Murim Login - Chapter 598

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 598
There’s always a reason why certain things bear the qualifier “special.”
The Special Detention Center where Go Se-won currently resided was no exception.
“Stop. We’ll need to conduct an identity verification procedure.”
Clipped speech and sharp eyes gleaming behind dark sunglasses.
In response to the soldier’s words—armed in body armor and carrying an assault rifle—the Blue House security officer in the driver’s seat produced a thin card.
“The Detention Facility Director should have already been notified.”
“I apologize, but everyone must follow the same procedure here.”
The soldier, maintaining his rigid demeanor, only raised the barrier after using a magical detection device to verify there was no disguise, and shortly after, I caught my first glimpse of the Special Detention Center I’d only heard rumors about.
Around a hundred soldiers stood guard, equipped with flawless gear, while Hunters disguised as soldiers lurked among them.
As if that weren’t enough, heavy weapons were stationed throughout, and magical traps lay concealed in the shadows.
‘Most people wouldn’t even leave bones behind.’
This facility housed pre-trial detainees awaiting judgment. Yet the level of security was far more stringent than prisons that held only serious criminals.
One could tell just by looking at the Detention Facility Director waiting for us in front of the main building.
“Heh, I’ve been expecting you.”
The Detention Facility Director had the warm impression of a chicken shop grandfather, but the aura he carried was anything but warm.
A former A-rank Hunter with an impressive record, the Detention Facility Director greeted me with a favorable attitude.
“When I first heard about Tae-kyung, I felt so relieved. I know I shouldn’t say this as a detention facility director, but honestly, every time I see these bastards in here, I want to bash their skulls in with a mace. I’ve even lost hair from holding back.”
“…Ah, yes.”
The seemingly affable Detention Facility Director’s shocking confession was startling. I responded awkwardly while muttering as I looked at his gleaming scalp.
“You must have held back quite a lot.”
“What else can you do? Though sometimes when I really can’t help it, I do hit them once in a while. Of course, only the vicious ones.”
“Pardon?”
“A cup of potion with plenty of healing magic poured in, and they recover completely. What can they do about it? There’s no evidence, after all.”
“…”
“Criminals deserve to be beaten. Especially the ones here.”
The Blue House security officers exchanged glances wondering if they should report this to the President, and I began to worry about whether a certain person was still alive.
“Is Go Se-won still alive, by any chance?”
“Ah, that fellow.”
The Detention Facility Director chuckled and continued.
“Of course he’s fine. On the first day, I was worried he might cause some major incident, but… he listens obediently, and from what I hear from the Prosecution, his statements are proceeding smoothly. Since you’re coming, I’ve cleared out the visitation room specially, so just follow me.”
The security officers and I followed the Detention Facility Director inside.
A dark, cold corridor. Instead of iron bars, alloy steel doors lined up like a chicken coop, and small hologram emitters installed before each door allowed clear observation of their every movement and expression.
‘I’ve heard the rumors, but this is my first time seeing it directly.’
The reason the Special Detention Center was special was that all the detainees temporarily held here were fundamentally Awakened individuals.
Regardless of the charges, if the perpetrator of a crime was an Awakened individual, they were immediately brought here.
Even as pre-trial detainees awaiting judgment, they couldn’t escape the stringent vigilance and watchful eyes.
‘Because they’re Awakened.’
Even an F-rank Awakened, classified as the lowest tier, could easily subdue two or three robust adult men.
If someone had a higher rank and had obtained a Hunter license through formal training, there was no need to elaborate further.
“Technically they’re classified as detainees awaiting trial, but most of them are definitely guilty. We get escape attempts every year—two or three at least. Once they’re sentenced here and transferred to the Special Detention Center, they won’t have another chance. That place is absolute hell.”
The Detention Facility Director gestured toward several particularly thick and sturdy iron doors as he explained while crossing the corridor.
“Ah, these newcomers we just received require especially careful surveillance. Since they have nothing left to lose, they’re quite violent.”
Curious about who he meant, I checked the hologram displayed before the door and recognized the Ares Guild executives I’d glimpsed on the top floor.
It appeared they’d been subdued by Go Se-won and other Ares Guild members and transferred here.
Observing them lying down covered head to toe in mana suppressors like mummies, I made a sincere request.
“Please beat them senseless.”
“That’s exactly what I plan to do. I even oiled up an old mace I used back in my active days.”
“As expected, Director, you’ve thought of everything.”
The Detention Facility Director smiled warmly at my praise and asked a question.
“Ah, but what will happen to Tae-kyung going forward? I hope things work out well for you, but the law is so complicated.”
“I’m not sure yet. For now, things are going well.”
“If possible, I’d like you to come here. I’ll take good care of you.”
“…Yes, well.”
Why did I suddenly think of that gleaming mace with lubricant?
While I entertained an unpleasant thought, the labyrinthine corridor finally ended and a large door appeared.
Once I completed all procedures at the security checkpoint, the Detention Facility Director explained.
“The visitation will be with Jin Tae-kyung alone. Due to a special request from above, there will be no escort or time restrictions, but please be aware that everything inside is being recorded and filmed.”
Considering Go Se-won’s current situation, such restrictions were only natural. I nodded, and the firmly closed door swung open.
Click.
As the door opened, a chilling coldness washed over me. In that space resembling a prosecution interrogation room from a movie, a familiar face awaited me.
“You came. Much faster than I expected.”
It was Go Se-won.
Noticeably haggard after just two days, he pointed to a chair as the door closed behind me.
“Don’t just stand there. Sit down. My neck hurts from looking up at you.”
Clank.
Heavy metallic sounds echoed with every movement of my body. Go Se-won shrugged when he noticed my gaze tracing the chains connecting his neck, arms, and legs.
“Mana suppressors. They’re inconvenient, but this level of treatment is decent enough.”
I pulled the chair closer and sat down, responding.
“True, on the way here I saw your friends were practically on the verge of becoming pyramids.”
“Who? Park? Lee? Or someone else….”
“Both of them, I’d say. Though I’m not sure which one is which.”
“That’s fair. Either way, they were never really my friends.”
Even in this situation, his characteristic composure remained unchanged. As I silently observed Go Se-won, I suddenly spoke.
“Should I thank you?”
It was an abrupt question, but Go Se-won wasn’t the type to misunderstand. He let out a quiet chuckle and answered.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. I just needed the right moment.”
“Any regrets?”
“Not a shred.”
Go Se-won’s complexion was haggard, but his eyes were clearer than ever. Perhaps that was precisely why I had chosen to save him.
When all members of Ares Guild regarded me with eyes mingling anger and fear, he never lost that clear, composed gaze.
Even in that moment facing death.
“You must have lost so much through all this.”
“I lost as much as I gained. A war orphan with nothing to begin with—I’ve simply returned to that state. But I protected my precious family, so I should be satisfied with that.”
Everyone encounters an opportunity for change. For Go Se-won, that catalyst was likely his family.
I wondered if that final phone call, arriving just as death loomed before him, had guided him to make this choice.
“I saw your phone’s wallpaper back then. Your son was adorable. Looked spirited too. With that sturdy build, he’d make a perfect Tank when he grows up.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“Ah….”
They say the eldest daughter takes after her father.
As I fell silent, having unintentionally deployed that blunder against his daughter, Go Se-won exhaled softly and spoke.
“I called you because I wondered if you could help with something, but you’ve managed to make that desire vanish completely.”
“….”
“Well, never mind. Either way, the fact that Jin Tae-kyung came looking for me means you’ve already heard the story, right?”
Relieved that the subject had shifted, I nodded.
“What were you told?”
“That you have a debt you owe me. I didn’t hear the details beyond that.”
“Then you heard correctly. I’ve kept quiet because it felt wrong to convey through someone else.”
Wrong to convey?
This was Go Se-won, who was cooperating fully with every ongoing investigation and interrogation.
He was making a kind of confession, laying bare every mistake he’d committed without filter, yet there was something he hadn’t mentioned.
‘There’s definitely something more.’
At the very moment I sensed that an unusual revelation was about to unfold, Go Se-won touched his earlobe.
It wasn’t a mutually agreed-upon signal, but discerning the meaning behind that gesture wasn’t particularly difficult.
Swooooosh.
The energy I drew from my core enveloped the interior of the Visitation Room.
A space where sound was instantly blocked. Despite wearing a mana suppressor, Go Se-won, who had noticed this fact, whispered while pretending to rub his lips.
“The Guild Headquarters doesn’t have just one hidden section—Area A isn’t the only one.”
“What?”
“Search Area A carefully. There’s another hidden section within it.”
Another secret space.
Blinking in surprise at Go Se-won’s unexpected words, I hastily pressed further.
“The location. What’s the exact location?”
And contrary to my hopes, the answer that came back was thick and brief.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“If I knew, I would’ve told you. But that place was somewhere only Vice Guild Master Lee Jung-ryong and Seok Go-jun could access. I have no idea where it is or how to enter it. The fact that I even became aware of its existence was only after I became the Security Team Leader.”
Go Se-won, who had once been recognized as Seok Go-jun’s closest confidant. Even he knew only that another secret section existed. Nothing beyond that.
“Then perhaps….”
“Of course I don’t know what’s there or what they do there. That’s all I know.”
Go Se-won cut off the words that were about to continue in a knife-sharp tone and spoke instead.
“The government’s investigation team is likely combing through Area A as we speak, but they haven’t noticed it yet.”
“Why not?”
“If they had found it, they would have asked me about it before any other information.”
“…!”
“So, Jin Tae-kyung. You search for it. I don’t know what secrets might be hidden there, but.”
Just as I was about to ask something more, the heavily sealed door swung open with a metallic groan. The Detention Facility Director and the Blue House security personnel asked with suspicious expressions.
“We didn’t hear any sound. Is there a problem?”
Go Se-won replied calmly.
“The visitation is over.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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