As True as a Dream

The guards waiting outside heard the noise and rushed into the office.

 

Yi Ho’s smile deepened.

 “Oh, I’m scared to death.” 

They must have understood the muttered words in Korean.

 

Inspector Sasaki jerked to his feet, drew the sword at his waist and pointed it at his throat.

 

The officers also drew their bayonets with murderous faces.

 

The atmosphere in the office became tense in an instant.

 “[Do you want to die!]” 

Yi Ho was still sitting calmly in his seat and said in a regretful tone.

 “[If I die, I won’t be able to go to His Excellency’s party, and of course, I won’t be able to prepare any gifts].” 

The sharp tip of Inspector Sasaki’s sword lightly pierced Yi Ho’s neck.

 

A trickle of crimson blood ran down his white neck.

 

A fierce anger could be felt from the tip of the blade.

 

But no matter how angry Inspector Sasaki was, he couldn’t kill him.

 

There must be a reason why Governor Saito sent the Jongno Police Chief to extend the invitation.

 “[Chairman Ban, if you have this attitude even in front of the Governor General, you won’t be safe, so don’t blame us for being short-handed!]” 

The sword that had been digging into his flesh immediately fell away.

 “[Thanks for the advice, if nothing else happens, I’ll make sure to attend the birthday party]” 

With his voice behind him, Police Inspector Sasaki turned sharply and left the office.

 “…Will you be okay?” 

Hongo, who had been standing silently at one side of the office, approached and handed him a handkerchief.

 

Yi Ho took Hongo’s handkerchief, wiped the blood from his neck, and laughed.

 “Me or that junior?” 

Hongo swallowed a small gulp of saliva down his throat.

 

Although he was laughing, he could feel a faint murderous intent coming from Yi Ho.

 “Are you going to the… Governor General’s birthday party?” “I have to go.” 

Yi Ho’s answer made Hongo’s stomach churn in anticipation of what was to come.

 

Judging from the course of the conversation, Governor Saito’s reason for inviting Yi Ho in the first place was probably money, in addition to his intention to press Song Yue’s head.

 

Of course, it might be natural for them to ask for a bribe from a big piece of meat like Song Yue.

 

But they chose the wrong person.

 

Parental affection, the attention of relatives, food to fill a hungry stomach, a safe place to sleep, clean clothes.

 

Yi Ho had a miserable childhood, never holding anything in his hands.

 

As a result, he has a winking sense of possessiveness when it comes to anything in his hands.

 

It doesn’t matter if it’s money, things, or people.

 

The more someone tries to take what is his, the more bitter and cruel Yi Ho becomes.

 

Hongo has never seen anything end well because they coveted something that belonged to Yi Ho.

 

Yi Ho’s means for this bad end were inexhaustible.

 

Just thinking about it made him shudder.

 

Hongo’s lips curled into a smile as he watched the silhouetted figure walk back to the annex.

 

Yi Ho had survived hundreds of years of bloodlines with his half-human, half-fox body.

 

This fact alone proved his strength.

 

However, he preferred to use his

“tools”

to torment his opponent instead of moving himself.

 

Why use his hands when he had such a convenient tool?

 

Dirty and tedious.

 

Looking at Yi Ho, he realized that foxes were not called sneaky and cunning for nothing.

 

***

 

Entering the private room, he saw Hae-Joo dozing off, her head swaying like a top knot.

 

Yi Ho was incredulous.

 

He’d told her to wait, not sleep.

 

He took off his mask and crouched down beside her, legs bent.

 

Then he pushed Hae-Joo’s head, which was tilted to one side, with his finger.

 

The inertia pushed the head back and it snapped back into place like a stump.

 

He then pushed it back to the other side as it tilted in his direction.

 

As if she didn’t like it, Hae-Joo’s mouth turned down and she hummed softly.

 

Her head snapped back to his chest.

 

This time he pushed her forehead with his finger.

 

The small head snapped back.

 

This time, however, the strangely oversized reaction didn’t work.

 

Hae-Joo’s body tilted backwards, following the head.

 

Yi Ho, who had been watching the scene mockingly, suddenly raised his eyebrows.

 

He reached out and grabbed Hae-Joo by the throat.

 

The recoil of the blow caught Hae-Joo’s forehead between his shoulder and neck.

 “…Hm.” 

A small groan of pain escaped him, but his attention was focused on the floor of the private room.

 

The pocket knife Hongo had lent her earlier lay where it had almost fallen when he’d left.

 

The blade was half open, and had she been lying there, it would have pierced her head.

 

He swallowed his disbelief and turned to see Hae-Joo staring back at him with bleary eyes.

 

She’s awake.

 

Yi Ho released his grip on Hae-Joo’s throat.

 

Then her body, swaying as if she had no bones, tilted back again.

 

Yi Ho grabbed Hae-Joo’s hand again and pulled her up.

 

Hae-Joo’s eyes were still dreamy and empty.

 

Still, her dark eyes were fixed on his face.

 

There was even a hint of admiration in her eyes as she studied his forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, chin, and lips.

 

It was impossible not to recognize the meaning of her blatant gaze.

 

Yi Ho was stunned.

 

How can she afford to admire someone’s face in this situation?

 

And how could he still be so distracted at this point?

 “Hae-Joo. Are you sleeping?” 

Yi Ho said in a smiling but still babbling voice.

 

Hae-Joo’s eyes blinked a few times in a daze and then they snapped open.

 

Her black pupils dilated at the sight of him so close.

 

Then she realized that his hand was gripping hers and stuttered.

 “What the… is that…?” “I caught you when you were dying. Wouldn’t it have been better to let you go?” 

Yi Ho released his grip on Hae-Joo’s throat and gestured to the ground where his pocket knife lay.

 

Hae-Joo, who had turned to follow his gaze, took a surprised breath.

 “I… I haven’t slept well in weeks. I didn’t even realize I fell asleep.” 

Yi Ho studied Hae-Joo’s face with his eyes.

 

The whites of her eyes were red and swollen, the circles under her eyes were dark, and her lips were chapped.

 

Upon closer inspection, her skin was rough and her eyelids twitched slightly.

 

It looked like she hadn’t slept well.

 

Suddenly, he remembered Hae-Joo’s sleep talk in Sogok Village.

 

She had been angry with herself for having nightmares every night.

 “Thank you for catching me.” 

When their eyes met, Hae-Joo rubbed her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

 

Yi Ho rolled his eyes and decided to focus on his original purpose.

 “So, what’s the conclusion?” “The conclusion? Oh, the conclusion?” 

After a moment of stunned silence, Hae-Joo quickly realized and smiled.

 “You’re right. Mr. Ban is right. I will find Guishan Dao, especially if my father and I are the last ones to see the real painting, and besides, isn’t Mr. Ban a lifesaver for me, and for that reason alone, I think I should be happy to help.” 

Yi Ho raised an eyebrow at Hae-Joo, who seemed to have given up all calculations and scheming.

 “Don’t worry about it. I, Hae-Joo, will actively do my best to help you find Guishan Dao. That’s all, right? I’ll help you with all my heart and serve you as if it were my own body.” “Oh, really? With as much care as your own body?” “Yes! From now on, I will never say two words with one mouth, thank you very much, hahaha.” 

She smiled, but somehow the corners of her mouth turned up in wistfulness.

 

Yi Ho watched her curiously, the corners of his mouth twitching.

 

He poked this way and that, even though he knew it wouldn’t work, and finally said,

“This woman is always looking at me.”

 

That woman is always poking and prodding, and when she thinks it won’t work, she bows down and submits.

 

How many times does her face change?

 

It’s kind of fun to watch, and his eyes get fond of it.

 “…So what do we do now?” 

When he didn’t say anything more, Hae-Joo opened her mouth in a cool way.

 

Yi Ho turned around and looked at the Guishan Dao on the table.

 “First, tell me what you know about this painting…” 

Suddenly, Hae-Joo’s hand tugged at his shirt collar.

Yi Ho was stunned.

 “How did you get hurt here? You were fine before.” 

He turned to see that Hae-Joo was furrowing her brow and looking at the area around his neck.

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