Ch.98Angel Tip 2

The two rankers of the Association faced Ilsim.

Daeeun was the first to step forward.

With the composure befitting the Association’s top expert, he addressed the Vice President.

“Vice President Choi Nahyun. The kidnapping of Miss Siho was Councilor Park’s unilateral action.”

“Unilateral, you say…”

The sword resting on the Vice President’s shoulder trembled.

She responded to Daeeun’s resolute statement with a sneer.

“So which organization does that woman belong to?”

The President pointed her long sword toward the entrance engraved with the Association’s emblem.

Daeeun couldn’t readily answer her question.

“Whether it’s the military, an association, or even an organization, when a subordinate causes trouble, it’s the superior who takes responsibility.”

Nahyun’s sharp blade touched the stone monument of the Korean Hunter Association.

As she slowly dragged her sword across the stone, hot sparks began to fly.

“Then, shouldn’t you also take responsibility?!”

The Vice President shouted loudly.

Soon, a dark energy enveloped her blade, creating a deafening explosive sound.

The once-majestic monument of the Association split in half.

At this sight, both the Association’s hunters and Ilsim’s members immediately prepared for battle.

The situation was on a knife’s edge.

If war broke out here, Korea might once again fall into complete anarchy.

As the situation deteriorated, Eunchan, with his relatively flexible personality, stepped forward.

Forcing a smile, he waved his hands at the Vice President.

“Understood. We’ll order Councilor Park to be found!”

At his conciliatory words, the Vice President’s sword came to an abrupt halt.

She momentarily withdrew her sword energy and decided to listen to the Security Chief.

“Councilor Park was always secretive, even within the Association. Moreover, he took sick leave today, so he’s not at headquarters. We’ll try to find him as quickly as possible.”

“You’d better hurry. Who knows what’s happening to our daughter-in-law there.”

Nahyun finally withdrew her sword.

Only then could the two Association rankers finally relax their tension.

But they had to widen their eyes again in disbelief.

The Vice President, having sheathed her sword, didn’t leave the Association but stood there staring.

Soon, organization members following her orders placed a luxurious leather chair at Ilsim’s entrance.

Nahyun sat down comfortably.

She wasn’t alone.

Jeoksa, who had been standing beside her, also sat down elegantly.

Following their lead, all of Ilsim’s members began to occupy the area in front of the Association.

Seeing this, the skin under Eunchan’s eyes trembled.

“This… we need to resolve this quickly, don’t we?”

“…”

But Daeeun gave no response to Eunchan’s words.

Eunchan glanced up at him with suspicious eyes.

The Security Chief’s gaze suggested he knew something about Councilor Park.

“Vice President, we’ll keep watch here, so perhaps you could wait in the car at least…”

Jeoksa asked Nahyun, who was sitting beside her.

The Vice President firmly shook her head.

“Jeoksa.”

“Yes, Vice President.”

“You know how much I care for you, right?”

Nahyun looked straight ahead with a bitter expression.

Jeoksa pressed her lips together at her words.

“On the day I became Vice President, when I was disrespected for being a woman, you were the first to assist me.”

At the Vice President’s words, Jeoksa suddenly raised her head.

Her red eyes trembled softly.

“I was grateful for your trust and loyalty, but your face always looked as if you had no attachment to life, which saddened me.”

The Vice President didn’t look at Jeoksa.

She felt that if she faced her directly, she might not maintain her dignity as a leader.

“After meeting Siho, your expression improved so much.”

Having composed herself, Nahyun turned to look at Jeoksa.

She pulled up the corners of her mouth.

“You’re too competent. That’s why I’ve only received help from you, never had the chance to give any.”

“Vice President…”

“I’m so happy that the opportunity has finally come.”

Jeoksa’s eyes wavered.

The Vice President smiled and wiped the corner of her eye.

“It’s not fitting for Ilsim’s Jeoksa to cry, especially in such an open place.”

Vice President Nahyun laughed unpretentiously, seeming a bit embarrassed.

Then she called for Hwangsa, who was sitting behind her.

“Hey, I’m hungry. Go make some ramen.”

“Ramen?”

Hwangsa gave her an incredulous look.

The Vice President immediately scolded him with an irritated expression.

“We’re staying here until we find our daughter-in-law.”

Unlike Hwangsa, Jeoksa quickly realized that her behavior was a kind of strategy.

By maintaining a relaxed appearance during the standoff…

Soon ‘they’ would come.

“Ah, understood…”

Hwangsa rose from his seat, bowing obsequiously.

He hurriedly ordered his subordinates to bring cup noodles.

“Nice weather today~”

The Vice President stretched her neck to relieve the stiffness.

While the Association was busy inquiring about Councilor Park, she basked in the sunlight.

The sound of all Association employees frantically making phone calls could be heard.

Nahyun enjoyed the sound as if listening to music.

But she wasn’t simply enjoying the sunshine.

The Vice President was also worried about Siho, who might be held captive somewhere.

What could they be planning with that small bartender?

Not knowing Siho’s abilities, they couldn’t understand.

“Um, Vice President. I’ve brought the ramen.”

Hwangsa handed the cup noodles to Nahyun.

The Vice President silently accepted it and immediately took a bite.

“Damn it…”

She spat out the chopsticks with an annoyed expression.

“Who told you to bring Jin Soon, you bastard.”

“Ah, well… Jin Soon is my favorite, so…”

“This guy really doesn’t know how to eat.”

Nahyun punched Hwangsa’s shin.

He made a fuss as he took back her cup noodles.

“Hurry up and bring Jin Mae instead!”

“Yes…”

Hwangsa limped back toward the car.

“Oh, and look into a catering service. If we don’t find our daughter-in-law by dinner, we’re having a company dinner here.”

Watching this scene from a distance, the two Association rankers couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

How dare these gangsters plan a company dinner in front of the Association?

They could start a war with them at any moment.

But if they did, the losses would be too severe.

The Association, having much more to lose than Ilsim, had no choice but to appease them as best they could.

Especially with the Association President away on an overseas business trip.

They needed to end the friction without bloodshed.

But a situation arose that added fuel to the fire.

Cars appeared in the distance.

The people Nahyun had been waiting for had arrived on the scene.

Eunchan immediately recognized that they were all journalists.

The reporters who got out of the cars hurriedly approached Ilsim’s members.

They began asking about the cause of this situation.

The fact that an Association councilor had kidnapped a civilian and ambushed hunters returning from a raid began to be vividly reported.

Perhaps because it was broadcast live,

the Association was soon flooded with all kinds of protests and requests for investigation.

The most vocal were from the agency of Jaei, Siho’s best friend,

and the Korean Hunter Academy.

Led by Professor Rina, several students came to the scene.

They were holding long banners.

The banner read…

“Demand the truth from the Association that kidnapped civilians for human experimentation!”

Seah, Sehee, Jiyoon, and Professor Rina pushed through the intimidating Ilsim members to unfurl the banner.

Jeoksa rose from her seat to personally greet them.

“Help them hang it up.”

Men in black suits took the banner from the female students.

They skillfully installed it at the Association entrance.

“Thank you so much for supporting our demand for the truth.”

Professor Rina greeted Jeoksa with a gloomy expression.

The female students also approached, looking up at Jeoksa.

“Is our sister okay…?”

Jeoksa couldn’t readily answer their question.

Instead, she decided to reassure the children with the most positive words she could find.

“Yes, she’ll be fine…”

With the Academy, Ilsim, media outlets, and entertainment agencies all rushing in,

the incident was reported not just in Seoul but throughout the country.

As a result, the Association began to suffer even more headaches.

But…

Even so, they couldn’t easily locate Councilor Park.

They could only watch as Ilsim occupied the Association entrance, even setting up a buffet at night.

Daeeun silently observed the scene.

Eunchan suggested that he go home.

“Security Chief, I’ll take over for you, so please go home and get some rest.”

“…”

“You have a family, sir. You should at least see their faces during these turbulent times.”

Family.

Daeeun’s heart wavered at those two words.

Indeed, after this incident was reported, his wife had called him repeatedly.

Asking if he was okay, if everything was alright.

It wasn’t such a big deal for Daeeun.

But family worries even over such trivial incidents.

Because they love each other so much.

In the end, Daeeun reluctantly traded places with Eunchan to check on his family.

“Let’s go out through the back door.”

“Thank you. I’ll be back early in the morning, so please take care until then.”

The Security Chief put on his suit jacket with mixed feelings.

Then he drove his car home.

“Siho.”

He repeated the name in his mind.

A woman who had hidden and even helped Anna, a Class 1 wanted criminal, escape.

She must have been threatened into doing so, but something felt off.

Even after experiencing that incident, she came to the Association seeking employment.

Finally, she was kidnapped by a councilor and went missing.

And when she disappeared, Ilsim and the Academy rose up.

What was so special about her that such a major incident occurred?

With a headache, he muttered to himself while driving alone.

“Shin-ae Park… what are you thinking…”

He returned to his apartment with tired steps.

From a distance, he could see the bright lights of his home twinkling.

As he opened the door lock and entered, his wife, wearing an apron, greeted him.

A delicious stew smell wafted from the kitchen.

Perhaps thanks to that savory smell, the fatigue of the day and thoughts about Councilor Park subsided.

“You’re home?”

“Yeah…”

“You’re a bit late today.”

His wife, with her neatly styled hair, smiled sweetly.

She was five years younger than Daeeun, and they maintained a fresh relationship by speaking formally to each other even after marriage.

Just seeing his wife’s smile made Daeeun’s heart warm.

He stepped into the home he had missed.

“Your friend was waiting for you. You should have come earlier.”

“Friend…?”

Daeeun’s eyebrows shot up.

He had few friends, and even those he had, he’d never given his home address to.

So who could this friend be?

With an uneasy feeling, Daeeun cautiously headed to the kitchen.

He saw his son Jihu sitting at the kitchen table.

He was playing intently with his phone alongside someone sitting next to him.

And that person was…

“You’re late.”

A cold voice devoid of emotion.

Savage white hair and turbid eyes.

“How did you…”

It was Anna.

The killer who had murdered dozens had infiltrated his sanctuary.

“Is it wise to leave your family alone in such dangerous times…?”

Anna’s white eyes stared fixedly at Daeeun.

Pierced by that gaze, the Security Chief froze in place.