Cheonho Pharmaceutical Company (1)
Late at night. An open clearing deep in the mountains as autumn drew to a close. A certain man sat in a plastic chair.
"Haa... Director Gong, Director Gong, why'd you have to go and do that?"
The man looked extremely uncomfortable. Sporty haircut, glasses, brown suit. At a glance, he seemed like an ordinary office worker. He straddled the plastic chair, tugging repeatedly at the collar of his suit jacket as he continued.
"We're... we're not the type to hold grudges, are we? Right?"
"..."
"When you were uncomfortable, we greased your ass for you, helped set up that hospital for your son, took care of anyone you didn't like—didn't we?"
He suddenly shot up from his seat. The plastic chair toppled over, rolling across the dirt ground.
"Huh? Why'd you do it? Fuck! We did everything for you!"
Thud!Thud!
"Urgh!"
As the man kicked him, the man on the ground known as Director Gong let out a muffled scream. But his mouth was taped shut, his hands and feet tightly bound—he could only groan pitifully.
The violence continued until the man was gasping for breath.
"Hoo... Hey, set that plastic chair back up."
"Yes, boss!"
The subordinates behind him scrambled to right the plastic chair. The sight of three burly men with hands like pot lids struggling with the tiny chair was straight out of a comedy.
The man sat back down. Then he addressed the director sobbing on the ground.
"Ha... Sorry about this. But didn't you screw us over first, Director Gong?"
"Mmph! Mmph! Mmgh!"
"Guys, I can't understand him. Open his mouth."
The moment the tape was ripped off Director Gong's mouth, words came pouring out like he'd been waiting.
"President Choi! I-I'm sorry! I didn't want to do it! It was... threats from above! They blackmailed me!"
"...Tape him up again. And here I thought you had some unavoidable circumstances, Director."
"W-Wait, let me expl—mmph!"
The gagged director shed tears as he screamed. The man stared at him for a long moment before speaking.
"Ah... This hurts my heart. Director! You admit you wronged me, right?"
"Mmph! Mmph! Mmgh!"
"Good, good. I'm relieved you're reflecting on it."
The man gestured, and a subordinate kicked the director with his foot. The director tumbled straight into the deep pit behind him.
"Mmgh!"
Thump!
Beeeep! Beeeep!
A red light approached through the clearing. It was an excavator used for digging dirt.
The man spoke to the director writhing in the darkness, sounding genuinely regretful.
"I'd love to let you go peacefully. But this is our organization's rule for traitors—what can I do?"
"Hngh! Hngh! Hnngh..."
"At least it's dug deep, so you won't suffocate right away."
The man's subordinates covered the pit with something like a sheet of vinyl. He looked around and said,
"Listen up, kids. When burying someone, always cover it with a lead-lined vinyl sheet. Otherwise, those flying drones or whatever will spot the body."
"Got it, boss!"
"I told you not to call me boss."
"Yes, President!"
Soon the excavator rumbled to life, dumping a pile of dirt onto the director.
"Mmgh!"
The excavator scooped up earth and poured it onto the screaming middle-aged man. Moments later, the pit was perfectly level, as if by magic.
The man stamped down on the spot to pack it firm and lit a cigarette.
Tsss!
"Hoo..."
"President! Now that Director Gong's taken care of, what's next?"
"What do you mean, next?"
He flashed a twisted smile and glanced around.
"Our dinner partner's left the table, so we eat it all. Time for me to hear 'President' and for you guys to get called employees."
"Thank you, President!"
"Yeah."
The man chewed up his still-burning cigarette, filter and all, and swallowed it. Soon, darkness fell over the mountain clearing where light had flickered moments before.
Unemployed, home security guard. I'd escaped a world of insults and finger-pointing to become a new man.
New hire Lee Suo.
"Oh my! My son looks so sharp. Like a celebrity..."
"Mom, don't say the rest. Your son wants a long, healthy life."
"It suits you perfectly, son."
I couldn't stop my face from heating up under my parents' attention. My son, who'd gone out to "meet a friend," comes back in a suit saying he got a job—of course they'd react like this.
Dad massaged my shoulders as he spoke.
"Internship, right? Do your best."
"If it's too tough, just come home. There's always a spot for you."
"Don't worry. Whose son am I?"
They smiled at my confident words.
"I'll be off!"
"Take care!"
They watched me until I boarded the elevator and the doors closed.
Maybe because I'd played Chasefield X that morning with time to spare? My ears were sensitive—their voices filtered through just before the doors shut.
"Honey, don't cry too much."
"But our boy... he's all grown up."
...It was too much guilt for a filial ingrate like me. An internship was a lie, after all.
Ding!
I stepped out of the elevator and walked down the street. I'd told my parents it was an internship at an investment firm, not a full-time job. Announcing a sudden hire would've been too abrupt.
I'd even exaggerated that an acquaintance from the interview loved me.
...They did like me, so maybe not much exaggeration?
Anyway, my heart-pounding first day at work began!
Or so I thought—for all of four minutes.
"Student! Move further in!"
"Don't push! I said don't push!"
"Hands off! Hey!"
I already wanted to go home.
I'd entered the infamous "hell train." There were so many people.
In this agony, what I needed was mental victory. Squished and crumpled by the crowd, I thought,
Who am I? Annual salary of 40 billion won.
Silly as it was, it worked wonders. The subway felt like a comfy bed.
Or maybe Seoul's population dropping to 2.5 million helped.
Lost in such thoughts, I reached my stop.
"Hoo... Commuting is scary."
The people around me giggled at my weird mutter and dispersed.
Pretending not to be embarrassed, I checked my phone texts. Sender unknown again. Just an address and number.
"No clue on the number, but the company's here?"
The location seemed off, so I walked cautiously. I arrived and stopped dead.
A storage locker facility stood before me. A familiar déjà vu hit as I went inside.
No people, nothing happening.
"Ah, locker number?"
Beep beep!Clunk!
My guess was right. The locker with the number opened automatically. Inside was a thick brown envelope.
A Cheonho Pharmaceutical employee ID, a note, and...
"Degree certificate? License copies? Pre-employment health check results... What the hell?"
The titles made no sense. Reading the enclosed note cleared it up.
Today 9:00. Report to Cheonho Pharmaceuticals at the address provided.
Steal all documents related to Cheonho Pharmaceuticals.
Your "friend," Conel.
P.S. The paper is edible. No worries.
"This is..."
Feeling like a secret agent on a covert op, I popped the note—written in cute handwriting—into my mouth.
...Tastier than expected.
"Ah! Already this late?!"
Examining everything had eaten up time. Rushing out of the locker, I bumped into someone.
"Ow, shit..."
The man in the brown suit I'd collided with scowled.
"Watch where you're going."
"Sorry, I'm in a rush..."
"Yeah? Then it's fine. You... new hire?"
"How'd you know?"
He'd seemed shady for a second, but continued with a kind face.
"Your outfit and that nervous look—obvious. I was like that once too."
"Ah."
"I'm probably your senior—mind if I give some advice? Oh, speak casually, yeah?"
I couldn't exactly say "sorry, but I'm in a hurry" to the guy I'd bumped into. Instead, I endured a long "back in my day" story.
Luckily, someone called him.
"President!"
"Ah, my subordinates... employees are waiting. Sorry for taking your time. If you need a job, hit me up."
He told me to call but vanished without a business card.
...What a weirdo.
"Gonna be really late."
I ran until my legs ached. Before entering the company, I used a car mirror in the parking lot.
My reflected face was angular, different from usual. Info from Conel: This name tag senses situations and alters your face automatically.
When I asked how, Conel just smiled without answering.
Probably above my pay grade.
Face confirmed changed—disguised infiltration, but first day on the job.
"...Is this really a pharma company?"
A rundown two-story building crammed with shipping containers. It screamed "weld shop."
"Guess I'll find out."
Inside was a small reception desk with a woman seated there. She looked at me and spoke in a businesslike tone.
"What brings you here?"
"...I was told to start today."
Hesitating, I recalled a drama line. I flashed my ID too. She tilted her head and gestured.
"...Deputy? Go on in."
Something wrong? But I entered anyway.
"Hey! I said clear this out!"
"Yes, hello. I'm from Cheonho Pharmaceuticals. Actually..."
The office was a warzone. I stopped a passing employee.
They gave me an odd look and said,
"Huh? Oh, you're the new guy. Just sit anywhere for now?"
"Got it."
I eyed a corner spot and sat. Watching people bustle around, I awkwardly killed time.
Suddenly, a strange voice in my ear.
...Who are you?