chapter 3 - the first mission
The next day
After receiving a text earlier that morning, Kang Seojun headed into the headquarters again, stopping once he reached the front desk.
"Oh hey, you're the guy from yesterday right?" One of the ladies looked up from her computer. "How can I help?"
"I was told you had a card for me?"
"Oh right," she grabbed a folder from underneath the desk and started flipping through some documents, "your name?"
"Kang Seojun."
"Here it is," she paused, taking a poly-pocket out and settling the folder down before handing a black ID card to Seojun. "Normally there should be a picture on there too but looks like there isn't one on file for you.." She continued after tapping a few things into her computer.
"Ah, boss said that can wait," a voice approached them, as Seojun felt an arm around his shoulder. Turning around to see Hyunwoo and his stupid smile "Let's go."
"You're finally here," Haneul said, spinning around in her chair, her face buried in her phone as she scrolled through a photo album. Finally looking up after Kei placed his hands on the chair. "You got the text right?"
Seojun nodded.
"Good," she stood up, "usually you'd be accompanied by someone else, but," she sighed, "he's not scheduled for the task today, so Kei will go with you. Hyunwoo will be there too for backup."
"So what exactly are we doing?" Seojun asked as they left the building.
"...Dude, be honest, did you read what was sent to you?" Kei asked.
He looked away.
"Hey who cares, I bet you didn't either," Hyunwoo nudged the other a little.
"Whatever, let's get this over with." He sped off, walking towards the subway station as the other two strolled leisurely behind.
"Don't mind him, he gets in a mood some times," Hyunwoo turned to Seojun, "do you know who we're looking for at least?"
Seojun nodded, unlocking his phone. The same text screen earlier that morning now on display Infront of the two; some brief instructions and an image attached at the bottom of the message. A portrait of a man in his late 50s, with signs of sunken facial features, his hairline already on the borderline of non-existent, and a pair of lifeless eyes. And then there was a follow up text, as if a short introduction. Seojun scanned over it, Economics professor, ZF university, divorced, one son.
After catching up with the red hair, the three boarded the subway, soon reaching the other side of the central. As they stopped Infront of the campus' entrance, a guy approached them. He gave an acknowledging nod to Kei before sliding his ID card in the other's hand as he passed by. Due to the fact he had a baseball cap on, Seojun didn't even get a proper glimpse at the guy's face before he disappeared off into the distance.
The unguarded professor's office had a somewhat cold vibe to it. Same as before, Kei entered, followed by the other two, he slipped on a pair of black gloves before picking up some documents lying on the desk, whilst the other two stayed by the door.
"..Huh, it's really as I thought," Kei muttered.
"What are you talking about," Hyunwoo leaned against the doorframe, his eyes glancing over to his friend.
"That guy earlier and this dude, it's his dad." He picked up a photoframe by the desk, turning it for the other two to see.
Hyunwoo gave a light laugh before Kei spoke again, "alright you," he nodded at Seojun, "you're up."
"For what?" Seojun asked as he trodded over to the desk too.
"Use your ability." Kei handed the frame to him.
As he took it from his hand, almost like time travelling, Kang Seojun saw a glimpse of the past.
"You can't fail me!" he sees a familiar figure shouting, although he couldn't make out the face of the man, the build was similar to that of the guy earlier.
"I told you whilst we are on campus, I will not act as your father, you will not act as my son. A student cannot retaliate against a professor like this."
"So, what've you got?" Kei asked as Seojun sets the picture down.
"Nothing useful, just confirmed it's his dad, but there was something about him failing him," he replied, now walking to the other end of the desk, hands flicking through a pile of documents.
"Do you need those?" Kei pointed to Hyunwoo who was taking a pair of gloves out of his pocket.
Seojun shook his head in response, "it interferes with the ability." He finally walked over and placed his hand on the office chair.
The man rested his back against the chair, his hand massaging his temples as another sat opposite him, this time a smartly dressed man who looked similar in age to him.
"I have no other family or children, but he's too irresponsible when it comes to money I can't just leave all my assets to him. It's too big a risk."
"So it's for inheritance then?" Hyunwoo questioned, going so much as to tapping his chin as if he's thinking.
"Who knows, doesn't matter anyway, it's none of our business," Kei answered as they left the office, now down the corridors which led to the lecture rooms.
They stopped infront of room EC108, Hyunwoo opened the door slightly, just enough to see the inside from an angle. His eyes grew a red tint for a split second before he quietly shut the door again, giving a thumbs up. Kei nodded as Hyunwoo dragged Seojun away from the entrance, whilst the other straightened himself up and slipped inside the empty lecture hall.
"So, should we go get something to eat?" His hand still holding onto Seojuns wrist as they walked in the opposite direction.
"Did you use your ability?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm.." Seojun grumbled, what could it be.."oh, and is it alright to just leave it to him?"
Hyunwoo stopped, finally letting his grip loose. "Trust me, if anyone knows what they're doing, it's Kei." He smiled proudly. "To be honest this could've easily been a solo mission for him," he added, "oh, maybe that's why he's so grumpy today." He said as he walked up to a nearby vending machine.
"Why?" Seojun followed.
"Because you stole his spotlight duh," he chuckled, pressing on two black coffees.
"...how did I steal his spotlight if he's the one that finishes the job anyway?" Seojun groaned as the other picked up the drinks.
"That's exactly how," he opened up a can and held it infront of the other, "because now he has to share credit."