52 – TDG 52

He ​was ​born ​with ​a silver spoon ​in ​his ​mouth ​and ​enjoyed everything luck could ​provide, ​yet that wasn’t ​enough for him? ​I’d ​heard ​of ​people ​doing ​drugs or abusing ​their ​power, ​but joining an ​international terrorist organization was ​truly beyond ​my imagination. ​Or maybe ​he’d just ​gone ​crazy ​from the drugs?

“You’ve ​really lost ​it. If you’re insane, ​just go quietly to ​a hospital! You can ​live however ​you ​want and abuse your power plenty ​in Korea! Why on ​earth ​are ​you ​trying ​to squeeze yourself ​into a ​place ​like that?!”

Kwon Cheon-beom ​leaned ​back and smirked.

“My grandfather told ​me that ​if ​you’re born a ​man, ​you ​should ​try ​ruling the ​world ​at least ​once. Korea is too small. Even if ​I abuse my ​power here, I’m ​nothing more than a ​phone or ​newspaper salesman once ​I ​step outside. In ​contrast, the Black ​Moon is ​already ​established terror ​and ​authority. I ​want ​to enjoy ​that.”

The ​proud ​way he spoke ​made ​my world ​go ​dark. ​This ​guy is a complete psycho. His eyes are gone.

That damn old fossil of a grandfather sure raised his grandson well. What on earth was said in that household for a kid to have this kind of aspiration? Because they didn’t exercise any control while raising him, he’s gone completely mad with delusional confidence!

Thanks to that, the family’s seed business, built over several generations, [stolen content]visit our siteis about to Read on Read BL Novelsbe blown away in one go by the grandson. Congratulations, fuck!

“Get a grip, you lunatic. As an A-rank, you’re nothing once you get there. You’ll just be rolling around at the bottom until you’re used as bullet fodder.”

I must have been too sarcastic and lost my composure. Perhaps his mood was soured, as Kwon Cheon-beom frowned menacingly. I flinched, fearing I might get hit, but he relaxed again as if he had expected such a reaction.

“I have my ways. I’ll be an S-rank soon.”

“What?”

Was he saying he was going to rank-up despite not being an S-rank originally? That was supposed to be something only the protagonist, Han Ji-hyuk, could do…

“…Did the Black Moon say that?”

“You don’t need to know that. Anyway, for that reason, you’ve become absolutely necessary, Seo Joo-won.”

Judging by his reaction, the Black Moon really did Read on Read BL Novelssay it…? I have no unauthorized copyidea. There [visit our site]was no such content in the original novel I read.

Why think too deeply? He’s probably just selling me a lie. Even if such a new technology actually existed, why would they give it to disposable pawns who aren’t even official members? Ugh, these idiots. They act so smart and cunning, yet they fall for such a ridiculous lure? I felt like my chest was going to burst from frustration, but exhausted from trying to persuade him, I decided to change the subject.

“Why does the Black Moon want me…?”

“Minister Seo Hyung-shik. It’s because of your father.”

Father? I was struck with bewilderment at the unexpected reason.

Could it be related to my father’s work? Are they planning to kidnap me, the son, to use as leverage for blackmail…?

“So, specifically, what is it?”

“You’ll find out when you get there.”

I scoffed inwardly.

…He doesn’t know. He really doesn’t know. Does it make sense to order a job without even knowing the plan? It’s absurd that they’re being so blatantly treated as disposable pawns and yet they’re the only ones who don’t realize it. These bastards are truly blinded by their desire to become S-ranks.

If this really was the work of the Black Moon and related to my father, I guessed it must be a matter of national affairs or something of equal gravity.

• Go about your day early. You don’t have any trips or plans to go far, right?

I wondered why a man so busy he lacked ten sets of hands would suddenly call to check on me in broad daylight. Perhaps he was already under some kind of threat back then? My father was worried that I might be put in danger because of his work. Asking about my schedule and telling me to stick close to Han Ji-hyuk was all for…

Not knowing any of that, I wandered around alone and even drank my fill, practically inviting them to take me. In the end, I had put my father in a difficult position again.

Regardless of my crumbling heart, the car smoothly entered the Linus Hotel. Then, it circled down the spiral underground parking lot, descending deeper and deeper.

“You have to be quiet now, so no more talking.”

Kwon Cheon-beom forced my mouth open and stuffed a thick roll of cloth inside. I twisted my body in resistance, but it was futile. Not satisfied with that, he even snatched my glasses and threw them away. No, my glasses! I fell into despair as I watched my glasses disappear into the dark floor of the vehicle. Without glasses, half of my vision is blocked. This was too great a handicap in a crisis. Kwon Cheon-beom added fuel to the fire as he looked at the devastated me.

“You look much better with your bare face.”

I wanted to punch that mouth of his. Are we in a beauty pageant right now, you crazy bastard?

Once Jeong Young-in finished parking, Kwon Cheon-beom got out first, followed by Kim Yi-mun, who dragged me out.

Even a C-rank Esper is stronger than an ordinary person. It was absurd and frustratingly pitiful that Kim Yi-mun, who was as scrawny as a dried anchovy, could lift me and tuck me under his arm without any effort just because he was an Esper.

“Hmph! Mmph!”

Hoping someone would hear me, I squeezed my nose and throat to let out groans. I struggled and scanned the surroundings, but only a line of vans identical to the one I arrived in were parked next to the car; I felt no other vehicles or presence of people.

They headed toward the parking lot elevator. I had a feeling that once I took this, it would be over. I struggled with all my might and managed to accidentally headbutt Kim Yi-mun’s chin.

“Ugh, this brat!”

He stumbled and let go of me. I immediately shoved him with my shoulder and ran.

“What are you doing! Catch that bastard!”

Since it was my first time here, I was lost as to where to go. My hands and mouth were bound, and my depth perception was a mess because of my eyes. The men followed closely behind me as I stumbled away. I wouldn’t be able to run for long. Still, if I met someone, maybe I could ask for help? While running frantically, I rounded a corner and collided harshly with someone standing there.

“Ugh!”

Just before I tumbled over from the impact, the other person reached out.

“Are you alright?”

Barely avoiding the crisis of falling, I instinctively looked up to check who it was. The low but soft voice sounded kind. The hope that I might be able to ask for help vanished the moment I saw the man’s face.

‘…A mask?’

The man, with a slender build dressed in a charcoal-colored suit, was wearing a snow-white mask that covered his entire face. Smiling eyes were drawn where the eyes should be, and it [Read on Read BL Novels]seemed as if pupils could unauthorized copybe glimpsed, but his actual expression was completely unknowable.

The man didn’t seem particularly surprised by my state. His nonchalant attitude, as if he had just happened to run into me, felt unnatural and sent a chill down my arms. While I was dazed, the land-sea-air trio caught up to me. They were panting and grinding their teeth, but they flinched in surprise upon discovering the man.

“…Lord Kassis?”

Kassis? A peculiar name. Are they all on the same side? Even though I wanted to flee, the man would not let me go. His body was slender, but his grip was like a powerhouse. Is this guy an Esper too? The masked man held me so I couldn’t budge and greeted me nonchalantly.

“You are Seo Joo-won, correct? I’ve been wanting to see you, and I’m glad we meet like this. You’re much prettier than in your photos.”

The man’s voice was very familiar and friendly. He acted like an old acquaintance, but his demeanor was not like that at all.

He continued speaking without even glancing at Kwon Cheon-beom’s gang.

“Did you just let the hostage escape?”

My shoulders jumped at the cold voice, which was starkly different from when he spoke to me.

“N-no, sir. I could catch him quickly anyway, so…”

It was the first time I’d seen Kwon Cheon-beom flustered. So that bastard did know what manners were. However, this was clearly due to the man. The man’s aura was like a sharpened blade. The fact that he wore a mask made him feel inhuman and scary, and I felt that if one were to act arrogant, trusting his gentlemanly air, he would pierce through one’s neck with that blade without hesitation.

“So you were just playing a little game of cat and mouse for fun?”

“…….”

Despite the infinitely soft tone, an inexplicable tension lingered in the air. A subtle pressure, as if slowly suffocating me, was emanating from the man’s entire body.

The man stepped forward while holding me by the waist. He was moving toward where Kwon Cheon-beom was.

“You keep doing useless things. Why did you do that to Han Ji-hyuk?”

Once again, Kwon Cheon-beom scrambled to make an excuse.

“I had my own plan to separate the two…”

What, so the provocation that got Ji-hyuk referred to the Ethics Committee was something this bastard did on his own?

No wonder it felt sloppy.

The man tilted his head.

“That’s strange. I never told you to use your head.”

“…….”

“While playing such petty tricks… what did you intend to do if it interfered with the work?”

At the man’s harsh criticism, Kwon Cheon-beom’s face visibly stiffened.

“That’s because Cheon-beom wanted to be helpful…!”

Jeong Young-in, who had stepped in tactlessly, shut his mouth the next moment. Ping—a short sound of air being sliced brushed past his throat.

“Gasp…!”

Jeong Young-in collapsed on the spot, clutching his throat with a face turned pale. Everyone except the masked man froze at the sight of blood leaking through his fingers. Even though they were wide awake, no one noticed what had attacked Jeong Young-in or in what manner.

He must have controlled his strength since he didn’t die, but with an attack that precise, killing would have been effortless. Their complexions turned pale and cold. Our four lives were essentially continuing only because this man permitted it.

It was an overwhelming power that couldn’t even be compared to someone like Kwon Cheon-beom.

‘This is the Black Moon…’

Could it be… is this man Ignis?