Min-ho's plan was to fool the world into thinking his Affinity granted him the ability to mess with other Z-Streamers' Systems. Then of course, his teammates weren't exactly the world. And they already knew what his Affinity was.
The option to lie that he had another Affinity was there, but such a thing was unheard of.
Not at his Rank.
The first thing Min-ho did was to look at their Z-Eyes. Fortunately, they were all turned off. It would seem his teammates weren't eager to expose him to the world just yet.
He brought his sights down.
"Right, the truth," he said, his voice weak.
He fell silent, unsure if telling them was the right thing to do.
"I… I'm afraid I can't tell you that," Min-ho said, unwavering in his decision.
A moment's thought led Min-ho to believe that there were just too many things that could go wrong if he revealed the truth.
He still didn't really know these people. Or if they would be together until they exited the Tower.
Alliances could change on a dime, and enemies could be forged in seconds. It was better to not have an enemy that knew all of his secrets. Such things had been the main reason kingdoms throughout history had toppled. Or rather, gotten Z-Streamers killed.
And Min-ho wasn't going to make that mistake.
"You're afraid?" Jang-book echoed Min-ho's words like a broken record, expecting him to give a solid answer.
He chuckled, then pushed his blue hair back.
"You just want us to let it go like that?"
"I don't really think you have a choice," Min-ho forced himself up, no longer willing to be watched like a circus monkey.
He attempted to use whatever little energy he had left to explore the building so as to be away from these questions.
"Don't I? Like those Streamers back there didn't, right?"
Min-ho stopped in his tracks, then he turned.
"Are you assuming that was me?"
"I don't know, the people that challenged you just happened to kill themselves? Sounds too convenient to me."
"I had nothing to do with that," Min-ho defended.
"How do you expect us to believe that when we don't know what you're truly capable of?" Jang-book asked, gesturing to the entire team.
"I expect you to believe that because it is the truth. I didn't do anything to them. My goal here is to survive this Tower, but I don't intend on harming anyone if I can help it, okay? I risked my life for all of you, and I know you all did the same, but at least give me the benefit of the doubt."
Silence fell.
Min-ho cleaned out his mouth, his strength waning, making it harder for him to stand upright.
"You know, now that we're questioning each other, what about you, huh? How the hell is it possible that a Third Tier managed to wipe the floor with over five dozen Spectors?"
Suddenly, all eyes were on Jang-book, making him feel uncomfortable.
He hesitated before answering.
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked, a grimace present on his face.
"Yeah, it is. You're a Second Tier, aren't you?" Min-ho asked, stating the obvious.
Ji-su shifted behind Dok-su, who was listening with rapt attention.
It was already known at this point what Tier Jang-book was, but confirming it sent a shiver up everyone's spines.
With this confirmation came one single thought:
Gun-hee.
No one had to say a word. Everyone knew what his presence here meant; the whole team was in jeopardy.
"Why the hell would you join a team considering your Tier? Did you not hear what Gun-hee said?" Min-ho unwillingly slumped on the floor, his legs suddenly becoming too heavy for him.
A double blow from the revelation and his exhaustion.
"Who wouldn't?" Jang-book said, balling his fists. "But I'd die before willingly becoming a slave to some maniac."
"You couldn't have chosen a different team?" Dok-su asked, cutting in. "You've practically signed our death warrants."
"So what then?" Jang-book lifted both hands as he asked. "Snitch on me? Tell Gun-hee that I'm a Second Tier?"
They went quiet, all gazes falling to the ground as the question loomed over them.
"Tch," Jang-book grimaced. "Here I was thinking we'd be good friends. A shame."
Jang-book felt out of place, and the thought of being around his supposed comrades made his skin crawl.
"Screw this. Once we get back to the Safe Zone, consider me out of the team."
"There's no need for that," Min-ho said, surprising everyone.
Dok-su frowned.
"None of us would have survived that Event without you. We need you."
"But he's a danger to us," Dok-su said.
"Only if Gun-hee finds out. And I believe none of us plans on telling him, right?" Min-ho asked, his gaze locked on Dok-su.
"I guess not," Dok-su responded, then he walked away.
Ji-su stood for a moment, his gaze shifting between Min-ho and Jang-book. He didn't linger too long before joining his brother.
Jang-book pinned his sights on Min-ho, his brows furrowed.
He didn't say anything. But in some way, Min-ho could tell he was relieved. He needed them as much as they needed him. No matter how strong he was.
A Streamer could only survive the Tower for so long.
Finally having addressed the tension building up amongst them, Min-ho lay on the floor, his eyes shutting on their own.
He needed sleep desperately, but he didn't know if doing so was right. Not where they were, out in the open like this. With everyone exhausted.
With a sigh, Min-ho got up and made for the exit. He didn't go far from the threshold before sitting on the floor, where he sat watch—an obvious gesture to Ji-su, telling him to rest without saying a word.
Ji-su stared at Min-ho a second too long. He didn't know Min-ho very well, and though his brother would call him a fool for thinking so, he felt he could trust Min-ho with his life. He had already proven himself just this day.
There was really nothing more to be said beyond that.
A wry smile curled on his face.
'Maybe we'll survive this after all,' he thought, before leaning into a pillar to rest.
***
The group didn't rest for more than half an hour before returning to the road and making for the Safe Zone.
In that time span, Im-hee had awoken, but Sae-wee was still unconscious. This fact made everyone more than worried, because according to Im-hee, there was no longer anything physically wrong with her.
Unable to do anything else, they all waited and hoped Sae-wee was okay.
The trip back to the Safe Zone had been a relatively safe one.
There were barely any Spectors out on the road, and Ji-su's Affinity helped them avoid what little were present.
This was a usual occurrence after an Event had taken place. Most of the Spectors inhabiting the Tower would disappear, leaving the Z-Streamers some leeway to recuperate.
At least, this was a common occurrence near the outskirts of the city.
Upon reaching the temple, they ascended it without much of a hassle thanks to Jang-book, who made a makeshift stairway on the walls leading up to the entrance.
Once at the threshold, Min-ho, along with the others, wasted no time entering the temple. They practically ran in, as though a Spector had been chasing them the whole time.
The relief that cascaded down their souls like a waterfall was enough to prompt involuntary sighs from everyone.
In this moment, the group realized that the release the Safe Zone brought them was a feeling most unparalleled—almost like a mother's warm embrace and the safety and security it always promised.
Though everyone wanted to crumble onto the floor and take a long nap, they knew that their Safe Zone still had dangers. It would be very easy for anyone to kill a sleeping target, stealing their Coins by default.
This thought sat in everyone's mind, which made them take the trip to the spiraling shaft filled with rooms.
On their way there, they noticed something amiss. The Safe Zone was eerily quiet.
More than that—it was completely empty.