CH 187

“Ah, I’m bored…”

“Is it okay for Team Leader to say that out loud?”

“What can’t be done?”

As Park Geon-ho responded harshly, his teammate Park Min-jae made a stupid expression.

“Is that so?”

“Is that so what. Team Leader, how long do we really have to stay like this?”

“Right. The other team has already entered the gate twice.”

Park Geon-ho, who was lying on the chair with both feet on the desk, slowly blinked.

“Well, the name is the Special Operations Division, so you can’t enter any gates.”

“No matter how hard it is! Please say something to Master.”

“I’m going to grow mould on my body at this rate.”

“Don’t lie. You went to the gym yesterday and smashed equipment. Are you going to spend your salary on that?”

“It’s all because we don’t go inside the gate…”

Park Geon-ho, who quietly listened to the conversations of his team members, thought of Cheon Sa-yeon.

“We have to be careful when we go abroad for the time being.”

The calm voice sounded a little colder than usual.

It wasn’t unreasonable for Cheon Sa-yeon to make such a decision. Accidents, large and small, were happening non-stop, not only in Korea but also everywhere in the country.

‘Praus followers…’

After they appeared, the emotional gap between the talented and ordinary people had deepened to the point where it was too deep. It was a problem for people with abilities who believed they were evolved individuals, and for ordinary people who considered such abilities as monsters.

As their hatred for each other deepened, it was the innocent who suffered the most damage. The government and the guilds were also concerned about this situation, but as always, once ignited, it wasn’t easily extinguished…

“Team Leader.”

It was Shim Soo-yeon who called for Park Geon-ho, who was lost in thought. As she entered the division, she pointed to the door with a curious expression on her face.

“Master called you. There’s an attendant outside.”

“Gasp, Team Leader! This is your chance. Please get us a job.”

“Really annoying, you guys.”

Park Geon-ho, who normally would have been bothered by it, got up immediately. He stretched out his long arm and ruffled his hair.

“I’ll give it a shot, but don’t expect much. The atmosphere is so bad these days.”

“Team Leader is right. Master won’t give you work for no reason. Everything must have a reason.”

“Shim Soo-yeon, you went to China a while ago, so you don’t know. We’ve been locked up in the guild for over three months now!”

“It’s good to go into the C-grade gate and have some fun hunting.” (C급이라도 좋으니까 게이트 들어가서 신나게 사냥 좀 하고 싶다)

“I’m frustrated too, alright? I didn’t do anything in China. All I did was look for someone who didn’t know anything. Even that ultimately failed.” (그냥 영문 모를 사람한 명 찾아보고 온 게 다라고)

“Ong? What. I thought it was a fun job, that’s why Team Lead gave you a separate mission…”

“Who are you looking for, Team Leader?”

Park Geon-ho, who saw his teammates spitting out each word in bewilderment at Shim Soo-yeon’s words, quickly turned his back with a look of regret.

“Well. I’m going to the representative office.”

“Are you running away?”

“You’re going to come back here anyway, my goodness…”

Park Geon-ho, who left behind the grumbling words and went up to the top floor following the guidance of the attendant, met Min Ah-rin standing alone in front of the representative office.

“Oh, my. Team Leader.”

“It’s been a while, Healer Min Ah-rin. Are you doing well?”

“Of course.”

It was a meeting between Park Geon-ho, who had no job due to Cheon Sa-yeon’s order, and Min Ah-rin, who had recently visited Roheon Gate as a support staff member. The two shook hands lightly.

“How are you these days, Team Leader?”

“Well, I’m living and eating like a sheep. It’s true that it’s comfortable even if it hurts a little.”

Park Geon-ho, noticing Min Ah-rin, who was watching him, waved his hand to signify that it was okay.

“As Healer Min Ah-rin knows, the situation isn’t very good these days, so this is better.”

After saying that, Park Geon-ho knocked on the door of the representative office so that Min Ah-rin wouldn’t pay more attention. Then, Woo Seo-hyuk, with a blunt expression on his face as always, opened the door from inside.

“Um…?”

In addition to Woo Seo-hyuk, Kim Woo-jin and Kwon Jeong-han were also seen. Those three, he called him and Min Ah-rin? Was there a reason why the attendants had been removed from the hallway?

“Come in, Team Leader Park Geon-ho. Healer Min Ah-rin.”

After confirming that everyone had gathered, Cheon Sa-yeon opened his mouth as he closed the documents. Park Geon-ho and Min Ah-rin, who shared their gazes, silently entered the representative office.

“Did you call?”

“Yeah.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who was quietly staring at the five people standing in front of him with unknown eyes, immediately tapped on the watch he was wearing.

“Take it.”

What came out of the inventory were five rings with green gems. Cheon Sa-yeon opened his mouth, sharing it with them.

“It’s a one-time invalidation item. You know how to use it as you heard from Han Yi-gyeol before.”

When Han Yi-gyeol’s name came out, Kim Woo-jin’s eyelids trembled slightly as he looked down at the ring.

“Hm. Why are you giving us these all of a sudden?”

Park Geon-ho, who was looking at the ring, flicked his finger and flew it in the air once.

“The gathered members are also very strange.”

“Since SS-rank mental ability is on the move, we need to prepare a little bit at least. Members here are up to me.” (멤버는 내 마음이고)

Cheon Sa-yeon, who smiled brightly, moved his gaze to Kwon Jeong-han, who was standing in the back.

“Especially for Kwon Jeong-han, be more careful. Han Yi-gyeol’s bodyguard drew attention once.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“I don’t understand, Master.”

Park Geon-ho, who didn’t wear a ring and put it in his pocket, tilted his head.

“If the SS-rank mental ability you mentioned is the same as the one I think… wasn’t he aiming at Han Yi-gyeol?”

“……”

“It’s been over two months since Talented Han Yi-gyeol left here, and do you still have any plans to look for him?”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who listened to him with his arms folded, raised the corner of his mouth slightly.

“Well. Why do you need to find him? He’s not even a member of the guild.”

“Surprisingly. I expected that your patience would have reached its limit.”

“You had an interesting idea, Team Leader Park Geon-ho. Don’t talk too much and wear your ring properly. Things get complicated when you get hit by mental ability.”

Park Geon-ho, who stared at Cheon Sa-yeon’s face with a picturesque smile for a moment, eventually retreated with a sigh.

“I understand.”

“Nice. Get out now.”

Cheon Sa-yeon drove everyone out as soon as the business was over. They poured out into the hallway in front of the representative office and looked at each other with similar expressions.

“Probably…”

Park Geon-ho, who was touching the corner of his mouth, continued to speak in a low voice.

“Master seems to know where Han Yi-gyeol is.”

“I felt the same way.”

Min Ah-rin, who rarely had a smileless face, agreed with Park Geon-ho’s opinion.

“The information we have obtained so far is only that Yi-gyeol-ssi was in China. Even that, it’s uncertain after Roheon Deputy Master returned to Korea.”

“Does it mean that our master knows where Han Yi-gyeol is now, even Deputy Master Ha Tae-heon, who has gone to China after taking a vacation, doesn’t know?”

Woo Seo-hyuk answered Park Geon-ho’s question while putting the ring on his index finger.

“If it’s Master, he can do it. If he was determined, he would have found out sooner.”

“Secretary Woo Seo-hyuk also thinks that Master already knows.”

“Not only that.”

Like Park Geon-ho, Kwon Jeong-han, who didn’t wear a ring and put it in his jacket pocket, intervened.

“I heard that the kidnapper, who targeted Talented Han Yi-gyeol, was controlling those wearing black masks. It’s the same as the noisy Praus Cult these days.”

“That’s right. There were a lot of people wearing black masks in the video of the attack on the guild management headquarters. They even dragged Master Kang Seung-geon away.”

In the conversation between Kwon Jeong-han and Min Ah-rin, Woo Seo-hyuk also nodded and added in a low voice.

“There may have been a kidnapper with SS-rank mental ability among the followers in the video.”

“Hm…”

Park Geon-ho, who was quietly listening to the conversation, recalled Cheon Sa-yeon’s picturesque smile that he had seen and the ring in the representative office again.

“In summary, the people who kidnapped Han Yi-gyeol were the Praus Cult. Since it’s an organization with a purpose, it’s not unreasonable to target not only Han Yi-gyeol but also other talented people. That’s why Master gave us the ring.”

“……”

“In such a situation, the fact that Master knows where Han Yi-gyeol is, but he doesn’t come to see him…”

Park Geon-ho’s gaze turned to Kim Woo-jin, who hadn’t said a word until now. Kim Woo-jin, who had his long eyelashes down and his lips tightly shut, showed a heavy look of exhaustion.

“It must be safer where he’s staying now than here.”

No one denied the last words spoken. Not only did Park Geon-ho, but they also noticed it naturally.

“Kim Woo-jin.”

Only then did Park Geon-ho realize that Kim Woo-jin hadn’t asked him to find Han Yi-gyeol since they got the Chinese intelligence service. (박건호는 그제야 김우진이 중국 정보 이후로는 한이결을 찾아 달라는 부탁을해 오지 않았다는 사실을 깨달았다)

Kim Woo-jin was closer than anyone else when Han Yi-gyeol was staying at Requiem. So, he must have understood this situation properly before him.

“Are you okay?”

However, seeing that tired face made him concerned.

At Park Geon-ho’s question, everyone’s eyes turned to Kim Woo-jin. Even Woo Seo-hyuk, who didn’t change his expression, saw that his eyes narrowed slightly, so he must have been worried about Kim Woo-jin, like everyone else.

“…of course, I’m fine.”

Kim Woo-jin, who blinked slowly, opened his mouth with a calm voice.

“I understand why Han Yi-gyeol doesn’t come back and why Master doesn’t look for him.”

“……”

Kim Woo-jin’s reddish brown eyes, who said that he understood, were too blurry and dark.

“I don’t care about anything as long as Han Yi-gyeol is safe.”

“Woo-jin-ssi…”

Min Ah-rin stretched out her arm at the unstable appearance, but before she could reach him, Kim Woo-jin turned around and left the hallway. Park Geon-ho, who was watching his back as he moved away, frowned and folded his arms.

“I think I know what he feels, but…”

Of course, considering Han Yi-gyeol’s personality he had seen so far, if he came back now, he would only be involved in dangerous things. Master must be concerned about that too.

Min Ah-rin lowered her head, unable to hide her sad expression.

“But I miss Yi-gyeol-ssi so much…”