Chapter 1
The falling snow turned into a menacing slush as it touched the ground. Sarin, who had been quietly observing whatever fell onto the pavement, now shifted her gaze from the pile of slush that once was snow. Slowly lifting her head, she saw the opulent entrance of the hotel shining brightly, in stark contrast to the chaotic and messy sidewalk.
The hotel, Eden.
In this unfamiliar place where black and white clearly coexisted, she stood like an alien substance.
Numerous hotels illuminated the darkest night, casting light even into the unseen corners. Stepping back from there, the harsh reality of a garbage dump-like scene became apparent.
Hotels fueled by drugs, alcohol, and gambling addiction lined the streets. People wandered in the streets, unable to withstand the sub-zero temperatures. The news of dozens of frozen bodies discovered on the streets overnight was no longer headline-worthy.
Eden City.
Whether the name of this paradise derived from the hotel Eden or if the hotel took its name from the city on the route between Russia and Europe was unclear.
Sarin continued to gaze at the hotel with her still-clouded eyes.
Modeled after the pleasure city of Las Vegas, Eden City, situated on the border with Russia, was rumored to have received capital from the Red Mafia.
True to its name, it was a small independent state created with collaboration between Russia and Belarus. A place not under the dominion of any territory, it was truly a paradise—Eden City.
Despite the attempt to make the name appealing to tourists, the city was already chaotic from the beginning.
Areas with casinos became hubs for drugs, prostitution, and illegal immigration. The once-easy passage for travelers seeking the second Las Vegas in Europe became challenging.
Rumors circulated like jokes. Once you set foot in Eden City, you couldn’t leave the city limits. People lived in the darkness, just to lick the soles of the pleasure that city offered.
Where money flows, shadows tend to follow. As the security situation deteriorated, the city turned into a lawless zone. The credibility of claims that the city was initially established for money laundering purposes by Russia gained traction.
At some point, people began to refer to Eden City as “Evil City” or a broken city.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
A staff member who noticed Sarin lingering in front of the hotel entrance kindly spoke to her, recalling a service smile.
“I’m sorry.”
Sarin quickly lowered her gaze, as if retracting the gaze she had raised.
“If you came to use the hotel or casino…”
While the staff member’s voice was friendly, the underlying message suggested that unless it was for that purpose, she should step aside. The gaze was as cold as looking at just another gambling addict. Sensing the intention even without lifting her head, Sarin eventually turned away from the entrance.
Having paid a week’s worth of rent in advance for a small, shabby hostel commonly frequented by gambling addicts, Sarin hesitated to enter the casino.
On the third day of her stay, she continued to stare blankly at the ceiling, and the staff seemed to recognize her.
Although the hotel doors were open to everyone, there was a quick distinction made for people like Sarin. In such cases, staff or guards would use somewhat coercive language to intimidate and drive away people like her.
Even in the late night, the largest casino in Eden City, the “Hotel Eden,” was ablaze with lights. The faces of those entering the hotel were filled with hope, while those leaving the hotel late at night had lifeless expressions.
Perhaps they didn’t even realize that they had left a part of their souls inside the casino.
Sarin slowly exited the hotel, mingling with them. When she stepped onto the icy path beneath the streetlights with her slow pace, she tried to maintain her balance and touched the cold streetlight with her palm.
Just then, the headlights of a sleek black car, which had stopped at the nearby traffic light, flashed.
Sarin, with furrowed brows under the light, tried to regain her composure and lift her hand from the streetlight.
However, her hand, which had been frozen all day, remained stuck to the iron body of the lamppost when she tried to pull it away.
“Stupid…”
A disappointed laugh burst out as she realized the foolishness of her actions. If she forcibly removed her fingers, now frozen to the lamppost, the skin would likely be injured.
Unaware that the traffic light had changed, she looked at her hand for a moment, and the car standing next to her suddenly passed by. The black water from a puddle splashed onto her body like a wave.
It was a case of going from bad to worse.
“Ha…”
A second disappointed sigh escaped Sarin’s lips. It felt like a sudden awakening. In an instant, the mud splattered on her clothes beneath the streetlights froze.
Thinking she had become accustomed to the cold, she found it too much even here.
“Are you okay?”
As Sarin barely turned her head, the car she thought had passed by was now behind her. The black coat of the man who got out of the back seat of the car caught Sarin’s eyes first.
Standing in the light of the lamppost, he seemed like a giant shadow. As he took a step toward her, she instinctively moved back a few steps. If he hadn’t spoken, she might have believed there was a huge bear living around here.
“I’m fine.”
The man spoke in flawless British English. Without hesitation, he extended his foot toward the frozen road beneath. As he walked with a broad stride, the man looked down at Sarin.
“It seems I should at least offer you the laundry money.”
His gaze briefly flickered over her hands. There was a faint hint of laughter in his voice. It felt as if he had seen everything she did while waiting for the signal. If she didn’t lift her eyes, all she could see of him was his broad chest.
Long-cut hair, freshly severed, hung down and obscured the view.
“…Just go.”
Squelch.
The sensation of the skin peeling off her palm was dreadful. With the spine-chilling sound of her hand’s flesh tearing, red blood fell onto the murky snow piled up next to the road. Sarin clenched her fist tightly and hid her hand behind her back.
“Can you do that?”
She thought there was an unmistakable cruelty in the man’s voice. In a flash, a face, raw and twisted, with subtly contorted thin lips, came into Sarin’s eyes.
Pale skin, neatly combed black hair slicked back with pomade, and, before she knew it, snow was falling gently onto the man’s thin eyelashes. The eyes, thin and shimmering in a golden hue, stared down at Sarin unwaveringly. Then, the man slowly brought something to his mouth.
Only then did Sarin realize he had a cigarette between his fingers.
The man, who had smoked deeply enough to make his cheeks hollow, smiled.
The red light flashed on the black leather gloves. The man, with a towering height of over 190, had a commanding presence, making him the most intimidating person Sarin had ever seen. A vague thought crossed her mind, wondering if this would be what a devil would look like in human form.
He, the serpent of Eden City, was known to control Eden City and seize the pleasures of the people—an almost devilish figure.
The Doberman, Owen.
“…Oh… Woo….”
Rumors circulated, claiming that he raised Dobermans, or Dovermans, or that he earned the nickname by feeding those he killed to dogs. Even Sarin, who had flown for days to meet him, never thought she would face the man so easily.
It wasn’t her palm but her lips that seemed to stick, barely parting.
The faint sound that managed to open sounded as if it were calling my name.
The man drew in the cigarette smoke deeply again, exhaling it like a sigh.
”I’ll pay for the laundry.”
He tossed the cigarette to the ground and took out a wallet from his pocket, pulling out a few bills.
Sarin shook her head.
“Hand.”
He pointed to her hand with his chin, opening his mouth again. His words were authoritative, leaving no room for refusal. The resonating tone was so imposing that it made any thought of resistance impossible. It was the arrogant tone one would expect from someone who had never failed at anything he intended to do.
Frozen with golden eyes, Sarin reached out her hand towards the man, unable to even properly say her own name.
Her sister’s warning not to get involved with this man echoed in her mind.
She had come here, ignoring that advice, and at this moment, she realized, without learning anything, she would eventually have to board a plane back to her homeland.
Sarin held her breath as she extended her unharmed hand.
Her right hand, hidden behind her, was slippery and painful due to the blood.
The man remained silent, holding the money in the air. Snowflakes fell onto the bills, leaving water stains. Almost entranced, Sarin extended her other hand.
It felt like the right response, as the man placed a bill with a bluish tint onto her blood-stained palm.
“Right.”
His fingertips brushed against her bloodstained hand, though he probably wouldn’t notice, given he was wearing gloves.
She felt as if she’d been told she’d done a good job, like one of his dogs. The temperature in his eyes, looking down at her, was chilling. His face, devoid of any trace of humanity, made her realize that his presence here was just a momentary whim.
Sarin crumpled the bill he placed on her palm with a swift motion.
It was indeed a foolish choice. Coming to this place without any plan, she had now squandered the remaining money. The man, already turning away, walked towards his car. The door closed, and the car started moving. With a gentle turn, the car smoothly entered the Eden she had just left.
