Chapter 49

Thud-thud.

Walking through the institute’s corridor, I scouted for a test subject to experiment on with my newly acquired power.

There were quite a few objects dealt with this time.

The Golden Tree, the Yeti, and the Object incapacitated by the Golden Reaper’s holes.

Unfortunately, aside from the Golden Tree, I couldn’t obtain any abilities from the other objects.

Though the exact cause is unclear, it’s not uncommon for some objects to fail in granting abilities.

Criterion?

I investigated thoroughly a year ago to understand why.

The more an object relies on physical abilities, the higher the chance of gaining nothing.

Perhaps abilities like muscle enlargement, toughened skin, or growing sturdy fur are simply incompatible with my body?

Fortunately, I managed to gain a sleep-inducing ability from the Golden Tree.

It’s the power to put others to sleep. The extent of its effects remains uncertain.

Thud-thud, as I strolled down the corridor, a loud noise reached my ears.

Bang.

It sounded like someone striking a table forcefully with their palm.

The source of the sound was Sehee Research Institute’s conference room.

Peeking inside via ghosting, I spotted a rarely seen face.

Deputy Director Park Seoah of Sehee Research Institute.

She rarely leaves her office, so unless you go looking for her, it’s hard to see her.

Park Seoah was yelling loudly, slamming her hand on the desk in anger.

Seoah usually doesn’t lose her temper—what could have happened?

“Researcher Yerin Oh. Care to explain yourself?”

Under Park Seoah’s slammed hand lay two photos.

One showed Yerin secretly smuggling the Golden Reaper into a bag and carrying it outside.

The other was a photo taken at this expo showing the bloodied Golden Reaper.

Yerin cowered in terror.

It seemed she was being reprimanded for the unauthorized removal of the Golden Reaper.

“How can someone in the position of a researcher even consider smuggling out an object?”

“I’m sorry.”

Yerin looked crumpled, whereas Sehee sitting beside her appeared indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with her.

“Director Lee Sehee of the Research Institute!”

Sehee suddenly looked startled upon being called out.

“How exactly is your surveillance system set up that an object of such high risk can escape so easily? So effortlessly! Imagine if the isolated object brainwashed Researcher Yerin Oh and escaped. Would excuses like these still work then? Sehee Research Institute will be shut down, and Director Lee will face arrest!”

Sehee also started looking deflated like Yerin.

In truth, Yerin successfully sneaking out an object was absurd.

Such a thing should never happen in an ordinary research facility.

The aftermath of Seoah’s lecture was brutal.

Yerin faced pay cuts and a transfer of duty location.

She would now work directly under the deputy director.

Sehee was assigned paperwork duties while the deputy director revamped the surveillance system.

When they heard this, both Sehee and Yerin looked like they’d lost their homeland.

Ah, now that I think about it, I need to test out this sleep ability…

***

Clomp-clomp, with heavy steps, I headed toward the Golden Reaper’s isolation room.

Ah, starting today, I’ll be working under the deputy director.

Visiting the Golden Reaper has just become ten times harder.

Upon entering the isolation room, the Golden Reaper lying on the bed pulled back the blanket and patted the mattress.

It looked like an invitation to crawl in.

Wow, an invite from the Golden Reaper!

Without hesitation, I dashed forward and dove headfirst into the bed.

Basking in the warmth of the blanket draped over me by the Golden Reaper, I closed my eyes.

Whoa, suddenly I’m super drowsy.

Zzz.

***

The sleep ability test on Yerin was somewhat successful.

Only effective upon contact.

Cannot be used on objects.

Can put one person to sleep at a time.

This sleep ability obtained isn’t half bad.

Perfect for putting Yerin to sleep when she gets annoying!

Since she’s not annoying right now, I slapped her cheek to wake her up.

Slap-slap.

Yerin woke up surprisingly fast.

Hmm, the sleep maintenance ability seems a bit lacking.

“Ah, did I doze off?”

While rubbing her eyes, Yerin turned to me and started throwing a tantrum.

Apparently, she won’t be able to easily leave the deputy director’s office since she’s now stationed there.

Truthfully, I feel a little guilty since I share some responsibility for the unauthorized removal of the Golden Reaper.

And resolving the Golden Tree incident was thanks to Yerin too, so I should probably give her something as a gift.

What would be good?

***

Om.

The Golden Reaper was squirming around on the desk.

“Woah!”

Just as I was complaining, the Reaper summoned more Golden Reapers.

Then, pulling out a cake for the seemingly hungry Reapers, we ended up in this situation.

So cute!

I grabbed my camera to take pictures.

Even though Unnie Seoah warned me that taking random photos of objects might get me killed, the Golden Reapers are nice, so it should be fine, right?

If only I could bring them home again, but I guess I’ll have to resist this time.

And bringing them home feels like it’d trigger nightmares again.

I’d be too sad if the Golden Reaper’s warmth disappeared while I slept.

There are three Golden Reapers wiggling around.

One is submerged in cocoa.

Judging by how it’s gradually decreasing, it must be drinking, but why does it do that?

Well, it’s cute, so who cares!

The other two are focused on the cake.

One is hugging the sponge part and munching away.

The other is nibbling on a strawberry leaf.

Why are you eating that?!

I wanted to make it eat the strawberry properly, but it gets angry when I try to intervene, so all I can do is watch.

Unable to suppress my laughter, I kept snapping pictures endlessly.

Until Unnie Seoah comes looking for me in a rage.

***

The kidnapping case was nearing its conclusion.

We had figured out where the kidnapped person had been sold.

Obtaining information from the Golden Horn Broker and tracking the destination led us here—to Bucheon Research Institute.

The victim, the client’s older sister, had clearly been sold alive to this place.

However, looking around, despite claims of operation, it was completely in ruins.

Looks like they’ve already closed shop and fled far away?

Sneaking into the completely ruined research institute,

the building was filled with trash, and the outer walls were so damaged that the steel reinforcements were exposed.

“Wow, what a mess.”

“Senior! Please keep quiet. The infamous ‘Maker’ might be around. You know… Stealth Mode?”

Is the junior aware that his voice is three times louder than mine?

A sound began to approach from afar.

The rumble of vehicles on the quiet road.

And there were quite a few of them.

Looks like we’re not the only ones interested in this research institute.

Does this belong to the infamous ‘Maker’?

“Someone’s coming.”

As I warned and turned around, I saw my junior tightly gripping a large hammer, tense and ready.

Behind him stood our client, Hyejin.

Numerous vehicles began lining up at the entrance of the research institute.

From the leading van, two figures stepped out followed by many others.

Two advancing silhouettes.

A tall shadow and a short, stout one.

Out came a man in suffocating black suits and a blonde girl.

Both were familiar faces.

“Friend~ Long time no see!”

“Yeah.”

“And Miss, long time~”

The blonde girl simply bowed elegantly without responding to my greeting.

They belonged to the Central Research Institute and were the granddaughter of former association president Oh Murong.

Or rather, the granddaughter of the current bigwig.

Behind her stood bodyguards forming a protective wall.

“We’ve come here searching for the victim of the Golden Horn kidnapping case. How about you guys?”

“We’ve been tracking the Golden Horn case itself, but… it seems we’re too late.”

“Right? Let’s head down quickly. Criminals love basements, after all.”

I boldly strode into the institute.

The black-suited man ordered the surrounding area sealed off to his subordinates before following me inside.

The interior of the institute was in even worse condition than the exterior.

Is this really a place that was operational until recently?

An ominous aura seeped up the stairs leading to the basement.

The deeper we went, the stronger the smell of blood became.

Once we fully descended into the basement, the source of the foul stench became clear.

Each isolation cell was smeared with sticky blood.

Torn-off limbs and mashed body parts littered the floors.

What kind of experiments could lead to this?

Outside the cells, pale corpses were piled up in corners.

Discarded like garbage.

“Sister!”

Hyejin cried out urgently and rushed toward the pile of bodies.

Given the uniform horn-cut marks on the corpses, they were likely all victims of the kidnappings.

Our client’s sister, whom we were asked to find, was already deceased.

“No! Sister, sister, sister!”

Amidst Hyejin’s sobs, the mission to locate her sister, regardless of life or death, was technically successful.

But it was tragic nonetheless.