RG 81

Standing aside at the entrance, Kwon Taehyeok stepped into the office, scanning the broken window before speaking to the secretary waiting in the hallway, “Contact the recovery team and send them over. Get the specialists for building repair.”

“Understood.”

“That’s… really not necessary.”

It was obvious why Kwon Taehyeok was calling in the repair team. I tried to decline with an awkward smile, but he shut the front door himself with a firm expression, leaving no room for argument.

“We can’t just leave it like this, can we? Our guild’s recovery team is quite skilled. This should take no more than a minute to fix.”

“Well…”

“If it’s alright, let’s sit down and talk slowly.”

Damn. He’s ignoring my refusal entirely.

While I was usually happy to accept the goodwill of the wealthy, the fact that Kwon Taehyeok had come here personally made me feel uneasy. He must have had a reason to come all the way in person, and if I ended up owing him a favor like this, it’d make it hard to turn down whatever he came for. Though, it seemed it was already too late.

‘I should’ve told him he was busy and sent him away.’

The blame was on me for being too flustered to refuse when I unexpectedly ran into Kwon Taehyeok. With a silent sigh, I sat opposite him on the sofa. I absently patted Cha Sahyeon’s back, who was clinging tightly to my side, and spoke in a flat tone, “So, what brings you here so suddenly?”

“I apologize for showing up without prior notice.” Before starting the conversation, Kwon Taehyeok offered me a polite apology, then hesitated for a moment before adding, “To be honest, I tried calling you a few times before I arrived, but I couldn’t get through.”

“Oh.”

Only then did I remember my phone, which I’d completely forgotten about since hanging up on Hyeon Dowun earlier. It had vibrated a few times afterward, but I’d assumed it was just an annoyed Hyeon Dowun calling back. Could it really have been Kwon Taehyeok instead?

“I also called you a couple of times last night. Did you notice?”

“Ah, yes. I saw the missed calls.”

I had checked the missed call log earlier, right before watching the recorded broadcast of the match. They were all calls made after 11 p.m. last night. They must have come while I was unconscious as Cover at the stadium, so it was impossible to answer. In fact, it was a relief I didn’t have my phone on me at the time.

“I was planning to call you back after seeing them, but, well, as you can see, I had a guest over. I didn’t get the chance.”

“Those calls were…” Kwon Taehyeok hesitated for a moment before continuing, “I reached out to ask you for help.”

“Help?”

“Yes. There was a seriously injured Hunter, and we urgently needed a Support for treatment.”

…Huh?

I scratched my cheek at the unexpected explanation. A severely injured Hunter, could it be…?

“I needed to entrust the matter to someone reliable, and at the time, you were the only one who came to mind.”

Damn. No matter how you slice it, that’s me.

‘Should I be flattered or just dumbfounded?’

Interpreting my awkward smile, Kwon Taehyeok gave a slight bow. “If it caused you any trouble, I apologize.”

“Ah, no. If that’s why you were calling, then I’m the one who’s sorry for missing it. Was everything resolved in the end?”

“Yes. Thankfully, it was taken care of without much issue.”

I looked at Kwon Taehyeok with a newfound sense of surprise at his straightforward reply. I thought he disliked Cover. But for him to go out of his way and even contact me for help? Considering his upright nature, maybe it wasn’t so strange.

‘It’s also surprising he didn’t try to unmask me.’

With Ryu Seonghyeon and the Circle guild members, it made sense because they’re generally kind people, but Kwon Taehyeok’s reaction was certainly unexpected. He’d always seemed curious about my true identity.

Hmm, has his perception of Cover changed over time? I smirked internally and, trying to keep a neutral expression, asked him nonchalantly, “Then what brings you here today?” My voice softened slightly, feeling genuinely touched by his concern.

But despite my warmer tone, Kwon Taehyeok, with his typical stoic expression, pulled out a tablet PC without missing a beat. Wait, this atmosphere… it feels strangely familiar.

“Are you aware there’s an event happening at Gyeongbokgung Palace next Wednesday?”

“An event?”

“A well-known brand is hosting a fashion show. It’s expected to draw a significant crowd.”

The tablet PC Kwon Taehyeok handed me displayed a photo of Gyeongbokgung Palace along with a neatly organized schedule of the event. I blinked, feeling a bit bewildered as I skimmed through it.

“I vaguely remember hearing about this on the news. But is it really that big? I thought it was an invitation-only event.”

“Yes, but when you include the invited celebrities and models, fashion industry figures, hired staff, security personnel, and event organizers, it adds up to over 300 people.”

“That’s quite a lot.”

“Not just the palace, but the nearby hotels will also be used, so the area of movement is wider than expected.”

“Hmm… I see.”

“Yes.”

“…”

“…”

A subtle silence settled between us. Glancing at the information on the tablet for the sake of politeness, I couldn’t hold back any longer and asked directly,

“Guildmaster of Yesung.”

“Go ahead.”

“What’s the point of telling me about this event?”

Surely he’s not inviting me to go sightseeing with him at this event. Just as I was thinking that, Kwon Taehyeok made an unexpected proposal.

“If you have no plans, why don’t you join me?”

“…Where?”

“To the event I just mentioned, of course.”

“Why would we go there together?” I asked with a skeptical laugh. Instead of answering, Kwon Taehyeok pulled something else from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. After the tablet PC, he handed me a small, stiff, white card—barely bigger than my palm. It was a business card, as I quickly realized.

‘It’s one of those cards that only has the person’s name on it, with no affiliation or title.’

Typically, this kind of business card is used by well-known figures whose names alone carry enough recognition. The name on the card was Kwak Seunggyu. It was an unremarkable name—someone I’d never heard of or met before.

‘But why is he showing me this card?’

As I idly flipped the card over, I froze. My eyes widened at the familiar logo stamped in the center of the card. A cold chill swept through me as my blood ran cold.

A black circle resembling a tilted pill, with English letters inside.

‘Nox Bio…’

How could I ever forget this logo?

My hand, gripping the business card, began to tremble. Kwon Taehyeok watched silently as the color drained from my face and then spoke up, “This is one of the business cards I obtained discreetly from someone involved with the event. Kwak Seunggyu is likely attending as well.”

“…Is that why you’re asking me to go with you?”

Lowering my gaze, I saw Cha Sahyeon pressed close against me, his face filled with worry. He’d already sensed that something was wrong with me.

“The lab where my brother and I were held captive. This business card belongs to someone connected to it, right?”

‘Nox Bio.’ This logo was something I had seen countless times while imprisoned in the lab. It wasn’t blatantly displayed, but the logo was subtly printed on the clothes of the overseers and the researchers managing us.

‘Even the white lab coat worn by the director who eventually fled had this logo on it.’

If someone’s using a business card with this logo, it’s highly likely they’re linked to that lab. Even if it’s a trap, interrogating this Kwak Seunggyu guy might yield something useful. I never expected Kwon Taehyeok to bring me information related to the lab. For someone like me who’s been hunting down those bastards, this was an incredible opportunity.

‘But…’

There were too many issues preventing me from eagerly accepting it.

Why did Kwon Taehyeok bring this to me in the first place? It’s true I was one of the victims barely rescued during the raid, so there’s a connection, but that alone doesn’t seem like enough of a reason for him to reveal his hand like this. Moreover, my current situation wasn’t ideal. I had several loose ends to tie up before the competitive match, and Kwon Seoyul had made an appearance as well.

And if this is all true, I need to consider whether it’s better to attend in my original form or as Cover.

The fact that the lab’s people had revealed themselves like this was good news, but it also meant I needed to be even more cautious. This kind of chance might never come again.

“You don’t have to decide right now,” Kwon Taehyeok said calmly, seeing me hesitate and bite my lip. “I came without notifying you in advance, and I understand this is a difficult issue for you, given that you’re a victim of what they did.”

“…Yes, it’s a bit overwhelming. And I don’t quite understand why you’re telling me all this.”

“I want you to cooperate with me, Hunter Cha Seohu.” He held my gaze, steady and sincere. “There will be over 300 people attending the event, most of them well-known figures.”

“…”

“If Kwak Seunggyu plans to do something at such a high-profile event…”

It would be utter chaos. The thought alone made me wince unconsciously.

“I need your help. With you there, we can save at least one more life if something goes wrong.”

He was clearly counting on my area-wide healing skill. Whether I wanted to reveal that ability was irrelevant to him. When you weigh the lives of hundreds against the secret of one person, it’s obvious which side tips the scale.

“I’ll send you a detailed summary. Take your time to think it over and let me know if you decide to attend.”

“What if I refuse?”

“That would be unfortunate, but I understand. Still, remember that you’re the only one who can prevent a potential catastrophe, Hunter Cha Seohu.”

“Haha, that’s a lot of pressure. Are you trying to blackmail me?”

“I’m just stating the facts.”

Despite the heavy implication in his words, his black eyes were unwavering and straightforward.

‘This is a real headache.’

In truth, I wanted to accept Kwon Taehyeok’s request. He’d helped me numerous times, and the information he brought today was extremely valuable.

But there were too many things I needed to consider before agreeing outright.

‘And the biggest issue is…’

Kwon Seoyul. There’s no way that troublemaker would behave quietly. Just thinking about his smirk and the way he clung to me gave me a headache.

***

A few days after the end of the competitive match, Ryu Seonghyeon visited the office in response to a summons, only to be met with unexpected news.

“The Yesung Guild… requested a cooperation?”

“Yes,” Song Ji-un replied with a faint smile, handing over a document to Ryu Seonghyeon.

The first page bore the Yesung Guild’s logo. As he flipped it open, he found details about a request for cooperation. The date was next Wednesday, and the location was Gyeongbokgung Palace.

“Interestingly, the Yesung Guild specifically named you in their request for cooperation.” Song Ji-un took a leisurely sip of tea and continued, “They didn’t include much detail, likely expecting it would pass through my hands. It seems someone connected to the lab will be appearing at the Gyeongbokgung event, but you’ll get more information directly from Guildmaster Kwon Taehyeok. It’s related to that illegal lab you raided with guild members last time.”

“Ah…”

Ryu Seonghyeon’s expression turned complex as he blinked, gripping the document a bit tighter.

The lab. The mention of it instantly brought to mind a man with jet-black hair and pale skin.

‘Hunter Cha Seohu…’