Even if time had crawled by, it wouldn’t have felt like enough—but maybe that’s because we spent the last two days wrapped up in each other, kissing and touching like we were trying to leave marks on time itself. And so, before I knew it, the day of the mission had arrived.
“I’ll be back.”
“Be careful out there.”
“Of course.”
I tried my best to hide how heavy my heart felt, repeating my warnings to Kang Biso over and over again. His confident smile told me not to worry, but deep down, anxiety kept gnawing at my chest.
I couldn’t show it, though. I forced a smile instead. As if reading my heart, Kang Biso’s expression turned soft and wistful.
“Try to stay in the room. And if someone picks a fight, don’t engage. Just memorize their face.”
“I can handle myself—”
“I just don’t want a single scratch on you, that’s all. Also…”
“Ugh… How long are you two gonna stand there like that?”
Kang Bijun let out a groan, watching us hold each other’s hands like a couple about to be torn apart forever. The disbelief on his face was almost comical.
Kang Biso stuck out his bottom lip and glared at him.
“What, you got a problem? Just quit yapping and go already. At this rate, we’ll be here till sunrise. If you’re that worried about Hwang Seol-bin, then get your ass back quick.”
“Alright, alright. I’m going. Seol-bin, I’ll be back soon.”
“…Yeah. I’ll be waiting.”
Kang Biso let out a long sigh and finally began to walk away. But his steps were slow. He kept turning back after a few paces, glancing over his shoulder, then walking again—then stopping again. Eventually, Kang Bijun lost all patience, grabbed him by the back of the neck, and dragged him out of the room like a disobedient child.
“Haa…”
Once they were finally gone, I moved slowly toward the bed. Just a few hours ago, Kang Biso and I had been tangled up in these very sheets. Not even a minute had passed since he left, and yet I already missed him so much it hurt.
…He’ll be okay, right?
He’s Kang Biso. The strongest villain in the entire book.
I forced the unease out of my mind and prayed—really prayed—that nothing would go wrong.
***
Kang Biso pressed the janitor’s cap low over his face, pulling it down as far as it would go. A pair of oversized glasses covered half his features, and a snug mask obscured the rest. At exactly 9 a.m., he stepped into the building that housed the research facility.
Maybe it was trying too hard to prove it was a place of science, but the entire interior was made of gleaming white marble. It was clean, sure, but the stark whiteness almost hurt to look at.
He pushed the cleaning cart naturally, moving like he belonged there. The security guards standing in the lobby didn’t even glance in his direction. That was a relief. Picking up the pace, he headed deeper into the building.
A voice crackled in his earpiece—Kang Bijun.
[“Captain, you in? What’s it look like?”]
“No one’s paying me any attention.”
[“Good. I was a little worried, but looks like we’re in the clear. Stick to the plan.”]
Kang Biso followed the route just as he’d memorized it from the building’s blueprint. He took the elevator on the right side of the lobby, went up to the third floor, and headed for the restroom at the far end of the left hallway. That was where he’d meet up with his undercover men.
They had narrowed down the possible locations of the Book of Wishes to three.
…Please let it be in one of those spots.
Time wasn’t on their side. The longer this dragged on, the more dangerous it would get. Kang Biso quickened his pace.
But trouble showed up almost immediately.
He spotted the elevator easily enough, but just as he approached it, a researcher sprinting toward it tripped and went flying. Coffee splattered across the floor as he hit the ground hard.
Crash! Splaaat—!
Kang Biso was undercover as a janitor. If he ignored this, it would raise suspicion. He had no choice but to clean up the mess.
“A-Are you alright?”
“Shit… damn, that hurt…”
Kang Biso faked a startled expression and asked, while the researcher—clearly embarrassed—mumbled to himself and hurried off in the direction he’d originally been going.
Kang Biso watched him retreat, then quickly wiped up the spilled coffee and made his way back to the elevator.
That went well. Felt natural.
There’d been a hiccup, sure, but nobody seemed to suspect a thing. He let out a small sigh of relief.
Reaching the elevator he’d originally aimed for, Kang Biso pressed the button and stepped inside like he belonged there. A researcher got on at the same time. Biso quietly pushed the cart into the corner, holding his breath.
The researcher wrinkled his nose—apparently bothered by the smell—and immediately put as much distance as possible between them, pressing the button for the third floor.
Of all the floors, he had to pick the same one…
What rotten luck. Still, Kang Biso kept a straight face and waited for the doors to close.
That’s when the researcher’s phone rang.
Kang Biso perked up, listening in. If he was lucky, he might catch something—anything—related to the Book of Wishes.
“Yeah? What is it? …What? Someone broke in?”
The researcher’s voice grew tense, laced with irritation. Kang Biso’s brows twitched at the sudden development.
“…Oh. You caught them? Good. Thank god.”
The word “captured” made Kang Biso close his eyes for a moment before slowly reopening them. His heart dropped into his stomach—but since Kang Bijun hadn’t sent any alerts, it probably wasn’t one of their own who’d been caught.
Thankfully, the researcher didn’t say anything more, and a few seconds later, the elevator doors opened. The man stepped out first and turned down the corridor to the right. Kang Biso followed slowly, keeping his pace steady—but then the researcher glanced back and called out.
“Hey, excuse me.”
“…Yes? Me?”
“Clean up the trash in this office too, will you?”
“Ah… sure, I will.”
Feigning cluelessness, Kang Biso responded with a sheepish tone. The researcher clicked his tongue and walked off. Biso waited until the man disappeared from view before turning and heading down the left hallway.
“Captain. Long time no see.”
Inside the restroom, two of his men were already waiting—one washing his hands at the sink, the other standing at a urinal. The moment Kang Biso stepped in, they greeted him casually. He quickly scanned for signs of anyone else, then dropped his voice.
“You’ve done well. What’s the situation?”
“Please follow us.”
“We’ll take you to the nearest location first.”
The two exited the restroom, chatting like nothing was out of the ordinary. Kang Biso trailed behind at a short distance, pushing the janitor cart without drawing attention.
The deeper they went, the tighter the security became.
CCTV cameras multiplied, guards were stationed at more frequent intervals, and the atmosphere grew palpably tenser. Even researchers walking by were sharper-eyed.
But thanks to his men’s quick wits and natural behavior, they passed through without raising suspicion. So far, so good.
But now came the tricky part.
Hidden just behind a corner, Kang Biso peeked out and spotted a high-security door. The reason his subordinates believed the Book of Wishes was hidden here became immediately clear.
“With that many Espers guarding it, it’s hard not to be suspicious.”
The ones stationed outside the door were clearly Espers, no doubt about it. They stood like they owned the place, as if daring anyone to challenge them. It was suspicious—too suspicious. But ignoring it wasn’t an option.
Charging in recklessly would only make securing the Book harder. Even though his body felt light after recent Guiding sessions, Biso didn’t want to burn through his energy too early. He had no idea what might happen later. Still, with that many guards, a quick burst of power might be the best option.
“…We’ll create a diversion.”
As Kang Biso hesitated, one of his men spoke in a grave tone. But Biso didn’t give an answer right away. Sure, they were capable enough to buy time—but they’d still get caught. And in the end, it would all lead back to him.
It might be smarter to just knock them all out with his ability—
But before he could finish that thought, both men bolted forward.
“…!”
Without warning, they rushed the guards and Espers, catching them completely off guard.
“Wha—what the hell?! You—urgh!”
“Who the hell are these guys?!”
It turned into chaos in seconds.
Rage surged through Kang Biso. Watching his subordinates act on their own like this made his blood boil—but the damage was done. There was no time to yell at them now. He’d deal with them later, once they got back to ZEC.
For now, he dashed through the mayhem, weaving through flying bodies and shouts.
Some Espers and guards tried to block his path, but the two operatives kept them occupied just long enough. Kang Biso moved quickly toward the door the Espers had been guarding.
Through the glass, he spotted a single safe in the middle of the room.
Whatever they were trying to protect—it had to be inside.
Trusting his gut, Kang Biso grabbed a chair from nearby and smashed the glass, stepping inside with no hesitation.
He pulled a small device from his pocket and connected it to the safe’s port. Thankfully, it was digital. If it had been an analog lock, cracking it would’ve taken too long.
“Open it.”
[“…Hold on. Just a second.”]
He could hear Kang Bijun typing furiously on the other end. A few moments passed before the green light flickered. Biso turned the handle—and the safe clicked open.
“…Shit.”
It wasn’t the Book of Wishes. Just a bunch of sparkling gems and jewels.
[“If it’s not in there, move fast. Those dumbasses definitely blew your cover.”]
“…Yeah, I figured.”
No time to waste.
He had to find the other locations—fast. He’d wanted to avoid using his ability, but that clearly wasn’t an option anymore.
But then something strange happened.
Everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
Kang Biso paused, one foot already out the door. There’s no way the chaos from earlier had died down this fast. The stillness sent a chill crawling up his spine. He moved cautiously toward the hallway.
And the moment he stepped outside—he knew.
Everyone was staring at him. Espers, guards, researchers… every eye locked onto him. And there were even more Espers now than before.
A trap…
His gaze drifted toward the two subordinates.
“You bastards…”
“…We didn’t have a choice. Our cover got blown while we were searching for the Book…”
“They said they’d let us live if we flipped… We’re really sorry, Captain.”
[“Wait—what?! Those two betrayed us?!”]
Kang Bijun’s voice burst through the comms, seething with fury. But Biso didn’t have time to respond.
What now?
If this place had been set up just to trap him, then the other two locations were probably fakes too. He’d trusted the wrong people—and now it had backfired.
He let out a long breath, eyes fixed on the traitors.
“The two of you… even if you die here, you’ve got no right to complain.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
A voice cut through the tense air.
A familiar one.
A man stepped forward from among the Espers—someone Kang Biso hadn’t seen in a long time.
“It really has been a while.”
Blonde hair. Ice-blue eyes. The strongest government Esper. The man with the highest dungeon-clear rate among S-Ranks.
“Kim Seong-gyeong…”
“Shame we had to meet like this.”
His tone was polite, but the smile on his face said otherwise. Kang Biso ground his teeth and replied with a low growl.
“…Yeah. What a shame.”
“I’ve got a lot of questions for you… But this doesn’t feel like the right setting. Let’s talk somewhere more private.”
“Let me guess. That quiet place you mean is exactly what I’m thinking of?”
There was only one “quiet place” the government used for people like him—the underground prison. A place built for criminals who couldn’t be held anywhere else.
“…I’d say you’re right.”
“Please cooperate,” Kim Seong-gyeong added gently—right before unleashing his power and lunging at him.
The other Espers followed suit as if that had been the signal.
Kang Biso flung off his disguise and dropped into a low stance, preparing for battle.
Forget getting out quickly—I’m not even sure I’ll get out at all.
This was a total disaster—the absolute worst-case scenario. And he’d walked right into it.
