PV Ch.9 Part 2

He couldn’t see the man’s face, but he could sense the amusement in his voice. 

“What about a proper meal? I saw the way you were banging on that door. You’re clearly famished. A word from me, and they’ll bring you a feast fit for a king.” 

“….” 

Bomin’s resolve wavered. As if on cue, his stomach chose that moment to make a very loud, very insistent growling sound. It echoed in the small, enclosed space. 

There was no way the man hadn’t heard it. Not if he was an S-rank Esper, as he claimed. 

“…I don’t need anything from you.”

It was too late for pride. Bomin’s cheeks burned with shame. He hated how honest his body was being. He was hungry, starving even, but it wasn’t like he was on death’s door. 

He had to believe that the others would find him, that Kim Seohun, after finding him gone, would alert the Association. He knew they wouldn’t risk everything for a B-rank Guide, but surely… surely the others, the S-ranks he was close to, they wouldn’t let him rot in this place. 

Especially not Song Jaeho. 

Song Jaeho had even come looking for him when Bomin had gone off the grid during his vacation. This time, he’d been kidnapped. Surely Song Jaeho would move heaven and earth to get him back. 

“Here.”

“…What’s this?” 

The man pulled something out of his pocket. It was a handful of individually wrapped chocolates. Bomin’s mouth watered. 

“Something to tide you over. I’ll see about getting you a proper meal next time.”

“Why the sudden change of heart?”

“No reason. You just… look like you could use a good meal.” 

It was true. Bomin had always been on the slender side, his frame ill-suited to gaining weight, despite his… enthusiastic appetite. Even with all the stamina-draining sex he engaged in, he never managed to put on any weight. He knew he must seem frail compared to the more muscular Espers.

He took the chocolates, accepting them without protest. There was something about the man that made him think he wouldn’t resort to such… unsavory tactics when it came to food. 

Besides, he was starving. 

“My superiors haven’t decided what to do with you yet. So do yourself a favor and try not to get your hopes up. And stop banging on the door. You’re only hurting yourself.”

The man ruffled Bomin’s hair, a surprisingly gentle gesture, before turning and leaving the room. Bomin watched him go, his eyes darting around, trying to commit every detail of the room to memory. The walls were bare, painted a drab shade of gray. He suspected there were other cells like his, all in a row, judging by the layout of the room. 

He pushed those thoughts aside for now, focusing on the chocolates instead. He popped one into his mouth, letting the sweetness melt on his tongue. The sugar gave him a much-needed energy boost, and his mind, which had been sluggish with hunger, began to race. 

Non-K. 

It had to be them. They were the only ones who fit the bill.

In the novel, they were the antagonists, the shadowy organization pulling the strings from behind the scenes. Their power grew steadily throughout the story, eventually culminating in a full-blown war against the Association.

A war that the Association’s Espers, including Shi Yu-hyeon and his contracted S-ranks, were forced to fight in.

And the leader’s identity? A mystery until the very end. 

The story had revolved around Shi Yu-hyeon and his group. There was hardly any information about Non-K or its members.

Bomin craved a bitter cup of coffee now. He needed something to wash away the lingering sweetness of the chocolate, to help him focus. He berated himself for getting distracted by food at a time like this.

He’d gotten what he wanted, hadn’t he? The chocolates. And yet, his mind was already jumping ahead, thinking about his next meal. Human greed truly knew no bounds. 

He ran a hand over his bare stomach, momentarily soothed by the lack of painful emptiness. 

The floor was cold against his skin, and he was starting to get cold. He stood up, heading back towards the bed. It wasn’t much, but at least there was a thin blanket. 

He wrapped himself in the blanket, leaning back against the headboard. He had a feeling he was being watched. The man had as good as admitted it, and Bomin wouldn’t put it past them to have hidden cameras in the room. He scanned the walls, but he couldn’t spot anything. 

The bathroom, a tiny, windowless cubicle, was just as spartan. A sink, a toilet, and a showerhead were the only amenities. 

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. None of this made sense. His fluctuating compatibility levels, his abduction by what was likely Non-K… It was like the world was veering off-script, and he was caught in the middle of it. 

He glanced at the flickering lightbulb, a single point of light in the suffocating darkness. He wasn’t a religious man, but his circumstances were becoming increasingly difficult to explain away with logic or science.

Maybe some all-powerful being had decided he was a virus, a glitch in the system that needed to be purged. 

He wasn’t going down without a fight. He might not have superpowers like an Esper, but he wasn’t about to just lie down and accept whatever fate this world had in store for him. 

He pushed those thoughts aside for now. He needed to rest. He let himself sink into the thin mattress, exhaustion finally claiming him. It wasn’t long before he drifted off to sleep, his quiet breaths the only sound in the silent room. 

* * *

“It’s been two days! Two days, and you’re telling me there’s still no sign of them?” Song Jaeho slammed his fist against the table, his voice echoing in the mostly empty situation room. 

Han Biseong winced, massaging his temples. His head was pounding, the persistent ache a constant reminder of their failure. The pursuit team was back, exhausted and no closer to finding Bomin. 

They’d managed to catch a few more of the attackers, but they’d all chosen the same way out: a cyanide capsule, swallowed before anyone could react. 

“The higher-ups are backing down. Let’s be realistic, Jaeho, Bomin aren’t exactly… irreplaceable.” 

“Are you fucking kidding me?!”

Song Jaeho was livid. S-rank Espers were a valuable resource, and with no leads, no sign of Bomin or his abductors, the Association was starting to treat the whole thing like… a sunk cost. 

So what if Non-K had breached their defenses? The damage was minimal, a few broken bones and a couple of buildings that needed repairs. And the only casualty? A single B-rank Guide. Finding Non-K’s headquarters would require a significant investment of time and resources, and the Association, it seemed, wasn’t willing to risk it for… well, for him. 

“Calm down, Jaeho. Screaming won’t change anything. We need to think,” a cool voice cuts through Song Jaeho’s rage. 

Yoon Bisam, who’d been slouched in a chair, his eyes closed, straightened up. His gaze was sharp, his expression unreadable. 

“Why are you all so calm? Bomin could be out there, hurt, or worse, and you’re just… sitting here!” Song Jaeho exploded. 

It was infuriating. He was the only one who seemed to care, the only one who understood what was at stake. Han Biseong, Yoon Bisam, Won Seongwoo… they’d all benefited from Bomin’s guiding, they’d all… slept with him, for God’s sake, but none of them seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation. They were just… observing.

Metal groaned in protest as Song Jaeho’s power surged, objects around him twisting and contorting under the pressure of his emotions. The few remaining staff members in the situation room had long since evacuated. It wasn’t safe to be around him when he was like this.

“Biseong, any word?” 

Won Seongwoo, who’d been leaning against a wall, his eyes closed, spoke for the first time. 

Han Biseong, who’d been staring intently at his phone, looked up, a slow smile spreading across his face. 

“We’re good.”

“What’s good? What the hell is going on?” Song Jaeho demanded, his eyes narrowed. 

He hated it when they did that, when they spoke in cryptic half-sentences, like he wasn’t in the loop. 

“We’re going to get Bomin back, that’s what’s good.” 

“What are you talking about?” Yoon Bisam asked, pushing himself out of his chair. 

Han Biseong grinned. “I made a deal with the Chairman. We’re off the books. No official duties until we find Bomin.”

“What? When did this happen? And why the hell didn’t you tell me?” Song Jaeho exclaimed, feeling a surge of both relief and resentment. 

Han Biseong sighed. “Use your head, Jaeho.” 

Song Jaeho might have worn his heart on his sleeve, but he was also… impulsive. This was an off-the-books operation, a clandestine agreement that couldn’t be traced back to them. The fewer people who knew, the better. If he’d told Song Jaeho earlier, he would have probably blown a gasket, alerted the entire building with his worry. 

“Go get changed. We’re leaving as soon as you’re ready. And be discreet. Meet us at the south entrance in ten minutes.” 

This wasn’t something they could do in their Esper uniforms. Hell, this wasn’t even an official mission, not anymore. 

He replayed his conversation with the Chairman in his head, the man’s words echoing in his mind.

‘I had no idea Guide Bomin was so important to you all.’

‘Compatibility issues aside, our connection with him runs deep, Chairman.’

‘And the others agree to this?’

‘Yes, sir. Jaeho would agree to anything if it meant bringing Bomin back.’

‘Very well. I can’t deny this benefits me as well. You have one week. That’s the best I can offer.’

‘Thank you, Chairman.’

The Chairman, a shrewd man even in his old age, had driven a hard bargain. A month-long deployment to China. It was no secret that China was struggling. Their vast territory and massive population were proving difficult to protect, even with their considerable resources. They had the numbers, but they lacked high-level Espers, the kind who could turn the tide of a battle, the kind the Association possessed in spades.

And now, with five S-rank dungeons appearing within their borders, three of which they’d barely managed to clear… They were desperate. 

They’d been courting the Association for months, offering generous compensation in exchange for assistance, but so far, their requests had been denied. Until now.

“We have one week to find Bomin. And then, we ship out to China for a month to clear those dungeons. Those are the terms.” 

“The old man’s really lost it, hasn’t he?” Song Jaeho muttered. 

The Chairman, Korea’s very first S-rank Esper, a legend in his own right, had become a shadow of his former self. He’d traded in his heroism for power and wealth, content to rule the Association from the shadows. But he was still a force to be reckoned with, his influence absolute. 

“He probably negotiated ownership of any artifacts we find in those dungeons, too. The man’s obsessed,” Yoon Bisam said, his tone laced with disdain. He turned and headed for the door, disappearing down the hallway without another word. 

Song Jaeho lingered for a moment, then hurried after him. He had to get to Bomin. The thought of him trapped somewhere, at the mercy of those bastards… He imagined Bomin chained up, helpless, and a surge of protectiveness, fierce and primal, washed over him. 

He wouldn’t let them hurt him. He wouldn’t. 

* * *