NEFARIOUS

22 / 스물 둘

 Jung-Hee wasn't quiet relieved that he was alive.

 Breaking into the palace was just the beginning, and he knew for sure, another doom was waiting for him. The consequence of taking this mission was extremely high, especially when one tried to be involved with the royal family's matters. But the Princess offered him a huge amount of price, and he hoped he wouldn't be dead the moment he took the money.

 Fifteen million mun. The amount hummed in his ears, calling to him. The twins and Dong Geun might have some of their part, and Chan Mi as well. But this job. . . this mission, was nothing like he'd ever done. No one would be so lunatic to break into the palace for some information on the Queen's whereabouts and the horde of criminals who were trained to hunt her down.

 Jung-Hee placed his shoes, and replaced them with slippers from the shoe rack of Moonbird. He sensed Min Seo watching him over the receptionist table, she did not even look away when their gaze met.

 She heaved a sigh, scanning him from head to toe, as if looking for something. But her shoulders slumped in disappointment. Between other Moonbird's Masulsa, Min Seo was the eldest most. She was even older than Jung-Hee's whole twenty one years, making her feel superior over him. Well, Jung-Hee did not share such similiar feeling to her, though. He could arrange a team to kill her in a night if he wanted to. The waterbinding power she had would not be an obstacle for him.

 "I thought you were the one injured," she finally said. When he entered through the tea house, her hanbok was shining under the yellow rays with its vibrant green chima and white upper garments. She wore her hair like any other employer, or any other woman in the kingdom basically, with low bun and glowing black hair.

 Jung-Hee rose an eyebrow. "How sweet of you greeting me that way, Min Seo."

 She clicked her tongue. "When the word of some intruders in the palace reached me, I've been hoping to see your dead body. Poor little Jae doesn't deserve this cruelty."

 "Careful, Min Seo," said Jung-Hee, slowly walking into deeper part of Moonbird, "Your silver tongue will be the one that poisoned you one time."

 "Oh?" called Min Seo loudly for him to hear. "So you are threatening me now?"

 He waved a hand to dismiss her, striding forward into the endless corridor of Moonbird.

 There were paintings of Goryeon era hanging on the wall of this part of corridor, but it shadowed as he passed by, and also did not appear to please any art seekers, for the corridor was immensely dark and small. He did not even get a better view for any painting, even though he cared less about it.

 The torchlight around the wall had not been lighted, it was only brightened when the night came. Perhaps because Chan Mi wouldn't expect any of her employer to visit their own chamber during working time.

 Different from the one that led into customer rooms, this corridor was much longer than one would expect. However, as minutes passed, he reached a wooden door. He opened gripped the handle, and twisted it around, revealing a series of small rooms with closed doors.

 At the end of hallway, a girl with bloodied white garments and the eyes of burning suns stared at him. She let her damp, disheveled hair unkept, making some strands of it glued onto her neck.

 He did not sense Hye coming into Moonbird before him, but she was already leaning onto his rented room. When a mission involving the Masulsa of Moonbird occurred, Jung-Hee often paid a room to rent. It would be easier for him to discuss further plan with the Masulsa. Especially if the task was undoubtedly risky.