Chapter 598
There’s always a reason when something is described as “special.”
The same was true for the special detention facility where Go Sewon was currently being held.
“Halt. Identity verification required.”
Behind his rigid voice and dark sunglasses, the soldier’s sharp gaze was unmistakable. Clad in a bulletproof vest and wielding an automatic rifle, he spoke with practiced control.
From the driver’s seat, the Blue House security agent handed over a slim card.
“I’m sure the warden has already been contacted.”
“Apologies, but all visitors must follow protocol here.”
The soldier maintained his no-nonsense attitude, scanning for magical disguises before finally lifting the barrier.
Moments later, I caught my first real glimpse of the infamous special detention center.
More than a hundred soldiers stood guard, fully armed. Between them were Hunters disguised as military personnel, and in every direction, there were heavy weaponry setups and hidden magical traps.
‘You wouldn’t even find bones left if you tried anything here.’
Though this facility only held pre-trial detainees, its security was tighter than any prison for hardened criminals.
One glance at the warden waiting for us out front confirmed that.
“Ah, I’ve been expecting you.”
The warden had the kind, grandpa-next-door look of a fried chicken shop owner, but the energy he gave off was anything but gentle.
He was a former A-rank Hunter, and his warm demeanor didn’t soften the intensity behind his presence.
“When I first heard about you, Taekyung, I felt so relieved. Probably shouldn’t be saying this as a warden, but honestly, every time I see the bastards locked up here, I wanna bash their skulls in with a mace. I swear, it’s what gave me this damn bald spot.”
“…Ah. I see.”
His brutal honesty caught me off guard. I stared at his gleaming scalp and mumbled,
“Must’ve held back a lot.”
“What choice do I have? Though, sometimes when I really can’t hold it in, I give ’em a smack. Only the worst ones.”
“Excuse me?”
“Splash some potion, throw in a strong Heal, they recover right away. What are they gonna do about it? No evidence.”
“Criminals need to be beaten. Especially the ones in here.”
The Blue House guards beside me looked like they were wondering if they should report this to the president. Meanwhile, I started to worry about whether Go Sewon was still alive.
“Is Go Sewon still breathing, by any chance?”
“Oh, that guy.”
The warden laughed.
“Of course he is. I was worried he might cause a big incident on his first day, but he’s been surprisingly cooperative. Even the prosecutors say he’s giving his testimony smoothly. I cleared out the visitation room for you, so follow me.”
We followed him into the facility.
The hallway was dark and cold. Instead of bars, rows of high-security alloy doors lined the corridor like cages. Small holographic projectors outside each door allowed us to observe every movement and expression within.
‘I’d heard the rumors, but seeing it firsthand is something else.’
This place was “special” because every detainee here was an awakened being.
Regardless of their crimes, anyone who committed a felony while awakened was brought here.
Even if they hadn’t been convicted yet, the surveillance and security were relentless.
‘Because they’re awakened.’
Even the lowest F-rank could overpower two or three grown men with ease. Higher ranks with proper Hunter licenses were on a whole different level.
“They’re all pre-trial, but most of them are as guilty as sin. We get two or three attempted escapes every year. Once they get transferred to the special prison, there’s no more hope. That place is hell itself.”
While walking, the warden pointed to a cluster of reinforced doors.
“Those guys just came in. We’re keeping a special eye on them. They’ve got nothing to lose and are real aggressive.”
I glanced at the hologram over one of the doors and instantly recognized the faces.
Executives from the Ares Guild—ones I briefly saw on the top floor.
Looks like Go Sewon and the other Ares members took them down and had them sent here.
They were shackled head to toe with mana suppressors, lying like mummies.
I stared at them and spoke earnestly.
“Please beat the shit out of them.”
“I planned to. I even oiled up my old mace for the first time in ages.”
“You’re always prepared, Warden.”
Grinning at my compliment, he asked,
“By the way, Taekyung, what happens to you now? I hope things work out, but the law’s complicated.”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“If it comes to it, why not come work here? I’ll take care of you.”
“…Ah. Sure.”
Why did I suddenly imagine his mace glistening with oil?
As I brushed off the unpleasant thought, we finally reached a large door at the end of the winding hallway.
After finishing the security procedures, the warden explained,
“You’ll go in alone. No guards, no time limit. But everything inside is recorded and monitored. Just so you know.”
Given Go Sewon’s situation, this was reasonable.
I nodded, and the heavy door opened.
Clank.
A chilling air greeted me.
The room looked like a prosecutor’s interrogation room from a movie, and the man waiting for me inside was all too familiar.
“You’re here. Sooner than I expected.”
It was Go Sewon.
In just two days, he looked haggard. As the door shut behind me, he pointed at the chair.
“Don’t just stand there. Sit. Hurts my neck to keep looking up.”
Clink.
Every move he made was followed by the rattling of heavy chains.
Seeing my gaze on them, Go Sewon shrugged.
“Mana suppressors. Annoying, but this is still decent treatment.”
I pulled out the chair and sat down.
“True. Your buddies looked like they were about to be buried in a pyramid.”
“Who? VP Park? Exec Lee? Or…”
“Probably both. Don’t know who’s who, though.”
“Doesn’t matter. None of them were ever friends.”
Even now, his calm demeanor hadn’t changed.
I stared at him in silence for a moment before speaking.
“Should I say thanks?”
It was random, but Go Sewon understood immediately. He gave a wry smile.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. Just needed the right trigger.”
“Any regrets?”
“Not a shred.”
His face was gaunt, but his eyes were clearer than ever.
Maybe that clarity was why I spared him.
Back then, while the entire Ares Guild looked at me with fear and rage—he alone had eyes full of calm resolve.
Even when facing death.
“You lost a lot in all this.”
“I gained just as much. I was a war orphan with nothing. I’ve only returned to that. But I protected what matters—my family. That’s enough.”
Everyone reaches a turning point.
For Go Sewon, it was probably his family.
That last phone call before death must’ve pushed him toward this decision.
“I saw your background screen. Your son looked cute. Pretty sturdy too. Could be a tank someday.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“…Oh.”
The old ‘daughters take after their dads’ saying hit hard.
As I fell silent, Go Sewon sighed.
“I was going to ask for a favor, but now I’ve lost all desire.”
“Whatever. Doesn’t matter. Since you’re here, I assume you heard the story?”
Glad to change the subject, I nodded.
“What exactly did you say I was owed?”
“I owed you a debt. I didn’t want someone else delivering the message. It felt… off.”
Off?
Go Sewon had confessed everything, cooperating fully with every investigation.
He’d even owned up to all his past crimes. And yet—he held something back.
‘There’s definitely something more.’
As I watched closely, he began to fidget with his earlobe.
It wasn’t a formal signal, but I understood the gesture.
Ssshh.
I released a wave of internal energy from my Dantian, sealing the room in silence.
Despite wearing mana suppressors, Go Sewon seemed to notice and subtly covered his mouth as he whispered—
“There’s more than one secret zone hidden in the guild HQ. A-Zone isn’t the only one.”
“What?”
“Search A-Zone thoroughly. Inside, there’s another hidden area.”
Another hidden room?
Stunned, I blinked and quickly asked,
“Where? Where exactly?”
But the answer was short and blunt.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“If I did, I’d tell you. But only Vice Guildmaster Lee Jung-ryong and Seok Gojun ever entered that place. I don’t know the location or how to access it. I only learned it existed after becoming security captain.”
Even as Seok Gojun’s right hand, Go Sewon only knew of its existence—not the details.
“Then… what’s inside?”
“No idea what it is or what goes on in there. That’s all I know.”
He started to speak again, but then stopped himself and added,
“Government teams are probably tearing through A-Zone now, but they haven’t found it yet.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because if they had, the first thing they’d do is ask me about it.”
“…”
“So Jin Taekyung. You go find it. Whatever secret it holds… it’s yours to uncover.”
Just as I was about to ask another question—
Clank.
The heavy door opened.
The warden and Blue House guards peeked in, suspicion on their faces.
“We couldn’t hear anything. Was something wrong?”
Go Sewon answered calmly.
“We’re done here.”