novelraw Chapter 173 : Prisoner Jae-hee (2)
Chapter 173 : Prisoner Jae-hee (2)
“That’s how you ended up back in prison?”
“Yep.”
“Are you a fucking moron?”
Jae-hee looked personally offended by Razor’s tirade. “Hey, that’s harsh!”
“Harsh, my ass! It’s obvious you got played for a fool!” Razor wagged a finger, his voice sharp. “All right, listen up. I’ve heard your story, and I’m gonna break it down for you.”
“Yessir.”
“First off, those shitters in the Heroes’ Association are all corrupt. All five of ’em are rotten to the core, probably skimming off the top and lining their own pockets.”
“Wuh?”
“And you, you must’ve pissed them off somehow, so they took you out. They made up some bullshit excuse about you being a spy, but the truth is you just got on their nerves, so they stuffed you back in a cell. Understand?”
“Wuhhh?”
Listening from the side, Status Window let out a thoughtful hum and adjusted his glasses.
“Now that do be a fresh perspective desu. You’re more imaginative than you look, Razor-kun.”
“It’s not imagination, it’s veteran insight! Street smarts, learned from years of experience and navigating the real world, that’s what this is.”
Razor clicked his tongue. “Besides, this kid Jae-hee is a natural-born criminal. Just look at his face—he’s got the bone structure of a petty thief.”
“Hey, you don’t have to be so mean!”
“How’s a guy like that supposed to fit in with the high-and-mighty Heroes’ Association? He probably stank up the place, so they took one whiff, said, Nope, and sent him right back.”
“Seriously, that’s just uncalled for!”
Jae-hee crossed his arms, puffing out his cheeks in frustration. “Hmph. I never expected criminals like you to understand the noble heart of a ‘Hero’ like me.”
“What’d you say?”
“Don’t you get it? I came back here of my own free will. And why? To save the world!”
Jae-hee shot to his feet, leaped into the air with a theatrical “Hah!” and landed in the clumsiest hero pose imaginable.
“I’m different from you all. I’m not here because I committed a real crime. This is strictly undercover! I’m a hero on a top-secret mission!”
“Putting your fantasy world aside for a moment,” Razor deadpanned, “what kinda undercover agent blabs about it to everyone he meets?”
Razor just stared in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Patissier raised a chubby hand and asked, “Whether you were tricked or not, you’ll be here for a while, right?”
“Yeah, looks like it.”
“Oh, wonderful.” Patissier beamed. “We couldn’t spend Christmas together, but we can spend New Year’s together, can’t we? I’ll make you something delicious!”
Jae-hee let out a soul-crushing sigh at the mere mention of food.
“Haaaaah…”
“Wh-what is it?!” Patissier’s face fell instantly.
Razor flew into a rage. “Hey! The man offers to cook for you from the heart and you sigh like that? Did you take a self-study course on familial manners, you little shit?”
“Yes.”
“Ah. Right. Of course you did.”
Jae-hee, an orphan, acknowledged the point flatly before letting out another heavy sigh. “Just thinking about that prison gruel is making me depressed. Man, the food on the outside was so good…”
“Okay, this little punk is getting on my last nerve. Hey, you. Follow me. Let’s go a round out on the deck.”
Razor started shadowboxing, swinging his fists wildly.
But needless to say, their combat abilities had long since become incomparable. Jae-hee simply held Razor at bay with a fingertip to his forehead as he flailed, then turned to Status Window.
“So, what happened here while I was gone?” he asked.
“We got a ton of new inmates desu.” Status Window gestured toward the door. “A whole bunch of old geezers from The Knights guild, the ones we just fought, moved in desu.”
“Ah, them.”
At the mention of The Knights, Razor stopped his frantic assault and burst out in frustration. “Those old guys are no joke. Oi, Han! You gotta do something about them!”
“Why is it always me…?”
About a hundred veteran soldiers from The Knights had been incarcerated on Paradise Lost all at once. Their abilities were formidable, but more than that, their numbers were a form of violence in themselves.
The old soldiers had taken over an entire section of Deck 1, the “Newbie Hunting Ground,” and claimed it as their own territory. Naturally, they paid no mind to the deck’s leader, Razor.
Jae-hee breathed a sigh of relief. “Still, I’m glad to hear they’re all healthy.”
“Is now the time to be worried about them? They’re eating up my turf as we speak!”
As leader of Deck 1, Razor was clearly bothered by the uncontrollable veterans. “Hey, you’re gonna go for Deck Commander again, right? Right?”
“Huh? Oh… right, that was the plan.”
“What’s with that wistful look, like you’re remembering the distant past, you punk! You gotta finish what you started!”
Razor jabbed a finger toward the ceiling. “The leaders from Deck 5 to Deck 8 got completely wiped out on that last mission. This prison cruise is full of empty real estate right now! It’s a warlord era! If you don’t make your move now, when will you ever achieve greatness?”
“I didn’t realize you were so passionate about this, Razor bro…”
“Dammit, if we don’t break through to the upper decks, those old geezers are going to devour all of Deck 1! That’s why I’m acting like this!”
As his roommates continued to chatter, a sharp beep sounded.
Beep—
A red summons signal lit up on the Paradise Lost–issue Null Cuff on Jae-hee’s wrist.
“Ah, a summons.”
“What’s the big idea, calling a guy who just got here?”
“I haven’t officially checked in with the commander yet. That’s probably why she’s calling.”
***
Just as Jae-hee’s elevator arrived at the Commander’s Office on Deck 10, the one next to it opened.
Commander Seo, who had come up from the administrative “Minus Deck” instead of the prisoner decks, waved cheerfully at him.
“Oh, Boy. Long time no see.”
“Commander, hello!”
The two exchanged a greeting far too casual for a warden-in-chief and her prisoner.
“Looks like the outside world agreed with you. You’re looking fresh-faced. Was life good out there?”
“Yes! The outside is definitely the best.”
“So why’d you come back?”
“I know, right…”
As Jae-hee’s shoulders slumped, Hae-eun ushered him into her office with a nod.
“I got the report. What was it… you were suspected of being a spy within the Heroes’ Association? Hey, what kind of shady shit did you pull to get kicked out so fast?”
“No, it’s not like that…” Jae-hee started to deny it, but then swallowed hard and nodded grimly, sniffling. “You’re right… I am a suspicious man…”
“You sound pretty broken up about it.”
“No, I’m not. This, too, is the lonely path a hero must walk…” Jae-hee clenched his fists, burning with an unidentifiable sense of duty.
Hae-eun watched him with an amused expression before picking up a file and scanning its contents. “Anyway, they’re saying it’s a temporary incarceration until the suspicion is cleared, but as you know, this place isn’t exactly a soft touch, is it?”
“I suppose not…?”
“You’ll be treated just like any other prisoner. Let’s see, since your sentence isn’t set… we’ll classify you as a lifer!”
Huh?
Jae-hee blinked. That sounded like a very scary word.
“And I’m going to need you to run some Black Parade missions again when things get busy.”
“What?!”
“We’re seriously short-staffed right now. In return, I’ll let you keep using all your old equipment and Paradise Credits.”
Jae-hee tilted his head. “Don’t you normally get to keep them when you come back?”
“Of course not. The moment you leave, your data is wiped. What are you talking about? Does this place look soft enough to carefully store a prisoner’s personal belongings for them?”
“Ah.”
“But you and I have a special relationship, don’t we?” Hae-eun winked, her scar crinkling. “I made a special exception and kept everything for you. You’ll be able to live just like you did before you left.”
“Um, thank you…?”
He wasn’t sure if this was something to be thankful for, but he bowed his head anyway.
“Anyway, this works out well. I was putting together a new special team, and I was just thinking it’d be great to have someone like you as the team leader. You came back at the perfect time.”
“Huh? Someone like me? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, you know. Max-level people skills?”
With a meaningful smile, Hae-eun waved him away. “Anyway, I’ll call you when I need you, so come running. And stay out of trouble. Be good.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“On your way out, stop by the workshop and have Grease Gal check your gear. Oh, and the Doctor is back, too. Say hi on your way.”
“Oh, really? That’s a relief.”
Jae-hee felt a wave of relief at the news of the Doctor’s return. She had been taken to a military hospital for a gunshot wound.
As he turned to leave, he paused. “Ah, Commander. Where’s my master?”
“Hmm? Ghost?”
In truth, the first thing Jae-hee had done upon returning to Paradise Lost was rush to Deck 0, but Ghost hadn’t been there.
Hae-eun glanced at her watch. “She was on a mission, but she just completed it a little while ago. She should be back within the hour.”
She smiled mischievously. “She might be happy to see her cute little disciple waiting to greet her.”
Jae-hee’s heart leaped.
After leaving the Commander’s Office, he made his rounds to the Bank, the Workshop, and the Clinic.
At the Bank, he confirmed his Paradise Credits were intact.
At the Workshop, he greeted Grease Gal and asked her to re-register his ownership and inspect his equipment.
At the Clinic, he said hello to the Doctor and listened for a moment as she lamented why neither of them could ever seem to leave this ship for good.
Thwup-thwup-thwup—
Hearing the sound of a transport aircraft landing in the distance, Jae-hee sprinted toward the landing pad.
A transport plane with a post office logo painted on its side was descending, the rotors on its wings spinning slowly.
Jae-hee hurried to stand before it.
His breath caught.
Hssssss…
The roaring wind died down, and the hatch of the landed aircraft slowly opened.
Clank, clank—
Through the open hatch, a familiar white-haired woman emerged, walking at the head of her team. She was dressed in a tight, all-black combat suit, presumably from her mission.
With a gloved hand, she pulled off a black gas mask, revealing the dark camouflage paint still smeared around her eyes.
A long breath escaped her. Beneath her disheveled white hair, two piercing blue eyes blinked open.
Seeing his master for the first time since he’d left, Jae-hee broke into an involuntary grin.
“Master!” He dashed toward Ghost, waving both arms frantically. “Master! I’m back!”
Ghost blinked in confusion.
Seeing her disciple bounding toward her with a bright, innocent smile, her impassive expression contorted into one of pure shock, as if she’d just seen… well, a ghost.
“What the hell are you doing here…?”