Chapter 14:
Of course, the profile only contained his name, age, and Guiding capacity.
They only knew what he had revealed about himself, being stateless. Even his name was an alias, so his age could be fake as well.
“The problem is that he’s stateless.”
The Prime Minister turned to Kwon Yi-soo after the Minister of National Defense spoke.
“Are you certain he’s stateless?”
“We took his fingerprints, as he suggested, but couldn’t find any information on him anywhere in Korea.”
“Can’t you track his movements through CCTV footage to determine where he came from?”
“We’re currently working on that. However, we haven’t found anything yet.”
“Then there’s no way to prove he’s Korean right now.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with the Prime Minister’s statement. This left them with only one issue to address.
“Then how can we keep him in Korea?”
How could they bind Baek Joo-won to Korea? And if they succeeded, where would he be most beneficial?
“Devise a plan to secure him before information about him spreads. The government will provide full support.”
With just one Guide like him, they could save countless Espers suffering from Guiding deficiency. It would be a significant boost to national defense, so government support was a given.
Only one question remained.
The Prime Minister carefully observed the three Guild Leaders and Center Head Kwon Yi-soo.
“The government believes it would be best for Guide Baek Joo-won to be affiliated with the Guiding Center.”
His words were met with mixed reactions.
“That’s the most logical choice. The Center is the only place where all Espers can receive Guiding equally.”
The President of the Esper Association was the first to express his approval. It was an expected response, considering the Esper Association was essentially a puppet of the Guiding Center, which held the true power regarding Awakened individuals.
However, the Guild Leaders, who had established their guilds to operate independently, rejecting the government’s control over the Center and the Association, voiced their opposition.
“That’s absurd! Esper Seo Jae-yi and Guide Baek Joo-won’s Matching Rate is 93%. It’s an unprecedented record, unheard of in initial Matching Rates. If they form a Pair after his basic training, they could become the strongest Pair in Asia, if not the world!”
Haeil Guild Leader Kim Yoo-sung was the most vocal in his objection.
“More importantly, Esper Seo Jae-yi doesn’t have much time left. We don’t even know if she’ll make it through this year…!”
“That’s her fate. Guild Leader Kim, I don’t particularly want that S-rank Guide to be affiliated with the Center, but a high Matching Rate doesn’t automatically mean he should go to Haeil.”
Taesan Guild Leader Park Hyung-woo interjected with a sneer.
Kim Yoo-sung glared at him, but Park Hyung-woo simply shrugged.
“Besides, what difference would it make to save Seo Jae-yi now, when she’s already so weak that she barely qualifies as an S-rank? An Esper with such a depleted lifespan won’t live long even with Guiding.”
Park Hyung-woo asserted that they couldn’t waste a precious S-rank Guide on Seo Jae-yi.
Kim Yoo-sung gritted his teeth.
A Guide with a 93% Matching Rate could potentially restore her lost lifespan. Park Hyung-woo knew this.
It was pure spite. Taesan held the strongest grudge against Haeil, especially Seo Jae-yi. He was the one who had openly rejoiced and mocked her when she received her terminal diagnosis.
His words now were a clear indication that he wanted her dead, and Kim Yoo-sung was furious.
“I also believe it’s excessive to keep Guide Baek Joo-won at the Center.”
Before Kim Yoo-sung and Park Hyung-woo could come to blows, someone else intervened.
It was Seon Joo-hee, the Guild Leader of Sunghwa Guild, which held the third position after Haeil and Taesan.
“The Center already has two S-rank Guides. There’s no need for another one.”
Seon Joo-hee was the only one among the three Guild Leaders who didn’t have a paired Guide. While not as urgent as Seo Jae-yi’s situation, she also desperately needed Baek Joo-won.
“…In any case, the Guilds oppose the Center monopolizing S-rank Guides.”
Kim Yoo-sung, calming himself down after Seon Joo-hee’s composed statement, summarized the situation. This wasn’t the time to fight with Park Hyung-woo.
Fortunately, Park Hyung-woo didn’t object.
“But wouldn’t it be more beneficial for him to be at the Center, where he can Guide more Espers? It would increase the survival rate, so let go of your greed.”
“Greed? He’s the only Guide who can save Esper Seo Jae-yi. The government is well aware of her power. She’s been living without a Guide for eleven years, and now you want to take away the only one who appeared?”
“Take away? What an outrageous accusation.”
The Prime Minister expressed his displeasure at Kim Yoo-sung’s words.
“She can come to the Center for Guiding anytime. Center Head, if Baek Joo-won is affiliated with the Center, please prioritize Guiding Esper Seo Jae-yi. That’s within your authority, isn’t it?”
Kim Yoo-sung’s face darkened at the Prime Minister’s insistence on keeping Baek Joo-won at the Center.
He knew the government was trying to cozy up to Kwon Yi-soo, who controlled all the Guides, but witnessing it firsthand was infuriating.
It seemed like Kwon Yi-soo was about to gain control over Seo Jae-yi, who had just found freedom.
“…Of course. Losing an S-rank Esper is a significant loss for the nation.”
Kim Yoo-sung gritted his teeth at Kwon Yi-soo’s answer, the one he had dreaded the most.
“I also agree that Guide Baek Joo-won should stay at the Center. However, the decision ultimately lies with him, so we’ll focus on persuading him first.”
“Ah, yes. The Center Head is right. Then we’ll leave that to you, Center Head. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything.”
The Prime Minister only smiled at Kwon Yi-soo, as if Baek Joo-won’s affiliation with the Guiding Center was a foregone conclusion.
Kim Yoo-sung closed his eyes, feeling defeated.
How was he supposed to break this terrible news to Seo Jae-yi?
***
As soon as the meeting ended, Kim Yoo-sung approached the Prime Minister, trying to persuade him.
But he failed.
‘Damn them.’
The Prime Minister firmly stated that it was the President’s wish as well, essentially pressuring him to give up on recruiting Baek Joo-won.
With an unprecedented Guide who had a 50% Matching Rate with all Espers, they could save every Esper in Korea. They were determined to keep him under their control.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll prioritize Guiding Esper Seo Jae-yi. But remember, this is a special privilege.’
The Prime Minister even added a warning: if he continued to defy the government, Seo Jae-yi might lose access to Guiding altogether.
‘They used her without hesitation when she was young, and now they’re discarding her because she’s no longer useful? Those bastards!’
A thirteen-year-old S-rank Esper without parents.
Seo Jae-yi had been a prime target for the government.
Before Baek Joo-won’s appearance, she was the government’s goose that laid golden eggs. Until she was on the verge of overload.
He couldn’t stand to see her exploited, so he had taken her away as soon as she became an adult, but nothing had changed.
Seo Jae-yi was dying, and the government would rather see her die quickly than let her monopolize Baek Joo-won.
Kim Yoo-sung massaged his forehead, overwhelmed by the grim reality.
‘If only we could persuade Baek Joo-won.’
Even if the government disapproved, they could save Seo Jae-yi if Baek Joo-won chose her.
The problem was that he was nowhere to be found at the Center.
Someone was deliberately preventing access to him.
This meant he had to send Seo Jae-yi herself. They would bring Baek Joo-won before her, even if it meant risking her overload.
Making up his mind, Kim Yoo-sung got out of his car, carrying a drink he had bought from the cafe on the first floor of the Center. It was the Strawberry Chocolate Frappe Seo Jae-yi had enjoyed so much last time.
As he entered the flower shop, Seo Jae-yi, who looked dejected from the lack of customers, greeted him. He felt terrible for having to deliver such bad news.
But…
“A Matching Rate of over 50% with all Espers? My goodness. What a multifaceted man.”
Instead of being shocked, Seo Jae-yi was impressed.
“No, ‘cornucopia’ is a better description than ‘multifaceted.’ Wow, he’s a treasure trove! No wonder he seemed extraordinary. He’s the world’s number one Guide!”
Kim Yoo-sung was speechless at her absurd reaction.
“I was wondering how a Guide who hadn’t appeared for eleven years could suddenly emerge like this. He’s simply exceptionally talented. It’s an honor that I have the highest Matching Rate with someone like him.”
“Is this really the time to be happy?”
Seo Jae-yi, who had been smiling brightly, tilted her head at Kim Yoo-sung’s lament.
“Huh? Ah, because it’s difficult to bring him to the Guild? Ultimately, the important thing is Mr. Baek Joo-won’s decision, isn’t it?”
No matter how much the government pressured him to stay at the Guiding Center, it wouldn’t matter if Baek Joo-won refused. As a stateless individual, he had no obligation to comply with their demands.
Therefore, the situation hadn’t really changed for Seo Jae-yi.
“You’re not going to give up just because it’s difficult, are you? We’ll continue to do our best to persuade him.”
The entire world would be after him now that his ability was known.
But so what?
Seo Jae-yi would also do her best, regardless of what others did.
The freedom she had finally tasted was sweet, and she was enjoying running the flower shop, even without customers.
She wanted to live a little longer, to savor the life she had finally achieved with the help of so many people.
So she would beg and plead.
And if it didn’t work, despite her best efforts, then it couldn’t be helped. It would be her fate.
‘But I hope Mr. Baek Joo-won leaves the Center.’
Even if he didn’t choose her, she didn’t want him to stay at the Center.
It wasn’t because of the dictator Kwon Yi-soo. There was another, bigger problem there. For example, those who had experimented on her in the past.