IRLPLBIO Chapter 12 Part 1

Episode 12 #3. Let’s Negotiate, And Cooperate (2)

The Alpha pheromones emanating from Kwang-cheol gradually deepened.

Jae-gu, who completely gave himself over without hesitation, was extremely defenseless. He usually acted like an older brother, pretending to be bold, but when he leaned on Kwang-cheol unexpectedly, it was very…

Kwang-cheol inwardly composed his emotions, which he couldn’t express in words. There was no need to instill caution in Jae-gu just yet.

Jae-gu didn’t know much about Alphas and Omegas, so Kwang-cheol planned to wait until Jae-gu’s manifestation and then slowly try to win him over. He wasn’t one to believe superstitions, but he wanted to believe the rumor that someone consistently exposed to Alpha pheromones had a higher chance of manifesting as an Omega.

Meanwhile, Jae-gu was half-intoxicated by the scent emanating from Kwang-cheol’s palms and the inside of his wrists. It was strange how the heavy, intense scent, which felt sharp, clung to him and then sweetly melted away.

Even without drinking alcohol, his head felt fuzzy and his heart pounded. His facial muscles relaxed, and he found himself laughing uncontrollably, “Hehe.”

“Here, I brought the cocoa.”

A police officer, oblivious to the mood, broke the tension. The sweet scent of cocoa wafted from the paper cup he placed down, but Kwang-cheol’s lips trembled as if he had smelled something else entirely.

The police officer chuckled good-naturedly, looking at Kwang-cheol’s stiff face.

“Do you want a cup too, student? A strong cocoa.”

“…No.”

Kwang-cheol carefully cleared his throat, trying not to sound sharp.

The police officer, seated, tapped the desk, looking at Jae-gu who kept looking away.

“Now you’ll tell me, won’t you? I even brought you cocoa.”

“Well, if you’re so eager to hear it.”

It was then, when Jae-gu thought he had teased them enough and wondered if he should open his mouth.

“Let’s discuss that with me.”

Im Ho-sin interjected.

Having finished his conversation with Han Ga-yeon, he was completely different from his usual smiling, easygoing self. From his changed gaze, an air of competence and sharpness emanated from Im Ho-sin.

Kwang-cheol also sensed his mother’s change. From his mother, the owner of a small neighborhood cafe, a newfound gravitas and seriousness emanated, along with an inexplicable distance.

The police officer sighed, his face deflated. He had wished to hear the story from Jae-gu beforehand and was dissatisfied that things weren’t going as he wanted.

“If it’s a lawyer-to-lawyer discussion, please wait a moment. The opposing counsel is also on their way.”

“Where are they coming from that they’re so late?”

“They’re coming directly from Seoul.”

“…”

Im Ho-sin unconsciously looked at Han Ga-yeon. The lawyer coming from Seoul would undoubtedly be a representative of the Dae-yeong Group. For Han Ga-yeon, who hadn’t yet decided whether to meet them or hide, it would be a sudden situation.

However, Han Ga-yeon was surprisingly calm. As if she had known such a thing would happen, or as if she had often imagined and prepared for such situations.

Han Ga-yeon and Kwang-cheol’s eyes met. When Kwang-cheol first gave a slight nod, Han Ga-yeon then smiled ever so slightly, like someone finally relieved of tension.

The lawyer, said to be coming from Seoul, arrived faster than expected. If they had driven, they must have been speeding considerably.

Jae-gu, who had been nonchalantly watching the lawyer enter and greet the police officers, sprang up when he saw the man following behind him. Kwang-cheol squeezed his hand tightly, but Jae-gu seemed unaware.

“That person!”

It was Han Yun-cheol. The most troublesome among the successor candidates, with the greatest influence, and the one who resisted until the very end, causing difficulties, back when Jae-gu served as Han Seong-cheol’s “dog.”

Perhaps Jae-gu’s voice was loud, as Han Yun-cheol immediately looked their way. Kwang-cheol subtly stepped forward, shielding Jae-gu from his view, and whispered softly.

“Do you know him?”

“Uh, no… not exactly…”

Jae-gu, fumbling, bit his lip. His brain, which he didn’t usually use much, spun rapidly. Pushing aside all the scientific information he had diligently studied in the library, information from his past life quickly surged forward.

Han Yun-cheol. The person initially considered the top candidate for the next Chairman. Being young now, he would probably be a Department Head.

While Seong-cheol had no power, Han Yun-cheol acted as the sole successor. Even with all the cousins uniting to keep him in check, they couldn’t stop him. Not until Jae-gu became Seong-cheol’s hands and feet, personally cutting off Han Yun-cheol’s people.

He needed information that would be immediately useful. Jae-gu groaned, pulling at his hair.

Since he was the one who caused trouble until the very end, there was a lot of information about Han Yun-cheol. However, most of it was from when Jae-gu worked under Seong-cheol, meaning it would only be useful three or four years later.

While the lawyer he brought engaged in a power struggle with Im Ho-sin under the guise of greeting him, Han Yun-cheol had already spotted Jae-gu and walked over, looking directly at him.

“It’s you. The one who caused Han Seong-cheol’s manifestation.”

Over the image of 50-year-old Han Yun-cheol, who had maintained his dignity until the very end in Jae-gu’s memories, was superimposed the 30-year-old Han Yun-cheol, who picked a fight from their first encounter.

One must return a provocation with a provocation. Jae-gu instinctively opened his mouth.

“Oh dear, aren’t you Han Seong-cheol’s older brother, who’s hiding in the hospital using his manifestation as an excuse, despite being the assailant?”

“…Is that person the older brother of the one who hit my hyung?”

“Of cour—”

Jae-gu paused while trying to answer Kwang-cheol’s question. He realized that he had unilaterally identified Han Yun-cheol; Han Yun-cheol hadn’t revealed his identity himself. The police had said a lawyer was coming, but never mentioned Seong-cheol’s brother.

He was flustered for a moment, but Jae-gu quickly blamed someone else. It was Han Yun-cheol’s fault for violating the common sense rule that ‘when you first meet someone, you should greet them and introduce yourself.’

“Th-they look alike. I could tell just by looking.”

Jae-gu’s excuse was clumsy. Seong-cheol and Yun-cheol were more than twelve years apart in age. Even if they looked alike, Han Yun-cheol would appear more like an uncle than an older brother.

Han Yun-cheol naturally doubted that statement. However, Kwang-cheol, who was sticking close to Jae-gu, nodded with a warm expression, indicating he believed everything Jae-gu said, so Han Yun-cheol couldn’t readily argue. Instead, he pointed out something else.

“Assault, you say? Isn’t it common knowledge that an Alpha’s secondary gender can be maximized and become violent during the manifestation process? The very presence of an Omega next to him must have provoked him.”