IRNH C71

Chapter 71

It was a small protest of about a dozen people. But mixed among them were other demonstrators, people dressed up for photos, and even those begging for donations—
the street was loud and chaotic.

Yet strangely, the voices of those protesters carried just a little clearer than everything else.

Ha-jung seemed to hear it too. His expression twisted with pity as he shook his head.

“Ugh… they’re here too.”

“Who are those people?”

“Ah… people who hate gates. Most are families of victims. They hold rallies regularly in front of the Association. We can’t exactly tell them to leave—it’s complicated.”

Sihyeon’s eyes darkened slightly.
He couldn’t be sure if they were really victims’ families, but one thing was clear:

‘Someone in that crowd is using an ability.’

It was the person in the center, speaking passionately through a megaphone.
The ability was subtle—he hadn’t noticed it at first. But when he activated his ocular skill, he saw the faint aura of an awakened individual.
That had to be why the voice kept echoing unnaturally in his ears.

Soon the car continued onward, the sound fading behind them, and Sihyeon turned his attention to the massive, dazzling hotel that gradually filled their view.

Las Vegas had always been famous as a city of extravagant pleasure.
But with gate artifacts and magic added on top of that, it had become something incomparable—
a spectacle beyond anything ordinary cities could imitate.

And even among all that grandeur, this hotel stood out as if all the world’s luxury had been dumped into one building.

It made the Nexus facility he once visited look plain.

“Holy… this is insane…”

“It’s so bright… the last place was crazy, but this looks like another world entirely…”

Of course, Yujun and Gyumin were glued to the window, marveling like kids in an amusement park.

Sihyeon’s gaze drifted briefly to the towering fountain spraying colorful lights before the car slowed and came to a stop.
He exchanged a look with Ha-jung.

The sound-blocking skill around the backseat dissolved.

“We’ve arrived!”

The driver beamed, clearly expecting a generous tip considering their destination.
Ha-jung didn’t disappoint—he handed over a thick tip along with the fare.

Sihyeon stepped out of the vehicle.

“Excuse me, are you Hunter Lee Hajung?”

“That’s me.”

“Ah, nice to meet you! I’m Shannon.”

A blue-eyed white man approached them with a polite smile.
Sihyeon stayed behind Ha-jung, quietly reading the situation.

If the man recognized Ha-jung instantly in a place filled with tourists, he hadn’t come casually.
There was only one person who would send him.

“Mr. Liang will be a little late, so he asked me to escort you to the lounge first. Thank you for understanding.”

“No problem!”

“Please follow me.”

Sihyeon’s expectations were aligned with reality.
He walked behind the two men, trying not to let the swarm of people and the prickly waves of different energies overwhelm him.

After a short walk, they reached a corridor gated by a card scanner.
The moment they stepped inside, all surrounding presences vanished.

Sihyeon’s eyes flickered with surprise before returning to normal.

A skill…?

Probably a protective barrier, separating public and private space.
Still, its range was enormous, and he stayed alert even inside the elevator.

Ding—

Lounge Floor.

Despite being a very high level, the elevator arrived almost instantly.
As they ascended, the chaotic energies disappeared, and by the time the doors opened, the area felt completely serene.

…He’s more careful than I thought.

Anyone at this level would be wary of surveillance or hostile abilities; sloppy security would be exposed quickly.
This precaution alone upgraded Sihyeon’s impression of Liang Chaoxia.

“Please wait comfortably here. Mr. Liang will arrive soon.”

“Thank you.”

The grandeur of the lounge pushed that impression even higher.

The ceiling height equaled multiple floors of a normal building.
No nearby structures reached this level, leaving the sky wide and unobstructed.

“W-whoaaa…”

“This is insane… even I’ve never been somewhere like this…”

While Ha-jung exchanged polite words with Shannon, the others wandered toward the panoramic glass wall.

Everything in the room—from the shining gold accents to the contemporary art sculptures embedded like pillars—looked like they’d cost billions.

…How much would even one of these cost?

Trying to maintain vigilance, Sihyeon subtly checked escape routes and object placement—
but the display was so dazzling he kept getting distracted.

“Master. Do you like houses at this height?”

Taewoon’s sudden question made him tilt his head.

“Uh… I never really thought about it?”

Taewoon watched him, noticing how Sihyeon’s cheeks were slightly flushed from excitement.

Seems like you like this place.

If this belongs to that Liang guy… maybe I should just take it for you.
His mind spun seriously for a moment.

Recently, it felt like Sihyeon’s attention was drifting away from him more often.
The insecurity, frustration, and bitterness were piling up.

He thought maybe something grand like this would make Sihyeon happy again.
Sihyeon himself loved giving Taewoon random gifts—so surely giving something back would help.

“Alright! Everyone listen up.”

Ha-jung’s voice cut through the chatter, pulling everyone back together.

“He’ll be here soon. Don’t be loud, sit nicely, don’t act weird.”

“…That’s it?”

“Yeah.”

It was anticlimactic.
Sounds like he had something meaningful to say—only to end with “don’t be noisy.”

Sihyeon glanced at Gyumin and Yujun, who looked slightly disappointed, and shook his head with a small sigh.

“They’ll behave. They know how to act properly when needed.”

“I wasn’t scolding them,” Ha-jung snorted lightly.

But Sihyeon felt unreasonably embarrassed when the two stared at him with shining puppy-eyes.

Then—

Grasp.

“Master.”

A smooth, cold hand suddenly filled his palm.
Sihyeon flinched and turned quickly.

“Huh?”

Taewoon said nothing—
but his eyes were burning with dissatisfaction.
Sihyeon felt a cold sweat run down his back.

What’s wrong with him now…

He still couldn’t get used to Taewoon’s abrupt mood swings.

Ding—

Lounge Floor.

The sound felt like salvation.
Whatever awkward tension had been building evaporated as the elevator hummed open.

A large man stepped out—
hair slicked back neatly, wearing relaxed but elegant casual clothes.
He was enormous; even Taewoon, who was tall himself, wasn’t much bigger.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Liang Chaoxia. We met earlier than expected, Hajung.”

“It’s been a while, Mr. Liang.”

“Haha—just call me Liang, please.”

Liang Chaoxia approached with an easy smile and extended his hand.
Someone of his status could have easily acted arrogant, but his demeanor carried zero pretense.

“…I’ll try.”

“Thank you. Now, may I be introduced to your friends?”

“Ah—sorry! These are my friends and their younger siblings.”

“Jeong Sihyeon.”

Expression neutral, Sihyeon shook his hand briefly.

Liang’s eyes glinted with interest before he smiled and turned to Ha-jung.

“Your friend is very handsome.”

Instantly, a chill shot down Sihyeon’s spine.
He discreetly pulled his hand away and clenched it into a fist.

This man had an oily charm—different from Shin Ryuha’s but equally unbearable.
Exactly the type Sihyeon had difficulty tolerating.

But Ha-jung, unbothered, volleyed right back:

“Eh, Liang’s way better-looking.”

Good.
Sihyeon preferred that kind of banter.

But before he could inhale a breath of relief—

A deep voice beside him muttered:

“That is absolutely not t—mph.”

Sihyeon slapped a hand over Taewoon’s mouth immediately.

This place was a minefield.

“I’m very close to my younger brothers… anyway, don’t mind us. Please continue.”

Maintaining a polite smile, Sihyeon subtly warned Taewoon and pinched his back hard.

Taewoon twitched.

“Haha. You two have a wonderful sibling bond.
Shall we sit and talk?”

Taewoon ground his teeth silently.
Every word the man said felt like a deliberate provocation.

{Taewoon. Stop it.}

Sihyeon’s strict mental voice hit him.
Scolding words followed.
Taewoon almost lost his mind.

He wanted to accuse the man outright—
That guy obviously has designs on you!

Recently, his master felt farther and farther away.
The anxiety gnawed at him.
He bit his thumbnail until it bled without noticing.

“Oh dear, I haven’t even offered drinks. Shannon, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

Meanwhile, the conversation flowed smoothly—
too smoothly.

Liang’s voice was slick, practiced, charismatic.
Even wary Sihyeon slowly began responding.

Taewoon had to fight down murderous urges just to keep from glaring openly.

I should kill him.
Rip out that fake-smiling face.
Erase him from Master’s world.

He swallowed every violent impulse, nails digging crescents into his own palm just to hold himself together.