SOG Ch 62

Seon Jae-chan sent a glance to the researcher asking for approval.

The researcher slowly nodded in agreement. The data was of utmost importance. Of course, information regarding the matching rate of S-class Espers was classified as Level 1 confidential, so even a slip of the tongue without proper authorization could lead to a violation of national security laws and dire consequences.

“How about changing the pair guide?”

Seon Jae-chan took the two result sheets and cautiously opened his mouth. His gaze had solidified in the meantime.

Guiding Woo-jin was undoubtedly a good thing. He knew that Woo-jin felt somewhat more comfortable with him now than in the past, for some reason.

Even if their current matching rate was lower than in the past, the situation was still in favor of Nam Hae-sol having a higher matching rate. It was only natural for her to become Woo-jin’s pair guide.

“Why?”

Woo-jin asked in a calm tone.

As expected of a guy who is good at managing his facial expressions, his handsome face was calm, but Seon Jae-chan could read one emotion from the still-distant gaze.

He wasn’t sure why Woo-jin disapproved… but Seon Jae-chan responded very gently as if reading a sensitive cat’s mood.

“The matching rate is higher. Even though you haven’t been a guide for long, her learning speed is exceptionally fast. It might not be immediate, but it seems right to change gradually.”

“I’m shy.”

At that moment, Go Woo-jin interrupted Seon Jae-chan’s lengthy explanation.

Shy. Seon Jae-chan’s attention was caught by the completely unexpected choice of words.

“I prefer someone I’m familiar with.”

Woo-jin’s voice rang again. It was a seemingly trivial statement, but Seon Jae-chan fell into silence as if he had been struck by an attack.

The researcher, who had been observing the Esper and Guide with a mysterious look in his eyes, spoke up.

“It’s true that cases over 80% are rare, but in terms of utility, 5% is not a big difference.”

Go Woo-jin nodded in agreement.

“And the numbers are currently rising. Not only the matching rate but also the wavelength tuning rate has been greatly increased. Perhaps, the matching rates for both of you could rise even more. Oh, the same goes for the pair guide with Nam Hae-sol.”

The researcher added a piece of formal advice, suggesting that if Espers and Guides build a connection, the matching rate could improve further.

That was the end of the discussion. The researcher checked the wall clock again and turned away.

Go Woo-jin also turned towards the entrance. However, he stopped when he realized that Seon Jae-chan wasn’t following.

“You said you would guide me.”

Seon Jae-chan had no choice but to follow along because Woo-jin clearly looked like he was waiting as if asking why he wasn’t coming.

*

Jae-chan returned to the official residence after finishing the guiding and sat down in front of his desk with the results sheet he had brought with him. He wondered why Woo-jin’s match rate with Nam Hae-sol had dropped, and why his match rate with him had risen. The complicated thoughts from earlier stuck in his head and wouldn’t let go.

Jae-chan, who was once obsessed with the matching rate with Woo-jin even published numerous papers on the topic. In fact, he could easily propose one hypothesis.

Emotional bond.

The factor that has the most influence other than the basic wavelength. What the researcher said was true. Since wavelength was linked to brainwaves, the matching rate increased as affection grew. That was also why it was maximized through the means of bonding.

He could only assume that Go Woo-jin felt a stronger emotional bond with Nam Hae-sol due to what happened on Mentosa Island in the past. That was the only variable.

Lost in thought, Seon Jae-chan folded the test results back into the envelope and neatly stored it away. He decided that pondering over it wouldn’t lead to a solution.

‘For now, I must be satisfied with putting Nam Hae-sol on the guiding list like Kim Geun-won.’

Go Woo-jin’s matching rate and mind were variables that could not be easily controlled. It was better to think that they would improve gradually and focus on what could be resolved. 

If he had acknowledged the uncontrollable variables in the past more quickly, he might have been able to lead a more effective life. Seon Jae-chan briefly brushed his hair to get rid of his regrets and focused on what he could solve. He opened his laptop.

[SUCCESS PROJECT]

As he unlocked the security code he had set up more complexly than before, a document file appeared. Seon Jae-chan’s eyes darted around the monitor. Since he suddenly had some spare time, he decided to check on the project he had been preparing for a while. When he clicked on the link, it immediately connected to the underlying documents.

[Universal Park hostage incident.]

The early summer of 579 this year. An attack by armed men on the expanded Universal Park.

The perpetrators confined nearly a hundred civilians in enclosed amusement park ride facilities as hostages for three days. During this process, over a dozen citizens, including children and teenagers, lost their lives.

As Seon Jae-chan examined the mapped data, which neatly summarized the progression of the hostage situation, he suddenly furrowed his brow.

The reason he had been struggling with this file for the past few months, despite the fact that there were still several months to go, was because of one problem: he didn’t know the exact date of the incident.

Just like when he had deduced Kim Geun-won’s date of death during the Red-level typhoon, he had tried all sorts of mental exercises to remember the exact date, but it was futile. He remembered the day his father passed away this year, and the day when Go Woo-jin unexpectedly left a chocolate bar(it was the day he had caught a cold after bravely guiding despite getting caught in a sudden rainstorm), but he couldn’t recall the incident’s date.

What should he do?

Of course, once the weather got warmer, he could stake out Universal Park day and night. However, he still had to work as a Guide for Team 2.

‘Is there no choice but to ask for a leave?’

Even considering that as an option was a problem. He only had a meager 12 days of leave per year. If the incident didn’t happen within that timeframe, it would be a serious issue.

His fingers began to tap the mouse again anxiously. Besides taking leave, he needed to find a way to stay at Universal Park in the long run.

*

Spring had already passed, and the weather had entered early summer. The trees began to emit lush greenery, and the work clothes of people at the Center changed to short-sleeved summer clothes.

During this time, various events had occurred. In his quest to catch even a hint of the Black Swan, Seon Jae-chan had worked more actively in the field than any other Guide in the Guide Nation. He had also guided Go Woo-jin at least twice in response to requests for assistance from the E-SOF Unit.

Seon Jae-chan’s father, Esper Seon Min-yeol, became the third person to receive the prestigious Honor Cross, a distinction that brought immense honor to their family. Unlike in the past, Seon Jae-chan didn’t attend the award ceremony in person and only saw his father’s achievement through the news, and one thing stuck in his mind.

Seon Jae-chan received an email from his father’s researcher, who had worked hard for two months to accommodate him.

[Esper Seon Eun-soo undergoes second plastic surgery.]

It turned out that Seon Eun-soo had been undergoing plastic surgery at a medical facility in the United States of America. It was because Go Woo-jin hit him so hard that his face was sunken. Although a Healing-type Esper had promptly dealt with the bleeding and pain,  they couldn’t restore the twisted facial structure to its original beauty.

Perhaps his father was worried that if he had the surgery done in a domestic hospital, it would lead to unfavorable rumors. True to his character, putting his dignity first, his father had sent Seon Eun-soo abroad. He probably didn’t intend for him to return until his face was completely restored to its original state.

Well… even if he returned to the country, it wouldn’t make much difference. Seon Jae-chan thought about the civic group that was eagerly awaiting Seon Eun-soo’s reappearance, thanks to the low-quality video he had sent.

Although everything appeared to be going well, Seon Jae-chan encountered some difficulties.

There were two main things.

First, he still hasn’t been able to secure the backing that can support [SUCCESS PROJECT].

Director Yoon Seo-mi had previously been temporarily removed from office around this time, and Seon Jae-chan had subtly extended his influence to Han Tae-hoon.

However, the current Han Tae-hoon realized that he was an unscrupulous person in the family and was neglected. He even made an absurd proposal, suggesting that if Seon Jae-chan wanted to deal with him, he should find Go Woo-jin’s weaknesses.

It was inevitable that Seon Jae-chan would look for other people to replace Han Tae-hoon. That included the Chief Advisor who might become a formidable rival to the current Speaker of the House, the future Director General of the Esper Nation, and the CEO of Taekwang Heavy Industries, the most famous defense contractor. These individuals were mainly people whom Seon Jae-chan knew well and had information about their future.

However.

Seon Jae-chan’s age was a problem in approaching those people.

‘Even when I was given the title of head of the intelligence agency at the age of 27, I was ignored…’

There was no way those in power would listen carefully to the words of a twenty-two-year-old child.

He couldn’t tell them that he had regressed.

However, he couldn’t be sure that these people would be as helpful as Han Tae-hoon. While he contemplated scenarios for indirectly approaching these powerful figures, Seon Jae-chan felt increasingly frustrated.

Nevertheless, securing support wasn’t an urgent matter yet.

The second issue was more problematic.

That was Seon Jae-chan’s inability to remember the exact date of the Universal Park Hostage Incident.

Seon Jae-chan couldn’t help but feel nervous as June, when the incident occurred, approached.

How can he do this when he can’t really remember the date? No matter how he thought about it, his only option was to take all of his annual leave in early June when the hostage situation was supposed to have occurred.

The best he could hope for was to become a permanent fixture at the amusement park throughout the entire holiday.

It was a time when Seon Jae-chan was slowly accepting the reality in front of him and was planning to request annual leave from the team leader ahead of time.

An unexpected opportunity suddenly came.