Chapter 103: Breaking the Chains

The fluorescent lights, which had been brightly illuminating the surroundings just a moment ago, instantly switched to red warning lights, and a siren blared, rattling my mind.

The laboratory was usually excessively quiet, so I immediately sensed that something was wrong.

I got up from the bed and hurried out into the hallway.

Each time the red warning light cast a shadow on my face, a mix of anxiety and anticipation washed over me.

When I heard that Siyun’s suggestion had succeeded, I expected Jinseok to come soon, but I hadn’t thought he would arrive this quickly.

However, it could have been an internal problem at the lab or an external one.

In any case, it had to be a serious issue to warrant an emergency siren, so I ran towards the elevator.

The elevator doors were firmly shut and had stopped working.

I tried pressing the button, but it showed no signs of operating.

On the third basement floor, there was no way to move around other than the elevator, so I had no choice but to wait for it to start working or for someone to come.

Frustrated, I pounded the elevator’s up and down buttons with my fist.

Then, I remembered the ID card Siyun had given me.

I quickly retrieved the hidden ID card and tagged it on the reader, but it didn’t work.

They might have changed all the ID card numbers after the escape incident.

I was venting my anger, throwing the ID card on the floor in frustration.

Just then, another shadow overlapped with mine in front of the elevator.

Startled, I turned around to see Sung Yohan, the one I had been waiting for, smiling at me.

Rather than feeling happy to see him, anger surged through me.

I had been waiting only for Sung Yohan, so seeing him arrive with a smile as if nothing had happened was infuriating.

“Shinui, good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon? You spoke as if you’d come the next day, and you’re only showing up now? I’ve been waiting this whole time!”

“I’m sorry for making you wait. I had things to prepare to get you out, and I needed an ally, so I was late.”

“An ally?”

Sung Yohan always acted alone, so I couldn’t help but ask about the mention of an ally.

“Yes. It’s not easy to get out of here, even using abilities.”

I was curious about who the ally was, but right now, my priority was to escape this place filled with ominous warning lights and sirens.

“I understand. First, get me out of here.”

“First, we need to meet the mental-type Esper. Where is he?”

At Sung Yohan’s words, I remembered that Siyun was staying on the sixth basement floor and said so.

“I heard he’s on the sixth basement floor.”

“The sixth floor is troublesome.”

Sung Yohan said, slightly furrowing his brow and looking down.

“Why?”

“There are places on certain floors where abilities can’t be used. It’s fine here, but some floors have severe restrictions.”

“The elevator isn’t even working right now. How do we get to the sixth basement floor?”

At my words, Sung Yohan seemed to think for a moment before grabbing my wrist.

Then, before I could even realize it, he used spatial movement.

I didn’t know what floor we were on, but the hallway where we now stood was in complete chaos.

Researchers were running around carrying boxes.

Sung Yohan grabbed the back of one of their heads and spoke.

“Take us to the sixth basement floor.”

The researcher, his face drained of color at Sung Yohan’s action, collapsed right where he stood.

Researchers were usually non-awakened, so just seeing Sung Yohan terrified them, their lips trembling.

Moreover, Sung Yohan was an S-rank Esper, so it was natural for them to be afraid.

“I said, take us to the sixth basement floor.”

Only after Sung Yohan’s repeated demand did the researcher nod, trembling.

The other, more perceptive researchers fled as soon as they saw us.

Something felt off.

The entire lab wouldn’t be in such a panic just because Sung Yohan showed up alone.

“Did something happen at the lab?”

“There were a lot of people outside. I saw some government officials, too.”

The mention of government officials immediately brought Sehyun to mind.

Jinseok must have asked Sehyun for help.

“Did you happen to see my manager?”

“No. I came straight to see you, so I didn’t get a good look.”

Sung Yohan said, then hurried the researcher along again.

The researcher, glancing at us warily, headed for the elevator.

I checked the elevator’s current floor display; it was B4.

Just two more floors down was B6.

I hoped Siyun was on the sixth floor, but I was worried because I didn’t know exactly where he was staying.

Thinking the researcher might know, I asked him as we descended to B6.

“Do you know where Siyun is?”

I saw the researcher’s eyes widen at my question.

I sensed that he knew Siyun and made a request.

“Take us to Siyun’s room.”

“That’s…”

“Shut up and lead the way.”

Before the researcher could finish his sentence, the elevator doors opened, and Sung Yohan shoved him out with his foot.

I hurried over to help up the researcher who had fallen to the floor.

I felt that this kind of treatment was too harsh.

When I turned my head back and glared at Sung Yohan, he just shrugged his shoulders.

The researcher, perhaps feeling his life was in danger, guided us to Siyun’s room on his own accord.

When we arrived, a sturdy steel door blocked our way.

To think they had kept him locked up in such a suffocating place for years.

I felt both pity and pride for Siyun, who had endured it all until now.

When the researcher placed his ID card on the reader, the door opened.

As soon as the door opened, Sung Yohan snatched the ID card hanging from the neck of the researcher, who was trying to flee, and gave it to me.

The researcher looked like he was about to cry, then fled at Sung Yohan’s command to get lost.

Watching him go, I turned my gaze to the open door.

I could see Siyun standing in the middle of the room.

Siyun’s face was clouded with tension and anxiety.

But upon seeing me, his expression quickly changed to one of relief, and he ran over.

“Guide-nim!”

Finally, I could talk to Siyun in person, not just in my head.

“Siyun, are you okay?”

“Yes. Can we get out now?”

“I think so. First, we should probably release the suggestion on Esper Sung Yohan.”

I said that out loud, but conveyed my true thoughts to Siyun.

‘Please check if he’s really telling the truth about letting us out.’

‘One moment. I’ll take a look.’

I asked Sung Yohan a question to make it easier for Siyun to read his mind.

“Sung Yohan, you are going to let us out, right?”

“Of course.”

Sung Yohan replied with a smile, as if he knew I would ask such a question.

‘It seems he isn’t lying about helping us.’

I was relieved by Siyun’s words, but I couldn’t let my guard down, as Sung Yohan could change his mind at any moment.

‘Still, we don’t know when he might change his mind, so I think it’s better to release the suggestion after we get to the ground floor.’

Siyun nodded, seeming to agree with me.

I turned my gaze back to Sung Yohan.

“We’ll release the suggestion on the ground floor.”

“Fine. Do as you wish, Shinui.”

The elevator on B6 only went up to B1, so it couldn’t take us to the ground level.

It seemed like the fastest way would be the same way I got to the ground floor before.

The elevator stopped a few times on the way up, but the researchers who saw us quietly moved away from the doors.

The scene on B1, where we arrived safely, was the most chaotic of all the floors I had seen so far.

Papers and lab coats were strewn across the floor, and I could hear the hurried footsteps of researchers.

“There’s a staircase that goes up to the ground level.”

“It seems you know this place better than I do, Shinui.”

“Less talk, just follow me.”

There were researchers standing by the emergency stairs.

It seemed like everyone had flocked to this area.

“I’ll move us. We don’t have much time.”

With those words, Sung Yohan grabbed my and Siyun’s wrists and immediately used his spatial movement.

The place we moved to was the ground floor hallway, a place I had been to once before.

“Now, release the suggestion, will you?”

At Sung Yohan’s words, Siyun looked at me.

I nodded as if to say he should release it.

Only then did Siyun extend his hand toward Sung Yohan’s chest.

A light began to emanate from Sung Yohan’s body, flowing into Siyun’s hand.

The light gradually faded until it disappeared completely, and Siyun removed his hand.

“It’s done.”

Sung Yohan let out a hollow laugh, seeing how easily the suggestion that had tormented him was lifted.

“It seems so. Shinui, you can get out on your own from here, right?”

I had the researcher’s ID card and I knew the way out, but I hoped Sung Yohan would help us until the very end.

“You should help us get all the way out.”

“I have something I need to do. Besides, the ally who will help you is coming soon. See you around.”

I tried to stop Sung Yohan, but he gave a faint smile and quickly disappeared.

For some reason, it felt like I had seen his true smile.

I was momentarily flustered when he disappeared, but escaping before we were caught again was the top priority.

I led Siyun towards the door.

“Siyun, let’s get out of here first.”

“Just a moment. I’m going to release all the suggestions I’ve ever placed. It’s been weighing on my mind.”

Seeing him say the same thing as before, it seemed he felt immense guilt for placing suggestions under Dr. Yoon’s orders.

“Will that be okay? They might retaliate against you.”

“I’d rather be resented than live with regret for the rest of my life. A strong light might be generated when I release my power. Guide-nim, please close your eyes.”

Siyun formed a diamond shape with his hands, and a light began to glow around his body.

Sensing danger from the growing light, I closed my eyes, but I could still feel the intense glare even through my tightly shut eyelids.

When the light finally vanished, Siyun grabbed my wrist.

“Is it over?”

“Yes. Let’s go now.”

Siyun’s face looked much more at ease.

Relieved to see that, I headed towards the entrance.

But the door wouldn’t open.

Kicking it and tagging the ID card did nothing.

“I know another way. I think we should go that way.”

Siyun knew the layout of the lab better than I did, so I followed him.

At that moment, I began to feel Hyun Taewoon’s presence, which I had always faintly sensed from a distance, right nearby.