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Join the ServerChapter 43
It was quite unforeseen for Dr. Nam to be the one to first broach the subject of the beast incident. As soon as I expressed interest in his words, Dr. Nam, seizing the opportunity, immediately delved into the heart of the matter.
“I heard that Esper Yoon Geon-woo and Sogum were caught up in an unfortunate incident on campus. Esper Jung Eui-chan and Guide Kim Ji-hwan were the ones in charge of that class, weren’t they?”
“Yes… are you perhaps acquainted with them?”
“Working here, it’s quite common to cross paths with personnel from the Central Center or even Headquarters, as all ability-related examinations and treatments are conducted through us. So, yes, I have a passing acquaintance with Esper Jung Eui-chan and Guide Kim Ji-hwan for that very reason.”
Dr. Nam knew the names of the two teachers who had conducted the class that day with uncanny accuracy. While I initially wondered if they shared a close relationship, it unfortunately appeared not to be the case.
“The fact that the controversial Esper Jung Eui-chan is a key operative directly affiliated with Headquarters only exacerbates the entire situation.”
“I understand the Central Center, but where is Headquarters?”
Noticing my apparent confusion regarding the affiliated organizations Dr. Nam mentioned, he proceeded to elaborate in a more accessible manner.
“You know that the SAA you attend, the Ability Center, and the Central Center are all government-affiliated, right?”
“That… I know.”
“Then, do you know which entity manages these subordinate organizations on behalf of the busy government?”
“Isn’t that the Central Center? Most SAA graduates end up affiliated with the Central Center, don’t they?”
I responded with careful deliberation. While I possessed some knowledge of the matter, attempting to articulate it verbally to Dr. Nam left me uncertain if my explanation was entirely accurate.
Dr. Nam corrected my mistake without delay.
“It’s similar. To be precise, Headquarters manages the Central Center and all other subordinate organizations.”
“What’s the difference between the two?”
“The Central Center, as you’re aware, is where all officially registered Espers and Guides are affiliated. However, though it’s not widely publicized, a smaller, distinct organization known as Headquarters exists above it.”
To distill Dr. Nam’s explanation, it seemed that ‘Headquarters’ was the overarching entity that managed various subordinate organizations—such as the Central Center, the Ability Center, and the SAA—acting as a proxy for the government itself.
“So, that means everything is under Headquarters’ management.”
“If you trace it to its very source, then yes, that’s accurate. Nevertheless, each operates under its own independent system, typically adhering to the regulations of their specific affiliated institution.”
“Does Headquarters never intervene?”
“They generally don’t interfere extensively, but such instances do arise from time to time. For example… ah, this recent beast incident would be a perfect illustration. Even though the accident took place within the SAA, Headquarters likely intervened directly because an Esper under their affiliation was responsible for the disturbance.”
Dr. Nam once again mentioned the cross-class, a period of immense hardship for both Yoon Geon-woo and me. That reminded me, hadn’t Kang Yun and Han Seon-ho complained about the Central Center in my hospital room previously?
“It seems the Central Center is blocking the SAA’s involvement. They claim it’s because the Esper in question is affiliated with them, so both the pursuit and any subsequent punishment are solely their responsibility.”
“The Central Center is doing that?”
“That’s utterly ridiculous nonsense. They caused such a massive disturbance on campus, and now they expect us to just back off? Who gave them the authority to dictate that?”
Trapped and unable to move at the time, I could only listen in silence, yet Kang Yun’s voice, brimming with indignation, remained vividly etched in my memory.
‘So it wasn’t the Central Center after all. It was Headquarters that had truly intervened…’
Through Dr. Nam, I felt as though I had stumbled upon a crucial piece of information. While I appreciated learning about the existence of Headquarters, a particular concern gnawed at me: was it truly permissible for me to be privy to matters not yet disclosed to the public?
“Are you sure you should be telling me all this? I’m not even… a fully registered Guide yet…”
When I reiterated my concern, Dr. Nam responded with a reassuring tone, dismissing my worries.
“Sogum, you’re fine.”
“Why?”
“Because the higher-ups gave their approval.”
“Is it because I’m… Yoon Geon-woo’s temporary Pair?”
“Well, that’s certainly one possible reason. As long as you refrain from disseminating the information we’ve discussed here to anyone outside, you’ll be fine.”
The more he urged me not to worry, the more I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had stumbled into forbidden territory. Yet, what could I do? The events had already unfolded.
‘Fine. As Dr. Nam advised, I simply needed to avoid blabbering about it outside.’
Since matters had progressed this far, I resolved to address every lingering question I had.
“You mentioned earlier that Esper Jung Eui-chan is affiliated with Headquarters. Does being part of Headquarters, rather than the Central Center, imply something more… exceptional?”
“It means they are individuals directly scouted and handpicked by Headquarters. Furthermore, I understand that affiliation with Headquarters grants unrestricted use of abilities and the possession of artifacts, with no limitations whatsoever.”
Dr. Nam hesitated for a moment before revealing a surprising fact.
“Among those numerous benefits, the most exceptional, of course, is that those affiliated with Headquarters are not required to have an identification chip implanted in their bodies. Instead, they utilize high-grade, detachable artifacts.”
“Identification chip?… What’s that?”
“You’re aware that upon graduating from the SAA, students who meet the required standards become official Espers and Guides, correct? It’s at that point that an identification chip is implanted at the nape of their neck.”
Dr. Nam lightly tapped the nape of his own neck with a finger. The notion of implanting identification chips into the bodies of graduated ability users was entirely new to me, prompting an astonished re-question.
“All graduates?”
“If they possess an ability, then yes, every single one. In fact, even Espers not affiliated with the Central Center receive an implanted identification chip.”
“Why on earth… do they implant them?”
“It might be easiest to think of it as a specialized identification card exclusively for ability users. With an identification chip, the Center can instantly ascertain an individual’s rank and personal information, even in the midst of an emergency.”
“An emergency, like exceeding a save point… that kind of thing?”
“That’s certainly one of the reasons. When contamination levels surge past a dangerous threshold, an immediate alarm is dispatched directly to the Central Center.”
I grasped the meaning behind Dr. Nam’s words. Yet, even if framed as a measure for managing potential rampagers, I couldn’t help but feel it constituted a grave violation of human rights.
After all, implanting an identification chip into one’s body was hardly a method everyone would willingly consent to.
‘Is this why they have a bad relationship with Utill?’
The Central Center, or more precisely, ‘Headquarters’—the entity overseeing all government-affiliated organizations—and ‘Utill,’ the advocacy group dedicated to protecting ability users, were diametrically opposed entities.
Headquarters, established for the cultivation of ability users, and Utill, whose primary objective was the protection of ability users’ human rights, possessed fundamentally different founding principles, thus ensuring their frequent clashes.
The conflict felt particularly inflamed by the persistent rumor that Utill’s leader was one of only three S-rank Espers in the entire country.
Excluding Yoon Geon-woo, who had struggled to utilize his abilities due to his persistent refusal of guiding until recently, the anonymous Esper from the Central Center and Utill’s leader had been the sole S-ranks, fostering a natural rivalry between the two.
And now that Yoon Geon-woo’s physical condition had improved, it was impossible to know which direction the power struggle would take.
‘Could this beast incident truly be related to Utill…?’
As reporter Joo Yeo-rye had previously written in the campus news, the fact that Esper Jung Eui-chan, who was specifically linked to Utill, had caused the incident was deeply suspicious.
If that hypothesis were true, why would they drag the power struggle between Headquarters and Utill into the SAA, causing such chaos?
As I sank into contemplation, my expression etched with worry, Dr. Nam continued his explanation.
“We briefly touched upon the beast incident earlier, but there’s a reason why Esper Jung Eui-chan, despite being from Utill, was specifically selected to join Headquarters.”
“What do you mean…”
“Most matters handled by the Central Center require a confidentiality oath. This includes the issue of identification chips. Headquarters desired a psychic Esper capable of managing and processing these specific duties.”
According to Dr. Nam, several Espers, primarily those of the specialized or psychic types, were affiliated with Headquarters. They mainly undertook unofficial duties that were not publicly disclosed, unless, of course, a high-level gate suddenly opened, necessitating their assistance. They were typically responsible for administering confidentiality oaths to newly registered ability users at the Central Center, and Esper Jung Eui-chan was apparently one of them.
‘Identification chips, confidentiality oaths enforced by psychic Espers… It seems like they’re involved in all sorts of shady dealings, just like you’d expect from a government-affiliated organization.’
There was so much I wanted to say, yet I had no idea where to even begin. One thing, however, was certain: Esper Jung Eui-chan would undoubtedly be apprehended, even if it weren’t for this beast incident. It was inconceivable that Headquarters—or rather, this entire nation—would simply let go of someone involved in a matter that, if exposed, would create significant turmoil across various sectors.
“Headquarters is currently pursuing Esper Jung Eui-chan directly. I’ll inform Sogum if there’s any progress.”
Dr. Nam, seemingly sharing my thoughts, reassured me not to worry too much. Then, a sudden curiosity struck me about the Guide teacher who had been conducting the class with him. When I asked Dr. Nam, he immediately responded.
“Guide Kim Ji-hwan has shown no particular abnormalities so far. However, given that they spent a relatively long time as Esper Jung Eui-chan’s temporary Pair, they will likely need to remain at Headquarters until he is apprehended.”
Yet, a particular word in his statement grated on my ears.
“Temporary… Pair?”
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