Chapter 34
Community (3)
London.
In the distance, the clock tower of Big Ben was visible, and near a stone fountain scattering rainbow-like sprays of water, children were running around and playing.
“It looks peaceful.”
Standing in Trafalgar Square, at the heart of London, Sehyun smiled.
“They say if you want to hide a tree, you should hide it in a forest.”
His gaze soon fixed on a particular place.
An old, elegant building facing directly onto the square.
At the top of the National Gallery’s arch was a shining symbol of an apple tree embracing the globe.
To ordinary people, it was just a decorative model, but in truth, it was the emblem of the Foundation.
“No matter how much they say to hide a tree in the forest, isn’t this a bit too much?”
Publicly, the Foundation was an international organization that supported artists.
That was why they even ran the National Gallery, to keep up appearances.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.
Sehyun’s eyes turned to the gallery’s entrance.
From men and women in business suits to rough-looking individuals, all sorts of people were coming and going from the National Gallery—though in reality, it was the Foundation’s headquarters.
‘This way, even if players come and go constantly, no one would be suspicious.’
Given their diverse backgrounds, there was no more natural way.
Besides, when it came to art, even if the flow or use of funds seemed strange, people tended to overlook it.
‘And it wouldn’t seem odd even if admission were free.’
Taking the ticket and catalog in hand, Sehyun walked toward the entrance.
At that moment, the ticket reacted to his starlight energy and gave off a faint blue glow.
When he passed through the entrance, an unfamiliar interior opened up before him.
The ceiling looked like a real sky, the warm lobby was decorated like a garden with flowers in full bloom, and at the end of a stone path stood a large apple tree.
“Maybe I should have brought Inha with me.”
Thinking of Inha, waiting outside in the cold, Sehyun stepped further inside.
“What brings you here today?”
Approaching the reception desk, Sehyun pulled a form from inside his coat and handed it over.
“Ah, for a community evaluation…”
The neatly dressed receptionist gave him a once-over and looked at him strangely.
It was an openly dismissive look, as if to say, “A community evaluation? You?”
Even famous houses that came with entourages of retainers were often rejected during community evaluations.
Yet here he was, showing up with just a single application form. Of course she would be unimpressed.
She checked the application halfheartedly, until her eyes froze on one section.
“Is there a problem? Something wrong?”
Sehyun asked with a bright, expectant tone, as if he had seen this coming.
Her trembling gaze had landed on the “Donate” section at the very bottom.
Officially, it was supposed to be a tip for the processing staff, but in reality, it was a donation to the Foundation.
Most of the time it was left blank, and even if someone filled it in, the amount was usually no more than ten dollars.
[Donate: $2,000,000]
“……”
The receptionist adjusted her glasses, doubting her own eyes. But the six zeroes remained.
“Oh, I almost forgot to hand this over as well.”
Sehyun pulled out something else from his coat.
A blank check issued by a Swiss bank.
It also had “$2,000,000” written on it, the same amount as on the application.
“U-uh, if it isn’t too much trouble, could I confirm this…?”
“Take your time. However you like.”
Her hands shook as she held the check and hurriedly contacted someone.
“M-Mr. Manager!! We have someone here for a community evaluation, but…!!”
Calling her superior, the receptionist quickly shifted into the utmost politeness toward Sehyun.
“P-please wait just a moment, and—”
“Wait? No need. Just send me the results later, in writing.”
With a cool, casual tone, Sehyun turned away.
* * *
Murmurs filled the air—
The Adams family’s grand estate.
This was usually a place of silence.
The family head went back and forth only between his study and bedroom, forbidding anyone else from entering. His wife and daughters were rarely home, often busy with outside affairs.
At times, cleaning might cause some noise, but today wasn’t even a cleaning day.
That’s why the sudden arrival of an unexpected guest threw the maids into a frenzy.
Creeeak—
When the great doors opened, the bustle instantly quieted.
Tap, tap—!
The sound of leather shoes broke the stillness of the mansion.
“……”
No one dared to speak at his arrival.
Rachel Adams.
Once the designated successor of the Adams family, the man who had abandoned that role and left on his own.
Even in the hushed atmosphere, those in the know were well aware of who he was.
And now, after more than ten years, the man who had been the subject of endless rumors without explanation was suddenly standing before them.
“You’ve returned, young master.”
The head maid greeted him. Rachel shook the rain from his coat and handed it over.
For someone back after a decade, he seemed strikingly natural.
“Where’s Father?”
“In the study.”
“As always. And stop the cleaning on my account. I’m not some honored guest.”
“……”
Rachel climbed the central staircase, walking down the hall before suddenly stopping.
Whispers rose from the hall below.
— That’s the young master?
— I thought there were only two young ladies?
— Well, the truth is, before the current mistress…
“……”
With the sharp hearing unique to wave ability users, he caught every word.
He no longer felt displeasure, so he resumed walking, entering the study.
Strangely, the study was empty.
Only a single red apple sat on the central table.
The Adams family’s symbol.
“…So he’s in there again.”
Rumble—
When Rachel picked up the apple, the study began to shake.
Bookshelves folded downward into the floor, and the herringbone wood floor gave way as green grass spread upward, transforming the room into a tranquil orchard.
Even a fresh breeze blew through.
Amid the neatly arranged apple trees, Rachel spotted a farmer.
He was pruning branches heavy with ripe apples, occasionally wiping his sweat with a towel around his neck. He looked like a man entering old age.
“Anyone who sees you would think you’d retired, Father.”
“Just setting the mood. One can only retire if there’s someone worthy to take over.”
“You have two, don’t you?”
“You know very well neither is fit.”
Snip—!
The farmer—Rachel’s father—spoke without even turning around as he cut another branch.
“Worthy, huh.”
At his curt reply, Rachel let out a soft, soundless laugh.
His father was not only the head of the Adams family but also the representative of the Foundation.
And the successor position had been promised to Rachel.
It was the seat anyone in the Foundation would covet.
But Rachel had never wanted it.
Rather than sit on that throne of hypocrisy, he had found it easier to abandon the family name and leave.
“So, you’ve finally picked up the fruit, Rachel.”
At his words, Rachel looked down at the apple in his hand.
Pleasing to the eye, desirable to eat.
It wasn’t just the key to entering this place.
The study was only accessible to the head of the family—or those acknowledged by him as qualified.
For Rachel to hold it meant he was claiming the right to succeed as family head.
Rachel understood that well.
That’s why he had come here, after ten years of opposition, to settle things with his father.
“But I have a condition.”
“What is it?”
“I want to borrow the family’s power immediately.”
“Hmph. So the one who ran away because he hated it—what change of heart now?”
“There’s someone I want to catch.”
His father’s pruning hand froze.
“You’d give up your pride for just one person?”
Rachel bit down hard on his lip.
He hadn’t thought he’d go this far.
Some might mock him, saying it was like using a butcher’s knife on a chicken.
But to Rachel, such voices were naive.
His opponent was no longer even trying to hide and was moving openly.
If Rachel just kept watching, as he had before, he risked being dragged into schemes and into a disaster beyond repair.
Besides, Rachel had another, personal reason.
‘I won’t allow it to keep slipping from my grasp.’
It was obsession, akin to competitive spirit.
He knew it, but his pride could no longer endure otherwise.
“If you think it’s trivial, then so be it. That’s my only condition.”
“…Very well. I’ll prepare it. You should prepare yourself as well.”
“Yes.”
Rachel bit deeply into the apple in his hand.
* * *
When they stepped out of the Foundation headquarters, a biting wind rushed over them.
“Why did you even come out? You get cold so easily.”
“It’s fine, not that cold.”
“Not cold, huh.”
Holding Inha’s hand—cold as ice despite her hunched shoulders and pulled-up coat collar—Sehyun pressed a hot pack into her palm.
“Here, take this.”
Rubbing her nose, Inha smiled like a child.
“Did everything go well?”
“There won’t be any problem.”
The two million dollars he had written down wasn’t some reckless show of wealth. It was carefully calculated.
The Foundation needed capital.
It wasn’t easy to gather the vast funds required to govern an entire community in secret.
That’s why they were always troubled with funding.
For them, donations were an irresistible lure.
But the amount couldn’t be too high either.
If outside eyes followed the money trail, their true nature might be exposed.
That’s why two million was the perfect figure.
Anything more, and the Foundation itself might have rejected it.
And how did Sehyun know this?
‘Because in my previous life, this was exactly what Ha Ilhwan offered.’
That was the amount he’d heard had secured Ha Ilhwan the Foundation’s approval.
Fortunately, thanks to the artifact contract payment from Randolf, he had the funds ready.
“Let’s go inside somewhere. It’s freezing.”
Relaxed now that things had gone smoothly, Sehyun pointed to a place.
[Simon & Garfunkel’s Restaurant]
A family restaurant boasting fifty years of traditional English cuisine, according to the sign.
Inha made a face.
“…How about somewhere else? Like… over there.”
“That’s McD—. Seriously? We came all the way to England.”
“Mm. I think that’ll be the tastiest place, really…”
Come to think of it, Inha often traveled abroad for shoots.
She probably knew better than he did.
If she was insisting on McD—, she must have her reasons.
Just as Sehyun bit into the Big Mac they had ordered—
“Mr. Sehyun, correct?”
A man in a suit approached their table.
“Yes? And you are…?”
He placed an envelope on the table and immediately left.
It was sealed with the Foundation’s crest.
“Already? That was fast.”
He had heard that European bureaucracy was notoriously slow, but apparently money sped things up.
Casually, Sehyun took a big bite of his burger, tore open the seal with one hand, and unfolded the letter.
“…What the hell?”
Thunk—
Unconsciously, he dropped his hamburger.
“Sehyun…?”
Even as Inha tilted her head, his eyes were locked on the last line, written in annoyingly elegant calligraphy.
[We regret to inform you that your application has been rejected as ineligible.]
