episode_0017

17.

-Would you like to depart for the ‘Next Floor: Awakening Management Office’?

“Let’s go. Right now.”

-Let’s go.

Kang Mi-young checked her wristwatch as she got on the elevator.

About 16:30.

It was so delayed.

Those who went to the upper floor first.

I found myself feeling anxious.

I tapped the floor with my foot to tell the elevator to go up quickly.

‘It’s like leaving a cat in charge of a freshly caught fish. I’m crazy.’

Her original plan was to arrive at the association as soon as the sun rose. The problem was that the crowds were larger than expected, and her plans went awry from the start.

“Hey, isn’t it pretty?”

Lieutenant Min said.

It was a case where we joined as time went by.

“What do you mean?”

“Sunset.”

Lieutenant Min pointed to the window.

The sun is slowly setting.

Is it evening already? Kang Mi-young swept her chin with her hand.

‘By the way, have you eaten? I guess it would be okay to eat together. Should I say dinner? Or lunch? What do they call that these days… … I might be making a fool of myself.’

Lee Seong-han is that kind of man.

He’s a crazy guy who says he doesn’t like things, but if you give him a task, he’ll figure out how to solve it.

From her perspective, he seemed like a ‘true soldier who faithfully carried out his duties.’

There is no way his judgment could be wrong.

The results shown so far have proven this.

‘This isn’t something that should waste time like this.’

It was 9 AM when Lee Seong-han went upstairs to get his driver’s license.

I thought they were having a conversation.

There has been no news for several hours. Is he arguing with the association president? He is not the kind of person to do that. At least not Lee Seong-han.

‘Kang Jin-young. If that girl has a twisted personality, then that’s a big possibility.’

That’s stupid.

Nothing good will come of giving up.

Public figures must know that they represent the organization.

Of course, that girl always acted immaturely.

Like a lunatic who would die if there was no interest.

Tiring ringing─

“Who is it at this hour?”

What broke my thoughts was the sound of a bell. An old trot song was playing.

Lieutenant Min took out his smartphone.

All of Kang Mi-young’s electronic devices were taken care of by her adjutant because they were too bothersome to manage.

“Major. This is your call.”

“Who is it?”

Lieutenant Min checked the caller and then became lost in thought.

“It says Chairman Kang.”

“… … cut it off.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to break up?”

“Even if you give me hundreds of billions, I don’t want to deal with this person. I even blocked him. Block him.”

“Ah, I see.”

I feel even more nervous today.

My clenched fist began to tremble.

The call was disconnected. It was also blocked.

The discomfort inside Kang Mi-young still remained.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s okay.”

“Your face is as pale as a ghost!”

“I feel bad because I remember the old days. My father lived as if he was planting his feet in the association building.”

Lieutenant Min exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh. Was your father a hunter?!”

“My father was active in the very early days. He died during his activities. He was a good person.”

Lieutenant Min swept under his nose.

“… I’m sorry. I’m talking nonsense again.”

“Done.”

The past is a starting point for self-reflection.

But Kang Mi-young was different.

She turned her back on the past.

Because I didn’t want to know myself.

Every time my self-consciousness grows stronger, I start to regret my past self.

“I’m tired.”

Kang Mi-young endlessly pursued the right path.

I believed that was right.

Cut down the enemy with a sword.

Build up your power.

Gained strength.

Came to the top.

I’ve always lived to climb. I’ve struggled and fought, but now that I’ve reached the top, there’s nowhere else to go.

If you just sit still, you’ll gradually become worn out.

Like stagnant water that rots.

Kang Mi-young snatched Lieutenant Min’s cigarette cynically.

“Smoking is bad for your health.”

“Huh, huh huh?! How did you know!”

“There is a way. I’ve been saying that since long ago, but you still don’t listen.”

“Ah, this is the beginning of the year!”

“Whether it’s a cigarette or an e-cigarette. It’s all the same. Don’t bother me.”

Kang Mi-young let out a sigh.

“… … You’ve arrived. This is confiscated until you return.”

I’m not used to this kind of static atmosphere.

Every time something like this happens,

“All. Armed.”

Something ominous has happened.

* * *

Awakening Management Agency.

It is the highest department in the Republic of Korea that advises and manages the personal lives of all awakened people and national policies.

Even the association’s senior members don’t dare touch the gold badges.

That’s the Awakening Management Office.

Lee Seong-han was on his way there.

“This is nerve-wracking. Are you okay, Agent?”

“Me too. Where is the person who doesn’t get nervous?”

This is a place where confidentiality is essential.

Bringing in an outsider other than someone you can trust and leave it to?

That’s ridiculous.

That doesn’t happen very often.

That’s also why we are on high alert as soon as we reach the top floor.

“I don’t feel well.”

“I think so too.”

Such intuition appeared to be common.

That thought became firm as the elevator doors opened.

Pitch black filled the hallway.

It’s an artificial shadow magic. It’s a magic used when hiding and strict security are required. The Awakening Management Agency would probably need it too.

Lee Seong-han asked, holding the dagger in his hand.

“Do you feel anything?”

Kang Jin-young shook his head.

“None.”

“No matter how you look at it, it’s still strange.”

“I know. This is going to be tiring. Mr. Chairman. You know how different that person’s personality is, right?”

Lee Seong-han nodded his head.

As expected, he committed all sorts of heinous acts and frequented the court as if it were his own home.

“Is the license issuance originally… …like this? I don’t know because it’s my first time.”

“No way.”

Kang Jin-young’s expression was clearly one of embarrassment.

A hunter’s license is issued simply by submitting the application and documents.

This is the first time in my life that something like this has happened.

“You must have heard something from the National Intelligence Service, right?”

“Of course. Even looking at it this way, I’m in charge of one part of 10 countries. How could I not know?”

“I don’t know.”

Are you stupid?

Lee Seong-han stretched his arm into the shadows.

‘reconnaissance.’

The surroundings become brighter.

Lee Seonghan obtained the ‘Trait Growth Ticket’ as a reward for conquering the 1.5th floor – the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.

A cheat item that allows you to level up your skills for free. Super-Recon has got that glorious opportunity.

[No hostile targets identified.]

‘Swoop, that’s dirty. My entire radar is on red alert.’

Lee Seong-han shook his head.

Even if you say that, the unpleasant feeling doesn’t go away.

I can’t tolerate even a 1% chance. Moreover, it’s a hunter license that advances the discharge by 2 months.

It was a hidden piece that was too good to give up.

[Target found.]

[‘Human’.]

“Who is coming?”

Lee Seong-han said.

Again, again, again.

The sound of shoes in the shadows.

“Behind me.”

Kang Jin-young stepped forward in front of Lee Seong-han.

It was to protect.

“Who are you!”

Kang Jin-young waved his hand.

One of the ways to deploy magic.

“Light!”

[‘Kang Jin-young’ surrounds with magic and ‘light’.]

Light poured down from behind Kang Jin-young like a halo.

The shadows were pushed away by the light, and only then was the hallway revealed.

“Your welcome is very warm.”

A woman emerged from the shadowy hallway.

The employee ID card read, ‘Hong Seo-min, Manager of the Hunter Association.’

He bowed his head in a pitch-black suit.

“This is Hong Seo-min.”

“Hong Seo-min?”

“The president has instructed me to hand you over. It’s rare for someone to go straight.”

Kang Jin-young reacted nervously.

“Why did you turn off the lights?”

“We are temporarily checking. We also need to be thorough in maintaining security.”

“Oh, it’s the same neighborhood.”

“No one doesn’t know.”

Lee Seong-han confirmed Kang Jin-young.

“Agent, you may come down.”

“I don’t like that. I became Seonghan’s dedicated agent. I can’t go. If I leave Seonghan behind, it’s considered disciplinary action.”

No matter how many times I begged, he always refused.

He was completely stubborn.

Lee Seong-han felt uncomfortable being with a potential sex offender, but he had no other choice.

Hong Seo-min gestured towards the two.

“Follow me.”

I reluctantly followed Hong Seo-min.

The hallway lights came back on. It’s dark, but I can see a little ahead now.

The typical office atmosphere was slightly relaxed.

“I’ve seen that face somewhere. Who is it?”

Kang Jin-young’s voice rang quietly.

As I walked a little further, I saw various facilities.

Hong Seo-min stopped at the first conference room at the end of the hallway. Hong Seo-min opened the door first and let them in.

“Oh, you’re here.”

A large new model that you see as soon as you enter.

A middle-aged man was seen sitting with his legs wide open in the chairman’s chair.

He was tall and had fierce eyes.

“I was feeling a little queasy. Nice to meet you. My name is Cheong Jin-ho. I’m the old man who’s in charge of the association. I heard you’ve been solving some big cases recently.”

Lee Seonghan lowered his head.

“Oh, yes.”

I didn’t want to bother you for no reason.

The atmosphere is also strange.

I just want to get out quickly.

“This is Lee Seong-han.”

“Please sit down. I didn’t call you here to see your face for nothing.”

Fuck.

Lee Seong-han watched Cheong Jin-ho closely.

Did people originally have threads attached to their bodies?

‘No, it’s not a carrot.’

Lee Seong-han fiddled with the dagger on his waist.