A suite in a luxury hotel in Seoul.
Baek Sanggi sat in a chair, sipping green tea as he gazed down at the city. He almost always observed the world around him, not for any particular reason, but because it was his habit and routine.
"Is there anything you need, sir?" Lee Munhyeon asked from behind. Lee Munhyeon had taken it upon himself to attend to Baek Sanggi's needs.
Whether it was out of genuine care or surveillance, Baek Sanggi didn't mind either way.
"The food was excellent, and the bed was warm. How could I possibly be uncomfortable?"
"I'm glad you're pleased."
"Indeed. I particularly admire this view. Seoul has developed dazzlingly in the short time I've been away. In my memory, Hanyang from three centuries ago remains vividly clear."
Baek Sanggi stroked his chin, a habit he had whenever he reminisced about the past.
Though he was accustomed to being clean-shaven, he still felt a pang of regret.
Even though his aging had stopped, his hair and nails continued to grow. Until thirty years ago, he had maintained a full beard. He had cut it off to fully embrace the changes in Korea. Now, it was rare to see anyone on the Korean Peninsula with facial hair.
"Have you found Jeokgwang?"
"...I'm sorry. We haven't located him yet."
"I don't blame you. That man can even turn invisible, can't he? Finding him won't be easy. Time means nothing to me anyway. I'll patiently wait for Jeokgwang to reveal himself."
"We'll do everything we can to find him."
Baek Sanggi simply brought his teacup to his lips. Lee Munhyeon's eyes burned with hatred and fury. It was clear he wouldn't listen even if told to take his time.
The room was filled with silence. Baek Sanggi continued to sip his tea, gazing out the window.
Lee Munhyeon felt the awkwardness. He glanced around briefly before speaking.
"Elder, we received reports this morning that a foreign vampire entered Busan."
"Busan, you say? It seems our surveillance remains vigilant."
"Yes. While searching for Jeokgwang, we maintain at least a minimal monitoring system."
"As you should. ...Hmm? Did you say a foreign vampire?"
"Yes. Their identity is still under investigation. An investigator is currently discreetly tailing them. As a seasoned professional, they won't be detected."
Baek Sanggi set down his teacup.
"...This must be a high-ranking member of Kantla. So, it's already been three hundred years? It's that time again."
"Pardon?"
"Have you heard of the Life Orb?"
Lee Munhyeon nodded. He had learned about it in his youth from the former head of the Korean Black Cross Society, who could be considered his benefactor.
"I've heard it's the fruit of immortality. And I know you consumed a Life Orb, Elder."
"That's right. After consuming the Life Orb, I gained physical abilities rivaling those of vampires and stopped aging. How much do you know about the Life Orb?"
"I know that if a human consumes it, they gain immortality and superhuman physical abilities. If a vampire consumes it, they revert to being human. And if a True Ancestor consumes it, their supernatural powers are amplified."
"You know almost everything. Then do you know what happens if someone consumes multiple Life Orbs?"
"...I don't know."
Lee Munhyeon spoke frankly. Life Orbs were incredibly rare, yet someone was consuming them repeatedly? He'd never heard of such a thing.
"For humans, the second Life Orb onward has no effect. Trust me, I've experienced it firsthand. Vampires who become human would likely evolve into superhumans.
The real problem is those True Ancestors. Each time a True Ancestor consumes a Life Orb, their power grows exponentially."
"What? Is that really true? Does that mean with enough Life Orbs, they could become infinitely powerful...?"
"Theoretically, yes. But there probably aren't many Life Seeds left in the world."
"What are Life Seeds?"
"They're artifacts created long ago by a True Ancestor using supernatural abilities. If you nurture a Life Seed, it will blossom into a Life Flower, which then produces Life Orbs."
Lee Munhyeon's eyes widened. This was the first time he'd ever heard such a thing in his entire life.
Baek Sanggi rose from his seat.
"Three hundred years ago, three True Ancestors came to the Korean Peninsula and used the Life Flower to absorb the land's vital energy, forming Life Orbs.
Back then, each Life Flower produced a total of four Life Orbs. No matter how I think about it, these Life Orbs are too dangerous for those True Ancestors. Moon Hyeonah, we need to go to Seoraksan."
"...Yes, sir. I'll prepare the car immediately."
I considered the possibility of Moon Ji-Hyeok obtaining the Life Orb.
I'm going to handle this personally, so I don't think it's likely... but considering the original story, I can't completely dismiss the possibility.
There's only one Life Orb. If Moon Ji-Hyeok gets to it first and swallows it, everything could fall apart.
I need to completely control Moon Ji-Hyeok. To do that...
I picked up my smartphone. For the current Moon Ji-Hyeok, there was something more precious than his own life.
Taker: Hello, Ms. Yang Jeongmin.
I quietly waited for a reply. It was a weekday, so Yang Jeongmin would likely be at work.
Yang Jeongmin: Who is this?
Taker: I'm Taker. You could say I'm a colleague of Detective Moon.
Yang Jeongmin: So you're Ji-Hyeok's informant.
Yang Jeongmin knew about me. I was a little surprised. Had Moon Ji-Hyeok told her? No, he wasn't the type. Considering Yang Jeongmin's personality, it was unlikely she would have investigated Moon Ji-Hyeok behind his back.
That left only one possibility...
'Moon Ji-Hyeok, you bastard... Can't you manage your phone properly?'
Yang Jeongmin: You contacted me... What's this about?
Taker: Detective Moon is in danger.
Yang Jeongmin: Are you with Ji-Hyeok right now?!
Taker: Detective Moon is still safe. Please calm down and focus on my message.
Yang Jeongmin: ...Okay.
Taker: Detective Moon intends to become human again this time.
I told Yang Jeongmin about the Life Orb, Doris, and the vampires.
Yang Jeongmin: Ji Hyeok is trying to do something like that...
Taker: Detective Moon is obsessed with becoming human again. I believe you are likely the reason for this.
Yang Jeongmin: ...Should I try to stop Ji Hyeok?
Yang Jeongmin: I should probably stop him.
"No. That won't work. It can't work."
Startled, I hastily typed a message to her.
Taker: Even if you try to stop him, Detective Moon will still head to Seoraksan. He's always been that kind of person.
Yang Jeongmin: Yes, Ji Hyeok is that kind of person. So, what should we do?
Taker: Ms. Yang Jeongmin, please help Detective Moon. I'm heading to Seoraksan to assist him as well. We're the only people Detective Moon can trust.
In the original drama, Moon Ji-Hyeok was supported by his fellow detectives. But now, his colleagues aren't as close or trustworthy as they were in the original story.
Yang Jeongmin: I understand. I'll go right away.
Yang Jeongmin: It's probably best not to tell Ji Hyeok about this.
Thankfully, Yang Jeongmin wasn't completely naive. If she had contacted Moon Ji-Hyeok, I would have been in trouble.
Taker: I'll send you the location. Let's stick together in Seoraksan. It'll be safer that way.
Yang Jeongmin: Yes, thank you for letting me know. Ji Hyeok is lucky to have a friend like you.
Taker: I wouldn't exactly call us friends... but I guess I've grown attached to Detective Moon without realizing it.
I chuckled softly.
Friends? What a joke. Still, it was fun to play with him.
***
At the foot of Seoraksan Mountain, a black sedan came to a stop. Four men piled out of the car.
"Mr. Ziegler, are you sure you'll be alright on your own?" Kang Wookseong asked Doris politely.
"I'll be fine, Mr. Kang. The boss entrusted me with a very important mission."
"May I ask what that mission is?"
Doris's gentle gaze sharpened into a piercing glare.
Kang Wookseong's face stiffened. He had misjudged the situation. Given Doris's gentlemanly demeanor, he had assumed such a question would be acceptable.
"I-I apologize. I overstepped my bounds."
"No, it's fine. I overreacted. My apologies."
"It's quite alright."
"Mr. Kang, this mission must remain strictly confidential. You must all forget everything that happened today. Your assignment ends here. Return to your original duties."
"...Understood. However, we were followed this afternoon. The Black Cross Society might try to interfere with your plans."
"I'm aware. But the Korean branch of the Black Cross Society is currently powerless. We were fortunate. I'd like to recruit this Jeokgwang. Do you have any information on him?"
"None. Jeokgwang operates with meticulous precision, leaving no trace behind."
"What a pity. I'll be going now. I'll return alone."
"Yes. Please be careful."
"You too, return safely."
Doris moved. With a light push off the ground, he leaped nearly two meters into the air and began scaling the mountain. He was unleashing the full physical capabilities of a Vampire True Ancestor.
Doris vanished from Kang Wookseong's sight in an instant.
So this is the power of an executive... They said he was among the highest-ranked True Ancestors, and they weren't wrong.
Kang Wookseong marveled silently. He had spoken with or met executives several times before, but this was the first time he had witnessed even a glimpse of their true power.
"Our work here is done. Let's head back," Kang Wookseong said as he got back into the car.
"I should head this way."
As Doris raced up Seoraksan Mountain, he occasionally pulled out a prepared map from his pocket to check his direction.
Doris's mission was to plant the Life Flower in a designated location on the Korean Peninsula, allowing it to absorb the peninsula's vital energy and bear its fruit.
The Life Flower could produce up to four Life Orbs, and given the current state of the peninsula's vital energy, it was capable of bearing all four.
"Life Orbs... Ah, I can hardly wait."
Doris intended to consume all four Life Orbs. He had already secured his boss's permission, who planned to enhance his own teleportation abilities.
"Consuming the Life Orbs will also extend my lifespan. Ah! What a glorious day!"
According to the boss, consuming a single Life Orb extends a True Ancestor's lifespan by 15 years. If all four are consumed, it would add a staggering 60 years.
Doris had originally planned to enter Korea in December. This would have been the case if the Korean Vampire Hunters hadn't suffered near-total annihilation. He would have moved cautiously, slowly gauging the Black Cross Society's reactions.
Now, Korea was a relatively safe haven for vampires. With no need to fear the Vampire Hunters, Doris could act with greater boldness.
This is the place.
After driving for over an hour, Doris finally reached his destination: an open clearing with no trees, offering a clear view of the moon.
Doris opened his briefcase and carefully retrieved the Life Flower. To the naked eye, it resembled a small sunflower, about 20 centimeters in diameter. He gently planted the Life Flower in the center of the clearing.
...Phew. This is nerve-wracking.
A faint, silvery light began to emanate from the properly planted Life Flower, a clear sign that it was absorbing vital energy.
Thank goodness. I planted it correctly.
He gazed at the Life Flower with tender affection. Though it resembled a sunflower, the ethereal glow surrounding it paradoxically resembled moonlight.
Two hours left! These will be the longest two hours of my life.
If the Life Flower successfully absorbs the vital energy of the Korean Peninsula, it will produce a Life Orb every 30 minutes. Once four Life Orbs have formed, the Life Flower will wither. The same will happen if the Life Flower is uprooted before then.
Thus, Doris needed to watch over the Life Flower, worrying it might be blown away by the wind or harmed by approaching beasts.
How beautiful...
Doris stared blankly at the Life Flower. Even in that moment, time seemed to crawl by at an agonizingly slow pace.
Thirty minutes passed.
A small Life Orb had formed at the flower's center.
The Life Orb radiated a soft, iridescent glow, resembling a gemstone more than a fruit. Doris unconsciously thought of opals.
What a foolish mistake. The Life Orb is many times more beautiful than any opal...
Doris swallowed hard, his throat dry. He desperately wanted to put the pearl in his mouth immediately. According to the boss, the moment it touched his tongue, it would melt and be absorbed into his body.
I must endure.
If I remove the Life Orb now, the Life Flower will wither. But if I can just hold on a little longer, I can obtain three more Life Orbs.
I won't be foolish enough to let short-sighted greed blind me to the opportunity for greater gain.
Rustle!
A sound broke the silence. Doris, who had been staring blankly at the Life Flower, startled and leaped to his feet, shouting, "Who's there?!"
Bang!
The response was a silver bullet. Doris, caught off guard, instinctively teleported behind a nearby tree for cover.
Clinging to the tree, he peered in the direction the bullet had come from.
A man stood there, revolver in hand.
It was Moon Ji-Hyeok.