The Perfect

There was nothing less noticeable than Special Department employees going to the Special Department. So, even though Han Jemyung was working at 4K, it was natural for him to enter his old office. However, it was unexpected to see Byunghee sitting at his desk and working.“Hey, didn’t you already get a week off in advance from GM?”“Yeah, today was the first orientation meeting. But something more important came up.”Before he could ask what it was, Han Jemyung saw the look of despair on Byunghee’s face and knew something bad had happened.“Did you go broke? Do you need overtime pay?”Byunghee nodded while holding back tears.“The limited edition game console I wanted got released… Why are you here? Aren’t you going to attend the orientation?”“They said a report was missing. Oh, if you’re staying, could you hold onto this and give it to the person who comes to collect it?”“…”“Two meal tickets.”“Five meal tickets.”“What? Are you crazy? Do you need five meal tickets just to hand over some papers? Is this how you treat a colleague?”“With no orientation and being broke, do you think I care about collegiality?”“Three tickets. I can’t give you more or I’ll go broke.”Byunghee finally accepted the deal and received the envelope from Han Jemyung.“Who should I give it to?”“I don’t know. Just give it to the person who comes to get it.”Easy. Byunghee was happy to get three meal tickets just for delivering the papers. As Han Jemyung stood up to leave, he thanked Byunghee one more time.“Thanks.”“No, I’m the one who’s grateful.”Byunghee replied jokingly, but Han Jemyung’s expression was strange.“What’s wrong? If you’re thinking of taking the tickets back…”“Good luck with the meeting.”Han Jemyung just smiled and left. Byunghee wondered why he was acting like it was the last time they’d see each other.“Why does he look so wistful, like this is the last time we’ll meet?”CEO Ryu got the call he was waiting for in just two days. It came sooner than expected, making him wonder if Han Jemyung was testing him.“I left it with my office staff. There are about ten pages, and I inserted a message in the middle of the last page, so check it.”CEO Ryu immediately ordered an employee to go retrieve the papers and warned him.“Don’t be rude. Even though they’re a low-level employee from the Special Department, accept it politely. It’s a simple task, but if this goes wrong, your life will be screwed.”The employee left with a tense face.Nothing was more frustrating than having to come to work when you could be resting. Byunghee was there because of his own material desires, but it still felt unfair. Everyone else was attending the meeting orientation, while Byunghee was stuck at the office for overtime pay.To console himself, he was watching reviews of the limited edition game console he had ordered. He had the video playing in a small window on the side of his monitor, but a power-saving notice had been issued for the GM week, so using the computer for long periods would trigger a warning. Thus, he was startled by every small sound in the office.Thanks to this, he was the first to notice when a stranger entered the office. A man he had never seen before was looking around, and their eyes met. The man smiled and bowed. Byunghee, caught off guard, bowed back. The man approached and bowed again.“Excuse me, I’m looking for Han Jemyung…”Hearing the name, Byunghee immediately understood.“Oh, the papers left by Mr. Han Jemyung. Here they are.”The stranger smiled as he received the papers. “Thank you.” He bowed for the third time, and Byunghee quickly bowed back. What a polite person. After the man left, Byunghee returned to his gloomy mood, but a miracle happened. Manager Kim, unable to bear Byunghee’s dark mood any longer, made a warm offer.“I’ll handle the outside work, so get out of here! This place isn’t a funeral parlor!”Jinwook hesitated at the sight of Han Jemyung sitting quietly with an open notebook in the empty 4K office.“Mr. Han Jemyung, what are you doing here?”Startled by Jinwook’s question, Han Jemyung looked up.“Oh? CEO Na, I heard you were on a business trip.”“It got canceled. I heard you had someplace to be today too, Jemyung. All the employees went to the orientation for the GM week. Didn’t you get the message from S.P.48?”“I did, but I heard the orientation isn’t mandatory, so I didn’t plan to go.”Han Jemyung closed a notebook filled with notes and stood up. Jinwook glanced at the notebook.“Were you writing?”At the mention of writing, an uncontainable joy appeared on Han Jemyung’s face.“W-well, writing is an overstatement. I’m just jotting down random thoughts without any structure. It’s not like I’m some great writer or anything.”Though he waved his hands dismissively, his face was lit up with a smile. Jinwook watched him curiously. He couldn’t reconcile the man he had discovered with the one he saw in front of him. A person who found it hard to hide his emotions yet had fought for everyone despite his fears. How could he do that?“You are a writer. It’s only fitting to call it writing. And that novel…”Complimenting his novel would probably make him happy, but the promise with Director Kook came to mind. Jinwook had agreed not to approach Han Jemyung in exchange for him staying silent. An accidental encounter was one thing, but he should refrain from actions that might win his favor.“What’s wrong with my novel?”Han Jemyung asked in a timid voice. Jinwook smiled and responded gently.“A novel doesn’t need to meet anyone’s standards to be called a novel. If it has your passion, that’s enough to make it a proper novel. Besides, your novel shows long effort, doesn’t it?”“… Yes, it’s been a long time.”Jemyung nodded and smiled.“I’m touched that you noticed something no one else did. That’s why I trust there’s always a good reason behind what CEO Na does.”Jinwook was puzzled by the excessive praise. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard praise, but Han Jemyung’s voice sounded different than usual. However, whether it was a misunderstanding, he soon spoke again with his usual shy expression.“Do you need help with something, CEO Na?”“No, it’s fine. Director Kook is handling all the 4K work these days.”“Wasn’t Director Kook working with the lawyer?”Realizing his mistake, Jinwook gave a sheepish smile.“Director Kook has the right to refuse office work, so he got help from the lawyer. The lawyer agreed to handle legal matters and help with any personal tasks when asked. That’s why Director Kook is so busy lately.”“Does Director Kook have to work so hard for a specific reason?”The question seemed sharp but Han Jemyung’s expression was just one of curiosity.“Nothing special. It’s just to keep him busy and out of trouble.”“I see. He’s got an unnecessary knack for that.”Jinwook missed what Han Jemyung muttered and asked again.“Good for what?”“I mean, the lawyer seems like a good person. He must be busy these days. I heard from the 4K office people that he’s on the opposite side of Special Agent and is helping the current president. The Special Agent must be frantic trying to catch the supplier of the Heartless drug. I thought Director Kook was helping the lawyer with that. So he’s been busy with the 4K work instead.”Jinwook kept smiling but observed him closely, wondering if he had figured something out.“It seems like a political issue, but neither Director Kook nor I are involved in that matter.”“That’s a relief. I was worried it might affect me since I work at the Special Department. This job is quite stable after all.”Ah, so that was it. Jinwook reassured him.“We have no connection with the Special Agent or the Heartless drug supplier.”“I see.” Han Jemyung muttered, then asked, “When will Director Kook stop being so busy?”“Do you need something?”“I actually have a request.”“Go ahead.”“I didn’t attend the orientation today because I’m afraid of Director Kook.”Ah. Jinwook nodded.“I understand. But even though Director Kook is capricious, he wouldn’t go as far as crashing a meeting of someone who rejected him.”“Right, up to someone who rejected him… But that’s a bit ambiguous.”Han Jemyung couldn’t meet Jinwook’s gaze and kept avoiding eye contact. Jinwook realized something and his expression hardened slightly.“Do you have feelings for Director Kook?”“Uh, well, a little.”Jemyung glanced at the other person and quickly added.“But I’m not sure. It’s the first time someone has liked me, so I might have just been swept along, and Director Kook was so firm that he said I was coming around too…”“So you want to confirm at the meeting.”“Yes, that’s it! To meet cool people at S.P.48, although they probably won’t like me…”“No, Han Jemyung, you are very attractive. You should attend the meeting to broaden your horizons.”“Right?”Yes. Jinwook nodded firmly. Han Jemyung also smiled faintly.“Five days from now, after the meeting, I hope I can confirm my feelings. It will probably be a good experience for me. Please take care of it.”“Don’t worry about Director Kook chasing you that day. I’ll make sure he can’t even get near the meeting place.”“Thank you. I really didn’t have the confidence.”What? Jinwook asked, and Han Jemyung smiled faintly.“The confidence to lie to Director Kook and not get caught.”Han Jemyung bowed his head.“Thank you for lying in my stead.”CEO Ryu kept reading the information on Han Jemyung brought by the employee over and over.— Find the department that operated in Iguala, Mexico.The supplier of the mutant drug had a clash with a special department from Korea in Iguala, and it seems to have held a grudge. One survivor remains. It seems they are planning to call the supplier after Director Kook’s business is finished in five days. Director Kook also has a photo of the supplier’s leader. He confirmed the face himself. Be cautious of Director Kook. Make sure to lure the supplier to a safe place away from Director Kook.P.S.: To call the leader, make sure to say the following…It was an incredible piece of information. He should have first doubted how a regular Special Department employee got such information, but CEO Ryu was in an excited state. If this was true, they could act first and capture the supplier. Just as Han Jemyung said, they only needed to be cautious of Director Kook. If they didn’t get caught by Director Kook, they could use Han Jemyung’s information to get what they wanted. Of course, everything needed confirmation before starting. CEO Ryu called his trusted employees.“Search Director Kook’s lawyer’s office. Bring anything related to Mexico from three years ago. Wait, confirm Director Kook’s whereabouts first before moving so he doesn’t notice anything.”At his instruction, the two employees exchanged bewildered looks. CEO Ryu frowned.“What’s wrong?”“Uh, Director Kook is, um, here right now.”What? CEO Ryu paused and his eyes widened.“At L&Y? Now? Since when?”“He just came in and was about to report to you.”CEO Ryu felt a chill down his spine. So that ghost-like guy had caught a whiff of something and came here? But on the flip side, that meant the information Han Jemyung gave him was true. What better evidence than Director Kook making a move? His expression quickly changed. A satisfied smile spread across his lips.“Let him in.”CEO Ryu put the documents he received from Han Jemyung deep into a drawer. Soon, the door opened and Director Kook came in.“Director Kook, what brings you here?”Director Kook didn’t answer right away and slowly scanned the office. Then, he stopped at CEO Ryu’s desk. Even this was seen as a confirmation signal by CEO Ryu.“Is there something unpleasant about my desk?”“No. The interior is just terrible. Especially the desk.”CEO Ryu just laughed as if it was absurd. Strangely, he didn’t feel angry. The fact that he came to his office sensing something even repressed his anger. So, you’re finally helping me with that animal-like intuition you pride yourself on.“You didn’t come here to criticize my office interior. State your business and leave.”Director Kook looked around the office once more before finally speaking.“You really are an ungrateful person.”“Gratitude? To you?”“Don’t you owe me money for the countless golden pieces of advice I’ve given you?”Even though Director Kook’s intuition had earned trust in the information, hearing nonsense made him angry. Advice was one thing, but money?“Did I ever borrow money from you?”“That’s why I took your fish.”“Fish… my darlings?! Are they in trouble?”“If you don’t pay for the feed, purification costs, electricity, and other management fees that have gone into the fish so far, there will be trouble. You’re a real nuisance.”“Then give them back, damn it.”CEO Ryu gritted his teeth and cursed, but Director Kook refused with a smile.“No. I’ll raise the fish while tormenting them.”CEO Ryu’s eyebrows twitched again. Director Kook finally seemed satisfied and stood up.“Transfer the money to my account by today. And by the way, about Han Jemyung.”CEO Ryu tried not to show his surprise and frowned deliberately.“Han Jemyung? The Special Department employee you took in for revenge?”“Yes. I’m keeping an eye on him. Don’t even think about meeting him. I’ll be watching.”Director Kook warned and disappeared. Only after he left did CEO Ryu’s twisted smile appear.“I’m really curious about your expression when you find out what Han Jemyung and I did later.”Indeed, a person needs good fortune in their later years. The lawyer vowed that if he were to be reborn, he would come back as a psychopath and live childless. Even now, he could return to his successful lawyer days if he wanted, but his conscience and memories of his son held him back. Why am I so kind that I suffer in my later years?He was so busy that he couldn’t go home that day and washed up in the office building’s bathroom. He was swamped with work related to lawsuits, working without holidays, and recently, he had been following and monitoring Director Kook and going to dangerous sites to catch Heartless. Of course, he was surrounded by bodyguards and stayed as far away as possible to watch, so he wasn’t actually in danger. But working with Director Kook itself was severely damaging to his mental health.“I’m not a nanny to look after that brat.”He grumbled as he entered the office and sat down at his desk. He was about to remove the towel from his neck when he paused. The desk was as he had left it. He had only been gone for about 10 minutes to wash up. But something felt different. The desk, piled with papers, was cluttered, but the lawyer’s keen eye noticed something was slightly off.What is it? He scanned the desk sharply but found nothing missing. Thinking it was nothing, he lowered his gaze and paused. His eyes were drawn to his phone. The old-fashioned flip phone, which didn’t have internet access, was turned over. The lawyer slowly picked up the phone and turned it over.Entering the password, the familiar home screen appeared. Nothing seemed strange on the screen, but the lawyer checked various things and finally pressed the call log button. The lawyer never used the address book when making calls. He always memorized all the numbers and dialed them. And he always deleted all call records.The call log was empty, except for the record of the call he had just made before going to wash up. The call was to the head of the Restoration Office. He had forgotten to delete it because he was in a hurry to go to the bathroom. Could someone have come and checked this? But they would need the password.The lawyer looked at the call log and around the room. Then he suddenly got up and flung open the storage room door. Turning on the light, he saw nothing but piles of documents. The lawyer looked around inside and turned back with a dejected face.Maybe he had been too close to Director Kook. He must have caught the guy’s suspicion. The lawyer returned to his desk and reached for the papers to finish his work. Then he paused and looked at the desk again. Why does it keep looking different? He tilted his head but couldn’t find anything missing this time either, so he gave up.The documents brought by his subordinates in the middle of the night made CEO Ryu’s heart race again.‘TP Department Iguala Operation Report’TP Department? He had never heard of it, but it didn’t matter. The report had a national secret mark. He read the contents to the end, unable to suppress the smile that appeared on his lips. Ah, so there really is a survivor?He stood up with the report in hand. Finally, he had a ticket to enter the ant nest with confidence. The person he trusted the most for this job was No. 2. The one who had stormed into the ant nest was No. 2. The TP Department had been the previous owner of the ant nest.Thinking it was a strange connection, he safely entered the ant nest as he had wished. And everything went according to CEO Ryu’s plan. No. 2 confirmed a few things and returned to the office. He looked at the note Han Jemyung had given him for a long time, then tapped the last postscript with his finger.“Do you really think the leader will come to Korea just because of this nonsense? What does this even mean? We can’t use this hard-earned connection without verifying it.”“If left as it is, it will soon close. The supplier isn’t foolish enough to leave a channel open that the chairman hasn’t contacted for a long time. It’s a gamble anyway.”“But how can we trust someone like Han Jemyung?”“Are you saying the TP department is fake?”No. 2’s expression hardened. CEO Ryu smiled leisurely.“You know better than anyone how top-secret and important the information I brought is. You have to choose. There’s no time. They’ll move in a few days. We need to seize the opportunity before Director Kook notices anything.”No. 2 thought for a moment before speaking as if he had made up his mind.“If the leader comes, how will we recognize him? Information about him is top-secret in the U.S.”“They say they have a photo.”“Can we get it?”“Well, if Director Kook has it, it’s impossible to get. But we don’t necessarily need the photo.”What do you mean? No. 2 asked, and CEO Ryu laughed as if he had forgotten.“Han Jemyung said he saw the photo. Han Jemyung will confirm it.”“Are you sure we can trust him?”“He knows better than anyone how terrifying Director Kook’s revenge is. And now he’s betraying Director Kook. What more proof do you need?”No. 2 nodded.“Alright. I’ll follow your lead. If something goes wrong…”“I’ll take responsibility. But if we catch the supplier, you’ll owe me a lot.”“I’d even give you this ant nest.”CEO Ryu chuckled and looked around.“The security here is excellent. I’ve never seen a place with better security. Having such a place underground, unknown to the world, is perfect for doing secretive work.”“Yes. There’s no better place for secretive work. It seems you think the same as I do.”Yes. CEO Ryu nodded.“We must capture the supplier alive, considering the U.S. We need to hide him in a secret place without anyone knowing he’s in Korea. Honestly, there’s no place more suitable than the ant nest. If the supplier comes to Korea, bringing him here is crucial.”“Then let’s politely ask.”Soon, they sent a message to the mutant drug supplier through the contact obtained from the chairman. The title was simple.‘Invitation to Korea.’A few hours later, a reply came. It was three words, a combination of numbers and letters, which were easy to decipher. Date, time, and flight number. Four days later, they welcomed eight foreigners wearing sunglasses at the airport. The Special Agents spread out at the airport were embarrassed as the foreigners approached, waving like tourists.[It seems you invited us.]A man in his late fifties, who appeared to be the leader, asked with a smile in his voice. The tension and armed readiness of the Special Agents seemed pointless as the man asked with a smile.[Where should we go now?]Unlike the Special Agents, who were anxious about potential traps, the suppliers followed the agents calmly like guests. There was no force or threat. With just a “This way, please,” they easily entered the ant nest.Jinwook got out of the car, dressed up for a change. The streets were filled with heart decorations for the first meeting week. The building he entered also had heart decorations, but they were tastefully arranged. After several checks and handing over his phone, he entered the spacious outdoor banquet hall.There were lawns, fountains, and beautiful sculptures. The vast garden, reminiscent of a museum’s backyard, had places to rest and food. As Jinwook entered, everyone’s eyes turned to him. It seemed the meeting, which had strict membership criteria, had attracted good-looking people.However, Jinwook wasn’t interested in the attention. His mind was filled with thoughts of Han Jemyung, who was probably sipping champagne in a corner, feeling down. Han Jemyung didn’t know that Jinwook was also attending the meeting. Jinwook had applied impulsively. He half-jokingly considered it, but the other half was serious.So he brushed off those approaching him and wandered around looking for Han Jemyung. He was already looking forward to seeing how surprised Han Jemyung would be and what silly things he would say to make him laugh. He was also looking forward to Director Kook’s reaction when he found out later. He quickly moved through the spacious interior, mainly checking the corners. But after searching for a while, he couldn’t find Han Jemyung. Just as he was starting to worry that Han Jemyung was really hiding, a meeting organizer approached him.“CEO Na, we were worried you wouldn’t come.”“Yes, I was delayed by work.”“I thought so too, so I assured the other members that you would definitely come. But the members were worried that CEO Na might not come, and I was sweating bullets.”“What do you mean, ‘too’?”Jinwook asked, puzzled. The organizer widened their eyes as if Jinwook didn’t know.“The person who was supposed to come today on your recommendation didn’t show up.”Jinwook paused and stared at the organizer, asking again.“Han Jemyung… didn’t come?”The Special Agent’s mission today was resolved very easily. So easily that everyone wondered if they were really dealing with the mutant drug supplier. Why did they come to Korea so willingly and follow the Korean intelligence agents to the secret base? And why were they so relaxed? The only way to get answers was to ask them. Two of them stayed outside the ant nest, while the remaining six entered. Before that, it was necessary to confirm if the leader was really among them.“Well? Is the person from the photo here?”CEO Ryu pointed beyond the mirror glass. But the answer didn’t come immediately. The guests, still wearing sunglasses, were joking with each other as if they were out for a drink. Could they be fakes? Did the supplier leader send spies? Just as CEO Ryu’s worries reached their peak, the answer came.“They really came.”Huh? CEO Ryu looked at the speaker. Han Jemyung was staring straight through the one-way glass, where he couldn’t be seen from the inside. The person he was looking at was a man in his early fifties, sitting with his arms crossed in silence. The leader, who occasionally chuckled at his subordinates’ conversations.“Han Jemyung, what do you mean? Is that man the supplier leader?”Yes, Han Jemyung nodded and bared his teeth in a grin.“Yes. That’s the bastard.”[Are you the leader who led the Iguala Desert operation three years ago?]The Special Agent’s question brought a smile to the man’s lips.[You brought me into your house without even confirming that? Koreans are still as reckless as ever.]The Special Agent glanced at the mirror. No. 2, who was watching the leader from behind the mirror, listened to the translation through his earpiece and chuckled.“What do those guys believe in to crawl into someone else’s house so obediently?”Seeing no response, he looked to the side and found CEO Ryu deep in thought. Calling out to him, CEO Ryu finally looked up.“They must have something to rely on. They probably have collaborators outside. There might be people they’ve turned into subordinates by spreading the mutant drug in Korea.”“Is that what you’re worried about? Why the face?”Well… CEO Ryu muttered and looked back at the door.“Han Jemyung hasn’t come back. He said he was going to the bathroom, but it’s been over 20 minutes.”“This is the ant nest. Everyone gets lost the first time they come here. I’ve been here for years, and there are still unfamiliar places. Now isn’t the time to worry about Han Jemyung, is it?”But his expression was strange. The smile he had when confirming the leader kept bothering him. Why did he smile like that? The Han Jemyung he knew would have trembled in fear after confirming the leader. But he smiled. This kept lingering in his mind. Another question came from across the room.[Are you the one supplying the mutant Heartless drug to Korea?][Wrong. What I supplied was a cure.]The Special Agent continued the questions without rebutting.[You seem to be the leader of your organization. Is that correct, or is there another mastermind?]No one believed the leader would answer the continuous questions so easily. He wasn’t captured, and no one would obediently enter enemy territory and spill information. But once again, defying everyone’s expectations, the leader answered smoothly.[I’m the leader. Everyone follows my orders. There’s no one in the world who controls me. Any other questions?][Where do you get the mutant drug? Did you bring the manufacturing method from Iguala three years ago?][That’s a question I should be asking.][What do you mean?][What do I mean?]The leader began to laugh loudly. Then he asked, looking at the mirror.[You congratulated me on the poor harvest, didn’t you? Isn’t that right?]He said something incomprehensible, but No. 2 and CEO Ryu behind the mirror knew the reason. It was a phrase included in the invitation sent to lure the leader. Information provided by Han Jemyung, with a postscript. He had said to include this phrase to call the leader.‘Congratulations on another poor harvest this year.’“It’s time to call Han Jemyung.”No. 2 spoke and called an employee who was waiting inside to give instructions.“Find Han Jemyung…”At that moment, there was a strange sound, and suddenly the interior shook.“What is it?”“What’s happening?!”Was it an earthquake? Everyone rushed out the door in surprise. The Special Agents standing guard in the hallway were also bewildered. The shaking continued for a few more seconds and then subsided, but soon the noise grew louder. Then suddenly, the sound stopped. Thud! Another strong vibration shook the ground.“What on earth is happening?!”No. 2 shouted in surprise, and the employee moved to find out the situation. But there was no need to go far. Another employee came running, breathless, with urgent news.“The doors… all the doors leading outside are closed!”“The doors are closed? Why? Who did this?”“The security team says they can’t control anything right now. The security control system is already down…”Before the employee could finish the report, the lights went out. Suddenly, the interior was plunged into darkness. After a while, the emergency generator kicked in, and blue emergency lights came on, but they were weak compared to before.“Restore everything quickly!”With No. 2’s shout, the employees started running. The interior suddenly became chaotic, and only the minimum security and CEO Ryu remained in the hallway. He stood still, his expression hardened. The ominous feeling from Han Jemyung’s smile grew stronger. What on earth is happening? Nothing in the ant nest happens without No. 2 knowing. Everything is under his control. But who could it be?Thud, thud!A different noise was heard. This time, it was clear where it was coming from. CEO Ryu’s gaze turned to the creaking, opening iron door. The group of the leader, who should have been trapped, walked out slowly from inside.Each of them, except the leader, was holding a Special Agent with a completely twisted neck. The limp agents were already corpses. The other employees in the hallway immediately loaded their guns and aimed at them. But the leader and his group didn’t care about the guns and dropped the corpses on the floor.[Is this how you treat guests?]The only surviving interpreter was dragged out to translate the leader’s words.“He… he says you’re not treating guests properly…”CEO Ryu held a gun in his free hand, the one not in a cast.[Guests are guests, depending on who they are.][Ah, you speak English.]The leader smiled at CEO Ryu and signaled behind him. The person holding the interpreter’s neck squeezed. The interpreter’s neck crumbled like tofu in the hand. The interpreter’s head was torn off without even a scream.The sight left the Special Agents and CEO Ryu in shock. How could they have such strength… Could they be Heartless? But their speech was normal. They passed the blue light test… Damn, they were mutant Heartless?! CEO Ryu’s thoughts stopped there.The leader’s subordinates began to move. No, it only felt like they moved. The interior was dark, and no one could see their quick movements properly. The guards aiming their guns at them were taken down by the leader’s subordinates without a single scream.But CEO Ryu couldn’t move a finger, not because they were too fast. They grabbed the guards with their bare hands and tore their bodies apart. Some had their arms, some had chunks of flesh from their chests, and some had their heads torn off. Bones snapped, and flesh and muscles were ripped apart.CEO Ryu had seen many Heartless as a hunter, but he had never seen monsters like these. He had never felt such fear before. The terrible screams of those still alive, even as their arms and flesh were torn off, filled the air. CEO Ryu took a step back.He held a gun in his hand but couldn’t fire. His hands were trembling so much that he couldn’t hold the gun properly. CEO Ryu took another step back and turned his body. Then he started running frantically. Laughter was heard from behind. The leader’s command seeped into his ears like a chill.[Catch that guy. Make sure he can still talk.]CEO Ryu ran madly through the dark ant nest. He didn’t know where he was going and turned several corners. He shouted like a madman at the few guards in the hallway.“Kill that guy! Shoot him!”Gunshots were heard from behind. But his feet didn’t stop. Even when his body hit the wall several times, he didn’t feel the pain. The short gunshots stopped, and the footsteps following him grew louder, reaching the peak of his fear. It felt like he would be swallowed by a beast’s maw at any moment. But before he could turn another corner, something hit his back. With a strong pain, his knees buckled, and he fell face-first to the floor.“Huff, huff… Ugh!”He tried to lift his head and get up again. But laughter was heard from behind.[There was a guy who kept babbling even after his arms and legs were torn off.]CEO Ryu, forgetting his injured shoulder in a cast, crawled forward on his hands. Saliva dripped from his trembling mouth. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t move further. One of the leader’s subordinates was stepping on his leg. CEO Ryu turned his terrified face.[Will he keep babbling if I tear everything off except his mouth?]The leader’s subordinate grinned and reached out. CEO Ryu held his breath and closed his eyes. Like the others he had seen earlier, he would have his flesh torn off. The fear that he couldn’t rise any higher piled up. But even as he closed his eyes and waited for death, nothing happened. Trembling, he opened his eyes.The leader’s subordinate had stopped with his hand reaching out. CEO Ryu, about to close his eyes again in fear, noticed something and opened them wide. A small dagger was embedded in the subordinate’s forehead. Slowly, he stood up and pulled the dagger from his forehead.Blood slowly trickled from the wound. CEO Ryu, shocked, turned his head to look ahead. Someone emerged from the darkness, the one who had thrown the dagger. The leader’s subordinate removed his sunglasses, revealing eyes filled with cruelty. They weren’t human eyes.“You’ve been taking that drug continuously.”A low murmur was heard. CEO Ryu doubted his ears and eyes. Why, how was Han Jemyung…?[Who is this? Han, you’re alive.]The leader’s subordinate shouted in delight, his eyes filled with murderous intent. But the one who met his gaze just smirked. Only CEO Ryu was shocked. Why was this person acting familiar with Han Jemyung? Why was Han Jemyung…?“Keep laughing. I’ll tell you something even more interesting.”[Hey, you translate.]CEO Ryu, only lifting his head, looked back and forth between Jemyung and the subordinate. When the subordinate’s foot pressed hard on his leg, he quickly translated Jemyung’s words.[What if it’s not interesting? How will you take responsibility?]“What if it’s not interesting? How will you take responsibility…?”CEO Ryu, still not understanding everything, translated for Jemyung. The person in front of him was Han Jemyung, right? But he wasn’t scared like himself. Instead, he smirked as the leader’s subordinate threatened him. There was no trace of fear in him. He wasn’t the Han Jemyung he knew.“All the exits here are closed. No one can go out or come in. But don’t worry.”Han Jemyung smiled after confirming CEO Ryu translated his words.“Just like your comrades died in the desert cave three years ago, I’ll make sure you all die the same way. I’ll cut off your heads one by one, as painfully as possible, so you can join your comrades.”CEO Ryu couldn’t translate immediately. He could only stare at Han Jemyung in shock. Han Jemyung, Han Jemyung was a member of the TP department… But his thoughts couldn’t continue.“Argh!”A terrible scream escaped CEO Ryu’s mouth. The subordinate stomped on his ankle. Not stopping there, he twisted his foot, and with a cracking sound, the bone was completely crushed.[The only thing you’ll be able to move is your mouth.]Gasping in pain, CEO Ryu barely managed to translate Jemyung’s words. The subordinate laughed at that.[You think you can cut our heads off with this?]The subordinate took the knife and stabbed it into his neck. But the knife only went in a little before bending and breaking. His eyes gleamed with cruelty.[Nothing can kill us. The cure made not only our brains but also our muscles, bones, and skin as hard as steel. You’re the one who will join our comrades from three years ago.]With those words, his body disappeared again. This time, CEO Ryu’s eyes could follow his movements. He leaped and pounced on Han Jemyung. The hands that had torn people apart seemed to grab Han Jemyung’s neck, but at the last moment, Han Jemyung’s body moved back. But the subordinate’s hand was faster. He grabbed Han Jemyung’s shoulder.It seemed his hand would crush the shoulder, but Han Jemyung twisted his shoulder and pulled the subordinate behind him as if throwing him. The subordinate resisted with strength, grinning. The faint emergency light made it hard to see details. But CEO Ryu could recognize the cruelty shining in the subordinate’s eyes. It was a chilling look. Just seeing those eyes made him tremble.Han Jemyung was holding his own surprisingly well, but it seemed he would soon have his head torn off. CEO Ryu, paralyzed with fear, couldn’t take his eyes off the fierce fight. Han Jemyung’s shoulder was grabbed again. The subordinate bared his teeth as he pulled him closer.[I’ll crush your shoulder…]The subordinate’s warning suddenly stopped. CEO Ryu didn’t know why he stopped, but he could tell he was looking at his opponent. The pause lasted only 1 or 2 seconds. But that time was enough to determine life or death. Bang! A gunshot rang out. In that short time, Han Jemyung had seized the advantage. A bullet was fired from his gun. He pulled the gun away from the subordinate’s eye.“Then I just need to put the bullet where there are no muscles, bones, or skin.”Han Jemyung muttered as he pushed the stiff body of the subordinate with his hand. With a whizzing sound, the subordinate fell backward like a wooden log, and the head that hit the ground shattered like a watermelon. Only then did CEO Ryu jump up. He couldn’t stand properly because of his broken ankle, but he managed to get up, leaning on the wall, and stared at Han Jemyung.What is this? Why did the subordinate stop when he saw him just now? The question didn’t linger. Han Jemyung, whose mouth was bleeding and clothes were torn from the short fight, stepped back while holding his shoulder. He seemed to have injured the shoulder that the subordinate had grabbed, but his expression didn’t change as he looked down at the subordinate’s corpse.“You… who exactly are you…”“Tell the leader.”Han Jemyung turned to CEO Ryu and spoke coldly.“I’ll make sure to show him clearly how his subordinates died in the desert three years ago, right here today.”“I kept trying to contact Mr. Han Jemyung, but he didn’t answer. Since there’s still some time left, I thought he might be running late like CEO Na…”The organizer’s words didn’t reach Jinwook’s ears. He stood still with a hardened expression, lost in thought. Why didn’t he come? Is he running late like me? No, he even sent a message this morning asking to take care of Director Kook.He had handed over Director Kook to the lawyer in person this morning, yet he didn’t come here. A sense of foreboding filled him. Ignoring the organizer’s attempts to stop him, he left the meeting venue. He first picked up his phone and turned it on. But before he could call Han Jemyung, the phone rang.“Section Chief Bae, I have an urgent matter right now, so let’s talk later if possible.”[It’s urgent here too. There’s suspicious movement in the Special Agent side. Today, someone entered the country secretly from the U.S., and the entire Special Agent team has taken that guest to the ant nest.]“The whole team moved?”[Yes. L&Y also checked, and only CEO Ryu moved on that side.]“Do you know who entered from the U.S.?”[They said several foreigners with sunglasses. They look like soldiers.]Jinwook held his breath. The fact that Han Jemyung had disappeared and the word “soldiers” overlapped in his mind.[It’s rare for the entire Special Agent team to move. And surrounding the ant nest like that…]“Damn.”A rare curse slipped from Jinwook’s mouth.[Is something big happening?]“Just stay on standby.”Jinwook got into his car and slammed the accelerator. The car roared as it sped away. He picked up his phone again to call somewhere, but then he saw a missed call. It was from the lawyer. He bit his lip and pressed the call button.[Why didn’t you answer the phone?!]The lawyer’s scolding was the first thing he heard. Jinwook had a bad feeling that everything was falling apart. Han Jemyung and Director Kook as well.[The state guy disappeared. Damn, it seemed like he came down with us, but he vanished like smoke at some point. But that’s not the important thing.]“Yes, that’s not the important thing right now.”[What do you mean? Is there something else going on?]“Haven’t you heard? Special Agents welcomed a guest from the U.S. today. The entire Special Agent team is gathered at the ant nest. The guests look like soldiers.”[Soldiers from the U.S.? Who… damn.]The lawyer also cursed.[Hang up. I need to contact the government. If they’re the guests we think they are, we need to put everyone on standby.]“No. Don’t wait; send them out immediately. Han Jemyung has disappeared.”[……]“Lawyer, I have a bad feeling. Something big is about to happen.”The lawyer’s silence continued. Jinwook didn’t think he was silent just to think.“Why are you silent?”[Everything is blowing up. Wait, let me sort things out and contact you again.]The lawyer hung up, and exactly 15 minutes later, his voice came through the speakerphone again.[We still don’t know who the guest from the U.S. is or what the Special Agents are planning, but I found out one thing.]“What is it?”[Han Jemyung is inside the ant nest.]Jinwook couldn’t say anything. He didn’t even ask how they confirmed it. The lawyer, sensing Jinwook’s silence, quickly continued.[You’ll hear the reason yourself. Hey, Restoration Office, explain.]The lawyer called, and the voice of the head of the Restoration Office joined the three-way call.[I just received a report that the ant nest has been closed. When the ant nest closes, the highest authority is directly notified. The problem is the person who can close the ant nest. Officially, only one person knew how to close it and had the authority to do so. The former head of the TP department. Because the method to close it is in the queen ant’s room. But that room was sealed off when the TP department was disbanded. The current Special Agents don’t even know such a room exists or that the ant nest can be closed. But there’s one more person who might know the method.]“Is it Mr. Han Jemyung?”That’s right. The head of the Restoration Office sighed deeply.[The former head of the department was fond of him. So, when he was young, he used to come and go from the head’s room as if it were his own. He probably learned it then… damn kid.]“What happens if the ant nest is closed?”[It’s a huge problem. The method to close the ant nest was designed for the ultimate emergency. If there’s a problem in the ant nest, it closes so no one can escape, and after a certain time, it collapses.]Jinwook fell silent again. The lawyer also couldn’t say anything. Only the angry voice of the head of the Restoration Office flowed through the phone speaker.[Han Jemyung is determined to take revenge. He’s digging his own grave too.]The control room, contrary to its name, was uncontrollable. No device worked. Even those who had worked there for years were flustered in the suddenly darkened ant nest. There was nothing they could do. Like magic, everything was cut off, and all doors leading outside were firmly closed. All communications were cut off. Only the internal CCTV continued to operate.But the screens showing the internal situation only increased the fear. The screens were dark, but the terrible screams of their comrades and the bursts of blood like fireworks were visible. Fear grew alongside despair. The thick iron doors meant to protect them from the enemy became shackles trapping them inside. Deep underground with no windows, the fear of being trapped engulfed everyone.“What are you doing not opening the doors?!”No. 2 shouted loudly after running to the control room after the ant nest closed. But no matter how much the superior ordered, the technicians couldn’t do anything. There was another problem too. Gunshots rang out. Terrible screams followed. The guests they had brought in today had turned into enemies.The enormous Heartless, which they had never seen before, killed humans as easily as flies. If it weren’t for the maze-like ant nest, they would have been wiped out already. They painfully realized why the leader’s group had willingly walked into the enemy’s den. But the worst was yet to come.Suddenly, the machines that had stopped working lit up with red lights. The emergency lights that came on when there was a problem inside flickered, but the computers still didn’t work. Yet the emergency lights kept blinking. And an announcement started throughout the ant nest.―Alert, alert. The complete closure procedure of the facility has begun. The collapse of the facility will start in 30 minutes. Repeating, the complete closure of the facility…―“What the hell… what’s happening? Who touched what?!”No one could answer No. 2’s question. It was dangerous to even open the door and go out to check the situation. Bang, bang, bang! Gunshots rang out again nearby.“Damn it, why, why is this happening?!”While No. 2 shouted in the control room, someone else had the same question in mind. CEO Ryu had barely managed to hide in No. 2’s office, praying that the Heartless wouldn’t come for him. He held a gun, but he wasn’t sure if he could shoot.It was laughable that he, a famous hunter who instinctively shot and caught Heartless, was hiding like this. But no sound came from CEO Ryu’s mouth. He held his breath to avoid being detected. Then the announcement about the collapse of the ant nest came. CEO Ryu’s frozen brain seemed to crack, and thoughts began to return. Why? How? Who… Could it be Han Jemyung?!“See, what did I tell you?”Startled! CEO Ryu was shocked by the sudden voice from behind and raised his gun. He was horrified to see someone rising from No. 2’s chair in the darkness. The person glanced at CEO Ryu’s state and twisted his mouth.“I told you, you’d be dragged into a collapsing ant nest because of No. 2. I’m never wrong.”Jinwook couldn’t say anything for a while. The head of the Restoration Office, who had vented his anger at Han Jemyung, finally spoke after a long pause.[If Han Jemyung has done something inside, the complete closure procedure will begin, and the ant nest will collapse in 30 minutes. We need to save the people inside somehow before that.]“Is there a way to get in?”[No. Once it’s closed, no one can get in. But there’s a way to get out from inside. The problem is.]“What is the problem?”