New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

Chapter 1044: An Unexpected Passenger

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The group rapidly exited the hidden corridor, the door closing behind them, leaving them alone in the hangar.

There was no pit crew involved this time, and Alex thought this a bit weird, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Only when he climbed into the back of the plane, it became clear why it

was so.

Sitting in the passenger cabin, a Korean man in a grey suit looked at them board with a haughty expression.

"About time you people made it here. And what's with all the medieval equipment?" the man asked arrogantly.

David looked at him, his face turning into a hypocritical smile.

"I take it you were the condition Jack had to accept for us to use the smuggler's tunnels?" he asked, still smiling.

"Wow. How astute. For an American, you aren't foolish. I'm impressed," the man replied, taking a long sip of the glass of champagne before him.

David's smile twitched, and his mana flared as thoughts of beating the man to a pulp crossed his mind. He opened his mouth to reply, but Alex beat him to it.

"I don't know who you are, and I couldn't give a shit less. What I do care about is that you are sitting in a seat that isn't for you. I don't care what deal Jack made with your organization to get us out of here; you are not riding in the front with us," he said sternly.

The man's arrogant facade disappeared instantly, replaced with outrage.

"Excuse me? Do you know who I am, you asshole?" the man asked, getting up slowly. Alex blurred out for a second, reappearing in front of the man, his blade slipping under the latter's chin. His gaze had become icy, and unfiltered killing intent oozed from him.

"I have dealt with enough bullshit for the day, and yet, I still have more to attend to very soon. I'm not adding your arrogant ass to that pile.

"Either you do what I'm asking you and ride in the cargo bay, or I slit your throat and throw you off the plane when we fly over the first large body of water. Do you understand me?"

The man wasn't afraid of threats; neither was he unaccustomed to being in situations like this one. But one thing was a first for him, which differed largely from the usual threats.

The blade under his neck. It reeked of the smell of dried blood.

The man's face went from arrogant to serious as he returned Alexander's icy gaze.

"Boy, if I had a nickel for every time my life was threatened, I would have double my current wealth. I can tell you already have blood on this blade, and I respect a man who isn't scared to dirty his hands.

"But understand this situation. I am not aboard your plane just as an excuse for it to land in Yeosu. I am here because your sponsor has graciously offered to carry me to Europe for a transaction as payment for using our smuggler routes.

"I may just be a courier in your eyes, but you would be mistaken if you think you can just dump my body somewhere and forget about me. Now. Lower your blade, and let's talk like civilized people," he said, pushing into the blade with his fingers.

Alex felt the sharp edge pierce the skin of the man's fingers, since he didn't let it budge a millimetre. But he saw the man was not lying, and his brain did a double-take on the situation.

If Jack had accepted that a person ride with them, knowing they were not ordinary people and would be bound to have stuff with them that would arouse suspicion, this man couldn't be just a regular courier.

Alex clicked his tongue at the man, pulling his blade back before pushing him back into his seat.

"Sit down. And put something on those fingers. If you bleed in my seats, I'll charge you for the cleaning," he growled, spinning the seat across from the man.

Feeling himself land in the seat with enough force to take away his breath for a split second, the Korean looked at Alexander with a teasing grin.

"Ooh. Being rough, are we? At least buy me a drink first, you dog."

He sat down, making sure he didn't have any blood on himself either, before glaring at the

man.

"I already did. You are drinking champagne from my reserves. You better start giving me good reasons I shouldn't tie you down like a hog in the cargo bay, smuggler. I'm running out of patience."

While this was transpiring, David had reached out to Jack, asking for details of the accord he had struck. The last time they talked, Jack had only given him instructions to follow and nothing more.

But, seeing as this was part of the deal, he wanted answers. Taking on board people they didn't know and couldn't trust was a hazard, no matter how he looked at it.

The rest of the group looked at the situation unfolding in uncertainty, unsure whether they should help Alex or ask him to calm down. Even though they knew they couldn't trust the newcomer, killing him without hesitation was a bit too far for them.

But when Alexander sat down, stowing his blade, they collectively sighed, feeling the tension lower a few degrees. They all started seating themselves as well, keeping their eyes on the

stranger.

Feeling all the gazes on him, the Korean chuckled lightly.

"So little trust. I wonder what has got you all so wary. Did you murder someone? Is that why you cannot use the conventional paths to re-board your aircraft? No. It couldn't be that. Maybe you are kidnapping the young lady over there?" he started joking.

But his smile vanished, and his eyes trailed on each of them, the scrutiny making them shiver slightly.

"Or maybe it's the fact that you are being accused of causing an outburst of monsters in every region of the world and are currently wanted for questioning for this matter," he said, his

tone sharp.

Alex's glare intensified.

"What do you care? Given your profession, I'm sure you are wanted across the world. We don't owe you an explanation. I'm still waiting for reasons not to throw you in the cargo hold. You better start talking fast; my sword hand is growing itchy," Alex threatened.

The man focused on Alexander again, and his face changed back to the fake smile from earlier.

"Of course, I am not asking for an explanation. Just as much as I appreciate you not asking about my dealings, I will not ask about yours. I am just making it clear that I know who you

are."

Alex frowned at his words.

"Do you think that gives you an advantage here? Because we don't know who you are?"

The man's smile widened, and Alexander understood his angle.

"Sadly for him, that is not the case anymore," David interjected, grinning from ear to ear.

The Korean looked at him, and his smile wavered for a second.

"What could you mean by that, I wonder?" he asked with a fake chuckle.

"Exactly what you think it does, Mr. Park. Or should I be more casual and call you by your given name instead of your surname, Jun-Seo?" David said in a dripping tone.

The Korean's face lost its smile instantly.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"I should have expected as much when dealing with one of the most informed men in the

world," he said.

"Should I also explain to my friends here what your role in your organization really is? Or have

I humbled you enough already to stop treating us like idiots?" David added with a snide

smile.

Mr. Park raised his hand to signal it was enough and turned his head to Alexander. "Alright. Listen, Mr. Leduc. Although we are only circumstantial allies, I ask that you treat me with the same respect you would any other business partner.

"I'll behave accordingly and keep my nose out of your business as long as you don't ask questions about mine. But sending me to the cargo hold will only cause a grudge to birth, and trust me, you do not want my organization to hold a grudge against you and your friends. "We can be a great ally to you, or we can be the thorn in your side that you never get rid of. How our relations develop from this moment on depends entirely on how you treat me for this short flight. Does that sound reasonable?"

Alexander looked at David, who winked at him, making him smile, and he looked at Mr. Park with the corner of his lips still raised.

"Fine. You can stay in the cabin. But if you disrespect a single person here or poke your nose where it doesn't belong, we'll quickly find out which organization between our two can be

whose biggest throne. Am I being clear?"

The man nodded in agreement.

"You won't even notice that I'm here," he said with a smile.

"Hah. I doubt that. Just mind your own business, and we'll mind ours, Mr. Park. We can both

agree that it is what is best in this situation," Alex said, chuckling sarcastically.

"Yes, we can," Mr. Park agreed.

And thus, the tense atmosphere fell to an acceptable range, everyone sighing in relief. A tenuous alliance was always better than a budding animosity.

Everyone had a feeling that enemies would be something they wouldn't be short on in the future. Making one so soon seemed like a step in the wrong direction, one they shouldn't take.