Chaeyeon gapes at Somi, then Hajun, then Hwanin—who’s sitting happily in Hajun’s lap—before her eyes narrow viciously at Seokga. Korain stands and whispers in her ear, undoubtedly recapping the events that led them into the broom closet.

Right. Seokga’s grown bored with this. For the sake of conserving his energy (he’s barely slept a wink since boarding this foul ship), he was humoring this insane procedure—but enough is enough. It’s time, he decides, for some magic.

Seokga stands, attempting to look dignified even as his head bumps the ceiling. “You’re going to let us go,” he says, “and you’re not going to tell anybody what you saw.” Green tendrils of mist swirl out from his hands, hooking around Korain’s and Chaeyeon’s limbs. You’re going to let us go. You’re going to forget what you saw. You’re going to let us go. You’re going to forget what you saw.

He’s only able to compel the sinful. Those who are truly good are unable to be swayed by his compulsions. Judging by their side gigs as Godly Gossip spies, Seokga figures that this will be easy enough. Most everyone has a little bit of wickedness inside of them…It’s so rare to meet anybody truly “innocent.”

But his magic doesn’t take hold.

Korain and Chaeyeon exchange unimpressed glances.

“Wait,” mutters Seokga. “This time it should work.” He grits his teeth together, concentrating all of his will on the duo, but…nothing. Panting, Seokga stares at them. “Do you mean to tell me you’re good people?” he demands. Unbelievable. First his mind-reading ability leaves him, and now this—

“I died saving orphans from a fire,” deadpans Korain.

Chaeyeon snorts. “Liar.” Turning her attention back to Seokga, she says, “You’re in Jeoseung. Powers like that are reserved for the realm of the living. Down here, the dead can do whatever they want—unrestricted by alive things like you.” She tilts her head. “But we might consider doing what you ask. For a price. Godly Gossip wants…”

“I wear boxer briefs,” he snaps. “Happy?”

“Not yet.” Chaeyeon holds out her hand, and Korain places his Samsung into it. The phone that Godly Gossip must have smuggled its informants. Holding Seokga’s stare, she opens up the recording app, and presses Record. “We want a tell-all, exclusive Godly Gossip interview in exchange for our silence regarding…whatever it is you’re up to. One full hour of your time, and mandatory, honest answers to every question we ask.”

Hwanung’s tits. “I’d rather pull out my own tongue.”

Korain smirks. “You don’t have much of a choice.”

The bastard’s right.

Seokga has no power in this situation, no bargaining leverage. This is the deal they’re offering, so it’s the deal he’s been forced to take. Seokga grinds his molars together.

A long, long moment passes with torturous slowness.