บท 18: OVERPOWERED FAMILY
"GO AND GET Chu Wonhee out of the X Basement," Kwon Jiwoong said to Kwon Mina, his paternal cousin working in APA as his secretary. "Tell Park Ruda to make it so Chu Wonhee won't remember what happened while she was here."
With Park Ruda's skills, that was possible.
"I understand, President," Kwon Mina said, then she paused for a moment before she asked hesitantly: "But what will we do if Chu Wonhee is already dead?"
The only reason Kwon Mina could openly talk about Chu Wonhee's real state was because Jiwoong's office was soundproof. The Hunter who made his office soundproof was the best in that field.
Not even members of the Big 4, whom he ushered to the VIP Conference Room earlier, wouldn't be able to hear a thing from there.
"Hwang Frost hasn't killed any of the Guides that we have sent there so far," Jiwoong said. "At most, he only drained their energies to the point that they were rendered bedridden for weeks. He might have done the same to Chu Wonhee since she awakened as a Guide. But as long as Chu Wonhee doesn't remember what exactly happened here, then all we have to do is apologize and put the blame on someone else."
Mina nodded in agreement. "Then I'll go and tell Park Ruda to bring out Chu Wonhee and take care of her memories."
***
TO SAY that Kwon Jiwoong was nervous would be an understatement.
After all, he was in the same room as some of the strongest Awakened People in the country.
Fortunately, my skill gets activated every time I feel threatened.
Hence, he eventually managed to calm down.
Jiwoong offered coffee to his guests when he returned to the VIP Conference Room where his guests were waiting. But everyone politely declined, asking him to get straight to the point and give them a status report about Chu Wonhee's current whereabouts.
"Please wait here for a moment," Jiwoong lied with a straight face. "I already asked my secretary to bring Chu Wonhee here."
Fortunately, his skill as an Awakened Person allowed him to lie without getting nervous.
Ordinary Civilians and most Awakened People couldn't lie to high-ranking Hunters because those damned monsters were sensitive, and such monsters were gathered in the conference room at the moment.
Graham, the current #1 Hunter and a member of the original Big 4.
Why is that kid eating snacks as if he's at his own house?
Jang Semi, the 'God Alchemist' and also a member of the original Big 4.
She looks scary, so let's avoid her gaze.
Yeon Soobin, the S-Class Blacksmith God and the backbone of their country's military power.
His smile is really creepy.
Ryung Dae, the chef who could turn any monster meat into edible and delicious food.
I wouldn't have been able to lie in front of these monsters if I didn't have the skill <Keep Calm And Be Confident (B-Grade)>.
As its name suggested, it was a skill that allowed him to stay calm in a stressful situation.
Eventually, Kwon Jiwoong learned how to use that skill to lie and bluff without getting caught. After all, remaining calm meant he wouldn't panic. Since the skill was a B-Grade skill, it worked on most Awakened People he often met for work.
Unless the environment becomes too much even for my skill level to bear, of course.
But he didn't have to worry about that because he was the APA President, and this building was his safe haven.
"Did you make Wony take a drug test when she got here, Mr. Kwon?"
Jiwoong clenched his hands tight when one of Chu Wonhee's friends addressed him as 'Mister' instead of 'APA President.'
That sleazy-looking young man is Gong Yool, if I remember correctly.
Gong Yool, a Civilian who failed as an idol and was currently working some measly writing job, turned out to be Chu Wonhee's best friend.
And the kid sitting next to Gong Yool must be Chu Wonhee's bodyguard.
Do Ahyeon, a C-Class Hunter who specialized in creating barriers. The young man's ability was impressive, but it was weak since he was only a C-Class Hunter. However, it was more than enough to protect a Civilian celebrity like Chu Wonhee who wouldn't enter Cracks anyway.
In fact, it was considered "too much" for a Civilian to have an Awakened Person as a bodyguard. However, Chu Wonhee's status as a top celebrity allowed her to have a C-Class Hunter for a bodyguard without getting too much backlash.
"Did you force my baby sister to take the drug test?" Yeon Soobin asked. He was smiling, but his amber eyes were cold. "That kid is afraid of needles."
Kid?
Chu Wonhee is a twenty-five-year-old adult, not a toddler.
"We did not force Miss Chu to take the drug test– she cooperated with us willingly," Jiwoong said. "Moreover, it's a part of the protocol to ask anyone accused of taking Forced Awakening drugs to do a test. That's the start of the investigation process."
Jang Semi scoffed. "Does APA really follow due process?"
"APA takes Forced Awakening issues seriously, so we immediately take action every time we receive a report related to that," Jiwoong said as an excuse. "Yeon Soobin, you should know that since you are the Vice President of the association."
Yeon Soobin fell silent for a moment before opening his mouth. "Kwon Jiwoong, Chu Wonhee is my baby sister. She isn't an illegitimate child either."
Hmm?
Jiwoong wanted to say that it had nothing to do with their current discussion, but he'd be crazy to interrupt the Yeon Soobin.
When Yeon Soobin is talking, even if it's nonsense, you have to listen.
"My mother– Kim Minhee– the original Queen of Korean Entertainment Industry, married my father but divorced him eleven years later," Yeon Soobin started sharing his life story that no one asked for. "A few years after her divorce, my mother got reunited with her first love."
"That would be Jang Wonseok– my father," Jang Semi added. "My father divorced my mother ten years after their marriage. But Aunt Minhee had nothing to do with it."
Ah.
So, Yeon Soobin and Jang Semi were saying Chu Wonhee wasn't a product of sin.
Jiwoong realized that the second marriage of Yeon Soobin's mother and Jang Semi's father was kept secret.
And Chu Wonhee's birth was well-hidden.
Only the elite of the elites could completely hide their private lives from the public.
"Unfortunately, my mother and Jang Semi's father died five years after our baby sister was born," Yeon Soobin said. "Due to some unfortunate events that I don't feel like sharing with you, both my family and Jang Semi's family didn't adopt our Hee-ya."
"Hee-ya was adopted by Miss Chu Sara and her husband," Jang Semi said. "Miss Chu Sara was Aunt Minhee's fellow actress and best friend. Unfortunately, our Hee-ya's adoptive parents passed away a year before the Outbreak."
"Ever since then, Semi Noona and I shared guardianship over our baby sister," Yeon Soobin said, smiling "sweetly" at Jiwoong. "Do you get what we're trying to say here, Kwon Jiwoong?"
This bastard…
I'm older than you, Yeon Soobin.
Jiwoong was agitated, but it only lasted for a second before he calmed down again. "The result of Miss Chu's drug test will come out soon– argh!"
The ground suddenly shook hard.
It was followed by the explosion of the familiar power that everyone in that room, except the Civilian, recognized right away.
"That's Frost Hyung's aura!" Graham said, shocked, while helping Gong Yool stand after the Civilian fell to his seat because of the quake. "Kwon Jiwoong, so you've finally gone insane, huh?"
Ryung Dae clicked his tongue. "You locked up Hwang Frost here instead of sending him to the countryside?"
The 'countryside' referred to the APA Branch known as a prison for dangerous Awakened People who broke the law.
Hwang Frost was supposed to be there, as per APA's press release.
Jiwoong wasn't able to respond to Ryung Dae because Yeon Soobin suddenly grabbed him by the collar. "W-What do you think you're doing, Yeon Soobin?! I'm still your superior!"
"How dare you bring my baby sister to the same vicinity as Hwang Frost?" Yeon Soobin asked coldly. "If something bad happens to our Hee-ya..."
"Soobin-ah, drop it," Jang Semi said in a hurry. "Let's find Hee-ya first."
"Alright, Noona," Yeon Soobin said to Jang Semi, letting go of Jiwoong. Then the Blacksmith God turned to Graham and Ryung Dae. "Keep an eye on Kwon Jiwoong and don't let him out."
Graham raised an eyebrow. "I don't like taking orders from–"
"Please find Wony and make sure she's safe," Gong Yool said, cutting off Graham brazenly. "Graham Hyung and I will monitor Mr. Kwon here."
"Right, I will do as Yool-ah said because I am his hyung," Graham said, changing his stance right away because of the Civilian. "But you owe me one, Yeon Soobin."
"Well, I'm good at repaying favors," Yeon Soobin said, chuckling. Then he turned to Jiwoong meaningfully. "And I'm also good at repaying people who wronged me."
Ah, I'm dead.
Jiwoong's <Keep Calm and Be Confident (B-Grade)> skill was completely crushed by Yeon Soobin's scary aura.
The APA President broke out in a cold sweat, letting everyone in the room he was guilty.
***
"WHAT DID you say?" Jang Semi asked, laughing while grabbing Kwon Mina, Kwon Jiwoong's cousin and secretary, by the neck. "I dare you to repeat it."
Semi caught Kwon Mina secretly headed to the APA President's office. Since Semi knew Kwon Mina would report to Kwon Jiwoong, she immediately caught the woman and didn't let her meet the APA President.
"M-Miss Chu Wonhee was accidentally locked up in the X Basement where Mr. Hwang Frost– argh!"
Semi wasn't able to stop herself from strangling Kwon Mina harder.
"There's an underground basement here that's off-limits to most employees. That must be where the so-called X Basement is," Yeon Soobin said, extending his hand to her. "I know where it is, Noona."
Right.
Yeon Soobin was the only Hunter in Korea who could teleport.
Semi immediately grabbed Yeon Soobin's hand, then she glared at Kwon Mina. "Tell Kwon Jiwoong he better have a good explanation as to how our baby sister was "accidentally" locked up with Hwang Frost or else…"
She didn't need to finish her sentence.
Kwon Mina's face turned pale, but she nodded as if her life depended on it.
Semi scoffed, then she turned to Yeon Soobin. "Let's go."
***
NEITHER YEON Soobin nor Jang Semi Noona was the combat type.
Maybe we should have brought Graham here…
But Soobin knew that he and Semi were ready to fight to save their Hee-ya from Hwang Frost– the first X-Class in Korea, the fallen S-Class who lost his sanity and humanity because no Guide was able to sync with him properly.
His thoughts were interrupted when the heavy iron doors of the basement prison slowly opened, the creaking sound echoing loudly.
Huh?
Soobin was expecting to see Hwang Frost coming out of the door, but…
"Hee-ya?" Semi asked, relieved. "Are you alright?"
Wonhee, whom Soobin and Semi lovingly referred to as 'Hee-ya,' looked surprised to see the two of them there, but it only lasted for a second.
Then their baby sister suddenly burst out crying.
Hee-ya…
"Soobin Oppa, Semi Noona, what should I do?" Hee-ya asked between sobs. "I think I accidentally killed Mr. Hwang Frost…"
Wait, what???
***
sola_cola's thoughts on this chapter: Jiwoong is a mob boss, but his thoughts are entertaining so I can't really take him seriously. I find him funny for a (small-fry) villain. LOL
***
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sola_cola
sola_cola Hi! Reviews, comments, and power stones are badly needed and highly appreciated. Please let me know your thoughts if you enjoyed the story. Thank you. T_T <3
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