Ch.99Angel Tip 3

“What are you doing? Jihu is waiting.”

Anna gestures toward the chair with her eyes.

Dae-eun looks at her with an incredulous expression.

But soon, he had no choice but to obediently sit down as she said.

After all, Anna was sitting very close to his son.

“Have you been waiting long? I’ll bring dinner right away.”

Dae-eun’s wife heads to the kitchen as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Then she brought out bulgogi and stew that she had prepared in advance.

Anna stares intently at the food.

Dae-eun watches her gaze, sending a look that wonders if she would actually eat it.

After all, Korean food would be unfamiliar to Anna more than anyone else.

But…

Anna naturally picked up a spoon.

Then she brushed her hair back and deliciously ate the stew that his wife had served.

“There’s some rice on your cheek.”

She’s so relaxed that she even removes a grain of rice stuck to Jihu’s cheek.

Unaware of his father’s predicament, Jihu bows his head in gratitude.

Watching this scene, Dae-eun found it impossible to swallow his food.

Seeing him like this, his wife asks.

“You’re not eating well today? Is it not to your taste…”

“Ah, no. I’m just a bit tired today…”

Her husband shook his head.

And he tries his best to eat his meal.

But his busy hands suddenly stopped again.

“That’s right, there was a protest in front of the Association today, wasn’t there? That must have been difficult for you.”

“Protests… well, they happen all the time.”

Dae-eun slightly raises his head to gauge Anna’s reaction.

By now, she had put down her spoon and was staring intently at his wife.

“This protest was quite large in scale. There were organized gangsters, academy professors and students… I’ve never seen those two groups working together before.”

The Academy and the Organization working together.

It’s certainly an unlikely combination.

It’s like high school students in bed with thugs.

But the most out of place thing here… would be Anna sitting in his home, even sharing a meal.

After all, she’s a monster who could kill everyone with the chopsticks she’s holding right now.

Of course, Dae-eun could certainly stop her.

But in this space right now are two people precious to him.

No matter how strong Dae-eun is, could he protect both of them simultaneously?

And Anna knows this fact better than anyone.

“I heard one of the Association’s council members kidnapped a civilian.”

Anna answers in place of the silent Dae-eun.

His wife’s expression turns serious, as if shocked.

“My goodness… why?”

“Well… rumor has it they kidnap people to extract their abilities… I suppose the kidnapped person must be such a case.”

Anna’s eyes soon meet Dae-eun’s.

Her white, empty pupils clash with his turbulent black ones.

“Stealing others’ abilities… that’s terrible. To satisfy their selfish desires like that.”

“They probably don’t just use the stolen abilities for themselves.”

“Then what?”

“They sell them. To someone who needs abilities.”

The moment she heard those words.

Dae-eun put down his spoon with a loud clatter.

Thanks to that, his wife was able to take her eyes off Anna.

“Jihye.”

“Yes?”

“Could you bring some fruit for dessert? The Shine Muscat on the veranda.”

Dae-eun muttered in a trembling voice.

His wife Jihye nodded and rose from her seat.

“Jihu, you go to your room for a while too.”

The father asks his son with a forced smile.

Though Jihu seemed reluctant, he noticed the somewhat heavy atmosphere and quietly left his seat.

On his way out, he waved to Anna.

In response, Anna absently waved back.

“You’re a good father.”

Anna murmured, looking at the two departing figures.

Dae-eun let out a deep sigh.

“Haah…”

His eyes returned to those of a Ranker and Security Chief.

Dae-eun’s sharp gaze pierces through Anna.

“So how did you find this place anyway?”

“How? We’ve been chasing each other for three years now. Your home address is nothing.”

“What, have you grown fond of me in that time?”

Dae-eun bristles at Anna’s relaxed demeanor.

But he quickly managed a smile when his wife returned with fruit.

“Thank you.”

Jihye smiled sweetly.

Then she quietly followed her son Jihu into his room.

“Family is such a wonderful yet heavy existence, isn’t it?”

“…”

Her words sound like a threat.

Dae-eun’s face quickly grew haggard, as if weighed down by their gravity.

“Stop dragging this out. It’s not like you.”

“Not like me?”

“You’re usually the type to resolve things immediately when you want something.”

“I used to be.”

Anna looks at a family photo.

The three people in it were smiling brightly.

“But now I have something like a family too, just like you.”

“You…?”

Dae-eun’s brow twitches.

Anna slightly curls up the corner of her mouth.

“Yes. Thanks to that, I think I understand your feelings a little.”

“Ha…”

Dae-eun clutches his necktie as if in disbelief.

He loosens it slightly, as if feeling suffocated.

“I’m looking for Siho, who was kidnapped by Councilor Park.”

Anna doesn’t touch the fruit.

She just stares intently at Dae-eun.

“What does that case have to do with me?”

The Security Chief responds with a serious face.

But that facade doesn’t last long before it crumbles.

“You know where Councilor Park is.”

“I do…?”

“Don’t try to deny it. I already know everything before coming here.”

From Jihu’s room comes the sound of an educational video.

A child in the machine cheerfully says ‘Family’.

With that word ‘Family’ in the background, silence briefly filled the kitchen.

“Just because I know Shin-ae Park doesn’t mean I know where she’s hiding.”

“So she is hiding. Not on sick leave.”

Anna pounced on his words as if she’d been waiting.

Dae-eun, who had inadvertently confessed, tightly closes his eyes.

“Haah…”

“Tell me everything you know.”

Dae-eun interlocks his fingers and rests his chin on them.

He seems reluctant to answer.

“Just because I played with Jihu at the amusement park doesn’t make me your friend.”

This is Anna’s final consideration.

And it’s both a kind and cold threat from Anna who has developed emotions.

With those words, Dae-eun finally opened his mouth.

“I get medicine for Jihu from one of her subordinates…”

Anna stares steadily at the confessing Dae-eun.

She asks him again with cold eyes.

“When are you scheduled to receive it next?”

“In a week.”

“That’s too late. Do you know what could happen to Siho in that time?”

Anna firmly shook her head.

She picks up a grape and holds it up with her index finger to show Dae-eun.

“Tell them you need to receive it by tomorrow.”

“They’ll definitely be suspicious if I do that in this situation.”

“That’s not my concern.”

Anna rises from her chair.

Then she pulls up her black mask.

Dae-eun looks at her with an expression of incomprehension.

“Why are you going this far?”

“…”

“What is that child to you…?”

Anna didn’t readily answer his question.

Instead, before leaving, she gazed at Jihu’s firmly closed door.

“I’m just trying to protect my family, like you.”

Anna left those words and opened the front door.

And as if being considerate of his family, she carefully closed the door.

Dae-eun stares blankly at the closed door.

The next day.

Finally, the Association issues a first-class warrant for Councilor Shin-ae Park.

And they also began a major internal investigation.

Only after hearing this news did Ilshim begin to withdraw.

“I’m sorry, Team Leader Han. There’s nothing more I can do right now…”

Hwangsa apologizes to Jeoksa.

But she patted the man’s shoulder, saying she was grateful enough for his efforts.

Thanks to him, they were at least able to issue a warrant through the media.

Vice President Choi Na-hyun feels the same way.

Despite leading a large force and establishing a base in front of the enemy, there were no tangible results.

It’s already been a day since Siho disappeared.

During that time, Jeoksa spent every hour in anxiety, barely sleeping.

Jisu is the same.

She stayed by Jeoksa’s side and listened to stories about what kind of person Siho was.

“He was a remarkable child.”

A child who cared for others first, even in situations where he might die.

A child who tried his best to understand the other person’s circumstances, even when faced with hostility.

“Perhaps that’s why this happened.”

Jisu pressed her lips tightly together.

Was it only because of such a heart that he saved her when she was trapped in the laboratory?

It’s hard to understand.

No matter how kind a person is, is it easy to sacrifice oneself to save someone else?

Especially a complete stranger?

Jisu shook her head as she helped disperse the protest.

Now there’s only one clue.

She clearly knew about Dohyun.

If they rescue Siho, she needs to ask about his relationship with her.

Then she’ll naturally learn why he went to such lengths to rescue her.

Eventually, the dispersal preparations were complete.

Ilshim’s members got into their respective cars and started the engines.

Jeoksa and Jisu were doing the same.

They were all about to get into the Vice President’s car together.

But soon they couldn’t close the car doors they had opened.

Because just as they were about to leave, Anna appeared before them.

“Anna…?”

Jeoksa asked as she got out of the car.

Jisu is also intimidated by the woman’s extraordinary appearance.

A face that is beautiful yet emanates killing intent.

She swallowed deeply at this discordant aspect.

“I’ve found a way to locate Siho.”

“Really?”

At her words, the Vice President who was in the car quickly gets out.

Ilshim’s executives listen attentively to her words.

“In a week. When Lee Dae-eun meets with Park’s subordinate, we’ll capture him.”

“Where’s the meeting place?”

“A golf course in Anyang, they conduct the transaction in the backyard.”

Jeoksa placed her hand on the back of her other hand.

And she seemed lost in thought, as if planning the capture.

“We’ll need to proceed quietly with minimal personnel…”

“That would be best.”

Anna agrees with her words.

“P-please include me too.”

Jisu wedges herself between them.

She boldly addresses the two Rankers.

“The reason Siho was captured is all because of me. Please give me a chance to rescue him too.”

“Who are you?”

Anna tilts her head at the sight of Jisu, whom she’s seeing for the first time.

In response, Jeoksa explained to her who Jisu was.

But perhaps that was a mistake.

Anna’s eyebrows twitched as if uncomfortable with Jisu, whom Siho had risked his life to save.

“Who are you to…”

“That’s not what’s important right now. We can hear about you two after the rescue.”

Jeoksa mediates what could have become a serious atmosphere.

She too was curious about the relationship between Jisu and Siho, but only Siho knows the full details.

So it wouldn’t be too late to hear about it after the rescue.

“You’re the Flame Swordsman, right, Jisu?”

Na-hyun asks, looking at the three people about to leave.

Jisu reluctantly nodded.

“Then, take this.”

Ilshim’s Vice President handed her own longsword to Jisu.

Jisu, who received it in bewilderment, quickly shook her head.

“How could I possibly…”

“That’s right, Vice President. Isn’t that your most treasured sword?”

Jeoksa also hurriedly tries to stop Na-hyun.

But she shook her head with a slight smile.

“A sword exists to cut something, doesn’t it?”

Soon her smile completely disappeared.

Instead, fierce green eyes flash.

“So take it and cut whatever you need to.”

Those green eyes are as eerie as a snake’s.

Indeed, she was the leader of a group called Ilshim and the master of four snakes.

“Show them properly what happens when they mess with our people.”