Chapter 92
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Half of the Company
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Director’s secretary, Sesque’s dead.”
The vice manager of the Bodyguard Division, Martunis, crossed his legs.
“What are you thinking? Manager Jeong Hyeon-do.”
“I’m sorry. It’s all my failing.”
Jeong Hyeon-do bowed his waist.
Silence flowed between the two.
“Manager Jeong Hyeon-do. Is there anything you haven’t told me?”
“... No. Nothing like that.”
“Manager Jeong, you know how much I’ve pushed you since you joined a few years ago, right?”
Manager Jeong had omitted countless reports until now.
He had downplayed Ju Gonghyeok’s extermination of 8,000 Necro Mafia members to 800, and deliberately failed to report the captures of demon contractors.
Martunis harbored suspicions.
He wondered if Jeong was trying to escape his control.
“I know how much you’ve thought of me, Vice Manager. From now on, I’ll make sure to...”
“From now on?”
Martunis pulled out a newspaper.
‘Special Task Force 0 Division! Can’t even handle 10th-floor missions!’
‘Fallen for Contractor X’s tricks! 120 Company citizens dead!’
‘Team Leader Ju Gonghyeok’s shocking statement on-site! Delayed response due to Special Task Force Manager’s indecisiveness...’
‘Is the Bodyguard Division okay like this? Business? No revenue, annual investment of 1,100 blue coins, worst financial health indicator!’
The articles were nothing but condemnation.
“We’ve already lost trust. And Team Leader Ju.”
His gaze turned to Ju Gonghyeok standing beside him.
“What’s this reckless statement in the article?
Don’t you know what kind of ripple it’ll cause if a member of the same organization says something like that?”
Ju Gonghyeok bowed his waist as well.
“I’m sorry. But I have something to tell you first.”
Without waiting for a reply, he strode forward and placed a piece of paper on Martunis’s desk.
“...? What’s this?”
“My business card.”
“Business card?”
It read:
‘Ju Gonghyeok & Sanchez Problem Solvers Office!’
‘Special Task Force 0 Division Ace Ju Gonghyeok, who captured 12,000 mafiosi! Demon hunter Sanchez, known to everyone in the former Unique City!’
“Sanchez—that’s the demon hunter you rescued last time, right?”
“Yes.”
The vice manager’s hand trembled more as he read the card.
‘Strictly handles necromancer and contractor bounties, takes personal requests as needed.’
‘Mission failure insurance: 3,000 indigo coins!’
‘Currently maintaining mission partnerships with 12 hunter offices! Welcomes large-scale missions for 100+ people!’
Martunis crumpled the business card.
“So, what are you trying to say?”
“I’m quitting the company.”
Thud.
Gonghyeok pushed forward eight white envelopes.
“Resignations including Soma Sangai and Ha Yeonsi. It’s the end of the month, so please accept them.”
“You prepared this before even leaving?”
“If you think that, I’d be disappointed. It might even make tomorrow’s papers.”
Ju Gonghyeok returned his employee ID.
“Starting tomorrow, we’re competitors.”
Martunis was dumbfounded.
“Ju Gonghyeok. You’re part of our Company. You think you can just end it on your terms?”
“I’ll handle that myself. See you.”
Gonghyeok turned and left the room.
Inside the room, an innocent desk shattered noisily.
On the way out of the Bodyguard Division headquarters.
A man in a neatly tailored gray suit bowed his head.
“I’m Second Secretary Vincent. The director wishes to see Mr. Ju Gonghyeok.”
“Alright.”
Behind him was a car made by industrial ability users.
Gonghyeok got into the car.
The plush seat filled with slime enveloped his body.
In Babel, cars were expensive ornaments crafted by artisans.
People usually rode avatars or summons, or if their stats were high, leaped dozens of kilometers on foot.
After about 15 minutes by car, the Company business headquarters came into view.
External Affairs Director Alfred’s office.
“I had high expectations for you.”
Alfred spoke without lifting his eyes from his documents.
“You were the talent I personally brought in, surpassing powerhouses like Deusna and Gisa Association at the 7th Unique City conference.”
The external affairs director spoke in a low tone.
In the office, besides Ju Gonghyeok and Alfred, 100 hunters stood with arms crossed, positioned around.
It meant no funny ideas.
“Sesque’s death is truly disappointing.”
“I’m sorry for failing to meet expectations.”
Alfred set aside his documents and leaned back.
The old chair creaked.
“Sesque was a truly capable talent. If he’d lived, he surely would’ve risen to director. Such a shame.”
Recalling Sesque, he looked at Ju Gonghyeok.
“But the dead are dead, and we must think of the present.
You’ll have to work that much harder to make up for losing him.”
He pulled a gold-embossed cheroot from his drawer.
“You’re a chain smoker, right? Have one.”
“Well, I won’t say no.”
The bodyguard captain’s eyebrow twitched.
Naturally, the two lit up, smoke rising in the office.
“Everyone fails sometimes. I’ll forgive your failure.
If you don’t like the Bodyguard Division, I’ll arrange a low-level secretary position or personal bodyguard spot. Don’t mess around outside—come back.”
“External Affairs Director.”
Ju Gonghyeok replied calmly.
“This isn’t something that ends so simply.”
“Not simply?”
“The Bodyguard Division isn’t the problem.
The Company is riddled with parasites right now.”
The bodyguard captain glanced at Alfred.
Wondering if he should stop this rude bastard now.
“If you have something to say, go on.”
Alfred leaned in boldly.
Gonghyeok smiled faintly and continued.
“Since joining Special Task Force 0, I’ve taken down 10,000 necromancers and contractors.”
The bodyguards looked incredulous.
They’d heard the name of the hotshot, but this brag was absurd.
Even Alfred, who’d heard over 3,000, seemed slightly surprised.
“Hoh, more than I thought.”
“What if these people had stayed?”
“Hmm.”
“I guarantee nothing would’ve happened. The Company would’ve just quietly rotted from the inside.”
During the previous regression, the Company had fallen to necromancers multiple times.
Ju Gonghyeok had taken down those necromancer factions one by one.
“I squeezed out the pus, but the cleaning isn’t done.”
“There are more invisible pests?”
“No. There aren’t many left. Criminals have decreased. But crime rates have risen instead.”
Ju Gonghyeok glanced at the bodyguards.
“Could you have these guys step out for a bit? They’re not the caliber for this talk.”
“Hah.”
The bodyguards, who should’ve stayed silent, couldn’t help snickering at Ju Gonghyeok’s provocation.
“You’re always so full of yourself. Amazing you come out like this even after failing a mission.”
“If you shrink back and can’t speak, that’s where bigger problems start.”
“Hah hah, you’ve learned some fine words.”
Alfred waved lightly.
“Everyone out except the captain.”
“External Affairs Director!”
The bodyguard captain shouted in protest.
“Take his weapons and step back. If something happens, just press the pager.
With 100 men right outside the door, what can he do?”
“...... Understood.”
The bodyguard captain meekly searched Ju Gonghyeok’s body.
He surrendered the demon-sealing sword Hontar and over ten weapons.
And then...
“Hands out.”
The bodyguard captain grabbed Ju Gonghyeok’s hand.
He drew a knife.
[Skill activated. ‘Phantom Slash (A+)’]
The knife passed over Ju Gonghyeok’s right hand.
With a slice, four fingers fell off, leaving only the thumb.
“This is a weapon too. I’ll reattach them when it’s over.”
“Hmm, thanks for leaving one.”
Gonghyeok wiggled his thumb in response.
If he’d meant real disarmament, he’d have simply cut off the wrist.
Cutting off four fingers was payback for the cheeky attitude moments ago.
“We’ll step out now.”
The bodyguards withdrew outside the door.
Now only three remained in the office.
Ju Gonghyeok, the external affairs director, and the bodyguard captain.
“This room has soundproofing magic too. Don’t worry about security—speak freely.”
Gonghyeok nodded at his words.
“Then let’s get to it.
Criminals have decreased, but crime is up. That means the cornered necromancers are getting desperate.”
“So, what does that lead to?”
As Alfred asked, Gonghyeok cauterized his severed fingers with the cigarette ember and replied.
“In two months, you’ll be assassinated, External Affairs Director.”
“What?”
Alfred nearly dropped his cigarette in absurdity.
“The cult’s necromancers are preparing a major operation. Ten targets, including me and you.
They’ll neutralize the Bodyguard Division using spies they infiltrated and flip the Company.”
“No, does that even make sense?”
Gonghyeok pulled a single sheet from his pocket.
“Necromancer apostles are infiltrating the Company right now. Each one at least mid-level executive.
Take a look at these brutal serial killings.”
The document had three photos.
One with bite marks like half-eaten flesh.
One with fatal bloodstains but no body.
One with severed heads scattered on windows.
“The left serial cannibal case: Cannibal Apostle Pilate.
Central serial disappearances: Engineering Apostle Yavon Doctor.
Right problem solvers office massacre: Blood Apostle Guyuuk and Duelist Apostle Wayne Zhao.”
“Hmm.”
Unexpectedly specific details.
Alfred swallowed a groan.
“Ten such apostles will band together for the operation. Their goal: Company collapse.
After Necropolis, they want this place next.”
“I see. So that’s why you’re leaving the Bodyguard Division—to do something about it.”
Alfred’s face turned serious.
Then he asked, laced with doubt.
“But how do you know all this in such detail?”
“Before explaining that, allow me a thank you first.”
Ju Gonghyeok stood and bowed his head.
“Thank you for sending everyone out except the captain.”
At Ju Gonghyeok’s sudden move, the bodyguard captain grabbed his shoulder.
“Hey! Who said you could move...”
[Lucifer’s Right Wing (SS) deployed]
[Limited Skill: Severing Demon Wing (A++) activated]
The wing sprouting from his shoulder sliced off the bodyguard captain’s arm.
“Ugh!”
Normally, he’d have uttered an ‘Huh?’ before meeting his end at Ju Gonghyeok’s hands.
But the seasoned bodyguard captain reached for the pager with his remaining hand.
Or tried to.
Ju Gonghyeok’s severed palm and left hand gripped his arm.
Origin Spirit Art Jujutsu: One-Hand Four-Limb Twist
Crunch—crunch—
The captured arm spun him several times in the air, horribly dislocating his entire body’s joints.
Boom!
The limb-twisted man crashed onto the desk.
Alfred shot to his feet.
“You bastard! Gah!”
Ju Gonghyeok’s kick shattered Alfred’s collarbone.
The old man’s body smashed the chair to pieces.
“Close call, safe.”
Ju Gonghyeok had struck below the throat, at the collarbone.
Dangling from his toe was Alfred’s necklace.
‘Blessed Saintess Amulet (S).’
An protective item granting resistance to all elemental magic, status ailments, and most curses.
“Bodyguard Captain!”
The soundproofing magic vanished, and the pager was already pressed.
“Director Hixston!”
The outside bodyguards startled and turned the doorknob.
A hair’s breadth from the bodyguards bursting in.
Alfred and Ju Gonghyeok’s eyes met.
Gonghyeok’s eyes glowed blue.
[Skill activated! Restful Brainwashing (A+)!]
[Burrows into the consciousness of anyone who meets your eyes and brainwashes them!]
[Alfred’s Will stat 299! Mental stat 363! Lone Commander trait activated!]
[Alfred resists brainwashing!]
Crackle!
Ju Gonghyeok’s heel slammed into the external affairs director’s jaw.
Even high will or mental resistance crumbles under accompanying violence.
The director felt his consciousness fading amid the pain.
“How dare you in headquarters!”
99 elite bodyguards burst in.
Weapons drawn, poised to dismember Ju Gonghyeok.
“Kill this traitor!”
The jaw-shattered external affairs director pointed at the bodyguard captain.
Ju Gonghyeok had already hidden his wings.
He drew the captain’s scimitar and severed his head in one stroke.
The wide-eyed captain’s head rolled across the office floor.
“Urk.”
The bodyguards were stunned.
But as Alfred struggled to stand, they supported him and healed with their avatars.
Ju Gonghyeok’s lips moved unnoticeably.
‘This ungrateful wretch...’
Alfred repeated his whisper verbatim.
“This ungrateful wretch was the necromancers’ lackey! When Ju Gonghyeok here exposed their evil plot, he tried to kill me right away!”
“Is that true?”
At the deputy’s words, Gonghyeok clenched his severed fingers.
“It’s true. Cutting my fingers was probably to kill me easily.”
“No way...”
The entire bodyguard unit was dazed by the sudden turn.
“All of you out! I can’t trust a single one.
This matter is under strict gag order! Come on, Ju Gonghyeok, tell me more about your plan to deal with these bastards! I had no idea parasites like this were breeding!”
“But Director, if there are no bodyguards...”
“Didn’t you hear me? My jaw’s smashed and collarbone broken! Get out!”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
As Alfred raged, the bodyguards reluctantly withdrew.
The door creaked shut, leaving just the two.
Ju Gonghyeok picked up the dropped cheroot.
“Alfred. Matches.”
“Yes.”
He lit Gonghyeok’s cheroot.
“Don’t act awkward. Let’s do well from now on.”
“Yes.”
Alfred nodded quietly.
[Brainwashing complete. Total brainwashed: 5/5]
A brainwashing curse etched into eyes and brain.
Once applied, only saint- or saintess-level healers could remove it.
“Half now, huh.”
Ju Gonghyeok flicked ash onto Alfred’s palm.
Half of the Unique City Company was now in his hands.