74 – HGL 74

“Explanation…”

Lee Sa-young took the phone from between his ear and shoulder, checked the screen, and answered nonchalantly.

“Really? You’ll know if you just look.”

“Yes. An explanation is absolutely necessary.”

A firm answer came back. Sa-young frowned, annoyed, looking at the Black Chain wrapped around Jung-bin’s hand. Gyu-Gyu, who was lying on the floor, coughing and catching his breath for a while, grinned.

“If you answer wrong, you’ll be caught right away…. You better talk well, Lee Sa-young.”

Sa-young glared down at Gyu-Gyu with cold eyes.

“Should I have torn your mouth off first…”

“Yes, yes. That’s enough.”

Jung-bin sighed and swung the chain on the floor, and a black iron cage suddenly rose between Sa-young and Gyu-Gyu. Sa-young shrugged and stuck his hands in his pockets. Gyu-Gyu also raised both hands as if surrendering and buried his face in the floor.

Most combat-type Awakened’s abilities are specialized for combat against Monsters. The System rankings include Dungeon and Rift contributions, so specialized Espers tend to have higher rankings. However, S-rank Hunter Jung-bin, who is currently ranked 4th in Korea, has a slightly different ability.

His specialized ability is restraint. However, the target is not Monsters, but Awakened.

Jung-bin, who had isolated the two super hamsters, finally smiled gently.

“I need to hear the story and accurately grasp the situation to decide whether to arrest you as a criminal caught in the act, or give you some leeway.”

As Jung-bin tightened his hand, the Black Chain writhed around his arm as if it were alive. The end of the chain raised its head stiffly, as if threatening. Jung-bin put his hands behind his back.

“Now, will you tell me? Who threw the first punch?”

“What did Lee Sa-young do? Seeing as he told me to never come out, did he use Poison? What do you think, Secretary Kim?”

While Hong Ye-seong chattered and made various deductions, Eui-jae also sat in a crooked posture and pondered.

‘Jung-bin’s ability is… restraint.’

The Awakened restrained by his chains cannot use their abilities for a certain period of time. During the chaotic times, J often witnessed Jung-bin rolling up criminals in chains and dragging them around. No matter how much of a Lee Sa-young he is, if Jung-bin is determined to tie him up, there would be nothing he could do for a certain period of time.

If Lee Sa-young is caught by Jung-bin. What if he is even dragged to the Awakened Management Bureau interrogation room?

‘Returning to Hanover Soup Restaurant… it becomes troublesome in many ways.’

Even to return to Hanover Soup Restaurant comfortably, he had to rescue that guy who caused a big accident while he took his eyes off him for a moment. Eui-jae grabbed the Basilisk Fang and jumped up from his seat.

“I have to go.”

“I think Lee Sa-young is with Matthew… huh? Where are you going? You didn’t even tell me anything and you’re leaving! You can’t go!”

Hong Ye-seong spread his arms to block him, but it was no match for Eui-jae. He deliberately answered in a tone dripping with regret.

“I’m really sorry. But Hong Ye-seong, all you’ve done is kidnap people and act high and mighty, right? Of course, if you had asked politely, I would have been happy to answer, but…”

Eui-jae respectfully put his hands together.

“I can’t tell the long story of our Basilisk Fang to someone who doesn’t even have the slightest bit of manners. I’m sorry. Then, goodbye.”

“Ba, Basil! No, don’t go!”

Hong Ye-seong sobbed and reached out to the Fang. Goodness, how long has it been since they met that he’s already given it a nickname. The Fang also fluttered and struggled in his hand.

[‘Basilisk Fang’ wants to say something!]

[Fang’s thoughts: Father! Save me from this villain!]

‘What a load of crap…’

Eui-jae, who was cast as the villain in a ridiculous melodrama, smacked his lips for no reason.

In fact, if he left Hong Ye-seong, who was so immersed, as he was, he would be wanted for Mana Stone possession as a matter of course, and Kim Seung-bin from the Wave Guild secretary team would be added as an additional option on top of the Basilisk Fang. As he had watched every day in Inhat, Hong Ye-seong was more than capable of doing that. What crime did Kim Seung-bin, who had his identity stolen and was suddenly being chased by a madman, commit?

Eui-jae stared at the sobbing Hong Ye-seong. He had to shut that guy’s mouth, but how should he stop him…?

‘I want to punch him just once, but.’

Hong Ye-seong was a precious person who had to hold another auction in an hour or two, so if he did that, the auction house would be turned upside down. Unfortunately, physical means were excluded. Then.

Eui-jae glanced at his Inventory. A dazzling golden Mana Stone was shining as if telling him to look at it.

‘I can’t sell it anywhere now anyway.’

Originally, things should be used where they are needed to be worth their value. If you save them, they’ll rot. Eui-jae took the Mana Stone out of his Inventory without hesitation, put it between his fingers, and called Hong Ye-seong.

“Hong Ye-seong.”

“What is it, you evil… aah?”

Hong Ye-seong’s words, which he was about to answer sharply while immersed in the melodrama, went up without knowing the end. His eyes, facing the brilliantly shining golden Mana Stone, widened as if they would pop out, and his mouth opened wide. His lips trembled.

“Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, mama, mama, mama…”

“Shh.”

When Eui-jae raised his index finger to the filter part of the Gas mask, Hong Ye-seong covered his mouth with both hands and nodded diligently. Eui-jae slyly held the Mana Stone in front of Hong Ye-seong’s eyes. Tears welled up in his clear eyes, which had been bloodshot until just now. He seemed very moved.

Eui-jae whispered subtly.

“I heard you were looking for this a lot.”

Nod, nod.

“You want it, right?”

Nod, nod, nod, nod, nod, nod, nod, nod.

Hong Ye-seong nodded so enthusiastically that he was worried his neck would break. Eui-jae lowered his voice as if he was regretful.

“But… I can’t just give you this precious thing for free.”

“Uh…”

“Yes?”

“How much do you want?”

It seemed that Hong Ye-seong’s drama was not over yet. Eui-jae was momentarily mistaken for being treated like the heroine of a drama, but quickly came to his senses. Hong Ye-seong was already excited and chattering away.

“Can I write a blank check? No, should I prepare it in cash? If I do a bank transaction, they might track me down. And I’ll have to pay taxes…. Ah! Should I tell them to pay all the auction proceeds in cash and give it all to Secretary Kim? I think I can fool Jung-bin if I just hide it a little.”

Was Hong Ye-seong a guy who could say such nice things? Every word that guy said was quite sweet. But Eui-jae was a pine caterpillar… no, a dinosaur, who had decided to eat pine needles, so he tried to ignore the fatal temptation of the millionaire.

“I don’t need money.”

“Huh?”

“Do you have a contract guaranteed by the System or something? With a heavy penalty if you break it.”

Hong Ye-seong busily rummaged through the tiled-roof house with Cluck, and picked up a stiff piece of paper from somewhere. It was an S-rank contract. Eui-jae said, holding the Fang in one hand and the Mana Stone in the other.

“Now, let’s write it down.”

“Yes.”

Hong Ye-seong, who answered politely, picked up a brush and sparkled his eyes. Eui-jae deliberately changed the angle of his hand so that the Mana Stone reflected the sunlight well and opened his mouth.

“First, Eccentric Hong Ye-seong is not curious about or digs into anything about Secretary Kim, whom he met today. He does not attempt to dig it up. He also cannot make others do it.”

“Nothing?”

“Write it down quickly. The Mana Stone is waiting.”

“Aish…”

Hong Ye-seong grumbled and began to scribble with the brush. Eui-jae waited for the moment the brush made a period and said the second condition.

“Second, Eccentric Hong Ye-seong will sincerely and diligently cooperate with Secretary Kim’s work.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“It’s easy.”

“Lend you money?”

“No, let’s make an alibi to fool Jung-bin.”

“Tsk, Secretary Kim, you’re asking for something really difficult.”

Hong Ye-seong scratched his temple with the back of the brush, but wrote it down as he was told.

“What’s next?”

“Third, Eccentric Hong Ye-seong does not dig into the history of the Basilisk Fang.”

“What? How can you do that!”

Hong Ye-seong raised his head sharply in protest, but what he faced was…

‘Oh, Mana Stone.’

It was a Mana Stone that shone especially brightly in the sunlight.

The one he had been searching for for a long time. The one he fell in love with at first sight. The dazzling golden Mana Stone that he had been shouting about so much in Inhat. Hong Ye-seong’s eyes glazed over.

[‘Basilisk Fang’s’ thoughts updated!]

[Fang’s thoughts: Father?]

Whether the Fang was looking for his father or not, the brush wrote down the third item without hesitation. The Fang, which had been silent for a while, updated his thoughts once again.

[Fang’s thoughts: …Life is lonely.]

The handle in his hand somehow felt sharp. The blade also seemed to be dyed a little darker. Did he have puberty? It was the moment when Eui-jae swung the Fang with a sullen face. Hong Ye-seong, who had written down all the remaining items and even stamped his fingerprint, held out both hands.

“Give me the Mana Stone!”

“The Mana Stone.”

Eui-jae, who picked up the contract and put it in his Inventory, pointed to the gate of the tiled-roof house with his thumb.

“I’ll give it to you after you fulfill the contract. Let’s get our stories straight first.”

A little later, Eui-jae was able to escape from the tiled-roof house only after holding the smooth ceramic Cluck in his arms and having Hong Ye-seong put his arm around his shoulders. The surrounding scenery changed in an instant, just like when he entered the waiting room. What he saw as soon as he escaped from Hong Ye-seong’s sweet home was….

“……”

It was Lee Sa-young, sitting crookedly on the sofa with both wrists restrained by Black Chains.

‘Damn it, how long has it been since he was caught?’

“……”

His eyes met as soon as he glared at him with gritted teeth. An eerie aura rippled behind Lee Sa-young. The purple eyes flashing beyond the Gas mask lens were somehow unusual. Even Hong Ye-seong, the madman with clear eyes, seemed to feel it, and he whispered in Eui-jae’s ear.

“Why is Lee Sa-young like that? I feel like I’ll die if I go near him?”

“Cluck.”

Cluck also cried softly. It seemed to mean that he agreed. The energy of Lee Sa-young that filled the surroundings became even thicker. Even though he was caught in Jung-bin’s chains, he was good at emitting that much energy.

“Hyung…”

Sa-young raised his bound hands and took off the Gas mask he was wearing on his face. His piercing eyes stared straight at Eui-jae. He muttered as if spitting it out.

“I really need to tie you up somewhere.”