This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 569

The Hero Association didn’t develop the Rift Generation Technology.

The moment I heard that, a hypothesis popped into my mind.

What if, just maybe… my mom had dedicated her life to researching Artificial Rift Generation Technology?

And if, in some way, the Hero Association—a.k.a. the World Hero Association—judged that this technology was too risky if it wasn’t under their control, and decided to use force to acquire it?

Hypotheses aren’t always right, but considering that, something suddenly hit me.

‘Come to think of it, it was the World Hero Association that delivered the news about my mom…’

To be precise, the paper containing the news about my mom had a seal confirming it was sent by the World Hero Association.

Back then, I didn’t really pay much attention because I was in such a rush… but now that this has happened, that fact feels quite significant.

My mom went missing without a trace, and an incredible new technology just popped up out of nowhere.

Isn’t that a bit too coincidental?

In that sense, if I could confirm some of my mom’s research materials, things would become clearer.

I wondered if there was any way to find out…

Lost in thought, what came to mind were the old computers stuffed away in the storeroom at our Family House.

Originally, they were the ones my mom used in her study, but they were pushed aside for new computers I bought at her request due to their outdated specs.

Maybe if I rummaged through them, I could find something useful.

My pondering was brief, and my decision was quick.

The only problem was… I’d need to get out of this place first…

After confirming that much, I cast a fleeting glance at the person seated across from me.

I wanted to check the other’s mood, but it seemed like they were observing me too.

Our gazes locked in an instant.

And at that moment, a smile like a brushstroke floated across the other person’s face.

“You look like something urgent came up.”

“…”

“Shall we wrap up today’s meeting here?”

How did they notice that?

I was trying my best to manage my expression, but I began to wonder if it was that bad, and yet, denying it outright felt a bit awkward.

After all, even at this moment, my gut was screaming for me to hurry back to the Family House.

But if I said no here… it would take a long time to reach this kind of situation again.

So, just to confirm Chae-rim’s opinion, I threw a glance at her, and noticing my gaze, Chae-rim met my eyes and nodded.

Was that a signal for me to act on my own?

It seemed like it, so there was no need to refuse here.

I informed Miss Almighty that I wanted to end today’s meeting here, and she nodded coolly at my words.

Then she smoothly got up from her seat.

Was she planning to leave first since she had already done what she needed to do?

Given the situation, it was likely better for her to leave than to stay with Chae-rim and me, so I didn’t try to stop her.

Thanks to that, we crossed the room we had been using as a meeting place without interference, and before long, Miss Almighty had reached the door, resting her hand on the doorknob while turning to us.

“Oh, just in case, Doctor Lee is safe.”

“…”

“Of course, I don’t know where he’s hiding, though.”

As she said that, she shrugged lightly; perhaps that was her way of telling me to figure it out.

It seemed like it, so my conviction got a little stronger.

After all, if someone with such a laid-back attitude called someone else “Doctor,” they must have acknowledged that person’s abilities.

With that, Miss Almighty casually dropped one of the words I had been most eager to hear and exited the room.

After confirming the sounds of footsteps following her from outside, I got up from my seat.

Of course, I also held Chae-rim’s hand to help her rise.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“To the Family House. I’ll explain the details on the way.”

.

.

.

Explaining the situation wasn’t that difficult.

After all, Chae-rim was someone who knew my circumstances almost as well as I did.

“So, your theory is that your mom was probably a key developer of the Artificial Rift Generation Technology, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And her disappearing might also be because of that?”

“That’s likely.”

“Well… if that’s really the case, I feel like even the people from the headquarters would have tried to secure her to make sure she didn’t slip away.”

Of course, other reasons might exist.

For example… to prevent any information or clues about the Artificial Rift Generation Technology from falling into potential rival hands.

If bribery was impossible, that would be something they’d have to do, right?

There’s an old saying that if you can’t have something, you destroy it.

If the World Hero Association truly operated that way, it would make perfect sense for my mom to have gone into hiding on purpose.

‘This is all hypothetical, but…’

That’s why I had to check the outdated computers stashed away in the storeroom.

If there’s something in there, the assumptions that were merely speculations would transform into reality.

I wondered if my desires were somehow conveyed.

The scenery whizzing past the car window sped up a bit.

Thanks to that, we reached the Family House much quicker than anticipated.

Even though I had been visiting my Family House regularly, I couldn’t just leave it unattended, but due to recent events, this was my first return in about three months.

Maybe that’s why I hesitated briefly in front of the door lock, but it was just a moment.

When I finally opened the door and entered the house, the slightly musty air welcomed me, reminding me that it had been three months since I last visited.

There were no obvious signs of anything unusual on the floor, and the clear tape I carefully wedged into the front door the last time I visited was still perfectly intact, indicating that nothing had happened…

But there’s no use in being complacent.

After all, we were dealing with the World Hero Association here.

For them, breaking into a house without serious security measures would be child’s play.

‘And…’

I would also likely check here first if I were in their shoes.

Did Chae-rim arrive at a similar conclusion?

“I’ll take the lead from here.”

Chae-rim said that and naturally stepped ahead.

“Let’s not do that; let’s move together.”

I did appreciate Chae-rim’s attitude, but… for this particular situation, I had no intention of sitting back and leaving everything to her like before.

So, while saying that, I naturally followed Chae-rim by her side, and she nodded as if to say to do it my way and started walking.

Maybe because we had all lived here together before I moved, it felt like home.

But even though she hadn’t visited in quite a while, her pace was swift and steady, unlike mine, who had come back three months ago.

Thanks to that, in the blink of an eye, we reached the door leading to the storeroom.

“So, it should be in here?”

“Yeah.”

Unless someone snuck in and stole them, that should be the case.

However, there was one lingering concern in my mind…

Given that the things stuffed in here were quite old, there was a high possibility that despite their seemingly fine appearances, they wouldn’t work.

I wasn’t planning to do anything specific, just wanting to check what’s inside, so I hoped they would just turn on—nothing more, nothing less.

If that didn’t work out, I could always take the hard drives out to check, but that seemed a bit cumbersome.

So with a silent prayer that they would turn on, I cautiously opened the storeroom door.

Creaaakㅡ