Chapter 103: Riem's Paradise (3)
TL/Editor: Raei
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"Shall we go somewhere to talk?"
Riem approached with a smile.
She reached out her hand, trying to grab Song Soo-yeon.
Song Soo-yeon dodged her hand, warning her. She had a strong feeling that she shouldn't be touched by her.
"Don't touch me."
At those words, a crack appeared in Riem's smile.
But it quickly smoothed over.
With a sigh and a shrug of her shoulders, she spoke from a distance, as Song Soo-yeon had warned.
"Still, let's move somewhere else. It's hard to talk here."
Riem looked around.
It was a bustling area, with many eyes on them, especially with Song Soo-yeon's looks.
In such a place, it was impossible to bring up Luna, Riem, or the alliance.
Song Soo-yeon nodded and began to walk.
She had no intention of heading to a completely secluded area.
A place where they could talk... but wasn't dangerous.
That's what she was looking for.
All the while, she kept her distance from Riem.
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---
The place Song Soo-yeon chose was a park.
A place she often came to, holding hands with Jung-gyeom.
Here, others wouldn't be able to overhear their conversation, and Riem wouldn't be able to act recklessly.
Especially now that her face was fully exposed.
Cameras had captured her face.
But even in this situation, Song Soo-yeon couldn't help but think of Jung-gyeom.
Should she tell him that she was with Riem?
Jung-gyeom was chasing after the villain alliance.
The exact reason was unclear.
But perhaps he was trying to alleviate the sense of betrayal he felt from her by destroying this alliance.
She didn't want to reveal her location to Jung-gyeom.
Especially since it would only further tarnish his reputation if he subdued Riem.
Watching Jung-gyeom fall apart because of her was truly unbearable.
Yet, she was conflicted.
For whatever reason, Jung-gyeom was pursuing the alliance. Shouldn't she tell him?
It was too hard to decide what to do.
When they stopped at an appropriate place, Riem spoke, keeping a certain distance.
"Aren't you being too wary of me? I'm hurt. We used to be close, remember?"
She checked the surrounding people out for a walk in the park and the CCTV cameras as she spoke.
To that, Song Soo-yeon replied.
"I don't remember us being close."
Riem responded playfully.
"Come on, why are you like that? You were happy with me when you first joined the alliance as Luna-"
"-There was a rule in the alliance. Not to get too close to each other. You're delusional."
To that, Riem responded with a smile.
It was a fundamentally different feeling from Jung-gyeom's pure smile.
Song Soo-yeon intended to spit out her piece and leave.
If she didn't tie up loose ends here, the alliance would continue to hunt her down.
"I'm not going back to the alliance."
Song Soo-yeon declared it to be over.
However, Riem showed not the slightest bit of agitation. She just maintained that unpleasant smile as if she had expected this.
"There's no longer a need to be in the alliance."
"Why?"
Because Jung-gyeom is gone.
Song Soo-yeon suppressed that painful truth within herself.
Saying it out loud felt like acknowledging it... and she had no reason to explain herself to Riem.
"Is it any of your business?"
Her reply was sharp.
Riem shrugged her shoulders again, indicating that it made no difference to her.
Just when it seemed odd why Riem had sought her out in the first place, Riem said,
"Well, actually, it's the same for me, Luna. I also have no intention of returning to the alliance... um... to Tryno."
"What?"
As Song Soo-yeon frowned, Riem continued to explain.
"Ah, you didn't know. The alliance is already over... Let's see... Stella was captured by Dice."
Song Soo-yeon clenched her fists.
Riem simply continued speaking.
"Liquid has disappeared... probably captured by Dice as well. Stingshot was taken down by Tryno. And Luna, you've been absent."
"It's over. Anyone who isn't a fool knows it. But Tryno is a fool, still struggling. I have no plans to join Tryno's scheme. Tryno, Liquid, Stingshot, the three of them couldn't beat Dice, so how could they now?"
She hadn't realized things had progressed that far.
She had heard they were all injured, but she hadn't imagined the alliance's situation had deteriorated to this extent.
Everything was moving too quickly.
She had never thought the always gentle, kind, pure, and foolish Jung-gyeom to be this powerful.
In her heart, he was still the good-hearted Jung-gyeom. Still warm, still happy over a simple friendship bracelet.
That he had this kind of power was a fact she couldn't get used to.
Despite being his first friend and priding herself on knowing him better than anyone.
Lost in thought, Song Soo-yeon snapped back to reality.
She shifted her gaze to Riem.
Riem licked her lips as she closed her mouth.
The more she did, the more anxious Song Soo-yeon became.
She asked the obvious question.
"If the alliance is over, why did you come looking for me?"
Riem suddenly took a step forward.
Song Soo-yeon, startled, stepped back three or four steps.
Riem paused at that movement, then spoke again with a calm smile.
"I came because I was worried about Luna."
"What?"
"And I also wanted to become closer again..."
The atmosphere gradually changed.
Having come this far, Song Soo-yeon could no longer be unaware.
She wasn't ignorant of Riem's motives.
She could tell that her cursed appearance was the reason.
"Not once has my looks ever been helpful."
When Jung-gyeom praised her, saying she was pretty and cute, she thought there was indeed an advantage to it.
Just hearing such words felt like all the grievances she had suffered were compensated in one go.
But it wasn't enough to steal his heart.
In the end, this appearance has never been helpful.
It always brings about uncomfortable situations.
Song Soo-yeon realized she was in a more dangerous situation than she thought.
Pretending not to be disturbed, she started to back away.
"I have no intention of becoming close with you."
"I'll treat you well."
Riem advanced as much as Song Soo-yeon created distance.
"I don't need it. I don't want to associate with villains anymore."
"Then I'll quit being a villain too. I'll even reserve a place with delicious food for us today."
"I said I don't need it."
"People need to eat."
Song Soo-yeon finally frowned and snapped.
"Can't you understand when someone's telling you to go away?"
Riem burst into laughter again.
Then, she said,
"Then I guess you'll have to become a slave. That works better for me."
Riem reached out her hand and lunged at Song Soo-yeon.
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I've taken down several criminal organizations.
The bigger they are, the longer the tail.
As the influence of the Villain Alliance was significant, finding a crime syndicate not related to the alliance was more challenging.
Most normally wouldn't have given any answers if I had come asking... Is it because the alliance is crumbling?
Or because they're scared of me?
Unusually, they gave answers easily.
Though it wouldn't have mattered much if they didn't answer.
I came looking for the fourth criminal organization.
In front of a crumbling building, I made the members kneel in a line and asked,
"Answer what you know."
Then, I showed a picture I found inside the building, a picture that was hard to keep calm about.
It was Song Soo-yeon's face.
"Why do you have this picture?"
Though I didn't know for sure, this organization had to be related to the alliance.
Just the fact they had Song Soo-yeon's picture made me lose my composure.
"Not going to answer?"
When the first member I asked didn't answer, I grabbed his shoulder and froze it.
"Aaaahhh!!"
The one who had been silent screamed and collapsed.
I moved to the next one.
Without a word, I just showed them the picture.
I didn't give them much time.
If they didn't answer within 2 seconds, I froze their shoulders in turn.
It took until the fourth person for a proper answer to come out.
It was the leader of the organization.
"We were ordered to find the person in the picture...!"
Despite feeling the contradiction in the leader answering faster than anyone else, I continued my questioning.
"By whom?"
"Ri...Riem....."
"Contact them."
"What?"
"Tell Riem that we've found the person in the picture. Draw them here."
"Ah...! Yes...! Understood...!"
Receiving the sharp glares of his already injured peers and the relieved looks of those still waiting for their turn, he picked up the phone.
The call was connected immediately.
At the same time, I grabbed the leader's neck.
I signaled him to act properly.
Trembling, the leader managed to suppress his tone and said,
"Riem?"
-Hm? Haha. Why did you call?
Riem's voice sounded pleased.
"We found her."
-Found what?
"The person in the picture. You know, the pretty one."
-Ah, I know. You're not the only ones who saw her.
I frowned.
Without realizing it, I tightened my grip on the leader's neck.
Feeling the pressure, the leader swallowed hard and, to appease me, made up a lie to lure Riem in.
"I'll capture her, so please come here. We'll prepare everything so you can take her away."
-Ah... haha. No need, now.
"What?"
At the words 'no need,' the leader glanced at me, terrified.
But I was focused only on Riem's words.
She said,
-I've already captured her, that girl.
-Ah... she's pretty. Haha. Well, don't worry about it anymore. Have a good day!
Riem hung up with a cheerful voice.
I stood there, frozen in place for a moment.
---
---
When I came to my senses, I was standing in front of Stella.
I wasn't sure how quickly I had returned.
Despite what I said to Song Soo-yeon on the phone this morning.
I thought about contacting her again.
I just wanted to know she was safe.
But as soon as I entered the hideout, Han Yoo-jung rushed toward me with a phone in her hand.
As I looked at her silently, Han Yoo-jung hesitated for a moment, seemingly in doubt.
Feeling an uneasy premonition, I told her,
"Speak up, don't hesitate."
Han Yoo-jung lifted the phone.
There was a text message.
From Song Soo-yeon.
-Help me.
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