* * *

"You've already found them?"

Hyeonyul's first thought was how. He had only just heard about it from Juhyeon and had assumed it would take time.

"I've been keeping an eye on everyone who had even a toe in the water, even if they weren't directly involved in the mole incident."

Haeryeon looked at them as though she had expected this all along. They might have slipped away back then, but things were different now.

"When you got lucky and slipped away back then, you must have been relieved you weren't expelled. And at the same time, you resented Hyeonyul, didn't you? You obviously thought one little loach had crawled in and muddied the water."

Even as she spoke, irritation rose in Haeryeon. How could they leak internal information to outsiders?

"Remember the cult case we wrapped up recently?"

Taking a deep breath, Haeryeon turned toward Hyeonyul.

"I remember."

"These are the White Sparrows who went undercover on that mission."

"Are they?"

Only then did Hyeonyul look at the three of them. He remembered their faces, but it was difficult to know whether he should act against them.

"You've repaid kindness with betrayal, haven't you?"

Haeryeon briefly tightened her fingers. Hyeonyul had recognized the state they were in. If he hadn't, who knew what they might have done under a villain's control? Who would want that?

"Team Leader."

"Yes?"

"I met with Team Leader Ye Juhyeon a little while ago."

"Team Leader Juhyeon said she wanted to explain it to you herself."

"I've just come back after having her confirm one fact."

Hyeonyul never took his eyes off the three. He kept watching them. They showed fear toward Haeryeon and contempt toward him. Their treatment of the strong and the weak could not have been clearer.

"The former Black Eagles who have banded together are now villains. Then what should we call these three, who gave them my information?"

Haeryeon was pleased with the attack disguised as a question.

"Moles, I'd say."

"Then please deal with them according to the punishment imposed last time."

"Wait! What do you mean, moles?"

"Exactly. We only told them because they asked us as old acquaintances..."

"I didn't tell you to speak."

Haeryeon casually told them to shut their mouths.

"A notice went out telling you not to mess with the recruit. You're the ones who didn't read it."

She slowly approached them.

"Remember this: once you're expelled as moles, you could die the moment you breathe a word about anything that happened here. You remember what you signed before joining, don't you?"

KNOCK, KNOCK.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Go on, now. They're waiting for you."

"This is unjust!"

The White Sparrow spoke while glaring at Hyeonyul.

"... Unjust?"

Haeryeon couldn't believe her ears.

"We only told the truth. He is a villain! I don't understand why you're going this far to protect a former villain!"

"You leaked internal information to outsiders, and you don't understand? You've certainly got some nerve."

Haeryeon was incredulous. Even explaining it had become infuriating.

"Team Leader, I've dedicated six years to this place. I've always considered supporting the Black Eagles my livelihood—"

"Get the hell out. Now."

Haeryeon refused to hear any more. She had nothing to say to someone who didn't even understand the enormous cost of carelessly running their mouth.

"... Ha. I've spent six years here, and you're defending a former villain?"

The White Sparrow let out a short breath and looked at Haeryeon. The look in their eyes had changed completely.

"You've spent six years here and still can't tell what you should and shouldn't say? Then isn't expelling you the right choice?"

At Haeryeon's provocation, the White Sparrow's restraint snapped. Black Eagles weren't the only ones with powers.

As Hyeonyul moved to intervene, Haeryeon held out a palm, telling him to stay put.

"Going to come at me?"

"Even if I have to leave..."

Before the White Sparrow could finish, Haeryeon smiled lightly and thrust out a fist. Her punch bent the raised arm aside and struck the face head-on.

CRASH!

Another White Sparrow, who had moved along with the first, faltered at the sight of their colleague embedded deep in the wall. Turning to look, they let out a terrified squeak.

"You should come at me too, shouldn't you?"

Haeryeon crooked a finger. She had only held herself back to maintain her dignity as a Team Leader. If they attacked her like this, she could gladly take them on instead.

"M-me...?"

Her feet seemed to move, and then she was in front of the bewildered White Sparrow, driving her knee upward.

THWACK!

The instant the blow struck their face, the White Sparrow shot upward and broke through the ceiling. Watching them dangle there, Hyeonyul studied Haeryeon.

'I didn't sense any power.'

Was she naturally endowed with that speed and strength?

"Performance enhancers. A perk of being an alchemist."

Haeryeon smiled at Hyeonyul. Finally understanding, he nodded, then briefly tilted his head.

"But aren't there side effects?"

"It's made specifically for me, so it's fine."

"Ah..."

"Let's clear this up first, then continue talking."

Haeryeon walked to the door and opened it.

People entered and looked to either side. Without batting an eye, they arrested the remaining White Sparrow and extracted the two embedded in the wall and ceiling.

"We'll repair the damage as well."

"Please do."

Haeryeon looked equally accustomed to it. They waited a little while as the three were removed and the wall and ceiling repaired.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"Not at all. We'll be going, then."

They bowed in response to Haeryeon's thanks and left.

"They're the managers who handle internal maintenance. You probably won't see them often, so you only need to know they're here."

With that explanation, Haeryeon pointed toward the desk. Once Hyeonyul sat down, she slowly took her seat and looked at him.

"Actually, when I first learned about your condition, I did wonder whether I should try making medicine for you. I do have a pharmacist's license, though it's all thanks to my power. Were you hurt that I never brought it up?"

"No. The thought never even occurred to me."

Hyeonyul had never considered the possibility that anyone besides Jeongmin could treat him.

"I'm not ready yet, for one thing. I'll consult Doctor Lee Jeongmin about the details."

"Understood."

After answering, Hyeonyul paused for a beat and was about to speak.

"Do you want to investigate this case?"

Haeryeon's question came unexpectedly.

"I do. The fact that they've formed a group concerns me."

"How do you want to proceed, Hyeonyul?"

"There must be a reason they've banded together. I'd like to find out what's behind it."

"Once we have things organized, I'll put it up as a mission."

"Thank you."

"There's so much we need to find out, isn't there?"

They had resolved some things, but much remained unknown. Who was manufacturing the discontinued drug that gave powers to the powerless? Why had the former Black Eagles formed a group?

"Yes. There is a great deal."

"Let's take it slowly, Hyeonyul."

"... I'd like to do that too."

He spoke hesitantly. How much more slowly did he have to go?

"Anyway, about today's mission..."

BZZZZZZ.

Both their smartwatches sounded at once. It was an emergency.

"What's happened?"

Haeryeon answered immediately.

<White Sparrows surveying the vicinity of Sector S-23 witnessed a villain injecting someone with a drug at the scene.>

"A drug?"

<After checking the drug, we believe it is the one recently obtained. We are currently in pursuit, and the villains are fleeing. We need backup.>

Fleeing.

The moment Hyeonyul heard that, he didn't hesitate.

"I'll go, Team Leader."

Haeryeon bit her lip lightly. She had expected him to say it, but she couldn't help hesitating.

"It's a drug case. Besides, all I have to do is pursue them."

It wasn't even a major case. It fell within the most basic category: pursuit.

"Come straight back once you've caught them. I won't authorize any pursuit beyond that."

Haeryeon made him promise, just in case.

"Understood."

At his unhesitating answer, she firmly suppressed her doubts and replied.

"I'll send him shortly."

<Thank you.>

Hyeonyul bowed and went outside.

'It'll be all right, won't it?'

Haeryeon had given permission, but she still felt hesitant.

* * *

Since this mission involved pursuing fleeing villains in real time, the Eagles didn't know where they would be heading either. They had no choice but to arrange the rendezvous on the fly.

The place Hyeonyul reached looked like nothing more than a rundown park. Other White Sparrows were waiting for him there, where visitors were unlikely to come.

Before meeting them, Hyeonyul injected himself with a sedative. His stomach was still churning.

"Take this."

A White Sparrow handed him a bulky phone. Their voice and expression alone conveyed the urgency of the situation. Everyone's eyes were uneasy.

"The villains' locations will be relayed to you in real time. Press this button to use it like a radio. We'll stay in contact with you. Do you have any questions?"

"None. Thank you."

Hyeonyul bowed and ran forward. His task was simple: catch the fleeing villains.

His legs gradually picked up speed. He glided along the ground as though riding a skateboard.

So much lay within Hyeonyul's sight. He could see everything, but taking it all in made his head ache.

There was only one thing he wanted to see: the countless living creatures moving at this very moment. As darkness settled, the movements of every living thing came into view, from tiny insects in the grass to rats, birds, and other animals, and even people going about their daily lives.

Feeling his breath constrict, he adjusted it once more. He singled out living creatures moving at high speed.

'... I can see them.'

He saw people moving at a similar pace. There were at least ten in view already. Before he could lose his breath, he fixed his sight on the nearest one.

'Let's catch him.'

Hyeonyul clenched his fist and raised it. Darkness surged into a wave and took the shape of a hand. As though sinking teeth into his prey's neck, he seized the man's nape and drove his head into a wall.

THWACK!

He heard something that sounded like a break, but only one thing mattered to him: whether the man was unconscious.

Despite the blood dripping from the man's head, he remained conscious, so Hyeonyul lifted his foot slightly.

"When you wake up, you'd better tell us what you know. This is a warning."

Having quietly informed him, Hyeonyul stamped on his face without hesitation.

CRACK!

'One.'

Just as he seemed about to walk forward, Hyeonyul melted into the darkness. It surged again.

'Let's leave just two who can talk.'

Surely that would be enough.

Breathing roughly, Hyeonyul emerged from the shadow of a man running between rooftops and caught his leg.

"...!"

With his leg suddenly caught, the man's steps tangled. Just as he seemed about to fall, his body rose into the air. But Hyeonyul didn't stand idly by. He kicked him in the back.

Unable to withstand the force, the man fell and scraped his face. His bewildered eyes darted about. He had no idea what was happening.

Then darkness swept in, so intense that it erased even the surrounding light.

"When you wake up, you'd better tell us what you know. This is a warning."

Delivering those words in a blunt voice, Hyeonyul kicked him in the face.

THWACK.

The man's face turned all the way to the opposite side, and his body went limp. After confirming he was unconscious, Hyeonyul took out the phone-like radio he had received earlier.

"Yes. What is it?"

<Their locations have changed. Please check.>

"Understood."

The information they provided was unnecessary. He tossed it into the darkness and drew a dagger. After flipping it through several rotations in the air, he caught it.

He had left two mouths that could talk. Now it was time to hunt.

Hyeonyul leaped forward as though diving and dropped off the building. The instant he touched the ground, he plunged into the darkness.

As countless locations shifted around him, he reached out. Seizing a nape, he slammed the villain into a nearby wall.

CRASH!

As the villain's eyes briefly lost focus, Hyeonyul yanked his hair.

"Who gave you the drug?"

"Who are you—"

Hyeonyul stabbed him in the back.

"Aaaaagh!"

"The drug that temporarily gives powers to the powerless. Who gave it to you?"

"... I-I was just following orders... Guh."

Hyeonyul's dagger pierced his throat without mercy. If he had no information, he was unnecessary.

The night was still long.

* * *

The moment Hyeonyul seized the tenth villain by the nape, a sharp blade protruded from the man's body.

THUNK.

But his glove blocked the power.

"It seems I've finally found the right person."

Hyeonyul lowered his hand and caught his breath. He couldn't understand why they kept heading for secluded alleys, just like the others had. Wouldn't a crowded place be better?

The man turned around in surprise.

"Please wait a moment."

Before the man could say anything, Hyeonyul pulled something from the darkness and tossed it out.

One.

Two.

Three.

The number grew until there were seven in total.

The more the man saw what they were, the more his expression twisted. Even the veins around his eyes bulged.

"Y-you bastard!"

"It's been a long time since I've seen someone treat their subordinates as people. They must have been happy working under a boss like you."

Hyeonyul sneered. The man couldn't truly be angry for his subordinates' sake. His pride must have been wounded.

"... You, you're a Black Eagle?"

The villain had looked ready to do something at any moment, but suddenly faltered upon seeing the Black Eagles emblem. His eyes filled with suspicion.

"I'm not interested in why you went to the trouble of doing this in the middle of the night."

Hyeonyul spoke flatly. All that occupied their minds anyway was taking over the Empire, by whatever means or methods they could.

"I've only seen a Black Eagle pull this kind of crazy shit a handful of times."

Something changed in the villain's expression. Hyeonyul found it difficult to read. Since he didn't understand it, he ignored the expression and asked for the information he wanted.

"The drug. Did you buy it? Is it yours?"

"Why? Want a shot yourself? Should I give you one?"

The villain taunted him. Hyeonyul couldn't understand why he was so confident.

"I've had it injected into me too, so I know."

"Hahahaha! This bastard's a real piece of work. What'd you come here for? To arrest me? Should I hold out my hands?"

The villain pretended to offer both hands and snickered. Hyeonyul watched impassively and asked another question.

"It appears you tested the drug that gives powers to the powerless on ordinary civilians. Did you buy it or make it?"

"I've got a shitload of other drugs too. Need any? Want some?"

"What do you have?"

"All sorts."

At that, Hyeonyul briefly took out his phone. It held a long list of drugs he needed to find. He strode toward the villain, but the man neither backed away nor showed fear.

"Do you have any of these?"

"... What are you? Why are you so professional about this?"

"Do you have them?"

"I did."

"You did? You don't have them now?"

"They were taken from me a little while ago."

Taken from him.

On hearing that, only one group immediately came to Hyeonyul's mind: the one led by Lee Seungyu, whom he had installed as figurehead president. Could this have been his doing?

"By the Poison King's forces that suddenly appeared?"

"Yeah. Those bastards. They took our workshop."

The villain rummaged in his pocket and put an electronic cigarette between his lips.

"So how much do you need? ... Ha. With all this crazy shit happening, you scared the fuck out of me."

"Give me everything you have."

"Just come normally next time. I'll remember your face. Why the fuck are you pretending to be a Black Eagle? You don't need to do that. First-time customers always get a discount."

'... Ah.'

Only now did Hyeonyul understand why the man had behaved that way.

"It sounds like quite a few people approach you pretending to be Black Eagles."

He asked quietly, keeping his claws hidden. He waited for the man to bite at anything, and quickly.