Red Dot - 136

Chapter 136

After the bus team finished planning the specific route.

The group, who spent longer than expected in Junseong’s room, finally stood up from their seats.

The group still wore uneasy expressions, but no one opposed Junseong’s words. For now, his explained method and route seemed the most reliable, and above all, they accepted the reason why Junseong had to move alone with Hanseo.

Even so, Daewook repeatedly grabbed Junseong’s arm, asking if he would be okay. Despite understanding the reason for splitting the group and Junseong’s plan, Hanseo was, to him, as dangerous as Nam Ki-hyuk.

“At least can’t I go with you? I’ll do everything you say.”

Jang Daewook was definitely someone who would be a great help.

Not only in dreams but also in the pro team, where they worked together for a long time, Junseong knew well that Jang Daewook’s trap-making skills and natural quick thinking surpassed everyone here.

If Jang Daewook was with them, whether Nam Ki-hyuk suddenly attacked or laid traps like a minefield, there would be nothing to fear.

That is, if Junseong hadn’t seen Daewook die multiple times at Nam Ki-hyuk’s hands in his dreams.

Junseong shook his head with a bitter face.

“Sorry.”

The reason Jang Daewook died was clear.

It was because he knew about Junseong’s dreams.

From the first day of dreaming, whenever a route was blocked, Junseong called Daewook. To break through obstacles, create new routes, or make temporary defenses or useful traps to protect himself, they put their heads together. Sometimes, Daewook even brought survival items he designed himself, along with chicken, and passionately introduced them.

Perhaps because of that.

The Jang Daewook met in the middle of nightmares always knew about Junseong’s dreams.

So, this is the dream you talked about.

Am I in your dream, or in reality?

He asked with a bright smile, but Junseong couldn’t pinpoint one clear answer.

The scream Daewook let out while dying at Nam Ki-hyuk’s hands in the dream carried such intense realism.

So, sometimes it was confusing.

Was this moment truly a dream or reality? Even Junseong couldn’t be certain at times.

But now, he could be certain.

This was ‘reality.’

“You can’t move with me.”

Since Daewook had overcome crises well on his own, this time Junseong would absolutely not let him die.

Junseong heard that Nam Ki-hyuk targeted Chaeyi and threatened the survivor group led by Daewook. Also, that the five night-vision goggles Daewook secured were taken after overpowering them.

The moment Junseong heard that, he bit his lower lip hard and swallowed a groan.

Nam Ki-hyuk knew Chaeyi was with Daewook. Whether he found it by piecing together dream routes or realized Chaeyi wasn’t at the subway shelter and analyzed her movements.

Nam Ki-hyuk’s goal wasn’t just Kang Chaeyi.

It was Jang Daewook’s death.

Nam Ki-hyuk likely wanted Chaeyi to witness that scene right in front of her eyes. So she could tell her brother, Kang Junseong, every detail.

“Lucky for us, Nam Ki-hyuk underestimated Daewook.”

In truth, since some of Nam Ki-hyuk’s men carried guns, it wasn’t exactly underestimating, but regardless, they couldn’t land a single attack and were subdued by Daewook.

Junseong didn’t want to put the surviving Jang Daewook in danger again. In a world like this, who wasn’t dangerous besides Hanseo? But he wanted to protect Daewook from Nam Ki-hyuk’s relentless attacks.

It wasn’t yet certain that Nam Ki-hyuk had completely stopped threatening allies as if cutting off his own limbs.

But targeting a group large enough to fill a bus wouldn’t be easy.

“You have to lead the bus team. There’s no one else but you.”

Junseong felt sorry for Daewook, but he had to assign him the heavy responsibility to keep him in the bus team. And Jang Daewook was the most suitable person to lead that group.

“Why me? Uncle Dujae or Changmin hyung would be better than me.”

“The number of people who trust and follow you is much larger. To prevent conflict, it’s better for you, whom the majority follows, to lead.”

“Is that the only reason?”

Daewook, still unconvinced, asked again. If it was just about the number of followers, he looked ready to persuade his group.

As if expecting this, Junseong added a more certain reason.

“Many people know about my dreams, but no one knows as many routes as you do.”

“Hey, you think I have a memory like yours? I forgot all that long ago.”

“You may have forgotten now, but when danger hits, you recall better than I do. Don’t I know your specialty?”

Junseong patted Daewook’s back as his expression grew complicated from the sudden burden.

“And even if you forgot everything, it doesn’t matter. Humans are instinctively driven animals, right? Your instincts will handle it well.”

“Someone might think I’m a beast.”

Daewook let out a small laugh and glared at the man standing like a shadow behind Junseong.

“You know how dangerous a real beast can be, right? Be careful.”

He spoke to Junseong, but his eyes still glared at the shadow behind him.

Daewook clearly didn’t like Hanseo much.

“No need to worry.”

Junseong glanced back at Hanseo and said.

“Can’t you see? This beast has a leash on its neck.”

The beast’s lips curved smoothly as Junseong spoke playfully. In contrast, Daewook’s lips twisted oddly.

“Haa… Fine, I get it.”

Daewook raised both hands as if giving up and gave a bitter smile.

“Get eaten or not, I don’t care anymore. I’ve done enough.”

Even Daewook’s back seemed to sigh as he turned away.

“If Chaeyi hears this, she’ll probably beat you up. Better train your abs.”

“…Yeah.”

Though Daewook said it as a joke, it felt quite plausible. Junseong vaguely recalled hearing that Chaeyi, furious for some reason, relentlessly pummeled a sandbag in the university gym like a boxer. Since the witness who told him was none other than Daewook, Junseong felt oddly tense.

While secretly rubbing his stomach, Junseong watched Daewook comfort a few hesitant group members and head out.

Hwang Gyeong-oh kept pausing and restarting his steps, repeatedly opening his mouth as if wanting to say something, only to lower his head.

“Huh? Gyeong-oh’s neck…”

The collar of his outer clothing hid it when he held his head up, but when he bowed deeply, Junseong noticed a bandage wrapped around his neck. Since Junseong had given Changmin a bandage for emergencies, it wasn’t strange that Gyeong-oh, sharing a room, used it.

“Did he get hurt escaping the hospital yesterday?”

In the tense situation where they had to flee quickly, it was plausible he got injured somewhere.

As soon as Gyeong-oh left, two arms suddenly wrapped around Junseong tightly.

“Now they’re outright saying I’m yours.”

Hanseo’s breath brushed Junseong’s bandaged neck.

“You like this kind of thing, don’t you?”

Junseong turned his gaze and spoke slyly, and the lips touching his neck let out a small laugh.

“Are you taming me?”

“Why? Got a problem with that?”

“No, not at all.”

A long, red tongue slipped out between the lips tracing the bandage’s surface. The sound of it brushing the bandage felt unusually loud.

“Do more, master.”

“Depends on how you behave.”

Junseong lightly pushed away the arms binding him. Hanseo, who let go willingly, followed Junseong as he walked ahead.

When they opened the door, someone approached with large strides from the end of the hallway.

“Kang Junseong, we need to talk.”

It was Lim Yuseul.

She seemed to have come, unable to accept the plan to head to the shelter to escape Inhansi, as she needed to find her brother, whom Nam Ki-hyuk held captive. The plan to escape Inhansi in a way unrelated to that must have made her anxious.

“I won’t go unless it’s with my brother. I’ll find Nam Ki-hyuk alone if I have to.”

“Do you even know where Nam Ki-hyuk is?”

Yuseul clenched her teeth, her eyes narrowing.

“I don’t know. But I’ll find him somehow.”

“I understand your feelings, but please move with the others for now.”

“Understand? What do you understand?! You don’t care what happens to the hostages!”

“Yes.”

Junseong’s cold gaze and icy words pierced Yuseul. Her eyes trembled.

“…What?”

“I said I don’t care about the hostages.”

“How, how can you say that…!”

Yuseul’s face turned bright red with anger.

Like someone feeling no emotions, Junseong drove a sharp wedge into her.

“If I prioritize strangers and put my people in danger, what then? Can you take responsibility, noona?”

“Responsibility…”

Yuseul, overwhelmed by his intensity, stepped back, and Junseong closed in, whispering.

“If my people die, how will you take responsibility, noona?”

A chilling air, like a harsh winter, pressed down on Yuseul mercilessly. Junseong’s calm, sunken eyes felt terrifyingly cold at that moment.