Chapter 52…
Silence filled the spacious room.
I sat on the sofa, sinking deep into the backrest.
Maybe that was why my mind kept drifting with messy thoughts.
‘A hawk faction, yet not… and those who cross the line.’
First of all, the “ordinary hawk faction” who originally requested the commission were excluded.
They were hard-liners, yes, but they still kept within the lines.
‘Just that alone significantly narrows down the suspects.’
Truthfully, I already had a few people in mind.
The problem was figuring out who their leader was.
If the enemy really was them…
‘Then I have to prepare.’
I picked up my smartphone and called someone.
“Hello. Have you been well?”
— …….
“Haha, sorry. As you probably guessed, I’ve been extremely busy.”
— …….
“Yes, yes, I should have visited more often. Sorry. Actually… could we meet right now?”
I knew.
Saying something like that made me seem like a lunatic.
But this wasn’t the time to be picky.
“Someone’s been bothering me, and I think it would help if you could come support me.”
— …….
“Haha, right? I never imagined I’d have someone troubling me too. Yes… yes, let’s call it even for last time.”
— …….
“Thank you! I’ll text you the location.”
Click—
With that, preparations for any possible trouble were complete.
The rest would have to be left to fate.
Step, step.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.
It had been quiet for a while.
Seemed like the meeting had finally ended.
Took longer than I thought. Was there a problem?
Soon, faint voices drifted over.
Not just voices—raised voices, heated like an argument.
“Please reconsider—!”
“…It’s already decided. No reconsideration!”
“But if just the Chief agrees—”
“Enough! Are you trying to— ignore regulations?! No more— pointless arguing!”
As expected, there was a reason the meeting took so long.
Hearing the father and daughter shouting like that made it obvious.
Winter wouldn’t normally talk back to her father…
For her to insist so strongly meant it was an extremely important issue.
And the most important issue right now was, of course—
‘Counterattack.’
Don’t tell me…
Creak—
Just as a hypothesis crossed my mind, the door opened.
First entered Chief Seo Byung-cheol.
Behind him followed Seo Gyeoul, her expression stiff.
“Sorry I’m late. The meeting dragged on. Thanks for waiting.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kang Siwoo.”
I stood and shook his extended hand.
Behind his indifferent face, the ruins cast a long shadow like dusk settling.
It felt like I was peeking into his complicated thoughts.
“……”
He stared at me silently for a moment before speaking bluntly.
“I’ve heard your name so much from Officer Seo that my ears nearly fell off.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It’s not a compliment. If you ever—”
“…Chief?”
A dangerous aura flared from the side.
I turned my head.
Seo Gyeoul was there, but when she felt my gaze, she pretended nothing had happened.
Chief Seo, sensing something too, coughed awkwardly and sat first.
“Ahem… nothing. Please, sit.”
“Thank you.”
I also leaned back onto the sofa.
And once we were seated—
“First, let me thank you for taking care of the terrorist.”
Chief Seo bowed his head.
“If not for you, the damage to our bureau would have been catastrophic.”
“……”
Anyone who didn’t know him would be shocked at such an unexpected gesture.
But I predicted he’d respond like this.
As I’ve said before, Chief Seo Byung-cheol was one of the few public officials I actually respected.
At least he’s someone with decency.
So I spoke honestly.
“I only wanted to return what was done to me. Please don’t misunderstand and think I took care of the terrorist out of noble intentions.”
“Humble, I see.”
“……”
No, that was literally the truth…
But he was too serious for me to correct him.
He clearly had no intention of believing my explanation.
“And even if that’s true, it doesn’t change the fact that we received your help.”
“Well, that’s true. So… do I get a bounty or something?”
“Of course! If processed per regulations, you’d get the bounty and a commendation. But…”
“But?”
The confident expression on his face instantly shifted into that of someone deep in debt.
And I soon found out why.
Like a confession, he listed the debts he owed me.
“…Right now it’s difficult. As you can see, we don’t have the capacity to give you anything even if we wanted to. And your ticket will be reissued the moment the Garden repairs are complete. I, Seo Byung-cheol, have gotten this far on trust alone. If things go wrong, I’ll compensate you with my retirement fund if I must.”
“……”
He talks a lot. Way too much.
If anything, that long explanation meant—
‘He hasn’t even gotten to the main point yet.’
And if my earlier hypothesis was correct…
I’d finally get to make him owe me properly.
His strict principles and his conscience must have been fighting like crazy.
“All right. Please, just tell me the main point already.”
“…Sharp as always. The truth is, there’s something I must tell you—”
“Is it about the previous commission?”
“…! How did you know?”
“Does that matter right now?”
The commission to act as their “hawk hunter.”
I was supposed to receive Miyamoto Daichi’s talisman in return.
But if that commission had been canceled, the reward would obviously vanish too.
“…Yes, I suppose how you knew isn’t important. I’m sorry. Since we unilaterally canceled the contract, we’ll definitely compensate you in some form… I apologize again.”
Sigh—
Seo Gyeoul let out a quiet breath.
I didn’t need to see her face to know.
That must’ve been the cause of the argument earlier.
The Chief probably insisted on canceling per regulations.
And Gyeoul probably insisted that I absolutely needed to take the commission.
I stared straight at Chief Seo.
He avoided my gaze, face flushed.
He must’ve wanted to run from this situation.
But I didn’t let him.
“As the previous client, may I ask why?”
“…Classified.”
As expected.
He probably hated that he could only answer like that.
So I answered in his stead.
“Because the hawks are no longer the enemy, right?”
Both Seo Byung-cheol and Seo Gyeoul’s eyes widened.
Moments like this showed they really were father and daughter.
Chief Seo calmed down first and assessed the situation.
“It’ll be reported in the news soon, so I suppose saying that much is fine… Ours wasn’t the only bureau attacked.”
“Then…?”
“The Tower Raid Bureau was attacked as well.”
As expected.
The dovish faction’s Gate Management Bureau.
The hawkish faction’s Tower Raid Bureau.
The headquarters of each faction had been attacked simultaneously.
Meaning—
‘So the hawks aren’t the enemy.’
The enemy was a third faction.
And their identity was classified.
He thought I was shocked since I stayed silent.
“It’s surprising, I know. We couldn’t believe it either.”
“……”
“In any case, given that, there’s no point in commissioning someone to warn the hawks—”
“But, listen.”
Of course I wasn’t shocked.
I was simply debating whether to say what I knew.
Whether to pursue revenge alone or with them.
But the decision was easy.
Why?
‘My reward—!!’
I had to recover the payment I was owed.
If I handled it alone, who would recognize it?
You only get rewarded if someone knows.
So I continued calmly.
“Technically, they are still part of the hawk faction, aren’t they?”
“‘They’…?”
“Since you can’t speak due to confidentiality, let me try deducing it.”
I stood and walked to stand beside Seo Gyeoul.
Then placed my hand on her shoulder.
“When you first commissioned me, you said this: the hawks have been crossing the line lately.”
“……”
“……”
Both father and daughter—plus Rebecca, who had been staring into space—looked at me.
“And I’ll say this now… Before killing the terrorist Smile, I interrogated him. Purely out of personal vengeance.”
I met each of their eyes one by one and took out the Silver Mask of the Leper King from my subspace.
When I put it on, I transformed into Smile’s appearance.
“He said they were ‘hawks who aren’t hawks.’ Which leaves only one answer.”
“……”
Chief Seo’s dry lips parted nervously.
Seo Gyeoul’s eyes widened round.
I spoke the word they both wanted and didn’t want to hear.
“The Extremist Hawks.”
“…!!”
“How do you know…?”
I spoke quickly, striking while they were stunned.
“Of course, as a civilian, I don’t know their leader. Only that such a subgroup exists. But the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?”
“……”
“As you know, I have unfinished business with them. So tell me. If we work together, we can take them down more easily.”
“…That is absolutely against regulations. I cannot reveal anything.”
His lips sealed firmly.
He had no intention of saying anything further.
Then, Seo Gyeoul, who had been silent, finally spoke.
“Chief.”
Silence carried weight.
Everyone looked at her.
“Chief.”
With the second call, he had to respond.
“Officer Seo. I warned you before coming in. Do not speak.”
“Chief—no… Father. We need Siwoo’s help.”
His pupils trembled.
His stubborn daughter, in a public setting, used the word “father.”
He was so shocked he stuttered.
“W-We cannot involve a civilian. It violates regulations and the moral values of public servants! The situation is far too dangerous!”
“Father!”
“Officer Seo! Keep personal and public matters separate!”
“I’m not suggesting we break rules excessively!”
For the first time, Seo Gyeoul’s icy expression cracked into raw emotion.
She was rebelling against the father she deeply respected.
“Rules and principles have no exceptions! We cannot involve a civilian beyond a simple warning! No further!”
“Then will you do it yourself? We have no armed force and the enemy already knows all our movements—are you serious right now?!”
“If necessary, then I must act, even if it kills me! That is a public servant’s duty!”
Rules. Principles. Laws.
Words that only work in peaceful times.
In crisis, they crumble. Strength becomes the only legitimacy.
‘Ah, so in my past life, dithering like this is how he ruined the country…’
His ideals were noble.
But reality is merciless.
Righteousness without strength is hollow.
Seeing this mess made me glad I intervened.
By now, she should be arriving…
My preparation.
It would give Chief Seo a good shock.
“She’s coming.”
Rebecca, who had been blankly sitting, suddenly spoke.
I ignored the arguing pair and approached her.
She could occasionally be unnervingly sharp.
Like when the Garden was attacked.
I whispered softly.
“What’s coming? Do you know?”
“A human female.”
“And?”
“…Intense. Burning. Ready to explode.”
Hearing that, I sighed in relief.
My first sponsor.
She was on her way.
“You’re telling me to become the same beast as them?!”
“That’s not what I’m—!”
“Then what—”
BOOOOM—!!
The door slammed open, nearly ripped off its hinges.
Not even a single knock beforehand.
Then a thunderous voice roared at Chief Seo.
“Hey, you stubborn mule! Did you mess with our Consultant Kang?!”
Baek Miran.
Head of the Inexplicable Beast Research Institute.
Chief Seo’s wife.
She had arrived.
