We Will Take Control

Bang!

Taki slammed her fist on the table. She still had some ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fight left in her.

"Censorship? You... no, Section Chief Kim... Manager Kim..."

"Call me whatever's comfortable. No need to stand on ceremony now."

"Wh-what gives you the right to censor articles?"

"I don't have that right. That's why I'm asking for it."

"Th-that's press suppression!"

"It's 'regulation.' Fake news stirring up agitation and fabrications deserves the hammer of regulation, doesn't it? Or we could call it 'media reform' if you prefer."

Taki's face twisted in disgust.

"F-fake news?"

"Wasn't it something about an employee assault incident? That's what the article said. Conveniently, the alleged victim is right here. Let's ask him."

I turned to Tae Ja-seok.

"Tae Ja-seok."

"Yes, Section Chief."

"Have I ever hit you since you joined the company?"

"No. Never."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"For real?"

"I swear on heaven and earth. It never happened."

I turned back to Taki.

"There you have it. If that's not fake news, what is?"

Taki even pointed at me accusingly.

"Wh-what kind of nonsense is this...! R-right! There's evidence. It's all on surveillance camera!"

"Surveillance camera? Hmm... Then let's contact Manager Cherubim."

I smirked and radioed Cherubim. I quickly explained the situation, cranked the volume to max, and set the radio on the table so everyone could hear.

"Yeah, you have the footage from right after I escaped Floor 16, right?"

A moment later, Cherubim gasped.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh dear."

"No worries. Accidents happen. Haha."

The radio cut off. Taki ground her teeth, trembling in rage. Grasping at straws, she said,

"F-fine...! There were witnesses. You can't do anything about that. You gonna kill all those employees who saw it?"

That was when it happened.

"Enough."

It was the Department Head's voice.

"B-but..."

"I said enough!"

At the Department Head's sharp command, Taki clamped her mouth shut.

"You've done wrong and instead of apologizing, you're quibbling this and that!"

"......"

Taki shot the Department Head a wronged look, but nothing changed. If anyone should feel wronged, it was me.

The heavy silence in the room didn't last long. The Department Head spoke in a grave tone.

"We'll accept all your demands. But for the artifact loans, let's negotiate a bit more."

I nodded.

"Fine. But you have to compensate for any damage."

"Of course. That's a prerequisite for loans anyway—no need to argue."

"And about Editor-in-Chief Taki's insolent attitude."

"Go on."

Taki glared daggers at me, but I ignored her and continued.

"Spreading fake news that sowed confusion not just for me but all employees—shouldn't there be an on-air apology to the entire staff?"

"......Urgh!"

Taki looked like she was about to die.

* * *

That evening, a flood of articles poured out from the Media Publishing Department.

How ridiculous—the articles attacking the Media Publishing Department were all coming from it. Obvious, sure, but who else spits in their own face like this?

And the next morning.

Taki appeared on every monitor in the lobby. Live on the podium, she soon dropped to her knees before the camera.

In summary: The recent assault incident was baseless. Sorry for the harm to the accused and related parties. Deeply sorry for confusing and troubling all staff with fake news.

Taki prostrated herself flat on her knees. Some averted their eyes awkwardly.

"Ugh!"

Others clicked their tongues.

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Some mocked her.

Of course, conspiracy theorists existed too.

Naturally, not a single article mentioned the deal between Media Publishing, Safety Planning, or me. Thanks to Section Chief Lee Jun-yeol of the Safety Planning 'Censorship Division.' He was my recommendation, officially a collaborative department with Media Publishing Network.

I asked Lee Jun-yeol, who was sorting documents.

"How's the work suiting you?"

"It's just sorting papers. Not hard. It's my regular duty anyway."

He swiftly reviewed stacks, placing some right, some left. Right-side ones were pro-Safety Planning articles from last night's flood—aka the 'Pro-Safety faction.' Left-side? I listed their Media Publishing authors separately, then trashed them all.

Lee Jun-yeol sorted dozens in seconds. Then he paused, chin in hand.

"Senior. What about this one?"

"Let me see."

He handed me an article titled:

I placed it on his right.

"Got it."

* * *

After the article dropped, the Masked Committee Chair sought me out. I agreed to meet, but only alone in a quiet spot.

Confident in her skills, she accepted.

"Your doing?"

"Pardon?"

"No use denying. I know all about the Media Publishing mess."

She tossed a crumpled newspaper at my feet and continued.

"Such petty tactics, Section Chief Kim Jeongha."

"Pot calling the kettle black."

"What do you want?"

She bowed first. She wouldn't want the spotlight ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠either—I knew the feeling all too well.

"When you and Director Seon were together, you offered me a spot on the Employee Review Committee, right? I've rethought it—sounds good. I have about ten people to recommend."

"Ridiculous. Ten is over half. You know that?"

"Exactly why I'm saying it."

"Impossible. Not even one. The committee's already full at twenty."

"Then kick some out."

"Don't joke..."

"Joking?"

She flinched.

"......I won't let this slide."

"Tell the Director? How about upholding your dignity as Chair?"

I threw her words back.

"......"

The Masked Chair's fists clenched. Her emotions flooded me: rage, envy, jealousy. She'd devoted herself to the department and Director Seon, yet I seemed closer. Fair enough.

Time to exploit it.

"You're a selfish bastard."

I pressed on regardless.

"Think saving your life made you special to the Director?"

"How do you... No way she told you..."

Memories of her resurfaced.

"She saved you because she could, and you were next strongest, so committee slot. That's it."

"......Shut your mouth."

"Anyone stronger could step up for Chair, and she might not object."

"No way."

"Bet on it. Ask her yourself."

"......Grr!"

Her fists trembled. I smirked.

"Mad? Because it rings true?"

"Absurd."

"Or scared? Can't read my mind?"

"......!"

Her eyebrows shot up. Her thoughts leaked: 'He figured out my ability? How...?'

The Masked Chair's Gift: mind reading. Not sure the rank, but I'm her natural counter. My Mental Strength Gift resists mental attacks and tricks. That's why she eyed me warily from the start—I'm the one she can't read.

People fear the unknown.

'Fear him? Me? This mere section chief?'

I approached slowly.

"'Mere section chief'? Harsh words."

"My... thoughts are leaking..."

"Your fatal flaw."

'How?!'

"Know your power?"

'He knows my power...'

I smirked.

"You're spilling it all."

Her ability reads thoughts and emotions—but paradoxically shares her own.

That's why Isabelle trained to suppress emotions.

'No, it's like he knew from the start...'

"Nah, no way."

I deftly changed subjects.

"By the way, never caught your name."

"Not telling you!"

'Isabelle Diamond.'

"Pretty name, Isabelle."

"Don't call me... My thoughts... Stop..."

She collapsed into her seat.

"Age?"

"Stop asking!"

'Twenty-four.'

"Joined in your prime—lucky. Eternal youth here."

Hunter Stock Company employees don't age naturally. Blessing for some, curse for others.

"What'd you do in your original world?"

"Enough..."

'Princess.'

"Oh my, royalty. Hiding behind a mask for status. No one here to recognize anyway."

"Please stop... Stop...!"

Her most shocking memory hit me. Her kingdom rebelled against a self-proclaimed emperor who changed the country to an empire. On the brink of ruin, the royal family holed up in the palace, ignoring starving citizens until rations ran out. The king bowed to the emperor—'Diamond Royal Family's Humiliation,' gossips called it.

Just like Isabelle prostrating now.

I slipped my hand under her armpit, lifting her torso.

"This makes me look like the bad guy."

"......"

I slowly lifted her mask. Delicate red lips first. A proud, straight nose. Mysterious eyes like embedded diamonds.

"The committee recommendations? Just testing. No need."

"......"

"I want one thing."

I pried her lips open with my finger. She glanced at my other hand and sighed.

"Ahh..."

The black larva slid into her mouth.

"Just you, Chair."