HLSEBT - 98

98. People from Another World 2

Cheon Geonyoung appeared at a large café. Carrying coffee and a laptop, he sat at an outdoor table, looking every bit like a college student overwhelmed by assignments.

Wearing a baseball cap he rarely used, pulled low over his face, he began typing on his laptop.

The cool breeze carried the aroma of coffee. The interior hummed with just the right amount of noise. Cheon Geonyoung was the only one seated outdoors. His earphones, however, emitted no music—he was focused on the sounds around him.

After a few minutes of listening to the ambient noise, the door opened, and Kang Biseok appeared alongside a middle-aged woman. Catching their reflections in the glass door, Cheon Geonyoung lowered his head.

The woman, her voice trembling, pointed to a table opposite where he sat.

“This... this spot seems fine.”

“Very well.”

Kang Biseok politely pulled out her chair for her.

Through the glass door, Cheon Geonyoung could see the woman’s expression. She seemed relieved that someone other than herself and Kang Biseok was present in the space.

Cheon Geonyoung began retyping a document he had already completed.

The woman nervously glanced around, as if being chased by something, before cautiously speaking.

“I apologize for changing locations like this. My husband insisted we meet in a crowded place...”

She trailed off, checking once again to confirm that Cheon Geonyoung was properly seated. It was as though she believed the presence of strangers would prevent Kang Biseok from harming her.

“When you’re threatened, it’s natural to grow suspicious.”

“Principal Pyo Yeongsik was a ruthless man.”

The woman sitting across from Kang Biseok was the wife of Park Daechul, who had operated the snack shop in the West Shelter.

Cheon Geonyoung wanted certain information from Park Daechul. To that end, he had handed over a recorder along with his contact details.

Park Daechul was sharp. He understood it was a personal deal. Even as he was dragged away, unable to escape punishment, he never mentioned Cheon Geonyoung—not once. Of course, it helped that Cheon Geonyoung hadn’t sent him away empty-handed.

“Thanks to the money you sent, we were able to find a place to hide. I’m truly grateful.”

Park Daechul’s wife expressed her thanks. Kang Biseok responded in a formal tone:

“If you keep our secret, the same amount will be deposited on the same date next year.”

The woman inhaled sharply.

“Of course, I’ll keep it! My husband and I will move far away and build a small house in the mountains. Of course, after my husband pays for his crimes.”

Kang Biseok patiently listened to her nervous ramblings about future plans. When she paused to sip her drink, he finally broached the main topic.

“Did you bring what I asked for?”

“It’s here.”

She placed a worn-out notebook in front of Kang Biseok.

“It’s not neat. My husband drew these as a hobby.”

Kang Biseok slowly flipped through the pages. With a brief nod, he signaled that it was sufficient.

“He’s quite talented at drawing.”

Cheon Geonyoung noted Kang Biseok’s signal—it meant the notebook contained the information he sought.

“My husband loves cars. He often drew trucks or sedans coming into the school.”

The woman cautiously asked Kang Biseok:

“Why do you need my husband’s hobby notebook...?”

Kang Biseok didn’t answer. Seeing his expression, the woman realized her mistake. She hurriedly bowed her head, apologizing profusely.

Kang Biseok gave her the address of one of Cheon Geonyoung’s safehouses, instructing her to flee there if trouble arose. She sincerely thanked him before leaving.

Having achieved his goal, Cheon Geonyoung rose from his seat shortly after she departed.

He deliberately took public transportation, looping back and forth before finally arriving home. Not long after, Kang Biseok entered through the door.

The hobby notebook moved from Kang Biseok’s hands to Cheon Geonyoung’s. He immediately flipped to a page he had already marked.

An ordinary-looking blue truck. A white sedan. A motorcycle delivering food.

Below each vehicle, Park Daechul had written the date and time he had observed them. The dates and times seemed to serve as a kind of artist’s signature.

Cheon Geonyoung carefully examined the license plates on the vehicles. Kang Biseok waited patiently before asking:

“How should we handle the protection of Park Daechul and his wife?”

“Assign someone reliable. They might become witnesses later.”

“They seem trustworthy. I found no trace of them contacting anyone else.”

“Principal Pyo Yeongsik seems to have underestimated them as ordinary civilians.”

“That’s a cautious opinion. Could it be because they were paid too much?”

“Perhaps I overdid it. Should I ask for a refund?”

Kang Biseok chuckled weakly at Cheon Geonyoung’s characteristic cynical humor. Cheon Geonyoung meticulously reviewed the notebook, folding the corners of a few pages.

“Find the owners of the vehicles drawn on the folded pages.”

Kang Biseok carefully accepted the notebook.

“These vehicles weren’t captured by the school’s surveillance cameras during the relevant period. Park Daechul claims he saw them enter, but they never appeared on the cameras at key checkpoints.”

“Ark likely deleted them in advance. Could they have been delivery vehicles? Or perhaps an esper—like Lee Kyungtae or Shin Jaeeil—who caused the incident infiltrated this way?”

“We’ll need to find out if we want this notebook to be worth its value.”

It hadn’t been long since Cheon Geonyoung returned home, yet he still hadn’t removed his cap. Finally taking it off, he ran his fingers through his hair, looking weary.

“How is Ark spinning this?”

“They’re framing it as an individual’s deviation caused by money. There’s been no mention yet of the principal being part of Orca.”

Deviation by an individual? What a pitiful excuse.

So their much-vaunted artificial intelligence failed to detect even one esper’s deviation?

Cheon Geonyoung’s eyes narrowed skeptically.

“They’ve chosen to appear incompetent.”

“It seems they’re maintaining their image as righteous international police to reap various benefits.”

Complex emotions flickered across Cheon Geonyoung’s face as he leaned back on the couch, his tousled hair falling messily.

If deception was the measure, he wasn’t entirely innocent either. He hadn’t told his partner about bribing Park Daechul. The reason was simple.

He didn’t know her well enough yet.

Yoon Taeha noticed dimples in others. She couldn’t tie a necktie but knew how to untie one. She enjoyed swimming and was astutely perceptive. She was excessively generous with children and showed no hesitation when reaching out to others.

Uncovering the things hidden beneath her cold mask was enjoyable—but it didn’t help him.

“Headquarters is curious about your partner.”

Cheon Geonyoung’s gaze sharpened. Kang Biseok noticed his mood subtly shifting.

“They’ll definitely ask about Yoon Taeha there. If you don’t wish to answer questions about her, you can decline participation, citing the risk of exposing your identity.”

Thinking of the familiar faces he’d meet at the meeting, Cheon Geonyoung’s expression grew even drier.

“You can’t avoid it forever. I’ll go myself.”

With that, the black cap in his hand flipped over in a smooth spin.

________________________________________

A crow circled overhead. The bird, tracing circles in the sky, descended without hesitation when its master called.

The vice president sat in a chair placed outdoors in the mansion, observing the scene.

The crow’s master was a man with short ash-gray hair. As he turned and approached the vice president, his red eyes came into view.

The vice president clicked his tongue. No matter how many times he saw them, those eyes never ceased to unsettle him.

The red-eyed man stopped in front of the outdoor table. Clearly, he was not a “human” born and raised on Earth.

The man with crimson eyes spoke.

“A message came from the green sea. They say the second experiment was successful.”

“The crow?”

The vice president gestured toward the bird with a tilt of his chin.

“Are you really capable of anything I ask?”

“Even dying here in an explosion is possible.”

“What?”

“If you wish, I can recreate what I showed Pyo Yeongsik.”

An unpleasant emotion flickered across the vice president’s face. The outsider stared down at him unblinkingly, showing no other reaction. His voice, devoid of inflection, carried an air of arrogance.

“I heard you have a task for me.”

For someone summoned, his posture was overly domineering. The vice president abruptly stood, ensuring the other man couldn’t look down on him anymore.

“There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Do I need to meet them personally?”

“That’s why I called you, isn’t it?”

In one corner of the garden, a gardener was trimming a tree. Sharp pruning shears cut away protruding branches, shaping the tree into a round, angular form. Watching this, the vice president remarked meaningfully:

“You’ve seen them at the school—if you’ve done your job properly.”

The outsider, who had also been watching the gardener, turned his head.

“Are you referring to your nephew and the woman who always stays by his side?”

“Test the woman.”

“What’s the purpose?”

“I’m curious about her abilities. Just push her enough—not to the point of death. Isn’t that one of Orca’s specialties?”

The outsider turned his gaze back to the gardener. He fell silent. Such silence was taboo in the vice president’s presence. Negative emotions stirred in the vice president’s heavy features.

Soon, the red-eyed man continued watching the gardener’s work before making a grim prediction:

“You’ve severed the soul of the tree. That one will wither and die within a month.”

The tree he referred to was the vice president’s favorite. Before the vice president could erupt in anger, the outsider left the garden. The crow followed leisurely behind its master.

________________________________________

Dr. Moon smiled brightly upon reviewing Yoon Taeha’s recent health checkup report.

“You’ve improved significantly.”

Yoon Taeha’s expression remained impassive as she viewed the results on the monitor. Dr. Moon patted her shoulder encouragingly, urging her to celebrate.

Yoon Taeha’s gaze followed Dr. Moon’s branch-like fingers. Her lips tightened briefly at the unwanted contact, but only for a fleeting moment.