Apophis’s criminal activities were so clear that a certain sentence was certain even without a formal trial.
Of course, a trial must proceed even for the most heinous criminals, so it seemed the military was trying to get a preliminary statement before the prosecutor indicted them and a formal trial began.
The problem was that all of Apophis were ability users.
According to the currently applicable law, only Esper soldiers are allowed to interrogate and take statements from ability users.
Since ability users, especially Esper criminals, could still be dangerous even with an ability suppressor attached, the person conducting the interrogation had to be an Esper belonging to the military, not a civilian.
Therefore, K, the leader of Apophis, had to be interrogated by an Esper belonging to the military.
An Esper would continue to be in charge throughout the formal trial process.
But suddenly, he would only make a statement to me, a Guide who was practically a civilian.
Raon looked at Dojin in disbelief.
“Isn’t it impossible for me to conduct the interrogation?”
Dojin answered with a stern face.
“It’s not entirely impossible. You can be accompanied by an S-class Esper belonging to the military.”
“Ah, I see.”
In short, it meant using an Esper as a bodyguard.
Raon nodded quietly.
“But K said he wants to talk to you, and only you, without an Esper present.”
“Is that even allowed?”
“Theoretically, of course not.”
“And K said he won’t say anything if someone accompanies me?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Raon folded his arms and let out a short sigh.
It was utterly difficult to gauge K’s intentions.
‘What on earth does he want to talk about?’
K had already tried to brainwash me using his psychic ability.
I had decided not to side with them because I didn’t trust Apophis, and K had seen through that thought.
So, K tried to forcibly brainwash me and turn me into a puppet.
But I escaped his scheme and, instead, captured Apophis’s Named members, including K, and handed them over to the military.
At that point, my relationship with K was irreversible and practically over.
Even though we were both possessors and victims of the System, we could never join hands in the future.
However, the fact that K was so insistent on having a private conversation without any interruption suggested he had another ulterior motive.
Raon’s face grew serious.
“What is the military’s stance?”
“If you refuse, we don’t intend to force you.”
“I see.”
I was surprised.
I thought they would be desperate to make K talk.
Apophis was a mysterious organization.
Comprised of excellent ability users, they consistently appeared to interfere whenever the current government was in trouble.
The President would want to root out Apophis by any means necessary at this opportunity.
However, even for a group made up of competent ability users, it was difficult to commit terror while evading the government’s eyes for a long time.
There had long been rumors that some faction was supporting or utilizing Apophis.
Raon also estimated that Apophis had a funding source.
In fact, before the regression, I had acquired quite credible information just before I died.
It was information that even the Intelligence Department at this time didn’t know.
“That’s surprising. I thought they would force me to take on the interrogation regardless of the danger to me.”
“…”
Raon, who was momentarily recalling the past, spoke in a calm tone.
It wasn’t sarcasm but a question born of genuine curiosity.
I was curious why Dojin, who was at the center of the military, wasn’t forcing the interrogation when the government, desperate to dig into Apophis’s background, must be putting immense pressure on the military right now.
Raon looked at Dojin, puzzled.
“It would be troublesome if you got hurt by any chance. Do you know that you’ve become even more famous because of this incident?”
“Well, that’s true.”
I felt like there must be another reason, but Raon deliberately didn’t pry.
I felt that digging any further would only lead to more trouble, regardless of the cause.
Instead, I considered what to do about this matter.
I briefly pondered whether I would gain anything by interrogating K, even at the risk of danger.
Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to make a decision.
“I refuse.”
“Alright.”
Dojin accepted it more easily than I thought.
He nodded and didn’t even attempt to persuade me further.
That point was still so unexpected that Raon raised his eyebrows.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
But Raon, who didn’t want to talk to Dojin any longer, didn’t ask the question despite his doubts.
All I wanted was to leave the conference room now.
“But I just can’t figure out why K is so obsessed with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“What exactly happened with K? What kind of conversation did you have when you were kidnapped that makes this man so obsessed with you?”
Dojin’s eyes narrowed.
It seemed his displeasure was coming from a different place than the military and government’s stance.
Raon let out a self-mocking laugh in disbelief.
“How should I know that?”
“K is known as an Esper, but he’s never been obsessed with a specific Guide. That’s why the Intelligence Department even hypothesized that he might be a Guide himself.”
“I don’t know either. I was suddenly kidnapped out of nowhere and even threatened to cooperate. I’m curious about the reason why K is doing this, too.”
Of course, Raon knew perfectly well why K was obsessed with him.
He probably initially targeted me because he thought we could communicate well as fellow possessors, and then became more obsessed, considering the public fame and the benefit of using me.
But as I couldn’t explicitly say that, Raon was forced to feign ignorance.
“Even as an S-class, I am a Guide. Didn’t he target me because I’m easier to exploit than an Esper in the first place?”
“Hmm.”
“He must think I’d be an easier target than being interrogated by a fellow Esper this time, too.”
Raon spoke plausibly and watched Dojin’s reaction.
Although Dojin’s reputation had been lowered because of my performance in the Irregular Gate, he was still the Team Leader of the Special Team.
He was someone who could take command simply by returning.
If the future-knowing me hadn’t monopolized the achievements, the person being treated as a hero right now would have been Dojin.
He wasn’t simply a fool.
So I watched him more closely, but surprisingly, instead of continuing to question Raon, Dojin nodded in agreement.
“You’re right. This incident might have been traumatic for you, too. I was too hasty.”
“…?”
Moreover, I was even more surprised that he would react so logically.
“Aren’t you looking at people with too strange eyes?”
“Ah, I apologize. It was a little unexpected.”
Perhaps I had inadvertently made my astonishment too obvious, as Dojin frowned, clearly displeased.
Raon felt awkward and turned around.
“Then I’ll be leaving now.”
“Wait.”
“…?”
I just slightly turned my head, wondering what it was this time.
Then Dojin continued with a serious face.
“You’ll receive a request from the Intelligence Department soon. If your mind hasn’t changed then, refuse it. And if they force you, tell me.”
“Huh.”
To think I would live to see Dojin say something like that.
Raon was surprised again by his overly logical attitude.
As I stood there frozen, staring blankly, this time Dojin was the one who waved his hand first.
“You should go now.”
“Ah, yes. Excuse me.”
Raon, feeling bewildered, bowed his head, opened the door, and left the conference room.
‘What the heck is going on?’
I was still confused. It felt as if I had talked to someone other than Dojin.
Raon felt bewildered by his sudden change.
Dojin had only acted differently toward me all this time.
If you looked closely, he was a similar type of superior to Seokhyun.
Although he seemed cold on the outside, he at least knew how to separate his public and private life.
Of course, that aspect didn’t apply to me, the villain.
Before the regression, I had thoroughly played the role of the real Han Raon, so I didn’t receive good treatment from Dojin.
And that was the same even in this life, where I wasn’t forced by the System.
“Hyung, are you done?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Siwoo, who was waiting at the door, asked Raon.
He scanned Raon with eyes full of palpable anxiety and frowned.
“What did you hear from that person that made your face look like that?”
“What’s wrong with my face?”
“You’re too pale.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Raon flinched and raised his hand to rub his cheek.
I felt that my skin was a little cold, but since I couldn’t see a mirror, I couldn’t tell if I was pale.
“It’s nothing much. Let’s talk about it when we get home.”
“…Yes.”
Siwoo looked at the conference room door with a look of dissatisfaction.
Dojin didn’t move inside, seemingly intending to come out only after Raon had left the vicinity.
Siwoo was deeply displeased by that consideration.
‘Now, all of a sudden.’
He didn’t know the exact content of the conversation they had inside, but with an Esper’s sensitive hearing, he could tell the nuance of their voices.
Siwoo also knew very well how Dojin had treated Raon all this time.
Having watched them closely, it was impossible not to know.
But today’s Dojin didn’t yell or get angry at Raon.
His voice was just calm without any change in pitch.
The atmosphere in which he dealt with Raon had changed from before.
