278 – Nymphs, Teacher and Student #4
“Confidential – Meeting Report on the Future Disposition of R Rank Awakened Haildo”
“R rank Awakened?”
Seo Ye-rim snatched the document from Yu Ara’s hand.
But now that she looked closely, the document only had a cover page, and the contents were missing.
It was as if someone had intentionally destroyed it or moved it somewhere else.
However, Seo Ye-rim could glean considerable information just from the text on the cover.
R rank.
That rank, derived from Ragnarok, was a level that significantly surpassed the current highest Awakened rank, S.
It was a realm that existed only in theory.
A document bearing Haildo’s name in a realm akin to urban legend.
“Wasn’t the Awakened rank established only recently? Yu Ara, you were a civil servant; do you know anything about it? What is R rank?”
“I don’t know either. It’s my first time seeing the term R rank. But someone who knows about it will be aware. Seo Ye-rim, look at the photo you found. It’s the frame in which the ‘Patriots’ took the picture.”
Seo Ye-rim glanced at the frame she had kept with her, just in case.
It was a photo taken in 1990, showing several people gathered in one place.
“What about the photo?”
“Most of the people here have been removed or purged. Among the living, there are only three. First generation instructor Ham Suk-ja is likely to know the most information.”
There was too little information about Instructor Ham Suk-ja.
Even Yu Ara did not know where she lived.
Anything regarding Ham Suk-ja had been managed in various ways by the Patriot A Team.
“If it’s Kang Cheol-Min, he might know the location, but given that guy’s nature, he’s not going to spill any information. So, we need to focus on this side.”
Yu Ara pointed to a woman in the photo.
While everyone took the picture solemnly, this woman squatted down, pouted her lips, and stuck out her tongue.
Even just from the photo, her delinquent and rebellious attitude was evident.
“This woman is Yang Chi-hee. The leader of the Makcheon City gang and a collector. They call her Big Sister. I heard from Morales that the A rank criminal Ma Wang-jun gathered power on the island to take what was hers.”
“Yang Chi-hee…?”
Seo Ye-rim narrowed her eyes at Yu Ara’s explanation.
Yang Chi-hee.
It was a name she had never heard before.
However, she remembered that her father, Seo Sang-yong, often communicated with a ‘sister’ with the Yang surname among the gangs in Makcheon City.
Seo Ye-rim’s intuition was telling her that these things were certainly connected.
She could ask her father, and he would tell her.
But Seo Ye-rim was estranged from her father, and even if she called, Seo Sang-yong, who had a sharp personality, wouldn’t pick up.
Yu Ara, who was watching Seo Ye-rim’s expression, quickly realized that obtaining information about “Big Sister – Yang Chi-hee” from Seo Sang-yong was impossible.
Of course, Yu Ara was a wise person and already had a plan in place.
“Yang Chi-hee is the founding president of the first delinquent society. She was the one who established the alliance of gangsters and ruffians from all over the country. And the 15th president was Lee Sun-A.”
“Lee Sun-A? Isn’t she Lee Jin-A’s sister?”
“I was surprised too. I had no idea that Lee Sun-A, who suffered from mana disease, was connected to Big Sister. It’s quite lucky for us.”
The leader of the gangs in Makcheon City, where the world’s tallest skyscrapers are lined, Big Sister can’t be met by just anyone.
Whether she even exists is nearly an urban legend.
Only those at the level of the Megacorp chairman would likely get to meet her.
However, if it’s the woman ‘Lee Sun-A,’ who is said to be favored by Big Sister, it would be entirely possible to arrange a meeting with her.
Coincidentally, Lee Sun-A owed a debt to doctor Yu Ara for treating her mana disease.
Ding ding ding.
At that moment, Yu Ara’s phone rang.
“Il-do senior.”
“Oh my, I’ve received a call from Il-do senior.”
Yu Ara pretended to be surprised and showed her phone to Seo Ye-rim.
Seo Ye-rim frowned.
“What? Why is Haildo calling you? Answer on speaker!”
# # #
Unconscious.
Instructor Ham Suk-ja was in a state of unconsciousness.
It was said that there was no risk to life, but it was uncertain when she might wake up.
“He hasn’t told me a word about the secrets of the ‘Patriots.’ Yet, it seems he shared various things with you Haildo. I suspected as much, so I informed you of his location.”
Kang Cheol-Min, who had come after my call, clicked his tongue as he looked through the glass at the instructor lying in the intensive care unit.
“The instructor did have a special fondness for you. Like a niece or a son. It seems that hasn’t changed at all. So, what did the instructor say to you?”
“She said that I can rise higher without getting anxious.”
I deliberately concealed the information regarding R rank.
I wasn’t sure if the instructor had been hiding secrets, and it felt wrong to share them with Kang Cheol-Min.
Kang Cheol-Min also no longer asked anything and kept his gaze fixed on the instructor in the intensive care unit.
“The instructor never got married, had no children, and had no romantic interests. She dedicated her life for the country and its citizens. Her personality was eccentric, but I respected her, both as a soldier and as a human.”
“I felt the same way. We both worked hard to earn the instructor’s praise. Of course, I’ve never heard her say we did well. But she did say that she was proud of us for teaching us this time.”
“Really?”
That was where my conversation with Kang Cheol-Min ended.
I felt like I had to get busy in various ways.
Through my meeting with the instructor, I discovered many secrets and stories I hadn’t known.
And at the center of it, I realized I was involved without even knowing it.
Could I uncover all kinds of secrets by chasing Gumihee?
I decided to ask Kang Cheol-Min about Gumihee.
“Have you gotten any information on Gumihee or Lee Dong-sik?”
“I have. I heard that Lee Dong-sik was in contact with gangs in Makcheon City. Though these gangs are merely a bunch of immoral scum that wouldn’t even come under Big Sister’s command.”
“Gangs…”
“The gangs in Makcheon City don’t share information. They say it’s their problem to solve. Actually, Big Sister would suffice for that.”
Kang Cheol-Min had mentioned Big Sister’s name several times earlier.
What could that be about?
The older sister?
“What is Big Sister?”
“Haildo, you know that Yu Ara is now the B team leader, right? Ask Yu Ara. Big Sister is someone Yu Ara has researched and knows well. By the way, I also heard Big Sister was a colleague of the instructor.”
“Is that so? A colleague of the instructor.”
I decided to give Ari a call.
If it was indeed Ari, there was a high probability she would know something.
# # #
I met Ari at a café.
Seo Ye-rim was also there.
“Ah, you two are together?”
I thought they were always bickering, but seeing them act together like this made it seem that they were much like Kang Cheol-Min and me—close adversaries.
Ari, who had slurped her coffee through a paper straw, spoke up.
“Senior, what do you want to ask me?”
“Right, what exactly were you going to ask Yu Ara?”
“Nothing much. Since Ari is a civil servant, she should be knowledgeable about various news. I was wondering if you’ve ever heard of someone named ‘Big Sister.’”
At my question, Yu Ara and Seo Ye-rim exchanged glances.
Their expressions were subtle.
Seeing that they didn’t immediately respond with “Who is that?” it was clear they knew something.
“Why do you want to know about Big Sister?” Ari asked.
I pondered where to start explaining.
“I’m looking for information that person might know. But I don’t know where she lives or how to meet her.”
A complete secret.
At that moment, Seo Ye-rim, who had been complaining while drinking strawberry smoothie through a paper straw, abruptly interjected.
“I know where that person is.”
“Oh, really? How can I meet her?”
As expected from a wealthy daughter, she seemed to have a lot of information!
However, Yu Ara shot a cautious glance at Seo Ye-rim.
Of course, Seo Ye-rim seemed unfazed and continued talking.
“Korevigi, babbling on!”
During this peculiar exchange, I discovered that Lee Sun-A, the sister of Lee Jin-A, was connected to Big Sister!
“What? Then I can just ask Lee Jin-A!”
It seemed people were intertwined in ways I hadn’t previously thought, in places I never expected.
The world may seem vast, yet there were corners tightly woven together like Bang Bang’s web.
Hiiroooong…!
After that, I got into Yu Ara’s car and headed to the moving company where my separated boss and Princess were living.
It had been a while since I last visited, and it looked even more pleasant now, with decorations and a good atmosphere compared to my last visit.
There was even a Christmas tree in the yard.
Still quite a while until Christmas.
“Il-do, it’s been a while. I’m Gong Daenam. You remember me, right?”
“Yes. You are Lee Sun-A’s husband, right?”
The man, who used to work at a big corporation, now appeared to be a solid employee at a moving company. Shortly after, Lee Jin-A appeared.
“You want to see my sister? Koreis said she suddenly had to go somewhere and left. And you suddenly appear with women, wanting to see my sister. It’s an unusual day. Sister!”
Bang bang!
Lee Jin-A banged on the bathroom door.
Lee Sun-A, her sister, seemed to be in the shower.
About ten minutes later, I sat at the kitchen table and summarized my request to Lee Sun-A.
“Um, Sun-A, do you know Big Sister? I’d like to meet her to discuss a few things.”
“Our older sister? I know her… but…”
Sun-A glanced at her husband, who was far away, sweeping the yard.
Then she spoke to me in a voice barely above a whisper.
“I do know her, but I’ve completely washed my hands off that side now. I’m just a housewife now. My husband knows nothing about that.”
I see.
Soon, Sun-A cleared her throat and added.
“I’ve been out of touch with various groups for some time. It would be better to talk to Jin-A. If it’s Jin-A, she could arrange a meeting; she’s doing well as a delinquent now.”
“Me? I could meet that older sister? And I’m not a delinquent!”
Lee Jin-A, who had been quietly peeling fruit, frowned at my words.
Thanks to that, her hand, which had been cutting an apple, stopped, and Kkungkkungi, who had been waiting for the apple, fluffed up his fur as he was unable to eat.
