SOG Ch 22

Gyeong Chang-hyun, the man with the unique surname, was a blood relative of President Gyeong Jeon-seok. He was a guide with the President who has been in power for 30 years behind his back, and he has been going around with his subordinates like that since the days of the guide training program.

The problem was that this guy, who had been with the President as an adult since birth, was a huge spoiled brat. Seon Jae-chan suddenly became like a nanny for him, and he moved to the intelligence department after becoming fed up with the role.

Anyway, Gyeong Chang-hyun was a guy who had nothing except for the ambiguous position of the President’s relative. The ambiguous power was only effective until his early twenties.  The President, who had many relatives to look after, did not pay much attention to Gyeong Chang-hyun, one of his dozens of relatives. So the three of them, who were looking for an unexpected profit, were going to be left soon.

‘He’ll find another host other than Gyeong Chang-hyun. Like team leader Han Tae-hoon or Black Swan.’

Even now, he pushed Kyung Chang-hyun away while looking through the trio’s heated expressions. One of the trio picked up the basketball familiarly and offered it. Gyeong Chang-hyun, who was holding the ball instead of Seon Jae-chan, opened his mouth with whimpers.

“Why are you not in touch? Even the old man is looking for you.”

Seon Jae-chan raised his eyes for a moment. Because there was only one old man that Gyeong Chang-hyun mean.

Han Tae-hoon, Team Leader of Guide Team.

He had a close relationship with Gyeong Chang-hyun in the past because it was expected that he would be a stepping stone for team leader Han Tae-hoon. But Han Tae-hoon and stepping stones are no longer needed. Seon Jae-chan pretended to pick up the paper and moved indistinctly away from Gyeong Chang-hyun.

“I told you. It was hectic. I’m on field duty these days.”

He flapped the papers he had just picked up as if pointing to evidence. It was an official letter requesting a business trip that he had been thinking about while wrapping his head.

“… Are you really going to the scene?”

It was surprising that Seon Jae-chan, who had been avoiding business trips, willingly applied for the job.

In front of the surprised idiot and the trio, Jae-chan made a decision at that moment. He said that it seemed appropriate to go to Mentosa Island to avoid the guys who had invaded the office and also to avoid Han Tae-hoon. In fact, it was a decision he had foreseen from the beginning. Before hesitating any further, he picked up the office phone.

“Hello. I’m in the working office. I’d like to go out for the on-site support.”

Seon Jae-chan’s voice calmly fell in front of the idiot and the trio.

*

The next afternoon. Seon Jae-chan was standing on the deck of the ferry to Mentosa Island, his hair fluttering in the cool sea breeze.

The high and clear sky of early autumn stretched out over the horizon like another sea. However, since it was late summer, the top of his head was a little hot because he was out in the middle of the day without any shade.

The seagulls glide by on the stern of the boat as they hunt for food. It was a time when he was leaning his forearms on the safety bar warmed by the sun and staring at the receding waves of the sea, raising white foam. A person from the office who laughed while throwing snacks to the seagulls came up to him.

“Guide Seon Jae-chan. I heard you’re getting a citation?”

Department Head Yoo Jung-jin. A man in his early 30s with wide experience and great skill, who will hold an important position in the working-level department in six years. He now knows Seon Jae-chan and has come to accompany him on a business trip.

“Your parents must be very proud.”

Department Head Yoo mentioned the time he saved Team 5 guide Jung Noah a few weeks ago as he smiled broadly. He snorted inwardly because it was all because of his family’s influence. He would not have been mentioned if he hadn’t been the son of Seon Min-yeol, a famous popular Esper in the past and just a class A esper with significant influence in the center.

Don’t mention it. The ferry docked in the northern part of Mentosa island as he expressed mild humbleness. Because the annihilated pirates were regaining control of the island’s southern region, the only intact port on the island was in the north, which was small but solid.

Seon Jae-chan passed through the corridor connected to the port and gazed through the window at cargo trucks and military vehicles disembarking separately.

He wondered if any of them were carrying bombs.

It would have been impossible to move that many bombs at once while avoiding military detection. Seon Jae-chan hurriedly followed the people of the center, promising that he would only stay around the beautiful and historic castle where bombs would be buried from now on.

“Welcome to Mentosa Island. Come this way.”

Perhaps Department Head Yoo had contacted him in advance, a shiny large sedan was parked in front of the terminal sidewalk. Of course, the driver was an armed soldier.

The Department Head got in first, followed by Jae-chan, and the car started. As they drove along the yard on one side of the port, they could smell the island’s distinct salty air.

It must have been about 20 minutes since he moved along the coastline studded with jewel-like green islands. A quiet and beautiful castle appeared in the distance.

Mentosa Castle.

The castle was painted in five colors and curled up into the sky like the corners of a mouth under the black roof tiles, and the solidly stretched castle wall was reflected through the window. The wall stretched out as if to enclose the forest behind it, so it was a cultural relic that, despite its small size, would take a full day to circle properly.

However, as the group neared the gates, they encountered an unexpected setback.

“The President must compensate the islanders for their losses!”

“Make amends!”

The crowd surrounding the castle had swarmed the car as soon as it arrived. They were the protesters. The gate opened and they blocked the front of the sedan after waiting for a while.

“Go away. Get out!”

Soldiers with guns poured through the gap in the gate at that moment. Bang! People rushed back because gunfire was being fired into the sky. Jae-chan’s eyes were bewildered by their screams, angry expressions, and the shabby sign with red letters in their hands.

After cutting off the sound of the engine starting again, Department Head Yoo spat out.

“They’re asking for more now that they can afford to live. They don’t know how to be grateful that the pirates are gone now.”

“…Do you know Esper Go Woo-jin?”

Jae-chan asked, unable to take his gaze away from the islanders who flowed behind him. At his question, the chief with round eyes abruptly grabbed the driver’s seat and urged him.

“Let’s go a little faster.”

It was to hurry. The car sped past the open gate while he was looking for something. They arrived in front of the castle’s base building after driving straight across the paved road.

Along the rampart was a five-story building that has undergone several renovations. It was one of the traces left by the military, which long ago took cultural heritage hostages when confronting the rebels.

“We’re here.”

Department Head got out of the car and took the lead on the sidewalk block. Seon Jae-chan was dissatisfied because he had not heard about the protesting islanders. With Go Woo-jin’s personality, it was obvious that he would care if he got to know them.

“Department Head Yoo. Is the military simply ignoring the islanders? What’s all this lawn?”

Following the slightly impatient Department Head, Seon Jae-chan swung around the vacant lot in front of the base in the autumn sun. It was bustling all the way to the front of the wall. Dozens of workers carrying rolled grass boards or trees for landscaping were walking around under the scorching sun. A scene that was extremely different from the protests outside, yet somehow similar.

Department Head Yoo made a shade over his forehead and wondered why everyone he knew would do this.

“Never mind. Are the islanders well being important now? Esper Go Woo-jin and the others are all dying.”

Seon Jae-chan, who had turned sideways at the time, heard unexpected words in his ears.

“…What?”

“Esper Go Woojin …Huh? You didn’t know?”

Department Head Yoo met Seon Jae-chan’s eyes with a calm attitude. He thought Seon Jae-chan left today on purpose because he was late for an official letter he had sent the day before. It was only natural for the field guide to respond immediately to the official request for assistance. Because there was a limit to what an Esper, even an S-class Esper, could withstand with only mechanical guiding.

Meanwhile, Seon Jae-chan took a small breath and shook his head. Then, as if he thought it was not the right time, he suddenly grabbed Department Head Yoo’s wrist. He started running wildly.

“Huh… Uh, argh!”

Department Head Yoo’s scream echoed down the newly laid sidewalk block for a while. In no time, the two had arrived at the base entrance. The sound of their footsteps cut across the soldiers carrying guns and saluting.

Questions were popping up in Seon Jae-chan’s head.

What.

You were fine until a few days ago. Why do you suddenly need guiding!

It didn’t even seem like this had ever happened in the past. The confusion came for a moment, but the first priority was to guide Go Woo-jin.

“Guide Seon Jae-chan, this way, haa, this way…!”

Department Head Yoo, who was being dragged and running, shouted. Their rushed steps echoed through the stairs and crashed into the elevator, then they dashed out in front of a long skylight that reflected the sparkling coastline in the distance.

They eventually arrived at the 5th floor corridor. They arrived in front of a narrow passage where the sound of panting breaths could be heard.

“Ugh… There, heug, there it is.”