Seo Won’s mansion was enveloped in an eerie black veil, and Cha Han-gyeom was suddenly tense as a man’s voice broke through the silence. Jung Ah-young, who stepped forward to protect him, also had a stern expression as she focused on the direction of the voice.
“Gasp!”
Ah-young suddenly inhaled sharply. She was startled by the sight of someone’s boot emerging from within the veil.
To Han-gyeom, it appeared as though a black veil was spread out, but he had seen enough barriers to know that someone suddenly appearing wasn’t all that surprising. However, for Ah-young, who had a clear, unobstructed view, seeing a person suddenly appear from the toes up was quite shocking.
A young man in a suit entered through the black veil, causing a slight ripple. He was tall with a good physique, suggesting he was quite athletic. He pushed his rimless glasses up with his fingertip and looked at Han-gyeom.
“Hello, Han-gyeom.”
Despite the friendly greeting, the eyes behind the glasses were sharp and piercing. It wasn’t so much a look of hostility towards Han-gyeom, but rather an analytical gaze.
Han-gyeom stared at the unfamiliar man, his attention also drawn to the veil still present behind him.
The veil was clearly aggressive, yet the man had walked through it without any issue. This meant that the barrier allowed him to enter, indicating that he was permitted to come and go freely. The ripple in the veil was part of the barrier’s automatic screening process, confirming that the man was indeed allowed to pass through.
‘That means there’s at least one more person involved…’
The man who appeared was an outsider permitted to enter, implying that there was a separate owner of the barrier who didn’t need a filter. This realization made Han-gyeom even more tense.
As Han-gyeom processed this information, Ah-young leaned in and quietly asked him,
“Han-gyeom, do you know him?”
“No, I’ve never seen him before.”
Upon hearing this, Ah-young’s guard went up even further as she confronted the man.
“I don’t know who you are, but you can’t just barge in without permission. Please leave immediately.”
Her voice was polite but carried a clear threat. Having already encountered strangers who acted overly familiar with Han-gyeom on the cruise, she was ready to pounce at any moment.
“I’ll leave, but not alone.”
The man calmly replied, extending his hand towards Han-gyeom, who was standing behind Ah-young.
“Come with me. You don’t need to be trapped here.”
As if expecting Han-gyeom to willingly take his hand, the man waited.
Han-gyeom glanced at the outstretched hand and asked,
“Are you with the people from the cruise?”
“Yes. Those are my ‘brothers’.”
The man’s appearance, so different from the four individuals Han-gyeom had encountered on the cruise, made his claim of them being “brothers” seem dubious. Han-gyeom suspected that the term might not refer to actual siblings, and he eyed the man warily.
“Why should I follow you when you’re associated with people who caused so much trouble? I don’t even know who you are or why you’re here,” Han-gyeom retorted sharply.
The man remained unfazed by Han-gyeom’s harsh words and instead showed an understanding expression.
“It’s natural to be cautious. I’d like to explain everything and take you with me if possible.”
He glanced briefly at Ah-young, indicating that he preferred she not overhear their conversation.
“Come with me, and I’ll tell you everything.”
“You’ve got it backwards. You need to explain first if you want me to consider coming with you,” Han-gyeom countered.
Ah-young looked at Han-gyeom in surprise. It sounded as if he might actually consider going with the man depending on what he said. Of course, Han-gyeom had no intention of leaving the mansion, but he hoped that feigning interest might prompt the man to reveal more information.
The terrorist group seemed to have an unusual fixation on Han-gyeom, as if he were a crucial piece in their plans. The reason for this was unclear, but it felt significant.
The man sighed, looking troubled.
“Alright, I’ll give you a reason to want to come with me.”
He turned to look over his shoulder at the veil behind him. As if on cue, someone entered through the veil without causing any ripple, confirming Han-gyeom’s suspicion that this person was the owner of the barrier.
However, Han-gyeom was shocked to see that the owner of the barrier was someone he knew well. His eyes widened, and his breath hitched as he recognized the figure.
“What?!”
Ah-young also looked astonished as she recognized the person.
“Jae-woo?!”
Song Jae-woo entered the barrier, smiling brightly and waving casually, a stark contrast to the tense situation.
“Hey, I’m here,” Jae-woo said nonchalantly, as if nothing was amiss.
Han-gyeom stared at him in disbelief, his expression a mix of confusion and anger.
“What’s going on?” Han-gyeom demanded.
He had suspected that someone from the terrorist group might have approached Jae-woo. Hypnosis, brainwashing, or some other unknown ability could have been used to manipulate him. Han-gyeom had observed that Jae-woo seemed to have been ‘imprinted’ with a response that prevented others from guiding him, clearly not for benevolent reasons. Despite warning Jae-woo to be careful, it seemed his efforts had been in vain.
“Why are you with the terrorists?” Han-gyeom asked, his voice filled with urgency and concern.
The man’s eyes twitched at the word “terrorist.” It seemed he did not consider himself or his group to be terrorists.
Jae-woo laughed lightly.
“They’re all good people. They’ll do anything to save you.”
“Save me from what?” Han-gyeom replied coldly, scrutinizing Jae-woo.
Han-gyeom could tell something was off about Jae-woo’s state. Although he would need to make direct contact to be sure, there were no visible signs that Jae-woo was under the influence of a mental Esper ability. Usually, those affected by hypnosis or brainwashing would show signs in their eyes, but Jae-woo’s eyes were clear and normal, as if he was speaking of his own free will.
‘Is he under a weak hypnosis? Or is it a different kind of mental ability?’ Han-gyeom wondered, his heart racing as he glared at Jae-woo.
“I’m not going,” Han-gyeom stated firmly.
“Why not? Now’s our chance to escape while he’s not here!” Jae-woo’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of frustration.
“Forget the contract! We can just leave together! You don’t want to be stuck here forever, do you?!” Jae-woo’s voice rose in anger, but then his expression softened, as if he was about to cry.
“I just want you to be happy. I don’t want you to suffer anymore, physically or mentally. Let’s get out of this place, okay?” Jae-woo’s voice was filled with a mix of sadness and affection, like a child pleading for understanding.
Han-gyeom bit his lip, feeling a pang of emotion.
“Jae-woo, I…….”
Whether he was being controlled or not, Han-gyeom knew Jae-woo’s words were sincere. Even if Jae-woo hadn’t seen the final contract, he had seen the draft and knew how one-sided and selfish it was. This knowledge made Jae-woo even more frustrated and sympathetic towards Han-gyeom’s situation.
‘That’s what makes me even angrier,’ Han-gyeom thought.
He was furious at the terrorists for manipulating Jae-woo’s genuine concern.
“Ah-young, listen carefully,” Han-gyeom whispered, keeping his head down as if deep in thought. Ah-young, still glaring at Jae-woo and the terrorist, leaned in to hear him.
“I don’t know what abilities that man has, but if I make contact with him, he won’t be able to do anything. Use that opportunity to subdue Jae-woo.”
Instead of replying, Ah-young discreetly moved her hand behind her back and made an “OK” sign with her thumb and index finger. Han-gyeom, still looking down, acknowledged the signal.
“Got it,” Han-gyeom said, lifting his head to look at Jae-woo with a calm expression.
“I’ll go with you.”
As Han-gyeom stepped forward from behind Ah-young, Jae-woo greeted him with a wide smile. Ah-young feigned surprise and tried to hold Han-gyeom back, while the man moved to push her away.
At that moment, Han-gyeom swiftly grabbed the man’s hand as he came within reach. Instantly, Han-gyeom’s eyes turned red.
Simultaneously, Ah-young changed direction and swiftly lunged at Jae-woo.
