By Zephyria Severed Connection
Thump-thump. The sound of dress shoes rapidly echoed down the long hallway. The pace was nearly as fast as an average person running.
People in the hallway scrambled out of the way of the quickly approaching figure. But after recognizing the owner of the shoes, the unpleasant expressions on their faces turned to surprise and welcome. A Hunter, who had been flicking coffee off his hand, called out.
“Team Leader Jung-bin! You’re back?”
“Yes, it’s been a while. How have you been? Oh, did I make you spill?”
“No, not at all! I just have a bit of a tremor!”
“How’s your health, Team Leader?”
“Haha, I’m fine. I’ll recover soon, so don’t worry.”
“Please be careful!”
“Thank you.”
Jung-bin’s right arm was in a cast, and his face was covered in bandages, making him look pitiful, but his gentle smile was still the same.
However, that was only for a moment. As he passed through the crowded hallway and descended to the basement, the smile gradually disappeared from his face. His pace also quickened, almost to a run.
Within the Awakened Management Bureau, there were special confinement and interrogation rooms for detaining Awakened who had committed crimes. Only authorized personnel could enter, and the area was located deep within the building, accessible only by elevator.
Jung-bin swiped his Hunter ID on the elevator’s authentication device.
[Authorization complete. Welcome, S-rank Hunter Jung-bin of the Awakened Management Bureau.]
Jung-bin, a diligent civil servant of the Awakened Management Bureau, had returned to the Bureau straight after being discharged from the hospital earlier than expected. He had been tossing and turning all night due to an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
And as the saying goes, bad premonitions never fail. The first thing Jung-bin saw upon arriving was a broken interrogation room desk and Lee Sa-young sitting crookedly in front of it.
It was clear that quite some time had passed since he had been hospitalized, yet he was still being held at the Management Bureau. And without putting up any significant resistance other than breaking the desk!
Jung-bin smiled.
‘I’m screwed.’
That’s why he was even more afraid. He might have felt a little relieved if Sa-young had completely trashed the interrogation room. After all, Lee Sa-young was more terrifying when he was quiet.
Jung-bin quickly began to manage the situation. He burst into Lee Sa-young’s interrogation room and, as soon as their eyes met, encouraged him to leave the Management Bureau immediately. He also offered to visit the Wave Guild separately.
However, Lee Sa-young didn’t seem particularly angry. He didn’t chide or sneer at him for being late. Instead, he gestured for Jung-bin to come closer and whispered in his ear.
“I haven’t been able to sense Hong Ye-seong’s presence very well since yesterday.”
“What… Is Hong Ye-seong still here?”
He had clearly given instructions to transfer him to the Bukhansan Artisan Village after a simple interview. Jung-bin frowned. Lee Sa-young replied casually.
“He was. But not anymore.”
His tone was meaningful. Lee Sa-young patted Jung-bin’s shoulder and left the interrogation room.
“You should pay more attention to internal management.”
Click. The elevator doors opened as the light turned on after its endless descent. Jung-bin straightened up and walked down the dark hallway.
At the end of the hallway was a firmly closed iron door. Two Hunters stood guard in front of it with their hands behind their backs. Jung-bin knew their faces well. After all, they were his direct subordinates. The Hunters bowed their heads.
“Good day, Team Leader.”
“I didn’t expect to find you here. There shouldn’t be any Awakened currently in custody. And I haven’t received any special reports either.”
“……”
“I never issued such an order. Who instructed you to guard this place?”
“……”
The Hunters didn’t answer, only staring straight ahead. Jung-bin smiled faintly and asked.
“Would you mind opening the door?”
“That’s impossible.”
“Hmm, that’s strange.”
“……”
“There shouldn’t be any place within the Awakened Management Bureau that I’m not allowed to enter…”
Just as a Hunter was about to pull something from his waist, Jung-bin kicked the door before he could stop him.
Kwaaaang—!!
The massive iron door flew inward, crumpled, into the room. At the same time, someone screamed.
“Waaah! What, what is it?”
“Oh, you’re here?”
“Wow, Mr. Civil Servant! You’ve come to save me!”
Hong Ye-seong, who was tied to a chair with some kind of chain, looked up tearfully. But upon seeing the bandages on Jung-bin’s face and his arm in a cast, he tilted his head.
“Or are you captured too?”
“Haa…”
Fortunately, there were no signs that Hong Ye-seong had been beaten or tortured. He was simply confined in the holding cell. That alone was a big deal, though. He sighed and turned around. The two Hunters who had been blocking the door were standing there, expressionless, facing Jung-bin. Jung-bin swept back his fallen hair and asked.
“Why is Hong Ye-seong still here?”
“……”
“He should have been in the Bukhansan Artisan Village long ago. Who ordered you to keep him locked up here?”
“……”
“I don’t understand why you’re not answering immediately.”
“…Heh.”
At that moment, the Hunter standing by the doorway twisted his head in a bizarre way. The light in his eyes disappeared, and his blood vessels burst, turning a strange red color.
Jung-bin sighed again. Clang, clang, clang. A Black Chain wrapped around his left arm, making a chilling metallic sound.
“Seriously… I leave for a little while, and this is what happens. I’m in debt again.”
“Wh-what’s going on? Aren’t they Bureau of Rift Management Hunters?”
“Who knows? Whether they’re wearing a disguise, swapped out, or if someone messed with my subordinates, I’ll have to find out from now on. I guess I was underestimated a bit.”
Jung-bin said coldly as he took a step forward. The Hunters’ bodies were twisting more and more grotesquely. The sound of metal clashing was clear. Jung-bin spoke without turning around.
“Hong Ye-seong, please move as far back as possible.”
“Huh? Even though I’m tied to a chair?”
“Can’t you move your legs? Stick to the wall as much as possible.”
“Aish.”
Hong Ye-seong grumbled and shuffled towards the corner of the room.
At that moment, black thorns burst out from the Hunters’ suits.
Creak, creak… It was an ominous and chilling sound, like the buzzing of insects’ wings. The thorns, clashing against each other and making an ominous sound,
Crackle!!
Rushed towards Jung-bin.
In the afternoon, before the preparation time for ingredients, only two customers remained in the Hanover Soup Restaurant.
Beep.
“That’ll be 60,000 won.”
“Here you go.”
Honeybee handed over her card. Eui-jae skillfully and quickly completed the payment and returned the receipt and card. However, Honeybee, having finished paying, didn’t seem to want to leave, lingering in front of the counter and clearing her throat softly.
Eui-jae looked at her curiously. What came back was an unexpected question.
“How’s your Grandmother’s health?”
“Pardon?”
“You know, you put up a notice on the door? Saying you were taking a day off to take your Grandmother to the hospital.”
She must be talking about the fake notice he had put up while attending the Artisan Exhibition. Eui-jae replied as he tidied up the counter.
“Ah, she’s doing better now.”
“Oh, really? That’s good to hear.”
“Why are you asking all of a sudden?”
“It’s nothing much. Our Guild is currently in the process of signing a contract with a pharmaceutical company.”
“Honeybee.”
Team Leader Han, who was standing next to her, quietly scolded her. Honeybee glanced at Team Leader Han and retorted.
“Why the gag order? It’s almost confirmed anyway. The news will spread in a few days.”
“Still, the less said, the better. Besides, this is a place where many Hunters come and go…”
“It’s almost time to prepare the ingredients, and we’re the last customers. I’ve checked everything before speaking, too.”
Team Leader Han rubbed his forehead and shook his head. Honeybee put her card and receipt into her wallet and gave Eui-jae a bright smile.
“Well, if the part-timer has some spare money, buy a little stock. It’ll probably go up a lot? It’s a big deal.”
“Sigh…”
“If you make a profit from that, it’ll ease the burden of hospital bills. I’m going!”
Honeybee waved her hand lightly and left the store. Team Leader Han raised a finger to his lips, gesturing for him to keep it a secret, and hurriedly chased after Honeybee. Click, thud. The door closed. Eui-jae checked the sales and pondered.
‘Did she tell me top-secret information on purpose?’
If Team Leader Han was trying to keep it quiet, it must be a pretty big deal. Did she tell him because she thought he was struggling with hospital bills? That sentiment… was appreciated. Eui-jae was rubbing the back of his neck when it happened.
“Hmm, I’ve heard some good information. As expected, the Hanover Soup Restaurant is a great place for valuable information.”
Eui-jae heard a familiar voice from behind him. Immediately, Eui-jae threw a punch, but thankfully, nothing was broken. Only a trembling voice was heard.
“Oh, your reaction is very fast… Good day, customer…”
The voice was coming from behind the counter, from the shadow under the chair. Eui-jae crouched down in front of the chair and replied.
“I’ll let it slide this time, so don’t suddenly pop out like that again.”
“I’ve managed to survive thanks to your ocean-like consideration. It’s always best to be cautious.”
Min-gi Seo, who had crawled out with a rustling sound, stood up straight and bowed deeply.
“Before we start, just a moment.”
Min-gi Seo took out something small and round from his Inventory and pressed it. White mist billowed out and stuck to the glass, obscuring the view from outside. Min-gi Seo flipped up his sunglasses.
“It’s unlikely that anyone will be looking into the store, but it’s always good to be prepared. Especially since this is a sensitive matter.”
“Like when you were eavesdropping, Mr. Min-gi Seo?”
“Of course.”
Min-gi Seo, answering shamelessly, took out a tablet from his Inventory. Eui-jae put his hands in his apron pockets and asked.
“Did you get some good information?”
“Well, to get straight to the point… With the help of Romantic Opener, I’ve thoroughly searched the National Hospital.”
Min-gi Seo, with a tablet pen between his fingers, touched his temple with that hand and said.
“There are no records at all.”
“…Excuse me?”
“There are no records at the National Hospital itself. It’s suspiciously clean.”
“……”
“Isn’t it strange? There are records of patients who were there even longer ago, but only the records of that friend you entrusted to me are completely missing.”
Was that possible? Eui-jae frowned, his mind in turmoil. Could the records have been lost because it was a very different time, a chaotic period? He pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.
“Is there a possibility that it was omitted from the beginning…?”
“Didn’t that ordinary hospital develop an Antidote and receive sponsorship from you thanks to that friend? There’s no way there wouldn’t be any records. Money and goods would have been exchanged. Especially where money is involved, there are always traces left. But for it to be this clean…”
“……”
“In the end, there can only be one conclusion.”
Min-gi Seo’s eyes flashed as he pointed the tablet pen at Eui-jae’s chin.
“Someone intentionally erased that friend’s records. Very cleanly. As if they never existed.”