DB Vol 6 Part 4

It had been an incredibly long time since Won-woo had addressed someone as “Noona.” Yet, it flowed from his mouth so easily. It also meant that this form of address held no meaning for Won-woo. After leaving home in his original world and following the aunt, he had never met Yoon-im again. The same was true for the rest of his family.

However, after hearing about Yoon-im from the high-ranking official, Won-woo looked up information. Fortunately, Won-woo had a high information clearance level, so he could learn in detail about what happened in the Yang family. The reason why Yoon-im held a grudge against the Yang family was also clearly stated. The first sentence read,

‘Ji Yoon-im had been exploited by the Yang family for a long time.’

[…Ji Won-woo?]

Yoon-im’s voice came through the receiver. It seemed that Family Head Oh’s claim about talking to her was true. It appeared that Yoon-im was overseeing all practical matters under Yang Cheon-hyo. This meant that if Yoon-im here were to betray the Yang family in the same way, it would be a significant blow to them.

“Yes.”

When Won-woo answered lightly, there was no sound from the other end again. But the silence was shorter than before.

[Why do you have that phone?]

“I picked it up.”

[Ha.]

Following a short, cold laugh, a calm but sharp question was heard.

[Seems you’re doing quite well in the Gye family.]

“You could say that. Unlike you, I suppose.”

[They said you changed like a different person. You’re talking quite insolently.]

A different person. Won-woo decided to live up to these words.

“Even ‘dog shit’ is too good for my family.”

[Just state your business. I don’t have time to listen to that dog shit.]

“Why? Going to watch Yang Cheon-hyo call a family head meeting? I guess you’re curious whether Yang Cheon-hyo will use his ability as a last resort or not.”

[Ha, you really are with the Gye family? Seems like the Yang family has planted little rats here and there…]

Yoon-im’s sharp retort was cut off by Won-woo’s indifferent interruption.

“Your husband probably stopped you from going to watch.”

[…]

Won-woo waited a moment for the silence on the phone, then spoke.

“Ah, he really did stop you? As expected, it’s the same.”

Won-woo’s words came out like a soliloquy, but it was hard to suppress a laugh. It seemed Yoon-im’s husband lived exactly the same in any world.

“If there’s a secret passage, go that way. There will be someone your husband contacted guarding the entrance.”

[…What are you talking about?]

“I’m saying your husband properly knows Yang Cheon-hyo’s true ability.”

[…]

“Secretly watch the family head meeting and report what was discussed by contacting this number.”

A scoff escaped from the silent Yoon-im.

[Why should I do that?]

Because… Won-woo inwardly muttered one word while recalling the second line of Yoon-im’s report. It described the secret of how the Yang family had freely used her for a long time.

‘Brainwashing done by Yang Cheon-hyo long ago.’

“Because that’s how you, Ji Yoon-im, can face the incredible truth you don’t know.”

Won-woo spoke dryly, then added one more piece of advice before hanging up.

Secret passage. Of course, she knew there was such a back route to the place where the family head meeting was held. But she hadn’t planned to use this path from the start. At least not until she checked the main entrance just in case. At the entrance, her husband’s closest aide was indeed standing guard.

As he looked around as if searching for someone, Yoon-im quickly hid her body behind a pillar. She felt incredibly strange and dirty. It seemed that, as Won-woo said, her husband was trying to prevent her from entering.

Because of this, her rationality that wanted to dismiss Won-woo’s words as nonsense took a step back. An incredible truth that she didn’t know? She wanted to deny that it was possible, but seeing the movement to block her at the entrance made it difficult to ignore completely. Especially, she couldn’t shake off the intuition that the cause of this unpleasant feeling was all due to her husband.

Why? That stupid and incompetent bastard was just a tool for her to establish her position in the Yang family.

Yoon-im shook her head and moved quickly. She headed to the back of the building where she could enter the secret passage. There was also someone guarding there, but he hesitated when he recognized Yoon-im. Perhaps the order to stop her hadn’t reached here. Or maybe they didn’t think she would go this far to secretly watch the family head meeting.

“I have urgent news for the chairman.”

When Yoon-im gave the reason and tried to enter, the guard blocked her with his arm.

“Then please go to the main entrance. No one is allowed to enter this way.”

“Didn’t you think that I came this way because no one should see me entering?”

As the guard hesitated, Yoon-im stared at him blankly.

“Move.”

The guard hesitated but couldn’t stop Yoon-im from pushing past him and moving forward. The corridor leading inside through the back door was narrow and dark, but Yoon-im turned without hesitation. She had secretly listened to a family head meeting like this before.

It was a long time ago when she first entered the Yang family. It was her father who had instructed Yoon-im to eavesdrop on the family head meeting. Back then, trembling with fear of being caught, her father had sneered and told her, 

‘That room is where the family head’s Guide has stayed for generations. It means your neck won’t be cut just because you, a Guide, are there.’

But she would be punished if caught. So even when the same order came from her father later, Yoon-im made all sorts of excuses and never entered this place again. She couldn’t destroy the position she had built up so well in the Yang family.

But now it didn’t matter. It was a situation where the position she thought she had built high might all be an illusion.

As soon as Yoon-im entered the dusty, neglected room that no one visited, she approached one wall. There was a small gap through which the large conference hall could be seen. Yoon-im brought her eye to it, recalling the advice Won-woo had given before hanging up. She had no intention of following his words, but having come this far, there was no reason not to either.

‘Make sure to watch properly when Yang Cheon-hyo uses his ability.’

*

“Why did you give such advice?”

When he hung up, Gye Min’s question was the first to be heard. Among the many things she must be curious about, Won-woo’s last words seemed to be the most puzzling.

“Yang Cheon-hyo can control people’s thoughts. The effect usually lasts only a few hours, at most a few days, but if he uses that ability this time, Ji Yoon-im, who’s secretly watching, will naturally be affected by him.”

Although it wasn’t clear what exactly Yang Cheon-hyo would say, it was obvious. He would probably say something like ‘Obey me’ to make them his subordinates. Won-woo nodded at those words.

“Yes, I deliberately encouraged her to be influenced. That way, Ji Yoon-im will become suspicious.”

“Suspicious of what?”

“Why Yang Cheon-hyo’s ability doesn’t work on her.”

Everyone’s eyes mixed with puzzlement and shock. Won-woo pondered for a moment where to start explaining, then opened with a question.

“Do you know what Yang Cheon-hyo’s ability is?”

“Isn’t he a mental Esper who can control people’s thoughts? That’s how he could control Family Head Oh’s rat too. Publicly, it’s said he can make people sleep and control their dreams.”

As Chief Jung answered, Won-woo nodded.

“Yes, that’s what’s known.”

“Is there something unknown too?”

As Gye Min asked sharply, Won-woo turned his gaze to her.

“The ability to control thoughts only lasts a few days, so it’s not really useful. Especially in actual combat, I heard it’s even more useless. To use the ability, you need to reveal yourself to the target and let them hear your voice, but in situations where life and death hang in the balance in an instant, you can’t leisurely have a conversation with enemies. In fact, Yang Cheon-hyo never participated in the war where I was. So the Yang family head wouldn’t have given his son everything he wanted just because of that level of ability.”

“Gave him everything he wanted? Was that how it was with the Yang family head in your world?”

Yes. As Won-woo nodded and looked at them as if asking if it wasn’t the same here, Gye Yoon explained.

“He was treated like an abandoned child.”

“Well, I heard that in my world too, Yang Cheon-hyo was quite neglected until he used that ability. They said it only manifested when his rank was raised to the highest A-rank with Alpha seeds.”

There’s another ability besides controlling thoughts? Gye Min and Gye Yoon’s eyes turned fierce. Won-woo calmly opened his mouth while looking at them.

“Actually, it’s similar to the previous ability. The ability gained thanks to Alpha seeds is brainwashing.”

All three who heard the story showed puzzlement. Isn’t controlling thoughts and brainwashing the same thing?

“You can think of the thought-controlling ability Yang Cheon-hyo used before as rippling the surface of a lake. It controls a person’s immediate actions like ‘Leave this room now, tell me the secret you know.’ But because the will of the person being controlled isn’t reflected, suspicion sprouts easily and it’s quickly broken after a short time.”

“How is brainwashing different?”

At Gye Yoon’s question, Won-woo turned his gaze to empty space as if recalling a metaphor.

“I heard it touches deep inside the lake. You can see it as completely changing the basic ideology that moves a person. So even if the person changes afterwards, they believe they’re acting on their own will with changed thoughts.”

“So if you brainwash them with ‘The Gye family is your enemy and should be killed,’ they’ll automatically devise strategies and attack afterwards, right?”

Gye Yoon gave an example in an indifferent voice. But no one in this room considered it just a simple example. What if the Yang family members helping Yang Cheon-hyo and even the Ji family had been brainwashed? Won-woo looked at him for a moment and then nodded calmly.

“That’s highly likely. Moreover, it’s quite effective. I’ve seen records of someone who was brainwashed once and it lasted for over 7 years. Of course, this person was in special circumstances.”

Chief Jung shuddered as if getting goosebumps. Does brainwashing last that long?

“Then can’t Yang Cheon-hyo brainwash everyone he meets and make them all his subordinates for a long time?”

“It’s not to that extent. The stronger the effect, the greater the power consumption. The power gained from Alpha seeds returns to normal faster the more the ability is used. So Yang Cheon-hyo would have used it only on people he absolutely needed to use it on to conserve that power.”

The three people showed different expressions, but revealed similar amazement. How on earth did he know such information? Chief Jung blinked and asked.

“Is there so much information left about Yang Cheon-hyo in Won-woo’s world even though he disappeared early?”

“Well, actually, the document I saw with Yang Cheon-hyo’s information was a report about Ji Yoon-im.”

At some point, the government, sensing that the division in the Yang family was not ordinary, investigated and found that a considerable number of fights due to internal strife were due to malicious alienation. While no one inside the Yang family noticed, from an outside perspective, the culprit was obvious. Ji Yoon-im. And the government blackmailed her to obtain information. As Won-woo briefly explained, Gye Min asked as if confirming.

“Is the reason Ji Yoon-im betrayed possibly because of the brainwashing? Did she realize it?”

“Yes. But the Ji Yoon-im here probably doesn’t know yet. So she would have been playing the role of Yang Cheon-hyo’s faithful worker.”

“What does that have to do with this family head meeting?”

“You can’t put multiple brainwashing on one person. Two at a time is the limit. And if my guess is correct, Yang Cheon-hyo used both of those on Ji Yoon-im. So.”

Won-woo looked out the window again. Would Ji Yoon-im be eavesdropping on the family head meeting well? Hoping so, he added slowly.

“At least one of these brainwashings will absolutely not work this time.”

*

Late at night, the core forces of the Yang family suddenly gathered under the name of a family head meeting. Naturally, all members of the Yang family were tense and just stared at the place where the meeting was being held. Could it be that Yang Cheon-hyo, driven into a corner, was staging a rebellion? If the vice family head, who had gained the upper hand, used this opportunity to completely push him out?

Around the building where the meeting room was located, those divided into two factions were engaged in a battle of wills even more intense than inside the meeting room. There was a tense atmosphere as if a war might break out outside first if even a small disturbance was heard from inside. But the night was still long, and there was plenty of time to talk.

However, unexpectedly, the meeting room door opened again less than 10 minutes after it had closed. What’s going on? Everyone was puzzled, but soon their eyes widened in surprise. Those who had gone in were coming out again. The direct or collateral family heads of the Yang family, the top Espers belonging to the Yang family, and other key figures who formed the core of the Yang family poured out of the meeting room door all at once.

Those who had been anxiously waiting for them outside realized the situation exactly because of the orders that came from their mouths. Those who had been opposing and fighting were all saying the same thing in unison.

Those waiting outside finally understood the situation. That the meeting had ended surprisingly quickly. And with Yang Cheon-hyo’s perfect victory. Everyone, including the vice family head, ordered with confident tones.

“Our only enemy is the Gye family in the North. If they attack Guide One, it’s the same as attacking us, so we’re going to protect Guide One right now.”

Yoon-im should have left immediately after confirming the meeting was over, but she couldn’t move, mixed with shock and puzzlement. Yang Cheon-hyo, who had been so tightly holed up and only giving orders, indeed had an ace up his sleeve. All the Espers gathered at this day’s meeting were A-rank.

Although there were differences in skill even among them and the types of abilities were subdivided, the range of that alphabet was not simply symbolic. It meant that one could never subdue an opponent beyond one’s own rank.

So even if Yang Cheon-hyo had increased his power with Alpha seeds, it was believed impossible for him to subdue all those of the same A-rank. She believed that Yang Cheon-hyo knew this too, which is why he had been in seclusion. But what happened before her eyes now was completely different. When it was his turn to speak, he stood up, looked around at everyone, and said just two things.

‘Our enemy is the Gye family, so we must eliminate them.’

‘I’m the only one who can bring down the Gye family, so follow my orders.’

The first was not surprising to Yoon-im. It was an obvious fact to her. The Gye family were all bastards who deserved to die. She was so frustrated now because those long-time enemies had gotten one over on her. However, the second made her sneer. Who would follow him just because he boasted like an elementary school student?

But all the core members of the Yang family present bowed their heads to Yang Cheon-hyo. Only then did she realize that Yang Cheon-hyo had used his ability and it had worked.

The next moment, her eyes widened in shock. Did he become S-rank? And controlled everyone’s thoughts because of that? Even if that were the case, it would only work for a few days. Then suddenly, Won-woo’s advice came to mind.

‘Make sure to watch properly when Yang Cheon-hyo uses his ability.’

Why did he tell me to watch properly…!

At that moment, a strange chill ran down her spine. Questions that prevented Yoon-im from moving poured down like ice water. Why didn’t Yang Cheon-hyo’s power work on me? And how did Won-woo know that?

*

The small hand Won-woo held was warm, perhaps because children have higher body temperatures than adults. Hwan was sleeping soundly with her mouth slightly open, having played energetically today as well. She looked a bit hot since her father had pulled the blanket up to her neck. Thanks to that, the child had become as warm as a steamed sweet potato.

“I’m sorry for calling you when you should be resting. I heard you were busy catching Family Head Oh for a week.”

Jae-hak, who was beside him, kept apologizing to Won-woo who was guiding. Won-woo shook his head saying it was fine, but Jae-hak didn’t know what to do with his guilt. While Won-woo was guiding, he kept placing bite-sized food, drinks, and even fruits on the side table for him to eat.

Won-woo put a small sandwich in his mouth, sensing that Jae-hak might try to feed him personally if he didn’t eat. But it was really okay. Although he was tired, guiding Hwan wasn’t difficult at all. Rather, it was the opposite. Just holding this small, soft hand made him feel healed somehow.

In the past, one of his colleagues had rescued and raised an injured stray cat. He said that even after living together for almost a year, the cat that had lived outside for a long time wouldn’t show affection, let alone allow proper petting. Still, as soon as work was over, he would rush home to find the cat. When someone asked what was so good about just getting attacked by a cat, he answered like this,

‘Just looking at it makes me feel at ease and happy. That guy doesn’t know about this war. It doesn’t know who died or who needs to be killed. All it does is roll on the floor, look out the window, eat, and sleep. There’s no smell of blood in its life. To me, it’s the cleanest and purest being, you know? Just having that being nearby is so comforting.’

When he heard this, he couldn’t readily understand. In fact, until just a moment ago. After returning from killing Family Head Oh, he had stood under water for a long time trying to wash off the smell of his blood. Yet he still felt the smell of blood as if he might vomit. But this room, by the child lying on the bed, was completely different.

Hwan was pure like a being from another world. Just being near her made everything feel purified. Won-woo felt like he could now understand that comfort his colleague had talked about. That’s why he wanted to hold this small hand a little longer even after the guiding was over. But reality called him back to the blood-smelling world.

Bzzz. Bzzz.

The phone vibrated in his pocket. It was the call from Yoon-im that Won-woo had been waiting for. When Won-woo just watched for a moment without answering, Jae-hak asked curiously.

“Is it a call you don’t want to take?”

“No, it’s the opposite. It’s a call I want to take, so I’m deliberately stalling.”

What if it hangs up? Jae-hak showed concern, not understanding, but Won-woo gave a slight smile and left the room with Family Head Oh’s phone in his hand. He believed the call wouldn’t end. Even if it did, it would ring again soon. Sure enough, the call ended as soon as he closed the door, but it rang again while he was walking down the corridor.

“Hello.”

[…What do you know?]

Yoon-im’s cold voice was heard, but Won-woo’s attention was focused on Gye Yoon leaning against the corridor wall far away. He had turned his head as if waiting for Won-woo to finish guiding and come out. Won-woo slowly walked while following him with his eyes.

“The order is wrong. You should have something to say to me first, right?”

[You want me to be a spy?]

“So what if you do? Yang Cheon-hyo’s ability didn’t work on you, so it doesn’t matter.”

Silence flowed. This time it felt like she was thinking rather than being flustered, so Won-woo pushed her with a dry voice.

“Speak quickly. Even if you, Ji Yoon-im, don’t act as a spy, there are plenty of others who will.”

[Are you really Ji Won-woo?]

“Why does that matter? We weren’t a proper family anyway.”

After a short silence, a murmur of ‘Ah, right’ was heard. The reason Won-woo considered Yoon-im the least bad among his family in his childhood was that she completely ignored his existence.

In fact, she had no interest in the other siblings either. All that mattered to her was being recognized by their father and fulfilling her own greed. She probably didn’t know that greed would end up being a noose around her life.

[If you say there are many spies, you must have already heard. Yang Cheon-hyo simply brought everyone to their knees at the family head meeting.]

“And?”

[That’s all.]

“That’s not all. You must have seen how Yang Cheon-hyo acted after everyone left.”

This was the information Won-woo wanted to know. He needed to know Yang Cheon-hyo’s condition to gauge how much his ability had improved. If he had gained control over all those called the core of the Yang family, it means he used an ability equivalent to S-rank. But the fact that he still kept hiding despite that would mean his power was incomplete. Whether Won-woo’s guess was correct, Yoon-im responded with displeasure.

[The way you’re talking, it seems like you know everything and are just asking.]

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking properly.”

[…As soon as everyone left, he staggered and collapsed. Father rushed in with other Guides, as if they had been waiting.]

As expected, his power isn’t complete. It meant that even if he could bring all Espers A-rank and below under his control with that power afterwards, he couldn’t use the power consecutively.

[The Yang family members who now recognize the Gye family as enemies are moving on their own. If you want to know how they’re moving, now tell me what you know.]

This time, Won-woo complied with her request.

“Yang Cheon-hyo can brainwash people.”

[Ha, everyone knows that…]

“If conditions are right, the effect of a single brainwashing can last over 7 years.”

[…]

“But as powerful as it is, there are restrictions.”

[What restrictions?]

“Shouldn’t we exchange one for one?”

A sigh like a curse was heard from Yoon-im, then soon a rough tone unlike her flowed.

[They said the enemy Gye family is attacking Guide One, so they need to protect it. They immediately sent out elites from inside to one place. Want to know where?]

“No. I think I roughly know.”

[Ha, fuck. You…]

“Yang Cheon-hyo can only put two brainwashings on one person.”

The cursing in his ear stopped. It seemed even her breathing had stopped.

“How did you feel when you watched the family head meeting and heard Yang Cheon-hyo’s words? Did it seem too obvious, or did you feel like sneering?”

There was no answer. Won-woo spoke to the silence that seemed like the call had been cut off.

“Like most Espers, Yang Cheon-hyo has a startup action when using his ability. But because of their characteristics, mental Espers need to hide when they use their ability, so they disguise their startup action as a habit they often do normally.”

After explaining this far, Won-woo kindly provided important information. Still no sound was heard from the other side, but it didn’t matter now. He had heard all the necessary words. Won-woo hung up first and then completely turned off the power.

Beep, beep, beep.

The disconnected call signal sounded from the phone Yoon-im held to her ear. Although she just needed to press the end call button, she remained frozen as if she didn’t know how. But unlike her motionless body, her eyes flickered with shock like candlelight.

The “too obvious words” and “words that made her sneer” that Yang Cheon-hyo said at the family head meeting. Won-woo’s observation was chillingly accurate.

The statement defining the North as the enemy was such an obvious fact to Yoon-im that she felt no surprise. Rather, she would have been angry if anyone had objected then. It’s the Gye family. They are all enemies that must be eliminated. But how ridiculous was the order that came from Yang Cheon-hyo afterwards?

As Won-woo said, the second order clearly didn’t work on her. That meant she was already brainwashed by the first order. But that’s impossible. It’s the Gye family. The Gye family is truly a terrible enemy to me and the Ji family. Denying this was like saying the sky is the sea and the sea is the sky. But what if that sky really was the sea?

Yoon-im sank onto the sofa, not knowing how to deal with this confusion. And she cast a doubt she would never have had before. Why did they turn the Gye family into enemies in the first place?

Of course, nine years ago, many Guides died due to the Gye family head’s rampage. Ji Geun-oh, who sided with the Guides, used that excuse to make the Gye family everyone’s enemy. But from what she observed closely, Yang Cheon-hyo hated the Gye family even more terribly than her father. Even though he wasn’t a Guide. Why?

As Yoon-im was recalling the question mark again, she unconsciously continued the question. Then why did I hate the Gye family so much? Unlike myself.

Suddenly, a chill swept through her entire body. Yes, it was unlike herself. It didn’t make sense for her, who moved rationally considering her own benefits, to treat the Gye family so emotionally. She felt like screaming. Yoon-im covered her mouth with her hand and trembled. What if I really was brainwashed?

Knock knock.

With the sound of knocking, the door opened and her secretary entered, informing her in a serious voice.

“It’s an order from Chairman Yang. He said the Espers need to depart now, so go to the operations room to watch and report directly.”

Yoon-im clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms and barely got up from her seat, but couldn’t take a step. Belatedly, an important question occurred to her. One of Yang Cheon-hyo’s two brainwashings at the family head meeting didn’t work on her. Doesn’t that mean she already had two brainwashings?

“Madam, are you alright?”

When she heard the secretary’s voice, Yoon-im moved without any response. But her face was as pale as a sheet of paper, and her clenched hands were shaking uncontrollably. What on earth is the other brainwashing that’s on me?

The news of the Yang family’s family head meeting ending faster than expected was quickly delivered to the Gye family as well. Thanks to this, Gye Yoon was caught by Chief Jung midway while trying to take Won-woo to his room. And they were dragged back to Gye Min’s office.

“That bastard Yang Cheon-hyo. The meeting should have lasted at least an hour.”

Gye Yoon muttered with killing intent. The soul disappeared from the eyes of his sister who had planned to discuss with her brother first because of this. When will this bastard become human? With this thought, she stretched out her hand. Immediately, icicles like awls flew towards her brother.

It was a sudden attack, but the icicles all scattered like sand grains before touching Gye Yoon’s body. However, as the shattered ice spread like snow in the air, Gye Yoon ended up with wet clothes and hands as if he had been caught alone in the snow.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Shut up. Unless you want to become a complete snowman.”

“Is making bingsu all you can do?”

Sparks flew from the siblings’ eyes simultaneously. Chief Jung truly missed the chief secretary who would have stopped these two if she were here. Fortunately, there was someone she had brought to replace her, knowing this would happen.

“Yoon, you shouldn’t say things like that! How many times has our Min made bingsu for you in the middle of summer?”

Jae-hak scolded Gye Yoon and then soothed Gye Min in a gentle voice.

“You should be patient. Yoon probably just wants to eat bingsu again.”

At her husband’s words, Gye Min barely suppressed her anger, but Gye Yoon suddenly became an immature person craving bingsu. When Gye Yoon looked at Jae-hak with murderous eyes, this time Chief Jung quickly stepped in.

“Won-woo, do you really not need that phone anymore?”

As soon as Won-woo entered the room, he had handed over Family Head Oh’s phone and asked for it to be smashed. Won-woo nodded at the question.

“Yes, I don’t need it anymore.”

“I thought you were going to use it for espionage.”

No. Won-woo shook his head and explained Yoon-im’s use.

“She’ll do it on her own. If I interfere more, she might waste time suspecting me instead. We need to let her figure out the truth on her own and then blow up the Yang family from within.”

“In your original world, did Ji Yoon-im figure it out on her own and self-destruct?”

As Gye Yoon cut in with an indifferent voice, Won-woo hesitated. Self-destruct. Won-woo hesitated to define her actions, which he had only seen in document letters, with this one word, but soon nodded. Everyone has their circumstances. There’s no need to give your heart to each of those circumstances. Even if she’s his sister. This is war, after all.

“More importantly, shouldn’t we look at the Yang family’s movements? They said they went to protect Guide One, and I have a guess where.”

At Won-woo’s quick words, Gye Min nodded. That’s why they had gathered now.

“They probably went to protect Ji Geun-oh’s secret laboratory. If that’s completely revealed to the world, Guide One is finished, so Ji Geun-oh must have whined for protection.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“We have to stop them. The secret experiment needs to be fully revealed to the world for Guide One to be completely destroyed.”

Gye Min answered while expressionlessly looking at the adjacent conference room. That’s why she had called people together in the middle of the night. But no one could deny that the most useful person right now was her brother. So she gave a short order.

“You go directly.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Okay.”

When Gye Min nodded easily, everyone looked at her with puzzled eyes. Especially Gye Yoon, whose eyes narrowed with suspicion. But Gye Min didn’t seem to have any intention of sending him in the first place, as she gave her brother a different order.

“You said you don’t want to with your own mouth, so you stay here and guard this place well.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ll go.”

In the midst of everyone’s silence, Gye Yoon, his expression gone, spat out one word.

“Bullshit.”

After another hostile silence passed, Gye Min, unable to hold back, rushed at him to throw a punch, forgetting she was an Esper. This time, it took Jae-hak, Chief Jung, and even Won-woo to intervene before the situation calmed down. Gye Min was still fuming with anger, but fortunately, Jae-hak, who could be considered Gye Yoon’s natural enemy, was present. He scolded Gye Yoon.

“What kind of disrespectful talk is that to your sister? If you want to hear dog noises, just say so. We raise a lot of dogs! We could even call your favorite Kkokko and let you hear chicken sounds!”

“Damn it, why would I like Kkokko?”

“There you go again, pretending. Everyone knows you two are close.”

Just as Gye Yoon, who had become best friends with a chicken, was about to become enemies with his brother-in-law, Won-woo cautiously intervened.

“How about sending a different family head instead of you two?”

“A different family head?”

Chief Jung urgently asked, trying to change the subject. As attention focused on him, Won-woo smiled awkwardly and mentioned a place.

“There’s someone else who’s dissatisfied with the Yang family and Guide One right now. Especially someone who would be watching like a hawk to see if the Yang family properly investigates the secret laboratory this time.”

“The Hong family?”

As Gye Min stepped forward and asked, Won-woo nodded.

“Yes. The Family Head Hong.”

“No, that person will never move. He’s even less likely to move for the sake of the family.”

“Then we should deceive him into thinking it’s for his own benefit.”

Suddenly, the eyes of three people lit up. Won-woo looked around at the people, tightening his lips to hide the smile that was escaping. He really liked the Gye family people. When given just one piece, they would find the rest on their own and create a visualized plan faster than anyone else.

“Deceive… Didn’t you say the Family Head Hong is so focused on how much stronger Yoon has become that he doesn’t notice anything else?”

When Gye Min asked Chief Jung, he nodded.

“Yes. I heard he’s become obsessed with collecting Alpha seeds because of that. There’s even information that he openly demanded Alpha seeds from Guide One.”

“Then if we spread false information that there are Alpha seeds in the secret laboratory… he might move?”

“If we add that the reason the Yang family is suddenly trying to protect that place is because of Alpha seeds, he’ll be even more eager.”

At Gye Yoon’s response, Gye Min’s eyes darkened. Thinking it was worth a try, she quickly gave instructions to Chief Jung and turned to Gye Yoon. She seemed to have something to say but instead spat out irritably and turned away.

“You just stay here and stick close to your Guide. It’s an order. Understand?”

Gye Min disappeared with the others, but Gye Yoon didn’t turn to look at Won-woo. He didn’t even touch the hand he usually grabbed at every opportunity. Won-woo didn’t seem to intend to hold hands either, just quietly looking up at Gye Yoon. And when their eyes met, he asked quietly.

“Are you confident?”

Gye Yoon’s mouth twisted as if Won-woo’s question was amusing. If it were someone else, they would have asked first if he was going there, seeing Gye Yoon’s mood. Even if the Yang family’s Espers were gathering, if the Family Head Hong came out in person, the outcome would be obvious. The best the Yang family could hope for was a draw. That’s the kind of existence an S-rank was.

So of course, Gye Yoon intended to go. Not just because it was a good opportunity to deal with the Family Head Hong and pin it on the Yang family. When a worthy opponent was finally moving, of course he had to go meet them. Even if his sister tried to stop him out of worry. Gye Yoon looked at the door Gye Min had left through, then lowered his gaze to Won-woo.

“Rest. I’ll be back after playing for a bit.”

*

There were several reasons why Chief Cheon had moved like the Yang family head’s shadow for a long time, but the biggest reason was his accurate judgment. He was cautious and suspicious, but he also tended to gather as much information as possible.

That’s why he hesitated to report this matter. There were too few sources of information and not enough time to investigate deeper. However, if that was all, he wouldn’t have felt this uneasy.

“The Yang family moved to protect that secret Guide research facility? And the vice family head in person?”

The Family Head Hong’s eyes darkened as he received the report. The Family Head Hong was known as a rational figure who always maintained a heavy neutrality, but the person Chief Cheon knew was more biased and selfish than anyone. In fact, the person who truly fit that reputation was the deceased vice family head of the Hong family.

It was because all the credit for her running around handling the Hong family’s practical affairs and resolving things wisely went to the family head. Not only that. When she was alive, no matter how arbitrarily the family head made decisions or spoke, she covered for him and cleaned things up well. Now that she was gone, the resentment towards the family head within the Hong family seemed to reach the sky.

How could the family head not move even when a monster incident occurred on Hong family land, causing so much damage? Now there were even words doubting his ability. Rumors spread that he might still be in shock from his sister’s death and was in seclusion. But this was the original Family Head Hong that Chief Cheon knew.

Born with power and authority in his hands, and with the entire huge Hong family bowing their heads at his every word, the Family Head Hong had a considerable sense of superiority that he was different from others. So even if problems arose for the Hong family’s Espers, he didn’t feel the need to use his power.

Moreover, he had been greatly dissatisfied with the family recently. Nothing had gone his way since his sister’s death. The only person he was wary of was Gye Yoon, but when the family joined hands with the Gye family, the Family Head Hong became even more indifferent to family matters. As if imposing a punishment. So Chief Cheon worried that if he moved because of this report, it might increase the discord within the family.

“The Yang family’s vice head wouldn’t act according to Yang Cheon-hyo’s will, would they?”

At the Family Head Hong’s question, Chief Cheon lowered his gaze to the floor.

“They say the family head meeting Yang Cheon-hyo called ended in less than 10 minutes. And everyone agreed to protect Guide One according to Yang Cheon-hyo’s will.”

“A family head meeting includes up to the 20th rank in the Yang family, right? All of them? Even the vice head?”

Yes, Chief Cheon answered, but there was no response. He probably made the same guess as Chief Cheon. Sure enough, killing intent rose in the Family Head Hong’s voice.

“Are you saying Yang Cheon-hyo’s power has grown strong enough to control all A-ranks? Has that bastard become an S-rank or something!”

“We haven’t confirmed it exactly yet. But judging by the results of the family head meeting…”

“What confirmation do you need! You’re saying Yang Cheon-hyo controlled all the capable people in the Yang family!”

Usually, the Family Head Hong wasn’t one to move easily even when excited, so Chief Cheon wasn’t too worried. But it was different when it came to S-rank.

“It’s Alpha seeds. Yang Cheon-hyo finally raised his rank with Alpha seeds.”

It’s not confirmed yet, Chief Cheon swallowed the words he wanted to say again. It was as good as fact, even if not confirmed. Because Yang Cheon-hyo’s ability couldn’t have increased without Alpha seeds.

“What happened to getting Alpha seeds?”

“Guide One keeps postponing discussions. There are rumors that they don’t have much left, so probably…”

“You stupid bastard. So you just watched until Yang Cheon-hyo became S-rank?!”

With a low shout, Chief Cheon felt dizzy and breathless. He bowed his body as if lying flat. No matter how angry the Family Head Hong was or how much he choked him, Chief Cheon wasn’t really afraid. He just thought it might be better if it ended here. He hoped the Family Head Hong would just lose interest. But inevitably, an unwanted question was heard.

“Why on earth is Yang Cheon-hyo trying to protect that secret laboratory?”

The answer Chief Cheon had to give was simple. To protect Guide One. However, it was an answer that would sound ridiculous to anyone. The Family Head Hong thought so too.

“It’s not just because of Guide One, right? Even if Yang Cheon-hyo would die for Ji Geun-oh, what idiot would bother protecting a secret laboratory now? Unless there’s another secret.”

“…”

“Chief Cheon.”

At the sharp call, Chief Cheon tightly closed his eyes and then opened them. There was one piece of information he had received before coming here. The source wasn’t suspicious, but it was information he hadn’t cross-checked, so he didn’t intend to report it. An inexplicable uneasiness held him back. But he couldn’t dare hide information he had already heard from the family head.

“…I heard a rumor that there are Alpha seeds in that secret laboratory. But, Family Head, this is information I haven’t properly verified. It’s not from a source within the Yang family either.”

Chief Cheon added hastily, but it seemed only one word reached the Family Head Hong’s ears. A low laugh burst from his mouth.

“Alpha seeds… Yes, that would be enough to use the vice family head. What idiot would use such a big sword without any reason.”

This was exactly why Chief Cheon felt uneasy. The timely information about Alpha seeds fit too perfectly, as if pieced together. If not, Yang Cheon-hyo would be an idiot who sent the vice family head and the Yang family’s capable Espers just to uphold Guide One and Ji Geun-oh’s dignity.

So anyone who heard about the Alpha seeds would have no choice but to believe it. But Chief Cheon had seen many people make stupid decisions based on momentary emotions while handling important information for a long time. What if Yang Cheon-hyo did that this time? And right in front of him was someone about to move easily, caught up in emotions.

“Family Head!”

Chief Cheon called out in surprise to the family head walking towards the door, but he ordered without even looking back.

“Make sure no one follows. I have no intention of sharing Alpha seeds with anyone.”