It meant that since Ilrey hadn’t touched it yet, Hogan hadn’t really crossed the line into full-on wrongdoing. And by now it would be nearly time for the other instructors to get ready and come out, so he certainly wouldn’t be fooling around in the operations office any longer.“Alright then I’ll get ready and head over to the office right away.”“Take your time. Like I’ve said a dozen times, I don’t see much need for a captain tailing my every move just to handle paperwork. Hell, you could take the day off if you liked.”There was a barb hidden in every word.Taeui gave a bitter smile. “That supplement you gave me last night must have been really effective. My head aches a bit, but I feel full of energy. I think I can manage without a break until training’s over.” With that he turned and stood by the door.Hogan glared at him as if he were detestable and silently left the system room. Only after the door clicked shut did Taeui slowly lock it.Just before it closed, he glanced at the wall inside the system room. The surveillance cameras installed somewhere in that wall would be running nonstop—but as long as his uncle had decided to turn a blind eye, they wouldn’t be much help.“No, actually I think he’d be thrilled if he got some proof…” Taeui regretted not flipping the bird at the camera before locking the door. But it was already too late.There were only a few days left in training. It looked like that man was finally starting to move too.‘It’s hard for anyone outside to tap into the data lines in the system room. They’d have to break through multiple firewalls on the main system. And I’d get an alert before that even happened.’His uncle only replied nonchalantly, as if he’d been expecting it but wasn’t going to help anyway.During the break, Taeui went to the mess hall and downed a whole bottle of water, then happened to run into his uncle. He casually mentioned Hogan’s scheme, but his uncle didn’t so much as flick an eyebrow.“You’ve got to head back to training soon, right?” his uncle said, sipping his coffee without hurry. Taeui shot him a resentful look while gulping water, and his uncle dropped exactly two ice cubes into his cup before settling into his chair.“Hogan said this is his last information deal for a while. He even filed for leave with headquarters. Guess he’s worried the trail’s closing in on him.”Taeui raised an eyebrow, rubbing his raw throat. His uncle continued smoothly.“Looks like he’s got a bad feeling about this one. Hard to blame him, with you glaring at him day and night.”“Why? He going to back out this time?” Taeui brightened at the thought. If Hogan gave up and went back to his regular duties after this, he’d have less to worry about—even if Ilrey ended up empty-handed.But his uncle snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. Jeong Jae-ui’s formula isn’t exactly small-time data. You think he’d just walk away from a payday like that?”Taeui wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or dismayed at the price on his brother’s molecular formula.“Look at him filing for leave with headquarters. He’s ready to risk getting caught and fired. Maybe he figures, ‘What’s the worst that can happen after I cash in this once?’”His uncle smiled at him, as if mentioning the eye watching for any chance to snatch the branch’s secret data was no big deal.“Taeui, I’m counting on you. You’re the only one I trust. That Rick fellow’ll slay anyone who gets in his way. Folks around here already side-eye him.”“If anyone’s foolish enough to look at him kindly, they’d deserve a godly smack.” Taeui muttered, setting down his water bottle.There were only a few days left before the trainees began the real exercises. With the last day or two consumed by data analysis—system fully engaged—Hogan only had three or four days to work with.No wonder he felt so pressed.“Hey Tae, how about a game of billiards tonight?”After afternoon training, sweat-drenched, Taeui headed to the mess hall to eat before meeting Hogan. Suddenly someone tapped his shoulder from behind. It was Carlo, also soaked in sweat. Taeui sighed and shook his head.“Billiards… tempting, but I can’t.”“Why? Hogan again?” Carlo frowned. “Even for a captain, why are you stuck with him past duty hours? You two dating or something?”“Hey, don’t even joke about that. Just saying Hogan scares me. Please don’t doubt my tastes too.”“Honestly, your taste is already infamous as rock bottom, Tae.”Carlo muttered, and Taeui bit back a retort, groping the last few drops of water in his canteen. Carlo, pitying him, handed over his own bottle.Since the outdoor march, rumors about Taeui’s relationships had circulated widely—even Hogan, who usually ignored others’ affairs, teased him.People’s glances had grown cold. The only ones still treating him kindly were those who’d always been decent. They still invited him to hang out at night.He had no defense against most rumors, but about this one accusation he felt unjustly judged.“Wait, why is my taste considered rock bottom? It wasn’t always like this. Or rather, my tastes haven’t changed. It’s just that reality…”Taeui stopped at the mess hall entrance, clenched his fist, and glared at Carlo, who backed away. Carlo peeked inside and whispered, “He’s in the worst spot.” Taeui froze.“…He is?”“Yup. Right in the center.”Taeui turned slowly without moving his feet, glancing at Carlo. The mess hall was crowded with people.In the hubbub, Carlo had zeroed in on him… but Taeui would have recognized him too the moment he walked in.He creaked around. Sure enough, someone sat alone at the center table, a three-meter radius of space around him like a hole in the crowd. A hush seemed to follow him.“…”So they’d finally met. Impossible not to, given they’d both been wandering the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ branch all day.“Is the rumor true?” Carlo whispered without moving his lips. Taeui muttered back, “What rumor?”“I heard you threw a punch at him during the march.”“…”“They say it wasn’t just one punch either.”Where did these idiots hear that? This place ran on rumors faster and wider than anywhere.“Nobody’s sure yet. Some say it’s nonsense since you’re fine→But he’s always been suspect around you, so maybe it’s true→He proved human nature doesn’t change when he showed up bloodied. The story’s detailed, but no conclusion yet.”“Where’d you hear all that?” Taeui jabbed Carlo’s shin with his heel. Carlo hopped and laughed, “It’s true, and he’s waiting to repay you when the time’s right.”Why did he forget how sharp everyone here was? Carlo especially had a knack for reading situations.“Almost right,” Taeui replied, then took his tray and stepped into the mess hall.Ilrey, who’d spotted him the moment he entered, slid out a chair at the table. “Thanks,” Taeui said curtly, sitting down and starting his meal.Yeah, Carlo was right.Ilrey stayed expressionless but didn’t lose composure. They hadn’t spoken since, but he’d been busy.“…”Whoever he was, he wasn’t the type to let a punch slide—and yet he was strangely calm. Like the calm before a storm.Taeui paused mid-bite and glanced at Ilrey. Ilrey, eating salmon from his salad, met his gaze. Caught off guard, Taeui couldn’t look away.It felt like a frog staring at a snake. He blinked once, but Ilrey held his stare, then picked up a thick slice of cheese from his dessert plate and placed it on Taeui’s tray.“…What’s this?”“You looked hungry. You like cheese.”He hadn’t looked hungry or at the cheese, but… he did like it. Taeui chewed it in silence, surprised. Ilrey then picked up his untouched beer can and set it on Taeui’s tray too. Right—he loved that too.Taeui cracked open the beer and drank half in one go, exhaling in relief. He felt a bit lighter. He glanced at Ilrey, still expressionless as he ate salmon, and spoke up.“I overslept this morning and didn’t come by, but I guess you just gave Hogan the office access code.”Ilrey’s eyes snapped to him. He paused, set down his fork, and picked up Taeui’s water cup.“I came.”“Huh?”“I was at your room the moment your alarm rang at six. I’d been awake since three because of bad dreams, so I waited.”Taeui stopped chewing cheese and blinked at him.“…Then why didn’t you wake me?”“You took that supplement and complained about a headache while muttering in your sleep. I didn’t think you’d wake easily. And I saw the one who gave it to you slip out, so I waited.”The figure at the corridor’s end earlier hadn’t been a mirage. Hogan had really been teetering on the brink of hell. Maybe the cheese’s bitter taste was from its expiration.“So you waited till I tried to access the internal line?”Taeui munched the cheese he barely tasted and muttered. Ilrey shrugged.“He couldn’t have tapped in from there. I planned to finish it if he tried, but then I saw you staggering through the door, so I wrapped it up early.”“Appreciate it.”“Don’t mention it.”Taeui sipped his beer and fell silent. Indeed, Hogan had begun to move—and so had Ilrey. No wonder he was busy too.He checked his watch. He still had a bit of time before heading to Hogan, and resumed eating, glancing at Ilrey again. He spoke calmly, but the chill in his eyes remained.“Don’t just poke at your salad. Eat something filling.”He gestured at Ilrey’s nearly untouched plate, the few slices of salmon on the salad aside—yet Ilrey had already eaten.

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