[I can't use spiritual energy... I can't use spiritual energy!]
Jaegyeom and Yoon Taehee, who had not yet infiltrated, exchanged glances.
"Hang on."
They moved to a corner and tried to channel spiritual energy into their hands. Just as Kang Yibin had said, it was as if something was blocking it; spiritual energy wouldn't come out.
Jaegyeom frowned and spoke.
"It feels like back then. When I was tied up with a rope in the mountains..."
Yoon Taehee frowned slightly and fell into thought.
Something was clearly going wrong.
From the moment they entered this place, he had a bad feeling. The entrance procedure was too easy. On the other hand, the unnecessary number of security personnel created a strange sense of unease. For some reason, they were unable to use spiritual energy.
As he retraced the situation, a thought suddenly struck him. There was one more case where spiritual energy could be blocked besides being tied up with a rope. Not long ago, the Ceremonial Instruments Department had mentioned creating a spray that temporarily paralyzed spiritual energy…
Ah, could it be the welcome drink...
Yoon Taehee narrowed his eyes. He recalled the spiritual energy paralysis spray introduced at the recent presentation. It had no activation conditions, so even non-exorcists could use it, and it could paralyze spiritual energy in humans, with effects if ingested.
The only thing the three of them had consumed simultaneously was champagne. Everything clicked into place.
They had clearly warned about the potential for misuse. If Yoon Taehee's intuition was correct, it meant that the spray from the Ceremonial Instruments Department had been smuggled out.
However, a sudden question about the incident itself arose. He felt that the information provided beforehand was significantly less than usual for the tasks he typically undertook. Upon reflection, he realized he didn't even know why the Undercover Department exorcist had infiltrated here in the first place.
Could it be that someone inside had deliberately orchestrated this?
"Manager Kang, do you know who ordered this mission?"
[What? ...Uh, it was directly requested by Undercover
Department Head Choi.]
The procedure for assigning cases to Exorcism Department exorcists was either through formal transfer from the situation room or direct orders from
the Exorcism Department Head. However, this case had not come through the situation room or Seok Juryeon but was directed by the Undercover Department Head. Manager Kang, originally from the Undercover Department, had an easier time communicating with the their Department Head. After a moment of contemplation, Yoon Taehee spoke.
"Does Department Head Seok know that the case was transferred to us?"
[Department Head Choi said he directly requested cooperation from Department Head Seok. Since it was an urgent matter, Department Head Seok verbally authorized the mobilization of the Exorcism
Department.]
"Is that so? Do you know who the Undercover Department exorcist is that has lost contact?"
[Um... no, it's a case that's being handled privately by them, and they said a separate task force was formed.
So, they didn't provide details due to security issues.]
"Understood. Please hold on for a moment."
Yoon Taehee turned off the radio and immediat." took out his phone. Finding Seok Juryeon's personal direct number in his call log, Yoon Taehee brought the phone to his ear.
"It's Taehee. Is it true that Undercover Department Head Choi formed a task force on his own and requested cooperation from the Exorcism Department because his person have lost contact?"
As soon as the call connected, Yoon Taehee jumped straight to the point without any preamble.
- What? ...What do you mean by that all of a sudden?
"I heard you gave an order to Manager Kang."
- Who gave what order to whom?
"..."
Yoon Taehee, who had been quietly listening, pursed his lips. Seok Juryeon's reaction indicated that this was news to her. Without further explanation, Yoon Taehee hung up the phone. He began fiddling with his tie pin, pressing his lips together.
"...Manager Kang, we're changing the operation."
Yoon Taehee calmly sent a radio message to Kang Yibin.
"We're withdrawing. Return to the first floor for now."
After sending the instructions through the radio, Yoon Taehee checked the time by tilting his wrist and took the car keys from his suit jacket pocket, handing them to Jaegyeom. Just as Jaegyeom, bewildered, received the car keys, he looked at Yoon Taehee with confusion.
"Stay here until Manager Kang gets back. And if I don't contact you within thirty minutes, return to headquarters with her," Yoon Taehee instructed.
Just as he turned to leave, Jaegyeom instinctively grabbed his wrist, his face a mix of worry and frustration.
"Hey..! Where are you going? Take me with you."
Yoon Taehee shook his head, placing his hand over Jaegyeom's hand.
"No, you can't."
"Why not?"
Yoon Taehee bit his lip slightly and cast his gaze into the distance. After a moment of contemplation, his eyes met Jaegyeom's. As their eyes locked, he faintly smiled and sweetly whispered.
"This is a trap."
***
Leaving Jaegyeom behind, Yoon Taehee headed to the men's restroom. After confirming that no one was inside, he immediately took off his suit jacket. He carelessly tossed the expensive jacket into the trash can, then went to the sink and turned on the water.
Wetting his hands, he styled his hair. Lowering his previously slicked-back bangs made his cold, intelligent appearance look much younger.
As Yoon Taehee exited the restroom, he glanced around, checking the position of the surveillance cameras on the ceiling. At that moment, he heard the sound of a server pushing a serving cart, struggling with the load from a distance. Turning the corner, Yoon Taehee pressed himself against the wall, waiting for the sound of the wheels to get closer when,
"Excuse me."
He called out to the passing server.
"Yes? How can I help you?"
As the server turned to Yoon Taehee with wide eyes, he instantly struck the server's abdomen hard with his fist.
"Sorry."
The unexpected punch made the server gasp and stumble forward. Yoon Taehee caught the collapsing upper body with one arm and dragged the server into the restroom. While the server was coughing and struggling to recover, Yoon Taehee untied his tie and firmly bound the server's wrists. With the tie gone, he felt a void around his neck and took the server's bow
tie to wear it instead. He also took the name tag and in-ear device.
Yoon Taehee went to the last compartment where cleaning supplies were stored, grabbed a mop, and exited the restroom. He pulled out the pager he had tucked in his back pocket, and began walking, dragging the mop behind her.
The pager picked up a signal when he reached the third floor. The third floor, where the performance hall was located, had an automatic door with a sign saying
'Authorized Personnel Only' right at the entrance of the hallway. He placed the stolen access key against the automatic door sensor.
With a click, the lock disengaged, and the door opened.
As he stepped into the controlled area beyond the automatic door, a notification popped up on the screen of the pager in his hand, indicating a response from the tracking device. Yoon Taehee began to open every door in the hallway one by one. Then he discovered a large storage-like space. The dark interior was filled with various boxes, suggesting it was a place for storing odds and ends. The signal from the tracker was getting stronger.
As Yoon Taehee scanned the quiet, dimly lit storage area, he ventured deeper inside. After going further in, he found another door. Grabbing the doorknob, he opened the door, and bright light flooded into the previously dark storage area. The place he had entered was a waiting room connected to the stage.
Frowning, Yoon Taehee stepped onto the brightly lit stage.
At that moment, the pager in his hand vibrated. It was a signal that someone's pager was right inside here.
While standing on the stage and looking around,
"Looking for this?"
A voice suddenly called out from somewhere. Yoon Taehee turned his head to look in the direction of the voice. Someone was sitting in the dark, empty audience.
"..."
The person slowly rose to their feet. They climbed the stage stairs and stood facing Yoon Taehee. Although it was their first meeting, it felt familiar. It was a face he had seen in the pamphlet that listed the event schedule, the owner of the Yeoum Art Center, Kim Yekwon.
Kim Yekwon was a middle-aged man with a generous demeanor, dressed in a loose-fitting suit, smiling broadly. As he looked at Yoon Taehee with a smile, he waved the object in his hand. In his hand was a hand mirror-shaped pager that likely belonged to the missing Undercover Department exorcist.
With a hearty laugh, Kim Yekwon asked, "You're an exorcist, right?"
Though it was a moment that could have made him pause, Yoon Taehee looked at Kim Yekwon with a blank face. However, Kim Yekwon was already expressing surprise and admiration.
"I had my doubts, but it really was true. The rumor about an exorcist coming was real."
"Well... I'm not quite sure what you mean..."
As Yoon Taehee deliberately trailed off, responding innocently, Kim Yekwon seemed to step closer to him with a friendly smile, then,
"Well, no need to stress too much."
Kim Yekwon pulled a pen from his jacket pocket, held it in one hand, and jabbed a tranquilizer needle into Yoon Taehee's neck. It happened in the blink of an eye. Yoon Taehee staggered back a step, clutching his neck.
"Chief Jung. An exorcist really has come. I just caught one, so cancel the event."
Kim Yekwon raised the radio at his waist and looked at Yoon Taehee. He pressed his forehead, swaying like a drunken person.
"Now, do you have any last words?"
"I don't know why you're doing this..."
Yoon Taehee muttered, bowing his head.
"If you're going to treat me roughly, make it as harsh as possible."
"...Huh?"
"But please don't hit my face."
As he looked at Kim Yekwon with blurry eyes, he chuckled softly.
"Because the only thing I have is my face..."
With those words, Yoon Taehee collapsed.