"TELL KWON Jiwoong he better have a good explanation as to how our baby sister was "accidentally" locked up with Hwang Frost or else…"
Mina nodded as if her life depended on it.
She wanted to give a polite verbal response, but her throat still hurt from getting strangled by Jang Semi earlier.
[I'm also an Awakened Person, but the strength of a natural S-Class is really different…]
Mina, as a B-Class Hunter, was already revered by the Civilians and even the association.
But she was reduced to a shaking mess in front of Jang Semi and Yeon Soobin.
Fortunately, the two monsters quickly left after Mina told them that Chu Wonhee was "accidentally" sent to the X Basement.
"I almost died," Mina whispered to herself. "But I managed to trick them, so all's well."
Yes, everything went according to plan…
"The APA President wants you to take Chu Wonhee out of the basement and manipulate her memories, Ruda-ssi," Kwon Mina said. "It turns out Chu Wonhee is the biological half-sister of both Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi."
As expected, Park Ruda looked shocked by what she said.
Mina had the same reaction, and she wasn't done with her report yet.
Just like Kwon Jiwoong's office, the 'Secret Room' that was Park Ruda's hidden office in APA Headquarters was soundproof.
Moreover, only people on their side knew about the Secret Room anyway.
"Chu Wonhee's friends also turn out to be well-connected," Mina continued with her report. "Gong Yool, the failed idol, brought Hunter Graham here. And Do Ahyeon, Chu Wonhee's bodyguard, brought Chef Ryung Dae."
"Wow," Park Ruda, who looked really amazed, said. "I'm more surprised by the fact that Graham willingly came here to other people's behest. I thought he only listened to Ahn Kisoo."
Right?
Even Mina was more shocked by Graham's appearance than Chu Wonhee's background.
After all, everyone who had even the slightest interest in Awakened People knew that Graham– currently the strongest member of the Big 4– only listened to Ahn Kisoo, one of the few A-Class Guides out there.
"Anyway, Graham doesn't like APA but he won't go out of his way to destroy us," Park Ruda said. "Graham doesn't care about politics as long as he can raid as many Cracks as he could. The problem is Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi."
"And that's why the APA President wants you to take care of Chu Wonhee."
"No, my ability won't work on Wonhee."
"Why not?"
"Because Wonhee is a newly Awakened Person."
Mina gasped when she realized that they almost missed that. "Right. Newly Awakened People are at their peak during the first few days of their awakening. Even the Big 4 would have a hard time dealing with newly Awakened People."
"Plus, I'm only a Guide. My ability only works on Civilians and inferior Awakened People."
"Then what should we do, Ruda-ssi?"
Park Ruda fell silent for a moment.
But Mina wasn't worried.
[I can hear Ruda-ssi getting his brain into gear.]
"Mina Noona, I want you to inform Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi that we "accidentally" put Wonhee in the X Basement with Hwang Frost."
Mina knitted her eyebrows. "They will kill us."
"That's why you have to emphasize that it was an accident," Park Ruda said. "I'll find someone else to take the fall for Kwon Jiwoong."
"Would that be enough? Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi aren't easy to deal with."
"They're not, but Wonhee is."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Wonhee is a people pleaser. She doesn't like inconveniencing others," Park Ruda said in a confident tone. "Wonhee will feel guilty if she finds out that there are people who are going to get punished because of her, so let's take advantage of that."
To be honest, Mina didn't really understand it since she didn't know Chu Wonhee that well.
But she trusted Park Ruda, and she knew she would be safe if she followed him.
"Alright, I'll let Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi know that we "accidentally" sent Chu Wonhee to the X Basement," Mina said. "What will you do after this, Ruda-ssi?"
"Find the people who'll take the fall for us," Park Ruda said coldly. "Fortunately, there are some annoying pests here that Kwon Jiwoong wants gone."
***
CHOI SUMIN was worried.
After Chu Wonhee was arrested, she was also secretly taken to the APA HQ.
Sumin felt like going crazy because she was locked up in a white room that reminded her of a hospital room. It didn't help that the medical staff who came there earlier forced her to change into hospital pajamas.
[I'm not sick!]
The APA Hunters who brought her there also took away her smartphone. There was no TV or computer tablet there that she could use. So, she didn't know what was happening outside.
[What happened to Chu Wonhee? I hope her drug test result turned out positive.]
Sumin needed Chu Wonhee to fall for her to rise.
[They promised to help me awaken as long as I give them a chance to arrest Chu Wonhee.]
That was why Sumin talked out loud to Chu Wonhee about Forced Awakening.
Why she spent a lot of money to hire people to distract Chu Wonhee's manager while ordering coffee. She even had someone bump into Chu Wonhee's company car to make Do Ahyeon come out and leave Chu Wonhee's side for a moment.
And then she had someone spike Chu Wonhee's drink while no one was looking.
[Only Chu Wonhee drinks iced coffee among her staff, so it's easy to guess her drink.]
Yes, Sumin knew her rival that well.
That was exactly the reason why that person approached her to bring down Chu Wonhee.
"Choi Sumin, did you follow what I told you to do?"
Sumin turned around and came face-to-face with her "partner-in-crime." "Park Ruda-ssi, why are you asking me that? I sent you proof shots that the person I hired successfully mixed the Forced Awakening drugs in Chu Wonhee's drink. I'm sure you already secured the CCTV footage of her drinking the coffee."
"Is that so?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Let me ask you something first before I answer that question," Park Ruda said, eyeing her suspiciously. "Choi Sumin, do you know that Chu Wonhee is the younger sister of Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi?"
"Yeah, I know."
Sumin even used that information to blackmail Chu Wonhee and forced her rival to go on a hiatus, then she stole all of Chu Wonhee's projects while the latter was inactive.
"Why didn't you tell us then?"
"Because I know you'd drop the plan as soon as you find out that Chu Wonhee is a member of the "Royal Family" and a full-fledged chaebol. This is my last chance to awaken, so I can't have you giving up on our plan," Sumin said firmly. "As long as Chu Wonhee is guilty of taking Forced Awakening drugs, even her powerful families can't retaliate against APA."
"That's the problem– Chu Wonhee's drug test turned out negative."
"What?!"
"That's why I asked you if you did your job right."
"I did– I monitored all the people I hired!" Sumin insisted, panicking. "I'm sure Chu Wonhee took the Forced Awakening drugs mixed in her coffee–"
She stopped talking when Park Ruda put a hand on her head.
Ah.
She instantly calmed down.
No– for the first time in a while, she felt at ease. Or was it euphoria? She suddenly felt like she could commit a crime and she'd still feel good about herself.
[Is Park Ruda using his ability on me?]
"You've become a liability now, so I'm afraid we can't keep you with us anymore," Park Ruda said in a soothing voice, his eyes suddenly turned gold and glowed. "Choi Sumin, will you die for me?"
Sumin smiled and nodded. "Okay, Ruda-ssi."
***
[HEE-YA hates being the center of attention when she's not acting, and she blames herself when others are inconvenienced because of her.]
That was the only reason why Yeon Soobin calmly waited for Kwon Jiwoong to bring out his baby sister. He knew that Wonhee would hate it if he destroyed the building and innocent people got hurt, so he kept his temper in check.
He was sure that was the same case for Jang Semi.
But Soobin regretted his passiveness while helplessly watching Wonhee cry.
"Soobin Oppa, Semi Noona, what should I do?" Hee-ya asked between sobs. "I think I accidentally killed Mr. Hwang Frost…"
Wait, what???
"It's alright, Hee-ya!" Jang Semi said, gently gathering Wonhee in her arms. "Even if you killed Hwang Frost, all we have to do is bury him."
Right?
Soobin didn't care if his baby sister killed Hwang Frost, but something else made him worry. "Hee-ya, did you awaken?"
Newly Awakened People were at their strongest during their awakening period, after all.
[But if Hee-ya awakened, does it mean my baby sister took Forced Awakening drugs?]
"I think I did. A Status Window suddenly popped up in front of me," Wonhee said between sobs. "The System congratulated me for awakening as a Guide."
A Guide?
Soobin and Jang Semi exchanged looks, an understanding passing between them even without talking out loud.
The two of them had bonded over their love for Wonhee, after all.
[Yeah, we're not letting those filthy Hunters lay a finger on our baby sister.]
"Hee-ya, can you tell us what happened here?" Jang Semi asked carefully. "It's okay to take your time, so don't force yourself to speak if you're not ready yet."
Soobin nodded, then he turned to the partly opened door. "We'll take care of everything."
"S-Some APA Hunters pushed me inside that room," Wonhee said in a trembling voice. "Mr. Hwang Frost called me an "offering" from APA."
Excuse me?
***
[A few hours earlier…]
"NO, PLEASE don't," Wonhee, who was pinned to the literally cold ice floor by none other than the first X-Class Hunter in South Korea, cried. "I don't taste good because my newly dyed hair is still full of chemicals!"
Hwang Frost's red eyes glowered in the dark. "But your hair reminds me of tangerines." He then slowly licked his lips as if he were an apex predator ready to pound on his prey. "And tangerines are my favorite fruits."
Wonhee's warning bells rang loudly in her head.
Before she knew it, her body had already moved on its own.
She pushed Hwang Frost to get him off of her, but she didn't expect him to be sent flying after a mere shove.
Wonhee got up abruptly, in shock while watching Hwang Frost fly to the other side of the room– only stopping when his back hit the ice-covered wall. Long cracks spread all over the wall as the X-Class Hunter slid down.
[D-Did I do that?]
Hwang Frost raised his head, his red eyes glowing menacingly as he growled at her. "Are you picking up a fight with me, you herbivore?"
"I-I'm not an herbivore," Wonhee whispered. "I'm an omnivore– I like both salad and steak…"
Wait, that wasn't the issue here!
How could a weak omnivore like Wonhee fight against an apex predator like Hwang Frost?!
***
sola_cola's thoughts on this chapter: Let the love begin!!!
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