I waited for a response, and as expected, it came rather swiftly.
[2,000,000 won] [1500USD]
The amount was not that big of a deal for me, so I immediately replied, confirming my agreement with his terms. Obtaining the image of that woman had a higher priority in my mind.
To ensure safety, I chose to make the payment using cryptocurrency. Currently, it was the most secure method for conducting online transactions while safeguarding my personal information.
After waiting for a couple of minutes, another email arrived in my inbox. This one contained a zip file that was password-protected.
As I pondered the contents of the zip file, my imagination ran wild with anticipation, and I couldn't help but wonder about what image would greet me when I finally opened it.
CLICK
"Mom!!!" I gasped, my heart pounding as I stared at the image in my screen.
There, in front of my eyes, was a photograph of my missing mother.
I was overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, I couldn't believe what I was seeing at first. It was shocking even for me.
"Why is mom there?" The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. It was hard to imagine that all this time, my missing mother had been in the same building as me just a few weeks ago, and I had been unaware.
The waves of regret and sorrow washed over me, as I wished I had known sooner. I could have save her.
"Where are they taking her, and why?" I thought deeply, letting the mysteries of the situation play on my thoughts.
Then, an unsettling idea hit me. Could it be that my mother possessed extraordinary powers as well, perhaps ones so dangerous that the government had to take extreme measures?
'I need to save her,' those words echoed non-stop in my mind. It was one thing if she had really abandon my father and me, but the thought of her being forcibly taken from us was a whole different matter.
'I need to rescue her, but I can't rush in impulsively and risk exposing myself,' I said to myself, leaning back in my chair while lost in contemplation.
I'm aware about the importance of not acting recklessly, which could put me in the same danger as my mother. There were many factors to take into account before even considering a rescue.
In the first place, I didn't even know her current location, and I had also just become aware of my own weakness (Moon rocks). Making a rash move at this point would be unwise.
This situation was entirely different from dealing with those troublemakers who vandalized my car.
We're talking about a major organization here, one that had the capability to suppress and silence individuals with superpowers. It would be dumb to assume that they didn't possess a means to counter Gifteds.
'I need to gain more power quickly,' I grumbled in frustration.
Unknown: But I do have some leads, although they're not confirmed yet.
..
Me: What leads?
..
Unknown: It's in the North. I was considering a trip there to gather more information because I learned from a friend that the woman in the pic used to live there five years ago.
..
Me: Alright, I'll fund your investigation. I just want results. I've already transferred 5,000,000 won to your account.
..
I sent another email. I was willing to take the risk, as any information about my mother was invaluable to me.
..
Unknown : Alright, boss
..
With a heavy heart, I closed my email after wrapping everything up. Even though it had been a brief exchange, the emotions I had experienced during this time were overwhelming.
"Mom," I whispered to myself, gazing at her picture on the screen. She didn't appear to be in pain, but as her son, I couldn't help but feel concerned for her well-being.
As I looked at my mother's photo more, my mind filled with longing. She looked just as I remembered her, with her unchanged jet-black hair, dark eyes, and familiar small lips. It was like time hadn't affected her appearance at all, and she looked exactly as she did in my memories.
"Darling, breakfast is ready," Evelyn jolted me from thoughts .
I slowly lifted my head and offered her a smile. I knew I couldn't afford to dwell on negative thoughts of my mother at this moment.
What I needed to do was to gain more power. Becoming stronger was my top priority. With enough strength, everything would become easier.
With that goal in mind, I got up and accompanied her to the dining room for breakfast. I planned to engage in some light training before continuing with my business activities.
I had an important event coming up that required my full attention. I knew that once I completed it, I could level up, earn a lot of dominations , and accumulate skill points.
'I can't afford to take my time anymore,'