“What’s wrong?”“Ah, nothing at all.”That didn’t sound convincing.Raon studied Hamin, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Hamin forced a stiff, practiced smile.“I’m really fine, Team Leader.”“Hmm.”“You’re in a hurry, right? I’ll handle things with the team. Please, go ahead.”As Raon frowned, noticing something off, Hamin hurriedly waved his hands and spoke faster, clearly trying to dodge the question.Raon glanced sideways at Dojin. It was obvious that Hamin’s sudden nervousness had something to do with him.“What’s going on, hyung?”“Siwoo.”Even from across ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the field, Siwoo came running over from where he’d been supervising the Espers’ training. Raon blinked, startled, and then explained.“There’s a senior staff meeting today—I didn’t see the notice. I’m heading there now.”“A meeting?”“Yeah.”But Siwoo’s gaze toward Dojin was openly hostile. His expression alone carried enough tension to cut the air. Dojin just let out a low, amused laugh.“It’s a real meeting, Siwoo. The notice came through the terminal.”“…Got it. Come back safe.”As he said that, Siwoo tapped his left wrist device with his finger—a silent gesture meaning call me if anything happens.Raon gave a small nod and turned to follow Dojin, leaving Siwoo watching him with concern.Hamin’s strange reaction lingered in his mind. He’d need to talk to him after training wrapped up.Lost in thought as he walked, Raon was suddenly pulled back by the voice beside him.“Honestly, he’s like a damn pet dog.”The mocking tone made Raon’s face tighten.“Who exactly were you referring to?”“Why, does it bother you when I insult your pet?”“Siwoo isn’t a pet.”Raon was almost speechless at Dojin’s sneer, especially after Siwoo had just shown such simple concern. But Dojin’s smirk only deepened.“He acts like one.”“Well, dogs at least listen when you talk to them.”Raon’s voice stayed calm, but the jab landed. A fine crack ran through Dojin’s expression.“Then it must be nice—having a loyal mutt who obeys every word.”“Stop calling him that.”Even when Raon’s tone grew sharp, Dojin only chuckled. Raon pressed his lips together and turned his head away. Arguing any further would be a waste of time.Still, his thoughts drifted back to Hamin. Whatever had happened between him and Dojin clearly wasn’t nothing.***“You’re here.”“Apologies for the delay.”Entering the conference room, Raon immediately bowed to Seokhyeon, who was the first person he saw. The Director gave him a weary look and gestured for him to take a seat. Raon quickly found his spot and sat down.Hmm.All the team leaders were present—himself, Dojin, and the others—along with Seokhyeon and a few military officials.“Let’s begin the meeting.”Seokhyeon’s calm voice filled the room as the lights dimmed and a large screen flickered to life.“What you’re seeing is footage from the irregular Gate incident in District 3.”The display showed the early state of the irregular Gate that Raon had led the suppression for. Unlike normal Gates, this one was colorless, leaving only a sunken pit that resembled a massive sinkhole.“And this is how it changed after Alpha-1 entered for reconnaissance.”The slide switched. It now showed the gray-tinted world Raon had seen firsthand.“The District 3 irregular Gate turned gray—a color never before recorded anywhere in the world.”A low murmur spread through the section where the military representatives sat. The army had its hands full with Gates lately, that much was clear.“Fortunately, the Gray Gate was neutralized with minimal casualties thanks to the temporary guide team we deployed. However, the likelihood of serious complications in future operations has risen considerably.”“That’s true. Ever since the first Red Gate, all Gate difficulty levels have skyrocketed.”The voice belonged to Kwon Yunchae, leader of Alpha-3 and an A-rank Esper with fire abilities powerful enough to earn near-S-class recognition.“And the emergence of a new color implies the possibility of more variants appearing in the future.”“Isn’t that jumping ahead too far?”“There’s no concrete evidence yet…”As more voices joined in, the noise swelled—until Seokhyeon slammed his hand down on the table.“Now is not the time for dismissal. Every possibility must remain open. The experts are uncertain themselves; instability is expected, so we need to stay alert.”The room quieted at once. Seokhyeon swept his gaze over them before continuing.“This is the first gathering since the team reorganization. There are no new appointments, so we’ll keep introductions brief.”A few exchanged polite nods or wordless glances. The formalities were short-lived.“Next is the report on team restructuring. Please refer to the documents provided.”Raon looked down at the packet in front of him.Aside from his own guide team, there was little of note. The three Alpha sub-teams—1, 2, and 3—had been merged into a single unified Alpha Team for all future irregular Gate operations. Other teams would handle regular Gates as before, with reinforcements drawn from Alpha as needed.As a result, his newly formed guide special team stood out all the more.Then Dojin rose from his seat to begin the briefing.“Good afternoon. I’m Seo Dojin, newly appointed leader of the reorganized Alpha Team.”So it had gone as expected. Despite his earlier clashes with Inho, Dojin had secured the position.Raon caught, in his peripheral vision, the way Inho’s jaw tightened and teeth ground together. He quietly looked away.“First, I’d like to apologize for the damage caused by my earlier mistake.”Dojin bowed, his face solemn. Most people watched impassively; a few cleared their throats.Raon met his gaze, unimpressed. Apologizing for what, exactly? For forcing a dangerous mission? Or for trying to kill his own teammate?He clicked his tongue softly and looked down. It was exactly as he’d expected, but still unpleasant to watch.“From now on, Alpha Team will focus on maximizing our Gate-response capabilities and developing training programs that prepare us for all contingencies.”The screen filled with Alpha’s current training schedule—dense, rigorous, and clearly designed for high-rank Espers. Raon couldn’t tell if it was suitable, but the military officers seemed satisfied.Well, with that lineup of S-class and elite A-class Espers, they’ll manage fine. As long as their leader doesn’t ruin it.“Any questions?”Silence. No one spoke. They all knew each other too well to bother.So this meeting’s really about me, then.The supposed talk about Gate risk was just cover. They’d lumped Alpha together for convenience—but the real focus was clearly the newly founded guide special team and its leader, S-class guide Han Raon.“Next, we’ll hear from Han Raon, leader of the Guide Special Team.”“Hmm.”Raon rose and made his way to the podium. Dozens of eyes turned to him.A bit nerve-wracking, huh.He’d dealt with attention plenty before he’d transmigrated, but this situation was different—colder, heavier. Clearing his throat, he began.“Good afternoon. I’m Han Raon, team leader of the Guide Special Team. I’ll begin by explaining the background of our formation.”He summarized the District 3 irregular Gate mission—how he’d been deployed, how they’d achieved suppression, and how that experience led him to propose a dedicated guide unit.Someone raised a hand.“Yes, go ahead.”“So you’re saying you personally initiated the creation of this team?”“Yes, though of course it required the Director’s approval.”“And you personally selected the members?”“That’s right.”“I see.”A man who appeared to be from the military frowned faintly, his expression unreadable but not friendly.“I notice a few unexpected names on the roster. Any particular reason for those choices?”“Yes. I was just about to explain that.”Raon exhaled quietly.Convincing Seokhyeon hadn’t been difficult—but the people in this room were another story. This was going to be a long meeting.He drew in a slow breath and began his explanation.

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