Vicious Darling

[39]

Abigail was sitting in Hogan’s office, checking the device screen.

Hogan stood in front of her like a scolded student.

After a long pause, Abigail spoke.

“Both I and the mayor had high expectations for this site.”

A heavy sigh escaped her lips.

“But the performance is… lower than expected.”

Why had it turned out like this?

Until recently, this place had been processing work at the fastest rate among all the ‘sites’ set up by Babel City.

But after this recent accident, the situation had completely reversed.

The construction speed, which had barely been meeting their demands, had significantly slowed down.

‘At this rate, we’ll have to use up our reserved Blue Tier.’

But if that happened, it would hinder the plans of Babel City and the mayor who was moving for this cause.

As a capable secretary, Abigail couldn’t stand by and watch this happen.

Hogan was sweating profusely.

“I-It couldn’t be helped. Because of the accident on the rainy day two weeks ago, a lot of materials and equipment were damaged…”

“I know. That’s why we provided as much support as possible within our means.”

At Abigail’s words, Hogan shut his mouth tightly.

It wasn’t wrong. But after that, small accidents had continued to occur one after another.

The ground had weakened, perhaps due to forcing construction after the rain. As a result, tremors occurred around the site whenever they tried to do any major work.

It would be good if they could bring in experts to investigate the cause. But what they were doing now was top secret. In other words, it was difficult to expect outside help.

‘Damn it.’

Moreover, after the conman Peter was injured and taken away, not returning, the morale at the site had significantly dropped.

It was partly due to the series of accidents, but people were clearly forecasting what would happen to them if they suffered similar injuries.

Even workers who had devoted themselves to citizenship and amnesty won’t work if their future isn’t guaranteed.

But even if he told Abigail about this situation, would she even bat an eye?

The mayor’s secretary was only interested in the glory of Babel City and her superior, nothing else.

“At this rate… Babel City will have no choice but to consider other directions to improve the site. You understand this well, don’t you, Foreman?”

At her polite but rigid tone, Hogan kept his mouth shut.

His predecessor had been pushed out for that very reason. How could he not know it would be his turn next, even without Abigail reminding him?

“Please, give me a little more time. I’m sure I can find a way to improve things.”

Abigail stared at him blankly.

Her expression was unreadable as always.

“Alright.”

Abigail slowly stood up.

“But this is the last chance.”

Hogan, who had been sweating profusely in front of her, bowed repeatedly to see Abigail off and then closed the door.

He wanted to kick the door and spit, but he couldn’t dare do so for fear she might hear.

Only after the clicking of her heels faded away did he return to the sofa and slump down.

Rummaging through his pockets, Hogan pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

‘Damn it all.’

Last chance? Hogan was planning to pull off one big job and then bolt.

***

“Good work.”

As Yuri held out his hand, the silver-furred wolf nuzzled his head against it like a dog.

Even with a wolf nearly two meters tall when standing on two legs in front of him, Yuri remained calm.

How could he feel fear knowing that Chris was wearing that skin?

Even the way his pink tongue lolled out under his long snout was similar to a dog’s.

“Hogan finally called me out. He must have realized that working under the mayor would only result in being used and discarded with nothing to show for it.”

If one is going to be discarded anyway, it’s better to be discarded while holding onto something.

Anyone would think that way.

‘Humans aren’t disposable, and they have self-interest.’

Of course, the mayor and her subordinate Abigail weren’t stupid.

They had simply made an efficient choice.

In reality, what could a mere work foreman do?

Hogan was destined to be just a pawn.

That is, if someone like Yuri hadn’t latched onto him.

“Was it difficult to disguise it as an accident?”

At his master’s question, Chris shook his head.

He really looked like an intelligent dog because of his appearance.

Yuri inwardly clicked his tongue, feeling strange at how he softened more towards Chris when he was like this than when he was human.

At this rate, he was likely to completely ruin the habits of the well-trained attack dog.

“Still, causing an earthquake across the entire site must have drained your ability significantly.”

Chris silently licked the palm Yuri was holding out.

Since Yuri had ordered Chris to make things difficult for Hogan, Chris had been prowling around the site in wolf form.

He caused big and small accidents while monitoring people’s positions. He had to be careful not to seriously injure anyone, and had to manipulate everything to appear as ‘coincidences’.

But no matter how difficult the task, he could accomplish anything if it was Yuri’s request.

‘It’s the first time I’ve used this much power after returning to my original body…’

Yet it wasn’t lacking or painful.

It felt like drawing water from a vast ocean.

Even in beast form with an ability that wasn’t his own, he could cause an earthquake in such a large area. Then what if he decided to truly shake the earth in his original body, with all his heart?

‘It wouldn’t be impossible.’

He truly felt like a monster. No, he had been a monster from the beginning.

Chris rested his chin on Yuri’s hand like a spoiled child and closed his eyes. The soft hand scratched under his chin.

The guiding that slowly seeped in was gentle, as if warming his heart.

Becoming a beast seemed to make Yuri more generous.

There might be issues with replenishing guiding, but the touch given to human Chris and wolf Chris felt different.

‘It seems a bit… kinder.’

If he had to choose, he preferred it a bit rougher. Nevertheless, this unfamiliar sensation was addictive.

Something caught Chris’s senses as he was melting from receiving guiding.

The wolf suddenly rose and pounced on the human.

If there had been watching eyes, they might have screamed, anticipating the horrific future after a wolf attacked a human.

However, Yuri, who was being attacked, merely raised an eyebrow nonchalantly.

Two paws covered in soft fur pressed down on Yuri’s shoulders.

Yuri fell back into the bushes with a thud and silently held his breath.

The wolf overlapped his body on top of Yuri. He was hiding Yuri in case someone saw them.

Fortunately, the newcomer stopped walking before approaching the place where they were having their secret meeting.

“So. You’re saying we should make a deal?”

“…Yes.”

The first voice was unfamiliar. But the voice that followed was Hogan’s.

‘Team B?’

Yuri easily deduced the identity of the other party.

It would be difficult for anyone other than an Esper with special abilities to come to this site. That meant it had to be someone working at the site, but it wasn’t a voice Yuri had heard before.

The only ones left were the people from Team B, which was said to be composed of Babel City’s criminals.

“It’s been quite a while since I dealt with drugs. I wonder if the distribution lines are still alive.”

The Team B member muttered slyly.

He didn’t really seem concerned about the distribution lines.

He was thinking of striking Hogan.

“B-But weren’t you curious about where I got that drug from before?”

Yuri smirked while still pinned under Chris.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one who had recognized the potential of the drug Hogan possessed.

‘I didn’t handle it particularly carefully.’

Chris made a low whining sound and nuzzled his head against Yuri’s chest.

Yuri absentmindedly stroked his ear and clicked his tongue.

He realized that the reason he wasn’t feeling particularly bad about this situation was because of Chris.

The beast’s body temperature, higher than usual, warmed him. He wanted to ask what Chris was thinking as he looked at him with worried eyes.

Chris had watched up close all the incidents Yuri had committed while becoming the boss of Baekyah. Yet he still felt worried… it was truly strange.

“Alright then. I’ll take that as proceeding with the deal.”

“Well… when the foreman is offering such convenience, what can someone like me do? Of course, I’ll accept the offer.”

Yuri smirked again at the swaggering voice.

As the presence faded away, Yuri tapped the wolf’s snout twice. Chris reluctantly backed away slowly.

The wolf that stood up had already become a half-naked human.

“I thought he would sell to Yuri, but it seems he found other dealers too.”

It seemed he wanted to speak, angry at this fact after greedily nuzzling in wolf form.

His transparent intentions were both amusing and cute.

Instead of pointing this out, Yuri responded to Chris’s words.

“He’s either greedier than expected, or smarter than expected.”

“…Should I deal with him?”

Chris asked.

“This isn’t the Winter Continent. And…”

Yuri’s eyes gleamed as he looked in the direction Hogan had disappeared.

Chris watched him breathlessly.

Even with the illusion covering his face, those purple eyes shone clearly.

“We’re not yet parties to a deal.”

So there’s no need to keep faith.

Chris lowered his eyes at the darkly falling whisper.

Yuri clicked his tongue as he checked on the dog that seemed to understand.

The hostility in his ice-blue eyes remained.

“Be good…”

Yuri grabbed his chin and pulled him close. While leaning in obediently, Chris’s eyes widened slightly.

His master whispered in a rare sweet tone.

“I’ll let you tear into them soon.”