# Chapter 67
The color slowly drained from the Center Director’s face.
He seemed to be wondering if this was really being decided now, and if there was no way to reverse the situation.
“We’ll give you time to pack your things. But we can’t give you too much time.”
At Byun Tae-young’s words, we sat on the sofa in the office.
It hadn’t even been a minute when the door opened and the Special Task Force entered.
They were fully armed and looked confused to see us there.
It seemed the Center Director had secretly called them.
Looking at this, the Center Director really was a person who couldn’t think properly.
“The S-class Espers and Ha-min threatened me. Put them in restraint suits, handcuff them, imprison them, and don’t release them until further instructions! Attack the amplifier Ha-min first!”
I could only laugh at the Center Director’s words.
Is that thing on his shoulders even a brain?
I watched the Special Task Force without moving a muscle.
I was even more excited because I could see them straight ahead from where I was sitting.
The Special Task Force leader had a look that seemed to ask what was going on, but since it was the Center Director’s order, he signaled to his team.
“We told the Center Director to vacate his position and gave him time to pack. The Center Director will hold that position for less than ten more minutes. We were going to give him an hour, but he’s shortening his own time. If anyone wants to share the Center Director’s fate, they can do so. For your information, Esper Ha-min will become the new Special Task Force leader.”
While Byun Tae-young was speaking in a languid, slow voice, the eyes of the Special Task Force members moved busily.
“But I’m also curious about something. Whether you can really carry out the Center Director’s orders. I’d like to see if you can put on restraint suits and handcuffs. I know that even an Esper’s ability is blocked once those are on, but I’ve always wondered if the Special Task Force could do it. It might be difficult with the S-class Espers, so why don’t you try it on me?”
Ha-min’s words were too polite to be a provocation, but considering their meaning, they did seem like a challenge.
The Special Task Force leader looked at his team members, and they continued to look at each other, unable to make an immediate judgment.
“Go ahead. I’m curious too.”
Even Shim Woo-jin joined in, and the S-class Espers had already entered spectator mode with their arms crossed.
At first, I didn’t understand why Ha-min was saying such things, but later I realized that he was giving the Special Task Force members a choice.
Perhaps he thought that if they were shown an overwhelming skill difference, it would be much easier for them to accept defeat.
That way, they could welcome a new superior without feeling humiliated.
I felt proud thinking that Ha-min might have wanted to take care of the Special Task Force directly right from the start, since he wanted to become their leader.
The Special Task Force leader nodded to his members.
They moved in perfect unison.
It was clear they had practiced the same movements countless times.
Moreover, since they were all high-ranking Espers, their momentum was considerable.
If all of them attacked at once, targeting only Ha-min.
If they just needed to physically restrain him, could it be possible? I watched their every movement with this in mind.
In an instant, they surrounded Ha-min, and suppression batons extended from each of their hands.
This is what made the Special Task Force what it was.
I was curious how Ha-min would fight and whether the Special Task Force could match him.
While thinking it was unlikely, I also hoped they would do well.
Since it was almost certain that Ha-min would be taking charge of the Special Task Force, if they collapsed miserably, he would have a hard time.
However, even after ten minutes, they couldn’t even touch Ha-min with their suppression batons, and Ha-min seemed increasingly disappointed.
A look appeared on his face as if he hadn’t expected it to be this bad.
“I think I’ve satisfied my curiosity at this point.”
Ha-min spoke as if he thought there was no point in continuing this meaningless exercise, and the Special Task Force members’ faces reddened, seeming to understand what he meant.
“Capture Ha-min!!”
At that moment, the Center Director shouted angrily.
What had he been watching until now?
He had seen with his own eyes that it wasn’t that they were going easy on Ha-min, but that despite everyone attacking enthusiastically, they couldn’t lay a hand on him, yet he was saying such things.
If he wanted to say such things, he could have helped himself, but instead, he was just shouting loudly.
“The Special Task Force leader will share the same fate as the Center Director. Focus on dungeon conquest from now on.”
Hearing Byun Tae-young’s words, the Special Task Force leader looked at the Center Director.
His face showed he wasn’t sure if he really had to listen to those words.
“What if I refuse to step down from this position?”
The Center Director dropped all honorifics toward the S-class Espers and spoke to Byun Tae-young.
He seemed quite determined to hold his ground.
“If violence is necessary, I’ll use violence. I don’t think you believe I can’t do it. Just because I’ve never done it before doesn’t mean I’m not that kind of person.”
“Will others just stand by and watch? This happening in the Center?”
“What are they going to do if they don’t just watch?”
Byun Tae-young spoke as if daring him to try, but it was true that our side lacked legitimacy.
It was true that the Center Director was incompetent, but denying and overturning the hierarchy overnight because of incompetence could also provoke backlash from many people.
Even if we took control of the Center, we would need people to follow our instructions and work with us on practical matters, and it could become difficult to gain their cooperation.
As there were many things to consider, the Center Director seemed to think that our forceful approach wouldn’t be entirely comfortable, so he persisted even more.
The Special Task Force members weren’t actively stepping forward, but the Special Task Force leader seemed to completely align with the Center Director, urging his team members.
I felt sorry for that person too.
Why did he act as if he didn’t understand that it wasn’t that they didn’t want to do it?
“What should we do?”
I thought that could be a skill too.
We lacked the resolve to drag out the Center Director who was being stubborn and holding his ground.
The S-class Espers, who had seemed capable of doing anything and fearless when I first saw them, appeared to be experiencing more conflict than I was.
But thinking we couldn’t just meaninglessly waste time in a standoff, I heard a knock at the door.
The door was open, but someone was knocking on the open door.
None other than Cha Yoon.
I thought we wouldn’t see him in our Central again since he ran away so excitedly, but he shows up at the Center?
And in the Center Director’s office?
While I was thinking his nerve was something to be acknowledged, he smiled as if finding the situation amusing.
“I’m glad I didn’t miss the show.”
Is he crazy?
His shamelessness was truly astonishing.
He appeared here after being beaten like that?
And then he says something like that?
Can’t he feel pain?
But no, that’s not it. I know very well that’s not the case.
Does he have memory issues? That might make sense, but it absolutely wasn’t a memory problem.
While I was watching in disbelief, wondering what kind of person acts this way, he confidently entered.
“Trust me. I’m telling you, I can help.”
I didn’t know how long he had been there.
He had just entered, knocked on the door, and captured everyone’s attention, but he could have been observing the situation from the hallway before that.
The S-class Espers also just stared at him with blank expressions.
It seemed they were reluctant to move quickly, thinking they could grab and punish him at any moment if he tried anything funny.
“I roughly understand the situation. You want to replace the Center Director. You thought that since you’re S-class Espers, everything would work out if you just made a decision, but he’s refusing to step down and holding his ground. You pushed in without a plan for this situation. And now you’re too embarrassed to give up. Am I right? Isn’t that it?”
Wow… Should I hit him once?
While I was thinking that, he took a step back as if sensing my thoughts.
“I’ll tell you the Center Director’s secret. Then the problem will be solved simply, don’t you think?”
Realizing that none of us liked beating around the bush, he continued.
“Don’t you all already somewhat suspect that the Center Director has something fishy going on? Especially Esper Kyun In could have guessed it sufficiently. But it’s true that this isn’t an issue just anyone can approach. Even the Information Team Leader probably doesn’t know?”
Information Team Leader?
The Information Team Leader doesn’t know?
I didn’t even know there was a position called Information Team Leader at the Center.
When I looked at Ha-min with an expression asking if he knew, he looked back at me with the same eyes.
Cha Yoon, pleased with our reactions, excitedly continued speaking.
“If the Beta Center was operating well without problems, would they have remained silent when they made contact with high-ranking officials in political and business circles to push forward the creation of a new Central? Wouldn’t they have responded somehow? But the Center Director took no measures and just watched as Espers left. This is also a point that many Espers have been questioning until now. Why the Center Director didn’t take any countermeasures.”
Before we knew it, even the Special Task Force members were nodding.
They seemed to have forgotten what the current situation was.
But it wasn’t just me and the other S-class Espers who were nodding at Cha Yoon’s words.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
