Basement Level 3 Research Room, National Central Library. 3:14 PM.
Ha-yul stared at the pale corpse photo. The walls were covered with materials about the victim. This was the third unsolved murder case this week.
"Seo Jin-woo, 46. Plastic surgeon with a practice in Gangnam. Body found in the bathroom of his residence, but no trace of crime at the scene."
Director Do Yun-seok explained in a calm voice. As always, no emotions flowed around him. A perfect void, as if completely blocked.
"We'll need to confirm the peculiarities in the Emotion Court," Si-on said, "but looking at the victim's social media history, there are signs he felt like he was being pursued by something recently."
Ha-yul turned his head toward Si-on. After last night's revelation that Si-on's sister was Director Do Yun-seok's daughter, he had begun to see her differently. Especially after LUX's phone call, where she identified herself as Do Yu-mi, which remained etched in his mind.
"Yoon Si-on," Ha-yul's voice carried a subtle tension, "who was the last person the victim contacted?"
Si-on seemed momentarily confused by the change in how he addressed her. They had already been calling each other "Si-on" and "Ha-yul," but he had suddenly reverted to formal address.
"The last call was to... Professor Park Min-ji."
Ha-yul's eyes widened. Park Min-ji was the victim of the first case.
"So there's a connection."
Do Yun-seok drew a deep breath.
"This case is now top priority. We'll open the Emotion Court at midnight. Prepare thoroughly."
9:00 PM, National Emotion Center office.
Ha-yul stared at the computer screen, analyzing data. Suddenly, he felt a slight tremor at his fingertips. Standing to his right was clearly Si-on, but the emotions detected around her were different from usual.
Si-on's emotions typically featured a warm earthy color. But now, it seemed as if a hazy green light was overlaid on top. Like a dual emotion pattern.
Ha-yul looked up.
"Yoon Si-on, what are you thinking about?"
Si-on smiled, but with that smile, a subtle fracture occurred around her emotions. Like fine cracks spreading across the surface of her emotions, as if glass was about to break.
"I'm looking for connections between the victims."
Ha-yul's eyes remained fixed on Si-on's emotions. He saw the green layer momentarily ripple. It was the color of "concealment." Ha-yul had tracked countless emotion patterns, but this was his first time seeing such a dual pattern.
"Please tell me the truth."
Si-on's eyes wavered. A larger fracture occurred in her surrounding emotions.
"What do you mean?"
"There's a dual pattern in your emotions. I couldn't see it before... but today is different."
The color drained from Si-on's face. The green emotion became increasingly visible above her earthy emotion.
"Ha-yul... are you reading my emotions?"
Ha-yul quietly nodded.
"I want to know exactly who you are."
Si-on glanced around. They were alone in the office.
"We can't talk here. Follow me."
Center rooftop. 9:32 PM.
A cold wind blew between them. The city lights stretched out below.
"I'm active in Eclipse," Si-on finally spoke.
"Eclipse?"
"A secret organization that opposes the Emotion Court system. We believe Director Do Yun-seok is abusing the Emotion Court."
For the first time, a distinct emotion formed around Ha-yul. Confusion—a mixture of pale yellow and green.
"How can you prove it?"
Si-on rolled up her sleeve. There was a small tattoo on the inside of her wrist. A sun shape, half-covered.
"This is Eclipse's mark. After losing my sister, I joined Eclipse to find the truth."
Ha-yul's eyes widened.
"Your sister from last night... Do Yu-mi is the prototype for LUX?"
Si-on nodded.
"My sister was special. She had an innate emotional resonance ability. Director Do Yun-seok was researching that ability when... he lost her. No... perhaps 'had her taken away' would be more accurate."
A yellow shockwave flashed around Ha-yul. It was a real emotion he was feeling for the first time. Shock and betrayal washing over him simultaneously.
"So your reason for approaching me was..."
Si-on lowered her head.
"At first, it was to monitor you."
A sudden intense change occurred in Ha-yul's emotions. A green emotional line formed around him, as if breaking. It was the emotion of "betrayal" that appears when an intimate relationship breaks.
"I see... you've been using me all along," Ha-yul's voice was cold.
Si-on quickly raised her head.
"No! At first yes, but as I got to know you more..."
The green layer in Si-on's emotions split open, and the earthy emotion within began to shine strongly. It was genuine sincerity, not a lie.
Ha-yul was confused. He was accustomed to reading others' emotions, but experiencing his own emotions was completely new. Betrayal, anger, and mixed confusion. All emotions poured out at once.
"Ha-yul, please believe me. You're special," Si-on's voice trembled, "Director Do Yun-seok created you. As a perfect emotion tracker who can't feel emotions but can only read others'."
The yellow shockwave around Ha-yul spread more intensely.
"What are you saying?"
"Thirteen years ago, the day you lost your family. The Director applied an emotion suppression protocol to you. He blocked your emotions and implanted the ability to read only others' emotions."
Ha-yul gripped the railing tightly. His knuckles turned white.
"Why?"
"To perfect the Emotion Court. They needed a perfect reader unaffected by human emotions."
Si-on took a step closer.
"But recently, you've been changing. You've started to feel emotions. And that's... something not in the Director's plan."
Ha-yul recalled what LUX had said yesterday.
-You helped imprison me in the Emotion Court thirteen years ago.-
"LUX... no, Do Yu-mi said I helped imprison her in the court. What does that mean?"
Sadness settled in Si-on's eyes.
"The day your emotion tracking ability was completed, my sister's consciousness was absorbed into the Emotion Court system. You were involved in that process."
The emotions swirling around Ha-yul rotated faster. Fragments of memory flashed through his mind. Do Yun-seok, an explosion of light, and a girl's scream.
"I can't... remember," Ha-yul said painfully.
"The Director probably manipulated your memories too."
The rooftop door suddenly opened. A security guard appeared.
"What are you doing here? This area is restricted to authorized personnel only."
Si-on quickly showed her ID and defused the situation. They went back inside the Center.
In the elevator, Si-on took Ha-yul's hand.
"Ha-yul, be careful in the Emotion Court tonight. If I noticed the anomaly in your emotion pattern, the Director will soon notice too."
Ha-yul pushed Si-on's hand away. The broken green emotional line around him was distinct.
"Yoon Si-on, how can I trust you? Everything has been an act until now."
Tears welled in Si-on's eyes. The earthy emotion around her intensified.
"Not everything was an act, Ha-yul. That you've become important to me... that's sincere."
The elevator stopped. When the doors opened, Director Do Yun-seok was standing there.
"Ha-yul, Si-on, are you ready? The Emotion Court summoning time is approaching."
Do Yun-seok's cold gaze scanned between the two. His look was suspicious.
"Yes, Director," Si-on answered calmly.
Ha-yul nodded silently. His mind was in chaos. He didn't know whom to trust.
Two hours and fourteen minutes remained until midnight.
Ha-yul's office, 10:22 PM.
Ha-yul sat alone, pondering the truth Si-on had claimed. Now, definite emotions swirled around him. Misty and faint, but clearly his own.
Someone knocked at the door. It was Si-on.
"Come in," Ha-yul said coldly.
Si-on approached cautiously. In her hand was a small USB drive.
"This... contains all the files about you. Materials Eclipse has collected over 13 years. It details who you are and how you became an emotion tracker."
Ha-yul stared at the USB.
"Why are you giving me this?"
"I want to give you a choice. Whether to learn the truth and join us, or..."
Si-on stopped speaking and carefully placed the USB on the desk.
"Think about it, Ha-yul. At midnight, the Director will give you a special assignment. If my guess is correct, it will be the final step in making you completely his tool."
Ha-yul picked up the USB. At that moment, a complex emotional pattern formed around him—anger, confusion, doubt, and a faint hope all mixed together.
"If I go with you... what would I need to do?"
Si-on moved closer and whispered in his ear.
"Help us free LUX. Free my sister..."
→ [To be continued in Episode 17]
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