Jeong Taeui slowly opened his eyes, but the light was blocked by the book pressed against his face. He removed the book, and saw his uncle staring at him.
"I can't sleep just by wearing glasses, but you can sleep well with something so heavy on your face?"
He waved the book around as if curious. Jeong Taeui sat up from the bed and scratched his head with a sleepy expression.
"Maybe it's because it's pressing on my face that my dream is so messed up…"
"Dream? How long have you been asleep that you're already dreaming?"
He took off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt cuffs. He smiled when he saw Jeong Taeui turn back to look at the clock with a sleepy expression. It was still early for midnight.
"I must have slept for an hour or two. What was that dream… I wonder? Oh, it was about being dragged away by my own uncle and imprisoned on an island where there were only evil people and blood all over."
"Oh, I don't think that's a normal dream, why don't you try buying a lottery ticket?"
"If it's not a normal dream, then is it a prophetic dream?"
"That's right."
"...… Have you changed jobs recently? Like a sales person at a lottery ticket office…"
"Oh. I've been away from Korea for a while, but you got injected with stuff like that there? That must have been fun."
"The gambling industry is growing stronger and stronger, maybe that's an opportunity….."
Jeong Taeui muttered and got out of bed, took some water from the fridge and drank it all in one gulp.
He was completely awake after his nap.
Jeong Taeui brushed his messy hair back, turned around and looked at his uncle taking off his shirt.
"You've been very busy lately. I've come here every day to read books these past few days, but it's been a long time since I've seen you."
"There's a lot of work to do before the joint training, so it's quite busy. There's a mountain of paperwork to sort out, and we have to contact here and there in advance in case some people die."
Jeong Taeui muttered, 'I hope I don't become the beneficiary of that arrangement.' before sitting down on the wheelchair next to the bed and staring blankly at his uncle.
He quickly took off his clothes and went into the bathroom. Although his voice was muffled, he didn't seem tired at all. These past few days, Jeong Taeui had been reading in his room and returning to his room at midnight, which meant he always finished his work after he had returned, which was after midnight. In other words, his physical strength was extremely good.
"So you will stay at the branch, right?"
"Yes. Are you going to South America? I heard there will be an officer accompanying you."
"No, it's not me this time, it's Golding. I'll be going to another branch for the next joint training."
Jeong Taeui heard his uncle's voice coming from the bathroom. There was the sound of running water for a moment, followed by the sound of foam as if washing hair.
"But you are so good at drawing lots. With a 50% chance, you still draw the group that stays. What should we do?"
"Because lucky people like Jaeui have already picked up the remaining 50%."
"Is there anyone else as lucky as him in this world? In this unfair world, having just one Jeong Jaeui is more than enough."
Jeong Taeui laughed at his uncle's voice.
"Looks like this joint training won't end well."
He said in a low voice. Jeong Taeui stopped his heels from tapping lightly on the couch. He looked towards the bathroom as if staring at his invisible uncle.
"That sounds terrible… Have you seen the list of members of the European branch who will be coming here?"
"Hmm... The final list will be announced after the flight on that side takes off tomorrow morning, but it's roughly finalized."
"If the training doesn't go well… then there must be some troublesome people among the members of the European branch who came here, right?"
Jeong Taeui looked up. There was the sound of the shower running inside, he was probably washing his hair so he couldn't hear clearly. But he seemed to be able to guess the answer.
Riegrow. The crazy Rick. The man that no one in the European branch dared to touch, and the man who left a bright red mark on someone's neck with his shiny black glove.
That man is about to come to Jeong Taeui's Asian branch.
He never thought of himself as lucky, but he also didn't think his life was unlucky. But now Jeong Taeui thought he had to change that thinking a little.
"Everyone says he's a madman….. Even the logistics people might be in danger, and the prison guards would probably be exhausted if someone like that came."
As soon as Jeong Taeui spoke, he heard his uncle reply, 'That's right.'
"I watched a video of him not long ago, and after watching it, I lost all will to confront him… Do you think I could come out unharmed if I had to confront that man?"
He answered immediately without thinking.
"It will be difficult."
"Yes..."
"Not just me, but everyone else is like that. It's hard to stand firm against such an opponent. Well, if you fight with the will to crush bones and cut flesh, then it's not impossible."
"Crushing bones and cutting flesh… Then our side will also suffer losses."
"There's no other way. You said you saw the video, right? Ask the people who experienced it firsthand. Even if someone dared to charge at him, no one would dare to say they could defeat him."
Jeong Taeui shut his mouth. Even though his uncle was speaking in a very gentle voice, he could feel that what he said was completely true. Moreover, he had never made a wrong judgment before.
"....I can only run away well, if I want to keep this poor life."
"No, he's not a murderer who will capture and kill everyone he meets. It's not that serious. The important thing is to not have anything to do with him."
He walked out of the bathroom. After coming out naked with a towel on his wet hair, he took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and drank it. The 1 liter bottle was instantly more than half empty.
"You've already finished bathing."
"No, just washed my hair. I'm thirsty, I haven't had a proper meal all day because of all the work. And it was even more chaotic when the list of members from the European branch arrived last night. If he comes, I need to contact one or two more places just in case."
"....… Uncle. I want to live."
"Of course. Being obsessed with life is human nature. It's the same for everyone, as long as you're not depressed."
"If you say I try not to get involved with that person, then as long as I don't touch him first, it should be fine, right?"
After finishing the bottle of water, the uncle stared at his nephew and wiped the water from his mouth with his finger.
"Do you think so?"
"...Let's see....I don't know that man well so I don't know how to deal with him…"
"I don't think so."
"I feel the same way when I hear you say it."
Jeong Taeui said dejectedly. The uncle threw the empty water bottle carelessly and went back to the bathroom and said.
"It's not a matter of whether or not you touch him first. It's best not to have anything to do with a madman. Once you're involved, there's no point in running away. Just don't let yourself get caught in his sight."
"Um…That's hard. How can I be invisible in this small space? There are only 100 people here combined."
"He's not the type to pick up everyone he sees and slaughter them. Just keep him out of your sight. Then, just be careful not to run into him during training and you'll be fine. The other European members are just as troublesome, but none of them can compete with him."
Jeong Taeui heard the sound of water again.
"Oh my god, it's so hot. Why is it like this all of a sudden? Is there a problem with the regulator…"
The uncle inside grumbled.
"Do you know him, the one named Riegrow?"
Jeong Taeui asked because he felt that the name was familiar to him. Perhaps because the sound of the water was quite loud, he couldn't hear clearly. No answer came back. But thinking back, there was no way he didn't know that man. After all, his fame had spread throughout the branches and even the headquarters, there was no one who didn't know that man. Moreover, he had been to the European branch several times.
15 days.
Jeong Taeui sat with his back against the wall and looked up at the ceiling. He felt like something was about to happen. 15 days wasn't a long time, after all, it was unlikely that someone like him who wanted to live a peaceful life quietly hiding in a corner would be able to catch that man's eye.
Surely it's not so easy to make enemies in such a short period of time that it's even difficult to make friends?
Alright. Even if his comrades pushed him forward or cursed him as a traitor, he absolutely could not step forward. Unlike those who came here voluntarily for the sake of benefits and future security, he was brought here with the premise of a time limit of only half a year, so he could completely act like this to ensure his own life first.
Jeong Taeui easily justified himself and nodded in satisfaction.
At that moment, his humming seemed to stop for a moment, then he said something as if he suddenly remembered.
"Okay, from tomorrow onwards don't come to my room until the joint training is over."
Jeong Taeui leaned his head through the open door, he could see his uncle's arm rubbing soap. Immediately, he turned his head and looked at the book thrown on the bed.
"I haven't finished reading this book yet."
"I told you to just take it home. Because during joint training, personal contact between members and officers is prohibited."
The normal principle is like that. He said sternly.
I don't have the guts to borrow $3500 uncle... Jeong Taeui muttered to himself, but still picked up the book then stood up and walked to the bathroom door.
"Uncle, if I die during training, be sure to bury this book with me."
"If there are no children, the dead cannot be buried but must be cremated…. I will burn it down for you."
You should have said I wouldn't die."
"Human fate is unpredictable… Otherwise, well, I don't think you would have died."
He paused for a moment, then immediately nodded and spoke normally. Hearing that sincere tone made Jeong Taeui laugh.
Soon, the sound of water rushing in the bathroom was heard. It seemed like he wouldn't be taking a bath today. He probably just planned to shower and then go out.