A short while later.
I dialed the number I received from Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
An internal extension that connected to Director Ho's private room.
[Hello?]
“…!”
“Hello, Director Ho.”
From the moment the call connected, my superiors fell into a silent hush.
I continued speaking as politely as possible, trying not to show any agitation.
“This is Assistant Manager Kim Soleum, who went missing a month ago. I’m contacting you because I’ve finally managed to emerge from the Darkness.”
[Wow. Hello, Soleum! Have you been doing well for the past month?]
…An unnervingly nonchalant greeting came back.
His tone, somewhat welcoming and warm—as if he were chatting with a guest he hadn't heard from in a long time—actually gave me the chills.
This was absolutely not the reaction someone should have when an employee who had been processed as dead suddenly calls.
‘He’s not normal.’
Director Cheong Dallae would have been better, but she wasn't in a position to be contacted right now.
So, I listened intently to what Director Ho had to say.
[I’m so glad you aren't dead. It warms my heart to know you seem to be safe.]
“Thank you.”
[But isn’t this a bit troublesome for you? If you return like this, the loss of Points will be quite significant….]
As expected, he knows everything.
‘He’s speaking on the premise that the company will charge me for the costs.’
As the Director of the Development Department, he could easily prevent such a thing, but Director Ho only spoke with feigned concern and seemed to have no intention of helping.
Of course, I didn't expect him to.
What I had prepared for was….
“Yes. That’s why I have something to tell you.”
I intentionally paused for a beat and asked calmly.
“Director. Is the offer you made previously about joining the Project still valid?”
…….
[Ooh, Soleum.]
[That is a truly wonderful idea!]
A bright voice rained down on my ear.
[You’re trying to set a condition where you join my Project, treat your month-long disappearance as a secret mission that occurred while carrying out the Project, and ensure there’s no loss of Points, right?]
Goosebumps erupted all over my skin.
Beside me, Assistant Manager Eun Haje clenched her fist.
[What a great idea!]
I couldn't bring myself to say ‘Thank you.’
It went beyond the point of being pleased that we were on the same page; he was like some kind of monster.
[And of course, it’s possible.]
“Thank….”
[So, from this moment on, Assistant Manager Kim Soleum is a member of Director Ho Yuwon’s newly established Project team, and this acceptance will be clearly left in the call records. Welcome!]
“…….”
I felt like I had just spent five minutes looking at a piece of faulty real estate and was being forced to sign the deed before I even realized what was happening.
“Thank you very much for your generosity. However, I was merely asking for your esteemed opinion, and I didn't mean to declare my intent to participate immediately….”
[Ah, I suppose that could be the case.]
[Then, shall we meet?]
“…I would be very grateful if we could, but as you know, my current situation makes it difficult for me to visit the company immediately.”
[Ah, naturally, right? I was actually thinking it would be good to meet somewhere else anyway.]
An incredibly generous response came out.
‘…Where does he want to meet?’
I was vaguely imagining a private dining room or something similar.
[The Fox Counseling Room.]
“…!”
What?
[What do you think? Wouldn't it be warm and nice?]
[I’ll send a Doorplate through Assistant Manager Eun Haje.]
“…….”
We slowly turned to look at Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
‘She definitely said she was given a task that required her to avoid the employees.’
Director Ho acted as if he knew the Assistant Manager was right here in this spot….
[I’d appreciate it if you could wait just a moment.]
“…Yes. Thank you as well.”
With a kind and polite farewell, the call with the Director ended.
And immediately after.
Drrrrrrrrring!
Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s phone rang.
The Assistant Manager immediately showed us the name on the Smartphone screen before answering.
[Director Ho Yuwon]
“…….”
“Yes. Yes…. Um. Understood. I will return immediately.”
Click.
“Did you hear that? He’s not a normal human being.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje pulled the Smartphone away from her face, looking utterly disgusted.
“The Fox Counseling Room… He’ll use flowery words like ‘Soleum might be struggling with the Contamination, so get some counseling and we can chat at the same time,’ but in reality, he’s just trying to seize control of the atmosphere.”
“…….”
“Roe.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje lowered her Smartphone with a troubled expression.
“Even if it takes a bit longer, my professional opinion is that it’s better not to do Director Ho's Project. It’s a waste of Points, but… damn it.”
In the end, she rummaged through her hair and sighed.
It was likely because she knew that for the members of the Field Exploration team, Points were as precious as life itself….
“I’ll bring the Doorplate for now, but don’t be an easy mark. Use your wits to dodge his questions and don't let the Director lead you around. …You’ve always been good with words, so I trust you.”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“I’ll listen carefully and come back.”
“Alright.”
A short while later.
I received the item promised by Director Ho from Assistant Manager Eun Haje, who had gone to the company.
A Doorplate that was now quite familiar.
Fox Counseling Room
‘Whew.’
“Roe. If the atmosphere seems bad, just burst right out of there!”
“Thank you, Assistant Manager.”
With the encouragement and advice of my superiors, I hung the Doorplate on a random door.
And after a very long time, I opened the door to the Fox Counseling Room and stepped inside….
Creeeeeak.
“…….”
Previously, this had definitely led to a locker room, but this time, a different space was visible instead.
‘A waiting room?’
It was a small space where one could wait while chatting or take a psychological test before the counseling session.
The ivory-colored room, furnished with a few tables and chairs made of cypress wood, had a charming and simple feel, but the door leading to the actual counseling room was firmly closed.
And a notice was posted on the door.
**Closed today ^^ **
(Please take the Doorplate back with you!)
‘Wait, if this is the case….’
Tap, tap.
“Hello, Soleum!”
I nearly had a heart attack.
I turned my head. A young man with the impression of a benevolent soul, who had tapped my shoulder, came into view….
Director Ho bowed his head toward me, smiling like a kind man.
“It’s perfect that the Fox Counseling Center is closed today! No one else will be coming in. How is it? Is it to your liking?”
“……Yes. Thank you.”
How on earth did Director Ho know that the counseling center inside a ghost story was closed?
‘He seems to be implying that he has some kind of connection with the Fox Counseling Room.’
For now, let’s not dig into that point unnecessarily.
I had to keep the focus clear.
What I needed was to recover my Points.
“Shall we take a seat then?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Regardless, I ended up sitting in a comfortable waiting room chair, facing the Director.
It wasn't a very realistic scene.
‘Whew.’
I made some green tea from the tea bags provided in the waiting room and placed it in front of the Director. The Director thanked me, but didn't say anything further, just sitting there with a broad grin.
‘So you won't be the one to start the conversation.’
If that’s how it’s going to be.
“Director. Thinking about someone as lacking as myself joining the Project, there are some points weighing on my mind….”
“Goodness, to think you’d feel that way. I wonder what those points could be? I definitely heard over the phone that you were interested.”
Keep calm.
‘Right now, I am an outsider who has been processed for resignation.’
To put it bluntly, if I don't return, I just become a civilian, so the Director’s influence over me isn't as strong as before.
It’s right to say what needs to be said.
I clasped my hands and spoke.
“Yes. I’m afraid I might die.”
“…!”
“Losing Points is painful, but it’s all for naught if I die before I can collect them all.”
“Aha.”
“If it’s more dangerous than the existing Field Exploration team, the idea of doing the Project feels very frightening…. I am also considering just returning or resigning.”
“I see. Wow. You really are smart!”
“…….”
Is he being sarcastic?
However, the Director only answered sincerely with an inscrutably benevolent expression.
“And I think that’s a good question. ‘Is Director Ho's secret company Project more dangerous than the Field Exploration team?’”
“…….”
“My answer to that is….”
Director Ho smiled broadly.
“It is ‘not dangerous.’ In fact, the survival rate might even be higher.”
“…!!”
“Ah, of course, depending on the task, there might be a statistical probability of a more dangerous situation occurring… but it’s certainly not the task I’m about to propose to you, Soleum.”
“…I assume you can't be more specific.”
“Correct. That is the extent of what I can tell you.”
Director Ho looked at me as if he felt sorry, then added in a soft tone.
“But I think I can give you a firm answer that it’s a better situation than before, and a task with a high survival rate!”
“…….”
“So, are you going to join the Project now? For your information… after this, our personnel will be completely finalized, so we won't be able to take on anyone new.”
He’s completely nailing it down that this is the last chance.
I looked at Director Ho, and after intentionally stalling for a few seconds as if agonizing over the decision….
I nodded.
“I would like to do it.”
“Oh! That’s great.”
Not ‘I will do it,’ but ‘I would like to do it.’
It was a phrasing that would allow me to back out at the last minute if necessary. But fortunately, Director Ho seemed pleased, even clapping his hands.
He was so pleased that he even refilled the hot water and placed the green tea back in front of me.
I wasn't the least bit thankful; it was spine-chilling….
“You’ve made a truly excellent choice. Really, I told you the working conditions would be even better, didn't I?”
“…Working conditions, you say.”
“Yes. It will be much more comfortable.”
The Director squinted his eyes and smiled as he sipped his tea.
“If you were in the Darkness for a month, you must have suffered greatly. I thought it might be too much for you to enter High-Grade Darkness again so soon.”
The Director spoke in his typical benevolent manner.
“I thought, why not try doing something interesting?”
Somehow.
It was a subtle nuance.
“…Something interesting, I see.”
“Yes! So, the task you’ll be doing, Soleum….”
And then, the absurd ‘task for Assistant Manager Kim Soleum’ was brought up as if it were nothing.
“Is to infiltrate the Disaster Management Bureau.”
“…!!”
“Is this what they call being a spy?”
Director Ho winked.
“Infiltrate under the identity of a Rookie Agent with a perfectly clean background who passed the civil service exam… blend in, and live your life as an Agent.”
My god.
“And while you’re there, just find information regarding a certain Supernatural Disaster they manage. Simple, right?”
I swallowed hard.
“What kind of Supernatural Disaster do you want me to find?”
Director Ho raised his eyebrows slightly, then smiled kindly again.
“Instead of arguing about how to do it, you’re asking about the target first. As expected.”
“…….”
“I’ll let you know that in due time. First, a successful infiltration is the priority….”
Director Ho stared at me with an odd look in his eyes.
“In my opinion, I don't think there’s anyone more suited for this than you, Soleum.”
“…….”
Did he find out?
That I had quite a few points of contact with the Disaster Management Bureau.
And that I possessed an Item belonging to them.
I tried hard not to be conscious of the Silver Heart still in my pocket.
‘Director Ho seemed to absolutely loathe the Disaster Management Bureau.’
For now, I should keep my mouth shut.
Because Director Ho’s shocking statements didn't end there.
“And since I thought you might be lonely by yourself, others will be deployed with you.”
Pardon?
“…Who, exactly?”
The name of Assistant Manager Eun Haje briefly crossed my mind, but another completely unexpected answer came back.
“Two of your peers from the same batch.”
“…!!”
“Would you like to see?”
I checked the single sheet of paper the Director held out, where everything was blurred except for the names and affiliations.
Field Exploration team Group R, Go Yeongeun (Staff) Field Exploration team Group F, Jang Heowoon (Staff) …Among my peers, the names of the two who seemed most likely to be accepted by the Disaster Management Bureau based on their personalities were written there…….
“Now then, Soleum.”
Director Ho smiled brightly.
“I’ll be looking forward to your wonderful performance as a spy Agent in the Disaster Management Bureau!”
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