After sending Yoon Taehee away, Jaegyeom, left alone, was pacing in the lobby waiting for Kang Yibin. A few minutes passed, and he finally spotted Kang Yibin in the distance. Upon reuniting with her, jaegyeom relayed Yoon Taehee's message verbatim; if they did not receive contact within thirty minutes, they were to return to the main office together. Kang Yibin's expression darkened as she asked.
"So, you're saying the Chief went in alone?"
After a moment of contemplation, Kang Yibin nodded.
"...Yeah, let's just wait for now."
Neither Kang Yibin nor Jaegyeom could grasp what was happening. Most importantly, they couldn't understand why Yoon Taehee had decided to infiltrate alone. Since she hadn't provided a detailed explanation, there was nothing they could do. The two settled at a table inside the event venue, waiting for Yoon Taehee.
"Has the Chief contacted you yet?"
As time passed, Kang Yibin grew increasingly anxious and restless. She kept glancing at her wristwatch, checking the time every minute. Before long, the thirty minutes Yoon Taehee mentioned had completely elapsed.
At that moment, she felt a vibration from her clutch bag. Thinking that Chief had finally contacted her, Kang Yibin's face brightened. She quickly pulled out her phone from her bag. However, upon checking the caller ID, Kang Yibin paused and squinted.
"Uh..? Who is this..?"
The caller ID displayed an unknown number, not Yoon Taehee. After a moment of hesitation, Kang Yibin hunched her shoulders and answered the call in a
whisper.
"Hello?"
To her surprise, it was someone completely unexpected. Startled, her eyes widened. Just then, Jaegyeom looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Kang Yibin pulled Jaegyeom aside to a corner.
"D-Department Head Seok?"
The caller was none other than Seok Juryeon.
Although it had been several years since Kang Yibin joined, today was the first time she had seen Seok Juryeon's direct number. It was also the first time she received such a personal call.
Seok Juryeon had called immediately after Yoon Taehee abruptly hung up, but he did not answer.
Remembering that he had mentioned Kang Yibin during the call, Seok Juryeon decided to call her instead.
She asked Kang Yibin where she was and what she was doing.
"Uh? Ah, right now..."
Kang Yibin, who was receiving the call in the corner, lowered her voice.
"I'm on-site regarding the Undercover Department exorcist's disappearance."
- Explain the situation.
Jaegyeom listened intently to their conversation. As Seok Juryeon asked questions from the other end, Kang Yibin answered methodically. She explained that she had received instructions from Undercover Department Head Choi Wonyoung, and that for some reason, she was unable to use spiritual energy since entering the building. She concluded by stating that Chief Yoon was currently infiltrating alone and they were waiting for contact.
-...
After finally hearing the entire situation, Seok Juryeon was silent for a moment.
"Uh, Department Head?"
At that moment, the call suddenly dropped.
"Wha- what's going on... the call got cut off..."
Kang Yibin looked bewildered.
***
In the Exorcism Department Head's office, Seok Juryeon, who had been on the phone with Kang Yibin, put her phone down and buried her face in her hands.
Something felt off, and Han Jooyoung, who had come to submit documents, had been quietly observing her for a while.
"Department Head, what's wrong?"
Just as Han Jooyoung cautiously asked, Seok Juryeon, still with her forehead in her hands, picked up the receiver from the desk.
Dialing the internal number for the Undercover Department, an aide answered.
"Where is Department Head Choi right now?"
- He's in the second seminar room receiving the weekly report.
Seok Juryeon slammed the receiver down and jumped to her feet. Han Jooyoung followed her with a confused expression. As she strode down the corridor,
exorcists bowed respectfully and greeted her.
However, she ignored all greetings and continued walking briskly. When she reached the Undercover Department Team 1 office, she barged in without knocking.
Choi Wonyoung was in the middle of a meeting with Undercover Department exorcists. All eyes in the office turned to Seok Juryeon at once. The sudden visit, coupled with her fierce demeanor, made the atmosphere tense. As the exorcists exchanged glances, trying to gauge Choi Wonyoung's reaction, Seok Juryeon shot a cold glare at him.
"Department Head Choi, where did you send my agents?"
Choi Wonyoung, who was a few years older than Seok Juryeon, looked up at her with a puzzled expression.
Although they had known each other for over a decade and were on friendly terms, the sudden
confrontation caught him off guard. As he hesitated, he glanced at the Undercover Department exorcists.
"I heard you formed a task force. You supposedly got verbal permission from me, but why am I hearing this for the first time? Did you take money from Kim Yekwon? And what the hell is Kim Yekwon doing?"
The atmosphere in the office turned icy at Seok
Juryeon's fierce tone. Choi Wonyoung, who had been seated, stiffened and half rose from his chair.
"Department Head Seok, calm down. This isn't something to discuss here..."
Choi Wonyoung gestured to continue the conversation later.
"What the hell is this? Quit playing games and explain the situation properly!"
However, Seok Juryeon had no intention of accommodating to Choi Wonyoung's convenience.
With a fierce expression, she reached out and grabbed him by the collar. The Undercover Department exorcists, who had been watching in shock, rushed over to the two. Han Jooyoung, pale with fear, tried to intervene.
"D-Department Head..! W-Why are you doing this all of a sudden...!"
Seok Juryeon, with a terrifying demeanor, spoke in a low voice to Choi Wonyoung.
"Choi Wonyoung, where did you send my guys using my name?"
Choi Wonyoung's face twisted in shock as he was grabbed by the collar.
"Department Head Seok, what are you doing in front of everyone! You're making a mistake right now."
"A mistake? What mistake? You, on the other hand— what kind of scheme are you running, secretly dragging my guys along? Choi Wonyoung, you bastard, I don't know what kind of rebellion you're planning by
using them for your personal purposes, but if even one of them gets hurt..."
Finally, Choi Wonyoung, with wide eyes, shouted at the surrounding exorcists.
"What are you looking at? Get out!"
Only then did the exorcists, who had been frozen in place, bow their heads and exit the office. Silence fell at last. Once they were alone, Seok Juryeon released his collar. Choi Wonyoung, smoothing his graying hair, pressed his temples.
"Department Head Seok. If you come in suddenly like this..."
Seok Juryeon kicked the items on the reception table and sat down facing Choi Wonyoung, pulling on his tie sharply as she asked fiercely.
"Answer me first. Where are my people, and what are they doing?"
Choi Wonyoung sighed and lowered his head. Even as he aged, his original temperament seemed unchanged. Seok Juryeon had been known for her fiery personality since her youth. It had been a long time since she had acted so recklessly.
"I'm sorry it turned out this way. I had no choice."
"What do you mean by that?"
"They asked for an Exorcism Department exorcist as a sacrifice."
"..What?"
Seok Juryeon's eyes widened slightly.
"Juryeon."
After a long silence, Choi Wonyoung finally spoke.
"It was a direct order from the Commissioner."
Her eyes gradually widened.
***
Not long after, Seok Juryeon received another call.
After the abrupt disconnection, Kang Yibin, who was contemplating whether to call back, hurriedly answered the phone.
"Yes, Department Head?"
Seok Juryeon suppressed her emotions and explained.
She stated that Undercover Department Head Choi Wonyoung had never requested her cooperation, and therefore, she had never authorized the mobilization of the Exorcism Department, and that she was completely unaware of all this. Kang Yibin's expression grew increasingly strange.
- Manager Kang, get out of there immediately.
"Uh? B-but... right now, Chief Yoon is..."
- You dumbasses, don't you understand? Can't you tell if it's a trap or a snare? What do you think you idiots, who can't even use spiritual energy, are doing there!
Kang Yibin's face turned pale. It was the first time she had seen Seok Juryeon so furious. Losing her composure, Seok Juryeon unleashed a torrent of harsh words.
- You worthless fools, why are you even walking around with your heads held high? What the hell are you doing crawling in there! Don't drag the others down and return immediately!
For some reason, Seok Juryeon's voice trembled slightly at the end.
- Leave the captured one behind, and at least the rest come out. This is an order...
With that, the call ended. Kang Yibin trembled, staring blankly at her phone screen. She had no idea what was happening.
At that moment, an announcement came over the speaker attached to the ceiling.
"Attention to all guests in the venue. We regret to inform you that today's scheduled 5th anniversary charity event has been canceled due to internal circumstances. Once again, we apologize..."
Jaegyeom and Kang Yibin exchanged glances and realized at that moment.
Something off was indeed happening.