Chapter 40 (1/2)

While Seo Jin-wook Disappeared

“What do you mean? It’s been four days, and does it make sense that you still couldn’t find him?!”

A harsh shout rang out at the office of Seo Gyu-cheol in Celestial Dragon Guild’s company house. His hot face showed anger and agitation, instead of his usual cold expression.

Those who were vented of his anger were the hunters hired privately to guard the house.

Seo Gyu-cheol instructed them to look for Seo Jin-wook because he could not mobilize the guild members to find his son for the reason of ‘finding a runaway child.‘

“You couldn’t even stop him before he went out. Now, you couldn’t even find him when he’s out there! What the hell are you guys doing?”

When Seo Jin-wook disappeared a few days ago, Seo Gyu-cheol seemed a little surprised, but he was not very shaken. He was sure that he’d be back in a day.

He did not report his disappearance so that it wouldn’t leak to the media or other guilds. Over time, however, his confidence turned into suspicion, and suspicion into shock and anger.

“How many Awakened guards are there, and none of you saw him go out in the first place?”

It was not surprising that Seo Jin-wook, who had lived his life in this house, moved only within the blind spot of CCTV. However, it was a problem that he was not found by anyone in the house in the process.

Being an E-class, Seo Jin-wook, who had only learned [Sword Mastery] and [Mana Barrier], would not have been able to use some specialized hunters in hiding and infiltration. Nevertheless, the fact that there was no sign of him leaving made him angry beyond recognition.

Hunters, whose faces turned shitty, bowed their heads.

“There’s really no sign of anything? Even if he leaves, he’ll have to spend money to eat and sleep!”

The secretary then spoke, “As you instructed, I left his account as is. As of three days, he doesn’t have any electronic payments or cash withdrawals.”

They wouldn’t have known that Seo Jin-wook cashed the items unbeknownst to the guild and deposited them into a separate account.

The secretary spoke cautiously, “If there is no trace up to this point, I wonder if he has already gone abroad.”

Seo Gyu-cheol shook his head. “We have already looked into it through the Ministry of Constitution. Immigration records are clean.”

No matter how Seo Gyu-cheol may be a father, he could not merely obtain an adult’s immigration records with no report of missing persons and no letter of attorney. It was illegally processed by pulling a string on the side of the Ministry of Constitution.

Seo Gyu-cheol’s eyes went back to Kim Byeong-ho, who has been called together with the others.

“You haven’t heard anything? You had no idea when you followed him around the whole time?”

Secretary Kim bowed his head, “I’m sorry. The day before he disappeared, as you’re aware… He was so agitated about the incident that he didn’t even want to face me.”

‘The incident’ referred to the disturbance in Seo Gyu-cheol’s room the day before he left the house.

Seo Gyu-cheol grunted and bit his lips.

If there were no signs to this point, they could suspect a kidnapping, but the situation was too clear before he headed out. He couldn’t hold back his anger and shouted again.

“Everyone, get out of here! Go and get him, even if you have to put a leash on him!”

*

Secretary Kim left Seo Gyu-cheol’s room with the other hunters.

It wasn’t until he was far enough from being heard that the hunters began to grumble.

“Oh, it’s shitty to make a living.”

“Is it such a big thing to be bullshitting that he can’t find his son that ran away after fighting him?”

“Damn, I should find another job or something… Honestly, how can you find a person who’s wearing a Mask Slime? He’s an E-class but also an Awakened Hunter.”

“What’s the use of being an S-Class. It’s a waste of the Guild Master’s title. What a look, being sullen and breathing out steam… Is it true that the number of people supporting the Assistant Guild Master is increasing in the Celestial Dragon Guild? It’s understandable. No wonder.”

Secretary Kim, who had been walking at a distance from them, was also thinking about Seo Gyu-cheol.

‘Come to think of it, he’s famous for getting angry with cold expressions, not like that, but as if he was going to kill someone with his glare.’

However, whenever Seo Jin-wook was involved, he acted like a person who lost control of his emotions like that. In the past, Seo Gyu-cheol played a substantial role when something was broken or shattered, rather than Seo Jin-wook having the sole responsibility.

When Secretary Kim was about to turn the corner, thinking about those things, after splitting up with the hunters…

“Secretary Kim?”

“…Hi, hello.”

He looked at the person waiting for him with a slightly stiff look.

“Assistant Guild Master.”

It was Han-seol.

“You must be on your way out from being scolded by the Guild Master.”

Secretary Kim did not respond. Instead, he spoke as if trying to send Han-seol away.

“The Guild Master is in his office now.”

“No, I can visit him later.”

There were usually two reasons why she would visit the company—Seo Gyu-cheol or Seo Jin-wook.

Secretary Kim’s eyes slightly widened on the suggestion that it was a business apart from the two. Perhaps…

“Secretary Kim, can we go to a quiet place and have a word?”

*

The two went to a deserted place and sat face to face.

Secretary Kim observed Han-seol’s expression with nervousness.

Unlike the hunters a while ago, Secretary Kim belonged to the Celestial Dragon Guild, and although he was not directly related to Han-seol, she was a distant superior. It was their first time having such a private meeting.

And of all things, it happened now when he almost believed Seo Jin-wook’s reasoning because he witnessed various circumstantial pieces of evidence. This situation was uncomfortable.

It was Han-seol that broke the silence and spoke out first, “I’m sure the Guild Master has already questioned you many times, but I’ll ask you one as well. Jin-wook had no friends. Secretary Kim is the one who has been with him for the longest time. Was there really no hints?”

Secretary Kim shook his head determinedly. “There was no mention of such.”

After talking, Secretary Kim felt odd. Han-seol’s expression changed while looking at him.

Just as Seo Gyu-cheol broke his usual icy expression today and vented his anger, Han-seol was also different from usual.