DB Vol 7 Part 4

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Ji Seong-hyeon kept muttering curses. In this situation, curses were all that came out. If the curses he spat out when tied up by the Alpha team sent by the Yang family were from anger, now they were from fear. On the way to being captured and brought to the East Center, he had tried getting angry, pleading, and begging. But no one even responded to Ji Seong-hyeon, and he ended up locked in this prison.

The narrow solitary cell, barely big enough to lie down in, smelled musty. Surely they won’t kill me, right? Guides will die without Guide Disease prevention medicine if there’s no Guide One, right? And the Yang family won’t let me die. They even sent the Alpha team to try to rescue me. Even if that wasn’t the case, he had a bargaining chip.

The Alpha Seeds. He had taken the few remaining Alpha Seeds from Guide One and hidden them separately. Yes, I won’t die. I’m too useful.

Even after reaching this confident conclusion, Ji Seong-hyeon spent the whole night anxiously biting his nails. And while he was nibbling on the piece of bread they had pushed through the meal slot, the door of this filthy place finally opened.

Still in handcuffs, he was dragged to the interrogation room, but Ji Seong-hyeon had no doubt he would soon be released. If the person interrogating him now was an Esper, they couldn’t resist the Alpha Seeds. However, what awaited him was not an Esper, but a Guide. And it was a face he absolutely didn’t want to see.

“Ji Won-woo, you bastard.”

As soon as Ji Seong-hyeon saw his younger brother, he spat out a curse and moved towards him as if to pounce, but another Esper in the room grabbed Ji Seong-hyeon’s shoulder and forcibly sat him down in the chair.

“Fuck, let go! Do you know who I am!”

As soon as Ji Seong-hyeon lashed out at the Esper, his head was slammed against the table.

“Ugh! Huk…”

At first, the shock was so great that he couldn’t even feel the pain properly. But soon, a splitting pain enveloped his dizzy head. In that agony, Ji Seong-hyeon could barely even groan as he gasped for breath.

And when he finally raised his eyes, he met an indifferent gaze. This time, even seeing his brother didn’t make him curse. Partly because his head wasn’t working properly yet.

“Thank you. You may leave now.”

With Won-woo’s businesslike voice, the Esper left a moment later, and the sound of the door closing was heard. Only then did Ji Seong-hyeon finally open his mouth, but all that came out was a single phrase.

“You… just what…”

He had so many questions he wanted to ask. Where have you been all this time, have you been sucking up to the North all along, why did you attack your brother and do that to Guide One, and so on.

But as he looked into the eyes facing him, his questions became blurry. It felt strange. Those eyes staring straight at him seemed like those of a stranger he was seeing for the first time. Dry, cold, and somehow eerie.

“Are you really Ji Won-woo?”

When he asked in almost a whisper, Won-woo tilted his head slightly and said back.

“You’re still the same.”

“Fuck, I…”

“There’s an Esper outside.”

Though his tone was indifferent, Ji Seong-hyeon quickly shut his mouth. Then, turning his gaze to hide his misery, he asked in a low voice.

“Did you really join the Gye family? Since when?”

“Do you want to join too?”

“Fuck, say something that makes sense.”

“Otherwise, you’ll die.”

Won-woo’s voice was so monotone it was dry even this time. That was more effective than shouting. It seemed like Won-woo could leave him behind and walk away at any moment.

“If I… join, what will you do for me?”

“You should first tell me what you can do for us.”

“Don’t tell me you’re after the Guide disease prevention medicine?”

“Tell me something that only you know, not information that can be found with a little digging.”

Information only I know… When Ji Seong-hyeon couldn’t think of anything, Won-woo stood up with a cold face.

“You’re really useless, hyung.”

“Hey, w-wait!”

As Won-woo stood looking down at him, Ji Seong-hyeon frowned and clutched his head. He didn’t want to go back to prison. He was hungry, and his whole body ached.

“I-I have information. You don’t know why Dad created the Guide Research Institute, right? It was all because of the Purifier. It was to create the Purifier. If you want to know what the Purifier is…”

“I know.”

“…What?”

Ji Seong-hyeon’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.

“How do you know that?”

“Because I met them.”

“What… are you saying? Dad couldn’t find the Purifier even after all those years of research, but you say you met them? Don’t be ridiculous. Fuck, do you even know what the Purifier is?”

“They’re Guides who can guide all Espers beyond ranks, right? They’re also beings who can create Alpha Seeds. Anyone can become one if they know the method, even if they’re D-rank? Well, strict conditions are needed.”

Surprised, Ji Seong-hyeon just gaped for a moment before finally asking.

“You really know all that?”

“Yes. Why do you think the North took me? Because I met a dead Purifier and heard from them the conditions for becoming a Purifier.”

Conditions for becoming a Purifier? The Purifier died? Even though it was something he should have doubted as a bluff if he thought about it a little, Ji Seong-hyeon didn’t have the luxury to do so right now. Instead, he urgently grabbed Won-woo, who was trying to leave again.

“Wait! What are those conditions?”

“The one who needs to give information is you, not me.”

“W-what do you want to know?”

“The method to become a Purifier. I only know the conditions.”

Won-woo’s demand still sounded like a lie because it lacked sincerity, but Ji Seong-hyeon didn’t notice. He was filled with urgency to grab this lifeline and get out of here somehow.

“Dad, Dad knows that.”

“So you don’t know after all.”

As Won-woo turned his body, Ji Seong-hyeon called out to him again.

“Wait! You can just ask Dad, right? Since you know the conditions, you can exchange them for the method Dad knows. If I tell him, Dad will listen. How about it?”

“No. If I ask Dad, Yang Cheon-hyo will know everything.”

“If you’re considering Yang Cheon-hyo an enemy because of the North…”

“No. They’re the enemy of the Purifier.”

What is he saying? Ji Seong-hyeon didn’t understand, but Won-woo offered no kind explanation. He just repeated the same thing.

“If Yang Cheon-hyo learns about the existence of the Purifier, he’ll try to kill them all. So if you want to exchange information, tell Dad to come alone without Yang Cheon-hyo knowing.”

“But Dad and Yang Cheon-hyo are inseparable…”

“The Yang family will all die within a week anyway, so what does it matter?”

“All die?”

Won-woo, still looking down at Ji Seong-hyeon, uttered a single word as if wondering why he didn’t understand.

“War.”

Ji Seong-hyeon’s eyelids trembled slightly. Is he talking about the war between the Yang and Hong families? If the Yang family all dies, it means the Hong family wins. Why is he so certain about the Hong family’s victory? Is there something I don’t know?

In his confusion, Ji Seong-hyeon saw Won-woo’s hand move. Won-woo took something out of his pocket and threw it in front of Ji Seong-hyeon.

Clack.

With a weighty impact sound, a cell phone fell in front of Ji Seong-hyeon.

“Call Dad. Tell him you’ve found the conditions for becoming a Purifier and want to meet secretly, just the two of you.”

Yoon-im lowered her gaze and bowed her head in front of Yang Cheon-hyo, whom she was seeing after a long time. She had avoided facing him since learning the truth about the brainwashing, but she couldn’t postpone the meeting any longer. Of course, she wasn’t worried about him discovering her true feelings. Controlling her emotions was something she had been doing all her life.

But she bowed her head like this because he might use short-term mind control. So she had to prostrate herself first like this. Only then would Yang Cheon-hyo feel at ease and treat her as usual. Sure enough, he seemed suspicious when asking the first question, but after exchanging a few words, he let go of his suspicion. The turning point was this statement,

“You should take good care of your body. Think about the precious son who will inherit the Yang family in the future.”

Yoon-im saw Yang Cheon-hyo’s nails click as they interlocked. She exhaled the breath she had been holding silently and bowed her head even deeper.

“Yes. I’ll be careful from now on. I would be grateful if you could take good care of my child for my sake.”

A short, satisfied laugh escaped from Yang Cheon-hyo’s mouth.

“You can’t just express gratitude with words. The Yang family is in a mess without a daughter-in-law. They’re all so stupid. Haah.”

Although Yang Cheon-hyo sighed, he didn’t show any impatience. Yoon-im found this strange. Is he confident about winning the war? Even though Gye Yoon has joined the other side now? Or has the Yang family head’s condition improved?

“You’ve heard about the upcoming attack, right? Make sure to check the attack route towards the Hong family properly.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You’ve seen more information than anyone else so far. There’s probably no one who knows the Hong and Gye families better than you, right? So look carefully for better routes and let those idiots know. You know? No one acknowledges the daughter-in-law’s abilities as much as I do.”

So be grateful. At his proud voice, Yoon-im lowered her gaze even more. Otherwise, she might have shown her anger. He probably didn’t acknowledge her abilities but used her like a slave. Instead, she forced a smile on her lips.

“My abilities? That’s too much. I just followed your instructions, Vice Head. But will this war be alright?”

She asked carefully, glancing up at Yang Cheon-hyo.

“Why? Because of Gye Yoon?”

“Yes. Since he came to support the Hong family, it will be a big blow to the Yang family.”

“True. He’s S-rank. But even an S-rank can’t withstand hundreds of Espers rushing at him without dying.”

Is he planning to concentrate all the Espers on Gye Yoon? No, that’s not it. Yoon-im recalled the attack plan she had briefly seen before coming. It seemed the Yang family was moving as one without dividing their forces.

Surely they won’t all target Gye Yoon? But why is Yang Cheon-hyo speaking so confidently? Then suddenly, she remembered a sentence written in the operation report.

‘Capture alive if possible.’

Ah… so that’s it. Yoon-im realized that the hundreds of Espers Yang Cheon-hyo mentioned weren’t just from the Yang family. Is he planning to brainwash all the Hong family Espers too? Is he capable of that? Yoon-im raised her eyes in surprise, unable to hide her thoughts. Yang Cheon-hyo looked at her curiously.

“Daughter-in-law, you’re surprisingly quick-witted.”

“Are you going to the battlefield yourself?”

“I have to. I’ll just do my part and leave right away.”

“But if Gye Yoon is there, you might not have the chance to use your ability, Vice Head.”

He’s not just anyone, but an S-rank Esper. But Yang Cheon-hyo immediately shook his head.

“Gye Yoon won’t join the first battle. Why would he get involved from the start when he can aim for the fish in troubled waters as the Hong and Yang families fight and kill each other? He’ll probably watch leisurely from behind and try to eat the pumpkin that rolls down.”

“And he won’t expect you to jump into the first battle yourself, right?”

At Yoon-im’s words, Yang Cheon-hyo grinned, showing his teeth.

“Right. You didn’t expect it either, did you?”

Well, Yang Cheon-hyo is famous for not moving much. No one would expect him to be at the forefront from the first battle. So he’s trying to catch them off guard. Yoon-im felt a bit uneasy. Perhaps Yang Cheon-hyo could really easily eliminate Gye Yoon and achieve victory.

But what she desired most was a fatal wound to the Yang family. She desperately wanted Yang Cheon-hyo, her husband, and most of the Yang family to be annihilated for deceiving her. But if things go according to Yang Cheon-hyo’s plan…

“Why? Do you think I’ll lose?”

“…No. I know well that you’re someone who doesn’t move unless you’re confident.”

Yoon-im spoke cautiously, lowering her gaze again. Yang Cheon-hyo snickered.

“Well, you might think what could I do without Father.”

“Is the Yang family head… still unable to move?”

“Watch your mouth.”

Yang Cheon-hyo snapped coldly, giving her a chilling look.

“I won’t forgive you for carelessly mentioning Father’s condition, even if it’s you.”

“I’m sorry.”

As Yoon-im bowed her head, Yang Cheon-hyo, who had been glaring for a moment, spoke in a lighter voice.

“I’m confident even without Father. The Hong family without the Hong family head is like a rotten tree. I can consume them in less than a day. Even if Gye Yoon steps in after that…”

Even if? Yoon-im glanced up at Yang Cheon-hyo. There was a sinister smile on his lips.

“It’s not a problem at all. At least I’m confident I can succeed with a method that has worked once before.”

A method that worked once? What on earth did he use, and when? But she couldn’t ask more. Yang Cheon-hyo was giving another order.

“During the war, take good care of your father. Tell him that once we win the war, I’ll rebuild a hundred Guide Ones for him. Hah, why is he so obsessed with Guide One?”

Even while clicking his tongue, Yang Cheon-hyo didn’t forget to leave instructions for Ji Geun-oh.

“Go and check on your father right now. Tell him to wait quietly for a week. No, just three days. Then I’ll give him the whole world as a gift, so tell him to get over his sulking.”

Yang Cheon-hyo’s love for Ji Geun-oh was always surprising and creepy, but this time, something else caught her attention. Sulking? Hadn’t Ji Geun-oh gained everything thanks to Yang Cheon-hyo? He used to please him, not get angry easily. As Yoon-im raised her eyes in confusion, Yang Cheon-hyo turned his gaze and muttered as if making an excuse.

“There’s been that.”

Something like that… As far as Yoon-im knew, the only thing that made Ji Geun-oh go wild was the Alpha Seed issue. Yoon-im quickly realized this time too. Yang Cheon-hyo must have used up all the remaining Alpha Seeds to increase his ability.

“You can go now.”

Yang Cheon-hyo waved his hand as if annoyed. Although she should check on her father first as he ordered, Yoon-im’s mind wasn’t on her father right now. He’s probably somewhere alone, upset, swinging his fists and drinking. She didn’t have time to worry about him.

War was imminent. The Yang, Hong, and Gye families all needed to be hit without exception. They all needed to be devastated so that no single group could easily gain the upper hand. To achieve this, the Gye family needed to be drawn in to fight against that brainwashed army.

The attack on the Hong family was tomorrow night. Yang Cheon-hyo said he would retreat immediately after using his ability. Probably because he’d need to rest again after exerting his power on so many people. It would be perfect if the Gye family jumped into the fight timed with his disappearance. Yoon-im’s footsteps quickened as she walked down the hallway.

With only four days left until the negotiation deadline, voices disappeared from inside the East Center like the calm before a storm. The East Center’s executives were summoned to the Hong family daily to discuss the battle, and Espers who rarely came to headquarters gathered at the East Center. The only relaxed place was the second floor where the North Center Espers were staying. However, the team leader leading the North Center was busier than anyone else.

“Ah, fuck.”

“Huff, huff…”

“Damn, how much longer…”

They had been training non-stop for 24 hours, from yesterday evening until now. Even Espers with good stamina were gasping for breath and collapsing.

But the trainer from hell was still holding out. Everyone looked at Han Seona with a disgusted look. Is she crazy? She must be tired too, but why is she making us work without sleeping a wink?

“Ten minutes break.”

A welcome order fell from Seona’s lips. Everyone sat down, complaining. The first to speak was Yoo Geon-young, with murderous intent dripping from his eyes.

“Isn’t this enough? Will you let us go now?”

Ignoring him, Seona addressed the Main Team 2 members,

“You won’t be going home for a while, so we’ll keep training to maintain tension until deployment.”

“Why can’t we go home? The war is four days away anyway. And that’s only if negotiations fail. You’re saying you’ll run us ragged for three days? Fuck, hah. We’d be better off resting at home during that time.”

Geon-young, who had been pushed the hardest, protested, mixing in honorifics. Seona, who had been ignoring Geon-young’s complaints until now, turned with a puzzled look.

“Do you really think the war will start in four days?”

“That’s the negotiation deadline… right?”

Geon-young looked back as if to say, ‘Are you stupid?’ Seona looked around at the other Espers, just in case. They seemed to share the same opinion.

Only then did Seona understand why they, the East Center, were just waiting like this. They believe the Yang family will keep their promise. That they would never break the negotiation or launch a surprise attack.

Seona realized anew how complacently these Espers had lived, wrapped up in authority. These idiots couldn’t even imagine that the Yang family, the Espers ruling the West, would use underhanded tactics. Even though they suspected her, who had rolled in from the bottom, called a mutant.

“What if the Yang family launches a surprise attack at dawn tomorrow?”

This timing was what Won-woo had predicted. Two days before the negotiation was when the opponent hadn’t fully prepared their battle lines and was taking their final rest, making it good for a surprise attack. They even suspected her, someone who had been called a mongrek and had risen from the bottom.

“Why would the Yang family break their promise?”

“Because the best way to win a war is to strike first.”

At Seona’s answer, Geon-young frowned and tried to argue. But someone else cut in first.

“That’s right. Striking first makes it easier to win. But the Yang family has maintained a close cooperative relationship with the Hong family for a long time as friends. Even if they’ve turned into enemies now, they’re a place that knows at least minimal courtesy. They’re not a family that would break a promise made with their entire family on the line.”

The one who answered was Seung-wook, who had just returned from being summoned to the Hong family. Seona looked at him with frustration, inwardly cursing again. Have you seen these blockheads who are not just stupid but empty-headed? Keep looking for courtesy and you’ll all die without even being able to lift a finger when the Yang family surprises you.

The North was aiming for the fisherman’s gain from the fight between the two families, but it was also a problem if one side was unilaterally defeated. Seona was about to open her mouth to help. Wake up. The one leading the Yang family now is Yang Cheon-hyo, and he has been tormenting the North with all sorts of cowardly tactics.

Well, they don’t know at all what Yang Cheon-hyo, who has been lying low, has been doing, so it’s understandable that they’re not alert yet.

But Seung-wook, looking at his exhausted colleagues, threw a disapproving glance first.

“Team Leader Han Seona. Is your venting still not enough?”

At the word ‘venting’, Seona gritted her teeth. So instead of the advice she was originally going to give, she looked around at the Espers expressionlessly and gave them what they wanted.

“Dismissed. Go home and rest, everyone. Feel free to sleep deeply without worry.”

[The Family Head has ordered us not to get involved in the first battle at all. Our goal in this war is to gain the fisherman’s benefit. He instructed us to just jump in and adjust if one side becomes too dominant after seeing how the first battle unfolds.]

Chief Jung’s words were heard not only by Gye Yoon but also by Won-woo through the communicator.

“We’ll see.”

As Gye Yoon answered briefly, Chief Jung hurriedly emphasized,

[You shouldn’t waste your energy by taking the initiative unnecessarily, Vice Head. There are rumors going around that the Yang family head could jump into the war at any time.]

“So what?”

It was an arrogant response, but Chief Jung persuaded calmly, as if used to it.

[Yes, of course, your ability would be enough to handle the Yang family head. But there’s also Yang Cheon-hyo. Don’t forget. He’s become S-rank too. Even for you, Vice Head, it’s too much to face two S-rank opponents at once. You can’t win. Please jump in only after assessing the situation as much as possible.]

But Gye Yoon just turned off the communication as if bothered. Then, surveying the small village surrounded by mountains, he asked Won-woo,

“Is this the place?”

Yes, Won-woo nodded and cautiously spoke up.

“If we just watch the war, it might be too late.”

“I know. Because we don’t know what Yang Cheon-hyo might do. That’s why you arranged this meeting, right?”

At his words, Won-woo nodded.

“Yes. We need to eliminate risk factors as much as possible. I also think the Yang family head is the most important variable in this war. The problem is that no one knows the Yang family head’s location… but someone who is one with Yang Cheon-hyo is likely to know.”

Moreover, if we catch that person, they’ll be excellent bait that Yang Cheon-hyo will readily bite. Even if that person is his own father. We’ll know before dawn if his brother’s words worked. Ji Geun-oh was supposed to come out to this place on the border between the Yang and Hong families. But they had already been waiting for several hours, so there was a high chance it would be in vain. Gye Yoon, who had brought Won-woo here, casually asked Won-woo if he wasn’t disappointed even if the enemy didn’t show up.

“Do you really think the Yang family will attack at dawn?”

“It’s not a thought, it’s a certainty. It’s just the right time to stab them in the back.”

“Is that from experience too?”

Won-woo just smiled bitterly. Surprise attacks were a daily occurrence back then. Just then, Gye Yoon pointed out one thing.

“All the teleportation portals coming from Yang family territory have been blocked.”

“Not all of them. There are unblocked places at the border, like here. If they come here and then use another teleportation portal from inside, they could cover the Hong main house in less than an hour, right? So what I’m curious about isn’t whether the Yang family will surprise attack or not. That’s a given.”

Then what are you curious about? As Gye Yoon was about to ask, an urgent voice was heard from the communicator. This time it was Sang-cheon, who was monitoring the East Center.

[The whole center is in an uproar with alarms going off!]

He informed them of various situations and then the communication cut off, but neither Gye Yoon nor Won-woo took his words seriously. It was expected, as Won-woo had said.

“So what are you curious about?”

When Gye Yoon asked about the unfinished sentence from earlier, Won-woo uttered one person’s name.

“Yang Cheon-hyo. I’m curious whether he’s involved in this surprise attack or not.”

The other person looked as if that couldn’t be the case, but Won-woo just twisted his lips and swallowed his explanation. It wasn’t incomprehensible. Considering the time Yang Cheon-hyo had spent lying low and hiding within the Yang family, it was natural to have preconceptions.

“Well, it’s fine even if he’s involved. We just need to catch the bait.”

Won-woo whispered, glaring into the distant darkness. Just then, two people appeared in the middle of the road as if teleporting. Although the light was dim, they could strangely recognize them immediately even from afar. It was his father.

*

‘Weeeeee—’

A piercing alarm sound covered the sky that would soon be dominated by the blueness of dawn. It was a sound familiar to everyone, yet one they could never get used to. This sound meant that terror was approaching. But it wasn’t monsters appearing to take people’s lives.

That’s why the North Center Espers and Seona, who were waiting on the second floor, remained motionless despite the alarms blaring throughout the East Center. In contrast, other floors were noisy with people running around and shouting, making the floor shake.

‘Deploy quickly!’

‘We must protect the Hong family!’

‘Call the headquarters director!’

Panicked cries continued one after another, as if showing what an army without proper command looks like. Seona was sitting crookedly, staring into space as if it were someone else’s business, when she turned her eyes to the sound at the doorway.

“Why are you all here?!”

The ones who rushed into the office with footsteps were Geon-young and the Espers from Main Team 2. Only about half had gathered, perhaps because the rest hadn’t even arrived at the center yet. When Seona just glanced at them without responding, Geon-young frowned, came inside, and looked around at the North Espers.

“The Yang bastards are launching a surprise attack and everything’s in chaos, so why are you just sitting around here?! Fuck, did you just come to watch while pretending to help?!”

“What about you? The war is right in front of us, but you went to sprawl out and sleep because you were tired from some training, so why are you blaming us?”

“Fuck, that’s why I’m rushing out to fight now!”

“Then go.”

Seona said coldly, twisting her lips.

“You want to fight, so it’s not like you’re stomping your feet because you can’t get my permission, right?”

Geon-young finally shut his mouth. He clenched his jaw as if his pride was hurt, but Seona cruelly exposed his true feelings.

“You rushed to the Center when you heard the Yang family attacked, but it’s horrifying because it’s chaos? There’s no one in control, and the few who gathered are at a loss like a ragtag bunch. I hear all the elites from the West Center moved for this surprise attack on the Yang side? So you don’t want to get involved. Because if you rashly take the lead to stop them, you’ll die like a dog right away.”

Seona stared at Geon-young and asked.

“Where’s Hong Seung-wook?”

“…”

“Ah, were the A-rank skilled ones called to the main house in the meantime? To protect the vice family head and the Hong family?”

Geon-young couldn’t respond this time either, as it seemed to be true.

“The Hong family is amazing. When they’re attacked, the first thing they do is call in guards to protect themselves instead of thinking about fighting. Really amazing.”

Geon-young knew he was venting his anger on Seona. But he had come to the second floor just in case, and seeing her and the North Center Espers so calm made his blood boil.

“Haven’t you been living comfortably under the Hong family all this time? As an Esper mutt without bloodline, who do you think allowed you to work as part of the East Center?”

“Thanks to me. It’s all because I did well.”

Seona answered firmly and asked sharply.

“If you’re so grateful to the Hong family, why don’t you run to the main house and protect the new family head? They’re A-rank with better abilities than you, but thanks to them you’ve lived comfortably, right?”

“…”

“Don’t want to? Then shut up and stay put.”

“Like you?”

At Geon-young’s retort, small laughs were heard. The ones laughing were the North Center Espers watching. One of them said to Seona,

“It’s just like you said, Team Leader. You said the young masters who’ve never really fought would just panic and complain.”

As they all giggled together, the faces of Geon-young and the Main Team 2 Espers turned grim. Geon-young clenched his fist as if ready to start a fight. Seona, the only one without expression, warned him.

“If you’re just going to keep picking fights, get out. Unlike you guys who couldn’t even anticipate the enemy’s surprise attack, I don’t intend to lose. I plan to step forward decisively when needed, so don’t mind me.”

“Aren’t you the one who’s all talk while doing nothing?”

“Who says I’m not doing anything? I’m waiting.”

Waiting for what? As Geon-young was about to pick another fight, he finally noticed something. Seona’s gaze had returned to empty space. She wasn’t just spacing out, but focusing on something. The communicator in her ear.

“It’s strange. The advance team left quite a while ago to block the Yang family using nearby teleportation portals. If they just block those portals, it would take the Yang family’s army more than half a day to get here, so there should be plenty of time to come up with countermeasures.”

A North Center Esper nearby nodded at Seona’s low voice.

“That’s right. That’s why the East Center sent an advance team first to block the teleportation portals. They even scraped together all the Espers left in the East Center without any plan. So they should have arrived by now and blocked the portals with some to spare. Instead, the advance team is like a suicide squad that has to face the Yang family’s army. But…”

“But what?”

As Geon-young couldn’t hold back and interrupted, Seona coldly asked back.

“Why are you asking us about East Center business? If something happened, you should have put on a communicator and assessed the situation yourself first.”

“Ha, do you think I didn’t listen to communications? I heard the report from the advance team just now too. They said the Yang family’s army hadn’t arrived.”

“You’re a real idiot.”

“Fuck, Han Seona…”

“Don’t you wonder why they reported that the Yang family hadn’t arrived when it’s past the time they should have?”

Geon-young paused at Seona’s words.

“…Are you saying our advance team was taken hostage and forced to lie?”

“Why would they need to be taken hostage? The East Center’s advance team could voluntarily side with the Yang family and lie.”

“East Center Espers don’t betray.”

“It’s different if they’re mind-controlled.”

Yoo Geon-young and the Main Team 2 Espers’ eyes widened. Recently, due to the Yang family’s head meeting, there had been talk that Yang Cheon-hyo’s real ability might be mind control. Seona inwardly clicked her tongue again. Stupid East Center guys. If they heard that rumor, they should have prepared for that ability first.

“There’s no way Yang Cheon-hyo would move this early…”

Geon-young was still mumbling in disbelief, then urgently asked Seona.

“What about Gye Yoon? Where’s Gye Yoon?!”

“Why are you looking for him?”

“Because that guy is S-rank and might be able to stop Yang Cheon-hyo…”

Geon-young belatedly noticed the fierce expressions of Seona and the North Center Espers. Seona asked quietly with murderous eyes.

“In a fight led by the Hong family, why should the Gye family step up when the Hong family’s new head is hiding? Is this Gye family territory?”

Geon-young, unable to answer, heard a call from his superiors through the communicator. News came that enemies were pouring out of a teleportation portal not far from the East Center. And news of those who had joined hands with the enemy.

[East Center Espers are leading the Yang family. Come out quickly and stop them!]

“Looks like you’ll have to kill your comrades.”

At Seona’s low voice, Geon-young flinched and turned his eyes. Seona was getting up from her seat. Not just her, but the North Center Espers also picked up their equipment as if they had been waiting. As Seona quickly left through the door, Geon-young asked.

“Are you going to fight?”

“I told you. I intend to win, so I’ll step up when needed. What if we rush out recklessly and get controlled by Yang Cheon-hyo?”

“Yang Cheon-hyo… came all the way here?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that everyone here could fall under Yang Cheon-hyo’s ability.”

Seona offered one last kindness to Geon-young as she went out.

“We’ll kill your comrades who’ve become enemies. That’s the maximum help you can receive.”

The Gye family was the first to notice the Yang family’s surprise attack before dawn. Especially Gye Min, as if she knew this attack would happen today, spent the entire night in the situation room. As expected, the Yang family launched a surprise attack with a large number of people, and the East Center stupidly just sent an advance team thinking they only needed to block the teleportation portals.

What few usable high-ranking Espers there were headed to the main house to protect the new Hong family head. It should have been a matter of watching with folded arms like spectators. After all, the Gye family’s strategy was to reap the benefits of others’ fight.

But something happened that no one expected. Chief Jung was trying to stop Gye Min, unable to hide his confusion.

“Family Head, it’s dangerous.”

Chief Jung stood in front of her, ready to risk his life, but Gye Min didn’t even look at him and just slightly moved her hand, sending Chief Jung flying into the wall.

Bang! Thud!

With a loud noise, Chief Jung hit the high wall and then fell to the floor. Even in his dazed state, he shouted towards Gye Min.

“You can’t go now! We need to verify the information more! If we move rashly like this and it’s a trap, we could be the ones in trouble!”

However, ignoring his cries, Gye Min ordered the head of security standing next to her.

“Gather everyone in front of the teleportation portal, leaving only the minimum necessary personnel.”

The head of security bowed to follow the order and disappeared quickly. Gye Min’s disappearance from Chief Jung’s sight was equally instantaneous. Chief Jung couldn’t believe this situation. It was all because of information that arrived just 10 minutes ago. The person who sent the information was a spy planted in the Yang family for a long time.

Usually sending only small bits of information to avoid detection, this time, perhaps due to the urgency of the situation, it contained important content as if it were the last espionage activity.

The news was that Yang Cheon-hyo had joined this surprise attack and his aim was to brainwash the Hong family’s Espers to make them his army. And finally, it informed,

‘Yang Cheon-hyo is planning to strike the Gye family as soon as he gets his hands on this large army.’

If this was true, it wasn’t the time to just stand by and watch. Of course, normally Gye Min would have double-checked, but now there was no time. They had to prevent the battlefield from moving north, and to do that, they had to end the fight in the east.

But there weren’t many routes to confirm the truth of the information. The problem was a certain video that made Gye Min move. It was a short 5-second video sent by the spy along with the information. But the content was intense despite the short duration.

A dead child, someone’s hand that seemed to have strangled the child’s neck. And a familiar voice heard in the background. It was the voice of the former Gye family head that Chief Jung was hearing after a very long time, but far from being welcome, it almost took his breath away with chills the moment he heard it. It was a desperate wail he had never heard before.

-Yang Cheon-hyo!! Why, how could you!!

Chief Jung was too devastated to say anything, but Gye Min ordered with a cold face.

‘Analyze whether the video has been manipulated.’

Since it was a short video, the verification didn’t take long. But in the process, another voice hidden behind the Gye family head’s wail was revealed. That was the problem.

‘Because.’

When the Gye family head wailed asking why, someone faintly answered. Despite the static and low volume, it was clearly Yang Cheon-hyo’s voice. And he continued to answer the Gye family head.

‘S-rank Espers make excellent fertilizer for the monster tree. The seeds that come from there are…’

The voice cut off there. The video was short, and that was all of Yang Cheon-hyo’s words, but Chief Jung could immediately recall something. F-fertilizer? If they’re trying to get something from the monster tree using S-rank Espers… Alpha Seeds?! It seems he wasn’t the only one to have this suspicion.

Murderous intent was rising on Gye Min’s face as she turned back. That’s why he couldn’t stop her right away. Circumstances had emerged suggesting that her first baby daughter might have been killed to be used as mere fertilizer to obtain Alpha Seeds. What parent would be in their right mind? But what if this was another trap? Then Gye Min’s order was heard.

‘Don’t tell Yoon.’

He tried to ask why, but the moment he saw Gye Min’s eyes, no words came out. The black pupils were filled with darkness as deep as an abyss. Chief Jung realized that she intended to kill Yang Cheon-hyo with her own hands. Without anyone’s interference or help, solely by her own hand.

The order not to tell Gye Yoon might have been her last bit of rationality. Perhaps as a contingency plan to leave for the North in the worst-case scenario. That’s why Chief Jung couldn’t stop her from mobilizing the Espers.

He tried to stop her belatedly, but it was useless. After Gye Min disappeared, Jae-hak approached and helped the injured Chief Jung up, but all he could do was mutter like this.

“It might be a trap, what should we do? Huh? What should I do?”