Guide Me If You Dare-Chapter 221: TURN THE TIDE

HEH.

KI GAYOON smirked while watching Ryu Sungbin struggle to fight 17.

That bastard is officially the #1 Esper in the world for a reason.

Luckily for him, he didn’t have to move from his seat.

All he had to do was sit there and watch Ryu Sungbin and 17 fight from the large television hanging on the wall.

Why do the work yourself if others could do it for you?

Yes, he was still in the conference hall with President Kwak Hakjae, Hayoung Cheon, and Professor J.

Gayoon chose to be a spectator this time.

"Did you plan all of this, Esper Ki Gayoon?" Hayoung Cheon asked carefully. "Did you use Guide Noh Yuno to summon the Awakened World Organization?"

Heh.

Gayoon scoffed at the woman’s assumption. "It’s the other way around. I didn’t even know Noh Yuno would drag you in our country’s "civil war." Had I known about his plan, then I would have tried to stop him."

’Tried’ because it wasn’t like I could order Noh Yuno around. That punk isn’t scared of me. If he was, he wouldn’t have left my side without my permission.

Hayoung Cheon raised an eyebrow. "Why would Guide Noh Yuno summon us here then?"

"I’m not Noh Yuno so I couldn’t say for sure, but knowing that punk, he probably dragged you here because he didn’t want our country to fall into the National Guide Bureau’s hands," Gayoon said, his eyes still glued to the monitor. "But Noh Yuno was quite short-sighted on that part. I can’t blame him since he doesn’t care about politics. Well, I don’t either. But I know something about you that he doesn’t."

"That sounds interesting," Professor J commented. "Care to share what it is that you know about us, Esper Ki Gayoon?"

"The Awakened World Organization swallows nations that have an internal conflict," Gayoon said bluntly, making Kwak Hakjae choked on his saliva. But he ignored the Esper Association President and continued provoking the Awakened World Organization representatives. "You pretend to help those poor countries solve their problem, but you actually just help them choose the new leader that you could control. That’s how you operate, right?"

"You make it sound like we’re just some neighborhood thugs, Esper Ki Gayoon," Professor J said, flashing his fake business smile. "That’s a heavy accusation."

"Whatever. I’m right anyway," Gayoon said casually. "So, I’m warning you now: leave my country alone."

Professor J chuckled. "Esper Ki Gayoon, you may be the strongest Esper in Korea. But even if it’s you, once the World Rankers go after your throat, you’ll die."

"You must be confident because of President Kwak’s ability," Hayoung Cheon said, scoffing. "Esper Ki Gayoon, we have ways to get what I want."

"Do you think I didn’t know that?" Gayoon asked mockingly. "But do you really think the Espers would follow you when I have more valuable pieces of information than you do? FYI, the information I have is ground-breaking enough to forever change the Esper-Guide landscape in the entire world."

Hayoung Cheon and Professor J exchanged glances as if they were trying to gauge whether Gayoon was telling the truth.

"Hayoung-ssi, Professor J, I’m sure you know Esper Ki Gayoon isn’t one to bluff about important things," Kwak Hakjae said. "And, like I said earlier, the Awakened World Organization isn’t our only option. We can always sell the information we have to other people or organization."

That threat seemed to have worked because Hayoung Cheon and Professor J both scowled as if they hated the idea.

I just need to push them a little.

"Leave South Korea alone," Gayoon said, leaning against the chair while crossing his legs. "Once I oust the puppet President, I’ll take over everything— the government, the Esper Association, and the National Guide Bureau."

Unfortunately for the Awakened World Organization, I have no intention of becoming their puppet— just like what they did to other world leaders whose nations they "saved" from internal conflict.

"Like I said earlier, I know you swallow up the nations you pretend to help by using the World Rankers under your control," Gayoon said, still using a serious tone. "I don’t know how you control those world-class Espers, but I do know that they’ll instantly switch sides if I reveal what I know."

Now both Hayoung Cheon and Professor J looked like they were dying out of curiosity.

To be honest, I’m exaggerating the value of the information I have.

But whatever.

"What else do you want?" Professor J asked cautiously. "Let’s negotiate after we hear your terms."

"I only need three things from you," Gayoon said, already feeling triumphant. "First, you’ll announce that President Cheol Kang and Chief Kim Munhee of the National Guide Bureau are both traitors of the country who experimented on the previous Top 5 Espers— the line-up before I rejoined the team."

"What kind of experiment?"

Oho, someone is now deeply interested.

"I’ll tell you about it later," Gayoon said casually. "Second, I want you to announce that E-Class Guides are actually more special than S-Class Guides in a good way. If you do, I’ll tell you what makes them special. This information will greatly help S-Class Espers— and I’m the living proof of that."

Professor J didn’t say anything, but he looked convinced.

"I’m sure you already know this, but my last request is the same as what I’ve been telling you all this time: leave South Korea in my hands," Gayoon said sternly. "In exchange, I’ll cooperate with the Awakened World Organization. If you don’t want to accept my terms, then that’s fine with me."

Professor J raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly are you planning to do if we don’t agree with your terms?"

"Well, I might go and build my own Awakened World Organization and call it AWO Version 2.0?"

"Are you trying to be funny, Esper Ki Gayoon?"

"Do I look like I’m interested in making you laugh?" Gayoon asked in a serious tone. "The way I see it, Esper 17 isn’t that loyal to your organization. I’m sure even the #1 Esper in the world would choose my side once he finds out I have valuable pieces of information that would help him level up. But I have no interest in taming a person like that, and that’s exactly why I’m offering you this chance to work with me. I’ll tell you what I know, and you decide how you’d use that to increase your influence."

He couldn’t care less.

After all, the pieces of information that he was about to hand over to AWO were all half-assed.

I didn’t get to confront Matthew’s ghost about it.

That was why he was willing to share information with AWO.

I’ll let them figure out things on their own since I don’t have the luxury to waste my time dealing with useless stuff.

Gayoon’s priority would always be finding Noh Yuno first.

I won’t let that punk run away from me.

"You win, Esper Ki Gayoon."

"Of course, I never lose an argument."

Except if the opponent is Noh Yuno.

"Fine. I accept your terms," Professor J said, sighing in defeat. "Should we make an Oath?"

"Of course. We’re not in the kind of relationship where we could trust each other’s verbal agreement."

"Alright, let’s do it now."

And, after making the Oath...

"E-Class Guides are meant to guide S-Class Espers and only S-Class Espers," Gayoon said casually. "And you can steal a dead Esper’s Core, then implant it on a Civilian to force them to awaken."

Shocking, right?

Professor J and Hayoung looked like they were in disbelief.

Understandable, but they need to snap out of it soon.

Gayoon snapped his fingers. "I’m not yet done, so connect me to Esper 17."

***

RYU SUNGBIN already expected that fighting 17 wouldn’t be easy.

He couldn’t use his full strength even if he wanted.

And, even if I go all out, I don’t think I’m a match against 17. This bastard has always been a monster from the moment he awakened as an Esper.

"I’ll give you a break, Sungbin."

Ryu Sungbin raised an eyebrow when 17 really stopped attacking him.

That bastard answered a call in the middle of their fight.

Of course, he was insulted.

However...

This is the perfect opportunity to attack him with an ability he doesn’t expect from me.

Hence, Ryu Sungbin silently stared at 17 while gathering his other skills.

He hadn’t have the time yet to properly use gravity as his main power, but he learned a trick that should be enough to damage the official #1 Esper heavily.

I’ll increase 17’s gravitational pull and have every object around crush him.

That was the plan.

However, 17 suddenly disappeared from Ryu Sungbin’s sight.

To say that he was startled would be an understatement.

Where could that bastard be—

"So, you have half of Esper Yang Youngjae’s Core?"

The voice came from behind him.

But before Ryu Sungbin could even turn around, he was suddenly struck by several powerful lightning bolts— causing him to let out a blood-curdling scream while falling to his knees.

Right.

That bastard’s main ability is lightning control...

***

[ESPER Ki Gayoon-nim, a Special Grade Dungeon has opened up right below this floor.]

Ki Gayoon immediately got up from his seat after reading the Status Window’s message.

His action caught Hayoung Cheon and Professor J’s attention.

"You were staring blankly in the air before you got up," Hayoung Cheon observed carefully. "What did your Status Window tell you?"

"A Special Grade dungeon appeared," Gayoon said, pointing a finger at the floor. "Right below us."

As soon as he said that, the ground shook.

Then the alarms all over the building went off loudly— a warning that a dungeon had appeared nearby.

Hayoung Cheon and Professor J both looked surprised and amazed.

"I’ll go ahead," Kwak Hakjae said in a hurry while practically running towards the door. "I’ll evacuate the Civilians, so deal with the dungeon, Gayoon-ah. Try not to destroy the building until everyone is out, okay?"

Gayoon let out a sigh. "Whatever."

***

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