Chapter 194

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍a warehouse of an underground facility that held only dust, not people.

Kim ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Seyeon was talking to someone on the phone alone.

“Yes, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍then……”

What ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍she held in her hand was an old folder-style feature phone.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was currently impossible to contact Seoul using a smartphone.

However, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if it were an old feature phone using a private satellite communication network, words could be delivered to Seoul or anywhere underground.

Naturally, the communication status would not be good.

“I understand.”

What kind of content was she sharing with whom?

She soon closed the mobile phone.

Then she naturally kept it in a small pocket inside her skirt and opened the warehouse door as if nothing had happened.

Outside the door was dark and quiet.

A hallway as lonely as her heart.

But contrary to appearances, quite a few people were staying in the Suwon underground facility.

Starting with Baek Dojun and several members of the Special Affairs Division, there were individuals with entangled stories like Hong Eunseok, and even non-awakened troops who came for support from the Suwon administration.

In this place, which could also be seen as a strategic bunker, the busiest person was none other than Kim Seyeon.

After all, as Baek Dojun's attendant, she had to deliver various instructions to people, collect external contacts and information received by Baek Dojun, and directly look after Do Minyeong, the most important person in this bunker.

Of course, protecting Do Minyeong was a role others could fulfill.

However, Baek Dojun entrusted Do Minyeong only to her.

He made the plausible excuse that a woman is better suited to look after a woman, but in the end, it meant he trusted Kim Seyeon that much.

At least, that was what she thought.

That was only her own belief, anyway.

Soon, she walked down the hallway with a click-clack sound.

She headed toward the temporary office of Baek Dojun and opened the door with a short knock as if she were familiar with it.

“Oh, you're here.”

Then Baek Dojun, sitting on a worn iron chair, welcomed her.

As if he had been waiting.

“……Hmm? Were you looking for me?”

Surely the strategy meeting regarding the raid must have been finished in the morning.

Was there any other change?

Kim Seyeon closed her mouth and bit her lower lip without letting it show.

A nervousness for an unknown reason.

As she soon approached Baek Dojun, Maxi and Monica, who had followed her from goodness knows when, entered the office.

And following the two, Do Minyeong suddenly entered as well.

They looked at Kim Seyeon and Baek Dojun with their backs against the closed door.

It was an atmosphere as if the exit had been blocked.

Kim Seyeon shifted her gaze back to Baek Dojun and asked.

“What is going on?”

“I don't think I can keep the promise I made to you.”

“A promise?”

“Yes, that I would become the Bureau Chief.”

“That kind of thing is……”

In an instant, Baek Dojun's expression turned cold.

“The promise to become the Bureau Chief and fire you without fail.”

“……?”

“I'm sorry, but I have to fire you as of this moment. I'm sorry for not being able to keep my promise.”

With those words, a chill began to rise from the floor she was standing on.

It was not a figment of her imagination.

Actually, Maxi's mana was gathering around her.

“What on earth……!”

“What am I doing? Before answering that question, I'll ask you one thing. Where and with whom were you in contact just now?”

“Pardon?”

“Are you going to play innocent?”

Baek Dojun sent a look to Monica.

Then she took out the old feature phone from Kim Seyeon's clothes.

It was a movement very skilled in stealing something.

“……!”

She soon turned on the power of the mobile phone and handed it to Baek Dojun.

“What is this?”

“I-it's a phone I prepared to talk to my family.”

“Is that so……. However, there are no contacts.”

“Because I have the numbers memorized……”

“There are no call records either?”

“Because I was worried that it would become a target if I lost it.”

Baek Dojun said mockingly.

“Quite dedicated. To think you'd betray us for your family.”

“N-no, it's not like that!”

Before she knew it, Maxi's mana froze her shoes.

A chill transmitted through her skin.

However, it was not cold; it was hot.

A sensation as if her flesh were being sliced.

“Usually, these old feature phones are used to utilize private satellites. In other words, even if you enter a commonly used phone number, transmission and reception are impossible. You can only connect to the satellite's communication network by entering a specific number at a set time with the other party. In this case……”

Baek Dojun entered a specific number on the mobile phone and showed it to Kim Seyeon.

Exactly 9684.

It was the number to connect with the private satellite.

“The communication network is usually activated in one-hour units. Since the time hasn't changed yet, the communication network must still be valid. Now, the question again: if you press this number, who will you be connected with?”

“…….”

Kim Seyeon did not answer.

Not only would excuses no longer work, but if it were Baek Dojun, he wasn't asking without knowing the identity of the other party.

He must know ten to one that it would be connected to his brother.

Would it really be meaningful to resist in a situation where the mana that would freeze her whole body at any moment was under her feet?

Suddenly, she looked back at Do Minyeong.

Since moving to the hideout in Suwon, Kim Seyeon had put a lot of effort into making Do Minyeong a part of the operation while by her side.

That way, it would be easier for the Bureau to get their hands on Do Minyeong.

She thought things were going smoothly until Do Minyeong volunteered to be the bait, but in the end, it was herself who was being utilized.

“Thanks to your leakage of our plan, the Bureau will keep an eye on Incheon. However, we will proudly head up through Suwon. Of course, earlier than the planned time. There will be many casualties in the process, but what can we do? It's the fastest way to punish District 2.”

“…….”

“When that time comes, the Bureau will judge that you have failed, and your family will no longer receive protection.”

Since when had Baek Dojun suspected her?

Whenever that time was, there was only one thing she had to do now.

Kim Seyeon quickly slumped down and sobbed.

“I-I was being threatened. I had no choice for the sake of my younger brother's life……!”

However, what returned was Baek Dojun's reprimand.

“Shut up!”

“……!”

“Are you saying it's okay to sacrifice the lives of your colleagues if you can save your family's life!”

Kim Seyeon hurriedly turned her head toward Do Minyeong.

“Direct descendant! Please forgive me just once! I couldn't ignore my critically ill younger brother!”

“No, forgiveness is not something you should seek from me. You should seek it from your younger brother, who will die without anyone's protection because of his foolish older sister.”

“……!”

At that moment, the chill that had been swirling under her feet began to envelop her entire body.

A sight where every single drop of blood began to freeze without exception.

“But since you were useful at the last moment, I will remember your name in a good way. ……That you were a very capable attendant.”

“C-Chief……!”

With that death agony, Kim Seyeon froze.

And silence flowed in the room.

Even if she had betrayed them, witnessing the death of an acquaintance she had known for a long time was difficult.

Do Minyeong, who had shown a resolute attitude all along, slumped down helplessly, and Monica put her arm around her shoulders.

Soon, Baek Dojun quietly clicked his tongue and said.

“Then, everyone, prepare for battle.”

***

Just like when we crossed the wall, we left Gangwon-do with the help of Hyeonseong.

Of course, even without Hyeonseong's help, there would have been no difficulty in crossing the wall.

That was because the outpost project had been suspended.

It was not an unexpected situation.

I thought the superpowered society would be paralyzed to some extent.

“Martial law? They're really going all out.”

Bruno and I met Choi Suhyuk near the wall.

He had been stationed near the outpost at my request.

A testimony from a colleague who actually experienced it would be more certain than grasping the situation through a method like a newspaper.

“Right now, it's impossible to enter Seoul through official methods. They've covered all the roads with barricades.”

“They're trying to prevent the internal situation from being exposed to the outside.”

“Yes, it's already been a few days since I left Seoul, so the situation is very likely to have changed more rapidly.”

“Thank you. It must have been a difficult request.”

“I'll do anything you ask. You're the only lifeline I trust in this field.”

“A lifeline?”

“At least, you're the best connection I know.”

“Ah……. More importantly, what about the rebels? I mean the administration and some forces of the Special Affairs Division.”

“It's just rumors. The Bureau is creating a coercive atmosphere by telling citizens that the rebels will invade, but no distinct incident has occurred yet.”

“Did the citizens believe that? The existence of the rebels.”

“What else can the awakened do but rely on the Bureau? They've been united around the Bureau for over half a century. However, the problem is that child.”

That child.

I spat out words like an answering machine.

“Do Minyeong……”

“Yes. The public sentiment, which didn't react much even to the Principal's false accusation, is quite shaken by Do Minyeong's choice to join the rebels.”

As expected, Do Minyeong is with Baek Dojun.

It's a relief she's with the most trustworthy person, but…….

I wonder how much Baek Dojun can withstand Baek Dojin's check?

The best he can do now is to deal with the key figures of the Bureau.

Even if he has combat power like Monica and Maxi, there are many more Special Affairs Division investigators remaining in the Bureau.

Furthermore, it is nearly impossible to win against the overwhelming support of the numerous guilds belonging to the Hunter Association and the Production Guild.

Not to mention the existence of Seo Junhyeop, the master of Blackcastle and the strongest person at this point in time…….

“It's desperate.”

“That's a very appropriate word.”

Forced awakened people must be spread throughout Seoul like mines, and their number will be approximately tens of thousands.

No, maybe another zero will be added.

How many non-awakened people wouldn't be tempted when they say they'll help them awaken without any cost?

A way to stop their interference and reach Seoul's District 2…….

Shit.

There's no way there's another method.

In the end, we have no choice but to subjugate Baek Dojin, the key personnel of the Bureau, and the Demonic Beings as quickly as possible.

Before Gen gets his hands on Do Minyeong.

“Senior, when was Chuseok this time?”

“It's in two days, isn't it?”

A full moon will rise in two days.

Just like the time of the Sword Saint, the Phantom Thief, and the Witch, the most ideal time to reopen the Great Rift will arrive.

Baek Dojun must also be aware of this, so perhaps he has already executed the plan.

Therefore, what I have to do right now is…….

“Bruno.”

“I understand. I will move alone. I was planning to return to my subordinates first anyway.”

“Pardon?”

“Isn't that what you're saying? After all, guys like you prefer acting alone, don't you? I knew it from the moment you were wearing those black rags.”

How on earth is he seeing me?

“If not, it's okay to move together.”

“No, it's fine……”

I took out my smartphone for a moment.

But as expected, it was dead.

Choi Suhyuk said.

“Anyway, there's a lot of talk internally and externally about martial law. Our free mercenaries are in a situation where our livelihood is cut off because the Hunter Association isn't giving us requests, and opinions are divided on whether we should join the Bureau or watch the progress.”

“What about you, senior?”

“I am…… strictly speaking, neutral. My goal is different.”

“A goal?”

“Yeah, I'm going to crawl into Seoul this way and go to the 4th Scholastic District. There's someone I have to protect there.”

“…….”

Choi Seol, Choi Suhyuk's older sister, in the special ward of Sienna.

Since the entire industry was already paralyzed, that was the only choice left for him.

I'm just grateful that he came all the way here, leaving her behind for a moment.

“But how are you going to enter Seoul?”

“I'm a free mercenary. It's easy if I roughly lie and say I'm joining the Bureau.”

“Ah……”

“You can enter with me if you want. It'll be a bit tricky because your mercenary status isn't proven, but it'll be okay if we talk our way through.”

It would definitely be easy to enter with his help.

But I had already thought of a way to enter Seoul.

“It's okay. I'll go alone.”

“How?”

“There's a saying: make a sound in the east and strike in the west.”

“That saying means…… you didn't have any intention of sneaking in from the start?”

Me attacking Seoul alone to draw attention and helping the rebels enter.

I'd like to handle it alone if I could, but dealing with Lee Eunho, Gen, and Seo Junhyeop alone is tricky.

Of course, I'm not saying I'll sacrifice myself alone.

I plan to run to District 2 the moment the rebels enter Seoul after appropriately dispersing their attention.

Originally, opportunities sprout in the midst of confusion.

“Then let's end the talk here. I don't think we have time to delay.”

“Well, yeah. Uh……”

I gave a light nod and took a step back to release my mana.

Then, shadows rose from the ground and began to permeate my body in an instant.

On the surface, it looks like I'm using a common summoning technique, but the biggest difference is that I'm standing at the center of that summoning.

In other words, the Armoring of summoning that Kim Seulhee mentioned.

“S-Seokhyeon?”

Soon, the form was complete.

The figure reflected in the rainwater on the ground was indeed a phantom.

It was the eerie shadow itself that would be difficult to detect easily in Seoul, where there was no light.

Except that my clothes wouldn't flutter because I didn't have a cloak.

In this state, I can compensate for my relatively inferior body and reach Seoul at an incredible speed.

Although mana will be depleted quickly, so what.

Half of my inventory is mana potions.

“Let's meet again when the job is done. It would be even better if it were at the Hero Prep.”

“Hero Prep?”

I made an playful expression that wouldn't even be visible.

“Senior, you have to graduate too.”

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