Three weeks had passed since that day, and the Awakener Managent Bureau finally held a confidential eting with Protheus. The details of the discussions remained unknown, but all the hunters who had been kidnapped were transferred to the Seowon Guild. The use of the term "transferred" was simple to explain.
Thud! A fist hit the desk.
"They’re completely violent. They’re practically animals, biting at everything. They can’t even tell what’s what anymore. Every one of them!"
Although they were removed from the research facility, they still had to remain confined.
Nam Woo-jin sat in his chair, clearly displeased. His disheveled hair and the scorched, wrinkled lab coat he wore made it clear that he had barely made it through the ordeal. Marionette, standing behind him, started to tidy up his tangled hair as soon as he sat down. Nam Woo-jin took off his glasses, examining them in the light. Across from him, Jung-bin sighed quietly.
"Is that so... Is treatnt impossible?"
"We were researching it. We gathered so information, but... we were interrupted, thanks to soone."
Nam Woo-jin impatiently drumd his fingers on the desk before bursting out angrily.
"Damn it! We’re not so brute-force guild. Do you have any idea how much work it took? And if they’re going to transfer them, shouldn’t they at least give us so notice? Who just dumps a dozen people on us like this? Do they think this is a guesthouse?"
"I sincerely apologize for that. Originally, the Wave Guild was going to take so as well, but... well."
Jung-bin shook his head, looking uncomfortable.
"We’ve had trouble contacting them. They might be dealing with sothing else…"
"Tch..."
Nam Woo-jin crossed his arms and clicked his tongue in irritation.
"I won’t press too hard since we owe them a favor... but it’s doubled my workload. We need more personnel."
"You an managent staff?"
"Exactly. Our guild mbers aren’t strong enough to handle rampaging Awakeners. Most of them are brilliant minds, not brawlers."
"I’ll talk to the Director, but it’s unlikely."
"And why’s that?"
"Because the Bureau itself isn’t safe right now."
A shadow fell over Jung-bin’s usually calm face.
"The Bureau isn’t made up entirely of Awakeners. There may be people from Protheus within, and we’ve already seen suspicious evidence. That’s why it’s difficult to allocate more personnel."
"Do you think they’re planning sothing? They handed the hunters over to the Bureau themselves."
"They could kill them before they’re fully cured. Protheus needs its own weapons too."
Jung-bin’s voice grew quiet, and he sighed softly before continuing.
"Even though we’re temporarily cooperating to prevent the apocalypse, the truth is, the Bureau and Protheus can never truly coexist. Our fundantal goals are too different."
"Yeah, I found that strange. Knowing the Director, I thought he’d just send in a special team and wipe them out."
Jung-bin gave a cryptic smile. Marionette finished fixing Nam Woo-jin’s hair, tying it neatly at the back. Nam Woo-jin shrugged as he let the boy pull his hair back slightly.
"What, does it bother you that they’re civilians?"
"...They’re more organized than we thought. Mackerel has been investigating, but Protheus’s ideology is spreading widely, even if people don’t know the na."
"Ideology?"
"They’re promoting the idea that humanity should face hardship with its own strength, without relying on Awakeners..."
"It sounds good on paper."
"And during the last incident, they rescued civilians and set up small counseling centers everywhere. They’re still helping people recover from the trauma."
"Ah, so they’ve built quite a positive image in local communities?"
"Exactly. Sharing a common pain seems to have a powerful effect."
"Smart. They’ve found just the right vulnerable spots. Is that why you haven’t revealed what Song Joheon did?"
"Yes. If it were made public that the head of one of the Big Three guilds committed such acts... it would only tarnish the image of all Awakeners."
"You won’t be able to keep it hidden forever."
"The Director knows that too."
A brief silence followed. Marionette placed a fresh, clean lab coat on the desk, and Nam Woo-jin stood up, stripping off his burnt one and putting on the new one. At last, he looked sowhat presentable. He sighed heavily and dragged his Crocs-clad feet as he walked away. Jung-bin lowered his gaze as he watched him go.
"Mackerel judged that if we moved too recklessly, people might say an Awakener attacked civilians... and that the Hunter from the Awakener Managent Bureau did it. He was worried the story would spread like that."
"That kid judged well. I agree."
The sll of rich coffee filled the room. Nam Woo-jin poured himself a cup and downed it in one go. His pale face looked rough, with dark circles under his eyes. He rubbed his face with his hands and pointed at Jung-bin with his index finger.
"For now, let’s head back. I’ll ask the Wave Guild or Honeybee for more staff."
"If you don’t mind, I can co by more often to help."
"Don’t be ridiculous. You’re too busy. You’ve got public service ads to shoot for image improvent, don’t you? It’s obvious what the higher-ups are thinking."
It seed Jung-bin was hit close to ho. He didn’t reply, only offering a painted-on smile—the kind that made him the top choice for public service ad campaigns. Nam Woo-jin waved impatiently at Marionette.
"Escort him out."
"Understood."
After Jung-bin and Marionette disappeared, Nam Woo-jin covered his eyes with his hand. His scorched eyes throbbed painfully today.
---
In the lobby of the building where the Wave Guild’s research facility was located, there was a large LED panel. Normally, it displayed the guild’s achievents or recruitnt ads, but today was different.
[The Awakener Managent Bureau is always by your side.]
A public service ad featuring the ever-popular Hunter Jung-bin—ranked first in both "Top In-law Material" and "Most Likely to Pass the et-the-Parents Interview"—was playing. He smiled gently, reaching out a hand. Uijae, hands in his pockets, stared blankly at the screen. Passersby threw glances at him, but he didn’t pay them any attention.
‘This is a new ad, isn’t it?’
During the ti he’d spent hiding out at the fish market, avoiding Lee Sa-young, Uijae had ended up watching all of Mackerel’s video collection. The collection even included archives of Jung-bin’s public service ads. Apparently, they were in high demand.
‘Ah, especially among civil servant Hunters...’
When people were overwheld by work and felt like giving up, they watched the collection to ease their minds a bit. It made them think, *If Jung-bin can do this much, then who am I to complain?* Though Uijae doubted it was the healthiest mindset.
‘Still, the higher-ups pushing for this kind of ad in tis like these...’
Jung-bin probably wasn’t thrilled about it either. As Uijae clicked his tongue in annoyance, heavy footsteps sounded behind him.
"J, you’re here."
It was Baewon-woo. Scratching his short hair, he bowed his head briefly before asking.
"Heading in again today?"
Uijae didn’t respond, just nodded. Baewon-woo didn’t say anything more, simply leading him to the elevator. The brief but sohow drawn-out ride down to the basent passed in silence. Then, as the doors slid open, Baewon-woo finally spoke.
"I…"
"......"
"I’m really relieved that you’ve been coming."
"In what way?"
"Well, it always helps to have soone there when things are tough. It’s reassuring, you know? Honestly, I can’t handle Sa-young’s poison for long. And... he likes you more than ."
"......"
"Anyway, that’s how it is. We’re here."
Scratching his head awkwardly, Baewon-woo stepped out of the elevator. Uijae ignored the odd warmth in his chest as he followed. The door was already half-open, as if expecting his arrival. On the small cot opposite the door, Hong Yeseong raised his head slightly.
"Oh, you’re here? Diligent as always."
"There’s nothing else to do."
"Pro... whatever?"
"I’ve been ordered not to make contact."
Uijae hadn’t been allowed to attend the eting between the Bureau and Protheus. After all the ways they had used him, they still forbade him from attending, warning that involving J would nullify all conditions. Uijae hadn’t particularly wanted to go anyway, so he had accepted it. After the eting, the Director had called him in with just one command: *Do not make contact with them.*
Still, Uijae figured he should at least check with Jung-bin. As he tilted his head, ‘Hong Yeseong’ flailed his arms, his emotion-sensing ability glowing.
"Why not just kill them all?"
"Can you really toss around words like ‘kill’ so lightly?"
"I hate them!"
"You think anyone likes them? I’m going in."
Ignoring Hong Yeseong’s protests, J stepped into the darkness. The door closed behind him as soon as he set foot on the damp floor. Unfazed, Uijae walked through the darkness until he reached the familiar sound of quiet breathing. Violet eyes glead as they stared up at him.
"I’m here."
"...Welco back."
A soft laugh
followed, and soon damp arms wrapped around his leg. Uijae ran his fingers through Sa-young’s wet hair, gently stroking it.
Lee Sa-young was spending more and more ti here. The longer he stayed, the longer the apocalypse was being kept at bay, which also ant the apocalypse was watching this world more closely. Maybe one day, Uijae would have to spend the entire day here. He wouldn’t mind staying a little longer.
Damp arms slid up past Uijae’s thighs, waist, and finally wrapped around his hips. Uijae bent his knees, hugging the body clinging to him. Instinctively, he knew it too.
There wasn’t much ti left.
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