The Monday meeting was time to organize what happened last week and report on what would be done in the new week. Espers reported on the work they were currently handling, and the Field Support Team reported on broken pairs or transferred ability users. In contrast, Guides would listen and then offer opinions on pairs or matching.
“About that bridge incident last time. After investigating, it wasn’t a simple accident.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Espers who had suppressed the scene last time were investigating the case. At first they thought it was a traffic accident that occurred during the morning commute, but apparently that wasn’t the case. Woo Minkyung, who was assigned the case, began her report.
“It was the morning commute and because it was so complicated and chaotic, we initially thought it was just a tanker truck explosion that caused a fire and an accident. But after investigating more closely, the tanker truck wasn’t the cause.”
“Then?”
“Someone caused an explosion timed to the tanker truck’s collision.”
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold at Woo Minkyung’s report.
“So you’re saying it was the work of an ability user?”
Esper Yoon Bomi asked the question. Since she hadn’t been deployed at the time, she didn’t know the situation.
“We need to investigate that part a bit more. It’s not something we can easily conclude.”
Director Ha Daehoon, who had been at the accident scene that day, cut in sharply. It was a sensitive matter.
“If it was the work of an ability user, the possibility of rebels would be high, wouldn’t it?”
“Because it’s a sensitive matter, we can’t conclude it now. However, if this aligns with what we’re currently concerned about, it could cause even bigger problems, so I’d like the investigation to proceed a bit faster. I’d like the Espers who were at the scene that day to become one team and focus on this case.”
“Yes, understood.”
At Daehoon’s instruction, Minkyung and the others who had been there that day answered in unison.
The rebels were those who harbored complaints about why the government managed ability users. They thought the government monopolized ability users and held differing opinions on that point.
The reason the country manages ability users is because if ability users go outside and expand their own forces, it could cause chaos later, so it was meant to control that from the beginning. This wasn’t a simple matter like a free economy. If ability users use their abilities for good purposes, that’s fortunate, but if they’re used for territorial disputes or power expansion for their own interests, it would be reminiscent of war.
The main agenda of this week’s meeting was to prevent such incidents from happening consecutively if that day’s explosion wasn’t a simple accident but something someone intended.
Ilkyung, who came out of the meeting, ran right into Director Ha. Ilkyung, who had something to say to Daehoon during today’s meeting anyway, frantically sent telepathy to Director Ha asking him to spare some time.
“Assistant Manager Woo, let’s talk for a moment.”
Ilkyung shouted internally, ‘Oh! Director Ha understood my telepathy.’ Then he happily followed behind Director Ha. As soon as they entered the conference room, Director Ha looked at Ilkyung and chuckled.
“Didn’t you get scolded that day?”
“I ended up getting a back smashing.”
Ilkyung felt like his back, which his mom had hit that day, still hurt.
“By the way, Director.”
“Yes.”
“Then will you continue to proceed with that case with my noona—I mean, Esper Woo Minkyung?”
“We’re not proceeding together, I’ll receive reports. I’m an executive before being a Guide. Why, is there a problem?”
Ilkyung chewed on his lips. For some reason, Ilkyung had a gut feeling that Director Ha and his noona shouldn’t spend time together frequently. It was best if they didn’t get involved with each other. Lies call for more lies, and then somehow the crossdressing incident at the first meeting felt like it would be discovered by his mom. Actually, it would be fortunate if it was just discovered, but then wouldn’t both families try to set up Director Ha and his noona again? Knowing that Director Ha was bi, Ilkyung absolutely didn’t want to involve his noona.
But before that, he wondered if it was okay to bring personal matters into official business. Thinking he shouldn’t do that, Ilkyung shook his head.
“No.”
That’s when it happened. Ha Daehoon caressed the lips Ilkyung was chewing with his finger and pressed down on his lower lip. Surprised, Ilkyung opened his already large eyes even wider.
“If you have something to say, just say it. Your lip is bleeding, so stop tormenting it. Since when has Assistant Manager Woo Ilkyung distinguished between public and private matters? Just tell me.”
Whether it was because of the too-close distance or the warmth of the finger pressing on his lips, for a moment Ilkyung felt like his heart sank.
Ilkyung stepped back in surprise. On the other hand, Ha Daehoon’s expression didn’t change at all, which made Ilkyung even more flustered. He couldn’t think straight—was he the only one whose heart was pounding wildly like this, why was Director Ha acting like nothing was wrong?
“If you have something to say, say it. Don’t hesitate.”
“Well, that is. That day, my mom.”
Daehoon nodded. It meant to speak comfortably.
“She said maybe it didn’t work out because it was an arranged meeting and felt burdensome, and that it might have worked out if we’d gotten close in a different setting.”
“So?”
“I’d prefer it if you and my noona didn’t run into each other as much as possible.”
Ilkyung wondered why he was saying such things now. After saying it, it was funny.
“I’m sorry. For saying such things.”
“It’s fine. I’m the one who told you to speak. If you have more to say, shall we talk over dinner?”
“What?”
Ilkyung, who had been looking down, raised his head sharply. More to say? Was there such a thing? Ilkyung’s business was finished.
At first, he thought his mom and Director Ha Daehoon absolutely shouldn’t meet. Since he had committed a crime, he felt like that incident would be discovered if the two met. His mom had a fiery temper, so she would probably beat her grown son’s back to a pulp. She definitely would and more.
When the opportunity arose for the youngest noona who was an Esper, his mom probably wanted to quickly pair her with a Guide. Female Espers weren’t actually that numerous. Ilkyung’s family was somewhat unusual. The two older noonas were lucky enough to meet Guides with good matching rates, became imprinted, and were living well, but that was never an easy thing.
If the family found out that Ilkyung had personally blown away that difficult opportunity, he would become a great traitor in an instant and be cursed for a long time. Espers and Guides have to have physical contact, and knowing that perfectly well, what parent would want their child to receive guiding from this Guide and that Guide? No matter how much it’s work, there are definitely moments when reason and emotions can’t be separated.
Looking back, Ilkyung thought he might have gone too wild at that time. It’s funny to think this way now, though.
“This time let’s eat something Assistant Manager Woo likes.”
“Then, I’ll see you at the parking lot.”
“Alright.”
Ilkyung bowed his head first in greeting and hurriedly left the conference room.
“What’s wrong, Assistant Manager Woo? Did Director Ha scold you again?”
As soon as Ilkyung entered the team office, Section Chief Kang asked with a very worried face. Ilkyung stared blankly, wondering what he meant, then realized that although he had business, Director Ha was the one who called him. Ilkyung hurriedly shook his head vigorously.
“No, do I get scolded every time we meet?”
“Ah, so you didn’t get scolded but had a fight?”
Section Chief Kang said jokingly. Ilkyung also wrinkled his nose bridge and smiled.
“Now that Assistant Manager Woo is here, let’s have our meeting too.”
Team Leader Park confirmed that Ilkyung had entered and spoke. After the overall weekly meeting on Monday finished, the Field Support Team held a separate meeting like this.
“As you heard this morning, we still don’t know whether this incident is being caused consecutively by rebel forces or if it happened due to personal grudges. The Esper team that was formed this time will investigate that in more detail, so all we can do is wait. However, when incidents occur, our team’s work will increase and get busy, so it would be good to test Espers and Guides who haven’t formed pairs yet or haven’t done matching tests, and form partners in advance through testing.”
At Team Leader Park’s words, Ilkyung and Section Chief Kang let out small sighs. In the end, that work was theirs.
“Section Chief Kim, please investigate who has broken pairs, Section Chief Kang, among the broken pairs, if there are people who can be paired up again, make sure they take matching tests. And Assistant Manager Woo, among those who aren’t paired, distinguish those with decent matching rates so they can guide at any time.”
