Where Beans Are Planted, Beans Grow

A Basilisk's Fang found in the West Sea rift. Although not made by Hong Ye-seong, it was said to be crafted by Hong Ye-seong.

Even without considering the engraving, Hong Ye-seong's claim had some credibility when thinking about the nature of the Basilisk's Fang. Children resemble their parents; beans grow where beans are sown, and red beans where red beans are sown.

When Cha Eui-jae fell silent, deep in thought, Hong Ye-seong began to whine.

"Hmm? Hmm? Oh, please tell me. I'm dying of curiosity."

He was just like the Basilisk's Fang, making claims of his own accord.

However, the "father" of the Basilisk's Fang, Hong Ye-seong, knew nothing about the rift in the West Sea. Simply thinking, it seemed that it was made by another Hong Ye-seong, not the one in front of him. A rift where time and space are twisted wasn't a mere wild fantasy now. Cha Eui-jae had already confirmed its possibility.

"There are many cases where they have the same names and faces but are different people."

Hong Ye-seong didn't appear in the fragments shown by Yoon Ga-eul. However, the fragments seen back then were part of the destroyed world that Yoon Ga-eul had pieced together, so somewhere, there would exist a fragment where he appeared. Cha Eui-jae gazed absentmindedly at the grass swaying with the wind.

'I need to meet Yoon Ga-eul again…'

If he could find out how the Basilisk's Fang made by the Hong Ye-seong in the fragments appeared in the West Sea rift… it might help rescue the people buried in it. He also needed to ask more about the apocalypse.

As Cha Eui-jae remained silent, Hong Ye-seong, waiting for him to speak, started tapping the floor with his foot.

"Hey? Secretary? You are listening to me, right? Are you thinking? I'll wait?"

Cha Eui-jae's gaze moved past Hong Ye-seong to a dozing ceramic chicken. The chicken, possibly disturbed by the continuous vibrations beneath it, had been shaking non-stop since it plopped down on the phone.

Someone persistent enough to call repeatedly like this could only be Lee Sa-young. Cha Eui-jae quietly looked away, watching the fluffy clouds drift across the blue sky. It was time to escape reality.

'Great, I'm fucked.'

"Secretary Kim!"

Cha Eui-jae's eyebrow twitched at the voice that sounded like it was three seconds away from turning into a roe deer. Not only was his thinking being interrupted, but now his escape from reality was being disturbed as well. Cha Eui-jae sighed deeply. He had held back three times already. Suddenly, an irritable thought popped up.

'…How can this guy be so brazen after kidnapping someone?'

Lee Sa-young's gas mask appeared in his mind, and Lee Sa-young's mocking voice began to play automatically.

'Didn't I tell you to avoid meeting others as much as possible… If you like socializing so much, why not join a mountaineering club?'

Just thinking about enduring Lee Sa-young's sarcasm made his fists clench. Overcoming one mountain only to find another taller one ahead, it seemed.

'Even if I escape, I'll have to listen to Sa-young's crap, huh?'

Cha Eui-jae quietly spoke to Hong Ye-seong, who was stomping his feet.

"You were asking where I got this from."

"Oh! You finally decided to answer. Yes, where did you get it?"

Cha Eui-jae looked at Hong Ye-seong, who was nodding enthusiastically. His upright posture on the cushion was gradually becoming skewed.

"Why are you curious?"

"Huh?"

Hong Ye-seong blinked, looking puzzled. By now, 'Secretary Kim' was slouching like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one knee up, arm resting on it, leaning sideways. Cha Eui-jae responded bluntly.

"Why should I trust Hong Ye-seong and tell him anything?"

"Me?"

"No, really. Who would just talk based on a verbal promise? You should present a proper contract. Like, if I tell you, you'll do something for me. Shouldn't you first propose such conditions?"

"I said I'd keep it a secret and even make weapons for you!"

"Wouldn't it be suspicious if a hunter suddenly showed up with a weapon made by Hong Ye-seong?"

Initially planning to pass it off as a joke, Cha Eui-jae's words started to contain some truth, influenced by the turmoil he experienced from Lee Sa-young earlier.

"Moreover, if you demand I talk, do I have to comply? Isn't this an abuse of authority and power?"

"Wow… Huh, this is the first time I've heard something like this since my awakening. It's quite refreshing."

Caught in a sudden controversy over abuse of power, Hong Ye-seong pounded his chest.

"I'm Hong Ye-seong. And what's wrong with a parent asking where their lost child was found? Are you really not going to answer?"

Despite his emotional appeal, it unfortunately had no effect on Cha Eui-jae.

Revealing that he found it in the West Sea rift would be tantamount to declaring himself as J. What would be the benefit of divulging this information? None. Moreover, Hong Ye-seong had close ties with the Awakened Management Bureau, so even if he kept his mouth shut, there was a sufficient chance the information could leak.

With no more useful information to extract from him, and the certainty of Lee Sa-young's outburst, there was no reason to speak.

"You said earlier that you didn't make it, right? That wasn't too long ago. Are you really the parent?"

With no other choice but to mentally exhaust Hong Ye-seong, Cha Eui-jae, emboldened by having no retreat, began to mock him relentlessly, causing Hong Ye-seong to gape.

'They say he's Lee Sa-young's secretary, did he learn to be sarcastic from being around him?'

Unfortunately, the man in front of him was also wearing a gas mask, making it seem like Lee Sa-young was sitting right there.

"You also said you've never seen a basilisk. I'd like to share, but trust is lacking…"

The secretary shouldn't have seen one either. But Secretary Kim exuded the confidence of someone in the know. Hong Ye-seong, flustered, hit the black blade of the Basilisk's Fang. He waved his hand, showing it wasn't cut or injured.

"See? My name is on it, and this sharp thing doesn't harm me. The creator recognizes it."

"Let me see it."

Hong Ye-seong hesitantly handed the Basilisk's Fang over, his eyes filled with suspicion. The Basilisk's Fang, as if it missed its familiar, affectionate father's touch, struggled in the hands of this ruffian, but Cha Eui-jae grasped the handle firmly.

['Basilisk's Fang' thoughts updated!]

[Fang's thought: If you strike me, I'll cut your hand off.]

Although the Basilisk's Fang didn't recognize its master and became aggressive, Cha Eui-jae had his own plans.

[Trait: Basilisk's Venom (S+) activated.]

'Get a clue.'

['Basilisk's Fang' thoughts updated!]

[Fang's thought: Cancel the previous thought.]

Suppressing the Basilisk's Fang timid rebellion with the authority of basilisk's venom, Cha Eui-jae struck his hand against the blade without hesitation. Despite the direct hit, his hand remained unscathed. Hong Ye-seong's eyes widened. Cha Eui-jae shamelessly said.

"Maybe the blade just got dull? This doesn't seem like proof."

"Wait! I'll sharpen it. Then try again."

Somehow, the roles of the interrogator and the one being interrogated had naturally swapped. Hong Ye-seong, engrossed in proving he was the father of the Basilisk's Fang, suddenly seemed to have forgotten about his suspicions.

'It's fortunate that Hong Ye-seong is simple.'

Just as he felt a sigh of relief watching Hong Ye-seong jump up to find a whetstone, Hong Ye-seong murmured.

"…Something seems to be happening outside."

"Pardon?"

"…"

Without replying, Hong Ye-seong fiddled with his phone. Soon, a mechanical TTS voice began to play.

—Hong Ye-seong-ssi, could you possibly move up the auction restart time? ^^ There's a bit of an issue.

—Hong Ye-seong-ssi, please disregard the previous message.

—Do not come outside under any circumstances.

The messages sounded like the final words of a survivor in a horror story. Cha Eui-jae's expression turned sour, but Hong Ye-seong looked serious.

"If Jung Bin is saying things like this, it means the situation outside is seriously messed up."

"…"

"Gyu-Gyu will be cautious because of last time, and others will be wary of me. So, the only one who would do something…"

Their gazes met in mid-air. They both seemed to be thinking of the same person. As if confirming their speculation, the chicken's vibrations had also ceased. Cha Eui-jae closed his eyes tightly.

'Damn it, Sa-young. What are you up to now…'

***

"Ugh, ah…"

Messy white hair scattered in disarray. A black combat boot pressed down hard on the shoulder of the man lying on the ground. Gasping, struggling breaths escaped. Gyu-Gyu, coughing roughly, scratched at the boot with his hand, a twisted smile on his lips.

"Do you think pressing like that will break my shoulder?"

A head in a gas mask tilted slightly to the right, still holding a phone to their ear. A faint automated voice could be heard from the phone, announcing that the call couldn't be connected. A mocking voice asked.

"Who are you talking to? …J?"

The moment the name "J" was mentioned, the foot pressing on the shoulder increased its force. A clear cracking sound of bones misaligning was heard, but despite this, Gyu-Gyu continued to observe the gas mask with a faint, mocking smile. Lee Sa-young muttered eerily.

"What makes you so confident to act this way?"

"Cough, fuck, this hurts…"

"You should pick your fights more wisely…"

Suddenly, a loud siren blared from somewhere. Gyu-Gyu glanced slightly, but the foot relentlessly grinding into his shoulder and moving toward his collarbone left him writhing helplessly.

"Trying to establish a pecking order here like you did with mercenaries, are you?"

Lee Sa-young tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder and was about to remove his gloves when it happened.

Swiish! A black chain shot toward Lee Sa-young. He clicked his tongue and stepped back. Gyu-Gyu clutched his shoulder and started coughing violently. The chain, unable to find its target, recoiled back into its owner's grasp. The sound of metal clanking and a deep sigh followed.

"Yes… Gyu-Gyu."

The siren sound accompanied the arrival of Jung Bin. Wrapping the black chain around his hand, he approached them. His face, usually adorned with a gentle smile, was now stern.

"I need an explanation of the situation."