Chapter 327
The biggest problem was that the visitors in front of them were all new evaluators.
The evaluation teams that regularly visited institutions for assessments were usually composed of returning members. Thus, after seeing each other several times, they would overlook minor issues in exchange for a bit of bribery.
But this evaluation team was different. They were all new faces, young and fresh. Despite their youth, they held high positions capable of bringing institutions to their knees.
Such individuals usually fell into one of two categories: they either basked in the flattery and compliments or were zealously committed to rooting out corruption to set a societal example.
Unlike previous evaluation teams, this one might scrutinize even the smallest problems, digging deep into every detail.
If I admit fault and humble myself, they might stop suspecting us. Even if this scene looks suspicious, they wouldn’t imagine that dozens of guides who had been missing for years were gathered here.
After all, they came to investigate the institution’s operations, not to search for missing Guides. The institution might receive a negative evaluation regarding the treatment of patients, but that would be it. This incident wouldn’t expose the existence of the Guides.
Despite rationalizing like this, the Espers’ minds were filled with the need to quickly hide the Guides.
However, there was one thing he overlooked. The Guides, during their long years of confinement, had never accidentally encountered outsiders. Whenever visitors came, they were herded like livestock into soundproofed rooms.
They had been living in complete isolation until recently. Only the Guides who shared the room with Rose, who had just been admitted, had a faint idea of the outside world.
They said that the world had changed for the better compared to when they were kidnapped. If outsiders discovered their existence, they might be able to escape this hellish life. Especially since Rose’s escape attempt had been discovered, they wouldn’t have another chance if they were taken away now.
Therefore, the deep-rooted helplessness ingrained in the Guides did not work at that moment.
In the end, Donna stabbed the key into the thigh of the Esper holding her.
“Aagh…!”
The Esper fell to his knees. Compared to Espers, Guides were pathetically weak, but the Esper, distracted by the visitors, had been caught off guard.
Despite this, the Esper’s grip on Donna didn’t loosen. Subconsciously, he feared that letting her go would expose everything they had been doing.
At that moment, as everyone was stunned by the sudden commotion, Helga kicked the crouching Esper in the jaw.
“Ugh!”
“You bastard!”
With her face flushed with rage and fear, Helga let out a scream.
It was the desperate cry of someone who had seemingly abandoned all hope but was, in reality, more desperate than anyone else.
Seeing Rose endure pain and climb into the ventilation duct had ignited a spark of hope in her.
The Esper, completely unprepared for the second unexpected attack, finally let go of his grip.
Seizing the opportunity, Donna broke free and ran into the arms of the nearest visitor.
“Please save us!”
“What the…?”
Startled, the evaluator instinctively stepped back from the unknown woman suddenly clinging to him. But the next moment, he froze in place.
“…A Guide?”
Clinging desperately to him as if he were a lifeline from heaven, Donna’s arms wrapped around his neck, guiding energy flowing from her.
The desperate urgency of a woman who had taken a bold step and was now terrified was palpable.
“Why is a Guide in a place like this…?”
All Guides were managed by the Center. The evaluator had never imagined he would find a Guide begging for help in a remote pharmaceutical facility, far from the Center located in the capital.
Moreover, she looked so emaciated, with such a terrified expression on her face.
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