Agents Revealed
Belita, who had entered the break room with Kang-jun for a moment, asked the moment the door closed behind her, “What on earth is this?”
He handed her one of the two paper cups of mixed coffee he had poured.
“Secret mission.”
“Secret mission?”
It sounded like a line from a spy film.
Kang-jun took a sip of his coffee and continued.
“I was asked for a recommendation, so… I thought of you.”
…Whoa?
Belita was momentarily stunned by the unexpected confession. It was one of the things Kang-jun had said that hit her deepest. …No, except for the part about sleeping with me.
She struggled hard to hold back the smile bubbling up inside her.
That’s right, she had felt it instinctively. …There aren’t many women as pretty, kind, cute, and sexy as me, heehee~. If it’s a burlesque show, I’ll do one. If it’s a blowjob, I’ll give one. Perfect, right?
“That’s… it has a nice ring to it.”
“It’s a little over the top, but you came out beautifully.”
Kang-jun had even given her some lip service. He figured he’d need at least one carrot after he was ready to use her later.
Belita struck a pose as if to say, “How about me?” She was thinking she’d have to try seducing him for tonight’s work. Even if it was bothersome, it was good she had dressed up properly.
Unlike her wish for more evaluation, he went straight to the main point. His tone changed completely.
“There might be some hassle involved.”
“It’s fine. It’s something I’ve always wanted to try, anyway. It’ll be good experience.”
When she got promoted later, she wanted to add even one more line to her resume, so this experience wasn’t a bad thing.
Kang-jun gave her a rough overview of the work in the secret division. It was the Hunter Team division, and Belita already looked like she understood most of it.
“Even in our team, we’ve heard rumors about that kind of thing. Lately, there’ve been way too many missing person cases.”
“Sounds like a tail was being followed from this side.”
“Good. Those bastards need to be looked into… Humans are really the worst.”
Belita already knew about the monstrous crimes the Hunter Teams committed. They were people who deserved to die.
“So, what exactly are we supposed to do?”
She asked with more gravity than her question deserved.
“I don’t know. Just follow orders.”
The answer was flat compared to her serious question. Since she was only temporarily affiliated here as an executor, she only had to follow orders from that side. There was no need to dig into unnecessary details.
Even though Belita thought she’d be doing something grand as a secret agent, she was still excited.
No, that was fine too. Secret agents, a handsome guy and a beauty… the kind of thing where kissing and sex keep happening~! …But I’m getting nervous.
A full adult film had been shot in Belita’s head. She unconsciously ran her tongue over her lips, feeling a sticky taste from the lipstick she’d licked.
“Let’s go.”
She quickly finished the rest of her coffee and followed him. The moment they entered the office, heads turned, then dropped again.
They couldn’t immediately be assigned work, so they walked around and watched the agents do their jobs. Belita went with Roy, and Kang-jun went with Wang Sian.
Peter happened to turn his head sideways and saw Kang-jun’s hand resting on Wang Sian’s shoulder. Huh? He suddenly felt uneasy. That hand looked like trouble.
When he sensed Peter’s gaze, Kang-jun glanced at him sideways. Peter kept switching between Kang-jun’s face and his hand. Kang-jun smiled meaningfully and squeezed his shoulder a little tighter.
What the hell is this guy doing?
His discomfort turned into disgust. Why was his sister staying still? She was busy explaining something or other. He guessed she was probably just trying not to piss Kang-jun off from the very beginning.
Peter figured he was dealing with a troublesome person. Since his rank was lower, he had no choice but to submit to Kang-jun.
He turned his head back to the front. It wasn’t right to intervene when his sister wasn’t doing anything. He’d have to find a subtle way to say it later. It felt too uncomfortable.
“Alright, let’s go get lunch.”
Wang Kang clapped his hands and stood up. Everyone stopped what they were doing, stood, and stretched their stiff bodies. Uuu~ Just when they’d gotten used to sitting still, all their muscles were screaming.
Belita put her sunglasses back on and stood next to Kang-jun. Wang Sian did the same. Both of them were smiling, but it wasn’t a real smile.
“Mr. Kang-jun, let’s go together. I’ll show you something more.”
“Mother, during break time, talking about work isn’t like you, heehee.”
“Just… killing two birds with one stone, you know. It’s not only about work.”
“Kang-jun-ah, let’s go.”
Belita clinging to Kang-jun made Wang Sian’s smile fade a little. Of course, he didn’t care about either woman.
“He says he has something to say. You two go ahead.”
“…Eh?”
Both women’s eyes turned to Kang-jun’s hand. Peter was waiting there, not leaving. Since they were men, they stepped back appropriately.
The office emptied, and the remaining two walked side by side down the empty hallway.
“D-class Peter Jackson.”
“Hm.”
He paused for a moment before speaking.
“At first I didn’t want to say this, but the way you acted earlier looked… bad. Even unnie would’ve been annoyed.”
“Oh, really? Alright.”
Peter let out a sigh of relief. She had accepted his advice more easily than he expected. Even as a D-class, someone would normally scold him for interfering.
He didn’t seem to be a bad person.
Sometimes people didn’t realize when their actions were a nuisance. Peter had thought it was possible for him. Everyone’s personality and character were different.
“Do you like Wang Sian?”
Kang-jun’s question was too direct. Peter staggered as if hit by an unexpected blow.
“Eh? …Yeah?”
“You like Wang Sian?”
Ding. The elevator arrived. Peter wished someone else were here, but it was empty. Answering would be difficult.
“…Yeah.”
“Really? …You met her at the office?”
“No. I got to know her while studying under Master Wang Kang.”
“Oh, really?”
The conversation cut off awkwardly there. The short exchange had made the discomfort from earlier fade. No sense of superiority or arrogance lingered. As long as he didn’t touch his sister, he could probably get along fine.
It was a bit concerning, though.
Kang-jun was just too handsome. He couldn’t help worrying. With that kind of looks, even dormant feelings could rise. Had he been staying still for that reason earlier? He hadn’t thought so. …But he trusted her. Someone who would fall for nothing but looks didn’t exist. After watching her for four years without any change, that was the truth.
The two who had been lagging behind joined the agents again at the cafeteria.
In the 45th branch, Kang-jun was already a star. Every time he moved, eyes followed. Peter could feel it indirectly: this is what it means to be truly handsome. The world he lived in was different.
After finishing his meal, Peter stepped outside and approached his master, Wang Gang, who was drinking a coffee.
“Master.”
“Hm, yeah.”
“I have one question.”
“What is it?”
Hmph~. Wang Kang took a sip of his coffee and looked at his disciple.
“This Kang-jun guy… how strong is he?”
Wang Kang was silent for a moment. Then his smile grew gradually deeper. It seemed his disciple had felt something too.
Even though Kang-jun’s appearance had reinvigorated the concept of genius, before that Peter’s talent had been the best among the disciples. He had vaguely thought he might one day take his place.
“What did you feel?”
“I… I can’t express it, but it was… strange. A feeling.”
“Like mana?”
“Mana alone isn’t quite right… Honestly, I don’t really know what it is.”
It was a sharp sound. Peter had always been unusually good at that. Beast-like intuition~. He could instinctively tell a strong person from a weak one. Even Wang Kang couldn’t fully understand that feeling.
“Want to fight sometime?”
“…Honestly, yes.”
“Good. I’ll arrange a match later.”
Peter’s eyes sparkled with something strange. He was a born fighter, and that had been his endless source of growth.
Peter was twenty, Kang-jun was twenty-two. Those two years were a lot, but the skill gap wasn’t something Peter could catch up with in two more years.
Plus, it wasn’t just age; Kang-jun had already shown martial prowess that made age meaningless…
In truth, Wang Kang had been waiting for this event all along. Of course he had already bet on Kang-jun’s victory. From the beginning, their skill levels were completely different. Kang-jun was already playing in the upper echelons. He swam in the same pool as Jang Hwa-young and Wang Kang.
A spark for the disciple?
It was a little disappointing, but from the moment Kang-jun faced him with a sword, Wang Kang’s expectations had shifted entirely to him. …Well, what could he do? Beyond narrow views of sword and spear, in the realm of martial arts, Kang-jun might be the one to prove the world he dreamed of.
In this world of mages and psychics, it would be delightfully impossible to imagine a fighter becoming the number one on a similar path.
It was truly coincidental that Kang-jun finished his meal and stepped outside with a coffee in hand at the same time. Wang Sian and Belita followed him like accessories.
“Oh, senior. You’re here.”
“Perfect timing.”
“Could it be a request…?”
Kang-jun glanced at Peter once, then asked politely.
“Not yet, but this is my disciple, Peter. He’s an extremely promising boy.”
“No, you’re overpraising him.”
Peter waved his hands modestly. Kang-jun grinned and nodded.
“Oh, is that so?”
“How about it? With a spear.”
Wang Kang smiled meaningfully.
…This old man is really…
He was clearly trying to lure him in little by little. Earlier, Jang Hwa-young had given him that warning not to use a spear but a sword. Wang Kang had already seen through his tricks.
“If Senior Jang Hwa-young finds out…”
“Of course, it’ll stay a secret.”
Of course, Kang-jun hadn’t intended to give in completely. He was subtly showing that he wanted a reward.
“Then…”
“Oh, right. Let’s do this, then.”
Wang Gang smiled wryly.
“Whatever happens, I’ll stand by you. How about it?”
He was going to ask for a fight. Of course, Peter, who didn’t know the details, jumped up in excitement. It was basically asking him to stick his name tag on Kang-jun’s chest in a duel. This was way too much.
“Master! That’s too much, isn’t it?”
“You should at least have that much fighting spirit, right?”
Kang-jun laughed thickly.
“Then if I lose, I’ll only use a spear from now on.”
“Really, your jokes are on another level.”
“At least say it like that or it doesn’t feel sincere.”
The two laughed and chatted as if the match had already been decided.
Peter was genuinely hurt by his pride. Even if the opponent was stronger, he had no intention of losing easily. Still, among the disciples who hadn’t gone independent yet, he was the strongest. Even including independents, he ranked in the top three.
Yes, that was his confidence.
Peter glanced sideways at Wang Sian. I’ll confess to her for sure if I win this time, he vowed.
“See you after work, then.”
“Understood.”
Kang-jun smiled at Peter in a way that held no meaning. Peter clenched his fist tightly.
There had never been anyone he didn’t want to lose to as much as he did right now.
[CHAPTER 26. AGENTS]