Chapter 86: A cup of tea, a slice of cake (3)
Chu Na-yoon’s eyes were special.
She said she just glanced, but it wasn't just a glance.
Because she could see farther and in more detail than others, her vision was different from theirs.
“What did you see?”
Mr. Ji-hwan, holding his cup, held his breath again.
“There was a factory. Lots of people, working, roads connected, cars coming and going, and also, were there streetlights on the road? But something’s different.”
Hmm.
Chu Na-yoon seemed to ponder for a moment, then put a piece of cake, cut with her fork, into her mouth.
“What’s different?”
Mr. Ji-hwan couldn’t help but wonder.
Listening to it, wasn’t it just an ordinary factory?
And seeing as she specifically mentioned streetlights on the road, it didn’t seem like an abandoned place either.
“The people’s expressions are strange. Should I say they’re scared, or should I say they’re being chased by something? Honestly, everyone finds work hard, right? It wasn’t that typical ‘crappy day’ feeling.”
“If not, it’s certainly suspicious.”
Seo Hyeon-yul nodded as if in agreement.
Who goes to a company because they like it?
Everyone goes for the money.
“Company… you like it. Well, it’s not like that, right?”
Mr. Ji-hwan asked, thinking ‘no way’.
Such rare species did exist, but they were not the majority.
“‘Liking the company’ is absolutely impossible. It was so, so fishy that I asked the managers about the location. Turns out, it’s suspected to be a place run by villains. Through the information you found, Hyeon-yul.”
“The information I found, you say?”
He had given so much that he wasn’t sure through what it had happened.
“You said we could tell if it’s run by villains through the logo, right? I told them the logo that was there.”
“Ah. Is that it?”
Seo Hyeon-yul replied calmly, and Chu Na-yoon made an expression as if she had remembered something.
“Hyeon-yul.”
“Yes.”
“The bastards who sold your information were kicked out. They won’t be able to set foot here again. It’s the same even if they try to go elsewhere. I’ve put in a good word.”
She said it lightly, but it wasn’t something to be taken lightly.
“By any chance, did Noona inform the Team Leader?”
“That’s right. Because I’m our team’s informant. Of course, the Team Leader is too.”
As Chu Na-yoon smiled, Seo Hyeon-yul watched her as if observing.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
Mr. Ji-hwan suddenly asked.
“Honestly, yes.”
“Na-yoon Noona has really wide connections. I was so surprised when I found out too. It’s still amazing and incredible how quickly and how many people she can get close to.”
“I really like such compliments, Ji-hwan. Since you’re praiseworthy, eat more.”
Chu Na-yoon chuckled and offered another cake.
Mr. Ji-hwan showed his fork with a proud face.
“Anyway, I’ll hear about who the former Black Eagle who took your information is soon and let you know.”
“…Can you do that?”
“Sometimes, when I think about it. I think I should have been born in the old days. I might have definitely made a name for myself as an information merchant.”
“It’s not too late even now.”
Seo Hyeon-yul said sincerely.
Kim Yu-jong was also known as an informant.
Chu Na-yoon just didn't have people, but if she did, she might really be able to grow to an enormous scale.
“I’m really grateful, you know?”
Chu Na-yoon laughed loudly.
She looked happy.
“Maybe I saw it wrong.”
“That won’t happen.”
Mr. Ji-hwan casually chimed in and said.
“…That’s true, but anyway, unexpectedly, there might not be any information there, but do you want to go?”
Chu Na-yoon asked with a tense expression.
This was the important thing.
It wasn't currently work hours.
She was also very cautious because it was something Seo Hyeon-yul disliked.
“Yes.”
However, contrary to all concerns, Seo Hyeon-yul replied without hesitation.
‘……Ah. He’s more desperate than I thought.’
Chu Na-yoon felt a strange sinking feeling.
Of course, she had thought Seo Hyeon-yul would be desperate, but Seo Hyeon-yul, who loved going home from work so much and hated extended work hours so much that he had reduced 5 days’ worth of work into 1 day, said he would work outside of work hours.
He was that desperate.
All she knew was what Mr. Ji-hwan had occasionally mentioned about what it was like when he was experimented on.
That alone was truly horrifying.
Even though it had been a long time ago for Mr. Ji-hwan too, he couldn’t escape from that memory.
Then, what about Seo Hyeon-yul?
Chu Na-yoon glanced at Mr. Ji-hwan.
He was looking at Seo Hyeon-yul with encouraging eyes.
—I received a lifetime’s worth of luck. I hope someone else receives this luck too. With that heart, I became a Black Eagle.
Had Mr. Ji-hwan now decided that Seo Hyeon-yul was the someone to receive that luck?
“Then, let’s go.”
There was only one thing Chu Na-yoon could say right now.
As Seo Hyeon-yul tried to get up from his seat without hesitation, Chu Na-yoon added.
“Still, you have to eat everything before we go. You can’t leave any.”
“Understood.”
Seo Hyeon-yul sat down again and picked up his fork.
This too was the right thing to say.
“…Around here?”
Mr. Ji-hwan created a door and then stuck his head out to ask.
“Oh, right. Around here. We’ll know more if we go further.”
After Chu Na-yoon confirmed the inside, she came through the door without hesitation.
She turned around and gestured to Seo Hyeon-yul.
Seo Hyeon-yul couldn’t take his eyes off Mr. Ji-hwan’s power.
He had seen it last time, but seeing it again, it was truly a magical power.
‘It is magic, but how does this work?’
The formula was extremely elaborate.
It was to the extent that he couldn't imitate it even if asked to.
“Hyeon-yul?”
“This power is incredible.”
Seo Hyeon-yul said sincerely.
Mr. Ji-hwan, who had been waiting first, looked at Seo Hyeon-yul in surprise.
To think he would receive such praise.
He was speechless.
Unlike others, couldn’t Seo Hyeon-yul see magical formulas?
“Wow, Ji-hwan.”
As Chu Na-yoon teased Mr. Ji-hwan, he turned his head away.
Normally, he could have smoothly brushed it off, but with Chu Na-yoon joining in, he was really sweating profusely.
“My head… is open, so that’s why I can do it.”
“I know not just anyone can do it. Among the magicians I’ve seen, there were some with teleportation magic, but it wasn’t to this extent.”
Seo Hyeon-yul was satisfied with its solidity, sturdiness, and even comfort.
‘I want to use it instead of an eagle.’
It was quite good.
Seo Hyeon-yul walked out of the door.
The air changed.
Many factories were located away from the city center, and this place was no different.
It wasn't a mountainous area.
It was located on the outskirts of the city, to the extent that buildings could be seen in the far distance.
Roads were also connected, and as Chu Na-yoon said, there were even streetlights around.
Seo Hyeon-yul smelled the emanating odor.
“It hasn’t been used by people recently. They chose a good location.”
As Seo Hyeon-yul turned around and spoke, Chu Na-yoon immediately looked at Mr. Ji-hwan.
“Wow, Ji-hwan. You’re really good today?”
“Today… What day is it? I’m getting too many compliments.”
“Do I have to praise you on a specific day?”
When Seo Hyeon-yul asked, Mr. Ji-hwan immediately shook his head.
“No! It’s, it’s a figure of speech. It’s really good, but I’m also flustered, and somewhat dazed, that’s exactly the state I’m in.”
A slight frown formed on Seo Hyeon-yul’s brow.
He didn’t know what he was saying.
“So……. Um. Um, it means the situation is that complicated.”
“Why is it complicated? I’ve only stated the facts.”
“You’re lucky, Ji-hwan. Getting praised by Hyeon-yul. Ji-hwan, you’re really going to fly today. Praised Ji-hwan. Amazing Ji-hwan.”
Seizing the opportunity, Chu Na-yoon began to tease Mr. Ji-hwan, and he showed his embarrassment.
“Let’s go quickly! Quickly!”
Mr. Ji-hwan hurriedly urged them on.
Chu Na-yoon, excited, laughed and walked ahead.
It was very satisfying.
She felt full even without eating.
‘Noona resembles Brother Shin-woo.’
Mr. Ji-hwan thought so and walked alongside Seo Hyeon-yul.
After walking for some time, Chu Na-yoon stopped.
“See over there?”
“The scale is a bit, big, isn’t it?”
Mr. Ji-hwan narrowed his eyes.
He had a rough idea of the scale when he heard the word ‘factory’, but it was larger than he thought.
He had to look from left to right for a long time.
“…Should I call Brother Shin-woo?”
“Don’t worry. I already called him.”
“…What? Didn’t Noona tell me not to call Brother Shin-woo earlier?”
“I did, but then I remembered that the factory scale is large, you see.”
“Then, how is Brother coming?”
“He’ll probably come riding an eagle.”
Chu Na-yoon showed her phone.
[Team Leader! I’m going to work!]
[But I don’t want to work!!!!]
She sent an emoticon of a cat hitting its head.
“Anything fast is good.”
“Do we need Big Brother Baek Shin-woo because of the factory’s scale?”
Seo Hyeon-yul suddenly asked.
Certainly, four people were better than three.
“There’s that too, but we need to solve this quickly right now, don’t we?”
“Why is that?”
“Because we haven’t started work yet.”
At Chu Na-yoon’s words, Seo Hyeon-yul realized his mistake.
Being with them, he had almost mistaken it for work hours.
Right now, precious time was flowing.
There were 6-7 hours left until work.
“……I will do it.”
Even if the scale was large, if he wiped it all out, he could do it within an hour.
He had to solve it quickly.
“No, Hyeon-yul. You stay still. You’re sick right now.”
“I’m fine.”
“Baek Shin-woo is there to be used at times like this. Ji-hwan is here too, right? Baek Shin-woo with Ji-hwan is fine.”
“Brother Shin-woo will hear you.”
Mr. Ji-hwan whispered.
Seo Hyeon-yul turned his head back.
“He’s already arrived. I saw an eagle coming earlier.”
As Chu Na-yoon smiled, Seo Hyeon-yul saw Baek Shin-woo trudging over.
He looked half-asleep, as if he hadn’t fully woken up yet.
“…You guys are really diligent. How are you not still in dreamland at this hour?”
Yawn.
Baek Shin-woo yawned widely and then rubbed his own shoulders.
“Eating delicious food without me, was it good?”
“It was absolutely the best.”
As Chu Na-yoon rejoiced, Baek Shin-woo was dumbfounded.
Baek Shin-woo’s gaze shifted to Mr. Ji-hwan.
As Mr. Ji-hwan laughed, “Haha,” Baek Shin-woo looked at Seo Hyeon-yul.
The way he looked at Chu Na-yoon and Mr. Ji-hwan was different.
“…Yeah, what fault do you have. It’s obvious you were dragged here by either Na-yoon or Ji-hwan, right?”
Seo Hyeon-yul blinked his eyes silently.
Should he say that was correct?
“I know everything, so you don’t have to say it. It’s fine since you ate something delicious. Let’s see.”
Baek Shin-woo looked at Seo Hyeon-yul’s forehead.
A bandage was applied there.
“You must be pissed, but you can’t kill them, Hyeon-yul.”
“I know.”
“I’ll take care of it quietly.”
As Baek Shin-woo smiled and looked at Mr. Ji-hwan, he nodded.
“No. Both of you, no.”
Chu Na-yoon immediately stopped Baek Shin-woo.
If those two combined, they could cause more than just an accident.
“I won’t kill them. I’m just going to lightly touch their Achilles tendons.”
“Get a grip, Baek Shin-woo. Hyeon-yul is listening right now.”
As Chu Na-yoon’s eyes sharpened, Baek Shin-woo raised both hands.
Honestly, he thought they should be more worried about Seo Hyeon-yul than himself.
“I understand, so what do I need to do?”
“There’s a high possibility that this is the drug trading place Hyeon-yul was looking for.”
“…Aah.”
At Chu Na-yoon’s explanation, Baek Shin-woo’s gaze changed.
“I just need to tie up the feet of everything over there, right?”
“That’s right.”
Chu Na-yoon nodded.
“Ji-hwan.”
“Of course I was preparing.”
Mr. Ji-hwan said confidently and extended his hand.
A 3D image of the factory appeared on his palm.
It was the same magic Seo Hyeon-yul had seen during a mission last time.
Red color flared up.
‘……Ah.’
Only then did Seo Hyeon-yul understand why Chu Na-yoon said the combination of Baek Shin-woo and Mr. Ji-hwan was good.
Baek Shin-woo could summon swords across space.
Mr. Ji-hwan could manipulate space.
Then, what would happen if Baek Shin-woo only recognized the location?
“You don’t have to do anything, Hyeon-yul.”
A gentle breeze seemed to blow around Baek Shin-woo.
Snap.
The moment Baek Shin-woo snapped his fingers, Seo Hyeon-yul looked towards the factory.
He saw a tremor.
Should he call it a wave of power, something was definitely felt.
“……Summoning a sword, are there no restrictions whatsoever?”
“Let’s just say, until I can’t endure it anymore.”
How was that different from meaning there were no restrictions?
If it was unlimited, how was he supposed to deal with it?
He couldn’t picture it in his head.
“Now, let’s go.”
As Baek Shin-woo confidently stepped forward, Chu Na-yoon naturally took out a gun from the bag she was wearing and fired.
Bang!
“……Startled me!”
Baek Shin-woo, startled, jumped.
He fiddled with his ear.
“There was someone outside the building. This is a tranquilizer gun.”
Chu Na-yoon’s lips curved upwards.
The range was incredibly long for the barrel length.
“Now, let’s go.”
As Chu Na-yoon smiled, Baek Shin-woo followed with a displeased expression.
“You could have told me.”
“I told you. Stop babbling and follow me.”
Baek Shin-woo was about to say something but stopped.
How could he win with words?
He yawned and followed.
As soon as he entered the factory, Seo Hyeon-yul’s lips curved upwards.
Swords were aimed at everyone’s necks like time bombs.
Wasn’t this a considerably efficient ability?
He already saw a few bastards who had died while making a scene.
This was a place run by villains, but most of them could be villains, or they might not be.
Putting everything else aside, one thing was important.
‘…They make drugs here.’
How could they hide this smell, which was close to a stench?
“Let’s ask as much as we want, and search as much as we want. Before work hours, that is. We need to rest enough before work, don’t we?”
Baek Shin-woo suggested, as if speaking Seo Hyeon-yul’s mind.