"No. He isn't the only S+ Class hunter in the world. Grab anyone else. If it escalates into a fight between awakeners, I will restrain them myself."
Stubborn to his core, Yoon Seoyul spoke before Cheon Areum could even conjure a response. Shrugging his shoulders, he moved on to eat his vanilla sundae because he wasn't exactly wrong. If it is a national-level threat, then they can call anyone for the job. It's not like he was number one in world rankings yet.
"Mr. Yoon Seoyul, as we have said before, only Mr. Cheon Areum is the one who can do this. We need to track him down, and his abilities are perfect for it. He's been searching the whole map of S-Class gates. He will be the most efficient in detecting this S+ Class awakener."
"Inho can pinpoint his live location from here without diving into danger if you can just find out his identity."
"Please understand, Mr. Yoon Seoyul. We don't even know the gender of this new awakener. We can't give him a picture out of nowhere."
"For these two weeks, what has everyone been doing? You want us awakeners to do everything for you and present it on a platter for you? Do your jobs and find him yourselves. If you have the means to detect new gates from all over the country, then find a way to detect his energy too."
"That will take more time and resources, which will ultimately put us in an unfavorable position. For all of the last surges, it has been the new awakener's responsibility to help us contain the outpour. But if we don't find this person and these gates get out of our hands, Mr. Cheon Areum will be the one who will have to clear more gates than anyone else, and this new awakener could run rampant on us in our worst times. He will be in danger no matter which option he chooses, and such is the responsibility of the strongest."
After a back-and-forth with Yoon Seoyul, the executive director, Han Myunhjin, closed the argument with an undeniable fact. Cheon Areum finished the sundae, picking up the next without batting an eye. He always felt like he had a black hole for a stomach, but now it was as if the food didn't even reach the black hole before disappearing somewhere else. But his energy levels would stabilize for a few hours, so it wasn't all that bad.
"Why does he have to be in danger? He can just not interfere and leave the country until this matter is settled."
Wiping the ice cream from his mouth with his finger, Yoon Seoyul spoke out as Cheon Areum stared at Yoon Seoyul, anticipating the famous gesture of him licking his finger afterwards. But then Yoon Seoyul just wiped his hand with a tissue.
Aww....
Saddened by it, Cheon Areum lowered his face and clasped the cold sundae cup with his hand as the faces opposite of them faltered upon hearing Yoon Seoyul's last words, since they couldn't hold him or Cheon Areum down and knowing that they were unable to reason with him.
"I will do it."
Cheon Areum broke the prolonging silence.
"As someone who loves all humankind, it is my responsibility as the strongest to look after them too."
"..."
Yoon Seoyul gave him a nasty side-eye of disapproval but didn't voice it out.
"Why is everyone so sure that this person is dangerous? Maybe he just needs a little kick in the right direction to guide him to the registration center?"
The faces in the room brightened with hope as Cheon Areum spoke, except Yoon Seoyul, who listened to him with a visibly darkening expression—darker than his eyes.
"Areum."
He called out to him as Cheon Areum lifted his hand towards Yoon Seoyul, speaking in a whiny tone.
"My hand is cold..."
Cupping the clenched hand between his own, Yoon Seoyul leaned closer, warm breaths spilling softly over the chilled knuckles as he rubbed them tenderly. Seeing the sight, a sudden urge to get this man naked poked at his heart. Yoon Seoyul's hands were always on the warmer side. In no time, his coldness was blown out of his skin.
"Yoon Seoyul, imagine if we were just normal humans with no power to even consider protecting ourselves from an S+ Class gate or awakener. What would you do in that situation?"
"I would still protect you and Rian the best I can."
"But you won't be able to... The only one who can protect the unawakened people is an S+ Class hunter who can fight and win in this situation. The children we have been sponsoring are still in school, just like Rian. There are countless families out there who love each other just as much as us. I don't want them to feel scared and helpless against these threats, knowing I am well capable of getting rid of these threats."
The soft and calm voice he had been using was now chilling, colder than ever as Cheon Areum finished speaking. Yoon Seoyul gazed at him, still reluctant to agree, and just sighed, lowering their hands. Knowing he was just as stubborn as himself, Yoon Seoyul directed his burning gaze at the other people present in the room. Resuming to eat his vanilla sundae, Cheon Areum leaned back in his chair.
"Give me the details."
"For the S+ Gate, it is just speculation for now. If it's possible, I think it would be best if we found this new awakener before that happened. Since the energy levels are rising mostly in Seoul, there is a high chance that the S+ Class awakener is in this city currently. If you could give us more information on your ability, we can calculate how long it would take you to search the whole city and how we can do it in a more structured way."
The Head of Dungeon & Energy Analysis, Choi Yuna, suggested in a low voice, seemingly still wary of Yoon Seoyul.
"I'm not sure, to be honest. I haven't been inside a gate for the past two months and have not tested it out to its limit."
Realizing it was all on him anyway, Cheon Areum got to his feet.
"I will try to search in my own way and notify the central bureau as soon as I have a lead. Thank you for the meal, Mr. Bomin."
"Don't mention it, Mr. Cheon Areum. We are all indebted to you."
Turning to Yoon Seoyul, he caressed his cheek to soothe his unrestrained energy that was boiling inside him. Yoon Seoyul stared up at him as Cheon Areum asked him.
"Take me home."