DB Vol 6 Part 3

‘We’ve been outwitted by Head Family Oh again.’

When they returned to the camp after the operation, the atmosphere was ominous. Won-woo was summoned by his superior without even having a chance to wash up and was abruptly ordered to move. The reason given was Head Family Oh.

‘It’s not like this is the first time we’ve been outdone by Head Family Oh, is it?’

‘It’s the first time it’s happened inside the camp.’

At those words, Won-woo’s expression also turned serious.

‘You’re the target they’re most eager to get. It’s dangerous, so move to an external safe house for the time being.’

The superior handed over an address, but Won-woo shook his head.

‘Since something happened in the camp, he won’t come again right away.’

‘You can never be too careful with Head Family Oh. Move, now.’

In truth, Won-woo was so tired he felt he could collapse at any moment, so he considered refusing once more but gave up. The wrinkles on his superior’s frown were particularly deep that day.

‘Should I take on Head Family Oh?’

‘Later.’

‘Why?’

‘Because you could be exposed.’

‘Well, I am quite exceptional, after all.’

‘Yes, that’s why we’re saving you for the very end.’

On any other day, his superior would have retorted, “What’s so exceptional about you?” But today was different. He lacked energy and didn’t speak harshly. So Won-woo set aside his desire to insist on taking on Head Family Oh immediately. His superior added one more thing.

‘Thanks to the incident in the camp this time, we might be able to gather some evidence. We’ll form a pursuit team soon.’

Should I go? He swallowed the words he was about to ask. Well, they found evidence this time, didn’t they? There’s no need for me to step up necessarily. Besides, he was too tired now. But he should have stepped up then. Won-woo would later deeply regret his decision that day. He should have been the first to step forward and eliminate the dangerous enemy.

“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

The voice that slowly flowed from the man was low and husky. Despite the cool breeze of the night, he had unbuttoned several buttons of his shirt as if he was hot. Not only that, sticky sweat was flowing down his neck, soaking the front of his shirt. He was even holding a thick towel in his hand, as if he was sweating profusely. This appearance, impossible to achieve by simply disguising one’s body shape, had allowed him to reach the transport portal terminal without being caught in the encirclement.

In fact, this was what Won-woo had hoped for. If he could safely make it here, he would become entirely Won-woo’s responsibility. He especially wanted to handle this alone, without Seona. However, this doesn’t mean he didn’t give the real information to the Gye family from the beginning.

After a week of stakeout and constant theorizing, he thought that maybe the man might use this method to easily penetrate the North’s tight security net. Of course, he couldn’t definitively identify the man as Head Family Oh based on this body shape alone. Even when the other party said he had mistaken him for someone else, Won-woo maintained eye contact and stared at him before twisting his lips into a smirk.

“All objects have a tendency to return to their original state, and it seems the human body is no exception. Looking at your body.”

At this unexpected remark, Head Family Oh’s eyes flashed sharply again. He slowly looked around and then coldly replied to Won-woo, just as before.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Ordinary people don’t really understand how exceptional Espers are unless they experience it directly. They’d be especially surprised if they knew how fast their healing speed is.”

He glanced around again before opening his lips.

“Look, I’m waiting for someone right now, so could you please move aside?”

“It’s not even hot tonight, but you’re sweating a lot.”

“It’s my constitution. Mind your own business.”

“I can’t do that. I’ve really wanted to meet you.”

The man who had been conscious of his surroundings raised his expressionless face. As if asking ‘Why me?’, Won-woo smiled deeply. Of course, his face wasn’t visible due to the mask and deeply pulled-down hood, but the other party noticed Won-woo’s smile. His eyes sharpened instantly.

“Too many of my comrades died by your hand. Yet we couldn’t catch you, so the government not only issued a red alert for you but also attached all sorts of danger ratings. The enemies, knowing this, made quite a sacrifice to protect information about you. They used you to torment us with guerrilla warfare until the very end.”

Won-woo’s calm voice would still be incomprehensible to the other party, but now he didn’t stop him. He just frowned and focused on what was being said.

“Enemies? What government?”

“I lost a comrade I liked in that guerrilla warfare.”

Won-woo’s indifferent voice suddenly turned cold.

“I think it was all thanks to the information you, Head Family Oh, leaked.”

“……”

“You understand how much I’ve wanted to see you, right?”

The expression completely disappeared from Head Family Oh’s face.

“They say you came back from the dead, but have you gone mad, Ji Won-woo?”

Won-woo wasn’t surprised even when he called him by name. Irritated by Won-woo’s attitude, Head Family Oh now asked openly without hiding his identity.

“How did you figure me out?”

“You’re constantly using your ability to maintain that body fat.”

Won-woo’s gaze moved from his increasingly wet shirt to the ground. Sweat was dripping from Head Family Oh’s fingertips, wetting the floor. From the beginning, the condition of the person Won-woo was looking for was an Esper who was constantly using their power, albeit faintly. If it was just about body shape, he wouldn’t have been so certain so quickly.

“Ha, fuck.”

Won-woo looked up at his curse. Head Family Oh held Won-woo’s gaze and asked softly.

“Are you alone?”

“Yes.”

When Won-woo answered lightly, Head Family Oh’s eyes gleamed sinisterly.

“Be honest.”

“Why would I have any reason to lie? It’s a chance to have you all to myself.”

Head Family Oh’s lips twisted. He sneered as if thinking, ‘He’s really gone mad.’

“I haven’t heard from your sister that you’ve gone crazy. Have you lost your mind without even your family knowing?”

“You talk to Ji Yoon-im?”

When Won-woo asked dryly, he slowly got up from his seat instead of answering.

“I’ll let you have me all to yourself as you wish, so follow me back there.”

“Let’s do it here. Everyone’s already come out anyway.”

Head Family Oh, who was about to raise his hand to signal those in hiding, narrowed his eyes. What does he know? No, even if he knows, what can he do? Ji Won-woo is just a D-rank Guide. Yet, it was amusing to see him step forward as if confident he could fight on equal terms.

He wanted to observe that confidence and incomprehensible nonsense a bit more, but time was pressing. He needed to quickly dispose of him and take the transport portal. However, as Head Family Oh was half-raising his now heavy body, something strange caught his eye.

Right now, there were allies slowly approaching them at Head Family Oh’s signal. They were the Yang family’s spies in the North and the reinforcements sent by Yoon-im. Six people in total. Among them were three A-rank Guides. Of course, there should be no problem subduing a single D-rank Guide. But they couldn’t even approach near this bench.

“Agh!”

“Urk!”

The Yang family’s Espers suddenly collapsed to the ground with groans. It was so unbelievable that at first, he suspected they might be acting. It was that unbelievable. Why would a powerful Esper do that…? But soon he realized that their painful groans were neither acting nor lies.

Shock appeared in Head Family Oh’s eyes. He fully raised his body that had been stiff. It was well past sunset. The transport portal terminal was in a remote location with almost no passersby. So even when six people suddenly collapsed, no one came running to help them.

There were two witnesses in the distance, but they were ordinary people who fled in the opposite direction, terrified. The sight of the fallen Espers gasping in pain was that bizarre and horrific. All their faces were swollen as if about to burst, and blood vessels bulged all over their bodies. They twisted on the ground, scratching the floor without realizing their nails were breaking and bleeding.

“Kuhak, heuk! Agh!”

The weakest Esper among the six grabbed his chest and finally coughed up blood. Head Family Oh’s eyes were filled with shock, but soon they turned sharp as he sensed something. The energy around the fallen Espers was strange. It felt as if a massive force was filling the air, enough to feel a faint wind on the skin.

What is this? Before he could think deeply, the wind intensified. The wind, sucking up dirt and dust, started to spin in the air like a whirlwind, now visible to the eye. Flinch. As soon as Head Family Oh stepped back, the whirlwind rapidly grew in size like a tornado.

“What on earth…”

Before Head Family Oh could finish asking, the whirling speed suddenly increased, starting to swallow everything. Head Family Oh slumped back onto the bench, unable to even breathe due to the strong force. And just as he felt his body might be torn apart by this force, the energy that had only been accelerating burst as if unable to withstand its own rotational speed.

The impact of the explosion was so great that Head Family Oh’s body shook as if about to fly away. He unconsciously lowered his body to the ground and gripped the bench tightly. He couldn’t open his eyes due to the wind, and his ears were ringing.

However, silence returned as suddenly as if there had never been an explosion. It would have been unbelievable if not for the debris from the bench and surrounding trees scattered about, evidence of the explosion. But there was more evidence. The Espers sent by the Yang family had all completely collapsed to the ground.

From their appearance alone, it was impossible to tell if they were unconscious or dead. But it didn’t make sense. Why? These were A-rank Espers. How? Head Family Oh kept raising the same questions as he gripped the bench so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

And slowly, he raised his eyes. In contrast to himself, an Esper who was struggling to maintain his posture, there was someone standing perfectly fine, not having changed his stance at all. As if standing in the eye of a typhoon, solely occupying a clear blue sky. Head Family Oh gritted his teeth and spat at Won-woo.

“What are you?”

Instead of answering, Won-woo took a step forward. Before Head Family Oh could even be on guard, he clenched his fist and charged.

*

Damn that brute!

Seona cursed the vanished Gye Yoon inwardly as she ran madly through the air riding the wind. As soon as she received Sang-cheon’s call, Seona sprang forward like a spring, but unfortunately, she couldn’t even take three steps. There was an obstacle. Unbelievably, she tripped over someone’s foot. Of course, the person who tripped her was that rascal Gye.

But more than the fact that he had stopped her with such a childish method, she couldn’t have been more ashamed of tripping over just a foot. She was so surprised that she couldn’t move for a while even after seeing Gye Yoon disappear. Of course, belatedly, anger rose more at the other’s pettiness than at her own mistake. Seona summoned all her strength and quickly crossed the sky while calling Sang-cheon on the communicator.

“Damn it, has that bastard brute arrived? Is the situation settled?”

[Um… the brute has arrived, but, um, they’re still fighting.]

What? Are there that many enemies? Has an enemy strong enough to push Gye Yoon back appeared? But soon she erased the latter possibility. If it was enough to push Gye Yoon back, the opponent would have to be S-rank. Seona asked, just in case.

“It’s not the Yang family head, is it?”

[I don’t think so. I’m only watching through a distant CCTV so I can’t see faces clearly, but all the fallen Espers look young. There’s only one Esper fighting… I think that person is Head Family Oh.]

Only one Esper fighting?

“Is the brute just playing with Head Family Oh?”

[He’s just watching. It’s Won-woo who’s fighting. But… it doesn’t seem like he’s fighting like that to play with the opponent, clashing with his whole body…]

Sang-cheon’s voice was full of questions. What could this mean? When Seona arrived, breathing heavily after increasing her speed, she could understand the meaning of Sang-cheon’s words.

Won-woo was fighting someone. It was a man who looked twice as fat as Won-woo, but surprisingly, he was moving quite nimbly, blocking Won-woo’s attacks.

Not only that, but he also swung his fists at Won-woo as if accustomed to physical combat. Perhaps due to his weight, his attacks were quite powerful. Seona’s sensitive ears could hear the sound of the wind. As soon as she saw Won-woo barely twisting his upper body to avoid the punch, Seona unknowingly tried to run in.

“Don’t interfere.”

She turned her head, but she could only hear the voice, not see the person. But it was Gye Yoon’s voice. Instead of asking him why, Seona observed Won-woo closely. Although he could use his ability to subdue and easily eliminate the Esper opponent, he was engaging solely with physical strength. He was attacking Head Family Oh like that, gradually breaking him down bit by bit.

Even though Head Family Oh was a healing type, Espers have far superior physical abilities compared to ordinary people, so Won-woo’s face was covered in sweat and his breathing looked rough as he faced him. Nevertheless, he kept charging without tiring. Like someone trying to punish their opponent with all their might. Seona’s eyes sank as she watched Won-woo. Could he have lost a close comrade to Head Family Oh in his original world?

Splat!

The sound of fist hitting flesh echoed quite loudly in the air. Perhaps due to the abundance of fat on Head Family Oh’s body, even when Won-woo’s fist struck his abdomen, his belly fat just rippled and shook, failing to land a decisive blow.

Instead, as if seeing an opportunity, he curved his hands like hooks and grabbed Won-woo’s shoulders as he came close. Throughout this fight, Head Family Oh used a strategy of exposing himself to lure Won-woo in.

He wasn’t afraid of getting hurt. No matter how great the pain or how severe the injury, he instantly used his healing ability to return to his original state. So he thought he could naturally crush this Guide bastard. At first, he was wary because of the fallen Yang family Espers, but the more he exchanged blows, the stronger his suspicion grew that it wasn’t Won-woo’s doing.

If he could have easily taken down the Espers, he should have been able to break him down just as easily. So he needed to quickly eliminate Ji Won-woo and flee before whoever really attacked the Espers appeared. But Ji Won-woo was persistent. No matter how much he used his own body as bait to catch him, he slipped away like a loach.

However, this time, his fingertips firmly caught hold of a solid shoulder. Reddened face, rough breathing, forehead drenched in sweat. Ji Won-woo was tiring, so he thought this annoying fight would soon be over. So when Ji Won-woo twisted his body, Head Family Oh growled and stretched his other hand towards his face.

“Damn it, where do you think you’re going!”

He still had Ji Won-woo’s shoulder in his grip and intended to grab his head and burst it like a watermelon. But he hesitated unknowingly. Before his hand could reach Won-woo’s head, he saw his eyes. Cold eyes without any hint of wavering shone like those of a predator with prey right in front of it.

Why? You’re the one caught now, aren’t you?

A puzzled thought flashed through his mind. And that moment of carelessness decided the outcome. Won-woo’s hand, which had come close to Head Family Oh, moved towards his abdomen again. This time too, the fat rippled, but the recoil wasn’t great.

Instead, it was enough to stop Head Family Oh’s movement. While his body seemed to freeze, Won-woo, with his shoulder still in Head Family Oh’s grip, pushed with force in his hand. His hand was now gripping the handle of a dagger that had appeared out of nowhere.

But the blade was buried so deep in Head Family Oh’s body that it was completely invisible. Head Family Oh gritted his teeth for a moment at the pain of being stabbed, but he immediately tried to use his healing ability. However, Won-woo grabbed his shoulder with his other hand, pulled him close, and twisted the blade.

“Aarrghh!”

As Head Family Oh let out an involuntary groan, Won-woo muttered indifferently.

“I’ve always been grateful for the Espers’ arrogance. They considered it beneath their dignity to use weapons when fighting ordinary people. So they would let their guard down if you just played along with fist fighting for a bit.”

“Ugh!”

As Won-woo twisted the handle and thrust the blade upwards diagonally, Head Family Oh finally couldn’t bear it and fell to his knees. Now only Won-woo was holding the other’s shoulder. Won-woo didn’t let go even after the opponent’s eye level had lowered. He bent down, continuing to twist the blade and tearing up Head Family Oh’s insides.

Only when the blood flowing to the ground had pooled like a puddle did he pull out the blade. No matter how much he could return his body to normal with his healing ability, the constant terrible pain made blood vessels burst in Head Family Oh’s eyes. His body was trembling against his will. But there was still a fierce light in his shaking eyes.

“No matter how many times you stab… me, kheuk… I’ll recover immediately and…!”

Head Family Oh’s words trailed off as his eyes widened. Won-woo grabbed his hair and unhesitatingly plunged the blood-soaked blade into his neck.

“You asked what I am? There’s been a nickname you guys have been calling me for some time now.”

Won-woo twisted the blade skillfully, like someone who knew exactly how to sever a neck. He uncannily found and split the weak connections between muscles, and carved out flesh, esophagus, and trachea as if filleting between bones.

The gushing blood was so copious it covered Won-woo’s hand and arm. But surprisingly, Head Family Oh’s eyes were still alive. As Won-woo made his final cut, he revealed his nickname.

“They called me the Butcher.”

Won-woo’s position wasn’t far from Seona, but it was a distance where ordinary people couldn’t hear anything. However, a cool breeze was blowing that day. The smells and sounds carried by that wind could be detected even from a distance. So even Won-woo’s dry voice could be heard.

One arm completely soaked in red blood. An expressionless face. And the sight of him cutting Head Family Oh’s neck with familiar movements was enough to be shocking. But not enough to make one stop breathing. Rather, it was the single word that came from Won-woo right after that left Seona dazed with shock. The moment she heard his nickname, an inexplicable shiver ran through her.

Belatedly, Seona realized this was that spine-tingling admiration felt when seeing a powerful person. So he was the Butcher. One who specifically chose Espers and cut their necks like that.

Being an Esper herself, she couldn’t help but feel a slight fear. She also acknowledged that his handling was cruel. Yet she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She was simply breathless at Won-woo’s strength.

Thud, plop.

Head Family Oh’s head, completely separated from his body, fell to the ground and rolled briefly. Soon after, the body freed from Won-woo’s hand also collapsed to the floor. The brick-paved ground was so covered in blood that no gaps could be seen.

Won-woo, standing in the middle of that blood pool, only turned around slowly after confirming Head Family Oh was dead. Then he paused and looked at one spot.

Flinch. Seona swallowed in surprise again. Huh? Why is he looking at me? Despite the distance, his gaze was directed precisely at her. And strangely, unlike someone who had just killed an enemy, his eyes were wavering.

Why is he looking at me like that? Puzzled, she was about to approach Won-woo first. But suddenly, a human figure appeared in front of her, blocking her view. Of course, it was Gye Yoon who was moving forward, obstructing her path. Seona’s face immediately contorted.

“Ah, shit.”

Cursing, she quickly approached Won-woo’s vicinity. She wanted to shoulder-bump Gye Yoon who had arrived first, but she barely restrained herself as she heard Won-woo’s voice.

“They’re all alive.”

Only then did Seona notice Won-woo gesturing with his eyes to the other fallen Espers around. Won-woo continued to inform Gye Yoon.

“I deliberately kept them alive. A war will start soon, so take them and use them when needed.”

War? Seona interjected in surprise.

“What do you mean, war?”

At those words, Won-woo turned his head towards Seona. And Seona saw that look in his eyes again. It was clearly some wavering emotion.

Though it soon disappeared, it remained clearly imprinted in Seona’s mind. It looked like tears mixed with relief and surge of emotion. She didn’t know why she felt he was crying when Won-woo wasn’t actually shedding tears. On the contrary, he was smiling.

“Seona, you came.”

“Ah… yes. Um, but why…”

Her attempt to ask why he was looking at her like that was again blocked by an obstructed view. This time, she didn’t hold back and pushed Gye Yoon’s arm forcefully. Of course, the damn S-rank didn’t budge an inch. Instead, he glanced at Seona and opened his mouth.

“You’ve had a hard time coming here, Esper Han Seona. Contact headquarters and report the news about Head Family Oh first. Since Han Seona is personnel from outside, they’ll be particularly wary, so it would be good to build trust by being the first to report this information.”

It was friendly advice, but his eyes couldn’t have been more impertinent. He was openly signaling her to get lost. Fuck off, Seona was about to retort kindly, but Won-woo’s concern was heard first.

“Are you having any problems adjusting at the North Center?”

“No. Absolutely not. None at all. I’m completely trusted.”

Seona shook her head vigorously and quickly added,

“I think you’d gain more trust if you, Vice Head, reported Head Family Oh’s situation directly. From what I saw earlier, it seemed like the North’s Espers were disrespecting you.”

As Seona clicked her tongue, Gye Yoon’s expression immediately turned cold. He was about to speak when suddenly, as if remembering something, his voice lowered.

“No one gets close to me, perhaps because they find my ability and position burdensome.”

He turned his head away, pretending to be dejected. Seona couldn’t help but be impressed. Wow, that fox. Talking about being burdensome when he had just forcefully subdued those Espers without batting an eye. She shot curses with her eyes but quickly softened her gaze at Won-woo’s question.

“Do you find Gye Yoon burdensome too, Seona?”

“Ah, of course… not.”

“I thought so. Seona is someone without prejudice. I was hoping you two would get along well as colleagues, so I’m glad.”

Won-woo’s wish was a curse to those listening, causing both Gye Yoon and Seona’s expressions to harden simultaneously. Gye Yoon had fallen into his own trap, but Seona had also met an unpleasant end. However, it wasn’t the time for both of them to engage in a useless power struggle. Won-woo bent down to search Head Family Oh’s fallen body and said,

“Yang Cheon-hyo and Guide One have been backed into a corner this time. They’ve been suppressing their opponents by manipulating public opinion and spreading lies, but now they’ve been pushed back to the point where that no longer works.”

Won-woo’s hand, now standing up, held Head Family Oh’s mobile phone. Gye Yoon and Seona focused on Won-woo’s continuing words.

“When Ji Geun-oh’s secretly operated Guide research institute is fully exposed, the three families will try to strip Guide One of its rights. Guide One without Ji Geun-oh is an empty shell. Yang Cheon-hyo will now come to the forefront to help him. Then, there’s no choice but for powers to clash.”

So that’s why a war will break out? Seona couldn’t understand.

“But Yang Cheon-hyo hasn’t even fully taken control of the Yang family yet, right? There are rumors about the Yang family head’s death due to his long seclusion, but I don’t think that’s true. Even if his power isn’t what it used to be, his presence would have prevented the two from fighting. Otherwise, they would have fought for the head position long ago.”

“Maybe Yang Cheon-hyo didn’t fight because he wasn’t fully prepared.”

Gye Yoon interjected with an expressionless face. Seona turned her eyes, still looking confused.

“What kind of preparation?”

“Preparation to completely suppress the Yang vice head.”

“But I thought Yang Cheon-hyo was of the same rank as his older brother, the vice head? It’s not like he can become S-rank with Alpha seeds… huh?”

Could he? After all, it was Ji Geun-oh who supplied the Alpha seeds. That means they belong to Yang Cheon-hyo. As Seona was realizing something, Won-woo tilted his head.

“Becoming S-rank with Alpha seeds is practically impossible.”

“It’s not completely impossible, is it?”

Gye Yoon retorted, adding casually,

“There have been many rumors that Guide One has recently run out of Alpha seeds. What if they weren’t depleted, but someone used them all?”

What, could it be Yang Cheon-hyo? As Seona was about to ask, Won-woo’s expression was strange. His eyebrows furrowed, and suddenly he turned and started running. His target wasn’t far. He went behind a nearby tree, leaned against the trunk with his hand, and started vomiting. His body, almost collapsing, shook weakly with each dry heave.

A surprised Seona stepped forward, but Gye Yoon’s voice stopped her again.

“Move aside.”

This time, no complaint came from Seona. Gye Yoon’s voice was chillingly scary. As if he would kill her if she didn’t obey. Seona unconsciously stepped back and frowned. She felt pathetic for meekly retreating. While she didn’t have romantic feelings for Won-woo, even if she did, she didn’t think she could stop Gye Yoon.

But others might not be like Seona. Especially now that Hong Seung-wook was also being clingy. Once Won-woo’s true nature is revealed, there will be no shortage of people attracted to him.

While there was his brutal side that had just been wielding a knife against Head Family Oh, his weakness of retching at the smell of blood was also captivating. So strong it gave you chills, yet so weak you wanted to protect him.

Even if the war with Yang Cheon-hyo ends, wouldn’t another war break out later? Seona sighed, imagining the distant future. And she forcibly suppressed her hand that wanted to rise to support Won-woo. Right now, that brute didn’t seem like he would give up his spot next to Won-woo.

*

Although the appointed time had passed, no contact came. Yoon-im had to accept, though it was hard to believe, that the mission to rescue Head Family Oh had failed. And that it was time to go report this. But she couldn’t easily get up.

Such consecutive failures. Even she, who rarely lost her composure, felt disappointment and frustration this time. She hadn’t expected Head Family Oh’s escape, which even Yang Cheon-hyo had guaranteed, to be blocked.

While Yang Cheon-hyo was panicking, saying it was because of the Purifier in the North, Yoon-im thought the North’s continuous victories might be due to them obtaining some extraordinary source of power.

Just like Yang Cheon-hyo who suddenly came to Ji Geun-oh 9 years ago. He not only magically produced the Guide disease preventive medicine and Alpha seeds that no one knew about, but also knew quite a lot of information about many Guides. Thanks to that information, Ji Geun-oh was able to divide the Guide society internally and grasp it in his hands at once.

It felt just like that time now. What if the North had obtained someone like Yang Cheon-hyo from 9 years ago? Yoon-im opened a drawer and took out a photo album slightly larger than her palm. It was filled with photos of a boy. His growth from birth to 7 years old was clearly visible.

The child’s face was the spitting image of her husband. After all, it was her child. But Yoon-im’s eyes showed no deep affection as she looked at it. Perhaps she couldn’t feel maternal love because the child had been raised elsewhere from birth due to unavoidable reasons. Still, it didn’t mean the child wasn’t precious. This child was the channel that would help her achieve her goal.

Her husband might not be suitable material to take over the Yang family, but she was different. Fortunately, Yang Cheon-hyo had no intention of having children, and instead promised to designate Yoon-im’s child as his successor. This was firmly guaranteed in writing. Yoon-im planned to take over the Yang family through this child.

But for that, Yang Cheon-hyo needed to take control of the Yang family first. Yes, it’s not time to despair yet. Just as Yoon-im was about to put the photo album back in the drawer and get up, the door opened without a knock and her husband rushed in urgently.

“Did you know? Uncle Cheon-hyo has called a family head meeting right now.”

Family head meeting? Yoon-im rose from her seat in surprise.

“The family head is making a move?”

“I don’t know either. But since he’s coming out, it must be Uncle who called it, right? If it’s a lie, there’ll be an uproar this time, even if it’s Uncle. Only those ranked up to 20th in the family can attend the family head meeting.”

In the Yang family, which prioritized ability as strictly as bloodline, they had that damned ranking. It was a ranking determined by Esper power. And her husband before her couldn’t enter. Yoon-im, suppressing her rising irritation towards her husband, asked in a low voice.

“Will all the ranked members attend? Among them are Father and those called Father’s arms and legs, right?”

Her husband nodded.

“Since the family head is coming out, Father naturally went to attend. I’m a bit worried. Surely Uncle Cheon-hyo wouldn’t try something with everyone gathered?”

Her husband was truly fidgeting, unable to keep his hands still. Although Yoon-im thought her husband’s reaction was excessive, she asked,

“Are you afraid there might be a power struggle in that place?”

“It’s possible. Uncle is cornered now. So he hasn’t needed to use his ability until now.”

Her husband’s expression darkened further as he mentioned ability. Yoon-im momentarily suspected he was hiding something from her, but soon dismissed her doubts at his words.

“What if Uncle uses his ability as a last resort? What if he tries to take over the Yang family with it?”

Instead of answering, Yoon-im stared at her husband.

“He can control people’s thoughts with his mental ability, but it’s only temporary. A few hours at most.”

Her husband avoided her gaze with a stiffened face, and Yoon-im looked at him again with suspicious eyes. Why is he acting like this? She slowly continued,

“Moreover, that ability can only be used on Espers of lower rank than himself. Even then, it wouldn’t work well on other A-ranks.”

“But there’s the Alpha seed, right? What if Uncle raised his rank?”

“The only higher rank for him is S-rank. Do you know how many Alpha seeds that would require? It’s nonsense…”

Yoon-im, who had been denying it, paused. Was it really impossible for that nonsensical thing to happen? If Yang Cheon-hyo was the reason the Alpha seeds suddenly ran out at Guide One. If he used them all to raise his rank? No, impossible. He couldn’t have handled such an important matter without her knowledge.

Yoon-im shook her head internally but soon thought of her brother. Seong-hyeon, who had taken Guide One, pushing aside herself who had worked as Yang Cheon-hyo’s arm and leg for 9 years. As the feeling of betrayal from that time resurfaced, an ominous feeling arose. Who would have known that I’d be excluded again from the most important matter?

As doubts arose, anger welled up inside her, clawing at her insides. Yang Cheon-hyo was as fearful as he was suspicious. So he wouldn’t have called a family head meeting without any thought. There was a high probability that he had prepared a hidden weapon. What if he really had raised his ability with Alpha seeds? Yoon-im stood up abruptly.

“I’ll be back in a moment.”

Her husband grabbed her arm firmly as she tried to leave.

“Where are you going? You’re not trying to secretly watch the family head meeting, are you?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you for help.”

“No. Don’t go.”

The eyes of her husband, whom she had always considered stupid, shone brightly. Yoon-im looked at him straight and asked,

“Are you hiding something from me?”

No answer came from her husband, but Yoon-im saw his jaw tighten and was certain. What? There’s another secret about Yang Cheon-hyo that I don’t know? And this bastard knows it?

Despite her husband’s obvious reaction, Yoon-im changed the subject, pretending not to notice. Even if she asked, he probably wouldn’t tell her, so this was the best option for now.

“I’m not going to watch the family head meeting. I’m going to see Father.”

“…”

“If you can’t trust me, want to come along?”

Yoon-im gently asked as she removed her husband’s fingers one by one from her arm. Unable to forcibly stop her, he let go of her hand, and Yoon-im smiled as if to say not to worry.

“I’ll just check on Father’s face for a moment and come back.”

After reassuring her husband, she opened the door and went out. However, as soon as the door closed behind her, her expression disappeared.

Yoon-im turned towards the family head meeting room and took a step. There were many issues complicating her mind, such as Family Head Oh’s failed escape, Guide One on the brink, Yang Cheon-hyo’s reckless attempt, but strangely, her husband’s behavior bothered her the most.

What on earth is he hiding? But she forcibly pushed away the question. Clack, clack, the sound of her quickened footsteps echoed loudly through the corridor.

*

As Gye Min spat out Yang Cheon-hyo’s name with killing intent, Won-woo nodded in agreement.

“He’s cornered, so he’ll use his ability. He needs to take over the Yang family first to confront the East and North.”

Won-woo spoke lightly, but everyone’s expressions, except for Gye Yoon’s, were grim. If Yang Cheon-hyo was really using his ability, it meant his power had increased enough to subdue everyone. Only Gye Yoon spoke nonchalantly,

“That’s even better. If everyone becomes Yang Cheon-hyo’s dog, we can sweep them all away at once.”

“We’re really going to have a war, aren’t we?”

Chief Jung tried to assess the situation calmly. If there was any consolation, it was that they could draw the Hong family to their side. As everyone was considering war inevitable,

“We can’t avoid war, but let’s try to minimize the damage.”

How? Everyone turned to look at Won-woo. They found themselves hoping that, given the information and abilities he had shown so far, he might come up with another brilliant solution. Still, Gye Min asked dryly, hiding her true feelings,

“Do you have a way?”

Instead of answering, Won-woo pulled the phone in the plastic bag towards him. It was the one he had taken from Family Head Oh’s corpse.

“Do you know who dealt the biggest blow to the Yang family in my world?”

It didn’t seem to be Ji Won-woo himself. Won-woo took the phone out of the plastic and turned on the screen. He checked the call log without hesitation. There was no need to look through it all. There was only one call record.

“It was this person.”

And Won-woo immediately pressed the call button. After a moment, the other party answered, but no sound was heard. Won-woo, seemingly unconcerned, called out to the other person.

“Noona.”

* * *

When the Espers were cornered and waged guerrilla warfare for years in resistance, the person who led them to the end was the vice family head of the Hong family. Even though the western Hong family fell first, she crossed to the east and became the leader of those remaining. This was possible because the Yang family had collapsed so ridiculously easily.

It was widely known that there was just internal division, but Won-woo learned the exact cause when he rose to an important position in the Free Government Army. He hadn’t particularly wanted to know the reason for an enemy that had already disappeared. But while casually conversing with a high-ranking official he occasionally met to report operations, his interest was piqued.

‘Don’t you care at all about the Yang family head and Yang Cheon-hyo?’

Won-woo had asked about the two people who had vanished at some point. At the time, Won-woo was investigating Espers who had long disappeared, so he mentioned the most important ones. While Yang Cheon-hyo was uncertain, the Yang family head could change the course of the war if alive. However, both Yang Cheon-hyo and the Yang family head left no trace, as if they had died long ago.

‘Of course we care. We haven’t seen the bodies of either.’

The high-ranking official shook his head but added lightly,

‘But the chances of them being alive are slim. If they were alive, they wouldn’t have just watched the Yang family collapse due to Guide’s machinations.’

‘Guide? Was it a spy from the government army?’

No, the high-ranking official shook his head and had a strange smile on his lips.

‘It’s definitely not our side. Ji Geun-oh’s child wouldn’t take our side.’

At the sudden mention of his birth father’s name, Won-woo tensed his jaw to avoid showing any reaction. The high-ranking official didn’t know Won-woo’s true identity, so the person he was talking about clearly wasn’t him. Then who… There was one person that came to mind. Someone deeply involved with the Yang family who had the brains to bring down the Yang family.

‘Is it Ji Yoon-im?’

‘That’s right.’

‘If she’s not on our side either, why did she make a move against the Yang family?’

Ah, that. Perhaps because it was a past event, the high-ranking official readily explained the reason.

‘She had a grudge against the Yang family.’