People, by nature, don’t care about others as much as you’d think. Unless it’s someone famous like Baek Tae-beom or Oh Kwon-hyuk, no one really bothers. And if it’s just some obnoxious superior? Even less so.
So I figured sneaking in would be a piece of cake…
“I didn’t expect trouble from this part.”
I looked around at the place, a disaster that couldn’t even be called an office. Now I understood why they told me to wait in the reception area. Judging by this mess, the guy had clearly dumped all his paperwork and gone off somewhere to have fun.
I sat down at the desk and opened the laptop. Unsurprisingly, it was password-protected.
[CH. Private / Free Wind: In times like this, how about starting with the good old ‘0000’?]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: No. Be cautious. You only get five tries.]
Anubis was right. If I failed more than five times, the laptop would completely lock me out.
Should I be looking through the paperwork first instead? But there’s no time.
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Choi Ga-hyeon.]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: What sort of blessing… do you think I gave you?]
“What do you mean by that?”
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: The blessing I placed… upon your soul.]
For a moment, I thought of that cursed coffin he’d lodged into my soul. The explanation had said…
“Didn’t it say the Constellation’s blessing would become stronger?”
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Use the skill I gave you. On that laptop.]
Following Anubis’s instruction, I used <Eye of the Dead> on the laptop.
[Skill: Eye of the Dead]
[You are using the skill: Eye of the Dead]
[Activating Eye of the Dead. The Constellation’s blessing descends upon you.]
[An even more powerful blessing from your Constellation now surrounds you. The sound of all things becomes visible.]
Then I saw it—a shadowy black hand gliding slowly across the keyboard. The password was…
<5849>
I was in awe.
“Anubis, do you know how badass you are? You’re seriously the best.”
[‘One Who Guides the Dead’ shrugs his shoulders.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Hmph. Trying to act cool now.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You do realize what we’ve given you is helping you too, right?]
“There are way too many files.”
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Not listening~]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Damn it!]
I opened folder after folder, checking the files one by one. I already figured anything related to Gongmyeong wouldn’t be easy to find, but Yoo Jin-woo was just as messy with his laptop as he was with his office. The files were an unorganized heap.
“There’s no way he’d store anything important in a place like this, right…?”
Still, I copied over several documents related to Red Apple’s sleazy operations onto a USB. Even if I couldn’t find anything on Gongmyeong, this alone would deal a blow to Red Apple.
And then I found a folder.
<New Folder (2)>
I froze for a moment, then clicked it.
<New Folder (3)>
I clicked again.
<Important Stuff>
At this point, I realized this was Yoo Jin-woo’s idea of ‘organization.’
<Really Important Stuff> <Important File> <New Folder (7)> <Super Super Super Important> <Do Not Ever Open> <Things That Must Not Be Lost Collection>
It was only after reaching the very end that I finally found what I’d been looking for.
“Got it.”
<Gongmyeong_RelatedData1>
I began reviewing its contents carefully—and what I found was truly shocking. Red Apple was, in fact, kidnapping children for Gongmyeong.
And they were doing it regularly.
The file described it as though the children were “products” that needed to be supplied in a certain quantity.
But there was no mention of the reason why.
I opened the next file.
There were confidentiality contracts, payment details—even documents where Gongmyeong had helpfully specified their targets. The focus was mostly on children not receiving government assistance.
“What did they do with the kidnapped kids?”
That, too, wasn’t written anywhere. I bit down on my lower lip, but quickly realized I didn’t have much time. I started transferring the files to the USB.
And then it happened.
BANG! The door flew open. Startled, I looked toward the entrance, only to see that staff member Yeon Eun-hee—the same one I had insulted earlier—was standing there.
With two security guards in tow.
“Mr. Kim Seong-jae. Why are you in there?”
“…And what exactly does that have to do with you?”
I glanced at the transfer progress and crossed my legs, answering smoothly.
“I was just waiting for the Guildmaster.”
“You were told to wait in the reception area, weren’t you?”
So she knew that much?
Cold sweat started to trickle down my back. I tried to speak more calmly.
“I figured I’d run into the Guildmaster faster if I waited here. Are you really suspecting me right now?”
Yeon Eun-hee narrowed her eyes. I anxiously tapped the table with my fingers. There was only one exit—and it was the door they were blocking. The window behind me was too high to escape through.
“Yes, I do find you suspicious. And it’s not even about you barging into the Guildmaster’s office uninvited…”
Her eyes slowly shifted to the open laptop.
“What I find suspicious is that you know my Hunter rank, Mr. Kim Seong-jae.”
“…What?”
“Someone like you shouldn’t know my rank. How did you know I’m a D-Rank Hunter? You never even bother remembering the faces of people below your own rank.”
My face twisted in dismay.
‘That’s where I slipped up?’
“So I’d appreciate it if you stood up and came over here. Hands in the air.”
“…Are you serious?”
Yeon Eun-hee nodded. I looked at the laptop screen—the file transfer was almost complete—and then turned my gaze to the security guards.
“You’re really going to take orders from a D-Rank Hunter like her?”
But the guards said nothing. If anything, they looked even more suspicious of me as they started to approach.
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Damn it. What do we do now?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: What do you think? Jump out the window.]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: What about those two?! And we’re on the fifth floor!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: They’re probably better suited for this sort of thing than you are. Worry about yourself.]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: It’s just your leg that might break. Or something worse.]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Apollo, if it’s Ga-hyeon, he’ll break way more than just his leg!]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Stop making valid points! It’s annoying!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Got a better idea? Go fetch the god of medicine!]
[CH. Private / Free Wind: …Was that aimed at me just now?]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Enough, both of you. You’re giving me a headache.]
I yanked the USB out before the transfer finished and began backing away.
The more I retreated, the closer they came. I was completely cornered.
Should I call Baek Tae-beom?
But then, I remembered the change in his demeanor lately.
Was I relying on him too much?
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: At this point, you’ll have to knock them out.]
I flinched.
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Do you seriously think I can pull that off?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Did you forget the blessings Hermes and I gave you?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: The one that makes me stronger and lighter?]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Exactly. So stop thinking and start moving! Eyes forward!]
One of the guards lunged at me. I instinctively moved, dodging his fist and kicking him in the solar plexus. Thud. He staggered, coughing violently.
I was so shocked that I ended up kicking him again—this time knocking him out cold.
“Huff…”
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: What the hell?! Why is my body like this?!]
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Feels good, doesn’t it?]
[CH. Private / One Who Seeks to Prevent Destruction: Don’t tell me… this is part of the ‘blessing’ too?]
I easily took down the second guard who came rushing in, then turned my eyes to the door where Yeon Eun-hee had disappeared. Looked like she went to get reinforcements.
An alarm started blaring throughout the building.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, I hesitated in front of the window.
“I honestly don’t know if this is the right move…”
[CH. Private / One More Dazzling Than the Sun: At the very least, that body of yours won’t die from this fall. Stop worrying.]
[CH. Private / One Who Guides the Dead: Yeah. As long as you don’t die, we’ll patch you up. Stay positive.]
“This way, over here!”
“It’s the Guildmaster’s office!”
I heard the commotion as I swung one leg over the window ledge.
[CH. Private / Free Wind: Ga-hyeon, look down!]
“Oh, so now I’m supposed to find the perfect place to die?”
[CH. Private / Free Wind: No! I mean look closely!]
I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, then peeked below.
Baek Tae-beom was looking up at me.
His arms wide open.
In the midst of all this chaos, only Baek Tae-beom was there—gazing solely at me.
I took a deep breath.
And jumped without hesitation.
