11 Virtues A Hero's Civilian Friend Must Uphold - Chapter 15

I guess this is how karma comes back for laughing at those useless sidekicks getting caught up in trouble in movies.

Na Eun had to wait anxiously for the event to end, and about 30 minutes after the party concluded, she was invited to the top floor of the building as promised.

Following her father Seok Hoon, Na Eun secretly scanned the less than twenty participants and realized that Assemblyman Kang had indeed handpicked the people he liked to remain here.

As they exited the elevator and the large double doors opened, a new world that had been hidden behind them unfolded.

Although famous artists’ paintings she had glimpsed in books and ancient white porcelain from both East and West were mixed together, Na Eun could guess that each piece was incredibly valuable even as an outsider to this field.

Assemblyman Kang’s attitude of spreading his arms wide, telling people to enjoy themselves amidst their admiration, was brimming with smugness.

He seemed to be the type of person who liked to solidify his position and feel superior through such actions.

As people slowly appreciated the artwork lined up starting from the left wall, Assemblyman Kang, passing by, asked the obvious question again if she liked it.

Na Eun’s eyes sparkled as she said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that she would never forget.

Though it was a boring flattery, it seemed to have worked as an indulgent smile remained on Assemblyman Kang’s face.

Hee Won, who had been listening to all of Na Eun’s flattery through the earpiece, whistled and praised her social skills, and beyond that, Seung Joo’s voice could be heard chiding Hee Won to shut up.

Na Eun ignored it all.

Rather than being angry, her mind had gone completely blank with tension due to this sudden urgent situation.

About 20 minutes after the VIP floor was opened, Na Eun carefully made her way towards the inner area, avoiding people’s gazes.

Fortunately, this floor, designed with the concept of secretly peeking into someone’s study, had many bookshelves, tables, and drawers to hide behind in each room.

Moreover, as it was divided into rooms with various themes, people were scattered and absorbed in appreciating the works they wanted to see.

Her father Seok Hoon had long since taken his eyes off Na Eun, engrossed in some conversation with Assemblyman Kang.

[Not there, further inside.]

Hee Won’s voice guiding her quietly came through the earpiece.

His tone was quite different from usual.

When they met in casual clothes, his manner of speaking was so laid-back it made one wonder if such a thug existed, but he seemed to become somewhat more serious when working.

Even so, he was still a thug.

Na Eun was newly impressed that he could leave such an impression even after saving her life.

Pushing aside idle thoughts, she passed the bookshelves opposite to where the artworks were displayed in the innermost room about five times, and a slightly large wall clock came into view at about eye level.

Following Hee Won’s instructions that an entrance would be visible if she removed it, Na Eun carefully took down the clock, being cautious not to make loud noises.

When she turned the small handle attached to the photo wall where the clock had been, a door leading inside began to open.

It was easier than expected to enter without being noticed by anyone, as she was hidden inside the bookshelf.

As soon as the door opened, narrow stairs leading down were revealed, creating an eerie atmosphere as if entering an underground dungeon, causing Na Eun to shrink her shoulders.

[This is the timeline separator]

…There wouldn’t be any bugs, right? Though hesitant, she couldn’t afford to whine, knowing that a big issue depended on her if Seung Joo had urgently requested help like this.

Carefully descending thirty steps to avoid falling and making sure her heels didn’t twist, the interior space finally came into view.

Wow. Na Eun momentarily forgot the seriousness of the situation and couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Unlike the narrow entrance, the interior was about twice as large as the hall outside, with countless bookshelves lined up like in a large library.

Many of the bookshelves were so tall that she couldn’t reach them even stretching her arms, but fortunately, there were small movable ladders she could climb on.

[Now you need to find the book.]

Following Hee Won’s guidance through the earpiece, Na Eun went to the innermost bookshelf.

The path between the bookshelves was so narrow that she had to squeeze through.

Na Eun calmly searched for the English title Hee Won told her, and after wandering for a few minutes, she finally found a book with a tattered cover.

When she recited the publication date and author’s name exactly as written, a small sigh of relief could be heard through the earpiece.

It meant this was the item they were looking for.

[Well done. Now bring it back.]

“No, wait…”

Having found the book, Na Eun blinked in bewilderment at their request to bring it back.

“How am I supposed to take this out without being caught?”

When she asked how she was supposed to secretly carry out this massive 300-page hardcover, they fell silent for a moment, seemingly taken aback.

It seemed they hadn’t received information about the book’s volume either.

Seung Joo asked if it was impossible to bring out, and Na Eun asserted that she would definitely be caught.

Seung Joo quickly changed the plan.

[Alright then. Just tear out the last two pages and bring them.]

At Seung Joo’s words that those were what they actually needed, Na Eun silently flipped through the book and examined the last pages.

Although she felt uneasy about becoming a criminal damaging cultural property, she didn’t know much, but this must be the right thing to do.

Trusting Seung Joo more than anyone, she tore out the last two pages of the large book without hesitation, folded them, and tucked them into her bra.

This way, they definitely won’t be found. That’s how they always do it in movies.

After diligently informing them where she had hidden it, there was no response from the other side of the communicator for a moment.

Having successfully found the item requested by the two heroes, coming up from the underground room, closing the door, and placing the clock back in its original position, Na Eun returned to the VIP room. She thought it would be better to leave this place quickly rather than anxiously waiting to be caught at any moment.

Just as she was about to find her father Seok Hoon and tell him she wasn’t feeling well and wanted to leave early, a small commotion broke out in the room.

Along with murmuring voices at the entrance, guards in black suits were walking around with small devices in their hands.

“What are those?”

When Na Eun asked, Seok Hoon, standing next to her, made a slightly troubled expression.

“It seems one of today’s collectibles has gone missing. They say they’re going to search everyone who was invited.”

“…”

[Ah, damn it.]

As if expressing Na Eun’s feelings, Seung Joo’s curse flowed through the communicator.

They probably weren’t looking for the torn piece of the book Na Eun had just taken.

She had just come out of the underground room, so they couldn’t have noticed it in that short time.

But a body search would be disastrous.

Fortunately, she had hidden it in her underwear, so she thought it wouldn’t be discovered even if they searched. But then, Hee Won’s somewhat unfamiliar urgent voice came through the communicator.

[This won’t do. For now, say you’re going to the bathroom and get out.]

“…Dad, I’m going to the bathroom for a moment.”

Na Eun tried her best not to show signs of panic as she left her seat.

Leaving the room and running to the bathroom in the corridor, Na Eun checked that no one was inside by opening each stall, then closed the women’s bathroom door.

Na Eun spoke in a small voice.

“It should be fine since I hid it in my underwear, right? They wouldn’t search that far.”

Still, all the people invited here were important figures with connections to Assemblyman Kang.

Even if a cherished collection item had disappeared, she wondered if they would search so rudely, but Seung Joo’s response was cold.

[That paper isn’t ordinary. The sensors the guards are holding aren’t ordinary either. …Damn, it’ll be detected immediately.]

“Th-then what should I do?”

Na Eun asked in panic, but there was no answer for a moment.

Na Eun thought for a while, then took out the crumpled paper hidden in her chest and unfolded it.

Looking quietly at the meaningless numbers and mixture of English and Korean written inside, she said,

“You need the content in here, right? If only I had my phone…”

Na Eun frowned in regret, remembering that she had handed over all electronic devices, including her phone, at the entrance when entering the VIP floor.

If she had her phone, couldn’t she just take a picture, send it to Seung Joo, and delete the sent information?

When she said that, Seung Joo conveyed the reality in a miserable voice.

[I’m sorry I couldn’t explain, but that would leave traces and you’d definitely get caught……]

“Ugh.”

They check phones too? Why so thorough? It’s just finding a lost item! Na Eun was at a loss, and there was silence on the other side of the communicator for a moment.

Eventually, Hee Won’s voice came through first.

[For now, keep it hidden and bring it out.]

But Seung Joo’s voice quickly stopped that.

[No. …Let’s just give up. Just throw it all away and come out.]

Faced with completely opposite opinions, Na Eun was momentarily confused, when an unexpected argument broke out over the communicator.

[Are you crazy, K?] [What if she gets caught? Will you take responsibility for Yoon Na Eun’s life then? Can you guarantee none of those bastards are among the guards?]

Content that seemed somewhat understandable yet completely incomprehensible flew back and forth over the communicator.

Na Eun quickly scanned the situation with her sharp mind.

Though she didn’t know for sure, the content written on this old, worn-out paper was absolutely necessary for them, and it was nearly impossible to take it out now by any means.

And if discovered, she could have it taken by bad guys hiding somewhere here, and in the worst case, she could even die.

For a moment, she recalled the chilling laughter of the brown-haired woman who had pointed a gun at her neck last year at the hotel wedding hall.

Just thinking about it sent chills down her spine, and Na Eun tightly gripped the paper in her hand.

Forcefully suppressing the fear that was suddenly rising, Na Eun asked the two people still arguing over the communicator.

Hey-.

“You need the content of this, right? Not the paper itself.”

If so,

“Then can’t I just memorize it and go?”

[-What?]

Seung Joo’s voice, which had risen as if frustrated, subsided for a moment.

As silence fell again over the communicator, Na Eun quickly scanned the two pages densely filled with incomprehensible characters and asked the two people,

“Can’t I memorize it and go out?”