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Chapter 48
“Oh, I wasn’t staying there. I just happened to meet a friend and was on my way home after talking until dawn.”
“At this hour?”
“Yes! At this hour. My father didn’t set any specific curfew!”
Jin Bo-mi speaks vibrantly.
However, I could easily tell that her physical condition and her words were not in sync.
A casual glance would have definitely missed these details.
But my transformed eyes saw everything.
Her hands and body frozen in the early dawn’s cold, her body temperature definitely much lower than usual.
Unlike the warmth from earlier, the temperature had suddenly dropped.
Perhaps the pressure system or wind flow had changed around dawn.
‘Right now, it’s definitely too cold to talk outside.’
Even I was pulling my collar tighter, and Jin Bo-mi, who was dressed much thinner, couldn’t be okay.
I gestured to her.
“Come this way. Let’s go inside. While we’re at it, warm up a bit before you go. By the way, why are you here?”
“Ta-da! It’s because of this.”
Jin Bo-mi forcibly moves her stiff fingers and shows me a file.
‘Organizing new safe house candidates for Guild member Kang Shin-hwa!’
Something was written quite grandly!
Of course, I understood the context.
She seemed worried about my Junghwa-station home after the assassination attempt, and had apparently listed some good alternative locations.
Her interest and consideration were definitely pleasant.
Especially considering her status in the Yanghwa Guild and group.
However, her thoughtfulness seemed deeper than just interest in a promising talent.
There seemed to be a personal motive.
If I were the naive 20-something I once was, I might not have noticed.
But having lived 56 years and now living a new life, everything was visible to me. The hidden fondness within her consideration.
‘She’s just a child. She’s only twenty.’
Anyway, I felt grateful for her effort.
It would have been quite troublesome to look for a house myself, and Jin Bo-mi had saved me the trouble.
“Come in and have a cup of coffee before you go. It’s just a humble instant coffee.”
“Heh, I really love instant coffee. Would you make it in a paper cup?”
“I’ll exercise that much sense for you.”
I smiled brightly and guided her inside.
Though a young man and woman were in the same house at dawn… I didn’t have any pink-tinted thoughts.
I’m Kang Shin-hwa, a middle-aged man who looks young, well past the age of being thrilled by such things.
* * *
Jin Bo-mi, who entered Kang Shin-hwa’s house, looked around every corner with a curious expression.
She explored during the brief moment while Kang Shin-hwa was preparing coffee, snacks, and heating water.
“Look at this. There’s not a single CCTV or security system! This is really dangerous. Just because it’s a white zone doesn’t mean the crime rate is 0%!”
“Don’t scold me too embarrassingly. Isn’t that why I’m looking for a new house?”
In fact, the lack of security equipment was because he thought he could detect most intrusions through magic detection.
Machines aren’t omnipotent.
Because they are machines, they have inherent weaknesses, and unexpected vulnerabilities can occur.
There are many variables like security signal interference and power supply disruption.
High-level assassins are skilled at breaking through security systems. Relying only on machines is a quick way to the afterlife.
Swish! Swish! Swoosh!
Jin Bo-mi spread out papers from the file in front of him.
They were all photos of interior and exterior views of potential houses, and there were really detailed photos.
“I’ve listed places similar to the atmosphere of the house you’re living in now. Of course, I’ve excluded anything below security grade A.”
The alphabet of the security grade represents the rank of detectable intruders.
Grade A means ‘generally’ detecting A- rank awakened individuals, and F- grade means detecting F- rank awakened individuals.
So the files Jin Bo-mi showed were filled only with S and SS alphabets.
“Hmm, can I take a closer look?”
“Of course!”
Jin Bo-mi nodded with a proud expression.
It was Kang Shin-hwa’s personality to initially find something troublesome but be thorough once he started.
Moreover, given Jin Bo-mi’s hard work and effort, he didn’t want to glance over the contents casually.
Swish. Swish. Swish.
Kang Shin-hwa’s gaze gradually deepened.
These were certainly houses similar to the one he currently lived in while being specialized in security.
Of course, all the places on the list were constructed by Yanghwa Construction, a Yanghwa Group affiliate.
‘This is actually more reassuring. Yanghwa Construction definitely has brand power in safety and security construction.’
Houses built by Yanghwa Construction are so popular that they’re often unavailable for purchase.
They’re constructed to meet the standards of their primary customer base – awakened individuals – with many amenities and relatively high prices.
‘It’s definitely safer to prepare realistically rather than relying solely on my own abilities.’
He wanted to save money quickly.
But no matter how fast he saved, if he died failing a job, it would only be funeral expenses.
As she said, just because it’s a White Zone doesn’t mean the security is automatically good, so he always needed to stay alert.
Multiple safe houses would be a definite alternative to resolve such concerns.
“I’ll definitely visit and inspect before contract, but I don’t think Ms. Bo-mi’s judgment is wrong. Let’s go with these five.”
“Let me see. Then, including taxes for these five houses, you’ll need about 20 billion won. Is that okay? If you’re short, we can extend a contract with our guild in advance!”
She started so naturally that it made her ulterior motives seem even more suspicious.
It was a good attempt, though!
Although it wouldn’t work on Kang Shin-hwa at all!
‘After deducting the Jije station land purchase, I’ll have about 5 billion left? Not enough. I can make magic potions daily, and I need to prepare for the next production.’
It was about 15 billion short, but he could fill that in just over ten days.
Instead of pre-contracting, he could pre-contract the supply of top-grade magic potions.
Since he had things he could adjust from a favorable position, there was no need to rush.
“Let’s start with the deposit. We’ll have time gaps for the middle and remaining payments, and I’ll pay and move in immediately when the money is ready.”
“Is that possible?”
“Don’t worry about the money. Well, it’s like showing off in front of a silkworm cocoon?”
While he was indeed earning money well now, in front of Yanghwa Group with a market capitalization of 30 trillion won, he was just a drop in the ocean.
Jin Seong-tae and Jin Bo-mi were uniquely unpretentious, living casually with many people without formality.
“Shall we proceed?”
“That would be good. Unexpectedly, Ms. Bo-mi has even taken on the role of a broker for me.”
“Ho-ho, don’t you remember what I said before? I’m your point of contact for now.”
“This much gratitude is enough. There’s no need to go beyond necessary.”
“Well, I’ll think about it. Oh right! The license test schedule is confirmed. I almost forgot.”
The paper Jin Bo-mi handed to Kang Shin-hwa showed today at 3 PM, with the location and destination written as KSA Seoul Branch.
‘They’re calling me directly to the branch? What grand spectacle are they trying to observe?’
Kang Shin-hwa let out a bitter laugh.
It seemed he was receiving considerable attention from KSA.
They rarely bring external people inside, and the stage for this test seemed quite elaborate.
Usually, such tests are conducted by borrowing external facilities.
“Good work.”
“What hard work? It’s naturally something I should do! By the way, I’m feeling drowsy from the warmth.”
“Let’s go outside before it gets too late.”
Kang Shin-hwa grabbed Jin Bo-mi’s hand and helped her up.
She gave him a mysterious look with somewhat regretful eyes.
But Kang Shin-hwa chuckled and naturally guided her out of the house.
She is not alone.
She’s the youngest daughter receiving the entire love of the Jin Seong-tae family and a core member of the guild.
He didn’t want to cause any unnecessary scandal.
Some time later.
Vroom!
Kang Shin-hwa stood still for a while, belatedly seeing off Jin Bo-mi’s departing car.
Jin Bo-mi was a person with many cute aspects and many rational charms.
That’s why he was even more cautious.
‘Love…… Is.’
Love, that was.
For Kang Shin-hwa, who had lost someone he truly loved in his previous life.
It was a hot emotion, but simultaneously one he wanted to keep distant.
* * *
That afternoon.
“If KSA has one redeeming quality, it’s how nicely they built the Seoul branch in a traditional hanok style.”
I had arrived in front of the Seoul branch building.
The Seoul branch had tremendous symbolic significance as a building representing the nation and awakened individuals.
Perhaps because of this, the entry screening process was extremely strict.
It was a place that would easily become a terrorist target if they casually admitted outsiders.
Was it because of this?
When I told the agent guarding the main gate the reason for my visit, he only scoffed, saying he had heard nothing.
Annoying, but I had no choice but to call Yun Byeol-i, who could be contacted immediately.
As soon as the signal rang, she answered the phone.
-Kang Shin-hwa?
“You call me and then block me at the entrance – what am I supposed to do?”
-Oh, I’m sorry. It’s a matter not publicly disclosed.
“…….”
-I’ll come out right away. Please wait a moment.
Yun Byeol-i was thoroughly humble.
License issuance.
Despite this being a place where I should actually be the one expecting and hoping.
From Yun Byeol-i’s attitude, it was certain that today’s meeting was not just a simple license issuance test.
If she were good at poker face or disguise, she might have been able to play it off casually, but she wasn’t doing that.
Based on the Yun Byeol-i I know, she can’t lie or act clever. She’s a principles-first person.
So she seemed to be accommodating me in advance. Treating me like an important guest.
“Hmm.”
With arms crossed, I observed the Seoul branch’s operations.
I could see special vehicles carrying criminals competing to enter from various places.
The Seoul branch aims to track and arrest all awakened individuals with bounties.
Joo Cheon-ho, who I recently spoke with, is the top priority arrest target for the KSA Seoul branch.
And then.
“Kang Shin-hwa?”
A man dressed like an ordinary company employee, who I hadn’t paid any attention to, called me.
The moment I saw him.
“……!”
For the first time since my return, I felt an overwhelming pressure that made my entire body stiffen from head to toe.
An SSS-rank awakened individual.
KSA’s headquarters director.
‘It’s Lee Ha-seong, isn’t it?’
He was watching me.
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