It seemed as though Cha Min-hyung had been waiting for the contact, as he promptly replied that he would depart immediately.
Arriving at the mansion in the early hours of the morning, just as the night gave way to dawn, Min-hyung presented a thick stack of documents along with a USB drive about half the size of a finger.
The cover of the documents was strangely blank, devoid of any writing. Despite this, Seo Won knew exactly what information was meticulously recorded within those pages.
“I hope this copy hasn’t been tampered with,” Seo Won remarked.
“There would be no reason for that,” Min-hyung assured him.
Seo Won eyed the thickness of the documents with a dissatisfied expression. Although the stack was quite substantial, nearly 10 cm thick, he complained that the amount of information was insufficient. He glared coldly at Min-hyung, who sat across from him, and crossed his arms in displeasure.
“Last time, I tolerated the abridged version of the documents because I believed it was deliberately simplified due to Cha Han-gyeom. Back then, the data from the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility wasn’t crucial since there were no survivors anyway.”
At that time, Seo Won had been contemplating a confrontation with Kang Woo-chan’s terrorist group. Han-gyeom had assumed that Seo Won intentionally provided him with a heavily redacted version of the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility’s data. In reality, Seo Won had simply copied and shared the documents exactly as Min-hyung had given them to him.
Now, Seo Won needed more than just a fragment of information; he required a comprehensive record of everything related to the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility. If the documents had been tampered with again, there would be no point in even looking at them.
“As you know, my offer to be your ‘backer’ is not an empty promise. You should understand the weight of that commitment, and I expect you not to play any games,” Seo Won warned.
“I am well aware,” Min-hyung replied, his expression serious despite the cold pressure from Seo Won. “But I assure you, this is the complete and unaltered original that you have been seeking.”
Min-hyung gestured toward the documents and the USB, trying to reassure the still-skeptical Seo Won.
“The Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility, as you know, was a top-secret operation. Not only was it hidden from the Esper Association, but its existence was also unknown to most other research facilities. Due to its highly secretive nature, the record-keeping and reporting systems were extremely conservative.”
Min-hyung tapped the blank-covered documents with his finger.
“These written reports were prepared solely for the one inspector from the Esper Association who oversaw the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility. There were no other reports created for any other purpose.”
In contrast, other research facilities maintained detailed and extensive records, whether for reporting or archival purposes. However, the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility, due to its clandestine operations, kept even its reports unusually concise.
“The contents of the documents outline which experiments were conducted on which subjects, the direction of the research, and the intended outcomes. The information is quite brief, not much different from what you saw in the previous copy.”
“If it’s not much different, then why was the previous copy so thin?” Seo Won asked, although he already knew the answer.
Min-hyung’s bitter smile confirmed his suspicions.
“I excluded all the parts related to the Guide… Cha Han-gyeom. After all, the information you requested was about the abilities and experiments of the ‘Esper’ subjects at each research facility.”
Seo Won wasn’t sure whether to be grateful for this consideration. If the complete data from the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility had been provided, even Cha Han-gyeom might not have been able to endure it. The stark difference in the thickness of the documents seemed to hint at the weight of Cha Han-gyeom’s painful past.
Still, the documents seemed far too meager for a facility that had been in operation for so long. As if to address this doubt, Min-hyung pointed to the small, compact USB drive.
“The detailed records—the ‘real’ data—are stored here. This isn’t for reporting; it’s the researchers’ logs. It contains everything about the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility.”
Everything. The word weighed heavily on Seo Won’s mind. Everything about the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility was essentially everything about Cha Han-gyeom.
Noticing Seo Won’s intense gaze on the USB, Min-hyung cautiously spoke up, “Why are you only now trying to confirm this?”
“Now, of all times…” Seo Won echoed part of Min-hyung’s question and chuckled softly. “Yes, it is quite late.”
Instead of showing his displeasure at the implied criticism, Seo Won chose to mock himself. “Just as I have no interest in my own past, I haven’t been particularly interested in his. Knowing what’s already done won’t change anything.”
“Then perhaps it would be better to continue focusing on the present,” Min-hyung suggested. It wasn’t meant as a jab but as genuine advice. He knew the confusion that could arise from delving into the past and was sincerely advising Seo Won to find contentment in the present.
Seo Won understood why Min-hyung was offering this advice with such concern. It must be because the hell that Cha Han-gyeom endured, as documented in these files and the USB, was truly horrifying. That’s precisely why Seo Won needed to know—he had to find out.
“What good is living in the present alone when he is stuck in the past?” Seo Won remarked.
Min-hyung was taken aback by the change in Seo Won’s demeanor since their last meeting. His expression was softer yet more bitter, and his emotions toward Han-gyeom seemed noticeably stronger.
As Min-hyung paused in thought, Seo Won gathered the documents and USB and stood up. “I need to verify this immediately, so I won’t be able to see you out. Safe travels.”
“Director Seo,” Min-hyung called out.
As Seo Won was about to leave the reception room, Min-hyung called out to him. Although he seemed hesitant, Min-hyung revealed what he needed to say.
“Among the files on that USB, there will be an empty data file labeled ‘Unknown.'”
Min-hyung had already reviewed the contents of the USB and recognized this file. A similar file existed in the data from the First Ability Analysis Research Facility where he had worked, as well as in the data from the Second and Third Research Facilities. However, only the Fourth Ability Analysis Research Facility’s file contained actual content.
“Change the filename to ‘extraction_4lab’ and open it. You’ll see content that wasn’t there before.”
“Is it an encrypted file?” Seo Won asked.
“You have to rename the file exactly as specified to open it. If there’s even a single typo, the entire file will disappear, so be careful.”
“Understood.”
Although Seo Won didn’t fully grasp why Min-hyung was sharing this information so late, he understood that it was crucial.
After Seo Won left the reception room with the documents, Min-hyung sank into the sofa with a sigh.
“Was it the right thing to tell him…?”
Min-hyung had initially thought it would be better if Seo Won never saw that file. But now, he believed that revealing everything was necessary for Seo Won to understand Cha Han-gyeom’s past and why he remained by his side.
Min-hyung, who had long understood Han-gyeom’s thoughts, sighed deeply, his expression troubled.
Seo Won headed straight to his office but had to turn back after only a few steps.
“Director Seo, Cha Han-gyeom has woken up, but his condition seems strange.”
Hearing Han-gyeom’s name along with the words “his condition seems strange” sent a chill through Seo Won. Han-gyeom had been bedridden for three days and nights.
“Cha Han-gyeom? What do you mean his condition is strange?”
Lim Du-hyuk, who had received a message from Jung Ah-young, relayed the information with a puzzled expression.
“Ah-young says he seems to be out of his mind…”
“What nonsense is that?!”
Frustrated, Seo Won shouted and rushed down the hallway, clutching the hard-won documents about Cha Han-gyeom tightly. His face was etched with anxiety.
“Call Director Shin immediately!”
“Yes, Executive Director.”
Du-hyuk quickly took out his phone to contact Director Shin while chasing after Seo Won.
As the two reached the floor with the bedroom, they heard Han-gyeom’s scream.
“Aaahh-!”
Hearing the scream, Seo Won felt an overwhelming surge of rage. He saw several security guards hesitating outside the open bedroom door. With a stern voice, he ordered, “All of you, get out of here! Now!”
The guards quickly dispersed, and Seo Won rushed into the room. He found Han-gyeom writhing on the bed, his face contorted in pain. Jung Ah-young was by his side, trying to calm him down.
“What’s happening to him?” Seo Won demanded.
“I don’t know,” Ah-young replied, her voice trembling. “He just suddenly started screaming and thrashing around.”
Seo Won approached the bed, his heart pounding. He reached out to touch Han-gyeom’s shoulder, but Han-gyeom recoiled as if burned.
“Don’t touch me!” Han-gyeom screamed, his eyes wild and unfocused.
Seo Won froze, shocked by the reaction. He turned to Ah-young, “What did you do to him?”
“Nothing!” Ah-young protested. “He was fine just a moment ago. I was checking his vitals, and then he just… snapped.”
Seo Won’s mind raced. He needed to understand what was happening. Just then, Director Shin rushed into the room, slightly out of breath.
“What’s going on?” Director Shin asked, taking in the scene.
“I don’t know,” Seo Won admitted, his voice tight with worry. “He just woke up like this.”
Director Shin approached the bed, his expression serious. He began to examine Han-gyeom, checking his pupils and pulse. Han-gyeom continued to thrash and scream, seemingly in immense pain.
“We need to sedate him,” Director Shin said, turning to Ah-young. “Get the medication ready.”
Ah-young nodded and quickly left the room. Seo Won watched as Director Shin tried to restrain Han-gyeom gently.
“What’s wrong with him?” Seo Won asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“It could be a reaction to the treatment, or something else entirely,” Director Shin said, his brow furrowed in concentration. “We need to run some tests.”
Ah-young returned with a syringe, and Director Shin administered the sedative. Slowly, Han-gyeom’s struggles began to subside, and he fell into a fitful sleep.
Seo Won stood by the bed, his heart heavy with concern. He looked down at the documents in his hand, realizing that the answers he sought might be within them. But for now, his priority was ensuring Han-gyeom’s well-being.
“Keep a close eye on him,” Seo Won instructed Ah-young. “Let me know if there are any changes.”
Ah-young nodded, her expression serious. Seo Won turned to leave the room, his mind racing with questions and worries. He needed to uncover the truth, not just for himself, but for Han-gyeom as well.
“Get out of the way!” Seo Won shouted.
He rarely raised his voice, but now he glared at the security guards with such intensity that they quickly stepped back, bowing nervously. The guards sensed that defying him at that moment could have grave consequences, and a chill ran down their spines.
Upon reaching the bedroom, Seo Won froze as he took in the scene before him.
