Chapter 62: Gyeyangsan Relief Camp (2)
The kitty slipped out of the burning building, its fluffy tail flicking as it dashed toward the west. Even as a maze-like city sprang up where ruins once stood, the cat continued to scamper ahead without a single moment of hesitation.
It darted through the dazzling and intricate city, not sparing a glance for the busy streets, the laughter of children, or the distant barking of dogs. Even though the city’s twists and turns were dizzying, it didn’t once pause at a crossroad.
To the cat, these streets that I knew nothing about, seemed to be as familiar as its own whiskers.
Just like that, I trailed behind the cat for hours. Finally, we arrived at a high ruin with a breathtaking view.
Meooooooow-!
The cat let out a triumphant meow, the sound brimming with a sense of accomplishment.
When I looked down, a familiar scene greeted me. It was a sight often shown on TV whenever they talked about the ‘Incheon Gyeyangsan Relief Camp’.
The camp always looked so chaotic and disordered on screen. Yet, standing there, it was a little different from what I had expected.
Even though the place was often described as a ‘Lawless Relief Camp’ on the TV, it appeared rather normal to me. Not at all bad enough to be considered lawless.
But there was something even stranger about the camp.
No one seemed to be around. Not a single soul in sight…
There really is no one.
The odd feeling only became even more severe as I stealthily followed the cat into the city.
Children running up and down dangerous staircases.
Laundry scattered across the narrow alleys, fluttering in the wind.
Young people sitting together, playing music in an alley.
Couples sitting on the alley wall, holding hands.
Shop owners calling out to passersby.
The city was alive with positivity and vitality.
Yet, something made me unsettled. The ‘Flame’ inside my chest stayed cold, not stirring at all. The subtle discomfort grew worse, gnawing at me.
The stupid cat didn’t seem to notice anything strange and just walked around the camp at a leisurely pace, looking for something.
Hmm, maybe it was looking for an adventure?
Well, the cat may not know it, but it was already on an adventure.
After all, even though they were acting like they didn’t care, those fake humans had their eyes fixed on the cat.
***
The midday sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting long shadows on the floor. The coffee machine in the corner burbled, filling the room with the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee. It mingled with the musty aroma of old wooden furniture and dusty books, creating the familiar, comforting atmosphere of the detective’s office.
Today, though, there was a bit of a buzz in the air, maybe because we were preparing for a business trip.
After double-checking my tools while looking at the pictures on the corkboard, I straightened my yellow suit, tucked away my pocket watch, and reached for the gas lamp on the shelf. Yet, as soon as I picked it up, a small scream came from behind me.
“Sunbae!! Did you go mad? Are you really going to take Watson with you?” Junior No. 1 asked, her face filled with disbelief.
Meanwhile, Junior No. 2, who wasn’t familiar with Watson, just looked at me curiously.
“Of course, I’m taking it. If I don’t, I’ll probably regret it later~” I said, lifting Watson to eye level with a grin.
Finally, I grabbed my revolver.
“A pistol!? Did you really go nuts, sunbae? Are you planning to start a shootout or something? I thought we were just meeting a client. And you know guns are illegal in Korea, right?”
“Look, I’ve got a feeling I’ll be in a sketchy situation and might need it. Haven’t you seen detective movies? The great ones always have a revolver on hand.”
Junior No. 1, clearly tired of me, checked her luggage again.
Meanwhile, Junior No. 2 piped up, “So, where are we headed?”
“Gyeyangsan Relief Camp,” I said, pointing to the article pinned to the corkboard.