* * *
“Walk properly.”
At first, I didn’t recognize him, but the man being pushed forward again and again was the Chinese broker I’d seen in the alley.
They’d actually caught him and dragged him all the way here.
His face was so swollen from the beating that it was hard to tell where the bruises ended and the tears and snot began.
Judging by the fact they brought him this far, they probably had no intention of letting him go.
They’d likely strip him down to his last coin—then kill him.
“You’re coming around?”
Noticing my altered breathing, Lee Donghyuk spoke to me.
But I could only inwardly sigh as I felt my eyelids grow heavy again.
Even if it was because of the Numens Stone, it was ridiculous to think I had managed to act like an S-Class with this glass-marble body.
Honestly, even A-Class felt undeserved right now.
Seo Inho, who barely scraped into S-Class on the strength of a single skill, was now nothing more than a slightly sturdier ordinary person without his powers.
I tried biting my tongue several times to stay conscious, but even pain wasn’t registering anymore.
Damn it…
In the end, complete darkness surged in like a tidal wave.
And when I came to, the situation had changed completely.
“Hello, Mr. Seo Inho.”
Drawn in by the gentle voice, I lifted my head and saw a stranger with round glasses.
He had pale skin and a neat appearance—something rare around here.
His soft tone made me wonder for a moment if I’d somehow been returned to South Korea while unconscious.
But then, over the man’s shoulder, I spotted Lee Donghyuk standing a short distance away, hands behind his back, watching me indifferently.
“I practiced a lot, but I’m not sure if my pronunciation is good. I’m Pyeon Songgyeong.”
“This place is…”
I tried moving my arm, only to hear a rattling sound and looked down.
No wonder I felt uncomfortable—both arms were tightly bound to the wooden chair with layers of tape.
I could barely move my fingers.
That moment, all the friendly talk didn’t matter—it was clear what kind of situation I was in.
As my expression twisted, the man with glasses, Pyeon Songgyeong, simply smiled, as if it was no big deal.
“Ah, you can think of this as a secret base.”
Secret base?
I glanced around belatedly.
The room was well-equipped, like one reserved for a high-classing official.
But there wasn’t a single window, and more than anything, the air was dank and musty.
Why go to the trouble of dragging me here, only to call it a secret base?
Was there a reason to hide me?
Keeping my mouth shut, I continued surveying the room and then stared intently at the man, who looked half-dead with dark circles under his eyes.
While he sat comfortably with that annoying smile, Lee Donghyuk stood silently in the back, like a guard.
He didn’t look military, so probably another awakened being—but it was obvious from just a glance that Pyeon Songgyeong held the higher position.
“Looks like our Mr. Lee Donghyuk was a bit rough in welcoming our guest. Please accept my apology.”
“Then how about untying this?”
I motioned to my taped-up arms with my eyes.
Pyeon Songgyeong leaned back in his chair, took a sip from the glass next to him—looked like whiskey based on the color—and then responded.
“Do you know why we brought you here, Mr. Seo?”
‘Brought me?’
You threatened me using my father’s life and hauled me here like baggage, and now you’re saying I was brought here?
The absurdity of it made me want to snap back, but I gritted my teeth and held it in.
I needed to see where this was going first.
“Because of my ability, I assume.”
“Exactly. We want to make a contract with you.”
“A contract?”
I frowned slightly as he laid the papers on the table.
Honestly, I expected them to just slap a leash on me and issue demands.
I didn’t expect them to bring out a contract. Had I been too biased?
But as soon as I saw the contract laid out in front of me, I took that thought back.
It was an S-Class binding item—sworn in blood.
If you broke the contract, you died instantly.
I knew exactly how effective it was—it was stacked in droves in the bribery warehouse.
Since it had no effect unless signed willingly, it was useless as a coercive tool.
“As you know, we unfortunately don’t have any S-Class among us. That’s why we need your help, Mr. Seo.”
He rotated the contract toward me.
Skimming through it, I didn’t see any particularly disadvantageous clauses.
In fact, it was so generous that it felt suspicious.
“If you agree to work with us, I guarantee you’ll receive the highest treatment possible. Everyone will chant your name in admiration.”
“No thanks.”
So what?
Whether these guys pampered me with luxury or the people treated me like a hero—it didn’t matter at all.
As long as my father was in Korea, anywhere else might as well be the roof of an apartment building.
No matter how flashy or filled with gourmet meals—if it’s the rooftop of a damned apartment, it’s still just a rooftop.
“You seem confused, but I didn’t come here voluntarily. I was dragged here because of this.”
I tilted my head to expose the Numens Stone hanging around my neck.
Release this thing first before talking about contracts.
The more I thought about it, the more brazen they seemed, and I felt my irritation boil over.
“And now you want me to take your side? No matter how hated I am in Korea, I’m not about to commit treason. You want me to betray my own country?”
“Treason?”
“You’re asking me to support a foreign faction. That’s treason.”
If I helped the North support their A-Class awakeners, that was betrayal, plain and simple.
Who knows—maybe they’d even invade South Korea with that strength.
And you want me to go along quietly?
What a joke.
“I think you’re misunderstanding something. We’re not aiming at the South.”
But what he said next completely caught me off guard.
“We’re planning a coup d’état.”
“What?”
I blurted out dumbly without thinking.
A coup—meaning they were planning to rebel against their own government.
And they wanted me to be part of that ticking time bomb?
Now I understood the “secret base” and the overly cautious movements.
You can tell everything by a single piece—this place alone showed that the scale wasn’t massive.
I didn’t know how many awakened were involved, but the second someone betrayed them, this entire base could vanish overnight without a trace.
Naturally, I’d be swept away with it.
“Are you insane? Why the hell would I get involved in that?”
I was already too busy trying to survive.
The last thing I wanted was to risk my life over someone else’s rebellion.
Showing clear displeasure, I glared at them.
Pyeon Songgyeong shut his mouth, and Lee Donghyuk took a step forward from behind.
“I will bring the bug.”
At those words, Pyeon Songgyeong raised a hand slowly, signaling him to wait.
But at the mention of bug, my lips froze stiff.
There was no way Lee Donghyuk meant some ordinary crawling insect.
No matter how I looked at it, it had to be that.
The same bug Seo Inho planned to use to kill Do Soohyuk.
The slave worm —thinner than a hair, it could infiltrate your brain and make you obey any command.
Just as the name implied—your will disappears, and you become a slave to your master’s orders.
“All you have to do is sign the contract.”
“And if I refuse?”
But as effective as it was, there was a significant risk.
Knowing that, Pyeon Songgyeong couldn’t easily resort to using the bug either.
“Are you planning to take a chance on that 70% probability?”
“Seo Inho.”
“Then I’ll bet on the 30%. I’ve never been particularly lucky.”
A 70% success rate.
High, yes—but if it failed, the subject would immediately lose their mind and go insane.
After all that effort to abduct him, Pyeon Songgyeong wouldn’t want to see him rendered useless and broken.
That’s why he’d come with such extravagant terms, even shoving a contract in my face.
“I’m giving you an opportunity.”
“I appreciate it, but I don’t need it.”
“You will.”
The soft smile vanished, his expression turning cold.
That must’ve been his true self.
Even after extending some courtesy, I had refused.
So now, what would he do?
It didn’t seem like he’d remain friendly.
“I’ll ask you one last time.”
“Don’t bother.”
At my firm reply, Pyeon Songgyeong set down his glass and rubbed his forehead, as if suddenly weary.
His demeanor had clearly shifted—there was no trace of the earlier civility.
“Get his signature by tomorrow. I’m holding you responsible.”
Lee Donghyuk accepted the contract wedged between Pyeon Songgyeong’s fingers with both hands and gave a small nod.
They were probably both A-class, but there was a much larger hierarchy than I’d expected.
As I tore off the tape wrapped around my arm, Pyeon Songgyeong removed his glasses and lazily scanned my body.
“Limbs aren’t necessary to use powers, after all.”
It was practically a mutter, but the room was quiet enough that both Lee Donghyuk and I heard it loud and clear.
It meant I was to get that signature even if it meant losing a few limbs.
…I think I’m screwed.
Swallowing a sigh, I started to rise, only for Lee Donghyuk to yank my arm violently.
The force of it almost dislocated my shoulder.
“You sure know how to make things complicated.”
Tell me about it.
It wasn’t like I was some patriotic hero.
If it weren’t for my father, I couldn’t even say what choice I would’ve made.
Maybe I would’ve just accepted the contract to hasten my own death.
As I was pushed ahead by Lee Donghyuk, I glanced around, taking in every person in sight.
As expected, this was a subterranean bunker, but the layout was more crude than I’d imagined.
The people walking around were so thin and drained of energy, it was hard to believe they were Awakened at all.
A failed organization.
That was my first impression—even from just a brief glance.
* * *
