# Chapter 26
Kang Dongha’s office was a spacious area with large windows that allowed for decent natural light. It seemed big enough to fit Lee Hwan’s entire team inside.
“…Do you play golf here?”
On one side, there was even a putting mat laid out. It was quite a sight.
However, the desk was piled high with mysterious documents, suggesting that this guy wasn’t just lounging around doing nothing.
Lee Hwan flipped through those papers without asking for permission while glancing at Kang Dongha, who was brewing coffee.
“No secretary?”
“There’s someone who manages my work schedule… But since they’re essentially a spy, it’s better not to keep them around.”
Kang Dongha was clearly playing dumb while successfully deceiving his brother. Even so, the reason he was trying to manage Lee Hwan to this extent must be because of the department transfer.
“I guess Kang Dongying doesn’t like you coming here?”
“Well… that’s right.”
Despite being responsible for so many areas, Kang Dongying seemed particularly concerned about the research wing. So much so that he was wary of his own brother coming there.
Thinking of that man’s fake smile made Lee Hwan’s neck tingle uncomfortably.
“Kang Taesung isn’t coming himself, right?”
“As if he would. I don’t want to get tangled up with that temperament either. That kid learning how to make threats…”
Lee Hwan felt startled for a moment before realizing that “that kid” referred to Taesung, not himself.
Come to think of it, Kang Dongha was probably in his late 20s. Compared to him, Lee Hwan and Taesung, having returned from 7 years in the future, were much younger.
“You really don’t hold back with your cousin, huh?”
This brat with no respect for family hierarchy. Lee Hwan suddenly acted as if he were Taesung’s spokesperson, responding to the old-fashioned attitude with his own.
That’s when it happened.
‘…!’
Speak of the devil. There was a knock at the door.
“Mask on. Mask on.”
“Ah.”
Lee Hwan stopped mid-sentence and quickly put on the mask he had temporarily removed. It seemed like some adjustments had been made as it felt more comfortable than before. Nevertheless, Lee Hwan simply didn’t like this full-face mask that resembled the Phantom of the Opera.
Clunk.
Shortly after, the door opened. As a figure in dark sunglasses slowly walked in, Lee Hwan’s fingertips turned ice cold.
A strong jaw, thin lips, and a rigid expression with slight wrinkles around the mouth. Overall, a well-maintained middle-aged appearance.
The person who entered wasn’t Taesung or a team member, but Jade. Last time, Kang Dongha had clearly stated this guy was the Naru Chairman’s man, so why was he involved in Taesung’s business?
“Ah… That bastard Kang Taesung, did he deliberately send him?”
Kang Dongha, who had been standing behind, grumbled unpleasantly as he limped forward. Jade, showing no sign of being offended, gave a slight bow and addressed Kang Dongha in a flat tone.
“The young master is quite busy.”
“And I’m not?”
‘Young master…? Busy?’
The unfamiliar title almost made Lee Hwan shudder. He distinctly remembered this guy speaking informally to Taesung on the first day of regression, so this sudden change felt bizarre.
Without responding, Jade searched through the bag he’d brought and handed a document each to Lee Hwan and Kang Dongha.
“The discussions have already been completed… These are non-disclosure agreements. Please sign and return them, and I’ll make copies for each of you.”
It was essentially a contract stating that Taesung wouldn’t disclose information about Gate C-17, and Kang Dongha wouldn’t babble about Lee Hwan’s uses.
And the subject of this contract was Lee Hwan himself, standing there cursing behind his mask.
‘Why the hell am I involved in their business?’
“The job involves exploring gates. Your main duty will be to support attacks during gate raids. Gate entry will be on weekends that I designate, and everything obtained will be divided equally, except for certain materials…”
“Certain materials?”
“We’ll compensate you with other byproducts equivalent to their value.”
Clearly Lee Hwan was the one being sold, but all the money-related questions and contract verifications were being handled by Kang Dongha.
Concerned that even that money might go to Kang Dongha, Lee Hwan looked at him, only to see the guy mimicking a card-swiping motion toward him.
His lip movements were clearly visible.
‘I’ll. Pay. You. Back.’
So, they were selling a person to a gate like some shrimp fishing boat? Lee Hwan wore an incredulous expression under his mask.
“Most entries will be at night on weekends. The first entry will be this Saturday at 8 PM…”
Jade paused mid-sentence. Then, after Kang Dongha signed the document he had carefully examined,
“It’s a Level 2 animal-type gate in Gocheon-ri, Ganghwa Island.”
Only then did he reveal the destination.
As long as it didn’t conflict with the A-08 assignment he hadn’t received yet, there was no reason not to go. Moreover, if it meant being with Taesung, Lee Hwan would gladly hide in a luggage bag and breathe through a straw to follow him, even if told not to go.
The only concern was that using his abilities during combat might risk exposing his identity.
How many ways had Lee Hwan displayed his abilities in front of Taesung so far?
‘Cut glass, bungee jumped, put out a fire, and blocked it too…’
He’d even used it a bit when fleeing, though he wasn’t sure if it had been noticeable.
If he used his abilities in a similar way and got caught, he might be done for. Could he fight moderately without giving himself away? With that thought, Lee Hwan asked:
“I assume you don’t need to verify my skills?”
His voice, altered by scratching at his throat, flowed out naturally. Hearing this, Kang Dongha passed the document to Jade, glanced at Lee Hwan, and gestured toward the mirror on the wall.
In the mirror, Lee Hwan in his mask and black clothes somehow looked incredibly powerful. And not in a positive way.
“…That can’t be the reason.”
Does he think Kang Taesung is an idiot? As Lee Hwan muttered in displeasure, Jade turned his gaze toward him and spoke.
“We’ve already assessed based on witness testimony and traces left in the gate.”
Of course, Taesung would have thoroughly investigated everything upon entering the gate that day—every footprint at the fork in the road, the angle and depth of each depression in the soil.
With that, he could probably trace Lee Hwan’s movements and combat style.
Add to that the team leader’s praise, and it was easy enough to determine that he was someone worth using.
“I’m curious about something… What if I stab you in the back? What are you going to do then?”
Lee Hwan asked again. Though it sounded somewhat confrontational, it was more out of genuine curiosity than an attempt to probe.
While Lee Hwan knew Taesung, from Taesung’s perspective, masked Lee Hwan was just someone he’d seen once near the gate. How could he trust him enough to take him as a combat partner?
Thankfully the offer came to him, but if Kang Dongha had regressed and seized this opportunity, Taesung might have disappeared the day he entered the gate.
At this unexpected question, Jade’s expression remained unchanged, but Kang Dongha’s face hardened.
“Then someone would die.”
As he spoke, Jade stared at Kang Dongha for a moment. At this reaction, which suggested Kang Dongha try any tricks like at Gate C-17 if he dared, Kang Dongha made a face like he’d bitten into something disgusting.
“If you join us for three different gates, you’ll receive not only the byproducts but also separate compensation that won’t disappoint.”
His eyes had been fixed on Lee Hwan for some time now.
“I won’t interfere with where you’ve been living as a criminal or why you’re unregistered. Just focus on supporting the gate clearance well.”
That penetrating gaze, as if seeing through the mask. It felt as though he knew who Lee Hwan was. Lee Hwan’s eyes widened for a moment, forgetting to control his expression.
‘…Does he know? Does he know? But then why didn’t he just confront me when he found me…?’
Perhaps he had decided to kindly overlook Lee Hwan’s transgression?
But Lee Hwan knew that if he actually removed his mask based on that feeling, everything would truly fall apart.
There’s no way he could know. Unless that man had some kind of clairvoyance, common sense dictated he couldn’t possibly know.
An Awakened person wearing a mask and thoroughly concealing their identity. A Hunter who seemed quite skilled but appeared unregistered anywhere. With just that information, it was easy to surmise that concealing one’s identity probably didn’t stem from good reasons.
Jade had likely been prodding at that, and Lee Hwan had simply become frightened prematurely. That’s what Lee Hwan thought.
Besides, if Taesung really knew Lee Hwan’s identity, he wouldn’t be having a peaceful conversation here. After being caught in a sudden fire tornado on the way to the research wing, he would have opened his eyes to the sound of an angelic lyre playing beside him—a tragic ending.
Yet here Lee Hwan was, smelling coffee and receiving a promise to meet with Taesung.
“The money… put it with that guy.”
Lee Hwan concluded briefly as he turned around. Then he walked over to the sofa and sat down heavily. His heart, which had momentarily dropped, was now showing off its presence again, pounding intensely.
Though he didn’t entirely trust that guy with his money, he couldn’t simply hand over his salary account number that read “Taesung Bank XXXX-XXX-XXXXXX Joo Lee Hwan.”
Looking at that account would reveal countless entries like “Our Happiness Mart -8,040 won, Our Happiness Mart -11,200 won, Our Even Happier Mart -32,100 won.”
Perhaps interpreting this as silent trust, Kang Dongha smirked and brought over a cup of coffee he’d brewed. Too tired to explain further, Lee Hwan quietly accepted the coffee and drank it in silence.
Jade left with the documents and didn’t return. However, about 10 minutes after he left, copies of the contract were printed from the fax machine.
‘Should I head back now…’
There was nothing more to do here. Plus, there were less than 30 minutes left of lunch time. He didn’t want to return late and get scolded, and he also wanted to fill his empty stomach.
Today’s menu included japchae, and Naru’s cafeteria japchae was one of the best dishes, filled with salty meat and plump, chewy, soft glass noodles.
He could almost smell that savory aroma. If he wanted to taste it, it was better to arrive before others ate everything, leaving only onions and carrots behind.
“Tell me before you pull any stunts. If you really don’t want to become a dura-han.”
Lee Hwan left this strong warning and walked out, leaving behind Kang Dongha who avoided his gaze.
