As soon as he left the representative’s office, Lee Wooshin angrily pressed the elevator button. The Russian of the priest still echoed in his ears. Kiya, he had introduced himself as Kiya.
“――.”
The winter was raging, with snowstorms sweeping through. As the wind blew fiercely, the frosted windows rattled. In moments like these, he used to sit on his grandfather’s lap, watching the firewood crackle in the fireplace. ‘Son, are you European or Asian?’ His grandfather often uttered such meaningful words. That memory flashed as clearly as yesterday. Wooshin clicked his tongue and continuously pressed the elevator button. ‘You are European, but also Asian.’ His grandfather leaned back in his rocking chair and whispered softly. For some reason, those words came to mind now. He gritted his teeth. ‘Then, couldn’t we just conquer both Europe and Asia? Perhaps your grandmother would be a little happy if that happened.’ His grandfather’s face looked dark as it was backlit when he said that. Ding—. The elevator door opened. However, after glancing at the CCTV in the corner of the ceiling, he withdrew his hand from the button without hesitation. He immediately pushed open the stairwell door forcefully and began descending the stairs. As night fell, the oligarchs—the ruling elite of that time—gathered at the Winter Palace. They spent the night with alcohol, entertainment, and heated discussions about Eurasia. His grandmother, the Prime Minister’s wife, rarely appeared outside the house because she was always viewed cynically as an Easterner. And whenever that happened, the boy would slowly fall asleep to the sound of sad songs.
“――.”
He kept walking without stopping and immediately called Joo Seolheon. The longer the ringing tone lasted, the tighter his jaw clenched. Although he hadn’t walked far, his breathing was already ragged. If Russian money was indeed flowing into Asia, their intentions were clear. Damn Russia, bastards, that cursed country. Lee Wooshin’s face briefly contorted with irritation.
“Are they playing some dirty tricks through back channels?”
Whatever Russia’s ambitions towards Eurasia were, they seemed to be related to the secrets of the Winter Castle that had intrigued him all this time. He felt it as a strong premonition that pierced his mind. Winter Castle, black-haired children, the creaking old wooden rocking horse, Riga, the terrorist bombing... All of it seemed connected, though vaguely. ―You wasted the whole day, and you’re only calling now? Finally, a sharp voice came from the other end of the phone. ―What kind of superior in this world gets tortured and kidnapped by their own subordinate?
“I’m going to Sakhalin with Seoryeong.”
―…What? Knowing it wasn’t a question due to mishearing, Wooshin pressed his forehead with his fist. He took a long breath, suppressing the urge to shout. His expression turned fierce.
“The flight is in three hours. If you don’t give me a definite answer, there’s nothing I can do.” ―.......
“Now, where is Riga? Is Seoryeong really safe if she goes to Russia?”
―....... Joo Seolheon didn’t answer immediately. Wooshin’s patience ran out quickly, and he finally snapped, “Deputy Head!”
He knew how to irritate his superior, but he had never once violated the hierarchy. He crumpled and pulled at his collar, which was already open and disheveled. ―Which part of Sakhalin? It was a question whose meaning was difficult to grasp.
“A monastery. A monastery in Sakhalin.”
At that moment, crash-! the sound of something breaking came from the other end of the phone. As he pulled the phone away from his ear, Joo Seolheon was heard giving an order: “Clean this up and get out.”
After a brief pause, she spoke again. ―Riga is still in the closed ward. We’re keeping an eye on him, so that’s not a problem. But more importantly... Joo Seolheon’s voice was slightly cut off, then suddenly sped up. ―Upon arrival in Sakhalin, our agent will hand over psychotropic drugs. We will also send an acute paralysis injection. If she becomes uncontrollable, stab her eyes again. You have to make a decision on the spot and act on your own. His steps halted. Suddenly, he felt a piercing ringing sound and placed his hand on the wall.
“What I asked was whether Seoryeong is safe... and now what nonsense are you talking about...”
―Don’t ignore my words...!
“What do you mean by ‘act’?”
―I mean exactly that. If she starts acting up and becomes difficult to control, you have to break one of her limbs...!
“Enough-!”
A strong nausea rose in his throat. He couldn’t listen anymore. Wooshin slammed his fist into the hard concrete wall. His knuckles turned red. The skin on the back of his hand peeled off. An inexplicable sadness made the back of his neck burn. His Adam’s apple moved sharply.
“Never again... will I obey such orders.”
He bit the inside of his mouth until it bled.
“Never again...! I will not let Han Seoryeong get hurt.”
―Lee Wooshin...! Joo Seolheon shouted angrily, but he didn’t budge even slightly.
“No matter how you became the head of the NIS, or whatever you’re hiding from me. But do you think I’ve been silent all this time because I truly know nothing?”
With bloodshot eyes, Wooshin spoke firmly. The more he spoke, the more he wanted to see Seoryeong, who was downstairs, immediately. If he saw her, perhaps the raging anger within him would subside immediately. If he saw her eyes, smelled her scent. If he could hold her like a child who has nothing… Even though she wouldn’t respond, if he could feel that awkward affection, everything would feel better.
“Because using you... was the easiest way for me, Deputy Head.” ―......!
“Anyone is fine with me. I just chose the one most likely to help me rise quickly. I can expose everything to the Director of the NIS at any time.”
―Are you crazy?! A loud shout echoed. The long-standing cooperation shattered in an instant. But Wooshin’s expression remained unchanged.
“If the person leading the intelligence agency is caught receiving dirty money from Russia, I can pin everything on Deputy Head Joo Seolheon. Do you think I’m incapable of doing something that dirty?” ―This... This is going too far...!
“Then, should I politely knock on your office door first? Are you confident you can recognize me no matter what face and attitude I come with?”
―......!
“So please, just one word. Please say just one word, Deputy Head.”
Lee Wooshin started descending the stairs again, panting. He wiped his face, no longer covered by the silicone mask, with his bare hand, then felt his neck, no longer coated with the hydrogel layer. There were no more clothes he could take off, no more faces he could shed.
“I’m asking, what exactly is the danger factor?” ―.......
“Before you control Seoryeong like livestock... damn it, I’ll finish everything first. So just let her be for a little while…!”
He shouted, his voice breaking along with his collapsing facade.
“Talk to me. Then with every means I have, I... damn it, will get rid of everything. Stop the habit of touching Han Seoryeong first every time there’s a problem—! Stop it, and make me understand first. What exactly are you so afraid of?!”
His voice was choked with rage, his eyes bloodshot.
“You let me live as an owl’s husband, then told me to step down with just one word. Then at least explain properly now. I’m the one who even touched Seoryeong’s eyes with my own hands. The one who left our home, leaving my own wife without looking back.... But still, even though he’s her biological father, do you think I’m incapable of killing him?”
―.......
“So tell me. Even if he’s a monster, I won’t leave again. Don’t just tell me to bite that girl. Now, truly treat me like Han Seoryeong’s dog.” ―I... A rough breathing sound came from the other end. For a moment, he could sense the woman’s inexplicable dilemma. However, Lee Wooshin had no room to be patient with such turmoil. In fact, ever since he was in the director’s office, his head had been throbbing as if it would explode. Memories of Russia surged from within and finally spilled out.
“Goryeo people received the Russian religion in exchange for the land they received to farm. You never shared this with me, but it’s highly likely that Riga is also an Orthodox believer, isn’t he? Am I right?”
―.......
“Answer me. Is Riga from Sakhalin?”
―.......
“Then, Seoryeong. Where was she actually born?”
Joo Seolheon remained silent. She wasn’t the type to choose complete silence, even if it meant spreading false information. Her silence now was only because she felt cornered. In that case, her stance was very clear.
“She said she has no memory before the age of ten. Was she ever at the Sakhalin branch?” ―You...!
“I know everything, that you’ve been watching her for a long time under the guise of consultation.”
Joo Seolheon’s breathing began to tremble. Lee Wooshin stopped walking again and covered his eyes. Then a low, cold voice came from his mouth. The words that followed were things he didn’t even want to say.
“Does the Russian Orthodox Church have anything to do with Winter City?”
―I’m sorry, but I can’t say anything. She, who had been so defensive before, had now returned to her original stance. In that instant, no one knew what Joo Seolheon had released or taken. But still, even when threatened with the position of Director of the National Intelligence Service, she didn’t open her mouth. That attitude felt far more solid and meaningful than one could imagine. ―But since the situation is urgent, I’ll say one thing, Wooshin. Finally, Joo Seolheon uttered a word calmly. ―The Sakhalin monastery is where the owl lived as a child.
“......!”
―It might not sound too bad, but in the field, it’s completely unpredictable. If something happens, whether you have to inject her, knock her out, or whatever, bring her home immediately. If her memories were indeed going to return due to stimulation, she would have already changed when she met Kiya. But the owl’s memories don’t work like that.
“......!”
His head seemed to freeze for a moment. What did she mean? Who…? Just the name ‘Kiya’ made Lee Wooshin’s face instantly stiffen. ―Even though she came into contact with Kiya, the owl remained unchanged. A heavy breath escaped his lips. From her attitude and words, Joo Seolheon seemed to have known everything since the rare earth metal deal. If Kiya was not just a phantom monster, but someone truly connected to Han Seoryeong. Even her words about placing an agent in Sakhalin barely registered in his ears. ―But, Wooshin. The question now is, can you avoid losing that owl in that place?
“......!”
―Can you really prevent Kiya from taking her? Suddenly, his blood ran cold.