“…….”

“Not right away. He might still be useful.”

“…Got it.”

“Keep a close eye on him.”

“Yeah.”

The man who repeatedly instructed the second person in the room headed toward the door to leave when it happened.

THUMP—!

“…Huh?”

Woo Ju-eon, who stayed alert throughout, let out a dumbfounded sound. The scene before his eyes shocked him so thoroughly that his resolve to never be caught off guard seemed laughable. The second man who had been tying up Yeo Han-ol suddenly dashed toward the man at the door and struck him hard on the back of the head.

“He’s so paranoid about betrayal that he never lets his guard down.”

The man collapsed to the floor without even a scream, knocked out cold in one blow. The other man lifted the unconscious body, placed it on an empty chair, and tied it up with the rope he had brought.

The actions appeared so natural that Ju-eon blinked, staring blankly at the scene.

Perhaps moving the limp body tired him, as the man stretched his neck, producing a cracking sound. Glancing at the still-dazed Ju-eon, he pulled a knife from his pocket and cut the ropes binding him. Unexpectedly freed, Ju-eon didn’t move right away but instead glared warily at the man in front of him.

“You don’t recognize me, do you? We met before at that department store. I was with Han-ol. I’m Lee Cho-won.”

Lee Cho-won introduced herself casually, like this were a normal situation. Ju-eon, caught off guard, instinctively extended his hand before snapping back to his senses and asking,

“That guy you just knocked out… Wasn’t he… on your… side?”

“Yeah, but….”

“Hey!”

The sharp voice interrupted her explanation, and both Ju-eon and Cho-won turned their gazes in the same direction. While they exchanged introductions, Yeo Han-ol had regained consciousness and now glared at them with a murderous look.

“You’re awake.”

“Lee Cho-won!”

At the threatening tone, Cho-won dropped her casual demeanor and approached Han-ol with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you so angry?”

“How could you do this to me…?”

The sound of grinding teeth filled the air. Faced with Han-ol’s furious gaze, Cho-won alternated between looking at the unconscious man behind her and Han-ol, hurriedly shaking her head in denial.

“I didn’t hit you on the head. He did.”

“Then why is he like that?”

“Because I hit him on the head.”

“Why did you hit him? You said you had something to do outside today.”

“He pretended to be on our side, but he wasn’t.”

Was it just his imagination, or did the veins on Han-ol’s forehead bulge? Ju-eon, who silently observed the exchange, hesitated. Should he make a run for it? He glanced at the door. The man who had slapped him earlier mentioned there were more people outside. Should he assume that the enemy of his enemy was an ally? His freedom suggested they might share a common goal.

Han-ol looked down at his bound body and spoke in a calmer voice after glancing at the unconscious man.

“Let’s talk after you untie me.”

Having confirmed that Cho-won wasn’t the traitor who had struck him, Han-ol seemed to relax a bit. However, instead of complying, Cho-won shook her head and took a step back, further away from Han-ol. Far from untying him, she retreated, prompting Han-ol to raise an eyebrow.

“No.”

“What did you just say?”

“I said no.”

“I’m not joking right now.”

“Neither am I. I’m telling you in advance because I’m worried you’ll get even angrier later—I report on your activities to someone, too.”

Cho-won’s relaxed tone as she confessed to being a traitor left Han-ol speechless. It took him a long moment to process what she had said.

The way Cho-won acted, seemingly believing it better to confess now since he’d find out eventually, left Han-ol dumbfounded.

“…What?”

Ju-eon, watching from the side, also stared at Cho-won in disbelief. The way she casually admitted to betrayal almost impressed him.

“You think you built AGT all by yourself?”

Cho-won smirked. Realizing she wasn’t joking, Han-ol bit his lower lip hard. His body trembled visibly with rage.

“…Explain yourself. What the h*ll are you talking about?”

“You came out of nowhere with nothing. What made people trust you and follow you? Was it just because your ability rank is high?”

“…….”

“Didn’t Yeo Myung-hwon warn you? Not to trust the people around you too much.”

A strange silence settled between them.

“So, what you’re saying is that no one joined me because of me?”

“Not exactly. I’m saying that even the people you trust the most aren’t entirely on your side.”

BUZZ.

Cho-won pulled a small device, about the size of a fingertip, from her pocket. After fiddling with it for a moment, the device emitted a crackling sound, followed by voices.

—…Is Kang Yun-jae’s absence related to that?

—Tsk. Jumping to conclusions is foolish. But let’s say you’re half-right.

—Did you intercept Ju-eon?

—You don’t seem too surprised.

Ju-eon only recognized Myung-hwon’s voice, but Han-ol’s eyes widened, indicating he knew both voices.

—We already knew you had more people under Yeo Han-ol than I do.

Unlike Myung-hwon’s calm tone, the content of the conversation shocked them.

Han-ol muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible, seemingly breathless.

“…Yeo Ji-woong and Yeo Myung-hwon?”

“That’s right.”

Since it would be impossible to deceive them while playing the recording, Cho-won answered immediately.

“…Is this real?”

“It’s not a recording. It’s a live transmission.”

As the two voices faded, faint sounds of people discussing something could be heard. Though the words weren’t clear, it sufficed to deduce their location.

—The subordinates under Yeo Han-ol who instigated these acts, and the incidents you orchestrated and pinned on AGT—we know it all.

—Yeah. But the kid still hasn’t caught on and is running wild, playing terrorist games. It’s convenient, though, since he’s easy to manipulate.

“What…?”

Han-ol’s gaze wavered erratically. The fact that others dismissed his actions as mere child’s play infuriated him enough, but learning that Yeo Ji-woong had orchestrated most of what he believed he had done on his own devastated him. Though his expression didn’t change much, one could easily imagine his humiliation.

Watching the scene unfold, Ju-eon organized his thoughts. Even if he pitied Han-ol, this was still the man who had kidnapped him. There was no time for sympathy. His presence here must have hurt Myung-hwon once again. The thought that he had become a source of pain for Myung-hwon felt unbearable.

‘Even more than being kidnapped myself.’

Everyone here belonged to AGT for a long time, but the unconscious man spied for Yeo Ji-woong, and Cho-won, who seemed similar, actually worked as a triple agent under Yeo Myung-hwon.

“…Why are you telling me all this?”

“I need to take Woo Ju-eon with me. If I leave without saying anything and you get untied, you might get fooled again.”

Han-ol’s veins bulged, suggesting he couldn’t tolerate Cho-won’s seemingly kind concern. But he soon appeared to realize this wasn’t the time for anger and suppressed his rising temper.

“Just untie me.”

“You’re not going to hit me?”

“I don’t have time for that right now. You’re still the most tolerable one here.”

Cho-won hesitated for a moment, gauging Han-ol’s reaction, then began untying the ropes that bound him.

“Why did you tie it so tightly?”

Han-ol muttered as he rubbed his wrists. Cho-won hurriedly looked down at his wrists.

“Sorry. Does it hurt a lot?”

THUMP!

“Ow!”

The moment Cho-won lowered her head, Han-ol punched her squarely in the nose. Cho-won clutched her nose, her eyes wide with shock.

“Who are you to worry about me, you traitor?”

“Yeo Han-ol!”

“You do what you need to do. I won’t interfere.”

Han-ol’s voice turned icy as he glanced at the unconscious man.

“I have unfinished business with him.”

TWITCH. The previously limp body moved slightly, suggesting the man had regained consciousness.

CREAK.

SLAM.

Ju-eon and Cho-won quickly stepped into the hallway, walking briskly. Just before the door slammed shut behind them, a piercing scream echoed from within. Ju-eon glanced back briefly.

“Do you think I’ll be able to get my belongings back?”

“You should consider yourself lucky to be walking out of here in one piece.”

“…Did you…?”

“I already contacted them.”

Ju-eon wanted nothing more than to hear Myung-hwon’s voice, but he simply nodded. If contact had been made, that was enough. Escaping this place took priority.

“Let’s go.”

At Cho-won’s urging, Ju-eon turned forward and quickened his pace. Contrary to expectations, they didn’t encounter anyone on their way out. The interior appeared surprisingly vast and eerily quiet.