Plin Ch 2.6

He worried about how he would recognize the person in a station where many people passed by. However, as soon as Plin came out of the ticket gate, a man approached him and asked.

“Plin Fallfox?”

“Yes, I came to find Ethan. Are you perhaps…?”

“That’s right.”

The man with a blunt impression answered dryly and offered a handshake. As soon as he took the offered hand, the man pulled him with strong force, and his body was dragged along.

“Ah…”

“We need to talk quietly, so keep your mouth shut and follow me quietly.”

The man whispered to Plin, who had gotten closer. He didn’t understand why such secrecy was needed to find his brother, but the man was already walking out. Plin, having no other choice, trotted after the man.

He got into the back seat of a silver luxury sedan. He urged him to come in with only his eyes, keeping the door open. Plin felt a sense of instinctive danger, but he thought he wouldn’t be able to hear any news of Andrea if he didn’t get in. He checked to make sure his cell phone was in his pocket, looked at the driver’s face, and then carefully got in.

There was a click sound as the door locked. He was scared for a moment.

“Um… where is Andrea?”

“You’re in a hurry.”

“I’m sorry.”

He apologized quickly out of awkwardness and forced an awkward smile. The scent of the air freshener mixed with the heater’s air was stuffy.

The man took out a fairly thick brown envelope from his briefcase and handed it to him. Fortunately, the car was still stopped. Plin was holding onto the door handle, ready to jump out onto the road if they started moving.

His hands were usually nimble, but his hands fumbled several times as he opened the envelope.

The documents were categorized with different colored indexes.

“Ah…”

The very first page was a picture of Andrea when he was young. It was a face that had become increasingly faint, but when he saw the picture, a clear image emerged as if the fragmented pieces of his memory were being put together. It was really Andrea. This is what he looked like. Plin covered his mouth at the face he encountered, even if only in a photograph.

“Andrea was adopted by a family who had lost their child at the time.”

“Yes… that’s a relief.”

“I heard it was quite a wealthy family. If the family business hadn’t failed shortly after, he would have been a student at a prestigious university by now.”

He wanted to see more pictures, but he couldn’t find any other pictures besides the one from when he was young. However, Andrea’s whereabouts were written in detail. Which city he went to, which school he attended, and which company he interned at after dropping out.

“After the family’s fortune declined, the family was scattered, and he became a burden, going from one relative’s house to another, so I know he suffered a lot.”

The man summarized the events of the past few years that had befallen Andrea. He was saddened and in disbelief that he had been completely unaware of Andrea’s misfortunes.

He thought Andrea wouldn’t suffer no matter where he went… He thought that as long as he was safe, he would be loved by everyone and live happily with his angelic personality.

“He’s currently living abroad.”

“Abroad?”

“He’s an employee at The Scope Hotel.”

“The Scope?”

The man looked down at the surprised Plin and continued.

“Ethan Mumem von Ydrohan. He’s the CEO of The Scope Hotel and the one who called you here. The CEO recognized Andrea’s potential and diligence and dispatched him to the new Romun branch.”

Ethan Mumem von Ydrohan. The Scope family name, and… definitely the name the executive director had mentioned several times when he was saying incomprehensible things.

“Then…”

“It will be difficult for Andrea to enter this country for the time being. He started working at his assigned location the day before yesterday.”

Romun was on another continent, eight hours away by plane. Why was he assigned to such a far place, just two days ago?

“If you give me his phone number…”

“More importantly, aren’t you curious?”

The man’s eyes showed a different light. It was like a well-honed blade flashing. The atmosphere of a man familiar with violence finally became apparent. The body of someone who used their body as a weapon, with its battle-ready muscles, a completely shaved head, and a twisted smile that was indifferent to the pain of others.

“W-What?”

Plin naturally grabbed the car door handle tightly as he asked.

“The price for meeting your brother. You don’t think I look like a good person, do you?”

“…I don’t know–”

“You can help us a little.”

The man, smiling brightly with his dark lips, was creepy. It was a smile with a clear purpose.

“You find your precious brother, and we make money. Win-win. How simple is that?”

What kind of conditions was he trying to impose?

“I-I’m not good at much.”

“I heard you’ve been having some contact with Hugo von Ydrohan lately.”

“……”

“I’ll give you a job that a white fox can do. You’re not going to say you can’t do it, are you?”

“I’m just a peddler, all I do is deliver…”

The man leaned his upper body towards Plin and whispered.

“If you refuse, someone will die.”

“…Me?”

“Not you, Andrea.”

Plin experienced for the first time what it meant for his body to freeze down to the cellular level.

The man tapped Plin’s shoulder, saying, “I told you I wouldn’t hurt you, didn’t I?” It was a motion that etched the meaning of a threat into his bones.

He doesn’t remember what he said or how he answered. He probably just nodded his head, unable to breathe properly.

After he came to his senses, he was holding a brown envelope like a hostage. It was a document containing Andrea’s life.

Plin stood in front of the station, looking blankly at the yellow sunset. People of the city passed by like scenery. A sharp winter wind brushed his cheeks, and he could hear the announcement that the subway was coming. When he finally regained his composure after being unable to control his emotions, his pocket was vibrating loudly.

It was a series of text messages.

I didn’t want to say this because it makes me look petty 05:23

But why does it feel like I didn’t hear a single word of thanks even though I gave you a gift? 05:23

Maybe you said thank you 05:23

And I didn’t hear it because my ears are blocked? But my hearing range is up to 50,000 hertz. 05:23

I’m the type of person who can’t sleep at a resort because of the noisy chirping of baby dolphins. 05:24

If you’re thankful, wear the earmuffs when you make your evening delivery – Ydrohan 05:26

And save this number 05:27

Plin saved the number, taking small, shallow breaths.

Without even blinking, he wobbled and headed back to the subway to return to his place. He always vowed to live bravely, but today he didn’t feel like he was standing on this earth.

***