By Zephyria 
Director Shin Yun-hui of the Ability User Management Bureau was in deep thought.
Could she really trust Yeon Yu-jin, the Guide who, until recently, had been rumored to be somehow connected to Hyeon Jae-ha, a Class 1 wanted criminal?
‘Something feels off.’
Even though every Ability Measurement test had come back with a C-Class Guide result.
“Just a moment.”
Shin Yun-hui asked for Yeon Yu-jin’s understanding.
“Before accepting, I’d like to see the video of the S-Class Simulator gate that you all cleared.”
It was fortunate that they had come out unscathed, but it was still suspicious.
Four A-Class Espers and one C-Class Guide clearing an S-Class Dungeon, even if it was a simulation?
She had to confirm it.
If Yeon Yu-jin showed any reaction here, she was prepared to reject him outright, but…
“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.”
Yeon Yu-jin nonchalantly gave his okay.
‘…What’s he so confident about?’
Puzzled, Shin Yun-hui accessed the computer monitor where the video of what happened in the Gate was stored.
“……Oh.”
As if the video of Yeon Yu-jin and his Espers fighting had been cut out, it had vanished without a trace.
“Just so you know, we didn’t delete it.”
At Yeon Yu-jin’s words, the employee in charge of Examination Room 5 nodded.
“Th-that’s right. When I tried to find the recorded video, even that had already been deleted. It looks like the work of the culprit. Guide Yeon Yu-jin said that he had a conversation with the culprit at the end, so maybe that’s why the entire video was wiped out.”
“Haa.”
With the employee’s testimony added, there was no more excuse to block it.
At the same time, this thought crossed her mind.
‘Is the culprit in this case not an Ability User under Hyeon Jae-ha?’
If so, what was the purpose of plotting this?
The puzzled Director Shin Yun-hui stared intently at Yeon Yu-jin.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Is my handsomeness showing?”
“…….”
His mouth, as good at making people lose their minds, was S-Class.
‘Either way, he’s the first person that Hyeon Jae-ha has shown interest in since his partner Guide’s death. If we keep an eye on him, Hyeon Jae-ha might reappear someday.’
“…I accept the proposal.”
“Great.”
Shin Yun-hui extended her hand towards Yeon Yu-jin. It was a gesture to shake hands.
Yeon Yu-jin grinned and shook her hand.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“…Likewise.”
It was the beginning of a strange, temporary alliance, with each side harboring their own ulterior motives.
Meanwhile, Hyeon Jae-ha was quietly watching the Ability Measurement Center from outside.
‘It shouldn’t take this long. It’s strangely prolonged.’
Just as he was wondering, he suddenly felt the energy of another Ability User near the Measurement Center.
‘…What is this?’
It was a considerably strong wave.
‘Appearing out of nowhere like that, it must be an Esper with Teleportation ability.’
If an Esper had business at the Ability Measurement Center, they could just enter through the front gate. But they weren’t showing themselves.
Hyeon Jae-ha frowned.
‘Could it be that they set the Teleportation coordinates to inside the Ability Measurement Center?’
That was illegal.
Ironically, Hyeon Jae-ha, a Class 1 wanted criminal designated by the country, was well-versed in the special laws related to Ability Users.
This was because most of the special laws established in the last 20 years had originated from Hyeon Jae-ha and his colleagues.
‘Why would they do something like that?’
The reason Hyeon Jae-ha himself hadn’t set foot in the Management Bureau building was to avoid being caught by the security system if he entered carelessly.
To enter an institution under the Management Bureau without fear.
‘Besides, what’s even stranger is that the alarm isn’t going off.’
Could it be that a high-ranking official secretly came for an inspection?
While making various guesses, Hyeon Jae-ha used his Clairvoyance artifact to peek at two figures arguing in the hallway.
One of them, who appeared to be an employee of the Measurement Center, was being subdued powerlessly and stuffed into a cabinet.
‘…What the hell is that bastard?’
An inspection wouldn’t involve violence.
The sensible wanted criminal Hyeon Jae-ha watched the intruder.
The intruder was changing the colors of what looked like Gates using his ability. And he was even changing his own appearance beyond recognition.
Furthermore, he was also caught tampering with various electronic devices to ensure that no traces related to him remained.
“What is this…!”
Hyeon Jae-ha was startled at this point.
‘No way.’
The intruder had already used three abilities. Up to two could be considered as having manifested special abilities like Hyeon Jae-ha, but… this guy was different. To possess three abilities with different properties. This was unheard of.
Perhaps it was four. No, maybe even more.
If he wasn’t a government official, that meant he even possessed an Awareness Interference ability….
Hyeon Jae-ha’s face turned extremely cold.
‘A Multiple Ability User. Maybe… that bastard is the one who murdered Ga-hyeon.’
Although the distance was too far to accurately identify his original appearance, he appeared to be a young man. In his late 20s, perhaps.
If he wasn’t a naturally occurring mutant Esper, then he must be the murderer who planned An Ga-hyeon’s death.
Just as Hyeon Jae-ha’s aging had slowed down after his Second Awakening, it was possible that this guy’s aging had also slowed down, making him look younger.
‘I have to attack that bastard right now…!’
But Hyeon Jae-ha couldn’t easily step forward.
It was none other than Yeon Yu-jin’s fault.
‘…What if Yeon Yu-jin gets into trouble because of me?’
He seemed to be under suspicion from the government because of matters related to him even now.
If he suddenly attacked here, things could escalate further.
Besides, the fact that he came at the moment when Yeon Yu-jin was undergoing a re-measurement test could be interpreted as him targeting him. Or it could be a trap set by the government.
‘It’s too early to act rashly.’
There was no point in moving recklessly. The energy wave felt from the Multiple Ability User was quite strong. Hyeon Jae-ha was confident that he wouldn’t lose to any other Espers, but he couldn’t guarantee that he could capture that bastard single-handedly. It was too risky to gamble against someone whose exact purpose and strength were unknown.
“Damn it.”
Hyeon Jae-ha spat out a curse and focused on the intruder again.
Yeon Yu-jin, mistaking him for a real employee, had fallen for the prank he had pulled. The intruder seemed to be enjoying it. His purpose was completely unknown. Hyeon Jae-ha thought that if it was simply a trap set by the government’s orders, he wouldn’t be gleeful like that.
‘That bastard is suspicious after all. He might be the one who killed Ga-hyeon.’
Hyeon Jae-ha decided that he needed to call his other colleagues. Just as he was about to contact his colleagues.
Through the glass window, the intruder and Hyeon Jae-ha’s eyes met for a brief moment.
‘Could he have seen me even though I’m wearing a stealth artifact?’
One second? No, it was probably only 0.5 seconds, but Hyeon Jae-ha was certain.
That bastard saw Hyeon Jae-ha.
Hyeon Jae-ha didn’t hesitate any longer and used his telekinesis to fly towards him to catch him.
The bastard seemed flustered, muttered something towards the Gate where Yeon Yu-jin was trapped, and then disappeared again using Teleportation.
He couldn’t let him get away.
“Damn it. Where did he go?”
Hyeon Jae-ha regretted not bringing a colleague with Tracking ability. If he couldn’t use Tracking ability within 10 seconds after an Esper disappeared with Teleportation, it was nearly impossible to chase after him.
Looking inside the building, Hyeon Jae-ha gritted his teeth. He heard his colleagues’ voices through the emergency communication device.
-What’s up? Boss. What’s going on? What’s with the lone wolf asking for help?
At Ha Ri-ra’s voice, Hyeon Jae-ha replied in a very stiff tone.
“…The person who killed Ga-hyeon, the person we’re chasing, someone presumed to be him was here.”
-Huh?!
To his shocked colleague, Hyeon Jae-ha said, clenching his teeth, one word at a time.
“I tried to catch him, but I missed him. He’s a Multiple Ability User. The abilities he possesses, just from what I saw, were Teleportation, Disguise, and Manipulation. And most importantly, he acted like he saw me even though I was stealthed, and then he disappeared.”
He ran away as if he had been caught by Hyeon Jae-ha, someone who should no longer exist in this world.
As if he was someone who couldn’t be caught by Hyeon Jae-ha.
At his explanation, his colleague’s voice sank.
-Then there’s a high possibility that he’s the real culprit.
The members of the White Tiger Unit were mostly those who had already lost their partners. Either they had lost their partners first during battles in the front lines… or they were the partners of Ability Users who had their abilities stolen and were killed by the culprit, X.
-Did you happen to see what he looked like?
“…I don’t know that much. I didn’t see him in detail. But I did see one thing.”
-What is it?
“Beads. He was wearing earrings with red beads strung on them. Only on one ear.”
And strangely, he kept fiddling with it whenever he used his abilities.
‘Is it just a habit? Or….’
A dangerous thought flashed through Hyeon Jae-ha’s mind.
‘No. That can’t be.’
If that were possible, X should have lived like a dead mouse, pretending to be an ordinary Esper. Not engaging in dangerous behavior by stirring up the Ability Measurement Center of the Management Bureau.
‘What was his purpose?’
Hyeon Jae-ha examined Examination Room 5, where Yeon Yu-jin had entered.
Could it be… that the Guide Yeon Yu-jin himself was the target?
He had a hunch that his ability wasn’t D-Class. He also felt like he was trying to hide his strength.
But… why would he specifically target Yeon Yu-jin?
Hyeon Jae-ha’s mind was constantly racing.
‘What if X hasn’t stopped stealing abilities from Ability Users?’
So, if Yeon Yu-jin seemed to be hiding a special ability, and he came here to test him…
Wouldn’t that make sense?