Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Even If I Fall Into a Ghost Story, I Still Have to Go to Work
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"Agent Bronze."
"Yes."
Ryu Jae-gwan, who had been waiting, looked up.
"I'll escort you."
It had only been a day since the 'Man in the Screen' incident was resolved. The main headquarters of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau was still a bit chaotic with the cleanup efforts.
Not just Xuanwu Team 1, who were on duty that day, but even Xuanwu Team 3, who were off-shift, had been called in for the simultaneous outbreaks.
And it was because they had barely managed to suppress what could have escalated into a major disaster involving the broadcasting station, thanks to the power of public authority.
Moreover... the developments were suspicious.
'Looking back, the timing of the report was impeccable.'
Usually, when a supernatural disaster first occurs, it's hard to contact the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau.
Ordinary people don't even know the number to begin with, and it's impossible for the Bureau to preemptively assign numbers at the first outbreak.
Yet they called before even confirming if casualties had occurred.
'Of course it's suspicious.'
And sure enough, the PD's interrogation revealed.
That 'experts in suits wearing masks' had come and tampered with the editing room, and afterward, the Bureau's number had been provided by that 'company'.
No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like Daydream had poked at a naturally resolved supernatural disaster for collection purposes, things escalated, and they dumped it on the Bureau.
Though they officially denied it vehemently.
Agent Bronze pressed under his eyes, where dark circles had settled.
'Trash company.'
Thus, transferring over one Daydream employee for additional information gathering had earned him praise as a great decision.
...Though that wasn't the only reason, truthfully.
Moreover, one who seemed like an elite had used an item and slipped away at the last second, narrowly escaping capture.
A shame.
"St-still, it's a relief that the cleanup went well."
"...Yes."
The office worker guiding him tried to make casual conversation.
"I heard they're not using the 'Episode 6' name anymore, right?"
"Yes. I heard they're jumping straight to Episode 7."
The resolution came like this.
They wouldn't use the 'Episode 6' designation at all until the 'Man in the Screen' was completely gone.
And the broadcasting station would preemptively hype up the 'Man in the Screen' ghost story as viral marketing, spreading Episode 6 skip promotions everywhere.
They might get flak for it being tone-deaf failed marketing, but it was a way to cleanly dispel the eerie mystery.
The two deaths would be quietly processed as overwork or accidents, and with a full memory wipe of all involved parties afterward, the station would regain stability.
There was a difference in scale, but... it felt familiar.
It was similar to the method used by that rookie agent once nicknamed the Destruction King in the White Tiger Team, which had felt so fitting.
"...Um, Agent? We've arrived."
"Ah. ...Thank you."
That made Agent Bronze feel even stranger.
A sense of presence.
Like his direct subordinate from half a year ago, who had left behind a tightly written letter and a pile of items before vanishing.
Agent Grape.
...Kim Sol-eum.
It felt like an omen that he couldn't afford to mess up here.
"You can go in."
He entered the escorted area.
A detention room for temporary isolation of 'high-risk individuals per testimony', some distance from the verification zone for supernatural disaster experiencers.
They called it a protection room.
The step before a glass prison.
"Wow, nice to see you, Agent!"
Agent Bronze saw the man in the protection room who hadn't lost his smile yet.
A Field Exploration Team employee wearing a pony mask.
"The jajangmyeon was delicious! The food here is great. Haha, and it's free."
His real name wasn't mentioned, but his traits were already identified.
"So, match the price, and I'll spill everything."
An extreme materialist.
"But stuff directly related to my duties that day... well, I could get disciplined by the company, or even fired. A 'small token of appreciation' won't cut it."
"......"
And Agent Bronze was familiar with types like this.
Though cases this extreme were rare.
"Citizen. This isn't a transaction."
Agent Bronze notified him with sunken eyes.
"The small token we provide is a thank-you gift in appreciation for the information, and exercising the right to remain silent is deemed unsafe by the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau."
"......"
"And evading statements to the end will be judged as a dangerous situation."
Agent Bronze felt no regret even if it came to that.
"Meaning other measures besides protection may be taken."
But the Daydream employee didn't bat an eye.
"After that, I might demand even more for mental distress compensation!"
"......"
"Of course, I think we can reach an amicable agreement on the amount before it gets there. Hahaha!"
What an unbelievable guy.
Agent Bronze looked at the typical, selfish low-rank Daydream employee before him and held back a sigh.
Judged as a villain, but one who hadn't committed many evil deeds yet.
Since the scales of malice hadn't fully tipped, the Bureau wouldn't assign him to a sacrificial role.
The usual procedure would be to detain him in a glass prison to prevent false statements and proceed with interrogation...
...Just let him go?
To the nightmare forest.
Once he experiences it once, his attitude will change.
He was pondering whether to scout a spot right away.
Click.
The protection room door opened, and another person entered.
"...Agent."
"Whew, this is tough."
Agent Bronze held back a sigh as he watched Agent Choi grin and wave at him, then wave at the Daydream employee before dragging over a chair and sitting down.
"Stopped by after work. I mean, I helped with the transfer, so I gotta chat a bit for old times' sake, right? Isn't that so, employee?"
"Skip the sentiment, cash please, hahaha!"
"Hahaha, straight to the point!"
Agent Choi, slouched casually in the chair, hardened his voice.
"But even if I want to give gold, you gotta tell me something worthwhile first for the exchange."
"......"
"You think the info from a Field Exploration Team junior with less than two years under their belt is worth that?"
Kang Ihak laughed haha.
"That's why you caught me, right? Because it is."
"We bet on the odds."
Agent Choi propped his chin as if pondering, then raised both hands as if conceding.
"Alright! Spill everything you know for now. I'll match the price as best I can."
"Oh!"
"How about gold as an advance? Got some jade too."
"Whoa, you're the best!"
Agent Bronze looked at Agent Choi with a dumbfounded expression, but Agent Choi maintained his slippery demeanor, looking slightly troubled.
And he actually brought in a gold and jade accessory into the protection room.
"...!"
Kang Ihak snatched up the item that landed in his hand.
He knew from the touch.
'Pure gold.'
He knew from the weight.
'At least ten nyang.'
Even stripping away craftsmanship or historical value and trading pure gold, it was over five hundred.
Factoring in the jade... this was!
"Cool, right? Answer properly from here on, and you can take it when you leave. We won't stop you."
"Agent."
"And if the info's useful... who knows? Might slip you one or two more by mistake."
"Agent, I get it now. The Disaster Management Bureau is a righteous, cool organization that works hard for citizens... and knows how to be flexible for efficient processing...!"
"Of course."
"Ask away. I'll even give you my dad's columbarium number."
"Whoa, no need for that."
Agent Choi didn't stop Kang Ihak from quickly pocketing the accessory.
He just asked nonchalantly.
"Then, as a test, shall I start with the same question for you...?"
That was.
"Do you know about Deer?"
Agent Bronze froze.
He barely restrained his fist clenching in tension.
Deer.
...Agent Grape.
No trace for half a year.
Go Yeongeun, suspected as a spy, repeatedly stated she had no idea of his whereabouts, and it was the truth.
The letter clearly said he wanted to go home, so he was heading to the company for a Wish Grant, yet he vanished like smoke.
And yesterday, Agent Choi's slightly trembling voice urgently calling to request the Daydream employee's transfer.
-Grape... boarded the Wish Grant.
-......
They hadn't believed in the Wish Grant's efficacy to begin with.
But if it truly worked out favorably for Kim Sol-eum and he safely quit, then where the hell was he?
Just questions.
And the same weary answer came again.
"Ah, my colleague. And he's missing. You already know that, right? I didn't know he got a Wish Grant either."
"......"
"100% honest. For trust going forward."
Talk of trust, of all things.
He must suspect the Bureau can prevent lies, yet his mouth stayed shut.
Agent Bronze furrowed his brow, but Agent Choi fell into deep silence before changing the question.
"Then how much do you know about the Security Team?"
"Security Team?"
"Yeah. You were with one, right? Field Exploration doesn't usually roll with Security... special mission?"
"......"
Agent Bronze had heard this too.
'That Security Team member testified about the Wish Grant.'
So he thought they'd dig deeper there, but Agent Choi veered into a bizarre direction.
"Ever heard of a Security Team like this?"
A description of a strange employee.
"Black smoke trailing around them, a massive pile of horns on their head. Wearing a gas mask... eyes... yellow."
......
"Agent, that's... "
Agent Choi kicked Agent Bronze lightly under the table, quieted down, then continued.
"The Security with you seemed to know that employee too..."
"Huh?"
Kang Ihak blinked.
"Didn't you meet them there too, Agent? That 'employee'."
"......"
A heavy silence fell.
"What the hell."
"I thought you knew and were asking!"
Kang Ihak said casually.
"The portable cage. The one in that Security's hand."
......
"Portable cage."
"Yes!"
35 cm wide, 50 cm tall, 36 cm high.
Barely two adult male handspans for the iron-bar entrance.
Portable item.
"That's the employee."
A chilling eeriness rose through the air.
I came out of the portable cage.
In my hand, the bell I'd received from Agent Ha-geum, concealed.
Ting-a-ling.
Yeah.
No, I mean...
If this were my original body, I'd be soaked in cold sweat.
'This is insane.'
Lying on the isolation room bed, I replayed what had just happened.
Agent Ha-geum had given me the bell and generously let us go, and the Security Captain and I safely returned to the company.
'Heard Deputy Lee Sa-hyeon also made it back safe and submitted the USB.'
It seemed processed as a success, but official settlement would probably come tomorrow during work hours.
Anyway, the Security Captain had left the portable cage in the isolation room per my newly assigned isolation rule and returned to his quarters.
Ting-a-ling.
'Wonder if he's meeting Foreman Park Minseong now.'
I'm on break now too.
Anyway, glad it resolved safely... though dumping it on the Disaster Management Bureau left a bitter taste.
'Daydream lived up to its name...'
We got a cut of it, but is it right to take a 'thank-you gift' from Agent Ha-geum?
...Learning that the resort's owner identity remains with me left a strange impression, though.
'Am I happy?'
Maybe.
I adjusted the angle away from the CCTV and lifted the bell in my hand, shaking it lightly.
Ting-a-ling.
I'd heard it from the portable cage, but it was a clear, pure chime.
A pleasant feeling like impurities sloughing off.
...Maybe that's why agents carry bells.
Like Agent Choi's on his scythe.
Not... important.
Probably dispels contamination or something... but doubtful if it'd work on me.
Ting-a-ling.
Still, the sound was nice. It drew the ear, lightened the mind.
Ting-a-ling.
Oddly captivating.
...Wonder if Brown hears it too.
Can you hear it?
How do I feel? Unsettled.
Realizing I'm not human, that without this suit my body would melt away... hard to feel good in that state.
Signing a labor law-violating contract pawning my life to Daydream didn't help...
......
Ting-a-ling.
Wait.
I bolted up from the bed.
'...What is this?'
Why.
Why can I think?
Thoughts no longer crushed, flowing down, sinking into fog.
Dynamism.
Natural flow.
No clear emotions, but the things I normally did, the inertial direction of thoughts...
It flows.
Ting-a-ling.
'...!'
I... am myself.