Chapter 35
Baek Dojun asked.
“When did you notice?”
I answered while still aiming the gun.
“At first, it was a light suspicion. The size of the custom-made uniform didn’t fit your body.”
“…….”
“Next, your mustache caught my eye. It was subtly unnatural whenever you spoke. As if you were wearing a human skin mask.”
A human skin mask that covered the face was usually unnatural around the lips, so a bushy beard was grown to hide it.
Typically, like Baek Dojun's delicate mustache.
“After that, I became certain that you might be in disguise when the branch chief was attacked.”
“Attacked……?”
I nodded lightly.
“For someone who was attacked by a Ghoul, there were many strange things. First, it was questionable that the branch chief had no external injuries.”
“Hmm, what if the Ghoul used an ability that doesn’t leave external injuries?”
“If they could carry out such a meticulous attack, they would have ended his life before the branch chief could scream.”
“…….”
“In the first place, it's ridiculous that he was moving alone in enemy territory without a formation. ……My goodness, with his experience, there's no way he would ignore Dispel's investigation principles and move alone.”
“Interesting…….”
For a moment, Baek Dojun let out an unpleasant laugh.
Not in a negative sense, but more like a pervert's…….
“Therefore, I came to the conclusion that the 3rd Branch Chief, Gwon Seongjun, staged the act at someone's request or coercion. And at that point, your existence caught my eye. The most incongruous existence in this case.”
“Incongruous, you say……. Then you must know who I am.”
I affirmed by curling one corner of my mouth.
“A position that can order the branch chief to swallow poison, and a person who can easily use Dispel's identity. ……Excluding external pressure from Hunter guilds, there are only three people in Seoul who can do that. The Director-General of the Bureau of Superpowers, the Commissioner General of Dispel, and…… the Chief of the Special Affairs Division.”
“…….”
“Considering that this case is under the jurisdiction of the Special Affairs Division, there's no need to think long about who you are. Am I wrong so far, Special Affairs Division Chief Baek Dojun?”
Baek Dojun let out another laugh.
Then he quickly let out a calm voice.
“Branch Chief Gwon did not move under my orders. He simply agreed with my intentions.”
Agreed with his intentions, he says…….
“More importantly, I don't think I've heard the fundamental answer yet. The basis for your claim that I am trying to smuggle Hong Dahee's family.”
“There is no basis. But there is a suspicion. That is, I found a clue that Hong Dahee's family are not Ghouls.”
“……A clue?”
“A little while ago, I found an empty picture frame in the office of Hong Eunseok, the master of the guild Poisonous and Hong Dahee's father. ……It's a strange thing, isn't it? A Ghoul subservient to a Demonic Being, taking a picture with memories recorded on it and running away.”
A Ghoul was a demonic creature whose reason was controlled by a Demonic Being.
Unless it was a special case, their previous humanity did not easily show.
And yet, the fact that he took the picture was clear evidence that he was not a Ghoul.
“Circumstantial evidence that he was a Ghoul was presented at the trial, and because of that, Dispel raided the place. But the building was already empty. The people who were staging a behavioral protest had changed their attitude and fled. ……This is impossible unless someone tipped them off. For example, someone who could know or lead Dispel's movements in advance.”
“…….”
“Well, I don't know for what reason you helped them. I'm not interested in that in the first place. But it's certain that no one but the head of the Special Affairs Division could have been involved, given the circumstances.”
The reason Baek Dojun was trying to smuggle Hong Dahee's family was to protect Hong Eunseok.
Hong Eunseok was an important figure who would create a 'potion' that would cause a great stir in the Awakened world in the future, and he would side with Lee Eunho to take revenge on the Demonic Being who had turned his daughter into a Ghoul.
Baek Dojun had recognized Hong Eunseok's potential, but the problem was that the Demonic Being had also recognized his value.
Thus, Baek Dojun acted first before the Demonic Being could take him.
After all, if he had just let him be, he would either have died from the court's punishment or become subservient to the Demonic Being.
The reason for framing him as a Ghoul was also to advance the plan.
A judgment to not give the Demonic Being time.
In the first place, since Demonic Beings with individual behavioral habits had no way of knowing how many Ghouls other Demonic Beings had, it was a valid choice in many ways.
“Not a bad deduction. No, honestly, it's beyond my expectations. ……But I'd like to ask why you're still pointing your gun at me while talking.”
Baek Dojun, who spoke while staring at my gun.
I answered firmly.
“Because I haven't decided whether to pull the trigger yet.”
“…….”
“I'm currently calculating what kind of honor I can gain by capturing the person who reigns at the top of the Seoul Special Self-Governing City as a criminal.”
Excluding the original work, this case was an illegal act led by the Chief of the Special Affairs Division, a symbol of the investigation world.
This, in other words, meant that I held Baek Dojun's secret in my hands.
A very valuable opportunity that did not come easily, not only in this world but also in the original work.
Conversely, Baek Dojun also found out the secret that I was not a talentless person, but that was not a big problem.
It had not been long since I had updated my superpower information on paper, so it was still within the update validity period.
Baek Dojun quickly noticed my intention and spoke in a low tone.
“Do you think you can stop me with such a gun?”
“Of course. The bullet may not hit you, but the gunshot will call the people on deck. Isn't this container what you have to protect, Chief?”
“……You’re not wrong. But, what does a Hero Prep cadet want from me?”
“It's nothing grand. I just want to share the information line of the Special Affairs Division.”
“……What did you say?”
“I mean, I want to receive the information flowing into the Special Affairs Division on my terminal.”
Baek Dojun showed a rare look of bewilderment.
As if he had not expected it at all.
It was an absurd request, as much as his reaction suggested.
But for me, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The information that passed through the Special Affairs Division's line was mostly about important events in the original work and their omens.
Therefore, it was clear that it would become a guide for the episodes that would gradually become jumbled.
Of course, I did not think he would grant it.
At most, it would be a matter of exchanging information sporadically.
But even that was a sufficient gain.
As if haggling for a price in the market, I opened my lips again to mention a compromise.
But at that moment, Baek Dojun's words came out first.
“Hmm, there's nothing as valuable as information in this world. ……But, I don't think I can accept your terms.”
“Yes?”
Baek Dojun, leaving my puzzled expression behind, approached the container.
Then, as he touched the locking bolt without any equipment, the locking bolt moved as if it had never been sealed with magic.
Creak-.
Soon, the door opened with a screech.
“…….”
However, what was revealed inside was only supplies that had nothing to do with this case.
For a moment, tens of thousands of thoughts flashed through my mind.
So many flashed by that I couldn't handle it, and it felt as if my thinking had stopped.
I dropped the pistol limply.
At the same time, Baek Dojun curled the corners of his mouth with a perverted expression.
“It was fun. I was able to kill time thanks to you. Above all, I was secretly impressed by your excellent reasoning and acting.”
“……Wh-where are Hong Dahee's family?”
The result of this episode mentioned in the original work was only that Baek Dojun would get them out.
I did not know the method or the process, but there was no way that fact had changed with the remake so far.
But the fact that there was no one in the container…….
It meant that the address was wrong from the beginning.
“Your reasoning was excellent. It's just that they're moving by land, not by sea.”
What?
Then why did he make Dispel move to the port…….
“They probably left Seoul with my capable aide by now. Originally, I was supposed to move with them, but……. There was a rather interesting matter.”
“…….”
At that moment, I realized.
The reason Dispel's 3rd Branch moved all the way to District 17 was to minimize the forces in the city to make it easier to get Hong Dahee's family out.
In the first place, the vehicle Baek Dojun was riding in was not supposed to head here, but to leave Seoul.
Perhaps that family was hiding nearby with Kim Seyeon, waiting for Dispel to withdraw.
And just then, Gwon Chihun had spotted Baek Dojun's vehicle.
“……So in the end, it was a fool's errand.”
The reason for the staged act of Gwon Seongjun being poisoned was nothing more than a manipulation to mention the appearance of a Ghoul on paper.
That way, like in the original work, the conclusion could be drawn that the Special Affairs Division had killed Hong Dahee's family on the spot.
Of course, the place of that killing would be here, on this cargo ship.
He had mentioned Ghouls to Gwon Chihun, and there was no place as closed off as the sea.
I just laughed in vain.
I had run for an extra episode, but it turned out the starting line was the finish line.
What was the reason for an extra episode to come flying in for a case that did not affect the development…….
“You look like you have a lot to say.”
“I'm holding back what's about to come out of my throat.”
I put the pistol that had fallen on the floor back into Gwon Chihun's belt and continued.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“What?”
“My punishment. I'm the only witness who knows your secret. Although I did bark up the wrong tree.”
Until a little while ago, I held his secret.
But that was only valid when Hong Dahee's family was hiding in the container.
Now that the gunshot had been fired and the sailors could not rush over to grasp the situation, I was just an intruder who had boarded the ship.
“Hmm, in fact, from the moment you pointed your gun at me, I concluded that I couldn't just leave you be.”
“……Well, are you going to throw me into the sea or something.”
Since it would be announced that there was a battle with Ghouls here, it would not be strange for a Hero Prep cadet to fall into the sea and die.
In fact, that was the most natural thing.
“The fact that I can't leave you be means I want to bring you to the Special Affairs Division.”
“……Yes?”
What is he talking about.
“Join the Special Affairs Division. By regulations, you have to graduate from the academy, so the title of apprentice would be good.”
“No, I mean, what are you talking about so suddenly…….”
“I mean, come work under me and check the information as much as you want. If you want, I can even let you participate in cases.”
For a moment, hesitation came before surprise.
The Special Affairs Division.
The pinnacle of the investigation world, and a place where monsters with skills greater than hunters gathered.
The cases they handled were mostly related to Demonic Beings.
In other words, irregulars who were active on the front lines against Demonic Beings.
Hunters also risked their lives, but…….
If a hunter was a single-player video game, a Special Affairs Division investigator was the PVP content of an MMORPG full of seasoned players.
Furthermore, while hunters were only torn apart or eaten by monsters, Special Affairs Division investigators were often brutally murdered by Demonic Beings.
Putting other things aside, there was also the worst possibility of turning into a Ghoul and having to serve as a slave forever.
“How about it? If you're really an Investigation cadet, I think I'm giving you a rare opportunity.”
The best condition for an Investigation cadet, as he said.
But I shook my head once.
“I'm sorry, but I need time to think.”
“Sorry, you say……. You seem to be mistaken about something. This is a threat before it's an offer.”
“……?”
“Surely, you don't think I'll just let go of someone who secretly snooped on a classified case?”
Along with his words, I felt an indescribable chill.
The atmosphere exuded by the one who stood at the pinnacle of investigation.
But it was different from An Hwigom's killing intent.
An undeniable truth, a psychological pressure that rather negated the opponent's next move…….
I tried not to be flustered, but my throat moved on its own.
In the first place, it was a stupid thing for me, who absolutely depended on my abilities, to oppose him.
I forced my mouth open.
“Why are you trying to take me to the Special Affairs Division? If you're trying to cover up the case, you could just throw me into the sea without even making threats or offers.”
“That’s obvious, because you’re the first one to give me pleasure with your reasoning.”
Baek Dojun's voice softened slightly.
“I will guarantee you the utmost freedom. Enjoy the information line as you wished, and move according to your purpose. If you still don't feel like it, you can leave then. ……With these conditions, I don't think you need time to think.”
“…….”
What did he mean by giving him pleasure with my reasoning.
Did using the information I knew as the original author become a problem…….
Whatever the case, it was clear that this was the last chance he was giving me.
Given Baek Dojun's nature, he would not leave a risk factor like me.
I made up my mind.
“……Under those conditions, I accept.”
“Hmph, a wise choice.”
At that moment, a system message popped up before my eyes.
[You have completed the episode.]
[The influence of the sub-character, ‘Ji Seokhyeon,’ increases.]
[The intervention rate for future episodes increases by 1.700%.]
As if it had been waiting for me to enter the Special Affairs Division.
“Then I look forward to working with you, Special Affairs Division apprentice investigator Ji Seokhyeon.”
***
The Vice Principal's office in the main building.
Park Cheolyeong let out a groan at Yun Jeongseop's sudden report.
“I see……. That fellow is leaving the club…….”
“He did not give a reason. I can only say that he had a different feel from the usual Lee Eunho…….”
“Lee Eunho is not a person who acts rashly. So, no matter how much you persuade him, he will show a firm attitude.”
The Mystery Club was a fence to watch over Lee Eunho and Ji Seokhyeon.
The fact that Lee Eunho was leaving that fence…….
Park Cheolyeong did not think for long and continued.
“It's for the better.”
“Yes?”
“In the first place, another reason I was watching him was because he was admitted on Kim Shinwoo's recommendation.”
Excluding the social care beneficiaries, a recommendation from someone was needed to take the entrance exam for Hero Prep.
Lee Eunho was a special case, admitted on the recommendation of a school official, and the Principal at that.
On top of that, the existence of Lee Eunho, who had seized the top spot and was praised as the best talent of his age, was of considerable help to Principal Kim Shinwoo's position.
“Geniuses have appeared countless times in this world. Some seized the opportunity and became guild masters, and some others made a great mark in the era of the Awakened. But do you know this? ……Among the geniuses, few lived out their natural lives. In this world, what's important is to survive in the end. It's a world where even the most brilliant person can be killed by a monster overnight. Or they die young in the dark struggles of this world. If not that, there are also those who go crazy on their own and lose their minds.”
“…….”
“I am not trying to disparage him. I am just saying that he is one of many geniuses.”
After finishing his words, Park Cheolyeong picked up the teacup that was in the corner of his desk.
One sip like that.
Soon, the teacup was placed back on the table, and Park Cheolyeong's words were added.
“In that sense, I'd like you to go to a little more trouble.”