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Chapter 24
…No, rather, he had come back to life.
Because he hadn’t finished reading his sister’s letter yet.
Aldehyde read Newnya’s letter with wide, bright eyes, barely breathing.
“I saw in the newspaper recently that the Shadow District has become dangerous. So, stay away from there. I hope you’re always happy.
P.S. So, what’s your wish?”
The rumor that the Shadow District was dangerous had apparently reached his sister as well.
He felt guilty for making her worry.
“These trashy villainous bastards…”
With a face more villainous than anyone else, Aldehyde squinted and muttered.
“Ah… I should’ve just wiped them all out back then. Then my sister wouldn’t have to worry.”
He gritted his teeth, then suddenly paused.
‘By the way… does my sister still think I’m living in the Shadow District?’
That was possible. The unspoken rule between them was not to share personal information.
‘My sister… she hates revealing personal details…’
So, as “Bubu,” Aldehyde had revised his letters over a hundred times, making sure not to reveal anything about himself.
For now, it didn’t matter whether his sister thought of him as a poor boy living in the Shadow District or not.
‘Those who worry about such things are just weaklings.’
Strong men are simply grateful to be able to meet the person they love.
He happily smiled, stroking the white bird until it was marked by his hands.
Then he returned to reading the letter carefully.
“They say the Shadow District is dangerous these days.”
“I think ‘dangerous’ is just code for ‘I love you,’” he said.
The bird tapped the floor with its beak as if to say it was pathetic.
“Whi-woong…”
…Why does it feel like it’s sighing? This bird is weird.
Ignoring the bird, Aldehyde diligently wrote every word.
His wish was only one.
“My wish… is to meet my sister!”
‘If I meet my sister, maybe I’ll understand why I feel this way about Lyrie.’
Thinking that, he drew a small picture of himself wearing a puppy headband under the note.
It was, as always, extremely cute.
After finishing his little signature display of cuteness,
He smiled with satisfaction and tied the letter to the white bird’s leg.
The bird chirped as if it finally understood and gently nudged him with its beak.
“Good job.”
“Chiiing.”
“Be careful.”
The white bird pecked the air and gracefully flew into the sky.
Aldehyde watched it soar into the distance, frowning slightly.
‘Where on earth is it going?’
The bird’s path couldn’t be tracked, and even if he wanted to, there was no way to know. But still…
‘Will my sister meet me?’
Over that question, his sister’s back slowly appeared in his mind.
His heart raced wildly. And at that moment, over the image of his sister, Lyrie gently appeared in his mind.
“Wha… what?”
Why did he keep imagining this when there was no clue?
“This is driving me crazy… No, it isn’t, really!”
Trying to ignore the two “garbage” hearts, he went out to the Shadow District that night.
That night, he disciplined over fifty thugs.
Still, his heart raced uncontrollably.
“Wait… so the puppy rescued from the ship is… unusual?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve documented the details in the report.”
In the emperor’s office, the emperor was alone with the veterinarian who cared for the puppy.
The emperor glanced between the report and the veterinarian, swallowing.
“Hmm…”
“…?”
“Huh.”
“…Your Majesty?”
The emperor muttered, lowering the documents as if he couldn’t concentrate.
“Vet, did you always have so little hair?”
It made sense; the vet’s head, brought in for the report, was so shiny it almost seemed unnatural.
The vet muttered cautiously.
“Well… actually, that’s why I requested a private audience, Your Majesty.”
“…Oh? Because of your hair health? How intriguing.”
The chamberlain sighed quietly beside them, but the emperor’s eyes sparkled.
The vet gestured helplessly.
“No! It’s not that! Whenever I’m near the puppy, my wig keeps falling off. The assistant vet lost his dentures too.”
The chamberlain stared at the vet in disbelief, but the emperor seemed thoroughly intrigued.
Clutching a mysterious snack container to his chest, he clenched his fists in excitement.
“Is that so? Tell me more.”
“Whenever I’m near this puppy, it feels like I must confess everything, as if in some strange confession. Lies and deception feel like they must be destroyed, and I must speak raw truth.”
The emperor tilted his head, muttering.
“This warrants further study, perhaps?”
“Yes, indeed. Since it’s a puppy that survived many illegal experiments, I suspect it might possess some mysterious abilities.”
The emperor thought carefully.
According to Aldehyde’s report, the gang who made illegal stabilizers committed countless crimes.
So, the puppy that survived their experiments might have gained some special power.
“What kind of mysterious ability exactly? Aside from making your wig fall off or stealing dentures.”
“Being near the puppy makes it feel like someone is demanding I reveal my true self. It’s an odd feeling, as if compelled to speak only the unvarnished truth.”
“Hmm, I see. Study the puppy further, then.”
“Yes! I will study it.”
After the vet’s final report, the emperor stroked his chin and joked lightly.
“Yes. If the puppy regains consciousness, perhaps some hidden truths might be revealed? Fascinating.”
Simultaneously, the emperor gestured to the vet to leave.
The simple emperor half-dismissed the puppy story as trivial.
The next morning, the imperial knights were puzzled.
“Wow, why was the mad dog so excited?”
“Yeah… the human trafficking gang seems completely wiped out now.”
“They even carried out a purge operation. They were frustrated because they couldn’t reach the top of the paper company.”
During the mealtime in the knights’ cafeteria, Fendy muttered.
“Soon, even the bad guys will seem pitiful…”
I nodded in agreement.
‘The mad dog Aldehyde is unstoppable.’
But I was more concerned about something else.
I hadn’t replied to Bubu’s letter delivered by the white bird last night.
I couldn’t respond impulsively to a request to meet.
Still, the letter itself was precious…
“Shadow District? I don’t go there! It’s dangerous!!
Ah, I go very occasionally…
Almost never, really!!”
‘This fool… I can tell he’s trying to lie even though he can’t lie.’
So naïve… how does he plan to survive in this harsh world?
‘Who will take care of innocent Bubu after I die?’
As I sighed deeply, Aldehyde entered.
“What’s everyone doing? Who’s the mad dog?”
…Whoa, his expression alone is terrifying. Even though I judged he wasn’t suspicious, the burning glare alone makes me instinctively wary.
Paul and Fendy clamped their mouths shut as they looked at him, already terrified.
I was the only one left not frozen, so I had to step forward.
“Sorry, we were just talking among ourselves…”
At that moment, Aldehyde narrowed his eyes.
“…You.”
“Yes?”
His strange gaze fell on me, then he looked away.
“You… didn’t join them, did you?”
“…?”
I had nodded when he said “mad dog,” but I cowardly answered.
“Yes, I didn’t.”
“Then eat. Finish it.”
Paul dropped his spoon.
He glanced alternately at me and Aldehyde with a face that had lost its appetite, muttering,
“Is this a dream?”
Then Aldehyde said eerily,
“A dream? Shall I let you dream forever?”
“Ah, why only me?”
“It’s not only you. I scold everyone.”
“Oh… well, that’s true.”
They’re really having fun. It’s not even a comedy routine.
But strangely, listening to their conversation made me laugh without reason.
‘It’s been a while since I laughed so pointlessly.’
While glancing at them and chuckling, the hairless vet came running out in a panic.
“Ah, Aldehyde! There’s a big problem!”
Everyone’s gaze turned to the vet.
But…
‘What’s that big bag on his shoulder?’
