A groan of pain escaped Bora as her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was her own legs, confirming she was seated. She tried to shift, but her limbs were bound tightly to the chair, and a thick cloth gagged her, stifling any attempt to speak. Trembling with fear, she scanned her surroundings. The musty smell suggested she was in an old building, but she couldn’t guess where. A short distance away, a group of men were laughing and talking amongst themselves.
’Kidnapped?’
Her heart sank. Terrified, Bora desperately tried to piece together what had happened. She had been on her way to the dummy factory. A man had stopped his car to ask for directions, and as she was explaining, something was suddenly clamped over her mouth. After that, she’d lost consciousness.
"Oh, little lady. You’re awake now."
The men approached as she came to. She’d never been in a situation like this before, and it was so terrifying that tears welled up in her eyes.
"Aw, scared, huh? It’s okay, it’s okay."
The same middle-aged man who had asked for directions wiped away her tears with his finger. The touch was so repulsive that Bora squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head away.
"She’s so pretty. Are you sure you didn’t grab a model instead of a hunter?"
"She’s an academy student."
"Can we play with her?"
"Cut it out. She’s a hostage. And this isn’t a dungeon. We’d leave traces."
"Mmph! Mmph!"
As Bora thrashed in the chair, the middle-aged man grinned and placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing. The pain was so intense it felt like her shoulder would break, and a scream escaped her lips.
"Mm, there, there. A good girl stays quiet."
Once Bora was still, the man placed his other hand on her thigh.
"Actually, I have a daughter about your age. That’s why this is even more heartbreaking. If you just listen to us, nothing bad will happen."
"...Please," Bora begged as the gag in her mouth loosened. "Please, let me go. Why are you doing this?"
"It’s not your fault. If there’s a problem, it’s with your boss."
At those words, Bora’s mind snapped to attention.
"Where is Yusin right now— Mmph!"
The man forcefully retied the loosened gag.
"Don’t talk about other men when I’m talking."
"Hahaha! There he goes again."
"He’s a real psycho."
Just then, another group of men entered the building. Among them was Oh Bonggyu, the chairman of the Healer’s Union. Everyone bowed their heads in greeting.
"Welcome, Mr. Chairman."
"I told you not to touch the hostage."
At Bonggyu’s pointed look, the middle-aged man quickly removed his hand from Bora’s thigh and smiled sheepishly.
"Besides, Captain Yang, you have a daughter just about her age."
"Isn’t that what makes it more exciting?" Captain Yang replied.
"You crazy bastard."
Loud laughter erupted from all around.
Bora was seething. What were they talking about while holding someone captive? They were all insane. She had to get out of here. While their attention was diverted, she secretly tried to move her hands. They were tied behind her back, so she couldn’t even create a subspace.
’Whoosh!’
A cool breeze passed by her face. Bora flinched and turned her head to see debris falling from a crack in the wall behind her.
"Don’t try any funny business. Just stay quiet," Bonggyu said, lowering his clenched fist. A chilling sensation ran down Bora’s spine as she bit her lip hard.
* * *
I stepped outside the Magic Tower and met up with Seojin, who had been searching for Bora, to get the full story.
"All traces of Bora disappeared on the road leading to the research foundation," he reported.
"So she was on her way to work, then."
"Yes."
I let out a long sigh.
"It’s my fault. I should have ended this right away instead of giving them an opening."
"This is not your fault, Tower Master."
As we were contemplating our next move, a text message arrived. Once again, the caller ID was blocked.
—Unknown Number: We have your employee.
I gritted my teeth as I read the message. They didn’t identify themselves, but they laid out their demands. First, delete all data related to the Union. Second, do not speak of this to anyone, including the police. Third, Kim Yusin of Alchemia must bring the potion master to the location marked on the map by 5 PM today. The message stated that if any of these conditions were violated, the hostage’s life could not be guaranteed.
"GPS search complete. The location is presumed to be a logistics complex near North Incheon, Tower Master," Ea reported, having already searched for the location without being asked. "Development was halted there due to frequent monster appearances. It is suspected they are intentionally luring you to a secluded location."
I relayed the information to Seojin.
"They’re luring us," he said, sharing Ea’s assessment.
"We don’t have much time. What do you think their intentions are?"
"Primarily, to silence us, since we know about the Union’s corruption."
"And the reason for bringing the potion master?"
"To gain leverage, I believe," Seojin answered promptly. "The first condition was to delete all data, but they have no way of confirming we’ve actually done so. Therefore..."
"Their next best option is to hold our lives in their hands to shut us up."
"Yes. Simply knowing the identity of the veiled potion master would be a powerful check on Alchemia. But knowing the Healer’s Union..."
They wouldn’t stop there.
"For now, we have no choice but to follow their instructions. Bora’s safety is the top priority."
Seojin nodded in agreement. "Then who should we take as the potion master..."
"You, of course," I answered.
Seojin flinched, but I ignored it and called Garam Management. "Ms. Shin? It’s me. There’s something I’d like to discuss."
Even if we had to walk into their trap, I needed to have some insurance in place.
* * *
She didn’t know how long she’d been trapped here. Her arms and legs were numb from being tied up for so long. After the man they called Chairman had left, the men guarded her in rotating shifts of three or four. Despite having kidnapped someone, they seemed utterly relaxed, watching a baseball game on a screen or ordering Chinese food. Food was offered to Bora, but she refused to eat. Later, they blatantly put on an adult film and snickered, occasionally glancing at her with lecherous eyes. Enduring this humiliation was not easy.
’I can’t believe these disgusting scumbags are healers.’
As time passed and her fear subsided, anger and disgust welled up in its place. She wanted to kick them in the face, but tied to the chair, she was helpless. From what she overheard, their target was Yusin. They were going to use her to get what they wanted from him. Maybe it was revenge. She was furious. It was infuriating to the point of tears that instead of being a help, she was caught like this, burdening the others.
"What’s this, Bora? Still haven’t eaten?"
And putting everything else aside, she genuinely wanted to kill this man. This middle-aged man had stayed here, tormenting her, even as the other guards rotated out.
"I bought that from a bento shop. I asked an employee what kids these days like, and they said the chicken-mayo bento was the most popular. Are you really not going to eat? Oh, is it because your arms are tied? You should have said so. Should I feed you?"
With a sharp crack, Bora’s foot connected with the bento box, sending it flying across the floor.
"Your breath stinks," she spat, "so shut the hell up."
"Got a problem with that?" she taunted. "Then untie me. Let’s go a round."
The men watching a soccer game on the screen chuckled as if it were great entertainment.
"What, a professional hunter like you doesn’t have the guts?"
The man’s expression turned cold before he smiled again.
"An empty provocation doesn’t suit you, Bora. Still, that expression is quite exciting. Yes, yes, provoke me some more."
Bora spat. It landed squarely on the bridge of the man’s nose and trickled down his cheek. Seeing his expression crumble, she felt a surge of satisfaction.
"Happy now, you loser?"
The man grinned and licked the spit from his cheek.
"Veeery nice."
The moment he spread his palm and moved toward her, someone grabbed his wrist.
"I told you not to lay a hand on the hostage," said Bonggyu.
"...We were going to have some fun with her anyway," the middle-aged man grumbled.
"Not now."
In the end, the man backed off. Bora sighed in relief internally and glared at Bonggyu.
"...Stop this. Do you have any idea what a serious crime kidnapping is?"
"Of course, I know very well."
Bonggyu paced around her.
"I guarantee I know better than you do. Wouldn’t someone who’s done it many times know best?"
A shiver ran down Bora’s back. She couldn’t seem to adapt to the fear this man exuded. His eyes were those of a psychopath.
"When humans face a situation like this, their reactions are predictable. Some cry and beg, some resist out of spite, some appeal to pity, and some simply resign themselves to their fate."
"...You."
"But in the end, they all become the same."
Bonggyu leaned in close and whispered, "They beg me to kill them. They cling to my legs and plead."
"There hasn’t been a single exception."
With those words, Bonggyu turned and walked toward the screen.
"Are the preparations complete?"
"All set, Mr. Chairman."
"Turn it on."
The screen switched to a CCTV feed of another large, warehouse-like space. In the center, three fully armed Healer’s Union hunters stood with walkie-talkies, while others were hidden in various spots, waiting.
"And Kim Yusin?"
"He’s on his way now."
Listening quietly, Bora’s mouth fell open. ’Yusin is coming?’
"Switching to the external feed."
An employee operated the remote, and the screen switched to a view of a vacant lot. A vehicle entered and stopped. Two men got out, wearing hats and hoodies pulled down low, along with masks. Bora could tell just from their builds. It was Yusin and Seojin.
Bonggyu spoke into his walkie-talkie.
"Is that the target?"
"They’ve covered their faces, so we can’t be certain, but they are walking straight this way."
"He’s a cunning one. Be ready for anything."
Bora’s heart pounded. No matter how she looked at it, the place on the screen wasn’t where she was being held.
’...Please, please, Yusin! It’s a trap!’
She prayed desperately, but the two men eventually opened the door and entered the building. Naturally, she couldn’t hear the door open from here.
"The target has arrived."
Staring at the screen, Bonggyu raised his walkie-talkie.
"First, tell them both to show their faces."
* * *