28 - Reunion

I stared at Wei's eyes. He did the same to me, then I laid my gaze upon the rest of the members of the Underground World.

The Turquoise Queen shared a confused look with her King, while the Puma searched for answers inside Jieung-yong's eyes.

The police were searching for us. And probably found us. And here I thought my life here wouldn't get worse. Our gazes laid on the tiles and ironed our outfit, everything, and anything to avoid the piece of clothing stuck to my fist.

Who was the person behind the visor? How did they find us? Did they ask someone here? If they did, who spilled the beans?

Those questions enforced themselves on me, and on the others, surely. Because I couldn't be able to explain the Puma's sudden hands on his shealth, the clenched teeth of the Turquoise Queen, and the closing fist of Wei.

The tension was so overwhelming that we felt it sail among our heads. The tense atmosphere could have been cut with a knife.

Our Boss snapped her fingers, taking us all out of our minds.

She crossed her arms, "We've got a problem. And I'm certain the solution isn't hiding on your noses nor your shoes but in your head. We need all of yours."

The tension of the group faltered.

Boss had a look at her new furniture, destroyed for the third time. She gave me another look that said, "That's all your fault!"

My back shivered in anticipation.

She turned her heels and activated the door leading to the Hologram Hallway, "Let's leave this place. It's bringing too much tension on us."

Everyone agreed with her and went through the door.

When the door closed on the last one to come, the Firm's members were behind Nadine Ndongo. Those of the Zheng Tai Clan agglutinated themselves behind him.

There were so many members that the assembly was more of a round shape, even if they tried to oppose it.

Between the two clans was Wei, whereas Jieung-yong and David were next to the Blue Queen.

The two main pawns, the Blue Queen and David, didn't even glance at each other. Strange. But I had other things to think about.

Zheng Tai clapped his hands, "I think we all agree to say that there is someone here who wants to kill all of us."

Everybody nodded.

"But no one saw them? No one saw how that little fucker looked like?"

Everyone shook their heads, then, looked at me with an inquiring eye. Wei crossed his arms, "Yoh Song-ho, what did you see!?"

To be the target of their look made my legs shake, "Nothing! I saw nothing, it was pitch black. The piece of clothes I handed you is everything I know."

Zheng Tai crossed his arms on his turn, "Everything you know, huh?" He came closer to me.

Without thinking, I stepped backward. He came forward again until I could smell his horrible almond smell. I could hear his breath, and it was at that moment that I realized the whole assembly was dead quiet.

He took my chin. More almonds went through my nostrils. The morning toasts threatened to go out. He was so close I could count his eyelashes in the same color as his discolored hair. He was so close I could spit on him, or scratch him off, but…

I can't guarantee what'll happen to your mother.

Should I then let him touch me and bear that monster's face?

"You wouldn't lie to me right?" He went from my chin to my left cheek, "You didn't take this cloth out of your pocket and pretended to earn it right?" He dug his nails into my bruise and I stifled a scream, "Those are real huh?"

Boss put her hand on his shoulder, "What he said is true."

Zheng Tai let me go and turned around her.

"I wouldn't have ordered my employees to scare you off, I know this kind of thing does nothing to you. You think you're too rich for police and justice."

Jieung-yong whispered something inaudible in David's ears. Meanwhile, I grabbed my bruised cheek.

Did Boss just...save me?

Boss continued her advocacy, "Moreover, Zheng Tai, the secret police theory holds water. Well, you have to make a little deduction first. You should hang on, Tai. It's going to be a little difficult to understand."

He shrugged, "Who do you think you're talking to?"

Boss smiled, "Mr. Zheng Tai here thought the police couldn't shoot us. It's a normal thought to have: the police can't exactly barge in without evidence and beat us to a pulp. But... it's possible that our policeman doesn't follow the rules. Imagine it like that: they know who we are but the legal procedures won't recognize us guilty until they win a long trial against us. But they are not like this. They're justice-driven. They must satisfy their thirst for justice." She winked, "Do you know what that means?"

I couldn't complete her reasoning. I shook my head. We all did unlike Zheng Tai but between us, I'm sure he was drinking her words while waiting for the ending.

Boss checked our attention and continued, finger up, "It means that if we eliminate them, no one would try anything on us anymore. They don't have enough proof against us, and if the only one who wanted us in jail dies, we're safe. Isn't it wonderful?"

Zheng Tai opened his mouth, ready to give her a round of applause, "Wow, that's…"

"That's horrible," I said.

Again, each face turned to me. I didn't realize I said it out loud. I covered my mouth.

This time that was Boss who came near me. I nearly peed on my pants.

"How is this 'horrible'? Explain."

"Huh, hum well…we can't kill someone who's doing their job!"

"And what should we do, according to you?"

"That's simple, we're in France! If someone tries to harm us, we just have to call the police who will put him in jail..." I noticed my error of reasoning and shut up.

Boss petted my head. I caught myself standing on tip-toes so she could touch me more, "The justice of the World of Above won't do everything, Song-ho. If it did, I would still be a Prime minister…Wouldn't I?"

Zheng Tai chuckled.

"Sometimes you have to do justice yourself." She stroked my skull, "But to satisfy your dreams of harmony, the Tai Clan and the Firm will ally against this policeperson."

Zheng Tai fell from high, "You're...joking right?"

"No." She answered, "It's disgusting me too you know, but we should get rid of this policeperson messing up with our fight."