Morning Doubts and Revelations
Yeon Un-jae was reading a book, inhaling the scent of incense.
A voice came from outside.
"Patriarch, it's Myeong-deok."
"Come in."
The man who entered the study was none other than Cheonchal Pavilion Leader Yeon Myeong-deok.
"An urgent report came in from the shadow following the young master. According to it, Skyla just met with the young master and had a conversation."
"Skyla? That reporter from Daily Raider?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. What was it about?"
Yeon Un-jae's cheek twitched slightly.
"We couldn't ascertain the details."
"I see. You're dismissed."
"Yes, Patriarch."
Once Yeon Myeong-deok had left, the patriarch closed his book.
There was no point trying to read with a confused mind, wondering why Skyla had approached the young master or what that hothead had said to her.
Yeon Un-jae crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
The candle flame burning steadily in the center of the underground training room didn't flicker.
Jerry definitely said the fire was alive, not a natural phenomenon. What the hell does that mean? Will staring at the flame like this reveal its meaning?
Yoo Min-jeong recalled the advice from Jerry the Fire, the world-renowned fire dealer.
No matter how hard she glared at the candle flame glowing red on its pitch-black wick, nothing changed. If anything, her eyes just hurt.
Impatience was the enemy in any training. Steady, daily practice built results that revealed themselves one day.
Suppressing her regret, Yoo Min-jeong stood and headed upstairs.
The alarm kept blaring.
Yoo Min-jeong tried her best to ignore the phone on the dining table. Peeking would only hurt her feelings more. She knew it would die down eventually, but that didn't make her mood any better.
The backlash pouring her way wasn't just from raiders, anyway. There was also public anger toward the team leader who had failed to protect Kim Jun properly.
Thinking of Kim Jun as her team leader made her chest tighten.
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek, by comparison, were predictable teammates—she always knew what to expect from them.
Truth be told, she didn't particularly want to suppress him.
No, she should suppress it, but she wasn't sure if that was the right thing to do. In critical moments, his choices had always been correct so far.
He'd even saved the entire team from Nuclataurus's nuclear explosion.
Without Kim Jun's unique unpredictability, not just him but the whole team would have been wiped out on Devils Day.
The bell rang, but she didn't even glance at her phone.
"Hated from both sides, huh."
The problem was, a team had to move as a unit.
Unpredictable actions were extremely dangerous. She couldn't let the whole team get dragged into peril because of it.
I need to accept his bouncy, rubber-ball nature and use it positively as team leader. If I can't—if my abilities fall short—then I'll have no choice but to kick Kim Jun off the team.
At that moment, Yoo Min-jeong imagined one possibility and let out an involuntary gasp.
"Ah!"
What if Kim Jun were the team leader?
That worry would vanish clean away.
His impulsiveness was a problem as a team member, but as leader, everyone could just trust and follow.
A team leader with intuition and courage that transcended logic, one who'd already proven it multiple times—team members could follow without question.
And she'd be free to focus on dealing damage. Best of both worlds.
Yoo Min-jeong shook her head.
"What am I even thinking?"
Kim Jun was already under enough pressure. This would be like a silent death threat.
She knew that, yet she couldn't deny how perfectly he fit the role of team leader.
Kim Jun was no ordinary carrier anymore.
Thanks to the contamination, he was stronger than most raiders. And wasn't he the true master of Cheonroegeom? The sword wouldn't choose a mere carrier.
Then her phone blared a different alarm—not the text notification, but a sharp, piercing tone.
Yoo Min-jeong rushed to grab it and opened the app. Motion had been detected in one corner of the garden.
Near the south wall.
She checked the CCTV footage from the cameras around there.
Nothing there. Why'd the alarm go off? A bird maybe?
The quiet room.
Moments later, the doorbell rang loudly.
"Who's pranking me?"
Yoo Min-jeong checked the intercom, and a smile tugged at her lips.
"What brings you here so early?"
—This big bro was worried about you.
Choi Muhyun said.
Yoo Min-jeong laughed and hit the button to open the garage door, then ran out.
"You okay?"
Yeom Sang-taek asked.
She read the meaning in his expression and voice.
"Of course I'm fine. The ones sending threats are just cowards. What about Kim Jun?"
"Stuck in traffic? I figured he'd be first."
Choi Muhyun said.
"You eat breakfast?"
"Nope."
Yeom Sang-taek and Choi Muhyun answered together. Yeom's was true; Choi had plans for seconds.
"How about dumpling soup?"
Yoo Min-jeong asked as they walked from the garage to the living room.
"Sounds perfect."
Choi Muhyun nodded three times.
"I love dumpling soup."
Yeom Sang-taek, who reached the living room first, suddenly stopped and stared at the garden.
"Something's there."
He said quietly.
His abilities had improved lately; he often picked up on scouting senses even in the real world.
Choi Muhyun dashed in front of Yoo Min-jeong, scanning the living room.
Maybe the threatener was hiding somewhere. Yoo Min-jeong, who had no intention of being protected, strode into the room.
She froze in shock. Cats were playing on Kim Jun's lap.
"Hey! Kim Jun!"
Choi Muhyun ran out to the garden.
"You're here?"
"What happened?"
Yoo Min-jeong asked.
"Hopped the wall. There were gaps. Yoo Min-jeong, that area's a blind spot—the sensor range and CCTV angle don't line up. Call the equipment company and let them know. Looks like it needs adjusting."
That's when Yoo Min-jeong realized Kim Jun had triggered the earlier alarm.
This guy's just so unpredictable.
Shaking her head, she headed to the living room and glanced at Choi Muhyun.
"Skyla?"
"Didn't call her."
"Why?"
"Eh, just."
Choi Muhyun shrugged.
"Skyla's our teammate too."
"Yeah. But how much we can trust her... I don't know."
She couldn't blame Choi Muhyun outright. Even if unintentional, Skyla had played some role in that problematic article.
Yoo Min-jeong pulled out her phone and headed to the kitchen.
Skyla arrived at the traditional teahouse, dismounted her motorcycle, and peeked inside.
As expected, the Yeon Family patriarch was already there.
It wasn't even 9 a.m., yet the teahouse was open. Maybe Yeon Un-jae's influence had made it so.
Skyla let out a long breath.
As far as she knew, the Yeon patriarch had never personally contacted a mere reporter. That miracle had happened today.
She strode in confidently.
"You're already here."
"For a young person, you've come quite early yourself."
A kindly grandfather's smile.
Skyla knew plenty of reporters who'd fallen for that gentle face. One or two out of ten saw through the deception and switched sides immediately, but most were lured by money and perks into writing favorable pieces.
After waiting briefly for the tea, Skyla spoke first.
"What did you call me here for?"
"Cheonroegeom."
Skyla startled inwardly but didn't blink. Instead, she smiled brightly and took her seat.
"You hear things fast."
"I hear the Dungeon Association's security investigators are on the move."
"So I heard."
Her tone was nonchalant.
They called her a parrot, but she's a fox.
This time, Yeon Un-jae's eye twitched. That alone would intimidate most reporters, but the woman before him was no ordinary one.
"The reason I called you here, Seo reporter, is to prevent needless misunderstandings. As you know, without grounds for suspicion, there's no issue at all. The Yeon Family intends to fully cooperate in resolving the theft."
"Ah, yes. But that doesn't really concern me."
Skyla sipped the tea the server brought. Morning tea—surprisingly refreshing.
"Shouldn't you tell that to the security investigators?"
"Of course. To reiterate, the only reason I wanted to meet you is regarding the misunderstanding—nothing else."
"Ah, yes. Misunderstanding. What kind?"
"Heh heh, you're really pressing this old man."
Yeon Un-jae's voice shifted slightly. A hint of threat. But to the listener, it was more than a hint.
"Ah, is it because I met the young master?"
Yeon Un-jae didn't respond.
"I checked just in case. He said no. Okay. If not, then not."
Yeon Un-jae just gazed at her kindly, saying nothing. Skyla felt proud of her familiarity with such pressure and smoothly turned the question back.
"But weren't you disappointed? A Yeon Family treasure in someone else's hands."
Yeon Un-jae nodded as if he understood.
"How could I not be? It infuriates me just thinking about it. But what can be done? Fate led it to that young man... People must live by the natural order, without greed. The Association aside, we've decided as people of honor to accept it. If the chance arises, we'd recover it properly—but that too would be his will."
Yeon Un-jae was unflappable.
The conversation was effectively over. Skyla wouldn't write the article. Or if she did, not under her own name. That was enough for now.
Skyla agreed it was sufficient.
She couldn't pierce Yeon Un-jae with her current abilities anyway.
"I think that's enough talk. You haven't eaten yet, right? I know a good place—let's go together."
Skyla wanted to refuse, but lacked a good excuse.
Someone like Yeon Un-jae could read her over a meal. She should avoid it if possible, but refusing a meal with a titan as a reporter? That screamed she was hiding something.
Damn. No excuse. Do I have to watch my words even over food?
Then her phone rang.
Skyla answered happily.
"Ah, Team Leader!"
—Have you eaten breakfast?
"Not yet."
—Then come to my place. I'll make you some.
"Ah, yes. I'm with someone important right now... Serious issue? Ah, Cheonroegeom? You found it?"
Skyla hung up and looked at Yeon Un-jae with an already apologetic expression.
"Something wrong with Cheonroegeom?"
"Oh, no. Just something I said—don't worry. But about the meal... might be tricky."
Skyla acted hesitant, awkwardly. She watched Yeon Un-jae closely and caught a flicker of impatience.
Got you.
"Ahem, well, aren't you working solo at Daily Raider with the editor's permission? New department?"
"Started a new gig."
"I see."
Yeon Un-jae realized he couldn't keep her longer.
"Then, meal next time."
"Sure."
Yeon Un-jae watched through the window as the fox-like woman mounted her bike. No ordinary person. He'd gotten what he came for, but her parting words lingered.
Has Cheonroegeom been found? Does that mean Yeon Mu-jin really wasn't the thief? Or...
Yeon Un-jae drained his tea in one gulp.
Was she just fishing?
In that instant, he realized Skyla was terrifyingly meticulous and cunning.
The motorcycle's engine faded into the distance.
Kim Jun approached Yoo Min-jeong, who was making broth from anchovies and kelp.
She checked the pot, then grabbed a rarely used bowl to wash it, glancing at Kim Jun.
"What? Need something?"
"No. Got something to say."
"What?"
"I know where Cheonroegeom is."
Yoo Min-jeong dropped the tray-like bowl.
Kim Jun extended his foot, lightly kicking it upward just before it hit the floor. He caught the rising bowl and handed it to wide-eyed Yoo Min-jeong.
She took it and set it in the sink, scrutinizing his face for jokes. He was grinning, but it didn't seem like a prank.
"For real?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
"My master has it."
"Your master?"
Yoo Min-jeong nearly dropped the bowl again. Raiders who practiced martial arts used the term "master."
A carrier like Kim Jun having a master?
"Yeah, my master."
"Who?"
"This guy."
Kim Jun pulled out his prepped phone and showed her.
Yoo Min-jeong saw the search screen's photo and name, and was speechless.