The Forward pursuers, having lost their target, immediately deployed every available agent and began combing through every corner of the Hunter Market.

But it was the weekend. The central avenue of the Hunter Market was packed with people.

Even though they tore through the crowds around the Crystal Hunter Mall, they found no trace of their quarry.

“Alpha to all units. November, Oscar, and Papa—head to the public parking lots around the market. Stop every car leaving and check them.”

From inside a truck disguised as a cargo vehicle, commands crackled through the comms.

“[November, copy.]”

“[Oscar, copy.]”

“[Papa, copy.]”

“Kilroy, Lima, Mike—hold the bus stops. He might use a taxi, or the Peacekeepers could send a car. Stay sharp.”

Responses echoed back in quick succession.

Alpha—Jericho—gripped his mic with pale, trembling hands, sweat running down his face.

“To all Owls: since they’ve realized we’re tailing them, we cannot—under any circumstances—let them get away. A quarry that slips once never comes back.”

He released the mic and stared anxiously at the monitors in front of him.

They displayed feeds of Hunter Market streets, streamed in real time from cameras worn by his team.

“We have to catch him…” he muttered, pressing his palms together as though in prayer.

The minutes dragged on, each one like blood draining from his veins.

Still, no word came back. No sightings. No results.

At last, Jericho collapsed back into his chair, covering his face with both hands.

“We’re back!”

Jang Hayun’s bright, chirpy voice rang out.

So this is the Peacekeepers’ office…

I glanced around.

Desks, computers, piles of papers, bookshelves crammed with files—everything looked like a police station.

Half a dozen people barely acknowledged Hayun’s greeting, absorbed in their own work.

Then a door opened at the back, and Lee Seon stepped out.

“Senior! We’re back!”

“Why did you come here?”

Even darker circles shadowed his eyes today. He fixed us with a weary stare.

“Weren’t you supposed to meet some acquaintances and then return to the safehouse?”

“We picked up a tail at the Hunter Market.”

Lee Seon’s expression hardened, and the clatter of keyboards in the office went silent.

“Don’t tell me you came straight here with them on you?” His voice was flat, heavy.

“Come on, no way. Of course we shook them off.”

Hayun lifted the paper bag in her hand and gave it a little shake.

“Good thing I’d packed some disguise gear. Plus, the Doppelgänger’s Mirror helped a lot.”

She was right.

I had managed to lose the trackers thanks to that unique ornament item. With it, I had changed from Nam Yein into Hong Heecheol.

The moment I left the Hunter Mall, I ducked into an alley and changed again. Two transformations in total—there was no way they could find me in that crowd.

What surprised me more was Hayun’s skill. Since her disguise had also been spotted, she needed to change again outside. Unlike me, who relied on the Mirror, she had to use wigs and clothes.

Yet she still reached our rendezvous at the bus stop before me.

Does she practice disguises at home or something?

I glanced at her beaming face.

“Oh, right. I’ll have to pick up my car later from the public lot near Hunter Market. I left it behind—figured they’d be watching it.”

“…Good call.”

“Ah!!”

Hayun suddenly shrieked, stumbling backward.

“What now?”

“Y-you just praised me…”

She stammered, then darted forward, placing a hand dramatically on Lee Seon’s forehead.

“Are you okay? Did overwork finally fry your brain—urk!!!”

Lee Seon shoved her face away with his palm.

Exactly what I expected.

“Enough nonsense. Since you’re here, write up a report on what happened.”

“What? But I’m still on assignment! Right, Yein?”

“…What?”

Lee Seon frowned at her, then shifted his gaze to me.

“We only stopped by Platinum Wings so far. I still need to meet President Crystal and Commissioner Riyu Homar.”

“See? Told you, Senior!”

“….”

Lee Seon looked conflicted, then asked me directly.

“Does it have to be today?”

“Because I’ve been exposed, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“That’s exactly why it has to be today.” I smiled.

“They probably think I ran and won’t show myself again. That makes moving around easier. Besides, I have this.”

I pulled the Doppelgänger’s Mirror from my inventory.

“I’ll use this whenever I travel, only returning to my real form when I meet them. If necessary, I can explain and stay disguised. Oh—and I’ll be keeping this item from now on.”

“Wait, wasn’t that something you gave us?” Hayun blinked.

“No. I only lent it. Even when Teacher Kim Sang-sik used it, it was just a loan.”

“Then at least tell us where to get one! Think how much easier missions would be!” She tugged at my sleeve.

Is pulling people around her habit?

“I’d like to know as well,” Lee Seon added. “We can pay you for the intel.”

Money? I didn’t need it.

But strengthening the Peacekeepers benefitted me too. After all, they were Cheon Jiwon’s hands and feet—and by extension, mine.

“Understood. I’ll share the details later.”

“Why not now?” Hayun pressed.

“Because the information isn’t mine to give. I’ll need to confirm first.”

Half true.

The real source wasn’t Nam Yein, but me—Hong Heecheol.

And I had no intention of giving it directly to the Peacekeepers.

I’d tell Cheon Jiwon. That way, I’d earn more credit with him.

Lee Seon wasn’t the type to pass on information unless specifically asked.

In life, you had to sell yourself.

If you didn’t show your worth, no one would notice.

Afterward, I used the Peacekeepers’ office line to contact Riyu Homar and President Ahn Hyeonggi.

Even though it was sudden, both immediately agreed to meet me for dinner.

Riyu, especially, couldn’t hide his excitement. He said he’d been waiting for my call, and his eagerness was… not exactly befitting someone nicknamed the Amethyst Sage.

“…So it looks like I’ll need to be here until around seven.”

I explained the situation to Lee Seon after finishing the calls.

“Then wait in the break room until it’s time.”

He pointed toward a door at the side of the office.

“And you—get those backlogged reports and paperwork done.”

His eyes shifted to Jang Hayun.

“Uuuugh… Yein, you don’t happen to know of somewhere else I could go, do you? Think carefully.”

Hayun looked at me with watery eyes.

“I don’t.”

I cut her off flatly.

Excuses were easy to invent, but if it meant going out with Hayun, I’d rather just sleep.

“You heard him. Get to work.”

“Aaaargh…”

Hayun looked like the sky had just fallen on her.

Guess I’ll take a nap then.

I stepped into the break room.

There was even a bed, but it felt a little shameless to use it, so I settled into the sofa and closed my eyes.

“Phew.”

Oh Sungcheon let out a long sigh.

Beside him, a woman in uniform massaged oil into his back, her hands sliding over his muscles. His face tensed, then eased as the pressure sank in.

The room was filled with the sweet scent of aroma oils. Slowly, the rigidity in his body unraveled.

Lately, bad news had been piling up one after another, and the stress had long since crossed the limit. It was eating away at his body.

“Phew…”

His stiff body relaxed bit by bit, and Sungcheon felt a flicker of relief.

Of course, it wasn’t just the massage that cheered him.

Nam Yein had been spotted at Hunter Market.

And the Porter Chairman would soon be eliminated.

If he just rested while receiving treatment, good news was bound to arrive in order.

Knock, knock.

A sharp knock broke the calm.

“Chairman! It’s Rijing!”

The masseuse flinched and pulled her hands away. In an instant, Sungcheon’s body hardened like an iron bar.

“What now?”

His face twisted into a scowl. His rare moment of peace had been interrupted, and that alone enraged him.

“A report just came in from the pursuit team.”

Sungcheon’s eyes widened.

“You—stay inside until I call again.”

He waved the woman off.

“Y-yes, sir.”

She bowed and hurried out.

Rijing stepped in.

“You caught the bastard, didn’t you?”

One look at his expression, and Rijing wanted nothing more than to leave.

She hadn’t done anything wrong, but she knew she was about to become his emotional punching bag.

But walking out wasn’t an option.

“They said… they lost him.”

“You’ve got to be f***ing kidding me!!!”

Crash!

He hurled the bottle of aroma oil in his hand.

“Why can’t anyone do their damn job! Useless trash, all of you! I pay you bastards a fortune and this is what I get!!”

He jumped up and kicked the massage bed over.

Thud!

It crashed against the floor with a loud bang.

“Haaah… haaah…”

Panting heavily, Sungcheon glared at Rijing.

“Why’d they lose him?”

“Well…”

“Speak up!!”

“They said… he disappeared.”

“…What?”

“He went into the Crystal Hunter Mall restroom, and never came out. They suspect he used either an ability or an item that can completely alter appearance.”

“Say something that makes sense, damn it!!!”

Sungcheon stomped and raged, his face burning red.

God…

Rijing could only sigh inwardly.

Bzzzt.

A phone vibrated.

She fished her smartphone out of her pocket.

“My apologies, Chairman.”

She bowed quickly, but Sungcheon didn’t even glance her way.

She answered as though used to this.

“Yes, this is Rijing. …What? …What did you say?”

Her face froze.

“…Chairman.”

“What now?!”

He snapped his head around—only to see her pale face, drained of blood.

“The Hunter unit preparing the operation in London… They were ambushed by All Around. They failed to intercept Chairman Porter’s plane. The operation was a failure.”

“…What?”

The words refused to make sense.

His mind rejected them.

“Whyyyy…?”

Sungcheon’s face crumpled like a child about to cry.

“Why would All Around attack our men in London? Why? WHY?! WHY!? WHY!! Aaaaargh!!!”

Rijing flinched as Sungcheon screamed at the ceiling.

Then—

“…Ah.”

His face suddenly went blank. He toppled backward.

Thud!

“Chairman! Chairman!!”

Rijing rushed to him in panic.

“Call an ambulance! Hurry!!”

“Y-yes!!”

The therapist outside answered frantically, already dialing.

“Chairman, stay with me! Chairman!!”

Rijing shouted desperately, but he didn’t open his eyes.

Wailing sirens began to echo faintly in the distance.

(End of Chapter)