Chick SS15
by Cristae15
Chloe steadied herself and tightened her embrace around Groo.
‘Where’s Gego?’
The three people in the room stood in a daze, their faces blank and unfocused as they stared at a white-haired boy.
It was as if they were entranced by something.
“Mephi, you came too.”
Mephisto turned to her with a faint smile.
“Wherever Groo is, you’ll find me.”
Then, as if his strength had run out, he turned into a plump baby bird and fluttered over to settle on Groo’s shoulder.
Chloe nodded, and still holding Groo, leapt down from the window ledge.
“Let’s go.”
Mephisto had bought them time—as long as possible, she would carry Groo away and escape.
They had to get as far from the press conference venue as possible. Only then could Groo’s identity remain hidden.
Chloe rushed for the door, breathless.
But her plan was thwarted before she even made it out.
“The press conference must go on.”
Standing in her path was the woman wearing a journalist’s badge: Choi Dabin.
Chloe, her face wrung with anger, said to her clearly and firmly,
“The press conference is canceled.”
“Dr. Han, ‘Gego’ is an organization—not just one person.”
…
Choi Dabin, now also identifying herself as Gego, took out a phone from her pocket.
“Decide now. Should I release this video out into the world, or would it be better to proceed with the press conference?”
A short video was playing on an endless loop on the phone.
It showed Groo creating a snowy field and forming ladybugs in an instant.
Groo, watching the scene unfold, gaped. When had she been filmed?
Chloe’s shock was no less.
5:20 p.m.
The announcement was well past the scheduled time, leaving the press conference hall in disarray.
Whispers filled the room, anxious about the possibility that the event would be canceled.
But in a moment, the sudden arrival of the main figure caused the hubbub to subside.
Click. Click. Click.
A barrage of camera flashes rained down on Chloe Han as she approached the podium.
Click. Click. Click.
In the midst of the flashes, Chloe appeared composed.
The journalists’ collective focus was on one question:
What secret was the renowned American talent, long thought dead, holding that warranted a press conference in Korea?
Click. Click. Click.
Then, as the reporters frantically photographed Chloe, they noticed the small child holding her hand.
“Groo?”
“Isn’t that On Groo?”
One by one, the journalists began to recognize Groo, and Chloe, as if to protect her, drew her behind her.
The flashes grew more intense.
Curiosity about what relationship Dr. Chloe Han and On Groo could possibly have was causing a stir throughout the venue.
Finally, Chloe stood at the podium with Groo behind her.
From the front row, Choi Dabin stood up, microphone in hand.
Chloe frowned slightly but quickly regained her composure.
“Dr. Chloe Han, this is Reporter Choi Dabin from Hyungil Daily.”
“Yes.”
“The subject of your announcement today—it’s regarding the US-Korea joint project ‘Wasteland,’ correct?”
“That’s correct.”
Wasteland? The reporters began murmuring.
Choi Dabin continued.
“Could you elaborate for us?”
“‘Project Wasteland’ was an unethical human experimentation program designed to create an Awakened who could succeed the power of the Hunter On Ijo, in case of his death in the Tower. I was a researcher on the project.”
A wave of gasps and groans rippled through the room.
Click. Click. Click. Click.
All the journalists vied for a turn to raise questions.
“Dr. Han, this is Yu Won-yeong from Joongseon Daily! Is there more to the story or hidden truths not included in the official releases from either nation?!”
“Dr. Han! How involved were you personally?”
“Dr. Han! Do you have any evidence?”
Despite the uproar, Choi Dabin stood firm and kept firing off questions.
“Dr. Han. Let me continue. Was Project Wasteland a success?”
“But didn’t you say at the last announcement that it failed?”
“So it didn’t fail, did it?”
Her pointed questions stirred more muttering.
Tap, tap, tap-tap-tap.
Many journalists began furiously typing, sending out real-time updates.
“Wasteland…”
Chloe hesitated.
She desperately wanted to buy time.
If Joorim had heard any of this, he would be on his way here now.
She held a thin hope: that somehow, he would crash the press conference and save Groo.
Yet if the press conference stopped, Choi Dabin would immediately release the footage.
What could she do?
Clenching her fists, Chloe finally spoke.
“Wasteland resulted in nothing but countless casualties. It was a failure.”
Choi Dabin’s eyes sharpened.
“Is it true that it failed?”
“Yes, it failed. The lab concluded it was impossible to artificially pass on On Ijo’s power, and all records were destroyed.”
“That doesn’t match with what I know.”
Choi Dabin’s gaze shifted to Groo.
Groo, hiding behind Chloe’s legs, glared back stubbornly.
She could tell that things were becoming dangerous.
She understood, too, that her mother was being threatened with the video of her.
“‘Project Wasteland’ conscripted countless children for its experiments. Dr. Han, do you know the circumstances by which Guildmaster On Joorim adopted Miss On Groo?”
…
Chloe fell silent, at a loss for words.
It was clear Dabin would do anything to drag Groo into the center of this.
As her mother hesitated, Groo looked up, then stepped to the side.
If there’s no other way, maybe it’s time to reveal the truth.
She remembered learning during playtime with the “celebrity couple” dolls that one issue could cover up another.
If she revealed that she was Fakeclaw…
Couldn’t she use that scandal to bury everything else?
With this thought, Groo pulled out her transformation wand, ready to transform into Fakeclaw right here.
If she did that…!
But at that instant, someone swept her up into their arms.
“No.”
Groo’s eyes flew wide open.
Someone who shouldn’t have appeared was here.
Chloe, as if the video had been paused, stood frozen.
Someone yelled,
“On Ijo!”
“On Ijo?”
The most famous man in the world. And a man officially declared dead.
Faces in the room turned dead white, then ashen with shock. Some even made the sign of the cross.
“Hello, I’m On Ijo. I will answer your questions myself.”
Holding Groo in his arms, On Ijo spoke into the microphone.
“Groo is the daughter of Dr. Han and myself.”
The press conference exploded into hysteria.
Choi Dabin’s face went blank.
“Daughter…?”
But that wasn’t the real issue. The real problem was that the girl possessed extraordinary powers.
She needed to steer the conversation back, make that the focal point.
But before she could, the microphone was snatched from her hand.
“…?!”
Startled, she looked up, only to meet the hardened eyes of Joorim, now holding the mic.
“On… Joorim…”
Joorim, with a glance toward On Ijo, pulled Choi Dabin aside as if to signal he would handle her.
On Ijo gave him a slight smile.
As a few reporters tried to follow with their eyes as Joorim led Choi Dabin away, On Ijo spoke again into the microphone.
“And I created Gnosis, intending to bring calamity upon the world.”
Now, no one paid attention to Joorim or Groo any longer.