This is the special force squad S2
#29 “Serpent (1)”
The special lecture class, now that Namjoon, Taehyung, and Yeoju have left, is quieter than expected. If you thought the absence of just three people wouldn't make a big difference, you'd be sorely mistaken. With the already talkative Taehyung gone, things are quiet; with the brainy Namjoon gone, things are sluggish; and with the high school senior Yeoju gone, the newbies feel awkward.
Just as I was realizing the value of my teammates in so many ways, a dull knock was heard, and Hoseok, who had bought lunch, opened the door with a bright smile and came in, holding a bag of hamburgers in one hand.
정 호 석
The hamburger delivery has arrived!
박 지 민
Wow… I was really hungry, but your timing is perfect, senior.
최 민 지
Oh, I will eat well…
Each person placed a burger and a cola in front of them and began to rip and tear. Just as Seokjin was about to take a bite, his personal phone rang, and he stood up with a frown.
김 석 진
What kind of big-headed kid is interrupting a detective's lunch break?
As he spoke, the screen of his phone flashed with bright letters. [Sender: Yeoju]
Seokjin cleared his throat quickly, then pressed the green call button. The students' chatter came before the woman's voice.
김 석 진
[ Oh, heroine. What's wrong?
남 여 주
[ No, nothing is wrong, but I would like to ask you to check my background.
김 석 진
[ Background check? Who are you? Are you a school teacher?
남 여 주
[No, she's the class president of the class I'm in charge of, but there's something strange about her...? But as a teacher, I can't ask her outright.
김 석 진
[What's your name? I'll ask the detective department to look into it and send you the results.
남 여 주
[Hyeonyejiyo. I'm an 18-year-old girl, in class 5, 2nd year at Shinye High School.
Seokjin lifted one shoulder slightly, tucked his phone between his shoulder and ear, and hurriedly opened the notebook strewn across the desk. He picked up a ballpoint pen that had been rolling around and jotted down Yeoju's words. He then repeated them again, confirming his own.
김 석 진
[Okay, I'll send you the results when they come out. If anything comes up, contact me right away?
남 여 주
[ thank you.
남 여 주
[ Hey! Don't run, you guys, you want to get penalty points?!
The sound gradually faded, and the female protagonist's screams could be heard. She must have seen the student running around while on the phone with Seokjin. Judging by the way she was shouting, stretching out her arms and keeping her distance from the phone, she was definitely a teacher.
Seokjin chuckled and pressed the end call button. He took a big bite of the still-warm hamburger and opened the door, preparing to leave.
전 정 국
Where are you going, Team Leader?
김 석 진
Investigation Department. The female protagonist called to ask me to run a background check. Can you please clean up after you're done eating?
민 윤 기
Hey Mr. Kim. You ordered coffee delivery, but you just got an Americano?
김 석 진
Are you kidding me? I said I'd throw up if I used that... Don't you know I only drink vanilla lattes?
민 윤 기
I'm a picky eater, so I'll eat whatever you give me. Hurry up and go to the investigation department, Team Leader!
김 석 진
That's really...
The special lecture class, now that even Seokjin had left, was filled with an awkward silence. At first, coughs could be heard here and there, but as time passed, nothing but breathing became audible.
Fortunately, the coffee arrived shortly after. There were a couple of knocks on the door, and when Bada opened it, a man appeared, his hands full of coffee.
권 사 성
Are you sure you want 7 cups of Americano?
이 바 다
S… No, Kwon Sa-seong?
The sea spoke softly, pretending to know. Sasung smiled faintly and stuffed a cup of coffee into the sea's arms. The sea quickly placed the coffees on the desk and, saying, "I'll be back soon," headed out the door with Sasung.
The sea led Sa-seong to a deserted emergency staircase. It was a force that could have been resisted if it had been forced, but Sa-seong obediently followed.
After ensuring no one was outside, Bada closed the emergency exit door. The door, which had been creaking loudly enough to be unpleasant to hear, slammed shut. Bada and Saseong were the only ones left.
이 바 다
Why are you here?
It was Bada who spoke first. It was Bada who was more anxious and curious. By contrast, Saseong seemed unfazed.
권 사 성
That's what I call water, Ocean?
He called the sea "Ocean." Then, the sea—no, the ocean—changed its gaze, as if it had nothing left to hide. From the innocent youngest in the special lecture class, Bada, to the mad Ocean.
권 사 성
You said you were attached to the salty guys, it was true lol I thought you were joking again.
OCEAN
What's your business? You came here because you needed something, right?
OCEAN
Serpent.
권 사 성
I don't know why you call me Serpent.
OCEAN
Then what, you're just going to call me Kwon Sa-seong all the time? You're the boss, sucking his toes, but you talk too much...
For a moment, Sasung's eyebrows twitched. He brushed his bangs back and sighed softly. Ocean flinched for a moment, but then took another step toward Sasung. They were incredibly close.
권 사 성
I'm different from you guys. I don't go around wearing a nickname with my name on it, you idiot.
OCEAN
Is that so? But what should I do… I think your name also has a nickname.
권 사 성
what…?
OCEAN
Serpent. It means snake. It has the nature of a snake.
OCEAN
The nature of snakes, the four natures... I've been living in this world for a long time. But I wonder if I don't know something like this?
Serpent took off the café apron he was wearing and tossed it to the floor, shaking it out. He wore a fierce expression he hadn't seen in his entire Wave life. Ocean, perhaps expecting this, let out a low chuckle.
OCEAN
Who are you?
OCEAN
Well... I'm not asking because I don't know, but I want to hear it directly from your dirty mouth.
SERPENT
You ask even though you know... It feels strange. I thought you were impatient and would say everything out loud?
SERPENT
If you already know, it must be true. Ocean is the top information source within the national organizations.
OCEAN
Let's stop talking nonsense and get this over with, Serpent?
SERPENT
Why don't you go ahead and say it? If you have anything to add, I'll add it.
Ocean pressed his temples, frustrated by the delay, and let out a long, deep sigh. Serpent simply looked down at Ocean with a look of interest.
OCEAN
Serpent. 26 years old. He's a year older than me, but I trust he won't be so conscientious as to ask me to use formal language.
SERPENT
Of course.
OCEAN
Affiliation. Avenir, which means "future" in French, right? And a spy affiliated with Avenir who infiltrated Wave.
OCEAN
At this point, there's no need to dig any further. The back is so dirty.
SERPENT
As expected from Ocean… I told you, he knows how to recognize people incredibly well.
Serpent clapped his hands and took a step toward Ocean. Ocean pushed Serpent's chest away and looked at him with contempt.
OCEAN
So why did you come to Wave? For what?
SERPENT
Isn't that the same purpose you joined hands with the salty guy?
OCEAN
I am,
SERPENT
Yeah, you came to snatch the male and female leads. But that's just an excuse. Please acknowledge your true self, Ocean.
SERPENT
You want to kill the boss.
At Serpent's words, Ocean averted his gaze for the first time. But Serpent grabbed Ocean's chin and forced him to meet his gaze again.
SERPENT
Don't be too cautious. I'm always on your side.
OCEAN
That's ridiculous. You didn't ask me to believe that, did you?
SERPENT
I love you, Ocean. I mean it.
Serpent's eyes shone with more innocence than ever before. He was sincere. He wasn't trying to tease Ocean, but was sincerely confessing his feelings.
OCEAN
What, what nonsense are you talking about… Do you think I don’t know that you’re a dog that has sex with Avenir Boss?
SERPENT
It's true, but... I'm sick of that woman now. Her power has weakened somewhat, and she's been showing interest in the new, younger blood that's been coming in lately.
SERPENT
Toys should be thrown away, right?
OCEAN
So, now that you've been abandoned by your boss, you want to try kissing me?
SERPENT
I wish I could, but I think you don't want to, so I'll put it on hold for now.
SERPENT
Join hands with me, Ocean. I'll even help you kill the shark.
OCEAN
Sorry, but I already have a colleague.
OCEAN
There's a straight-up dog fight between the male and female leads.
SERPENT
I remember it was a gift for the boss
OCEAN
Yeom Byung-hal… Boss and Nabal will be by my side. We negotiated a bit.
Ocean looked up at Serpent, feeling somewhat proud. He was very tall and wore a white shirt. Ocean sniffed the faint scent of coffee beans and exited the emergency stairs.
OCEAN
I'll think about your suggestion a little more.