An Anomaly Has Occurred
“Hmm. This is a first for me.”
The assembly order from upstairs. Anyone could guess that defying it would lead to unpleasant consequences.
“Well, we'll find out what's going on once we get there.”
“Indeed.”
I headed to the central plaza with Gwak Do-cheol. Curiosity had piqued my interest, even if choice wasn't really a factor.
Soon, we arrived at the central plaza, where employees from other departments had already gathered in clusters. Spotting Choi Heejeong right away, I approached her.
“Heejeong. You're already here. Let's grab a seat somewhere for now.”
“Sure.”
I had no idea why we'd been summoned, but I could guess the gist of it. In the middle of the plaza stood a massive monitor. Someone would probably appear on that screen soon enough.
“Something big must've happened!!”
“To call all departments together like this... I hope it's not something pointless.”
Turning at the familiar voices, I saw the top two from the Safety Planning Department approaching side by side, trailed by a swarm of their staff.
“Ha, I just wanna catch some sleep, and they gotta make a fuss.”
Further back, Kim Hansu ambled over with a scowl.
That accounted for everyone from Safety Planning. A quick scan of their faces told me roughly when they'd joined. Newbies like Choi Heejeong beside me wore puzzled expressions. Others had faces hard as stone—they were likely the 'founding members' from the company's earliest days. Madric Blood and Seon Ga-hee fell into that group. I'd soon learn why their expressions were so grim.
Tzzzt.
The plaza's giant monitor flickered on by itself. All eyes naturally turned to it.
A figure emerged against a stark white background, its form shrouded in black silhouette—one hand clutching a mug.
Hey there, proud employees of Hunter Stock Company. How've you all been?
The voice was androgynous, impossible to pin to a gender or build.
Glad to see you all again. Ah, most of you are new faces, so 'again' might not fit. Kuhuhu.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for what came next.
But why's everyone clamming up like they've eaten honey? The branch manager's gracing us personally, you know.
That was right. The silhouette was none other than the branch manager—the pinnacle of Hunter Stock Company 17th Branch. Though for someone in such a high position, the tone carried a distinctly playful lilt.
Well, suits me fine—gets things moving faster. Wasn't planning to show up yet, but something interesting happened in our 17th Branch.
The branch manager picked up some papers.
Recapturing the military factory on Floor 14. Hmm, hmm! Nice. Very well done. Excellent results.
But here's the thing.
Thwack! The branch manager dramatically slammed the papers down.
This won't do. No cheating like that—no, no. Skipping straight past stages? Not allowed!
That's when I stepped forward.
“Why not?”
Huh? Who're you?
Every eye in the plaza locked onto me. It was heavy pressure, but I needed to know why the branch manager was making a fuss at this point. I'd skipped stages in my previous life a few times, and they'd never intervened back then.
I spoke calmly.
“Kim Jeongha from Safety Planning.”
I couldn't see the branch manager's face, but I felt a sharp glint in their gaze for a split second.
Oh! You're the military factory manager? Lucky you—I was hoping to see your face. So they knew.
The branch manager showing interest in me drew surprised looks from the surrounding employees.
“Who's that guy?”
“Dunno. Something about a factory manager?”
“Factory? Where's the company got a factory?”
Quiet!
The murmurs died down, and the branch manager continued.
If some intern or contractor pest had interrupted me, I might've just lopped their head off~ Kuhuhu.
The shocking words made the contract workers and below gulp audibly. Low ranks weren't welcome here. To the branch manager, interns and contractors were vermin—anything less was utterly beneath notice. The facilities and meals available made that clear enough. I'd been vermin for 20 years myself. And the branch manager wasn't just talk; they were merciless as a great demon to the useless. But generous to the useful. That's why I was sure they wouldn't harm me. Not right now, anyway.
Anyway, if you want, I could bump you to manager and move you to Technical Information. Whaddya say?
I shook my head.
“No thanks.”
I didn't want empty titles. I'd climb with my own strength.
Fine? Your loss. Anyway, you've earned the right to ask, so I'll forgive the rudeness and answer your question. Let's hear your reasoning.
The branch manager turned from me to address the crowd.
As you all know, this is Hunter Stock Company. A stock company. We need to keep the shareholders happy.
Slurp. The branch manager sipped their coffee. Luxuries like coffee were incredibly rare here—enough to serve as currency among employees.
Think about it—you're a shareholder. You've invested big to link Floors 12 to 14 into a connected stage, and someone skips straight to 14 and cherry-picks the rewards? You'd be pissed, right? Right?!
“Shareholders?”
“The shareholders made the stages?”
“Who even are the shareholders?”
The employees buzzed at the revelation. No wonder—they were dying to know who owned shares in this absurd company. As the branch manager stressed, it was a stock company. Shareholders made sense. Hell, it was obvious. Entities that invested in Hunter Stock Company to create massive stages like the volcano zone. Ones that could set divine beasts like Zhuque as bosses. They were the shareholders. Floor 14 was a prime example.
Bam! The branch manager suddenly pounded the desk.
Quiet down!!
The noise vanished instantly.
Recent feats from other branches have boosted Hunter Stock Company's value a ton. We might even go public soon. And I don't wanna hear crap during the IPO review like 'Why's 17th Branch lagging on stage clears?!'
IPO review. Now it clicked. In this life, snagging the military factory on 14 had accelerated shareholder involvement. Not entirely bad for employees—the shareholders varied, but they all wanted stages cleared.
“So, you're saying we should proceed normally until the IPO review?”
Exactly. After that, I'll overlook a little cheating with my boundless mercy. So clear 12 and 13. Right now!
“Right now, huh. So there'll be rewards accordingly?”
Huh? Rewards? You think a mere employee has the gall to demand that from me, the branch manager?
“I do.”
Why?
The retort came lightning-fast.
“The shareholder behind Floor 14 demanding we clear the rest by brute force. The other shareholders suddenly fixating on 17th Branch. And the branch manager appearing without warning. The common thread behind it all.”
The military factory. And I was its manager.
…….
The branch manager stared silently, clearly grasping my point. No doubt running the numbers in their head. To them, I was an insolent pest lording over 17th Branch. But also the military factory manager—and Employee of the Month contender on track for promotion. Which way would the scales tip? I knew the branch manager well enough to bet they'd judge wisely.
Sure enough, they burst into laughter.
Kuh… Kuhuhu… Kuhahahaha!
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Fun. This is fun! Fine, that aside—give me a reason you deserve compensation.
The scales had tipped my way.
“To us, it's just re-clearing floors we've already conquered and claimed rewards from. Morale's bound to tank.”
And?
“Plus, the staff from the two major departments just wrapped up the brutal Floor 14 clear and haven't recovered yet.”
I took a breath.
“Pushing clears in this state—if 17th Branch fails...”
I paused for effect. Predictably, the branch manager pressed, practically squirming.
If it fails?
“Can you handle the fallout when 17th Branch's stock plummets?”
……!
No features visible on that silhouette, but I could tell they were rattled.
You know quite a bit, don't you?
Their tone had steadied, almost probing—like they were testing if I knew the tangled underbelly of Hunter Stock Company, stages, shareholders, and the branch manager.
They suspected my identity. I replied as if stating the obvious.
“You just said it yourself—this is a stock company, right? Raising its value... that's your job, branch manager.”
They responded calmly.
Hmm. Fair enough. Was I asking something too obvious? Kuhuhu. Alright, fine. After this, the top-performing department gets suitable rewards. I'll support you all-out too.
“Oh?”
“Branch manager helping? That's great, right?”
The murmurs rose again, softer now, faces brightening. But no reason for unbridled joy. The branch manager wasn't that kind.
Clear Underground Floor 12.
🎁 Time Remaining Until Next Restructuring:00:09:59
The message popped up without warning, throwing the crowd into chaos.
“Shit, fuck! So 'support' means this?”
“We gotta fight those guys from before again?”
Someone stepped in to calm things—the Technical Information Department head.
“Hold up! No need to freak. We've already wiped the monsters on 12 and 13, right?”
Sharp observation. The branch manager replied.
Is that so? The shareholders cranked up the difficulty, so brace yourselves. But since you've cleared up to 14, this branch manager trusts you can handle 12 and 13~ Kuhuhuhu. That's my cue!
Tzzzt. The monitor went dark.
Kim Hansu sidled up, chuckling.
“Jeongha hyung. You pulled off a big one. Balls of steel, huh? Kukuku.”
Choi Heejeong stepped between us.
“Hansu.”
“Yeah?”
“You know how hard Jeongha worked for us, right?”
“What? I just thought it'd be fun.”
I turned to him.
“Fun?”
He nodded like it was obvious.
“You saw it in the ops room, right? How strong we can get. I've been dying to test that power.”
That explained it. But liking this situation? Hard to fathom his mindset. I'd been gripped by unease moments ago—maybe I'd miscalculated. Why had things gone this way? Should I not have triggered restructuring that morning to skip to 14? But without that, no military factory. And far worse losses. I'd seen that future with my own eyes before regressing.
His words dispelled the doubt.
“Thanks to you, I've got certainty. You did good too, Kim Hansu.”
“Dunno what, but feels like I should puff my chest out.”
I approached Cherubim Manager, heading back to the ops room.
“Manager. How much resources left?”
“Like I said, not much!! If it's for combat support, probably impossible!!”
“What if they filled up right now?”
“We could turret-flood the lobby and give full fire support to three teams!! Got a way?!?!”
Cherubim's eyes sparkled with hope.
“I have an idea, but it's not solid yet. Head to the ops room first.”
“Got it!! I'll radio!!”
Cherubim dashed off.
“Everyone, I'm leaving this to you.”
“Got work? Go on, Jeongha.”
“Yeah.”
“Understood.”
“Do so.”
Madric Blood looked like she had plenty to say but held back given the circumstances. As I turned to leave, my eyes met Seon Ga-hee's by chance. She made an enigmatic gesture, clashing her palms with a blank expression.
Crackle.
Sparks flew.