Episode 171
As time went on, John became more and more aware that what was happening was definitely not normal.
Something that can’t happen unless you’re possessed by a ghost.
Even though the illusionary magic shook his sanity, John was not such a sloppy person.
‘He must be a human who came to deceive me. I’m sure of it.’
John had strong suspicions, but he kept the possibility in mind, so he did not deal with Kang Jin-hyeok right away.
Instead, the method chosen was to confine them to their base and observe them directly.
If you strictly set activity restrictions and observe them 24 hours a day, they won’t be able to move rashly.
If he was a human who had infiltrated as a spy, it was certain that he would not be able to tolerate the situation and would reveal his true colors at some point.
“It’s even more suspicious that you just accept it without protesting any longer.”
The character ‘Kay’, as John knew, always wanted to distinguish himself in missions.
He was a man with such a strong desire for honor that he volunteered to be selected without being asked. It was strange that he accepted without resistance the fact that he was held captive without being able to do anything.
When I told H about my thoughts, he didn’t think much of it.
“Didn’t you just come back from the dead and get scared?”
As H had said, we had just returned from the Jordan River, so it was possible that our motivation would be dampened.
But somehow, thinking that way didn’t feel right.
“Is the captain still suspicious of Kay?”
“Yeah. No matter how many times I think about it, I still can’t believe it.”
“Even though there is so much evidence that he is the person you thought was dead?”
“That’s why it’s more suspicious.”
Why did John accept such a ridiculous story so naturally?
I just couldn’t understand why all the circumstances and evidence seemed to support his existence.
It was as if he wanted people to believe that he was ‘K’, as if someone had artificially manipulated him.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“I’ll wait and see for now. It’s just my suspicion, so I won’t kill him right away.”
To be honest, John wanted to kill Kang Jin-hyeok, who had crawled in on his own two feet, to eliminate this uneasiness in the first place.
But John did not carry out his wish recklessly.
He was not an individual but a leader of a team.
A person in that position should know how to listen to the team’s opinions rather than making his own decisions.
John couldn’t completely ignore that opinion, since many of his colleagues, including H, accepted Kay’s existence without question.
What would the rest of HU’s hunters think if they tried to eliminate Kang Jin-hyeok while ignoring their will?
‘Even if I barely make it back alive, I’m going to die anyway.’
If such a thought even crosses their minds, the team’s morale will be shattered that day.
Even if it weren’t for other times, Kang Jin-hyeok is a formidable figure.
Even now, the odds of winning are not certain, and if the fraud hits rock bottom, we will end up like a lantern in the wind.
As the leader of the team, John had a duty to avoid that from happening.
“Tell En and El to keep a close eye on me.”
“Are you talking to those two?”
“Why? Do you have any complaints?”
“Those two don’t seem like the type of people who would be suitable for surveillance.”
“Then do you think there’s a suitable one among the other guys?”
John chuckled, as if he was dumbfounded by what he said.
All of the HU agents who came here, including John, were specialized in assassination and combat, and were not good at watching over or protecting someone.
This is because it was more beneficial to train agents with outstanding performance but who were biased towards one side rather than to train personnel with high general-purpose capabilities.
“I think I am suitable.”
When it came to ability alone, H thought he was the best.
But his opinions were lightly dismissed.
“You can’t.”
“Yes? Why?”
“Because of personal connections, things can go wrong.”
“Do I look like such a sloppy person to you?”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I basically don’t trust people.”
Entrusting a job to someone who has even the slightest element of instability is like entrusting a cat with fish.
John casually brought up such a story in front of the person involved.
“……All right.”
H was offended but did not object to the decision.
Attitude aside, the words themselves were quite agreeable.
But just as John felt uneasy about himself, H also felt uneasy about the fact that it was N and L who were assigned to watch over him.
The two are a duo known for being hot-blooded even among HU agents.
Since he had entrusted the surveillance to those who had low boiling points and easily got angry, H definitely expected that an accident would occur.
‘Is that what you’re hoping for?’
Although N and L had hasty personalities, their skills were the best.
He was particularly good at killing single characters quickly and swiftly.
Maybe John wanted to get rid of the troubling sprouts without getting his hands dirty.
Such questions began to creep into H’s mind.
“Okay. If you understand, then go back and prepare. We will soon check the number of personnel and go out to explore.”
“yes.”
H, with his head down, left the association president’s office.
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‘They are even removing personnel from headquarters while going on a scouting mission to find people who are going to cause accidents on purpose… ‘
It was a test of sorts.
What will the person who came here with Kay’s face do when faced with this delicious prey?
No matter how strong you are, you can’t deal with N and L at the same time.
If you do anything even slightly suspicious, those two will have your neck cut off.
‘Please, nothing happens.’
H walked back to his quarters, hoping that his friend, who had finally returned alive, would not die.
* * *
As time passed, it was Kang Jin-hyeok who became more and more anxious.
He came in voluntarily, saying he would take the list as if it were nothing.
He was confined to his quarters without achieving any results.
“I didn’t know the guard would be this strict.”
I regret underestimating HU, but that doesn’t mean I can undo what’s already happened.
Kang Jin-hyeok had to think about how to overcome the situation he was in.
“Getting out of here is easy, but… … . capturing all the HU agents might be a bit difficult.”
Since Lucia had the ability to sense a crisis even for a moment, Kang Jin-hyeok was not in a position to feel at ease either.
Kang Jin-hyeok, who was pondering with his chin resting on his hand, sensed a commotion outside and walked to the door.
The sound of footsteps moving briskly stimulated Kang Jin-hyeok’s curiosity.
“Did something happen?”
Kang Jin-hyeok asked a question to the guard standing beyond the door.
“It’s none of your business.”
The Watcher’s answer was nothing less than proof that something had broken out within the Association.
Thanks to that, the answer piqued Kang Jin-hyeok’s curiosity even more.
“Why is it none of my business? Weren’t we a team?”
When Kang Jin-hyeok shamelessly talked about the team with an iron plate on his face, the watcher nodded.
“Yeah, the team is right.”
“Then I can teach you.”
“No. At least our captain doesn’t seem to think so.”
For agents, orders from superiors are absolute.
The very idea of disobeying an order was impossible for them.
“I finally came back alive, but this is just too much.”
The watcher sighed softly, perhaps shaken by Kang Jin-hyeok’s grumbling.
“I can’t tell you the details, but I’m preparing to go on an expedition.”
“Exploration? Going to fight? With who?”
“Who is it?”
In Korea, there was no other opponent that HU agents could directly confront other than Pantheon.
After hearing those words, Kang Jin-hyeok became worried.
‘Will you be okay without me?’
Although Lucia and Pamela remained in the Pantheon, it was dangerous if HU launched an all-out attack.
“How many people are leaving?”
“Do you think I’ll tell you that much? Be grateful that I even told you this much.”
The watcher drew a line, saying that no further information could be disclosed.
Given that reaction, this was the only information that could be obtained through peaceful means.
“This is difficult.”
Is it really right to just stand here like this?
Kang Jin-hyeok, who asked himself a question, shook his head.
Since it was called an expedition, not everyone would have gone out.
But that doesn’t mean I can stay here and do nothing.
Since the number of personnel at headquarters had finally been reduced, Kang Jin-hyeok decided to take advantage of this opportunity.
* * *
After a while, the footsteps died down and it became quiet.
After that, Kang Jin-hyeok held his breath and waited for the right time once more.
After some time had passed to ensure that those who had gone out could not return immediately, Kang Jin-hyeok took action.
bang!
En, the guard in front of Kay’s quarters, was startled when he saw the door suddenly break.
Before En could ask what had happened, Kang Jin-hyeok swung his fist at him.
It was a surprise attack intended to kill him in one blow, but it could not be ended as smoothly as Kang Jin-hyeok had intended.
“The captain’s words were true.”
The person who blocked the fist heading for En’s face was a person with a face that looked exactly like him.
He, codenamed ‘El’, saw his own hand tremble as he blocked the fist.
“You’re really not Kay?”
Elle knew that Kay didn’t have the strength to push her like this.
When what he had thought was impossible actually happened, he accepted Kang Jin-hyeok as his enemy without hesitation.
En also had the same thoughts as L and took advantage of the moment when he was holding Kang Jin-hyeok’s fist.
The hand that had been swinging the knife aimed for Kang Jin-hyeok’s neck like a blade.
The movement was so fast that Kang Jin-hyeok had to turn his body around in a hurry.
Although his body was not free because his fist was held, he was able to avoid having his head cut off thanks to his quick reaction.
“Ugh!”
Elle was hit in the middle of the abdomen by Kang Jinhyeok’s outstretched foot and let go of the hand that was holding the fist.
Kang Jin-hyeok wanted to give him another blow, but he couldn’t because Yen’s capital was once again targeting the artery in his neck.
Kang Jin-hyeok stepped back, leaving his regrets behind, and revised the plan in his head.
Since the surprise attack had failed, they had to be suppressed quickly before they could contact the outside world.
‘Those guys probably have some kind of chip implanted in them too.’
Through the autopsy results of Dee and Kay, Kang Jin-hyeok was able to learn that HU agents were hiding chips in their bodies.
If your heart stops, you will be sending a signal of death to your comrades.
In order to avoid being caught by the other personnel, these two should not be killed rashly.
‘Subduing is harder than killing.’
The opponent is a formidable opponent.
You can’t kill two people at the same time.
It was a fairly difficult task, but I didn’t think I would fail.
