Lovers

24

Substance over Appearance

“Welcome, Mr. Riegel. Thank you for coming to our humble place!”

Wow, even a fly rubbing its hands wouldn’t be as enthusiastic as that. Though I couldn’t see him, I could feel the fervor just from his voice.

“Yes.”

In contrast, Riegel’s response was excessively curt. So much so that it felt like he was looking down on Layer. Even I could feel it from inside the closet, so Layer, who was right in front of him, must have felt it more acutely, but he tried his best to act as if nothing was wrong.

“Please sit here. Would you like some tea?”

“I’m quite particular about my taste. Well, would anyone else like some?”

I don’t understand why Riegel is so hostile towards the department chief. In response to Riegel’s words, his lawyer answered.

“Is my mouth just a muzzle? I’m particular too.”

Judging by the smooth tone, this person must be Dozel from Dozel & Might.

“I’m fine.”

Hans Might. The quiet person next to Dozel. Even though I only heard his voice, I could picture his pale face. I had only seen Dozel earlier, but it seems Might was walking behind him as well.

Dozel & Might Law Firm.

When I searched on my phone, several articles about their most recent famous lawsuit appeared. There must have been dozens. And it was a case I knew about too.

A serial killer was caught. Like most serial killers, he was cruel. And despicable. He kidnapped, tortured, and murdered women and the vulnerable. Among the nine people he killed, not a single one was a healthy male. There weren’t even any healthy women in their 20s or 30s. Children under 10 were the most victimized. Naturally, the country was in an uproar.

The person who defended him was a court-appointed lawyer. Every word of his defense was torn apart by the media. His family also received tremendous criticism. He had to get divorced. He went to a psychiatrist. Because it was such a big case, the trial proceeded quickly, but in those five months of the trial, the lawyer lost everything. He was simply forced to defend the killer by order of the state and was just thoroughly adhering to professional ethics. The public didn’t understand his circumstances.

The lawyer eventually sued. Who? Several people. He held accountable those who made excessive statements hiding behind anonymity. He also held accountable the streamers who found out his home address, came to his house, and exposed it. However, they were outraged that a lawyer who sincerely defended a piece of trash who committed serial murder would dare to hold them accountable. They attacked the lawyer. The lawyer attempted suicide. And Hans Might was that lawyer’s senior from law school.

Dozel & Might protected and defended that lawyer. When Dozel & Might, known for only dealing with a select few VIP clients, protected that lawyer, their client list was leaked. However, since most of the clients were wealthy individuals, the public couldn’t attack them.

The lawyer appeared on moderate media outlets to appeal about his life. The things he had lost. He explained that he had only done his best as a member of the legal profession, that he too was very angry about the actions of the serial killer, but that the system where even such a person could receive legal protection needed to be maintained.

By that time, much of the frenzy had subsided, and people were able to look at things more objectively. They began to understand that while they didn’t like that the lawyer defended that trash, he had done his job and had already paid a heavy price for it. In the end, he received compensation from some of the people he sued. The amount wasn’t enough to compensate for everything the lawyer had lost. The lawyer stated, “It’s enough to be recognized that I was just doing my job and by no means agreed with those crimes.”

Meanwhile, the serial killer did nothing to help the lawyer. He only told lies about the person who had done his best for him, putting him in difficulty. Trash was trash to everyone equally.

From what I saw, Dozel had been more talkative throughout, but the person who received the spotlight in that lawyer’s case was Might. With his pale face, he glared at the world with his chin pulled tight.

‘He must have a story.’

Not good, a face with a story. I shook my head, but then thought maybe having a story was better. Better than a strange person who’s inexplicably nice and says things like “I saw you in a dream.”

“Mr. Riegel?”

I heard Layer’s voice. It might sound normal to others, but I could read the hidden anxiety in it.

Why? As I was wondering, Riegel spoke.

“Is that a closet?”

Wow, shit.

I forcibly suppressed my body’s urge to jerk as if electrocuted.

Shit, what? Why? Why suddenly the closet!

My heart pounded. No way, no way. My mouth started to go dry.

Did the light from my phone screen leak out? It shouldn’t have, right? I hadn’t heard any footsteps, but what if they became audible? Even if I struck Riegel and ran out, Dozel and Might are there! I can’t assault a client in front of his lawyers!

“Yes, it’s a closet.”

Layer’s voice, trying to act nonchalant, was starting to crumble. No, hang in there! Whether he knew I was cheering him on in my mind or not, Layer’s voice wasn’t good. He has no problem sending his team members to hell, but he can’t handle this one thing?!

Hmm. Riegel made that damned “hmm” sound. It always feels so bad when he does that.

Eventually, he said, “I like it,” with a laugh.

That can’t be! This closet is just a cheap one bought from the government procurement office!

“Where is it from?”

“Since I didn’t buy it myself… should I, should I ask the General Affairs Department?”

Don’t stutter!

He’s really trash. He has no hesitation in throwing his subordinates into this hell or that hell, but he can’t handle this one thing? I knew our department chief was trash, but realizing he was also somewhat incompetent made me even more annoyed.

Ugh. As I was frowning, my phone flashed.

A message?

Surely Riegel didn’t just send me a message…? Trembling, I barely managed to open my phone. The message was simple.

20397192

It was a message sent from overseas. 20397192.

I read the message three times.

20397192.

This message is just a combination of numbers, but not to me. This number was our team’s security message.

20 Emergency situation

3 Team member number

97 Can’t trust anyone, sent to all team members

1 On the move

9 Under severe pursuit and attack

2 Minor injury

If it’s number 3, that would be Walter. The sadist on our team. The one I bet would never get married despite his wish to meet a masochist who matched his wavelength.

Walter wasn’t caught.

The problem is that it’s an emergency situation and because he can’t trust anyone, Walter didn’t leave me his contact information. It was a wise decision. My phone is being monitored completely.

In other words, Walter had taken the risk of being traced back to inform me of the situation.

Walter wasn’t caught and is relatively healthy. He’s being pursued, the pursuit is persistent, and the opponent is even willing to kill. He couldn’t choose to hide in a safe house and is continuously on the move, running away. The message that he can’t trust anyone means he doesn’t know who the traitor is and doesn’t know the situation of other team members. In other words, there might be more people who haven’t been caught.

Hope sprouted a faint bud. Walter is alive. And someone gave Walter this phone number. The person who gave Walter the phone number issued to me by Department 2. They must be helping Walter.

Who could it be?

The first face that flashed through my mind was Lee Martin. Lee saved me by forcibly including me in the operation. He might have tried to save others too.

If not him, then Department 2 Chief Nina Volkari. She’s the one who could give Walter the phone number I’m using now. She has that kind of authority.

20397192, 20397192, 20397192.

After reciting it several times to memorize it, I deleted the message. Of course, the center was probably already monitoring it, but it’s still better to delete messages quickly. There are times when the center misses things. If the center misses it and I delete it, no one will be able to see it.

…Well, that’s too optimistic a thought. In this situation, every single move I make is probably being reported.

“Oh my, Mr. Riegel. You’ve come here without notice? What brings you here?”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice was heard. Whose voice was this again?

“Director, you’re here?”

From the department chief’s voice, I could tell who it was. No wonder the voice sounded familiar yet unfamiliar. I had recently met the director, but normally she’s not someone I see often. She’s too high up for me to encounter.

“I have some business here.”

“Let’s go to my office to talk. We’ve got some good tea. It’s an Oriental tea, and I hear you like tea. There’s probably only coffee here.”

“There is only coffee here.”

Riegel didn’t say anything. Then the director asked.

“Ah, did you hang your coat in the closet? Shall I get it for you?”

Click, click. The sound of high heels was heard.

No, Director! My heart skipped a beat again, wondering if she was walking this way.

“Director! Mr. Riegel hasn’t hung anything in the closet. He just… likes the closet.”

The department chief quickly intervened. At those words, everyone fell silent. The director must have been bewildered. For someone like Riegel to like such an ordinary closet, what could it mean? Wondering if there was some other meaning.

As everyone remained silent, Riegel spoke, not hiding his annoyed tone.

“Substance is more important than appearance, isn’t it?”

Ah, why do you keep…

Do you really know I’m here? Do you know who I am? My heart clenched.

As I moistened my dry lips with my tongue, the department chief was tactlessly silent. You crazy bastard, don’t just cower there, say something smooth. It really seems like there’s something in the closet!

Fortunately, the director saved the situation.

“That’s right. The essence is important in everything. Now, let’s go to the most crucial office in the Management Bureau. I’ll guide you.”

Nice one, Director.

But why is our director so subservient? Andrea Dill is certainly capable of being subservient if she wants to be, but today she seemed subservient in a different way. Like someone who had some weakness exposed to Riegel.