Chapter 26 — Names, Titles, and Problems
The hallway was quieter than the rest of the Union. Not silent—just… controlled. Even the echoes felt disciplined. Every footstep landed clean, sharp, like the building itself was listening on them.
Aken walked beside Jae-Min with his hands in his pockets, shoulders loose, gaze forward. Nothing about him suggested he cared where they were going. Jae-Min, on the other hand, looked like he was escorting a criminal to his execution.
"…You're not even a little curious?" he muttered under his breath.
Aken glanced at him. "About what?"
Jae-Min stared at him. "About why they sent for you."
"They didn't ask me."
"…I did."
"Exactly."
Jae-Min let out a slow breath, like he was trying not to lose it. "…You're the most craziest person I've met."
"Mhm, the one and only."
They reached the end of the corridor. A large door stood there—dark steel, polished, no markings. Clean and official. The kind of door that didn't need a label, because everyone already knew what was behind it.
Jae-Min stopped in front of the door. Took a deep breath, then another.
"…Okay."
Aken waited.
"…Okay what."
Jae-Min rubbed his face. "…Just don't say anything stupid."
Aken looked at him for a second.
"…I don't make promises of that sort."
Jae-Min closed his eyes. "…We're dead."
He pushed the door open. The room inside was simple, way too simple. A long exaggerated table, a few chairs, a wide glass window overlooking the city like it was part of the discussion. And three people already waiting. Aken recognized two of them immediately. Soo-ah Ming and Jin Wong.
The third was older, calm in a way that didn't need effort. The kind of person who didn't raise his voice because he never had to. Aken walked in like it was just some other room.
"…You wanted to see me?"
Jae-Min flinched slightly behind him. Soo-ah didn't react, Jin Wong's gaze sharpened. The older man gestured toward a chair. "Please have a sit."
Aken looked at it. Then back at him.
"…nah I'm good."
A pause lingered in the air like a convict. Jae-Min looked like his soul had left his body. Jin Wong leaned forward slightly. "That wasn't a suggestion."
Aken glanced at him. "…And that wasn't a requirement."
The air tightened, subtle, but immediate. Jae-Min took a small step back without realizing it. Soo-ah sighed. "…This is exactly what I warned you about."
The older man raised a hand. Jin Wong leaned back again. Not relaxed—just contained.
"…Fine," the man said calmly. "We'll keep this short."
Aken gave a small nod. "That'd be wonderful."
The man studied him for a moment. Not like a person but like data. The man picked up a brown document, he opened it.
"…Aken Ezomo."
"Yes."
"Level 1."
"Still."
"Survived a Rupture."
Aken shrugged slightly. "Wrong place. Right timing."
Jin Wong let out a short laugh. "…You really expect us to believe that?"
Aken met his gaze. "You asked for an answer. I gave you one."
"We aked for the truth," Jin Wong said flatly.
Aken tilted his head a little. "…You wouldn't like it."
Jin Wong's jaw tightened.
Soo-ah cut in before it went anywhere. "We're not here for that."
"…Could've fooled me," Aken muttered.
The older man tapped the table lightly. Once, enough to reset the room.
"We're not here to argue."
"…Then why am I here."
Direct, no hesitation. The man answered just as cleanly.
"Because you're a problem."
Jae-Min choked behind him. "…That's one way to put it."
Aken didn't react. "…And?"
"You don't follow the system logic."
"…If I remember clearly, and I do. That's not illegal."
"No it's not."
"But it is dangerous."
Aken let out a quiet breath. "…To who?"
A pause, the man held his gaze.
"To everyone."
Silence settled.
Aken looked at him for a moment. Then gave a small shrug.
"…Sounds like a you problem."
Jae-Min covered his face. "…He's actually going to get arrested."
Jin Wong leaned forward again. "You think this is funny?"
"No," Aken said calmly. "I think you're overdoing it."
Soo-ah's eyes stayed on him. Sharp and measuring.
"You were inside the Rupture."
"…Yeah."
"You fought the entity."
"…It came at me first."
"You survived."
"…That's usually how it works."
Jin Wong's voice hardened. "…People died there, thousands."
Aken didn't flinch. "…Yeah."
The room went quiet again. Heavier this time.
Jin Wong frowned. "…That's it?"
Aken met his eyes. Straight and unmoving.
"What do you want me to say?"
No one answered, so he continued.
"I didn't kill them. I didn't bring that thing here. And I didn't runaway like a coward."
His voice stayed even. No emotion. Just facts laid out clean.
"…So yeah. People died."
Silence lingered longer this time. Jin Wong leaned back slowly, Soo-ah didn't look away. The older man tapped the table again.
"We're not blaming you."
"Good," Aken said. "Because I wouldn't take it lightly."
Jae-Min muttered under his breath. "…He's actually insane."
The man continued. "We're trying to understand you."
"…Why?"
"Because if we don't, someone else will."
Aken's eyes sharpened slightly. "…Meaning."
Soo-ah answered. "…Guilds."
Jin Wong added, "…Constellation contractors."
The man finished, "…And people who don't ask first."
Aken was quiet for two seconds.
Then he shrugged. "…So?"
Jae-Min blinked. "…So?"
"…Let them try. They can pull out whatever they want."
Jin Wong stared at him. "…You think you can handle that?"
Aken's lips curved slightly. "…I think they should worry about handling me."
Silence again. Jae-Min muttered, "…He's not making it to next year."
Soo-ah almost smiled, almost. The older man leaned back. "…Confidence isn't the issue."
""Then we're done."," Aken said.
He turned toward the door.
"Not yet."
Aken stopped. Didn't turn immediately.
"…Make it quick."
"You'll be monitored more than last time."
Aken glanced back over his shoulder. "…That sounds illegal enough for me to file a case."
"It's necessary."
"…Still it's illegal."
"It's for public safety."
Aken turned fully this time.
"…Then do it properly." He paused. "…Quietly."
The room stilled again.
"And if I notice it…"
His voice didn't rise, didn't harden. But something under it shifted just enough to be felt.
"…we're going to have a different type of conversation."
No one spoke, Jae-Min swallowed, Jin Wong's eyes narrowed while Soo-ah stayed completely still. The older man held Aken's gaze. Then gave a small gesture.
"…Understood Mr. Ezomo."
Aken nodded once. "…Good to hear."
He turned and walked out. Jae-Min rushed after him. "…Wait—wait for me—"
The door closed behind them. The moment they were in the hallway— Jae-Min turned to him. "…WHAT was that?"
Aken kept walking. "…A conversation. What else?"
"That was NOT a conversation!"
"…Seemed like one."
"You basically threatened them!"
Aken thought about it for a second. "…Did I?"
"…YES."
"…Huh."
"…HUH?"
"…Yeah. Probably."
Jae-Min grabbed his head. "…We're finished. Completely finished."
Aken smirked faintly. "…Relax."
"How am I supposed to relax?!"
"…You're still alive, aren't you."
"…FOR NOW."
Aken stopped walking. Jae-Min nearly bumped into him. "…What now?"
Aken glanced back at the door. Then forward again.
"…Now?"
A faint smile settled on his face.
"…Things get a hole lot interesting."
Jae-Min stared at him.
"…That's exactly what I was afraid of."
And for once — he wasn't wrong.
END OF CHAPTER 26