Chapter 338

“How did you get my number? This is a burner phone.”

—I managed to reach your brother with difficulty. I got your contact from him and called.

Baekgyeong roughly guessed the path Malcolm had used to obtain his number. Malcolm must have contacted Baeksang first, and Baeksang then obtained Baekgyeong’s contact from Daniel.

After their mother’s death, Baeksang had inherited the position of CEO of Vile Group and was constantly exposed to tabloid reporters clinging to the story of his mother’s death and his brother’s disappearance. Even if the attention burdened him, a cautious man like him would have kept a contact channel open. Besides, Daniel had happened to visit Baeksang, so obtaining Baekgyeong’s contact was not impossible.

Turning on speakerphone, Baekgyeong asked,

“Why are you looking for me?”

—You need to help us.

What nonsense was this. Siron, puzzled, asked,

“Us?”

A brief silence followed at the unfamiliar voice.

—So you’re there too. I heard you were abducted by Hybris, but you managed to regroup.

Like a detective spotting an inconsistency, Siron’s expression sharpened.

“How do you know I was abducted?”

—I was watching the outside from the watchtower. I didn’t expect Hybris to mobilize a helicopter and search boats to take you. Who exactly are you? Come to think of it, I don’t even know your name.

“Warden, we’re busy, so get to the point.”

Malcolm chuckled awkwardly at Baekgyeong’s blunt interruption.

—Fine. I’ll get to it. First, let me confirm one thing.

“What?”

—Are you with Isaac Bazelli?

“Yes.”

—Ah, that’s a relief.

A sigh of released tension came through the receiver. Though he had called for help, he apparently hadn’t fully trusted Baekgyeong as a reliable problem-solver. Slightly offended, Baekgyeong frowned.

“I said we’re busy. Now talk.”

—Come meet me. Hybris is chasing us because of something we have. It’s beyond what we can handle, so you should take it.

Siron stroked his chin.

“Something you have? Who is ‘we’ and what does that mean?”

—We are my family. The item is... data of a sort. I can’t give details.

Baekgyeong met eyes with Siron and then Isaac. A silent agreement passed among the three.

“How did you obtain it?”

A low murmur came from the other end before Malcolm spoke.

—A man named Cliff sent it.

“Cliff? ...Jackson Cliff?”

Baekgyeong’s voice rose.

—Yes. Presumably Jackson Cliff. I can’t reveal anything else. When will you come?

“Sorry, we can’t go to Baggers City right now. We’re far away.”

—Good. We’re not in Baggers City either. Further east.

“Alright. We’ll come to you.”

Isaac, who had listened silently, continued,

“Where exactly?”

The meeting place fortunately lay about an hour off their route to New York: a resort near Ocean Park, Maryland, off Route 95. It would take at least eighteen hours by car.

After ending the call, Siron said,

“Seems like what Jackson sent the warden is a memory card, right?”

“He said the item was data, so probably. But...”

Baekgyeong rubbed his chin.

“Isn’t it strange? Why would Jackson Cliff send data to a warden? What connection do they have?”

Isaac and Siron shared the same doubt. Jackson Cliff was a core figure inside Hybris. Why entrust life-line material to a prison warden? The more they thought, the stranger it seemed.

“Maybe the warden is Hybris,” Siron said heatedly. “Think about it. Right after I escaped prison, Hybris abducted me. This call could be a trap.”

“But it’s not something we can ignore,” Isaac said. “We should approach cautiously and prepare for contingencies.”

After organizing the situation, Isaac turned to Baekgyeong.

“Now explain.”

“...What?”

“Why your phone had so many missed calls. It wasn’t just Malcolm Knox. What happened?”

Pressed, Baekgyeong hesitated before reluctantly speaking.

“I think I caused trouble. ...I told them to upload the Rut Suppressant manufacturing method online.”

The heavy shock halted both Siron and Isaac’s thoughts. They stared at him as if struck by an unexpected collision.

Feeling cold sweat down his back, Baekgyeong explained,

“Before entering the drainage tunnel, I left Daniel a message. Like a will. If I didn’t contact him by the 20th, he was to upload the manufacturing method.”

Siron asked, lips dry,

“So... did you contact him?”

“The battery died. ...And the Rut started.”

His words trailed off.

Isaac looked at him in understanding. Today was the 21st. If Daniel kept the promise, the method was already online. Even if unnoticed, those needing the suppressant would see it.

Either way, the possibility of Alphas surfacing into public awareness had opened. The three fell silent.

“Let’s depart first.”

After nineteen hours of driving, they arrived near Ocean Park, Maryland. Before calling Malcolm to set the meeting time, they checked into a cheap two-star hotel across from the resort where he stayed and observed.

Half the resort lights were off. The terrace, likely crowded in summer, stood empty. Only still air moved across the wide grounds. Malcolm had said he stayed there with family. Given the distance from Baggers City and the off-season emptiness, it didn’t seem a planned vacation.

The meeting point was neither hotel nor resort but a redevelopment site 500 meters away at 10 PM — a place turned into a trash-strewn demolition zone. Isaac chose it in case bodies needed disposal.

With time remaining, they went to a restaurant. The nearby bar and grill was empty like the surroundings. Half the tables lacked chairs; only an elderly couple sat quietly.

The place was dim, lit only by table lamps, wall lighting, and a TV behind the bar. Even the waiter would not remember their faces.

Food came quickly. Burgers, fries, smoked chicken filled the table, and the three finished everything within ten minutes. Afterwards they sat with untouched drinks.

“Fewer views than expected. Maybe because the same post keeps getting uploaded.”

Siron clicked a post titled “Rut Cycle Suppressant Manufacturing Protocol Released” — 95 views, 3 comments.

Two days had passed since Daniel posted it. Someone repeatedly reposted it online. Fortunately or not, it caused little reaction. People treated the existence of Alphas as a prank, advertisement, or spam.

“Still, those suffering from the Rut Cycle definitely saw it. Accessibility and spread — that’s why I told him to upload it.”

Baekgyeong calmly dipped chips into ketchup but soon drank half his beer at once. His phone vibrated loudly on the table. His expression stiffened slightly.

“Who is it?”

“Baeksang. I’ll call him back.”

He headed outside. Isaac silently watched him. Outside, Baekgyeong paced nervously, touching the back of his head.

Siron inhaled unconsciously. Baekgyeong’s pheromones faintly filled the air. Because his Heat Cycle had not been fully relieved, anxiety made them leak unconsciously.

The subtle stimulation kept Siron slightly aroused for two days. He retained enough reason to control himself, yet the urge to have sex kept rising.

“You should control your pheromones,” Isaac said.

“Ah... did I leak them?”

Isaac nodded.

They had plenty of chances to have sex during the trip from Georgia State to Maryland. Siron endured the torturous desire. Though fully aroused, he could not give himself to either Alpha while they watched each other.

If he chose one, none of them would see it as simple relief. And for reasons he did not understand, he wanted Isaac to watch him have sex with Baekgyeong.