Black Badger

Colton set down his teacup.

"Pleased to meet you."

It was just like him, that clear pronunciation. The polite yet intimidating tone always stuck in your ears. His calm, charismatic voice never wavered.

Even when a bomb went off right in front of him, that refined voice never shook.

But not "It's nice to meet you for the first time" or "It's been a while," just "Pleased to meet you."

The message was clear. While Poden greeted him in a voice full of tension, I observed Colton. He was amazingly good at hiding his true feelings, so I couldn't tell exactly what kind of greeting Poden had just received.

But I could clearly see the attitude I needed to take at this table.

Colton remembered me.

But he wouldn't act like we knew each other here.

A little thought made it obvious. The gazes flew toward our table in the corner of the banquet hall. Prominent figures from all walks of life watched us. It was impossible to have a deep conversation in such a public place.

"It's an honor to finally meet you."

Poden sat down and greeted him politely.

He seemed to have completely forgotten about my presence next to him. Well, it wasn't easy to get distracted with Colton Wiseman right in front of you.

"I apologize for bringing up a dull topic first."

"It's far more reasonable than beating around the bush unnecessarily."

Colton naturally accepted Poden's attitude, which was like he was being received by royalty.

The elegantly aged friend picked up his teacup and even offered this praise.

"Isn't it better than wasting time with unnecessary words?"

He was pleased.

Poden was happy to be praised. Though it was probably just Colton's soulless, formal courtesy.

Anyway, Poden was delighted like a child praised by his parents and immediately got to the point.

As the owner of a company, he had a way with words. I half-listened to his business talk.

Something about new construction, profitability there, and so on.

It wasn't worth paying attention to. I pretended to listen while rolling my eyes.

A white and ornate venue. People pretended to chat while they eavesdropped on Colton and Poden's conversation.

A few steps behind Colton stood Jae-yeon.

Jae-yeon glared at me with eyes full of hatred.

'He can't say anything right now.'

I sifted through the revived memories.

Jae-yeon. Colton's first retainer. The one Colton Wiseman treated specially in various ways (probably).

I'd seen this setup often. In public settings like this, Jae-yeon stood behind Colton like a shadow. He protected Colton and got his hands dirty on Colton's behalf.

There were one or two like that, but Jae-yeon was uniquely positioned to kiss Colton's hand and foot directly.

That didn't mean he could freely speak while Colton was working. Colton wouldn't tolerate it.

My old friend managed people by mixing a drop of mercy into fear.

"Mr. Hildebert."

While I recalled memories of Jae-yeon, one conversation seemed to have ended.

Colton's voice pulled me back to reality. I slowly withdrew my gaze from Jae-yeon and shifted it to the man sitting across from me.

Poden looked at me with an incredulous expression. Ignoring that, I met the blue eyes.

"Yes?"

"What do you usually do after training?"

The polite formal speech didn't suit him at all.

I wanted to say, 'Hey, formal speech really doesn't suit you. It's creepy just hearing it, so cut it out,' but I knew about social graces.

So I suppressed the rising impulse and smiled.

"I play games."

Poden dropped something.

Among the people eavesdropping on the conversation, a few couldn't hold back a "pfft." Several turned around, wondering if they'd misheard. Some even gaped.

Even Jae-yeon looked at me with a truly pathetic expression.

"Computer games?"

"Yes."

Why ask when you know?

"Usually, yeah."

As if I'd be sitting there playing poker elegantly like you now. I didn't hate card games, but they couldn't match the thrill of computer games. You know nagging wouldn't change anything.

My inner thoughts didn't turn into words this time either.

I smiled faintly at Colton's expressionless face.

"I also like console games and mobile games."

Some people gasped.

Stop persecuting games. I looked away from the stares thinking, 'What kind of trash answer is that in front of the pinnacle of power?'

Is reading refined and gaming vulgar, you people?

Of course, none of the people here would have gaming as a hobby.

They were all the type whose 24 hours a day weren't enough just for work. Ignoring Poden's expression of 'I must be crazy for inviting this guy as a special guest,' I watched Colton set down his teacup.

Colton kept his eyes lowered, maintaining a silent pause.

A strange silence settled around us. Ignoring the gazes pricking the back of my neck, I waited for his response. I also ignored Poden's irritated stare.

The invitation to the salon I received through you was probably Colton's behind-the-scenes work, dear Poden. You'll never know in your lifetime.

Colton had a natural talent for getting others to do his dirty work.

The bad friend finally broke the silence after a long moment.

"Then, as thanks for finding me a business partner, I'll build a game center on one floor of the reconstructing tower."

Really?

As expected, nothing beat an old friend!

My face lit up with genuine joy unrelated to any ulterior motive, but Colton continued.

"However, I have no knowledge of games. Could you provide some guidelines to my subordinates in the third-floor reception room in an hour? It won't take long."

"Ah."

So that was the main point.

Amid the people widening their eyes, I replied with a smile fixed on my face.

"Of course."

That's what a salon was like.

"It would be my honor. I'll definitely head to the third-floor reception room in an hour."

Unnecessary procedures. All sorts of actions for show to the people. Today, we showed the numerous prominent figures who knew nothing that 'Colton and Hildebert met for the first time.' But now, we also showed that we became acquaintances for some trivial reason. To hide the truth and move freely behind the conveyed falsehood.

It wouldn't seem strange if we met and talked occasionally from now on, but to give the impression that our conversations would be rather insubstantial.

The third-floor reception room in an hour.

That would be the place for truly substantial conversation. With the message clearly conveyed, I comfortably left the table.

*

"Is the commander coming too?"

Ten minutes before the appointed time. As the salon began to disperse, I asked Ye-hyeon.

My pale superior blinked at me before lowering his gaze.

"Yeah. It's a mini meeting."

"Ah."

Seeing my boss looking depressed about the suddenly scheduled private meeting made me feel guilty.

It was obvious the meeting had been hastily arranged because of me. I sincerely apologized to Ye-hyeon, who was bitterly downing his coffee.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. What do you have to be sorry for?"

He looked like a sulky panda.

Ye-hyeon let out a tired voice next to Yoon, who was rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"You're the one suffering going into that reception room full of those guys. Let's head up now. They're probably already gathered."

"Already? They don't seem like the type to arrive early and wait."

"They'll have plenty to discuss among themselves. All three have been missing since 30 minutes ago."

Ah.

I should have realized earlier why people were starting to leave the salon hall one by one. I looked around the now-empty space and nodded. I still had a lot to learn. I hadn't even noticed that fact.

As the focal point vanished, leaving the space feeling empty, I stood up following Ye-hyeon.

If I'd known there was a meeting, I would have worn the black suit, Ye-hyeon muttered to himself, and Yoon dryly replied, What's wrong with that?

The mentor, lounging lazily in his chair, looked up at us as we turned to head to the third floor.

"Contact me as soon as it's over."

It was directed at Ye-hyeon.

"I'll be waiting here."

"Yeah."

Ye-hyeon replied briskly.

"I'll be quick."

We headed to the third floor.

Passing people gathering their coats and starting to leave, we climbed the stairs.

After two flights, we entered a space devoid of any presence. The soft carpet muffled footsteps. The carpeted corridor led to the reception room at the end of the third floor.

The door, delicately carved with grapevines, covered the reception room. Ye-hyeon strode toward it with large steps and pushed open the wooden door.

With a creak, the door opened.

I followed behind him into the reception room without much thought.

And the moment I passed through the door, I held my breath at the abruptly changing atmosphere.

The air was tense enough to make my skin crawl.

In the sharply honed air like a blade, they all turned to face only me in an instant. I couldn't breathe properly. Their unblinking gazes flew and embedded themselves. It felt like they were piercing right through me.

Three people sat at the table filling the reception room.

Eric Airheart on the left. Yekaterina on the right.

Colton Wiseman in the center.

Behind the elders stood their retainers, who, like shadows, stood motionless and instantly conveyed a warning with their eyes: make any foolish moves and die. Even just rolling my eyes made the silent warning clear.

'It's a battlefield.'

Even without creatures or weapons.

It felt more suffocating than when I was outside the core. What was this?

I numbly scanned the retainers standing in the reception room.

Colton Wiseman's retainer was Jae-yeon.

Behind Eric Airheart stood a pale man with his red hair half-tied and a man with curly blond hair. Both were strangers. From their positions, the redhead seemed higher in rank than the blond, but anyway, the moment my foot touched the reception room floor, both shot me gazes full of killing intent.

The redhead with hollow eyes, the blond with a grin, both conveying that I should stay put obediently.

"Ah. Right on time."

And their master, Eric, greeted me with a bored face.

"Come in. Even seeing you again, you're still a dull man."

"Close the door and come in."

Yekaterina scolded coldly from across from Eric.

"How long do you plan to stand there?"

Yekaterina, like Colton, had only one retainer guarding her back.

I closed the door and sat in what was clearly my seat, observing her retainer.

An East Asian man in a pitch-black suit. The man, who seemed unlikely to ever smooth his furrowed brow, directed a sharper gaze at me than anyone else present.

Short black hair and cold black eyes.

Despite the stiff, irritable impression, he had refined features. Handsome, but subtly delicate. As I examined the man's facial features, I blinked. He was really handsome in a prickly, irritable way, but delicate.

And somehow...

Familiar?

What? Had I met this guy before?

My head ached subtly, suggesting we were acquaintances? But Yekaterina was definitely a stranger, so why would I know her retainer? And why didn't the memory come rushing back the moment I saw his face, like with Colton or Jae-yeon?

Where had I seen this guy?

Lost in surging doubt for a moment, I snapped back to attention at the click of Jae-yeon lighting Colton's cigar.

Look at me spacing out. This wasn't the time.

I turned my gaze to the center. I saw my old friend slowly putting the cigar in his mouth, and Ye-hyeon sitting between Colton and Eric like an outsider.

I took in the scene like a mafia meeting and waited for my friend to speak.

Until the man, wrapped in an atmosphere that could bury someone, exhaled a long stream of smoke, leaned back lazily in his chair, and looked at me with eyes devoid of even a fragment of mercy.

Until he spoke in his true, authoritative voice, devoid of formalities.

"Hildebert."

Smoke billowed thickly from the cigar between his fingers.

"You're still wasting time on useless things."

"I told you to give up."

Even after all this time, he still nagged.

"Whether it's opera appreciation or games, unproductive things are the same."

"Your crude speech is the same as ever."

Colton murmured with his eyes closed.

"My old friend."

A being who had shared long years.

A being who had watched the flow of time, the changing world, each other's changes together. Things that hadn't changed amid everything that did.

Hearing his unchanged voice, I smiled broadly.

My dear companion.