The reason the Research Director lured Kang Chi-yu into the lab, intent on extracting his abilities through the fastest and most reliable method, all came down to the rarity of Chi-yu’s powers. He was the only Guide in existence with both Rampage Recovery and Wave Stabilization. That uniqueness was what the Director wanted to preserve.
But the Chief Researcher had different priorities. To him, rarity was meaningless. What mattered was completing the research he’d devoted his life to—and reaping the wealth and recognition that would follow. That was why he’d sacrificed countless sleepless nights working under the Director. That was why he’d secretly copied all the research data onto a USB drive.
“What’s the method?”
The Bureau Chief asked. The researcher pulled a Ridune-based energy extractor and a Rampage Amplifier for mutant beasts from his silver case and handed them over.
“It’s simple. Summon Guide Kang Chi-yu alongside Test Subject No. 39.”
Conveniently, the media had already shown that Catdog was often with Chi-yu. That made the plan even easier. The Chief Researcher explained that once the amplifier was triggered in front of them—
“Test Subject No. 39 will go berserk. The signals inside the amplifier will drive it to instinctively extract Guide Kang Chi-yu’s powers.”
Up to this point, it was the same as the Director’s original plan. The difference was that the Director had wanted to trap both Chi-yu and Catdog inside the beast’s core body, forcing Catdog to rampage and siphon Chi-yu’s power. Then, by stabbing Catdog with an extraction syringe, they could harvest the stolen energy. Catdog would die, but Chi-yu would be safe within the beast’s Defensive Barrier.
That recovery method used Ridune to trick the body into not noticing its lost energy. It didn’t restore anything, but it left Chi-yu with just enough strength to survive and recover naturally, preventing death.
But now, without a beast’s core body, there was no reason to go to such trouble. Once Chi-yu’s powers were extracted, he would have no further value.
“When No. 39 drains Guide Kang Chi-yu’s ability, you, Chief, will inject the extractor into Catdog’s body and take the energy.”
“And Guide Kang Chi-yu?”
“He’ll die. When too much energy is pulled out at once, a Guide’s body can’t withstand it. It’s the same principle as when a Guide overextends during Guiding—do you recall the case of the Guide who died from reverse-Guiding a rampaging Esper? He was low-ranked and weak, yes, but it proved the danger is real.”
The Chief nodded.
“Both Kang Chi-yu and No. 39 will die. But the extracted energy will remain—and with it, we’ll create the world we’ve always dreamed of.”
He stared down at the syringe-shaped extractor in one hand and the red orb-like Rampage Amplifier in the other.
“If we rebuild a beast’s core body and inject the extracted energy into it, the core will lay stable eggs that no longer rampage. That will mark the success of our grand project.”
At that, Ahn Byeong-mun nodded vigorously.
***
The real problem was luring Kang Chi-yu out. If the Central Bureau’s Chief himself tried to summon him, Chi-yu would never show—no matter if the place was just a café near Hyun Tae-oh’s house. And storming in to abduct him by teleportation wasn’t an option either. If Tae-oh ever found out, he might very well snap his neck this time.
The Chief thought hard about how to draw Chi-yu and Catdog out. He eventually tasked a loyal Guide in the Bureau with finding which Guides Chi-yu was close to. The answer: only Min Yu-hyun and Lee Jun-hyung. Oddly, there was also some contact with Association Guide Sung Ji-yeol.
Min Yu-hyun and Jun-hyung were useless for his purposes. Sung Ji-yeol, however, was easily swayed. A simple promise—entry into the Bureau’s elite first division—and Sung Ji-yeol was his.
Following orders, Sung Ji-yeol devised a plan to lure Chi-yu to the meeting spot. He decided to use Jeong Seong-gon.
Seong-gon, who had once set fire to Chi-yu’s house, reached out asking to apologize sincerely. He added that he wanted to see Catdog, making the encounter sound casual and harmless.
When Sung Ji-yeol first called, Chi-yu refused. But when Sung claimed he was dissolving the Anti Club, Chi-yu hesitated. Sung said the Club was ending, that they were apologizing for all the injustices committed by its members, and that forgiveness was the only way to close it properly.
In the end, Chi-yu agreed. He reasoned there was no longer any danger—after all, the threatening research had already been destroyed. The lab was stabilized, and nothing seemed likely to endanger him anymore.
Besides, the meeting was at a café right near Tae-oh’s house. It seemed safe.
He considered telling Tae-oh, but Tae-oh had been swamped with constant executive meetings at the World Peace Committee. Chi-yu didn’t want to bother him. Still, just in case, he told Lee Jun-hyung.
Jun-hyung cursed Sung Ji-yeol out, told him not to go, but admitted that the Anti Club’s end was a good thing.
Smiling, Chi-yu went to the café with Catdog in his arms. Looking back, it was probably that sense of safety—being so close to home—that made him lower his guard.
But the moment he entered and saw the Bureau Chief sitting with Sung Ji-yeol and Jeong Seong-gon, his face froze.
Instantly, he clutched Catdog tighter, glaring with hostility. Regret hit him for telling only Jun-hyung, and he reached toward his ear mic—only to remember he’d stopped wearing it, foolishly convinced the danger was over.
Swearing inwardly, he darted his eyes around. Aside from the three men, the café was empty. The unnatural silence told him the place was already sealed with a Defensive Barrier. The door would be useless.
Chi-yu slipped a hand toward his phone in his pocket.
“Take that first.”
Sung Ji-yeol ordered Jeong Seong-gon to grab Catdog. Chi-yu instinctively tightened his hold, but Seong-gon’s Esper ability easily overpowered him.
“Let go!!”
Chi-yu shouted. Catdog writhed in Seong-gon’s grasp, desperate to return to him.
Now trapped, Chi-yu glared at the three men in turn.
The Chief pressed the Rampage Amplifier. In an instant, Catdog twisted back into its monstrous rampage form, howling in agony.
“Catdog!!”
Chi-yu called, but the creature only shrieked, deaf to his voice. The Defensive Barrier kept everything hidden from the outside. Chi-yu tried to rush to his companion, but Seong-gon restrained him. He struggled and shouted for release, eyes fixed on Catdog writhing in pain.
The Chief smirked.
“See? If you’d just let us use your powers willingly, it wouldn’t have come to this. You forced us this far.”
In his hand gleamed a syringe-like device.
A chill swept down Chi-yu’s spine. He and Catdog—both created for the purpose of extracting his powers—were cornered.
The beast’s core body that had once swallowed him had already been destroyed by Tae-oh. Even if they succeeded, they couldn’t spawn a new beast right away.
But while he thought this, Catdog, driven by the amplifier’s signals, lunged at him. Normally, even in Rampage, it never moved from its spot. But now its massive form came barreling forward.
Chi-yu instinctively raised his arms to shield his face.
Catdog began drawing at his energy. But deep beneath its instincts lay the affection and loyalty it felt for him—and it resisted.
The white light spilling from Catdog’s body flickered toward Chi-yu, then recoiled, then reached again, wavering back and forth.
Each attempt tore the creature apart. Tears dampened the fur beneath its monstrous eyes.
“Catdog!!”
At his anguished cry, Catdog’s gaze fixed squarely on him. Despite its monstrous form, the eyes were the same as always.
It let out a distorted cry and staggered back.
Startled, the Chief pressed the amplifier again. Catdog’s entire body flushed crimson, trembling on the edge of complete Rampage.
“No!!”
Chi-yu reached toward it.
Inside, the Chief exulted, It worked! The researcher had said: if Catdog couldn’t steal Chi-yu’s power directly, it could instead fully rampage and force him to Guide it. But Catdog screamed, barring Chi-yu from approaching, twisting in torment.
The white light inside hardened, crystallizing into Ridune. As it spilled out, Catdog’s massive form shrank rapidly, returning to its small, familiar self.
The Ridune encased it completely, and within moments Catdog looked as though it had simply fallen asleep inside a transparent shell.
“Catdog!!”
Shocked, Chi-yu rushed over.
The Chief, Seong-gon, and Sung Ji-yeol could only stare in disbelief.
When Chi-yu cradled Catdog in his arms, the creature was already slumbering within the Ridune.
He tried desperately to break it open. The Chief, realizing their plan had failed, decided to drag Chi-yu back to the researcher instead. But the instant he grabbed Chi-yu’s arm—Hyun Tae-oh appeared, hurling him across the room with a blast of power.
The Chief slammed into the wall with a sickening crack, collapsing in a spray of blood.
