The Saint Wants to Rest - Chapter 28.1
“Do we really have to believe that?”
A few reporters spoke as if they were flabbergasted, yet there was nothing they could do even if they didn’t believe it. At first, only Stigma had been running wild, but now Phoenix had joined them. On top of that, with the Management Bureau stepping in, one had to stake their life to dig any further into Ian.
“Even if it is a lie, we have to believe it.”
A person beside them, who was drafting an article stating that Choi Jae-heon’s younger brother, Choi Ian, possessed talent as a healer, replied.
“That is true, but… something feels off.”
“Farewell then. I won’t see you out.”
“No, I don’t intend to do anything more either!”
That was how the situation unfolded. And at that moment, Vermouth drove a wedge in with a sorrowful expression.
“To consume a savior of lives as the subject of a scandal and coat them in filthy imaginings. Is South Korea a country so lacking in courtesy toward its heroes?”
With that single remark, public opinion flipped 180 degrees.
People who had been shouting about a “dissolute private life” instantly became “sinners who insulted a savior.” Vermouth’s cult-like fandom, [Verguard], moved to purify internet sentiment, and Ian suddenly began to be revered as a “hidden hero.”
Thus, the controversy surrounding Ian died down.
However, the insides of the two men were burning black. No matter how much they suppressed public opinion and cleared away the trash, Ian, the very person who should have walked back down that path, was nowhere to be seen.
“You mean to tell me you still haven’t found him?”
Kwang!
Choi Jae-heon slammed the desk. The high-end solid wood desk split in half. The private investigator in charge of tracking Ian bowed his head with a face turned pale.
“I, I am sorry. We have searched through credit card statements, CCTV, communication logs, and even transportation card usage history, but there isn’t a single trace. It is as if he has evaporated.”
Other investigators gave similar answers. Believing they couldn’t find Ian through legal means, they even used dark channels, but it was useless. As things turned out this way, suspicion naturally fell on one person. When they were young, there was someone Ian would often run to when he was angry.
‘Hong Seo-yun.’
However, contact with him had been cut off for a week now. According to the official announcement from Phoenix, he had entered an un-cleared gate in Gangwon Province. Yet, why did that feel like a lie?
Hong Seo-yun cherished Ian like a younger brother. For such a guy to suddenly enter a gate that takes a long time to clear right when Ian disappeared? It didn’t make sense.
Choi Jae-heon stopped being angry and leaned back in his chair. Still, if Hong Seo-yun truly was helping Ian hide, that would be better. It would mean he was safe.
“So, what is that fellow Vermouth doing?”
The investigator’s eyes rolled around.
“Well, about that. He has been showing some strange behavior.”
“Strange behavior?”
“Yes, he reportedly rented out the entire top floor of L-Tower in Jamsil.”
“…Why would he rent that?”
“I heard him say it was to pray. Tsk, isn’t that a bit strange? Who on earth rents such an expensive place just to pray.”
“…Madman.”
“Right! He seems truly insane!”
Choi Jae-heon pressed his hand to his forehead at the rising headache.
At the same time, the night sky of Seoul was gradually being stained with an eerie golden light. Vermouth stood at the very tip of L-Tower’s spire, looking down. The night view of Seoul spread out beneath his feet like stardust, but nothing entered his sight.
Every night, he was opening up his vast divine power to sweep through the entirety of Seoul.
Woooong—
A massive golden aurora spread out centered around L-Tower. Citizens looked at the beautiful light decorating the night sky and felt uneasy, calling it an ominous phenomenon. Some even took photos of the scene they witnessed.
“Mr. Ian, where are you?”
The longer the time Ian remained unseen, the more anxiety Vermouth felt. Ian already had a history of escaping by jumping across dimensions to avoid Vermouth.
Since he had family here, he likely wouldn’t move to another dimension, but even knowing that, anxiety pricked Vermouth like a thorn.
It had been a week since Ian disappeared.
The patience of the two men was gradually reaching its bottom.
***
Ian was lying on a fluffy sofa, blankly watching TV. He had a large container of potato chips tucked under his arm and didn’t forget the cola.
“No, what a bad guy.”
It had been a week since he holed up in Hong Seo-yun’s hidden villa. Ian had mastered every single “makjang” Korean drama. The one he was watching now was an old one, and the man was a total bastard. He had a legal wife but was having an affair. Even when caught in the act, the man was nothing but brazen.
—Why can’t the three of us just live together!
Ian didn’t know why the man was looking for polygamy in Korea.
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