Before the Storm (3)

“Yes. I remember you.” Ilhyun smiled and greeted her, not sure if he would see her again.

They met at a time when he was struggling to get the core without proper equipment.

It was nice to see someone he met at that time.

“Right? You said we would definitely see each other…In less than a month, I heard about the Aegis. I’m really surprised to see you here.”

“Oh. A reporter is here. Do you know her?” Ghost, who’s already had a close relationship with Park So-Yeon, looked at them with interest.

“I saw it once when I awakened. When the monster was released from downtown Seoul, it was one hell of a surprise.”

“You know each other?” Ilhyun suddenly asked this time.

Ghost and Park So-Yeon nodded at the same time.

Il-hyun’s head was filling in with question marks.

There was no reason why an Aegis’s awakener had a very close relationship with the reporter, but Ghost knew her.

Also, other awakeners recognized her the day before.

A famous reporter with a well-known name could convince him, but he wasn’t familiar with her’s.

Ilhyun had searched for her name after his strange encounter with Park Se-Yeon at that time.

If you’re a famous journalist, someone will know right away if they went through the Internet.

But there was no information about her.

It was just about the releases of the articles or videos she wrote.

Besides, there were many blind treatments.

“Sometimes I go to the scene. Are you here again for it?”

“No, I’m not, and I came to Spain for personal reasons. But since the Aegis A team is coming to Madrid, I’ve come to see if what I saw was really right. I couldn’t believe you had already caught a Class B monster.”

“He caught it a little faster than everyone else.”

He was amazed at the beginning of the conversation.

He was amazed at the beginning of the conversation.

“Wait, did you go to work together? With the reporter?”

Il-hyun shook his head like he had heard something wrong.

No matter how hard a reporter wants to die, it doesn’t make sense for the Aegis to get inside a B-ranked field.

Whatever the preparation, it was still suicide. And besides, an Aegis couldn’t bring just anyone to the scene.

“She’s not an ordinary journalist.”

“Well, it sounds a little weird to say that?”

Ghost began to explain to Il-hyun about his identity.

Park So-yeon is an awakener once.

She was also a talented player who topped first in the C rankings.

Aegis’s workforce is just a monster, but she’s a high-level veteran who’s recognized worldwide.

In general, there was no reason to be a reporter. May it be for money or fame.

Nevertheless, the reason she worked as a journalist was simple.

Some tragedies broke both the dying and public victims around the world.

She saw all of it—she saw it underneath her nose.

But such a fact was not known to the world.

She had an intense hostility toward the media, especially the press that distorted the facts and the country that dominated her.

One day, she found her wake-up call. She quit being an awakener to get to the scene and start reporting.

She was able to get into the scene without any problems. Other ordinary journalists would have come close and died a dozen times.

She tried to capture the world’s terrible realities on camera and make the world see the impossible.

Because of this, the government almost got blacklisted, but it didn’t matter.

“You can look around and see. No one warns about the door. People die on the other side while joking. Victims only realize that something is wrong when they see the monster in front of their eyes. In addition, the death of awakening is covered, focused only on high profits and popularity. It’s really ridiculous,” Park So-yeon said.

In a situation where the media is controlled, and the public knows little, she was very popular among awakenings.

The number of awakened people who sympathized with her will was also vast.

Even today, even in the peril of people risking their lives and rescuing them, doors tend to be considered a means of making money for those who are awake.

In foreign countries, there was an exclusive and hostile view of awakening.

Where public security is weak, people who are awake often fall into criminal organizations. The good news about the people who are awake is blocked, and the news is getting worse.

Naturally, discrimination and conflict have increased.

Of course, those who have awoken from the top up didn’t dare touch, but most of the other awakened people had a different story.

They were also within the scope of the law, and the majority were non-awakeners.

“Many people are hurt by the government’s misguided policies. It will change this reality. We need to tell people a little bit of the hidden truth and raise awareness.”

Ilhyun admired her when he heard what she had said.

People initially knew they lived differently, but he already thought this would happen.

Sometimes I can live comfortably on the field without being short of necessities, but I will give up my wealth and stability and take a completely different path, he thought.

“You’re great.”

“It is great. But what’s greater is Il-hyun. I entered the C rank after 3 years of awakening, but it’s a shame to compare it to yours.”

Ilhyun reached B rank within a month of awakening.

For the past 20 years, this has been a first-time record for the awakened.

He got mindful of what she said. He told her that three months ago, during his first interview, the media had been the one to have excited about his awakening.

“I heard you went to the station last time. I heard it didn’t go well,” Ghost asked.

Park So-yeon replied with a bitter smile.

“Haha, it didn’t. I became a freelancer again. They had put the show I covered on air…when they saw the edited the video and photo I took, I had used some parts that irritated them. They told me I’m wasn’t as good as they expected me to be,” she said.

Many stations aimed Park’s network and abilities.

One broadcaster dismissed her while still in good condition, saying it would help her tell the truth. But Il-hyun thought that broadcaster didn’t do the right thing.

I felt terrible, but this was not the first time, Il-hyun thought grimly.

“What do you think of Il-hyun?”

Park So-yeon suddenly asked him.

“Uhm…Well, what do you mean?”

“Do you think it’s inevitable to hide the facts about the door to reduce damage and avoid confusion?”

Park So-yeon asked a question and looked at Il-hyun’s face.

A mixture of calm, curios, expectations, and strange expressions turned to Ilhyun.

In the meantime, Ilhyun, who had never thought about the issue when asked a sudden question, pondered about it.

An Aegis staff approached and said, “We have to go now.”

Suddenly, the interview was over, and it was time to go.

Ghost looked at the clock and said, “I think I have to go. Would you like to see the team while you’re here?”

“No, it’s okay. Everyone’s going to be busy, apparently. I can see you guys again some other time. I’ll see you both next time!”

Park So-yeon, who didn’t even receive Il-hyun’s answer, waved at him with a sorry expression.

She entered the crowd and quickly disappeared.

* * *

The current president rode in a long bulletproof vehicle.

Lee and The Two were on board separately because they had nothing to say about the terms of the agreement.s

Ilhyun got informed that he was signing a new contract because he could be a B-rank member, not just a prospect to take care.

Eyes wide, Ilhyun noticed how his condition improved.

He was in better shape than the rest of the team, but Ilhyun believed what he was saying, but he couldn’t figure what the meaning behind his words.

Then came the story of Park So-yeon, whom he met some time ago.

He remembered her question.

“Well…that’s why there were disagreements among us,” Lee So-Yeon said.

“So?”

“Obviously, it’s wrong to deceive people, but that’s the opposite of completely telling me the truth.”

“That’s amazing.”

Of course, Ilhyun knew that he was against hiding the truth.

However, Lee’s thoughts were different.

“Surely, the government is hiding too many facts. I agree to inform people to some extent, and I work with reporters. Now, how much confusion will arise in society after all the events are announced? It will be more than we can imagine.

“Hmm…”