Resignation

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, sir. Especially after you gave me such a great opportunity."

"To be honest, I'm quite disappointed. I heard you were adjusting well."

Inside the All Day Guard Representative Office, I was discussing my resignation with CEO Hwang Byeong-il.

It was my fourth month with Alpha Team. According to the original plan, I was supposed to leave Alpha Team now and take over a different team as their Team Leader.

But after working with Alpha Team, I realized something. I wasn't qualified to be a team leader yet.

There were too many areas where I fell short. Security work was a minefield of unpredictable variables, and I didn't have the ability to handle them all. I was severely lacking in experience.

The brief time I spent with Alpha Team wasn't nearly enough to bridge that gap.

I thought it was only right to speak up now, before a team was custom-built for me and I was handed a title I couldn't carry.

It was better to tell CEO Hwang Byeong-il directly: You don't need to form a team for me. I'm resigning.

That was my way of showing consideration for both CEO Hwang and All Day Guard.

"Couldn't you build that experience while serving as team leader?"

"A team leader is a position of responsibility, not a place to study, is it not?"

"Depending on the situation, you can do both."

"I appreciate your consideration, but I believe a team leader should be someone who is fully prepared."

Sure, to be completely honest, could I do it? Yes. If I put together a team of experienced members and focused on light projects, it wouldn't be impossible. In fact, having tried it, it wasn't even that difficult.

But the truth was, security work just didn't suit me.

When I first accepted All Day Guard's offer, I imagined meeting diverse people and gaining new experiences in various places. I had pictured traveling the world and building a close rapport with the clients.

But the reality was a strict ban on speaking to the clients. And while we did go to various places, it was nothing but an endless loop between hotels and event venues.

There was no real rest. Sure, there were breaks, but because we rested in shifts, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it never felt like actual rest. I constantly felt rushed, as if I were being chased by time.

I also hated how blurry the line was between being a bodyguard and a secretary.

To me, a bodyguard felt like something trapped in the awkward space between a secretary and an event coordinator.

Honestly, in my four months of working here, I had never once felt a threat of terror or physical danger.

I had never subdued an enemy, nor had I ever escorted a client through an emergency evacuation.

I didn't want to do this job just to run drug errands or clear paths so idols could walk through crowds of screaming fans.

The truth was, I had developed a deep sense of skepticism about whether I really needed to be doing this.

Claiming a lack of capability as a team leader might just be an excuse. But right now, it felt like the right excuse to use.

"Could you give it a bit more thought?"

"My mind is made up."

"I understand. I had hoped you would stay with All Day Guard for a long time, Deputy Team Leader. It's a shame."

"I'm sorry. You gave me a great opportunity, and I couldn't make the most of it."

I announced my resignation to the team.

The Team Leader wore an unreadable expression, while An Jibin looked as if he had just won a grand victory.

He looked like a man who had finally gotten a throbbing, rotten tooth pulled. Should I go ahead and knock another one of his teeth out while I'm at it?

Skipping the team training, I packed up the belongings I had left in my locker.

As I walked out of the office, a familiar face caught my eye.

Colonel Son Tae-jin.

The man who had served as the commander of the Suho Unit.

What was he doing at All Day Guard?

I gave Colonel Son a crisp salute, a habit from our time together.

"Unity!"

"Unity."

Colonel Son returned the salute with a light gesture. His eyes drifted to the box of belongings in my hands.

"If you have some time, would you care for a cup of tea?"

"I'd like that, sir."

I readily accepted his invitation. He was one of the few people I didn't dislike.

Colonel Son turned and walked deeper into the company building.

Wait, why? Shouldn't we be heading outside?

The place Colonel Son stopped was the Advisor's Office. He opened the door with practiced familiarity and stepped inside.

"Come on in."

"Sir? Ah, yes."

"I was appointed as an advisor quite some time ago, but it hasn't been long since I actually started coming to the office. My discharge from active duty was delayed much longer than expected."

At Colonel Son's words, I sat down uncomfortably on the sofa while he began preparing the tea.

"Let me get that, sir."

"Please, don't go taking away one of my few remaining pleasures."

Though I offered several times, Colonel Son firmly refused.

Come to think of it, I remembered being told that someone had recommended me to this company. Could that person have been Colonel Son?

Colonel Son sat down, carrying a tea set on a tray. He poured green tea from the teapot into a cup and handed it to me.

"I've been quite obsessed with this tea lately. Give it a try. It's not bad."

"Thank you, sir."

The perfectly warmed cup delivered the subtle bitterness and gentle sweetness unique to green tea, accompanied by a fresh, grassy aroma.

"How is it?"

"It's very good, sir."

"I brewed it myself, but I think I did a rather good job. Haha."

"You brewed it perfectly, sir."

Was Colonel Son always this lighthearted? Back when he was the unit commander, he had been rather intimidating.

"So, you've decided to leave?"

"Yes, sir."

"Sergeant Gong, do you know who recommended you here?"

"I guessed it just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now when I saw you here, sir."

"Actually, it wasn't me. Gyu-tae asked me to."

"You mean... Captain Song Gyu-tae, sir?"

At ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the unexpected name, my heart felt as if it dropped straight into my stomach.

But how could Captain Song Gyu-tae have recommended me? The man was currently resting at the National Cemetery.

"Yes. We were having dinner together once, and he said, 'Commander, please look after our In-bae. He might seem sharp and aloof, but he's a kid starved for affection.' So I told him, 'Then you look after him.' But he just laughed and said he was already taking good care of his team. Haha... After what happened to the 2nd Company, and then hearing you were discharging, I couldn't just let it go. So I asked the company to bring you in."

"..."

"Of course, that wasn't the only reason. Your skills and records were outstanding, so the company scouted you without hesitation. I wished we could have worked together longer. It's a pity."

"I'm sorry, sir. I fell short."

"I should have paid more attention. I'm sorry."

"Not at all, sir. I'm incredibly grateful just for the recommendation."

"No, I'm the one who's sorry. If I recommended you, I should have looked after you, but my discharge was delayed because of all the investigations I had to go through."

It seemed Colonel Son had also been subjected to rigorous investigations after the incident before finally being discharged. Indeed, after an incident where eleven soldiers died simultaneously, it would have been impossible for a commander to continue his military career.

Still, it was a relief. He seemed to be doing well.

We shared small talk after that. He asked what I wanted to do next, if I had any plans, and if there was anything he could do to help.

I told him I didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have any concrete plans yet and just wanted to rest for a while.

It was a quiet, mild conversation—much like the green tea we were drinking—but it was filled with the mutual respect and consideration of a tea ceremony.

"Call me whenever you need anything."

"I will, sir. Unity."

"Unity."

After finishing our conversation, I gave him a proper salute and left the Advisor's Office.

Back in Congo, I used to get scolded by Captain Song Gyu-tae for leaving without saluting properly.

Now that there was no one left to scold me, I had to make sure I behaved perfectly.

The Geumryeonbang had been expanding its territory at a terrifying pace recently.

A few handguns in the hands of their rivals were no match for military-grade assault rifles.

Armed with overwhelming firepower, they seized control of major businesses across Macau.

In particular, they focused heavily on capturing the distribution lines.

As a result, it had reached a point where it was practically impossible to distribute anything in Macau—be it alcohol, food ingredients, or anything else—without going through the Geumryeonbang.

It was as if Macau had fallen entirely into the palm of the Geumryeonbang's hand.

Perhaps because it was a small city, the takeover had happened in the blink of an eye.

However, as their business grew exponentially, their problems grew just as fast.

"Hwasayan, we are running extremely low on drugs."

"How much is left?"

"At this rate, we won't last even two weeks."

"Two weeks?"

"Yes."

"What about the stock we took from the Hong Kong and mainland factions?"

"That is including their stock. The consumption rate is much faster than we anticipated."

"And our own route?"

"We are running it at maximum capacity, but it's nowhere near enough. Our original route wasn't designed for large-scale imports."

"What about the route the Hong Kong guys used?"

"They destroyed it themselves when they lost their businesses to us."

"And the mainland line?"

"The same."

La Fei had a massive headache.

This was the time to strike while the iron was hot. They needed to solidify their position now.

Macau was the world's largest casino city. It had been nearly twenty years since it surpassed Las Vegas, the epitome of glamour. Without a doubt, Macau was the undisputed king of the casino world.

And the Geumryeonbang had just become the largest syndicate in that very city.

But because they had grown so rapidly, they hadn't been able to establish the necessary infrastructure.

They would have to build new smuggling routes eventually, but right now, they needed to put out the immediate fire.

Only one person came to La Fei's mind.

Candy Boy.

I had resigned without any real plan.

And since I had resigned, I couldn't very well keep living in the company dormitory.

I packed my few belongings—or rather, stored them safely inside my Inventory—and walked out of the company doors.

I had nowhere to go.

Should I go on a trip? Or maybe head back to Congo? It would be nice to see Poapy's face again.

Or maybe Southeast Asia? Or even just Jeju Island?

It was then.

Buzz, buzz.

My messenger app chimed.

I immediately set off for Incheon International Airport.

Bohol, Philippines.

When the plane touched down at Bohol Panglao International Airport, a massive crowd of tourists—families, friends, and couples—poured out of the cabin. I blended in seamlessly among them as I disembarked.

A South Korean passport is incredibly powerful. In Southeast Asia, they let you through without asking many questions.

Sure enough, I walked right out of Bohol Airport without being asked a single question.

Once outside, I used a payphone to contact the man.

After hanging up, I took a taxi to Alona Beach.

Located just ten minutes from the airport, Alona Beach was known as the heart of the tourist district, a place where all travelers gathered.

It had everything: restaurants, shops, convenience stores, diving shops, currency exchanges, pubs, McDonald's, and ATMs.

It was also where the major hotels and resorts were concentrated.

With such a diverse crowd of people constantly moving through, there was no better place for someone like me to blend in and disappear.

As soon as I arrived, I bought a pair of shorts, flip-flops, and a T-shirt that read 'I ♥ BOHOL' and put them on immediately.

I also bought a pair of sunglasses and a straw hat.

Looking at my reflection in a shop window, I looked exactly like any other tourist visiting Bohol.

Dressed like that, with a cold beer in one hand, I strolled along Alona Beach.

Was it because of my clothes? Or was it because the setting sun looked different here?

I genuinely felt like a tourist.

The exotic scenery and unfamiliar scents made my heart flutter with excitement.

Come to think of it, this was the first country I had visited other than Congo and Macau.

Even though I was here for business, it felt much more like a vacation.

The "business" itself was simple enough—all I had to do was pick up a single package. It wasn't difficult at all.

Tomorrow, I would go to the designated spot, grab the goods, and that would be it. Done.

But I didn't plan on leaving Bohol immediately.

I was going to stay here for at least three days.

Coming all the way to Bohol only to leave after a single day? And as a South Korean tourist? Anyone would find that highly suspicious.

So, I planned to linger for at least three days.

Thinking that way brought a sense of peace to my mind.

Like any young tourist on a budget, I checked into a cheap hotel near Alona Beach.

Then, I headed to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

I ordered a dish called sisig.

It was a traditional Filipino dish made of minced pork, chicken, and liver, seasoned with calamansi and chili peppers.

Since pizza and steak could be eaten anywhere in the world, I wanted to try authentic local food.

Though the seasoning was quite strong, it tasted wonderful when paired with rice.

As I was eating my dinner alone, someone spoke to me.

"Are you here alone?"

I looked up.

A woman with long hair, wearing a flowing sundress, was looking down at me.