Chapter 140: A Glimmer of Recognition

The situation was turning dangerous, though he didn’t know why. It seemed as if whatever they were researching had gone berserk. If Sa-yoon and Kang Ah-jun retreated, all the remaining researchers here would perish. And the truth of what had transpired would be quietly buried, without a single news article ever surfacing.

“Ah-jun, you should go up…”

“No.”

Kang Ah-jun cut Sa-yoon off, shaking his head. His demeanor was resolute, as if he already knew what Sa-yoon intended to do.

“You know we don’t need to get involved, Team Leader. These people are researchers who came here fully prepared for such an eventuality. They are accomplices who knowingly cooperated in unethical acts. They are not worth saving.”

Knowing Sa-yoon would never abandon them, Kang Ah-jun took hold of his wrist and spoke.

Sa-yoon had served in the military for a long time, believing he was working for the good of the people. The result, however, was merely being used as a tool for the powerful’s greed, leading him to kill and trample countless innocent lives.

After squandering such a pathetic and futile period, he was finally about to embark on his own true story. Yet, complicating matters to save accomplices was a misguided choice.

At Kang Ah-jun’s words, Sa-yoon sighed. Everything he said was undeniably correct. From the moment they opposed the Esper Alliance, these people had been Sa-yoon’s enemies.

What happened here felt like their just retribution. Faced with Kang Ah-jun’s unyielding stance, Sa-yoon firmly set his jaw and nodded.

“Alright. Let’s go back.”

The moment Sa-yoon, having made up his mind, turned to leave, the heat he had sensed from afar surged violently closer. A scorching wind filled the space, as if they had stepped into a colossal sauna. One by one, the high-pitched screams of the people quieted. Many collapsed, losing consciousness from the unbearable heat.

Amidst the gradually approaching screams, a colossal figure slowly moved, drawing closer to Sa-yoon. With each movement of the heat-laden form, the surroundings warped and the air expanded.

The person moving freely amidst these bizarre phenomena was the culprit who had plunged the researchers into terror.

And that culprit was someone Sa-yoon knew intimately.

“Han Do-hoon…”

He looked different from when Sa-yoon had last seen him. Blue veins disgustingly intertwined across his exposed arms and neck, visible outside his lab coat. Between his pale skin, which strangely contrasted with the heat, lifeless eyes stared into the distance.

“Wh-Why is he like that? That’s Team Leader Han Do-hoon, right? Hey, uh?”

“Damn bastards.”

Numerous injection marks and side effects, appearing like blotches on his skin, were evident at a glance. Sa-yoon clenched his teeth, suppressing the urge to curse. How could anyone turn a person into such a state? Regardless of his feelings towards Han Do-hoon, this was utterly inhuman.

They must have taken him as a child, brainwashing and raising him. Even if they couldn’t treat him like a son, they should have at least allowed him to live like a human being.

“Team Leader. I don’t think we can escape.”

Han Do-hoon, who had been systematically checking on the collapsing researchers, resumed his steps, moving directly and unerringly towards Sa-yoon and Kang Ah-jun. Even when sane, Han Do-hoon possessed an uncanny intuition. It seemed that intuition hadn’t faded, even in his current state of lost reason.

“It can’t be helped then.”

Sa-yoon opened the wall and pushed Kang Ah-jun inside. Before a startled Kang Ah-jun could emerge, Sa-yoon sealed it, standing alone before the corridor where Han Do-hoon was. Unfazed by Sa-yoon’s sudden action, Han Do-hoon walked steadily towards him.

He seemed unable to discern who or what his opponent was. He simply moved mechanically, like a person programmed only to approach and subdue any living being. “I intended to just leave. But you probably have no intention of letting me go, do you?”

Sa-yoon asked, knowing there would be no reply. Han Do-hoon responded not with words, but with a clearer gesture, closing in on Sa-yoon. Seeing him devoid of his usual brilliance, Sa-yoon pressed his lips together. He never expected to feel pity for Han Do-hoon, but witnessing him being so thoroughly exploited…

“Both your side and ours. What a truly tragic life.”

Sa-yoon had hoped to avoid encountering Han Do-hoon if possible. He’d anticipated that any unavoidable meeting wouldn’t be pleasant, but he certainly hadn’t wanted to face him in such a state.

Sa-yoon looked around. There were few materials he could utilize here. Given the nature of a research facility, various pipes and wires were intricately tangled within the walls. Any clumsy interference risked disturbing the ventilation system or high-voltage power, making it dangerous.

Thus, Sa-yoon was left with only one option: to fight him directly with his bare hands. Normally, he wouldn’t consider subduing Han Do-hoon, given the difference in their physical strength, but not now. Han Do-hoon’s movements were grotesque and sluggish. He acted like a marionette with tangled strings, as if his body wasn’t obeying his will.

So, he would strike him with his fists. His plan was to knock Han Do-hoon out, just enough to sever his already fragile consciousness, and then escape. However, Han Do-hoon and Sa-yoon shared an imprinted bond. If they touched improperly, Sa-yoon risked involuntarily guiding Han Do-hoon in an unguarded moment.

“Ah-jun!”

He called out loudly, ensuring Kang Ah-jun, who was behind the wall, would hear.

“If I happen to fall, make sure you get me out of here.”

“Huh?”

Ideally, one hit. At most, he needed to finish it within a few blows. Sa-yoon firmly secured his gloves to prevent skin contact and clenched his fist.

“Mr. Han Do-hoon, let’s get this over with.”

Sa-yoon threw his clenched fist with all his might.

“That was a close call.”

Sa-yoon blinked, opening his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. His head throbbed as if it would split open. He gagged, a pain akin to a severe hangover, and pushed himself up.

“…What exactly happened?”

“Don’t you remember?”

At Kang Tae-han’s question, Sa-yoon recalled the last scene etched in his memory. He had infiltrated the research facility to find Han Do-hoon and the Commander-in-Chief. He had then encountered a rampaging, irrational Han Do-hoon and stepped forward to subdue him.

Even without his sanity, Han Do-hoon was not an easy opponent. Though he couldn’t properly wield his flames and his attacks were sluggish, he instinctively dodged Sa-yoon’s blows. Even after several successful hits, his opponent was still Han Do-hoon. His sturdy body barely flinched from a few strikes. Ultimately, Sa-yoon had to resign himself to physical contact, throwing him to the ground and striking his head to finally knock him unconscious.

Although it was through his clothes, Sa-yoon’s body fiercely resisted Han Do-hoon’s extremely volatile state. Instantly, his vision blurred and swayed. Just as he managed to redirect his falling body towards Han Do-hoon, Kang Ah-jun caught him.

“When Ah-jun came running, carrying you, I truly thought something terrible had happened. He was in such a rush that he ran straight through headquarters, causing a huge commotion inside.”

Seeing Sa-yoon’s ragged breathing, Kang Ah-jun had chosen an escape route visible to outsiders, without any thought for the consequences.

“By the way, Ah-jun said Han Do-hoon was in a strange condition, right? He tried to explain, but he was so incoherent I couldn’t understand him.”

“Hmm…”

“What did you think? Did he seem like he was about to die, as Ah-jun said?”

His pale complexion and staggering movements made him look like a corpse. Though he was alive and moving, his state was horrific, as if he could collapse at any moment. Even when Sa-yoon attacked, he couldn’t properly retaliate, seemingly desperate just to maintain his life.

And in the final moment, when Han Do-hoon collapsed to the floor and Sa-yoon’s reflection appeared in his pupils, he briefly ceased his resistance.

“…I don’t know.”

The strength had left Han Do-hoon’s body, which had instinctively avoided fatal blows, and his momentarily vacant eyes seemed to flicker. It was a distinctly different reaction from his previous, unconscious vigilance. Why? Could he have recognized Sa-yoon?

“I’m not sure. His condition seemed bad, but I think he still had a bit of consciousness left.”

“Ugh. I don’t know if Han Do-hoon being conscious is a good thing or a bad thing.”

Kang Tae-han roughly ran a hand through his hair and let out a deep sigh.

“Still, let’s look on the bright side. We know for sure that the Commander-in-Chief and Han Do-hoon are here.”

The fact that a brainwashed Han Do-hoon was in Korea implied that the Commander-in-Chief was also in Korea. The Commander-in-Chief, who trusted no one else, would never leave an unstable Han Do-hoon in another’s hands and go far away.

“Then, Tae-han hyung. Let’s plan our next operation.”

“Let’s think about that once your body has recovered. Rest for now.”

Kang Tae-han pulled the blanket up to Sa-yoon’s neck. The fact that Air Rain had infiltrated the Korean headquarters had been exposed. Even in a situation where they needed to leave Korea quickly, Kang Tae-han was strangely calm. No, he seemed somewhat resigned, as if drained of energy.

“What happened?”

“Ugh. I was going to tell you after you rested, but…”

Kang Tae-han brought the laptop, which had been pushed into a corner, to the bedside, activated the standby screen, and found a breaking news video.

“This news came out the day after you collapsed.”

[Our Esper Alliance has remained silent amidst numerous false rumors and baseless gossip. We believed that such conspiracy theories could not tarnish the honor of an Alliance that has served humanity for so long.]

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