♥

— Today’s lunch is sweet and sour pork.ㅠㅁㅠ

Kwak Soohwan burst out laughing. Perhaps due to his past, where he struggled to express emotions, his reactions in messages had become more animated.

♥Sex Addict♥

I’ll pick out the meat for you. Don’t worry.

Seokhwa wasn’t good at digesting fried foods. It seemed he had sent a quick message during a break, as there was no reply no matter how long Kwak Soohwan waited. Before entering the prime minister’s office, he reflected on their previous conversations.

I’m off work now. See you at home. ^0^

— I’ll drive carefully. You too, Major, drive safely. ^_^ Major Lee and Major Yang are inviting us to dinner together. I’m in! ^ㅁ^

A chuckle nearly escaped his lips. Apparently, Seokhwa had taken advice from his colleagues and was putting it to good use. His messages were filled with various smiley faces and expressions. It seemed like Seokhwa was trying to live vicariously through these emoticons. Imagining Seokhwa’s blank face focused on research below, Kwak Soohwan felt an urge to run down to him.

As soon as the door to the prime minister’s office clicked open, Kwak Soohwan’s expression changed as he looked ahead.

“Well, well! Lieutenant General Kwak! You should’ve come in instead of lingering outside.”

Park Hyo, head of the Owl family, greeted him with a delighted smile.

“I was just about to come out to greet you. We seem to be bound by fate, don’t we?”

The excessive familiarity made Kwak Soohwan’s brow crease, though he hid his discomfort and responded politely.

“It’s been a while.”

Passing Park Hyo, who tried to engage him in further conversation, Kwak Soohwan entered the office. In the top seat of the U-shaped sofa sat Lee Heechan. She placed her teacup down and gestured to the seat opposite her.

“Sit down.”

Without his cape, Kwak Soohwan comfortably took a seat on the sofa. Park Hyo, out of breath, sat across from him as well. When Lee Heechan offered to pour Kwak Soohwan some tea, he declined. Judging by the absence of secretaries or guards, it seemed like they were about to have a private discussion.

“Representative Park said he has something to say to you, so I set this up. Is that okay?”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

Kwak Soohwan glanced at the top of Park Hyo’s shiny head, then placed the cube he was holding beside him.

“Oh, a cube? My son is pretty good at solving those too.”

“What’s your point?”

Park Hyo’s face turned red at the bluntness in Kwak Soohwan’s tone.

“I feel like there’s been some misunderstanding between us.”

Despite his growing frustration, Park Hyo didn’t raise his voice or call out the rudeness. With only 30 minutes until lunchtime, Kwak Soohwan decided to wrap things up quickly.

“To be honest, both Prime Minister Lee and you, Lieutenant General Kwak, have suspected me without any evidence. The accusation that I tried to gather mutants is completely unfounded. And we three, aren’t we closer than that?”

“Why don’t you start by telling us what you want, Kwak Soohwan,” Lee Heechan interjected, cutting off Park Hyo’s emotional plea.

“Step down from your position.”

“…What?”

It was Lee Heechan who responded first, while Park Hyo stood there, flabbergasted, as if doubting his own ears.

The Rainbow City Council currently consisted of 30 representatives, a number reduced in proportion to the population. Ten were citizen representatives, while the rest were wealthy family heads and military generals, including the honorary families. Each member held one vote, except for the three honorary families.

The Emperor Penguin, Owl, and Eagle families each held five votes. By swaying just seven of the remaining 27 representatives, they could pass or block any proposal with a 20-to-22 vote.

If the Owl family were removed from the equation, the remaining honorary families would only have a total of 10 votes, making it much harder to control the outcome of proposals.

“Lieutenant General Kwak, I know you have a mischievous streak, but that joke isn’t funny.”

“I don’t recall ever teasing you, Representative Park.”

Park Hyo, who had been trying to smooth things over with a smile, trembled, his thick jowls quivering.

“Nothing’s changed in the city’s military! You accuse people without any evidence!”

“What do you have to say about the fact that you’ve stolen technology from the Saegwang Factory to produce mobile phones? The factory’s owner comes to the investigation unit every day, and I feel bad for him. And what about the apartment reconstruction auction in the Gangnam area? You pushed the date up just to bid on your own.”

As Kwak Soohwan spoke, Park Hyo’s face, which had been steadily turning red, began to pale.