[163]
“Can we… can we find Abigail?”
Obl Chung cautiously asked the question.
It had only been half an hour since he was informed that his sister wasn’t answering calls.
Obl had thought he would remain imprisoned until the end, not knowing how things would progress.
‘Perhaps they wouldn’t even tell me after Abigail died.’
And he would be unable to do anything.
But unexpectedly, Obl was summoned before Yuri Sobolev.
“Northern Light is tracking her location,” Wolf—no, Chris—answered Obl’s question.
Obl blinked.
Although he had heard his real name was Chris Danil, the name Wolf still felt familiar.
Perhaps it was because he was now living under a sun-filled sky after leaving that underground place.
After all, the hologram of a fake sky projected there was so different from the real sky.
“Northern Light? Why are they getting involved?”
Yuri Sobolev answered Obl’s question.
“Because we assigned Northern Light Espers as guards after securing her promise to expose the mayor.”
Obl’s eyes widened at those words.
This was the first time he learned that Abigail had ultimately agreed to their deal.
‘I told her not to get involved in something so big.’
Obl closed his eyes tightly.
Truly, his younger sister never listened.
Come to think of it, she had been that way since childhood.
Abigail thinks she’s always been mature, but she used to be a little troublemaker who constantly tormented her brother.
What had happened for that child to grow into an adult?
In the end, it’s pain that makes people grow.
Had the years he spent imprisoned underground been so painful for Abigail?
‘Damn it. Damn it!’
A bitter pain clawed through his chest before any feeling of betrayal.
Honestly, resentment was the first thing that came to mind.
If not for Yuri’s threats holding his safety, Abigail would not have stepped forward.
But Obl felt too desperate and fearful to voice this.
‘What if my anger causes problems in rescuing Abigail?’
Obl bit his lip and bowed his head.
“…Thank you for protecting my sister.”
One of Yuri’s eyebrows rose.
He had detected the faint trace of humiliation and anger.
“It would be troublesome for us if the witness died.”
It was a mercilessly cold answer.
But rather, Obl felt relieved at those words.
They would save her because she had ‘usefulness.’
This was a calculation Obl could understand. But.
‘It’s just an excuse.’
The man buried his face in his hands while keeping his head down.
In truth, this resentment had existed within Obl for a long time.
Toward that underground gambling arena that had imprisoned him.
Toward the broker who bought underage awakened Espers.
Toward his biological parents who sold their son.
Honestly, he knew.
That they weren’t simply treating Obl as an object to be used.
They had given him a terminal that allowed communication with Abigail, even though he was merely a hostage.
‘It’s for the deal with Abigail Chung.’
Chris had answered his suspicious question in a blunt tone.
‘The more you realize the existence of someone precious, the more desperate you’ll become.’
He deflated because they so readily revealed their intentions despite his questioning.
Chris left him with a warning that he was under surveillance anyway, so it would be better not to attempt escape.
The room where Obl now stayed wasn’t very spacious but was cozy.
He could even go outside the room if under the surveillance of another Esper named Chase.
Obl came to have small conversations with his sister through the terminal.
They hadn’t discussed anything significant.
But that time was very precious.
Thanks to this, Obl could sense something wrong as soon as contact with Abigail was cut off. He was brought here immediately after informing his monitor, Chase, of this fact.
“A message from the Union Leader,” Chris announced.
Yuri glanced at him.
He realized that referring to Anong as “Union Leader” rather than by name was out of consideration for Obl.
Sure enough, a mixture of surprise and relief settled on Obl’s pale face.
Hope flickered that if they could directly contact the Northern Light Union Leader, some solution might be found.
“They say communication has also been cut off with the Esper assigned to Abigail Chung.”
Peter, who was waiting to move immediately, glanced at Chris.
‘He could have softened it a bit, instead of stating it so bluntly.’
But fortunately, good news followed right after.
“However, they say they’ve taken separate measures to track the location of agents dispatched externally.”
“Really?”
A voice that seemed to have aged about ten years in a brief moment flowed from Obl’s mouth.
“Yes. Due to occasional unauthorized departures by some Espers, the related systems are quite well-maintained.”
Peter clicked his tongue. As expected, Northern Light didn’t handle their affairs carelessly.
But there was no time to admire this now.
“Where is the location?”
Chris silently showed the coordinates.
“Babel City Hall.”
Peter scratched the back of his head as he summoned his power.
A black space gaped open, reflecting the scenery on the other side.
Chris prepared his gun in the holster, intending to jump in immediately.
At that moment, Yuri came and stood beside him.
“I’m coming with you.”
Honestly, Chris had expected Yuri to say no.
But the blue eyes looking at Yuri were calmer than expected.
“Battles with something to protect become difficult.”
“So you were planning to go on a rampage alone?”
“No. Beyond there is the heart of Babel City.”
“That’s why I’m going. Because it’s likely a trap.”
A heavy silence descended. The look in Chris’s eyes as he gazed at Yuri was complex.
“Having taken Abigail, they’ll try to make the most use of her. For example, having her recant her previous testimony.”
“…Or eliminating the troublemakers who come to stop them, anticipating this.”
Having known each other for a long time, their speculations aligned to some extent.
Obl, who had been watching their confrontation with an anxious face, spoke up.
“Let me, let me go.”
“You too?”
Peter asked with round eyes.
“It’s about rescuing my sister. I can’t just sit and wait with my hands folded.”
Obl had indirectly confessed that he distrusted Yuri and Chris.
But his desperation was also genuine.
“My ability is invisibility, so I should be able to help in case of emergency.”
It was an earnest request not to waste any more time and move immediately.
Chris slowly nodded.
“…Let’s depart right away.”
Yuri gestured to Obl.
As Obl approached, Yuri readily removed the ability control device from his wrist.
“Is it okay to release me? I could disappear with my sister at any time.”
“Even a scoundrel wouldn’t run away, leaving behind a sister who risked her life to save him. And.”
Thud.
Obl’s body collapsed to the floor.
Barely managing to kneel on one knee, he gasped at the weight descending on his shoulders.
He couldn’t breathe.
“What is… this…”
“Reverse guiding.”
Yuri added with one corner of his mouth twisted upward.
“I usually keep it closed, but when necessary, I scatter guiding energy around.”
For Espers, guiding energy was like the water of life they couldn’t refuse.
Yuri used guiding energy for more than one purpose.
Sometimes as a leash to tame his dog. Occasionally as a tool for pleasure.
And now, as a dagger piercing an ability user’s heart.
“Try running away if you can.”
Yet Yuri’s gaze was directed at Chris.
Chris was reminded anew of how omnipotent Yuri could become against fellow Espers.
It was this same ability that had held Chris when he tried to run away without any memories.
Using Obl as an example was probably due to Yuri’s bad personality.
Peter, who had been discreetly observing, cleared his throat as he moved aside by the door.
It was a hint to hurry.
“I’d like Chase to be on standby.”
Just before crossing over, Chris spoke.
“Tell him to block the retreat route, and he’ll understand.”
“Yes. I’ll relay that.”
Babel City Hall resembled a tower.
Around the middle of the building, affectionately called Babel Tower by people, there was a garden with an open center.
This was the coordinate that Northern Light had transmitted.
Without needing to walk through the front entrance and use the elevator, the three of them leaped directly into that middle point.
Obl had activated his invisibility just before crossing the doorway. Seeing Yuri’s calmness, it seemed he hadn’t done anything reckless like running away.
Chris spotted Abigail standing in the middle of the courtyard.
She was in an impeccable formal suit with tightly bound hair.
‘…She looks fine.’
If Abigail had been kidnapped and was at Babel Tower, he thought it would be the mayor’s doing.
He had assumed she would have been harmed in some way.
But outwardly, Abigail seemed fine.
As if no truth serum or torture had been used.
Obl, who Chris thought would rush out the moment he saw his sister, remained quiet.
But it wasn’t hard to guess the reason.
‘Something seems seriously wrong here.’
“You’ve come,” Abigail said, trembling.
“Quickly, we need to get out of here.”
She stretched out her hand. Chris was just beginning to raise his guard, feeling something off.
From behind, Yuri’s voice was heard.
“Stay back. That’s not Abigail Chung.”
It was before Chris could even express his doubt.
“It’s an Esper.”
As if those words were a signal, the surroundings rippled and Abigail’s form melted away.
And like something that had been bleached, a pale woman with white hair replaced her.
“Huh, huff… Such an ability.”
The white-haired woman, clutching her chest and gasping, resembled Obl who had been subjected to reverse guiding before crossing the doorway.
“But you’re finished too.”
The Esper’s lips formed an ominous curve. Chris opened his mouth.
Just as he was about to shout, Yuri!
Bang!
***
“Though it’s the first time seeing your face, I’ve always missed you.”
The man who whispered toward the face visible through the scope smiled faintly.
“Yuri Sobolev.”
My brother.
The leader pulled the trigger.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
