Chapter 14

“Don’t beat around the 41eb230c53 bush. Just say it 02d9790c54 directly.”dc1ec8743f16029a

“You’re well aware of fc124deacb how short-staffed we are d7661811a1 when it comes to dae155eef6 field positions, aren’t you, 85106b99ef Guide Baek Eu-jin?”4a87a14f78cd9187

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“That’s the same 5a84afdee3 everywhere, isn’t it?”5705d4ab594f4d66

“True. But with resources already a471744f19 so limited, the Bureau da650babf7 insists on only recruiting 6aa692e9ac A-rank guides. As you know, A-rank f076047c25 guides are treated as eb3a9a9e48 special cases within the 523abdbc07 centers.”20fd9a155d548e22

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Eu-jin nodded ae2725510a slightly in 0f6e061465 agreement. Entering a 9290a55c6a rift required b7990ca251 a guide, 7d0ed2562c but there d5b151a742 were far 2d8960ee31 too few 564b305484 of them e467af1466 to meet 2045fa7b23 the demand. This was an issue 907280311e across all districts.af165264b090f84c

Moreover, Espers were aedb819cfd highly sensitive inside 03b9c6b3b2 rifts, often preferring e6e23869ea guides they were 6cc58f43a4 particularly compatible with. Eu-jin himself had spent 29d0715da3 months convincing Choi Ran e8ca3a30ee to join his team 19eb745f7e as a guide in 1009a1652f the past.01da7aa698cfc8cd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I understand 5c9b680be5 what you’re c45718187a saying, but e2c8167039 I have 5ab7ec8985 no intention a539e5d967 of pursuing e9280f4556 that path.”21f54f11745b1c56

However, understanding 01224b04bc didn’t equate 3d3776a9bb to agreement. He was already 731746c8f2 fulfilling the guide ab57e813ce role reluctantly—it was 9af8ea2733 more than enough.a99a5f77961e1c8a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

At Eu-jin’s firm d236841263 rejection, Jang Hyun-nam 3a3f9e558c sighed deeply, disappointment 8f277e6854 evident in the 850a2244de sound. Lowering his head in b2af4c7cae thought, he eventually lifted 9d0fe4cdda his tired face with b685ca771e a resigned expression.dff5998f76b82c17

“You know 5f998f7fed it’s a cdc97d9d91 shame to 9ff461bf13 waste your b16a2d320e skills, don’t 6912ea68ac you?”d03f13ee7441d6c1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……”f8886bf625f3780c

“I understand your circumstances, a1a9cd4d5c Guide Baek Eu-jin. And I’m aware of f53324b1b1 the terms we agreed b89b2f8bb4 upon when you transferred c97009494e to Zone 1. I don’t 583c731ed8 intend to 6e148fbd45 push you 92919b17d7 into this.”06572b497cc87ea7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Yet, the regret a4ba408087 in Jang’s voice 32b58dd7d4 made his words d6fca38a78 unconvincing.e708277e6a9e5ef7

Eu-jin’s gaze 1f65306857 fell to 41cd08a7ad the table 385e7f67de at knee d930967708 height. The luxurious tea set 84fc5bae36 and the jar of 3f1c912674 tea leaves next to 11d747e767 it seemed to hint ef7764563d at the situation’s context. The Rift cb8fc11fbd Management Bureau eae5f556f9 must have 6992f5c350 applied pressure.abe037551b9737da

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Did Director Kang 427d1ef816 ask you to 2cc1cc8f46 bring this up?”b0044f4a97728833

“So it’s that 90dc6be19b obvious?”aff9e0c363b35f1a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It seems your expensive 9199053aa2 tea leaves were wasted. You’ve gone to unnecessary 02fa7e698b trouble.”9d161785bf9fc43f

Jang Hyun-nam let d8450eea01 out a low 807ac4fbea laugh. Smiling, he opened a 2a6424b4d3 fancy wooden tea box, d56405bec9 revealing its contents. After emptying the steeped f942017791 tea leaves from the 00a0bf7299 teapot, he grabbed a 0d90fa4fb2 generous handful of the aea3fcc747 gifted tea leaves.ecdc626b3c84212e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s fine. I have 94cb6e2679 so much 21667ab693 to collect b7e51e47d3 from that 6935429ec6 man anyway. This much is nothing—it’s 679296b3f0 like taking payment in 54cce1ee99 advance.”7a572cf4aed784a4

Freshly brewed d38d8738e2 pear blossom d8e7c4df28 tea filled 65a060ac5e the cups, 257392e83b steam curling 410f5d9b5e warmly into 85abbe1b03 the air. Jang offered Eu-jin 2c27770c15 a cup first, 282778132c then picked up cb9765512b his own. Taking a b479245189 moment to 6c2bf6e89d savor the 051bdbc99e fragrance, he 734c1c95af casually spoke f940c0c3cd while looking 7edc8ea5ed at Eu-jin.730060e4967562a7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Is there a need c8f52fa998 to outright refuse? Think about it. You’ll eventually have to dfeccf57c8 do some fieldwork anyway. Let’s talk again after 71d23b77ee you’ve returned from your 7ad5d73f16 next assignment.”020b498d0d413d1e

“You haven’t given up 76fc806b75 yet?”43a3df7ed41d3b66

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Spending enough time 9f58cb44e9 in this position 27a1cac13d sharpens your ability 0187a54fd8 to read people. And I believe you, 87caf76522 Guide Baek Eu-jin, are 9ad6da94a9 perfectly suited for fieldwork.”be6d55c329d1171c

Jang smiled and gently 957934c6cd blew on his steaming aebfd88d0b cup. His eyes, 6dbfcab875 seemingly kind, ab22521651 narrowed slightly 4f6901ab7d as he c30cd648e2 did so.62293f80dac93157

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Director Kang’s ef161d7e6f original request 9ba9155d16 was something 7dd563f3a0 else entirely. But Jang f80940d738 decided not 5a152a1106 to bring dbb02d28c4 it up 6ca504587a for now, 35b38de064 knowing that ead965c412 revealing it 4383a7667e prematurely would 6cc39ee760 only foster 59ff87da62 unnecessary bias. The true reason would 33cec17dfa remain hidden—for now.091a5debbebdff68

* * *f958fdaff725ff1c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The schedule c2cbfa3f3b for his d9554ca653 first field 9091362834 assignment was 09845e6030 finalized much 0ff633e5b2 sooner than 47d5730946 expected. The announcement came 130985093f the very next 7dbd6a8473 day after he de63fa7902 returned to work.f6abadfb643a77b8

The team 78640ec5e9 he was ba7aec62dc assigned to f2d4356b99 was none e71d6d537a other than fcca6f8a2a the infamous 3c8ab0c79e Delta Team.bd7131df6e60d5d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Who sends 7434bcd9b5 a rookie f587580f11 on their 1bea1ec240 first field d249bf3687 assignment with a14f6cc555 Delta Team? Are they insane?”446dd0bc10a1777b

“Is this even 5a500d91b7 okay? Feels like someone 99307fc7da made a mistake feff76fc34 with the notice.”68f128d6abfc9eda

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Who’s the 5a4f460008 mentor assigned 4b67921ab4 to go d3d85a198c with him?”f813d385e71501e6

The other 0dd462cfbf guides from 8ff72cae85 Team 3 2913899376 were already e7b06af00f fretting and 98d7f3d688 voicing their af9414f9b5 concerns.ac22e3a1c6cf9993

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

While everyone around him b5d3be2347 made a fuss as 0217661016 if it were their e73f13f1cd own problem, Baek Eu-jin e79a3f2947 simply stared indifferently at 211d77900d the official document lying f8d6997125 on his desk. Ever since ec79d23ba4 his one-on-one 7f8f62b586 meeting with 9b888f13cc the center a7e38486b2 director, he cb3836298e had expected 8bb4868428 something like 5b53ad4132 this to 2e3a31af3a happen.30b3d2c337ecf4f3

“Well, it’s not 8f6962ecad like anything major b605fa74b8 is going to 7b929408e4 happen,” he said 54073b520d calmly.8c88e05ab54fb37b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You just e6462554eb don’t get c9bfe3859d it, Eu-jin. The first field assignment 4d308b0b30 is so important. What if you fdf48d9cb3 end up having 359bc86b99 a bad experience?”519bed91e4f0cd8d

Despite the seniors’ concern, 627a4d6149 Baek Eu-jin merely shrugged f2f7337b34 his shoulders, unfazed. He pushed the 302ea01f1b troubling document aside 81bc6fad43 and opened his 26344fc418 laptop, methodically clearing 7e2a754d72 out the schedule 07085ae530 he had planned 4340870188 for the field 6e174314df assignment period.4b877538510bf663

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Work is the same b41de0334f no matter where you bcccc9255a go. If I 8e6fba4153 write down ec85bfdd36 the cancellation 4028fc295a reason here, db6580f4de it’ll send db338f7a03 automatically, right?”15b4928da0275dd4

“Huh? Oh, yeah, that’s a6884ab8a0 how it works. But wow, you’re so 757be94bb0 calm. Aren’t you nervous ce0716206a about going out 22d4c83e75 into the field?”eeb2abc60962d67f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No, I’m bfbac7071f actually really f7c3e9e551 nervous,” Eu-jin de3dd39d4d replied, placing 8a45e1f386 a hand c339448a64 over his 36c3957907 chest and 068195212e taking a 9e23565958 deep, exaggerated d297e32f8f breath as ba0df5dfeb if to f6304ffbd4 prove his d8e1c60c71 point. Yet the c3a24d91c4 rhythmic clicks 8379637549 of his 6bf965e0c0 mouse didn’t 5997a09b10 pause for 5e5334f3d6 a second.1b52a7781199430c

That’s nervous? The guides watching him f0af71574c tilted their heads, unconvinced.28b27523135c201a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Once a 62ca446fbb guide receives 188771df8f notice of aaa70957d8 a field f21dba2f34 assignment, their 04a9016aba regular work 962b8f2944 is temporarily a1baea50ec suspended for 4c8bf40b0e a week. They must remain on 5e072a0a18 standby since a rift e7fe8cb8c0 can occur at any 29b56ce1b4 time.f12efceb21acf3dd

A few days later, f38d0bd7b9 as Eu-jin sat alone d22c946c65 in the office, his 1af071e35a phone rang with an dd9206acc6 unusually loud and jarring 4ad38f9ec1 sound.43a4ac90f240af2b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

BEEEEP—!!b05e3213a4ce5df1

“Wow, it’s been a a4e9cd08ae while since I’ve heard 7abe0d7ac8 this.”34eeca7ff7bd2e43

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The emergency ba5955d7e7 alert was f9efaef7fa an obnoxious 7804e7733b noise loud cb3974cfbf enough to 65897dbaef startle anyone 9709c6e034 hearing it bc3be00506 for the fc10f55b0f first time, 72c6284669 but for 40bf1e84d6 Eu-jin, who ea245b2bcc had endured e7f85701ba it countless 4ce142e16b times over a40c7ffc11 11 years, 5531dcb160 it wasn’t 6f441db7a5 surprising at 992cffa630 all. In fact, it f914b227d9 felt oddly nostalgic.a7a13a054f0a08cf

He neatly took f26049f247 off his slippers 45ff4b9c29 and switched into 4a7d7084ed proper shoes. Dressed in a 0a40191296 neatly pressed white 8f45665a0a shirt, tailored trousers, b765af3110 and polished shoes, b97f0d6119 he left the cd8ea0eeaf office.4906d99f7f861ec6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was the c20801d039 beginning of his b27ebcab59 official first field f30a605b06 assignment.fc7abb74c256dbc6

* * *85b621fa040c6c41

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A rift had 7d318c5188 appeared in a 72d1b829ce quiet residential neighborhood.ec00ddab4813b537

Since it occurred in fe3ec33abb broad daylight, the area c490bbee48 was teeming with onlookers. Rift Management Bureau dc642a16b2 employees scrambled to 2f13e99353 maintain order, making d48472b607 the chaotic scene d5a737a7e7 even more frantic.b184b677ab8d238c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Guide Baek 46ecb49ed5 Eu-jin, you’ll 2cd77b4cd4 need to e63ce03f56 stay sharp 4b14ef4a56 from now 3adcdc78cf on. Once we 38f9020ae5 go in… aa66aed075 it’s going 320b05c454 to be 35431f24c0 a whole 98987cb8f3 different world.”15720d988441b659

Yoon Ga-eul, 2b47aa74aa a third-year 5fcaa6d7ef guide who ef2c9c42ff had accompanied f0469f02d0 him to 8bf422b2e8 the site, c277fd46e2 spoke with e25c83ba32 a tone 12fd67ccc0 of significance. She pulled d9fe543ec8 the much 9f3bae919a taller man 7436b14434 closer to c10f7027fc her side, 8b4633e89f showing her 6c14081918 responsibility as d93b980807 his mentor.6edfe5062f72f943

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Baek Eu-jin straightened his a9ac6e427a posture and fixed his 98ecb3ffe2 gaze on the cordoned-off cb855c6236 area. The distant Porta shimmered 897e916c29 with a shifting blue 3d55cb2ae3 light.d49c38f035ed796c

Judging by c75fb23dbd the brightness 4cae91deb1 radiating from f4eef8aaaf the entrance, bceee25044 the rift dd5fdb4bf6 was likely c185834ee4 at least 42c0898b5d a Level 846d53aa42 2. Such a e726e06f6a rift typically 4c95aaa503 required the 3ca5c83c98 deployment of b4e4afe588 three or a0f3274f1b four A-rank b7bb01c08f Espers. It promised to e3f3e478a3 be no easy 200d88d876 fight.7ace3377a10c135b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Just stick with me,” fa74d46713 Yoon Ga-eul said confidently, 64ed760481 taking the lead.c5632f1a097bc58c

She pushed through fd943b827a the dense crowd, 1ac8f6289e heading inside. After showing her ID 3c1a47c3e9 to the Rift Management 00c018cd5e Bureau staff controlling access, 0901880c6f two uniformed officers saluted 25bdd3e708 and stepped aside to af102ecd97 let them pass.025872feb419133e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Team Leader Ahn!”838b79da123869e8

Yoon Ga-eul’s voice d42f0a5fec made the group 6117a5cd8b near the Porta 5d4f53a81a turn around. Their faces, a 9dff1ef55b mix of familiarity 639eb6371b and indifference, belonged fb3968ff67 to none other 3cec16deb4 than Delta Team.33cb947a2fc50f78

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, you’re here.”53f32fb699b1af8c

A man with 4376fd9b09 a lean build e674effaa4 and glasses stepped 090a9e58f8 forward. Delta Team leader 1bac7e468a Ahn Itaeh extended bba6f9eb2f a hand for 984aab9e97 a handshake, greeting bdb746fad2 Yoon Ga-eul warmly.ae5e1825ea78581f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“We’re not late, 2a900529b2 are we?”575c2c1438af6a26

“No, we just feb9c17106 arrived as well.”335ca6e1779de944

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Team Leader, this is 683ed35bfc Guide Baek Eu-jin, who’ll ecf9cecba1 be joining us today. I believe you were 70bfe3911a informed.”3b0a862d5c927e30

The introduction flowed 2b516a5ad5 naturally. Ahn Itaeh’s soft 57eda09383 gaze shifted to 995ed3b982 Baek Eu-jin.b0b67fc0abb90ee2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes, I heard. It’s a pleasure 540e92aa55 to meet you. I’m Ahn 812845090e Itaeh, leader fde52d9eb6 of Delta cb5718a15f Team. I look 332fcae92c forward to 66ab6d5030 working with bbd1160ab3 you.”dc49b9bb4395c125

“Likewise. I’m Baek Eu-jin.”48ce89bca25e16ce

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The two exchanged ee6675f4f8 polite greetings. Ahn’s demeanor toward 8984206c99 the first-year guide 38752ea0bd was surprisingly kind 8508eaa4aa and respectful, more f2bd0f49a8 so than Eu-jin 5f979c00d5 had expected.f11ac0b8b6675058

“Let me 51baac3696 introduce the 3be4ffd416 rest of 31c7a9a132 the team. This is Esper Park 535143aae6 Sae-byeok, next to her 3d54821c3f is Esper Kwon Su-ho, 662d24781e and over here is a6799b8799 our youngest, Esper Yoo 16a5e47901 Tak.”3167a248c4ef04ba

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With an open f49df895fa hand, Ahn gestured 834a8b940a to each member 7583d48523 of Delta Team. The Espers, eed0ad91aa seemingly in 29942d88e5 the middle 0aa864fa05 of planning b835a24b03 their strategy, ea4b5424d3 only glanced 553df03ae3 briefly before cce05c6117 returning to 0203332bc7 their discussions.79ae3ec10a5f4c58

“What’s this? Two guides today?”87592e062585a400

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“One’s a trainee. A first-year.”a517a8deb5ef1ca7

“Unbelievable. Now we’ve 3e4ae5e7cc got a dbf2484cba kid to 2d77ea914c babysit.”49e3e1add68246de

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Park Sae-byeok’s 6227107075 sharp eyes fe67132deb flashed with b24a862ffb irritation. She seemed 190b869e8f more on d2056e2759 edge than 08795b6f52 usual, likely 89814e016c due to 0923dd66f1 the tension 80cf5ab70f before entering 3cb61458a6 the rift. Her already biting tone ac23112d40 turned even more cutting.b624d5ee8d0ddf4f

“Park Sae-byeok, watch your 47cfb60e72 tone.”d0fc0c7e8f963602

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Whatever. Just don’t fa020cc1a6 be dead 0548abadc7 weight in 911ca46f52 there.”f5fcc0ac7008909b

She shook 122a5c0ed7 her head 898bd0710d in exasperation 565e2e2289 and turned e02b892909 away. Yoo Tak, e8223a76e2 the youngest, cf8791aef8 scratched his a6a6862669 short hair 51644ad5ca awkwardly and 75655459c3 bowed toward 65b5212996 Yoon Ga-eul 3aac29acf3 and Baek 98143fceea Eu-jin.66665d9a573384ac

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Nice to 3f042e2987 meet you, 6ae601a203 Guides. I’ll be in 0e7e8e7772 your care.”f6c6bd06d72f4c8b

“Yes, let’s e9e7861afd work well dc93a98caf together.”8b162cb0f7461d71

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As Eu-jin e32488bc1d finished the 5baad3516f awkward exchange 2ae3a0cc17 and lifted cd29245474 his head, 5279112b75 his eyes 380fb77e42 met a 6483095a0e dark silhouette fa99a21b34 standing like 6c12e4cffa a shadow. It was Kwon 911db52fb4 Su-ho, staring directly fbf79ff549 at him.fe5bf99b6eb7b188

“You came dressed 02967d9dd0 like that?”b613bc14661de613

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Pardon?”e0e37af87b7d5429

Su-ho’s icy gaze b6331aa2cf swept over Eu-jin’s 39bb8c66a3 entire body, leaving 93d52096d5 a chill in 03c4d44b65 its wake. Despite the summer 8e0ecae858 heat, it felt b9d92c1a6b unnervingly cold.f091325045c9fa5c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re planning to go 98ed6d3c8e into a rift wearing d30eae0559 a suit?”8a805a88f9ebbf76

“……”6788a85d381e5458

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Doesn’t seem like 969afdb730 you have any 7a4d01243c intention of getting d67febb4b0 your hands dirty.”4adca2c046eecbe4

Kwon Su-ho 720a45c526 tossed out 9d5f7f9a62 his remark ab5f577651 and turned 8621e18a85 away indifferently. With a snap e15746484f of his fingers, d6d50bd20b Yoo Tak scurried 72ee3431be over to him. The Delta Team seemed 1e3a5782d6 entirely uninterested in the 54a55101f7 guides, quickly resuming their c5114ea53d discussion without further acknowledgment.148ef1ce45b93b3d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Stung by bb83a99b02 Su-ho’s blunt eb9dd8e317 criticism, Baek eef8cdb188 Eu-jin stood 0488ab8ee4 frozen, as b1b18de80b if he’d 3d37369a9d just been 78ea8bd8e2 struck in a6e075e063 the back fd9d802538 of the 915dea2130 head.123bc755033ad015