Jackson stared at Taekyun for a long second.
"Eunoia?"
His voice slipped, sharp with disbelief.
Taekyun didn't look away.
"Yes."
Jackson's expression changed completely. The casual ease vanished, replaced by something close to shock.
"Must be pretty,"
He muttered without thinking.
Taekyun's eyes lifted slowly.
Sharp. Cold.
Jackson coughed immediately, straightening.
"I mean"
He waved a hand lightly,
"it'll be extremely hard.
Since the beginning,
No one truly knows a single confirmed way to send someone from Eunoia back."
Taekyun's fingers tightened slightly at his side.
"They're the only world still fully hidden," Jackson continued, more serious now.
"No stable records.
No open portals.
No witnesses who stayed long enough. We're searching, yes but I won't lie to you. This won't be easy."
Taekyun stepped closer to the table, palms resting against it.
"Help me handle this case,"
He said quietly.
"In return, I'll cover everything it needs. Financially. Resources. Influence. Anything."
Jackson frowned.
"It's not like that, Taekyun,"
He said firmly.
"You already know if it's you, we'd do it regardless."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Our company is currently running four projects related to this case. If any one of them gets approved or stabilized"
His gaze sharpened.
"Your person will be the first we send back."
Taekyun nodded once.
"You were supposed to come on the twenty-fifth,"
He said.
"Why all of a sudden?"
Jackson smiled faintly, tilting his head.
"Neopharm's been contacting us too much lately,"
He said.
"They suddenly want to know about 'Soul Land.' Don't know what got into them."
Taekyun nodded slowly.
"Good,"
He said.
The word came out calm
too calm.
Jackson studied him.
"Don't tell me,"
He said slowly, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"You're the reason they're sniffing around."
Taekyun didn't deny it.
Jackson chuckled under his breath.
"Knew it. They don't chase things unless they know you're chasing them first."
He leaned forward again.
"So you're after Soul"
"I don't believe such a world exists,"
Taekyun cut in sharply.
Silence dropped.
Jackson blinked, then laughed softly.
"Alright,"
He said, standing.
"I'll be going then.
I'll inform you next week.
Our first project result comes out then."
Taekyun nodded.
Jackson paused at the door, glanced back once more, then left.
[Taekyun's Office]
Haneul and Haru were lying on the couch when Taekyun entered.
Haru was half asleep, legs tangled with Haneul's, her head resting against his arm.
Haneul sat up immediately.
"Let's go,"
Taekyun said.
They left together.
Outside the elevator,
Haru grabbed Haneul's hand tightly, pulling him along as she followed Taekyun.
Employees bowed deeply as Taekyun passed.
Haneul felt it the shift in air.
The way Taekyun's presence commanded the space.
He smiled unconsciously.
Some employees stared.
Some with admiration.
Some with curiosity.
Some with questions burning in their eyes.
"Is he that close to the CEO?"
"He doesn't look like staff."
"He's an Omega, right?"
"But look at how the Haru holds his hand"
The looks followed them until the doors closed behind them.
Outside,
The car was already waiting.
Haneul and Haru climbed into the back seat.
Before entering himself, Taekyun's gaze flicked toward the side.
A senior employee stood near the entrance one installed by his parents.
She noticed him looking.
Their eyes met.
Cold understanding passed between them.
Taekyun felt it immediately.
Not fear.
But something worse.
If his parents found out about Haneul
About Harin.
About his brother.
They wouldn't hesitate.
Their hatred would be louder, crueler, far more destructive than his own.
He got into the car.
Behind him, the woman pulled out her phone.
"I'd like to meet, if possible,"
She said quietly.
"Yes. Something important."
A pause.
"Yes an Omega came today. With Miss Haru."
"And now the young master left with them for a meal."
Another pause.
"Alright. I'll inform Mrs. Kim."
Inside the car,
Taekyun stared out the window.
The city moved past him in blurred lights and cold streets.
His mind ran ahead
Consequences.
Outcomes.
Damage he couldn't undo.
Beside him,
Haneul laughed softly at something Haru whispered.
Unaware.
Lost in their own small world.
And,
Taekyun felt it clearly
This was already too late to be simple.