Yoon Taegyeom understood the President’s feelings. North Korea had become a mess, and pressure from other nations hadn’t decreased. In this situation, having another S-rank Awakener in one’s own country was indeed something to welcome. However, there was still a story he hadn’t heard yet.
Yoon Taegyeom looked at the President without moving a muscle. This wasn’t something to gloss over and move past. In the silence, only the sound of the clock’s second hand echoed through the room. Several minutes passed like that, and the President’s mouth opened again.
“He says he came from another world.”
“Another world, you say?”
If someone had heard that, they might have thought what nonsense was being spoken. However, Yoon Taegyeom had information that others didn’t. Ian’s words, heard through Hong Seoyoon. Ian had said he spent the five years he was missing in another world.
Yoon Taegyeom tried his best to maintain composure. Looking at the timing, there wasn’t much difference between when Ian returned and when Vermouth appeared. Perhaps Vermouth came from the same world as Ian. If the two met, they might recognize each other. However, he had no intention of that.
First, he needed to figure out whether Vermouth knew Ian, and if so, whether they were enemy or ally.
“Do you believe those words, Mr. President?”
Therefore, Yoon Taegyeom acted like someone who knew nothing.
“It’s a world where monsters come out of Gates. It’s not strange for people from other worlds to appear either, is it? I’ve talked with him about various things too. But he has no common sense about this world.”
“Anyone can lie.”
“That’s why I called someone affiliated with the National Intelligence Service.”
There was one Awakener in the National Intelligence Service who could read others’ thoughts. Vermouth merely stood with an unchanged expression while listening to their conversation.
“Don’t worry. He agreed to this.”
“Still, you shouldn’t trust him completely.”
“I know. But right now, we need more power. Please.”
Since he came out like this, Yoon Taegyeom couldn’t say anything more. No, more precisely, he didn’t feel the need to. After all, he too was pretending ignorance while knowing everything.
“Understood. Then I’ll take Mr. Vermouth to the Management Bureau and measure his abilities.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
And so Yoon Taegyeom came to leave the Blue House together with Vermouth. As soon as they exited the President’s office, the surrounding gazes converged on Vermouth. Yoon Taegyeom was fairly handsome himself, but Vermouth was on another level.
Yoon Sora’s reaction wasn’t much different from other people’s.
“Wow, woah?”
At her standing there with her mouth agape in a daze, Yoon Taegyeom smacked Yoon Sora’s shoulder.
“Get a grip.”
“Yes, yes sir!”
Yoon Sora lightly shook her body and assumed proper posture. Of all things, to show such disgraceful behavior in front of her strict cousin. She didn’t know what to do with her embarrassment.
“But who is this?”
“A VIP.”
Yoon Taegyeom defined Vermouth in one word.
“I’m going to escort him to the Management Bureau.”
“Yes!”
“Contact the Management Bureau in advance and tell them to clear out one ability measurement room.”
“Yes, I’ll relay that!”
Yoon Sora moved briskly. Meanwhile, Yoon Taegyeom tried to figure Vermouth out. Conversation wasn’t the only thing needed to learn about another person. Trivial actions done unconsciously could sometimes be clues as well.
Even though Yoon Taegyeom guided him all the way to the car, Vermouth just stood still.
“You grab the handle and open the car door.”
He explained kindly, but Vermouth still just smiled enigmatically. Seeing him, Yoon Sora approached and swiftly opened the door.
“Thank you.”
Only then did Vermouth offer his thanks and get in the car. He looked like someone well-versed in making others serve him.
“Not at all!”
Yoon Sora answered energetically and got in the driver’s seat. It seemed she thought she should drive since Yoon Taegyeom was her superior and Vermouth was a guest. Her driving skills were oddly poor for an Awakener, but there was no other option now. Yoon Taegyeom decided to spend his time observing and keeping Vermouth in check rather than driving.
“Departing!”
With those words, the car began to move. Vermouth naturally crossed his legs and looked out the window. It seemed he didn’t want to converse with Yoon Taegyeom for now. The Management Bureau wasn’t far from the Blue House. During the journey, Vermouth didn’t open his mouth.
When they arrived at the Management Bureau and got out of the car, someone was waiting to guide Vermouth directly to the ability measurement room. They were quick-witted about such things. It was a part that showed how much Yoon Taegyeom had trained people.
“Measurement preparations are complete.”
They’d also cleared out the ability measurement room located in the most secluded spot. This place was separate from other measurement rooms and had few people. Moreover, though the person in charge had a low rank, they were also an Awakener. Usually, people with outstanding potential came to this place.
It wasn’t as if there was some amazing machine just because they measured Awakeners’ abilities. The machine was structured so that a person only needed to insert their hand. No special technology was applied internally. This was a machine created by combining Gate byproducts and magic.
To make this, the World Awakener Association had spent an enormous amount of money. In the beginning, it was hard to obtain even with money, but as the world stabilized, it had now been distributed quite widely.
“Please put your hand inside and grasp the rod you feel.”
Vermouth nodded and put his hand inside the machine.
“Now channel your power in.”
The person in charge explained the method of channeling power into the machine. Before the explanation even finished, Vermouth slammed his power into the machine. Yes, that was the right way to express it.
“Agh!”
With a crackling sound, tremendous power flowed into the machine. A holy-looking white light not only enveloped the machine but spread into the air. Simultaneously, the printer connected to the machine began outputting results. However, it couldn’t come out all the way. Because the machine broke before that could happen.
“Uh, huh?”
The person in charge looked back and forth between the half-printed result sheet and the machine with an expression of not knowing what to do. This was a machine fully capable of measuring even S-rank Awakeners’ abilities. On top of that, magical treatment had been applied to it, so it rarely broke down. He stared blankly at the machine, then tapped it a few times. However, no response came from the machine.
Naturally, the person in charge’s gaze passed through Vermouth and reached Yoon Taegyeom.
“Could you show me the result sheet?”
The person in charge pulled out the half-printed result sheet by hand and handed it to Yoon Taegyeom. On the result sheet, the number 0 was printed in a row. Then the answer was simple. Either the measurement subject was powerless, or they possessed abilities too great for even S-rank to handle.
“My apologies. I should have reduced my power.”
Vermouth apologized calmly.
“Not at all. It’s because the machine was inadequate.”
Yoon Taegyeom said while taking his eyes off the result sheet.
“Mr. Vermouth. Starting today, you are an S-rank Awakener. How fortunate. Since you said you wanted to become famous.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Is there a reason you want to become famous?”
At those words, Vermouth smiled softly.
“Because there’s someone I want to find.”
“I see. I hope you find them without fail.”
Yoon Taegyeom also smiled back and said so. Vermouth probably wouldn’t find the person he wanted. Because he would make it that way.
***
“Yo! I’m here!”
Hong Seoyoon knocked on the gate with the tips of his toes while holding mart bags in both hands. Normally he would press the bell, but when he could already sense two people’s presence in the yard, was there any need for that?
Creak.
The door opened and a familiar face appeared.
“Hyung.”
It was Ian.
“The meat?”
At the question asked with just his head poking out from the door, Hong Seoyoon held up the bags.
“Right here! Pork, beef, even seafood! I bought a variety.”
“Good, you pass!”
Ian grinned broadly and opened the door. As Hong Seoyoon energetically entered, Ian also closed the door and followed behind him. In one corner of the yard, a mat was laid out, and on it were placed all the things needed for grilling meat.
“Are the vegetables enough?”
At Hong Seoyoon’s words, Choi Jaeheon nodded.
“Plenty. But you only eat meat anyway.”
“I’m doing it for the kid.”
“Who’s a kid?”
Ian grumbled as he rummaged through the bag Hong Seoyoon had put down. Choi Jaeheon, Hong Seoyoon, Yoon Taegyeom, and Ian. These four people had often gathered in the past to grill meat in the yard. The adult hyungs would drink alcohol, and they’d give Ian carbonated drinks.
“You.”
Hong Seoyoon said that and laughed out loud.
“You’re loud. You’re bothering the neighbors.”
“No, this whole area is empty anyway.”
At those words, Ian raised his head with a puzzled expression.
“Empty?”
“Yeah, your hyung bought up this whole area.”
Saying that, Hong Seoyoon took meat out of another bag and laid it out on the table.
