Cheon Geon-young shifted his gaze to the screen Kwon Hyuk was watching. Breaking the silence that had lingered for a while, Kwon Hyuk spoke.

“The school matter went well. We were able to use that as leverage to deploy our people as surveillance personnel.”

“Did you also confirm the story about the deceased Agent Shin Jae-il?”

“Confirmed. To enter a dead person’s body and act as if they were alive. Among the psychics I’ve witnessed, there was no one with such an ability.”

“After that incident at Ark, there was a health check for all personnel.”

“We conducted one immediately after hearing the information you provided. Thankfully, no one here has it.”

Kwon Hyuk frowned as if it were disgusting. Having estimated what Ark might do with the data obtained through the enhancers, he let out a deep sigh. Older than Lee Hae-kyung and younger than Gong Ju-chan, he was a seasoned veteran of the military.

“I’m glad you went to school, even if it was late, Gun-young.”

“It was a meaningful time.”

“What about Yoon Tae-ha? Was it a meaningful time for Yoon Tae-ha too?”

At the mention of his partner’s name, the young man’s lips tightened. Kwon Hyuk, having noted the reaction, gave a wry smile.

Already?

Kwon Hyuk had been aware of the possibility of things turning out this way. A guide who manifested late and a non-public S-class. A relationship formed by contract. They could endlessly push each other away, but he had also considered the opposite possibility.

Young, full of vigor, and unfamiliar with each other. The variables didn’t exist elsewhere.

“We don’t expect anything from that side. Neither does Gong Ju-chan, nor Lee Hae-kyung. The things each S-class has gone through are too significant. It wouldn’t be strange if they defected at any time, anywhere.”

“Do you suspect the center director as well?”

“Lee Hae-kyung is a good leader. But good guys are scarier when they go mad. How much pure goodwill do you think exists in this industry?”

Cheon Geon-young stood motionless, listening to his words.

“Factions will form even within our ranks. We need to accurately distinguish between the black team and the white team.”

“I’m curious where you classify the center director.”

“Maybe it’s because we’re from different generations, but personally, I’ve never felt Lee Hae-kyung’s true intentions. The school for psychics also became active after I became an adult. So I don’t have any connection with Lee Hae-kyung.”

Kwon Hyuk paused.

“Our goal this time is Ark, first and foremost. If we touch that, the vice-chairman of CH will naturally be caught.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Cheon Geon-young replied in the perfect posture of a soldier.

“Recently, the personal information that was blocked has been released. That woman, she’s Professor Yoon Jeong-hoon’s granddaughter. I’m not even sure if she’s his biological granddaughter.”

“Do you mean she might not be?”

“Back in those days, it was common for scientists to adopt orphaned psychics under them. There was nothing better for resolving guardian consent. They’re clumsily trying to block it with laws now, though.”

“That doesn’t sound like good intentions.”

“That’s why we need to dig into Yoon Tae-ha as well.”

“You think she’s involved in the project.”

“Let’s consider the worst-case scenario.”

Reminding him that the partner he had just met could be the most dangerous enemy. Kwon Hyuk had a face that said he believed that was his duty.

“Whether by her own will or by force, the possibility that Yoon Tae-ha is carrying on Yoon Jeong-hoon’s intentions.”

Carrying on. Cheon Geon-young showed a subtle change in expression, like someone who didn’t like the word. The young man who hadn’t wavered even during harsh training that was no different from real combat. Kwon Hyuk was about to say something more but stopped when he saw Oh Gi-cheol peeking in from outside the window.

“Sorry for calling you in on the weekend too. I’m old-fashioned, so I prefer reports done face-to-face. I can’t help it even if people say I’m overworking you.”

“May I give you the lowest score in our internal evaluation?”

“......Was there such a thing?”

“No, sir.”

Not many agents could say such things to Kwon Hyuk. He dismissed him with a much softer expression.

“Good work on the infiltration. Keep up the good work in the future too, Gun-young.”

Cheon Geon-young bowed politely and left the room. Oh Gi-cheol, who had been waiting outside, nagged at Cheon Geon-young like a parent who found their child returning late from playing in the playground.

Oh Gi-cheol confirmed that Cheon Geon-young had completely left the situation room and entered Kwon Hyuk’s office. As he closed the door, Kwon Hyuk poured hot water into a packet of instant coffee he had prepared in advance. A cup of heavily sugared coffee was placed in front of Oh Gi-cheol. Having worked together for a long time, he knew his coffee preferences well.

“You’re like Gun-young’s father.”

At the words casually thrown by Kwon Hyuk, who was younger than him, Oh Gi-cheol made a disgruntled face.

“So, what did you call me in for?”

“Do you think that kid might have other ideas?”

He flared up as if his loyalty was being questioned.

“You’ve been using him for operations since he was fifteen, and now you’re doubting him? He’s a kid who stepped forward to reveal the wrongdoings of his last remaining family with his own hands.”

“But he wasn’t a guide then. And the partner position was vacant.”

Oh Gi-cheol’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“Cheon Geon-young isn’t an ordinary guide.”

“Is it because of his fire immunity? Is that so important?”

“An organization that unconditionally chooses murder for cover-ups kept Cheon Geon-young alive. The meaning of that is too clear.”

Even while drinking the coffee that suited his taste, Oh Gi-cheol couldn’t smooth out his wrinkled expression.

“It means there’s a high possibility that he’ll become an esper who can do both. Even now, while guiding, he possesses the fire immunity that is a characteristic of espers.”

“What happens if Cheon Geon-young becomes a psychic who can use both abilities?”

Kwon Hyuk’s voice became firm.

“What’s important now is that Cheon Geon-young continues to stand on our side. Beside the government, in front of Changcheon.”

“......”

“At that age, I would have beheaded anyone if my guide had told me to.”

Kwon Hyuk, having watched the dumbfounded face of the other man, said it was a joke. A joke? It had been chilling. Oh Gi-cheol, though pretending to be fine, once again engraved in his mind that Kwon Hyuk was also an S-class.

“There’s an esper over there who can manipulate other people. It would be in everyone’s best interest not to trust anyone outside of headquarters.”

•

A black river was visible beyond the subway window.

Having left headquarters late at night, Cheon Geon-young boarded the subway. The scene of the river water shimmering red like scales caught his eye.

It was natural that he had developed a revulsion towards water.

An esper had killed his parents and thrown the young him into the river. Into the Han River stained with his family’s blood. Every time he struggled to rise to the surface, they pushed the boy’s body back down.

Trying to recall that moment made his head ache as if it would break. Like a thick sea fog obstructing a sailor’s vision. Most of his childhood had been like that. But one word left by the killer was deeply etched in his mind.

<Such a waste to kill such a body.>

A waste of a body.

He had pondered the meaning of those words for a long time. In the incidents related to the project, he was the only survivor. There was no way they would have accidentally spared a boy who had no power to protect himself.

They had deliberately kept him alive. His parents had likely been silenced like Oh Gi-cheol’s wife.

Perhaps his father had opposed his grandfather. Because he couldn’t allow his child to be used as an experiment subject.

How had his grandfather accepted that? If he had understood and accepted his wishes, things wouldn’t have come to this point.

Chairman Cheon’s capricious actions could be understood under one hypothesis.

He had kept his grandson alive as an experiment subject. Not because of any affection for family, but because he expected material value.

A lab rat.

That was the reality of himself that had received envious gazes from others. It was ridiculous. There was no place for him inside the splendidly built glass castle. What surrounded him wasn’t a glass castle, but the inside of a laboratory aquarium.

The only time he had felt pleasure in the water was with a certain woman.

The memory of Yoon Tae-ha’s excited smile during underwater training sessions came to mind, shifting his mood. Layered memories slowly surged up.

The slight upturn of her lips when their eyes met after pretending not to know each other at school. The long, slender shadow waiting at the dormitory crossroads. Her clear laughter at trivial pranks, her childish jokes.

She had read his weakness that no one else had noticed so far. His aversion to water. The training to hide it had been brutal. But Yoon Tae-ha had noticed it after only a few training sessions. So easily.

Was the name he had thought was pretty from the beginning real? Questions he felt she wouldn’t answer flashed by like lights.

The subway crossed the river.

He got off a few stops before his destination to walk. At that moment, his phone screen flickered. As soon as he looked down to check, strength entered the hand holding the device. Cheon Geon-young turned back without hesitation.

•

She was lying on the bed. Buried under the covers, Yoon Tae-ha strained her eyes. Her voice was slightly hoarse.

“I can’t see.”

Her vision was much worse than usual. She had used three vials of artificial tears, but the result was the same. Her eyes had only become slightly more moist.

There was no sign of anyone at home. Only an unpleasant stillness filled the air. She sat up blankly, then lay back down on the bed. There was a rustling sound. When she put her hand under the pillow, she grabbed a piece of memo paper.

<Charge the battery! That was the best I could do!>

What is this? Did Lev forget how to use periods?

Yoon Tae-ha tore the memo into shreds so that the original form couldn’t be recognized and threw it in the trash can. The pain that had been enough to make her faint was gone, but she still wasn’t in good condition. She barely won the fight against every cell in her body that wanted to laze around. Then, after washing up and changing clothes, she flopped back down on the bed.

She didn’t even have the energy to order food, so she just wrapped herself in a blanket and endured the hunger, when the doorbell rang.

No one should be coming.

However, vigilance overcame the pain. She pressed the button to turn off all the lights. Then, silencing her footsteps, she approached the front door.

Knock knock. Polite but slightly urgent taps. A small voice could be heard from beyond the door. Her heart plummeted.

“Yoon Tae-ha.”

Where had the ruthless man gone? Only his voice was still gentle.

She had become prey again. It felt like the black man from the black market had followed her. The restraints his colleagues had used flickered before her eyes.

“Open it.”

Hesitating, she took a deep breath and pulled the handle. Like someone possessed. She knew this was the perfect moment to feign illness.

A man with hair tousled by the wind appeared.