Hawoon exhaled as the car drove with the boy in his arms and Hajun beside him. Hyeseung was in front driving the car.
"What the fuck was that Hawoon?" Hyeseung voiced, his tone was lacing with annoyance and confusion. "You better explain to me clearly."
"First…stop cursing! There are young children here." Hawoon scolded as Hyeseung rolled his eyes. "And about that, I don't know."
Hyeseung was taken back. "The heck? Are you serious?" He was burning with anger now at Hawoon's reckless behaviour. "You really… why you always have to make me regret working with you?"
"Why are you acting like I was the one who forced you to work with me?" Hawoon fired back, shaking his head. "I will tell you everything later. That time I didn't had any other option."
"I don't care what your reasons were. Just make sure what you do further on going, it doesn't make trouble for us and your son."
"Hmm…" Hawoon nodded, smiling at Hajun.
"But I must say Hajun was really smart back there."
"Right! If not for him…" Hawoon raised his hands and patted Hajun's small head. Hajun was looking down, but Hawoon could see the light blush spreading on his cheeks all the way to his ears.
"… you wouldn't have gotten out of their hold." Hyeseung completed his sentence. "They were fucking persistent, I must say.
"Umm…" Hajun played with his fingers. He was still looking down.
"Dad…"
"Yes, Hajun? Is there anything wrong? Are you hurting somewhere?" Hawoon was worried, tone urgent.
"No… it's not like that. I'm alright. It just…" Hajun was nervous.
"Just…"
"We will adopt him, right?"
"…"
"What?" Hawoon was bewildered. "I'm not catching up with you, Hajun."
"Umm… you told them that he's your adopted son."
"Can you clarify what you are implying at, Hajun?" Hawoon softened his tone.
"Are you dumb?" Hyeseung intervened, annoyed.
"Excuse me! I'm not dumb. I'm just trying to understand what he really wants to say."
"I really want to smack that big head of yours. He's saying if you didn't adopt that kid, then you'll not only expose your lie but also get in trouble for hindering the investigation."
"Ah… so…"
"Yeah! Hajun will have a brother he had always wanted." Hyeseung chuckled.
"Hajun, are you excited?"
"Hmm…" Hajun didn't say anything, but his body was showing his excitement. Hawoon thought for a moment. Hajun just gone through such a horrible thing, yet he was getting excited just thinking he was about to have brother, forgetting everything.
"…"
___
Hawoon exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumped as the doctor's words sank in. He had taken them and called his personal doctor.
He would have taken the boy hospital if not for the news about accident spreading. It was already a disaster in the country after the fire at palace. Not only that, the news about Commander of Royal Army's secret adopted son was adding fuel to fire.
"It's a miracle that boy is still alive," the doctor said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Not only did he awaken before even hit the ground… but the sheer amount of mana he released…"
The doctor was shocked, glancing down at the papers in his hands. "It's unimaginable that such case could appear before my eyes."
"Is it that rare?" Hawoon himself knew that it was not possible for such thing to happen. If someone did say anything like this, they would have been laughingstock. It wouldn't be that complicated if there was some adult behind this rampage.
To make things worse, reporters were trying to relate the incident with the incident of fire at palace. The day had already passed yet there was no press from police to deny the rumours. It was like they wanted to hide the fact, that behind rampage was young boy.
In this way, the incident at the palace and the rampage at Blackthorn would easily be dealt by relating them and then hire someone to take the fall.
"Rare? I must tell you that if some other young boy like him releases the same amount of mana…" the doctor paused, taking a moment before continuing. "The boy would have either exploded or burnt to ash."
"This mana…it was equivalent to what a powerful, fully trained mage could muster. Whoever this child is, Commander, one thing is clear… we must keep him under strict supervision. A case like this… it's beyond rare. This doesn't happen even once in a million years."
Hawoon pressed his lips tightly together. The storm building within him, fingers clenched as he listened to the doctor. Hawoon wouldn't be this complexed about it if the boy didn't ask for his help.
No… he would have still helped the boy as he was the one who saved Hajun. He was indebted to him.
"Would something like this happen again?"
Doctor was bewildered, raised his brows.
"I mean… is there any chance that boy might lose control and go berserk again?"
"I can't say that there is no risk. The case is strange. We have no knowledge how he will behave after waking up."
"There's high chance that boy might have mental issues like depression, anxiety and even panic attacks."
Doctor continued. "In such situations, where his mental health is not strong, slight trigger would be fatal. Strict supervision and training to control and use his magic is required."
"Then… the rampage…"
"Right! Something must have trigger him at the garage, like past trauma that caused him to rampage."
"I understand. Then if he remains in control, there would be no risk that could endanger his life and could avoid cases like rampage."
"Yes! Oh and… if you can… try to find someone that has blood relation with him."
"…"
"It could be anyone like parents, siblings or cousins. In this way, to study the boy why he was awakened at such early age could be easy."
"Doctor, you're saying someone in the boy's family could have awakened early or is really powerful mage?"
"Yes!"
"… I see. I will investigate it."
"Commander, before I excuse myself…" The doctor adjusted his glasses, "the thing I must say with certainty is this… this boy is destined to become a powerful mage."
Hawoon gave a small nod, his jaw stiff.
"Wait... my son? What about Hajun?"