Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Yuseong Group (8)
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"Damn it."
The curse that slipped from Sera's lips spoke for everyone's feelings. Just as despair began to cloud the squad members' faces for the first time, Park Min-ji cautiously spoke up.
"Um... please don't get too down about it. With my employee card key, I can reach the 20th floor. So... I can take you all the way to the employee break room floor in one go."
"The 20th floor?"
Carlson asked again. It was simple English, so Park Min-ji understood right away this time.
"Yes. I'm just a regular front desk employee, so I don't have access beyond that, but up to the 20th floor is no problem."
Relief washed over the team's faces at her words. Compared to the 100th floor, the 20th might seem like nothing, but skipping the grueling climb from the 1st to the 20th was a massive advantage.
It alone would save them countless hours, stamina, and potential dangers.
"Looks like we should be the ones thanking you. Much obliged. You've greatly boosted our team's survival odds."
"I thought this fox was all cunning, but she's a total lucky charm? Ah, Joo-hyuk. Don't translate that part."
Park Min-ji's face flushed red at the team's gratitude. Though they'd only just taken their first step among countless stone stairs, the fact that she could help in this desperate situation seemed to bring her a spark of joy.
"And while we can't normally access floors without permission, for floors starting with '1,' you can authenticate from the floor right below and go up. In other words, from the 20th floor, we can use the emergency stairs to reach the 21st."
Carlson nodded at my translation.
"Good. That makes things easier. We'll take Min-ji Park's help via elevator to the 20th floor. From there, we'll hop floors using the emergency stairs toward the 100th. Any objections?"
Since Park Min-ji wasn't combat personnel, it was decided she'd wait safely on the 1st floor.
As we headed toward the elevator, Park Min-ji suddenly raised her hand urgently, as if remembering something, and grabbed us.
"Wait! I almost forgot the most important part!"
"What is it?"
"I can only go up to the 20th floor, but our supervisor, 'Team Leader Seo Ji-su,' can access up to the 40th! If we get her card key, we can take the elevator straight to the 40th!"
It was information we couldn't ignore.
"Is that so? That's prime intel. Joo-hyuk, ask her for a detailed description of Team Leader Seo Ji-su's appearance. With luck, she might be among the infected we took out earlier."
I asked Park Min-ji about Team Leader Seo Ji-su's looks and what she was wearing the last time she'd seen her.
"Team Leader Seo Ji-su is... a woman in her early thirties, tall, with short hair and glasses. The last time I saw her, she was in her usual black business suit."
With her description, we immediately began a thorough search of the 1st-floor lobby.
Of course, sifting through faces blown apart by bullets and soaked in blood to find a short-haired, bespectacled woman in her thirties wasn't exactly pleasant.
So I cleanly used time compression.
▶▶▶ 1 Hour Later ▶▶▶ The tedious search ended in a flash. But the results were disappointing.
"...One thing's for sure. None of the infected we took out match her description."
Sera reported in an irritated tone.
"Where the hell is she? Hmm. Maybe she's still alive somewhere in the building?"
"Uh... um. I... I don't really know. The last time I saw Team Leader was right before this mess started."
Park Min-ji said with an apologetic look.
She clutched her head as if desperately trying to remember. Right then, her pupils dilated, and she clapped her fists together.
"Ah! That's right! I remember now! It was the 22nd floor, or maybe the 32nd... anyway, something went wrong on that floor, and Team Leader said she'd go handle it herself! If we're lucky, she might still be there!"
"Then the plan stands. We'll go from the 20th to the 21st and look for this Team Leader Seo Ji-su. Even if she's dead, as long as we get the card key, we're good."
"Hold on. There's something I don't get."
Lea spoke up.
"Why can regular employees only access up to the 20th floor? This is a 100-story building. Hell, why is the security so ridiculously segmented by floor in the first place?"
Lea's question was one of my own doubts as well.
For a massive corp like Yuseong Group, security was lifeblood, so some strictness made sense. But restricting employee movement paths this harshly felt inefficient somewhere.
Park Min-ji answered as if it were obvious.
"It's because security levels differ based on the project you're assigned to, even in the same building. Yuseong Group runs completely independent projects by department, rank, and experience..."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Park Min-ji began proudly explaining Yuseong Group like she was reciting the company manual.
Her explanation was long-winded and convoluted. She could've summed up the core points but dragged it out with flowery language and unnecessary corporate ethics nonsense.
I was starting to lose patience.
"You're saying no one knows what others are doing, right? You're explaining it way too long."
Her shoulders flinched at my point. Looking chastened like a student scolded by the teacher, she glossed over it and continued.
"A-anyway! So I mainly handle guest services. Up to the 20th floor in this building are hotel facilities for regular people. Restaurants, fitness centers, pools, that sort of thing."
Park Min-ji paused to catch her breath.
"From the 21st to 40th floors, it's exclusive spaces for celebrities or VIP clients. Private lounges, spas, dedicated theaters, etc. Team Leader Seo Ji-su was in charge of that whole section."
Before my translation even finished, Carlson jumped in to ask Park Min-ji directly.
"What about above that?"
Impatience colored his voice.
"41st to 50th floors are probably storage for supplies and materials for those services, or staff quarters. Honestly, I don't know much beyond that. Regular employees like me rarely go up without a specific reason... Sorry."
A heavy silence settled over the lobby as her explanation ended. The info was useful, but it clearly showed how treacherous the path ahead would be.
Carlson rubbed his dry face in exhaustion. A deep sigh soon escaped him.
"Should've requested an extra squad from Titan Security before heading out."
Carlson muttered self-mockingly. At that moment, Sera checked her wrist PDA and spoke.
"But we should get moving soon, right? It's already been 28 hours since the mission started. Any more delays, and the VIP might be in danger."
Lea nodded in agreement, placing a hand on Park Min-ji's shoulder.
"With that in mind, take care upstairs too, Min-ji."
"Me too, me too~"
Sera chimed in, grabbing Park Min-ji's other shoulder. Suddenly flanked by two stunning Western beauties, Park Min-ji looked around in bewilderment.
"Uh...? Mercenary Joo-hyuk? Wasn't it decided I'd stay here?"
At her innocent question, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
'Sigh, what a ditzy bitch.'
Thanks to Park Min-ji, C Team learned one solid fact.
Entering this massive building blind would've been a huge time sink. Without her, we might not even have figured out how to reach the 100th floor.
For mission stability and efficiency, someone who knew the building's insides was essential.
And right now, the only one who could guide us was Park Min-ji. Leaving her on the 1st floor was no longer an option.
I pressed the elevator button, thinking.
'Can't just use this fresh pussy once and toss it. Gotta keep her alive and drag her around.'
"Stick right by my side when we go up. Bonus points if you rub your tits and pussy on me whenever you can."
"Pardon?"
Park Min-ji blinked dumbly at the crude remark out of nowhere.
*Ding.*
With a clear chime, the elevator doors slid smoothly open. There were bloodstains and chunks of unidentified flesh inside, but otherwise it was clean.
"Alright, let's go."
I stepped in first, and the team followed one by one.
"B-but I don't know how to shoot or anything... I'll just be dead weight. Can't I stay here?"
"Nope."
"Eeeek! Save me!!"
Park Min-ji hesitated until the end but was ultimately dragged into the elevator by my hand.