Chapter 23: Beneath the Mask of Security.

The next day, Seril handed over a well-organized bundle of documents.

“This is the personal information of the people listed in ‘that document’ yesterday.”

It was the first step in uncovering the conspiracy surrounding Arcel’s death.

Seo Jin carefully looked through the documents he received.
As she said, the personal details of several people were organized like resumes.

Thomas Benjamin.
Former secretary to the permanent member of the Joint Government Security Council.

Mary Augustine.
Senior researcher at the Interdimensional Creature Analysis Lab.

Jack Davidson.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel who was affiliated with the Western Defense Command Operations Division.

Roughly skimming through them, all the names in the document were suspects who were somehow related to the suspicions surrounding the ‘Dawn of Humanity’ operation.

He had to follow the clues from here.

Seril pulled out one of the documents and pointed it out.

“Most of them have high security classifications, making it difficult to approach them, but there are a few relatively easy targets… Let’s aim for them first. This man would be good for the first target. Jack Davidson. It’s been quite a while since he retired, so he’s not getting much attention from the military, making him easier to handle.”

Seo Jin checked the business card photo attached there.
A middle-aged man. A common impression except for his slightly gray hair.
Below that, a brief summary of the target’s career and current status was written.

Assigned as an information officer in the Chief of Staff’s office during the ‘Dawn of Humanity’ operation, and after being discharged, he was invited as the CEO of the private security company ‘Prime Secure’-

Seo Jin’s eyes momentarily paused as he read the contents.

‘Prime Secure…. An affiliate of Apelberry Company?’

He narrowed his eyes at the appearance of the familiar company name.
Apelberry was definitely a company run by Linesha’s family. But how should he interpret the clue that a suspect was affiliated with that company?
Perhaps the name of the group itself was only coincidentally related.
In this world, Apelberry Company was an enormously large complex capital. In many cases, they only owned investment shares, and the operation and personnel management were left to the existing management team.
It was difficult to simply conclude that they were definitely involved in this matter.

Still, suspicion remained, but Seril’s story continued before he could think any further.

“Our plan is to secure the target and then interrogate him…. right?”

“Yes, there’s no need to waste time.”

Since there wasn’t much time to spare, they had no choice but to choose a drastic method of handling things.
Seril also agreed with that.
But several problems still remained.

She brought up a map screen on a PDA she had gotten from somewhere.

“The target, Jack Davidson, currently resides in the Central Area of A City. It won’t be easy to approach him with simple methods.”

“It’s an upper-class residential area.”

“Yeah, if there’s a problem, we’ll be immediately involved with the police department, so it’s best to avoid causing a disturbance here. Moreover, this guy accompanies a guard when he commutes to and from work.”

Seril frowned and clicked her tongue.

“It’s become tricky. Whether it’s because he’s the director of a security company, or because he really knows something, he’s quite cautious.”

She paused for a moment, then tapped the map screen with her finger.

“But according to the additional information I’ve found out, there’s one place this man frequents.”

On the map projecting the vast downtown area, the building she pointed out with her finger was-

“A casino?”

“Yeah. The target frequents gambling houses in the outer areas of A City. It seems like he keeps his escorts to a minimum when he visits, so it’s good for us. It’ll be much easier to handle things if we pick him up here.”

Seril’s eyes, having finished the explanation, looked at him again.

“What do you think, can you do it?”

Seo Jin nodded without hesitation.

“Let’s proceed right away.”

The next day.
The parking lot of the targeted casino.
Seo Jin was waiting in the driver’s seat with the engine off.
He glanced around the sparsely populated area and opened the bag Seril had given him before he left.

Inside were a wireless communicator and a small PDA.
Also, personal firearms and ammunition, including a pistol, in case of an emergency.

These were equipment that Seo Jin couldn’t easily obtain in his current state.
They were all prepared with Seril’s help.

She always helped Seo Jin like this. It was only out of kindness…. He was grateful and sorry that she would go this far.

He owed Seril a great debt.
A huge debt of gratitude that he didn’t know how to repay,
or if he would ever be able to repay it….

Then, a voice heard through the ear communicator pushed away his thoughts.

[“Identifying vehicle entering now. Get ready to stick close.”]

“Okay.”

Seo Jin organized the equipment in the passenger seat alone.

As it was, Seril couldn’t be with him at this scene.

To uncover the suspicions surrounding the upper echelons of the Allied Forces, he judged that it would be more useful for her to remain within the military.

She was still going to work and performing her scheduled duties as usual.

However, she was remotely observing his situation through a small drone.

Just as Seo Jin finished preparing for action, her voice continued again.

[“Seo Jin.”]

“Yes. I hear you.”

[“….To be honest, I don’t have a good feeling about this.”]

Seo Jin couldn’t easily answer at the cautious voice.
As she said, it was a plan that had been established quite hastily.
There were too many uncertain elements as well.
It was like walking on a mountain road in the middle of the night, relying on only one flashlight, so it was a journey where he didn’t know where the cliff was under his feet, or when he would reach the summit.

Still, Seo Jin had to climb there.
No matter what the cost.
He had to uncover the suspicions surrounding Arcel’s last moments to the end, and if there really was a culprit in her death, he had to pay them back without fail.
He didn’t look back at himself because it was only that blind passion. There was no need to. He had only a handful of time left, and since he thought he had nothing to lose, he was prepared to do anything without thinking about the consequences.

But someone was looking at that Seo Jin squarely.

[“I understand your impatience. I know. But, can you promise me just one thing?”]

“I’m listening.”

[“Please, please don’t get hurt…. Okay?”]

Seril spoke like that with an affectionate voice.
The sincere concern that was vividly conveyed.
Seo Jin felt his heart tremble at the sincerity, which he didn’t know when he had last faced.

Something tickled inside his chest.
So his voice didn’t come out well.

Only after a long time was he able to answer.

“……Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”

[“………Okay. I’ll contact you again if I hear any other news. End communication.”]