Chapter 140:
“So, did you arrest them?”
“Yes, at the airport.”
“…The airport?”
Why the airport?
“They had already packed and left the Guild headquarters when Vice President Jeong Joo-hyung arrived. So the Association Head used his authority to issue a travel ban on all Taesan Guild members.”
Kim Yoo-sung recalled the situation, still slightly amazed by how close it had been.
It had happened two days ago.
Shortly after the travel ban was issued, Kang Sung-yeon received a report that Park Hyung-woo and his Guild members were about to leave for Russia.
The entire Guild going to Russia in this situation? It was clearly an attempt to flee.
Fortunately, there were still three hours until their flight, so Kang Sung-yeon had them sent to the departure gate, without alerting Park Hyung-woo, and then headed to the airport with Jeong Joo-hyung, Kim Yoo-sung, and even Kwon Yi-soo.
But Kim Yoo-sung and Jeong Joo-hyung didn’t even have to lift a finger.
Park Hyung-woo, who had been anxiously waiting in the airport’s VIP lounge with his Guild members, saw the S-ranks appear and tried to flee again, abandoning even his Guild members.
But he was quickly restrained by Kang Sung-yeon’s far superior telekinesis. Just as Park Hyung-woo was about to unleash his ability and destroy the entire airport…
Kwon Yi-soo stepped forward.
‘Not only did he try to kill Seo Jae-yi, but he also abandoned her with a Rank 2 boss monster and ran away.’
Kwon Yi-soo’s powerful aura pressed down on Park Hyung-woo.
His Guiding wasn’t ordinary Guiding. It was sharp, laced with a Dominance that could subdue any Esper.
Park Hyung-woo, suddenly weakened before Kwon Yi-soo despite the surge of energy from the Guiding, could only clench his jaw.
But he was far weaker than Kwon Yi-soo and Kang Sung-yeon; he couldn’t break free from their power.
‘I thought I could finally relax, but I didn’t expect that remaining piece of trash to cause trouble.’
Kwon Yi-soo’s shoe ground into the back of Park Hyung-woo’s hand. His eyes, colder than ever, radiated a chilling aura of dominance.
They had never seen Kwon Yi-soo this angry.
Even Kang Sung-yeon, Kim Yoo-sung, and Jeong Joo-hyung held their breath. And Park Hyung-woo, who was bearing the brunt of his power, was even more terrified.
He could easily crush a Guide’s body, but he couldn’t do anything, paralyzed by the Dominance laced within Kwon Yi-soo’s Guiding.
The S-rank Espers present all realized anew why Kwon Yi-soo was called a “dictator.”
Thanks to Kwon Yi-soo and Kang Sung-yeon, they were able to arrest all Taesan Guild members, including Park Hyung-woo, without any difficulty.
They were imprisoned not in the Center, but in the Association’s underground prison, a place reserved for Espers who committed serious crimes.
The unregistered Esper mercenary group who had tried to kidnap Baek Joo-won and had been beaten up by Seo Jae-yi was already imprisoned there, so they wouldn’t be lonely.
They might even be bonding over their shared hatred for Seo Jae-yi.
“I thought he hated you, but he acted so quickly to capture Taesan after they tried to kill you. I was surprised, honestly.”
Kim Yoo-sung, explaining the events of two days ago, nodded, still amazed.
‘Hmm… A sharp, blade-like Guiding… Was that always his energy?’
But Seo Jae-yi was surprised for a different reason.
She had received Guiding from Kwon Yi-soo for eleven years, but she had never felt his Guiding to be sharp.
On the contrary, she had only felt a strangely comforting warmth, like being surrounded by countless stuffed animals.
‘Did he only do that for me?’
She felt a sense of gratitude.
She really had to tell Kim Yoo-sung and Seo Won-yeong that Kwon Yi-soo wasn’t such a bad person.
Seo Jae-yi glanced at Baek Joo-won, who was sitting beside her, a chilling smile playing on his lips.
She postponed it again and asked Kim Yoo-sung,
“Did you interrogate Park Hyung-woo? He’s definitely connected to Park Jung-soo, even if he’s not involved with the government.”
Her father’s Guide Factor, which Park Hyung-woo had been holding hostage.
The thought of it made her blood boil.
How should she deal with that bastard?
“No, he’s not the type to confess easily.”
Kim Yoo-sung shook his head.
Seo Jae-yi clicked her tongue.
“Since the Association and the Center arrested them, it’ll be difficult for me to get my revenge, right?”
Kim Yoo-sung nodded.
“It will be.”
“Can’t I just sneak in and take out Park Hyung-woo?”
“No. Vice President Jeong Joo-hyung is guarding them specifically to prevent that.”
That damn basement dweller.
Jeong Joo-hyung was a master of stealth, the best at detecting presences among Korea’s S-rank Espers. Even Seo Jae-yi couldn’t sneak past him.
And why was he called the basement dweller? He could pull all-nighters without batting an eye. So even a nighttime raid wouldn’t work.
“Damn it. I should have burned his face off when he came after me.”
She would have killed them all if it hadn’t been for the dungeon breakout. It was such a shame.
If only it had happened thirty minutes later!
“Look on the bright side. Thanks to them, even though they were trying to kill you, many villagers were evacuated.”
Kim Yoo-sung patted her shoulder.
Seo Jae-yi nodded, as he was right. She had seen the Guild members evacuating the villagers, so she couldn’t argue with that.
“It’s true that Taesan endangered you and abandoned you with the boss monster, but they also saved villagers, so they probably won’t receive a harsh punishment.”
“Yeah…”
Seo Jae-yi replied glumly, and then Kim Yoo-sung added, his voice laced with meaning,
“They’ll probably be released after a few years in prison. Alive.”
Seo Jae-yi’s eyes widened.
So he was saying…
“You can always get your revenge as long as they’re alive. It might be difficult to go after the entire Guild, but you can definitely get revenge on Park Hyung-woo.”
He was clearly saying he would help her, even if it was impossible.
He was indeed her reliable ally.
“Yes, thank you, Guild Leader.”
Seo Jae-yi smiled, relieved.
Right, she could always get her revenge as long as they were alive. There was no need to feel disappointed just because she couldn’t do it now.
She would never forget her grudge, not until the day she died.
Crash!
The door to the Guild Leader’s office burst open, and someone rushed in.
Seo Jae-yi looked up and jumped to her feet in surprise, recognizing the person.
“Won-yeong!”
Her beloved younger cousin, Seo Won-yeong, was standing at the door, gasping for breath.
It was surprising to see her, with her exceptional physical abilities, so out of breath, but there was something even more shocking.
“You, you, you’re crying?!”
Seo Won-yeong’s sharp eyes were red-rimmed, tears welling up.
Both Seo Jae-yi and Kim Yoo-sung were stunned.
“Who! Which bastard made my sister cry! Who?!”
Seo Jae-yi rushed towards her, yelling. Seo Won-yeong, tears streaming down her face, muttered in a low voice,
“…You did.”
“…Huh?”
“You! You made me cry! Who told you to do that?! Who told you to do something so dangerous?! You should have retreated!”
Seo Won-yeong, unable to contain her emotions any longer, burst into tears, her sobs louder than Seo Jae-yi’s yelling.
Kim Yoo-sung had never seen her cry like this before, like a child.
“Ah, it was… my fault?”
Seo Jae-yi, who was always soft with her family, stammered, her face pale. Seo Won-yeong lightly punched her shoulder.
“What am I supposed to do if something happens to you? What about Mom? Why would you do something so reckless?! You’re not invincible! Why did you do that?! Why?!”
“I’m sorry, Won-yeong. I’m really, really sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it! Mom’s been bedridden since she heard the news!”
Seo Jae-yi gasped. Her aunt’s health had just started improving thanks to the sedative! She was worried, hearing that she was now bedridden because of her.
“Is she… very sick?”
“See for yourself!”
Seo Won-yeong, still fuming, initiated a video call with Seo Jae-yi, her movements too quick to stop.
Before the phone even rang once…
—…Won-yeong?
Seo Hye-ryeong’s voice, weak and raspy, echoed from the phone.
It was a terrible voice, so weak that even Baek Joo-won and Airok gasped, let alone Kim Yoo-sung, who had been quiet.
And Seo Jae-yi, the cause of this situation, was even more shocked.
“…I’m sorry, Aunt.”
Seo Jae-yi immediately dropped to her knees and bowed her head, seeing her aunt’s haggard face. Seo Won-yeong also collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.
—Jae-yi, I thought… I thought you were going to die this time… Sob…
Seo Hye-ryeong’s eyes widened, as if startled by Seo Jae-yi’s sudden action, and tears streamed down her face.
Seo Jae-yi’s guilt intensified.
“I’m so sorry… This won’t happen again. I’m healthy now, thanks to Baek Joo-won. I swear…”
She had to apologize repeatedly until Seo Hye-ryeong and Seo Won-yeong finally calmed down.
Baek Joo-won and Kim Yoo-sung could only watch, unable to intervene, as it was Seo Jae-yi’s fault.