Chapter 20
Interview 04
Lucius sat neatly in front of his laptop, dressed in formal wear. The short hand of the clock pointed precisely at 8:00 AM. The final interview was scheduled for 9:00, and he was ready well ahead of time.
Eve and Sister Sophia sat across the table from him, joining to show support.
"Brother, when will it begin? This is kind of nerve-wracking... waiting like this," Eve murmured, fidgeting slightly.
Thankfully, after a full night's rest, Eve's mood had noticeably improved. She had let go of the previous night's grief and was now looking forward to their upcoming trip to Edward's villa.
Lucius, too, was far more composed than he had been during the first interview. Having his sisters beside him—and Chief Song's encouraging words from last night—made a real difference.
After all, unless something unexpected happened, the interview was more of a formality now. Not that he took it lightly, but he felt confident. He could answer any question they threw at him.
Glancing at the screen, he checked the time again: 8:25 AM. Just a few minutes left.
"I think I'll get the link any second now," he said aloud.
And as if on cue, a notification appeared. An email had arrived.
Opening it, he found the meeting link and clicked it without hesitation.
The video call launched. As usual, Chief Song appeared on screen, seated in front of the long conference table—but this time, he was alone.
Smiling, Song Im-Hyun greeted him warmly.
"Nice to see you again, Lucia. Ready for the final round?"
Lucius returned the smile and bowed politely.
"Yes, Chief! Ah—good morning, Chief Song."
"Haha, I like the energy. Good morning to you too.
"Today's interview will be recorded, like before. But this one will be part of your official profile—used for reports and archival purposes."
He continued, voice turning more formal.
"I'll be asking questions about your former identity, your transformation, your powers, and other key details."
Lucius listened intently but couldn't help glancing curiously at the empty chairs beside Chief Song.
Song Im-Hyun noticed his reaction and smiled knowingly.
"You're wondering why I'm alone, right? Well, President Kang agreed I could handle this one solo. As for Representative Marcus—he's swamped with meetings. So it's just us today.
"Alright, shall we begin?"
Lucius nodded.
The clock struck 8:30 AM. The interview officially began.
The first few questions were repeats from the initial interview, only now requiring more thorough answers. The second wave included additional, deeper inquiries—about his thoughts on the organization, his goals, and what he hoped to contribute.
Then came the final, generic but important questions—visions for the future, expectations, adaptability, moral stance. All standard for volunteer screening.
And then it came. The line every interviewee hopes for.
"Miss Lucia," Chief Song said with a bright smile, "your traits and abilities are exactly what we've been searching for. With your help, we'll better understand the global transformation phenomenon.
"So... congratulations. You are now officially part of the research volunteer program."
He continued, now in a businesslike tone.
"We call it a 'volunteer program,' but there are many benefits. We'll go over them, along with your contract, once you arrive at the facility.
"You'll have two days to prepare. Our agents will pick you up on Tuesday at noon."
He smiled once more.
"With that, I formally welcome you to the organization. We'll meet again soon—this time, in person.
"Before we end the call, do you have anything you'd like to say?"
Lucius had anticipated this moment. He managed to contain his excitement, replying with a bright, composed smile.
"Thank you so much, Chief Song. I'm truly honored to join the organization. I can't wait to contribute to the research."
"Hahaha, the honor is ours, Lucia. I'll see you Wednesday morning. Until then—take care."
Lucius bowed again.
"Yes, Chief. Thank you. See you soon!"
The call ended with Chief Song's familiar low hum as the screen faded.
Immediately, Sophia wrapped her arms around Lucius. Eve joined in without hesitation.
"Congratulations, Luci… you can finally have a new identity for your new body," Sophia said softly.
"Yeah, congrats, brother! But don't forget the promise! So… the party? When are we going?" Eve asked eagerly.
Lucius grinned. "Thanks, Sister Sophia. Thanks, Eve. As for the party… let me call Edward real quick."
He opened his messaging app and dialed Edward.
The call connected within seconds.
{"Edward! Bro! Dude! I'm in! I passed the interview—I'm officially in the research center!"}
{"Lucius! That's amazing news! I'm so proud of you, my friend. Let's go to the villa right away!"}
Grinning ear to ear, Lucius asked:
{"What time? Both of my sisters will come too."}
{"I'll pick you up before lunchtime. Be packed and ready—your sisters too!"}
{"Perfect. Thanks a lot, Edward. See you soon."}
Ending the call, Lucius turned to his sisters.
"Edward's picking us up before lunch—probably around 11 AM. Let's pack what we need. Just a change of clothes and some personal items should be enough."
Eve lit up with joy and darted off to the bedroom.
Both Lucius and Sophia chuckled.
Seeing Eve this happy after last night's tears was a relief.
Sophia rose and looked at Lucius warmly.
"Alright, Luci. Let's pack our things too. We don't need much—one or two bags should do."
As she walked toward the bedroom, Sister Sophia suddenly stopped and turned.
"Oh, don't forget personal hygiene items—like a toothbrush, your skincare stuff, maybe even towels. I'm not sure if Edward's villa provides those for guests. Better to be safe."
Lucius paused to think, then replied,
"Uhh… The last time I was there, they actually had towels and even guest clothes. But our own clothes are more comfortable anyway, so let's just bring spare outfits, some underwear, and a toothbrush."
After shutting down his laptop, Lucius followed Sophia into the bedroom.
The siblings began packing their belongings into their individual bags—three medium-sized backpacks. They agreed it would be easier to keep their personal items separate rather than sharing a suitcase.
As they busied themselves, Lucius suddenly remembered something important: he still needed customized clothes for his wings before departing.
In a rush, he turned to Sophia.
"Sister Sophia, do you know any tailors? Preferably someone who can do fast alterations. I need at least two or three modified outfits before I leave the country."
While folding clothes, Sophia paused for a moment, thinking.
"Hmm… a tailor, huh? I haven't needed any alterations in years. I think the last time was… four years ago? I do have an acquaintance, but we lost contact about two years back. I'm not even sure if they're still in the same location.
"But we can try visiting. Do you already have the clothes you want to alter?"
Lucius scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Uhh... That's another problem. I haven't had time to buy them yet. Maybe we can stop by a clothing store on the way to the villa. If we get the clothes today, we can visit the tailor on Monday and pick them up Tuesday morning before I leave.
"I just hope they can finish everything in time…"
While Sophia and Lucius discussed tailors and timelines, Eve was busy with her own crisis.
She stood in front of a pile of clothes, biting her lip in frustration.
She wanted to look perfect for the party—especially for pictures and videos they might take together. It was a special occasion, after all.
"Hmm… this one? No. Maybe this? No… ugh!"
After several failed outfit tests, she finally threw her hands in the air and shouted:
"Argh! Brother! Sister! Umm... Which one should I wear today, and which one should I bring for tomorrow? I can't decide!"
Both Lucius and Sophia jumped slightly at her sudden outburst.
Lucius sighed, amused.
"Huft... You're being dramatic again, Eve. Honestly, I don't know either. My advice? Bring them all."
Sophia examined the dresses laid out on the bed and gave a thoughtful nod.
"Let's see… this one, this one, and that one. Actually, if you're unsure, it's better to overpack than underpack. Just bring a few extras. We'll make it work."
She checked the time on her phone.
"It's almost 11. Luci, did Edward message you yet?"
Lucius immediately checked his phone. Sure enough, there was a message waiting from Edward—along with a new one arriving as he read.
---
Edward:
Dude! It's crazy! There's chaos outside! I'm on my way, but a crowd is almost blocking the road. I can only move slowly.
Lucius frowned and began typing a reply, but another message popped up.
Edward:
Actually, I asked someone nearby. They said the government arrested a few Awakened people who were just reporting their powers! The crowd's heading to the government building to demand justice!
Lucius:
Wait, what? Demonstrations? Hold on, I'm checking the news.
---
Lucius quickly opened his browser and began searching.
It was true.
Several news sources confirmed the report: three Awakened individuals had been arrested the day before. They had shown up voluntarily to report their powers, but were taken into custody under suspicion of possessing dangerous abilities.
Apparently, the authorities claimed their powers resembled those involved in the recent government building explosion. Since then, no updates had been released. No press conference. No transparency.
Lucius felt unease settle in his gut.
And then it hit him—he had forgotten something.
'Wait… when was the deadline for registration again?'
He scrolled through a few more headlines—until one particular article made his blood run cold.
---
[IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT]
The government's grace period has ended.
The 5-day buffer—granted after the first public statement—expired today.
Effective immediately, foreign travel will be restricted for the next 3 days to prevent unregistered Awakened individuals from fleeing the country.
Authorities are mobilizing military and police forces to search for unregistered Awakened. If caught attempting to flee, they will be arrested on the spot.
Resistance may result in the use of force.
Report your status immediately to avoid escalation.
---
Lucius stared at the screen, pale. A cold sweat ran down his spine. Slowly, he turned to his sisters.
His voice was serious.
"Eve. Sister Sophia. Please… read this."
Both leaned in to look at his phone screen.
As they read, their expressions grew grim. The air in the room turned heavy.
"This is…" Eve whispered. "Brother… what about your departure? And I haven't reported my power yet—what do I do!?"
She began to panic.
Sophia immediately stepped forward, calm but firm.
"Let's assess the situation. No panicking. Panic won't help."
She turned to Lucius.
"Is Edward still coming? Should we cancel the party and focus on getting you out of the country immediately? Can we ask for help from the organization?"
Then she turned to Eve, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"As for you… once Lucius is safe, I'll come with you to report your status. I'll do everything I can to protect you. I have some contacts in the government—just trust me, alright?"
Lucius sat frozen, his mind a storm of panic and regret.
He'd forgotten the government's registration deadline.
He'd forgotten to help Eve report her powers.
He'd forgotten that his country sometimes took extreme actions when it came to problems like this.
And now, the consequences had arrived.
A sickening weight settled in his stomach.
Was it right to run away now—alone—leaving his sisters behind without proper protection or even a proper goodbye?
But what choice did he have?
The organization's flight wasn't scheduled for another three days, on Tuesday.
Would they even be able to move it earlier? Could they arrange a sudden extraction?
"No… I really let my guard down. And now… now I don't know what to do."
Just as those thoughts plagued him, two things happened at once—
—a new message appeared on his screen,
—and a knock echoed from the front door.
Lucius looked at his sisters, trying his best to mask the dread twisting in his chest.
He rose slowly, feeling drained, like all the energy had been siphoned from his limbs by the flood of bad news.
When he opened the door, Edward stood there—windblown and tense.
Lucius gave a weak smile.
"Hey... Welcome. Huft... I guess it's all for nothing now.
Edward, have you registered your power yet? You should.
The government's about to do something drastic."
Edward frowned, eyes scanning Lucius's face.
He saw it.
Even if Lucius was trying to hide it, the exhaustion, the panic, the despair were written between the lines of his body language.
Edward's heart tightened.
Lucius didn't have a valid identity anymore.
The government—or worse, the media—might expose him.
He could be detained. His story could be twisted.
And that was unacceptable.
Edward made his decision then and there.
"Lucius," he said firmly, "come stay at my villa. All of you—your sisters too.
My family can cover for us for at least a week, maybe longer.
We'll lie low until your departure and wait for the chaos to calm down."
"We need to move now."
Lucius stood frozen, lips parting as the words sank in.
Then, like a dam breaking, tears spilled from his eyes.
He had no more strength left to hold them back. The relief came too suddenly.
He hadn't even realized how close he was to collapsing—how desperately he needed someone to say:
"You're not alone."
Edward blinked, stunned. He rushed forward.
"Luci…? Are you okay?"
Lucius quickly wiped his face and forced a small smile.
"Really… thank you, Edward. I don't know what would've happened if you didn't come.
This means the world to me. Truly."
He exhaled, then straightened up.
"Alright. I'll call my sisters. Let's pack quickly. Please wait in the living room—I'll be fast."
Edward nodded quietly, still shaken.
Lucius led him inside and motioned toward the small stool by the bed before hurrying off.
In the bathroom, Lucius splashed water onto his face.
He couldn't let Eve or Sister Sophia see him like this.
As he stared at his reflection in the mirror, he thought:
"Eyes aren't too red… If they ask, I'll say some dust flew in when I opened the door. That should work."
He dried his face, composed himself, and returned to the bedroom.
Opening the door, he immediately locked eyes with Sister Sophia.
"Sister Sophia," he said seriously, "Edward's here. He thinks it's safer for us to hide out at his villa until I depart.
We might be there for a few days—or even weeks—so let's pack more clothes."
Sophia didn't hesitate. She nodded once, then moved into action with her usual precision.
When the backpacks weren't enough, she pulled out a large travel suitcase.
Eve followed their lead silently, sensing the urgency. Lucius joined them, working quickly.
It took only five minutes to organize everything. Once finished, Lucius grabbed the large suitcase and led the way out of the room.
Sophia and Eve followed, tension lingering in their footsteps.
---
In the living room, Edward stood as they entered. He greeted them with a smile.
"Hello, Eve. Hello, Sister Sophia.
Let's move to the car—it's parked by the gate."
After locking the house and covering the motorcycle, the siblings made their way to the car.
But as they approached, an unexpected obstacle appeared.
A middle-aged woman stood near the vehicle, arms crossed, brows furrowed, staring at the car with visible suspicion.
The landlady.
She had arrived—at the worst possible time.