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A researcher from the Sehee Research Institute arrived at the underground open lot.

A big man and a woman with a ponytail.

The female researcher approached the Gray Reaper that Junior No. 1 was hugging and pulled one of its arms.

Junior No. 1, unwilling to let go, held tightly onto the Gray Reaper.

Thanks to this, the sleepy-looking Gray Reaper was left dangling in mid-air, hands still held.

When I gave Junior No. 1 a hint, they reluctantly released their grip with a very disappointed expression.

Even after that, Junior No. 1 gazed longingly at the researcher from the Sehee Research Institute walking out of the open lot, still holding the Gray Reaper.

“Sunbae, why am I not a researcher from the Sehee Research Institute?”

A sad murmur was heard.

As the Gray Reaper disappeared, the Golden Reapers began to vanish one by one, until it looked like they would all soon be gone.

Junior No. 1 clung to the few remaining Golden Reapers, trying to soothe their disappointment.

In fact, a man affiliated with the Sehee Research Institute had also tried to retrieve the Golden Reapers.

But some of the Golden Reapers clung to Junior No. 1 and wouldn’t let go, which led to the current situation with the Golden Reapers in Junior No. 1’s arms.

That man had received a few warnings, but since the object in question had never been proven to be harmful, there were no special instructions about it.

Instead, the directives from the association were more of a concern.

They strongly requested that the Golden Reapers not be taken outside the camp.

“Seems like I can only trust you guys.”

“You guys won’t disappear, right?”

Junior No. 1 kept talking to the Golden Reapers, who clearly couldn’t understand a word.

If this continues, I’ll need to suggest they undergo a mental pollution test.

What was surprising was that Junior No. 2, who showed a peculiar attachment to the Golden Reapers, was surprisingly calm.

It seemed that their attachment, if anything, was even stronger than that of Junior No. 1…

Now that I noticed, Junior No. 2…

Had a stiff posture and kept glancing around. Was there something uncomfortable?

*

A secret research institute belonging to the association.

In the deepest corner of that institute was a peculiar isolation room.

It wasn’t a severe isolation room made of steel-like metal, nor a regular one made of bricks or concrete.

It was made of a transparent material that barely reflected anything.

The isolation room was so transparent that the boundaries were almost invisible, creating the illusion that the subject was floating in mid-air.

Inside that boundary-less isolation room was a man who was once the director of the Central Research Institute.

The man, also known as the Maker, was left alone in the isolation room, reduced to a tragic corpse.

Surrounding the transparent isolation room were intricate monitoring devices.

Not only were there human observers, but various devices, including CCTV, were also monitoring the director.

Devices measuring infrared, vibrations, temperatures, and all sorts of metrics lined the area.

In addition to the staff monitoring the visuals and the devices, soldiers were also on standby at all times.

In such a secure space where escape was impossible, the director opened his eyes.

Surveying his surroundings, the director quickly realized the situation he was in.

Having lost all his objects and awakening in isolation, he grimaced.

What remained for him was the infinitely replaying vision of conquering the research institute.

Bang.

He stood up and knocked on the transparent isolation room’s wall.

“Uwaaaah!”

Bang bang bang.

There was no corner to catch his breath or a shadow.

He couldn’t evade the watchful eyes.

The intricate monitoring devices recorded every blink and breath of the director, with constantly focusing lenses capturing even the minutest details of his presence.

“I still… I still have things to do! I have responsibilities for humanity!”

As he knocked against the transparent wall that left no fingerprints, he shouted.

But the guards merely remained impassive, showing no reaction.

The observers, who considered silence a virtue, hid their faces in soft light, fixated on the screen with an obsession bordering on madness.

“I succeeded in manifesting the object! Just a little more, and the object will be in humanity’s hands!”

“Eliminate the namelessness, eliminate the Steel Tower!”

“Yes, the Gray Reaper! I must kill the Gray Reaper! The enemy of humanity that stands in the way of my labor for mankind!”

The director yelled while trying to secretly summon researchers from beneath him…

Bang!

With a single gunshot that reverberated from the ceiling piercing through his forehead, the director fell down, lifeless.

Thus ended the first day of the director trapped in the isolation room.

And without any special ‘incident,’ this would continue into the future.

*

Finally, back in the Sehee Research Institute’s isolation room.

In a cozy room illuminated by soft amber lighting, I was lying on a plush bed, relishing the comfort.

The blue sheets were always well-maintained, with soft waves rolling like calm sea waves.

On top of this sea of comfort, a ghost cat lazily lay, yawning.

It seemed that after a fulfilling adventure, the cat enjoyed this coziness with a sleepy expression.

Around the room, fluffy cushions and a soft rug added to the warm atmosphere.

The potted plant with lush green leaves that Yerin had arranged, as well as the newly placed vanilla-scented air freshener, fitted well into the room’s vibe, pleasing my heart.

Meanwhile, the TV beside the cozy bed was talking about a recent incident.

[Do you realistically believe that after a cult organization started in China, crossed the sea, and reached Incheon, the government was completely unaware while the citizens were slaughtered?]

[This is a massacre that the government has deliberately turned a blind eye to!]

[Just look at the actions taken just days before the thugs in black attacked, such as canceling police personnel dispatch and administrative management—it’s clear the government was complicit!]

The TV pundit raised their voice, shaking the work orders issued by the government to the police.

It was a story about the tragedy at the temporary camp on Mount Gyeongyang in Incheon.

The shocking narrative of residents living in the camp being slaughtered overnight.

Moreover, the perpetrators of the massacre turned out to be an unidentified cult!

This cult was well-known in China as a notorious organization.

A religion worshipping a gigantic golden flame as their deity.

They were infamous as a terrorist group, smashing various objects throughout China.

Including those that the research institute was securing, they destroyed objects in their path.

Moreover, they were a terrorist organization attacking both humans and staff attempting to halt the destruction.

As a ninja interested in this cult, I listened to the news closely, but did not get the info I was hoping for.

Why do they carry pudding?

Why do they worship me?

And most importantly, where do they sell that pudding?

It was a news report missing the core essential details.

Crunch. Crunch.

I picked up a bite of food and started munching while changing the TV channel.

While flipping through channels to find something interesting, I stumbled upon an intriguing story.

The shadow-like pitch-black Emperor Penguin!

In the photo, a cheerful penguin was dancing joyfully.

It was a fascinating object that could be captured on a Polaroid, moving and dancing within the frame.

Oh, that looks like fun.

If I keep watching that penguin, Yerin might notice and fetch one for me?

*

The Golden Reapers clinging to Detective Sunbae and Hammer Sunbae all melted into thin air, disappearing.

Thanks to that, I was finally able to proceed with the camp’s exit protocol.

“Whoo.”

Deep breath.

Not to get caught, I must be cautious.

Detective Sunbae is very perceptive, so I need to play it cool.

I was stealthily moving the Golden Reaper under my clothes.

This was the only place that was not noticeable against my skin, so it was unavoidable.

Fortunately, the Golden Reaper remained calm under my clothes.

Now, just a bit more waiting and I could exit the camp.

Once I left the camp, I’d separate from the seniors, successfully hiding the Golden Reaper!

Thanks to Detective Sunbae’s connections, the exit inspection at the camp went really smoothly with just a few simple questions.

“Well then, the request is finished—should we part ways here, or would you like me to take you to the detective agency?”

“Um… I’ll be heading straight there! I have somewhere to go!”

“Oh, is that so?”

Ugh, somehow Detective Sunbae’s gaze feels piercing.

Has he caught on to something?

“Sunbae! Why are you staring at Hyejin’s chest like that?”

Hammer Sunbae slapped Detective Sunbae on the back.

Wow, that sounded really loud. That must hurt.

If I had stayed still, I felt like I would have been caught by Detective Sunbae, but nice one, Hammer Sunbae!

Now, exiting the camp and taking a taxi straight home would mean the successful smuggling of the Golden Reaper.

Was it a problem that I was too relieved?

The Golden Reaper suddenly started writhing.

I quickly covered the emerging head of the Reaper with my hand and looked around, thankfully no one seemed to have noticed.

Phew, what a relief.