“I already refused, so this is truly difficult.”
“The military seems intent on using this opportunity to grill K and trace the origins of Apophis.”
“Hmm.”
Of course, there was no guarantee that K would open his mouth willingly just because he was interrogated.
However, if K were to fall into a trap and let slip even a small piece of information, the Intelligence Department’s investigation might progress.
That was what the military was aiming for.
It wasn’t a bad idea.
Since the result would depend on who conducted the interrogation, the military would want to entrust it to someone they could trust.
That seemed to be why they were pressing him so hard.
The military must acknowledge Han Raon’s skill, as he had suppressed irregular gates numerous times and even captured Apophis’s leaders.
Under normal circumstances, Raon would have readily accepted.
After all the hardship of capturing Apophis’s leadership, being able to personally interrogate K, the leader, would have been extremely satisfying.
The problem was that K was a transmigrator just like him, and a high-level S-class psychic Esper.
From the feeling of having directly experienced his ability, he might even be superior to Nam Taegeon in ability application.
“Instead, I have a request.”
“What is it?”
Having organized his thoughts, Raon spoke.
It seemed he had no choice but to accept the military’s demand to regain command authority.
However, more precautions were needed to protect himself.
“I would like the cooperation of Esper Nam Taegeon during my interrogation.”
“That is…”
“I understand that psychic abilities are less affected by the ability control device. Isn’t it dangerous to conduct an interrogation without even that level of protection?”
“Hmm, that has a point.”
Seokyeon, who had been hesitating, nodded.
It was fortunate that the Center Director was someone who cared deeply for the Guides.
Although the military was acting somewhat coercively this time, they usually watched the Guide Center Director closely.
This was because there had been a lot of talk recently about the human rights of Guides.
“Since Guards must enter with you, a Guide, when you conduct the interrogation, I’ll speak with the military and have measures taken.”
“Yes, please.”
It would also be troublesome for Raon if his conversation with K was spread externally.
Therefore, it seemed the only option was to strictly control their two-person dialogue so only they could hear it, while having Guards monitor from the perimeter.
“Then I’ll discuss it further with the military and let you know.”
“Yes. Please do.”
Raon bowed to Seokyeon and walked out.
Siwoo, who was waiting in advance, approached him.
“Hyung, are you done?”
“Yeah.”
“Why? What happened?”
Seeing Raon’s dark expression, Siwoo asked in surprise.
Only then did Raon realize he hadn’t managed his expression and raised a hand to touch his cheek.
“Um, well.”
Raon looked around before speaking.
He didn’t want the surrounding people to misunderstand or leak information about a matter that hadn’t been finalized yet.
But Siwoo was an excellent S-class Esper.
It was unlikely he hadn’t already scanned the surroundings himself.
Realizing there was no one nearby, Raon spoke sheepishly.
“It looks like I’ll have to be the one to interrogate K.”
“You refused that.”
“I did, but they said they wouldn’t return my command authority otherwise.”
“Haa.”
Siwoo frowned, clearly upset.
Sharing the same frustration, Raon sighed with him.
“Then I’ll go into the interrogation room with you.”
“About that.”
“What is it now?”
Raon had already designated Nam Taegeon as the Esper to accompany him into the interrogation room.
This was because he was an S-class psychic Esper.
Siwoo was also an excellent S-class Esper, but unfortunately, he lacked the ability to block psychic attacks, only physical ones.
So, Raon explained that this was why he had chosen Nam Taegeon.
However, he kept feeling nervous about Siwoo’s reaction.
Siwoo worried about his safety more than anyone, and Raon worried Siwoo might get angry at the choice of another Esper as his guard.
No matter how rational the decision was, Espers who were obsessive about their Guides often acted emotionally.
“I think that’s a good decision.”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry… what?”
“Physical abilities are mostly blocked when wearing the ability control device, but psychic abilities aren’t.”
“…”
Siwoo spouted words that sounded like the personification of ‘T’ (Thinking/Logic).
Of course, Raon had thought the same thing, but it still felt strange.
He couldn’t understand why he felt this way.
“Instead, I’ll stay nearby. I can use my water ability to monitor things up close.”
“Uh-huh, okay.”
Ignoring Raon’s reaction, Siwoo began to talk about the plan he’d made on his own.
It was, of course, a good idea.
Raon had planned to ask him for the same thing, but he still felt a bit awkward.
“What’s wrong, Hyung?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re uncomfortable about facing K again, aren’t you? I understand.”
Siwoo, who had nearly killed K, twisted his face again, starting to emit the same menacing aura as before.
“Still, it’s a relief if we can get the command authority back by interrogating him.”
Raon was annoyed by the military’s actions, trying to thoroughly exploit him, but he had no choice if he wanted the command authority.
Unlike the Black Gate, which he had no experience with, the Dark Blue Gate was the last gate he entered before he regressed.
Therefore, he had to take command authority for the Dark Blue Gate.
‘It’s better not to have command authority for the Black Gate.
That way, it’ll be easier to move alone.’
K had said that once the Status Window was eliminated in the Black Gate and the cycle of transmigration ended, he could return to his original world.
It was impossible to know if that was true, but there must be something inside the Black Gate.
A way to contact the Status Window, somehow.
While suppressing the world-destroying Black Gate was important, Raon first planned to find the clue to that method.
“Once we get the command authority back and your suspension is lifted, let’s start training right away.”
“It’s about time for the next Irregular Gate to open.”
“That’s right.”
If it opened faster than before his regression, it might appear right after K’s interrogation.
So, there would be insufficient time to train with the Guide Team this time.
‘The Dark Blue Gate isn’t that complicated, so it should be fine.’
That was also why the foolish Han Raon in the original story came up with a clumsy trap.
Unlike the other Irregular Gates, the structure of the Dark Blue Gate and the monsters within were relatively simple.
That’s why the real Han Raon gained the confidence to spontaneously come up with a plan to eliminate Hamin.
‘I just need to do things properly.’
Raon’s body still trembled slightly whenever he recalled the Dark Blue Gate where he had died.
If only he could overcome this damned trauma, there would be no problem.
“Are you tired? Should we go back right now?”
“Ah, yes.”
Siwoo asked with concern and put his arm around Raon’s shoulder.
Raon nodded and leaned his face against Siwoo’s arm in relief.
Ding.
“…!”
Just then, an alert sounded on the terminal he had received recently.
[Target Found]
Raon read the short message and silently scrolled down the terminal screen.
Raon raised his dark navy eyes and looked at Siwoo.
“Sorry, I think I’ll have to go home a little late.”
“Okay.”
Siwoo, who had checked the message beside him, also nodded heavily.
Raon had hired people to track down Yoon Nahee’s whereabouts for some time.
And now, he had finally received word that she had been found.
“I’ll talk to the Guards. Go wait in the car first.”
“Yes, please do.”
Since Raon was kidnapped by Apophis, Seokyeon, concerned for his safety, had increased the number of Guards who normally followed him.
However, he needed to secretly take Yoon Nahee away from Minon, and he couldn’t go there with a retinue of Guards.
Thud.
Raon got into the car first and sighed.
He had searched for Nahee because having her in Minon’s hands would cause issues with his future plans, but now that he had found her, he didn’t know how to act when he saw her.
The real Han Raon’s memories surfaced faintly, but they weren’t very clear.
Furthermore, Yoon Nahee was a character who hadn’t even appeared in the novel.
The System wouldn’t care about a character who was the birth mother of a villain who died after doing villainous deeds, not even the main character Hamin.
The thought of seeing her already made his chest feel heavy.
If it were anyone else, perhaps it wouldn’t matter, but since she was his biological mother, she might see right through the difference in him.
‘Should I ask someone else to meet her instead of going myself?’
If her safety could be secured, there would be no need for a direct confrontation. Raon even considered that.
But that didn’t sit right with him either.
To Raon, his own mother was practically a stranger.
She hadn’t shown him affection, and he didn’t feel attached to her like other mother-and-son pairs.
Yoon Nahee, on the other hand, based on the real Han Raon’s memories, seemed like a completely different person from his own mother.
That piqued Raon’s curiosity. He still wanted to meet her at least once.
“We can go now, Hyung.”
“Okay.”
Raon intentionally spoke in a normal voice to avoid showing his tension.
However, Siwoo didn’t start the car, but instead gazed intently at Raon.
“It will be alright.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll be right next to you.”
Saying that, Siwoo took Raon’s hand.
Only then did Raon realize his hand had been subtly trembling.
“…Thank you.”
In that moment, Raon truly felt fortunate to have Siwoo by his side.
