Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: White Tiger (1)
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The day of the final battle dawned.
We all submitted our resignations to Dongto Corporation together.
As the team's representative, Team Leader Park Cheolwoo personally delivered the documents to HR and came back out.
We had all secretly expected Dongto to try to hold us back in some way, or at least make the resignation process as difficult as possible.
"Team Leader, how did it go?"
"...They accepted them very straightforwardly."
But unexpectedly, Dongto didn't try to stop us at all.
They simply took the bundle of resignation letters that Team Leader Park Cheolwoo handed over, processed them without any particular questions, as if they'd been waiting for it. That cleanliness was almost suspicious.
As we walked down the hallway, the team leader said with a stiff expression.
"I'm not entirely sure, but... it seems something happened with Exploration Team 5. The whole company's in an uproar over it. Not that we're complaining, but it looks like they just want to handle our matter as quickly as possible."
The moment I heard that, I felt a jolt inside.
Because I was at the center of that Exploration Team 5 incident that had turned Dongto upside down right now.
I'd told my teammates about what Dongto was doing in the underground hotel, but I hadn't mentioned anything related to Exploration Team 5.
It was hard to say that I'd blackmailed the monster into turning Exploration Team 5 into their last supper and told them to leave the hotel basement.
The team leader probably had no idea, even in his dreams.
Thanks to that incident, contrary to our expectations, we weren't asked to return the items we'd been given, and we were able to leave the company without any particular difficulties.
We'd prepared all sorts of scenarios for any possible situations and even worried about countermeasures, but now that everything ended so smoothly and anticlimactically, I felt a bit deflated.
We returned to our desks, organized them, packed our personal belongings, and headed out.
Now, it was truly over with Dongto.
A strange mix of relief, anticipation for the future, and anxiety washed over me.
Today wasn't just about submitting resignations—we planned to head straight to White Tiger Corporation as well.
We'd already made an appointment with Park Sunja.
As we were about to leave Team 15's office, someone knocked on the door.
When we opened it, Rahee greeted us with a slightly awkward expression and a bow.
"Um, can I come with you too?"
We were a bit surprised by her words at first, but soon felt glad.
It seemed Park Sunja had given her a chance as well.
We'd heard that unlike us, she had to pass an interview, but somehow, I had faith that Rahee could make it.
She wasn't exactly the type suited for an exploration team, but when it came to diligence and meticulousness, she didn't fall short of anyone.
In an office job, she'd more than pull her weight.
"Of course. Let's go together."
Han Sora was the first to smile brightly and welcome Rahee, and we all set off together.
We arrived at White Tiger's headquarters in Team Leader Park's car, and it boasted an overwhelming scale just like Dongto's.
Two ultra-high-rise buildings towered imposingly, their height so extraordinary that our heads tilted back involuntarily.
I wondered idly if trendy conglomerates had a fad for making their high-rises out of all-glass facades, staring blankly up at the building when a familiar figure approached us from over there.
It was Park Sunja.
A faint smile played on her lips.
"You're all here. Welcome to White Tiger."
Park Sunja made eye contact with each of us and greeted us, and the team members and Rahee responded politely, if a bit awkwardly.
"I'll be guiding you all today. And for Miss Rahee... there's a light interview scheduled later. It won't be too difficult, so no need to be too nervous."
"...Yes!"
At her words, Rahee nodded vigorously with an almost resolute expression.
She might snap her neck at this rate.
We followed Park Sunja into the nearest building.
The entrance lobby seemed to have an even more stringent security system than Dongto's. We had to go through several authentication procedures before we could finally board the elevator.
The first place we headed was the area where White Tiger's office workers were stationed.
In the spacious, comfortable open-plan office space, countless people were immersed in their tasks.
Park Sunja gave us a brief explanation, describing the roles we were likely to be assigned.
"Office jobs have many fields, but basically, former Team Leader Park Cheolwoo will handle pre-briefings for exploration teams and overall operational support; Miss Han Sora, playing to her personality, will take on a control role communicating in real-time with on-site exploration teams and issuing orders; and Miss Seo Ji-hyun will manage data collection and research tasks."
She paused for a moment, looked at Rahee, and added.
"And if Miss Rahee passes the final interview, she'll handle a special support role here, remotely using specific items or assisting exploration teams."
Park Sunja smiled softly.
"You four will likely be assigned as a team and work together."
At the news that we could work as a team again, given our different specialties, everyone's faces lit up with a hint of anticipation.
I felt relieved on one hand but also curious.
Why were they taking us in as a unit like this? If it was just office staffing, they could have scattered us individually.
Reading my expression, Park Sunja smiled and explained.
"Just as Dongto recently assigned additional exploration teams, we're expanding our exploration team scale and reinforcing our forces at White Tiger. Accordingly, we're also expanding the support teams."
According to her, White Tiger had separate support teams that backed 1-2 exploration teams.
And Team 15's members were slated to be placed in one of those support teams.
Of course, I was excluded.
I was going to be on an exploration team, not support.
Then, a man approached us.
"Hello. I'm Park Ji-ho from the support team."
"This person will explain the support team in my place. Actually, I'm on an exploration team myself, so I don't know the details. And this person is..."
"Ah, the one here for the interview? Let's hear the support team explanation first anyway."
"Yes, yes...!"
And so, I left my teammates and Rahee behind and followed Park Sunja to a higher floor.
"From here on, these are the floors used by the exploration teams."
As soon as we got off the elevator, a noticeably different, more tense atmosphere hit us.
Park Sunja strode down the hallway without hesitation and stopped in front of an office.
A nameplate reading [Temporary Team 10] was attached to the door.
Creak.
She opened the door without hesitation, and inside, familiar faces turned to look at me.
"Huh?"
There sat Shun, Bora, and Hanbit.
They were the ones I'd tested as a supervisor at Dongto in the past, now supposedly part of Dongto's Team 16.
Why were they gathered here at White Tiger, under the name 'Temporary Team 10' no less?
When they spotted me, they exchanged glances and nodded slightly, as if to say, he really came.
The first to speak, as expected, was Bora, the team's de facto leader.
She stood from her seat, approached me, and extended her hand.
"Long time no see, Minjun..."
Bora paused, then chuckled.
"Now that we're on the same team, let's get along well from now on."
Her sudden handshake and the words "same team" left me standing there dumbfounded.
It was an unexpected development.
Of course, I'd figured I'd be assigned to a new exploration team, but I hadn't imagined it'd be with these people.
And this was White Tiger—why were they here instead of Dongto?
Had they been scouted like me?
That seemed the most likely.
As I stood frozen without a word, Bora's expression hardened slightly, and she looked at me with wary eyes.
"You're not... aiming for the team leader position, are you? No matter how strong you are, Minjun, I've built up achievements here. I can't just hand over the team leader spot that easily. Being team leader isn't just about being strong, fast, good at fighting, and having strong mental fortitude...?"
She suddenly launched into a tirade, giving me a full lecture.
Of course, I had zero interest in her team leader position.
I was just too stunned by this absurd situation to respond, but she'd clearly misunderstood.
I nearly let out a hollow laugh but held it back.
At that moment, Park Sunja, who'd been watching, stepped between us with a gentle smile.
"Kim Minjun, we look forward to working with you. We sincerely welcome you to White Tiger's Temporary Team 10."
With Park Sunja's official welcome, I suddenly found myself assigned to a new team at a new company.
With the very people I'd judged in the past, no less.
Life really was unpredictable.
I smiled awkwardly and looked at my new teammates one by one.
Bora was wary of me, Hanbit still seemed a bit afraid, and Shun looked at me like I was an opponent to fight rather than a teammate.
I had a feeling team life was going to be quite lively from now on.