"Right. Shall we discuss it in more detail?"
With an air of enjoyment, he lifted the documents and, while scanning through them, began speaking.
"The Association has ordered the closure of a laboratory conducting human experiments. In this case, all the data and subjects held by the laboratory will be protected from higher-ups."
As expected. Hearing that the Association protects for a day left an impression on Haehyuk, who placed his hand on his crossed legs. From him, who held his head high, an imposing aura that I had felt before emanated.
"But if it's me, I can secretly take away the boy Sihyun wants to protect."
"...."
"I can also turn a blind eye to Sihyun's use of abilities. Of course, I'll even help in rescuing the boy together."
It was an unprecedented opportunity. In a situation where an S-class was secured as reinforcement, Sihyun clenched and unclenched his fist.
"In return, you want me to enter Redem, right?"
"Do you think that's not enough?"
Haehyuk asked with a sinking response.
To be honest, the conditions were overflowing. He promised to keep Haewoo from being taken by the Association for a day and assist in the rescue. Not only that, if I were to use my abilities in the process, he would make sure the school couldn't inquire about it. However, Sihyun, who felt that it wasn't on his side, added one more condition.
"After the rescue, help secure Haewoo's safety as well. That's the condition."
"...Not difficult. Shall we bring the contract?"
Haehyuk, who readily accepted the additional condition, spoke cheerfully. Sihyun nodded, and he promptly ordered an employee to bring the contract to Sihyun. Sihyun carefully read the white paper laid out in front of him.
"Heh, fine."
As he picked up the pen to sign, Hamin showed an unpleasant expression. Seowoo also muttered that the contract wasn't great. One was indifferent, and the other was a persistent and annoying fellow. Even such two people refrained from speaking directly in front of Haehyuk, making Sihyun think that Haehyuk was indeed formidable.
And here I am, being sold to this terrifying S-class.
I knew well about Redem, a good guild, through various posts on the internet. Still, the fact that Haehyuk was the guild leader made Sihyun pause for a moment in contemplation.
After finishing the signature and extending the contract, Haehyuk, satisfied, put the contract in an envelope and handed it to the employee. Watching the employee carefully receive the envelope and head somewhere, Haehyuk opened his mouth, redirecting Sihyun's attention to him.
"Now, shall we properly plan the rescue? When is good for you?"
"What?"
"I mean when to go for the rescue. The sooner, the better, right?"
"Yes, sure."
"Then let's go today."
"Today?"
Having heard Hahyuk's words, Sihyun checked the time on his phone. It was 9:10 PM. Even if today is considered, there's barely about three hours left. The man who laughed, looking at the displeased expression on Hamin's face, stood up and observed him.
"Is the team sufficient with Sihyun, me, and Hamin? If the friend next to you wants to come, feel free."
The tone of the question seemed to be casually investigating the number of people going on a picnic. Hahyuk, who acted as if going for a walk right in front, then said, "Shall we go?" Sihyun looked at him with a helpless expression, moving without any particular plan.
"Is it okay to go like this?"
"What else do we need?"
"But, in terms of personnel or something more..."
"Why worry so much?"
I am S-Class.
The man who received the car keys from the staff spoke nonchalantly. An awkward expression formed at the self-praising statement as if it were as natural as breathing. Sihyun felt Hamin's arrogant self-esteem, and if there was a difference, Hamin's words felt childish, and Hahyuk's words were a truth that could not be easily denied.
"Taking a small number is better than taking a crowd. Especially for tasks that need to be done quietly, like today. This should be quite useful."
After glancing at the members who will go together, Hahyuk, who said that much, put on indoor slippers and wore shoes. Sihyun looked around at the personnel to cover the lab that Hahyuk was referring to. One S-Class, one Quadruple, and a Dual. Finally, an inspector with at least a given B-Class or above. The composition of the members, excluding the fact that the three students, including me, were inexperienced minors, was quite excessive.
Sihyun, feeling the need to supplement the personnel, asked if it would be foolish to ask. Hahyuk, guiding him, left his house. From the elevator to the arrival at the car. Sihyun felt like he had become an honored guest with Hahyuk's attentive care. Feeling unfamiliar, he rolled his eyes for no reason, and Hamin, walking beside him, collided with his gaze.
He turned his head momentarily. Only then did Sihyun realize that he and Hamin had not yet reconciled. Unable to endure the uncomfortable and irritating expression, Sihyun, who decided to rescue the urgent Hamin first, looked at Hahyuk's car. Although there was Seowoo and Hamin, anyone could tell that I had to sit next to him. However, Seowoo grabbed Sihyun and went to the back seat. Hahyuk, who saw that in the rearview mirror, smirked, laughed, and started the car smoothly. It was close to 10 PM.
"It will take a little over two hours to arrive. Sihyun, you might be tired if it gets late, so get some rest."
Seowoo and Hamin were also there, but he mentioned only me. The now more uncomfortable Sihyun nodded ambiguously. Hahyuk, who was driving without saying a word, spoke when they left the city. Looking at Sihyun through the rearview mirror, he said, "By the way, recently, did you receive a guild proposal from a strange person?"
"A strange person?"
"Wasn't it when you met Russ?"
"Ah...."
Indeed, he was a strange person. But no matter what, refusing the guild offer so casually, Sihyun, who thought he was talking about Triple too effortlessly, nodded in agreement when asked if he had rejected the guild proposal. Even though he received praise, the feeling was somehow strange.
"Is your relationship not good?"
"People should socialize with people."
"Ah...."
I wonder what he did to be treated like this. Sihyun, thinking about a person who might be crazy about him, muttered to himself inside. The conversation with Hahyuk ended there.
In the silence that settled in the car again, Sihyun leaned back on the backrest. Perhaps because the atmosphere was heavy, or maybe it was just his imagination, he wanted to look out the window freely, but even that was not possible due to being stuck between Hamin and Seowoo. If he had known, he should have said before getting in that he wanted to sit by the window.
Regretting not saying it at that time, Sihyun stretched his body. One hour of the two hours Hahyuk mentioned had passed. As fatigue from the training with Yooseowoo during the day surged, Sihyun, who closed his eyes, began to doze off. The one who held his head, swaying from top to bottom, made him lean against him. Sihyun, who was shaking unsteadily, enjoyed the comfort that came unconsciously.
The black vehicle, which had been moving for a while, finally stopped at the end of an uphill road. Sihyun, awakened by Hahyuk's voice, got out of the car and looked around. Contrary to expectations of a large and white research institute, the place where the vehicle stopped unexpectedly resembled a church building. It might be a disguise.
"Well then, shall we go?"
Finally, Hahyeok, who got out of the car, looked at the quiet research facility and spoke. Even in his calm voice, there was no hint of tension.
Walking slowly towards the research facility, he confidently attempted to enter through the main gate. Sihyun was irritated by his attitude, which was not only confident but also shameless. The firmly closed door naturally did not open.
Shall we go somewhere else?
That was the moment he was about to suggest.
Crack! The sound of the doorknob breaking scratched the eardrums. Hahyeok, with a determined push, opened the entrance with his toe, breaking the sturdy door. Since the door didn't open, he broke it.
"It's open."
He said casually, climbing over the fallen door and inviting them to enter. Sihyun couldn't help but chuckle at his nonchalant attitude. When they first met, he felt embarrassed, but now, in this situation, he felt like a reliable insurance.
Following Hahyeok, who entered naturally as if it were his own home, Sihyun, Hamin, and Seowoo also entered. The security guard, who rushed out in surprise at the sound of the door breaking, only managed to say, "Wh—" before collapsing. Hahyeok had swiftly knocked him out with a blow to the neck.
It was an incredibly fast move.
Sihyun momentarily wondered if Hahyeok had an acceleration skill. However, he knew he was a single-class inspector, so it was just a pointless thought.
S-class is indeed S-class.
When he looked at Russ, he had a vague intuition that he was strong, but seeing Hahyeok, the aura of an S-class was truly evident. Perhaps Russ seemed too reckless compared to his class, and Sihyun hadn't realized it.
As Hahyeok continued to knock out and subdue people who came out one by one, Sihyun, feeling amazed, didn't dare to intervene. Even though the opponents were ordinary people and not awakened individuals, he never expected the progress to be so smooth.
How long did they walk down the long corridor? Finally, rooms began to appear one by one, and the group split into two. Following Hahyeok's assertion that he would take responsibility and bring Haru with him since he offered to help, Sihyun and Hahyeok, Hamin and Seowoo formed one team and searched each room.
As they opened the door with a clank, the researcher inside looked at Hahyeok in surprise. Whether he had been reading documents until late at night or not, his eyes were widened in shock. In that moment of surprise, Hahyeok covered his mouth and slammed the man to the floor. The sound was painfully audible.
Uh, uh! The man's scream was muffled by Hahyeok's palm. Annoyed, Hahyeok used his remaining hand to strangle the man's neck. It didn't take long for the researcher's body to go limp and lifeless. Watching this, Sihyun looked down at the man whose eyes had rolled back. It was a creepy sight.
"Did you kill him?"
"I just lightly knocked him out. Anyway, wouldn't you like to read these documents?"
He said in a friendly tone after strangling the man's neck. There was a stark contrast between his appearance just a while ago and his current demeanor. Sihyun, with a puzzled expression, took the documents Hahyeok had taken from the researcher.
Research journal dated January 7, 2012.
After confirming the handwritten text on the paper, Sihyun read the text below.
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