PV Ch.9 Part 1

#9. Bomin Gets Abducted

The wall of the dormitory where Bomin was staying crumbled, revealing a man he’d never seen before. Or rather, he could hardly make out the man’s features. His entire body, from head to toe, was concealed beneath black fabric, leaving only a pair of striking amber eyes visible.

“Bingo.”

The man tossed a fist-sized metal ball onto the floor. Gray smoke erupted from the object, and Bomin instinctively covered his mouth and nose. 

“Ah…”

But it was too late. He’d already inhaled. The smoke, now inside him, began to work its insidious magic, dragging Bomin down into a dizzying darkness.

Bomin’s naked body slumped, unconscious. The man scooped him up with ease, draping a sheet from the bed over him. He moved with a practiced grace, slipping out of the Guide dormitory without hesitation.

Behind him, the building groaned, its ravaged structure finally giving way. Smoke billowed into the once-clear sky, staining it a sickly gray.

* * *

“What the hell do you mean Bomin’s been kidnapped?”

“We’re still gathering information.” 

Song Jaeho stormed into the situation room, his expression thunderous. He stalked towards Han Biseong, who was hunched over a bank of monitors, his face grim. 

The Korea Ability Users Association was in chaos.

It had started with an explosion near the front gate, followed by a full-scale assault on the headquarters. It was unprecedented. No one had ever dared to attack the heart of the Association, a place where the country’s most powerful Espers gathered. 

On the monitors, images flickered: the mangled remains of the Guide dormitory, red lines tracing the attackers’ movements through the compound. 

“Who the hell would do this? Who has the guts, and the power, to pull this off?” Song Jaeho growled, his voice tight with rage. 

“Only one group comes to mind.” 

Every organization had its enemy, and for the Korea Ability Users Association, that enemy was Non-K. A shadowy organization that claimed to fight for Esper rights, they were a thorn in the Association’s side, constantly interfering with their operations.

The Association’s Espers faced dangers on all fronts, from monstrous creatures to rogue ability users, but Non-K was different. Their leader was a mystery, their motives shrouded in secrecy. And yet, their influence was undeniable. They had infiltrated the highest levels of power, amassing an arsenal of resources and a network of loyal followers, including a significant number of S-rank and A-rank ability users. 

“But why Bomin? He’s just a Guide! Why not go after the Chairman, or the head of research, someone important?” 

Song Jaeho slammed his fist against a nearby chair, twisting the metal frame with terrifying ease. 

“I’m trying to figure that out, so shut up and let me think!” Han Biseong snapped, rubbing his temples.

He pulled up Non-K’s file, his amber eyes scanning the information. He’d read it countless times, but he had to be sure, had to make sure he hadn’t missed anything crucial.

Their initial assumption had been that the intruders were after classified information, or high-ranking officials like the Chairman or the head of research. They’d deployed most of their forces to protect those key areas. 

But then, just as quickly as they’d arrived, the attackers had vanished. They’d apprehended a few, but they’d all swallowed cyanide capsules before they could be interrogated.

It was while they were assessing the damage, tending to the wounded, that they realized someone was missing.

‘Guide Lee Bomin is unaccounted for.’

Kim Seohun had come to him, eyes wide with fear, his face streaked with sweat and tears. He hadn’t been afraid of the attackers. He’d been afraid for Bomin. 

Kim Seohun’s words, “I think they took Bomin,” sent a chill down his spine. He’d immediately pulled up the security footage from Bomin’s dorm, his blood running cold as he saw one of the attackers disappearing into the night with Bomin’s limp form cradled in his arms.

They’d already dispatched a pursuit team led by Won Seongwoo and Yoon Bisam, but… It wasn’t enough. He contacted them immediately, informing them of Bomin’s abduction. 

“I’m joining the pursuit.” 

“Two S-ranks are already on it. The Chairman wants the rest of us on standby here, at HQ. You received the order, too,” Song Jaeho said, his voice tight. 

“Damn it!”

Song Jaeho exploded, his power surging out of control. Furniture shattered, metal buckled under the pressure of his rage. It was unbearable, the thought of sitting here, helpless, while Bomin was out there, God knows where, at the mercy of those bastards. 

“Save your strength. Go help with the cleanup. We’ll update you as soon as we know more. And keep your communicator on!” 

Han Biseong kept his gaze fixed on the monitors, his voice calm despite the storm raging inside him. He needed Song Jaeho to focus, to be useful. 

To his credit, Song Jaeho seemed to regain control. He shot Han Biseong a look, then turned and strode towards the door, his steps measured, his anger banked. 

Once Song Jaeho was gone, Han Biseong turned back to the monitors, his arms crossed over his chest. On one of the screens, he could see the pursuit team’s progress. Won Seongwoo and Yoon Bisam had split into two groups, leading a contingent of A-rank Espers. They were the best trackers the Association had, but the attackers were good, laying traps and diversions that slowed them down. And Bomin’s kidnapper… they hadn’t caught even a glimpse of him.

He’d always thought his feelings for Bomin were… uncomplicated. Lust, mostly, with a healthy dose of annoyance. But now, the thought of Bomin being hurt, of never seeing him again… It left him feeling strangely hollow. Especially since it wasn’t Bomin’s choice. He’d been taken. 

* * *

“Where… Where am I…?”

Bomin pried open his heavy eyelids. The events leading up to his blackout came back in blurry fragments. He needed to get his bearings, figure out what was going on, but his body felt like it was made of lead. 

“Damn it… Couldn’t they at least feed me…?” 

He’d never been this hungry in his life. Not even back when he’d been careless with his meals, constantly on the verge of fainting. Back then, he hadn’t even felt hungry, not really. It was like his body had forgotten how. But now… now he craved sustenance, any kind of sustenance, even if it was rotten. He could feel his stomach gnawing at his spine, although it was too weak to even muster up a growl. 

“I’m hungry…”

He was lying on a bed in a sparsely furnished room. A single dim bulb illuminated the space, casting long shadows that danced across the bare walls. There were no windows, no visible exits except for a solid metal door with no handle. It was clearly meant to be opened from the outside. 

As if in response to his plea, a tray appeared. A bowl of what looked like cream soup and a single bread roll sat on it. A small hatch at the bottom of the door swung open briefly, just wide enough to fit the tray, then slammed shut with a metallic clang. 

The smell of food jolted Bomin into action. He scrambled out of bed, hunger overriding any lingering caution. 

“Seriously… What is this, some kind of twisted joke?”

He was so focused on his growling stomach that he didn’t even notice the collar around his neck. It was a thick leather strap, similar to a dog collar, attached to a heavy chain bolted to the wall beside the bed. It wasn’t something he could break free from, not without superhuman strength. 

The only saving grace was the length of the chain. It was long enough to allow him to move freely around the room, and the inside of the collar was lined with soft fabric, so at least it wasn’t chafing.

“Food first, questions later.”

He couldn’t think straight on an empty stomach. He stumbled towards the tray, his knees buckling as he landed on the floor with a painful thud. 

“Ugh…” 

His legs throbbed, but he ignored the pain, dragging himself towards the food. There were no utensils, so he resorted to eating like an animal, lapping up the soup directly from the bowl. He barely registered the humiliation, too focused on the feeling of warmth spreading through his empty stomach.

The soup itself was bland, but the bread was surprisingly soft and flavorful. He hadn’t eaten anything in what felt like days, and it tasted like the best meal of his life.

“More. I need more. This isn’t nearly enough.”

The bowl was empty before he even registered finishing it. It was a pathetically small portion, barely enough to sustain a small child, let alone someone with Bomin’s… appetites. 

He licked his lips, savoring the lingering taste of the soup. It wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. He pounded on the door, his fist connecting with metal with a resounding thud.

“More food! I’m starving here!” 

He was naked, shivering on the cold floor, but the hunger gnawing at his insides was far more unbearable than the chill in the air. He pounded and pounded, his knuckles throbbing, the meager energy he’d gained from the soup rapidly draining away. He slumped against the door, his arms aching, despair threatening to consume him. 

Just as he was about to give up, he heard the distinct click of the lock disengaging. The door swung open, revealing the man who’d abducted him from the dormitory.

Even with his face hidden behind the black fabric, those amber eyes were unmistakable. 

“You’re something else, you know that? You honestly don’t understand the situation you’re in, do you?” 

The man sounded more amused than annoyed, as if Bomin’s sheer audacity was more entertaining than threatening.

“Did you tell them to give me this pathetic excuse for a meal?” Bomin glared at the man, rubbing his bruised knuckles.

“Did you expect a five-star feast? Be grateful they didn’t lace it with poison.”

Poison?

Bomin frowned. He hadn’t considered that. But why? Why was he even here? He wasn’t exactly a high-value target. Sure, he was close to a few S-ranks, but with his compatibility levels all messed up, he wasn’t even a particularly valuable Guide at the moment. There were plenty of other B-ranks the Association could use. 

Taking him, going through all the trouble of infiltrating the Association and trashing their headquarters… it didn’t make sense. 

“Why am I even here? Are you sure you have the right person?”

“Yes, I’m sure. You’re Lee Bomin, B-rank Guide affiliated with the Korea Ability Users Association. Unless you have a long-lost twin I don’t know about, you’re the only one.”

Bomin’s frown deepened. If they hadn’t grabbed the wrong guy… then he was the target. But why? This wasn’t in the novel. He had no idea how he was supposed to handle this. 

“You seem confused. Believe me, I’m just as clueless. My superiors gave the order, and I follow orders. I have no idea why they want you.”

The man crouched down in front of him, amber eyes studying Bomin with a curious intensity. Bomin had to stifle a laugh at the absurdity of the situation. 

He must look like a mess. Eyes puffy from crying, dried food crusted on his chin. And he was completely naked, save for the ridiculous collar around his neck. The man, meanwhile, was still completely covered, not an inch of skin showing beneath that dark fabric. 

“Don’t touch me.”

“I thought you didn’t discriminate among S-ranks. According to your file, you’re quite… open-minded.” The man’s hand shot out, his fingers closing around Bomin’s jaw.

Bomin swatted his hand away, anger flaring. As if the pathetic food and the humiliating collar weren’t enough, this asshole had the nerve to judge him? 

“Even I have standards for S-ranks. Call it a personal rule.”