“This, this is, what’s, going on....”
So shocked that her pupils shook, Choi Gyeonghui stammered. Her fingertip, unconsciously pointing at the S-ranks, trembled uncontrollably.
The security guard beside her, dripping with cold sweat, urgently shouted at Park Minhyuk.
“Team leader, are you alright?”
The words asked if he was fine, but what they really meant was, the Association President is here, so fix this mess already, damn it.
Only then did Park Minhyuk notice Choi Gyeonghui, his shoulders giving a slight flinch. His gaze turned toward the floor, split wide open and overturned by his own skill.
“President, this was unavoidable in order to block those S-ranks....”
“Enough, just stop them, Team Leader Park.”
Choi Gyeonghui pressed her forehead as she spoke. The floor was ruined anyway, so what she wanted was for him to at least break up the fight.
Then her eyes turned to me.
Why me?
I had been leaning back, comfortably watching, but blinked under her stare and suddenly realized.
Ah. Right. Everyone already knows I’m an S-rank dealer.
The condition that I could only change at night hadn’t been revealed yet, so from her perspective, it must have looked ridiculous that I wasn’t stepping in.
If I stayed idle any longer, even this newly replaced Association President would end up on bad terms with me.
There was no real need to get along with the Association, but making an enemy of them was annoying.
“Kid.”
When Park Minhyuk’s massive tree roots cut directly between Kwon Taehyuk and Mook Jeongho, I tapped Cha Sahyeon’s shoulder.
Without needing an explanation, he understood the signal immediately. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he summoned shadows and leapt us up.
“Let’s stop this.”
Landing neatly behind Mook Jeongho as the tree trunk blocked the view like a wall, Sahyeon and I faced him.
“Whose order did you come under that you just attack without warning?”
If Mook Jeongho caused any more trouble, it would be a headache for me too.
That guy was like a machine—if Representative Seo ordered it, he would carry it out without question. The chance of him attacking Kwon Taehyuk in such a noisy way of his own will was low.
“Order.”
He echoed my words and replied in a flat, emotionless tone.
“First. Secure Cha Seohu.”
Then he continued.
“Second. Leave a warning to the Association.”
“What? Why suddenly a warning to the Association?”
“Third. Eliminate anyone who interferes in the process of securing him.”
“Oh, so that means Guildmaster Kwon?”
I let out a hollow laugh as Mook Jeongho checked his wristwatch.
“This is the fastest way to fulfill the three orders. Eliminate interference from the Association, secure Cha Seohu, and account for the possibility of resistance. It is a perfect plan.”
Hearing that rigid declaration, I rubbed my forehead. [N O V E L I G H T] Right, he was always like this.
“I’m not resisting. Guildmaster Kwon had no intention of interfering either.”
“......”
After a brief silence, Mook Jeongho spoke again.
“Possibility of lying is high. Best to dispose before wasting time.”
“You weren’t even going to listen from the start, so what’s the point of—”
Damn it, my head hurts. This is exactly why I never wanted to talk with Mook Jeongho.
As I pressed my forehead, he pulled out a vibrating phone. Answering the call, he spoke after listening.
“Understood.”
The only one he would speak so politely to was Representative Seo.
After pocketing the phone again, Mook Jeongho removed his leather gloves.
“Confirmed. We move by car immediately. If there is resistance, subdue and transport.”
“I told you, I’m not resisting.”
Does he even hear me?
“I’m taking him with me.”
I wrapped an arm around Sahyeon’s shoulder as I said it. Mook Jeongho’s gaze dropped.
Black eyes crossed by a gray, dulled sheen. He stared briefly at Sahyeon, then nodded.
“All future risks and irregularities have been accounted for. There is no issue with accompanying.”
“...Wait a second.”
I had been ready to throw a fit if he said no, but instead he agreed so easily it furrowed my brow. And did he just say future risks and irregularities were accounted for?
“You used the kid’s skill again? After last time, you used it again for something like this? You know full well it wrecks his body!”
“It was Representative’s decision.”
He dismissed me with a hard voice, checking the time once more.
“Further chatter is meaningless. We move immediately.”
“...Ha.”
Yeah, what’s the point of trying to argue with this crazy machine.
I sighed and gave the most important condition.
“Fine, I’ll go. But it has to look like a kidnapping.”
Mook Jeongho gave a short nod, then grabbed me and hefted me up.
“Urk.”
My stomach pressed down painfully against his rock-hard shoulder. Carrying me like a sack, and tucking Sahyeon under his arm, he leapt agilely.
“Wait—!”
“Cha, Cha Seohu Hunter!”
“Cha Seohu the Supporter is b-being kidnapped!”
Kwon Taehyuk’s shocked shout was followed by Park Minhyuk and the Association employees crying out below.
Kwon Taehyuk already knew my situation, so no worries there. I could contact him by phone later.
As for Park Minhyuk and the Association... well, they’d figure it out.
And so, I was smoothly “kidnapped” and headed toward the C-281 district.
Mook Jeongho carried me like luggage as we left the Association, then put us into a car he had parked. Soon we reached the district’s main gate.
Rumble—!
The massive, thick gate opened and the car drove inside.
The streets, dazzling with neon signs at night, were now clean and quiet. Mook Jeongho drove straight toward the central building where Representative Seo was waiting.
Parking in the underground lot, he got us into the elevator and, as if it were obvious, pressed the button for the top floor.
So, straight to meet Representative Seo the moment we arrived. I hated this already.
While the elevator rose, Mook Jeongho stood still as a pillar, until suddenly his gaze dropped.
He was looking at Cha Sahyeon, who was pressed close at my side.
Even under his stare, Sahyeon only blinked indifferently, expression unchanged. Finally, I grew impatient and asked.
“What is it?”
“Where did you meet him?”
The question came like he’d been waiting for it.
“Why are you bringing him around? What connection does he have to you? Have you assessed the risks?”
“What’s it to you?”
“I need to confirm. Uncertainty is danger.”
“Mind your own business.”
Thankfully the elevator reached the top floor and stopped.
Talking with Mook Jeongho was worse than dealing with Representative Seo. Shaking my head, I took Sahyeon’s hand and stepped into the hall first.
“Welcome, young master. The Representative is waiting.”
The servant waiting outside bowed deeply and led us inward.
We passed through a spotless corridor and arrived at the innermost office. Mook Jeongho followed silently behind.
The servant knocked twice, then opened the door smoothly.
The office smelled of paper mixed with a faint, heavy bitterness—a scent I always caught when in the same room as Representative Seo.
As we entered, the servant closed the door and left.
Representative Seo sat opposite us, eyes fixed on documents, not raising his head. Only the faint sound of a fountain pen scratching filled the air.
This kind of pressure was nothing new; I’d dealt with it too many times before.
Flip. Only after turning a page did Representative Seo speak.
“Explain your actions over the past three weeks.”
“No thanks.”
I replied flatly. That made him finally raise his head.
After staring at me for a moment, he put down the pen and leaned back. Resting against the chair, he folded his arms.
“Cha Seohu. You don’t actually think I’m asking because I don’t know, do you?”
Well, of course not. Even Eun Woojeong had come to see me—there’s no way he didn’t know.
Kwon Taehyuk, Ryu Sunghyun, and Song Jiwoon had been searching for me, went toward Mount Taebaek, then after a long while suddenly appeared in Seoul with me. Of course he’d know.
But still. Even knowing everything, it was irritating that he would grill me like this.
“Then why even ask?”
“Knowing and acknowledging are different. Explain properly, from your own mouth.”
“Ah, I said no.”
At my defiance, Representative Seo slowly tilted his head.
A chilling shiver ran down my spine. I quickly ducked behind Sahyeon. Not that his small frame blocked any view at all.
Sahyeon, puzzled, glanced back at me pressing close.
“...I just stayed with someone I knew well for a bit. That’s all. I can’t say more. Really.”
Representative Seo, face expressionless, opened his mouth again.
“On your way out, go to Lee Seowon’s room.”
“I was already planning to. Why are you forcing the kid to use his skill again?”
“When your whereabouts couldn’t be tracked for a week, Lee Seowon volunteered. He said he’d find out. So you’ll go. Explain yourself and apologize.”
“...Fine.”
Damn nag.
“Let’s go.”
I squeezed Sahyeon’s hand and left the office. Thinking of Lee Seowon, who had already been forced to use his skill multiple times because of me, made my chest feel heavy.

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