Zero Point

#005

After a good night’s sleep with pleasant pulsations, Lee Eunseok showered and left his room. He borrowed a phone from the motel counter staff and dialed the number on the business card.

“Hello, this is Lee Eunju from White Tiger Guild.”

A greeting as neat as her impression came through.

“Hello, this is Lee Eunseok.”

When Lee Eunseok spoke briefly, the other end of the phone went quiet for a moment. It seemed the sound was cut off, as even the faint white noise in the background disappeared. Lee Eunseok waited patiently. After about 7 seconds, the sound resumed.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Lee Eunseok. Thank you for contacting us. We’ll pick you up in 30 minutes in front of the motel you visited yesterday. Is that alright?”

During those few seconds of silence, she had probably arranged for a car.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Alright. Then I’ll see you in 30 minutes.”

Lee Eunseok hung up and returned the phone to the staff. Instead of going back to his room, he immediately stepped outside the motel. Across from the motel was a small franchise convenience store. Lee Eunseok went in, chose the bread that looked the most calorie-dense and some milk, and paid for them.

As he sat at a small table in the corner next to the store’s front window, eating the bread and milk while observing, he noticed a white spherical SUV that hadn’t moved from its spot for days. It was probably conducting surveillance disguised as protection. As he chewed and swallowed the bread, he scanned the surroundings but found no other anomalies.

By the way, how did the White Tiger Guild find Lee Eunseok’s location? The current stalkers were probably from the government, specifically the Bureau of Ability Management. Was Choi Hanseo’s visit to the Bureau of Ability Management, which was on TV yesterday, to find out Lee Eunseok’s location? Since he currently didn’t possess anything that could be tracked, that possibility was quite high.

Given the attempted kidnapping by the Chinese, were they trying to prevent overseas extraction by sending in a domestic guild?

Lee Eunseok crumpled the empty bread wrapper in his hand and finished the remaining milk.

Just as it felt like almost exactly thirty minutes had passed, a black luxury sedan that didn’t fit the alley of tightly packed motel buildings entered and stopped right in front of Lee Eunseok’s motel. There was no need to confirm anything, so Lee Eunseok got up without hesitation, threw the bread wrapper and empty milk carton in the trash, and walked out of the convenience store.

Approaching the sedan’s rear door, Lee Eunseok lightly tapped on the closed window. Instead of the heavily tinted window rolling down, the door clicked open. Although he didn’t like getting in without confirming who was inside, Lee Eunseok obediently opened the door and sat in the back seat.

Click.

As he pulled the door shut and looked to the side, Lee Eunseok blinked once.

Sitting right next to him, with his long legs crossed, was Choi Hanseo himself, not Lee Eunju as expected. As their eyes met, a faint smile spread across Choi Hanseo’s lips.

“We meet again?”

As the car started moving, Choi Hanseo greeted lightly. His voice was appropriately soft yet powerful. It fit his appearance perfectly.

“Why? Surprised it’s not who you expected?”

When Lee Eunseok remained silent, Choi Hanseo tilted his head slightly and asked. There was a subtle humor in the man’s eyes. Neat suit, soft and gentle tone, and a faint smile. The man seemed quite skilled at disguise. Of course, despite all that, it wasn’t enough to ease Lee Eunseok’s tension.

“I didn’t expect you to come personally, given how busy you must be.”

At least he’s not an enemy.

Lee Eunseok said, leaning back comfortably against the seat.

“It’s only natural to make this much effort to welcome someone so valuable that the whole world is eager to scout.”

Choi Hanseo said. There was no trace of sarcasm in his words.

“Is the offer sincere?”

Lee Eunseok asked to confirm that first, instead of engaging in unnecessary talk.

‘Do you have the courage to enter the Gates with me?’

That single statement was the sole reason Lee Eunseok had chosen White Tiger Guild, or rather, Choi Hanseo.

Entering the Gates and personally killing the monstrous lifeforms – that had been his constant wish ever since the moment he lost his family so tragically.

Choi Hanseo smiled slightly and handed over a thin booklet. Looking down at it after receiving it, Lee Eunseok saw it was an introduction booklet issued by the Guide Association.

“It’s customary for ability users who have completed their mandatory service period with the National Bureau of Ability Management to join either the Hunter Association or the Guide Association. It’s a countermeasure supported by the country to prevent the outflow of high-level personnel overseas and illegal activities.”

“Is membership mandatory? I haven’t heard about that.”

“They say it’s not mandatory, but it’s difficult to work without joining. For Hunters, their value is determined by the official grade qualification issued by the Hunter Association. Based on that grade, they can join guilds or work as mercenaries. Matching with a suitable Guide is also only possible through the Hunter Association, which has an exclusive agreement with the Guide Association.”

Choi Hanseo was using the term “Hunter” instead of “Esper.” It seemed that while the government referred to ability users as Espers, the ability users called themselves Hunters.

“The same goes for Guides. The analysis of Guide wavelengths and managing matching rates with Hunters is entirely monopolized by the Guide Association. So, you could say that joining the association is essential if you want to work.”

“So we’re heading directly to the Guide Association now?”

“That’s right. Lee Eunseok, you’re such a special case… We’ve only confirmed that you’re an S-class Guide, and I understand you’ve refused any further examinations. To work in a guild, we need information on your wavelength and matching rates with guild members.”

Having said that, Choi Hanseo looked into Lee Eunseok’s eyes and asked,

“Do you have any objections?”

“As long as you keep that offer, I have no objections.”

Lee Eunseok answered clearly. Choi Hanseo nodded and picked up a tablet that was beside him. Lee Eunseok started to skim through the thin color pamphlet, page by page, checking its contents. The content was cliché and full of promotional material, but it was better than having no information at all.

After finishing the pamphlet, Lee Eunseok put it down on his thigh and turned his gaze to the window. Whenever the shadows outside made it slightly darker, he could see the profile of Choi Hanseo, focused on his work with his gaze fixed on the tablet.

Sitting so close to someone who made him tense for the first time in a very long while evoked a pleasantly moderate sense of elation.

The car smoothly glided into the underground parking lot of a large building. As the car stopped, Choi Hanseo turned off the tablet and put it down beside him right on cue. The driver got out first and opened the rear door on Choi Hanseo’s side. Lee Eunseok opened his door himself and stepped out of the car.

In front of the elevator going up from the underground parking lot, two men in white gowns were already standing, looking at Choi Hanseo and Lee Eunseok. As their eyes met, smiles spread across the men’s faces.

“Hello, Guild Master Choi Hanseo. And Mr. Lee Eunseok.”

“We were so surprised to hear you were coming together.”

The two men wearing employee badges around their necks looked to be quite senior in rank, judging by their age. And they seemed genuinely pleased, not just giving professional courtesies.

“Come on, let’s go up. Everyone is incredibly excited to hear that Mr. Lee Eunseok is coming.”

As they got into the elevator, the two men kept scanning Choi Hanseo and Lee Eunseok with their eyes. Their gazes were full of greed, scrutiny, and admiration.

Ding.

The elevator stopped and the doors opened.

Lee Eunseok scanned the crowd of people gathered in a semi-circle beyond the elevator doors.

“Oh my, oh my, it’s really the White Tiger Guild Master.”

“Then is that person next to him the S-class Guide?”

“An S-class with a face like that? What? What? I thought he was an idol. Unbelievable.”

The whispers of the people poured directly into Lee Eunseok’s ears.

Lee Eunseok slightly furrowed his brow. His unnecessarily pretty face had never been helpful in his life. When he was young, it made him an easy target for sexual harassment, and when he grew up, his striking appearance became a hindrance to intelligence missions.

“Is this a sideshow? Hurry back to your seats and get to work!”

One of the men who had come to greet them shouted at the murmuring crowd. The people scattered in all directions like startled mice.