By Zephyria Basilisk Fang found in the West Sea Rift. Hong Ye-seong didn’t make it, but it was a fang that Hong Ye-seong made.
In fact, even setting aside the engrave, Hong Ye-seong’s claim was quite credible considering the fang’s temperament. Like father, like son, and you reap what you sow.
As Eui-jae fell into thought and remained silent, Hong Ye-seong began to whine.
“Huh? Huh? Ah, please tell me. I’m going crazy with curiosity.”
He’s exactly the same, just pushing his own claims.
But in fact, Hong Ye-seong, the ‘father’ of the fang, knows nothing about the West Sea Rift. Simply put, it was right to think that another Hong Ye-seong, not the one in front of him, made it. The Rift is a place where time and space are distorted, so it wasn’t just a far-fetched fantasy. Because he had already confirmed the possibility.
“There are definitely many cases where the name and face are the same, but they are different people.”
Hong Ye-seong was not in the Fragment that Yoon Ga-eul showed. However, the fragments he saw at that time were part of the Destroyed world that Ga-eul had picked out, so there would be a Fragment somewhere where he appeared. Eui-jae stared blankly at the grass lying down with the wind.
‘I should meet Yoon Ga-eul again….’
If he knew how the fang made by Hong Ye-seong in the Fragment appeared in the Rift… it might help to get the people buried in the Rift out. He also needed to ask more about Doomsday.
Hong Ye-seong, who had been waiting for Eui-jae to open his mouth, tapped the floor this time.
“Hey? Secretary Kim, are you listening to me? Are you thinking about it now? I’ll wait?”
Eui-jae’s gaze passed Ye-seong and went to the nodding ceramic chicken. Cluck had been shaking non-stop since the moment it crushed the phone, probably because of the vibrations that kept ringing from below.
The only person who would call this persistently is… Lee Sa-young. Eui-jae slyly turned his gaze to the blue sky where clouds were floating. It was time for reality escape.
‘Great, I’m screwed.’
“Secretary Kiiiiim.”
Eui-jae’s eyebrows twitched at the voice that sounded like it was three seconds away from turning into a roe deer. Not only was he interfering with his thoughts, but now he was even interfering with his escape from reality. Eui-jae sighed deeply. He had endured three times so far. A burst of anger suddenly rose.
‘…Why is this crazy brat so confident after kidnapping someone since earlier?’
Lee Sa-young’s Gas mask billowed in his head, and Sa-young’s sarcastic voice began to play automatically.
‘Didn’t I tell you not to run into other people as much as possible…? If you like socializing so much, why don’t you join a hiking club or something?’
Just thinking about having to listen to Lee Sa-young’s sarcasm made his fists clench involuntarily. It felt like he had crossed one mountain only to find another, higher mountain.
‘Even if I escape, I’m going to end up hearing Lee Sa-young nag?’
Eui-jae quietly spoke to Hong Ye-seong, who was stamping his feet.
“You asked where this came from.”
“Oh! You’ve finally decided to answer. Yes, where did it come from?”
Eui-jae stared blankly at Hong Ye-seong, who was nodding diligently. The posture of sitting neatly on the cushion gradually became crooked.
“Why should I believe anything Hong Ye-seong says?”
“Huh? Me?”
“No, that’s not it. Who would talk if you only offer a verbal promise and tell them to talk? You have to write a proper contract and talk. You have to present conditions first, like what you’ll give me if I tell you, right?”
“I’ll keep it a secret, okay? I’ll even make you a weapon!”
“If a Hunter working in the secretary’s office suddenly shows up with a weapon made by Hong Ye-seong, it would be suspicious.”
He tried to get away with acting appropriately, but thanks to the secretary’s mentality that had settled in while being swayed by Lee Sa-young for a short time today, his sincerity gradually began to mix in.
“No, and. Do I have to say everything if you tell me to? Isn’t this abuse of authority and power?”
“Wow… ha, I’ve really never heard anything like this since I Awakened, so it’s kind of refreshing.”
Hong Ye-seong, who was suddenly caught up in the abuse of power controversy, patted his chest.
“I’m Hong Ye-seong. And what’s wrong with a parent who lost their child asking where they found their baby? Are you really not going to answer?”
He began to appeal to emotions, but unfortunately, it didn’t work for Eui-jae.
The moment he reveals that he picked it up in the West Sea Rift, it’s the same as declaring that he is J. Is there any benefit to telling that fact? Not at all. Moreover, Hong Ye-seong has a close relationship with the Awakened Management Bureau, so even if he keeps his mouth shut, there is a high possibility that information will leak.
There doesn’t seem to be any more information to get from him, and Lee Sa-young’s nagging is confirmed.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t make it earlier? It doesn’t seem like it’s been long since you said that. Are you really a parent?”
Now that it has come to this, there was no choice but to shake up Hong Ye-seong’s mind. Eui-jae, who had become brave because there was no more room to retreat, began to sneer mercilessly, and Hong Ye-seong opened his mouth wide.
‘I heard he’s Lee Sa-young’s secretary, so did he only learn how to be sarcastic while being next to him?’
The man in front of him was even wearing a Gas mask, so it was like Lee Sa-young was sitting there.
“You said you’ve never seen the Basilisk directly. I’d like to tell you, but well, there’s a lack of trust….”
Wasn’t the secretary the same? But Secretary Kim exuded a confident composure as if he knew something. Hong Ye-seong was flustered and slammed the Basilisk Fang’s Black Chain down. He shook his hand, which was unharmed and didn’t even have a scratch, and said.
“My name is here, and this sharp kid doesn’t turn its blade on me. It recognizes the person who made it, right?”
“Give it to me.”
Ye-seong suspiciously handed over the fang. The fang, which had escaped the friendly and longing touch of its father and was caught in the hands of a scoundrel, seemed to be struggling, but Eui-jae put strength into the hand holding the handle.
[‘Basilisk Fang’s’ thoughts updated!]
[Fang’s thoughts: I’ll cut off your hand if you hit me.]
The fang didn’t recognize its Master and turned its blade on him, but Eui-jae had his own thoughts.
[Trait Basilisk’s Poison (S+) is activated.]
‘Get a clue.’
[‘Basilisk Fang’s’ thoughts updated!]
[Fang’s thoughts: I take back what I just thought.]
Eui-jae, who suppressed the Basilisk’s timid resistance with Poison Hyung, brought his hand down towards the blade without hesitation. Even though his hand was hit directly by the blade, it was still fine. Ye-seong’s eyes widened. Eui-jae said shamelessly.
“Isn’t it just that the blade is dull? It doesn’t seem like this is evidence.”
“Wait! I’ll sharpen it with a whetstone. Do it again after sharpening it.”
Before he knew it, the person questioning and the person explaining had naturally switched. Hong Ye-seong was already focused on proving that he was the father of the Basilisk Fang.
‘It’s a relief that Hong Ye-seong is simple.’
It was when he was secretly sighing in relief, watching Ye-seong’s back as he stood up to find a whetstone. Hong Ye-seong, who was standing tall, muttered.
“…It seems like something happened outside?”
“Yes?”
“…….”
He fiddled with his phone without answering. After a while, the mechanical sound unique to TTS flowed out.
―Hong Ye-seong, would it be possible to move up the auction restart time? ^^ A little problem has occurred.
―Hong Ye-seong, please ignore the previous message.
―Never come outside.
If you only listened to the content, it sounded like the last message of a survivor in a ghost story. Eui-jae’s expression became bitter, but Hong Ye-seong was serious.
“This… If Jung-bin is saying this, it means the situation outside is really serious?”
“…….”
“Gyu-Gyu will be careful because of what happened last time, and the others will be watching me. Then the only guy who would do something is….”
Their eyes met in the air. They were probably thinking of the same person. As if to support their prediction, Cluck’s vibration had stopped at some point. Eui-jae closed his eyes tightly.
‘Shit, Sa-young. What the hell are you doing again….’
“Keuk, ah….”
Messy white hair was scattered in a mess. A jet-black Walker pressed down hard on the shoulder of a man lying on the floor. Keok, a rough breath burst out. Gyu-Gyu, who was coughing, scratched the Walker with his hand and twisted his lips.
“Do you think my shoulder will break if you step on it like that?”
“…….”
The head of the Gas mask, standing on Gyu-Gyu while holding a phone to his ear, tilted slightly to the right. From beyond the phone, he could faintly hear a message saying that he could not answer the call. A giggling voice asked teasingly.
“Who are you talking to? …J?”
The moment the name J came out, the foot that was stepping on his shoulder put more strength into it. The sound of bones shifting was clearly heard, but Gyu-Gyu was still observing the Gas mask with a weak smile. Sa-young muttered ominously.
“What are you believing in to do this?”
“Keulkeok, ah, that really hurts….”
“You have to be careful who you mess with….”
Waeaeaeang, a loud siren sounded from somewhere. Gyu-Gyu seemed to turn his head slightly, but he twisted his body helplessly because of the foot that was crushing his shoulder and moving towards his collarbone.
“Why are you trying to establish a hierarchy like you used to do when you were rolling around as mercenaries?”
It was when Sa-young was about to take off his gloves, putting his phone between his ear and shoulder.
Swaeaeaeek! Black Chain rushed towards Sa-young. Sa-young clicked his tongue and took a step back. Gyu-Gyu grabbed his shoulder and began to cough roughly. The Chain, unable to find a target to bind, returned to its Master’s grasp. Along with the clanging sound of metal hitting metal, a long sigh was heard.
“Yes…. Lee Sa-young, Gyu-Gyu.”
What appeared with the siren was Jung-bin. He walked over, wrapping the Black Chain that had returned to him around his hand. The face that always had a gentle smile was stiff.
“I need an explanation of the situation.”