The scientists despaired.

They fell into grief. Hurriedly rushing into the lab at John’s emergency summons, they wailed when they saw Martin’s stolen place.

I blankly stared at the scientists covering their faces with both hands.

Men dropped to their knees, crying out “God Almighty.”

...This much?

Of course, they didn’t only despair. Things unfolded quickly. It was the first time I realized John Mühlen could move that fast.

Led by John Mühlen, the scientists moved in perfect order, pushing aside desks and finishing preparations for a meeting.

They even prepared a chair for me.

Why?

“Hilde, sit down. The meeting’s starting right away.”

“Me, sit?”

“Yes!”

The scientists all answered at once and dragged me into the chair.

“The meeting’s starting!”

But why me.

They had no intention of letting me go. These scientists, who had exchanged names with me while coming and going with my mentor, clung to my sleeve.

But I’m not one of them. Sure, I pass through the lab often, but I’m not a scientist.

Anyway, stuck there in the chair, Yun spoke.

“CCTV footage.”

“We’re already replaying it.”

John answered.

The fact he answered so sharply was shocking enough, but even more shocking was that he actually had his eyes locked on the massive screen. Not even an hour had passed since he hit the red button to summon everyone.

So he could move this quickly?

But no one seemed surprised. Instead, they nodded earnestly, as if John was someone entirely trustworthy. Yun also nodded once without protest.

My mentor swept his gaze over the grieving scientists.

“From now on, we’ll apply the principle of presumption of guilt.”

What kind of insane principle is that.

“Write down your personal movements from yesterday until now in detail and post them on the board.”

“There’s a possibility it was someone outside the lab. Shouldn’t we check the entire HQ’s alibis?”

“I think we should investigate not only HQ staff but also outsiders!”

“That makes sense. An external company would definitely covet something like this.”

“I’ll check the logs of all external visitors to HQ!”

The scientists began chattering noisily. I sat there half-dazed, catching bits and pieces of what was said from all around.

They were dead serious. Not one of them showed the slightest resistance to exposing their own movements. If anything, they thought just scientists disclosing movements wasn’t enough.

More and more methods were suggested to catch the culprit. Check the exact time Martin’s power was cut. Find out what tool severed the cable. Track the purchase of that tool. Check if Martin’s body still had any residual power. See if the last signal Martin sent held a clue.

I only half understood the talk.

But I could tell Yun was furious.

“If the culprit is among you, confess while I’m asking nicely.”

My mentor laid down his threat.

“If you confess, it’ll be considered. If we catch you, you’ll be beaten immediately.”

...Is a Badger even allowed to threaten civilians like that?

I heard people swallowing hard under the pressure. But no one protested. The scientists nodded with grim expressions.

I gave a hollow laugh, watching their determination.

But really, who the hell stole Martin?

Sweet little Martin. The lab’s idol-like darling.

I was watching the situation unfold with great interest, wanting to see more. But I couldn’t. Because my mentor, after receiving a call from someone, lifted his head from his phone and looked at me.

Yun’s gaze struck straight into me.

“Rookie.”

“Ah... am I still a rookie?”

“Follow me.”

After ordering the scientists to begin investigating Martin, he turned his body. Must be important.

I excused myself from the scientists still gripping my clothes and trotted after my mentor out of the lab.

***

It had been Yehyeon who called.

The hospital room was far cleaner and larger than the one I’d been in. A private room, so quiet my ears rang. Following my mentor in, I gasped when I saw the Commander lying there.

Yehyeon lay limp, like a flattened rice roll.

The men ignored my shock. Yun strode over to the clearly unwell man. Yehyeon looked paler than usual, his eyes rolling slowly.

After confirming me, he turned his gaze to Yun.

“Why did you call an emergency assembly?”

Yun and I sat side by side on the chairs next to the bed.

“Martin’s gone.”

“Ah.”

Just a short sound from Yehyeon.

He really must be ill. No expression, just watching my mentor. Not even the scientists’ kneeling and wailing could stir surprise or anger in him.

Yehyeon turned his eyes to the ceiling.

“It’s nothing.”

...Nothing?

“How is this nothing?”

“It’s just a machine.”

That was his reply to Yun’s protest.

“It won’t cause big problems, will it? It didn’t store any secrets, did it?”

“It didn’t store them, but...”

Yun frowned ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ down at him.

I watched with some amusement. So this man even grumbles at Yehyeon.

My mentor muttered.

“You should at least show some irritation when HQ property gets stolen.”

“You’ll find it, won’t you.”

Yehyeon stayed calm. He lay flat on his back, IV needle in his hand, staring up at the ceiling.

Then he murmured like talking to himself.

“Martin... consumes too much power...”

So that was the real issue.

I pressed down a smile.

Then I kept silent, listening closely to their conversation.

They talked about Martin for a while. Do you have any suspects? No, but within a day the outline will appear. If we catch the thief, we’ll beat them. Catching is fine, but don’t threaten civilians. You’re always too harsh on Martin...

Their casual conversation broke off at some point.

Yehyeon turned his head to me.

“Hilde.”

“Ah—yes, sir.”

Was I listening too eagerly?

I wiped away my smile and straightened my posture.

The supreme commander looked at my nervousness and let a faint smile curve his lips.

“You don’t need to be so tense.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Any questions?”

Now the question came, with no lead-up.

I looked straight into his pale eyes.

I’d been waiting for this moment ever since Jin Silver threw a giant bomb at me in the subway.

But now that the stage was set, I struggled to choose the right words. I wanted to ask about Jin. But I didn’t want to probe an injured man with questions that would only rip open wounds.

He spoke casually enough, but his strength was gone.

So I asked something else.

“They say I’m not human.”

Yun lifted his head.

His black eyes blinked once.

Meanwhile, Yehyeon’s eyes drooped. As if pitying me. As if sorry for having hidden the truth.

That reaction was answer enough.

But I wanted the words spoken out loud. I looked at the pale man in his hospital bed.

“You knew?”

A long silence.

Cold stillness wrapped the room. I sat there in the hush, waiting for his reply. Yun too turned his head toward Yehyeon, waiting. Even he hadn’t known.

Even someone who lived with Yehyeon and knew Jaeyeon hadn’t been allowed that information.

Why hide it so fiercely?

“...I knew.”

At last, Yehyeon answered softly.

“Sorry for keeping it from you.”

“No. I never asked.”

I let out a faint smile.

His eyes were heavy with sorrow and guilt. The corners of his eyes drooped. None of the authority he showed in public remained. Ricardo’s words came to mind: In private, he’s so mild he might as well be nothing.

He only hid it out of necessity. No need to feel this guilty.

When I said so, Yehyeon looked even more distressed.

“Don’t be so sorry. If it were something you could’ve told me, you would have already.”

“Jin told you?”

Sharp as ever.

I nodded.

“Yes. He told me. Said in the end I’d have to remember it myself.”

“...Yes. In the end, that’s how it must be. For all our sakes.”

“I’ll try. I’ve managed to recall a few important things already.”

I said it lightly, and their eyes widened.

I smiled bitterly. I hadn’t told anyone about what happened in the subway. If I was going to tell it, it had to be to this man first.

I rubbed my bare waist where a greatsword should’ve been.

Then I said,

“Kyle has awakened.”

Yun narrowed his eyes, not understanding. But Yehyeon’s eyes flew wide.

“He’s looking for me. I hear he says I betrayed them. That’s why he’s so desperate to kill me.”

The hand with the IV clenched into a fist.

The Commander didn’t answer, just stared at the ceiling.

That was answer enough. It was all true. I wasn’t human. I had betrayed my comrades. Kyle, their leader, was awake.

Damn it.

So that’s why Hildebert Taleb didn’t exist anywhere in Center Core. Why Ami couldn’t find my name when I dropped through the Portal...

“If not human, then what?”

Yun’s flat question pulled me back to reality.

“A creature? Like that 10th-class you stabbed?”

Yehyeon thought for a long while.

He stared at the ceiling with complicated eyes, then closed his lids. I memorized his sweat-dampened handsome face, my thoughts racing.

The creatures that hunted me. The shapeshifting Jaeyeon who wanted me dead. Yehyeon had exiled me beyond the Core to escape Jaeyeon’s aim. But now that I’d returned and Jaeyeon welcomed it, Yehyeon made no move to cast me out again.

That meant he had done something while I was gone.

Because of his actions, I could now sit here in peace. I thought of the ones behind the world. The ones above the law. Those who had achieved the dream of immortality. Jaeyeon, who knew me.

And Jaeyeon’s master.

Yehyeon, eyes shut, broke the silence.

“Titans.”

His husky voice was distinctive.

“The Elders called them Titans.”

***

The next day I went to the lab.

That was where the talk ended. I had dumped too heavy a topic on an ill man. Yehyeon thanked me for telling him, but he had to hit the nurse call button right after. So it wasn’t without effect.

We left it there and exited the room. Yun handed me his car keys, telling me to rest at his place.

“You can drive, right.”

“I don’t know if I even have a license...”

“I registered it for you.”

...What the hell.

“Anyway, it’s on auto-drive most of the time. You’ll handle it better than most humans who just got their licenses. Just take it.”

I obeyed.

I slept in the guest room at my mentor’s house. There I recovered my belongings — the sword he’d given me, the creature field guide, the portable med kit. With them packed, I dutifully went to HQ. Since no one summoned me, I just went to the lab.

The chaotic lab.

Next to my mentor’s desk stood John.

John Mühlen, eyes bloodshot, staring at the screen. I froze, staring at the bizarre sight.

I watched the genius of the century, unmoving.

“Don’t tell me... you haven’t slept since then?”

“I’ve checked the movements of 126 people.”

John turned his bloodshot eyes toward me.

“Now only 362 left.”

“...”