It was the first time I’d seen Cloud again since returning from Seokdal.Of course, the thing moving before me was just a video, not the real person, but after deliberately avoiding even the vicinity of Seokdal, it felt equally unpleasant either way.Now I understood why the robot had sunk into the sewage. That jerk must have deliberately shoved it under water, even making it split and crackle as if to show off.“I hid it so it’d be hard to find. Even if you find it, you’d be grossed out. This shows I’m directly involved in Return’s affairs—and that ‘I’ am the one doing it.”Any sane person would worry how far Cloud’s insights might spread.‘Didn’t she say I knew my place?’I raised an eyebrow, recalling Cloud’s words. She’d said I needn’t worry about him… No, on second thought, when I’d asked, “Isn’t it dangerous that he knows about Return?” she’d replied that he “senses exactly how far he can go and acts accordingly.”In other words, he won’t expose Return or threaten Cloud’s safety—but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t interfere with me.“Blueberry cinnamon roll.”Joo-o, seated on the nearby sofa, murmured into empty air. He, too, seemed to be thinking of Seokdal.He’d gone blank and then scowled repeatedly. Yet when I’d touched him, he’d hushed immediately.With a flat expression, I removed the storage device. Though disgusted, I wouldn’t be easily swayed by someone else’s provocation.Instead, I tried to predict Cloud’s reaction. Would she take offense that her direct interests had been tampered with? What did this data mean to her?‘She must’ve intended this robot to help me…’Somewhere underground lay the code for my father’s system, and Cloud gave it to me.But she likely didn’t ask me to retrieve the robot purely out of kindness. The earlier footage showed she’d scouted countless blind spots in Goryeo City.That’s why she didn’t take the robot or chip for herself—she simply shoved it into the water.From Cloud’s perspective, she didn’t care whose hands this data fell into, as long as my retrieving it didn’t inconvenience her.‘She’ll let it slide.’Cloud is too valuable. She’s not idle enough to discipline someone who isn’t hostile to her.Realizing that keenly, I furrowed my brow. Even if I told her, she wouldn’t aid me further.If anything, she might use this to test me some day. I’d begun to feel it: her orders were both transactions and training.Though training might be a kindness from Cloud, for someone already in a world of complications, it was help I could’ve done without.“Jin Muhae.”After staring at the darkened panel for a long moment, Joo-o padded over beside me.“Are you angry?” his red eyes seemed to ask. I didn’t reply, simply pocketing the storage chip.His black hair was still damp from washing. For some reason, I held out my hand to him.Click—Joo-o pressed his cheek gently to it. As if asking why I wasn’t stroking him, he blinked.My irritation melted away. I brushed my thumb softly across his smooth cheek.Under my palm, his lips quivered, and I felt him smile. His eyes narrowed in contentment—far more pleased than when anyone else touched him.“Jin Muhae. Let’s go have fun.”“Go where all of a sudden?”“I have money. I’ll buy you something tasty.”He must mean the pay I collected at Seokdal, since I hadn’t given him any recently.I was about to ask if he still had any left, but thought better of it. I’d pocketed nearly twice the usual amount that day, so Joo-o likely had a hefty sum, too.His endless snacking was problematic… but I was responsible for his food and lodging anyway.With no repairs to fund and no need to refill ammo or batteries, he could snack to his heart’s content and still have money left.“Save it.”“There’s a place outside the park selling fried meat sandwiches.”“Is it easy to spend money just because you earned it easily?”“And next door they sell pies. The boss there would like you.”Whether I nagged or not, Joo-o looked unfazed. No matter what I said, he insisted on making his point.When he mentioned the fried meat sandwiches, he even swallowed at the thought. That was all he could think about: crispy fried meat tucked between soft bread.Annoyed at his expectant face, I pinched his earlobe. “Ooh,” he murmured, pleased.How could I correct him when he thought I was rewarding him? I sighed and ruffled his hair roughly.“Go. Get your fried meat sandwich or your pie.”“It’s the fried meat sandwich.”“And when you go out into the city, stop carrying smelly foods. You’ll attract beasts.”“Hmm… what if I carry it so it doesn’t smell?”“You think monsters and anomalies have human noses?”“And {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} if they can’t smell it when I sniff it?”With no sign of backing down, I clicked my tongue and turned away.I knew too well how powerful Joo-o’s sense of smell was. Given his persistence, he’d probably pull that fried meat sandwich from his bag on the next mission.“Do as you like.”I climbed the stairs first, tossing my reply over my shoulder.Joo-o, whose ears captured every ounce of sound, laughed and hurried after me.It seemed Cloud’s involvement would continue to complicate things. That cunning blue-haired video was a challenge issued to me.Still, as Cloud said, she couldn’t expose Return’s existence—and for now, I’d successfully recovered more of my father’s records.Thanks to Joo-o sticking by my side. He was Cloud’s coveted good-luck charm. He trailed me, eyes fixed on me alone.“Stop grabbing my waist and climb on your own.”Smoothing the bizarre sense of superiority that had creased my brow, I felt a quiet satisfaction.“Out here at this hour, what are you two up to?”“It’s broad daylight.”“You heading into Jaegang District?”“We come and go. We even slept here a few days ago—why do you keep tearing down someone else’s place?”“What do I care? I’m here all day.”Gil Sajang, who’d been wrenching on the console, greeted the stout newcomer halfheartedly.He set down his tool with a clang and slipped off his grease-stained gloves.“What needs fixing?”“The hook eject port rattles a bit.”“Just old age for machines. Lay it out.”“Oh—and this.”I placed a box I’d been holding onto the workbench. Beneath the plastic wrap, colorful fruits gleamed.When he gave me a look asking what they were, I shrugged and gestured to the side.“Pies. Ridiculously expensive. Someone wouldn’t stop begging me to buy them.”Though the fruit looked candied and not exactly fresh, they were still pricier than most desserts. The brown-hued pastry looked so crisp it would shatter at a tap.Gil Sajang scanned me in surprise, then shifted his gaze to Joo-o.“Whoever grabbed these did better than you.”“You like these?”“Why wouldn’t I?”Without hesitation, he lifted the pie box and waved it toward Joo-o.A gesture of thanks, of sorts. Gil Sajang, always prickly about niceties, treated gratitude in his own blunt way.Joo-o, as if understanding perfectly, nodded.“And there’s one more thing I need to ask.”When I spoke, Gil Sajang’s eyes turned serious. He paused, pie in hand, and studied me.“Come inside. I’ll get something to drink, too.”He inhaled deeply and pointed to the door leading into his home.“I’m not big on tea.”“You think I’d give you tea, you barbarian? Grab something from the fridge—soda or whatever. Tea’s… you know.”“My name’s Joo-o.”“I’ll get one for you too, Joo-o.”Gil Sajang brushed dust from his clothes and headed indoors.I signaled to Joo-o to follow, and he trailed after me swiftly.“I don’t even drink soda.”“Then drink water. You fuss over nothing but gulp down anything when you’re thirsty.”Though he spoke lightly, his mouth set firmly as he rummaged in the cupboard.He must have guessed I’d discovered the hideout beneath Jaegang. Having found something, he’d come right over to ask questions.“So? How’s living down there?”Clack. Gil Sajang placed bottled water and a pot of tea on the low table.Although he, too, lived outside the formal residential zones, his question bordered on self-flagellation.“Same as up here.”“Your eyes crooked?”“The buildings look solid… and the streets at night feel safer.”He’d likely spent his youth in the Central District. I didn’t want to stir lost memories, so I changed the subject and ended up with harsh words instead.I glanced at the plain cup of water and waited silently until Gil Sajang sat down.Thud. A few fruit pies landed in front of us—Joo-o must’ve carried them in.Only after he settled onto the sofa opposite us did the real conversation begin.

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