An article?
An article? A newspaper article? A news article? My jaw dropped, and I stared blankly at the doctor.
Why had an article co out?
Because of that chairman. He was a celebrity, after all.
I felt like my insides were sinking.
Images of my face-to-face with Ye-hyeon and my first eting with Yoon flashed quickly through my mind. What if they found out I was a parachutist? It wouldn't end with just Ye-hyeon resigning.
How far had the article spread?
Samuel Han must have pitied my trembling state, because he clicked his tongue in sympathy: tsk tsk tsk.
With his rough hands, he handed a tablet. It wasn't the work tablet; it seed to be his personal one.
I widened my eyes and looked down at the screen filled with the article.
An article featuring two people I knew was blown up huge on the front page.
["My brother never let go of us, not even for a mont."]
I wanted to die.
Luke, what the hell did you do?
I read the article filled with heartwarming stories, my body shaking uncontrollably.
The article was all praise. Stories of how, even while with the Cureus Corporation chairman, he prioritized the lives of the two children. How he took the children and ran out, then went back in to save the chairman. Praise for actually saving everyone unhard.
The final paragraph ntioned that I appeared to be a "new agent of Black Badger."
There was a huge photo on the screen of receiving an oxygen mask from the firefighters.
There was also a photo of passed out.
I stared at the tablet, speechless for a long ti.
"Fortunately, the content was positive, but with an article this big, you're going to have a headache."
Samuel scratched the back of his head vigorously.
"You're a new face to the public, and it's the kind of heartwarming story they love, plus you're not bad-looking. It's going to be noisy for a while."
"It'll die down after so ti, right?"
"I'm not sure. You, on top of that..."
The doctor looked at with troubled eyes.
I waited for the man, who had one hand tucked into his gown pocket, to speak.
He only spoke after a nurse called him from afar.
"Anyway, I'm going. Call the nurse if you need anything."
From his reaction, it seed not all responses were positive.
The comnts were probably the issue. There were no filters there, no matter the topic. I hesitated, then scrolled down to the comnts section.
I deliberately sought out the negative ones.
Yeah, it's just doing what a badger should, so it's overblown. It would have been best if he could have saved all three at once.... All fair points....
Ah.
I stopped my scrolling finger as soon as I read one comnt.
「Where did this guy pop out from?」
When did Black Badger hire a new recruit? When did he join? Where's he from? Why was there no record of even basic education, let alone college?
My heart tightened at the sharp criticisms. As I scrolled down quickly, I saw several similar comnts.
Fortunately, those comnts hadn't gained much attention. Replies countered with things like, "Why are you digging into soone else's privacy?"
What would happen if this blew up?
I frantically searched the internet. I browsed various sites and communities, scanning reactions to the article.
Fortunately, my background wasn't a big topic. A few were curious, but most focused on the collapsed tower, the sudden increase in creatures, the late-evacuated Cureus Corporation chairman, my face, and so on.
A small rcy amid misfortune.
But would it really quiet down at this level?
Disturbed by the unanswered question, I pulled out my smartphone.
There were piles of unread ssages. Two worried cohort mbers. Ami telling to contact her when I woke up. Ro sharing the article and laughing it off. A ssage from a restricted caller ID saying, "You've debuted?"
And Supre Commander Lee Ye-hyeon.
Lee Ye-hyeon?
His private number?
No.
I stared for a long ti at the intimidating ssage from the official number, saved only as "Supre Commander."
Then, mustering trendous courage, I opened the chat.
[We'll monitor the situation and decide, but report imdiately if any unknown person approaches. No missions inside the Core for the ti being.]
The ssage from my superior was curt. Still, my heart sank.
I needed to go to Yoon.
I shoved the phone into the pocket of my patient gown and got up.
I should report to my ntor.
"Hey! Where are you going!"
Samuel, who had turned to leave, shouted as he saw carefully removing the IV needle.
"Sit still!"
"Sorry, Doctor."
I jumped off the bed and apologized to the angry doctor.
"I'll be right back."
"Hey!"
What did he an back? And sorry for what? If I went out like that, he didn't want to co back! The doctor fud, looking ready to throw the tablet.
Leaving my guilt behind, I dashed out of the hospital room.
*
Yoon was at his desk.
A man sat neatly amid the bustle. I fixed my gaze on him and quickly crossed the noisy space.
As I traversed the lab, people called out from here and there.
"Oh, it's Talev."
Curious researchers poked their heads out to look at .
"You're awake."
"Good to see you look healthy."
"Huh? In patient clothes?"
"Talev! I saw the article! You must have gone through a lot!"
"My brother never let go of us, not even for a mont! Not even for a mont!"
"How's the Cureus Corporation chairman? Is he as rude as the rumors say?"
I couldn't respond to everyone, so I raised my voice in greeting.
"Thank you for your concern! Ah, the Cureus Corporation chairman is exactly as the rumors say!"
"Wooow!"
"What are you doing?"
A low voice mixed in with the inexplicable cheers from the researchers.
I stopped in front of my ntor, who shot a dry, piercing gaze.
Only then did my senses fully awaken. My vision sharpened. The lab sounds rang clearly in my ears. The tickling noise of AI Martin moving along the ceiling reached .
I stood there, absorbing the flood of sensations, and reported bluntly to the man whose expression hadn't changed.
"I ca right after seeing the article upon waking."
"Looks like it. What's the matter?"
"The Commander sent a ssage, so I ca."
As expected, Yoon straightened his back.
Before he could say anything, I pulled my phone from my pocket and held it out.
"Here it is."
Yoon took my phone without a word.
He looked down at the screen with an inscrutable expression. I felt the inexplicable pressure I always did when standing before Yoon, waiting for his reaction.
While waiting, I let my eyes wander, scanning the lab. It was always a fascinating place, fun to observe.
Wait, there was soone familiar sitting next to Yoon.
I took in John Mullen, sitting at the desk and staring intently at his laptop. He pierced the screen with his clear blue eyes.
Just seeing his profile brought back old nightmares.
But he had helped in the tower. If we hadn't crossed paths, I might have pretended not to know, but I couldn't ignore him right in front of without even greeting.
I hesitated, then went and stood by Mullen's chair.
I bowed my head to the man deeply focused.
"Hello, Senior. Thank you for your help back then."
"..."
No response.
He didn't even look at .
Had I angered him by just saying my piece and cutting off back then?
"Senior."
"..."
"Senior?"
"It's no use."
I turned to et Yoon's gaze.
Yoon nodded toward the colleague using the desk next to him.
"He can't even hear your voice right now."
"Pardon?"
"Once he's into sothing, he doesn't see anything else. He's engrossed in the new research topic I gave him last ti; he's probably forgotten you even exist."
What a real nutjob.
He was even crazier than I thought. I stared in astonishnt at the researcher who seed oblivious to my presence.
So that's why he asked who I was back then.
I wasn't hurt, but it was ridiculous. As I muttered, "Even though he saved as Test Subject 0," Yoon let out a small laugh. He reached out, snatched the phone Mullen had neatly placed on the desk, and fiddled with it.
"Did he save you as Test Subject 0?"
"Yes, that's what he did."
"That's hilarious. He must really like you. Anyway, so you're being exiled from the Core for a while. Got it. Nothing else to say? Probably not."
"There is."
Yoon, who had been smirking while ssing with Mullen's phone, looked up.
He widened his eyes and stared at .
"There is?"
"Yes. He said to report imdiately if any unknown person approaches, so I was going to tell you."
"Is there soone approaching? Who? A reporter?"
"No, strictly speaking, I don't even know who it is. But they've been sending these weird ssages nonstop."
I took back my phone from Yoon's desk and showed him all the incomprehensible ssages I'd received so far. Starting from the ones from unknown numbers, up to today's "You've debuted?"
I explained while showing the screen, so I didn't catch my ntor's reaction.
Only after Yoon abruptly stood from his seat did I realize the severity.
"We're going up to the office."
Yoon commanded in a cold voice.
"Bring your phone and follow."
I obeyed without question.
*
The high command didn't return to the office until after 10 p.m.
Yoon and I, waiting in the small reception room next to it, stood up simultaneously.
The people we'd waited over four hours for erged from the open elevator. Ye-hyeon. Ska Owen. And soone I'd never seen before.
The three n simultaneously widened their eyes upon seeing .
"Yoon, you made Hilde wait in patient clothes?"
From Ye-hyeon's surprised voice, I realized why the high command had all widened their eyes.
I felt extrely embarrassed. I should have changed first instead of spacing out.
Of course, the man standing next to —who wasn't the one in patient clothes—was utterly shaless.
"The outfit isn't important."
"You should have at least given him ti to change. He's still not fully recovered."
"Tate, get so clothes ready for Hilde."
Ska craned his neck and spoke to his secretary.
While I mumbled my thanks awkwardly, Ye-hyeon and the stranger entered the office. They passed us, removing their coats. Yoon and I waited quietly for them to prepare.
The night air, as the day drew to a close.
Only after I changed into the clothes the secretary had prepared did the conversation begin.
"Hilde."
Ye-hyeon called my na in a neutral tone.
"Have you ever replied to this person's ssages?"
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