IRLPLBIO Chapter 43 Part 1

Chapter 43 #9. The Law is Near, but Fists are Nearer (5)

After a brief meeting with Han Moo-jin, Han Yun-cheol’s mind became complicated.

Han Moo-jin had stated that he planned to put Han Seong-cheol forward as Park Kwang-cheol’s rival. This meant that Han Moo-jin’s attention and support would now be focused on Han Seong-cheol. Unlike Han Yun-cheol, who had already solidified his position and thus needed neither novelty nor new allies, Han Seong-cheol would attract many people eager to make connections.

To gain his father’s favor, the best scenario would be for Han Yun-cheol to abandon Park Kwang-cheol and support Han Seong-cheol. However, Han Yun-cheol had no intention of empowering Han Seong-cheol, who was already a nuisance. Yet, openly backing Park Kwang-cheol, whom Han Moo-jin sought to ostracize, was also difficult.

Not a few minutes after leaving the chairman’s office, his mobile phone rang.

[I’m going to Seoul. Even without your help, an opportunity arose, didn’t it? See you up there.]

Han Seong-cheol didn’t know how to hide his emotions. It was natural, as he had never needed to learn patience.

However, Han Yun-cheol’s stomach churned as he read the text from the person who had contacted him so eagerly. Han Seong-cheol was already a lost cause. He didn’t think such a person could ever defeat Park Kwang-cheol.

He knew clearly in his mind that Park Kwang-cheol was superior. Yet, if such a capable person, left to his own devices, were to soar even higher with Han Yun-cheol’s support as wings, that would also be problematic.

As Han Yun-cheol’s steps slowed due to his contemplation, a pair of polished shoes clicked and clacked, blocking his path.

“Nephew, how about a cup of coffee?”

“…Aunt.”

“Let’s talk outside. There are too many eyes here.”

Han Ga-yeon gestured outwards. Sure enough, from the moment Han Ga-yeon and Han Yun-cheol met, numerous gazes had been darting towards them.

When Han Yun-cheol belatedly looked around, they quickly scattered, but it was clear that this encounter would soon reach Han Moo-jin’s ears.

What would his father think of his meeting with his aunt? Han Yun-cheol racked his brain.

The best-case scenario was that Han Moo-jin would think Han Yun-cheol was wary of Han Ga-yeon from Han Moo-jin’s side. The next best was if he thought Han Yun-cheol was trying to gain advantage by playing both Han Moo-jin and Han Ga-yeon. The worst was if he believed Han Ga-yeon and Han Yun-cheol were joining forces. It would be very rare for a father to suspect his son, but if that father was the ever-suspicious Han Moo-jin, it was possible.

But the deed was already done. Perhaps even requesting the meeting in such a public way was part of Han Ga-yeon’s scheme.

Despite many thoughts, Han Yun-cheol ultimately had only one answer.

“Yes. Let’s go somewhere quiet.”

“Alright, I know a place.”

Han Ga-yeon led the way. Unlike before, when her long hair was tied back, her short bob now swished. Her striking facial features were even more accentuated, and her face and gestures once again brought Park Kwang-cheol to mind, making Han Yun-cheol’s thoughts even more turbulent.

That day’s events were an utter mess. The octopus group, as expected of the Alpha thugs’ leaders, seemed to be high-ranking Hyeongjil individuals, as they fled completely fed up. Choi Hyeong-gyu and Im Ho-sin also made their exit, saying it didn’t seem like the right situation to talk.

In the end, only Jae-gu was left alone to watch over Park Kwang-cheol’s treatment, pinned beneath the large man.

‘Nu-nim, this is too heavy… could you please move him a bit to the side…?’

‘Just bear with it a little longer. Having your Gagin partner nearby helps with stabilization.’

‘Gagin?’

‘Yes, Gagin. Didn’t you know?’

‘What is that?’

‘…You just need to wait until the suppressants take effect. And later, please come to the nurse’s station to pick up your Hyeongjil explanation leaflet.’

The nurse calmly gave Park Kwang-cheol two doses of suppressants and finished giving instructions to Jae-gu.

The Hyeongjil explanation leaflet Jae-gu received had a large, colorful ‘For Children’ label. Pictures made up almost half of it, with explanations inside speech bubbles.

A passing child patient glanced at the leaflet in Jae-gu’s hand. When Jae-gu didn’t say anything, the child slowly crept closer, eventually sitting right next to him, craning his neck to read along.

‘Al-pha and O-me-ga, ac-cord-ing to their Hyeong-jil, take a spe-ci-fic part-ner…’

The clear voice of the child echoed. Many people looked at the child, who was slowly but clearly reading the difficult words, with eyes full of pride and admiration.

Some of them even looked at Jae-gu. They seemed to think he was an older brother taking care of his younger sibling.

‘Hyung, what’s this, a Phe-ro-mone?’

‘Uh, that. It’s like a smell.’

‘A smell? You smell good, Hyung.’

‘I didn’t eat anything. Are you hungry?’

‘No.’

The impudent child patient pouted, then snatched the leaflet from Jae-gu’s hand.

‘You don’t know much either, Hyung. I’ll read it for you.’

‘…You don’t need to.’

‘It’s boring to read alone!’

It’s not boring. No, I wish this little kid would just go somewhere else.

But Jae-gu couldn’t overcome the child patient’s innocence. Only after listening to twenty full minutes of reading, getting water for the child who said his throat hurt, and giving him the leaflet he was reading, telling him to keep it, could Jae-gu be set free.

After being covered from head to toe in Park Kwang-cheol’s pheromones, he had felt as if he was soaked the entire time, but by the time he parted with the child, he felt half-dry. It was a strange phenomenon.

To the child who said he was returning to his own hospital room, Jae-gu waved goodbye. One of only two special rooms in the hospital belonged to that child.

Turning around, he belatedly realized that the only parts of the explanation leaflet the nurse gave him that he had actually read were the descriptions of Alphas and Omegas.

‘Well, it’s all the same anyway.’

Jae-gu scratched the back of his head. He could look up the Gagin part later.

More importantly, there was work to be done while the octopus group had retreated. He needed to find someone who could do the things the overly upright Choi Hyeong-gyu couldn’t.

And he could ask Im Ho-sin to handle the clean-up when problems arose.

Jae-gu looked back towards Park Kwang-cheol’s hospital room and clenched his fist tightly. If he had done better, Park Kwang-cheol wouldn’t have been stressed, nor would he have collapsed and been confined to bed.

From now on, he would have to handle things more cleanly and quickly, before Park Kwang-cheol even knew about it.