Chapter 433: Trust and tests (12)

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Destiny skill, Wu Zhiqi, and Do Sihoo’s light skill.

In order to piece these clues together, it’s best to meet Do Sihoo in person.

Jang Namwook mentioned before that the Military Academy only accepts visitors until 10 PM, so I thought we could make it if we hurry.

I had a shortcut route in my mind, but there were some variables that I couldn’t ignore.

One of them is Hwang Jiho.

“I see you’re not hurt anywhere. I put an air limousine on standby. Oh, or would it be faster if we walked?”

I’m not doing anything dangerous, I’m just heading to the military academy.

I can go by myself, I don’t need this guy to go with me.

I was a little worried, but I couldn’t think of a reason to refuse Hwang Jiho’s company, so I decided to let him come with me.

“…Let’s ride.”

Hwang Jiho’s smile reached his eyes, making a crescent moon shape.

He seemed happy that I didn’t resist.

It all seemed unfamiliar since Hwang Jiho was in his 20’s appearance, and his clothes aren’t as neat as usual.

‘I think each alter ego of different ages serves different roles.’

Hwang Jiho makes use of several alter egos at various ages.

The elementary student Hwang Yuho and the high school student Hwang Jiho is out of the question.

Those two alter egos brazenly mix in with children at school, proving that this old man isn’t worthy of his old age.

The teenager Hwang Jhio is slowly making his presence in the media, but he doesn’t have a specific role yet.

But the alter egos in the older age range are different.

‘Hwang Jiho in his 30’s and 60’s are probably for external use. He uses that appearance usually when doing external activities.’

Hwang Myeongho, the head of the Hwangmyeong Group and chairman of the Hwangmyeong Foundation, is Hwang Jiho’s alter ego in his 60s.

Hwang Jiho took on his 30s form when he attended Kwon Jein’s concert at the concert hall.

He was also in his 30’s form when we met Hyunmoo and Li Wei in China.

‘I wonder what role this 20’s form plays.’

I don’t know how much the alter ego’s age affects his power.

But I guess his 20s self would be different from his elementary and sixty-year-old self, wouldn’t it?

Maybe this 20’s version has been fighting in the front lines without us knowing.

Just like how he attacked and defeated an otherworld in a flash just earlier.

‘…No, maybe it’s a different but simple reason.’

After getting on the air limousine, another passenger pointed out what could possibly be the “simple reason”

“You look similar to the Class Zero crazy— I mean Class Zero’s Hwang Jiho.”

There were other variables other than Hwang Jiho.

And that was Yoo Sanghoon.

We exited the laboratory and went up through the route we entered through.

In the event of an emergency, Ahn Dain suggested that it would be advantageous to fight or hide in a space that’s already familiar to us.

Yeom Junyeol looked a little disappointed at the suggestion, but he complied anyway.

After safely coming up from underground, I greeted Yoo Sanghoon with a simple “see you tomorrow”

— I wanna see you go to your dorm room though.

Yoo Sanghoon seemed to sense that I still had somewhere to go.

I thought if it was better to go back to the dorm first before heading to the Military Academy.

Maybe it was a mistake that I didn’t respond right away since Yoo Sanghoon immediately saw through my thought.

— You can pretend to go back to your room, but I won’t fall for it.

Shortly after, Hwang Jiho joined us.

Hwang Jiho acted nonchalantly even though he knew that he was being observed closely by Yoo Sanghoon.

‘Yoo Sanghoon’s right. Hwang Jiho in his 20’s is similar to his teenage self. His clothes, hairstyle, and vibe are the same so it isn’t easy to hide it.’

Didn’t Hwang Jiho grow taller these days too?

Hwang Jiho’s identity is at risk of being revealed if he goes around in his 20’s appearance.

“Where are we going though?”

Yoo Sanghoon got on the limousine without knowing where we were headed.

The air limousine had the location set right after we boarded so it was already on the move.

I deactivated my light skill and removed my crow mask.

“Military Academy. I sent Jang Namwook a message but he hasn’t replied yet.”

“Why there?”

“I have something to check. If I can’t reach Jang Namwook, I’ll have to contact Do Sihoo and —”

Dingdong.

At that moment, a message arrived on my device.

It was from Jang Namwook.

[Jang Namwook] Euishin-ah

[Jang Namwook] Do you know already? Is that why you texted?

Jang Namwook uncharacteristically sent short messages, not even greeting me first.

I was sure that something was going on.

I didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

[Me] Did something happen to Do Sihoo?

Jang Namwook read the message as soon as I sent it, but he didn’t reply right away.

He must be writing a long paragraph.

Hwang Jiho and Yoo Sanghoon, who was glancing at the hologram I had floated in front of me, suddenly started a conversation.

‘It’s those two’s first meeting though…’

Teenager Hwang Jiho and Yoo Sanghoon knew each other, of course, but they didn’t have a lot of interactions.

But those two seem to connect to each other well.

“Is it related to Do Sihoo?”

“Do you know Do Sihoo?”

“I’ve been involved with him before. I haven’t met him in person, but I talked to Jang Namwook before.”

“…Jang Namwook?”

(T/N: It should be noted that Yoo Sanghoon is speaking formally with Hwang Jiho in his 20’s.)

As soon as Jang Namwook’s name came up, Yoo Sanghoon’s head snapped toward me.

His thoughts were clear.

He wants to ask want kind of party we were going to without him.

Before I could say anything, Hwang Jiho spoke.

“I think it’s best that you know things now that we’re going to the military academy. I think you’ll find out eventually anyway.”

Considering Yoo Sanghoon’s behavior, I’m sure he already has some clue.

There would be misunderstandings if I were not direct, but I was reluctant in involving Yoo Sanghoon in such dangerous things.

However, I think it’s already a bit too late.

“I can say it, right? Aren’t you, Jo Euishin, and Jang Namwook close friends?”

“Does it have something to do with what we’re going to do?”

“Maybe it’s unrelated. Since Jo Euishin is on his way to see Do Sihoo.”

It is related, but what am I supposed to do if he says that?

Now that Hwang Jiho said those things, Yoo Sanghoon will try to find out what Jang Namwook and I have been doing without him.

“Well, then I want to hear it. I’ll talk to Jang Namwook.”

Yoo Sanghoon immediately sent a message to our group chat room.

[Yoo Sanghoon] I’ll be hearing from you.

…Isn’t that a little too out of context?

I was immediately worried about what Jang Namwook would think after seeing that message considering its timing.

Jang Namwook saw the message right away, but he couldn’t answer since he was still typing.

Yoo Sanghoon belatedly sent another message giving some sort of context.

[Yoo Sanghoon] I’m coming there too.

The additional message was even more anxiety-inducing, I think.

Yoo Sanghoon turned off his hologram and began to talk with Hwang Jiho again.

“Do you remember the opening ceremony of the sports exchange exhibition? It happened during that time.”

“Ah… So something happened that time. I knew it.”

Yoo Sanghoon glanced at me before focusing again on talking with the old man.

The old guy laughed once, obviously pleased with the situation.

“Hahaha! You must’ve guessed to some extent.”

Laughing like that is a little…

It overlaps too much with the Class Zero crazyhead, and his identity is at dangerous risk of being revealed.

However, Hwang Jiho didn’t seem to care and continued to speak along with his signature laugh.

Meanwhile, a message arrived from Jang Namwook.

[Jang Namwook] Sihoo just fainted. I’m a little flustered since it hasn’t been long since the last situation was resolved. If it weren’t for Gyuyeon, we would’ve been in huge trouble. I don’t know where to begin or how to explain it. Sihoo activated his light skill before he fainted, and it looked like Sihoo was underwater.

[Jang Namwook] Huh? Sanghoon-ah?

[Jang Namwook] Can you explain in detail what you mean?

It seems that Jang Namwook was typing a long message and eventually cut it short when he saw Yoo Sanghoon’s message.

Unfortunately, Yoo Sanghoon already turned off his device.

[Me] Explain what happened to Do Sihoo.

[Jang Namwook] Oh… Okay…

Jang Namwook quickly gave up on hearing an answer from Yoo Sanghoon.

Instead, he explained the story in a more orderly manner than his initial message.

Do Sihoo suddenly activating his light skill.

Something deep, dark, and heavy caught by Jang Namwook’s eyes.

An intangible stream of water that tightened Do Sihoo’s breath.

And then Namgung Gyuyeon stepping in.

[Jang Namwook] When Gyuyeon buried her shovel in the ground, a mud wall rose and wrapped Sihoo. And then Sihoo was able to breathe properly again.

土克水 — Earth Restricts Water

Among the five phases of yin and yang, there is a saying that the energy of the earth blocks water.

When the energy of water began to bind Do Sihoo, Namgung Gyuyeon used the energy of the earth to block it.

It’s a relief that Do Sihoo’s safe, but there was something that caught my mind.

‘Namgung Gyuyeon’s powers are related to land? A person who didn’t even appear in PMH regularly…’

Her power was significant enough considering this world’s context.

On top of that, Namgung Gyuyeon belongs to the Namgung Group.

It’s even more concerning knowing that Namgung Group is involved in the building of an intelligence terminal.

‘Hong Gyubin had to give up on his name in order to become a player, but it’s different for Namgung Gyuyeon.’

Since there is a considerable age difference between Hong Gyubin and Namgung Gyuyeon, it’s possible that the family’s education policy already changed.

But I had doubts about it.

The family was stubborn enough to kick out such a competent son like Hong Gyubin, so it’s not likely that they’d change their values so easily.

‘…I should focus on Do Sihoo first.’

Jang Namwook welcomed the news that we were on the way to meet Do Sihoo.

He seems more relieved to have us there than to leave him at the Military Academy Hospital where Do Sihoo was once assaulted before.

“We’ve arrived.”

We agreed to meet at a hotel near the Military Academy.

Yoo Sanghoon and Hwang Jiho continued speaking from time to time while we were on the move.

I think those two talk more than we usually do.

We waited for Jang Namwook and Do Sihoo in a suite room reserved by Hwang Jhio.

“When’s Jang Namwook coming?”

“He just got permission to stay out overnight. He’ll be here soon.”

“Let’s have a drink while we wait. I ordered room service.”

Hwang Jiho took out an orange juice from the minibar and held it out along with a glass of ice.

Hwang Jiho naturally handed it to Yoo Sanghoon.

Seems like this old guy likes Yoo Sanghoon.

Finally, while Hwang Jiho was preparing his own drink…

“…!”

Hwang Jiho stopped and ran to the door.

His expression as he looked at the doorway was unusual.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Someone’s coming. Everybody back off.”

At that, Yoo Sanghoon reflexively hid somewhere in the room.

As we hid, the door opened.

It was Jang Namwook who opened the door using a key card from the front desk.

The problem was the person behind him.

“Why are you here?”

Behind Jang Namwook was Do Sihoo being carried by Jecheondaesung.

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