A rookie scouted for the Elite Squad after only a month on the job.
It sounds like some clickbait title for a self-help book.
But it was actually happening right now.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Me, in Team A?
“Let’s see, Soleum went to Team D last month, right?”
“Yes. For now, let’s contact HR to process it as a secondment and then handle the formal appointment in five months.”
“Right. Assistant Manager Jin. Then….”
The Team A Leader looked at me and smiled with satisfaction.
“For starters, Soleum needs to be promoted to Junior Manager immediately.”
“…….”
“The official notice will probably be posted within next week.”
Good grief.
“Even though this company doesn't care much about seniority, there is a minimum threshold, you know? This is an incredibly unprecedented treatment.”
Of course it is!
You're even taking care of my promotion? Is the team's influence in the company that strong?
No, that’s not it.
To be precise, to enter the Elite Squad, a regular employee would normally have to go through a vetting process by working for the duration of one or two promotion cycles.
So, by custom, it means that to join the Elite Squad, one must at least reach the rank of Junior Manager at the very earliest.
Since I have to be a Junior Manager for them to put me in Team A, they’ve calculated that the higher-ups will naturally promote me.
‘Team A originally only took people from Assistant Manager rank and up….’
It really is unprecedented treatment.
But why?
Why make such an offer to me all of a sudden…?
Ah.
The moment I saw the Team A Leader’s face, which looked extremely satisfied, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.
‘I only picked the right answers today!’
Because I misunderstood it as workplace bullying, I was too cautious and overexerted myself!
The image of someone who doesn't grumble at unfair instructions and actively squeezes out all sorts of ideas within the guides set by superiors to produce results.
A rookie who says "yes, yes" without an ego while trying to demonstrate creativity!
I was exactly the kind of talent a boss would want….
“Soleum? You can head out now. The official notice might go up as early as next week, so be mentally prepared.”
“…….”
No.
‘This is a tragedy.’
I… I’m the kind of person who should never go to Team A!
‘The procedures there are too strict.’
If I worked there, where I could only do exactly as I was told, there was a ninety percent chance a moment would come when I wouldn't be able to hide my identity as a coward.
‘Then the Wish Ticket gets further away, and my survival rate will plummet.’
I’ll really die.
My mouth clamped shut at the spine-chilling thought.
“…….”
“Hey, wait a minute.”
Assistant Manager Jin spoke as if she couldn't believe her eyes.
“Are you… actually hesitating?”
I slowly lowered my head.
“Why? No, are you sane? Is it because of those meat shields in the Cleanup team? Even if we don't take them….”
“Assistant Manager Jin, hold on.”
The Team A Leader stopped Assistant Manager Jin and spoke to me with a gentle expression.
“It’s only been a month since you joined, so you must be worried after receiving such a great offer so suddenly, right? That’s understandable.”
“…….”
“But you should know that a wise person knows how to boldly seize an opportunity to succeed in society.”
The problem is that it's a trap, not an opportunity!
‘Wow, what do I do?’
How can I get out of this without offending that old-school boss as much as possible?
If I reject this the wrong way, I feel like I'll end up on his bad side.
The workplace bullying I was worried about might actually start.
‘I don't see a way out….’
It was at that moment.
Ding.
It was the sound of the elevator arriving.
Soon the doors opened, and a familiar person—no, a lizard—appeared.
‘Manager!’
Section Chief Lee Jaheon, who was said to have been called by the Team leader, showed up.
The lizard’s vertical pupils met the Team A Leader’s gaze.
“…Section Chief Lee Jaheon.”
“Section Chief Baek Seok-ju.”
Lee Jaheon looked at the Team A Leader with a blunt gaze.
“They told me to apologize to you. I’m sorry.”
“…….”
The Team A Leader… was clearly holding back a string of curses.
“Ha… no, forget it. Only I get worked up. Only me.”
“?”
“I said forget it. Anyway, I just scouted someone to fill our vacancy.”
The Team A Leader shook his hand dismissively and tapped my shoulder with one hand.
Gasp.
“Look, this is the employee who will be the youngest in our team.”
It was quite a shocking declaration in its own way, but….
“I see.”
The Lizard nodded.
“It is true that Team A has better working conditions.”
“…….”
Manager, couldn't you at least act a little disappointed so I can find an escape route…?
Fine, there’s nothing else I can do.
‘I’ll do it myself!’
I purposely looked back and forth between the two managers as if flustered, then bowed my head deeply toward the Team A Leader.
‘First….’
From what I’ve seen of the Team A Leader’s personality so far….
‘He’s a stickler for rules and principles.’
He divides work precisely according to rank, is greatly annoyed by insubordination, and cherishes his own people.
Judging by how he scouted me after only a month, he sometimes takes bold risks, but it’s always within the lines he’s drawn.
‘He’s the type who can’t stand someone talking back.’
In other words, he had the vibe of a typical elite middle manager in a hierarchical conglomerate.
‘If that’s the case….’
I lowered my head further.
“Manager, thank you so much for looking at a rookie like me so favorably and giving me such an undeserved offer.”
“Ahem.”
“However… I still lack experience. As a new employee, I believe I should work like one and build the basic capabilities and knowledge required of a staff member.”
The Team A Leader, who was staring at me, spoke.
“…Soleum, do you happen to know what the base salary table for the Elite Squad starts at?”
I don’t.
“It’s eighty million.”
“……!”
“Once hazard pay starts being added, the annual take-home pay usually starts from 150 million won.”
My goodness.
“And I'm going to list you as a major contributor for the C-Class Ghost Story you cleared today. You cleared it in an instant using a new method, didn't you?”
I-I did?
“But it’s a method that other people might actually try to use. Do you know what that means?”
What does it mean?
“It means the Manual could be completely revised.”
“…….”
“Yes. Not just an addition, but a revision.”
The Team A Leader smiled gently.
“And when a Manual is revised, a bonus is paid out.”
“…!”
“It’s quite a large amount. That’s why the higher-ups don't like to process things as revisions… but the Elite Squad is an exception here.”
Ah.
“Things go much easier and faster if you're in Team A. You could call it a difference in credibility.”
“…….”
“Let’s see… the bonus for a C-class Manual revision.”
The Team A Leader paused as if performing for effect, then spoke.
“It’s 50 million won.”
“……!!”
“Just for today’s work, your additional bonus alone is 50 million.”
50 million won.
“Do you really want to throw away the opportunity to keep earning like this?”
Wow.
As if.
‘But I can't die just to make money…….’
I’m literally tearing up. This is driving me crazy.
‘Repeat it. Money in this world is no different from game currency to me. Game currency, game currency…!’
Yes!
I let my eyes shine with as much soulful longing as possible.
And then I started talking nonsense.
“I believe that honing my skills and value is more important than immediate money.”
This is insane.
‘The reason for honing skills and value is to get paid more, so why am I kicking the money away?’
However, my mouth was babbling away in a way that perfectly fit the perspective of a kkondae executive from thirty years ago.
“Our ancestors said that one should even pay to experience hardships while young, and while I don't completely agree with that, I believe there's a definite reason why that saying exists.”
Team A's Assistant Manager Jin looked at me like I was a crazy person.
But it seems to have reached the heart of the top boss.
“Hmm.”
The Team A Leader seemed lost in thought.
He looked at me with narrowed eyes, then nodded with a sigh.
“Fine. Well, if that’s how you feel… there’s nothing I can do.”
Yesss!
“I thought you were a smart friend, Mr. Roe Deer, but you're more foolish than I expected. Sigh. How are you going to survive in this harsh world?”
It worked.
His voice sounded like a reprimand, but from his perspective, these were actually words of praise!
…Of course, he had to get one last dig in.
“It’s good to work hard. But being too naive isn't good for corporate life either.”
Yes, yes.
“If I were to give you one piece of advice… you don't do corporate life out of sentimentality. You have to be careful about that. Especially becoming unilaterally attached to someone you can't communicate with.”
The Team A Leader’s expression twisted as he glared at a specific someone.
“Don't do it, it's not good.”
“…I, yes.”
You want to say the Lizard manager is a stubborn sociopath. I understand perfectly….
“Did you hear me clearly, Section Chief Lee Jaheon?”
“? Yes.”
The lizard replied as if he was being told something obvious.
“I heard you clearly.”
“…….”
“…….”
You can stop giving me that ‘can you believe this guy?’ look, Team A Leader….
“Anyway.”
The Team A Leader took a deep breath and wrapped up the conversation.
“Good work today. Get home safe.”
“…! Yes!!”
It was a declaration of liberation.
“Thank you. Then, I’ll take my leave.”
Uwaaaah, I can finally escape…!
I hurriedly pressed the elevator button.
Team A's Assistant Manager Jin quickly approached and whispered.
“You idiot. You’re going to regret this.”
“…….”
“Team D’s manager hasn't even touched a Wish Ticket yet. Our Team Leader is someone who has already received a Wish Ticket once.”
It’s okay. I know that lizard makes it all the way to Team Leader.
Since I couldn't say that, I decided to flatter her instead.
“I think you’ll be getting one soon too, Assistant Manager.”
“What?”
“I’ll ask you then, Assistant Manager.”
“…….”
Assistant Manager Jin seemed flustered for a moment, but soon snorted.
“Well, you do have some judgment.”
“You’ll answer me, right?”
“Fine.”
It was just a verbal promise, but although her personality was nast—ahem, rough—she didn't seem like the type to lie or change her word.
“Manager, Assistant Manager. Thank you so much for today.”
“Right. Get home safe.”
After bowing repeatedly, I pressed the elevator and hopped in before they could catch me again.
Then, before I knew it, the lizard had hopped into the elevator with me.
Did you really just come here to spit out that one soul-less apology….
—Going down….
As the elevator carrying the two of us descended in silence.
Unexpectedly, Section Chief Lizard spoke up.
“Kim Soleum.”
“Yes?”
“Is there something you want from Team D?”
Huh.
“……Are you asking based on the assumption that there must be something else I want since I chose to stay in Team D even though I could go to Team A?”
“Yes.”
Good grief.
I ruffled the back of my hair a few times and answered with a sigh.
“There's nothing like that, Manager.”
“?”
“I didn't decide to stay because of any benefit.”
I stayed to survive!
The lizard narrowed his vertical pupils as if puzzled.
“Remaining in a regular team instead of the Elite Squad is a loss in terms of Points. There will be a difference in the speed at which you receive a Wish Ticket.”
“Maybe so.”
I shrugged.
“But even if it’s true that I need a Wish Ticket, living until I get that ticket is also my life.”
“…….”
“In the meantime, I wanted to be in a place where I can work with a more joyful heart.”
I don't want to work every moment in terror of when I'll be caught being a coward, man….
“…I see.”
The lizard fell silent.
Now to descend quietly….
“Kim Soleum, what is your wish?”
He’s being quite talkative today.
“…Are you asking what I want to wish for if I get a Wish Ticket?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’d like to hear your wish first, Manager.”
It was a polite way of asking why he was prying.
But the lizard stared into space with his vertical eyes wide open.
He seemed to be thinking deeply.
Then, he spoke.
“It is not my wish.”
“Pardon?”
“I am working against my will.”
Information I never would have imagined came out.
I turned to look at him reflexively.
Scales glinted on the head of the non-human lizard….
“…May I ask whose will it is?”
“You may not.”
Ah, yes.
I wasn't particularly offended. I knew he was that kind of lizard.
‘He has his reasons.’
Anyway, since he answered me, I guess I should say something too.
I hesitated and then chose my words.
“I… want to go home.”
Actually, Section Chief Lee Jaheon could have asked a ton of follow-up questions to this answer.
What kind of home, why is going home your wish, is your family ruined, did someone pass away, is it a metaphorical home… and so on.
And Lee Jaheon opened his mouth and said this:
“I see.”
That was it.
In the silence, the elevator descended peacefully.
“…….”
I admit it now.
In a sense, the Lizard Manager was quite a comfortable conversation partner.
Surprisingly so.
I returned to the employee dormitory.
[Be careful of the serial killer]
After sending a kind disaster notification text to Baek Saheon today as well, I lay down.
‘It was another eventful day….’
At this rate, I feel like my lifespan will be cut in half. My heart can't take much more.
Still, I can't deny there were significant gains today.
Extra Points, connections with Elite Squad bosses.
And even a bonus.
“…50 million won, was it?”
I wonder when it’ll be deposited.
I said it was game currency and all, but if I think about it coldly, because it's game currency, there are even more places to spend it.
I need it to strengthen my stats.
‘It’s true that I wish I had more cash.’
I'm starting to think I should buy new items from the Alien Shop soon.
Since unexpected situations keep happening, I was in a hurry.
Armor, especially equipment or items related to mental defense, are things I definitely want to have.
‘There were also special items that appear when you become a VIP at the Alien Shop….’
Still, thinking about the money I earned today, my mouth shut.
50 million won.
“…Ha.”
To think that this is the extra bonus legally deposited into an employee’s bank account by the company.
It feels like my sense of money is becoming paralyzed.
Even more so because it feels insufficient to obtain enough items.
“Is there anywhere else I can get money from….”
Vrrrrt!
The Smartphone vibrated and popped up a new notification.
‘Could it be Baek Saheon?’
It wasn't.
Surprisingly, someone had invited me to a new open chat room.
“…?!”
[K.LEE]
It was an English name with a profile picture of a sunny Hawaii beach.
What is this suspicious situation….
[K.LEE: Oh hello, Mr. Employee ㅋㅋㅋ]
[K.LEE: Do you happen to need a lot of money?]
“…??”
Who are you?
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