“Ah, first.”
After gulping down the rest of the banana he was eating, Yeojin continued speaking.
“Please lend me your phone.”
Im Junwoo handed Yeojin his phone without any suspicion.
Looking at the time on the phone screen, it was 8:40. I thought it was dawn, but it’s past 8 o’clock. I slept way too much.
Although the Seoul Center started work at 9 o’clock, there would be a staff member on night duty at the security center. He called the Seoul Center using Im Junwoo’s phone.
— Yes. This is the Seoul Temporary Quarantine Center.
As expected, a staff member answered the phone immediately.
“There will be a Rebel attack soon.”
— What?
The voice of the staff member, who had been thick with drowsiness, became sharply pitched.
“There’s going to be a bombing attack.”
— What? You crazy bastard? What kind of insane bullshit is this first thing in the morning?
It was a natural reaction. Even to himself, it sounded like insane talk. If Yeojin had received this kind of call, he would have clearly shown a similar reaction.
“If you space out, you’ll all die. Prepare in advance. Right now, contact the National Security and Peace Maintenance Department immediately and ask for help…”
— You’re really crazy. How unlucky from the morning!
Kaak, ptooey! The other person even spat and hung up the phone. Yeojin was about to call again and curse him out but held back. He saw Im Junwoo and Han Daesik staring blankly at him. When Im Junwoo was about to open his mouth wide and ask what on earth he was talking about, Yeojin raised his hand to block his mouth. He planned to finish the phone calls first and explain the situation later.
Ring ring, ring ring, the dial tone continued and soon Director Im’s familiar voice leaked out.
— Yes. Hello.
“The Seoul Center is going to be attacked.”
— Whaaaat? Who is this? No, wait a minute. You’re Min Yeojin! Hey! Min Yeojin! Do you even know what happened after you threw a fit about writing a resignation letter and left? What the hell have you been doing? Last night, the National Security and Peace Maintenance Department’s Rebel Response Team or something called and asked where Min Yeojin was, told me to report everything if Min Yeojin contacts me from now on, and that I’d be punished if I secretly made contact with you. When I asked why, they said Min Yeojin is on the blacklist at the highest danger level. Did you really become a Rebel? Huh? Did you team up with Seo Haeju and turn into a Rebel? Is that really it? Are you in your right mind? What the hell are you trying to do!
As expected, a storm of nagging poured out. His ears stung. Yeojin put strength in his throat and screeched.
“Directoooooor!”
— Ah, you startled me. My eardrums are going to fall off!
The nagging that seemed like it would never stop was cut off.
“I’ll explain the whole situation later. Don’t worry about me. I’m not a Rebel. And please keep it secret that you talked to me on the phone. I’ll make absolutely sure there’s no harm to you, Director.”
— Min Yeojin, you really can’t do this.
“I know. I know I shouldn’t do this, but what can I do? It’s already like this. Anyway, listen carefully to what I’m saying. I don’t know exactly, but within a few days, the Rebels will attack the Seoul Center.”
— You must be living well? Seeing that you have the leisure to talk bullshit?
“No. I’m not living well. It’s extremely, extremely hard. It’s not bullshit. I was captured as a prisoner by the Rebels and heard this directly. For a while, have all the Center staff work from home. And contact the National Security and Peace Maintenance Department to request protection and surveillance of the quarantined people’s safety.”
— Hey, Min Yeojin.
“There’s no time. You know just from my voice that I’m not joking.”
— I know. I know, but where does this come from all of a sudden? My mind is completely blank.
“Don’t call that National Security and Peace Maintenance Department’s Rebel Response Team number you mentioned talking to. Just in case, go directly to the National Security and Peace Maintenance Department and speak directly to the higher-ups.”
Yang Sujin said she was drafted to the National Security and Peace Maintenance Department’s Rebel Response Team. Could Yang Sujin be the only spy hiding inside the National Security and Peace Maintenance Department like that? Actually, the word “spy” was wrong too. They were Transcendents from the beginning, and whether big or small, knowingly or unknowingly, they were the type who held resentment against the government.
It’s just the difference between only thinking that way while living, or deciding to become a Rebel.
— Higher-ups? Minister or Vice Minister level? Would those people even meet with me?
“Even if they won’t meet you, barge in and charge at them!”
— Are you even calling that talking? Why are you always like this with everything? Huu. Okay, I got it. I’m almost at the Center. I’ll go into the office and call you back.
“Don’t call me. It’ll cause harm to you, Director.”
Director Im let out a deep sigh.
— Are you even eating properly?
Talking about food in this situation. It was such a deflating thing to say that laughter leaked out.
“I’m not going hungry.”
— Do you have money?
“Yes. I have some.”
— Your cards and everything will be monitored, so you’ll need to have a lot of cash. Tell me if you need cash. Tsk. Still, I’m a bit relieved to confirm you’re alive. I couldn’t sleep a wink last night because of you, you punk.
“I’m sorry.”
She wasn’t a bad person. Even though she had a calculating personality and was picky, she was someone with deep affection. Just the fact that she still kept me as one of her people even though I only caused trouble all the time showed that.
— Anyway, yeah. Contact me once in a while like this and let me know how you’re doing.
“Yes.”
— And think carefully. Even for your family’s sake, you can’t just live however you please.
“I don’t have family. You know that. And I’m not living however I please. Who says ‘I’m going to live however I please now!’ and then jumps into a hellfire?”
Director Im clicked her tongue with a sigh.
— So did you find Seo Haeju? Are you with him? Be careful. You heard too, right? He’s at a level where his grade measurement itself is impossible. Even the control chip is useless and he can’t be controlled at all. Right now he only has two abilities, but they say he might manifest new abilities beyond that. They say he’s a mutant-grade monster that’s completely unpredictable.
“Haeju is not a monster.”
— Don’t just blindly defend him. He might not recognize you and attack you because he can’t control his own power.
“Haeju would absolutely never do that.”
— Doctor Min, it’s not just you who’s in danger, it’s a problem where the entire world could become dangerous.
When he manifested his ability at the Seoul Center, he was the guy who ran away because he was afraid he’d hurt me even though he couldn’t control his exploding ability. The one who attacked me was Haeju’s guard knight, the crow, not Haeju.
Yeojin had asked Haeju. Not to get hurt. Don’t get hurt yourself and don’t hurt people either. The guy said he understood.
He also said he would become stronger to protect me. That he would control this power too, and train the birds so they wouldn’t attack me anymore.
While saying that, he laughed while spouting embarrassing words like “I love you, Doctor, I like you.”
That guy won’t attack me. There’s absolutely no way he’ll lose his reason and rampage to harm me. I don’t know about other things, but I’m certain about that. Although I didn’t know so many things about Haeju, I clearly knew that the feelings that guy had for me were real.
Haeju’s eyes looking at me were always consistently clear and straightforward. Inside his sparkling eyes were filled with infinite affection and trust.
“I understand very well what you mean. If Haeju loses his reason and goes wild, I’ll throw my whole body to stop him.”
Yeojin muttered in a low, sunken voice.
“But that will absolutely never happen. I trust Haeju.”
And he immediately added.
— The ax you trust will strike your foot, you know.
“Even if it strikes my foot, I’m the one getting struck.”
Director Im Suhyang’s sigh deepened. It seemed she had arrived at the Center as the sound of the car entering the underground parking lot followed by the sound of it stopping could be heard.
— I need to go up to the office.
“Yes. Go up.”
When she called out “Doctor Min,” he hesitated while about to hang up first.
— Survive. Somehow.
Yeojin smiled faintly.
“You stay healthy too, Director. Thank you for everything until now.”
If it weren’t for Director Im Suhyang, with the accumulated disciplinary actions, I would have definitely been kicked out of the Seoul Center long ago. He knew that when Yeojin’s disciplinary actions were reported to the higher-ups and pressure calls came saying to fire that staff member immediately, she blocked them by saying “If not Doctor Min, the doctor position will be empty, so how will you immediately fill the position?”
Im Junwoo, who had been waiting for Yeojin to finish the call, immediately spoke to him.
“What on earth does that mean? The Seoul Center is going to be attacked?”
“Just a moment. You said Haeju took his phone when he left, right? What’s Haeju’s phone number? Ah, is it this number?”
Yeojin arbitrarily searched the phone and found the number presumed to be Haeju’s and showed it to Im Junwoo. He nodded to show it was correct.
“Did the Rebels say they’re going to attack the Seoul Center this time?”
“Just a moment.”
Im Junwoo was about to burst from frustration at being cut off again. When he pressed the call button to Haeju’s number, ring ring, ring ring, the dial tone continued for a long time. No matter how many times he called, Haeju didn’t answer. He hung up and tried calling one more time, but it was the same.
Giving up on calling, he composed a text message. If he sees this, he’ll contact me later at least.
“I’m sorry for bothering you when you’re busy, but I’m going crazy with curiosity. Please at least give me a yes or no answer. Did the Rebels plan an attack operation on the Seoul Center?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
While typing, Yeojin answered Im Junwoo’s question briefly.
“Those insane bastards are getting crazier as they go. Crazy sons of bitches.”
Han Daesik cursed and got heated.
“When? There are still quarantined people left at the Seoul Center, right? They must be planning to evacuate the remaining quarantined people. The civilian damage will be enormous too, they’re really insane.”
“I don’t know when either. I only roughly overheard what those bastards were saying.”
