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The Director-General’s estate was perched on a cliff. A dark blue sea undulated below the sheer cliff, and on the opposite side of the estate was a gently sloping hill.
The triangular white estate was famous for being designed and completed by the Arc founders. Originally built for the founders to live with their comrades, it had, over time, come to be used as the Director-General’s sole private residence.
With an airstrip, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a cinema, pristine lawns and pastures, private equestrian facilities, and a massive glass greenhouse where rare plants supposedly grew, the Director-General’s estate was called “The Great Wheel House,” aptly serving as the world’s most renowned “Wheel House.”
The Director-General enjoyed absolute authority within the estate, even in the presence of powerful figures holding wealth and power.
It was a time when the afternoon sun shone brilliantly through the greenhouse glass.
Geumgang-seop was continuing a meeting in the greenhouse with the men he had invited. Those seated around the table were the ones who actively supported the Elysion Project. They were fiercely debating to secure even more of their own interests.
Geumgang-seop, who led the meeting by sometimes mediating their discussions with a relaxed expression and sometimes throwing out topics ripe for infighting, excused himself and rose from his seat. A small light blinked on his wristwatch.
As he exited the greenhouse, his aide, who had been waiting at the entrance, approached with an urgent expression.
“The research facility is irrecoverable. It’s been determined that there’s no equipment or test subjects that can be reused. The damage... is greater than we thought.”
“Even Green Hive?”
“The damage there is even more severe. Echidna is dead, and the overall head of research is currently missing.”
“Still can’t find the body, or is it possible Shiloh consumed it?”
“That possibility exists, but it’s unlikely given that no genetic information has been found.”
He frowned slightly as he walked along a path through the landscaped trees.
“Crow must be thoroughly enraged.”
“It seems true that sending chimeras to his world was discovered. He hasn’t responded to Gaia’s calls for two days, and according to Titan, the Green Feather repository is empty.”
“I gave the order to kill him.”
The aide, who had been keeping pace with Geumgang-seop’s wide strides, hastily bowed his head.
“A wise decision, sir.”
Geumgang-seop, who had come to a sudden halt, quietly sneered at him.
“You’re the ones who should be making wise decisions. I thought it was the job of those who assist to prevent me from suffering such losses, was I mistaken?”
The aide’s face was taut with tension as he bowed so low his head almost touched his polished shoes.
“I apologize.”
“So, who’s behind this? Crow can’t cause such a widespread mess alone. Who did he collaborate with?”
“They seem accustomed to concealing their identities, even going so far as to procure all weapons from Cocytus. It’s a meticulous and organized operation...”
“Are you going to apologize again?”
Geumgang-seop, who had been stopped, started walking forward again. The aide, his face ashen as if he were about to bash his head against a nearby tree, hurried after his superior.
“If you lack ability, increase your effort; if you lack time, reduce your sleep. If even reducing sleep isn’t enough to keep up with the work, then stepping down is true loyalty and courtesy to the person you serve.”
The aide dared not reply, fearing he might displease the Director-General. Unlike the clear sky, the young man’s expression grew increasingly dark.
“We must reclaim the Green Feather, and Crow must be killed. He knows too much. Blame Crow for incidents he’s not even involved with. Emphasize immediate execution upon discovery.”
“I will make sure to tell Titan.”
“Are there any useful Titans among those out in the Green Sea?”
“Two elite espers, rated lower than their actual power, are deployed in Phlegethon.”
The Director-General’s eyes narrowed.
“Names.”
“Yeo Soo-min and Oliver Cornet.”
“I’ll issue separate instructions for them.”
“Yes, sir.”
The winding path surrounding the greenhouse began to show its end. At that moment, a man slightly older than the aide approached with quick steps from the end of the path. Standing to the Director-General’s right, he matched his stride and asked in a troubled voice,
“Are you going to dispose of Yoon Tae-ha?”
The aide’s eyes widened at the conversation he hadn’t heard. But he couldn’t actively intervene in the conversation between the Director-General and the new man. Geumgang-seop answered nonchalantly.
“Twenty-three years of observation is enough. She cannot manifest as Galatea.”
“B-but Professor Yoon’s opinion was different!”
The man said desperately. He seemed to oppose the Director-General’s decision.
“He saw potential in his granddaughter. Don’t you know that she’s a precious test subject obtained even by sacrificing the professor’s own daughter? The very fact that Yoon Tae-ha has survived without rampaging until now is proof that she is no ordinary esper!”
“How long must I be bound by a dead old man’s will? The Galatea Project was a failed operation. It’s only natural to carry out disposal operations on test subjects. In fact, it’s rather overdue.”
“Nevertheless, killing a powerful outsider’s bloodline would be a huge loss. Please, I beg you, reconsider your decision.”
“Who said anything about killing her?”
“Pardon?”
The man’s mouth hung open with a blank expression.
“She will return to the cradle.”
“Surely, you’re not already proceeding with the replacement...”
Geumgang-seop gave a warning glance, as if telling him to watch his mouth. The man shrank his neck. Now, the aide’s expression showed that his very presence there was an embarrassment.
A moment later, they arrived at the end of the garden surrounding the glass greenhouse. Geumgang-seop looked at the sharply pointed roof above and the deep blue sea beyond, then checked his watch.
“If you don’t want to become prey, step back.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than the aide and the man hastily departed. Geumgang-seop timed it. When the time came, a woman with long red hair appeared before his eyes. She bowed respectfully.
“Kali.”
“What are your orders?”
“Yoon Tae-ha. Bring her to the cradle.”
The red-haired outsider, Kali, smiled strangely.
“Shall I bring her back alive? Or kill her?”
“It would be good if she came back alive, as it would help our research. But if her resistance is too strong, then kill her. The replacement is complete.”
The woman straightened her posture and whispered in a smooth voice.
“What about the man next to the poor girl? He’s also a product of Galatea. And a test subject mentioned in the will.”
“He’s Cheon Seo-wan’s son.”
“An acquaintance?”
Geumgang-seop didn’t answer and walked past Kali. His jaw clenched. She followed the Director-General leisurely with her hands behind her back, a posture contrasting sharply with the aide’s earlier anxiety about displeasing him.
“It’s not bad to leave one card with malice towards the CH Vice Chairman. He’s just a guide anyway. He poses no threat, so let him live.”
“Understood.”
“And you.”
Geumgang-seop, who had been walking while looking at the sea, turned around. He seemed to be gripped by intense distrust and suspicion towards the outsider.
“Did you know about Crow’s betrayal?”
Kali replied slyly.
“Of course not.”
Having received a clear answer, Geumgang-seop seemed to regret having impulsively revealed his distrust. He gave a few more instructions. Kali bowed respectfully, signifying obedience. Geumgang-seop turned his body to return to the greenhouse.
Kali quietly watched his receding back, then chuckled lightly with a whooshing sound. She spoke to the beautifully branched garden tree.
“I’ll have to do what he wants until he wakes up, won’t I?”
A thin brown snake, camouflaged as a branch, hissed and raised its head. Kali had heard the conversation between Geumgang-seop and his subordinates through the snake she had planted beforehand. She closed her eyes, savoring the cool breeze.
“Don’t worry. We’re almost there.”
________________________________________
Black hair fluttered against a cloudless sky. Yoon Tae-ha was gripping the carrier’s railing.
The carrier felt as if it was floating effortlessly in the sky. If not for the sound of the wind rushing past her ears, she wouldn’t have believed they were moving. Her grip on the railing tightened.
She had killed Cheon Geon-young’s enemy. In the winter of her twenty-first year, during a deployment to the Arctic region, where the wind was so biting it seemed to flay the skin.
It was a mission she was deployed on with Lee Hae-kyung. The two fought against a monster that attacked an Arctic research base. After a week-long battle, they succeeded in killing the monster. They believed it was an intelligent monster. But its black outer skin melted away, revealing a human face underneath. Lee Hae-kyung groaned, looking down at the partially melted face.
“It’s a Titan. The rumors that the Director-General uses his people roughly were true.”
They didn’t record the evidence or report it to headquarters. It was an incident they only reported as having been frozen by Lee Hae-kyung and then utterly destroyed by Yoon Tae-ha, leaving no trace.
At that time, Lee Hae-kyung told her that the Director-General would do anything to hide his flaws, even if it meant the miserable death of someone loyal to him.
A moment ago, Yoon Tae-ha, having explained the death of the esper who was a Titan, connected Changcheon and Lee Hae-kyung. Lee Hae-kyung knew more about Titans than she did. Cheon Geon-young wanted her to leave the meeting room for a moment. Yoon Tae-ha was uneasy, but seeing his dark expression suppressing his confusion, she had no choice but to obey.
Looking at the sun, she estimated the time. The conversation was taking longer than expected. Perhaps it felt even longer due to her own anxiety.
Will he be angry?
She couldn’t even imagine Cheon Geon-young’s feelings. She let her head droop limply, trying to focus on the noise created by the massive machine. But her efforts were broken by the sound of someone’s footsteps. Yoon Tae-ha felt her heart quicken and turned around. Already knowing who it was, she said in a choked voice,
“Are you done?”
Cheon Geon-young approached. The emotions on his face were like a blank canvas. She couldn’t read anything. He came right up to her, extended his arms, and pulled her into a tight embrace.
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