Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 180: PR NIGHTMARE

RYU SUNGBIN always had a stoic look on his face, and people were already used to that.

However, if someone looked closely, he was actually glaring at Moon Noa.

The glares of the camera flashes could blind an average person.

But Ryu Sungbin’s glare could kill.

Unfortunately, since Moon Noa was the opponent, the damned sly fox only responded with a smile.

Tsk.

I shouldn’t have known Moon Noa would do something like this when I didn’t respond after he asked me to fight Gayoon in two weeks.

"Esper Ki Gayoon-nim, you said this would be an ’official’ fight, right?"

Great.

Now the reporters had begun asking questions.

"Does it mean you’ve officially submitted a request to fight Esper Ryu Sungbin-nim?"

"Obviously," Ki Gayoon said bluntly. "Don’t ask boring questions."

Haaah.

The cameras suddenly stopped flashing when the cameramen froze in fear, and the reporters actually kept their mouths shut.

They probably thought Gayoon was in a bad mood, and he goes crazy when he is.

Hence, the media people suddenly didn’t know what to do.

It took Ryu Sungbin all he got not to shake his head.

We all took PR training when we were young, but Gayoon is acting like he doesn’t know how to deal with the media.

"Esper Ki Gayoon-ssi has already submitted all the necessary documents to the necessary offices," Ryu Sungbin said politely. To be fair, he wanted to act like Ki Gayoon. But Bambi wouldn’t like that. Hence, he was forced to act in a formal manner. "I am yet to give a formal response to Esper Ki Gayoon-ssi’s challenge."

"Then why don’t you give me a response now, Esper Ryu Sungbin-ssi?" Ki Gayoon asked arrogantly. "You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?"

Ryu Sungbin met Moon Noa’s gaze again.

Haaah.

If I decline, Moon Noa will threaten us by using Mo Hanjin’s family background again.

Ryu Sungbin turned to Ki Gayoon. "I officially accept your challenge, Gayoon-ah. Let’s do it two weeks from now since we’ll both be busy very soon."

"Sure," Ki Gayoon said, obviously satisfied with Ryu Sungbin’s response. "The sooner, the better."

Haaah.

Ryu Sungbin couldn’t believe they kept falling into Ki Gayoon and Moon Noa’s traps.

Moon Noa keeps criticizing Bambi, but isn’t he using the same technique that Bambi uses? He’s using Noh Yuno to manipulate Ki Gayoon, after all.

***

"ESPER KI Gayoon-nim, why are you suddenly challenging Esper Ryu Sungbin-nim with your ranks on the line?"

"You’ve stepped away from the Top 5 for years, so why the sudden change of heart?"

"Do you intend to steal Esper Ryu Sungbin-nim’s crown—"

"Steal what now?" Ki Gayoon asked, rudely cutting off the reporter. "The crown was never Ryu Sungbin Hyung’s anyway. Whether you want to admit it or not, I’ve always been our country’s number one Esper."

He heard Ryu Sungbin sigh.

On the other hand, Moon Noa literally facepalmed.

Haaah.

I know, I know— I shouldn’t provoke the public.

"I’m not invalidating Ryu Sungbin Hyung’s hard work for the past years," Gayoon said before the reporters could bombard him with provoking questions. "I stepped down and focused on expanding my business. You can curse me for that all you want, but you also shouldn’t forget that the reason we have safe neighborhoods, apartments, and establishments now is because of my company. The schools, hospitals, churches, and other buildings that my company built have proved themselves to be safer than your normal buildings."

And that was how Gayoon got filthy rich.

"I know I sound like I’m bragging, but I only brought it up to remind you that just because I rarely raid dungeons for the past years doesn’t mean I’ve stopped fulfilling my duties as an Esper. Fighting monsters and raiding dungeons aren’t the only ways to be useful as an Esper, you know?"

"And please don’t forget that Esper Ki Gayoon-nim actually stepped up when he needed to," Moon Noa added, and now the reporters and the cameras were focused on him. "When the Japanese Awakened Army tried to invade South Korea, Esper Ki Gayoon-nim joined the fight to protect our country. He still showed up when and where it mattered— Esper Ki Gayoon-nim didn’t lose his heart as an Esper just because he focused on his business."

Haaah.

We sound like politicians now, so we better end this here and come home to Yuno.

"Just like what Guide Moon Noa-ssi said, I didn’t lose my heart as an Esper," Gayoon said, taking all that he got to stop himself from cringe-ing. If Noh Yuno was here, his lover would have already teased him for being ’cheesy.’ "That’s why I decided to step up once again— to fix what I think is wrong in the current society."

"Gayoon-ah," Ryu Sungbin, who had been quiet for a while, called his name in a calm yet slightly threatening voice. "We should go and finalize the details of our official match."

"One moment, Hyung," Gayoon said, not letting Ryu Sungbin stop him from speaking his truth. "I’ll make it sweet and short."

"Ki Gayoon—"

"There’s a power imbalance in our country," Gayoon said, cutting off Ryu Sungbin. "Of course, it’s nice that the Espers and the Guides are working together well. However, it seems like a certain line has been blurred. So, I intend to make that line clear once again."

Fortunately, one quick-witted reporter asked the right question.

"What "line" are we talking about here, Esper Ki Gayoon-nim?"

"I’ll only say this much for now: the Espers belong to the Esper Association, and the Guides belong to the National Guide Bureau," Gayoon said in a blunt and serious tone. "Yes, the two agencies should cooperate with each other— but one shouldn’t bypass the other’s authority."

***

YUNO almost dropped his cider while watching Ki Gayoon’s live broadcast on the giant TV in Lee Woonhak’s private office (that actually looked like an apartment).

He wasn’t the only one there.

Lee Woonhak, Kang Dabin, Gu Inwoo, and Yang Youngjae were with him— they were actually having sushi for lunch when the broadcast started.

Kim Jaeha had fallen asleep after his check-up.

Kwon Hojun had also fallen asleep since the kid woke up early and got dragged there.

"Gayoon Hyung doesn’t really care about his reputation," Yuno said while checking the comments on his phone. As expected, Ki Gayoon was being bashed. "Esper Ryu Sungbin-ssi’s fans are attacking Gayoon Hyung on the internet."

"I already feel bad for our PR Team," Gu Inwoo said while shaking his head. "Our boss is the true definition of a PR nightmare."

"It’s nothing new," Kang Dabin said casually while scrolling on his own phone. "Don’t worry too much about Gayoonnie’s reputation. His fans love him for being rude and blunt. If you look at the comment section, you’d see his fans defending him from the hate comments."

"I feel bad for Gayoon’s fans," Lee Woonhak said while shaking his head. "Gayoon doesn’t care about them."

Yang Youngjae laughed. "And, yet, Gayoon Hyung-nim still tops the ’Most Popular Korean Espers’ polls every single time."

Yuno was suddenly confused.

Are they dissing or complimenting Gayoon Hyung?

He wanted to ask, but his body suddenly felt sluggish.

I feel like something just squeezed my heart— it didn’t hurt that much, but I was startled.

So, as a result, Yuno accidentally dropped the can of cider in his hand.

It didn’t hit the floor, though.

Yang Youngjae used his gravity manipulation ability to make the can float. frёewebnoѵēl.com

But why am I suddenly being treated like a princess?

When Yuno staggered for a moment, Kang Dabin and Gu Inwoo immediately caught him.

And, now, the two high-ranking Espers were holding each of his arms.

"You can’t faint again, Madam," Kang Dabin said lightheartedly, but his eyes showed concern. "Gayoonnie will lose his shit if he comes back and finds out you fainted again."

"Madam, you have to stay healthy for the sake of world peace," Gu Inwoo added, and then he turned to Lee Woonhak. "Hyung, can you check on the madam?"

"I’m already on it," Lee Woonhak said while checking something on the computer tablet in his hand. And then he raised his head, looking at Yuno with a worried look on his face. "Yuno-ssi, I injected my Mana in your body to put a seal on the Esper Core in your heart. But it seems like the seal has been broken..."

Yuno wanted to listen more to Lee Woonhak since the healer was talking about his condition.

But he got distracted when he saw the ghost again.

This time, he was pretty sure that the ghost standing in front of him was Matthew.

And it seems like I’m the only one who can see him.

Yuno was scared, of course.

However, his curiosity won.

"Kid, tell the stupid doctor to stop sealing the Core in your heart!" Matthew complained. And it seemed like only Yuno could hear the "ghost." "You won’t be able to see or hear me if my Core gets sealed again!"

Excuse me?

"Your Core?" Yuno asked, clutching his chest. He was aware that the others were looking at him as if he had gone crazy for talking to no one, but he didn’t care. "Esper Matthew-ssi, does the Core in my heart really belong to you?"

"Do you want proof?"

"And how do you plan to prove that, sir?"

Matthew smirked, and then he raised his hand— his palm facing Yuno.

And then BOOM!

A strong gust of wind sent Yuno flying.

Crazy bastard...!

"Madam!"

I’m so gonna snitch on Gayoon Hyung, you fucking ghost!

***

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