33 – TDG 33

A ​call ​came ​through ​on Ji-hyuk’s watch. ​It ​was ​a ​summons ​from Song Hyun-ho. He ​told ​him there was ​something to share ​and ​to ​come ​straight ​to ​the office upon ​arriving ​at ​work.

“Go on. I’ll ​see you at lunch.”

As ​Ji-hyuk let ​go of ​my hand ​and walked ​away, ​I ​spotted a few ​Guides stealthily ​following after him. They ​were the type who ​didn’t care about someone ​else’s “fishing ​grounds.” ​It would be wonderful if everyone ​in the world were ​like ​Seonbae ​Yoon ​Soo-jeong, ​but unfortunately, that ​wasn’t the ​reality.

Sure, ​it’s an era ​of ​free competition, so go ahead ​and try ​your ​best to appeal ​to ​him.

Before ​heading ​up ​to the ​office, ​I stopped ​by the cafe to get a caffeine ​fix.

While waiting for ​my vanilla latte, ​I rummaged through the ​bookshelves in ​the nearby lounge. ​I ​tried to get ​my hands on ​a remaining ​copy ​of Esper ​24, ​but unfortunately, ​I ​came up ​empty. ​No, ​this is ridiculous. ​Usually, ​there are ​several ​copies ​plugged ​in that no one even touches—like ancient relics—yet not a single one is left? This is why cover art is so important…

I do have the original photo, but still… I wanted to see Han Ji-hyuk on the professionally reborn cover. As for my own photo inside… I can just pretend I didn’t see it…

Team Leader Park said he grabbed a copy in advance, so there should be at least one in the office.

Anyway, now that the third-quarter newsletter stolen contentis out, unauthorized copythe female lead’s appearance is just around the corner.

The novel said it happened around this time, so she’ll definitely appear within a few days.

I wonder what our Ah-yoon looks like in person. In the original work, she was described as a beauty with a refreshing image and large, clear, brownish-gold eyes full of emotion. My heart is thumping with anticipation at the thought of finally seeing the heroine I’ve been waiting for. Ah-yoon, please come quickly. I think I’m going to get an arrhythmia from my heart leaping while waiting for you.

“Your coffee is ready.”

Just as I took my drink and stepped into the hallway, sipping on it, someone called out to me.

“Hold on a second.”

I turned my head to find a guy who was lanky as a rail and looked like a heron. Behind him stood a fat one and one with flounder-like eyes—three of them in total, blocking my path.

What is this, some kind of land-sea-air trio?

“Who… are you?”

The heron-looking guy arched an eyebrow insolently and crossed his arms with an arrogant air.

“It really is Seo Joo-won. I almost didn’t recognize you because of the glasses, punk.”

“Doesn’t it feel like his impression has changed a bit too?”

The fat one behind him added, his chubby cheeks twitching.

“True. His face has gotten pale and sparkly.”

The heron took a copy of Esper 24 from the flounder and opened it to a dog-eared page.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. When they said it was a two-shot, I thought it would be a small photo tucked in a corner, but they had allocated an entire page to it! Ack! My eyes! Just fold the page so only Ji-hyuk remains and hide my part!

“I was really surprised to find you here. When did you manifest as a Guide, huh?”

But listening to this, since when did these bastards know me well enough to speak so informally?

“Do I know you?”

When I snapped back with an obvious tone of annoyance, the land-sea-air trio flinched.

“Ha.”

The heron let out a short breath as if he were appalled, and in an instant, he pushed me threateningly against the wall. It happened because I was holding hot coffee and couldn’t boldly resist or push him away.

I was so bewildered I was speechless. I quickly glanced at the CCTV attached to the corner of the hallway ceiling. They’re doing this even with that there? What kind of crazy bastard is this? Who are they, and why are they doing this?

A sneering voice dropped over my ear like a trickle.

“Our Joo-won must have been ve~ry deeply scarred. Seeing as he’s pretending to have forgotten us entirely. And he’s not crying anymore.”

Startled by the hand reaching blindly toward my eye, I jerked my head away, and the guy twisted the corner of his mouth into a sinister smile.

“Can you see well out of your right eye?”

“!”

Only a few people knew the condition of my eye.

Aside from my father and those close to me… the only ones left would be the bastards who made my eye look like this.

The day 17-year-old Seo Joo-won was found severely beaten stolen contentin [Read on Read BL Novels]a school storage room and rushed to the emergency room bleeding from his eye and head, the police report listed the personal details of three suspects.

Kwon Cheon-beom, Jeong Young-in, and Kim Yi-mun.

Among them, the most vicious was the ringleader, Kwon Cheon-beom—the owner of the same psychopathic sanpaku eyes currently shoved in my face.

As my expression hardened, Kwon Cheon-beom’s eyes gleamed.

“Do you remember now?”

“I apologize. I’m a bit late.”

“No, everyone just arrived. Have a seat, Team Leader Song.”

Seo Hyung-shik, who served as the Minister of the Esper Department, was a man unlike other officials; he possessed no trace of a sense of authority. One could tell he was different just by the way he personally invited Song Hyun-ho, who was of a much lower rank, to take a seat.

With a firm and slender build that made it hard to believe he was nearing sixty, a lyrical and neat appearance, and a gentle gaze that never wavered, he seemed to embody exceptional self-management and self-control.

They look alike.

Song Hyun-ho thought to himself absentmindedly. It was natural since visit our sitethey were stolen contentfather and son, but he wondered if Seo Joo-won would look like that once he grew older and unauthorized copygained more experience. His mother must have been quite beautiful as well.

The Minister’s office was already occupied by the team leaders of each unit, including Jung Hee-moon of Esper Team 2 and Park Hee-jin of Team 3. As Song Hyun-ho gave them a slight nod and slid into the seat next to them, an aide approached.

“Minister, an email like this arrived.”

On the laptop he opened, there was an email with a black envelope icon. As Song Hyun-ho scanned the contents, the space between his brows narrowed.

“Is this… a blackmail email?”

Seo Hyung-shik, sitting at the head of the table, clasped his hands together on his lap.

“It is. It’s an email demanding the release of the terrorist Charles Butteur, who was arrested by Team Leader Jung Hee-moon at Jeokryang Port in the South Sea a while ago.”

“Where did the email come from? Is there no affiliation or organization?”

This time, Jung Hee-moon spoke up.

“You know about the Black Moon, don’t you?”

“Of course… isn’t it a famous international terrorist organization?”

“Charles Butteur is an executive of that very ‘Black Moon.’”

“!”

“I received word that Charles Butteur, who fled the UK to evade the FBI’s relentless pursuit, smuggled himself into the southern coast fifteen days ago. It seems he intended to use our country as a stepping stone to hijack a plane with his gang and head to Russia.”

Hijacking. If it had been carried out, it would have escalated into a massive incident.

“Minister, where did you get that information…?”

“You don’t need to know that. What’s important is that the Black Moon, having learned of this, has declared war, stating they will carry out terror attacks throughout Seoul if Butteur is not released.”

A heavy silence settled over the Minister’s office.

Until now, Korea had been relatively safe from the danger of Esper terrorism, but if the Black Moon extended its reach, that would become a meaningless statement.

If Espers were to run wild or explosives were to go off in the city center, where the population density is already oversaturated, it would lead to severe casualties. The fist resting on Song Hyun-ho’s lap clenched tightly.

“Therefore, we are in a state of emergency for the time being. Our department, in close coordination with the military and police, will increase [Read on Read BL Novels]unauthorized copycheckpoints at airports and roads and strengthen surveillance of high-risk areas. As you all know, this matter is confidential, and since being too loud could cause unnecessary anxiety among citizens, we must proceed as quietly as possible. Lastly, do not remove your watches so that you can respond to the Center’s call at any time.”

“Yes, sir.”

The team leaders stood up in unison. As Song Hyun-ho stood at the end of the line waiting for the others to leave, Seo Hyung-shik called him back.

“Team Leader Song Hyun-ho, please stay for a moment.”

After closing the door and returning to his seat, Seo Hyung-shik opened his phone and showed him a photo. A young man with a smile full of refreshing boyish charm appeared on the screen.

“This is my son, Seo Joo-won. I believe you are aware of him.”

So he knows how to smile like that. Song Hyun-ho thought to himself and nodded quickly.

“Yes. I am aware. He is the Guide for Esper Han Ji-hyuk of my team. I have worked with him once as well.”

“I see.”

After a short reply, a sigh filled with anguish escaped Seo Hyung-shik’s lips.

“Team Leader Song, this is… strictly Read on Read BL Novelsa personal request. Of course, you may refuse. There will be [Read on Read BL Novels]absolutely no disadvantage.”

“Please speak, Minister.”

Even after hearing the reliable answer, hesitation was evident on Seo Hyung-shik’s face. This was because it went against the code of conduct for public officials for a superior to use a subordinate for personal reasons. If Seo Hyung-shik were that kind of person, it would be different, but among ministers, few were as transparent and far removed from corruption as he was. Since even that hesitation revealed his character, Song Hyun-ho braced himself to carry out whatever request he made with absolute loyalty.

The hesitation didn’t last long. Seo Hyung-shik’s gaze, now more desperate, turned toward Song Hyun-ho.

“Could you… keep an eye on my son?”

“Pardon…? Is your son in danger?”

“There hasn’t been a specific threat. However, since a threat was made against me, I cannot guarantee they won’t reach out to my son. After my wife passed away tragically, Joo-won is the only blood relative I have left. I would protect him myself if circumstances allowed… but unfortunately, I cannot be by my son’s side.”

The gravity and responsibility of the position of Minister were weighing down on his shoulders. The father’s sigh-filled confession—that he had no choice but to entrust his son to someone else’s hands to protect the lives of more people—resonated deeply.

“Minister. I don’t think you need to worry about that. Your son is currently paired with the most powerful Esper in South Korea…”

“I know Han Ji-hyuk is strong. But he is still young. He will need time to gain the kind of experience you have.”

Indeed, it didn’t seem [unauthorized copy]like he had made this request without visit our siteknowing Han Ji-hyuk’s full strength.

Song Hyun-ho didn’t argue further and bowed deeply.

“I understand. And I will consider this task as part of my official duties as well.”

A flicker of surprise passed through Seo Hyung-shik’s eyes. Soon, he smiled softly.

“Thank you.”

After leaving the Minister’s office, Song Hyun-ho headed straight for Building B and called Han Ji-hyuk. Since it was a confidential matter, he couldn’t tell him the details, but he intended to tell him to always stay with Seo Joo-won. Of course, even without such a command, that kid wouldn’t want to be apart from his Guide for a single second.

“Wow, this came out really well.”

“What is it, what is it? This looks like a wedding photo!”

The first thing that caught his eye upon entering the office was the team members gathered around Heo Jo-yoon’s desk, buzzing as they looked at something.

“What’s going on? What are you looking at?”

At Song Hyun-ho’s question, Heo Jo-yoon jumped up, trotted over, and unauthorized copyheld out a [stolen content]magazine as if offering a tribute.