Snake Venom Ch 73

Chapter 73

“You’re using ‘embarrassing’ wrong. Learn what shame is first.”

“Why do I have to feel that toward him?”

In response, Im Sehan flicked Joo Doyoung’s forehead. The sound wasn’t loud, but the meaning struck.

“We don’t need someone who can’t tell what matters. There are plenty out there who run their mouths relying only on their brains. We don’t need you if that’s all you are.”

“……!”

The icy words did not sound like they came from the same person who had praised Doyoung so generously before. Unsurprisingly, the boy froze, eyes widening as though struck in the back of the head. His lids flushed almost instantly, lips pushing out like a sulking child.

Watching him storm off, Im Sehan let out a brief sigh.

“He grew up in a war zone. They kept him in a basement and used him as a black-hat hacker since he was a kid—just because he was smart. If the team leader hadn’t found him while scouting, he’d still be there.”

Turning to Yeonwoo, Sehan gave an awkward smile.

“He isn’t a bad kid. He just needs time. It won’t comfort you right now, but—if Doyoung really hated you, he wouldn’t speak to you at all.”

“He didn’t talk to me.”

Yeonwoo pointed out the truth succinctly. One must say what is true. Whatever the reason, Doyoung clearly disliked him. While they spoke, Sehan had already taken the gukbap from Yeonwoo’s hands.

“…No. That is talking. He’s probably internally conflicted right now.”

Sehan’s voice faltered toward the end. As he watched the care with which Yeonwoo unwrapped his meal, Yeonwoo spoke quietly.

“I’m fine.”

Doyoung had been in the wrong; Sehan simply cared about him. Saying “I’m fine” was a polite way to close an uncomfortable situation.

Yeonwoo had no intention of impatiently waiting for Doyoung to come around. If even time failed to fix things, that was fine too. If one day they became comfortable like Sehan hoped, that would be nice—but Doyoung’s scars were not something Yeonwoo could heal. With someone present to rein him in when he went too far, what was there to worry about? All Yeonwoo felt was pity for someone living with such tangled wires inside.

“And you don’t smell. Doyoung was just nitpicking. If you smelled bad, Suho should be hauled off to the police station.”

Just then, the “innocent victim” happened to step out of the break room. Their eyes met—awkward timing. Yeonwoo cleared his throat and bowed, and the unsuspecting Suho flashed a bright grin, all gleaming teeth and broad shoulders.

“Thanks to you, the case moved forward so smoothly. Really—thank you.”

He had heard similar words from Cheon Wooshin, but gratitude never soured. Yeonwoo murmured a shy “Not at all,” though inside a warm swell of pride bubbled pleasantly.

“I didn’t buy it myself, but please enjoy.”

“Yes, thank you for the food.”

As he sat, his gaze met Wooshin’s across the room. Though he said nothing, his eyes conveyed the same sentiment Sehan had—perhaps even appreciation for how the earlier scuffle had been handled.

Yeonwoo mouthed, I’ll enjoy it, eyes curving into a smile bright enough to erase worry.

He lifted his spoon. The first sip of broth made his eyes widen; he drank again, and again.

He ate in a near-reverent state. How could food be this perfect? How could every dish he tried be the pinnacle of taste? What kind of palate and information network must one possess to consistently choose the very best?

The meat, tender yet chewy, was delicious even alone—but dipped in the special sauce, it burst with umami. Now it made sense why Wooshin had ordered two bowls of rice without asking. Mixing rice into the broth and scooping it with diced radish kimchi nearly brought tears to Yeonwoo’s eyes.

He did not leave a single grain behind.

Satisfied beyond measure, he patted his stomach, cleaned up the containers, and headed straight to the shower. Warm water washed over him, easing away fatigue. The faint headache from the hangover was manageable—no worse than the pain he had endured while taking suppressants.

As suds foamed over his skin, he wondered. Perhaps he handled alcohol well, just as Sio had said? Compared to Sio’s state last night, he certainly seemed fine. Or maybe Sio was simply weak to alcohol.

Idly, his thoughts drifted. When this case was over, everyone would finally have time to share a drink together. Imagining exchanging drinks with Cheon Wooshin, he hummed happily. His grandmother had taught him properly how to pour drinks. Standing under the stream, he mimed pouring, laughing aloud.

A good bath was always the best thing.

Freshly clean, smelling faintly of soap, Yeonwoo returned to the office. The team sat around the table in a freer atmosphere than the briefing days, though a screen was still shared for all to view.

He softened his steps and slipped quietly into the group. Nobody reacted—yet their silent acceptance, their easy continuation of conversation, made his chest warm. He listened earnestly as they spoke. Some information he already knew from Wooshin; the rest he absorbed, stacking it neatly in his mind.

Sio’s phone had three calls from a restricted number; all untraceable. But combing through the device’s memory revealed a file organizing the request details.

Wooshin’s team sifted through the content, drawing connections to the Snake Venom case. They even found the modulated voice call. It was confirmed: Sio was assigned to inject Snake Venom. He would collect something tomorrow evening and go to a hotel. A single delay, and catastrophe would have followed unnoticed.

At that moment, Sio’s phone—now cloned—received a restricted-number call. The disguised voice was calm and composed—the voice of a devil responsible for countless deaths. It gave Sio the precise time and location. Doyoung searched the location: a subway locker and a suite in a five-star hotel.

“The hotel reservation is… just a second.”

Doyoung typed quickly, then displayed a man’s photo.

“Director of JB Soft. I guess charity work and sexual taste are separate matters.”

JB Soft, though not on the level of the Cheonye Group, was one of the major investors in The Giver Bio. A perfect target. Morality aside, he was vulnerable—and he was about to be trapped by a disguised prostitute.

After gathering all information, Wooshin finally spoke.

“We wait until the exchange occurs, then move. Suho and I will tail the injector. Sehan will stay with the victim, clone his phone. Doyoung, track all financial transfers from the injector’s device.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

Yeonwoo lowered his gaze. Everyone else’s voices rang with conviction—yet his heart tightened instead.

Was this truly the only way? Considering how hard they had fought to stop the terror, doubting the plan felt like betrayal. He had no right to object; no alternative strong enough to offer. Bitterness pooled in his chest.

Sio would inject Snake Venom tomorrow and then vanish without a trace. Eliminated. One day was too short, too fragile.

The first thought that surfaced was “recruitment”—but that was the most dangerous path. Too little time. Even if successful, if Sio behaved unnaturally or changed his mind, everything would collapse. Those orchestrating this had recruited many before—any shift in Sio’s demeanor would not go unnoticed. A reckless attempt to save him might become the very reason the criminals escaped.

Worse, they could go deeper underground, making the investigation impossible. Pre-infiltration was also risky—too easy to expose their existence, introduce variables beyond control. That was why Wooshin had only extracted information from Sio’s phone and left him moving according to enemy design.

Interfering with a stage the enemy had already set was dangerous. Touching the wrong part of a web already woven would let the prey slip. One must find the hole—the moment of vulnerability—and strike. That was Wooshin’s plan.

And so a sacrifice was needed. Many had already fallen victim, and more were still suffering. A silent war between purebloods and humans. Devastating side effects. Political fractures already forming. There were endless reasons to act, even ruthlessly.

For the plan to succeed, Sio had to die perfectly.

 

 

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