IRLPLBIO Chapter 11 Part 1

Chapter 11 #3. Let’s Make a Deal, And Cooperate (1)

“What… how did you untie it…?”

“That’s none of your business.”

As Han Seong-cheol tried to press down on his wrist, even with his hands, Jae-gu twisted his shoulder and evaded. Then, with a tightly clenched fist, he relentlessly struck Han Seong-cheol’s face.

Thwack!

“…!”

Han Seong-cheol, unable to even scream, fell backward. The bed was apparently quite high, as the sound of him falling echoed with a surprisingly loud ‘thud!’

While Han Seong-cheol, who had fallen on his back, crumpled into an odd position and struggled to regain his senses, Jae-gu also untied the rope around his ankles. The rough material had left scratches, but it didn’t hurt much.

Jae-gu rotated his stiff wrists and ankles, cracked his neck left and right, and then stepped onto the floor.

“Come to think of it, I’m a minor right now.”

Han Seong-cheol, who had been wriggling, finally righted himself. The words ‘What’s a minor got to do with it?’ caught in his throat. Jae-gu’s eyes were half-crazed.

In this place, with only the two of them, there was no one to stop Jae-gu, who exuded an extremely dangerous aura. Han Seong-cheol reflexively scrambled towards the door and screamed.

However, before he could let out a proper scream, Jae-gu covered his mouth.

“I should just kill you while the punishment is light.”

“Mmmph!”

The situation had completely reversed.

Han Seong-cheol let out muffled groans from within Jae-gu’s hand. Jae-gu truly intended to ‘deal with’ him.

This couldn’t continue. There had to be a way to change the situation…!

Jae-gu’s fist, pulled far back, was about to strike at almost the same moment a powerful scent erupted from Han Seong-cheol’s body, who had clenched his eyes shut.

“…Ugh.”

His throat, which understood the situation faster than his brain, heaved, and Jae-gu finally vomited. Han Seong-cheol, who had been stunned by the shock that momentarily made his head throb despite being a glancing blow, finally screamed due to the vomit spilling onto his face.

Vrrrm, vrrrm.

Jae-gu’s mobile phone had been vibrating continuously for who knew how long. However, neither Jae-gu nor Han Seong-cheol could pay attention to the persistent vibrations.

Park Kwang-cheol had called Jae-gu multiple times since receiving his text message. The continuous unanswered calls made him even more anxious and nervous.

He had sent a text just a moment ago, but now couldn’t answer the phone. What kind of situation could that be? Had Jae-gu met an opponent too strong or too numerous for him to even check his mobile phone?

Perhaps he was severely injured and unconscious. Or he might have been abandoned somewhere with nothing. If not that, then he might have experienced his secondary gender manifestation in his absence and encountered an Alpha…

Park Kwang-cheol’s mind vividly imagined even the most terrible scenarios.

Just then, Park Kwang-cheol, who had stopped calling for a moment, received an incoming call on his mobile phone.

[Joo Hae-jun, Hyung]

Park Kwang-cheol checked the caller ID and quickly pressed the answer button.

“Hello, Hyung!”

“Is that Park Kwang-cheol? It’s Joo Hae-jun.”

“Yes, Hyung. Are you with my Hyung right now? I can’t reach him.”

“Ah, well…”

His hesitant manner seemed somehow unsettling. Sweat beaded on Park Kwang-cheol’s palm.

“I’m… at the hospital right now.”

“…Which hospital? Are you there too?”

“No, no. I’m at the hospital, but I called because I don’t see Jae-gu. He’s not with you then… Where did he go?”

“…Hyung.”

“Wait, Kwang-cheol, no, Park Kwang-cheol. Just listen to me! On my way here, a whole bunch of guys came out and hit me hard on the head! Then when I opened my eyes, I was in the hospital. I didn’t intentionally not see Jae-gu; the situation just turned out that way…”

Park Kwang-cheol hadn’t blamed or resented him, yet Joo Hae-jun, feeling guilty, rattled off excuses. But it wasn’t very helpful. The conclusion was that he didn’t know Jae-gu’s whereabouts.

“Alright. I’ll contact you when I find him. Take care of yourself.”

“Uh-huh, okay…”

Park Kwang-cheol ended the call without listening to Joo Hae-jun’s dejected voice to the end.

He was about to call Jae-gu again, but this time, his mother called. He sighed, hiding his anxiety and nervousness, and answered the phone as calmly as usual.

“Yes, Mother.”

“Park Kwang-cheol, are you with Jae-gu?”

“No. Did you hear from him?”

“Jae-gu… is at the police station.”

One would expect to be surprised by a call from the police station in the middle of the night, but Park Kwang-cheol’s mother, Han Ga-yeon, was unexpectedly calm. The one who wasn’t calm was Park Kwang-cheol.

“What’s he doing at the police station? Is he hurt? Or did he get into a fight…?”

“I don’t know, I’m on my way now. So, Park Kwang-cheol, you know Lawyer Im Ho-sin, right? Could you come to the police station with him?”

Park Kwang-cheol rubbed his head. An incident that required the police and even a lawyer; his imagination spun increasingly towards the worst.

In front of Park Kwang-cheol, who was blankly holding his mobile phone, unsure when the call had ended, Im Ho-sin snapped his fingers.

“What are you doing? Snap out of it.”

Then he stood up abruptly, put on his jacket, and straightened his tie. He had heard the sound from the mobile phone.

“Let’s go.”

As if led by Im Ho-sin’s words, Park Kwang-cheol also rose from his seat. His head was throbbing. Until now, while Jae-gu had caused several minor incidents, he had never caused trouble serious enough for the police to be involved.

This won’t be a big deal this time either, Park Kwang-cheol thought as he moved with Im Ho-sin. In any case, he would only know what happened by going to the police station.

Park Kwang-cheol, carrying all the worries in the world, arrived at the police station and was met with a scene different from his expectations. Then again, things involving Jae-gu rarely went as expected from the start.

Instead of the intimidating detective seen in dramas, a police officer with a face worn by time and subservient to authority was offering Jae-gu a paper cup. Even though it was likely Jae-gu’s first time at a police station, instead of being scared, he sat casually, even crossing his legs.

“Alright, just drink this for now. I make a killer cup of coffee, you know.”

“I’m a student, you know? I don’t drink coffee. Do I want to get dumber or something…?”

“Oh, really? But drinking this won’t make you dumber…”

“Huh?”