Resurrection Chapter 21 - Seo Heesoo, that crazy bastard...

“I figured you’d come to shake me down sooner or later.”

“Then you must be ready to answer some questions?”

As if anticipating my questions, Kang Cheoljun answered first.

“Let me make it clear: I don’t know who the client is.”

Hearing his flat denial, I frowned.

“A guy from the special task force doesn’t know? By now, Daylily should have scraped together all the relevant information.”

The special task force had several teams with flower-inspired names that didn’t quite suit them. Among them was a team dedicated to intelligence gathering, called Daylily.

Being under a national agency, Daylily’s intelligence capabilities were top-notch. I found it hard to believe they didn’t know the identity of the person who commissioned Heesoo hyung’s assassination.

When I shot him a suspicious look, Kang Cheoljun raised both hands as if to say he was telling the truth.

“I’m with Mugunghwa, not Daylily. The special task force doesn’t share all information. More importantly, even Daylily is certain they don’t know. Those guys hate admitting they’re clueless, but this time, they said they don’t know.”

“That’s funny. You didn’t even flinch when Yoon Younghyun killed Heesoo hyung.”

“I knew someone was putting out a hit on Seo Heesoo, but I didn’t know the specifics.”

“Bullshit, are you kidding? That situation and now are the same?”

I twisted my lips, pressing him. Kang Cheoljun looked at me with renewed interest.

He had witnessed me using Resurrection. That made him one of the few who knew my secret. Unfortunately, he was a government agent, so he had likely already reported that I possess the resurrection skill to his superiors.

I didn’t know how strictly Lee Cheong enforced confidentiality, but the special task force had probably investigated how I acquired Resurrection and why I formed a partnership with Heesoo hyung. Naturally, they’d have looked into the person who commissioned Heesoo hyung’s hit and should have more information than before.

At my point, Kang Cheoljun sighed.

“I’ll tell you what I know. The mysterious client appeared before you even rescued Seo Heesoo from the demon lair.”

I furrowed my brow.

“What? That was months ago, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. The first person they contacted was Kim Jewoo.”

“Kim Jewoo?”

“You know, Archer Kim Jewoo.”

I was startled as I recalled who Kim Jewoo was.

“Archer Kim Jewoo, the raid leader of Phoenix?”

The Phoenix raid team was one of the top 30 in our country. Unlike other teams backed by massive capital, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say Phoenix grew solely due to Kim Jewoo. That was thanks to his exceptional skill, earning him the nickname Archer.

Perplexed, I asked.

“Kim Jewoo isn’t an assassin. Why would he, of all people, be the first one approached for a hit?”

“Because Archer Kim Jewoo is a sniper-type among long-range attackers. A sharpshooter boasting 100% accuracy from kilometers away—there’s no one better suited for a kill. More importantly, the client apparently had information Kim Jewoo wanted.”

“You mean the whereabouts of the divine bow Tigran?”

Kang Cheoljun nodded, and I grimaced.

About a year ago, Kim Jewoo accidentally lost his weapon in a dungeon. Unfortunately, it was a divine artifact, and he incurred the great wrath of the Moon Goddess he served. As a result, he was demoted from primary to secondary apostle, losing access to a critical ultimate skill.

Naturally, retrieving the divine bow was Kim Jewoo’s top priority. He put everything aside to scour the dungeon where he lost it. Despite a year of effort with no results, the promise of Tigran’s location would have tempted even someone like Kim Jewoo.

Kang Cheoljun continued.

“Not just Kim Jewoo—several prominent hunters were apparently offered deals they couldn’t refuse by this mysterious client. The rewards were mostly information.”

“Information?”

“Yes. And there’s one more peculiar thing.”

“What?”

“They said you’d enter the demon lair to rescue Seo Heesoo.”

A chill ran down my spine.

Back then, I hadn’t told anyone my plans. I went to the demon lair alone to save Heesoo hyung.

There was no way anyone would join me on such a mission, and bringing others would only make them cannon fodder. Thinking I’d rather die alone, I recklessly ventured into the demon lair solo.

Even I thought it was half-crazy, so how could they have predicted it?

“Few people know about my connection with Heesoo hyung.”

Hearing my muttering, Kang Cheoljun continued.

“That’s not all.”

“What else?”

“They also seemed to know about Wolfheddin’s appearance and that you and Seo Heesoo would show up at the holy site.”

I tried not to overinterpret.

“If they knew about my relationship with Heesoo hyung, they could’ve guessed that much.”

“They even knew a new god would appear? Even fortune-tellers with foresight abilities don’t know that.”

Kang Cheoljun’s retort left me speechless. He shifted the conversation.

“The client commissioned Kim Jewoo and others to kill Seo Heesoo if you succeeded in rescuing him from the demon lair. But when they realized multiple people received the same contract, no one acted. Later, growing impatient, the client started handing out contracts indiscriminately… and they accurately predicted the holy site’s appearance, along with you and Seo Heesoo being there.”

I bit my lip.

“No wonder there were so many people that day.”

Kang Cheoljun nodded.

“Half the Awakeners there weren’t after the holy site—they were there to kill Seo Heesoo. The ones who attacked us when the dullahan appeared were exactly those people. As you know, Yoon Younghyun and Team A were the same.”

My eyes blazed with fury. I had to catch this client and make them pay. Whoever they were, they were obsessively trying to kill Heesoo hyung.

“Judging by their actions, they’re not the type to give up after failing at the holy site.”

“I’ll send you a video. Open it.”

Muttering in frustration, I heard a ping and pulled out my phone. As I received the file, a sudden realization hit me, and I glared at Kang Cheoljun.

“Why do you have my number? Is it okay for a government agent to have personal info like that? Isn’t that a total abuse of power?”

I complained, but Kang Cheoljun ignored me.

“It’s the clearest footage we’ve secured.”

I opened the file he sent and played the video. It was only about three seconds long, with poor quality, but someone was filmed.

The so-called client wore a hoodie, jeans, and sneakers—a simple outfit. They carried no identifiable weapons or gear, making it impossible to pinpoint their identity from appearance alone. Only rough physical details could be guessed.

“Late teens to early twenties, an East Asian male with black hair and black eyes. Over 180 cm tall, with a slim build, probably under 70 kg.”

“Wow! Such incredible info. I’m so shocked I’ve got goosebumps.”

“The notable thing, if you can call it that, is that despite being a skilled individual, they dress like a civilian.”

“Oh, yes~ Impressive. Thanks a ton.”

I turned off the video, sarcasm dripping.

Kang Cheoljun continued.

“Daylily is putting all their resources into tracking this person, so new info should come soon. I’ll let you know right away. Besides that, we can provide protection for Seo Heesoo or anything else you need.”

I rejected it outright.

“If you think you can indebt me with that measly help, dream on.”

I didn’t believe Lee Cheong was offering this out of concern for Heesoo hyung, a former national hero. They were after my resurrection skill.

As if proving my suspicion, Kang Cheoljun began to persuade me.

“You probably already know, but it’s only a matter of time before your resurrection skill gets out. Especially since your partner is none other than Seo Heesoo—it’ll spread even faster. You’re already conspicuous on your own, and now Seo Heesoo is back in the public eye.”

“That’s my problem, not something for Lee Cheong to meddle in.”

“No, it’s very much Lee Cheong’s concern. You’re in serious danger right now. You don’t think the people after your ability will just politely offer to recruit you, do you?”

I furrowed my brow at Kang Cheoljun’s point.

“I know, I get it.”

“You’ve already been kidnapped by Yacha once.”

His mention of that painful memory angered me.