EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 864 - Soul (2)

That Person carved a Jin for the remaining Perils, the same one imprinted on the furnace where Docheol burned.

With each stroke, the fire in the furnace grew bigger, along with the sound of something connecting inside.

Nabiryeong watched with a faint smile.

‘Docheol is connected to the furnace now, and the fire inside gets stronger with every stroke drawn. He must be in pain, and I’m sure there’s pointless resistance on his part.’

Nabiryeong liked Docheol’s suffering. 

‘Even though one of the four is apart, it will still be like they’re together since they’re connected by that Jin.’

This may be the reason why That Person used Docheol, the weakest of the four, as the center of this operation.

After this incident, they better understand the Tiger Clan’s workings, and the remaining three can still freely use their full power.

A success would be great, but this failure didn’t result in much hurt.

“Disperse.”

That Person ordered the perils and Nabiryeong to leave.

It seemed like they were thinking of leaving the furnace to a different subordinate.

Nabiryeong was disappointed that she wasn’t put in charge, but nevertheless glad that she could leave and veer away from their suspecting eyes.

‘I need to figure out the whole story behind this incident first. Then I need to see who will manage Docheol and what orders the remaining Perils will receive.’

Nabiryeong was busy calculating how to strategically place her butterflies.

On the outside, she pretended to be sad about leaving.

She lowered her head and walked a few steps away from the Perils as a polite gesture.

“I want to ask you something. Would you please raise your head?”

Gungi asked Nabiryeong after they emerged from the darkness.

Gungi treated her kindly, although not on the same level as he treated That Person.

He simply liked her loyal attitude and the evil deeds she had accomplished.

As Nabiryeong slowly and respectfully raised her head, Gungi said,

“It’s about Sung Gukeon.”

Aside from Docheol, Gungi was the only one who personally saw Sung Gukeon.

Keeping that in mind, Nabiryeong listened intently.

* * *

All objectives of this mission have been achieved.

Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong’s assassination was prevented, the body of Sung Hyungwoo was recovered, Unsa was rescued, and everyone escaped the garden.

But I couldn’t let my guard down.

‘It’s not over yet.’

The exit of the garden led near to Tanrae Middle School.

Although it’s on the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do, it’s still a metropolitan area and is near a school, which means there were still quite a several people passing by.

The place was devastated.

‘The garden’s near Tanrae Middle School. Not unexpected, but the Black Screen made things bigger than I thought.’

It seemed like drastic measures were taken to hide important information.

I had predicted that there would be many variables in the area near Tanrae, but I realize how difficult it would’ve been if only the Tiger Clan was with us.

There were no casualties, but considerable damage was done to the streets.

‘It’s a good thing I put Cheon Dongha here. He kept an eye on the whole process.’

Judging from the extent of the destruction, the information they’re keeping must be valuable.

It’s possible that they can still interfere in this area, but I prepared for that in advance.

“…Congressman Sung Gukeon, are you alright?”

Hong Gyubin ran towards me.

He must’ve really despised working on Teacher’s Day, but he must’ve been doing a great job since he came.

I asked Hong Gyubin to intervene immediately at the association level if something arises around Tanrae Middle School.

‘I told him to run to Sung Gukeon right away.’

Hwang Jiho, Ham Geunhyung, and many others were there, but Hong Gyubin spoke to Sung Gukeon first, just as we discussed.

This is to make people think that Sung Gukeon has connections not only to royal lineage but also to the association.

I’m sure the Black Screen would know about this, especially since we’re in an area tightly controlled by them.

I secretly took a deep breath and spoke as quietly as I could.

“It’s good to meet you like this on Teacher’s Day. How is your teacher, TL Hong Gyubin?”

The word “teacher” has a very special meaning for Hong Gyubin, and he’s aware that I know that.

He also knows that I once took on Jegal’s form in the incident at the library basement.

Given all the circumstances, I’m sure he recognized me right away.

“Ah…”

There was a look of surprise when Hong Gyubin saw a member of the National Assembly injured, but now he looked very worried.

I’ve always been short of being the bane of his existence for making him work overtime too often, but I guess he’s worried because we’ve known each other for quite some time.

Hong Gyubin looked at my left eye, sighed, and said,

“He is well. I think you should worry about yourself first, sir.”

“Hey, you seem to be close with Congressman Sung Gukeon. When I asked you to get me an autograph before, you pretended like you didn’t know him.”

A lot of words were spoken by Employee Jung, who seemed to be a huge fan of players from Eungwang High, but Hong Gyubin didn’t respond.

Only when Manager Yoon appeared and dragged away Jung did I get to speak with Hong Gyubin.

He briefly explained what happened at the site — an energy wave anomaly near the Prospective Youth Player Support Center, and hidden gardens running wild and revealing themselves.

‘The problem’s serious on the Tanrae side. I should’ve prepared more thoroughly…’

I looked around as I talked to Hong Gyubin.

When we first emerged, I felt like Maeng Hyodon was hesitating to speak to me.

He seems concerned but worried that it’ll bring trouble if he talks to me now.

He recognized me too.

‘I took a different form when I rescued him from the fight club. He would’ve known right away if he remembered that.’

Maeng Hyodon’s worries didn’t last long as the middle school teacher who was out first with Heukma and was loitering around Sung Hyungwoo’s coffin ran over as soon as he saw Maeng Hyodon.

The middle school teacher, who had seemed calm until then, started crying and apologizing as soon as he saw Maeng Hyodon.

Perhaps he had been holding it all in back in the garden, afraid that showing any sign of agitation would lower his student’s morale.

Maeng Hyodon was at a loss, but Joo Soohyuk reassured the middle school teacher.

“Gukeon, you…”

“Professor Tak Geosan, Gukeon is working right now. I think you should talk later.”

Tak Geosan was shocked at my appearance, but Professor Ham Geunhyung blocked him.

I asked Professor Ham for this favor, so maybe he knew that this Sung Gukeon was fake.

“That person… seems to be the former head of the association.”

Hong Gyubin asked after briefing me about the situation, his gaze directed towards Sung Hyungwoo’s coffin.

“Yes, he was in the garden.”

It was my first time seeing the real Sung Hyungwoo.

From a distance, he looked so perfectly healthy that he appeared to be simply asleep.

I remembered talking to Sung Hyungwoo’s AI through the old simulator.

The AI looked much more lively, but strangely this body truly feels like the real one.

As I was lost in thought, Hwang Jiho spoke to me after gathering his clones and relaying information to the Tiger Clan.

“Are you done talking with Hong Gyubin? Let’s go. We will be picked up. Your aide should come too.”

“Of course.”

Jeon Muyeong beat me to answering first.

Where are we going?

Picked up by who?

Well, the destination is most likely the Tiger Mansion, and it’s probably Jeokho coming to pick us up.

Jeokho’s there to manipulate information if the Black Screen targets me again.

Recording devices in the vicinity are placed to create the scenario that I wanted the Black Screen to see.

It’s a means for Sung Gukeon to show off his connection with the Fomorian Demons, but since it seemed safe for the Black Screen to see this, I agreed.

“…Alright.”

However, the vehicle that came to pick us up was different from what I expected.

The air limousine had a Red Lion logo on it.

“Hi? I’m here.”

Yong Jegun!

He’s been walking around with his eyes half-open lately, but it seems like he’s not in the mood for that now as his eyes are wide open.

“…You really lost it,”

Yong Jegun said as he looked at my left eye.

“You’re very close with me and Yeom Bangyeol, aren’t you Gukeon-ah? There’s nothing strange about this.”

I don’t know how Sung Gukeon would feel about being “close” to Yong Jegun, but it isn’t too bad.

‘Sung Gukeon is actually close with Yeom Bangyeol. Establishing a connection with him, the Red Lion, and the Dragon Clan will make it safer for him.’

Yeom Bangyeol came in person to greet Sung Gukeon when we were heading to England onboard a Red Lion plane.

Adding a friendship with the Dragon Clan, the effect is even greater.

It’s impossible to refuse Yong Jegun’s offer.

After getting in the limousine, Jeon Muyeong asked,

“Where are we going, Professor Yong Jegun?”

“To Euishin’s space.”

Yong Jegun’s words were weird.

Just because we’re in a limousine doesn’t mean he can be reckless with his words.

Wait, are we about to go to my dorm in this limousine?

Yong Jegun smiled.

“Euishin has a share in the Dragon Palace, you know?”

Are they serious about giving me the White, Red, and Black Dragon Palaces?

I really don’t know what the hell the dragons are thinking, doing such ridiculous things.

“Isn’t the Dragon Palace… quite far away?”

“No, it’s close. Hwangho-ssi said that the Dragon Palace’s location wasn’t very good, so we pondered a lot for the Fragon Clan’s benefactor.”

“I keep telling you not to burden the Tiger Clan’s benefactor with useless things, but you never listen.”

Hwang Jiho was very displeased, but he didn’t protest about going to the Dragon Palace.

Instead of replying to Hwang Jiho, Yong Jegun said what he wanted to say.

“We moved the Dragon Palace.”