The man sighed softly as he looked at Ju-eon, then opened the door.

“Come in.”

At his command, another person who had been waiting outside entered the room. Ju-eon’s head throbbed. So, there wasn’t just one traitor. The man who entered began lifting the unconscious Yeo Han-ol and tying him tightly with ropes.

“Why didn’t you knock this one out?”

“He didn’t scream or resist. Besides, there wasn’t an expl*cit order to knock him out.”

The man glanced at Ju-eon. Shouting for help here would only waste his energy for no reason.

“See? He’s not screaming.”

The man smirked, tapping Ju-eon’s swollen cheek lightly with his fingertips.

“Maybe it’s better that we’ve been found out. Pretending to be loyal to this group was such a hassle.”

“Didn’t the congressman promise to give us a position when we return?”

“Yeah.”

Perhaps just imagining it made them happy, as they quickly erased their angry expressions and burst into laughter loud enough to echo throughout the room.

“Hah…”

Ju-eon’s breaths grew heavier and heavier. Powerless as he was, he knew someone else would soon take possession of him to use against Yeo Myung-hwon, becoming leverage once again.

**

The general assembly started in the afternoon, but by the time it ended, the sun burned red in the sky.

“The specifics of the bill will need further adjustments, but it seems the direction has been decided.”

Everyone in the room hoped for the meeting’s end, each for their own reasons.

At the closing remark, silence fell over the room. Only the reporters watching from the front glanced toward the door, some already half-standing in their seats. The first to leave the room would be the first to publish their article. Although an official announcement of the meeting’s results would come later, contacting their newspapers before that took priority.

‘I thought Yeo Myung-hwon would be here today since they said he’d be attending…’

Among the reporters, Kwak Seong-gwan remained relaxed, glancing around with a sigh. When Woo Ju-eon had stolen his clothes, a few of his belongings had gotten mixed up. Most items were trivial enough to ignore, but the pills in his pocket were different.

They seemed suspicious. Pills carried around by a guide with no label. Just in case, he had secretly taken one and sent it for chemical analysis, but the results hadn’t come back yet.

‘I hope they don’t notice I took one.’

Kwak Seong-gwan bit his nails nervously as he rolled the pill bottle in his pocket. He thought he should return it since it seemed to be important medication. Of course, he wasn’t entirely without ulterior motives. He had come because Yeo Myung-hwon had called him, but he hadn’t expected to have no chance to talk to him. Perhaps he could use the missing pills as an excuse to hand the bottle to Yeo Myung-hwon and snag a quick interview.

“Ahem.”

Kwak Seong-gwan cleared his throat as he watched the other reporters rushing to leave. The nearby reporters, unaware of his intentions, looked at him with pity, assuming he would fall behind due to his leisurely pace.

“The official announcement will be made by Esper Yeo Myung-hwon, who had the greatest influence on this bill. The venue has been changed from the designated hall to an outdoor venue, so please take note.”

As all eyes, including those of the reporters who had been staring at the door, turned toward Yeo Myung-hwon, he responded with a polite bow.

“Myung-hwon.”

From behind, Seo Yun-jin called his name in a nervous voice, but Yeo Myung-hwon didn’t respond.

**

It was officially announced that South Korea’s special ability-related laws would now align with international laws on special abilities. Although implementing the laws properly would take years, keeping pace with the international community marked a significant change.

While everyone expressed excitement about the revised laws, Yeo Myung-hwon remained expressionless, perfectly composed as though it were no big deal.

Time passed regardless of anyone’s wishes, and soon the moment for Yeo Myung-hwon to carry out the terrorist act drew near. The first to leave the table, apart from the reporters, was Yeo Ji-woong. His snake-like gaze swept over Myung-hwon as he passed.

“It seems the special ability agencies will be quite busy for a while.”

As Yeo Ji-woong passed by, someone still seated stopped him.

“Yes.”

“You’ll have a lot of work ahead, so we understand why you’re leaving in such a hurry.”

“I’m just stepping out for a moment to take care of some business. I’ll be back to watch our Myung-hwon’s speech.”

Leaving immediately might arouse suspicion. Yeo Ji-woong, who had initially planned to ignore the comment, emphasized that he would return. The person who had stopped him, failing to grasp the hidden calculation in his words, looked at him with a peculiar expression, seemingly surprised by what appeared to be a genuine conversation.

“You really don’t get a moment’s rest.”

“It’s not for me, but for the future of our country. That’s why I have to keep moving. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Instead of refuting, Yeo Ji-woong offered a friendly smile and bowed slightly.

The other person, startled by Yeo Ji-woong’s uncharacteristic attitude, returned the bow with a flustered expression. Normally, Yeo Ji-woong would have made a snide remark while smiling, but the situation ended without the usual tension, leaving the other person visibly unsettled.

The one who had confronted Yeo Ji-woong was a politician from an opposing party, someone who frequently clashed with him. Unlike most politicians, this person spoke bluntly and rarely prioritized personal gain.

“Yes, take care.”

And this person was also one of the thorns in Yeo Ji-woong’s side that Yeo Myung-hwon was supposed to eliminate under the guise of a terrorist attack.

Following Yeo Ji-woong’s departure, the others at the table began to leave one by one, accompanied by their aides.

“Congratulations.”

As people passed by Myung-hwon, they offered their congratulations and expressed goodwill. Among them was Lee Ho-yun. The opportunistic behavior of those who wanted to ingratiate themselves with the next rising star nauseated him. Their swift change in attitude left a bitter taste rather than a sweet one.

It was power handed to him, not something he had earned.

“Myung-hwon.”

Seo Yun-jin called out to him in a low voice as he stood there, seemingly frozen.

“Yes.”

There was no need for further discussion. Once Yeo Myung-hwon made up his mind, he wasn’t the type to be swayed, and Seo Yun-jin didn’t seem inclined to stop him either. She stood half a step behind him, watching. This place was about to be turned upside down.

By a merciless, god-like incarnation far beyond the bounds of humanity.

**

After the general assembly, the speech was originally supposed to take place in the largest hall within the same building. However, due to a dungeon incident at a hotel, the venue changed to an outdoor location to reassure the public. It served as a publicity stunt to show that the government took swift action in response to current events.

Because the public could attend, the area in front of the podium packed with people. Yeo Myung-hwon slowly looked down at the crowd, all of whom had their eyes fixed on him. These people had come specifically to see him, their eyes glinting with anticipation. Lowering his head toward the microphone, he began to speak.

“…This is Yeo Myung-hwon.”

But his speech didn’t last long. Tension filled his body.

BOOM—!

A deafening roar tore through the air. The sound of the massive explosion overwhelmed everything, making it feel as if the world itself was shaking. It signaled the transformation of a peaceful day into a living h*ll.

“Ahhh!”

Even the desperate screams of the crowd drowned under the repeated thunderous explosions.

**

“Yes, we’ve captured him on our end.”

The man who had been so arrogant earlier now spoke with excessive deference, bowing repeatedly even though the person on the other end of the phone couldn’t see him. Watching this, Ju-eon clicked his tongue. Was the congressman Myung-hwon’s father? Ju-eon didn’t know the details, but he hadn’t been idle while regaining his memories.

He recalled the image of Yeo Ji-woong, who had appeared in photos alongside Yeo Myung-hwon.

‘Why is everyone so desperate to devour Myung-hwon?’

It was a thought Ju-eon couldn’t comprehend. And that incomprehension made his chest ache all the more. He still didn’t fully understand, but years ago, he had been even more ignorant. Perhaps that ignorance had wounded Myung-hwon.

“Yes, yes. I’ll call again in 30 minutes. Understood.”

After hanging up, the man glanced at another man who was still tying up Yeo Han-ol.

“Such a hassle.”

“What did they say?”

“They want updates every 30 minutes.”

“Every 30 minutes? That’s annoying.”

“The guy on the phone acts so high and mighty, even though he’s just another lackey. When I return to the congressman’s side, my rank will be much higher.”

“You better do your job properly until then.”

“You, too. If either of us screws up here, it’s over for both of us.”

“Yeah.”

“Keep an eye on things.”

“Yeah. What about Han-ol?”

“He has to die.”

Despite having been by Yeo Han-ol’s side for a long time, the voice was cold, devoid of even a shred of sympathy.