Chapter 44: The Price of Disobedience

“Where is Shin Dongho?”

“Hm? Ah… he broke the contract. I told him again and again to manage the area properly, but he kept causing trouble. Managing people is really difficult. Even back when I was a major in the army.”

Instead of answering properly, Jo Juncheol started talking about the military again.

You crazy bastard, stop talking about the army.

I was dying of boredom.

Like a new employee in their first job, I nodded along and pretended to listen.

On the way back after meeting some of his aides, I happened to glance into a room with the door wide open.

Inside was something shaped like a human.

It was drenched in blood, so much that I frowned, unsure if it was even a person.

When I looked closer, it really was a person—skin peeled off.

From shoulder to thigh, the flesh had been sliced open.

It was Shin Dongho.

I quickly turned my head away like I had seen something I shouldn’t.

Jo Juncheol smirked as he watched me.

As if he had shown it on purpose, he leisurely observed my reaction and whispered like a warning.

“There was a lot of food stored at Garak Market, but I heard supplies to nearby shelters were cut off. That’s a big loss for us.”

Loss.

So this is what he meant by compensation.

Shin Dongho had been given control of the area.

Failing to manage it meant causing losses.

What would happen to the black energy inside the body if you caused him losses?

The thought alone was terrifying.

Still shaken, I walked staring only at his feet until I was assigned a room.

Unfortunately, it was right next to his.

“My room is right next door. I get threatened a lot, you see. That’s how it is—no matter how kind you live, people get jealous when you’re in a high position. They’re desperate to kill you.”

“That must be hard…”

He smiled like a kind person while complaining.

My voice barely came out due to the shock.

This guy lies every time he opens his mouth.

Kind, my ass.

Why do bad people always call themselves good?

“No idea when someone might attack me while I sleep. But now that someone like you is here…”

He stopped mid-sentence and stared at me.

His dark eyes glinted faintly.

“I feel safe. Maybe because your face feels familiar. I didn’t trust people before, but now I do. They’re all my people.”

Because he controls them through contracts.

Not trust—just control.

He pushed me into the room, telling me to rest.

Right before closing the door, his expression turned cold.

“Go inside and sleep.”

At that moment, the whites of his eyes turned pitch black.

Because of the dark energy.

I almost screamed, thinking I saw a ghost.

But I realized it was his ability and quickly composed myself.

“Yes.”

I hid my trembling hands behind my back and nodded.

He smiled with satisfaction and closed the door.

Then I heard it lock from outside.

So it was control.

Signing the contract meant being controlled by his commands.

I pressed my forehead while staring at the black energy near my heart.

No matter how much I tried, it wouldn’t disappear.

Even when I forced it back, it returned.

The room was swallowed in darkness.

And so was my heart.

“…Ha.”

I staggered to the bed and collapsed face-first onto it.

My eyes stung when I closed them.

I just hoped Joon would arrive safely.

Even though I was exhausted, I couldn’t sleep.

I stayed awake until dawn.

“Ugh…”

My condition was terrible.

I had used too much energy trying to suppress the black force, and I hadn’t slept at all.

Dark circles hung under my eyes.

I had been living peacefully with Joon, stuck to his side, and now suddenly this.

Morning made me miss him even more.

“Joon…”

I clutched the blanket, calling his name, when suddenly—

The door burst open.

I quickly shut my eyes and pretended to sleep.

Who even barges in like that?

“Please wake up.”

I opened my eyes slightly.

Thankfully, it wasn’t Jo Juncheol.

Seeing his face first thing in the morning would’ve ruined my mood completely.

“W-what is it?”

“You need to come downstairs.”

The man who entered spoke coldly.

Without even washing, I followed him weakly.

We walked down a white corridor and took an elevator.

He pressed B3.

The basement didn’t feel right.

My heart pounded anxiously.

“Why the basement?”

“You’ll see.”

Of course I’ll see. That’s why I’m asking now.

“Is the commander there?”

“Yes.”

“Is Joon there too?”

“I don’t know who that is.”

“Ah… I see. He’s tall, really handsome—like an actor from those historical romance dramas. Have you seen—”

“…No.”

Before I could finish describing him, we arrived.

The elevator was too fast.

The basement was dark like a storage area.

CCTV cameras lined the ceiling.

Doors stretched along both sides of the hallway.

We stopped in front of one.

He gestured for me to go in.

My unease doubled.

“…Hoo.”

I took a deep breath and opened the door.

As expected, Jo Juncheol was inside.

And in front of him—

Joon was tied to a chair.

“J-Joon!!”

I rushed forward, but his subordinate blocked me.

Jo Juncheol greeted me cheerfully.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Joon… why is he…”

It wasn’t just that he was tied up.

He was covered in wounds.

Blood dripped down the chair legs.

His wrist and fingers were twisted unnaturally.

Burn marks scarred his neck.

He was barely recognizable.

Cruel, deliberate torture.

“Your friend doesn’t listen very well. It would be nice if he were as polite as you. He insisted on checking if you were safe—caused everyone trouble since dawn.”

They tortured him and called themselves the victims.

I narrowed my eyes.

If Joon had really resisted, they wouldn’t be standing unharmed.

They must have threatened him.

Joon slowly lifted his head.

His swollen eyes barely opened.

When he saw me, he sighed in relief.

Even in pain, he was relieved for me.

My chest burned.

“Ha… you’re okay.”

He gave a faint smile before his head dropped again.

He didn’t even have the strength to hold it up.

Jo Juncheol tilted his head.

“Now you’ve seen he’s fine, right? Why be so stubborn?”

His expression suddenly turned cold.

“Now then, you’ll sign, right?”

He shoved the contract in front of Joon.

Joon must not sign that.

But after confirming I was safe, Joon nodded and tried to sign.

I clenched my fist and shouted.

“Are you insane?! Don’t sign that!!”

“…Dohoon?”

Jo Juncheol turned, surprised.

“Dohoon this, Dohoon that—stop calling me that, it’s disgusting. Joon, what are you waiting for? Use your power!!”

BOOM!!

The moment I finished speaking, his power exploded.

The force burst outward, blasting everyone away.

The small room shook like a bomb had gone off.

Even Jo Juncheol was thrown into the wall.

“Ugh!!”

“What the—?!”

Seeing everyone scattered, I rushed to Joon.

I poured all my energy into him.

I was exhausted.

I hadn’t slept.

But I forced everything out to save him.

The moment I did, a metallic taste filled my mouth.

A splitting headache hit me.

But I gritted my teeth and continued.

If I didn’t fully heal him, it was over.

My whole body trembled like I was freezing to death.

Cold pierced my bones, yet sweat poured down.

“Hyung, stop.”

While I was desperately pouring energy into him,

Joon—now completely healed—stopped me.