By Zephyria 
“M-Me?””
Park Ha-na pointed to herself with her index finger, looking utterly dumbfounded.
Jae-ha, having heard of her ability, silently agreed.
“If it’s psychometry, you can easily and quickly show us all the information we’ve gathered on the culprit so far.”
Seeing Jae-ha willingly extending his hand, Park Ha-na trembled with fear.
“Director, using psychometry here? How can we trust the words of this deserter….”
Park Ha-na tried to persuade her superior, Director Shin Yun-hui, but she didn’t budge.
“Then do you think the way things are going right now is normal?”
“W-Well, no, but….”
“I joined the Management Bureau with the mission to protect the nation and its people, not to be a lackey for some bastard trying to use the nation’s power for his own personal gain.”
Shin Yun-hui, standing tall and facing her subordinates head-on, was the epitome of a true public servant.
“I can’t just stand by and watch the Management Bureau malfunction and be swayed by individuals with impure intentions. So, rather than arresting the deserter and Red Code, Hyeon Jae-ha, and the White Tiger Unit members before us, I think we should listen to them and root out the forces trying to disrupt the Management Bureau.”
Director Shin Yun-hui showed no hesitation whatsoever.
‘Oh. I thought she was an unreliable employee with some flaws, but.’
She unexpectedly had some admirable qualities?
Her admiration for her didn’t end there.
Director Shin Yun-hui thumped her chest heartily and promised.
“If anything happens, put all the blame on me.”
“Director!”
Some Management Bureau employees, including Park Ha-na, were shocked, but she didn’t waver.
Rather, she went a step further and looked at Hyeon Jae-ha, urging him to cooperate.
“It’ll be alright, Hyeon Jae-ha?”
“What will?”
“Even if things go wrong and I, my subordinates, and even your White Tiger Unit members are all captured, can you agree to say that it’s solely your and my responsibility?”
Pleased with Director Shin Yun-hui’s sense of responsibility, Jae-ha nodded.
“Of course, I can do that much.”
“Good to hear we’re on the same page.”
“However, there’s a condition.”
“What is it?”
Jae-ha’s blue eyes locked onto Director Shin Yun-hui’s pupils.
“I hope you’ll listen to our story. If you use the power of that psychometric Ability User, Park Ha-na, to read the records of our lives that we’ve accumulated, then I’ll keep that promise.”
“Alright.”
Director Shin Yun-hui raised her hand and ordered the subordinates who came with her.
“Everyone, cease combat readiness.”
“Director!”
“Quiet. Put down your weapons, and everyone sit in a circle around Section Head Park. Don’t forget to hold each other’s hands. That’s how you can transmit the memories read through the ability to everyone.”
One of the Management Bureau employees asked Shin Yun-hui anxiously.
“What if those guys suddenly turn on us and try to harm us?”
In response, Shin Yun-hui smiled without a moment’s hesitation.
“That won’t happen. The White Tiger Unit has always been like a thorn in the Management Bureau’s side, but they have never once injured a Management Bureau employee or a civilian.”
“…Is that really true?”
“Yes. You can trust the words of someone who has chased after Red Codes her whole life.”
Shin Yun-hui’s expression as she said that even seemed relieved.
‘I thought they would be frustrated with this situation, since they only knew Jae-ha and the White Tiger Unit members as bad guys who had to be captured under the Management Bureau’s orders.’
It seemed she had decided to focus on dealing with the bigger enemy, Ban No-ah, who was right in front of them.
The Director even smiled refreshingly and said.
“If there’s anyone who still doubts Hyeon Jae-ha and the White Tiger Unit members, come forward. Would you still say that after seeing the mystical purification ability of light green they wield?”
“…….”
“Even when we were being manipulated by Ban No-ah through Brainwashing, we were their enemies. Even the Management Bureau employees, who had long been at odds with them, were freed from Brainwashing by them for no other reason than to help. Why wouldn’t we believe them?”
“If the Director says so… I’ll follow.”
Even the few Management Bureau employees who seemed uneasy obediently put down their weapons and held hands as Shin Yun-hui instructed.
Park Ha-na sighed and finished preparing to activate her ability.
“Director, please take Hyeon Jae-ha Esper’s hand now. And offer me your remaining hand.”
“Alright.”
Director Shin Yun-hui fearlessly reached out to Jae-ha.
“Let’s see what kind of truth is hidden.”
“That’s what I want.”
Jae-ha also reached out to Director Shin Yun-hui without delay.
The moment the two shook hands.
Whoong-.
A huge wave of energy centered around us stirred up a cloud of dust.
“Kuh!”
A vein popped out on Park Ha-na’s forehead.
“Hey, you didn’t tell me beforehand that I’d have to read this massive amount of records!”
“It’s roughly 20 years’ worth of records, so I hope you’ll do your best.”
Jae-ha retorted shamelessly.
“T-T-T-Twenty years?”
“Didn’t your superior say she wanted to know the truth? To reach that truth, you have no choice but to read all the memories contained in my head for 20 years.”
“Damn it, I’m not an S-class psychometric Ability User. I’ll have to rest for a month after this is over!”
“So, are you saying you won’t do it?”
When Director Shin Yun-hui smiled subtly with a face full of hidden pressure, Park Ha-na sobbed and huffed.
“I’ll do it. I’ll just do it!”
Jiiing-.
Finally, Park Ha-na’s eyes glowed blue, and a tremendous amount of energy gathered around her.
“Kueuk….”
Even while suffering, Park Ha-na didn’t stop reading the memories from Jae-ha.
Soon, she sighed.
“Oh my god, this can’t be.”
Tears streamed down Park Ha-na’s eyes.
The other Management Bureau employees were the same.
“How…. How could this happen.”
“Good heavens. Is this really what happened?”
“So, the reason Hyeon Jae-ha Esper went to the trouble of deserting, even being registered as a Red Code, was….”
The eyes of the Management Bureau employees, both Espers and Guides, turned red.
They looked closely at Hyeon Jae-ha and me, at the faces of the White Tiger Unit members, and showed expressions of sympathy for how much they must have suffered.
Director Shin Yun-hui also wiped away tears with her fingertips and opened her mouth in a choked voice.
“…You must have had a hard time.”
Jae-ha scoffed nonchalantly.
“Not really.”
“Such a show-off….”
“After enduring, the time for retaliation has come, and I’ve regained the loved one I thought I’d lost forever, so what could be a happier ending than this?”
At the part about ‘loved one,’ my face turned bright red.
Potato burst into giggles and raved about Jae-ha’s statement.
[ That’s right! Hyeon Jae-ha! Push it! ]
‘Be quiet….’
Whether my face was burning or not, Jae-ha and Director Shin Yun-hui continued their own conversation.
“It’s not a perfect happy ending yet. We have to take down that Ban No-ah to have a true happy ending, right?”
“Do you think I’m stupid enough not to know that? So, we have to go and cut off that bastard’s head right now.”
“Will you let us join that journey? Brainwashing, Brainwashing! As the Director of the Management Bureau, I can’t just let this humiliation pass!”
Director Shin Yun-hui’s eyes flashed as she cracked her knuckles.
“I’m so upset about this that I can’t even sleep at night. So, how about we become temporary partners?”
“The Management Bureau and a group of deserters are going to work together?”
“Rescuing the Management Bureau from falling into the hands of that evil bastard is also something I have to do as Director. It seems like it’s time to kick out the stupid and incompetent people in the upper echelons this time.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
Jae-ha smiled and shook Director Shin Yun-hui’s hand.
“Just don’t capture us later, saying we’re no longer needed.”
“I promise, with my name and all the salary I’ve earned while working, that such a shameful thing will never happen.”
“Then, do you know where Ban No-ah is?”
“Of course.”
Shin Yun-hui gestured to everyone.
“If you know the location, we can all move together.”