Chapter 44: The Reunion
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: The Reunion
Despite the crowded cafe, Gi-chan didn't bother lowering his voice.
“See! I told you! If you’re not careful, you’re really going to get dragged into a Central Bureau interrogation room!”
One would expect people to turn their heads at such a shout, but the other patrons didn't spare him a single glance, acting as if they couldn't hear Gi-chan’s voice at all.
“That thing works well. I should get one for myself. How much was it?”
As Seo-un spoke, his eyes fixed on the artifact hanging around Gi-chan’s neck, Gi-chan’s expression crumpled.
“Hyung!”
“My ears are ringing. Actually, this might be for the best.”
“How can you possibly interpret the situation like that?!”
“Think about it. Even though the Central Bureau guys are crawling all over the place, they aren't exactly moving to catch me. They’re probably gathered here hoping to find that Resistance woman or some other lead. You know what they say—it’s darkest under the lamp.”
“You’re saying they’ll actually serve as your cover?”
“Yeah. Besides, aren't those guys idiots? It’s so obvious they’re Ability Users, yet they’re trying to go undercover like that.”
“That’s only because it’s you, Hyung. Your Internal Energy is over 300, isn't it?”
“It is.”
“And your magic is at least 4th Circle. That’s why your senses are so sharp. Most Ability Users aren't as sensitive as you. In terms of pure specs, you’re at the level of a Regular Player. The guys in disguise are just bait anyway; the real surveillance agents will be hidden elsewhere. They’re probably trying to see if anyone reacts to the bait. So please, be careful.”
“Don’t worry. I was planning on staying as quiet as a mouse anyway. I have no intention of moving out of a house with two bathrooms.”
While Seo-un was enduring Gi-chan’s nagging about the terrors and atrocities of the Central Bureau—enough to make his ears bleed—his phone buzzed.
— Seo-un! You remember our plans for today, right? —
Seo-un tilted his head at the KakaoTalk message popping up on the screen. Gi-chan was still rambling on like a nagging mother-in-law about being careful, but Seo-un raised a hand to cut him off and placed a call.
“Sorry. Let me make a quick call.”
— Seo-un! You’re coming later, right?
“Did we have plans?”
— I knew you’d be like this. Man! It’s our first reunion today.
Only then did it click. The first reunion in five years since high school graduation. He vaguely recalled his friends mentioning something about it when he was out on leave during his military service the year before last.
“Who holds a reunion during vacation season instead of the end or beginning of the year?”
— Everyone does it these days.
“I’m impressed, though. I can’t believe you remembered what we talked about back then.”
— Ah… about that. It turns out you weren't invited to our group chat. I’m just now…
“Forget it.”
— Are your feelings hurt? I only heard about it after being invited to the group chat yesterday myself.
“Why would my feelings be hurt? With so many people, it’s easy to forget someone. Are a lot of people coming?”
— Don’t even ask. There are over fifty people in the group chat, and they said everyone’s coming. Chang-jun even rented out a whole place.
“Jo Chang-jun?”
— Yeah… Are things still awkward between you and Chang-jun?
Jo Chang-jun. He was the typical spoiled brat from a wealthy family. He wasn't exactly a delinquent, but he was the type who believed he could buy friends with money. All the friends Seo-un was close with were also close with him, but for some reason, Seo-un and Chang-jun had always had a very strained relationship.
“What’s there to be awkward about? I haven't seen him once since graduation.”
— Is that so? Oh! And your ‘lady’ is coming too.
“Huh?”
— Don’t play dumb. Min-ah is coming…
“I-is that so? It’ll be good to see her after a long time.”
He tried to act nonchalant, but his heart thudded the moment he heard that name. Ju Min-ah. The name of his first love, who was as haughty as her long straight hair and fair skin, brought back faint old memories. The girl he had a crush on for all three years of high school.
On graduation day, he had finally mustered the courage to confess, but…
‘Seo-un, I don’t want to lose a good friend.’
With those words, he had laughed it off as if he’d meant to say something else, pretending it was no big deal. The memory of his pathetic past self came rushing back. She had called him a good friend, yet they hadn't been in contact once since graduation. Hearing the forgotten name again stirred new emotions.
— Hey, are you listening?
“Huh? Yeah.”
— Then I’ll head over to your place. You said you’re living alone, right? Where is it?
“It’s near Bupyeong… I’ll send you the address.”
— Got it. See you tonight.
After he hung up, Gi-chan looked at him with a peculiar gaze.
“A first love, huh… Must be nice.”
“Huh? How did you…”
Seo-un didn't bother finishing the question. There was no way an Ability User’s hearing would miss a conversation happening right in front of him.
“Eavesdropping isn't very polite.”
“Did I listen on purpose? I just heard it. Sounds like your heart is going to be fluttering for the first time in a while.”
“Fluttering? It was just puppy love from when I didn't know any better.”
“Then why is your face so strangely flushed?”
“Hey! Are you teasing me?”
Gi-chan gave a playful eye-smile before speaking in a serious tone.
“Hyung. Want me to tell you a confession method that works 100% of the time?”
“Stop it. You’re going to get it.”
He couldn't bring himself to take dating advice from a high schooler. He was already indebted to the kid for his security deposit, but this was where he drew the line.
“Fine, if you don’t want to know.”
Seeing the kid lean back against his chair as if sulking made Seo-un a little curious. A man shouldn't lack persistence. If you have something to say, you should say it.
“Ahem! I’ll at least listen.”
With an expression that said he was enjoying this far too much, Gi-chan opened his mouth.
“It’s a method I’ve used several times, and it has never failed once.”
Since it had apparently undergone multiple clinical trials, Seo-un began to feel a sense of trust. He focused on Gi-chan’s lips, unconsciously swallowing hard.
“First, don’t give the other person time to think. You have to strike unexpectedly! That’s the key.”
Thinking about it, that seemed to make sense. When he graduated, he had called her out separately, so she must have seen it coming. He felt that was why it ended before he could even make his final confession.
“And then?”
Gi-chan looked directly into Seo-un’s focused eyes and spoke with a serious gaze.
“‘I think I like you. Let’s date.’ You just throw a direct fireball like that.”
“Ooh. And then?”
“What? What do you mean ‘and then’? That’s game over right there.”
“...”
Seo-un stared at the obnoxious Gi-chan, who finished speaking and began loudly sucking on his iced tea. Only then could he look at the kid’s face objectively.
“You lucky bastard.”
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing.”
“No, you just said…”
“I said it’s nothing!”
When Seo-un even drew upon his Internal Power, Gi-chan could only blink his innocent eyes and couldn't say another word.
“I’m leaving.”
Watching Seo-un stand up coldly and walk out without even paying, Gi-chan tilted his head repeatedly, looking like he had no idea what he had done wrong.
*
Back at home, as the early evening approached, his phone rang.
— Hey! Get out here, fast. It’s hard to park here.
“I’m coming out now.”
When he stepped outside, the passenger window of a black domestic compact car rolled down.
“Get in!”
“Oh! You got a new car?”
As he buckled his seatbelt and looked around the interior, Sang-yoon replied boastfully.
“I’ve been working hard, so I figured I could afford this much.”
Sang-yoon was a case of someone who went straight into the workforce instead of going to college. His family situation wasn't great, so instead of taking out loans for tuition, he chose to gain social experience early. Seo-un had always found him quite mature. Though it was just a small-to-medium enterprise, Sang-yoon had attended computer academies since high school and earned various certifications. He seemed to be working hard, utilizing those skills.
“Doing well for yourself, I see?”
“Doing well, my foot. I’m swamped with work every day. But look at you—you’re living in a nice villa for someone living alone.”
Sang-yoon glanced at the villa Seo-un had just come out of.
“It just worked out that way. Is work still tough these days?”
“Don’t even get me started. I want to punch the teacher who told me that learning CAD would let me work comfortably sitting in front of a computer. I feel like I’m going to die from overwork.”
After traveling for a while while listening to his friend’s grievances, they arrived at a fairly large, standalone barbecue restaurant.
“Is this the place?”
“I think so. Let’s go in.”
“Oh! The Jinsang Brothers!”
Since Sang-yoon and Seo-un were best friends who always stuck together, their high school friends used to call them the "Jinsang Brothers."
“Jinsang! Long time no see!”
While the attention of the classmates who had already arrived shifted toward them, Seo-un quickly scanned the room while greeting the friends he recognized. He had coordinated the cleanest and neatest clothes he owned and had even put effort into styling his hair with wax for the first time in ages. The person he was looking for was obvious.
Has she not arrived yet?
As he sat down and exchanged pleasantries with familiar faces, two people walked into the restaurant. Jo Chang-jun and, walking right beside him, Ju Min-ah.
With her long straight hair still reaching her waist and sophisticated makeup, she wore a black dress that accentuated her figure. Every eye in the room was naturally drawn to her. Jo Chang-jun, standing next to her, wasn't even in the picture at first. It wasn't that he was particularly ugly, but his face was exceptionally large and his features were overly bold, giving him a greasy appearance that only entered Seo-un’s vision later.
While greeting friends as they walked in, Jo Chang-jun spotted Seo-un.
“You came too? Long time no see.”
His tone had a sharp edge to it, as if questioning why he had even bothered to show up, but Seo-un didn't pay it much mind. The guy had always been like that.
“Long time no see.”
He was dressed in a two-button suit that looked expensive even at a glance, complete with a pocket square and a large-faced watch from a famous brand. It was a fashion choice that screamed for attention. Just as Min-ah’s eyes met Seo-un’s to greet him, Jo Chang-jun spoke up quickly.
“What are you doing? Come on, let’s sit. Everyone’s waiting.”
As Chang-jun naturally took a seat at the head of the table and urged her on, Ju Min-ah gave an awkward smile and passed by Seo-un. An indefinable, unpleasant feeling bloomed in Seo-un’s chest. He knew. He knew that even having such a feeling was pathetic.
So, he decided not to care. He was curious about his past first love and the relationship between her and Chang-jun, but he had no intention of asking openly. They weren't in that kind of relationship, and he felt that just seeing her doing well after all this time was enough.
As he shared drinks with friends he hadn't seen in a while and ate expensive Hanwoo beef, the uncomfortable feeling seemed to vanish quickly. Then, one of the classmates sitting near the head of the table stood up abruptly and spoke.
“Everyone! Listen up. As you all know, today’s reunion is hosted by Chang-jun. And since Chang-jun is specially treating us to this first round, he’s paying for everything! So everyone, eat lots of expensive meat and let’s put a little dent in Chang-jun’s fortune!”
At his words, cheers and laughter erupted from all over. Amidst the cheering classmates, Seo-un quietly stood up and headed for the restroom. Perhaps because he was eating greasy food for the first time in a while, his stomach was definitely acting up.
While he was sitting in a stall, he heard someone enter.
“Hey, what’s the deal with Min-ah and Chang-jun? They even came together.”
“Chang-jun’s been putting in a massive effort for two months now. The company Min-ah works for is a subcontractor for Chang-jun’s family business. Apparently, they met by chance because of that… But man, wasn't Min-ah always pretty back in school?”
“So they aren't officially dating yet?”
“Not yet, but with him pouring money like that, how long can she hold out? Has any woman ever held out against Chang-jun’s money?”
“True. Still, it’ll be a bit bitter if even the haughty Min-ah falls for him.”
“Actually, he asked me to help set the mood because he’s going to do a public confession in front of everyone during the second round.”
As the two classmates finished their conversation and left, Seo-un finally emerged from the restroom. He returned to his seat and downed a shot of soju with a bitter heart when he felt someone approach. Looking sideways with a face quite flushed from the alcohol, he saw Chang-jun standing there.
“Is something wrong? Why are you drinking so much?”
“What could be wrong? I’m just seeing familiar faces after a long time and drinking happily.”
Seo-un, who had always spoken his mind clearly regardless of what Chang-jun said, was as irritating as a thorn in Chang-jun’s side.
“Is that so? I thought maybe things weren't going well for you and you were having a hard time. If you ever need help, just let me know.”
Seo-un knew very well that the guy wasn't being sincere. He was just saying that to flaunt his own presence. Back in school, such things had grated on him and led to clashes, but for some reason, the guy’s bluffing just seemed cute now. Was it because of his experience in a real battlefield where blood sprayed and flesh was torn? The guy’s petty pride and arrogance over his wealth felt utterly insignificant.
“Sure. It’s good to have a rich friend. I’ll call you when I’m struggling.”
Chang-jun’s eyebrows twitched as he looked down at Seo-un, who replied with such composure. Seo-un was smiling, but to Chang-jun, who expected him to snap back or insist he didn't need help, this relaxed response felt like a bone stuck in his throat.
“Yeah. Feel free to call. Your grades were a mess back in school because you were always playing games, right? You didn't even get into a college near Seoul. From what I’ve seen, social life is tough without a decent background or money. When it’s time for you to find a job, I’ll look into a position for you, so don’t be shy.”
As things reached this point, the friends nearby, sensing the atmosphere between the two shifting, jumped in.
“Chang-jun! Are you only looking out for Seo-un? I’m graduating next year too. Help a brother out.”
“Yeah, man. What are friends for? I’m at a provincial college too. Take care of me.”
Watching his friends try to lighten the mood with jokes, Seo-un gave a bitter smile and spoke.
“It’s reassuring to have a wealthy friend.”
Sensing the atmosphere, Sang-yoon, who was sitting across from him, also stood up and spoke.
“Chang-jun, aren't you overdoing it today? This Hanwoo is pretty expensive…”
“How much could you guys possibly eat?”
Chang-jun squeezed into the seat next to Seo-un, planting his backside and sliding an empty glass toward him. Seo-un silently filled his glass.
“Now that I think about it, I remember. Back when my parents went on an overseas trip, we secretly opened my dad’s liquor and drank it. Even back then, Seo-un was the best at pouring drinks.”
He continued to chatter as he looked down at the soju glass Seo-un had filled to the seventy-percent mark.
“Look at this. Exactly seventy percent. Not too much, not too little—just right. I guess he knows his place, so he’s good at staying within the lines.”
As he began to pick a fight overtly, the boisterous atmosphere around them cooled as if doused with ice water. With everyone’s attention drawn to them, Ju Min-ah, who had been talking with her female friends, also stopped talking and looked over.
“You seem quite drunk. Drink in moderation.”
At Seo-un’s expression, which remained relaxed even as he said that, Chang-jun’s anger flared up instantaneously. He felt that Seo-un should have reacted by now, and the fact that he was the only one getting heated made him feel ignored.
“Drunk? I’ve barely had anything. Or did I say something that bothered you?”
“Do you have some kind of problem with me?”
Seo-un, who had been holding back, wiped the smile from his face.
“It looks like you’re the one with the problem.”
As things escalated, friends from the side began to intervene and try to stop them.
“Hey, why are you getting angry on such a good day?”
“Jin Seo-un, we haven't met in ages, why are you picking a fight?”
“Chang-jun, he must not be in a good state today. Just be the bigger person.”
It was absurd to hear his friends, who had jumped in from all sides, blaming him. Am I the villain here? The thought made him even more bitter. They were all friends he had been close with, but he suddenly felt alone. Looking at the faces of the friends who were blaming him, memories of the fun times they had shared in high school flashed by.
Seo-un downed the remaining half-glass of soju and stood up.
“I guess I’m the villain. I’ll be the sensible antagonist and see myself out.”
As he finished speaking and headed for the exit, he heard Chang-jun’s voice behind him. There was no way Chang-jun would just let Seo-un walk out while pretending to be unfazed.
“Look at him acting all cool. A guy who has absolutely nothing.”
Absolutely nothing, huh…
As he stepped outside, the cold air brushed against his cheeks, seemingly cooling his intoxication and unpleasant emotions a little. Compared to Chang-jun, who was wearing luxury brands from head to toe and buying dinner for dozens of people at a Hanwoo restaurant as if it were nothing, he certainly didn't have much.
But then again, who among ordinary people would have anything compared to him? Most of the people at the gathering were students who hadn't even found jobs yet. To them, Chang-jun’s economic power—whether inherited or not—was bound to seem impressive. Seo-un might have seen it that way too, if he hadn't become an Ability User after going to Cloyd.
Now, however, Chang-jun just looked like an annoying idiot who had been born to the right parents. As he walked away with a bitter smile, Sang-yoon followed him out.
“Seo-un.”
Knowing that at least one friend had followed him out didn't feel too bad.
“Why did you come out? The atmosphere looked like it was going to keep going for a while. Don’t worry about me and go back in…”
“Looking at that greasy Arab prick was giving me indigestion. I was getting annoyed.”
Back in high school, when Sang-yoon and Chang-jun weren't around, their nickname for him was "the Arab prick." Seo-un looked at him and gave a small smirk without saying a word. There were things understood between them without needing further explanation.
“I called a designated driver. Let’s wait in the car.”
They were waiting in the backseat when, before long, the gathering seemed to end as classmates came pouring out in a swarm.
— Chang-jun’s buying expensive drinks at a nice bar! Everyone, let’s go!
Amidst the cheers as everyone hailed taxis to move on, seeing Ju Min-ah get into Chang-jun’s foreign car made Seo-un feel even more bitter.
“Still flaunting his money. Why does it look so disgusting now that I’m older?”
Seo-un didn't specifically reply to the words Sang-yoon spat out, perhaps out of consideration for him.
— Thud!
With a jarring jolt, the car shook. Looking back, Chang-jun’s car, which had been reversing, had slammed into the car the two of them were sitting in. Of all things, the thought flashed through his mind.
“Sigh.”
With a sigh, Sang-yoon got out of the car.
“Ah, was this your car?”
Seeing that mocking expression as he looked at the car, Seo-un also stepped out.
“What? I thought you left. You were in there?”
Sang-yoon slightly blocked Seo-un’s path and spoke.
“Call your insurance company.”
“Why bother with insurance for a piece of junk like this? Send me your account number. Is five million enough? Use it for repairs and go to the hospital if you want.”
As the guy turned back toward his car after finishing his sentence, Sang-yoon’s expression contorted in rage.
“Hey!”
Instead, it was Seo-un who exploded first.
“What?”
Seeing the guy turn around nonchalantly was infuriating. Had he always been this reckless?
“If you cause an accident, isn't it basic manners to ask if anyone is hurt?”
“Manners? I said I’d give you money. Is it not enough? You want ten million?”
As the argument dragged on, Ju Min-ah also got out of the passenger seat and approached Chang-jun.
“What’s going on? Oh? Seo-un, was this your car?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking? He’s a pedestrian. Where would he get a car? It’s Sang-yoon’s. Anyway, ten million is enough, right?”
“Ha, this guy is really something else.”
“What? Jin Seo-un, you’ve grown quite a bit. Who are you calling ‘this guy’?”
Chang-jun, heavily intoxicated and perhaps conscious of Ju Min-ah standing beside him, raised his hand. Seeing Seo-un standing there without flinching, staring intensely at his hand, the hand he had raised in a fit of rage felt awkward.
“Fine. It seems you have a lot of resentment toward me. Shall we settle this like men?”
There was no way the already boastful Chang-jun wouldn't be conscious of the woman he liked standing right there. As he finished speaking, he took off his watch and jacket, revealing his fairly burly physique.
Is this how a tiger feels when looking at a newborn pup? Seeing him with a confident face, looking as if he’d found a good target, Seo-un let out a hollow laugh. Just as Chang-jun was about to open his mouth while looking at Seo-un, he froze the moment his eyes met Seo-un’s.
He couldn't move. Startled by a pressure that made it impossible to even breathe, his eyes went wide. He couldn't understand it. The guy was just standing there, looking at him with an expressionless face. But what was this unfamiliar sensation?
While the fleeting moment felt like an eternity, Chang-jun realized the identity of this sensation.
Fear.
It was a feeling he hadn't felt in so long that he had forgotten it existed.
“Since you have money, I guess life feels easy and everyone else looks like a joke to you, huh?”
Seo-un’s voice sounded like a Yaksha from hell crying out for death. As Seo-un took a step forward, Chang-jun’s feet took two steps back, moving independently of his will. It was a natural movement, as if his instincts were struggling to avoid death.
“That’s not how you’re supposed to live, you prick.”
No sooner had Seo-un finished speaking than the classmates who hadn't left yet began to gather around.
“What’s going on?”
“An accident?”
“Jinsang, is that you guys?”
The classmates, having grasped the general situation, shoved their way between the two, adding to the commotion.
“It’s just a light scratch. A dent shop would charge less than a hundred thousand won for this.”
“It’s almost embarrassing to call insurance for something this minor.”
“Chang-jun’s car is the one that’s going to cost a fortune to fix. Sang-yoon, you’d actually lose more money if you called the insurance company.”
Even though they must have known he’d hit a parked car while driving drunk, the bastards kept running their mouths, shamelessly spewing nonsense. Chang-jun, who had turned so pale from Seo-un’s pressure that it looked like he might piss himself at any moment, gasped for air as the crushing weight suddenly vanished.
That was when Sang-yoon spoke up.
“Forget it. Just go. And the rest of you… get lost. Stop sucking up to him and live with some goddamn dignity. Have you no pride, you pathetic shits?”
With that, Sang-yoon led Seo-un back to the car. The remaining men stared at Sang-yoon’s retreating back with blank expressions. Unlike Seo-un, Sang-yoon had maintained close ties with them. Since they were the type to stay in touch and meet up often, his harsh words seemed to have left them in a state of shock.
*
“Shit. It’s a new car, and now my insurance premiums are going to spike.”
“I’m sorry. I should have just taken the money he offered. This is my fault.”
“Forget it. Why the hell would I take money from that greasy prick? I should’ve just reported him for a DUI.”
“…”
“I’m in a foul mood now. Let’s just go grab a drink, the two of us.”
Once the designated driver arrived, they headed to a busy district and entered a bar. They tilted their glasses, venting their frustrations about Chang-jun.
“You remember back then, right? You basically took the fall for that bastard for no reason.”
“Was it just me? Out of everyone there, he was the only one who slithered out of it.”
“I should’ve known then. He’s a total piece of trash with zero character.”
“I knew it even before that.”
“But why did Min-ah have to end up with a guy like that…”
Sang-yoon trailed off mid-sentence.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I wonder about that too. Not that it’s any of my business anymore.”
“Tsk. I guess money really is everything.”
“Seems so.”
The two looked at each other, shared a bitter laugh, and downed their shots.
*
“You’re saying you still haven’t found him?”
As the man with piercing eyes spoke, a massive, burly man bowed his head.
“It appears he moved. He hasn’t been spotted near his old place, and the house has been put on the market.”
“Can’t you just pull some strings with the higher-ups and get his new address?”
“I’ve looked into it, but it seems he canceled the phone he was using under his own name—or perhaps switched to a burner—and he hasn’t touched the check card he used occasionally. Besides, with the recent Resistance incident making headlines, I was told in no uncertain terms to keep a low profile for the time being.”
“You mean that mysterious explosion in Bupyeong? Didn’t they settle that by saying it was just kids messing around with fireworks?”
“That was the official story, but conspiracy theories are spreading online because of the footage.”
It wasn’t surprising. There were massive scorch marks on the roof of a civilian villa, and the series of thunderous booms had been loud enough to send residents screaming into the streets.
“There are always people with too much time on their hands. They should just mind their own business. If you can’t find him, put his family under surveillance.”
The massive man hesitated slightly before speaking.
“Manager Kim… the higher-ups might not like us touching civilians.”
“Who said anything about touching them? Just watch them. The guy’s human; he’s bound to come see his parents eventually.”
“Understood!”
The man leaned back into the sofa and closed his eyes. Sensing his mood, the massive man spoke up tentatively.
“Manager Kim… I mean, Brother.”
“What? What is it now?”
“I’ve mastered the first half of the manual you gave me last time. I’ve done my absolute best to support you.”
“Why take the long way around just to ask for the second half?”
The massive man was left speechless by the direct hit.
“How far do you think I’ll go?”
The massive man rolled his eyes, searching for an answer, before reflexively responding to the sudden question.
“Well, obviously to the very top of our organization…”
“Cut the flattery.”
“No, I mean it. Honestly, you, Chilsang, and Dal-jin are all due for a regular promotion soon, aren’t you? Among the Players in our organization, you three are the most outstanding. Naturally, the organization will belong to you all before long.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes, Brother!”
“I think so too. So why are those other Stockpile bastards still flocking around that washed-up loser?”
The massive man thought for a moment before answering.
“They’ve lined up behind the wrong person.”
“Then we need a capable member to show those who chose the wrong line the error of their ways, don’t we?”
As he finished speaking, he pulled a half-finished notebook from his subspace and tossed it to the massive man.
“I will do my absolute best!”
“Good. Do your best to keep those Stockpile bastards in line. The Big Boss is on his deathbed as it is; we need to be prepared. It makes me uneasy how all the new recruits are flocking to that bastard Cheol-o like newborn chicks.”
“Do not worry!”
The massive man bowed deeply, clutching the notebook containing the secret techniques.
The Saegil Faction had once been a small organization operating under the guise of a minor construction company. Its transformation into the massive conglomerate it was today—encompassing construction, private finance, and even distribution—was largely due to the strength of its enforcer, Kang Cheol-o.
As the first person to become an Ability User as a Cloyd Player, he had rapidly trained "Stockpiles" to bolster the organization’s power.
"Stockpile"—a term used for Ability Users who weren't original Players but had gained powers by mimicking them.
It was purely through his capability that the organization established ties with the Department of Homeland Security, cooperating with them to expand their business. Many others had followed in the footsteps of him and the Saegil Faction to grow their own organizations.
That was how the current NEW WAY COMPANY, at the forefront of the Pro-China Alliance, was born.
Kim Jong-cheon, the man currently eyeing the top spot while keeping a wary eye on Kang Cheol-o, was also someone who had been "hunted" by Kang Cheol-o two years ago and forced into the company—or rather, the organization.
Though he had now risen to a position where he could challenge for the chairmanship, only a year ago, he had been walking on eggshells around the man.
Kim Jong-cheon reached for his shoulder at the mere thought of Kang Cheol-o. His brow furrowed as he felt the stiff, pulling sensation of the burn scar he’d received the day he was first hunted.
