Guild Lockdown: The Phantom Suspects

Perceptive kids like you are exactly the type I can't stand.

No sooner had the broadcast ended than iron bars slammed down, sealing the entrance. At the same time, agents scurried about everywhere.

This feels just like my first day at boot camp.

A forcibly confined sensation. A displeasing feeling I hadn't experienced in ages. I was utterly dumbfounded by the sudden lockdown right after clocking in for work.

"I came to work, not check into prison. What the hell is this? I've been here all of five minutes!"

As I flailed in confusion, an elegantly stepping woman approached me.

"Your reactions are always so entertaining, Si-hyun."

Elissa Hayes. The elite agent dispatched to Korea as a representative of Britain's Eden Guild.

And for some reason, a woman who talks to me way too much.

She wore a white blouse and an H-line skirt.

Tsk... Not the time to think about this, but damn, Elissa's figure is killer.

Curves that popped exactly where they should and tucked in perfectly everywhere else—it was breathtaking every time. And those breasts that satisfied even a chest man like me...

Hard to believe I've actually buried my face in them.

No, snap out of it, Yoon Si-hyun! This isn't the moment for that.

Enough ogling. Time to figure out what's going on first.

I put on a slightly serious expression and looked at her.

"Elissa, what's all this about? Iron gates dropping out of nowhere, and what are those machines over there?"

—Vrrrrm.

Machines were installed not just in one corner but everywhere, humming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with complex circuits and low operational drones. I pointed at them and asked Elissa.

"I don't know much, but they look like detection gear, right?"

"Oh my... You're full of surprises every time, Si-hyun. That's the Myth Detection Machine (MDM), a special detection device developed in Britain. Figuring out it's for sensing just by looking? Impressive."

I handled reviewing reports, so I had some knowledge of the MDM.

I vaguely remember skimming the development report last month. Already complete? Britain's tech is no joke.

"So why are these things set up everywhere? And why is everyone getting interrogated like that?"

Looking around, black-suited folks were questioning guild agents, scanning them with detection devices, and jotting down reports.

"Hmm... Looks like you need some explanation. Come this way for a sec?"

Elissa took my hand in a follow-me gesture. I followed her to the seminar room right by the entrance.

"Have a seat. Others will join soon, but I'll give you the quick rundown first."

I plopped down and fired off my questions at Elissa.

"First, why the detection gear everywhere. Second, why the interrogations. And most importantly, explain this 24-hour lockdown."

"Feels like I'm getting grilled for screwing up or something. Hehe."

Unlike my flustered self, Elissa looked utterly relaxed, chatting casually like it was lunch break. Meanwhile, I was seething inside.

Did she just 'hehe'? I'm burning up here, and she's giggling? Pretty privilege much?

I had to head home tonight to... propose(?) to Luna. If I couldn't get back to her for a full 24 hours...

...real shit would hit the fan. No joke—this could be the prologue to world destruction.

Then Elissa started counting on her fingers.

"First off, the detection gear is for performance testing—and, well, detecting ghost stories. MDM can pick up even the faintest energy."

"In a guild overflowing with awakeners? Wouldn't it be beeping nonstop? They use ghost story powers, after all."

"MDM distinguishes pure ghost story energy from the powers humans emit. That's why we poured so much into developing it."

Elissa looked like a kid fishing for praise while talking about the MDM. Makes sense—she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was the lead developer.

I caught on and tossed her a light compliment.

"Whoever made it, it's impressive."

"You think so too, Si-hyun? Hehe."

Not really a compliment. If the damn MDM hadn't been developed, none of this would've happened today.

Hold up... So they installed the MDM for testing, and...?

Hearing the answer to the first question let me infer the second right away.

Detection gear for testing.

And they're scanning everyone one by one. Obvious reason.

"So they're investigating people because a ghost story might be hiding in the guild...? Or to find someone connected to it?"

I offered my guess, and Elissa looked mildly surprised.

"...Si-hyun, your ability to pry stories out of me before, and now this inference skill—you're too good for desk work. How about coming to Britain?"

"Sorry, I like Korea. Plus, I've got a little one to look after at home. Pass. Not sincere anyway, right?"

"Hehe. Half sincere, at least?"

Half my ass. It's written all over your face, you big-chested woman.

Elissa leaned forward, propping her breasts on the desk as she gazed at me.

"Then just the last answer left. The reason for the 24-hour lockdown is—Hyaah?!"

Squish.

The moment Elissa opened her mouth for the final reason, a small hand shot up from under the desk and started groping her breasts.

"Hnngh...! W-Wait...! Haht!"

Oh, live morning entertainment.

I cleared my mind for a bit and focused on the watermelons getting kneaded right in front of me.

Turning away from such a rare sight? Unforgivable as a man.

My mood lifted a tad more than when I heard about the lockdown.

"Haaang...! N-Not thereee!"

Jackpot. No clue whose hand, but I found myself cheering it on subconsciously.

Then a soft voice from under the desk.

"Elissa, disappointing that you started talking with that guy without me."

"Hnngh... S-Sis...! Stop touching my breasts for now... I-I'm sorry, so haaht...!"

"Punishment for ditching me first. Wanna grope a bit more."

"Si-hyun's watching, it's embarrassing... Hyaang...!"

I calmly widened my eyes, etching every detail into my brain.

"Haha, just pretend I'm a statue and keep doing your thing."

"Si-hyun... please close your eyes... Hnnght!"

"Fine, I'll stop. Feels like I'm doing that guy a favor anyway."

A blonde girl popped up from under the desk. Victoria Crawford, master of Eden Guild.

"Victoria kiddo, when'd you get here?"

"Slipped in quietly earlier. More importantly! Don't call me kiddo! You rude jerk!"

Victoria stomped in place to protest, but it was more cute than threatening.

I raised my right hand and lightly flicked her forehead.

—Boop.

"Don't. Call. Me. That? Your speech is kinda short, loser."

"Ughhh... Don't do it... yo."

"Good. You remember well. So why'd you do it if you know?"

—Stroke.

Without thinking, I gently petted Victoria's head.

"Hwah...?"

The blonde girl froze solid for a moment.

Ah, damn—old habit from Luna.

I yanked my hand away and apologized.

"Sorry, sorry. You hate being treated like a kid, and I petted you without thinking."

"Y-Yeah, just don't do it again... yo! Hmph!"

Victoria put both hands on her head, thinking.

R-Rude...! I'm a knight, you know. No one's petted me except Elissa...

Her first time being petted by a guy left her flustered, but she shook her head vigorously to snap out of it.

I straightened up and pressed Elissa for the rest.

"Anyway, Elissa, finish your explanation. Why the guild lockdown for 24 hours."

"Hah... Hah... Y-Yes, Si-hyun..."

"You okay? Your face is super flushed."

Elissa still seemed to feel the aftershocks of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Victoria's handiwork.

"Victoria, you caused that, so you explain instead."

"Fine... yo. It's for a thorough internal inspection, but really just one reason... yo."

Her polite speech was still awkward; she slapped 'yo' on everything.

"Victoria, slapping 'yo' on it doesn't make it polite. Just talk casually. It's confusing."

"R-Really...? I can talk normal?"

"Yeah. I permit it."

"Ahem! You're not half bad! I'll specially forgive the 'kiddo' thing."

Victoria grinned and climbed onto Elissa's lap.

"Where were we... Ah! The reason for the 24-hour lockdown? It's all because of Phantom. That guy's definitely connected to Dawn's Light Guild. More like, someone linked to Phantom is inside."

The unexpected mention of Phantom startled me, but I kept a straight face.

No way they'd go this far just for me... But something's off. How'd they link Dawn's Light to Phantom? And what's the lockdown got to do with finding him?

If it was just hunting a ghost story, the detectors would suffice. Why force all these guild members to stay put?

The '24 hours' stuck in my mind.

Includes day and night... And the lockdown's to catch Phantom. So...

"They locked it down figuring something Phantom-related would show up at night?"

"Oho... Someone besides me figured it out. You're good with a sword and brains, Si-hyun?"

Victoria was genuinely impressed. Someone else had reached the same conclusion about Phantom as her.

Of course, I knew because I was Phantom.

Me bringing it up first was to win them over and pry more info.

"Just like Si-hyun guessed, we assumed Phantom only appears at night. If someone's connected to him here, there'd be a reaction after sunset. That's why we requested the 24-hour lockdown from Dawn's Light's master."

"We're zeroing in on three people most likely tied to Phantom. Others have barely any suspicion."

"Wait, then investigate those three first before pulling this stunt. Who the hell are they?"

At my question, Victoria's blue eyes lit up like flames.

"Good question, Si-hyun. First suspect: the master's daughter, Han Ga-eun. She owes Phantom her life from the 'Forgotten Ones' incident. First person he directly saved, so maybe connected. But she's on long-term overseas dispatch, so out."

Victoria folded one of three fingers.

"Second: Dawn's Light master, Han Do-jin. Phantom saved him right before the first mengmang-grade, the Collector, killed him. Countermeasure HQ chief was there too, but Do-jin's linked via Ga-eun suspicions—like a set. Don't think he's deeply involved though."

She folded another finger, leaving just her index.

"So who's the last one you suspect?"

Victoria slowly extended her remaining hand. Her final finger pointed straight at the one guy sitting there.

"The third and final suspect... is you, Yoon Si-hyun."