CH 3

“Pardon? About Han Yi-gyeol?”

“Yes.”

At Cheon Sa-yeon’s question, Kim Woo-jin made a bewildered face. He didn’t expect he’d be summoned all of a sudden and asked questions like this. However, there was no way that a single attendant like him could understand the intention of the handsome Master. Kim Woo-jin, who was scratching the back of his head, answered immediately.

“Nothing special. Until the Master called, he was in the room as usual.”

“Hmm.”

Cheon Sa-yeon asked again, tying a dark blue tie, “Other than that?”

“Pardon?”

“Was there anything else unusual?”

“Yes, um…”

Kim Woo-jin hesitated for a moment. Unusual. Han Yi-gyeol’s face, which faced him naturally before, came to mind. He had been an idiot who couldn’t even make eye contact with him, but this time was different. The way he (Han Yi-gyeol) looked at him was dignified and showed confidence. Even his always withdrawn posture became straight like a model’s, and everything changed, including his tone of voice, his accent, and his personality. He was like a different person.

“It was a little strange. He didn’t cry or… It’s hard to explain, but the atmosphere has changed.”

But it was somehow difficult to tell the boss about this. He tried to explain as much as possible, but he didn’t know if he did it right.

“Right.”

Fortunately, Cheon Sa-yeon put on a suit jacket and said something else. “Today, Han Yi-gyeol is going out.”

“Yeah.”

“Follow him. And if you find something strange, report it.”

Kim Woo-jin was a bit surprised by the command that followed, but he did not express his surprise and bowed his head. Up until this point, Cheon Sa-yeon had never acknowledged Han Yi-gyeol as a person.

He knew, of course, it wasn’t because of a silly reason like he believed in Han Yi-gyeol. It was a natural choice since he was holding onto his weakness. All the followers knew that Cheon Sa-yeon had something to do with Han Yi-gyeol’s last remaining blood relative.

‘Indeed… he really is too different to ignore.’

An order was issued to monitor Han Yi-gyeol.

Kim Woo-jin recalled the memory of being surprised that Han Yi-gyeol, who came out from Cheon Sa-yeon’s room yesterday, for some reason was not crying. He usually cried and trembled as if he had a seizure. It’d be nice if it wasn’t the case, but if Han Yi-gyeol was planning on giving up his blood relative and had other plans…

“What an annoying bastard.”

Kim Woo-jin wrinkled his face and clicked his tongue. He should have lived quietly like a dead mouse. Caused so much trouble.

* * *

Next day. Kim Woo-jin smirked as he followed Han Yi-gyeol as he left the hotel leisurely after ordering his room service. What’s with all that free time? Did you really go crazy? Kim Woo-jin activated his ability.

Kim Woo-jin’s ability was to ‘blur his presence’. Although it wasn’t a high-level ability that made him invisible, it was still useful to follow others.

Using his abilities, other’s impression of him was blurred and his presence was sharply diminished. Even people who knew Kim Woo-jin’s original appearance would pass by without recognizing him when he was using his abilities. The effect lasted until the ability was turned off, and there was no burden other than the fact that he’d get easily fatigued from the constant consumption of mental power.

He put on the hat he had brought and followed Han Yi-gyeol while keeping a certain distance. Kim Woo-jin sighed as he looked at Han Yi-gyeol’s back as he looked around like a kindergartener who first came to the amusement park. Perhaps, as ordered, Han Yi-gyeol would head to the G7 zone gate to kidnap Cha Soo-yeon. It was quite a distance from here, so he would probably catch a taxi…

“What is this…”

At that time, Han Yi-gyeol started running. Did he happen to recognize him? Would that be possible? Kim Woo-jin, who started running quickly, frowned at the place where Han Yi-gyeol had arrived.

“Kyaaaa!”

“The fire engine can’t come in! Move your cars!”

“What? There really is a fire?”

There was a building with thick smoke billowing out of it. Han Yi-gyeol could be seen among the onlookers gathered at the cry that a fire had started.

‘How surprising. Why did you run? Were you just trying to see a burning building?’

Fire trucks and firefighters arrived immediately. With the loud siren sound, the surroundings became even more chaotic. In such a crowded place, it became difficult to understand the target’s behaviour. Kim Woo-jin glanced at Han Yi-gyeol’s profile, who seemed to have no intention of escaping, and fell back. He thought it would be better to move around and watch.

“……”

And now.

Kim Woo-jin muttered in despair, “What are you doing, you bastard?”

Across the street from the burning building. Kim Woo-jin, standing on the roof of a four-story shopping mall, was currently filming Han Yi-gyeol with a mobile phone video.

Han Yi-gyeol, who floated in the air using the power of the wind, was helping put out the fire by moving the stream of water from the hose, or floating firefighters like himself in the air to enter the building through the window. Thanks to Han Yi-gyeol, the fire was quickly extinguished. A woman holding a child who barely escaped from the building thanked Han Yi-gyeol.

“Tsk.”

Kim Woo-jin, who took an accurate picture of Han Yi-gyeol’s shy smile, sent the saved video to Cheon Sa-yeon. He finished the transfer and checked the time, it was 1:50. The estimated time for Cha Soo-yeon to leave the gate was 3 o’clock. Even now, you had to move quickly to arrive on time, but the slow bastard who couldn’t understand the situation was useless and wasted time…

“Hi.”

“……?”

Hearing the familiar voice coming right behind him, he turned around but was grabbed by the collar. Kim Woo-jin, who raised his head in panic, saw Han Yi-gyeol, who had just been flirting by the building across from him.

“Wh-what!”

“Did you have a good look?” Han Yi-gyeol asked in a soft voice and smiled slightly. His brown hair glistened in the sunlight and fluttered in the wind.

“Damn it, what are you doing?” After a brief moment of embarrassment, Kim Woo-jin quickly regained consciousness and shook off Han Yi-gyeol’s hand. Not scared. He was a little surprised, yes, but it was Han Yi-gyeol.

“Hey, I don’t know who you think you are, but if you grab someone by the neck like that…”

“You must have been very surprised.”

“What?”

“I wonder how surprised you must have been to unactivate your ability?” Han Yi-gyeol said calmly, “Right? Kim Woo-jin.”

“……!”

It was creepy, he had goosebumps all over his body. Damn it! He was so surprised when he was grabbed by the neck that he lost his concentration. Kim Woo-jin, who was hastily examining his abilities, soon turned pale.

“Did I get you?”

The ability… was activated. He had never turned it off. Han Yi-gyeol was making fun of him. This Han Yi-gyeol…

“This bastard!”

“Hmm.”

Kim Woo-jin’s body, rushing in anger, flew into the air. As Han Yi-gyeol lifted his finger, his upper body slid over the roof railing. If Han Yi-gyeol lost his powers as it was, he would fall off the building without any time to save himself. Kim Woo-jin, realizing the situation, desperately struggled to get out, but the wind around his body only roughly scratched his skin.

“Let me go, you bastard! What the hell are you pulling this shit for?”

“Just putting the shameless little spy in his place.”

Kim Woo-jin was very confused about this situation. Where the hell did the Han Yi-gyeol, who usually trembled and cried in front of him, go? The man in front of him was like a completely different person, with only the same face.

He didn’t know what the hell happened. Could it be that he deceived everyone with his acting skills comparable to that of a Hollywood actor? Or was someone really possessing Han Yi-gyeol?

Most importantly of all, how should he explain this situation to his cold-hearted boss?

“What did you do after following me?”

“What?”

“Tell me the truth and I will release you.”

Kim Woo-jin thought about it for a while, but he decided that it would be better to answer honestly. He got caught early and couldn’t do anything.

“Video! I made a video!”

“What video?”

“Of you putting out the fire! Is it okay now? Shit, release your powers!”

Han Yi-gyeol, who only shrugged his shoulders, ignoring Kim Woo-jin’s harsh swear words, reached out to Woo-jin. The wind that attacked Kim Woo-jin’s skin turned into a gentle breeze in front of Han Yi-gyeol.

Han Yi-gyeol casually rummaged through Kim Woo-jin’s pockets and took his cell phone, tapped it a few times, and then threw it to the floor.

‘Damn it, to do that to someone else’s precious phone!’

Regardless of Kim Woo-jin grinding his teeth, Han Yi-gyeol said with a sad expression, “Huh… I can’t do anything about the video you’ve already sent. But that’s it. Go back because there’ll be nothing else to see if you follow me any longer.”

Kim Woojin’s body was dragged inward and rolled down the roof like his cell phone.

“This crazy… are you really saying that now?”

“You sent him a video, so that’s enough. The kidnapping of Cha Soo-yeon will proceed as planned, so there is no need to follow.”

“Is that even possible!”

“What would be impossible? All you have to do is report that Han Yi-gyeol kidnapped Cha Soo-yeon as ordered.”

He knew why Kim Woo-jin was following him. Han Yi-gyeol, who only thought of and spoke of finding his little sister, was actually quick-witted.

“You…”

“If you don’t want to, tell the truth: ‘I got caught and couldn’t help it.’ I don’t care.”

Of course he couldn’t. After adding that, Han Yi-gyeol smiled brightly. Han Yi-gyeol, who looked away from Kim Woo-jin and checked the time on his cell phone, continued.

“You still don’t understand the situation… Me telling you to not follow me isn’t advice; it’s an order. You can try following me like a dog one more time, if threats won’t stop you.”

With those words, Han Yi-gyeol turned his back without any regrets. Kim Woo-jin, who was left alone on the roof, could not catch him.