CH 229

“It’s been a while, everyone. How have you been?”

Chloe, who grabbed Jake’s hand and dragged him into the drawing-room, greeted us with a soft smile. Jake continued to glare at Cheon Sa-yeon while being dragged along.

“Our Master was so stubborn about not wanting to come here. I’m too late to convince him.”

Jake burst into anger as Chloe sighed and spoke shamefully.

“What stubborn…! I just didn’t want to come.”

“That’s what I’m talking about.”

Chloe, who forced Jake to sit on the sofa opposite Cheon Sa-yeon, sat down next to him and said to Cheon Sa-yeon.

“It’s nice to see you here. As you may know, this is Jake. He is my husband and the master of our Athena Guild.”

Jake, who had his arms crossed, caught Chloe’s disapproving look and opened his mouth.

“…call me Jake.”

“I’m Han Yi-gyeol.”

“I know.”

Jake, who pouted his lips like a child, shifted his gaze to Ha Tae-heon.

“Roheon’s Deputy Master Ha Tae-heon. It’s nice to meet you like this.”

“Yes. Nice to see you too.”

As I watched the two of them greet each other, I slowly rolled my eyes and looked at Cheon Sa-yeon sitting next to me.

‘Aren’t you going to say hi… to Cheon Sa-yeon?’

Feeling a strange atmosphere, Chloe lowered the tip of her eyebrows and spoke with an apologetic expression.

“I told Jake a lot about what happened in Korea over the years.”

“Yeah. In particular, I have heard about Talented Han Yi-gyeol of the Gangnam incident from a long time ago to the point of getting tired of it. He was very good at using his wind ability.”

“Ah… thank you.”

A little embarrassed by the sudden compliment, I answered shyly. I didn’t think I would hear about it here.

“For now, how about leaving only a few representatives and the rest of you going to rest? We emptied all the floors just downstairs, so I think you can each use one guest room.”

Cheon Sa-yeon nodded at Chloe’s words.

“That would be great.”

“If you go out into the hallway, the attendant will guide you.”

If only a few representatives remain… perhaps Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon should remain? Cheon Sa-yeon would explain everything to them without me so I didn’t need to worry.

I was about to get up from my seat like everyone else, but Cheon Sa-yeon took my hand.

“Han Yi-gyeol. You stay too.”

“Pardon?”

“Woo Seo-hyuk, take the others to the guest room. Unpack your luggage and rest until we call separately.”

“I understand.”

“Yi-gyeol-ssi. See you later.”

As the crowds of people left once, the inside of the drawing-room became more spacious. After taking a sip of the tea prepared by the staff, Chloe spoke first.

“I was surprised that Requiem officially sent a visit request.”

“I apologize. I need your help.”

“Any request from Talented Han Yi-gyeol is always welcome. Because I promised you last time. More than that…”

Light flashed in Chloe’s eyes as she stared at me for a brief moment.

“Looks like a lot has happened. Your energy has changed so much beyond my expectation.”

I immediately understood what she meant, and instead of answering, I smiled quietly. Then Chloe put on an interesting expression.

“You already know that your energy has changed.”

“I was lucky to find out.”

Right now, I was close to black because Han Yi-gyeol’s energy and mine were combined. It must have gotten a lot darker than before Chloe left Korea, so it was no wonder she talked about it like that.

Ha Tae-heon, who was quietly listening to the conversation next to me, frowned slightly.

“…what does it mean?”

“Ah, this is…”

When Ha Tae-heon asked the question, I felt a sense of embarrassment later. Gee, I made a mistake.

Cheon Sa-yeon, who must have heard Chloe’s explanation in advance, didn’t show any particular reaction, but Ha Tae-heon was different.

What the hell am I supposed to say about this? Chloe, noticing my embarrassment, opened her mouth in a casual voice.

“It’s because the colour of Talented Han Yi-gyeol’s energy is a little darker than the last time I met him. Deputy Master Ha Tae-heon, do you know about my ability?”

“Yes.”

“In the beginning, those who are able to use their energy often or who practice hard will gradually darken the colour of their energy. Even Talented Han Yi-gyeol has a much better colour than the last time.”

“I see.”

Ha Tae-heon accepted without any doubt the appropriate answer mixed with a little lie.

‘Thank, God…’

I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. I wanted to hide the fact that I had other abilities. Anyway, now that even I said it, there was no place to use it.

“Actually, that’s not all you’re talking about. Talented Han Yi-gyeol?”

“Yes?”

“I feel something white on your shoulder… do you know what that is?”

Ah. I called out to Fox sitting quietly on my shoulder with his invisibility on.

“Fox.”

Piik!

Hearing my call, the fox let out an excited cry and released his invisibility. When Fox appeared, Chloe and Jake looked very surprised.

‘Though Deputy Master Chloe had said… unlike his appearance, Master Jake is a straightforward type.’

Fox, recognizing that she was interested, flew around Chloe, crying piik pik. Funny enough, he didn’t even go near Jake, who showed a similar interest. He was the same SS-rank… was it because he was also male?

“It’s so pretty. Is your name Fox? It doesn’t look like an ordinary animal.”

“I heard that there are specialists who can tame low-level monsters with low combat power or aggression. Did you get it from there?”

“Um… it’s similar.”

It was unclear how to explain Fox’s identity, but Jake gave a plausible excuse first. I’m so lucky today, one way or another.

“Now, let’s talk about work.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who was staring at Chloe stroking Fox, opened his mouth.

“Deputy Master Chloe. I had previously conveyed the content that the noisy Praus Cult these days is the same as the ones who kidnapped Eddy. Do you remember?”

“Of course. We’ve been collecting as much information as possible since we got it.”

“A major figure belonging to the Praus Cult moved from Korea to America. Not only that, but the producer who was living in the American Red Market also disappeared.”

The faces of Chloe and Jake hardened coldly at the explanation that followed. Chloe said a little scared as she wrapped her arms around Edward’s shoulder.

“Give me more details.”

We explained to Chloe, Jake, and Edward about the drug case in Korea. In the process, we added that we got to know a member of the cult called Doctor and that he seemed to be with the missing producer.

“It’s not normal. Now I understand why you came all the way to America.”

Chloe said, who rubbed her lips with a serious expression.

“We’re trying to figure out what the cult is up to here. I want you to help us with that.”

“Hm…”

Athena’s cooperation increased the chances of finding new clues. Unlike Korea, America had a very large land and it was difficult to move around comfortably.

“Alright. It’s nothing else but to catch the Praus Cult, of course, we have to help. So are you going to the Red Market tomorrow?”

“That’s what we’re going to do for now. Producer Li Wei has been missing for a long time, so it may be difficult to find something.”

“I, uh…”

Edward, who had been quietly listening to what I said, opened his mouth, looking around.

“Then can I go with you?”

“Pardon?”

“I have a few items that are good for those times. I think it will help if I do it right.”

“I am grateful, but… it’s too dangerous. If the cult is really kidnapping producers, there is a high probability that there are still their members in the Red Market.”

“I, I’m fine. I will also bring a lot of items for self-defence.”

I turned down nicely, but Edward was more persistent than I thought. I looked at Chloe with the meaning of wanting her to help me stop him.

“Eddy, calm down. What Talented Han Yi-gyeol said is correct. To go without any information is dangerous.”

“That…”

“But I don’t think Eddy’s suggestion itself is bad. I think you’ll need Eddy’s items to find traces of someone who’s been gone for more than a few months.”

Edward, who had a tearful look, smiled broadly at Chloe’s words.

“So, why don’t you go to the Red Market with your team members first and go once more with Edward if there are no major problems?”

“Um…”

“The risk will be lower than when you first went and you can get help from Eddy. Isn’t that a good way?”

That being said, it was definitely good. I looked at Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon alternately, meaning what to do.

“We’ll see and talk again after we go tomorrow.”

Cheon Sa-yeon answered instead, since Ha Tae-heon, who didn’t know Edward well in the first place, responded with an attitude that he wasn’t interested.

“Yeees! Please tell me tomorrow.”

Edward cried out in a confident voice and clenched his fists with his small two hands.

Indeed. Although he was only a little younger, Edward had always been an outstanding producer who travelled around the world to serve and help people. He must be confident in his skill.

“I see. Then, shall we stop here today? The three of you must be tired from coming a long way here. If you want to go to the Red Market tomorrow, you have to take a rest right now.”

We left early in the morning to deliberately consider the time difference, so it was just getting close to 8:00 p.m. here in America. It was time for bed after dinner and unpacking.

“We will be seeing each other often during your stay in America and I’m already looking forward to it. Just like those who went before, the attendant will guide you to the room downstairs.”

“Then see you tomorrow.”

After greeting the smiling Chloe and Edward, and Jake with a grim expression, we left the drawing-room and followed the attendant downstairs.

I grabbed Cheon Sa-yeon’s arm, who was walking next to me, and asked in a low voice.

“Master Cheon Sa-yeon. Did you do something to Master Jake?”

“Well.”

“Don’t pretend not to know. Just by looking at him, you have a bad relationship.”

Ha Tae-heon, who was going with us, also looked at Cheon Sa-yeon, probably he was curious. Cheon Sa-yeon, who was looking at us, slightly turned his head and opened his mouth.

“Probably because he doubted the relationship between me and Deputy Master Chloe.”

“What? Doubt?”

I asked, startled by the unexpected answer.

“Didn’t you say Deputy Master Chloe and Master Jake got married after a long relationship?”

“I did.”

“…no way…”

I was reminded of Woo Seo-hyuk’s testimony that Cheon Sa-yeon had a relationship that didn’t even look like a romantic relationship.

This crazy bastard? I hurriedly distanced myself from Cheon Sa-yeon. Needless to say, Ha Tae-heon had a look that judged Cheon Sa-yeon as garbage.

Cheon Sa-yeon, who was staring at me and Ha Tae-heon, raised one eyebrow. His face was still smiling, but somehow he seemed to have a bad mood.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re wrong.”

“How could that be?”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

If it was someone else, I didn’t know, but I couldn’t believe it because the opponent was Cheon Sa-yeon. Little by little, Ha Tae-heon and I moved away from Cheon Sa-yeon’s side.