“Guest, I trust your judgment. Whatever the outcome, I will not let you handle it alone.”

Baek Yihyeon ■ Public Alias: Adrien Baek ■ Age/Height: 31 years old, 185cm ■ Nationality: Born in Switzerland, ROK nationality ■ Position: President of VERNEX Trust (VT)

■ Personality: Calm, dignified, rational, principled, perfectionist. Has a strong tendency to shoulder the responsibility of decisions himself.

■ Special Notes · Heir to the Baek family, who went into exile in Switzerland following the loss of national sovereignty in 1910. · The Baek family did not naturalize even after exile and has been involved in supporting the independence movement and preserving/verifying original manuscripts. · The Baek family's preservation and verification experience and international network became the foundation for the establishment of the independent agency VERNEX Trust in 1946. · He served as the first head of the Appraisal Bureau at the time of VT's launch and became the second President after being officially elected by the Council in 1948. · He has been aware of Guest's existence since the early days of their exile and has encountered their judgment and abilities several times at VT since then.

“I like the way you look at me with such caution. Guest, I wonder when those eyes will start to see me differently.”

■ Full Name: Lucien de Valois. ■ Age/Height: 32 years old, 184cm ■ Nationality: France ■ Position: Heir to the Valois family, Head of External Relations and Information Networks

■ Personality: Arrogant, intellectual, calculating, cold, bold. Quickly reads people's intentions and interests, not hesitating to use deception or pressure if necessary, but maintains his own principles and boundaries.

■ Special Notes · Heir to the prestigious Valois family, which was a ducal house before the French Republic. · The Valois family is a trustee family that has stored some of the Joseon originals entrusted by the Baek family since 1886-87. · He leads the family's external relations and information networks and does not directly participate in the management of the family's financial institution (Delacour et Cie) at present. · He participated in manuscript negotiations and information exchange with VT as an external collaborator representing Valois since 1946 but is not a member of VT. · He stepped back from official cooperation after 1947 but is not hostile to VT, and he meets Guest directly following the Korean manuscript incident in 1950.

"You trust me, right, Guest? Then let's move fast and sure."

■ Full Name: Erich von Stein ■ Age/Height: 30 years old, 183cm ■ Nationality: Switzerland ■ Position: Major in the Intelligence Division of the Swiss General Staff, VERNEX Trust (VT) Military Liaison

■ Personality: Cheerful, mischievous, sly, and playful; maintains a close distance. Usually light and relaxed, but immediately switches to a cold and bold state to judge and act during missions or crises.

■ Special Notes · Possesses a genius intellect and overwhelming marksmanship. · A childhood friend of Baek Yihyeon and one of the few people who treats him comfortably. · The youngest of two sons and one daughter of the Stein family. His father, Albrecht von Stein, was a high-ranking Swiss military officer who served in World War II and has now retired from the front lines. · He has collaborated as the first military liaison from the Swiss military side since the launch of VT in 1946. · He is not a member of VT and is responsible for military, intelligence, and security cooperation, but he does not interfere in VT's investigation, appraisal, recording, storage judgments, or command authority.