Bad Born Blood Chapter 339

339
The boss of La Vie en Rose, Grace ‘Diva’.

I took off my helmet and looked at Grace’s back. Her dress was slit at the back, exposing her spine. The embarrassing exposure only stopped at her tailbone.

‘It’s unfamiliar.’

Even I secretly thought that the boss of La Vie en Rose would always be Martina. She was a boss who fit in so well with the gang called La Vie en Rose.

Crack, crack.

Grace was walking. She looked strange in her dress.

“I know it doesn’t suit me, but in order to maintain discipline in an organization, the boss must follow the tradition. After all, La Vie en Rose is an organization that protects pros**tutes.”

Grace said, sounding embarrassed.

La Vie en Rose started out as a vigilante group for the safety and rights of pros**tutes.

The name Diva and the alluring attire were a code of conduct for maintaining the identity of the gang called La Vie en Rose.

‘It must be because of the sense of responsibility that Grace became an unwilling boss.’

Grace must have tried to find a new diva, but she took it on because there was no one suitable.

Even a traditional gang is not a systematic organization. If the boss lacks charisma, it will fall apart in vain.

Grace is a wonderful person. I respect her.

“The atmosphere in Akbaran is ominous. We at La Vie en Rose are also holding our breath and waiting for the storm to pass. That is why your visit is not welcome, Master Luca.”

“So you’re saying that it’s not pleasant from the boss’s perspective?”

I said it indifferently, feeling slightly disappointed. Grace also answered indifferently.

“Personally, I’m glad to know that you’re alive or dead. But the person I know is someone who causes chaos. I’m in a position to protect La Vie en Rose.”

“I don’t mean any harm to you. I just want to meet with Director Jin-Gau. He was Martina Diva’s sponsor. Is there a way to contact him?”

“Chief Jin is still the biggest background of La Vie en Rose.”

I opened my eyes slightly.

“Are you the next government of Director Jin Gau?”

“Are you jealous?”

Grace said playfully. I shrugged.

“No way. I just asked because I couldn’t imagine it.”

I didn’t think Jin-ga-woo and Grace would go together. The elusive Jin-ga-woo and the cold-hearted Grace would be in the same bed? Maybe it’s because my imagination is lacking, but I just can’t picture it.

“The world is a strange place. I felt it this time. Since Director Jin said he would meet you, I will guide you.”

Grace turned around to receive the communication. She headed towards one of the safe houses in La Vie en Rose.

‘Grace and Jin-Gau aren’t sleeping together.’

It was the same with Grace’s speech.

‘And, perhaps… …Grace’s taste is not for men like Jin-Gau.’

Grace is a bis*xual who likes both men and women. And her taste in men is… …a younger brother who she would like to take care of rather than a sly man.

Hmm, I feel embarrassed for no reason.

I followed Grace, rubbing her shoulders.

“What about Ruina?”

I said this as if changing the subject. The Ruina I’m talking about here is the ‘1st generation Ruina.’

The Ruina I’m using now is the 2nd generation that Ivan made for me as a gift.

“It’s not a weapon that can be used in back-alley fights, so I’m keeping it well-maintained.”

I nodded. I wondered if this was what it felt like to ask about an ex-lover’s recent activities. It was so refreshing.

Again.

Grace stopped walking. In front of her was a small multi-family house. It looked like a place where people from the lower-class areas could live on a low budget.

As we got closer, the building was in quite bad condition.

“The building is old. Is it over a hundred years old?”

I muttered as I looked at the shabby exterior.

The pipes leading into the building were so corroded that they looked like they would break if you touched them lightly. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that they had not been repaired and were basically an abandoned building.

At the entrance to the building, homeless people and vagrants were lined up in a disorderly manner. Some were inhaling colorful smoke, and the eyes of those using electronic drugs were blinking as if they were broken.

‘But… … he’s not a real vagrant with no affiliation.’

They were members of the La Vie en Rose organization. As soon as they saw Grace, they bowed their heads and opened the way.

Squeak, squeak.

Grace and I walked up the creaking iron stairs with ease.

“There’s a Jingau store here?”

It didn’t seem like the director Jin Ga-woo, who likes flashiness, would be here.

I was somewhat skeptical, but… … I decided to trust Grace. Above all, she could overcome the crisis that would occur in the lower zone with her own strength.

Well, if my judgment is wrong, then I will have to pay the price.

“If you are my lord, you will know the situation as soon as you enter.”

Grace said as she stood by the door, seemingly not intending to follow me in.

I pushed down on the doorknob, feeling like it would break if I pushed too hard.

Squeak.

The rusty door was pushed open, scraping the floor.

Rattling, bang!

The hydraulics in the hinges were also broken, so the door slammed shut as soon as you let go. If you weren’t careful, you’d crush your fingers.

Inside the room, there was faded furniture and decorations. Even the smallest items looked like they were decades old.

The books on the bookshelf looked like they would crumble if touched. The pigment on the covers had also flown away, making it difficult to read the titles.

As I started to walk, there was a noise from inside as well.

“Ah, the hero of the reversal has arrived. I don’t know if it’s good or bad luck that you’re stuck with me, since you’ve come back alive every time in situations where it wouldn’t be strange if you died several times.”

I heard Jin Ga-woo’s voice. I answered as I walked.

“You must be lucky to be alive.”

“Our lives are filled with pain and misery, so can we really consider ourselves lucky to be alive?”

“Hmm, I didn’t know you were a philosopher.”

I went into the inner room where Director Jin Ga-woo was.

Woohoo.

A faint mechanical sound was occurring.

On the inner wall, Martina’s body was contained in a cryo-capsule. She looked as if she was sleeping comfortably. However, there was no response from the bio-signals reflected on the glass surface of the capsule.

Martina is dead. That capsule was her coffin.

‘Jingau.’

Jin-Gau sat looking at Martina’s capsule. He rested his chin on his hand with his upper body hunched over. The pupils inside his glasses were fixed on Martina.

“You managed to remove the armor. It couldn’t have been easy.”

Jin Ga-woo glanced at me and spoke. His voice was different than usual. It was quite subdued.

‘If you are my lord, you will know the situation as soon as you enter.’

Grace’s words came to mind. Yes, just like she said, I was able to see right into Jin Ga-woo’s inner self.

People like Jin Ga-woo do not easily reveal their inner selves. Even that man was so good at dealing with the world that he survived the chaos of the empire several times.

A man like that is expressing his emotions intensely. Even though he appears to be sitting still, the signals of his emotions are spreading out like a mist.

I never thought that a man who was the ruler of the empire and had lived for a long time as a prosthetic body… could express such strong emotions.

‘Because of Martina’s death?’

I opened my eyes half-heartedly. My heart pounded for a moment because I was so surprised.

‘Director Jingau truly loved Martina.’

There had been no sign of that until now. It just seemed like a capricious imperial power was patronizing and hanging out with women from the lower classes.

‘I am in despair and mourning over Martina’s death.’

When you lose a loved one, the world seems negative and life without light seems worthless.

It is one of the bitter experiences we experience in life.

Director Jin-Gau couldn’t take his eyes off Martina. He ran his hand over his face and opened his mouth.

“Luka, if I put my mind to it, I can revive Martina. Her brain activity has stopped, but it hasn’t decomposed yet. If I inject her with chemicals and give her an electric signal, she’ll come back to life.”

Jin Ga-woo said. I thought for a moment and then answered.

“… … I bet Martina told the director not to do something like that. It was expected behavior.”

Jin Ga-woo’s dry laughter spread.

“Haha, that’s right. But I worry about this countless times a day.”

“Even if we revive him like that, communication will be difficult because his brain’s biological lifespan has ended.”

Even if I don’t say anything, Jin Ga-woo would know better.

But sometimes people know the answer, but want to hear it from someone else.

“That’s right, you shouldn’t call back someone who has passed away in peace to this world. That’s an ugly desire.”

Jin Ga-woo straightened his back. He slowly looked at me. Even though his eyes were artificial, the emptiness in his eyes was clearly visible.

“I didn’t know you valued Martina this much.”

“For someone like me… … the more precious something is, the more I have to pretend it isn’t. Family, lovers, and friends are my weaknesses. There are many people in the empire who are dazzling me with their eyes trying to find my weaknesses. Now that my weaknesses are truly gone, I have no need to hesitate to speak up.”

I thought back to my first meeting with Jin Ga-woo. People are multifaceted. Who would have thought that a man would care so much for a woman?

‘Jingau did not reveal his weakness to others.’

I was also deceived by Jin Ga-woo. He kept his precious people close to him and protected them, but he kept his distance so as not to get caught up in the conspiracy surrounding him.

‘Jingaudo is just like the people in power in the empire I know. He struggled desperately to survive.’

It wasn’t for nothing that Martina enjoyed a long life and died peacefully. Jin Ga-woo’s efforts were behind it.

“The story of Martina and I is longer than your life. It’s been over a hundred years. We’ve lived our lives walking different paths, sometimes meeting each other.”

Even I, who have not even lived half a century, have regrets about all kinds of relationships.

‘The byproducts of Jinga’s feelings for Martina will never end no matter how much you clean them up.’

I kept my mouth shut and waited for Jin Ga-woo to speak. The situation was not conducive to bringing up the matter.

“Martina and I have known each other since we were not equipped with machines. However, as time passed, the situation surrounding us began to become more complicated. I stepped aside because I was powerless to protect Martina. You know very well how cruel the rulers of the Empire are, who try to exploit others’ weaknesses.”

It didn’t seem like someone else’s business. Giselle and I were each other’s weaknesses.

“So you met again only after you had the strength and ability to protect Martina. And even then, you did it carefully.”

“To protect something precious, sometimes you have to keep your distance. If you only focus on your immediate impulses and emotions, you won’t be able to protect what is truly valuable.”

I agree with that statement.

I closed my eyes. It felt like a series of flashes of light were connecting in my mind.

Giselle and Jingau have a relationship. In the past, Jingau read Giselle’s thesis and gave her some advice.

When establishing G&G Cybernetics, Giselle mobilized all of her connections and background. She probably received help from Jin Ga-woo as well.

Jin Gao is a master of the world. He does not take risks directly. He was not even on the list of early sponsors of the ‘Sword of the Empire’.

However, Jin Ga-woo may have been leaking information secretly.

“… … Are you the one who advised Giselle to send me to Border City?”

Jin-ga-woo is one of the people in Akbaran who knows the most about the internal affairs of Border City. He is especially knowledgeable about science.

“I never advised you. I only told you that there was a facility for extreme treatment in Border City.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“It is true that the director likes me.”

“You know, I always said that I like people like you.”

Jin-Gau stood up and stood in front of the capsule where Martina was resting.

Creak.

Jin Gao manipulated the capsule, and a blazing flame was leaking out from inside the glass.

Whoosh whoosh!

Soon, a fierce flame engulfed the inside of the capsule.

Knock, knock.

Martina’s entire body was chemically treated and caught fire easily, like firewood. Soon her body cracked red and then burned black.

Now Martina can never return, not even with Jinga’s skills.

Jin-ga-woo stared at the dying capsule, then turned his head towards me.

“So, how can I help you? Lucas Custoria.”

Before he knew it, Jin Ga-woo was smiling brightly as usual.