A secluded corner of the Black Whale.
The other guards were temporarily stepped aside since we were sharing a somewhat secret conversation.
After pondering for a moment, Luna cautiously started speaking after checking all around.
“There’s something…,”
“What is it?”
“Actually, there’s this video…”
“Video?”
“Yeah, nothing too serious… nudity?”
“…You’re saying this isn’t serious?”
Well, was there really a naked video?
“So anyway, here’s what happened…”
Apparently, Luna suffers from a condition where she cannot tolerate wearing anything to bed due to feeling smothered.
She mentioned this habit developed after becoming a dance singer, though it wasn’t always like that.
It seems Chairman Moon had installed cameras in her house for monitoring purposes, and she unknowingly acted as usual, resulting in an awkward video.
Chairman Moon then used this knowledge to try to further control her actions.
The situation was so absurd that it was unclear where to start addressing it.
“This is a matter of preference, but…”
“One could say it’s karma in a way.”
“Why is it karma? Installing cameras in someone else’s house makes you a pervert, and using it makes you a dirtbag.”
“Is that so?”
Perhaps her desire for freedom or dissatisfaction with oppressive reality found an outlet in this way.
When I thought she was just careless for not bringing even underwear, it turned out there was something deeper going on.
Moreover, the fact that she just accepted such an atrocity is also troubling.
She probably needs a psychiatric evaluation if she keeps switching companies like this.
Looking at how things unfolded in Martial Forest, her level of self-loathing seemed to touch the bottom.
Even though she was exceedingly beautiful, why was her self-contempt so strong?
I initially thought it was due to Martial Forest’s environment where being only pretty without strength can be problematic, but seeing even a popular star like Luna struggle similarly, it might not be just the environment.
Or maybe the environments surrounding them are quite similar?
Regardless of how things turn out, it seemed like a personality prone to gaslighting.
“I don’t know exactly what was filmed, but we should retrieve it. Do you have any idea where it might be?”
“More or less.”
“Really?”
“I wasn’t completely inactive. Chairman Moon has a villa in Yangpyeong under his name, and it appears the important stuff is stored in the study there.”
Yangpyeong. Not too far.
Should we raid it before the other party catches on?
“Most of these things are also usually backed up online, like in private mailboxes, aren’t they?”
“Not this Chairman.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, certain. His data got leaked once before. Since then, he’s been storing everything on devices not connected to the internet, like laptops or USBs.”
“That’s good.”
If we’re determined to clean this up thoroughly, it’s better if there are no backups.
Since this data, if leaked, would cause trouble for Moon Enter as well, it’s probably safe to assume the original he’s keeping is the only copy.
So, let’s start with retrieving that.
“But, Mr. Siwoo.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you going out of your way to help?”
“Ah, um…”
While I was pondering how to extract myself from this situation, she asked.
Why am I going so far out of my way to help? Well, yes, this situation seems strange from anyone’s perspective.
After all, I’m practically a stranger to you, Senior Luna.
Seeing it this way makes me feel a bit disheartened.
It’s not like she’s special, so why am I so involved?
But even so, there’s a strange sense of responsibility.
Is this what they call responsibility without pleasure?
There actually was some pleasure involved, but on closer inspection, it has nothing to do with her, right?
This is also somewhat disheartening.
“Most men who are this helpful fall into one of two categories: either they’re after your money or your body.”
“…Is that so? Sounds like you’ve met some pretty bad characters.”
“Yeah, so I cut ties right away. It’s usually obvious. But Siwoo, I really can’t figure you out. By the way, I’m not rich.”
“Money isn’t necessary. When you join the company, it’s the company that earns money, not me. What does that have to do with me?”
“So you’re after my body then?”
“No, not particularly…”
I’m trying to recover my senses after the sudden disheartenment when she brings up another strange topic.
Body.
Actually, this side doesn’t really have much interest either.
Rather, my interest lies less in the body I already know (?) and more in her happiness that I do not know at all?
Regardless of the times or differences in people, I feel I need to see her genuinely happy for my heart to be at peace.
It might be a foolish thing to do without any reward, but if helping her brings me even a little peace, it might not be such a bad thing.
“We’ll discuss the other thing later. First, let’s head to Yangpyeong and retrieve what we came for. It’s a race against time after all.”
“…Alright.”
At first, I was thinking about going to Yangpyeong alone, but then decided to inform the guards since that might cause further issues.
It’s impossible to slip out on my own while surrounded by the team, and even if I tried, they wouldn’t listen to me anyway.
Sure enough, when I mentioned Yangpyeong, opposition started pouring in from all sides.
“Friend, you’re not going there to start another accident, are you?”
“Come on, there will be no accidents this time.”
“That’s what you said last time when you took that girl out.”
“Speak your mind. That time, it was the best option, alright? I’m not thoughtless.”
My friend Rando, who’s pretty close to me, was on high alert, fearing I might stir up trouble in Yangpyeong again.
He seemed to think I’m always causing accidents.
It’s somewhat frustrating because I’m actually grateful that this world isn’t a lawless zone.
Although it can be inconvenient at times, I generally believe in doing the right thing.
In a world where eradicating future problems is difficult, I always act while contemplating the aftermath.
I only use violence on rare occasions, and only when it won’t cause any issues.
Or when there’s genuinely no other option, like when trouble-makers suddenly attack.
It can be disappointing when people think of me as a troublemaker.
“Alright, I understand your concern so first I’ll report to the company.”
“Good idea, friend. Let’s keep it that way.”
Rando, who looks fearsome enough to slaughter a calf, has a very proper and diligent nature.
From his perspective, he probably feels relieved when I report to the company instead of creating sudden chaos.
Since I’ve had my fair share of events marked against me, I also decided to report and take instructions from the company.
– I understand the situation. We need to retrieve it.
“Right?”
-I don’t know why Mr. Siwoo has to do it personally, but…
“There’s no time. By now, the other side probably knows Senior Luna is gone and might have sent someone to the villa.”
-…Alright. Then hurry up. If you go with other guards, getting the item will be simple.
Heavenly Yuah understands well. She recognizes that heading straight to Yangpyeong is the fastest solution.
Moreover, the private villa of Chairman Moon, according to this area, usually remains unoccupied unless there’s a special event.
Since we’re just sneaking in and taking something from an empty villa, I think that with myself and a few guards, we can easily retrieve it.
Though I would prefer going alone, these people certainly won’t let me, which is understandable.
“If the villa is usually unoccupied, surely the item should be hidden somewhere. What should we do?”
“Don’t worry about that. Selly is an expert in such things.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s not that Miss randomly assigned Selly. She’s really versatile. She used to work in espionage somewhere.”
“Oh, that is impressive.”
An intelligence operative retiring intact? That’s truly remarkable isn’t it?
You know too much, don’t you! That’s a cardinal rule in espionage.
Our Miss seems even more remarkable than I thought.
“I’ll take care of it. Leave it all to me~♡”
“…Not my heart, though.”
“Isn’t that my specialty?”
Miss Selly, winking brightly and smiling so sweetly, seems genuinely terrifying.
Most men wouldn’t be able to resist.
Still, if she’s as proficient with safes and secret compartments as with men’s hearts, she might be reliable.
*
We raced through Black Whale to the villa that Luna mentioned.
From there, we approached the villa on motorcycles.
Our operation consisted of three motorcycles and five guards.
“Then, why is Selly behind me?”
“Because this is the sweet spot~”
“Hey, stop squeezing!”
Indeed, judging by how Selly’s substantial chest vibrates against my back, it seems like this location is justified.
Amazing size she has, huh? She must be the daughter of Mother Russia.
“…But this…”
“There’s someone.”
“So?”
“Trouble, isn’t it?”
We arrived at our destination while enjoying Selly’s delightful pressure, only to find the Yangpyeong villa, which was supposed to be empty, was brightly lit.
Looks like someone is inside.
“What’s going on?”
“What should we do?”
“Forget all that, shouldn’t we just proceed? We don’t have much time.”
“From the front?”
“Come on, I’m not that brainless.”
Luna had mentioned the Chairman’s study is on the second floor.
Fortunately, all the people seem to be on the first floor since the second floor remains dark.
Since we’re breaking into his villa uninvited, it’s best to be as quiet as possible and just take what we need.
Luckily, the study has a large window, so entering through there is feasible.
“Surprisingly, there’s no CCTV.”
“Really surprising, isn’t it? To think there’s a place without CCTV in this country.”
“In that case, it should be fine to climb over the wall.”
“We better disguise ourselves, just in case.”
After deciding to infiltrate and steal, we all put on black head coverings.
They looked like black bandanas with only eye holes.
“Why are you carrying these around?”
“Preparation for emergencies.”
“Isn’t that weirder?”
Though it’s better to use something rather than just go as we are, wearing these black things and climbing over the wall made us look exactly like a gang of bandits.
Technically, we are intruders from Chairman Moon’s perspective, but it somehow felt strange.
Are they bored?
Judging by how prepared they are, it seems they enjoy this sort of thing.
Well, it doesn’t matter. Guarding the company building is probably too dull for them.
“Alright, here we climb up and enter through the window.”
“Wait, friend. Let me go first.”
“Alright. Do that.”
“Ok.”
We climbed the wall and sneaked through the garden to find a perfect spot to climb.
According to Luna, this side window leads directly to the study, so climbing through here should work.
Lando was put in the lead.
He seemed concerned about sending me first in these kinds of situations.
Since Lando is better at this sort of thing than me, I decided to let him.
He climbed the wall up to the second floor.
Once on the window, he secured a device and drilled a hole, then slipped his hand in to open it.
Though obscured by the curtains, it seemed clear that Lando successfully entered the room.
-Grr.
“…What’s that?”
One problem: after Lando entered, a low groan came from inside.
Apparently, some issue arose inside.
