“I regretted taking him with me so damn much. So there’s no additional report.”

But that was that.

There was no need to explain every detail of why Mook Jeongho had actually been necessary to Representative Seo, who didn’t know the full story.

'No reason to give her any leverage.'

If he simply said Mook Jeongho had been useless, he wouldn’t have to be leashed, nor would he need to reveal anything about Ryu Sunghyun.

“I’m never taking him again. Do you know how much trouble he caused me? Anyway, that’s all you need to know.”

At Seohu’s shameless complaint, Representative Seo turned her eyes toward Mook Jeongho, who stood at attention beside the desk.

Even with Seohu slandering him to his face, Mook Jeongho’s expression didn’t change at all.

“Hm. I see.”

Representative Seo didn’t seem intent on digging deeper. She simply replied and picked up her fountain pen again.

“So. If you’re not here to report, then why did you come? Going to shower me with aegyo?”

“Are you insane. Why would I ever act cute toward you.”

“I’ve loaned you a room for several days and treated not one, not two, but three guests of yours. A little aegyo isn’t too much to ask to show gratitude.”

“Those guests are leaving today. I’m leaving too.”

One of Representative Seo’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

“Looks like someone wants to become a dog of the state and shoot a bunch of commercials?”

“.......”

Hearing her lay out his situation so plainly, Seohu stared at her in disbelief for a brief moment.

“Stop talking nonsense. I’m just stepping out because I have someone to meet.”

“Oh. An outing.”

Representative Seo leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. Then she slowly scanned him from head to toe.

“Call them here. Doesn’t matter if it’s three or four.”

“No.”

Seohu refused immediately.

Of all people, he did not want Yoon Jeha to see this district. More precisely, he didn’t want Yoon Jeha knowing about his past life here.

'Knowing her, she wouldn’t want that either.'

He still didn’t know why she was looking for him, but it was definitely related to the cult.

They shared information and helped each other when resources were lacking—that was it. He didn’t want to get entangled with Yoon Jeha any further.

“I’ll just talk to her outside and come right back, so don’t worry about it. That’s all I needed to say. I’m going.”

He rushed out the words and turned his back, about to leave the office—

“Wait.”

Tch.

Caught while trying to escape, Seohu clicked his tongue inwardly and turned only his head.

“What.”

“Pick one of the two.”

Representative Seo offered her terms in a bored tone.

“That Hunter you said you’re going to meet. Her name was Yoon Jeha, wasn’t it.”

“Hold on, how the hell do you know that?”

“Call her here. Talk in the place I assign. If you don’t want that—”

Representative Seo tilted her head slowly.

“Take him.”

“...Take who?”

“Kwon Seoyul.”

“......!”

Seohu’s expression contorted viciously.

“Are you kidding me? Why the hell would I take that bastard?”

“For your protection. And surveillance.”

“No, I told you I’ll be back quickly! I’m just going to Yesung Guild to talk and then I’m coming right back!”

“If you’re coming right back, then taking him won’t be a problem.”

“He’s obviously going to cause trouble—why take him! Things are chaotic enough already!”

“If you really hate it, then call that Hunter Yoon Jeha here. The choice is yours.”

“You—son of a—!”

The curse surged up to the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t spit it out.

If he got kicked out of the district, he’d truly have nowhere to go. Yesung or Circle Guild wouldn’t be able to withstand the state’s pressure, and he couldn’t leech off King Seohwa in the snow mountains for months.

Money, power, force—this district was the only place with all three. The problem was that its representative happened to be this controlling, tyrannical lunatic.

And now, Seohu was suddenly forced to choose between a crazy woman (Yoon Jeha) and a crazy man (Kwon Seoyul).

His face darkened instantly.

“...I’d rather take Mook Jeongho.”

At least that man would endure whatever nonsense Yoon Jeha threw at him without reacting. But Representative Seo signed another document with exaggerated nonchalance.

“Unfortunately, Team Leader Mook has to make an ‘additional report’ on someone’s behalf. In case you’re curious: Kang Haeil is on assignment overseas, and Hyun Dowoon is gathering intel outside the district. The only one free is Kwon Seoyul.”

“Are you actually insane?”

“Oh. And if you choose to take Kwon Seoyul, check on Hyun Dowoon’s condition while you’re at it.”

Representative Seo’s attitude made it clear she already knew what choice Seohu would make.

That expression made Seohu grab the back of his neck, trembling with rage. Watching nervously, Cha Sahyeon murmured something—uncertain whether he meant it seriously or as comfort.

“Should I kill him, hyung?”

“...Forget it.”

Breathing hard, Seohu stormed out of the office. It didn’t matter—Representative Seo would know what he chose even if he said nothing.

***

“...And that’s what happened.”

After explaining everything that happened with Representative Seo, I looked to the side.

Kwon Taehyuk and Ryu Sunghyun—who had both been gazing at me with pity—also turned their heads.

“Oh, perfect timing~ I was bored. Seohu hyung, when you dress like that you look fucking sexy. Unbutton one more.”

“.......”

“.......”

At Kwon Seoyul’s bright and sunny sexual harassment, both Kwon Taehyuk and Ryu Sunghyun’s brows furrowed at the same time.

Rubbing his forehead with a complicated expression, Kwon Taehyuk spoke first.

“...It might be better to bring Hunter Yoon Jeha here.”

“No. We don’t know how involved she’ll be with us from here on out. I can’t just reveal this place to her.”

A sigh escaped me.

Honestly, part of me wanted to summon Yoon Jeha to the district.

She was a protagonist chosen by the System, Representative Seo had given permission, and if I made sure she kept her mouth shut, it would’ve been simple.

But she was an untrustworthy variable—and that made everything uneasy.

Even if the System called her a “protagonist,” the System itself was the most suspicious entity of all. Why trust its labels?

Kwon Taehyuk, Ryu Sunghyun, and Eun Woojeong had naturally gained my trust through countless experiences. She had not.

And the biggest problem was—

'I don’t know why Yoon Jeha is chasing the cult in the first place.'

Back at the Yesung Guild reception room, while I was being shoved into the sofa and blades were flying around, all we did was threaten each other.

I told her nothing about myself, and just the same, I had no idea why she was so hell-bent on that cult.

'Calling an unstable person into our safe zone for a moment of convenience... I’d rather step outside.'

Even if the price was... dragging along this loud, chaotic, obnoxious lunatic.

“Haah......”

“Hunter Cha Seohu.”

As I let out another long sigh from deep in my diaphragm, Kwon Taehyuk’s eyes softened with even more pity.

“It’s fine. Let’s go.”

“Hyung~ hold my hand!”

Ignoring Kwon Seoyul whining as he clung to me, I headed to the underground parking lot with the others.

There, staff members were waiting to drive us to the Yesung Guild.

Before getting into the car, I turned to Eun Woojeong.

“What are you planning to do once you’re outside?”

“Me?”

He tilted his head. His expression couldn’t be seen behind the mask.

“Well, I don’t really care either way... but since we’re heading out, there is somewhere I need to stop by.”

“Somewhere to stop by?”

It was a normal sentence, but because it came from Eun Woojeong, anxiety immediately crept in.

Come to think of it, he always chose the most dangerous places possible. Churches, shady underground research labs... I’d gotten dragged into multiple messes because of him.

I shot him a suspicious, uneasy look.

“...Please don’t do anything unnecessary.”

“Hahaha, well, I can’t promise that.”

I had no idea what he found so amusing, but Eun Woojeong laughed in an excellent mood.

“You haven’t forgotten my job, right? Rare and valuable information is always hidden in dangerous places. Finding it before anyone else is what I do. But don’t worry—I know what I’m doing.”

“I’ve never ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) worried about you.”

I stared at him in exasperation, shook my head, and got into the car.

Seriously—this guy or that guy, I can’t trust any of them.

Soon, our car left the district and headed toward the center of Seoul.

Hello, readers. This is Chasun.

I sincerely apologize for the irregular updates lately.

My back, which already had disc issues, worsened significantly last month, and I haven’t been able to receive treatment yet.

I considered taking a hiatus, but since we were in the middle of an important arc, I was afraid breaking the flow would cause more harm.

And I believed it was important to continue the story between Ryu Sunghyun and Cha Seohu.

Because of that, uploads have been delayed past 2 AM several times. I’m truly sorry for causing concern.

After today’s batch update of Regression Guidelines for the Supporting Character, the series will go on a two-week break before entering the new episode. (Scheduled return: Wednesday, December 10th.)

During the hiatus, I will get back treatment, prepare stockpiled chapters, and reorganize the overall flow of the series.

Thank you always for supporting my work.