Chapter 108 (1/2)

That meant she could raise an army. She could use this world to provide an abundance of supplies. She just needed to retake the Gate… No. There was an error in this hypothesis. The destination beyond the Gate was uncertain. She’d only look like a fool if the other end of the Gate didn’t lead to Korea after retaking it.

There was also the issue of not knowing who was providing the equipment in the Forbidden Lands and for whom as well, and whether Isaac should consider the Gate opening the moment he arrived just a coincidence. Every conjecture had too many holes in them because of the lack of information.

There just wasn’t enough information, and what little he had wasn’t reliable. It should have been possible for Isaac to gather these high level information using his t.i.tle as the Director. But Isaac wasn’t interested. Not to mention that investigating and gathering information would only draw suspicion, making it infeasible.

“Were you here?”

Isaac stared blankly into the air, pondering on his dubious hypothesis when a voice came from his side. Isaac turned to see Rivelia, who was clearly exhausted.

“Were you captured by Duke Pendleton?”

Rivelia nodded weakly, having no strength to even utter a word. Isaac could imagine vividly of how much of a scene the notorious overprotective father would have made.

Isaac snickered at Rivelia’s palpable mental exhaustion and dropped his burnt cigarette. Isaac stubbed out the blunt with the sole of his shoe and put a new one in his mouth as he spoke.

“How about it? I’ll give you another chance.”

“…”

Rivelia looked back at Isaac with complete disdain and annoyance, as if he was speaking nonsense.

“Just consider it a whim. I’m giving you a chance to leave the Directorate of Security. This is the last chance for you to no longer suffer through, see, or experience any more of this abominable disgrace.”

Rivelia quietly peered back at Isaac, noticing that there was a hint of seriousness in his words.

“I despise you.”

“Nothing new there.”

“That’s why I will watch every crime you commit and report it to my superiors. And I will arrest you immediately the moment the order is given.”

“What if your superiors order you to kill me?”

Rivelia’s eyes faltered for a moment, but she announced back with a firm expression.

“As long as it doesn’t clash with my beliefs, I will terminate you as ordered by high command.”

Isaac smiled widely, satisfied by Rivelia’s answer.

“Good. Please don’t change your mind about that.”

“That will never happen.”

“Once again, I welcome you to this f.u.c.ked up world.”

“…”

Rivelia watched Isaac react gleefully to her declaration. Her expression grew increasingly cold, when Rizzly strolled up to them.

“You were here. I’ve been searching for ages.”

“Hm? What the? Now that I think about it, did you go elsewhere before?”

Rizzly spoke with a wounded expression.

“I was next to you the whole time…”

“Really? Then how come I never saw you?”

Isaac c.o.c.ked his head but glossed over the issue without a care.

“What about Kunette and Reisha?”

“They’ll be here soon.”

Kunette and Reisha appeared the moment Rizzly finished his sentence.

“Sunbaenim!”

“Isaac!”

Isaac stepped aside and evaded Reisha’s tackle while picking up Kunette, who clung on to his pants. Reisha regained her balance and cried.

“Hing! Sunbaenim only likes Kunette!”

“I would have dodged Kunette too if she was heavy.”

“Wow! That’s s.e.xual hara.s.sment!”

“I’m not heavy!”

Reisha rolled her feet in anger, while Kunette proudly repeated what Isaac had said. Rivelia, who watched the scene, sighed.

Kunette and Reisha glued themselves to Isaac, but their vigil only lasted for a few days. The two seemed to have gotten bored and disappeared elsewhere, probably to have fun. Rivelia, on the other hand, smoothly transitioned all of the work from Isaac’s body double on the first day of arrival and managed the city, once again demonstrating her capabilities.

Isaac spent his days idly, ignoring the occasional visits about complaints from Cordnell and Kalden.

Agents of Security gathered back to New Port City one by one despite having never been told where to regroup after their vacation. Rivelia replaced the New Port City’s police force, whose members had become irrelevant after Rivelia’s transfer, with agents of Security.

Meanwhile, Isaac got bored of his lazy schedule and used his authority as a Director to a.s.semble cla.s.sified information about conspiracy theories and mysteries throughout this world, piecing the hidden truth together.

Each time Isaac requested information, Central firmly reiterated its confidentiality. There were many interesting truths that made Isaac’s mouth tingle as he took the time to dive deeper. That was when the Queen contacted him.

-I heard you’re into conspiracy theories lately?

Yoo-rah spoke with a deep, thoughtful expression at Isaac the moment he entered the Communicator room, and Isaac shrugged it off.

“I guess this is why they say the King has donkey ears.”

EDN: This is a reference to a Somalian myth in which a hairdresser fails to keep the king’s secret – that the king has donkey ears. Rumors spread about the king’s donkey ears, and the hairdresser was imprisoned for being unable to keep secrets to themselves. Read the myth here.

Yoo-rah chuckled for a moment before she spoke again.

-Now that you’ve had your rest, I’ll be a.s.signing you a mission.

“Already? Aren’t you the slave driver?”

Isaac complained, but Yoo-rah shrugged helplessly.