After receiving the award, I got bombarded with congratulatory ssages from all over.
[Ms. Hye-Rim! Congratulations! >< How about a celebratory al together soti?]
The first text was from Alice, accompanied by a selfie. Her lively tone was unmistakable. She was dressed in a dazzling idol costu, standing in the center of a concert hall.
[I'm currently practicing for this weekend's concert! Would you like to co? I'll get you a ticket—front-row VIP!]
She even invited to her concert. Alice’s concert, huh? Of course, I’d like to go. After being a fan for so long, I’d always wanted to see her perform in person. But this weekend was out of the question—I had personal matters to attend to.
[Sorry, I can't make it this week. But invite again next ti, and I'll definitely co.]
[Aw… T_T Oh well. But promise you'll co next ti, okay?!]
[Of course.]
[Great! I'll reserve a seat for you in advance, hehe.]
Alice’s concert tickets are often resold for hundreds of thousands of won. And here I was, getting one for free. Networking really does pay off.
[Ms. Hye-Rim, I heard the news. There was… a bit of an incident, but congratulations. I believe you totally deserved the award.]
Next was a ssage from Jung Ha-Yeon. While she didn’t need to bring up the “incident,” it was still nice to receive her congratulations. Hearing it directly from my favorite person made happier than anything.
[Thank you. It’s a bit embarrassing, but your congratulations make feel better.]
[That’s good to hear. :) ]
Other ssages kept pouring in from people I knew. Responding to each one took up most of the afternoon.
“You seem very busy.”
Park Oh-Jin grinned as he watched typing away on my phone.
“Yeah. Even people I barely talk to are sending ssages. And what’s with soone congratulating and sneaking in a wedding invitation? Were they just waiting for a chance to invite ? Should I send them a gift or sothing?”
“Haha, that happens sotis.”
“Ugh, if that’s the case, just don’t reach out at all.”
After finally replying to everyone, I tossed my phone onto the desk, exhausted.
“I give up. Any new ssages will just have to wait until tomorrow. I’ll just say I was busy with work.”
No one would be upset about a delayed reply under those circumstances.
“You’re quite popular, Team Leader. I’m jealous!”
“So-Young, stick around in this field for a few more years, and you’ll end up like . Don’t forget, you’re part of the elite Team 5 under our departnt.”
Our team is high-profile, which naturally ans we et many people. On days like this, it’s no surprise that many rember to reach out, even if it’s just for appearance’s sake.
“Honestly, though, I don’t feel good about it. It feels like they’re confirming they saw… that embarrassing incident.”
To , the ssages just read as: “Wow, that button pop was epic, lol”
Thinking back on what happened this morning even now still makes my face burn. It was the most humiliating experience I had since coming to this world.
As I sighed, Lee So-Young leaned closer and whispered,
“Team Leader, do you mind sharing your secret with ?”
“What secret?”
“You know… how do you keep your chest growing like that? Is there sothing specific you eat?”
“…You little punk.”
I shoved her away with a finger to her forehead.
“There’s no secret, so don’t even ask.”
“Wow, so it’s just genetics? So people really do win the lottery, huh…”
“So-Young, enough nonsense. Instead, can you help look up which prison this prisoner I'm about to tell you is being held in?”
“Huh? Why the sudden interest?”
“Just do a favor.”
I handed her a note I’d prepared. When So-Young saw the na written on it, her eyes widened.
“Wait, Team Leader… is this…?”
“Yeah. These are criminals I personally apprehended.”
I need to find out what’s happening with the offenders I’ve caught—especially those like Oh Min-Ji, who received so strange power. That figure seed to have approached her, feeding on her anger toward .
If they targeted her, there’s a chance they’ll go after others who hold a grudge against . I need to be prepared.
“Oh, and So-Young, co with sowhere this Saturday.”
“Huh? ?”
“Yeah, you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“B-but it’s the weekend! Are you asking out on a date?!”
“What’s wrong with that? Don’t want to?”
“Well, um…”
So-Young averted her gaze, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of spending ti alone with .
“C’mon, what’s the big deal? Let’s just enjoy so quality ti together, boss and subordinate.”
“But if I leave ho on the weekend…”
“Don’t even think about using your goldfish as an excuse again.”
“Ugh…!”
So-Young, at a loss for words, closed her mouth.
"Hey, isn't it great to hang out with your team leader even on weekends? Let's have fun on our prison date!"
"As I thought, you're planning to et those criminals! How is this a date?! It's just work, isn't it?!"
"No complaints! When the Team Leader says to do sothing, you do it!"
"Ugh, you're such a boor! Our team leader has turned into one of those bosses. Oh no... At this rate, you'll be just like the section chief soon. What a bleak future."
Hahaha. All bosses eventually beco boors, So-Young. That's the way it goes.
"More importantly, do you really hate the idea of a date with that much? Plenty of people out there are dying to go on a date with , you know."
I smirked, recalling earlier ssages disguised as congratulations, subtly hinting at wanting to et up alone. Even a famous actor I had turned down before had texted again.
"Pfft—!"
"Cough, cough!"
Suddenly, Yoo-Sung spat out the water he was drinking, and Seo-Eun started coughing as if sothing had gone down the wrong pipe.
...I’ve been wondering for a while now—what’s up with those two? Whenever conversations like this co up, their reactions are always odd.
I’ll have to set aside so ti to figure out what’s going on between them soday.
***
Saturday morning, I waited for So-Young at our designated eting spot.
“Oh, there you are.”
When she finally arrived, she looked like a ghost of herself, sighing heavily.
“A beautiful weekend wasted on a prison visit with my boss. What did I do to deserve this blessing?”
“You must have saved a country in your past life. Now, let’s go.”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
We headed to the prison. Once inside, the staff escorted us to the visitation room.
After a while, a familiar face appeared on the other side of the glass.
“I didn’t expect anyone to visit… and it turns out to be you?”
“Long ti no see, Kim Tae-Sik.”
Kim Tae-Sik. He was an Awakened individual I’d apprehended two years ago—once a gang mber causing havoc in the city.
“How’s life treating you?”
“Oh, just peachy. Thanks to you, I get free als and a roof over my head. Living the dream.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear you’re doing okay.”
“…So, what do you want? You didn’t co all the way here just to say hi.”
Kim Tae-sik’s expression clearly showed how much he didn’t want to see as he scoffed.
“If you ca here to dig up confidential information about our organization…”
“I really just ca to check in on you.”
“There’s no way I’m spilling anything, so don’t even think—wait, what?”
“I just wanted to see your face. Got anything bothering you these days?”
“…”
Kim Tae-sik stared at suspiciously for a mont before finally speaking.
“Nothing. I just want to get out of here as soon as possible.”
“Hmm, I see. Have you thought about recently? Like blaming for putting you in this place or resenting ? Have you ever felt that way?”
“…Are you here just to get on my nerves?”
“I’m serious. So I’d appreciate an honest answer.”
Kim Tae-sik’s face twisted in anger. Seeing his reaction, Lee So-Young, sitting next to , shifted nervously in her seat.
“…Not that I haven’t thought about it. But I’ve never seriously considered wanting to kill you or anything.”
“Well, that’s a relief. So you don’t hate that much…”
Could that woman try to approach Kim Tae-sik as well? Does he hold enough value for her to target him?
Kim Tae-sik let out a low, disgruntled mutter as I pondered this.
“What’s with this? You dragged here just to throw out these weird questions? If you keep this up, I’m leaving.”
“Wait. Just a bit longer, and then you can go. So-Young, use your ability to scan him.”
Lee So-Young’s ability allows her to track awakened individuals and assess what kind of powers they possess. To my knowledge, Kim Tae-sik’s ability is solely controlling electricity.
“Uh, yeah… He controls electricity. He can generate it from his body as well.”
“Really?”
There’s nothing unusual about it. It’s exactly as I expected.
In that case, there’s one more thing I want to confirm.
“Then, this ti, look at .”
“Excuse ?”
“Scan . What kind of powers do I have?”
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