The car moved quietly along the road.
Jin was driving.
Investigator Park sat beside him, his arm resting on the window, looking outside.
He finally broke the silence.
"Your interaction with the president… was strange."
Jin didn't look at him.
"How so?"
"You know what he's done for you," Park said.
"And yet… you were rigid with him."
Jin smiled faintly.
"Because that's what he wants."
Park glanced at him.
"Explain."
"President Go-Hyun doesn't need flattery," Jin said.
"Nor blind loyalty."
"He wants someone real."
He paused briefly, then continued:
"Someone capable of prioritizing reality and interest…
even if they conflict with principles."
Park frowned.
"But the way he stood up at the end—"
"It wasn't anger," Jin interrupted.
"It was a test."
"A test of what?"
"Whether I understand him… or panic."
"Whether I see beyond his words… or stop at the surface."
Jin slowed at the traffic light.
"After noticing how he treated me and the privileges I was given when I arrived,
I researched him extensively."
"That's how I understood his personality."
He stopped completely at the signal.
"When he stood up, he was saying one thing:
If you understand now… you won't need explanations later."
Park remained silent.
Then he chuckled lightly.
"Strange."
He looked at Jin.
"You're younger than me…
but sometimes I feel like you're older than many."
Jin replied calmly,
"Experience isn't measured by age."
They arrived in front of an Association-managed gate.
A mid-level gate. Recon teams. Calm movement.
Park said as he opened the door:
"Two weeks of supervision."
"And two weeks of training," Jin replied.
They went in.
Two Weeks Passed
Dungeon scouting.
Team organization.
Morning mana training.
Refinement. Accumulation. No major events.
Then—
The Girls' Room
A couch. A table full of snack bags. A TV playing without attention.
One girl was lying down, another scrolling through her phone, the third fiddling with a juice box.
Aileen suddenly asked,
"Where's Jin?"
Shuang replied without looking up,
"I don't know. And it doesn't matter."
Two seconds of silence.
Then she added, unconvincingly sharp,
"Jerk."
The Cat looked at them… and smiled.
A sarcastic, knowing smile.
"He disappeared for two weeks," the Cat said.
"And that doesn't matter?"
Shuang shot her a look.
"Shut up."
Aileen muttered,
"He didn't even reply to messages…"
"That's better," Shuang said quickly.
"It gives him peace."
The Cat tilted her head.
"Of course."
Silence followed.
Then the TV noise returned.
Another Training Ground
Reinhardt swung his sword with determination.
Kevin… was eating.
"Focus!" Reinhardt shouted.
"I am focused," Kevin said while chewing.
"The mana's flowing smoothly."
Reinhardt suddenly stopped.
"Wait."
He stared at the burger.
"What is that?"
"Cheeseburger with mushrooms."
Reinhardt froze.
"…Not a smash burger?!"
"No."
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Reinhardt immediately pulled out his phone
and opened the team chat.
Reinhardt:
Guys.
We're going to Korea.
The Next Day – Sunset
Streets of Seoul
They walked without a destination.
Talking about meaningless things.
"This city is huge."
"The air feels different."
"The food's better."
"Worse."
They laughed.
Then Reinhardt suddenly stopped.
In front of them…
the Hunters Association building.
Slowly, he said,
"There's a chance…
he's here."
Shuang crossed her arms.
"And why would he come here?"
At that moment—
A familiar car stopped.
The door opened.
Investigator Park stepped out.
Then… from the other side—
"What?!"
"No way!"
"It's him!"
Jin stepped out.
Silence fell for a second.
Then it exploded.
"Where did you disappear to?!"
"Do you even own a phone?!"
"Two weeks!"
"Two full weeks!"
Jin raised his hand.
"I can explain—"
"No!"
"Shut up!"
"Not now!"
Park looked at them…
and pressed his fingers to his forehead.
"…I'll wait for you inside."
He went in.
Jin looked at his companions.
"Hey."
Shuang said with a scowl,
"Jerk."
Jin smiled.
"You missed me?"
"In your dreams."
The Cat laughed.
"I knew it."
Jin sighed.
And just like that,
the quiet two weeks ended…
and chaos began.
— End of Chapter —