# Chapter 107
“Ah, later, take a look at Kim Cheoljae-ssi’s location with me. I think I need to investigate personally.”
“Got it.”
Iyeon left the office as usual, slinging his bag and goggles. Since things had come to this, today he would definitely meet with the Director. His motivation was spiking in a rather useless direction.
He’d been to the Superpower Management Office so often lately that it felt like his own home. Even the security guard seemed to recognize Iyeon’s face, nodding familiarly. Returning the greeting, Iyeon’s steps toward the Mutant Response Department were unhesitating.
As he entered the corridor, he saw the secretary’s desk in front of the Director’s office. The secretary hurriedly stood up upon seeing Iyeon. This secretary had become familiar after seeing him so frequently.
“Is the Director in? I really want to meet him today.”
The flustered secretary was about to speak. It was obvious he was going to say something to postpone the meeting.
Iyeon had been through this at least ten times. He preemptively asked, “Is there a visitor inside?”
“No, that’s not it, but he’s busy with official duties…”
“Secretary, I’m busy too, and this is getting difficult. Didn’t the Director say anything about me?”
Judging from his reaction, the secretary seemed to know that Heesu had secretly assigned a task to Iyeon. That’s probably why he couldn’t firmly turn him away.
If he was working alone, what would be wrong with Iyeon popping in for a moment? With a bright smile, Iyeon said he’d just quickly state his business and leave, then turned around.
Knock, knock.
“Director, it’s Jung Iyeon. I’m coming in.”
Before the secretary could stop him, the door opened with a click. Iyeon, who had turned the doorknob with a smile, blinked at the scene inside the room.
Heesu was sitting not at his desk but on the reception sofa. A coffee cup sat before him, half empty as if he’d been drinking from it. Various documents were messily piled on the table.
And another coffee cup was placed across from Heesu. The pristine white cup, untouched and full, clearly belonged to someone else.
At first glance, it looked like preparations had been made for an expected visitor. However, considering Heesu’s partially consumed coffee… the seat opposite him appeared to have been indented, as if someone had already been sitting there.
“I guess your visitor just left.”
“…Jung Iyeon-ssi.”
Heesu replied with a surprised expression, a beat late. Iyeon narrowed his eyes slightly. It didn’t seem like he was simply startled by someone suddenly opening the door and entering.
“What brings you here?”
“You’re not seriously asking that, are you?”
To ask such a question after making him wait countless times was outrageous. After keeping someone hanging so many times! His disbelief must have been too obvious, as Heesu cleared his throat with a “hmm.”
“Go ahead.”
“Dr. Kim has been on the move lately. Though his purpose isn’t clearly revealed yet, I’m planning to track him soon.”
“Dr. Kim… I understand.”
“And this is necessary for the assignment.”
At Iyeon’s words, Heesu nodded slightly as if inviting him to continue.
“Have you found out where Lee Semi-ssi obtained the gems for the bracelets?”
“…Why do you need that information?”
A faint wariness appeared in Heesu’s eyes. Iyeon frowned.
“Haven’t you investigated it?”
“It’s in progress. However, the procedures…”
A resolute voice cut through his vague words.
“The gems in the bracelets made by Lee Semi-ssi were also found in the club research facility where Dr. Kim was located.”
This must have been unexpected information. The eyes that had shown concern all along widened considerably.
“It appears there is a connection between Dr. Kim and Lee Semi-ssi.”
“Why are you telling me this only now…”
“I would have if you had met with me.”
“…”
Having silenced Heesu, Iyeon smiled.
“Director, I have no intention of abandoning this investigation at this point.”
Even if Heesu canceled the assignment, Iyeon planned to root out this illegal research one way or another. He hadn’t expected it would end cleanly with just the club research facility, but the quality of the operation was too poor, even for bad quality.
Plus, it was even connected to Morpho.
Sano wanted to make contact with Morpho. Since Iyeon had agreed to help him, continuing to dig into this was inevitable.
Well, if official means didn’t work, they could always resort to brute force… There were many ways. Iyeon had sufficient power for that and no particular reason not to use it.
“Neither do I.”
His voice was as determined as Iyeon’s had been a moment ago. Their resolute gazes met as if colliding.
“I have no intention of backing down here.”
A tense atmosphere flowed between them. Iyeon sighed lightly and shrugged to ease the mood.
“I’m relieved to hear you say that.”
“It’s only natural.”
“True.”
After appearing to think for a moment, Heesu asked, “Could I possibly see the gems from the club research facility?”
“I left them at D.S-ssi’s workshop, but I’ll bring them to you.”
“Yes. I think it would be good if our side analyzed them as well.”
Although he had entrusted them to D.S, since it wasn’t her area of expertise, she couldn’t obtain detailed information about the gems. It was remarkable that she had discovered as much as she did about a field she was practically unfamiliar with—forced gi-ryeok extraction and refining. This demonstrated D.S’s skill.
If Heesu had people who could analyze them, that was welcome. Iyeon nodded readily.
“Soon we should be able to formally interrogate Lee Semi. When information comes in, I’ll see you again.”
The conversation ended with Heesu’s conclusion. All of this had taken less than five minutes.
“How much better it would have been if we had talked like this from the beginning.”
Iyeon didn’t understand why he had dragged it out for so long. When Iyeon grumbled, Heesu hesitated a bit before answering.
“There was something concerning me. I was being cautious.”
“Well… okay.”
Iyeon replied casually, saying he’d be going now, nodding his head before turning around. Heesu stood up and stared at the back of Iyeon’s head as he disappeared through the door.
Silence fell.
“…You can come out now.”
Swish. With those words, black metal wires rose from under the sofa. The solid wires wove together tightly and quickly transformed into the shape of a seated person. It was right where the leather had been indented earlier.
“So you even hide from others when you’re avoiding someone.”
At Heesu’s words expressing surprise, Sano leaned back, deeply resting against the backrest.
“I’m not avoiding him.”
“Yeah, right.”
For someone who disappeared the moment he heard “It’s Jung Iyeon” from outside the door, he sure had a lot to say. Heesu looked in disbelief at Sano, who stubbornly maintained his brazen claim.
It had been odd enough that Sano had suddenly invaded his office since morning, sitting with a sullen face and keeping his mouth shut the whole time. Heesu couldn’t just leave him be, so he had even brewed coffee himself and was attending to his duties while sitting across from him.
Then, the moment Sano realized Iyeon was visiting, he instantly melted into the floor. It was one of his abilities—Mineral Synchronization.
For someone who always lived as he pleased, saying whatever he wanted wherever he wanted, to actually avoid someone—it was quite amusing to Heesu, who had always known Sano as a gruff kid. It felt like he was witnessing something entirely new and unexpected in his life.
“Did you two fight?”
Noticing that his tone had become similar to how he spoke to Mirae, Sano glared at Heesu with irritation. However, Heesu, who had received countless similar glares from him since childhood, didn’t even bat an eye.
“You live together, I hear. You can’t avoid him forever.”
“I don’t plan to do that forever.”
“So you admit you’re avoiding him.”
Murderous intent mixed into Sano’s gaze. At that point, Heesu backed off.
“Forget I said anything.”
Heesu picked up the documents he had been reading and resumed his work. Soon, the office was filled only with the sound of turning pages.
Despite being immersed in silence for a long time, his furrowed brow showed no signs of relaxing. The irritation that had risen since yesterday showed no indication of subsiding.
That annoying guy who was supposedly Jung Iyeon’s ideal type, and that stupid face smiling blankly. That weak body that would probably follow anyone anywhere if they just bought him a good meal. These thoughts were deeply embedded in Sano’s mind, flaunting their presence whenever they got the chance. While Sano understood why Iyeon acted that way, it didn’t mean he wasn’t irritated.
How dare that thing.
Since learning that Jung Iyeon was alive, Sano had made various plans, but none of them included such a universally condemnable idea. Sano’s fist clenched. Seeing metal scales forming on his skin, Heesu inwardly shook his head. Whatever it was, it seemed like he was going through some kind of delayed adolescence.
Seeing that Sano’s menacing gaze showed no sign of softening, Heesu handed over the document he had been reviewing.
“If you’ve got energy to spare, go check this out.”
“Why should I?”
“We received a report about an illegal research facility.”
Silently raised eyebrows accepted the paper. Heesu continued speaking.
