Ch. 77 - Date in Prison

After receiving the award, I got bombarded with congratulatory messages from all over.

[Ms. Hye-Rim! Congratulations! >< How about a celebratory meal together sometime?]

The first text was from Alice, accompanied by a selfie. Her lively tone was unmistakable. She was dressed in a dazzling idol costume, standing in the center of a concert hall.

[I'm currently practicing for this weekend's concert! Would you like to come? I'll get you a ticket—front-row VIP!]

She even invited me to her concert. Alice’s concert, huh? Of course, I’d like to go. After being a fan for so long, I’d always wanted to see her perform in person. But this weekend was out of the question—I had personal matters to attend to.

[Sorry, I can't make it this week. But invite me again next time, and I'll definitely come.]

[Aw… T_T Oh well. But promise you'll come next time, okay?!]

[Of course.]

[Great! I'll reserve a seat for you in advance, hehe.]

Alice’s concert tickets are often resold for hundreds of thousands of won. And here I was, getting one for free. Networking really does pay off.

[Ms. Hye-Rim, I heard the news. There was… a bit of an incident, but congratulations. I believe you totally deserved the award.]

Next was a message from Jung Ha-Yeon. While she didn’t need to bring up the “incident,” it was still nice to receive her congratulations. Hearing it directly from my favorite person made me happier than anything.

[Thank you. It’s a bit embarrassing, but your congratulations make me feel better.]

[That’s good to hear. :) ]

Other messages kept pouring in from people I knew. Responding to each one took up most of the afternoon.

“You seem very busy.”

Park Oh-Jin grinned as he watched me typing away on my phone.

“Yeah. Even people I barely talk to are sending messages. And what’s with someone congratulating me and sneaking in a wedding invitation? Were they just waiting for a chance to invite me? Should I send them a gift or something?”

“Haha, that happens sometimes.”

“Ugh, if that’s the case, just don’t reach out at all.”

After finally replying to everyone, I tossed my phone onto the desk, exhausted.

“I give up. Any new messages will just have to wait until tomorrow. I’ll just say I was busy with work.”

No one would be upset about a delayed reply under those circumstances.

“You’re quite popular, Team Leader. I’m jealous!”

“So-Young, stick around in this field for a few more years, and you’ll end up like me. Don’t forget, you’re part of the elite Team 5 under our department.”

Our team is high-profile, which naturally means we meet many people. On days like this, it’s no surprise that many remember to reach out, even if it’s just for appearance’s sake.

“Honestly, though, I don’t feel good about it. It feels like they’re confirming they saw… that embarrassing incident.”

To me, the messages just read as: “Wow, that button pop was epic, lol”

Thinking back on what happened this morning even now still makes my face burn. It was the most humiliating experience I had since coming to this world.

As I sighed, Lee So-Young leaned closer and whispered,

“Team Leader, do you mind sharing your secret with me?”

“What secret?”

“You know… how do you keep your chest growing like that? Is there something specific you eat?”

“…You little punk.”

I shoved her away with a finger to her forehead.

“There’s no secret, so don’t even ask.”

“Wow, so it’s just genetics? Some people really do win the lottery, huh…”

“So-Young, enough nonsense. Instead, can you help me look up which prison this prisoner I'm about to tell you is being held in?”

“Huh? Why the sudden interest?”

“Just do me a favor.”

I handed her a note I’d prepared. When So-Young saw the name written on it, her eyes widened.

“Wait, Team Leader… is this…?”

“Yeah. These are criminals I personally apprehended.”

I need to find out what’s happening with the offenders I’ve caught—especially those like Oh Min-Ji, who received some strange power. That figure seemed to have approached her, feeding on her anger toward me.

If they targeted her, there’s a chance they’ll go after others who hold a grudge against me. I need to be prepared.

“Oh, and So-Young, come with me somewhere this Saturday.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah, you.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“B-but it’s the weekend! Are you asking me out on a date?!”

“What’s wrong with that? Don’t want to?”

“Well, um…”

So-Young averted her gaze, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of spending time alone with me.

“C’mon, what’s the big deal? Let’s just enjoy some quality time together, boss and subordinate.”

“But if I leave home on the weekend…”

“Don’t even think about using your goldfish as an excuse again.”

“Ugh…!”

So-Young, at a loss for words, closed her mouth.

"Hey, isn't it great to hang out with your team leader even on weekends? Let's have fun on our prison date!"

"As I thought, you're planning to meet those criminals! How is this a date?! It's just work, isn't it?!"

"No complaints! When the Team Leader says to do something, you do it!"

"Ugh, you're such a boomer! Our team leader has turned into one of those bosses. Oh no... At this rate, you'll be just like the section chief soon. What a bleak future."

Hahaha. All bosses eventually become boomers, So-Young. That's the way it goes.

"More importantly, do you really hate the idea of a date with me that much? Plenty of people out there are dying to go on a date with me, you know."

I smirked, recalling earlier messages disguised as congratulations, subtly hinting at wanting to meet up alone. Even a famous actor I had turned down before had texted me again.

"Pfft—!"

"Cough, cough!"

Suddenly, Yoo-Sung spat out the water he was drinking, and Seo-Eun started coughing as if something had gone down the wrong pipe.

...I’ve been wondering for a while now—what’s up with those two? Whenever conversations like this come up, their reactions are always odd.

I’ll have to set aside some time to figure out what’s going on between them someday.

***

Saturday morning, I waited for So-Young at our designated meeting spot.

“Oh, there you are.”

When she finally arrived, she looked like a ghost of herself, sighing heavily.

“A beautiful weekend wasted on a prison visit with my boss. What did I do to deserve this blessing?”

“You must have saved a country in your past life. Now, let’s go.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

We headed to the prison. Once inside, the staff escorted us to the visitation room.

After a while, a familiar face appeared on the other side of the glass.

“I didn’t expect anyone to visit… and it turns out to be you?”

“Long time no see, Kim Tae-Sik.”

Kim Tae-Sik. He was an Awakened individual I’d apprehended two years ago—once a gang member causing havoc in the city.

“How’s life treating you?”

“Oh, just peachy. Thanks to you, I get free meals and a roof over my head. Living the dream.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear you’re doing okay.”

“…So, what do you want? You didn’t come all the way here just to say hi.”

Kim Tae-sik’s expression clearly showed how much he didn’t want to see me as he scoffed.

“If you came here to dig up confidential information about our organization…”

“I really just came to check in on you.”

“There’s no way I’m spilling anything, so don’t even think—wait, what?”

“I just wanted to see your face. Got anything bothering you these days?”

“…”

Kim Tae-sik stared at me suspiciously for a moment before finally speaking.

“Nothing. I just want to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“Hmm, I see. Have you thought about me recently? Like blaming me for putting you in this place or resenting me? Have you ever felt that way?”

“…Are you here just to get on my nerves?”

“I’m serious. So I’d appreciate an honest answer.”

Kim Tae-sik’s face twisted in anger. Seeing his reaction, Lee So-Young, sitting next to me, shifted nervously in her seat.

“…Not that I haven’t thought about it. But I’ve never seriously considered wanting to kill you or anything.”

“Well, that’s a relief. So you don’t hate me that much…”

Could that woman try to approach Kim Tae-sik as well? Does he hold enough value for her to target him?

Kim Tae-sik let out a low, disgruntled mutter as I pondered this.

“What’s with this? You dragged me here just to throw out these weird questions? If you keep this up, I’m leaving.”

“Wait. Just a bit longer, and then you can go. So-Young, use your ability to scan him.”

Lee So-Young’s ability allows her to track awakened individuals and assess what kind of powers they possess. To my knowledge, Kim Tae-sik’s ability is solely controlling electricity.

“Uh, yeah… He controls electricity. He can generate it from his body as well.”

“Really?”

There’s nothing unusual about it. It’s exactly as I expected.

In that case, there’s one more thing I want to confirm.

“Then, this time, look at me.”

“Excuse me?”

“Scan me. What kind of powers do I have?”

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