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Chapter 130
Black Badger

Jae-yeon snatched me from Lee Seung-hyun as if pulling me from a trap and dragged me to the car.

The cold wind stole away my body heat. I shivered at the sudden chill. I didn't have the mental clarity to figure out where I'd come from or where we were headed.

I just followed Jae-yeon's lead until we boarded the limousine.

A pleasant warmth enveloped my body. Colton was already inside the car. He sat in the seat across from me, watching coldly as I let out a small groan and practically collapsed onto the seat.

Jae-yeon climbed in beside me and slammed the door shut.

Silence settled over the spacious backseat, which could easily fit six people.

"Thanks."

I muttered as I stretched out my upper body across the seat.

"What time is it now?"

"The mark on your stomach looks bigger?"

Instead of answering, Jae-yeon lifted my shirt without asking.

I was too lazy to respond and just lay there. In the meantime, the car smoothly pulled away. I heard Colton set down the documents he was holding and adjust the watch on his wrist as he turned it.

My longtime friend broke the silence.

"What a pathetic sight."

I knew he'd say something like that.

I pushed myself up with my elbow.

"No excuses. I got kidnapped in the dumbest way possible."

Judging by Colton's demeanor, it didn't seem like Jae-yeon's doing. I met the gaze of my old rival, who was sharply observing me with his blue eyes.

"Do you know who kidnapped me?"

"Does knowing change anything?"

That was just like him.

I ignored Jae-yeon, who was snapping photos of the Lab Rat branding seal, and let out a sigh.

"I thought my skills weren't that bad... But I knew it'd all sound like excuses to you. Fine. Drop that for now. Are we heading to the exam hall in this car?"

"Hospital."

"Huh?"

My voice rose at my rival's curt reply.

I shoved Jae-yeon's arm away and widened my eyes.

"What hospital? Why are we going to a hospital now? My exam starts at 9:30!"

"You can barely walk properly."

"Oh."

This was ridiculous.

I whipped my head around frantically. But I couldn't spot a clock. In desperation, I looked pleadingly at my commanding friend sitting across from me and Jae-yeon slouched beside me.

"I can do it. Please, just take me to the exam hall. I've managed before. Even when my arm was crumbling like ash, I still caught the dragon, I swear."

"Not that story again!"

Jae-yeon groaned in frustration.

"Will you stop with that crap already? Damn, it was better when you lost your memories and couldn't bring it up."

"I'll stop if you take me to the exam hall."

"What for? To put on a dropout show in front of the newbies?"

"Hey, no."

I tried flexing my hands and feet.

It felt like a bit more strength was coming back than before. If this kept up, maybe I'd recover slowly. The drugs built up in my body might dilute over time. My external injuries were just burns and bruises. If the drugs diluted, things could improve a lot.

Maybe stuffing some food in would help.

The car window reflected the pale, cloudy sky. I glanced briefly at the streets passing by before turning away.

"Isn't there some way to dilute the drugs faster?"

Colton stared at me for a long moment.

"You guys came quickly because you knew I had the exam soon, right?"

"You planning to walk into the exam hall with that on your forehead?"

"Oh, this."

I fiddled with my forehead.

It still burned. Touching it made the pain worse.

Though less than the ache in my abdomen.

I wondered if it could be removed.

"Want me to erase it?"

Jae-yeon smirked.

"I can do the forehead stamp as a free service~."

I looked at Colton.

He had his hair neatly combed back as always, dressed impeccably in a dark suit. His cane, with its smooth silver handle, leaned diagonally in the corner of the backseat.

Ah, the good old days. Seeing something unchanged brought back memories of the past. Whenever there was an opera or exhibition, they would appear together. Jae-yeon, dressed to match Colton's age in feminine attire, would link arms with him and smile elegantly. A bright red dress. Opera glasses adorned with an angel. Exquisite silk gloves that revealed half his skin.

And Colton would whack Jae-yeon with that cane as he tried to climb up.

My opponent sat there without a twitch.

I chuckled quietly.

"You're pissed, aren't you?"

My rival didn't change his expression.

"You've got some sense."

Yeah, of course he wouldn't like it...

He wouldn't like that I'd gone under Ye-hyeon, that my skills were still this lacking, or that I'd ended up like this the day before the exam.

But it was all unavoidable.

And even if I'd fallen out through a portal in Colton's zone, I had no intention of going under him.

Well, that probably pissed him off too.

"Lighten up."

I said it as gently as I could.

"My skills have come back quite a bit, at least."

My rival raised an eyebrow and scanned my wounds in lieu of a reply.

I smiled bitterly.

"Just give me a little more time. I'm working on it."

"If I wait, I'll end up receiving your corpse."

"I won't die until I've sorted out the mess I made."

As if death listened to wishes like that.

I recalled reuniting with him at the salon. I remembered what he'd said then. "We'll talk more once approval comes down for you to operate inside the Core."

Passing the Promotion Exam would make that happen.

I spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Once I pass the exam, it'll be easier to move around."

My old friend understood.

"Time isn't on our side."

Dawn broke outside the car window.

The ebony leather seats took on a glow from the light.

Dust particles danced in the shafts of silvery sunlight.

Colton maintained his silence, then flicked his hand.

"To the exam hall."

"Yes."

"Remove it."

My collar was grabbed.

Jae-yeon shoved my upper body back forcefully. As I was made to lie flat on the seat, I widened my eyes at Jae-yeon climbing on top of me.

More precisely, I blinked at the laser pointer-like device in his hand.

"It'll sting~."

What the hell was this now.

Watching Jae-yeon grin like we were at a dermatologist and press the laser to my skin made me unbearably tired.

I gave up and let my arms flop down.

"While you're at it, can you erase the one on my stomach too?"

"That area's an extra charge~."

I was so damn tired...

I closed my eyes and endured the burning pain on my forehead.

Until the smooth limousine arrived at the exam hall.

We arrived at 8:40.

I'd gone through hell in the car during that time. The treatment hurt like crazy. I even debated multiple times whether it was better to just take the exam with the Lab Rat mark. Despite gritting my teeth to not make a sound in front of these guys, groans still leaked out.

By the time the treatment finally ended and we reached the exam hall, I was drenched in cold sweat.

Colton let out a deep sigh and handed me a new shirt.

"Thanks."

I changed into the shirt inside the car, tailored perfectly to my size.

Colton didn't respond, but Jae-yeon looked satisfied at my forehead.

"See? I told you I'm good at this."

He grabbed my chin as I buttoned up and turned my head to admire his work.

"If you hadn't gotten it treated on time, it would've scarred."

"Thanks. Would've been nicer if you'd used anesthetic."

"As if."

The man chuckled and released my chin.

Then he nodded toward the door, signaling that I was done and should get out.

He tossed me my phone too. I clutched it and carefully exited the limousine. I made every effort to avoid repeating the embarrassing stumble from the kidnapping site. I didn't want to look pathetic in front of them again.

Fortunately, I managed to walk out steadily this time.

I could see the sea.

"I owe you one."

I turned back to the limousine amid the sound of waves crashing.

Jae-yeon didn't even pretend to hear, glued to his phone. Colton rolled his eyes while flipping through his documents.

His sharp blue eyes pierced me.

My longtime friend spoke in an inscrutable tone.

"Don't live like an idiot."

An idiot?

Me, living like an idiot?

Before I could retort, the window rolled up. My dumbfounded expression reflected in the tinted glass. Wide eyes and a smooth forehead.

As my reflection gaped, the car drove off.

I was left standing there like a fool at the exam hall.

Huh.

I snapped out of it when my phone buzzed.

[Supreme Commander]

Oh...

I squeezed my eyes shut at the name on the screen.

I covered my eyes with my hand for a moment. I needed a bit of time to steel myself.

Once I'd gathered my resolve, I answered with grim determination.

"Yes."

I feigned composure.

"Commander. I just arrived at the exam site."

[Don't take the exam today.]

A firm voice came through.

Hearing it, I instinctively knew that insisting like I had been would lead to disaster. Ye-hyeon's tone was firmer and colder than ever.

He'd called with serious intent.

This was bad.

Even if I replied energetically with "I can do it! I'm really fine!", it wouldn't work. I'd probably get a cold "Are you defying orders?" in return.

I reined in my flaring temper.

And after gauging what to say, I responded.

"There's something I'd like to request."

[Letting you take the exam, I assume.]

"Yes. It's not just stubbornness without reason."

Ye-hyeon didn't reply.

I didn't miss that timing.

"That organization questioned my recruitment process. It's unlikely they figured it out on their own; they probably got a tip and planned my kidnapping. Which means someone out there still knows about the issues with my recruitment."

[So?]

The reply was as icy as Yoon's.

Scary.

I swallowed hard, feeling more fear than when facing my Mentor.

Then, mustering courage, I finished what I had to say.

"If I don't take the exam with my cohort, someone will make an issue of it."

[You have a valid reason to sit out the exam.]

"But I need to pass as soon as possible to do what I have to do, right?"

[We'll schedule a makeup exam.]

"They'll definitely challenge that. And information could leak. We're coordinating with external agencies for the exam prep..."

[Hilde.]

Terrifying.

"Yes."

[Go to the hospital.]

I bit my lip hard.

The salty sea breeze whipped at my white hair.

Waves churned in the distance, rocked by the wind.

Feeling the approaching breeze skim the waves, I pleaded.

"I really want to take this exam. Please let me."

[Why are you so fixated on this particular exam?]

"Because Kyle's back."

A long silence followed.

I didn't miss that hesitation. Time to push.

I asserted firmly.

"Falcon must have sensed the need too, that's why they transported me here. I'll definitely pass."

I read Ye-hyeon's dilemma in the ensuing quiet.

He knew my argument had merit. Because the Badger Promotion Exam wasn't some minor internal event.

The official homepage listed the Promotion Exam schedule, and after it ended, the personnel cards of promoted Badgers went up. The media reported on the new official Badgers each year. Introducing this batch of newbie Black Badgers.

It was treated with more social weight than most national exams.

A makeup exam wouldn't pass without controversy.

And there'd never been a makeup exam before.

My superior weighed that reality and various other factors, looking troubled.

Listening to the silence he created, I said.

"And I'm really better than I look. Jae-yeon even personally removed the mark on my forehead."

[You endure too much.]

A voice mixed with sorrow, anger, and resignation came through.

[You're not one to whine, but still.]

I wore a faint smile.

Good.

He'd relented.