Lovers

19

Sweet Hello

The world was hazy. My head was throbbing. The moment I thought I was going to throw up, I was already vomiting. I couldn’t even make it to the bathroom.

It was a stormy dawn.

It wasn’t until 9 AM that I finally came to my senses, and the whole house was a mess. Drunk me had vomited on the carpet, while going to the bathroom, in the bathroom, knocked over a table while going to drink water, and of course, broke a glass…

“Ah, shit. Let’s stop this, really.”

I cursed at myself. Yeah, stop it. You should cry and wail in moderation, what the hell is this? I cleaned like mad until 10, spent 30 minutes washing and preparing, then rushed to the cafe, barely arriving at 11.

Ding―

As soon as I entered with the bell sound, the first person I saw was Lee. Although I had nearly choked him the day before yesterday, he seemed worried about me, his expression not good at all. As soon as I saw his face, a flood of emotions hit me.

You could have said something in Maderke.

I want to spit out such resentment, but I know he couldn’t speak. When orders come down, it’s our duty to carry them out. If you’re going to interpret orders as you please, you shouldn’t join the Security Bureau.

“Go eat something.”

At my words, Lee’s eyes wavered. Lee looked haggard, as if he hadn’t eaten properly for two days. Lee moved his lips, chewed on them, darted his eyes around, then rubbed his face with both hands before answering.

“…I’m looking into it. But,”

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

So they’re not letting him approach either. I met the gazes of Baral, Viviana, and the Department 2 Chief who were looking at me, one by one. Then finally, I looked back at Lee.

“Thanks for calling me to the club.”

I don’t know what Lee had found out at that time. But it’s clear that Lee pushed himself too hard. Lee knew that our team was being “dealt with” and tried to pull at least me out. To do this, he forcibly inserted me into an operation collaborating with Department 2. When he called me to drink free alcohol, he was uncertain but probably called me thinking he’d just get scolded harshly by the Department 2 Chief if it didn’t work out.

And we were dealt with. Thanks to Lee’s quick thinking, I barely managed to stay afloat.

‘If you ever find out Yudorov’s location, bring it to Department 1 no matter what. Understand?’

Layer didn’t say that because he really thought I would find out Yudorov’s location. He was clearly just spouting nonsense to see how much I knew.

“No, I’m sorry my abilities are only that much.”

Lee patted my shoulder and stood up. He said “I’ll be going” to everyone and left the cafe. It seemed he had been waiting here since morning just to see me.

After Lee left, Nina Volkari approached me.

“Let’s talk.”

Her attitude as she said this was cold yet polite, like a spy from a movie set in the Cold War era.

“We found out about this the day after you got involved in our operation. Martin inserted you without asking for our cooperation. He probably intended to leave you as a suitable extra, but Riegel took an interest in you.”

I thought Riegel taking an interest in me was an absurd event, but in fact, it was close to incredible luck. If Riegel hadn’t taken an interest in me, it’s uncertain whether I would still be alive now.

“You’re now one of the main characters in our operation. As I said before, one of our department’s employees has infiltrated Canaris and lost contact. What we want is the arrest of Canaris? Their dismantling? That’s all good, but even if none of that happens, we want to ensure the safety of our employee. I’d like you to help.”

In return, Volkari is saying she will ensure my safety. Standing at the back door of the cafe, I kicked the floor, tap, tap. My safety, huh. I want to say I don’t need such a thing, but I know I shouldn’t. How sad would my father be if I were gone? What would happen to the orphanage if the money I send every month disappeared?

“Can you guarantee my safety in the Director’s name?”

“…”

“Officially, the Director won’t support either Department 1 or 2, right? She’ll pretend not to know about all this. But in reality, she knows everything, doesn’t she?”

At my question, Volkari gave a faint smile.

“I trust you’ll understand that I can’t answer that.”

“Please guarantee it in the Director’s name. That in return for my sincere help with this matter, my status will be guaranteed. If not, I…”

What can I do? I briefly looked at the cloudy sky spread out behind Volkari. Perhaps because it had snowed yesterday, the sky was an ominous gray.

“I will withdraw from this.”

“You signed the cooperation request form. You can’t just withdraw as you please.”

“If we address the part about my team being dealt with, that request form won’t have any effect, Chief.”

At my words, Volkari’s eyes turned fierce. Watching her as if she wanted to put a knife to my throat right away, I lowered my eyes.

If she were just trying to dig out Yudorov’s location, I could maintain a harsh attitude towards her, but what she wants is the safety of her subordinate. Just as I want to know about the safety, or at least the situation, of my subordinates, so does she. So how can I be aggressive towards her? Moreover, what I’m asking for is not the safety or whereabouts of my subordinates, but my own safety. It’s understandable that she’s grinding her teeth.

But I have something to confirm.

“Alright.”

A sound like molars breaking came from Volkari’s jaw.

“I’ll get an assurance from the Director. Then, will you cooperate?”

Nina Volkari is a woman obsessed with ambition, but she doesn’t lie. Since she said she would get an assurance, she will definitely obtain the Director’s guarantee. In that case, I naturally had to offer a corresponding attitude.

“Yes. I will do whatever Riegel wants to find a point of contact with Canaris, and if possible, cooperate in securing the safety of the ‘White Sparrow’.”

Volkari’s eyes widened for a moment, as if surprised. She hesitated a bit before asking.

“You’ll do anything?”

“Yes, be it sex or murder, I won’t discriminate.”

At my words, Volkari’s lips quivered. Although Volkari had told me to get close to Riegel by any means necessary, it seemed she didn’t really mean to have sex. But given the situation, I had to do whatever it took.

“In that case.”

Watching Volkari go into the cafe, I leaned against the wall and sighed. One thing is certain. The person who tried to deal with our team is not the Director. She might have turned a blind eye, but she didn’t order it. That’s why she can grant my request to guarantee my status.

Of course, she could pretend to grant it while stalling for time…

No, Nina Volkari doesn’t seem like she would use such a low-level tactic. She seemed confident she could get the guarantee for my status from the Director. Yes, it definitely wasn’t the Director’s choice to “deal with” us.

Then.

Was it Otto Layer’s choice?

Why did the chief try to deal with us? This part doesn’t make sense. The chief has deployed our team whenever violent incidents occurred. Our Team 9 is composed entirely of special forces veterans, and the chief participated in the selection process. Our team is the one the chief put the most effort into after Team 1, so why did he suddenly have to overturn everything? And so abruptly?

There’s a reason I don’t know.

Certainly…

Suddenly, the back door burst open and Volkari jumped out, slamming it shut. Her face was clearly flustered.

What? Why? I pointed at myself with my eyes, asking ‘Is this because of me?’ Volkari blinked. Well? Something like that, it seems.

At that moment, Viviana opened the back door again and threw Volkari’s coat and bag at her. I barely caught the bag that was about to fall on the snowy ground because Volkari couldn’t catch it. Isn’t this bag too expensive to throw around like that?

It was when I turned to look at Viviana.

“Go, Chief! Team, I mean, Mr. Schnieke!”

Viviana greeted the chief with an urgent face and then called me.

“Huh?”

“Riegel, Riegel is here!”

Wow, why are you suddenly appearing here! Didn’t we just open?

I practically threw the bag into Volkari’s arms and immediately ran into the cafe. As soon as I entered, a warm feeling rushed into my cold body, making my head spin for a moment.

Whew.

As I shivered, Viviana hurriedly brushed off the snow on my body.

“Mr. Schnieke.”

Viviana called me in a low voice. Right, I need to work hard now. I’m now in the biggest crisis of my life. My life is at stake, and if I’m unlucky, it won’t be just my life. I need to stay alive to find out what happened to my subordinates.

I pulled myself together and looked at Viviana.

“Yes?”

“Good luck.”

Viviana Dogen is twenty-six years old. She must have been in the Security Bureau for less than a year. So she must have seen “dealing with” for the first time… It must have been scary. That’s not something you can easily adapt to.

And while I’ve seen agents being dealt with before, it’s my first time seeing an entire team being buried. That’s why I couldn’t be cautious and couldn’t think.

Suddenly, I remembered how Viviana had been nice to me since I came to this cafe. That’s why I started calling her Viviana. Unlike Baral or Volkari, Viviana’s efforts to help me were cute, like a team member, and I wanted to help her. But in reality, Viviana was the one who helped me. She was doing her best for me without revealing my situation.

“Agent Dogen.”

When I called her softly, she looked at me with a face waiting for an answer.

“Thank you.”

If I continue to work at the Security Bureau, there will come a day when I can repay her.

I swallowed those words and just left the thanks as I brushed past Viviana. I couldn’t see Viviana’s face, so I don’t know what expression she made. Leaving her behind, I raised my head to see Riegel standing there, looking as splendid as last night.

“Hello.”

I’ve never met anyone in Rotman who pronounces “hello” so sweetly. In a place where sunlight was breaking, Riegel said a “hello” that seemed to melt.

“Hello.”

I don’t have the skill to say such a sweet hello, but I’ve decided to try saying “hello” now.

To deceive you sincerely.