There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 367 - 359. Favor

Chapter 367: Chapter 359. Favor

[An accident had occurred in a military-owned eternal dungeon, taking the lives of two guards and Major General Han Gyeong. An explosion inside a ruin is suspected as a cause, and so far, while the investigation is still ongoing, there’s no apparent suspicion about human perpetrators. Meanwhile, the—]

Radia closed the news channel and quickly skimmed over over a dozen articles. It seemed that the President stayed true to his words; to cover Radia’s presence and Han Joon’s involvement.

The good--and the dreadful thing--about the dungeon was that anything could happen inside. Even in the most well-known dungeon, anomalies could still occur, as humans still had yet to complete their study on it. Thus, ’accident in the dungeon’ became a popular way for people to get rid of others.

After all, there was no CCTV inside those dungeons.

Unless someone took a mana-resistant camera when they entered--the one the surveyor always carried--then anything, and nothing, could happen without other’s knowledge.

And that was why it became such a good hiding place for Han Joon this past month. But that was also a past now. The black eyes were looking outside the car window, eyeing the military base which held a disciplinary barrack inside--the place he would stay in for the next few years, depending on the trial’s decision. But the decision was not to be enclosed to anyone, because he was a member of a special force.

And that had been upsetting Radia ever since.

"It’s not like you can’t find it some way," Han Joon scratched Radia under the chin, "can you, darling?"

"Of course I can," Radia muttered curtly. "But I shouldn’t have to."

Han Joon smiled and rubbed the pursing lips. "It’s because you’re not my husband," he said, lips curling teasingly, adding in a whisper, "yet."

Radia narrowed his eyes. It was always the others who were more worried than the person concerned. He was tempted to give this man a piece of his mind, but a plain black car had just rolled into the yard, which gained their attention.

"Ah, it’s them."

Han Joon opened the car door, just as his little brother came out of the inconspicuous black car, running across the paved yard toward him.

"Hyung!" there was a mixture of expressions on Han Shin’s face; fear, anguish, relief, and also...confusion, as he gripped his older brother’s arms. "Hyungm are you--are you alright?"

"I won’t be standing here if I’m not," Han Joon answered with a smile.

Of course, Han Shin knew that. There was no way Radia wouldn’t heal Joon first, but that wasn’t what he was asking about. He stared hard at Joon’s eyes, talking with concern. "Hyung...Father is--"

For Shin, his father was someone he barely knew. He didn’t even have any feeling of disappointment, even though other people had a nice father pampering them. For him, Han Joon was his father, his mother, and of course, his brother. Han Gyeong was just someone with the same blood to him, nothing more.

He’d rather have no father than have someone like Han Gyeong, after all.

But Joon...Han Joon’s feelings were a bit complex. He was Han Gyeong’s victim, but he also yearned for the old man’s fatherly love. Or perhaps not love; just a sliver of affection, a recognition. His childhood and adolescence were built just for that. So he had always been waiting for it, for a chance, for a change.

So Han Shin thought that Gyeong’s death would affect his brother somewhat. He was sure the death was not accidental, and he had no idea which one was worse.

But Han Joon simply pulled his younger brother for a firm hug. "It’s fine, we’re free now."

Han Shin blinked, clutching his brother’s back and looked up, feeling as stupid as he was when he was a child. "What?"

"Well, I’m going to be in prison, but we’re still free," Han Joon said, the light and nonchalant tone felt so jarring, so different from his usual firm tone. But the gentle pat on Shin’s head was still the same as ever. "You can do whatever you want now. You can do whatever you want with that house too. It belonged to our mother, so it won’t be included in Han Gyeong’s will."

Han Shin flinched. Due to his upbringing, Han Joon had always used honorifics. Hearing him only using a name like that was...

"I’m not sure what his will would be, but I don’t think it’ll include us. That house, however, should be ours once the man’s dead," Han Joon continued, holding Han Shin’s shoulder. "Ah, you’re here too."

"Of course, we’re here too," Bassena’s reply sounded almost as if he was offended, but there was a teasing smirk on his face once they stood before the brothers.

Meanwhile, Zein wasted no time to raise his hand. "I’ll guide you for a bit."

Han Joon gratefully gave the guide his hand, before turning his attention back to his younger brother. "Now, listen to me well..."

He proceeded to give Han Shin the name of a lawyer, who had the list of their mother’s properties, as well as further instruction on various kinds of things, including what to do with those properties, what to do with any military inquiries and investigation that might come, as well as how to handle some relatives that might come one day to demand some things.

Eventually, he told Shin something he had been hiding for twenty-five years. "On the day of your choosing, Radia will bring you to a columbarium," the man said, his voice turned firm and solemn, with a hint of sorrow that couldn’t be hidden under the expressionless gaze. "It’s where our older sister is."

"What..."

Han Shin parted his lips, too stunned to make more reaction. Bassena too, widened his eyes in surprise. Zein, who hadn’t known them for long, didn’t experience the same shock. Perhaps that was why, Han Joon looked at him when he gave his next instruction.

"I’ve done what I set out to do, but I won’t be able to do anything while I’m in prison, so do take care of Radia while I’m inside."

"Why are you saying it while looking at him?" Bassena protested.

"Because he’s the most trustworthy among you," Han Joon smirked, and continued to pat Shin’s head. The healer was still in total shock at finding out he had an older sister all this time. She was dead, of course, but still...

"I know it must be a shock for you," Han Joon said. He pulled out a flash drive, a different kind from the one he gave Radia, and put it inside Han Shin’s pocket. "It’ll be too long to explain it now, so I have written it here, along with her pictures, as well as Mother’s. Peruse it in your own time."

Zein watched the soldier convey his instructions and said his farewell as if it were a will. He would thought this man was about to die, if it wasn’t for the condition of his mana core.

Han Joon caught Zein’s amused gaze and asked with a subtle smile. "What is it?"

"Your garden looks nice," Zein said cryptically--well, for the others anyway. But he was quite serious, seeing the thorn in that garden gone. The land was still dry, and there were countless scars and some unhealable wounds, but the crimson flowers were now surrounded by a vibrant night sky.

Han Joon chuckled as he remembered their conversation during the auction in Projo. "Thanks for the compliment."

While Han Shin was still feeling the flash drive in his pocket with a muddled head, Bassena watched Han Joon in surprise. "Are you...always like this?" he asked dazedly. This aloof, animated man...it wasn’t how he remembered Joon to be.

"He is," Radia, who finally decided to join them after talking to the base’s staff, said rather mockingly. "He’s more cunning and scrupulous than I am--ah, the President’s here."

Another car--or rather, a group of cars--passed the gate; which meant it was time for Han Joon to face his detainment. The soldier turned to look at his younger brother again, stroking the side of the healer’s head. "Be well. Be careful in the Deathzone--that includes both of you too."

Zein stopped his guiding and held the soldier for a handshake instead. "You’ll be alright inside, won’t you?"

"I have my way," Han Joon smirked, and Zein had a feeling that this man might not be just ’fine’ inside. Now that he had no obligation to be discreet, or to mind what his father said or would do, this man might prove to be more ruthless than Bassena. "Stay alive so I can see you again."

With that cheery thought, Han Joon gave one last firm hug to his brother, before walking toward the base’s entrance where military police personnel had assembled. They were still curt but plenty amiable, and aside from putting on anti-magic cuffs, they didn’t treat Han Joon like a criminal.

The exchange was quick, and after getting the President’s endorsement, it was final. Before he was escorted inside, Han Joon turned and looked at Radia, eyes trained on the bandage wrapped around the summoner’s neck.

He lowered his head and pressed his lips over the bandage. "Once I came out," he whispered, "instead of a scar, I’m going to put a ring on you."

The crimson eyes narrowed, and before Han Joon could straighten his back again, Radia grabbed his lapels and pulled the man for a short, but hard kiss. "Ring? Once you step out of here, I’m going to drag you to a registry office."

Han Joon laughed; a crisp sound that surprised the military police personnel, as well as three of the Mobius crew that came there to proceed over the trial and sentencing later. He kissed Radia briefly on the lips, before walking firmly toward the building; back straight and gait firm, but light.

"I hope you don’t feel too bad, Mallarc," the President said. "You know we can’t just absolve his transgression, even though he did do something good. But don’t worry, I put some good words so he wouldn’t have much difficulty inside."

Radia said nothing, the crimson eyes had never left that straight and sturdy back that now, after more than thirty years, finally stopped being stiff. With no response, the President continued. "It’s too bad that we couldn’t gain more from that place because of the explosion, but--"

"Caishen," Radia spoke coldly, turning to stare at the President’s eyes. "Don’t mistake the vulnerability I showed in front of my lover as a weakness."

The President stiffened, and his staff stepped up indignantly. "How impertinent! Please mind your manner, Sir!"

"Outsider is not allowed to butt in the matter of Old Houses," Radia said dryly, stepping closer to the President while the staff and bodyguards felt their legs got forced back and tied by their own shadow.

"What are you doing, Mallarc?"

"You seem to think that you do me and Joon a favor," Radia tilted his head. "In that case, shall we calculate that favor?" his tone went lower. "Let’s see who owes who more."