Chapter 34: Those Who Cannot Be Lost Again.

Two years ago from now, humanity eliminated the last colony of mutant species that had taken root in this world, and finally seized victory in the long war.

However, encroaching species that still occasionally cross the dimensional gap are still a dangerous factor to be wary of, and the scars of the Great War were damages that could never be easily forgotten.

Therefore, people who had experienced the war wanted their surroundings to be much safer.

Such demands were reflected in the activation of security and defense industries after the war.

From securing the safety of individuals or residences, protecting business sites, or even in the area of public safety. The demand for security personnel to maintain perceived safety became quite large, and among them, the group that enjoyed overwhelming demand was the discharged ability users.

The image of ability users who had been heroized along with the war due to their outstanding performances was very popular among people who had not yet escaped the anxiety of the Great War.

In fact, as long as sporadic invasions beyond dimensions still occur, the military power to deal with them became a meaning beyond mere strength.

Thanks to this, private businesses with many talented ability users, ‘Guilds’, even had tremendous composite influence, so it was on par with the position of an average mid-sized company. As a simple example, the real estate prices in the vicinity where a promising guild headquarters was located soared several times.

In addition, the position of the guild that occupies the best evaluation among them is even more special.

The mission eligibility rating directly certified by the Allied Government, in the examination of the level of ability users belonging to it and the level of risk of requests that can be carried out… The guild that was evaluated with the S rating grade, which only seven exist in the entire world.

At that point, the guild goes beyond the level of a security company and has influence that cannot be compared to an average company.

In the local community, it establishes itself as the first military group other than the Defense Forces that no one can treat carelessly.

One of those special guilds was ‘Stella’.

Many war heroes including 50 1st-class Aegis recognized during the Great War belonged to it.
Ability user guild that preempted a unique position in the private security business sector through the enormous capital of its parent company Apelberry Company.
It mainly receives high-risk requests of red alert or higher, and the tasks it performs have such huge basic unit prices that people who don’t know it would be dizzy.

Therefore, only large corporations, governments, or the Allied Forces are the main customers… but Stella was the guild that was envied for its reliable performance as much as it was.

It is always a top choice when choosing the strongest group of ability users, and it is a collection of talents that have been carefully selected.

The best ability and the best treatment.

Thanks to the foundation that has been built so carefully with such a firm proposition, the current Stella is really a brand that has secured more influence than a ‘Guild’.

In a society where the anxiety after the Great War, in which more than half of humanity died, has not disappeared, a substantial military group, especially the power corresponding to the peak, was a power with value and status beyond that of an average large corporation.

But even this mighty power is just a tool for someone’s purpose.

Linesha said without even turning her head.

“I need a search team. Personnel specialized in detection or tracking.”

It was as light a tone as if she were taking out leftover items.

“Which team has the fastest schedule available?”

“If it’s detection specialty, it’s probably the Lyannes team…”

“That one alone is not enough. Where is the Nero team? I remember there was a useful tracking personnel in that team. Call them right away. Have them prepare to stand by at headquarters until I call them again.”

An excessively light instruction to try to use the best ability user teams who review various schedules up to several months for one contract and earn the annual income of an average small and medium-sized enterprise.

But White, a retired former 1st-class ability user and currently the planning team leader of Stella Guild, did not express any dissatisfaction with this instruction.

He didn’t even add that the team mentioned had a contract for a mission requested by the 47th district autonomous government, so if they canceled it arbitrarily, there would be considerable losses.

He just asked why.

“What should I announce as the mission objective?”

The answer that came back was simple.

“I’m going to find someone.”

There was no further mention.

She freely uses the power that could overturn a city depending on how it is used, but there is no explanation. Because there is no need to babble on about using her own things.

Linesha Apelberry.
The sponsor of Stella Guild and the direct line of the parent company Apelberry Group.

And the de facto owner who secured the largest stake in the guild.

She is not a person who became the owner through a simple gift, but the one who directly laid the foundation for the guild to reach its current position. Her position was the owner of Stella itself in name and reality.

Therefore, Linesha could fully wield that power.

The S-rating combat ability user group that only seven exist in the world.

The influence that the parent company Apelberry Group has spread to various political circles.

All of that has now become a means to achieve her only goal.

‘Please wait a little longer, Teacher.’

In fact, Linesha was still unsure of her true feelings.

Could it be the desire for revenge on him, who had betrayed and left her once again without any excuses, even though they had met again?

Or….
Could it be the love for the precious teacher who made her alive now that she couldn’t let go of?

Even she herself didn’t know what the cause of this obsession was.

But she thought that she should never miss it like this.

She could never do that.

“Colonel Seril Olson, your identity has been confirmed. You may enter.”

As the checkpoint barrier went up, Seril slowly drove the vehicle inside.

What she saw at the end of her gaze was a huge white exterior wall structure.

That building, which was much larger than an average government building, was the main building of the ‘Allied Defense Intelligence Command’.

The only reason Seril came here was to meet her colleague who worked here.

The only close friend who could help her even in this situation.

“I have a favor to ask.”

A gaze that stared back at her after she said the story she took out right away as soon as they met.

Lieutenant Colonel Haren, a member of the Allied Forces Intelligence Command, who was Seril’s academy classmate and close friend of 9 years, sighed heavily. And she said.

“The fact that you came all the way here to talk means that it’s a sensitive matter, right?”

This is the method Haren herself taught her.

If she gets involved in something dangerous, come directly.

Because call records, texts, can be subject to wiretapping. Haren clearly remembered that she was the one who told her that only meeting directly in a safe place like this can be the safest way to convey sensitive stories.

“I never thought that you would come all the way here, Seril, of all people.”

In Haren’s memory, she was a resourceful and smart friend since her academy days.

She rarely got caught up in accidents, and even her abilities were good, so she was assigned to the reconnaissance regiment, the elite course in the Defense Forces.

During the war, she was a talented person who was able to promote the fastest among her classmates and look forward to a much higher position with the merits she had steadily accumulated.

Given her position, which was highly regarded by the upper echelons of the command, she would have been able to solve most of the problems on her own.

But a while ago, she secretly asked her to investigate the identities of a few people, and now she is coming all the way here to say something.

Given the personality of her friend Haren knew, she would have been burdened even to involve her acquaintances in sensitive matters, so it seems that there was no answer at all.

Therefore, Haren straightened her posture and asked again.

“So, what’s the matter?”

Seril hesitated a little, unlike her, and said.

“… I’d like you to find someone for me.”

“Someone? So carefully… Are they a dangerous person? A criminal?”

“No, it’s not that kind of thing, but… it’s a complicated situation. I think they’re involved in something bad.”

Seril remembered.

The unidentified armored soldiers who appeared at the scene where communication with Seo Jin was cut off.

The fact that they attacked as if they had been waiting, and the issue being investigated itself was sensitive from the start.

As it was a corruption that had been thoroughly hidden until now, the suspicion was that even the upper echelons of the military, or perhaps even much higher authorities, were suspicious.

Although it was not certain in the current situation where the whereabouts of the disappeared Seo Jin were unknown, the attempt to find his whereabouts itself would already be dangerous at this point.

But Seril could not give up.

“I’m really sorry. It’s shameless, but please. They’re really important to me…”

As the anxiety that she might lose someone close to her again was revealed in her attitude, Haren panicked and stopped her.

“Calm down, who said no? I’ll do it, I’ll do it for you.”

She wasn’t originally this kind of friend, but she really changed a lot after experiencing what happened between her not seeing her.

“First, tell me the details. What happened?”