# Chapter 109
“Remember when I told you about someone snooping around here recently?”
They had attempted to break into the workshop several times but failed every time, unable to breach the security system. Since the intruders had completely covered their faces in the CCTV footage, reporting it to the authorities was useless. Things had been quiet lately, so D.S had thought they’d finally given up and had let her guard down a bit.
“My system can’t be breached by someone below Tier 2.”
Superpowered individuals don’t always win against regular people. Particularly in the case of certain engineers who understand superpowers better than the superhumans themselves, they often show exceptional talent in creating counter-systems that use technology to defend against superpowers.
However, there were limitations since they had to respond to supernatural, unknown forces.
“Then…”
“It’s Tier 3 or higher.”
A Tier 3 or higher attacking an engineer was unusual. Since there weren’t many people who qualified as Tier 3 and above, the possibility of identifying them was much higher than with lower-tier powered individuals. It was almost like declaring they would never use an engineer’s tools.
Looking at the state of the workshop, it was possible to roughly guess what kind of superhuman was responsible. The floor was pockmarked as if there had been a violent struggle with the security system, and the walls were covered in blackened burn marks. The weapons that had attacked the intruder were either covered in transparent ice or partially melted, dripping water.
It was an ice manipulation ability user. They had used their power inside, causing the shutter to freeze weakly as well.
“If it’s Tier 3 or higher with ice powers…”
Ice-related abilities were among the more commonly manifested superpowers. Even limiting it to Tier 3 and above, there were still dozens of potential suspects.
“How did they get in?”
Since the shutter looked fine from the outside, they hadn’t entered that way. Through a window? A ventilation duct? D.S shook her head at all suggestions.
“There’s no sign of physical force being used to enter.”
That left only one conclusion. Iyeon touched his forehead with a groan.
“Teleportation…”
Still, the combination of ice manipulation and teleportation abilities was quite a unique commonality. While there were dozens of ice ability users, there were even fewer teleportation ability users, and cases where the two worked together were much rarer.
“They wouldn’t be unregistered, would they?”
Government-registered superhumans were estimated to account for about 98% of the total. People who didn’t register their superpowers were very rare, but they did exist. Although everyone had their own circumstances, in such cases, there was a 99% probability they were involved in criminal activities.
“We’ll have to track them down.”
D.S ground her teeth. She seemed quite angry.
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
D.S nodded at Iyeon’s words. She exhaled deeply to calm herself a bit and then headed toward the drawer cabinet. As she rummaged through the already ransacked drawers, her movements suddenly stopped. What’s wrong? As Iyeon looked at her in confusion, D.S slowly turned her head.
“Didn’t you come looking for the gems?”
She tilted her head with a strange expression. She looked both angry and flustered.
“The gems are gone.”
“What?”
“Wait a moment.”
Leaving just those words, D.S spent a long time going back and forth around the workshop, searching everywhere. Her uncharacteristically busy movements seemed a bit ominous, and Iyeon could only blink as he followed her movements.
After some time, D.S finally stopped. Her face, which had worn an odd expression throughout, suddenly crumpled.
“Only your gems are missing.”
D.S’s workshop contained many machines, both in development and completed. Like most tools made in Chohosi, they were more advanced than modern scientific technology. It goes without saying that there were many expensive components. If someone had broken into an engineer’s workshop, there would be no reason to steal only the gems.
Unless that was their purpose from the beginning.
“How did they know the gems were here? When I examined them, there were no tracking devices.”
Originally, Iyeon had the gems, and if it weren’t for Han Subin’s case, he wouldn’t have entrusted them to D.S at all. It was completely coincidental that the intruder found the gems in the workshop. The only connection between the gems and D.S would be…
“Ah.”
Iyeon turned to D.S with a dumbfounded expression. D.S’s eyebrows shot up immediately. When he made this kind of face, it usually meant he had done something wrong.
“Hahah.”
With an embarrassed laugh, Iyeon took off his goggles and handed them to D.S. Something dangling from the goggles immediately caught her attention. It wasn’t difficult for the developer D.S to identify what it was.
It was a wire with the engineer’s seal completely carved out.
“I lost it at the place where I got the gems…”
“So it was you!”
D.S shouted angrily. THWACK! The sound of her striking his back was loud. “Ouch!” Iyeon grimaced, but since he was guilty, he quietly endured it. In the end, he was only able to leave his goggles for repair after paying for dinner and nursing a sore back.
The gems the intruder stole hadn’t been obtained through legal channels. Since they couldn’t provide a proper explanation to the authorities, they couldn’t file a theft report, and naturally, calling the police was impossible.
“But at least after searching this much, we know they were only interested in the gems. They probably won’t come back.”
“You call that an excuse?”
THWACK. Once again, a hearty sound came from his back. There would probably be red handprints when he got home.
“I’m going to bill your office for everything.”
“Yes…”
Knowing his guilt all too well, Iyeon responded dejectedly. Fortunately, D.S had been out, because if she had been inside the workshop and directly encountered the intruder, it would have been truly the worst situation. When you keep a secret for too long, something eventually goes wrong. That was today’s lesson.
Iyeon only left the workshop after having dinner with D.S and helping clean up. D.S was determined to find out the identity of the intruder, but there wasn’t much they could do right away. She seemed to plan on contacting other engineers as soon as day broke.
It was already late at night. Iyeon walked absent-mindedly through the streets as darkness settled.
‘Ice powers…’
While it was a common ability and didn’t match the tier, when thinking of ice powers, that face came to mind first. I wonder how they’re doing. Have they advanced in tier? …It would be nice if they reconciled with their father. Though I probably won’t see them again, I hope they’re living well.
“I’m home.”
When he opened the front door, the living room was dark. Mungchi came running, its yellow eyes glowing, and rubbed against his legs.
“Hey, Mungchi, have you been well?”
Patting its head, Iyeon turned on the lights to reveal an empty scene. What’s this? Is Je Sano not home yet? Puzzled, Iyeon checked every room, but there was no trace of Sano since he had left for work.
‘He’s late.’
While Sano had occasionally gone out abruptly before, he had never completely failed to come home. He was surprisingly serious about their cohabitation.
When will he come? Thinking this, Iyeon put Mungchi down and headed to the bathroom. Even after washing up, brushing his teeth, and changing clothes, Sano still hadn’t returned.
He hadn’t spoken with Sano all day. If there was some misunderstanding, he wanted to clear it up. Even if Sano ignored him, if he kept talking to him, Sano would eventually respond. Then he could ask him about it. Mungchi approached Iyeon as he slumped down on the sofa.
“…What if he’s completely disillusioned with me?”
Stroking the creature that had casually sprawled across his lap as if it belonged there, Iyeon whispered. Though Mungchi couldn’t possibly understand what he was saying, the soft, warm fur against his palm somehow provided comfort.
I guess this is why people need pets. Gaining this small insight, Iyeon kept glancing at the front door. It seemed like Sano might open the door and walk in at any moment.
When Je Sano arrives, I’ll greet him first. Then I’ll ask where he’s been, and tell him to let go of whatever’s making him angry, and if, if he can’t let it go… Iyeon continuously simulated the situation as if rehearsing. Thinking like this calmed his mind a little.
However, ultimately, Iyeon’s worries were in vain.
Sano didn’t return home until dawn.
