DB Vol 2 Part 13

He had seemed completely different from his family members, but it seems blood doesn’t lie after all. No, he’s still more humane compared to those bastards in his family. That’s why he’s trying to help him like this. That’s all. Because he’s useful. He looked at Ji Won-woo’s window again from the darkness.

While Ji Won-woo is sleeping so peacefully, that pervert might see this as an opportunity to appear. Although he could hear what was happening in Ji Won-woo’s room through the communicator, he didn’t take his eyes off the window. In his mind, Ji Won-woo’s face that he had seen under the dim light remained stuck like a nail, refusing to leave.

***

“Ji Won-woo-nim, did you hear the news?”

While Won-woo was eating in the cafeteria, Jang-seon, a Guide from the same team, suddenly sat down across from him, acting friendly. Won-woo, who had just been using his chopsticks, paused and looked around the cafeteria. He wondered if there were no other seats available, but that wasn’t the case. He had purposely come at a less busy time, so about half of the spacious cafeteria was empty.

“Why are you sitting here?”

When Won-woo asked bluntly, Jang-seon flustered and gripped his tray tightly.

“Oh, is it not okay to sit here?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Won-woo picked up some udon noodles with his chopsticks and added,

“I just asked because we’re not close enough to eat together. I only remember being cursed at and lied to by you.”

He thought this would be enough to make him leave, but the other apologized in a subdued voice.

“I’m sorry for everything before.”

Won-woo stopped his chopsticks mid-air as he was about to put the udon in his mouth. He looked at the other for a moment and shook his head.

“It’s fine. I didn’t take it to heart anyway. But I have no intention of getting closer.”

“Ah, yes. Um, I understand.”

Jang-seon accepted it readily again and smiled awkwardly.

“But it’s better than hating each other or having a bad relationship, right?”

I don’t mind having a bad relationship. Won-woo thought as he slurped his udon, but didn’t say it out loud. Before he could, Jang-seon was already talking.

“Oh right, they say we’ll be staying a few more days since the safety of the farm hasn’t been confirmed yet. And ahem, it looks like Deputy Team Leader Han Seona might avoid demotion if things go well.”

Won-woo glanced up, and Jang-seon whispered as if sharing a secret.

“I was on standby at the camp until just now as part of the rotation of Espers patrolling the farm last night. Then I saw who came from the East Center to handle this incident. Guess who it was?”

As if someone important had come, he paused dramatically before revealing the answer.

“My goodness, the Head Director in charge of field operations came in person.”

Who’s that? As Won-woo raised his uninterested gaze, Jang-seon shared what he thought was even more exciting news.

“The important thing is that the Head Director and Team Leader Hong had a huge fight over Esper Han Seona.”

“Team Leader Hong?”

“I mean Team Leader Hong Seung-wook.”

Ah, that person. Why him? While Won-woo was puzzled as he swallowed the hot broth, Jang-seon immediately continued his explanation.

“He reported to the Head Director about an unfair personnel transfer, but the Head Director cursed at him, saying to stop caring about that mongrel and just do his own job well.”

Mongrel. It was a term Won-woo had heard in his world too. A derogatory slang for Espers born into families with no Esper lineage. Won-woo was surprised anew, as it was the kind of word only some extreme right-wing figures obsessed with Esper supremacy would use. In his world, everyone would have frowned if such a word was used. However, even Jang-seon, who was relaying the news, used the word “mongrel” without hesitation.

“Honestly, who does their job better than Team Leader Hong? But the Head Director was tearing into him, saying he didn’t handle this incident properly. Wow, it was brutal. Still, maybe because Team Leader Hong is from a branch family and has seen the Head Director often, he didn’t even blink.”

If they’re from a branch family, does that mean they’re related? Won-woo stopped using his chopsticks and asked,

“What’s their relationship?”

“Oh, the Head Director is Team Leader Hong’s fifth cousin aunt. Team Leader Hong’s paternal family is the ruling clan of the East, and the Head Director is from the main family line. She’s not only capable but… also a cold-blooded person who only cares about ability. Ah, her name is…”

“Hong Eun-tae.”

Jang-seon’s eyes widened slightly.

“That’s right. You remember the Head Director?”

“Yes, a little.”

She was a perfectionist with sociopathic tendencies. Originally, she had been the target of another team, but they kept failing, causing headaches. The information team couldn’t even properly locate her position, which says it all. The government had tried to avoid handing her over to Won-woo as much as possible. Won-woo already had a lot on his plate, and the government didn’t want him exposed to danger trying to find an enemy whose whereabouts were uncertain. Well, she ended up in Won-woo’s hands anyway.

“Anyway, it seemed Team Leader Hong got upset for a moment and said that with Han Seona’s abilities, she could easily contribute to the Head or Support teams. Then the Head Director said there were no positions available. So Team Leader Hong immediately said there was a position open, specifically mentioning Head Team 3.”

Honestly, Won-woo didn’t care whether Hong Seung-wook mentioned Head Team 3 or Foot Team 3, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Jang-seon’s face as he relayed this information. Why is he so excited? Despite Won-woo’s incredulous gaze, Jang-seon couldn’t hide his joy as he added,

“I thought Ji Won-woo-nim would be happy if Esper Han Seona joined our team.”

No, it seems like you’re the one who’s happy about it?

“But Head Director Hong Eun-tae wouldn’t put a non-pure blooded Esper on a field team. She cares about appearances as much as performance. Saying it’s the pureblooded Espers who lead and save society.”

Won-woo raised a realistic issue while inwardly clicking his tongue. Of all people, Hong Eun-tae had to be the Center’s Head Director.

“But Team Leader Hong was quite forceful. He firmly stated that if there was discrimination in personnel matters, he would make it public. It was practically a declaration of war. It was so cool.”

Even so, Hong Eun-tae wouldn’t bat an eye. If anything, Seung-wook’s stance might make her oppose it even more strongly. To move her, the approach needs to change. And Won-woo knew only one way. Just get rid of her, that’s all. Coming to this cold conclusion internally, Won-woo slowly slurped up the remaining noodles.

The only question left was when to make a move. Hong Eun-tae’s ability was to immobilize everything in her sight like a statue. Perhaps because her power was concentrated in her eyes, she was always suspicious and keenly observing everything. So the timing had to be carefully chosen to avoid suspicion. Come to think of it, Hong Eun-tae had a nickname because of her ability. What was it again?

“Medusa went to the farm in person?”

Upon hearing the staff member’s report, Chief Jung tightly closed his eyes. Why did it have to be her? Why did it have to be where the Brute was?

“It seems Hong Eun-tae moved because the farm incident was so significant.”

“The prediction system for monster egg hatching is Hong Eun-tae’s project. It’s one of her main sources of income.”

Why didn’t I think of that? Chief Jung quickly set aside his self-reproach and asked the staff member sharply,

“What about the Vice Head?”

“He keeps his communication turned off.”

Damn it, that Brute. He definitely won’t stay put if he meets Medusa. Why would he? Medusa is an Esper who contributed to the tragedy of the Gye family. At the time, many Esper families either supported Ji Geun-oh, hoping for the downfall of the Gye family, or simply turned a blind eye, but Hong Eun-tae took direct action.

Hong Eun-tae was one of those present at the moment when the Gye family head and his wife died. The Gye family faced universal condemnation due to Ji Geun-oh’s testimony about that horrific accident. Hong Eun-tae supported that testimony and came forward to help Ji Geun-oh. Afterwards, it goes without saying that Hong Eun-tae, who had been far from succession, rose rapidly with the help of the Guide Center.

So Hong Eun-tae was already practically an enemy of the Gye family for advocating for Ji Geun-oh. But could the Brute turn away when faced with this enemy? No, meeting Hong Eun-tae wasn’t the problem. Medusa was an A-rank Esper in her own right, and the Brute would have to use a lot of power to eliminate her. It was the perfect condition for him to go rampage.

“Tell the employee we planted at the Center to go to the farm directly. And have a Guide on standby.”

“…There’s only one Guide who can somewhat cover the Vice Head’s wavelength. The Guide of the young lady sent by the Ji family.”

“Then prepare any Guide who’s even 1% compatible.”

They couldn’t let the Brute die from going rampage. The Gye family couldn’t suffer another such tragedy. Chief Jung thought for a moment and prepared one more countermeasure. The Head might give him hell for it later, but they needed to put out the immediate fire.

“Wasn’t there something related to Hong Eun-tae among the Hong family secrets we collected?”

The staff member quickly searched through the data and nodded.

“There’s an incident where Hong Eun-tae interfered with her younger brother’s business, who was a competitor for succession. The brother’s side doesn’t know about it yet.”

“Leak that now.”

But… The staff member frowned.

“This is all we have on Hong Eun-tae’s weaknesses. As you know, she hardly leaves any traces. If the Head finds out we used this hard-earned weakness like this…”

“I’ll take responsibility. Just make sure it’s leaked well to the younger brother’s side.”

That’s the only way to lure Hong Eun-tae out of the farm. If they can’t recall the Brute, they at least need to get Hong Eun-tae out quickly. However, even after making this bold decision, Chief Jung checked the Brute’s communication again out of regret. It was still off. Damn it, where are you and what are you doing?

The dusty, tilted roof was far from comfortable as a resting place, but the Brute didn’t mind. The spot next to the large ventilation duct on the roof was unlikely to catch anyone’s eye, provided shade, and was good for catching cool breezes. Plus, it was perfect for monitoring Ji Won-woo’s room.

Moreover, since the building he was lying on was a warehouse, there were food supplies, and empty energy bar wrappers were piled up next to him. Ji Won-woo seemed to have gone to eat, but he didn’t follow. When his face was revealed under the bright sunlight, his lips were the first thing visible. the Brute inwardly cursed. Fuck, why do those lips look so soft and plump?

Of course, the lips were a problem, but the main reason he couldn’t follow was that Ji Won-woo, who had stopped, once again looked exactly in his direction. How did he know? He hadn’t made any sound, had he? Not just sound, he was suppressing his energy as much as possible too. But Ji Won-woo stared intently at where the Brute was hiding with sharp eyes before disappearing.

Only after Ji Won-woo vanished did the Brute realize he had been holding his breath, which made him laugh at the absurdity of it. After laughing pointlessly like that, he decided to just stay on the roof since there was no rush. He had things to do here anyway. The Brute lay there like a layabout, glaring at the window. Come on, you pervert.

Although Won-woo had nothing to do at the Center due to being a D-rank Guide, he was surprisingly useful at the farm. Many of the farm staff were D and C-rank Espers, so they needed his guiding. As soon as he finished breakfast and came to help, word spread quickly that Won-woo’s guiding was fast and very refreshing.

Thanks to this, a long line formed in front of him. It wasn’t until late afternoon that he could finally finish his work, as one of the farm managers, belatedly realizing Won-woo was from the Ji family, came running breathlessly to stop him.

“I’m sorry. I made a mistake, not knowing you were from the Ji family.”

“No. I volunteered for this work.”

Won-woo said nonchalantly as he stood up and left the temporary tent. However, the manager followed him out and spoke with apparent difficulty,

“The Head Director has come down from the Center, and it seems you need to go to her immediately.”

As soon as Won-woo came out, the Espers who had received his guiding bowed their heads in greeting. While Won-woo bowed back to them, the manager continued,

“The Head Director said she had something to check, and asked to bring the person who had the most contact with the farm Espers. But the Head Director is in a bad mood right now. Um, will you be alright?”

Unlike the worried manager, Won-woo grinned widely.

“Of course.”

Why wouldn’t it be fine when an opportunity to approach Hong Eun-tae had presented itself? Won-woo asked the manager who was staring blankly at his smiling face,

“Where should I go?”

“Ah, you can go this way. Thank you for your help today, we’re indebted to you.”

The manager bowed politely and turned away, only to wonder later: Come to think of it, isn’t Ji Won-woo curious about what the Head Director wants to check?

When Won-woo was in his original world, as more teams failed to eliminate Hong Eun-tae, information about her piled up. The file on Hong Eun-tae that Won-woo eventually received was more extensive than that of any other Esper, so he could rightly be called a semi-expert on Hong Eun-tae. So he knew well that there was only one way to distract her mind and make her let her guard down.

To do this, Won-woo spread a rumor. If the Hong Eun-tae here was the same as in his world, it would surely work. Spreading the rumor was easy. He subtly dropped words to the lower-ranked Espers who came for guiding in between sessions.

‘The Hong family discriminates against Espers.’

Of course, he didn’t say it directly, but everyone understood perfectly. Moreover, when guiding is performed without pain, Espers tend to blindly believe the Guide’s words as if they were a religious leader’s, in a half-dazed state. Indeed, by the afternoon, the rumor seemed to have spread widely among the farm Espers.

As people’s words tend to get exaggerated as they pass from mouth to mouth, it’s said that later even such words were heard: It’s better to go to the North Center if you want to catch an opportunity.

Hong Eun-tae was known to have considerable pride in her family and pureblooded Espers, but that was only because it was a strategy that benefited her. And in this world where Espers held power, she would have to maintain that pride.

Won-woo hoped that even one word of that rumor would reach Hong Eun-tae’s ears. Seeing that she had called for him, it seems she had heard it properly. What was unexpected was where Hong Eun-tae was said to be now. Why is Hong Eun-tae in the Esper dormitory where I’m staying?