<"I THINK Soobin Oppa and Semi Unnie are working together to bring down APA.">
Hmm?
A viral post on a certain famous gossip site caught Wonhee's attention.
She was currently killing time browsing the internet while in the backseat of the car.
Ahyeon, her friend and bodyguard, was driving her to the (frozen) APA Headquarters where Hwang Yejun was waiting for her, apparently.
Soobin and Semi wanted to come with her, but she had other jobs for her older siblings.
[I'm glad I asked Soobin Oppa and Semi Unnie to do the thing that will clear this issue.]
By saying "this issue," Wonhee meant the viral post that she was reading at the moment.
<"Chu Wonhee was arrested by APA for allegedly taking Forced Awakening drugs. But Chu Wonhee escaped when Hwang Frost suddenly went on a rampage.">
Oh?
Wonhee just found out people thought she escaped from APA.
<"For some reason, Hwang Frost wanted Chu Wonhee. Since Chu Wonhee was accused of taking Forced Awakening drugs, I suspect she awakened as a Guide. You all know Hwang Frost became an X-Class Hunter because no Guide can guide him, right? He's a hopeless case. But maybe Guides who were forcefully awakened are different.">
Hmm.
If Hwang Yejun hadn't assured Wonhee that she had awakened naturally, she would have believed the "conspiracy theory" because it sounded plausible.
Whoever wrote that article must be on to something.
Well, they were wrong. But, at least, they wrote an interesting theory.
<"The big question is WHY YEON SOOBIN AND JANG SEMI ARE HIDING CHU WONHEE from the government!!! PEOPLE ARE GETTING COLD, DAMMIT. And buildings are frozen!!! Do you want us to freeze to death next?!">
Wonhee frowned because she could already imagine the backlash and heavy criticisms that her older siblings were going through just to protect her.
<"Anyway, my theory is that Jang Semi is the one who made the drugs.">
Wonhee's eyes widened in shock. "Excuse me?!"
"Noona, people on the internet aren't talking nicely about Yeon Soobin-nim and Jang Semi-nim at the moment," Ahyeon said nervously. "I have a bottle of calming pills here. Would you like some?"
"No, thank you," Wonhee said, her eyes still glued to her phone. "The person who made this viral post made an interesting theory."
It was as if they sprinkled some truth in a big lie.
And so, she continued reading the viral post.
<"Jang Semi is called the 'God Alchemist' for a reason. She's the only Hunter who can create miracle potions. Who's to say that she can't make a drug that can force a Civilian to awaken?">
Wonhee didn't like that her older sister was being accused of a terrible crime, but she had to admit that the writer of the viral post sounded convincing to people who didn't know the truth.
<"Now you might be wondering why Yeon Soobin, who's known to lock himself up in his Hidden Workshop for months, suddenly came out and hid Chu Wonhee from APA.">
Right?
Wonhee was also curious as to how the writer would paint Soobin as a villain in their viral post.
And she wasn't disappointed.
<"You all know that before the Outbreak, Yeon Soobin was known as the 'Crown Prince,' right? He's the grandson of the former South Korean president, and he's a true elite. But his grandfather woke up as a combat Hunter, and so our former president stepped down from the presidency to focus on being an active Hunter.">
Yes, Wonhee's maternal grandfather was an active Hunter even though he was already in his eighties.
Her grandfather woke up as an A-Class Hunter.
[When people above fifty years old awaken, studies show that it isn't their visuals that get upgraded but their physical health. And so, there are still many elderly who work as active Hunters at the moment.]
<"And you all know that our current president is APA President Kwon's father.">
Right.
Kwon Jiwoong changed his surname to his mother's last name when his parents divorced. Hence, he was known as 'Kwon Jiwoong' now instead of 'Ma Jiwoong.'
<"See where I'm getting at? I think it's a personal vendetta! Yeon Soobin probably thinks that President Ma stole his grandfather's position. And, so, Yeon Soobin wants to steal APA from Kwon Jiwoong! That's why I think Yeon Soobin decided to work with Jang Semi. The two of them have always been close even before the Outbreak anyway.">
"Ridiculous," Wonhee said in utter disbelief. "Anyone who knows Soobin Oppa knows he was only forced to take the VP position in APA. Oppa isn't interested in politics."
<"Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi probably didn't think Chu Wonhee would get caught. I think they panicked when Chu Wonhee was taken to the APA Headquarters! So, now, they're hiding Chu Wonhee while getting rid of the evidence that will link them to Forced Awakening drugs.">
Wonhee knitted her eyebrows after reading the viral post. "It started out interesting, but the ending doesn't make sense."
Ahyeon nodded in agreement. "But many people already believe the post…"
And, upon checking the comments…
<"it makes sense. yeon soobin and jang semi are close friends. and both of them don't cooperate with APA unlike the other hunters.">
<"jang semi is a chaebol, and yeon soobin earns a lot from his skills. actually, jang semi, too. but the law requires them to give back a lot to our country through taxes. they probably want to earn more by destroying apa and change the law~">
<"this is just a guess, but maybe jang semi decided to make forced awakening drugs and sell them to the black market to earn more? after all, things sold at the black market don't get taxes since they're illegal lol">
Wonhee stopped reading the comments because they were starting to make her upset. "My oppa and unnie aren't greedy for money or power."
"The writer of that viral post is probably working for the government," Ahyeon wondered out loud. "Yeon Soobin-nim and Jang Semi-nim are adamant about hiding your identity, Wony Noona. That's why APA probably decided to create a story that would ruin their reputations. They know Yeon Soobin-nim and Jang Semi-nim would rather be painted as money and power-hungry villains than reveal the fact that you are their dongsaeng."
Haaah.
[Soobin Oppa and Semi Noona can really be overprotective of me.]
But, this time…
"It's my turn to protect my family," Wonhee said, clasping her hands together. "They probably chose me because they think I'm a pushover. But, according to Yool, I was a villainess in the original novel." She leaned against the seat and crossed her arms over her chest. "I'll show them the dignity of a villainess then."
***
"HWANG FROST, you bastard. I told you not to freeze my head. Ice is bad for the skin! What will you do if I become ugly?"
Yejun looked at Graham dryly. "You're already ugly."
It was a lie.
But he was annoyed at Graham who could melt his ice in a jiffy.
"The fact that you're talking to me like that must mean you've already destroyed all the drone cameras watching you," Graham said, stretching his arms. "So, are we done fighting for the camera now?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"What an ungrateful jerk," Graham complained, sitting next to him. "I volunteered to arrest you because if other Hunters take the job, then they will try to kill you for real."
"Herbivores can't kill me."
"Is Song Moonho an herbivore to you? He's a snake, and snakes are carnivores."
"…"
"APA is expecting Song Moonho to come out of the dungeon tonight," Graham informed him. "He'll definitely grab the opportunity to kill you for real. Did you forget that it was Moonho Hyung who caught and brought you to APA?"
Yejun clicked his tongue.
Song Moonho was the second oldest member of the Big 4 and the master of the Autumn Guild.
[My mortal enemy.]
"Yejun-ah, are you listening to me?" Graham complained while addressing Yejun in a friendly manner. "My precious friend asked me to keep you safe because he thinks you can save Chu Wonhee."
"Your precious friend?" Yejun asked, turning to Graham with knitted eyebrows. "Is Ahn Kisoo friends with Chu Wonhee?"
"Yah. Is Ahn Kisoo my only precious friend? I'm talking about someone else."
"Wow. I thought your world revolves around Ahn Kisoo."
"Just because he's my Guide doesn't mean my world revolves around him."
"That's strange," Yejun said, his eyes glowing as his sharp senses picked up the presence of the person he had been waiting for all this time. "Every fiber of my being screams that I only need Chu Wonhee."
"She's not even your Guide yet and you're already obsessed with her? Dude, that's so red flag of you."
"What about it?"
"I feel bad for Chu Wonhee."
"Just go and evacuate all the Civilians around the places that I froze, Graham Hyung."
"What?"
"Chu Wonhee is here. Once the Guiding Time begins, I'll probably fall asleep," Yejun said, smiling. "What do you think will happen if the ice around the things I froze suddenly melted?"
Graham cursed under his breath. "This is the last time I'm letting you throw a tantrum, you crazy bastard."
***
sola_cola's thoughts on this chapter: Graham is such a golden retriever. LOL
***
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