“Technically speaking… the reason we’re going in alone is because… uh… Eom Seong-chan refused to show up.”
The moment Nam Woon-soo finished speaking, Bae Yeon-woo jerked the wheel with brutal force.
“We’re here.”
Do In-ho quickly steadied Ho-eun, who had lurched sideways from the sudden stop.
Heart pounding like mad, Ho-eun turned toward the reckless driver—Bae Yeon-woo, who met his gaze with a look that practically said got a problem?
“I’ll do my best….”
Ho-eun muttered, averting his eyes and renewing his determination.
“Park Ki-hyun’s place is on the rooftop.”
They parked in a narrow alley with no CCTVs. The engine cut off quietly, the car tucked away in darkness like it was holding its breath.
“So we’re just ambushing Park Ki-hyun, then?”
Breaking his silence, Do In-ho looked at Bae Yeon-woo with a piercing gaze.
“First, we’ll approach him posing as customers. All of us—our current faces—belong to people who’ve bought drugs from Park Ki-hyun before.”
“And once we’ve passed as customers, then what?”
“We check if he’s been brainwashed by Wonsin.”
Bae Yeon-woo pulled out a pair of glasses.
“When you put these on and look at someone affected by a mental-type ability, their eyes appear red.”
He slipped them on over his unadorned face. The silver rims gave off a sharp vibe.
“If he’s been brainwashed, we plant a bug on him and leave. But if not—we’ll confirm his Esper ability ourselves. These glasses have a built-in camera, so we’ll secure video evidence he’s an Esper.”
“Um… but if he’s brainwashed, shouldn’t we not just leave?”
“We don’t know the full extent of Wonsin’s ability, but there are some mental-type Espers who can share the thoughts of their brainwashed victims.”
In other words, even a tiny misstep could blow their cover.
“Give me that.”
At Bae Yeon-woo’s request, Nam Woon-soo handed him the tablet. The footage from a hidden camera near Park Ki-hyun’s front door showed no movement—no signs of him leaving.
“Keep an ear out in case you hear anything suspicious.”
That was directed at Do In-ho and Nam Woon-soo, who both gave slight nods.
Bae Yeon-woo pulled out the tablet’s pen and began sketching out the operation plan on the screen.
“Two of you will wait at the front door. When you get the signal, knock nine times—exactly. That’s the passcode.”
“Got it.”
“When you see Park Ki-hyun, act like you’re desperate for Dreaming. Play the junkie. Just hand this over when it’s time.”
He pulled out a thick wad of fifty-thousand-won bills. When did he even prepare that?
“If he really is an Esper, he’ll use his ability on the spot. If he’s not, he’ll probably just sell the stuff and send you off.”
“So if we confirm he is brainwashed, we plant the bug and leave right away?”
“Exactly. If he’s not brainwashed, you grab him. Then the other two will rush in from the car and help you subdue him.”
The operation diagram on the screen paired everyone up into teams of two.
“Park Ki-hyun’s ability involves projecting illusions. So someone with a vivid imagination needs to go in to properly assess his power.”
Bae Yeon-woo’s eyes landed on Ho-eun.
“And one of you needs to understand the op inside and out.”
Spinning the pen between his fingers, he seemed to weigh the decision. Who would give them the best odds of success?
The pen finally stopped.
“Nam Woon-soo, Kwon Ho-eun. You’ll meet with Park Ki-hyun.”
“If it’s about understanding the operation, I’ve got it down too.”
As soon as Ho-eun’s name was called, Do In-ho spoke up in protest.
“…Nam and I made the operation plan, so one of us should go. Wouldn’t it make more sense to pair a Team Lead with a rookie?”
“……”
Do In-ho’s expression tightened subtly.
Trying to soothe him, Ho-eun gently patted his back.
“What’s the PR team’s job? Catching anti-government Espers. Don’t drag personal feelings into the field.”
Bae Yeon-woo was right, and Do In-ho fell silent.
“T-Then… what if I go with you instead?”
Nam Woon-soo’s suggestion drew everyone’s attention.
“So you’re the one with personal feelings now…”
Bzzz
Before Yeon-woo could finish, his phone vibrated.
“Hello?”
–What the hell? Did you really go out into the field?
A loud voice crackled through the speaker. Raspy and familiar—Eom Seong-chan. The kind of voice you only had to hear once to remember forever.
“So what if I did? What if I didn’t?”
–Are you insane?! Get back here right now! This is supposed to be a joint operation! What are you doing charging ahead alone?
“The PR team is going after anti-government threats. What’s the issue? If you’re gonna whine, I’m hanging up.”
–Wait!
There were more voices in the background, but Yeon-woo ended the call without hesitation.
He shot Nam Woon-soo a glance and jerked his chin.
“He’s too much of a scaredy-cat to come. Go with Kwon Ho-eun.”
“……”
Nam Woon-soo opened his mouth like he had something to say, then just nodded, defeated.
Wind whistled faintly outside the window.
With the situation settled, Ho-eun glanced around and quietly opened the car door.
Nam Woon-soo, still in the passenger seat, followed him out.
The alley was still and silent. The sour stench of trash piled under a streetlamp, and crude graffiti covered the brick wall—ugly and amateurish.
Ho-eun looked up at the rooftop room where Park Ki-hyun supposedly was. Through the curtain, a reddish light flickered.
“Shall we?”
“……”
Careful not to alert the downstairs tenants, the two tiptoed up the stairs.
Standing before the metal door, Ho-eun knocked precisely nine times, just as instructed.
Clack
A man with a scar near his eye peeked through the latch.
His bloodshot eyes and deep dark circles looked noticeably different from the photo of Park Ki-hyun they’d seen.
“Here for some stuff. Got any Dreaming left?”
Nam Woon-soo rasped with a phlegmy, grating voice. His hand trembled as he pulled a bulging envelope from his jacket and shoved it at Park Ki-hyun.
“Told you last time, I’m not selling privately anymore.”
“We’ll pay! Just hand it over already!”
Breathing heavily, Nam Woon-soo perfectly sold the role of an addict.
With his distraction, Ho-eun adjusted his glasses and stared directly at Park Ki-hyun’s face.
The lens shimmered briefly—just for a split second.
Tap, tap.
Ho-eun double-tapped his guide watch. The signal: Not brainwashed.
“I told you—you’re supposed to buy from the shop I told you about. One pill’s not enough for you anymore?”
“Damn right it’s not! S-Screw it! Just sell to us this once! PLEASE!!”
With a sigh, Park Ki-hyun grabbed the envelope through the door.
Ptuh!
Spitting, he opened it and started counting the cash with practiced speed.
“Well damn. You guys hit the jackpot or something?”
Flashing a gold-toothed grin, he shut the door, undid the latch, and reopened it.
Stepping inside, the chill of the apartment hit them—it was colder than outside.
“Ah-choo.”
Ho-eun sniffled.
As he glanced around, white smoke crept out from a room further in—like something was being brewed.
Without inviting them deeper, Park Ki-hyun went to the living room, where a large worktable was set up.
Ho-eun seized the moment. He installed a camera on the shoe rack and a bug under the light switch.
“This really is the last time. From now on, pay your dues and come to the hideout.”
His hands trembled as he passed over a bag of powdered drugs. Ho-eun received it and discreetly pressed a miniature bug onto Park Ki-hyun’s sleeve.
“Place feels different from usual.”
Nam Woon-soo commented as Park Ki-hyun turned to grab some whiskey and glasses.
“Been feeling hot lately. Got a few more AC units.”
“Trouble sleeping, huh?”
Earplugs littered the floor.
“Yeah… something like that…”
He poured the whiskey and handed over a glass. Nam Woon-soo casually added the powder.
Ho-eun mimicked him, adding powder and swirling the glass.
He brought it to his lips, only brushing his tongue against it.
As Park Ki-hyun confirmed Ho-eun was drinking, several of his hairs suddenly floated up.
Crash!
Ho-eun dropped his glass. His head spun—and then a bizarre scene unfolded before him.
He and Do In-ho were riding a carousel beneath a pink twilight sky.
Beaming, Do In-ho threw his hands up.
“It’s great to be alive!” he shouted cheerfully.
The scene shifted again.
A table from The Last Supper appeared before him, piled with all of Ho-eun’s favorite foods.
At either end sat a smiling Do In-ho, fork in hand.
“We’re eating good! It’s great to be alive!” he said in a bright, chirpy tone Ho-eun had never heard from him before.
It felt fake. Wrong.
Next, a dragon appeared, seated atop 63 Square.
Ho-eun, now somehow holding a sword and shield, charged at it.
From the opposite side, In-ho emerged, blue flames glowing in both hands.
“Fighting alongside my stronger hyung? It’s great to be alive!”
Soaring through the sky, Ho-eun suddenly froze.
Wait… since when could I fly?
Then—“I’m so glad.”
In-ho’s soft whisper tickled his ear as the illusion warped.
The cracked ceiling became dated wallpaper. The ground below shifted into tacky yellow linoleum.
“Heh heh. Feels more like a dream now, right? If you want more, come to the Dragon hideout—”
Park Ki-hyun, who was supporting a staggering Ho-eun, stopped mid-sentence.
“Whoa… what the hell are you? This is insane…”
His unfocused eyes locked directly onto Ho-eun’s face.
“Knew it.”
Muttering under his breath, Nam Woon-soo grabbed Park Ki-hyun’s wrist—and snapped it.
Crack! Bone twisted audibly.
“You’ve been overheating and getting overly sensitive to noise lately, right? When exactly did you Awaken…?”
But Park Ki-hyun wasn’t listening. His eyes were locked on Ho-eun as he lunged forward.
Wham!
Nam Woon-soo kicked him in the leg—a violent move completely unlike his usual self.
“More…! I wanna touch it more!! This is better than any drug!!”
Smashing into the wall, Park Ki-hyun crumpled to the floor. A nasty crack echoed from his bones. His dislocated shoulder popped back into place.
Even his grotesquely twisted leg bones slowly snapped back into alignment.
“Heh… haah… how much do you want? I’ll buy you! Just come to me!!”
Fully recovered, Park Ki-hyun sprang at Ho-eun—like a man possessed.
