Humans are always beings torn between good and evil.

And excessive power only stirs that conflict within humans into greater instability.

Anyone who knows history will understand. Throughout human history, how many individuals have been dragged into the clutches of evil by forces, powers, and wealth beyond their capacity to handle?

Thus,

Anyone who understands history would also agree.

The year 2033 marked the first time the number of returnees, who crossed over to another world due to dimensional rifts and returned, exceeded 100 million.

In other words, there are more people than ever who possess power beyond their means, ushering in the most chaotic and unstable era in human history.

“Excessive power leads people down the path of evil. However, manageable power can guide even the most corrupted back to the right path and help them rehabilitate.”

Yet even amidst that chaos, there were those who strived to uphold order and peace.

“The key is to use manageable power in the right way.”

Those who gained great power in another world but chose not to wield it recklessly.

Rather, they leveraged that power to correct the paths of those who had strayed.

Their formal title is ‘Special Enforcement Agents for Returnee-related Crimes.’

Commonly known as—

“That is our duty as agents.”

Agents.

They were shields protecting citizens from the threats of returnees, revered and respected by the public as guardians of social order.

However,

“So what you’re trying to say, Master, is…”

Since agents are, after all, human, not every agent in the world is as good and righteous as the heroes in stories.

“Isn’t it true that for returnees, they need a whip rather than a carrot?”

“…Kwon Tae-ho.”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

The man called Kwon Tae-ho answered the woman’s call.

His voice was nonchalant. His expression wore a smirk as if he found something amusing, and with his chin resting on his hand, legs crossed, he had the posture of someone who couldn’t care less.

“…Hah.”

The manners of a disciple are a virtue the master must teach. Thus, blaming him would be like spitting at a lying down person.

The woman felt a throbbing headache and asked her only disciple once more.

“Tae-ho, do you really intend to be an agent with that mindset?”

“Hmm.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the disciple responded to the master’s question.

“There’s nothing that says I can’t, is there?”

“Hahaha.”

The disciple’s audacious answer elicited only a hollow laugh.

However, the disciple was certainly not joking. One glance at his face told that he was genuinely asking, ‘If there’s an easy way, why should I choose the hard path?’

And it wasn’t difficult to understand. The disciple was a victim of this chaotic era.

Considering what he had endured, advocating for at least some leniency even towards criminals would be hard to accept.

“Right, if that’s your conclusion as an agent, I won’t deny it. But make one promise.”

For returnees, they need a whip, you say?

In this chaotic era, caused by returnees rampaging carelessly, that might indeed be a valid statement. I’ll even acknowledge that absurd answer.

So,

“Even if you blindly trust in power, remember that it is merely a means to pursue righteousness. Don’t ever forget that.”

Power and violence are ultimately just tools.

Never allow yourself to become intoxicated by your power to the point of accepting violence as an objective.

Out of concern for her disciple, the master imparted this advice.

Yet,

Anyone who knows history would understand.

Life, sadly, does not always flow according to one’s wishes.

   

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