Dopamine Addiction - Chapter 2

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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2.
“I’m afraid that’s completely wrong.”
Hee-ju’s reply was clipped, but Liam didn’t seem to mind much. As she continued scratching meaningless doodles in her notebook, she added one more thing.
“My parents are alive and well. After Father retired, the two of them have been hiking together and taking trips abroad. I’m the second of three siblings—I have an older brother and a younger one.”
―Mm.
“Besides, there’s no meaning behind a code name. Concealing one’s identity is the most basic rule. So trying to infer someone from their code name is just a waste of time—I thought I should give you that advice.”
―Names aren’t that simple a matter. Even if someone thinks they chose a name at random, you can’t overlook the possibility that it was actually an unconscious act.
“So you have a naturally strong tendency toward bias and preconception? You don’t even listen to other people’s advice?”
She tried to smile, but couldn’t quite hide the sharpness in her voice—like someone flinching from a prod to an old wound.
Liam seemed to share the thought, for his expression relaxed considerably.
―Don’t you think your excuse was a bit too long to say my point was wrong? A code name chosen at random to hide your identity. But then your family relationships just tumble out? Something doesn’t add up.
“…….”
Irritation suddenly flared up inside her. Perhaps because she’d run out of things to say in her defense.
So even knowing that the person who gets angry first loses the game, she raised her voice.
“But why have you been speaking informally to me this whole time? Are we in a relationship close enough to drop formalities?”
Liam raised an eyebrow. He lifted both hands to shoulder height and replied matter-of-factly.
―My apologies. My Korean is still rough.
She shot the screen a look as she watched the man who’d been fluently using expressions like “nine times out of ten” and “it won’t do” offer such a clumsy excuse.
Hee-ju closed her eyes slowly and deliberately exhaled a long breath.
Just endure it. If that bastard causes trouble, I’m the one who has to clean it up anyway. You don’t avoid shit because you’re afraid of it—you avoid it because it’s dirty.
Opening her eyes, Hee-ju spoke in a businesslike tone.
“Then shall we get down to business, Sherlock Holmes?”
Liam let out a light laugh. Despite the hoarse, cracked voice from a cold, there was a hint of sarcasm buried in it.
“Right, it’s Liam, not Sherlock Holmes. So what’s the meaning behind your code name, Liam? Besides the obvious intention to be easily forgotten by people because it’s so ordinary.”
―It’s not a code name. It’s my real name.
Hee-ju’s brows knitted at the unexpected answer.
Who does he take me for? A skeptical tone leaked from between her teeth.
“Your real name is Liam?”
―I use the character for “dark.” My last name is “Ri”—the plum tree character, I think. My grandfather gave me the name. Perfectly ordinary.
“……It’s a good name. The kind that stays with you the moment you hear it.”
Deep in her DNA, where Confucian spirit had taken root for generations in this land of courtesy, Hee-ju lowered her guard at the mention of his grandfather.
―Thank you.
Liam brought the coffee to his lips. His mouth narrowed as if smiling, but the mug obscured it from view.
This is exactly why I hate field operatives.
Every Black Operative Hee-ju had ever met was some kind of lunatic. Sure, they were Black Operatives because things worked out, but with a slight miscalculation, some of them could’ve easily been criminals.
And they all had the same contempt for desk work.
No matter what kind of lunatic the other party was, Hee-ju had to manage them and complete her mission. Unless her weekly lottery ticket won the jackpot, she’d be doing this indefinitely.
The moment it does, I won’t even look back before throwing in my resignation. With the money left over, I’ll hire a hitman and eliminate every last one of those bastards…….
Hee-ju shook her head at that point. This is why you don’t stay at a job too long. Jobs wear people down.
“Let’s get to the main point.”
When Hee-ju changed the subject, Liam nodded slowly as if inviting her to speak.
“We received word that the target has been eliminated. Is there any support needed from our end?”
―No. I left no trace.
Hee-ju recalled the briefing she’d reviewed on her way to work.
Kim Byeong-yeon. A Black Operative whose primary duty was gathering intelligence on North Korea had turned out to be a double agent. The man on the screen had eliminated him.
“Still, it was premature. It would’ve been better to wait until after we found out what information the target passed on.”
―This is why desk work…….
Liam muttered something under his breath, his lips moving slightly.
It was quiet, but Hee-ju’s ears caught it. Her eyes immediately sparked with hostility.
This is why field operatives…….
She held back the urge to throw the same thing back at him and continued in a professional tone.
“If sensitive information was leaked, we’ll need to discard all existing data and reset everything. For example, the roster of Black Operatives operating in Europe.”
―You seem to know exactly what information he stole.
A clear sneer played across Liam’s mouth.
It sounded like she heard another muttered “This is why desk work……” but she couldn’t be sure. His lips weren’t moving this time.
Just as Hee-ju was about to say something, Liam spoke first.
―What if, worst case scenario, he seized the opportunity to leak information he hadn’t passed on yet? Say, that roster of Black Operatives operating in Europe that you mentioned—what was your name again, Sahara?
“It’s purely hypothetical. If we figure out what information he leaked, we can turn it to our advantage in return.”
―That’s precisely the problem with this line of work. You always have to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Even if it makes things more complicated.
“You handle things very inefficiently.”
―That’s how you express praise for being thorough? Thank you, Sahara.
“Clearly your Korean is quite rough indeed.”
Liam gave a light shrug.
The man had made the worst possible first impression. Of course, Hee-ju wasn’t the sort to judge people by first impressions alone, but an ill-boding premonition that she’d clash with this man at every turn had begun to form.
And her premonitions tended to be accurate.
“A perfectionist wouldn’t have left any trace, I’m sure? Because local police getting involved would be rather inconvenient, wouldn’t it—desk operative?”
―Of course. No CCTV, no witnesses. I used a Knife instead of a firearm.
“What did you do with the weapon?”
―I buried it in my front yard.
Hee-ju’s voice took on a bitter edge.
“That’s surprisingly careless for a perfectionist, isn’t it? If you become a suspect, local police will dig up your front yard first thing. Especially if they spot fresh soil—it’s a dead certainty.”
―I did cover it with dry soil to hide it, but I’ll take your advice and move it to the backyard.
Will that do?
Liam raised an eyebrow as if asking the question. Hee-ju fixed him with a penetrating stare through the screen. He knew exactly how to get under her skin.
―So what’s the next mission?
The man brought the teacup to his lips and drank his coffee with the elegance of an aristocrat. Then he turned his gaze toward Hee-ju.
All he could see would be a black screen, yet he was looking directly at Hee-ju with perfect accuracy.
“For now, stand by. I’ll contact you once we’ve assessed the situation on your end.”
―Understood. It was nice meeting—…….
Click.
She ended the call before Liam could finish his greeting. It occurred to her only afterward that it had been an overly emotional response, but it was spilled milk now.
Besides.
“He probably wouldn’t care anyway.”
She vividly pictured Liam gazing at the suddenly darkened screen, unconcernedly sipping his coffee.
Hee-ju shook her head and left the consultation room with her laptop. A colleague from Team 2 who happened to be entering the office widened their eyes in surprise.
“You’re here early.”
“Yes. There’s something urgent that needs handling.”
“Still have that cold?”
“I’ve been taking medicine, but it’s not getting better.”
“They’re making someone with a cold come in at dawn—they must be swamped over there. Lately things in Asia……. Ah, never mind, never mind. I don’t even want to think about it. God, I want to leave work.”
The colleague, muttering with a zombified expression, shuffled off toward their desk grumbling.
“I left at 1 AM yesterday. Or today. I can’t even remember.”
Hee-ju set a cup of coffee on the colleague’s desk. They muttered “Thank you” and rubbed their eyes as they picked up the phone.
Master Asset Management was divided into four main teams. Team 1 handled North America, Team 2 handled Asia, Team 3 handled Europe, and Team 4 handled everything else—and Team 2, which included North Korea, frequently found itself on high alert.
“My own nose is runny, so why am I worrying about anyone else?”
“Worrying about who?”
A response came to her muttering, startling her. When she turned around, Han Sang-jin and Yun Gyeong-ho were standing right behind her. Both had come in earlier than usual.
“Hello.”
“Still got that cold?”
Yun Gyeong-ho greeted Hee-ju with a sympathetic expression.
“I heard you’re going to be handling the Grim Reaper?”
“The Grim Reaper?”
“You don’t know? Liam Clop’s nickname.”
Hee-ju smiled faintly and urged him to continue. Han Sang-jin gave her a meaningful look, but Yun Gyeong-ho didn’t catch it.
Seated at his desk, Yun Gyeong-ho spun his chair around and looked up at her.
“Not all Black Operatives are the same. Liam is famous as a Black Operative who hunts Black Operatives.”
“A Black Operative who hunts Black Operatives.”
“Mainly an operative who executes traitors and defectors. You know what they say—to catch a sharp blade, you need an even sharper one. Liam Clop is the sharpest blade there is.”
“Is that so?”
Hee-ju turned to Han Sang-jin and smiled brightly. The quick-witted Han Sang-jin quietly turned away.
“Among Black Operatives, Liam is more famous by his nickname, the Grim Reaper, than by his actual name. You know the Grim Reaper? The European ferryman of the dead carrying a great scythe. Liam is that reaper of souls—he’s the one who takes their lives.”
“But why am I hearing this name for the first time?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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