Chapter 7

Chapter 7. The Missing Investigator

The beach of the uninhabited island was dark.

Thick clouds covered the sky, and moonlight only occasionally slipped through the gaps, faintly illuminating the black sea.

Between the quiet sounds of waves washing in and retreating, a man's rough breathing could be heard.

"Haah... Haah..."

Choi Junseok was alive.

But he was in terrible condition.

His lips were bluish, and deep shadows had formed beneath his eyes.

A thick beard covered his face.

Clear marks remained around his wrists, as if he had been tied up for a long time.

A marine relic investigator who had disappeared three months ago.

And the first person to discover the treasure ship off the coast of Sinan.

"Mister..."

He weakly called out to me.

"Yes?"

"Water..."

Only then did I realize.

I searched my pockets, but of course I didn't have any water.

This was an uninhabited island.

I could simply teleport to a convenience store and come back.

The only question was whether it was safe to leave this man alone.

Still, it would only take a few seconds.

"Wait here."

"Where are..."

Choi Junseok's eyes widened.

Whoosh.

I disappeared.

Five seconds later, I reappeared in exactly the same spot.

In my hands were two bottles of water, an ion drink, a chocolate bar, and a triangle kimbap.

Choi Junseok froze as he stared at me.

"Just now..."

"Convenience store."

"..."

"Drink."

I opened one of the water bottles and handed it to him.

With trembling hands, he took it and drank almost half the bottle in one go.

The sound of water going down his throat seemed strangely loud.

Only after a while did he catch his breath and look at me.

"You... Are you even human?"

I thought for a moment before answering.

"Still am."

I paused after saying it.

Still.

Why had I said that?

The Genie's words returned to my mind.

There was a condition that would make my powers disappear.

Could it happen when I stopped thinking of myself as human?

When I became a monster?

Or when I gave up on being human myself?

I shook my head.

This wasn't the time to think about that.

"Let's talk."

Choi Junseok tried to open the chocolate bar, but his hands were shaking too badly to hold the wrapper properly.

I opened it for him and handed it over.

He silently accepted it and slowly began eating.

Watching him made me uncomfortable.

Three months.

I couldn't even imagine how this man had survived all that time.

"You were in that cave for three months?"

Choi Junseok weakly shook his head.

"Not from the beginning. At first, I was locked in the basement storage room of a guesthouse."

"Haesong Guesthouse?"

He looked at me in surprise.

"You know it?"

"A little."

It was the place I'd raided earlier that day.

Choi Junseok explained that a few days ago, as the Coast Guard increased its activity, the organization had started moving evidence underwater.

They had moved him there as well.

"Why didn't they kill you?"

At my question, he remained silent for a moment before answering.

"Because of the location."

"The treasure ship?"

"Yes. I know the exact internal structure and where the relics are located. They found the ship itself, but they can't carelessly enter the deeper parts of such an old hull. If they touch the wrong thing, it could collapse. Part of it actually collapsed today."

I remembered the wreck I'd just seen.

The huge wooden ship.

The collapsing hull.

The golden light shining from deep inside.

"What exactly is that ship?"

Choi Junseok looked toward the dark sea.

"We're not completely certain. According to the records, there's a strong possibility it's one of the Chinese merchant ships that disappeared. It could date from the late Goryeo to early Joseon period, or perhaps the late Yuan Dynasty."

"Explain it simply."

He looked at me.

"It's worth an enormous amount."

"How much?"

Honestly, that was what I wanted to know most.

"It's difficult to put a price on it."

"Roughly."

After hesitating, Choi Junseok answered.

"Tens of billions of won."

My hand stopped.

"...Seriously?"

"Depending on the condition and types of artifacts, it could be worth even more."

Even more.

Numbers flashed through my mind.

The mortgage.

The kids' academy fees.

A car.

Alcohol.

Cigarettes.

This wasn't even on that level.

Tens of billions of won wouldn't just change my life.

It would change my entire family's life.

At the same time, a string of troublesome words appeared in my head.

Cultural property.

Government ownership.

Reporting.

Laws.

Choi Junseok seemed to read my expression.

"You must not touch it carelessly."

"I know."

"No. I mean it. It could become a serious problem. No matter how... unusual your abilities are, the law is still troublesome. And Manager Park's people aren't the only ones after that treasure."

"There's more?"

"Manager Park is only a middleman."

I sighed.

"Knew it."

For some reason, bad things always had another layer above them.

Above neighborhood thugs were gangsters.

Above gangsters were brokers.

Once enough money flowed upward, companies appeared.

Sometimes even politicians.

The world was dirty in layers.

"Do you know who's above him?"

"I don't know the name. But I heard Manager Park constantly reporting to someone. And they're not ordinary smugglers."

"Then what are they?"

"They specialize in relics. They smuggle cultural artifacts into overseas black markets. Guns and drugs are also tools for maintaining their smuggling routes. Even if they're caught, the authorities only see a drug or weapons case on the surface, while the real purpose remains hidden."

"Smart."

"They're vicious."

Anger appeared in Choi Junseok's eyes.

"My junior who was investigating with me was also captured. His name is Lee Minho. I haven't seen him since they dragged him away."

"Is he dead?"

Choi Junseok couldn't answer.

That meant he didn't know.

But it also meant he hadn't given up hope.

I stared at the sea for a moment.

Manager Park had escaped, but they had been trying to move everything tonight.

That meant boats and organization members might still be nearby.

And maybe Lee Minho too.

"He might still be alive."

Choi Junseok looked directly at me.

"Can you find him?"

I couldn't answer immediately.

Honestly, it was a hassle.

I had come all the way to Sinan to find treasure.

I wanted to dig up a few gold coins, sell some antiques, make money, and spend the rest of my life drinking soju without worrying about anything.

But somehow, I'd ended up rescuing missing people and fighting a criminal organization.

Things had gotten way too big.

Still...

Looking into Choi Junseok's eyes, I couldn't just pretend I hadn't heard him.

They were the same eyes I'd seen when I found him inside that underwater cage.

Eyes begging to be saved.

And now...

Eyes asking me to save someone else.

I scratched my head.

"Ah... I seriously hate things like this."

Getting attached to people was troublesome.

Trying to play hero was how your life got complicated.

Then again...

My life was already plenty complicated.

"Let's look for him first."

Choi Junseok's eyes shook.

"Really?"

"But I have conditions. I'm not the police. I don't know procedures or anything like that. And I'll only do it as long as I don't have to kill anyone."

He stared at me for a moment, then nodded.

"Understood."

"And don't tell anyone about me."

"..."

"Seriously."

Choi Junseok quietly answered.

"I'm not an idiot either. If the world learns someone like you exists, neither you nor I will be safe."

I liked that answer.

He caught on quickly.

"Good."

I lifted him onto my back.

"Uh...?"

"Let's get you to a hospital first."

"Wait, shouldn't we report this first...?"

"Look at your condition. What report? If you die, you won't be reporting anything."

He didn't argue after that.

Taking him to Ulsan would be risky.

If this became connected to my everyday life, it could create danger.

So I pictured an empty alley near a large hospital in Mokpo.

"Close your eyes."

"Why..."

Whoosh.

The next instant, we were standing in an alley near the hospital.

Choi Junseok completely froze on my back.

"This..."

"Get used to it."

I lowered him and helped him lean against the wall.

"The emergency room is just ahead. Go inside yourself, tell them you were kidnapped, and contact the Coast Guard too."

"What about you?"

"I'm going back to the sea."

Choi Junseok urgently grabbed my arm.

"Be careful. Manager Park is cruel. And whoever is above him will be much more dangerous."

I chuckled.

"I'm a little dangerous too."

He stared at me for a long time.

Then suddenly spoke.

"There's one more thing. Beneath the stern of that wreck, there's a small cargo compartment."

"Stern?"

"The back of the ship."

"Ah. The back."

"Inside it is a metal box unlike the ordinary ceramics. I couldn't open it. Neither could they. There's a good chance that box is what they're truly after."

"A metal box..."

"And there were strange symbols engraved on its surface."

The lamp inside my bag immediately came to mind.

"What kind of symbols?"

"It's difficult to explain exactly. But..."

He hesitated.

"They looked like something you might see engraved on an ancient lamp."

My body stiffened.

The old lamp my son had found on the beach.

The wreck off Sinan.

A metal box inside it.

And similar symbols.

It overlapped too perfectly to feel like coincidence.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Later."

I couldn't tell him yet.

I only gave Choi Junseok my number.

"Call me if you need anything. But don't tell anyone my name."

"Your name is..."

"Just call me the middle-aged man from Ulsan."

For the first time, Choi Junseok gave a faint smile.

"Understood. Middle-aged man from Ulsan."

Then I disappeared.

Back to the waters of Sinan.

This time, I appeared underwater some distance from the cave.

Cold darkness wrapped around me.

After remaining still for a moment, I felt engine vibrations in the distance.

Maybe because my senses had sharpened after gaining my powers, currents and vibrations felt far clearer than before.

One boat.

No.

Two.

They were moving away from the underwater cave.

Manager Park.

I cut through the water toward the first boat.

It was a small fishing vessel.

But when I climbed onto the deck, no one was there.

Empty.

A decoy.

"Trying to be clever."

I dropped beneath the boat, slightly twisted the propeller so it couldn't move, then headed toward the second vessel.

This one was different.

From the outside, it looked like an ordinary fishing boat.

But it was larger, and the engine vibration was heavier.

I clung beneath the hull and listened.

Voices came from inside the cabin.

"Manager Park! We couldn't secure the box!"

"Shut up."

Manager Park's voice.

"What about that monster?"

"Do you really think he's dead?"

There was a short silence.

Then Manager Park spoke in a low voice.

"That thing can't be killed. For now, we avoid him."

He wasn't as stupid as I'd expected.

I almost climbed aboard immediately, then stopped.

What I needed now wasn't a fight.

It was information.

The box.

The symbols.

The person above Manager Park.

And Lee Minho.

I spotted an open window at the back of the cabin and quietly approached.

"Did you contact the Chairman?"

Chairman.

A new name.

"Not yet."

"If we go back without the box..."

"I know."

"Then what do we do?"

Manager Park answered quietly.

"We use the monster."

My eyebrow rose.

He seemed to be talking about me.

"Monster or human, everyone has greed. Especially someone who came looking for treasure. If we can't open that cargo compartment ourselves, he can."

"Will he cooperate?"

"If he doesn't..."

Manager Park continued.

"We'll go after his family."

Something inside me turned cold.

Family.

He had said that word.

Without realizing it, I tightened my grip on the window frame.

Creeeak.

The wood crumbled in my hand.

Everyone inside turned at once.

My eyes met Manager Park's.

I ripped the rest of the window completely from the wall and climbed inside.

BANG!

Manager Park stepped back.

Three gang members pulled out guns at the same time.

Bang! Bang-bang!

Bullets struck my body and bounced away.

I slowly walked toward them.

"What did you just say?"

One kept pulling the trigger.

I grabbed the barrel and crushed it with my hand.

"Family?"

I grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air.

"My family?"

After seeing the terror on his face, I lightly pushed him against the wall.

Thump.

He immediately passed out.

The other two backed away.

Manager Park pulled a knife from his clothes.

"Don't come any closer."

"A knife?"

I couldn't believe it.

He charged anyway.

His attack was far too slow.

I caught his wrist.

This time, I didn't break it.

I only used enough force to make escape absolutely impossible.

"Manager Park."

He glared at me.

"I told you already. You shouldn't threaten an old man."

"What can you even do?"

"A lot."

I made him drop the knife and moved my face closer.

"I'm just holding myself back."

"Why?"

No answer came immediately.

Was it because I didn't want to kill people?

Because I was afraid my powers might disappear?

Because I didn't want to become a monster?

Or because I was still a father?

Probably all of them.

"Because I'm still human."

Manager Park sneered.

"Then you're weak."

I nodded.

"Maybe."

Then I pressed one finger into his stomach.

Thud.

Manager Park's body folded and collapsed onto the floor.

"But I'm still stronger than you."

I tied up every organization member and shut off the boat's engine.

I couldn't make sense of the communication equipment, so I simply collected all their phones.

Manager Park's phone was password-protected.

"Password."

"Kill me."

"Password."

"I'm not telling you."

"You're seriously annoying."

Then I noticed it had facial recognition.

I held it in front of Manager Park's face.

Click.

Unlocked.

"Oh."

Technology really had improved.

I checked the messages and call history.

There was no contact saved as 'Chairman.'

Only numerical codes.

But one recent message caught my attention.

[If the box cannot be recovered, dispose of the hostage.]

I scrolled further down.

One photo.

A young man was tied to a chair with tape over his mouth.

Probably Lee Minho.

Coordinates were written beneath the picture.

"Found him."

I looked at Manager Park.

"Good thing I kept you alive."

"You'll regret this."

"I hear that a lot."

I pocketed his phone and anonymously contacted the Coast Guard again.

I told them the boat's location.

The firearms.

The kidnapping.

Everything.

Then I hung up.

As a final act of kindness, I even put life jackets on the gang members before laying them down on the deck.

Kind.

Very kind.

"If I were you, I'd thank me."

Nobody answered.

Before jumping into the sea, I looked back at Manager Park.

"Tell this Chairman of yours something."

He glared at me.

I chuckled.

"Actually, I guess you can't. You're about to get arrested."

Splash.

Darkness wrapped around me again as I entered the water.

But this time, I had a destination.

Coordinates.

A hostage.

And the metal box.

People first.

Treasure afterward.

That was probably the right order.

I teleported near the coastal warehouse marked by the coordinates.

Whoosh.

It was an old warehouse that looked like part of an abandoned factory.

Rusted roof.

Old metal door.

A faint light leaked from inside.

I grabbed the door handle.

Locked.

"Excuse me."

I gave it a gentle pull.

The entire metal door came off.

BANG!

Everyone inside turned toward me.

Four men.

And one young man tied to a chair.

The same person from the photo.

Lee Minho.

"What the hell!"

I placed the ripped-off door to the side.

"Delivery."

"What?"

"I'm here to pick someone up."

The guns came up.

I sighed.

"I'm getting really tired of this."

Bang! Bang-bang!

Once again, the bullets did nothing.

I crushed the first man's gun.

Tripped the second.

The third was unconscious before he could even throw a punch.

I lightly tapped the back of the fourth man's neck as he tried to escape.

Tap.

Done.

I removed the tape covering Lee Minho's mouth.

"That hurt, right?"

"Wh-who are you?"

"A middle-aged man from Ulsan."

"What?"

"Everyone reacts like that."

After untying the ropes, I told him,

"Choi Junseok is alive. He's at a hospital."

Tears immediately appeared in Lee Minho's eyes.

"My senior?"

"Yes."

He lowered his head and couldn't speak for a while.

Several crates were stacked in one corner of the warehouse.

Guns.

Drugs.

Cash.

But there were also broken ceramic pieces and old coins inside worn wooden boxes.

Stolen relics.

"These bastards..."

Lee Minho struggled to speak.

"That's only part of it. The real thing is still inside the ship."

"The metal box?"

His eyes widened.

"How do you know about that?"

"I heard."

Then Lee Minho's expression hardened.

"That box is dangerous."

"Dangerous?"

"The first day we discovered it, all our survey equipment stopped working. The compass went crazy, and the underwater drones suddenly shut down."

The lamp inside my bag came to mind.

"And?"

Lee Minho's voice trembled slightly.

"We heard a sound near the box."

"What kind?"

He looked at me.

"Someone laughing."

For a moment, the air inside the warehouse felt colder.

Laughter.

The lamp.

The Genie.

The treasure ship.

The metal box.

At this point, it was difficult to believe it was all coincidence.

"Bob."

I looked down at my bag and muttered quietly.

"What the hell are you hiding?"

Then it happened.

A very faint sound came from inside the bag.

Clatter.

I froze.

Lee Minho's eyes widened too.

He had heard it.

Again.

Clatter.

Clatter.

As though something that had been asleep for a very long time...

was only now beginning to wake up.