Chapter 55:

Chapter 55:

Chapter 55

The Destiny Protection Bureau was a place with stringent security measures, and very little was known about it publicly. While visitors were allowed up to the first floor, only the bureau’s employees could access floors two and above. Even Shin Sooah, the head of one of the five major sects, had never been inside.

"Please follow me. We will proceed to Team Leader Gong Joo's office. Please keep up," Annaby said, and before Seo Gangrim could react, Annaby had already taken her first step. Despite her short stature, her pace was not particularly slow, and she ended up in front of him. Seo Gangrim had to practically run to keep up with her.

'Does she possess some kind of teleportation ability?' Seo Gangrim wondered, as there was no other way to explain her incredible speed. As much as he wanted to take a closer look at his surroundings, he couldn't if he wanted to keep with her.

'I'd rather act like I've lost her and explore the building on my own, pretending to be lost... but it seems they've intentionally designed the interior to be confusing,' he thought. The building appeared ordinary at first glance, but it had an unusually high number of corners and long corridors. Additionally, the corridors lacked distinguishing features, making it difficult to determine one's location. If he got lost here, there was no guarantee that he could find his way anywhere else.

'For now, I'll just follow along obediently,' Seo Gangrim decided. He continued to follow Annaby down the labyrinthine path.

Annaby stopped at the end of a corridor. She faced a door and said, "Team Leader Gong Joo, Seo Gangrim has arrived."

"Come in."

A stern voice came from beyond the door, and it opened. When Seo Gangrim stepped inside, he saw a tall man standing by the window. Gong Joo, who had been gazing out the window, turned slowly to greet him.

"Oh, Seo Gangrim-ssi, welcome," he said with a smile.

The moment Seo Gangrim laid eyes on him, he felt that this was not someone he could afford to let his guard down around. Although Gong Joo's tone was gentle, his gaze behind the glasses was cold. Moreover, there was an unmistakable air about him.

Gong Joo approached and extended his hand with a smiling face.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Gong Joo, Team Leader of Zone Two."

"Hello, I'm Seo Gangrim," Seo Gang-rim replied, shaking Gong Joo's hand. Unlike Annaby, he didn't wear gloves and his face was also uncovered, which made Seo Gangrim curious.

'Why isn't he covering his face and hands?' Seo Gangrim wondered. The Destiny Protection Bureau always wore disguises, including masks and gloves, to prevent others from reading their destinies, which were a primary means of assessing someone's fortune and character.

'With this, I can read his destiny, but...'

Seo Gangrim shook hands slowly and then let go. Gong Joo was smiling quietly. ething doesn't feel right.'

Why was Gong Joo exposing himself so openly? Just to gain favor? It didn't seem like the only reason.

'I'll not use my ability for now. There's a high chance he's protected, like that woman I saw in the video last time.'

Seo Gangrim suppressed the urge to check Gong Joo's fate and waited for him to speak.

With a seemingly friendly smile, Gong Joo said, "I see you did what I asked you to do in my last message. Congratulations on becoming the first to complete the stage at the highest level difficulty, Seo Gangrim-ssi."

"I was lucky."

"Luck and skill go hand in hand."

After exchanging polite remarks a few more times, they concluded the formalities. Seo Gangrim then cut to the chase, "So, why did you call for me?"

"You're quite direct. I prefer that. We're both busy people, after all."

Gong Joo smiled as if he found Seo Gangrim's straightforwardness appealing.

"As I mentioned last time, if you successfully completed the highest difficulty, I would reward you further."

"Yes."

"That's the only reason I've called you here."

With these words, Gong Joo approached the wall and retrieved something from his pocket. It was a key with intricate patterns engraved in it. As Seo Gangrim silently observed it, Gong Joo inserted the key into the wall.

'But I can't miss this opportunity.'

The high-grade items before him were too tempting to pass up. Amid his contemplation, Gong Joo smiled wryly and urged Seo Gangrim, "So what would you choose?"

"Let me think about it for a while, there are so many things here..."

"I see. Take your time," Gong Joo replied leisurely.

While Seo Gangrim was looking at the items on the cabinet, Gong Joo was also looking at him. 'Does he really have precognitive abilities?'

Just as Seo Gangrim expected, Gong Joo was speculating that he might possess precognition or the ability to read destinies. Hence, Gong Joo had an item that would activate a warning if his destiny was read. But it had remained silent so far.

'Even if a god helps, there are many aspects of Seo Gangrim to be wary of.'

He had discovered a secret area and completed hidden missions. On top of that, he had hatched a Qilin that had a near-zero chance of naturally hatching from an unknown egg. Although he attributes the latter to divine assistance, Gong Joo was still skeptical.

'If he indeed has the ability to read destinies, he'll choose that high-grade weapon.'

Gong Joo glanced at a high-grade weapon deliberately placed alongside miscellaneous items. It was a legendary weapon known as the Jeon Eodo, which Taizho Yi Sun-gye had once used. It was the weapon that defeated the legendary dragon Umang, which no other weapon could pierce. However, it had been intentionally modified to appear as an ordinary sword with a shoddy hilt.

'If he takes that, it might leave a bitter taste, but it will confirm Seo Gangrim's ability to know destinies.'

Gong Joo was considering summoning the President to verify Seo Gangrim's destiny if he chose this weapon. As he awaited Seo Gangrim's choice, he looked intrigued.

"Have you decided what to take?"

"Yes."

"What will you choose?"

With an amused expression, Gong Joo asked the question. Seo Gangrim slowly raised his hand and pointed to something. At his gesture, Gong Joo was puzzled.

"Yes?"

What Seo Gangrim was pointing at was Gong Joo himself. Annaby, who was standing nearby, asked with a puzzled look, "Are you planning to take the Team Leader?"

Upon hearing this, Gong Joo's expression became slightly puzzled. Did he just suggest taking him? What absurdity was this?

'Seo Gangrim... He's truly wise. To recognize that the most valuable thing here is me.'

Seo Gangrim's choice made Gong Joo feel a little pleased, but regardless, he knew he had to maintain control. He adjusted his expression and spoke, "No matter what, you can't take me with you. However, if you genuinely desire it, I can arrange for you to join my team in the future and work under me."

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're talking about."

Seo Gangrim replied with a poker face. His composed response left Gong Joo looking puzzled.

"Weren't you interested in taking me?"

"I'm not a human trafficker."

"But you were clearly pointing at me, weren't you?"

"I pointed to an item held in your hands."

Seo Gangrim was referring to what Gong Joo was currently holding - the key to the door leading to Gong Joo's armoury.

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