Episode 22: A New Way to Resolve Misunderstandings?

“Ah, goodness.”

Baek Younghee, the owner of the Taejongdae Convenience Store and mother of three mischievous children, was just returning home after grocery shopping for the evening.

The house was quiet, suggesting no one else had returned yet.

Click, click.

She slowly turned on the lights in the living room and kitchen.

Then, she began placing the groceries she bought today one by one on the kitchen table.

That’s when it happened.

Bzzzz. Bzzzz.

Baek Younghee took out her phone.

It was an unknown number.

‘Who could it be?’

She tilted her head in curiosity and answered the call.

A voice came through the phone.

It was a man’s voice she didn’t recognize.

[“We have your daughter. If you report this to the police, we can’t guarantee her safety. If you understand, let’s move on to the main point…”]

Click.

Without listening further, Baek Younghee hung up and casually switched her phone to silent mode.

And then,

“Now, let’s see.”

As if nothing had happened, she rubbed her hands together and took out a cutting board and pot. She began making kimchi stew with her own recipe.

“Hmm, hmm… Love is a pesky butterfly~ Everyone, cha-cha-cha~”

Her oddly mixed humming began to softly fill the kitchen.

It was another peaceful afternoon.

“…Huh, huh.”

One of the men from the Scorpion Guild looked at his phone in disbelief.

“What… what is this? She hung up without even listening to the whole story?”

“Hmm? What’s going on?”

“She just… hung up the call.”

“What? Are you sure it didn’t just get disconnected?”

“I’ve tried calling back, but she won’t answer. Huh.”

“Her daughter has been kidnapped, and she just hangs up? Does that make any sense?”

“Exactly. What kind of family is this?”

Maybe she’s a child they’ve disowned. How much must they have disowned her to act like this…?

The men looked at Tae Yiseo with curious eyes.

But whether she knew this or not, Tae Yiseo was dozing off, tied to a chair with a mask on.

“Is she really sleeping in this situation? Seriously?”

The men were dumbfounded.

Was she brave or just slow to grasp the situation?

One thing was clear: neither this woman nor her family was ordinary.

Just then,

Screech.

A large black sedan arrived in front of the abandoned factory.

The door opened, and Cho Jinnam stepped out.

“You’re here!”

The men waiting bowed respectfully.

“We’re almost ready.”

“Hmm.”

Cho Jinnam nodded.

Step, step.

With his hands arrogantly in his pockets, Cho Jinnam walked briskly toward Tae Yiseo.

With a nod, his subordinates removed the mask from Tae Yiseo.

Hmm.

Her face was revealed.

But with her horn-rimmed glasses already obscuring her face and her hair all tangled, no one there could see her face properly.

“Let’s get straight to the point.”

Regardless, Cho Jinnam began speaking in a gruff voice.

“Because of your brother, we’ve suffered quite a bit. I need to know today what kind of backing and power an F-rank Awakened has to manipulate the Hunter Association President at will. You won’t be going home until your brilliant brother arrives. Got it?”

“……”

But there was no response.

Hmm.

Normally, Cho Jinnam would have caused a scene, but not this time.

The opponent was a civilian, and this situation could be frightening enough.

When people are terrified, they often can’t speak. Cho Jinnam had no intention of pressuring a silent hostage.

And that wasn’t the important part anyway.

“Hey, did you contact the family?”

“…Yes. Uh, yes. Well…”

“Good.”

“……”

Ignoring the awkward hesitation of his subordinates, Cho Jinnam nodded in satisfaction.

“If that guy cares about his family, I’m curious to see how he’ll react.”

It might take some time for him to come out of the Gate, but…

‘Shouldn’t we explain things properly?’

‘What are you going to say? She just hung up on us. Should I? Huh? Then you explain it.’

‘Ugh, I can’t. Who knows what kind of chaos will ensue.’

‘They’ll find out eventually, so shouldn’t we tell them?’

‘Then why don’t you tell them, boss?’

‘What? You little… Hurry up and tell them!’

‘Just kill me instead.’

‘Ugh, this guy…’

The subordinates were at a loss on how to explain this.

“There’s no need to be so nervous. As long as you cooperate, nothing will happen.”

Meanwhile, Cho Jinnam chuckled at the unresponsive hostage.

“Are these glasses in fashion these days? I can’t see a thing because of them.”

Cho Jinnam stepped closer and removed Tae Yiseo’s glasses.

“Let’s see how you look… Hmm?”

As soon as the glasses were removed, there was a collective gasp of admiration from behind.

She was quite a beauty.

Her face was still obscured by her messy hair, but there was a certain aura about her.

But,

Hmm?

Why does she seem so familiar?

Where have I seen her before…?

Before he could recall any memories, his entire body was sending frantic danger signals.

What is this… Oh? Oh no?!

In that moment, Cho Jinnam froze, holding the glasses in his hand.

Like a statue.

He looked as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t have.

With trembling hands, he put the glasses back on her.

Then he slowly stepped back, one step at a time.

His entire body was shaking.

“…Hey, you, you, you guys.”

“Yes, boss?”

“Why is that here?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, why is that here?! What did you bring here?! This is insane!”

“…What?”

Cho Jinnam grabbed one of his subordinates by the collar and shouted.

The subordinates couldn’t understand Cho Jinnam’s intense reaction.

Their boss looked utterly shocked and terrified, as if he’d gone mad with fear.

They’d never seen him like this before. Why?

At that moment,

“Long time no see, huh?”

Flinch.

A voice came from behind.

Even though it was just a simple greeting, Cho Jinnam felt as if his heart had frozen.

He mustered the courage to turn around and tried to smile as pleasantly as possible.

“…Haha. Well, well, well. How have you been? It’s nice to see you like this.”

“Huh?”

Tae Yiseo raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Really? You’re happy to see me? I doubt it.”

“What are you mumbling about? Don’t you understand the situation you’re in?”

“Hey! Stay still!”

“Why are you suddenly acting like this over this woman…?”

Boom!

Suddenly, there was an explosive sound.

“Ugh…”

Thud.

The man who had been hurling insults at Tae Yiseo suddenly collapsed, his body charred like a scarecrow.

No one saw what happened.

“I thought that was enough back then…”

Snap.

With the sound of the rope binding her hands breaking, Tae Yiseo slowly stood up.

“…I guess not. I was foolish.”

Cho Jinnam backed away, his face pale.

“Haha. I don’t know what you’re talking about. There seems to be a misunderstanding, but let’s talk it out…”

“Misunderstanding?”

Tae Yiseo chuckled.

The subordinates watching were utterly confused.

It looked as if Cho Jinnam was being threatened by the hostage they had captured.

Something was seriously off, but no one dared to intervene.

Who would dare after witnessing what happened to their colleague just moments ago?

Tae Yiseo’s haughty voice continued to pierce their ears.

“Well, I suppose that’s possible. So, let’s talk it out, shall we?”

Buzz—

Tae Yiseo’s hair began to float slightly, glowing a faint red.

“What kind of story ties you to my brother? Well, his business is my business, so let’s resolve this misunderstanding together.”

Buzz.

B-b-b-brother?

Did Crimson Flame have a brother?

Roar!

And why was the fireball in the hand of the person who wanted to talk growing so fiercely?

And why did Crimson Flame’s smiling face send chills down their spines?

‘Haha, so that’s it! It wasn’t him, it was Crimson Flame!’

Damn it…!

It all made sense now.

Why Park Daehan treated and helped an F-rank Awakened with such care.

Crimson Flame was behind him.

Realizing that Crimson Flame was behind all of this made everything fall into place.

Ah, Crimson Flame… Of all people!

Memories of being defeated years ago flashed through Cho Jinnam’s mind, leaving him in a state of utter shock.

Why not fight back?

‘That’s madness.’

Cho Jinnam prided himself on never backing down in a fight.

He once believed he could stand his ground against an S-rank.

He even had the absurd confidence that, with a bit of luck, he might win. Once upon a time.

But just once.

After a single battle in the underground training room of the Association headquarters, Cho Jinnam learned deep in his bones that he was gravely mistaken.

S-ranks are not human.

They’re a different, unknown entity.

They aren’t opponents you can challenge with sheer determination or stubbornness.

After being utterly crushed by Crimson Flame and spending over half a year in the hospital, Cho Jinnam learned a valuable lesson.

Since then, he had desperately avoided Crimson Flame and other S-ranks… Ha, haha, hahaha…

Just as Cho Jinnam’s misunderstanding and life’s regrets reached their peak,

Rumble.

The fireball summoned above Tae Yiseo’s hand had become a massive fireball.

“Let’s start with this. If you survive, that is.”

‘…Just kill me already.’

The fireball left her hand.

“Damn it… I should just quit everything.”

Tears welled up in Cho Jinnam’s eyes.

All his efforts felt futile.

And then,

Boom!

A pillar of fire shot into the sky, engulfing the abandoned factory and the surrounding area.

Cho Jinnam and all the members of the Scorpion Guild were swept into the fire pillar.

“Aaaah!”

“Help, somebody help!”

“Aaaah!”

Their screams echoed high into the sky.

It was a new way to resolve misunderstandings.

Hmm?

While diligently performing his duties as a Gate Helper and observer inside the Gate, Tae Ihyun turned his head.

His unique danger detection ability was signaling him.

But this time, it felt different.

Something was happening, but instead of the usual ominous feeling, he felt something closer to pity or sympathy.

What is this?

Tae Ihyun tilted his head in confusion but soon returned to his work.

It seemed his ability was malfunctioning.

In any case, the Harmony Guild was fervently tackling the Gate today.

Fervor in a C-rank Gate—truly remarkable.

With that, Tae Ihyun resumed jotting down notes in his notebook.