This Might Be Fate Too
Exotic outfits and even more exotic faces. A mix of humans and things that looked almost human. New hires of all sorts began trickling in one by one.
Kim Hansu started snickering again. I asked him,
"What's so funny this time?"
"Come on, look at 'em. All these different types showing up, but every single face is the same. Heh heh heh."
"Yeah, fair point."
Every one of them looked baffled, laced with a hint of fear.
"Spot any standouts?"
I scanned the newbies and pointed out three in turn. First up.
"That one there."
A swordsman in a martial robe with purple flowers embroidered on the black sleeves.
"Oho. Is that the famed Plum Blossom Sword Master I've heard so much about?"
"And that black-clad ninja skulking in the corner shadows."
Hand resting on the long sword strapped to his back, face masked below the eyes, scanning every inch of the surroundings.
"What is that, some kinda ninja?"
"Then there's the guy in the military uniform."
Gripping a futuristic sniper rifle, eyes vigilantly sweeping all four directions.
"Must've gone straight from discharge to hunter gig. Gotta congratulate him. Heh heh heh!"
Of those three, the soldier was none other than Lieutenant Lee Jun-yeol, someone I knew well. The rest of the new hires were unfamiliar faces.
Excluding the Safety Planning Department, anyone I didn't remember fell into one of two categories: They never gained fame, or they died shortly after joining.
The other newbies were all trembling, utterly clueless about what was going on.
Unlike the rest, the ninja and Plum Blossom Sword Master stayed calm, coolly assessing their surroundings—that's what caught my eye.
Kim Hansu nudged my side.
"Whaddya think, Jeongha? Pretty entertaining, right? Heh heh."
Was that why he found it so amusing?
"Hmm... yeah, kinda."
It was definitely fun to watch. But more importantly, where was that guy?
Was I off on the date?
Right then, that guy emerged from the portal by the fountain.
Head whipping around in panic, startling at every little thing. He looked just like any other newbie.
But he possessed talent that couldn't be underestimated.
Just one massive flaw holding him back.
I knew full well the ripple effects he'd have on the company and its employees later on. It was such a huge incident that every employee at the time knew about it.
Then a shout from below snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Line up!!"
The waiting employees herded the new hires into neat rows by fives and tens.
"Wh-what's going on?"
"Where the hell is this?"
"Who are you people?"
"Don't touch me!"
"G-get away!"
Of course, some resisted.
Thwack!
"Guh...!"
But they were effortlessly subdued by the employees.
Some put up a real fight, though.
Shing!
"I walked here on my own two feet."
The Plum Blossom Sword Master drew his blade into a ready stance. A brilliant purple sword aura ignited along the edge.
"Ooh."
The real deal. Against a guy like that, even a department head had to step in personally.
"If you can't give me a satisfactory explanation, I can consider you an enemy, right?"
He shouted boldly, but...
"What a clown."
Crackle!
"Hngh!"
"Hiya!"
Clang! Clang!
Thud!
"Gah! Urk! Ngh... Th-this guy's... an absolute monster...!"
In just three exchanges, he was on his knees before Seon Ga-hee.
A true three-move foe. No matter how promising a young talent, she was on another level.
I let out a chuckle.
"This is fun. Heh heh heh."
"Told ya. Entertaining as hell."
Watching a fight from afar was always the best show.
I glanced at Choi Heejeong. She was biting her nails, eyes darting around frantically.
"Looking for someone?"
"Just... wondering if I might know anybody."
"Any luck?"
Choi Heejeong shook her head silently.
Finding someone from your original world here was like plucking stars from the sky. People from countless worlds I couldn't even fully recall. Even from the same world, the odds of them being an acquaintance were slim.
"Oho. That martial robe swordsman is headed for HR."
Just as Kim Hansu said. The Plum Blossom Sword Master, defeated in three moves by Seon Ga-hee, struck on the carotid and knocked out, was dragged by the collar to the front.
She knew it too—that this young swordsman ranked in the top five among today's new hires.
I wasn't yet at the level where I could gauge strength purely by aura sense.
But I had the sharp instincts honed over twenty years on the battlefield. Just watching how a newbie acted upon arrival told me plenty about their past life.
After that came speeches from each department head. What Hunter Stock Company did. What their department handled, what support they offered. Each voice carried some compelling force, drawing the newbies' attention.
If words failed, random beatings followed.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"UHAHAHAHA!! How's my fist taste?!"
"Aaaagh! P-please stop, sir! I'm sorry!"
"Cherubim. That's enough."
"Tch. Don't act up next time!!"
"Y-yes, sir! Understood, Manager!"
"Ahem!!"
Manager Cherubim looked happier than I'd ever seen him.
Choi Heejeong stared in bewilderment.
"...He's not like the manager I've seen before."
"Yeah, well... you never really know someone, huh."
"If that's an angel, heaven would've collapsed ages ago. Heh heh heh."
Next up was Madric Blood. She slowly surveyed the employees before pointing at Lee Jun-yeol.
He blinked in surprise for a moment, then stepped forward obediently and stood before her.
Just as I'd expected—Lee Jun-yeol knew how to play it smart.
Not just him, though. After witnessing Seon Ga-hee's prowess, they'd instinctively realized resistance was futile.
Soon, the department heads took turns picking one by one. If none appealed, they passed. Only when everyone stopped selecting did it end.
Then the HR affiliate and Seon Ga-hee's right-hand man—the one they called 'Mask'—stepped to the front.
"Everyone, gather at your preferred department."
The new hires shuffled to their choices. Tech-savvy ones to Technical Information. Scholars to Planning and Finance. Healers to Health and Welfare.
Not everyone ended up where their skills fit best, though. Every organization had popular departments.
Today, HR was drawing a crowd. No doubt thanks to Seon Ga-hee's display.
"They think they'll survive there. Delusions are free."
Kim Hansu had a point. Stronger departments tackled tougher floors. Unless they lucked into learning her secret arts—which was unlikely, as no one else in my past life had—fate wouldn't be kind.
Then 'Mask' spoke again.
"There's no guarantee you'll be assigned to your chosen department. If we deem it excessive or another department needs manpower, you may be reassigned."
Unassigned new hires fell under HR's discretion. That was HR's power—snatching promising talents early. Arguably the most potential-packed authority.
Let's see. Where'd the Plum Blossom Sword Master and Lee Jun-yeol go? And the other two I'd eyed?
The tights ninja went to Technical Information. Surprising, but I could guess why. Maybe he liked the 'information' angle—fitting my ninja hunch.
Whether it was smart? Time would tell.
And the last one. Jo In-ho. As expected, Health and Welfare.
Time to plan how to win him over. To prevent that day's catastrophe—the 'Health and Welfare Terror Incident'—from repeating.
No rush, though. He wasn't in any state to roam freely yet.
As I recalled that day...
The central plaza's massive monitor flickered to life with a burst of static.
It was the Branch Manager. All eyes locked onto it.
Exactly what I'd hoped for.
The Branch Manager paused dramatically before continuing.
The Media and Publishing Department Head stepped forward.
"So what changes?"
"Picked by shareholders? Then what?"
Static. The Branch Manager vanished after that.
The brief silence shattered.
"Alright, back to work, everyone."
Departments began dispersing.
I pondered. What to do until a shareholder approached?
Lots to handle, but top priority: training. Stack up that internal energy, reach true Peak realm.
Then someone interrupted my thoughts.
"Hunter Kim Jeongha?"
This voice... definitely.
"Alvin Taylor? What's up?"
"Our Department Head wants a word with you. If it's alright, come to Technical Information with me now?"
Expected them to reach out. Was already considering it.
Might as well hit Technical Information first.
As I mulled...
"Do you have business with my employee?"
"Greetings to Safety Planning Director Madric Blood. I'm Section Chief Alvin Taylor from Technical Information."
Alvin Taylor bowed deeply to Madric Blood, who'd appeared behind me.
She nodded.
"Basics are solid. Speak."
With her permission, Alvin explained: The Department Head wanted to see me about the military factory.
Madric Blood thought briefly before speaking.
"We need to rank the new hire anyway. Not a bad idea."
"Thank you for your consideration."
She turned to me.
"Kim Jeongha. While you're at it, bring Lee Jun-yeol."
"For the ranking."
"Yes."
"Understood, Director."
My task was set. I was interested in Lee Jun-yeol anyway, so no issue.
Might even check the other three I'd noted in one go.
Madric Blood led the rest away.
"The rest of you, to the Operations Control Room!!"
Kim Hansu and Choi Heejeong joined the group.
Lee Jun-yeol, left behind, approached me.
"Lee Jun-yeol."
"Kim Jeongha."
He eyed me warily, gauging. Everything was alien now—natural reaction.
This version of him felt strangely unfamiliar. In my past life, when our paths crossed, he'd fully adapted to the company.
I beckoned Alvin Taylor.
"Let's go."
"This way."
Alvin took the lead. I followed with Lee Jun-yeol.
To ease his guard, I tossed out casual topics—standard newbie chat. Original world. People you miss. Old job. How long till you leave. Endless if you wanted.
And since he was ex-military...
"I was submerged in Lake Myohyang for 17 hours..."
He spilled tales from his sniper days in the Korean Unification War.
His wariness toward me melted away. I'd revealed we hailed from the same world.
"Oh yeah, that time I nailed Lieutenant General Ri Baek-pyeong..."
I nodded along enthusiastically. All stories he'd told me in my past life, of course.
Lee Jun-yeol's world resembled my modern Earth but diverged sharply: a future Korea after unification.
Seemed I'd bond with him easily. Shared homeland ties ran deep here.
The marksman who pierced anything with a single bullet. The legend of seven shots, seven hits. I needed Lee Jun-yeol's power.