CH 55

The second time he’s had a treatment with the bizarre name of energy transfer. Han Cha-soo shook off the tingling sensation that lingered on his fingertips.

“…….”

Sensing something, he lifted his head slightly and locked eyes with Ki Tae-yeon.

“Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“No. Just.”

Han Cha-soo, who was caressing his chest, frowned. Ki Tae-yeon lowered his upper body and shared his eye level with him.

“If you’re sick, let’s talk about it. Haven’t you ever noticed when you hide something, and it becomes more troublesome?”

“…….”

Han Cha-soo was silent, his brow furrowed. He seemed to be thinking about something. After a moment, he cautiously broke the silence.

“Is this really the only way to transmit energy?”

Ki Tae-yeon raised an eyebrow as if to say more. Han Cha-soo coughed, humming, and then spoke.

“Isn’t there a variety of ways to make contact? Besides holding hands like this, there’s bare-knuckle training and….”

Han Cha-soo sneakily moved on to sparring. Ki Tae-yeon burst out laughing. At the same time, someone from the back boasted in a squeaky voice.

“I! I can handle it!”

When he turned his head, there was the head of the development office with blazing eyes. Unruly tangled green hair fluttered like a lit weed.

“Leave it to me, Han Chasoo-ssi. I’ll solve it very quickly.”

“…….”

“Come here for a second, eh? I don’t tell this to just anyone, but I feel sorry for you, Han Chasoo-ssi.”

Han Cha-soo shook his head at this very deceptive line.

“No thanks.”

“Huh? Where are you going? You need me right now, Han Cha-soo, or you’re going to have to hold hands with that creep all day!”.

What’s that? Han Cha-soo left with an expression of no interest. He heard Ki Tae-yeon smirking behind him.

“What are you doing, Dr Im? Our patient would rather hold hands with me than work with a madman.”

“You’re such an idiot!”

“Have you ever smoked with your lungs? It would be a pretty interesting experiment.”

“…….”

The silent head of the development office grabbed Han Cha-soo once more and stretched.

“Han Chasoo-ssi, this is your last chance. If you stick with us, we can legally beat the crap out of that madman!”

Han Cha-soo’s body froze. Ki Tae-yeon’s eyebrows rose, and the face of the head of the development office was full of brightness.

Han Cha-soo shook his head, glanced between the madman and Ki Tae-yeon, and asked quietly.

“Can’t you be more specific?”

“Hmmm, that’s right, Han Cha-soo promised to cooperate with us and not to make any protests about this-.”

“Never mind.”

“No, why are you so impatient, think about it calmly, an opportunity like this won’t come around again.”

“Hmm…. Did you say you’re the head of the development office?”

“Uh… by the way.”

Not expecting Han Cha-soo to approach so suddenly, Im Cheong-mun panicked. Moreover, unlike from a distance, the atmosphere was… strangely oppressive. Could it be those dull grey eyes? No, come to think of it, isn’t he also taller than he thought?

Im Cheong-mun’s eyes widened as he looked up at Han Cha-soo.

‘You looked so frail earlier.’

When he was holding Ki Tae-yeon’s hand, he looks so sick.

‘This is the importance of a comparison group!’

Whether or not Im Cheong-mun had a new realization, Han Cha-soo continued to speak harshly to him.

“Since you’re the head of the development office, can I assume that you’re in charge of everything in the development office?”

“Um, yes?”

“Then the Gatling gun that was used to kill Director Ki Tae-yeon. So you must have had a lot to do with the creation of Killkill.”

Can he take this as a sign that he’s interested in us? Im Cheong-mun’s eyes sparkled.

He’d been heartbroken over the death of Killkill even before, but when Han Cha-soo asked him about Killkill, his emotions fluttered.

“Yes, I’m his father, and I handpicked all the parts that make up him. He wasn’t supposed to end up like this, if it wasn’t for that madman….”

Im Cheong-mun gritted his teeth. A thousand fires burned within him just thinking about the poor thing.

“It must have been a great loss to you. For such a precious creature, you built a wall that can disrupt perception and even attack itself.”

“An isolation wall? That’s fine. It’s not hard to build.”

Smugness radiated from Im Cheong-mun’s entire body as he snorted. It was the kind of snarky attitude that was typical of the development office.

“Aha….”

Han Cha-soo slightly craned his neck with a meaningful smile. Suddenly, his foot landed on Im Cheong-mun’s frozen knee.

Im Cheong-mun’s eyes widened as a calm voice rang out overhead.

“You installed a lethal weapon in a medical center set up for the treatment of Bureau officials. To cover it up, you installed a special device capable of killing and concealing non-combatant awakeners.”

“…Huh?”

A murderous choice of words in contrast to his impassive face. Im Cheong-mun turned his head urgently, as if looking for help.

The deputy director, who was kneeling beside him, had a pale face.

“Now, wait.”

“Director of the Support and Development Office of the Awakening Management Bureau, Im Cheong-mun.”

Han Cha-soo sighed. His heavy breath made the hair on Im Cheong-mun’s back stand up.

‘Huh? This doesn’t feel right.’

What, what? Im Cheong-mun quickly rolled his head.

‘Even if I did, it would only be an attempt, so I wouldn’t be disciplined.’

For some reason, Han Cha-soo’s face made him feel that something was terribly wrong.

His next words hit Im Cheong-mun like a sledgehammer to the head.

“Within the Bureau, we think so highly of your abilities and future that we would have turned a blind eye to anything you’ve done, but unfortunately, I don’t belong to the Bureau.”

“Uh-huh.”

That’s right, he’s from the Heavenly Spirit Guild.

Looking down at Im Cheong-mun, whose body was frozen as well as his brain, Han Cha-soo shook his head.

‘So you didn’t think anything of it until I brought it up.’

It was obvious. Im Cheong-mun was a brat who had used his brains and abilities as a weapon to run amok, and the only reason he hadn’t been decapitated was because the Bureau had decided it was better to leave him alone.

‘Otherwise, how dare he dare to send the head of the Crisis Management Office, who is the real power within the Bureau, flying away.’

The way Im Cheong-mun was talking, his suspicions were confirmed. The fact that they weren’t afraid of him at all meant that his power didn’t affect them.

Perhaps the Development Office was an independent group, beyond the reach of the Crisis Management Office.

‘This can’t be the first time this has happened, since he doesn’t react too much.’

So he tried to let it go. He doesn’t have a lot of time on his hands to get involved in a domestic dispute.

But he couldn’t let him force himself to the negotiating table and act like a bully.

Once you’ve been belittled, the relationship is over.

‘You’ve already decided that you’re above me, and that’s why you’re asking for a second chance.’

Even if he leaves the garden and go back to his hospital room, the head of development office will still see hims as a pawn that can be used at any time.

As long as he wanted a peaceful life, he couldn’t let that happen.

‘Besides, I know a way to get rid of him that doesn’t require me to hold hands with him.’

If he wins the fight, it’s all his.

So how do you defeat an opponent who has neither the power nor the honour of the head of the crisis management office? The answer was one.

He had to let him know that there were some things he couldn’t do with his powers.

“Besides, I didn’t even introduce myself, and you already knew my name.”

Staring at his opponent, who was still at a loss for words, Han Cha-soo continued the conversation calmly.

“Then I’m sure I don’t need to explain how I ended up in a medical centre where only hunters affiliated with the Bureau are admitted.”

Im Cheong-mun’s eyes cracked at the mention of Baek-dam and Jung Yiheon.

Han Cha-soo lowered himself to stare at it. With his back to the sun, his pupils emitted a cold glow.

He doesn’t like to borrow the power of others. But if it was necessary for his safety, then so be it.

‘It’s not like I’m going to take Baek-dam and Jung Yiheon and kill them, so it’s fine.’

Han Cha-soo was about to tell him in a very friendly way that if he didn’t want to be sued, he should get down on his hands and knees.

“Huh, huh. There it is…!”

“Oh my God. What are you doing, Ki Tae-yeon!”

“Ah.”

Footsteps of at least twenty people. They poured into the doorway, having climbed the stairs to replace the elevator that Ki Tae-yeon had frozen.

“Tch.”

Ki Tae-yeon stomped the ground, chewing on his cigarette, and Geum Myeong-yeol leaned over to ask Han Cha-soo.

“Do you want me to block it?”

“No thanks, it’s all over anyway….”

That was the moment.

[Warning!]

[Warning!]

[Warning!]

System messages going up faster than I’ve ever seen before. And.

[A hostile aura is felt within a 10-meter radius!]

[Number of known enemies: 1/4]

[Skill Defiance (A) is activated]

[Your inner rebel rises, and rage overtakes your consciousness!]

“Ugh, I was wrong, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

Coming to his senses, Han Cha-soo found himself pulling at Im Cheong-mun’s hair.