FOX IN A SUIT

Chapter 26: Protecting the Detective

Suddenly, everyone's attention was on Ryu, who made a loud noise while scratching his nose. He realized that he had everyone's attention.

"Sorry, guys, I'm practicing to use my loud voice. What do you think? Does it scare you?" Ryu asked, his voice tinged with laughter.

As Aya nodded, she was very excited. "Yes, but even if your feet aren't typical, you're still lovely."

Jiyeon looked blank when they talked. "Stop it, you two," Minwoo told them in a firm voice. "Aya, it would be ideal if you went with the detective to her room so that the three of us could talk in privacy."

"Of course," Aya said with a smile as she walked up to Jiyeon.

As Aya got closer, Jiyeon couldn't help but be mesmerized by how slender and beautiful her Gumiho form was. Her hair fell in smooth waves that sparkled with a bit of silver. It looked like it had a lot of life to it. Her eyes, which were now a beautiful shade of amber, had a deepness that suggested she knew a lot about things that had been around for a long time. But it was her glowing presence—a celestial light that wrapped around her with a magical grace—that set her apart as a mythical being.

"Detective, let's go," Aya said, and her voice had a calming rhythm that made Jiyeon feel better.

Jiyeon gave Aya a quiet nod. She was amazed at how easily she could lift two big bags with her thin arms. Young Gumiho took the lead and waved for Jiyeon to follow. Before departing, Jiyeon cast a final glance at the trio of remarkable individuals—the Gumiho, the Gumiho girl, and the dragon—her mind filled with a whirlwind of inquiries and fascination. With one last look, she followed the beautiful Gumiho girl down the hallway, excited to find out what secrets were waiting for her.

Minwoo, Hye-sun, and Ryu stayed in the living room, where there was a lot of stress that wasn't said.

Hye-sun put her arms together and looked straight at Minwoo. "So, what is now, Minwoo?" She asked with a strong tone in her voice.

Heaved a deep sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "Our priority is making sure Jiyeon is safe." His voice was serious as he spoke. "There are creatures out there who will do anything to get the Fox Bead."

Ryu nodded, and a serious look came over his face. "Yes, I agree. Jiyeon is in trouble, especially after what happened last night."

With resolve in her eyes, Hye-sun brushed off the situation. "Then why should we care? Why should we risk our lives for her?"

"Because she has my Fox Bead," Minwoo said in a serious tone, his eyes fixed on her.

Hye-sun was shocked and his eyes got really big. "Is that your Fox Bead?"Is this really what it's about?" She asked, with a tone of doubt in her voice. "Or do you have some kind of connection with that human?"

Minwoo shook his head, making it clear that he was determined. He said with unshakable resolution, "Yes, it's all about my Fox Bead, and I can't let it get into the wrong hands at all."

Ryu moved around in his seat and looked back and forth between Hye-sun and Minwoo. "Help me protect the detective by staying with me." He added with a firm voice, "She's in the middle of this whether we want her to be or not."

Hye-sun's face became softer, and you could see some worry in her eyes. "I'll think about it," she said in a quiet voice that showed how upset she was.

Minwoo knew that Hye-sun wouldn't agree to protect Jiyeon without getting something in return because she was always determined. "Minwoo, I think you and I can keep her safe," Ryu said, noticing Hye-sun's doubt. "But she'll need a good reason to join us, especially with your no-nonsense attitude."

When Minwoo realized how bad things were, he let out a heavy sigh. "There are many creatures that want to use the Fox Bead's power for their gain. Some can be more dangerous than others," he said in a serious voice. "And for me, it's also a way to elevate myself and potentially achieve greatness."

Ryu nodded, and his face showed that he was serious. "Minwoo, you can count on me. "Ensuring Detective Jiyeon's safety is our top priority," he said with firmness, and determination in his eyes.

***

The detective couldn't help but think about what had happened that day as Jiyeon and Aya walked toward the room where Jiyeon would be staying temporarily. What made her feel uneasy was meeting Minwoo, the mysterious Fox Bead, and knowing that trouble was close at hand.

Aya, who is always there for her friends, saw that Jiyeon looked upset. She asked, "Are you okay, detective?" with a voice full of real worry.

Jiyeon gave a nod, trying to forget about her worries. "Yeah, I'm just... trying to figure it all out," she said, her voice trembling.

Aya put her soft hand on Jiyeon's shoulder to comfort her. "I know it can be overwhelming; being around animals like us can be hard. You can get used to it, though. You are safe as long as you have my brother's fox bead. We'll make sure no one ever gets their hands on it," she said in a calm voice.

"Brother?" Jiyeon frowned as he thought about the teenager Aya had talked about earlier and the cocky man Minwoo's sister.

Jiyeon got a small smile from Aya as she nodded. "I am also half human. An interesting mix of Gumiho and humans. They got married and had a child together, which is how I was born."

Jiyeon couldn't believe what he was hearing. Even though she knew there were other half-creatures like the woman in front of her, the fact that Aya was one of them made her feel uneasy.

"So, do beings such as yourself truly consume humans?" Jiyeon asked. "I mean, you and your friends in the living room."

Aya answered, "Yeah, but it's not something we do very often. Let's just say it's only when it's necessary. But my teacher, the woman who was with us, generally ate humans, especially when she was mad."

Jiyeon was getting more and more anxious as she tried to stay calm. She thought that being with people like Aya would make her feel safer than being somewhere where she could be hurt at any time.

As they got closer to Jiyeon's room, Aya gave her friend a small smile as she looked at her. "All right, make sure you get some rest. Feel free to relax, detective," she told him, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and determination.

Jiyeon forced a weak smile and was grateful for Aya's constant support. "Thanks, Aya," she said with sincere thanks.

When Aya opened the door with a nod, she saw a warm room with a soft bed and soft lighting. "Make yourself comfortable," she said as she moved out of the way to let Jiyeon in.

When Jiyeon walked into the room, he felt a peaceful sense of ease. She felt safe even though she didn't know what was going on. She shut the door behind her and climbed into bed. As she fell asleep, she felt calm because she knew she was with other people on this strange and dangerous trip.