CH 54

A plan to assassinate the head of the Crisis Management Office, led by the Development Office, unfortunately ended up being a midday dream.

“No! Our Killkill…!”

“You cruel man, it’s not enough for you to freeze our office, you have to freeze our bloody child!”

“What’s wrong with my ears?”

Ki Tae-yeon sighed and snapped his fingers.

jjojojojok!

A frosty rooftop garden. Transparent ice spears rose from the white frozen structures.

The ice spears bearing the spirit were pointing at the end of the spear exactly at one point.

A monstrously shaped machine perched on a ledge. Nicknamed Killkill by the development office.

“…Isn’t that a Gatling gun?”

Watching from a distance, Han Cha-soo finally realized what the cloth-covered object was: a real old-fashioned Gatling gun, not your average sniper rifle or heavy machine gun.

‘These guys are crazy.’

There are so many modernised machine guns, and now they’re sitting around making Gatling guns.

‘And that’s what they were going to use to get him?’

They were definitely out of their minds.

As Han Cha-soo marvels at the brains in the development office, Geum Myeong-yeol chimes in from the side.

“Hmph, you said you were working on a weapon that uses improved mana stones as bullets, so that must be it.”

“…Not just any bullets, but bullets with improved mana stones in them?”

“The head of development got kicked out of a conference the other day for making a big deal out of demonstrating a new use for mana stones.”

Mana stones are items that have a chance of dropping when you kill a monster and were one of the main sources of income for guilds and hunters. The mana stone’s highly concentrated energy can be used as an alternative to electricity.

But to reform those mana stones and use them as bullets. In other words, you’re putting cash in the magazines.

“Wow.”

Indeed, they were thinking of blasting the head of the administration with a gatling gun for being a fool. As Han Cha-soo watched in admiration, Ki Tae-yeon’s killing spree began.

Bam!

Kagang!

The white, frozen body was easily dismantled with a few kicks. Those who had seen the Gatling Gun, which was now a pile of scrap metal, roared.

“No!”

“Our Killkill!”

“You’re a murderer, you devil!”

Screams and cries erupted here and there. Of course, Ki Tae-yeon didn’t care at all. It was a flash. After roughly cleaning up the shattered machinery, he headed for the corner.

A moment later, he emerged from behind a large pile of potted plants, carrying a heavy pouch.

chareureuk-

Clang, clang!

Bullets loaded with improvement mana stones piled up on the floor. Han Cha-soo was at a loss for words.

‘Yeah, there’s no way there’s only one bullet.’

It’s not a pistol, it’s a gatling gun, and it should have at least a few hundred rounds.

‘No, but if it has that many rounds, why were you making such a fuss with one earlier?’

Actually, there was a sad backstory to that. The employees in the development office, who were brilliant but had the physical strength of a dog on a daily walk, couldn’t lift the bullet bag, so they held a ceremony to represent the first bullet they made.

Of course, Han Cha-soo didn’t know about this. And even if he did, he wouldn’t be impressed.

“I thought you said there wasn’t much in the research building, so you spent all your research money on this?”

Ki Tae-yeon looked at the bullets with interest, then took them all.

“I’ll use it well.”

Even with the brazen theft, the development office was stunned.

“Ugh.”

“Ahh I’m sorry my cutie, Daddy can’t protect you….”

Sobbing is all they can do, where they’re on their knees and their entire lower half is frozen. Somehow, he felt sorry for them as they wailed through their hair.

“I’ll show it to the director so he’ll shut you up.”

“…hiks.”

“…….”

“Be glad we’re done here, especially you, Im Cheong-mun.””

“Keuck.”

The head of the development office shouted, ruffling his long hair.

“We may have lost today, but we never give in. You, you beast-“

“Im-ssi, do you think it would make you feel better if I told you where your secret lab is?”

The goggle-eyed head of development sank at Ki Tae-yeon’s words. But his anger didn’t seem to fade.

kkadeuk, kkeudeudeuk

The thin sound pierced the freezing air, and Han Cha-soo covered his ears.

“Oh, our fragile Han Cha-soo”

Geum Myeong-yeol clicked his tongue at Ki Tae-yeon.

“Are we done?”

“Ah.”

Taking the goggles from Im Cheong-mun and putting them on, Ki Tae-yeon turned his head. Seeing Han Cha-soo’s pale face, he frowned.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting so long.”

“If you’d been a minute late, I’d have come right back, Ki-ssi.”

The doctor who had been at Han Cha-soo’s side the entire time spoke up in a cold voice. Han Cha-soo chewed the energy bar he handed him and nodded.

He had watched the skit without leaving the rooftop garden because Ki Tae-yeon had asked him to wait for him instead of returning to his room.

He said something like. He said that his energy was unstable, so he wanted to wait, get treated, and return.

‘I’m not comfortable with this as long as it doesn’t show up in the system window.’

Han Cha-soo narrowed his eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Ki Tae-yeon, who had come up behind him, grabbed his hand. His blue eyes sparkled as if he was pleased with himself for destroying the development office.

“I said I’d take responsibility.”

Saaaaa-

Where flesh met flesh. An icy chill radiated from the centre of what should have been warmth.

“Hmm.”

Han Cha-soo furrowed his brow. Even if he felt it again, it was too much.

Thump, thump.

‘No wonder he’s an S-rank.’

Ki Tae-yeon’s power had only passed through his body, but he could still feel the enormous life force behind it.

The heat from the sun gradually subsided. Han Cha-soo sat down on the bench and closed his eyes.

“Hmm.”

Geum Myeong-yeol tilted his head as he stared at the figure. A suspicious gleam flashed across his golden eyes.

“Doctor.”

“What?”

“May I ask why the head of the Crisis Management Office is treating Han Chasoo-ssi himself?”

“Oh.”

The doctor, who had been watching Ki Tae-yeon wordlessly, narrowed his eyes.

It was purely his will that led him to treat Han Cha-soo.

“The Heavenly Spirit Guild has agreed not to take issue with any mistakes in the treatment process on the condition that I take responsibility.”

The medical centre was stunned, thinking that the mistake was due to their own lack of thoroughness in the treatment process.

“We’ll take responsibility!”

“That’s right, why are you taking the bullet for us?”

The employees insisted that they would apologize on their behalf, but Ki Tae-yeon wouldn’t back down.

“Hmm, I’m so confident that I can take a bullet and not get hurt. If you’re so worried, you can fight me, and if you win, I’ll take the blame.”

“There’s no way I’m going to beat you!”

“Then give up.”

The doctor realised then why Ki Tae-yeon hadn’t been fired after upsetting the administration so much. He may have a bad temper, but he’s a very trustworthy person.

However, there was no point in telling the Exilis Guild Master about this wonderful heroism.

‘The Heavenly Spirit Guild Leader and the Philoso Vice Guild Leader stood by Han Cha-soo’s side while he wandered through the Sutra, but this guy isn’t one of them, is he?’

From what he heard, he even drove a bulletproof vehicle through the main gate of the Administration Bureau, claiming that he needed to make sure Han Cha-soo was dead.

The doctor’s eyes were filled with disbelief.

To be precise, it was a look that said, ‘What do you care what kind of treatment our frail Han Chasoo-ssi receives?’

“I can’t disclose patient-related information to outsiders.”

Geum Myeong-yeol frowned at the stern reply. He pouted and grumbled.

“Did I ask you to give me confidential information? You’re being too hard on me.”

“Any information related to a patient’s health, no matter how trivial, is confidential.”

“I know.”

Geum Myeong-yeol shrugged, as if he had no choice. He shook his head nervously and took a step back.

‘I heard that the kids at the medical centre were overprotective of Han Cha-soo, like they were his parents. ‘

The doctor’s reaction was more ferocious than he expected, but he wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t like he was really interested in the treatment in the first place.

Geum Myeong-yeol’s gaze fell on Han Cha-soo. His hands were clasped together by Ki Tae-yeon, and he looked as indifferent as ever.

‘There’s no one like me after all….’

After getting the earrings he wanted, he signed a partnership agreement with one of the people he’d been looking at. He paid them enough money to live on and stamped the contract with a non-disclosure clause.

Then, at dawn today, his partner died.

It was the fifth time.

‘I’m tired of waking up in the middle of the night and looking for my earring.’

The causes of death varied. Some died in their sleep, while others passed away unexpectedly while eating.

Still, it’s a sad state of affairs. They spent a short time investigating their deaths in as much detail as possible.

Unfortunately, he found nothing suspicious. There was no sign of foul play, no poison or curse. What they did find was that the higher the rank and the stronger the power, the sooner they died.

That’s why he came to Han Cha-soo.

A frail body in a B-rank production with no idea when he’ll die. An orphan who has no family to blame even if he dies right away.

And unlike his previous partners, Han Cha-soo actually owned the earrings. So maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make him a partner.

This almost certain premonition led Geum Myeong-yeol to find Han Cha-soo.

‘Since you’re an orphan, so you must crave the warmth of a family.’

It’s been a while since his mother came to Korea. It might be a good idea to summon Han Cha-soo when he’s with his mother.

‘If that doesn’t work….’

Flirting.

There wasn’t a woman or man he couldn’t seduce if he wanted to, but that doesn’t mean he’s lived a promiscuous life. If you’ve never dated more than two people at a time, aren’t you a purist?

‘I hope Han Cha-soo accepts me soon.’

Until he did, he had no choice but to move on to other partners. It was annoying, but he couldn’t help it.

It’s hard to choose a partner for life, isn’t it? Geum Myeong-yeol ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. Han Cha-soo was still holding Ki Tae-yeon’s hand, frowning slightly.

It was a look he always liked.