And so the clear ended, followed immediately by a corridor meeting.
Yoo Seongwoon asked,
“So you shared snacks with everyone?”
“Was I too hasty?”
“Oh, no….”
Drinking the Basram tea Gio had given him, Yoo Seongwoon smiled.
“It’s a little late to worry about that now.”
He had certainly worried a great deal at first. Gio gave gifts far too precious for humans with such casual ease that problems seemed inevitable. It appeared unlikely to benefit either humans or beings of the Source.
But now, he was not especially concerned.
“You’ve already distributed countless gifts through Black Cloak.”
“Not enough to call them countless.”
“Fine, a considerable number of gifts. You’ve handed out that many already, so why worry now?”
Fundamentally, the gifts Gio gave humans were safe in various respects, and ordinary people would never realize that the gifts from “Hunter Seo Gio” and “Black Cloak” possessed the same effects.
“Someone especially quick-witted might notice that you give gifts often, always wear a black cloak, and offer a similar range of presents, but….”
“Would that not mean they had noticed everything?”
“The world’s prejudice will protect you. A portrait as human as you cannot be found in most dimensions, Earth included. People will ordinarily assume you share some secret association.”
“Is the world’s prejudice the only thing I can rely upon?”
“The Collectors will intervene a little as well. More importantly, the gifts you gave as Black Cloak differ slightly from those you gave as Hunter Seo Gio, don’t they? As far as I know, even their medicinal effects differ. No one knows Black Cloak stays with the Collectors, so it will be difficult to assume you are the same being.”
The gulf between “Black Cloak” and “Hunter Seo Gio” was that immense. Almost no one would imagine that Black Cloak, who inspired awe bordering on terror at the merest sight, was actually skilled at imitating humans.
Gio asked,
“It may be difficult, but identifying us as the same person still seems entirely possible.”
“Honestly, that is true. At this point, denying a connection between Black Cloak and Hunter Seo Gio appears impossible.”
“I will prepare an excuse.”
“There’s no need to go as far as calling it an excuse….”
Yoo Seongwoon smiled mildly.
“A little storytelling can cover that point, so don’t worry too much. You…