Inside the air limousine heading to the Red Lion Team Building.
Yeom Junyeol, who was on his way home from his schedule, checked his device messages and doubted his eyes.
He read it several times, trying to see if he was seeing it correctly.
The sender was Jo Euishin, asking Yeom Junyeol for help.
‘Euishin, my teacher, needs my help!’
The truth is, Jo Euishin didn’t ask for help directly.
Jo Euishin’s message was that there would be an opportunity to help the Tiger Clan, and he wanted Yeom Junyeol to think about it positively.
‘He said it’s to help the Tiger Clan. If I comply with the Tiger Clan’s request, will we do something together?’
Yeom Junyeol didn’t find it strange that Jo Euishin was cooperating with the Tiger Clan.
He knows that the head of the Tiger Clan is in Class 1-0, and he seems to be quite close with Jo Euishin.
“Something good must’ve happened, Junyeol-ah.”
Yong Jegun smiled widely at Yeom Junyeol.
Someone else is in charge of his security, but Yong Jegun followed on his own.
These days, Yong Jegun has been doing things differently from what he initially announced.
He seems to be living freely just before he ascends.
Yeom Junyeol felt lonely thinking about what would happen in the future, but he hid his feelings and acted normally to keep Yong Jegun entertained while he was still there.
“I got a message from Euishin.”
“Euishin?’
“Yes, they’re planning to get my help through Uncle Cheongryong.”
Yong Jegun’s smile grew.
He seemed to expect what the Tiger Clan would need from Yeom Junyeol.
“Our Dragon Clan is indebted to the Tiger Clan, so if you ask Cheongryong, I’m sure he’ll allow it. We’ve also asked the Tiger Clan to send us one of their men.”
“A tiger has been inside the Red Lion team building?”
“Yeah, a tiger that you know.”
Although Yong Jegun used ambiguous expressions, the astute Yeom Junyeol understood.
‘Jegun hyung wants me to get it right.’
To meet Yong Jegun’s expectations, Yeom Junyeol reasoned by recalling some things.
A person from the Tiger Clan who’s been in the Red Lion building.
Someone who Yeom Junyeol knows.
‘I heard that Jegun hyung’s friend is the only one who can enter the building. And Jegun hyung only has one friend… Ah.’
Yeom Junyeol recalled where Yong Jegun introduced his friend.
He ordered sherbet for his friend too.
“Are you talking about Professor Kim Shinrok?”
“Yeah, Shinrok’s good at a lot of things.”
Yeom Junyeol smiled and nodded as he listened to Yong Jegun unexpectedly brag about his friend.
“Jegun hyung, will you join me when I respond to their request?”
“Should I? Hmm. I think I’ll be busy starting tomorrow.”
Wearing a blindfold covering part of his face made it more difficult to read Yong Jegun’s expression.
Yeom Junyeol couldn’t tell if he wanted to go or not.
However, he was well aware that the Dragon Clan and the Red Lion get really busy every year at this time.
‘It’s my birthday soon, so they must be preparing for the party.’
At the beginning of every year, as Yeom Junyeol’s birthday approaches, everyone becomes busy preparing for a surprise party.
In order to hide party decorations and gifts, they used to keep Yeom Junyeol away.
When Yeom Junyeol was an elementary student, he said he was happy with just a small celebration, but his family couldn’t hide their disappointment.
Since then, Yeom Junyeol has decided to appreciate and look forward to the birthday party that his family prepared for him.
‘Other than the birthday party, I think they’re hiding something else. Is it just a feeling? Or is it a bigger party now since it’s my last year as a teenager?’
Yeom Junyeol had a feeling that the Dragon Clan and the Red Lion were on edge.
The truth was that they were on high alert over the betrayal of the shamans.
However, they only guard Yeom Junyeol and quietly separate him from the shamans, never mentioning the betrayal to him just yet.
This was because they didn’t know who was innocent, and they only had Yoohwang as the sure traitor.
Those who cared about Yome Junyeol agreed to reveal it to him once everything was settled.
“Ah, I haven’t seen the shamans today either. Are they still unwell? May I go visit them?”
“It’s hard to allow that. I’ll tell them how you feel, Junyeol.”
“I can’t see Yoohwang noona either?”
Those in the limousine became even more nervous at the mention of Yoohwang, but Yong Jegun’s expression didn’t falter.
“Is it because of the succession ceremony?”
“Yes, Yoohwang noona will soon vacate her position as a shaman. At this rate, I don’t think I’ll be able to see her until she steps down.”
The other staff inside the limousine were quietly relieved.
Yeom Junyeol’s considerate nature was the only reason why he brought it up.
Unlike them, Yong Jegun answered in a comfortable tone.
“Stepping down as a shaman doesn’t mean they’d leave this world right away. Do you remember that even after Hong became a shaman, her predecessor came to visit?”
“Oh, yes, I remember.”
The ceremony for the succession of the Dragon King’s shaman is held every fifty years.
However, there are simple succession ceremonies held due to unexpected accidents.
Among the five existing shamans, Hong became a shaman through a simple ceremony.
Her predecessor suddenly announced that she would quit shamanship a few years ago, and the Dragon King accepted and chose another shaman.
Even after stepping down, the predecessor shaman had visited the Red Lion building several times.
‘Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen her since I’ve become a high school student.’
Yeom Junyeol tried to think more about the shamans, but he soon got caught up in Yong Jegun’s other stories.
He noted that Yong Jegun was avoiding talking about the shamans.
‘Jegun hyung doesn’t have much time left to talk about what he enjoys. I’ll give up the shaman talk for now.’
There were a lot of things on his mind, but Yeom Junyeol decided to prioritize Yong Jegun’s feelings.
***
“Let’s go see the guest.”
Eunho’s descendants left first to have dinner with Ahn Dain, and Hwang Jiho said he would greet a guest.
It’s late, but seeing that he’s going to fetch this guest himself, they must be someone important.
I was curious who it was, but if I needed to know, Hwang Jiho would tell me later.
I let Hwang Jiho go his way and tried to go home.
“Where do you think you’re going, Jo Euishin? You’re coming with me.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
My attempt to leave was immediately scratched.
Why do I have to go meet Hwang Jiho’s guest?
Baekho-gun, Jaeokho, and Kim Shinrok were coming with him to meet this guest.
I guess they’re really special for all of the tigers to be coming.
‘Is it Yeom Junyeol already?’
It wouldn’t be strange for my good student to come help as soon as he heard the news.
When I sent him the message, he immediately replied positively.
“They’ve come a long way so I recommended that they rest first, but they were insistent to see me as soon as possible.”
“A guest from a far place?”
“Yes, from outside Korea.”
Did Yeom Junyeol have an overseas schedule?
No, Yeom Junyeol would’ve told me if he had worked abroad.
And there’s no way that the Dragon Clan would sit pretty and watch Yeom Junyeol leave Korea at this time.
I don’t think the guest is Yeom Junyeol.
“Hahaha! I guess you’re curious about who it is. I can tell you if you’re really curious.”
Hwang Jiho teased, but I decided not to answer.
Hearing that the guest was from abroad, it was somewhat obvious.
‘They’re here just as expected.’
We soon arrived at our destination.
Hwang Jiho was leading us to the only skyscraper in Eungwang High, the Hwangmyeong Tower.
‘This means that the guest is not a deeply trusted person.’
Those who Hwang Jiho trusts and believes wouldn’t betray the Tiger Clan are invited to the Hwangmyeong Mansion.
Although the mansion has separate annexes, not many people are allowed to cross the main gate.
Except for the Tiger Clan, only those who could enter were Yong Jegun, Ok Toyeon, and Ahn Dain.
‘Jang Namwook didn’t stay long and didn’t enter the main house, but he was allowed to cross.’
And those who manage to gain trust or those who are polite, and those who do not identify Hwang Jiho as Tiger Clan are invited to the Silver Hall.
This includes Kwon Jein, Hong Gyubin, Heukma, and others.
However, welcoming someone at the Hwangmyeong Tower means that we’re dealing with a not-so-reliable person.
“We’re going to the basement.”
Until now, I’ve frequently visited the Hwangmyeong Tower, handling Kwon Lena’s adoptive parents on the rooftop and stopping by the cake buffet and restaurant in the tower.
But I’ve never been to the basement.
Wasn’t Hwangmyeong Tower’s basement a parking lot?
“This way, Jo Euishin.”
Hwang Jiho headed toward the employee entrance instead of the main gate.
After entering the employee’s doorway and passing through a rather complicated corridor, a golden elevator door emerged.
Given that it has a more colorful design than the VIP-only elevator inside the tower, it was clear that this was for the exclusive use of Hwang Jiho and the Tiger Clan.
Instead of buttons, touch panels were installed in the elevator.
Hwang Jiho put his hand on the panel and said,
“It goes further down than the parking lot.”
The number that appeared on the holograms was lower than what’s shown on the Hwangmyeong Tower guide.
When the elevator began to move, Hwang Jiho suggested something.
“Why don’t you wear a crow mask and change your physique, Jo Euishin? The mask and who it’s connected to is unpleasant, but the guest won’t know you.”
“I’ll use it.”
I put on a crow mask without saying a word.
The person will only remember me as someone wearing a crow mask.
Soon enough, the elevator reached its intended floor.
When the door opened, cool air came in from above the ground.
Beyond the low illumination, the guest that Hwang Jiho talked about was waiting.
“Hello. Thank you for your invitation.”
A child in a silk suit standing next to Hwang Myeongho’s secretary greeted in fluent Korean.
The child was Li Wei, the child we met in Chengdu, China.
But he wasn’t alone.
“It’s been a while.”
The presence of a blindfolded darkness greeted us softly.
One of the Four Auspicious Beasts, Hyunmoo.
Support Ex-Rank
