# Chapter 202
It was no exaggeration—Hyegang truly was a capable operator. He assisted with not only the terrain information Iyeon needed during missions, but also variant information and all the minor electronic information and manipulation required for missions. He was practically a supercomputer that produced whatever was asked for. Even if they had the materialization ability grandfather instead of just the materialization ability, Hyegang would still be necessary personnel.
“I knew hyung would say that.”
Hyegang’s smile could be felt through the communication.
“I’m not saying this to make you feel burdened. Chageum has plenty to do even without operator duties. I’m a capable co-CEO, right?”
Iyeon chuckled in response.
“You know it well.”
“It’s just, you know, calculating efficiency is an office worker’s instinct. If I don’t need to be an operator anymore, I’ll do something like Information Department Head.”
“You can do whatever you want.”
“Of course. Haven’t you noticed that there are more than five positions in a company with only two people?”
“Was it like that? What am I then?”
“Co-CEO.”
“I’ll be satisfied since you gave me the best one.”
“Obviously. I’m the co-CEO, HR manager, sales manager, general affairs manager, and operations manager.”
“You’re only doing five people’s worth of work? I thought it was at least ten.”
Iyeon exchanged this pointless conversation while walking slowly. The rope tying the horned squirrel dangled as he moved.
“Besides, you’re dating Sano hyung now. With his personality, he’ll probably want to get rid of me and do everything just the two of you.”
“Come on, no way he’d go so far as to work… would he?”
“It would be surprising if he didn’t.”
The resolute statement contained a deep trust in Sano’s character. While Iyeon was awkwardly rubbing his cheek, Hyegang’s voice lightened again.
“Well… I thought it was just a matter of time before you two started dating.”
“What? Why?”
“Why, you ask. Because you like Sano hyung, and Sano hyung likes you too.”
“You, you knew? How?”
Iyeon was so surprised that he even stumbled over his words. Je Sano liked me? Why didn’t I know? How did Lee Hyegang know?
“You two are so obvious. I don’t even understand how you both couldn’t tell.”
“Hey, it’s not that obvious…”
“I bet it is. I’m sure other people have said the same thing to you.”
“…”
D.S’s indifferent voice saying “just date already” flashed through his mind, leaving Iyeon momentarily speechless and clearing his throat. Ahem. As he looked around with a deliberately stern face, he conveniently spotted a familiar vehicle approaching in the distance. Iyeon checked the logo on the car. The round logo had “Superhuman Special Investigation Unit” written alongside it.
“Oh, the investigation unit is here.”
“Alright, see you at the office later.”
After confirming the communication had ended, Iyeon pulled down his goggles and hung them around his neck. I think there was a good dumpling place around here, should I go there after handing over the horned squirrel? Not sure if it’s open now. If it is, I could get some for Hyegang too… Iyeon was lost in these trivial thoughts as he approached the investigation unit vehicle and opened his mouth.
“Over here, I’m the one who—”
Iyeon paused as he lifted the rope tying the horned squirrel. He had spotted a familiar face among the two people in the vehicle. Small build, bob haircut. Demure features. An impression impossible to forget.
It was Lee Semi, one of the twin sisters who had been with Taejin.
“Oh.”
Iyeon’s dull exclamation was met with eye contact from the woman in the car. Her surprised reaction was clearly visible even through the tinted window. Wait, why is Semi-ssi suddenly here… While he was surprised, the car door opened. The one who got out was a fairly young-looking investigator.
“Hello, Superhuman Special Investigation Unit. Are you Hunter Jung Iyeon?”
“Ah, yes.”
Iyeon nodded to him and handed over his superhuman registration card. Semi remained in the car, looking in Iyeon’s direction, but didn’t acknowledge him, so Iyeon also stayed quiet. The officer who verified his identity nodded and took the firmly tied horned squirrel.
“You’ll receive a text when processing is complete.”
“Yes, thank you for your work.”
Iyeon was about to turn around after a light greeting when, surprisingly, Semi stopped him.
“Excuse me.”
It was a clear voice that reached even Iyeon standing outside the car. Iyeon hesitated for a moment, then turned his head to meet Semi’s eyes. Confirming that she was indeed speaking to him, Iyeon replied reflexively.
“Yes?”
“…Have you had lunch?”
It seemed she didn’t want to just pass by as he had thought. When he shook his head, Semi bowed to the officer.
“I’ll be back before lunch break ends. I’m sorry.”
Her tone was quite polite and gentle. Surprisingly so, considering Semi’s first impression when she had attacked D.S.
“Oh, you two know each other? That’s fine. Just don’t be late.”
The friendly-looking officer placed the horned squirrel in a small cage in the back seat and then hopped into the driver’s seat alone. With a vroom, the vehicle departed, leaving just the two of them. Iyeon awkwardly spoke first.
“…Shall we go? Do you have a place in mind for lunch?”
The last time Iyeon had seen Semi was in the basement of the Jin family mansion. At that time, after blasting through the basement and moving to D.S’s workshop, Sano had dropped Iyeon off there before taking Taejin, as well as Semi and Seeun, one after another. The only news Iyeon had heard since then was Heesu’s passing mention of the expected trial results for the three.
And seeing Semi in the Superhuman Special Investigation Unit vehicle, it seemed that she had indeed received the community service sentence as Heesu had said.
In fact, considering that there were quite a few people who had been harmed by the superhuman bracelets, Iyeon had thought Semi should receive a heavier sentence, but… this wasn’t something for Iyeon to comment on. As a result, he didn’t have much to say to her, but since they hadn’t met in a while, there was no harm in exchanging greetings. When he asked lightly, Semi shook her head.
“No, anywhere is fine.”
“Then let’s go to where I was planning to eat. I was just about to have lunch and head back to the office.”
The place Iyeon guided her to was within a short walking distance. Among the few tables in the shabby dumpling restaurant, only one was luckily empty.
After ordering their food in the noisy corner of the restaurant, a moment of silence fell between them. Iyeon was the first to break the silence.
“You’re curious about how Mirae is doing, right?”
“…You knew?”
“What other reason would Semi-ssi have to suddenly talk to me?”
He had guessed her purpose from the beginning. It was too obvious to need any deduction.
“She’s doing well. It’s strange to say ‘thanks to you,’ but because of what happened with Semi-ssi, she’s living with her mother now. She looks completely happy.”
“…I see.”
“As Semi-ssi knows, Mirae is super popular with all the noonas.”
At this unexpected comment, Semi just blinked without answering. Iyeon added matter-of-factly:
“So go see her before she completely forgets. Otherwise, she might grow up quickly and forget Semi-ssi.”
Semi hesitated a bit before nodding slightly. Occasionally, when talking with Mirae, the topic of Semi would come up. Since Iyeon didn’t know the exact situation, he often had nothing helpful to say, and the conversation would end without much substance. But at least now he could tell her that Semi’s busy time seemed to be ending soon—that was a new gain.
“Oh, and be careful so Mirae’s mother doesn’t attack you right away when she sees you.”
“…”
Semi pressed her lips together. She seemed to have just realized who Mirae’s mother was. Iyeon grinned teasingly.
“You’ve fought once, so you know how scary she is, right? But if you talk nicely, she won’t completely prevent you from meeting. D.S-ssi is really mature.”
“…Well, that’s a relief.”
Semi retorted with a face that said “you’ve got to be kidding.” Just then, the dumplings they ordered arrived, and she was fortunately able to avoid this topic. For a while, silence continued as they ate the steaming dumplings.
Once all three plates that came first were emptied, Iyeon opened his mouth while ordering more. There was no need to act like they were taking a vow of silence throughout the meal just because the main business was concluded.
“You’re doing community service, right? I heard about the community service sentence from Director Jin.”
Semi nodded readily at this casual inquiry.
“Precisely, it’s a one-year prison sentence with three years of probation, and 120 hours of community service. During the investigation, my actions as a minor also came to light.”
Semi maintained a calm face throughout her explanation.
“Meeting Lee Taejin itself happened when I was running from the police after causing trouble.”
The moment Seeun learned that Semi had superpowers, she also wanted to have superpowers. Since it was impossible through normal methods, she turned to the underground. However, even in a lawless zone where illegal activities flourished, a non-superhuman who wasn’t even a low-ranked superhuman could hardly find a way to acquire superpowers. Seeun gradually became involved with dangerous people, and Semi couldn’t leave her twin sister to die an unnatural death.
After Semi repeatedly scolded Seeun for jumping into illegal activities in pursuit of information and barely managed to extract her, it didn’t take long for them to be in a position of being chased by both the police and criminal organizations. It was during this precarious life on the run that the twins met Taejin.
‘I will give you superpowers.’
Taejin easily offered what no one else had ever promised. There was no reason to refuse. Seeun immediately took his hand. Semi, too, ended up following along.
Soon, the two of them were able to play pretend family with Taejin without any restrictions.
“Even though Lee Taejin-ssi erased the past of the two of you, it was revealed again during the investigation?”
I doubt Taejin would have handled things so carelessly. To such a question, Semi calmly replied:
“I turned myself in.”
