Chapter 20
Could the rewards depend on favorability levels?
If she ranked them by favorability, it would probably go Seo-yeol, Seo I-heum, Seo Do-gyeom, and then Baek Yeong. It was a plausible theory.
Perhaps the reason Seo I-heum’s choices felt riskier than Seo-yeol’s was because Seo-yeol was still a minor, which might have influenced things. Since the rewards were tied to favorability, it made sense that they were connected.
My life’s hanging by a thread based on favorability. If a guy like that old man gives me a gun at 50 favorability, what on earth would someone like Seo-yeol give me at max?
Baek I-hae let out a sigh and rose from her seat. Her body wobbled, struggling to find balance, but she grunted and refused to give up. Closing her eyes briefly to steady the dizziness clouding her vision, she slowly opened them again. Things were a little clearer now.
Instead of immediately resorting to the gun, she crept toward the door, listening for sounds outside.
Even if I escape, if someone’s right there, I’ll just get caught again.
She only had one shot to use the gun.
The best moment to act would be when Seo I-heum’s group arrived, drawing everyone’s attention.
Fortunately, it didn’t seem like Chai Ryeong was outside—only the voices of middle-aged men reached her ears.
“No way Seo I-heum would come all the way here just to save a girl like her. I think Captain Chai’s got it wrong,” one said.
“Wrong? Come on, how long has that woman been spying for us? You think she knows less about Seo I-heum than we do?” another retorted, scolding his doubtful colleague. It seemed they were discussing Baek I-hae’s importance.
They’ve got reasons to doubt. I wish they’d just decide I’m useless and let me go.
“And I heard she’s been chosen as Seo Do-gyeom’s fiancée,” one continued. “You know, maybe it’s one of those strategic marriages to unite with another organization?”
“You idiot. Stop reading those weird novels kids are into.”
“Ahem.”
Strategic marriage? Give me a break.
Baek I-hae’s expression soured as she was mistaken for some rival organization’s daughter.
From their voices, it sounds like there are only two of them out there.
She furrowed her brow, straining to listen. There was no commotion yet, so Seo I-heum likely hadn’t arrived.
“But the boss… what’s he thinking? I can never figure that guy out. Always smiling, but he’s the scariest one,” one of the men said.
“Exactly. Newbies think Captain Chai’s the scariest, but the boss is the real nightmare.”
Someone whose thoughts were unreadable.
If even his allies saw him that way, Baek Yeong clearly wasn’t the type to show his true feelings to those around him.
Not that it matters now.
I’m so dizzy.
If she kept delaying, she’d probably collapse from exhaustion the moment she tried to escape. Baek I-hae aimed the gun at the latch on the door handle.
There’s no way I’m escaping by road.
Her destination was the sea. She didn’t know how long she could last out there, but it seemed like a better bet than the road. Exhausted from waiting for Seo I-heum, she steadied herself to pull the trigger.
“They’re here.”
At the tense voice echoing from outside, Baek I-hae pricked up her ears.
They’ve arrived.
She could hear the rustling of nearby organization members as they moved a little farther away.
Cautiously, Baek I-hae peered through the narrow gap in the truck’s door.
What’s this? Our side doesn’t seem to have many people—is that okay? No, why on earth would they bring Seo Do-gyeom and Seo-yeol to a dangerous place like this?! They’re still kids!
She failed to register that Seo Do-gyeom was the same age as her.
Across from Seo I-heum, she spotted Baek Yeong. And at his side, Chai Ryeong.
Instinctively, Baek I-hae realized this was her moment to escape.
They said the gunshot wouldn’t register with them.
Clutching the pistol with both hands, she pulled the trigger. No sound came, but the recoil sent her body staggering backward, and she landed hard on her backside.
She scrambled to her feet. The pistol was already fading from sight, as if it had never been there.
I have to hurry.
Carefully, she opened the truck’s door. Thankfully, no one was right outside, so she slipped out quietly, her eyes darting between Seo I-heum and the sea.
Going toward Seo I-heum would be the safest bet, but the odds of getting caught before reaching him were high. Worse, the path to him was a wide-open space with no cover to shield her.
She hesitated for a moment, then turned toward the sea as originally planned.
But then, someone yanked her hair hard from behind.
“Kyaaah!”
A scream escaped her before she could stop it, drawing the simultaneous attention of both Seo I-heum’s group and Baek Yeong’s crew from afar.
She couldn’t help it—pulled with such force, she crashed to the ground, her body dragged across the rough surface.
Her legs scraped against the cement, blood seeping from the cuts, but far more terrifying was the figure gripping her hair.
A hulking man, his neck covered in tattoos, glared down at her with a chilling intensity.
“What’s this one doing out here? The boss is focused right now, so don’t go causing trouble.”
It hurt. And it was terrifying.
Tears streamed down Baek I-hae’s face. She thought she heard a faint commotion in the distance, but she was in no state to care.
[Sudden Quest Success!
“You’ve successfully completed ‘I-hae’s in Trouble, Eek! Escape from the Truck!’ Rewards will be granted.
Upon Success: Baek Yeong Favorability +10, Seo Do-gyeom Favorability +5, Reputation +50, Seo I-heum’s Princess Carry.”]
Forget favorability or whatever—just do something about this guy!
Baek I-hae’s frail, paper-thin body was slammed to the ground by the man’s grip. As if tumbling helplessly wasn’t enough, his foot now rose mercilessly toward her.
Bracing for the imminent pain, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Thud!
A dull, heavy sound rang out, so jarring it was hard to believe it came from a fist striking a person.
When Baek I-hae opened her eyes, she saw a man sent flying by a kick from Seo Do-gyeom’s leg.
‘Unbelievable. To take down someone that big.’
Was it because he was the male protagonist, or was Seo Do-gyeom’s strength just that exceptional?
His response was so swift she hadn’t even noticed him closing the distance. As Baek I-hae watched, tears streaming down her face, Seo Do-gyeom approached her.
“You haven’t even gotten a scolding from me yet, so why are you crying?”
Despite the gruff expression and his blunt, almost rude words, the hand wiping her tears was gentle.
“Seo Do-gyeom… How could you come here alone like this? It’s dangerous—go back. If you get hurt too…!”
“Who hit you?”
Seo Do-gyeom’s face hardened, his expression turning fierce.
His piercing gaze scanned her. She hadn’t been hit, but her pale, ashen face and scratched-up skin would be impossible to miss.
‘No, I wasn’t hit, but… it was harder than that!’
Flustered, Baek I-hae shook her head as she answered.
“I wasn’t hit. I was just locked up in there. It’s just… being trapped in a tight space is a trauma of mine, so I came out even though I knew it was dangerous. I’m sorry if I got in the way.”
She wasn’t sure if he understood her rambling, her eyes unfocused and pupils dilated.
Still, perhaps because Seo Do-gyeom had come to save her, a sense of relief washed over her. Her consciousness kept threatening to slip away, and she blinked rapidly to stay awake.
From a distance, she faintly heard Seo I-heum raising his voice. But he wasn’t fighting.
Seo I-heum said something to Baek Yeong before heading her way. Baek Yeong merely watched him approach.
‘Why isn’t he stopping him?’
Was there some kind of deal?
As Baek I-hae watched Seo I-heum and Seo-yeol approach, her consciousness faded.
“Baek I-hae!”
Seo Do-gyeom caught her before she collapsed to the ground, calling her name.
But no response came. Her feverish breathing and pained expression told him her condition was far from good.
Seo I-heum, approaching quickly, took in Baek I-hae’s state and demanded answers.
“What happened? Did someone hit her?”
“No. She wasn’t hit, but she said she was locked in that truck.”
“Truck?”
Seo I-heum’s gaze shifted to the truck, radiating oppressive heat.
His expression darkened, a memory surfacing—Baek I-hae had mentioned her trauma.
“We’ll clean this up and go. Tell Old Man Oh not to waste energy and to get moving.”
“Will they let us go that easily?”
“I’ve already settled things with Baek Yeong. This whole thing was likely a threat to force us to abandon our business in their territory.”
A brawl would benefit neither organization.
They’d targeted Baek I-hae to send a message: if they didn’t comply, her safety wasn’t guaranteed.
Giving up the business wasn’t a big loss. If it hadn’t been for Baek I-hae, pride—not investment—might have kept them from backing down.
“I’m letting it go this time, but I warned them there won’t be a next time.”
Seo I-heum stood, cradling the unconscious Baek I-hae, his eyes glinting with a menacing edge.
Seo Do-gyeom nodded up at him. He’d had no particular feelings about Baek Yeong’s faction before, but today changed that.
“As promised, we’re taking Baek I-hae. And we’ll shut down the business as discussed.”
Seo I-heum, still holding Baek I-hae, approached Baek Yeong and spoke.
He found it odd that Baek Yeong’s gaze lingered on Baek I-hae, but he pressed on.
“But the price for making our family cry—you’ll pay for it someday.”
Baek Yeong neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply gestured, and his fighting crew stepped back.
Seo Do-gyeom glared at Baek Yeong, committing the face of the Baek faction’s boss to memory, never to forget.
Baek Yeong met his gaze briefly before turning away. For a fleeting moment, his eyes drifted to Seo I-heum’s back as he carried Baek I-hae.
Seo Do-gyeom didn’t know what it meant, but it left him with a deep sense of unease.
