* * *
βWhy is this one out like this? Is something wrong?β
I woke up to someoneβs irritated voice. Only then did I realize I had dozed off.
It seemed I had passed out from lack of oxygen in the suitcase.
Had I been too complacent…?
A rough hand slapped my cheek, waking me.
I saw the person who had knocked me out earlier.
As I tried to pull back, I realized my arms and legs were restrained.
My inventory didnβt open, indicating these were restraints specifically for awakened individuals.
βItβs fine, theyβre okay.β
A relatively slender kidnapper lifted me effortlessly.
Even with their strength, it shouldnβt be easy to lift a person like paper.
Looking around, I saw all three seemed to be awakened.
I had sent a signal to Kwon Sahyeok, so why wasnβt he here yet?
Well, they did say I was bait.
Theyβre probably assessing the situation and planning the rescue.
It was uncomfortable, but how long would I have to wait?
I cautiously observed my surroundings.
A mountain villa appeared in the middle of nowhere, where no one would hear me even if I screamed.
Since they left my mouth free, it was likely private property where no one would hear.
The fact that the kidnappers still wore hats and masks was a good sign.
If they intended to kill me, they wouldnβt bother hiding their faces.
I decided to speak instead of struggling.
βAre you guys from Baekmyeon Sect?β
I asked directly. It was obvious.
Kidnapper 1, 2, and 3 remained silent. I continued.
βDid you target something at Somang Guild? Wouldnβt it have been easier to do something other than kidnapping? Youβll definitely get caught this way.β
βShut up. If you donβt want your mouth ripped.β
Kidnapper 2 snapped.
Seriously, I was just trying to help, and here they were threatening me.
Despite trembling, I stubbornly kept talking.
βWhat did I say to deserve having my mouth ripped? Feeling guilty?β
βAre you crazy…?β
βAn innocent citizen caught by a cult would go crazy, right? Do you know what kind of world we live in now? All crimes get caught. I recently looked into burying someone, and they all get caught.β
β…What did you look into?β
βIf youβre a cult, why donβt you spread your doctrine instead of kidnapping people? Did Kyungmin tell you to do this?β
Kyungmin… that is, Kim Kyungmin, was the leader of Baekmyeon Sect.
The reaction was immediate when I mentioned their leaderβs name.
βShut up.β
With a harsh word, kidnapper 2 slapped my cheek.
My delicate cheek didnβt break easily, and the one who hit me clutched their hand in pain.
βWhat are you doing?β
Kidnapper 1 asked in a scornful tone. Kidnapper 2 glared at me indignantly.
βDamn… Why is this guyβs skin so tough?β
βCanβt you see they have thick skin?β
Whatβs wrong with my skin?
Iβm one of the most delicate-looking people.
Itβs just that my S-rank body is a bit sturdy.
Watching kidnapper 2 fuss, kidnapper 3 clicked their tongue.
βMaybe they have some protective skill?β
βDamn it. Damn…β
Kidnapper 2 kept cursing, clutching their hand in pain.
βYouβre really pathetic…β
βShut up!β
The second kidnapper, fuming, raised his hand again, but the third kidnapper stopped him.
I scoffed, mocking him.
The second kidnapper, running out of arguments, just fumed in frustration.
βCan I deal with this bastard?β
βNo, you know the rules.β
βWhat rules? What do you know?β
When I interjected, the first kidnapper gave me an exasperated look.
βI’ve never seen anyone so calm in this situation. Keep your mouth shut while weβre being nice. Unless you want to pass out again.β
βThreatening an innocent citizen, huh?β
Though I wasn’t scared of their threats, I kept quiet for the moment since the kidnappers were leading me into the mansion.
The mansion was damp and dark, giving off an eerie vibe that anyone would find suspicious.
βYou should at least turn on the lights. This is why people are prejudiced against cults.β
ββ¦β¦β
βShould I change the lightbulbs as a visiting gift?β
The second kidnapper trembled but didnβt take the bait.
He led me silently down the corridor and stopped midway.
Opening a door, he threw me onto a hard bed.
At least they threw me on a bed, which was relatively humane.
Many would have just thrown me on the floor.
The kidnappers slammed the door shut and left.
I sat up and saw a man around my age huddled in the corner, pale and with red eyes from crying.
βYou were kidnapped too?β
βYes, as you can see.β
When I smiled, the man flinched and then mumbled tearfully.
βThese guys are completely insane…β
βThey sure seem like it.β
βWhy does this keep happening to meβ¦β
βAgain?β
I wondered if he had been kidnapped before.
Unlike me, an S-rank with no fear of death, he seemed like a B-rank at best.
I looked at him sympathetically. Embarrassed by his crying, he shrank back and then looked at me, frowning.
βWhat’s your name?β
βMe? It’s Seo Heewon.β
βSeo Heewonβ¦β
His eyes widened as he repeated my name.
βWait, did you come from Black Sea Guild?β
I was surprised. How did he know?
βWho are you?β
βIβmβ¦ I was from there tooβ¦β
Stammering, he looked familiar. I finally remembered his face.
βYouβre Lee Doyoon?β
βChoi Dokyum.β
βOh, Choi Dokyum.β
I got his name wrong, but his real name brought back memories.
We had been trapped in the Black Sea Guildβs lab together.
Seeing a familiar face seemed to brighten Choi Dokyum a little.
βLong time no see. Have you been well?β
βDo either of us look well?β
We both had restraints on our wrists.
Even prison food would be better than this.
Choi Dokyum gave a sheepish smile.
βTrueβ¦β
βDid they capture you too? When?β
βFour days agoβ¦β
His face darkened.
βAre you okay?β
He nodded, but didnβt look okay at all.
βThey seem to be doing some tests… various thingsβ¦β
His body trembled, finding it hard to speak.
While I had long overcome my lab experiences, Choi Dokyum hadnβt.
Most people wouldnβt.
I had managed my time in the lab and lost all remaining fear after awakening as an S-rank.
βItβll be okay. Weβll be rescued soon.β
βYeahβ¦β
Choi Dokyumβs weak response showed he didnβt believe me.
I understood; optimism seemed naive in this situation.
Was Kwon Sahyeok getting my signal?
Even if Iβm bait, he should have come by now, seeing me suffer.
I needed to signal him again.
Fumbling with my bound hands, I realized my ring was missing.
Had they taken it?
This was troublesome.
With my inventory sealed by the restraints, there was nothing I could do.
As an F-rank, Seo Heewon couldnβt do anything.
Wellβ¦ Iβll figure something out.
βAre you okay?β Choi Dokyum asked, having stopped crying.
I shrugged lightly.
βIβm fine. Worrying wonβt change anything.β
βTrueβ¦β
He didnβt seem comforted.
Whether Kwon Sahyeok came or not, Iβd have to find a way out myself.
Choi Dokyum looked like he might collapse soon.
Just then, the door clicked open.
A kidnapper in a hat and mask entered. Ignoring the trembling Choi Dokyum, he grabbed me and led me out.
The room we entered was spacious, unlike the stark Black Sea Guild lab.
It was a normal room. The kidnapper threw me onto a saggy sofa.
βIs this him?β
A person lying on a single sofa in the corner sat up and asked.
βYes, Doctor.β
βHmm. Seo Heewonβ¦β
The woman, called Doctor, wore large glasses and a mask. Humming, she bent down to meet my eyes.
βYouβre Seo Hoonβs adopted son, right?β
* * *
*Summary page is only available for login users. Non-users can view the chapters on the chapter list.*
Huh?
heewon lol
Reminds me of those memes were they annoy the kidnappers until they just let them go because they can’t take itππ
Thanks
heewon ur such a little brat π