Chapter 250
Chapter 250
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: Even Falling into Ghost Stories Doesn't Excuse Skipping Work
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Suddenly, the government agents grilling hanwoo beef froze mid-bite, utterly baffled at the mention of the Lizard Section Chief from someone else's company as a colleague recommendation.
"Cheongdong, are you saying... right now... that we've been recommended as good people to work with a Daydream Corporation employee?"
Of course, the Daydream D Squad members remained steadfast.
"No, more than half this expedition's already Daydream folks anyway. Why act so shocked? It's a place where people live and work too."
Of course, the one I'm recommending isn't a person but an alien reptile...
"Our section chief's a really solid guy. Tough and straightforward—perfect to work with."
"From that company and tough-tempered to boot..."
"No, that's not it, you old fogey."
"...?"
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je solemnly waved her hand.
"He's just straight-up strong. That's it."
Agent Cheongdong looked even more confused, but Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je and I nodded in unison as if on cue.
Then her gaze shifted.
"But this guy's not surprised."
"Hey, I was shocked too."
But Agent Choi wasn't particularly fazed, just cracking jokes.
And I already knew why.
The other identity Agent Choi had been using.
'Lee Kangheon.'
I'd definitely sent a message like that while recommending Salmon Market.
'Agent Choi already knows what kind of person Section Chief Lee Jaheon is.'
No, more than that. It meant he'd profiled Daydream employees' messenger accounts and roughly grasped their personalities and tendencies.
...The wiki had no record of that.
'He couldn't have infiltrated Daydream.'
Agent Choi didn't have two bodies, and he couldn't juggle his busy agent duties with working at Daydream. To begin with, Deputy Manager Lee Kangheon of C Squad didn't exist in the company.
In the end, I extended smoke under the table, subtly drawing Agent Choi's gaze alone.
"Hm?"
And I asked.
"......"
I quickly erased the text so others at the table couldn't see.
Agent Choi grinned.
"Tsk, prying into a senior's trade secret? Naughty."
......
Fair enough.
It was an identity for extracting Daydream intel, so spilling to an employee still working there would be tough...
......!
Agent Choi finger-wrote on the bunched-up smoke under the table.
I formed the word 'Affirmative'.
Agent Choi smirked and continued.
...!
He didn't say how he acquired it.
But he added an explanation about the account.
Entry cohorts, short-term projects, anonymous info-sharing rooms, even company gambling.
All prime intel sources. Plus, with Agent Choi's skills, he'd successfully infiltrated spin-off chats too.
Thus profiling employees one by one... eventually tracking even new hires' profiles continuously.
I recalled Deputy Manager Yi Seonghae's testimony that he'd been introduced to Salmon Market by someone named Deputy Manager Lee Kangheon of C Squad. And...
......
So he knew everything from the start...
Not telling.
With that, Agent Choi went back to the table as if no under-table scribbles had happened.
I swallowed a sigh.
'...Is this why he didn't trust the Wish Grant more?'
A quitter who vanished leaving only the account, and he'd used it himself.
Anyway, I hadn't expected the curiosity resolved like this—left me stunned.
'Didn't think he'd answer at all.'
Of course, the 'trust you' bit was obvious bullshit. He'd cut off details anyway.
After years of use, the 'Lee Kangheon' alias was probably too notorious for new group invites, so time to retire it.
He surely had other intel routes.
'Still grateful though...'
As I sorted my thoughts, banter flew over the table.
"Man, Lizard Section Chief. Wonder how tough—chews rebar or what?"
"He'd do it if asked."
"...??"
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je shrugged while asking the part-timer to swap the grill.
"Anyway, as Deer said, our section chief helping would be great, but... tough while working a company job."
......
Truth was, that wasn't the only issue.
The info I'd gotten from the space mall buying the dried pollack blockbuster.
Meaning Section Chief Lee Jaheon couldn't exit whatever darkness he was in.
'Boarding school ghost story.'
So I'd already planned to find him anyway—wanted to check somehow. Seemed no ordinary matter.
After Agent Haegum helped me regain sanity, I even felt anxious.
'Was gonna ask Baek Saheon to pinpoint which darkness.'
But bigger hurdle here.
My own status.
"......!"
Truth was, the return announcement still echoed in my head.
The massive jade bell, source of the jade beads, had snapped me sane, but how long could I arbitrarily delay this summons...?
Not just that.
'...Re-entering Segwang Special City is the same.'
I didn't know how.
Trying the well again risked the Disaster Management Bureau noticing. Once was reckless mid-mission, but repeats show intent.
Even using it...
'...Can I drag these people along?'
Dying never gets familiar no matter how often, and it came with massive contamination. Plus, many already triggered by near-death trauma from ghost stories...
...Yeah.
'Maybe I should go solo.'
I'm not human anymore. Contamination aftereffects should hit me less...
To begin with, I'd shoved Deputy Manager Yi Seonghae onto that train. If she can't keep coming out, I'm clearly the decisive cause—responsibility clear.
So... yeah.
That'd be better.
"...Right. Company's the issue all around."
Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je, unaware of my thoughts, patted my back.
Spotting the part-timer approaching to swap the grill, she leaned back and muttered jokingly.
"Jeez, maybe tell Executive Ho."
"Then I can help."
"...!"
Before we knew it.
The part-timer serving our table smiled and sat down.
Now I saw his face clearly. Pleasant-looking young man smiling.
...Executive Ho.
'When.'
He'd slipped in so slyly, impossible to tell how long he'd been there.
The pleasant young man's face scanned us.
"Congrats, everyone."
"......"
"You went, right?"
Segwang Special City.
His lips formed the words silently, face serene, but his eyes brimmed with eerie madness I caught.
"How was it? A special secret spot others can't perceive. Fun? Tense? Or painful, unable to tell your agency anything?"
"......"
"Speak freely."
The agents looked tensed up, but I realized they were scanning surroundings, checking gear.
Civilian-packed restaurant here...
"Don't worry. The others here will be fine."
"...!"
"I don't like commotion, nor harbor casual malice toward others."
"O..."
Agent Choi grinned through gritted teeth.
"And someone like you shoves others into deadly supernatural disasters?"
"Already explained that."
Ho Yuwon spoke soothingly.
"Disaster Management Bureau's fine with it."
The sane-mad bullshit chilled.
"What? You're the weird one... Emotions aren't logical, 130666."
Hoo.
Grape.
Anger or distortion flashed in Ho Yuwon's eyes reading the agent code, but vanished traceless.
"Haha, you like unofficial nicknames. Deer."
I read something there.
Impatience.
Suppressing anger to push the talk faster.
"Hold on."
Agent Cheongdong spoke.
"You knew?"
"Knew what?"
"That well connects to specific areas. Was that your goal from the start?"
"And if it was?"
"......"
"Then isn't it better? Our goals align."
Clap.
Ho Yuwon clapped smiling.
"I'll spare no support to rescue Deputy Manager Yi Seonghae."
"...!"
"Think about it."
Insidiously soothing voice.
"Would the Bureau spend time and pull busy field agents for that?"
"......"
"I can help no matter what..."
The table area wavered.
"Don't ask much in return. Just one humble request from Segwang Special City..."
"Ooh, then do it yourself?"
"......"
"You know the path, humble task—why yap here instead of going in?"
Rage stabbed through Agent Choi's cheerful tone.
"Can't go in... can you?"
"......"
"Bingo."
Silence revealed it.
That's it.
Dunno why, but Ho Yuwon probably couldn't enter Segwang Special City.
So he kept roping employees via projects, using Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je now too.
"Right. Sadly, I can't enter."
But Ho Yuwon showed no shake, just big regretful pout.
"So more trustworthy, no? Can't go myself, so support all your Segwang probes. Makes sense, right?"
Then.
"...!"
"O, Grape's got a good idea."
Ho Yuwon's eyes turned to me.
"Yeah. Wouldn't pull that 'put it on others but dodge myself' crap~"
Heavy silence flowed.
But.
"Sounds good."
"...!"
"Mutual bindings? Can't betray till Segwang exploration ends."
Ho Yuwon placed hand on table smiling.
"Now?"
"......"
"Need prep? Fine, I can wait..."
Ho Yuwon stood from the table spot.
"But for the one you're rescuing, better hurry. No knowing how long she holds out."
"......"
"Deputy Manager Eun Ha-je has contact. Later."
And turning back.
Ho Yuwon was gone; ordinary part-timer took the grill to kitchen.
"......"
"......Hoo."
"Hanwoo's tricky to ruin, but he nailed it. Bosses shouldn't join drinks."
"Haha..."
That day.
The drinking party ended with pensive folks mulling at the table.
With an unreliable backer option born.
'Hoo.'
After the party.
As others returned to quarters, I was sent back to the secure space in the main building for supernatural entities.
'Surprised they let me out...'
Probably tested my stability with agents escorting for safety.
And I passed this time.
'Good.'
Truth was, post-Agent Haegum sanity restore, extreme isolation eased a lot.
This place felt less room, more... like a small projected outdoor pavilion. Likely for supernatural mental stability.
'Haven't paid proper taxes yet...'
Somehow felt bad trashing the facility.
Had gobbled tons of bells too—odd guilt like I owed for meals.
Of course, someone would spout that nonsense...
But now...
'......'
Gone.
'Half a month already?'
Since Brown's voice stopped.
Like at Daydream annex B13 working as 130666, I couldn't perceive Brown's voice then.
'But thought it'd return quick once sane.'
Dunno why, still silent.
Merch... no, that proxy doll confiscated by Bureau post-collection, not returned.
'...Wait and it'll come?'
Last time too, lag after sanity till Brown's voice—waiting for now.
Or over-immersed Brown only speaks with merch present.
'Hope it's the former.'
That moment.
Ding-a-ling...
'...!'
Wind chime.
Meant visitor in isolation space.
These days, usually duty agent chats safely beyond sliding door, logging status...
Today, unique guest too.
"Elder from Hyunmu Team 1 requested... wanna see?"
Small lantern agent held.
Tiny goblin fire peeked out.
'...!'
Once my arm—that goblin fire flickered.