Black Badger

Chapter 250: Carrot-Carrot! (1)

We arrived with two hours to spare.

Instead of going straight to the Glasshouse, we headed to the five-star hotel next to it.

We had booked a room here for the day.

It was the place where we would bring You once we caught him in the banquet hall. I had no desire to cram a resistant target into a sports car and drag him all the way to the cabin.

If possible, we’d knock him out first — but nothing guaranteed things would go smoothly.

The moment we stepped out of the car, eyes turned toward us.

“Blackjack!”

“Hilde!”

Ah. They even know my name.

“I’m a fan!”

“Stay strong, Mario!”

“I saw the photos! You look even better in person!”

I couldn’t tell who they were even talking to.

I simply smiled politely and let it pass. I was used to eyes following me when I walked.

At the Empire, at some point, the majority of people came to know my face and name. Wherever I went, I drew stares, and plenty of people tried to pick fights.

Meaning: I was used to strangers knowing who I was.

Kairos went without saying.

Even retired, his fame lingered. The men sitting in the hotel lobby jumped to their feet and practically ran toward him the moment they saw him.

Kairos nudged me with his elbow and whispered.

“Head in first.”

I didn’t refuse.

I crossed the lobby paved in white Portland marble. I’d laze around in the room big enough for ten people before we had to move.

As soon as I arrived, I ordered room service — ice water with a slice of lemon.

Experience told me that helped protect my stomach a little.

I couldn’t avoid drinking the plum wine. You wasn’t a fool. The moment the scent disappeared, he’d realize I was acting.

Given how well I held my liquor, just two or three glasses would be enough to stay sharp, so that was the plan.

And I had drunk plum wine two days ago to test my tolerance.

I sat in the gold-embroidered chair and waited blankly for the room service to arrive.

Strictly speaking, I was reviewing my memories of You.

You.

A brilliant strategist personally selected by the Emperor.

Originally trained as an assassin until the Emperor intervened and changed his path.

Always lived with sunken dark circles. Fundamentally pessimistic, sharply funny, sometimes fixated on strange details.

And undeniably obsessive.

When drafting strategies, he paid attention to every microscopic detail.

‘You. Stop for now and sleep. Whatever method we choose, we only have to take that man’s head. Think simply.’

‘My lord. Must I truly serve such a person?’

Whenever I nagged, You would mumble without even lifting his face from his papers.

‘You are too lax. That is the problem.’

Whereas you were far too sensitive.

Which is why, over the years, you collapsed slowly under the weight of responsibility.

If I had shared even a little of that burden... would you have crumpled like that?

Knock, knock.

The sound cut through my thoughts.

I rose from the chair.

“Yes.”

I answered out of habit and opened the door.

“Thank you.”

A cold glass was extended toward me.

A hand in a white glove held the cup.

The owner of the hand was tall. Beneath the jawline, I saw the hotel bellboy uniform — stiff long coat, smooth golden buttons. Solid work boots and crisply pressed black trousers.

He was bending slightly, so I didn’t see his face at first.

I took the glass and lifted my head to thank him.

Only then did I see the person standing at my door.

Staring at me.

“What.”

I almost dropped the glass in shock.

“What are you doing here?”

Igor lifted the corner of his mouth.

The same smile as ever.

“Captain. Long time.”

I stared blankly.

Same as before — short black hair, solid build.

The only strange thing was the absence of a sword at his waist.

“Why are you here?”

My brain wasn’t catching up.

“Did Kairos tell you?”

“No.”

Igor strode into the room.

I stumbled backward a step, unable to take my eyes off this bellboy-costumed kinsman.

“I was tracking You, and I sensed your presence, so I came.”

“Ah.”

“Looks like you booked a room for the same purpose.”

Scanning the spacious room, Igor removed his cap.

“Where is the handler?”

“Probably in the lobby....”

“He said not to contact you until the You matter is resolved, yet at some point you started traveling together. Slippery bastard.”

“I went to him. I did.”

Igor had never particularly liked handlers.

Kairos was friendly enough that they had never clashed head-on, but that didn’t mean they were close. They kept an appropriate distance and didn’t talk much.

Given how different their natures were, it would’ve been more surprising if they had become close.

In any case, once I explained, Igor snorted.

“He’s the first one you went to?”

You bastard.

“Hey. ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) How was I supposed to know where you two were?”

I protested.

“I couldn’t sense either of you and assumed no one was in the Core. Then I saw the F1 awards on TV. That’s why I checked his schedule and went to the circuit.”

“If not for the strategist situation, I would’ve come running first.”

Igor cut off my attempt at further explanation.

My long-serving knight shot me a fiery look.

“I still regret it. I should’ve just run to you then.”

“No. It’s fine, calm down. We met well like this anyway.”

At this rate, the moment Kairos walked in they’d grab each other by the collar.

Alarmed by the thought, I hurried to soothe him. Unlike Rose, this one wasn’t completely deaf to reason.

Igor was the quintessential knight. Valued honor, understood virtue, never slacked on training, hated trickery.

And he gave absolute loyalty to the one he vowed to serve.

The problem was that his criteria were his own, not society’s.

Anyway...

“Have you been well?”

I smiled awkwardly at the man whose brow refused to relax.

“You haven’t changed. I’m relieved.”

“You have, Captain.”

Igor tucked the bellboy cap under his arm.

“You look thinner?”

Thunk.

The door opened just as my subordinate asked.

Both of us turned our heads.

Kairos stood there holding a bottle of sparkling water.

His eyes widened, then quickly rolled toward Igor as if he had grasped the situation.

Entering the room and shutting the door, Kairos smiled and held out a hand.

“Igor! Long time.”

Igor’s eyes narrowed.

“Handler.”

Please. Just shake his hand.

“I heard you moved.”

“Yes. I moved to stay near the Captain. I wanted to contact you, but couldn’t find a method.... And that outfit suits you well! Are you working here now?”

“Someone who constantly shows his face in the media doesn’t even try to keep his head down and brazenly moves in....”

“Alright, alright!”

Clap!

I clapped before Igor could finish.

Then I stepped between the two tall men and spread my arms to pull their attention apart.

“You know we don’t have many hours until the banquet, right? Since there’s been a change in our force distribution, let’s adjust the Carrot Plan.”

“Huh?”

Igor tilted his head, raising an eyebrow.

“What plan?”

Thankfully, bringing up the operation diverted him.

I hoped it would stay that way as I pushed Igor down onto the bed. Apparently he really was working at this hotel as a bellboy.

But he ignored the front desk’s calls and listened silently to my plan.

And when I finished, he wrinkled his brow much like Yun would.

The massive black-haired man flicked his foot atop his thigh, unimpressed.

“What a stupid plan.”

“But it’ll work, don’t you think?”

Oh.

Igor agreed with silence.

If even he acknowledged it, it couldn’t fail.

“Why are you the bait, Captain?”

“Because You loves me the most.”

I answered proudly.

Igor’s frown deepened.

Kairos sat in the chair I had occupied and smiled as if he had surrendered to fate. He had stopped trying to dissuade me and now focused solely on improving the Carrot-Taleb plan.

Of course. He couldn’t present an alternative, so he had no choice but to go along.

Igor rolled his eyes.

Arms crossed, he eventually muttered:

“If it’s decided, I’ll follow it.”

“Thanks. It’ll go even better with you here.”

“Still stupid.”

I wouldn’t deny that.

“What time exactly does it start?”

***

Eight o’clock.

A soaring ceiling. White marble. Heavy, eye-catching chandeliers.

Old oil paintings covering the ceiling.

Light scattered everywhere. The jewelry people wore and the crystal glasses reflected the chandelier’s glow. Footsteps echoed across the hallways, and groups of people conversed, their voices brushing my ears.

A familiar melody floated gently over the chatter.

Colton’s favorite piece.

Mahler’s Symphony No. 2.

At the center of the first floor stood a massive tree — a conifer reaching up to the third floor. This enormous tree was the Glasshouse’s trademark, and the tables on the first floor were arranged in a circle around it.

The second, third, and fourth floors were terrace-style like frames. The center was open so the tree could rise.

I really liked this structure.

“Ah, Blackjack!”

The moment Kairos and I entered the banquet hall, people approached us.

“Isn’t this the famous Taleb? A pleasure to meet you.”

I repeated these sorts of greetings dozens of times as we walked deeper into the hall.

Our seats were on the fourth floor. Those of lesser importance were placed there. Kairos had an invitation for the first-floor tables, but he requested the fourth to sit with me.

Yehyeon, of course, was on the first floor.

After sitting at our corner table, I leaned forward and looked over the glass railing.

Yehyeon sat at a table near the tree, speaking with someone beside him.

Curious, Kairos stretched out his neck.

Soon captions seemed to appear over unfamiliar faces — diamond mine owner, renowned neuroscientist, CEOs of the three major credit agencies, the journalist who exposed a senator’s corruption, private bank president, famous actor....

Ah, damn.

“Spitfire’s here.”

And instead of the red-haired lackey Shashinsky, the Elder’s sidekick was the half-crazed blond, Raby.

“Don’t get involved with that platinum-blond middle-aged man if you can help it.”

“Oh, him? I know him, but he showed no interest in me.”

“Good.”

Satisfaction rose.

Relieved, I turned my attention back to Yehyeon.

He was sitting with civilian attendants. Lee Seunghyun was nowhere in sight — he had come as security. He wouldn’t be seated; he’d be mixed in with the other guards now, wearing that immaculately pressed bulletproof suit.

Yehyeon had no idea his biological father was guarding him.

I had considered telling him, but Yun gave the verdict.

‘Lee Yehyeon loses control of his expression when it involves his father. If you don’t want the target to know he has overwhelming protection, don’t tell him.’

The decision was quick.

And I felt I had done the right thing as I continued scanning the first floor.

Humans filled the building.

“I requested the plum wine.”

Kairos’s voice snapped me back.

“Drink moderately.”

I straightened up and smiled softly.

“Of course.”

No matter what it took, I would catch You tonight.

Leaning back in my chair, I listened to the din of the banquet hall and waited for the plan to begin.

Eventually, a waiter delivered the plum wine, and Kairos poured it into my glass.

I raised the bottle-sweet liquor to my lips.

The moment the sweet liquid touched my mouth, the Glasshouse doors closed.

Boom.

The banquet hall was sealed.

The Carrot-Taleb Plan had begun.