Where Beans Are Planted, Beans Grow

"Then, I will begin the report."

Seo Min-gi began speaking fluently without looking at his notes.

"First, the research team re-examined all the data from the rift measurement devices along the coast where the West Sea rift occurred. Most of the readings were consistent with no significant changes. There was no spike in the graph when the rift opened."

"…"

"However, about six months ago, there was one day when the readings were unusually low."

"Low?"

When the screen changed, a graph showing the recorded readings appeared. Among the uniform bars, there was one noticeably lower point.

"Yes. As you know, high readings indicate a higher probability of a rift forming. But this is the first time we've seen a low reading… We even consulted the device's developer, but couldn't get a useful answer."

"So this has never happened before?"

"Yes, that's correct."

The next screen showed a photo of J wearing a black mask. It was the only official photo left, not a low-quality image from video media. As Lee Sa-young rubbed his finger over the mask, he quickly flipped through Seo Min-gi's report.

West Sea Rift, not reopened. No progress in the research team's efforts to reopen closed rifts. No sighting of the awakened individual suspected to be J.

Summarizing the long sentences, everything was negative. Just as the hand flipping through the screen became a bit rougher,

[Confirmation of the formation of a J searching team at the Awakened Management Bureau.]

Lee Sa-young muttered.

"A searching team from the Management Bureau. There's a rumor that Gyu-Gyu is in charge."

"Ah, yes. That's correct."

Seo Min-gi nodded briefly.

"I looked into it and confirmed that Director Ham Seok-jeong requested a job from Gyu-Gyu. A week after the ranking update, we obtained information that he secretly entered Korea."

Ranked 5th in Korea, Gyu-Gyu. Real name Ban Gyu-min. Despite being an S-grade awakened, he did not belong to any organization, choosing to work as a freelance hunter traveling around the world. Naturally, the government wanted to keep an S-grade awakened person in the country by all means, but Ban Gyu-min slipped away like an eel.

There were only two reasons why he would enter Korea. Either the client or the target of the request was in Korea, or it was the Lunar New Year holiday. Ban Gyu-min entered the country every year to eat tteokguk1, almost as if proving he was Korean. Seo Min-gi quickly continued.

"After making the Hunter Exam questions, Gyu-Gyu did not leave the country and is still staying in Korea."

Lee Sa-young, tapping the tablet screen, asked.

"Hunter Exam top scorers."

"Well… as you know."

Seo Min-gi hesitated slightly. When he turned the screen again, two ID photos appeared side by side.

The Hunter Exam was a tough test, hard to pass with perfect scores, but usually, five people managed to get top marks each session. However, this time there were only two. D-grade awakened Cha Eui-jae and C-grade awakened Ryu Han-baek.

Staring at the stubborn-looking face of Cha Eui-jae in the photo, Lee Sa-young tilted his head.

"Cha Eui-jae's records?"

"As you instructed, we fabricated the eight-year gap in his records. Even if they investigate, they won't find anything unusual. We have a good excuse as well, saying we heard bits and pieces from regular hunters at the hangover soup restaurant…"

"…"

This Hunter Exam included many questions that could only be answered by active hunters who regularly went in and out of dungeons and rifts. While most examinees who had only memorized the special law failed, Cha Eui-jae passed without difficulty…

Lee Sa-young gave a low directive.

"Keep spreading false information. So the Management Bureau doesn't find out."

"Of course."

Seo Min-gi was silent for a moment before cautiously addressing Lee Sa-young again with his hands behind his back.

"Guild Leader, may I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"…Am I correct in my thoughts?"

"…"

Most of Lee Sa-young's orders had clear purposes, whether to suppress someone or for the benefit of the Pado Guild. Hence, Seo Min-gi could carry out his orders without question.

However, after J appeared in the rankings, there were many tasks from Lee Sa-young whose purposes were not immediately clear.

After the ranking update, the first task assigned was to track J's whereabouts. This was not questioned, as it seemed natural to look for J, the national hero. Seo Min-gi carried out the task without complaint.

But then, an odd directive came to conceal someone's rank. After that, orders continued for monitoring the target, reporting everything, protecting the target, tracking the target, and altering records… The unusual tasks kept coming.

Lee Sa-young wasn't someone to give such orders without reason. Seo Min-gi, being very perceptive, connected the dots and found the answer to his question.

Though the subject was omitted, both men knew exactly what the question referred to. Lee Sa-young's violet eyes looked at Seo Min-gi. Seo Min-gi swallowed hard and waited for a response. After a long silence, Lee Sa-young spoke.

"Still lacking."

"What do you mean?"

Lee Sa-young turned off the tablet screen, his reflection in the black screen showing the gas mask.

"Conclusive evidence, certainty."

"…"

Lee Sa-young gazed blankly at the empty wall before speaking suddenly.

"There are two black tickets left. I'll hand them over shortly, so handle them accordingly."

"Excuse me?"

Seo Min-gi, looking around, hesitated before pointing at himself.

"Do you mean… me?"

"Who else is here but you?"

"I'm supposed to be in Malaysia right now. If I show up here, it'll be a huge problem."

"Say you returned early."

"Just checking the passenger list will reveal the lie."

"Then throw it away or put it in a commemorative frame, do as you please."

"Guild Leader! Why not give it to Romantic Opener instead? I'm too weak to handle such a ticket…"

"He's in the hospital."

"What? Did he open a door again? Wait, Guild Leader!"

Though Seo Min-gi called out desperately, but quietly enough not to be heard by others, Lee Sa-young ignored his plea, took out his own ticket, and crumpled it. Seo Min-gi's distorted face disappeared along with the surrounding scenery, and a tidy waiting room appeared.

In front of the waiting room's door, Cha Eui-jae was curled up on a sofa. The sofa seemed small for him, as his legs stuck out even when he curled up. Seeing him like this reminded Lee Sa-young of the time Cha Eui-jae crawled into a tiny, tattered room, making him feel irritated. He thought about telling Hong Ye-seong to place a bigger sofa there.

Even as he approached silently, Cha Eui-jae's even breathing did not change. Despite his usual trouble at sleeping, he seemed to be sleeping soundly for once.

Lee Sa-young crouched down to look at Cha Eui-jae's sleeping face, then opened his hand and held it above Cha Eui-jae's face. The shadow of his black-gloved hand covered Cha Eui-jae's neat face. His head seemed small enough to hold in one hand. Even his curled-up body seemed smaller.

Was he always this small?

Among ordinary people, he might be considered tall, but among hunters, he wasn't particularly big. As Cha Eui-jae stirred slightly, soft black hair fell over his eyes. Lee Sa-young quietly whispered.

"Cha Eui-jae."

He squatted in front of the sofa. His gaze fell on Cha Eui-jae's slightly parted lips. Lee Sa-young slowly closed his eyes. The faint sound of Cha Eui-jae's breathing became clearer when he listened closely. When he opened his eyes again, he focused on Cha Eui-jae's chest rising and falling and his intermittently fluttering eyelashes.

It was a precious sight, one that would not be seen when Cha Eui-jae opened his eyes. Lee Sa-young rested his chin in his hand, observing everything that could only be found in this silence.

And now, Lee Sa-young needed…

A stronger conviction than ever.

***

Inside the convention center cafe where the Artisan Exhibition was being held, day laborers, who are awakened, were working instead of ordinary part-time workers. This was because it was easier to handle issues if an awakened person was involved rather than an ordinary person, a circumstance that couldn't be publicly disclosed.

And into that cafe walked a woman with long blonde hair. It was Honeybee in a black leather jacket. She slid down her sunglasses and scanned the menu.

"One hot Americano and one iced Americano, both large, please."

"That'll be 20,000 won."

"Ridiculous… Hangover soup is cheaper. Here you go."

Honeybee muttered as she handed over her card.

"I haven't seen you in a while, Hornet, your tastes have become quite homely."

A sleepy voice called out. Hearing the voice, Honeybee quickly turned to find the owner. In a corner of the cafe, a man with a messy mix of white and yellow hair, half-tied, was sitting with his legs crossed. He looked like a leisurely person out for a stroll with his relaxed and casual demeanor, despite his messy appearance.

The man had spoken first but then turned his back. Honeybee, who had been smiling for her public image, frowned deeply upon seeing him.

"What the hell? Gyu-Gyu, why are you here?"

The man, called Gyu-Gyu, Ban Gyu-min, ranked 5th in Korea, tilted his body back to look at her upside down with a straw in his mouth, smirking.

"Why else? I'm here to buy weapons."

"Hah."

Honeybee scoffed and crossed her arms.

"Don't be ridiculous. Who doesn't know you're banned from Artisan Exhibition?"

"Yeah. But if you have friends in high places, even bans can be lifted."

"Cut the crap. What are you really planning?"

"What crap? I'm really here to buy weapons."

"Does Jung Bin know you're here?"

"Well~ if he didn't, I'd be in handcuffs instead of sitting here drinking coffee."

Ban Gyu-min leisurely swirled the transparent cup with brown liquid. Seeing rice grains floating around, it seemed he was drinking sikhye2. Honeybee shuddered.

"Unbelievable… They let the guy who almost destroyed the last Artisan Exhibition in here."

Ban Gyu-min, also known as Gyu-Gyu, who nearly wrecked the last exhibition and turned Jung Bin into a nagging school principal, placed the glass down and lazily pretended to clean his ears.

"Hey, it's not like I wanted to fight. That guy picked a fight with me, so I obviously fought back… And Honeybee, when a Korean fights a foreigner, shouldn't you support the Korean? Isn't that patriotism? That's the real patriotism."

"Hah… This guy shows up out of nowhere and calls me a traitor."

Grinding her teeth, Honeybee strode towards Ban Gyu-min and grabbed him by the collar. Ban Gyu-min, feigning surprise, lifted the glass of sikhye into the air. Honeybee muttered with a fierce look.

"You think you can do whatever you want now that you're back in Korea."

"Oh, did I give it away?"

"Shit, that's it."

Just as Honeybee reached into her inventory, a loud siren blared, piercing their ears. Honeybee and Ban Gyu-min simultaneously turned towards the source of the noise. An awakened part-time worker at the counter stood there, teary-eyed, holding a bright red button. Honeybee gritted her teeth and muttered.

"What the hell is that?"

"Um, maybe your coffee is ready? Instead of a buzzer, they use a siren to let you know."

"Do you only spout nonsense?"

Fortunately, the purpose of the button became clear quickly. Before the siren even finished, a composed and orderly figure entered the café. The badge hanging from his neck swayed slightly.

"Well, good morning. What a surprise to see you both together."

"…"

"But…"

Honeybee slowly withdrew her hand from the inventory. Ban Gyu-min's smiling face turned stiff. Like a grim reaper appearing at the sound of the siren, Jung Bin entered with his hands behind his back, smiling warmly.

"Why aren't you two using the lounge that Hong Ye-seong-ssi put so much effort into?"

Indeed, the button given to the awakened part-timer was…

"The same waiting room used by Lee Sa-young?"

A call button for summoning Jung Bin!