"What? What do you mean Jang Dojun is accompanying you to the NAA?" Ah-In asked, snatching up her car keys.
She was still on a call with Jae-won when her doorbell rang.
She froze.
Then her doorbell rang again.
"Ah-In-ssi~" A sweet melodic voice echoed from the other side of the door.
Shit.
"Jae-won-ah... I'll call you back okay?" Ah-In muttered before ending the call and reaching for the doorknob.
The moment she opened it, she wished she hadn't.
"Why hello, Miss Yoon." A towering man with vivid sky blue hair and matching ice blue eyes stood outside her apartment, wearing the widest, dumbest, most annoyingly handsome grin she'd ever seen.
"What do you want brat?" Ah-In narrowed her eyes at him.
"I overheard your call, Ah-In-ssi."
Ah-In wanted to roll her eyes. Of course the brat did.
She raised her eyebrows. "Just the call?"
He shook his head. "Of course not, I heard the whole fiasco thingy. Your friend was taken by the NAA."
Kidnapped. That's what it was.
"Kai..." Ah-In rubbed her forehead. "You promised not to eavesdrop on me ever again."
Her neighbour was none other than Esper Kai. Officially, he ranked third among the Six Pillars, behind Song Moonho and Lee Taehyun.
Every time Ah-In remembered that he was supposed to be the protagonist of this manhwa, she questioned the author's sanity.
Titles meant nothing to Ah-In. To her, Kai was simply the biggest brat she'd ever met.
And she thought she had bad manners.
"Where's Seo-yeon?" Ah-In frowned. It was the first time Kai had shown up without him. He always dragged Seo-yeon along whenever he came to bother her.
"He's..." Kai paused, then his eyes shone with amusement. "Why are you suddenly interested in my Guide, Miss Yoon?"
Ah-In buried her face in her hands. She did not have the patience for this. "Kai, just move. Please." She swatted his hand away from her door.
But just as she raised her hand, he caught it and smirked. "Do you need my help, Miss Yoon?"
Ah-In's eye twitched.
Something was seriously wrong.
Kai wasn't supposed to act like this around her. He was supposed to be glued to Seo-yeon's side, not grabbing her wrist like they'd known each other for four years.
Please don't let this become one of those ridiculous "the protagonist falls for the transmigrator" stories.
I'd rather throw myself into a Gate.
Ah-In snatched her wrist away from him. "Go away." Then she pushed him away from the entrance.
Kai grabbed her wrist again. "I'm not letting you run off alone, Ah-In-ssi. We're going together~"
Good Lord.
Aren't you supposed to be obsessed with your Guide boyfriend or something?! Why are you bothering me?!
"Kai, this—"
"Are you seriously thinking of facing the NAA yourself?" Kai asked, tilting his head. "You're either bold or stupid."
"Coming from the guy who eavesdrops on his neighbors?" Ah-In tried pulling her wrist away but Kai's grip was iron-clad.
He chuckled at her words.
"I'm just stating facts, Ah-In-ssi. You don't even know why your friend was taken." Kai said innocently. "Maybe he actually committed a crime."
"He's innocent!" Ah-In snapped back.
"I didn't say he wasn't." Kai blinked, and his grip on Ah-In's wrist loosened.
Ah-In quickly yanked her hand free.
This idiot is quite touchy.
"Don't you have S-Class Esper duties to attend to?"
Kai shook his head. "You're more entertaining, Ah-In-ssi."
Ah-In face palmed. "That's not the point you idiot!"
Kai pursed his lips together. "I'll tell you what, I'll go to the NAA and check on your friend for you." He smiled. "I'm sure he's fine. The NAA doesn't usually hurt suspects."
Ah-In pinched the bridge of her nose.
Just what is happening to the storyline?!
"Now, why would you do such a thing?" Ah-In asked, as she suspiciously eyed Kai.
He was being nice... too nice...
Does he want my kidneys in return?
Kai shrugged and cracked his knuckles. "I just like drama, Ah-In-ssi. It gives me joy, just like your aura." He winked.
Ah-In choked on air. My aura?
She cleared her throat and composed herself. "I'm coming with you."
Kai smiled and ruffled her hair. "Yay~"
Ah-In slapped his hand away. "Stop that!"
****
NAA Headquarters, Near Gwang-Hyundo district. Seoul.
"Have you addressed the news issue?" President Kwon asked as he sipped his Jasmine tea, gesturing to NAA agent in front of him.
"Yes sir, we've contacted the media and told them that it was a misunderstanding. The headlines have been cleared and—"
"Sir!" Another agent came running inside with a tablet. "Guild Master Jang Dojun is outside, he said he'll burn this place down if you don't show yourself!" The agent handed the tablet over to President Kwon, who was choking on his tea.
President Kwon's expression turned into a scowl as he stared at the black-haired, emo-looking thirty-five-year-old standing outside his office.
What is this bastard doing here?
****
"Where are you keeping the kid, President Kwon?" Jang Dojun asked coldly as Jae-won stood beside him trying to look tough.
President Kwon smiled politely. "What do you mean, Jang Dojun-ssi?"
"Don't play dumb with me." Jang Dojun's jaw clenched as he tried closing the distance between them both, but he was stopped by NAA agents.
President Kwon adjusted his suit happily. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You kidnapped my hyung!" Jae-won pointed accusingly at President Kwon.
"You dragged an unregistered Guide off the street in broad daylight." Jang Dojun added.
"That's a serious accusation, Guild Master Jang." President Kwon's smile nearly faltered, cold sweat staining his neck.
How the hell does a low ranking ass Guide have connections with the Blacksmith Guild? Just who the hell is this kid?
President Kwon's expression hardened. "You're causing a disturbance, Guild Master Jang. Please leave."
"I'm not joking here, Kwon." Jang Dojun's brown eyes suddenly darkened. "Bring Jung Hanseong out here, right now."
President Kwon forced a smile. "Well... what if I say no?"
The metal bars that held the windows of the NAA office creaked.
"You really wanna find out, bastard?"
****
Inside a private executive office...
"The NAA took who?" A man with brown hair pulled of his glasses. "Kwon Jae-hyuk must've gone mad." He said calmly as he got to his feet.
"Let's pay the NAA Headquarters a little visit, shall we?"
****
Han Family main house...
The room fell silent.
An elderly woman slowly lowered her teacup onto the wooden table.
Her expression remained calm. "Repeat what you just said."
The servant swallowed. "Y-Young Master... was taken into custody by the National Awakened Authority."
The old woman's grip tightened around the ceramic cup. "They kidnapped my grandson?"
The servant lowered his head. "Yes, Madam."
The old woman slowly stood and dusted her hanbok. "Get the car ready."