Chapter 168

Unlike the Big Three Guilds, which admit only the chosen few, the Detention Bureau was at least theoretically within reach for anyone willing to work for it.

Granted, the recruitment process was grueling, and without a strong sense of patriotism and duty, few would dare apply.

Still, perhaps it was the notion that “if you try hard enough, you might catch up to an S-rank” that spurred interest.

The Awakeners’ Management Department was seeing an unprecedented surge in applicants.

A whopping 100,000 people applied for the agent recruitment exam—needless to say, a staggering number.

[Title: Detention Bureau Public Recruitment Up 4,900%]

(News Screenshot.jpg)

One well-placed S-rank Elemental Awakener is worth more than the Big Three Guilds

After years of roughly 2,000 applicants per cycle, the moment they brought in Roy, applications exploded to 100,000

Since everyone flocked to the Detention Bureau solely because of Roy, most were eager to work with him.

As a result, the bureau’s forum was flooded with questions about qualifications for Team Shooting Star—but not once did the Detention Bureau issue an official response.

After all, Heo Ho had long since entrusted team composition to Roy, and Roy himself had never clarified his selection criteria.

Perhaps for that reason, when it was revealed that the second member of Shooting Star was Kim Hojin, rampant speculation broke out among Awakeners.

[Title: Here’s Exactly What You Need to Qualify for Shooting Star]

A-rank or above Elemental

└ Too small a talent pool if you limit to Elementals only

└ There’s Park Yeonwoo and Coffee King

└ Oh right... but are they all joining the Detention Bureau? The Big Three wouldn’t stand for that...

└ No news of them joining any guild either

└ Should I get plastic surgery now? T_T

└ I heard they even have a few C-ranks there

└ From this you can tell attribute matters more than rank...

└ And now you realize that?

└ Mirror?

└ What a jerk

This isn’t an idol lineup, so why are people caring about appearances?

Roy shook his head and checked the time in his phone’s status bar.

The first weekend after the term began.

Since filming on Star Hero had wrapped just before the new semester, this was his first full holiday in months.

Yesterday, he’d spent quality time with his family; today, it was time to tackle the tasks he’d put off.

Namely, Shooting Star’s first official meeting and dinner!

Yeonwoo, Kim Hojin, and Taeeon still didn’t know that Seo Han Gyeol had joined the team.

And since Roy had never told Han Gyeol the identities of the other members, today would serve as a surprise for everyone.

“Finally, the members are all in one place.”

Roy couldn’t hide his excitement.

✧

Gosu Seoul.

A fine-dining restaurant run by Korean-French chef Go Saetbyeol beneath Namsan.

It was the first establishment in the country to earn three Michelin stars.

And after appearing as a judge on a cooking show, the already near-impossible reservation difficulty soared beyond reach.

Waiting months for an opening was the norm, and rumors said bookings were sold out a year in advance.

Yet this place—

With a single phone call just one day prior—

으향향향!

Had been reserved by none other than Roy.

That was the advantage of having wealthy, influential parents.

Since Shooting Star was gathering together after so long, Roy wanted to treat his brothers to the very best cuisine.

Of course, there were other candidates with great ambiance and food.

But it was Kim Hojin’s offhand remark that sealed the deal.

It was during that summer when the team was lodging at Han Gyeol’s house.

Alongside Star Hero, Chef Go Saetbyeol was appearing on The White-Blue Chef, and Kim Hojin had muttered while watching TV in the living room,

‘Wow... looks delicious.’

Though Hojin spoke of the contestants’ dishes, a judge’s own cooking must be even more astounding.

In that moment, Roy resolved to let Hojin taste Chef Go Saetbyeol’s cuisine.

So in truth, today’s dinner was arranged thanks to Hojin.

Just as Roy, thrilled at seeing his brothers soon, was nodding as he surveyed the private room,

Knock-knock—

The awaited knock sounded, the door opened, and a familiar face appeared.

“Roy, where on earth...?”

It was Taeeon, Wasteland’s Coffee King.

Roy had heard Taeeon had taken a leave of absence after Star Hero, but somehow his face looked even more tired than during filming.

“Why do you look like that?”

“Look like what...? Maybe I’ve been losing sleep lately?”

Taeeon rubbed his cheek awkwardly and took the seat opposite Roy.

“But how did you get a reservation here? This place is legendary. I heard you have to book a year in advance.”

“Why can’t you sleep? Are you sick? Is that why you took leave?”

While Taeeon tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, Roy refused to back down.

Taeeon glanced at Roy’s stern expression and forced a smile.

Just a few months ago he’d seemed innocent—now, in just two months, he’d grown into a man, and it was no longer easy to brush things off.

“Just... so many messages, people showing up at my house....”

Taeeon tried to speak vaguely, but Roy immediately pieced together the situation.

Suddenly changing his number and having it leaked—even his home address.

Roy knew Taeeon was a model student at Korea University and fairly well-known on campus.

But on top of awakening as a B-rank and going on TV....

‘They wouldn’t just leave him alone.’

Roy’s expression turned grave, knowing all too well the torment of being hounded by fans.

“Get out of that house right now.”

“I’ve already moved somewhere else.”

“You already moved? Then where are you now?”

“Well... a friend’s place?”

“A friend’s place is fine, but why the hesitation?”

Roy narrowed his eyes at Taeeon’s unsatisfactory answer.

“Really? It’s already been a week since the show ended.”

True, Taeeon was holed up at a friend’s, but Roy worried he might inconvenience that friend.

So he’d pressured Taeeon into sneaking out under the guise of tonight’s dinner.

“I figured a self-service motel would mean no one running into me.”

“What on earth did you do to deserve this? And why didn’t you tell me? I told you to call me if anything happened.”

“It’s not that big a deal.”

“You’ve lost your home and are living on the streets—is that not a big deal?”

“Ha ha. Roy, it’s not that extreme...”

Taeeon, flustered by Roy’s worst-case-scenario, offered an embarrassed smile.

“Enough. Come with me.”

“Where?”

“For now, stay at my place.”

“What? No, it’s fine—”

At that moment,

from behind the door,

familiar whispering drifted in.

“This is insane. Where are we? Looks expensive—are we sure this is the right place?”

“The address Roy gave is correct, but....”

As the door opened, Yeonwoo and Kim Hojin appeared behind the restaurant staff.

“Oh? Roy.”

“Where...? Seriously?”

While Hojin greeted Roy with delight, Yeonwoo looked around in disbelief.

“Come on in, Yeonwoo.”

“Oh? Oh, okay....”

Hojin and Yeonwoo had grown close after Hojin transferred to Seoul Awakeners’ High School.

They were the same age and both Elementals, so they’d been placed in the same class.

“How did you two come together?”

Taeeon, curious, turned to Yeonwoo, who draped an arm around Hojin’s shoulder and swaggered.

“We were at my house together. I got my awakening, and then they insisted we go together—said I’d cry if I didn’t.”

Since Yeonwoo’s family home was in Busan, they had nowhere to stay off campus.

Hojin had invited Yeonwoo to stay at his place, so naturally they came together.

Hearing this, Roy’s eyes widened—Roy had first asked Yeonwoo to come to his house and been rebuffed.

“What? When I invited you to my house, you said you didn’t want to!”

“I told you I’d go because of you! I said I’d cry if I didn’t.”

Yeonwoo went on about maintaining proper distance between team members and leaders, prompting Roy’s gaze to blaze for an instant.

Recalling that the room had felt oddly heavy when they arrived, Yeonwoo spoke again.

“But really, where is this place? Did we fight?”

“No. Just sit down.”

“Roy.”

“I said it’s settled—end of discussion.”

At that point, as Taeeon tried to speak again, Roy cut him off and fixed his gaze on the firmly closed door.

Then Kim Hojin asked,

“Anyone else coming?”

Indeed there was.

This was Shooting Star’s first team dinner and the occasion to formally introduce Han Gyeol.

Roy had deliberately told Han Gyeol to arrive twenty minutes late so that the star of the show would appear last.

But as expected, the nation’s darling actor had arrived early.

Knock-knock—

No sooner had Hojin and Yeonwoo sat down than the knock sounded.

“Looks like they’re here?”

Roy grinned and glanced toward the door—everyone’s eyes followed.

As the door opened, Seo Han Gyeol, hat and mask pulled low, appeared.

“......!”

His eyes flickered with surprise at so many familiar, famous faces.

Roy chuckled and reached out to Han Gyeol, then introduced him.

“Say hello. This is the final member of Shooting Star, Mr. Seo Han Gyeol.”