"An explanation, huh…."

Sayoung removed the phone from where he had wedged it between his ear and shoulder, glancing at the screen with disinterest as he responded.

"Do I really need to explain? You can see what’s going on."

"Yes, an explanation is necessary."

The reply was firm. Sayoung’s gaze drifted to the black chains wrapped around Jung Bin’s hand, and his brow furrowed in annoyance. Gyu-Gyu, who had been coughing on the ground, trying to catch his breath, grinned.

"If you say the wrong thing, you’re gonna get hauled off, Sayoung. You’d better choose your words carefully."

Sayoung glanced down at Gyu-Gyu coldly.

"Maybe I should’ve ripped your mouth open first…."

"Okay, okay, enough of that."

Jung Bin sighed, flicking the chains toward the ground. Suddenly, a black iron cage sprang up between Sayoung and Gyu-Gyu. Sayoung shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets, while Gyu-Gyu raised his arms in mock surrender, pressing his face into the floor as if giving in.

Most combat-type awakeners’ abilities were specialized for fighting monsters. Since the system calculated rankings based on dungeon and rift contributions, specialized hunters usually ranked higher. However, Jung Bin, ranked fourth in Korea and an S-rank hunter, had a different kind of power.

His ability was restraint. The catch? His targets were not monsters but other awakeners.

Having separated the two "super hamsters," Jung Bin finally smiled warmly.

"Once we understand what happened, we can decide whether to arrest you on the spot or give you some leeway."

With a firm grip, Jung Bin made the black chains writhe like living creatures, wrapping them around his arm. The chain ends rose menacingly, as if ready to strike. Jung Bin clasped his hands behind his back.

"So, care to tell me who threw the first punch?"

---

"What do you think Lee Sayoung did? The message said not to come outside—maybe he used poison? What do you think, Secretary?"

As Hong Ye-seong babbled, theorizing various possibilities, Uijae sat slouched, lost in thought.

‘Jung Bin’s ability… restraint.’

Once Jung Bin ensnared an awakener with his chains, they couldn’t use their abilities for a certain period. During the chaos of the past, J had often seen Jung Bin dragging criminals around, bound in his chains. Even someone like Lee Sayoung wouldn’t be able to resist if Jung Bin decided to tie him up.

If Sayoung were captured by Jung Bin and taken to the Awakener Management Bureau’s interrogation room…

‘Getting back to the hangover soup restaurant will be a real hassle.’

To return peacefully, Uijae had no choice but to rescue that troublemaker who had caused a scene while his back was turned. He gripped the Basilisk’s Fang and stood up abruptly.

"I need to go."

"Go? Where do you think you’re going? You haven’t even explained anything yet, and now you’re trying to leave? No way!"

Hong Ye-seong spread his arms to block him, but Uijae found it laughable. With exaggerated regret in his voice, Uijae responded.

"I’m truly sorry, but all you’ve done is kidnap me and act high and mighty. Of course, if you had asked politely, I would’ve gladly answered your questions…."

Uijae clasped his hands together in a respectful gesture.

"But I can’t share the long and detailed story of the Basilisk’s Fang with someone who lacks the bare minimum of courtesy. Apologies, but I must go now."

"Wa-wait, Bunny! Don’t go!"

Hong Ye-seong reached out, tearfully grasping for the Fang. Uijae barely resisted a laugh. How long had it been since they met, and Ye-seong already had a nickname for him? The Fang wiggled in Uijae’s hand, as if struggling to escape.

---

**[The Basilisk’s Fang wants to speak!]**

**[Fang’s thoughts: Father! Save me from this villain!]**

---

‘This is ridiculous…’

Uijae, now cast as the villain in this absurd drama, clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Leaving Hong Ye-seong in this state would undoubtedly lead to a bounty on the mana stone—and probably an additional bounty on "Kim Seungbin" from the Wave Guild’s secretary team. From his experience watching through Inhart, Uijae knew Hong Ye-seong was more than capable of such actions. He couldn’t afford to let himself get chased by a lunatic after losing his identity.

Uijae stared at the tearful Hong Ye-seong, pondering how to shut him up.

‘I’d love to just punch him once, but…’

Ye-seong had to run the auction in a couple of hours, and a physical altercation would flip the entire auction upside down. Sadly, brute force wasn’t an option. So…

Uijae’s gaze fell on his inventory. A radiant golden mana stone glinted back at him.

‘Can’t sell it anywhere now, anyway.’

Using the right tool at the right time was essential. Hoarding would only let it rot. Without hesitation, Uijae pulled out the mana stone and slipped it between his fingers, calling out to Ye-seong.

"Hong Ye-seong."

"What do you want, you ba…aah?"

Hong Ye-seong’s sharp retort cut off as his eyes locked onto the brilliant golden mana stone. His eyes grew wide, his mouth falling open in awe as his lips trembled.

"Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma…."

"Shh."

Uijae raised a finger to his mask’s filter, and Hong Ye-seong immediately clamped his hands over his mouth, nodding vigorously. Slowly, Uijae brought the mana stone closer to Ye-seong’s face. The same eyes, which had been bloodshot with anger, were now glistening with tears of awe and admiration.

Uijae whispered smoothly.

"I heard you’ve been looking for this."

Nod, nod.

"You want it, don’t you?"

Nod, nod, nod, nod, nod, nod.

Hong Ye-seong was nodding so intensely it looked like his neck might break. Uijae lowered his voice, as if reluctant.

"But I can’t just give you something this valuable for nothing, can I?"

"Wh-what…?"

"Right?"

"How much?"

It seemed Hong Ye-seong’s melodrama wasn’t over yet. For a moment, Uijae felt like he was being treated as the lead actress in a soap opera. But he quickly snapped back to reality as Ye-seong rambled on, excited.

"Do you want me to write you a blank check? No, wait, should I get cash? If we do a bank transaction, they might track it—and taxes, there’s that, too. Oh! How about I give you all the profits from the auction in cash? We just have to get Jung Bin to look the other way."

Did Hong Ye-seong always have such a sweet mouth? His words were tempting, but Uijae wasn’t about to fall for it.

"Forget the money."

"Huh?"

"Do you have a system-backed contract? The kind that imposes harsh penalties if you break it?"

Hong Ye-seong, along with the porcelain rooster, rummaged through the house before returning with a crisp piece of paper—an S-rank contract. Holding the Fang in one hand and the mana stone in the other, Uijae instructed.

"Alright, let’s start writing."

"Yes."

Ye-seong, obedient as ever, picked up a brush, eyes gleaming. Uijae tilted his hand so the mana stone reflected the sunlight just right, and began dictating.

"First, Master Hong Ye-seong agrees not to be curious about anything concerning Secretary Kim and will not attempt to investigate. He will not try to pry, nor will he instruct others to do so."

"Anything at all?"

"Better write it down fast. The mana stone is waiting."

"Eugh…."

Grumbling, Hong Ye-seong scribbled furiously with his brush. Once the first clause was written, Uijae continued.

"Second, Master Hong Ye-seong agrees to assist Secretary Kim with his endeavors wholeheartedly."

"What kind of request are you planning to make?"

"Nothing hard."

"Are you going to ask me for money?"

"No, I need you to create an alibi for Jung Bin."

"Ugh, you’re asking for something really difficult."

Hong Ye-seong scratched his temple with the brush handle but dutifully continued writing.

"What’s next?"

"Third, Master Hong Ye-seong agrees not to investigate the origins of the Basilisk’s Fang."

"What? How can you ask me to do that?!"

Ye-seong jerked his head up in protest, only to be greeted by…

‘Oh, the mana stone.’

The dazzling golden mana stone, sparkling in the sunlight. The very thing he had been searching for, the object he had fallen in love with at first sight. His eyes glazed over in longing.

---

**[The Basilisk’s Fang updates its thoughts!]**

**[Fang’s thoughts: Father?]**

---

Regardless of the Fang’s confusion about its paternal origins, Ye-seong’s brush flew across the paper, writing the third clause. After a moment of silence, the Fang updated its thoughts again.

---

**[Fang’s thoughts: …Life is lonely.]**

---

The hilt in Uijae’s hand felt a little sharper than before, and the blade seemed to darken even further. Was it going through a rebellious phase? Uijae gave the Fang a quick swing, his face twisted as he noticed the blade’s strange behavior. After finishing writing down the last clause, Hong Ye-seong, looking both relieved and eager, thrust his hands forward.

"Now, give me the mana stone!"

"The mana stone will be yours."

Uijae grabbed the contract and slipped it into his inventory, then gestured toward the gate with his thumb.

"Right after you follow through with the terms. Let’s get our story straight first."

---

Moments later, Uijae, with the porcelain rooster tucked under his arm, and Hong Ye-seong, who had slung his arm over Uijae’s shoulders, finally made their escape from the tiled-roof house. The surroundings shifted in an instant, as they were suddenly back where they had started, just outside the waiting room. As they emerged from Hong Ye-seong's ‘Sweet Home,’ what greeted them was…

"..."

Lee Sayoung, sitting slouched on the sofa, his hands bound by black chains.

‘Damn it, how long was I gone for him to get caught already?’

Sayoung’s gaze locked onto Uijae’s, his teeth grinding audibly. The ominous aura emanating from him made Uijae’s stomach turn. Despite being bound by Jung Bin’s chains, Sayoung’s presence was still as powerful as ever. His violet eyes glinted dangerously through the lenses of his gas mask. Even Hong Ye-seong felt the tension, leaning in to whisper to Uijae.

"Why is Lee Sayoung giving off such a murderous vibe? It feels like we’ll die if we get too close."

"Cluck."

Even the rooster let out a soft, nervous cluck, seemingly in agreement with the observation. The energy radiating from Sayoung intensified, despite his restraints. The fact that he was able to exert this much pressure, even in his current state, was impressive.

"Hyung…"

Sayoung raised his shackled hands to his face and removed his gas mask. His piercing eyes locked onto Uijae as he spat out the words like venom.

"I’m seriously going to have to tie you up somewhere for good."