Hero Hunter is on Parental Leave C68

Chapter 68

“Chairman.”

“What now, you brat?! At this point I never know what kind of bomb you’re going to drop—this old heart can’t take it!”

“…Is there something you’ve been hiding from me?”

“⋯.”

“There is.”

“⋯There isn’t. Stop spouting nonsense and get ready for surgery.”

A slippery old fox.

Still water always rots, and once it does, the stench spreads fast. Yeongung fixed his sharp gaze on the old tiger’s face—still refusing to show his hand until the very end.

Then he tossed out bait so strong the Chairman couldn’t help but bite.

“…Crack.”

The clouded eyes of Baek Gangseok—dulled by years of excessive ability use—snapped wide open.

“⋯!”

“So you did know.”

“How did you—”

His suspicions were confirmed.

When Richmond first told him that Jaehui was born from a crack, Yeongung had still been half in doubt. But after the fissure appeared in the Muhae Apartments—and after rescuing Huchu—that doubt hardened into certainty.

Cracks were far closer to everyday life than he’d ever imagined.

The fact that he, the Absolute, had never known about something that was effectively the system’s weak point was itself abnormal.

Unless someone had deliberately, meticulously kept it from him.

“Out of the Twelve Constellations,” Yeongung said quietly,

“the only one who didn’t know about cracks was me, wasn’t it.”

“⋯.”

Baek Gangseok neither confirmed nor denied it. But Yeongung already had his answer.

The moment he’d spoken the word crack, the Chairman’s mana had wavered.

The Twelve Constellations differed in ideology and methods, but when it came to their common enemy—the system—they were aligned. That they’d hidden this from him carried weight far beyond petty political infighting.

And when something finally surfaces, it’s usually already rotten to the core.

Baek Gangseok… the Association Heads…

What exactly were they plotting?

And what about Won Iheun?

Did he truly not know?

As Yeongung rapidly pieced things together, Baek Gangseok finally spoke.

“I don’t know where you picked up such nonsense while you were gone, but cracks? Never heard of them. Don’t know a thing.”

Oh? Still playing dumb?

He needed answers—not just about cracks, but about whatever deal Baek Gangseok had struck with Iheun. He’d known this wouldn’t be easy, but still…

Yeongung changed tactics.

“Well… if that’s what you say, old man, then let’s leave it at that.”

Instead of easing Baek Gangseok’s nerves, Yeongung’s sudden retreat made them worse. The madman who’d ripped out his own implant—what kind of scheme was he cooking up now?

That was when the Chairman’s secretary returned from a phone call.

“Chairman, apologies for interrupting. The operating room is ready.”

“Apologies? Nonsense! Nothing is more important than this. Yeongung Hunter, don’t keep the Director waiting—let’s move.”

Eager to end the uncomfortable exchange, Baek Gangseok reacted with exaggerated enthusiasm and snapped his fingers. The office doors slid open.

“Wait. We’re not done talking.”

“What now?!”

“…Secretary, would you please wait in the car.”

The secretary glanced at the Chairman for permission. Baek Gangseok nodded.

With the secretary gone, the heavy wooden doors closed with a low rumble.

Yeongung forced his lips into a rotten smile.

“Chairman. Let’s make a deal.”

Plan B.

Yeongung left the ward, awkwardly rubbing his temple. Under his fingertips, he felt the uneven texture of fresh sutures.

“Perverted bastards. Turning a perfectly fine person into a cyborg.”

The surgery—done under local anesthesia—had been performed by Director Lee Chahyeon himself. This time, the implant was placed in a lethal spot, one that could cause brain damage or even blindness if tampered with again.

Insurance against another disappearance.

Afterward, Chahyeon had visited the recovery room but couldn’t bring himself to meet Yeongung’s eyes. He’d admitted that he couldn’t stop the surgery—that performing it himself was the least he could do.

How many people could defy the Constellations’ orders, really?

“A hospital director with a heart that’s too soft,” Yeongung muttered.

Hoping his old friend would one day let go of that burden, Yeongung left the hospital.

His next stop was a classic café that played retro music—a place he used to frequent when he lived in Seoul. He ordered by habit and took the most secluded window seat.

After savoring the aroma, he took a sip of carefully brewed drip coffee and opened a portal site, scrolling through economic and social headlines.

“How far do the dazzling connections of Mujin Group’s eldest daughter extend—

A grand wedding between Guildmaster Won Iheun and Kim Rahee to be held at a luxury hotel in Gangnam, with key political and financial figures in attendance…”

What caught the most attention were articles about the engagement gifts.

Iheun had personally visited a jewelry boutique and prepared a 10-carat diamond.

There was even talk of an Air Force special flight team performing a wedding air show.

“Ten carats… that’s tens of billions won, minimum.”

The article included an image of a blue diamond—the one Iheun supposedly chose.

A 10-carat blue diamond of that quality would be worth hundreds of billions.

Blue diamonds symbolize loyalty, trust, resilience, and eternal love.

They are also believed to bring immense wealth to their owner…

Yeongung’s fingers grew rougher as he scrolled.

Next came photos of Kim Rahee and Won Iheun at the same children’s charity event.

Yeongung remembered that day clearly.

They hadn’t even spoken.

He’d been by Iheun’s side the entire time.

But the journalist had cleverly edited shots from the same background to make it look like they’d stood together.

Yeongung memorized the reporter’s name and affiliation.

The comments were worse—overwhelmingly congratulatory.

“Unbelievable. People really believe this garbage without fact-checking.”

He trusted Iheun completely.

Still—

Even knowing it was all false, the emotion burning in his chest was unmistakable.

“…This still feels fucking awful.”

With a curse, Yeongung turned off his phone.

“The details are way too specific.”

As if a real political marriage were underway.

He recalled what Hamgyeol had said.

“The problem is that Kim Rahee’s side is maintaining an ambiguous stance, as if the reports are true.”

“Kim Rahee…”

Tap. Tap.

Yeongung drummed his fingers on the table, then pulled a stiff ticket from his jacket.

A recital ticket—obtained through Sayoung.

Kim Rahee’s piano recital, conducted by the legendary Yanofsky, with a world-class Philharmonic orchestra.

“So… what kind of person are you?”

Without realizing it, Yeongung drained the rest of his coffee.

Dressed in a black suit, Yeongung took his seat in a second-floor box—out of most people’s sight.

Soon, Kim Rahee appeared on stage.

In her alluring dress, she stood center stage like a single red gerbera in full bloom. The design accentuated her long, elegant neck.

As she sat before the piano and placed her hands on the keys, the hall fell into absolute silence.

Then—

Debussy’s romantic, free-flowing melodies bloomed from her fingertips, filling the grand theater.

Even to Yeongung—no expert in classical music—there was something deeply stirring about her performance.

It was hard to believe the same woman who carried herself so boldly could play with such delicacy.

As Yeongung closed his eyes, he recalled what had happened earlier in the waiting room.

[Backstage – Before the Recital]

KIM.

Yeongung checked the nameplate and knocked exactly three times.

“Come in.”

She hadn’t even confirmed who it was.

There was no sign of security either.

Frowning slightly, Yeongung entered.

Inside were Kim Rahee and two women, busy with last-minute makeup adjustments.

Without even looking at him, a staff member pointed toward the sofa table.

It was piled high with bouquets and gifts.