“Why is my dongsaeng…”
Cheon Dongha ran with all his might and appeared in front of us out of breath.
He looked at us with an expression that was flustered yet vigilant.
His gaze passed through Red Tiger, White Tiger, and Cheon Sungheon, finally landing on Kim Shinrok.
“Professor Shinrok… What is happening?”
It’s logical that Cheon Dongha would address Kim Shinrok, a teacher at our school, instead of me or the other tigers he doesn’t know.
However, Kim Shinrok seemed reluctant to speak on behalf of the head of the Tiger Clan and his father.
‘Kim Shinrok cherishes his students but he prioritizes the Tiger Clan, his family.’
Just as I expected Kim Shinrok tried to handle the situation without letting his expression reveal anything.
When Kim Shinrok showed no intention to speak, the arrow headed to me and Hwang Jiho next.
Hwang Jiho was looking at Cheon Dongha with sparkling eyes.
He must’ve gotten excited about Cheon Dongha’s light skill.
“I suddenly got an order to review the reports I submitted as soon as I clocked in at the institute. I thought that was weird. Did you do that?”
“You are most certainly correct. I even prepared a dummy, how did you figure it out?”
Hwang Jiho speaking like an old man to Cheon Dongha…!
Maybe it’s because we’re caught red-handed kidnapping his brother, but it seems like this crazy guy decided to drop the high school student act in front of Cheon Dongha.
Cheon Dongha looked suspicious, but he didn’t point it out since Hwang Jiho’s way of speaking was the least of his worries given this extremely odd situation.
“I recognized that it was a fake without difficulty because of my brother’s blinking pattern. His eyes would usually move along with the text that I’m reading.”
He saw through the dummy through Cheon Sungheon’s blinking pattern.
But did he figure out that it was Hwang Jiho who ordered everything through his clairvoyance skill?
Nothing less is expected from my playable character.
“I knew something was wrong so I activated my light skill. I came here because a lump of red fog left the institute and moved toward the Silver Hall. It was in front of the hall that the fog was moving. And now look, my brother was enveloped by that red fog after all.
The Eye Embracing Heaven and Earth seem to be able to see Red Tiger’s red fog although he can’t see through it.
Red Tiger and Kim Shinrok both looked surprised.
Their expression was so similar, making it undeniable that they are related by blood.
Cheon Dongha seemed to have a lot to say to Kim Shinrok judging from the way he’s looking at him.
Still, he prioritized his brother.
“I don’t think this is a meaningless joke. Explain to me what’s going on. I will inform the association depending on what you say.”
Hwang Jiho glanced at me.
I could guess why.
He’s trying to ask me if Cheon Dongha is a reliable person based on ‘the things that I know’.
‘Cheon Dongha never sided with the Black Screen until the end. Considering his track record in PMH, he’s reliable. There won’t be any problem with telling him what’s going on, but I feel sorry that it seems like he will get involved with the circumstances of the Tiger Clan…’
Still, I don’t know what the Tiger Clan would think.
While I was trying to weigh the situation, Hwang Jiho’s eyes were fixed on me.
‘Seeing that he wants my opinion, he must be hesitating. He’s even considering revealing his identity.’
I nodded.
Hwang Jiho nodded back and began to speak.
“First of all, I think it’s best that you know this body’s true identity. Well, it’s not like I tried actively hiding it.”
“…What does that mean?”
It’s true that Hwang Jiho doesn’t bother masking his way of speaking in front of our classmates.
But how would Cheon Dongha understand if he puts it that way?
Though it might be possible since Cheon Dongha is a smart guy.
“‘The head of the Hwangmyeong Foundation is not human’. You must’ve heard this rumor since it’s related to the business world.”
“I’ve heard of it. People of royal lineage and humans are mixed in society. Hywangmyeong Group is probably like that too. Just like Professor Yong Jegun is one of our teachers.”
“Well, it’s not really comparable to Yong Jegun.”
Fwaaa…!
Hwang Jiho’s eyes and hair turned golden.
His eyes and hair were filled with overwhelming mana.
“Among those in Hwangmyeong Group, those who have the surname ‘Hwang’ are part of the Tiger Clan. For your information, all the Hwang-ssi of Hwangmyeong Group that you met were all Tiger Clan.”
“…!”
Cheon Dongha finally understood, his face nothing short of shocked.
To be more accurate though, all those who belong to Hwangmyeong Group that have the last name “Hwang” are Hwang Jiho’s alter egos.
Well, his alter egos are technically part of the Tiger Clan, so he’s not really lying.
“So you’re… And Chairman is… And that person…”
Cheon Dongha looked confused.
I guess he saw a lot of Hwang Jiho’s alter egos while working at the research institute.
Hwang Jiho did not deny Cheon Dongha’s suspicion.
“Yes, they’re all Tiger Clan. There’s only one human in front of you right now. It’s Jo Euishin.”
Cheon Dongha and I made eye contact.
He seemed to be wondering why the human Jo Euishin was here.
Pushing aside such questions, he continued to talk to Hwang Jiho.
His top priority is still his brother.
“But modern history says that Tiger Clan isn’t very involved with humans… Why did the Tiger Clan suddenly kidnap my brother? Does my brother’s symptoms have something to do with the Tiger Clan?”
Hwang Jiho couldn’t answer.
It’s because he doesn’t know yet too.
“In the basement of the Silver Hall, a family of the Tiger Clan is in ‘deep sleep’.”
“…I have heard of a ghost story related to the basement of the Silver Hall.”
“You mean photos of the monthly ceremonies in the basement? Well, there was a time when we tried to wake him up by doing something similar.”
Hwang Jiho unveiled the “ghost story” that was being told in Eungwang High.
“So my brother has something to do with the tiger who is in deep sleep.”
Hwang Jiho didn’t deny it.
“…If you hadn’t found your brother and protected him, the possibility would’ve disappeared.”
Cheon Sungheon, who was still enveloped by the red fog, watched our exchanges.
Hwang Jiho pressed his temples and glanced at Cheon Sungheon.
“I can’t just let your brother go now that we’re here. Instead, you may come with us.”
Cheon Dongha didn’t answer right away.
He can’t decide whether to take his brother away from here or comply.
In the end, he asked for Cheon Sungheon’s opinion.
“…What do you think? Do you want to go to the basement?”
He responded.
He blinked once right away as if he was waiting all this time to be asked.
“Okay.”
Cheon Dongha answered with a complex expression.
His face seemed full of questions and anxiety, but I also felt a strong determination to protect his younger brother.
“Then let’s go.”
Hwang Jiho stepped forward and Red Tiger and Kim Shinrok followed right behind.
Cheon Dongha stood beside Cheon Sungheon.
White Tiger stepped back, watching over everyone.
***
Inside the Silver Hall.
I didn’t feel any sign of the secretary’s presence.
Cold energy rose from the hall’s white marble, making it seem more lonely than usual.
“Follow me. Don’t fall behind too far.”
Hwang Jiho spoke as he took the lead.
We were headed to the chairman’s office.
The area where the office was located was large, having a separate space for the secretary’s office, a reception room, and other facilities.
We headed straight to the chairman’s office.
Hwang Jiho stopped behind the desk where the chairman’s nameplate was placed and put his hand on the wall.
Ddddddeeu…!
When Hwang Jiho released his energy wave through the wall, a door was finally revealed.
Beyond the door was a silver-finished elevator.
“An elevator in a place like this…!”
Cheon Dongha looked very impressed.
He now seems to believe that Hwang Jiho is of Tiger Clan.
As soon as we entered the elevator and energy wave was released, the elevator began to move.
‘Come to think of it, almost all the facilities in Eungwang District have some sort of basement.’
Eunyeonggwan’s basement where Red Tiger and Kim Shinrok torture criminals.
The basement of the Hwangmyeong Mansion where the 12-point alliance meetings were held.
Underground of the Hwangmyeong Research Institute where Cheon Sungheon was located.
And the basement of Silver Hall where Silver Tiger is asleep.
‘It must have something to do with intelligence.’
The most intelligent place in Korea must be Eungwang District.
Since the people of royal lineage can use their intellectual power greatly, they must’ve opted to build their major facilities underground.
‘There are a lot of limitations though. Did Hwang Jiho use his intellect to fight in PMH?’
Dding!
The elevator finally reached its destination.
Countless columns welcomed us as soon as the elevator doors opened.
The pillars were stretched out so high that the top could only be seen by looking up.
They were engraved with ancient words which I assume are placed by Hwang Jiho’s boundary skill.
“I didn’t know there was an underground facility in Silver Hall. There are ancient words written on the pillars. Is it managed with intelligence?”
“Correct. It took a considerable amount of boundary to protect the one who is asleep here. Each pillar has slightly different functions. Hmm…”
Hwang Jiho suddenly stopped.
At the same time, the other tigers’ faces looked stiff as they looked around.
“…I think someone is here beside us.”
“There’s something over there!”
His light skill must’ve detected something as Cheon Dongha pointed to the other side.
Hwang Jiho activated his glare skill and looked at where Cheon Dongha was pointing.
His golden eyes were filled with rage
“Mountain spirit, what are you doing here?!”
Hwang Jiho’s scolding voice resonated.
His voice must’ve been enforced with energy waves as it made my ears sting.
I immediately activated my glare skill.
I saw someone lying in a silver coffin in the center of the basement.
‘Is that Silver Tiger over there…?!’
The young man with silver hair had his eyes closed as if he was asleep.
It’s subtle, but there’s some energy wave there.
However, he’s not showing any signs of waking up.
On the other hand, mountain spirit seem to be holding something.
‘It seems like mountain spirit is putting something on top of Silver TIger’s body. What is it? Is that a branch…?’
Mountain spirit placed a branch that was slightly thinner than his forearm on Silver Tiger’s body before running away with all his might.
Even if he runs, it won’t be long before he’s caught by Hwang Jiho or White Tiger.
The distance quickly narrowed as the angry Hwang Jiho and White Tiger approached Silver Tiger.
When we were close enough to distinguish Silver Tiger’s appearance without the help of skills…
“Is that… Is that a branch from Cheondansu?”
Right after Cheon Dongha’s words, a system notification rang in my head.
