Chapter 67
It wasn't a face he knew very well. But he had definitely seen similar features somewhere before.
'Judging by how the memory isn't coming to me immediately, it's not someone I met in the last few days.'
Gwon Seohong, an executive of Priol and Haetae's liaison, quickly sized up Han Chasu.
Despite wearing a hospital gown, Han Chasu had quite a handsome appearance.
Almond-shaped eyes and composed gray pupils. His nose bridge was straight, just like the disposition he had heard of, and his jawline was sharp, as if representing the hardships he had endured until now.
Gwon Seohong thought that if he recovered his health and gained a bit more weight, he would be a young man worth anyone's attention.
But no matter how much he looked, no one particularly came to mind. 'He's definitely not one of the Alliance executives.'
Priol was a gray zone claiming to be an intermediary between the Freedom Alliance and the Awakened Management Bureau. But their roots were ultimately in the Alliance.
Because Priol itself was born from Haetae's hands.
Therefore, Gwon Seohong knew the faces of most influential guild figures within the Alliance, including Haetae.
However, among them, there was no one who could be connected to Han Chasu. 'Then where on earth did I see him?'
Someone whose connection wasn't close enough to recall immediately. But someone familiar enough that he must have seen their face recently. 'Could it be someone I saw at the last gathering?'
Other groups besides the Alliance participated in the gathering. For example, organizations based overseas….
A spark of strange light flashed in Gwon Seohong's pupils.
"Mr. Han Chasu, could you perhaps…."
It was then.
Rustle.
Something as large as a door blocked his vision from both sides.
"Your gaze is impudent."
"I'd appreciate it if you refrained from personal questions."
"Huh?"
The two men standing beside Han Chasu had instantly blocked the way forward. Seeing the two men standing firm like wooden totems, Gwon Seohong furrowed his brows.
"I wasn't trying anything, you know."
"You'd better not have been?"
Geum Myeonggyeol smiled languidly and wrapped one arm around Han Chasu's shoulder.
"I'm investing my efforts in him these days, you see."
"Oh."
"I'm talking about a scouting offer."
A decisive voice reached Gwon Seohong's ears as he let out an exclamation. It was Han Chasu. He looked at Geum Myeonggyeol with annoyed eyes.
"The Exilis Guild Master keeps recommending that I transfer guilds these days."
Gwon Seohong's eyes widened. 'So it's true that S-ranks are incredibly insular.'
After Baekdam and Jeong Yiheun, and now even Geum Myeonggyeol. Just what was so special about this person called Han Chasu?
Just as Gwon Seohong's gaze deepened while looking at him.
"I told you to watch your eyes."
Something light swished past his eyes. Gwon Seohong lightly snatched it.
It was a plaque issued by Haetae.
Geum Myeonggyeol had clearly torn it from someone's waist.
"Make sure to return that to its owner yourself."
"Goodness… I'm not someone who gets treated like this just anywhere."
Gwon Seohong frowned at the attitude, as if he were being treated like an errand boy.
"You're only receiving this much courtesy because it's Priol."
Geum Myeonggyeol lazily raised the corners of his lips.
"If it were Haetae, an arm would have flown off the moment you stepped foot in here."
Geum Myeonggyeol smiled, gently stroking his own left arm.
"Like the owner of that plaque."
At the cheeky provocation, Gwon Seohong let out a scoff as if dumbfounded. However, he didn't explode in anger or demand an explanation.
Because he had expected to sustain that level of injury from the moment he started this affair.
As Han Chasu had suspected, Haetae hadn't caused a commotion simply to express their gratitude.
The Management Bureau's infinitely rude treatment of summoning guild masters belonging to the Freedom Alliance in turns. Haetae had judged that a strong show of intent was necessary against this.
"They must think we'll let them drag us around forever."
"We've humored them long enough; it's time to send a warning to stop at this point. That new Bureau Chief isn't the type to come to his senses otherwise."
And so, Haetae decided to make a move to shatter the Awakened Management Bureau's dignity for the first time in a while.
The gratitude toward Han Chasu was the justification for it.
It was an excuse they could offer when the Awakened Management Bureau questioned the purpose of their visit. 'I didn't expect Geum Myeonggyeol to pop out right away, but still, we achieved quite good results.'
Not only did they half-break through the Bureau's barrier, but they also rendered the late-arriving Chief of Security immobile. Hanging the Bureau Chief—who had arrived at work late—at the top of a roadside tree was a bonus.
It was an achievement satisfactory to the Alliance members who had been grinding their teeth at the Management Bureau's arrogant oppression.
All that remained now was delivering the gifts for Han Chasu, who had been their justification.
Gwon Seohong showed a painted smile and snapped his fingers.
"Whatever more we talk about here, I doubt I'll hear anything pleasant. Then shall we get to the main point? Now, bring them in."
Haetae, which had caused a commotion at the Management Bureau's main gate and even gifted the Bureau Chief with an utter humiliation.
The gifts from their eternal rivals and no different than estranged brothers came in one after another.
"These are potions and elixirs crafted with care by our artisans."
Sounds of people swallowing their breath were heard here and there. That was how precious these items were.
Gwon Seohong slightly bowed his head with a proud face.
"Please accept them all and I wish you a speedy recovery. Ah, it would be even better if we could share a cup of tea together after you're discharged."
Haetae's magnanimity was truly great and vast.
***
Not long after Priol left, Geum Myeonggyeol also returned. This was after receiving a threatening call from his secretary saying he would submit a resignation letter if he didn't return immediately.
"See you again."
Relieved by the cleaner exit than expected, but only for a moment.
Han Chasu, left in the hospital room, rubbed his chin in dilemma.
"Gasp, this must really be a potion made by Myeongseon. Look, there's a seal stamped at the bottom."
"How does a medicine emit such a fragrance? It's like freshly plucked leaves."
"So what if it's great? It's just a potion made by beggars who watch the backs of Walpae bastards… Wait. Deputy Lee, could that be the Cheongsokhwan?"
People couldn't come to their senses before the luxurious chests. 'I want to throw them all away… But if I did, Haetae would probably step in and try to kill me.'
They would obviously appear just like they did today when they came to wreck the Management Bureau, claiming that he had ignored their sincerity and insulted the artisans' honor.
"So what am I supposed to do with all of that?"
Han Chasu furrowed his brow. The number of chests totaled twelve. At this rate, it was an amount he couldn't even fit in his inventory, let alone bring home.
Should he set aside a day and consume them all?
Just as he was seriously counting the number of medicines.
"Something suddenly came to mind, so I wanted to mention it."
The bespectacled man, Seo Jeongmin, approached and spoke to him.
"Could the person the Priol executive mentioned perhaps be Mr. Han Chasu's family?"
"Pardon?"
"Didn't he say he felt like he had seen you somewhere before?"
The low voice was serious. His expression was the same.
"If your family is alive and among them there is an Awakened, it is entirely possible. Everyone says Priol knows more about Awakened ones than the Management Bureau."
At the following words, Han Chasu's gaze darkened. To him, family had merely been a face-saving excuse to chase away Baekdam in the first place. He had no real intention of finding them.
Setting aside the fact that he had confirmed there were no family members besides himself in the records, it was because he wasn't the real Han Chasu. 'Even if Han Chasu's family truly exists, finding them isn't my responsibility.'
Even if he had family, he thought there was no guarantee they would welcome Han Chasu.
So it was better not to meet. For both their sakes.
But Seo Jeongmin didn't seem to think so. When at the medical center, he had earnestly persuaded him to look for his family.
"Wouldn't it be better to move as quickly as possible rather than searching after you're discharged? If you wish, I'll drop a hint to the Priol side."
"There's no need for that."
"Mr. Han Chasu."
Seo Jeongmin called out to him with a serious face.
"I didn't want to go this far, but I have no choice. The truth is, since that day, we have all been so worried about you that we've barely slept."
What is this nonsense? Seo Jeongmin spoke to Han Chasu, whose eyes had widened.
In a soft and subtle tone that stirred the heart.
"Suppose we find your family. But what if they are vicious criminals or abandoned you for truly absurd reasons? What would you do then?"
Han Chasu felt Seo Jeongmin's persistent gaze. A stubborn expression that seemed determined not to miss a single reaction. 'There is such a thing as too much overprotection.'
Han Chasu let out a snicker and shook his head.
"I'll be fine."
"……!"
"They must have their own reasons. I simply… want to confirm that people who share my blood are breathing somewhere in this world. So don't worry about me."
They wouldn't even meet in the first place, after all. Thinking leisurely, Han Chasu passed by Seo Jeongmin.
"Ha…."
Watching Han Chasu walking away, Seo Jeongmin sighed. 'Is his memory loss really certain?'
After submitting his report last time, he had been observing Han Chasu closely. Just in case he was pretending to have lost his memory. 'But those are words he couldn't possibly say unless he had become a different person.'
The Han Chasu that Seo Jeongmin knew was someone who would rather find his family and kill them with his own hands than say such things. That was why. Rather, it was why he became convinced that Han Chasu had truly lost his memory completely.
Then the problem now was how to reveal the truth.
Seo Jeongmin's gaze as he looked at Han Chasu's back was deep.
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