Director of the Bureau of Awakened Ability Users, Shin Yoon-hee, hesitated.
Just recently, there had been talk that Guide Yeon Yu-jin—formerly linked to the S-Class traitor Hyun Je-ha—might be connected to him in some way.
This still feels off.
Even though every ability test confirmed him as a C-rank Guide, something about it didn’t sit right.
“Excuse me a moment.”
Shin Yoon-hee addressed Yeon Yu-jin politely.
“Before I agree to anything, I’d like to review the footage from the S-rank simulator gate you all supposedly broke through.”
It was a relief they’d emerged unscathed, sure—but it was still suspicious. Four A-rank Espers and one C-rank Guide had cleared an S-rank dungeon, simulated or not?
She needed to see it for herself. If Yeon Yu-jin reacted oddly, she’d reject the proposal outright.
“Sure, go ahead.”
But Yeon Yu-jin gave her a breezy smile and waved her off like it was no big deal.
…Why is he so confident?
Perplexed, Shin Yoon-hee accessed the monitor connected to the computer that should’ve stored footage of what happened in the gate.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
The video feed that should’ve shown Yeon Yu-jin and his Espers fighting… was completely gone. As if it had been carefully cut out.
“For the record, we didn’t delete that,” Yeon Yu-jin added dryly.
The staff member in charge of Exam Room 5 nodded.
“H-He’s right. I tried to access the recorded footage too, but even that part was already deleted. Looks like the intruder did it. According to Guide Yeon, they had a conversation right before the end, and maybe that’s why… but the entire clip’s just vanished.”
“…Haaah.”
With a witness now backing up Yeon Yu-jin’s claim, she had no more reason—or excuse—to push back.
And yet another thought nagged at her.
So… the culprit wasn’t working under Hyun Je-ha after all?
If not, then what the hell was the purpose of all this?
Shin Yoon-hee stared at Yeon Yu-jin, searching for answers.
“Why’re you staring? Is my face so handsome it’s distracting?”
“….”
That mouth of his alone deserved an S-rank rating.
Still… he’s the first person Hyun Je-ha showed interest in since his partner Guide died. If we keep an eye on him, maybe Hyun Je-ha will show up again too.
“…I’ll accept your proposal.”
“Great.”
Shin Yoon-hee reached out her hand. An offer to shake.
Yeon Yu-jin grinned and took it firmly.
“Looking forward to working with you.”
“…Likewise.”
Thus began a strange, temporary alliance—each side hiding their own agenda.
***
Meanwhile, Hyun Je-ha was quietly observing the Bureau’s testing center from outside.
It shouldn’t be taking this long. What’s going on?
Just as he was starting to grow suspicious, he felt another energy signature near the building.
…What the hell?
It was strong. A powerful wave of energy.
A sudden appearance like that… it must be an Esper with teleportation abilities.
But if it were someone with legitimate business here, they could’ve just walked through the front door.
Whoever it was—hadn’t shown themselves at all.
Hyun Je-ha narrowed his eyes.
Don’t tell me they teleported directly inside the Bureau’s building?
That was illegal.
Ironically, Hyun Je-ha—classified by the state as a Level-1 wanted criminal—knew the special laws surrounding ability users inside and out.
After all, most of the laws created in the last two decades had been because of him and his comrades.
What kind of idiot would actually do that?
Even he hadn’t entered the Bureau himself. Not because he couldn’t—but to avoid triggering their security systems.
Yet someone else had done it without hesitation.
And strangest of all… no alarms are going off.
Was this some secret inspection by a high-ranking official?
While considering the possibilities, Hyun Je-ha activated a clairvoyance artifact and peered through the hallway walls.
He saw two figures—one of them clearly a Bureau staff member—being swiftly overpowered and stuffed into a cabinet.
…What the hell is that guy?
Internal audits didn’t involve assault.
As a criminal with a good head on his shoulders, Hyun Je-ha began watching the intruder more closely.
He saw the man tamper with something resembling a gate—changing its color with his ability. Then he altered his own appearance so he wouldn’t be recognized.
He even went on to erase traces of himself from the surrounding electronic devices.
“What the…!”
Hyun Je-ha’s eyes widened.
That’s impossible.
The intruder had already used three separate abilities. Two could’ve been explained by someone like Hyun Je-ha with special awakenings… but this?
This guy was different. He possessed three entirely distinct abilities.
Maybe even four. No—possibly more.
And unless he was a government agent, that last ability—blocking detection—was something else entirely.
Hyun Je-ha’s expression turned icy.
A multi-ability user… Could he be the one who killed Ga-hyun?
He couldn’t get a clear view from this distance, but the figure appeared to be a young man—mid to late twenties.
If he wasn’t some rare mutation, then he had to be the killer who planned Ahn Ga-hyun’s death.
Just as Hyun Je-ha’s aging had slowed since his Second Awakening, this guy could’ve also been aging slower than he looked.
I should strike now—take him out before he disappears.
But Hyun Je-ha couldn’t move.
Because of Yeon Yu-jin.
…What if I put Yu-jin in danger?
He was already under government scrutiny because of his association with Je-ha.
If Je-ha attacked here and now, it would only make things worse.
And the intruder had shown up right when Yu-jin was undergoing a re-evaluation. That couldn’t be a coincidence.
It could be a trap—maybe even one set by the government.
It’s too soon to act.
There was no guarantee he could subdue this guy alone. The energy he gave off was immense, rivaling any top-tier Esper.
Without knowing the intruder’s full capabilities or intentions, rushing in would be a dangerous gamble.
“Damn it.”
Je-ha bit out a curse and refocused on the intruder.
Yeon Yu-jin had clearly mistaken the man for a Bureau employee and fallen for his little game. The intruder looked amused, like he was toying with them.
Je-ha couldn’t figure out the motive. If this was a government trap, the bastard wouldn’t be enjoying himself like this.
No… He’s definitely suspicious. He might really be the one who killed Ga-hyun.
Je-ha decided to call in reinforcements. Just as he reached out to contact his comrades, his eyes locked with the intruder’s through the glass window.
…Did he just see me? Even with the stealth artifact active?
It was a fraction of a second—less than half a second. But Je-ha was sure.
That bastard saw him.
Without another thought, Je-ha flew forward using Telekinesis to catch him.
The intruder, caught off guard, muttered something toward the gate Yeon Yu-jin had entered—then vanished again with teleportation.
He got away.
“Shit. Where did he go?!”
Je-ha regretted not bringing the ally with tracking abilities.
If you couldn’t use tracking magic within ten seconds of a teleportation jump, catching the target was nearly impossible.
Grinding his teeth, Je-ha scanned the building.
Over the comms, the voices of his comrades rang out.
— What the heck, Captain? You? Calling for backup? The lone-wolf himself asking for help?
It was Ha Ri-ra. Je-ha replied, voice sharp with tension.
“…The guy we think killed Ga-hyun—the one we’ve been chasing—he was here.”
— WHAT?!
His teammate gasped in shock as Je-ha continued, each word laced with fury.
“I tried to grab him, but he slipped away. He’s a multi-ability user. From what I saw: teleportation, shapeshifting, and manipulation. And he saw me, even while I was hidden. Then he vanished again.”
That bastard ran like hell. Like someone who knew exactly who Hyun Je-ha was—and what it meant to be seen by him.
The voice on the line dropped into a deadly calm.
— Then the odds are high he’s the real killer.
Most members of the Baekho Unit had lost their partners. Some in battle at the frontlines… Others had watched their partners die after having their abilities stolen by X.
— Did you see his face?
“…Not clearly. But I saw one thing.”
— What was it?
“An earring. A red bead. Worn on one ear only.”
And strangely, every time he used an ability, he touched it.
“Is it just a habit… or something more?”
A dangerous thought crossed Je-ha’s mind.
“No. That’s impossible.”
If that thing truly had a purpose, X wouldn’t be skulking around—he’d be hiding in plain sight like an ordinary Esper. Not risking it all by messing with the Bureau.
“What the hell is he after?”
Je-ha’s gaze turned toward Exam Room 5—where Yeon Yu-jin had entered.
Could it be… that Yu-jin himself was the target?
He already had suspicions that Yu-jin’s ability wasn’t really D-rank. There was something about him—like he was hiding his power.
But why go after Yu-jin specifically?
Je-ha’s thoughts spun faster and faster.
“If X hasn’t stopped stealing abilities… and if he suspected Yu-jin was hiding something special—then maybe this whole thing was a test.”
That would explain it. And it made one horrifying kind of sense.
