DB Vol 6 Part 1

“This is a disaster, a real disaster.”

Hwang Sang-cheon shook his head repeatedly while looking at his laptop, saying the same thing over and over. Though it was dawn, he had stayed up late due to a sudden matter, and then heard about the incident that broke out in the Gye family. Not only did the chief secretary suddenly die, but the Guides who came to the North also collapsed.

Thanks to his participation in important operations, Sang-cheon was now able to use part of the Gye family’s internal information network. So he explained the contents he checked on his laptop to Won-woo in detail. This was because Won-woo was only focused on looking out the window through the curtain gap like a meerkat.

He was even using night vision goggles to see the dark outside clearly. So Sang-cheon also kept the indoor lights as dim as possible, reducing the monitor light to prevent it from leaking outside.

“It’s sad that the chief secretary suddenly passed away, but it’s shocking that such an incident occurred within the Gye family. It means there could be a spy inside.”

“Spies are everywhere. But this time, it’s probably not the work of a spy.”

Won-woo’s words made Sang-cheon raise his eyes in a questioning expression. Though Won-woo didn’t turn to look at him, sensing the puzzlement, he calmly explained.

“Planting a spy takes time and effort, so they’re not given risky tasks that could expose them. They’re really only used to leak information. So there’s usually only one case where a spy would commit such a dangerous act. When their identity is about to be revealed.”

“If it’s not a spy, then you’re saying an assassin infiltrated the Gye family? Wow, that’s even scarier. Just how skilled must they be…”

“Yes, I’m curious too. I wonder if it’s that person.”

“What do you mean by ‘that person’?”

But Won-woo just smiled as if it was unclear to him too. Sang-cheon swallowed his surprise as he watched Won-woo monitoring the outside. Won-woo had been sitting in that spot for hours now, watching outside without moving. It was almost sunrise, so he had practically stayed up all night, but his posture hadn’t faltered once. But more surprising than his perseverance was his calmness.

“Aren’t you worried about the Gye family, Won-woo-nim? They had just gotten some breathing room after obtaining Guides, but now another hardship has struck.”

“It’s just a hardship, not a defeat.”

He sounded like someone who had experienced hardships as routinely as eating meals. Sang-cheon realized anew that Won-woo had fought a long war.

“We’re all still alive, aren’t we? Then it’s okay, Director Hwang.”

Despite Won-woo’s reassurance, Sang-cheon couldn’t easily shake off his unease.

“So you told Gye… Yoon not to come because you thought it was still okay?”

It was Gye Yoon who first delivered the news that Hong family’s Guides had collapsed. He immediately contacted Won-woo, who calmly listened to the news and told him not to come.

“Actually, I’m more surprised that he didn’t come when told not to.”

As Sang-cheon tilted his head in confusion, Won-woo asked, seemingly puzzled.

“Is that surprising?”

“Of course. Gye Yoon seems to be completely smitten with you right now.”

Won-woo’s face, stiff with embarrassment, suddenly flushed with heat. Fortunately, it wasn’t very noticeable in the darkness. Of course, even if it had been brightly lit, the oblivious Sang-cheon wouldn’t have noticed.

“No, the person who should be giving you rice cakes doesn’t even think about it, but he alone follows you around, forcibly takes you on trips. And that’s not all! On the trip, he didn’t even feed you properly! Ah, you need to eat protein, protein!”

As Won-woo was debating whether to confess that he had eaten a little protein, fortunately, Sang-cheon returned to the main point.

“He’s so willful, I thought he’d rush over to check if you were in danger.”

“He probably didn’t come because it could be more dangerous for me if he did.”

What do you mean? As Sang-cheon’s eyes widened, Won-woo briefly explained.

“A series of events have broken out haphazardly, right? As if trying to divert attention from the real important goal. In a situation where we don’t know their true purpose, if Gye Yoon moves, it could actually draw attention.”

That real target could be himself. Because Won-woo always used this method too. He would make a commotion around an area to find the location of a single Esper. So it’s important for the hidden one to keep their head down.

There was no need to risk being discovered with Gye Yoon already. The Gye family had already created a fictitious person as Gye Yoon’s Guide, and it would be a shame not to use it.

“At times like this, it’s better not to be agitated and to observe your surroundings.”

As Won-woo spoke as if everything was fine, Sang-cheon looked at his back with a complicated gaze.

“Is that why you’re so calm? Because you have experience always having to hide?”

Well, that’s part of it. Won-woo glanced at Sang-cheon again and noticed his worried face. Won-woo turned his eyes back to monitor the garden, but gently informed him as if to reassure him.

“I think this incident isn’t so bad. Of course, what happened to the chief secretary is unfortunate.”

“How is it not bad? The Hong family will blame everything on the Gye family since the Guides they sent all collapsed like that.”

“I heard the reason the Guides collapsed was heart abnormalities. They say only the heart was affected. Luckily, the reason is quite simple.”

Sang-cheon felt like an idiot, but he couldn’t help but ask. Why is a simple reason lucky? As always, the answer was so easy. So much so that he wondered why he hadn’t thought of it earlier.

“If the reason is simple, it’s easy to imitate.”

…Huh? Imitate? Won-woo’s murmur reached Sang-cheon’s surprised ears. The content, mixed with wonder, had no subject, but it was immediately understandable.

“Well, when he eliminated monsters, it seemed like he disturbed their insides with sound waves. It might really be easy for him.”

*

Ji Seong-hyeon’s drinking party, which he joined from dawn, showed no signs of ending even after daybreak. It was a matter of entertaining the elder Espers who had recently started gaining power within the Hong family, so he had no choice but to join even at dawn.

His father and Yang Cheon-hyo were preparing a counterattack, and to make it successful, proper voices needed to come from within the Hong family. No matter how much money these people had taken from the Gye family, they couldn’t blindly side with the Gye family in the face of a proper cause. To do that, they had to set the stage in advance.

“If there’s a reason to hold the Gye family responsible, of course we should step up too. We’re not just rejecting the Guide One.”

The man receiving oral sex from a Guide lying between his legs spoke languidly. His gaze swept over Ji Seong-hyeon’s body, but Ji Seong-hyeon smiled brightly while suppressing his disgust.

“I can’t tell you how reassuring it is to hear you say that. As we’re in a position to be responsible for Guides, if there’s even a slight problem with the Guides who went North, the Guide One will have no choice but to strongly protest to the North.”

“Ah, yes, we must protest. We must. Ugh!”

The Hong family’s Esper ejaculated into the mouth of the Guide performing oral sex while shaking his hips, then took a rough breath. Then he surveyed Ji Seong-hyeon again with sticky eyes.

Despite being over sixty, was it because he was an Esper that his physical strength was superior to ordinary people? He didn’t seem to have any intention of ending this messy guiding sex yet. The other elders groaning with turbid moans in this place were the same.

“But it must be clearly the Gye family’s fault. You understand that, right?”

“Of course. It’s all the Gye family’s fault for what happened in the North. If they blame someone else, wouldn’t the Gye family just be ridiculed even more?”

“What happened? Has it already happened? What exactly happened?”

Though Ji Seong-hyeon thought the Hong family’s Esper was half out of his mind due to the guiding sex, he immediately noticed Ji Seong-hyeon’s mistake. Hiding his embarrassment, Ji Seong-hyeon gently rubbed the Esper’s thigh with his hand. As the Esper’s eyes moved downward, Ji Seong-hyeon signaled to the Guide who had just finished oral sex.

Perhaps drained from performing oral while guiding, he retreated on all fours like crawling. The Hong family’s Esper looked at Ji Seong-hyeon with expectant eyes. Ji Seong-hyeon smiled and, as if meeting that expectation, moved on his knees between the Esper’s legs.

“Well, I’m not sure what will happen either. It might have already happened, or it might not have. But it’s the Gye family, right? Of course they’ll cause trouble. Can those idiots even use Guides properly?”

Ji Seong-hyeon covered his mistake with ambiguous words and then grabbed the aged Esper’s dick and lowered his head. The revolting smell was overwhelming, nearly making him vomit, but he took it in his mouth with determined eyes. Before coming here, he had received instructions from Yang Cheon-hyo while rolling around with him. To somehow butter them up well no matter what. He smiled like this, wearing a flimsy slip and clicking the ends of his long nails.

‘Let’s destroy the Gye family together.’

Right, if it’s to destroy the Gye family, this much is nothing. And so, in a penthouse owned by the Guide One, heat, moans, and all sorts of lewd smells reverberated until the sun rose clearly. To the extent that those immersed in the messy guiding sex couldn’t hear the urgent ringing of mobile phones from early morning.

Although everyone gathered in the Gye family’s situation room had stayed up all night, no one was trying to get any sleep. Especially the Gye family head, who had just come in after checking on the condition of the collapsed Guides, immediately asked Chief Jung about her brother’s whereabouts upon arrival.

“Where is he now?”

“He’s turned off his tracker, so we can’t confirm his location.”

Of course, it was the same answer as usual, and Gye Min frowned immediately despite hearing this answer every time. But this time, no curses came out.

“Are the results out?”

Without needing to ask what results she meant, Chief Jung displayed several articles appearing as breaking news on the screen. They were all news from the east, controlled by the Hong family.

‘Guides collapse due to unknown reasons.’

‘Guide emergency network activated. All Guide ordered to standby at home.’

‘Most victims occurred in Guide dormitories.’

‘Occurrence of a second Guide disease?’

‘Number of Guide who suddenly collapsed overnight already exceeds thirty.’

Gye Min clicked her tongue while looking at the last article.

“He’s been busy moving around.”

“Yes, and it seems he wasn’t detected at all. It looks like he worked from afar…”

Gye Yoon’s ability had improved to that extent. Instead of admiration, Chief Jung shook his head. It was a terrifying ability. How fortunate that Gye Yoon was an ally?

In fact, when Gye Yoon had called outside the hospital and asked for the addresses of Hong family affiliated Guide, Chief Jung had wondered if he was planning to kidnap them. But the vice family head was more cold headed and clever than he had thought. Honestly, it was admirable.

“Upload our articles too.”

At Gye Min’s voice, Chief Jung reported as if he had been waiting.

“Yes, I’ve already taken care of it right after the Hong family’s articles broke.”

With this, no one could blame the North for the accident involving the Hong family’s Guide who came to the North. No, rather, now it seemed the Gye family would hold the Hong family responsible. Asking why they sent such Guides.

“It’s really fortunate. I didn’t expect this incident would turn into a blessing in disguise like this.”

“Fortunate? With so many innocent victims?”

Gye Min rebuked in a cold voice and swept her troubled eyes over the words ‘exceeded thirty people’ in the article again. They had responded to a dirty trick with an equally dirty trick.

But Gye Min forcibly suppressed her wavering conscience. The chief secretary had died. To punish all those who had inflicted this new anger, she had to get used to such dirty methods.

Only, it was regrettable that they couldn’t touch the enemies, the Espers, this time. Someday, with her own hands, for sure. Gye Min clenched her fist and turned his eyes to survey the situation room. After looking around for a while, she asked Chief Jung.

“Did Yoon say to set mousetraps throughout the main house?”

Yes, Chief Jung nodded, but soon added as if he didn’t understand.

“But he said it’s not just ordinary mice.”

Not just ordinary mice. Gye Min looked around the interior again. As she remained silent, Chief Jung expressed his puzzlement.

“Why would the vice family head suspect the intruders to be mice?”

“Didn’t you say it’s not just ordinary mice?”

“Yes, but since it’s mousetraps, I thought he might be warning us to be careful of something about that size.”

Gye Min just looked around again as if lost in thought. Chief Jung didn’t want to disturb her thinking, but there was a decision that needed to be made quickly.

“Three of the collapsed Guide on our side are unlikely to wake up. They’re barely breathing, but we’re forcibly extending their lives, and we’ve been informed they could die even today. However, if deaths occur on our side first, attention might focus back on the North.”

Chief Jung spoke indirectly, but Gye Min caught the meaning of what he was trying to say.

“Are you worried there might be no deaths among the Hong family’s Guide?”

“Since the Hong family head is an S-rank healing Esper, I think he’ll prevent deaths.”

“Why should the Hong family head do that?”

What? Chief Jung wondered if Gye Min had misheard him out of puzzlement.

“Since the Hong family’s Guide has collapsed, he’ll probably step in and take action directly.”

“Again, why would the Hong family head?”

Chief Jung finally stopped questioning. Gye Min glanced at him with indifferent eyes before staring at the screen displaying the Hong family’s articles.

“Chief Jung, you still don’t understand Espers. Using their ability just because a few Guide collapsed? There are hospitals and doctors to treat ordinary people. Why would they use an Esper’s precious ability on Guide? Even if that wasn’t the case, the Hong family head didn’t lift a finger even when so many Espers died in the first place.”

Cold words flowed from the mouth of the Gye family head, who had spent the night at the hospital watching over the situation of the collapsed Guide.

“To him, Guide are just consumables that can be resupplied, so why would he use his power?”

That’s what a family head was. They have tremendous power, but it needs to be an object of envy for people to fear and look up to them. The Hong Family and the Yang Family had always been like that. That’s why they had long ridiculed the Gye Family, whose Heads ran around on their own feet, as lowly. Saying who would take the family head position if they didn’t.

It’s not like the residents can gather their strength to drive them out even if they have complaints. Since they have the power to hold in their hands no matter what they do, they didn’t need to do anything they didn’t like or were bothersome. Sometimes Gye Min thought about it too. If her family had also stayed in an unreachable place like those high stars, wouldn’t everything have been a bit more comfortable and easy?

“But this time, because of those consumables, the Hong family’s Espers will completely turn their backs on the Hong family head. Of course, that doesn’t mean he’ll step down from the family head position… but if danger comes to the Hong family, no one will fight for the family head.”

“The future where danger approaches probably doesn’t even exist in the Hong family head’s mind in the first place.”

“Ha, his head is a flower garden… Ahem.”

No matter how much of an enemy they were, the opponent was still the head of the Hong family. Chief Jung covered his slip of the tongue with a fake cough and quickly summarized the situation.

“Then we’ll hold back our articles until the news of Guide deaths in the Hong family breaks first.”

“No. No… That might not be necessary.”

“Pardon?”

Gye Min narrowed her eyes as she looked at the screen and murmured coldly.

“The faster the Guide’ deaths are known, the more fear will grow among the Guide.”

Guides being afraid? At her words, Chief Jung quickly read the next move.

“Shall we spread rumors among the Guide?”

“Yes. Spread that the cause of this incident is a side effect of the Guide disease prevention vaccine.”

At Gye Min’s order, the corners of Chief Jung’s mouth twitched as if smiling. Though he tried to suppress it, there was a hint of excitement in his voice.

“The Guide One will be quite busy.”

He felt good thinking about paying them back in the same way after always being on the receiving end of the false public opinion they created. To the point where he wondered if this was why the enemies had been so vicious.

“Coincidentally, Ji Seong-hyeon, who’s now in charge of the Guide One, has such good abilities. He’s a valuable talent who will expand the situation and spread controversy widely on his own. We could say it’s quite fortunate for us that Ji Dong-hyeon disappeared.”

“We’ve already received the fortune the Ji family gave us.”

Chief Jung suddenly remembered Mr. Ji, whom he had forgotten. Being on the same side had made him unaware of the surname Ji.

“Ji Won-woo…”

“Chief Jung.”

Gye Min called him sharply and ordered while looking around.

“Watch your words and maintain strict security.”

It was just yesterday that someone entered the Gye family compound and took action against the chief secretary. No matter how much the situation had reversed, the sorrow and humiliation of losing someone so close inside their own home couldn’t be erased. Chief Jung’s expression hardened, then he tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand at all.

“Could it really be mice as the vice family head said? Of course, he said it’s not just ordinary mice, but it means something about that size… Even if we consider a hundred times that a mental Esper who can control animals sent mice, wouldn’t it be of little use since they can only control them but not see how or where the mice act?”

“Yes, it’s useless.”

Gye Min murmured in agreement and then repeated the same sentence again.

“So it’s probably not just ordinary mice.”

If not ordinary mice, then what? Chief Jung really couldn’t think of anything. It’s not like there would be an Esper who can transform into a mouse. This is certain. There are no such Espers. Then what’s left is,

“It’s not like an Esper’s soul has entered a mouse or anything.”

It was a joke, but Gye Min slowly raised her head. Seeing her eyes shine sharply, a question mark appeared in Chief Jung’s mind.

Because Gye Min looked like someone who had just thought of something shocking. Was there something wrong with what he said? But he had never heard of Espers who could transfer souls either. Of course, there couldn’t be such a thing.

“Family head.”

As Chief Jung called her, Gye Min lowered her voice and quickly ordered.

“Bring me the list of all Espers cooperating with the Yang family and that place. No, we don’t need everyone. Filter it to those with specific abilities.”

“What kind of abilities?”

Gye Min briefly answered while sweeping the corners of the floor as if looking for a mouse.

“Healing type.”

For a moment, Chief Jung’s expression became strange. Gye Min noticed it keenly and threw a sharp gaze.

“Why?”

“Someone just asked me for the same information.”

“Who?”

Chief Jung swallowed hard before opening his mouth.

“Ji Won-woo.”

*

Yoon-im thought she had never had things go so badly in her entire life as in these past few weeks. She glared at the phone she had just finished talking on with fierce eyes. The caller had been Chief Cheon, the right-hand man of the Hong family head.

‘The family head said there will be no more cooperation with the Yang family or the Guide One. It’s really impressive. It takes talent to cause such a big and spectacular mess… Ah, yes. I know. You must feel wronged this time too. But well, if it’s someone else’s scheme as you say, doesn’t being fooled repeatedly like this mean your abilities are lacking? If you need Hong family’s help in the future, you’ll need to bring an appropriate gift first to start a conversation.’

Chief Cheon, who always smiled slyly without showing emotion, had openly threatened her. The appropriate gift would obviously be Alpha seeds. The Hong family head was desperate to raise his ability despite being S-rank, so he probably intended to get Alpha seeds on this opportunity, but that’s nonsense. It’s difficult for S-rank to raise their ability even if they pour in a lot of seeds.

There were no seeds left to give anyway. Yoon-im pondered where things had gone wrong, looking at her desk. Since her father and Yang Cheon-hyo were people who only knew how to shout orders, she had to rack her brains to grasp the situation this time too.

Fortunately, there was a spy in the Gye family now. Yoon-im wanted to call the Oh family head right away, but this person whose everything was secret only wanted to communicate via text messages.

‘Report any information obtained about Hong family’s Guide. Include the current whereabouts of Gye Yoon and Ji Won-woo.’

She sent the message and waited anxiously, but there was no immediate alert on her phone. Damn it. Yoon-im held back the urge to curse. Honestly, it was depressing not knowing where things had gone wrong or who was causing all this.

It’s clear that someone is deliberately framing them, yet the Gye family can’t find any evidence. As she bit her lower lip while looking at the black phone screen, the door burst open and an angry voice filled the room.

“Fuck! How the hell are you doing your job, Noona?!”

Ji Seong-hyeon barged in with a red face, unable to contain his anger.

“Why are things going wrong again?! Fuck, Dad said he had everything worked out, so we just had to sit back and wait, right? But who’s interfering again! Is there a spy inside? Huh?”

Yoon-im glared at her brother with eyes full of irritation. But nothing registered in Ji Seong-hyeon’s angry eyes.

“Why did I endure that disgust all night entertaining the Hong family elders? They said we need to separate the Hong family from the Gye family for things to go well this time, so fuck, I… Argh!!”

Ji Seong-hyeon couldn’t control his anger and jumped around, messing up his hair wildly with his hands. The more agitated he became, the colder Yoon-im’s eyes grew. If Dong-hyeon were in his place now, he would have been the greatest help.

But the blood relative before her eyes was only useful for fooling around with his dick. And now he even dared to shout at her. However, Yoon-im lowered her eyes as if hiding her look of disgust.

“At times like this, keep a tight rein on the Guide One. There will surely be bad rumors circulating about the Guide One related to this incident.”

“Ha, I’ll handle my own business, so you just hurry up and find the internal spy, damn it.”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried about you. The Hong family will cut off support for the Guide One… No matter how powerful the Guide One is, it can’t turn both the Gye and Hong families into enemies. Well, if we release the Alpha seeds that father has hidden, the Hong family will have no choice but to take our hand again.”

At Yoon-im’s deliberately casual last words, Ji Seong-hyeon’s eyes lit up.

“There are hidden Alpha seeds?”

“There should be. Quite a lot.”

Yoon-im added with a smirk.

“You know how father exaggerates, don’t you?”

Of course. Ji Seong-hyeon had seen many times how his father would inflate even small wounds and act like he was about to die. He was someone who only considered his own pain and was completely oblivious to others’ suffering.

Was that all? His greed was so great that he often lied because he didn’t want to give anything good to his children. Especially with Alpha seeds. He had never once given Alpha seeds for the sake of his children. Always saying the same thing.

‘There’s nothing to give you. Don’t you know how short we are on Alpha seeds right now?’

Recalling his father’s irritation that he heard every time, Ji Seong-hyeon grew more suspicious. Come to think of it, there’s no way the Alpha seeds suddenly ran out. His father must have hidden his share somewhere.

In other words, it meant that their father had no need to use the few Alpha seeds in the Guide One. Because he would have set aside seeds to use separately. Ji Seong-hyeon had already made a big profit once by swapping them with fakes, so it was hard to give up his greed.

“I have something to do, so I’ll go first. As you said, I need to take good care of the Guide One.”

Yoon-im watched expressionlessly as he hurried out, then lowered her gaze. Her phone screen lit up. The news she wanted from the North had arrived.

‘Due to the incident of Guide collapsing, many including the Gye family head moved to the hospital overnight. Unlike when the incident first broke out, the atmosphere in the situation room has been calm since dawn. Although a situation broke out within the Hong family afterwards, the atmosphere remains calm. Only confirmed that Gye Yoon briefly visited the main house last evening. Currently unable to move due to heightened security in the Gye family, forced situation termination. Plan to infiltrate Hwang Sang-cheon’s residence again today.’

The atmosphere had become calm even before the Guide incident broke out in the Hong family? This could only mean one thing. The Gye family already knew the Hong family incident was going to happen.

How on earth? For a moment, she recalled Yang Cheon-hyo shouting Gye Yoon’s name as if in desperation, but Yoon-im shook her head inwardly.

When this incident broke out, the first thing Yoon-im checked at dawn was the teleportation device. But there was no one there who had come from the North. Then… there was a greater possibility that someone remained in the South to help the North. No, she shouldn’t discard the possibility of Gye Yoon either.

Yoon-im wanted to instruct the Oh family head to infiltrate the Gye family again if possible to check the internal situation, but she suppressed her greed. The Oh family head was truly very useful. Such a person should be treasured and used for a long, long time. Should she just tell him to come back now? After deliberating, Yoon-im left a short order.

‘Please confirm Ji Won-woo’s identity and retreat immediately.’

*

Although the sun had risen high in the sky, Won-woo was still monitoring the outside without even drinking a sip of water. Since he wasn’t moving, Hwang Sang-cheon also couldn’t move or eat easily, staying tense before carefully asking.

“If you tell me what you’re watching, I can watch instead. Let’s take turns.”

“It’s fine. Judging by how quiet it’s been so far, it seems they don’t intend to move yet.”

Ah, is that so? Sang-cheon felt relieved, but tensed again at Won-woo’s next words.

“It seems they’re planning to infiltrate again using that landscaper who said he’d come back today.”

When Won-woo first said the landscaper was suspicious, he didn’t give a proper explanation. He just added this,

‘That soil doesn’t need to be covered with mulch using compost.’

It was surprising that he was monitoring so intensely just because of that one thing, and on the other hand, it seemed like too much suspicion. Because the landscaping tree was small.

Although the leaves were lush, it was a small tree for low hedges that would barely reach an adult’s waist. What could be done with that tree? He wanted to wait for an explanation without disturbing Won-woo who was monitoring, but since he said it was safe now, he carefully asked again.

“So do you think the landscaper is a spy?”

“No. That would be too obvious and easy to catch. I’m suspicious of the landscaping tree.”

“The tree? But how can a tree that can’t see or hear act as a spy?”

“Not the tree itself, but I wonder if someone could hide inside the tree to get in. But it’s just a suspicion for now.”

That didn’t make sense either. How small would a person have to be to hide inside a tree? As Sang-cheon wondered, Won-woo checked a text message that had just arrived on his phone.

It was information he had requested from Chief Jung. Clearly, the Gye family hadn’t just been helplessly beaten by their enemies for a long time. Information he couldn’t find out in his own world was now on the screen. Won-woo quietly looked at the message and asked Sang-cheon.

“Director Hwang, do you know what animal has a better sense of smell than a dog?”

“Yes, I know. An elephant.”

Won-woo raised surprised eyes at the confident answer.

“I mean a small animal. Much, much smaller.”

“Well, no animal can match an elephant’s sense of smell.”

Yes, that’s true, but… Won-woo turned his awkward gaze back outside and gave the answer to his own question.

“Rats also have quite a good sense of smell. That’s why they’re trained to find explosives by scent. If it’s possible through training, they’d probably be much better at finding people than dogs.”

“Ah, rats can be trained too? That’s interesting… Oh? Is what’s hiding in the landscaping tree a trained rat?”

“It doesn’t necessarily need to be trained. Brainwashing would do.”

Won-woo muttered, following the arriving landscaper with his eyes. He was pulling a cart with landscaping trees similar in size to the ones he had planted. Sang-cheon quickly stood up and watched him work outside, lowering his voice.

“But how do you brainwash a rat? Can an Esper use their ability… Oh? With a mental Esper’s ability? Wait, if it’s a mental Esper…!”

Sang-cheon’s eyes widened at the Esper’s name that immediately came to mind.

“Ah, Yang Cheon-hyo.”

“Yes, and there’s one more person I know. Although he’s an illusion Esper, he certainly belongs to the mental category.”

“Who is it?”

“The deceased vice family head of the Hong family.”

Won-woo’s eyes darkened as he answered. But Sang-cheon was too surprised by the information he had just heard to blink and process it.

“S-so Yang Cheon-hyo trained rats and infiltrated with them?”

But soon Sang-cheon tilted his head.

“But then there’s no need to hide in the landscaping tree, is there? If it’s a rat, it’s small. Couldn’t it just slip through gaps in the fence from outside? That’s strange, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right. Good observation, Director Hwang.”

As Won-woo praised him, Sang-cheon looked on with a slightly proud feeling. Won-woo, expressionless but with sharp eyes, pointed out another strange thing while watching the landscaping tree being planted in the yard.

“You heard about the chicken that was attacked while roaming the Gye family’s garden, right?”

Of course he did. Sang-cheon nodded immediately. He had heard Gye Yoon complaining about being falsely accused as the culprit because of that chicken named Kko-kko.

“I don’t know what kind of crazy person would attack a chicken.”

“Chickens have weak sense of smell but good eyesight. Males are good at guarding their territory and will bravely attack intruders.”

Hwang Sang-cheon turned from the window to look at Won-woo. Are you an animal expert? Fortunately, his shallow knowledge seemed to end there, as no more showing off came from Won-woo. Instead, his lowered voice continued reasoning as if talking to himself.

“So I thought about it. If the Ji family used rats to find me, there would be no need to use landscaping trees or avoid chickens. But what if the rat looks threatening enough for chickens to consider it an enemy? What if it’s a rat, but in a form that shouldn’t be noticed, enough to hide its body in the landscaping tree?”

Sang-cheon unknowingly held his breath. He didn’t know the answer, but somehow felt tense. Won-woo closed his mouth and watched the garden situation for a moment. Then he lowered his gaze to check the message Chief Jung had sent earlier.

‘There is someone in the Yang family suspected to be an A-rank healing Esper. It’s the Oh family head.’

Won-woo turned on the switch of the communication device he had been wearing in his ear.

“Even if you infiltrate using trained rats, you can’t get the information the rats see and hear. It’s best to see and hear directly.”

Directly? This word in Won-woo’s statement caught Sang-cheon’s attention.

“Do you mean attaching CCTV to the rat?”

“It could be even better performance than that. Since there’s a high possibility that the Oh family head is a healing Esper.”

What does that mean? As Sang-cheon was completely lost, Won-woo quietly called out to someone while looking outside.

“Gye Yoon-ssi, did you find it?”

Hwang Sang-cheon’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden name. Is the brute here? And with the question, Gye Yoon suddenly appeared right in front of the newly planted landscaping tree, immediately thrusting his hand into it. And in his hand that came out was a struggling rat. Gye Yoon’s curse mixed with laughter was heard through the communicator.

[Ha, damn it. It has eyes.]

There really were eyes on the head of the rat Gye Yoon caught. One eyeball, attached incongruously as if forcibly sewn into torn flesh. It was a human eye. Gye Yoon looked straight down at that eye and moved only his lips silently. Then his hand immediately applied force, bursting that eyeball.

“Tsk.”

A middle-aged man pressed his hand against his bleeding eye. The Oh family head knew the owner of the face looking down at him. Gye Yoon. He moved his lips while looking at his eye. With a twisted smile, as if knowing the Oh family head could read lips to understand words, he warned,

‘Try to run away, you son of a bitch.’

The Oh family head looked around with his one remaining eye and stood up. Gye Yoon’s words were obviously just bluffing, but caution was needed. After all, he had appeared in front of his ‘eye’ hidden in the garden as if teleporting. A moment later, as the Oh family head left his hiding place, an eyeball slowly began to grow and fill the empty eye socket, like a ball inflating.

The mangled rat corpse. It was nothing more than a lump of blood, but no one turned their eyes away from the creepy remains. Chief Jung actually lowered his head as if looking closely, pushing up his glasses.

“It’s a real rat. And a real human eyeball.”

He clicked his tongue as if dumbfounded and added.

“No matter how good the healing ability, to be able to use a detached body part like this… it seems that record was true.”

“What record?”

When Won-woo asked, Chief Jung turned back with furrowed brows.

“There’s so little information about the Oh family that I once searched through all the old records, and among them was something like this. The Oh family is closed off to hide horrific human experiments.”

Looking at that corpse combining rat and human body parts, it seemed the human experiments were true.

More than that, there was something disturbing about Chief Jung’s words.

“How old are these records?”

“From several generations ago.”

Chief Jung’s voice was calm, but the impact of its content was not entirely tranquil.

“It seems to be the result of quite long term experiments.”

Chief Jung nodded at Won-woo’s murmur. Perhaps it started with a coincidence discovered by someone in an upper generation of the Oh family? Realizing that severed body parts could move according to their will and deciding to utilize it.

All Espers try to create their own special techniques. Even with the same ability, you need something special to stand out and be recognized. When they create special techniques using their abilities, they practice over and over so no one else can imitate them. So naturally, if the ability itself is special, it would be even more tempting.

Chief Jung could understand the Oh family’s greed to some extent. It’s just too creepy. It seemed certain that they had conducted experiment after experiment for generations to see just how far they could use their own severed body parts.

“At this level, it’s almost a shame to classify it as a simple healing ability.”

“What’s there to be ashamed of for a rat bastard.”

A cold voice cut off Chief Jung’s impression in one stroke. Unlike her cold voice, Gye Min’s eyes were filled with hot anger.

“That rat bastard has been busy rummaging through our house.”

It certainly wasn’t the first time. But there was another reason she was most angry.

“The Oh family head is the culprit who killed the chief secretary?”

Gye Yoon answered in a slow voice.

“That’s right.”

How can you be sure? Chief Jung held back from asking Gye Yoon. Even if they use rats, how could a rat poison someone? It’s impossible to say for certain, but…

“Ah, as I thought.”

Gye Min spat out words as if chewing them, having realized something. Chief Jung racked his brains and rolled his eyes, wondering if there was something he hadn’t yet grasped. It seemed he was the only one confused. However, in the current atmosphere, he couldn’t bring himself to ask for an explanation. Instead, he carefully reported.

“We’ve issued a level 1 alert for all transportation heading downwards, including the teleportation portal. The pursuit team is also being prepared for immediate deployment.”

“A pursuit team won’t be nearly enough.”

Gye Min ordered while still glaring at the disgusting lump of blood.

“Tell all the Espers in the North exactly: there’s a healing Esper hiding in the North who’s spying everywhere with eyes attached to rats, catch him at all costs.”

“You mean tell everyone?”

Hearing the surprised question from Chief Jung, Gye Yoon went a step further.

“Yes, everyone. Broadcast it on a large scale.”

Gye Yoon’s voice was dry and emotionless, but it exuded a more vicious aura than when he cursed.

“Since it’s an ability the Oh family has kept so thoroughly hidden for so long, we should expose it all.”

Chief Jung could now understand exactly what the two wanted. They’re going to conduct a massive rat hunt. Publicly catching an enemy has its pros and cons, but this time it didn’t seem bad. It’s good to have an enemy to turn despair towards in a situation where Guide suddenly collapsed. But there was a problem.

“However, we still have almost no information about the Oh family head. We don’t even have a photo, let alone know roughly what he looks like.”

“Early 50s, height in the mid-170cm range, thin build, and sharp features with deeply set eyes unlike typical East Asians. True to his character of disliking attention, he walks with his gaze lowered to avoid making eye contact with people.”

The one who answered was Won-woo. When Chief Jung looked at him in surprise, Won-woo calmly said,

“This is information we discovered in the world I was in. Many people died just to obtain that bit. His appearance might be different here, but if he’s been diligently experimenting on his body here too, he probably hasn’t gained weight, so it should be similar.”

“What does experimenting have to do with weight?”

Won-woo’s gaze turned to the small lump of blood. The Oh family head’s eyeball was smashed beyond recognition, but everyone knew Won-woo was referring to the owner of that eyeball.

“It’s about cutting one’s own body. Having fat would be troublesome.”

Is it harder to remove eyes if there’s more fat? Chief Jung rubbed his goosebump covered arms. Unlike him, Gye Min caught something else in Won-woo’s words.

“To continuously cut one’s own body, they must have used tremendous anesthetics and painkillers.”

As Gye Min muttered her guess, Won-woo nodded at her words.

“Yes, it would have been difficult to do with a clear mind. Other body parts would be harder to cut than eyes.”

Other body parts? As Chief Jung’s eyes widened in surprise, Gye Min noticed and asked coldly,

“If he has healing and regeneration abilities, it wouldn’t just apply to eyes.”

“Then… did he also detach ears and attach them to rats?”

The idea of a rat with human ears was still horrifying. But the explanation from Won-woo was different from his expectation.

“He could attach them to rats, but there’s no need to use rats specifically. This time he used rats to track people, but for moving around, it doesn’t have to be rats.”

Won-woo raised his own hand and moved his fingers. Chief Jung’s eyes were now filled with shock.

“Hands… you mean he cuts off his hands and uses them?”

“Yes. It’s much more efficient than rats.”

Gye Yoon murmured in an indifferent tone, then his eyes sharpened as he recalled something.

“Someone stole documents from the chief secretary’s room. That was clearly done by human hands.”

Chief Jung was now on the verge of feeling dizzy. He got goosebumps wondering if the Oh family head might be immortal.

“To cut off his own hands and eyes to use as spying tools… If we hadn’t noticed this time, his hands and eyeballs would have been roaming around our family.”

As Chief Jung rubbed his goosebump covered arms vigorously, Won-woo shook his head.

“Not continuously. It seems detached body parts can only be used for about three days.”

“Three days?”

To Gye Min’s question, Won-woo explained the results of monitoring the landscaping tree Sang-cheon had planted.

“I wondered why he needed to come again at intervals, taking risks. He used landscaping trees to enter, not wanting to be seen, so he could have waited longer. Then I remembered a precaution I always heard where I lived. Those on the enemy’s kill list were told never to stay in one place for more than three days. Because most of those who fell victim to the Oh family head died after staying in the same place for more than three days.”

It was probably due to the Oh family head’s cautious habits. The first three days seemed to focus on confirming and monitoring the target. During those three days, he would thoroughly familiarize himself with the target and find the best opportunity to kill. Then, once certain, eliminate the target alone. This was similar to Won-woo’s method.

As allies kept dying one by one to an invisible enemy, the government eventually came up with this countermeasure. Move residences frequently to make it hard for the enemy to find. Surprisingly, this method worked. Although some occasionally died due to bad luck, attacks definitely decreased compared to before. Even if not for this point, well. Won-woo raised his eyes from his thoughts.

“He can’t keep detached body parts alive indefinitely. Even without his healing ability, the human body tries to heal wounds. Once the wound heals, the detached body part probably can’t be used.”

“And that period is three days?”

“That’s my estimate.”

After Won-woo answered, Gye Min turned to Chief Jung.

“You understand?”

Fortunately, this time Chief Jung’s mind worked quickly.

“If the Oh family head tries to do this again, he’ll need painkillers. At maximum three-day intervals. I’ll notify all places handling pharmaceuticals to be especially vigilant.”

“When the Oh family head’s secret is exposed on a large scale, he’ll surely make mistakes in his panic. Don’t let him escape. Show him how terrifying the North can be.”

Gye Min ordered, then cursed “that son of a bitch” as if her anger was rising again. Regardless of his sister cursing, Gye Yoon stared at the thoughtful Won-woo and asked,

“Why?”

“It’s not just the Oh family head whose secret was revealed. Gye Yoon, your teleportation ability was exposed too.”

The question “Are you okay?” couldn’t come out. Gye Yoon was smiling widely as if something was so good.

“Were you worried about me?”

“…I wonder.”

“Worry about me.”

The gentle voice made Gye Min’s already uncomfortable mood due to the Oh family head incident even worse. Of course, Chief Jung also looked at him as if he were crazy. Was this the time to flirt in this situation? Fortunately, Won-woo was perceptive, so after glancing at the two people’s reactions, he hurriedly made an excuse:

“If the teleportation ability becomes known, it’s only a matter of time before they figure out that Gye Yoon is the culprit behind what’s been happening.”

“Let them figure it out.”

Gye Yoon responded lightly, then looked down at the rat corpse he had burst.

“That rat bastard’s life might be over if his secret is exposed, but it has no effect on me.”

Strangely, Gye Min next to him snickered at this. As if to say, isn’t that obvious? Won-woo went “Ah” and chided himself for being scared. Of course, they wouldn’t be leading a family for nothing. Chief Jung, listening nearby, also eased Won-woo’s worries.

“Even if they know about the vice family head’s ability and fear it, they won’t have the mind to plot conspiracies. They all have their hands full with their own problems.”

Chief Jung relayed the news that had just come in.

“The place Ji Geun-oh had hidden was so heavily guarded that it was difficult to enter until now, but last night our spy successfully infiltrated. Disguised as temporary staff, they couldn’t check everything inside during their brief stay, but they got important video footage. It seems to be a place where Guides are imprisoned and tortured. But there was something strange about it that made it more than just torture.”

“What do you mean by strange?”

“Well… it’s not simple torture, but they seem to be checking the Guide’s condition while tormenting them to the brink of death. I really don’t understand why they’re doing this.”

Even Chief Jung reporting couldn’t understand it, and neither Gye Min nor Gye Yoon could fathom the reason, but one person was different. Won-woo’s expression became subtle.

“It’s probably because of the Purifier.”

Won-woo briefly explained to the three,

“The awakening condition for the Purifier is said to be those who have touched the threshold of death. Check if the Guide imprisoned there might be on the list of Purifiers members I pointed out, who are treated as dead here.”

So they weren’t dead but kidnapped and being experimented on? Gye Min and Chief Jung frowned at Won-woo’s words, but Gye Yoon stared at Won-woo and asked sharply,

“Did you almost die?”

“Yes. That’s how I awakened too.”

“Did it hurt a lot?”

Surprised by the sudden question, Won-woo answered trying to seem nonchalant,

“It was too long ago, I don’t remember.”

“It must have hurt terribly. You almost died.”

“It’s in the past.”

“I just found out now. My worry is in the present.”

The voice uttering the word “worry” was dry, but the eyes staring at Won-woo were so full of deep emotion it was burdensome. It really was a long time ago. Yet you’re worried about me? Won-woo almost blurted out his question back at him. Just as he managed to keep his mouth shut, fortunately, his sister, who found her brother’s expressions of affection horrifying, immediately changed the subject.

“So Ji Geun-oh awakened the Guide into Purifiers, making them create Alpha seeds?”

No. Won-woo shook his head lightly. Everyone looked at him curiously, surprised by his matter of fact denial.

“You said those kidnapped there awakened as Purifiers in your world? Then wouldn’t meeting the awakening conditions be enough?”