101. Perfect Timing (4)
101. Perfect Timing (4)
After handing Ryu Jin-ju over to the Demonized Human Extermination Squad seniors, Jin Yu-ha and Baek Seol-hee headed to the Director's Office of the Hunter Management Bureau.
Flutter— flutter—
"What kind of bullshit is this...!"
After flipping through the documents they'd handed her for a long moment, Kim Ji-won slammed her fist down onto the desk, her face twisted with rage.
Bang!
A fist-shaped, perfectly round hole appeared in the surface of the desk.
She leaned her head back against her chair and pressed hard into her temples.
"......Ha, this is beyond absurd."
The situation was already chaotic as it was.
Out of nowhere, the internet had suddenly exploded with complaints and targeted articles aimed at the Hunter Management Bureau.
She'd been scrambling to put together countermeasures when,
Baek Seol-hee and her disciple showed up again.
With those shocking documents.
Kim Ji-won closed her eyes and gathered her thoughts.
'......Hoo, it gives me chills to think what would've happened if this story had spread.'
The materials they'd brought her were devastating.
Things she hadn't done were recorded as though she had, and all sorts of evidence and photos had even been fabricated.
The materials were probably convincing enough to deceive an ordinary person, not an expert.
'If we hadn't secured this, they'd have beaten me with my eyes wide open.......'
She opened her eyes and clasped her hands together.
Leaning forward over the desk, she looked at the black-haired master and disciple before her.
"......So, what you're saying is, the two of you set off this whole uproar? To buy time before this material got out?"
"Yes. It blew up bigger than we expected, but use the chaos to analyze those documents and prepare your rebuttal."
Haaa—
Kim Ji-won let out a deep sigh.
"I'm now deeply in debt to Velvet Academy."
"Hmm, if this story had gone public, you, the director, probably wouldn't have come through unscathed."
Baek Seol-hee said in an even voice.
Kim Ji-won nodded as if in agreement.
"......You're right. They set the board up cunningly. Even if our side rushed out an explanatory article after the fact, the fabricated version that came first would be believed, and our explanation would be seen as a lie. The work is that high-level. So, the person who pulled this off is...... Ryu Jin-ju, you said?"
"No. That bastard is a puppet. He seemed to believe it was true."
"......Is that so? It figures; he doesn't have the brains for a sophisticated forgery like this. It'll be best if the Demonized Human Extermination Squad's name stays out of this...... Hmm. Would it be fine to announce that Velvet Academy handled it?"
Kim Ji-won said in a dispirited voice, her blue hair hanging limply.
'Well, I guess the Hunter Management Bureau can't be a check against Velvet Academy anymore.'
A single institution monopolizing power went against her values, but she had no choice.
Comparing the two right now, the Bureau was unilaterally doing nothing but holding Velvet Academy back.
'Yeah, it can't be helped.......'
That was when she saw Baek Seol-hee turn her head toward her handsome disciple, that boy.
And when the boy signaled something with his eyes, Baek Seol-hee nodded as if she understood.
She'd thought he'd just tagged along, but had that not been the case?
'......Did that boy have something to do with this? No, judging by the atmosphere, it looks like that boy spearheaded it......?'
Baek Seol-hee turned her head back and met her eyes.
"We'll say you prepared all of this and then acted on it."
"......What!?"
Kim Ji-won's eyes flew wide open in shock.
'They want to say I prepared this? Why on earth.......'
"Velvet Academy and the Hunter Management Bureau are institutions that keep each other in check. However, as things stand now, Velvet Academy holds significantly more power than the Bureau."
Because this was a world where military force was power, even as mutual checks,
the Hunter Management Bureau was a step behind Velvet Academy, a producer of high-level hunters.
"Even without this, the Bureau's standing is going to take a massive hit from this incident. And to the bastards who orchestrated this in advance, a reeling Hunter Management Bureau will look like an empty house."
Baek Seol-hee spoke in a calm voice.
She was right.
Even if they'd gotten their hands on the fabricated materials beforehand,
in the end, it had been exposed to the world that there was a rotten element inside the Bureau.
It was obvious all sorts of scum would try to worm their way in, exploiting this moment when the defenses were full of holes.
What Kim Ji-won couldn't understand, though, was why they were trying to give her all the credit for this.
This was Velvet Academy, the same institution that always detested the Bureau's interference.
"Yes, I follow that far. But still, Velvet Academy and the Hunter Management Bureau are independent institutions. There's no reason for your side to go this far—."
"There's a reason."
Those words came from the boy, Baek Seol-hee's disciple.
'His name was Jin Yu-ha, wasn't it......?'
Kim Ji-won shifted her gaze to him.
"We want you, Director, to become the focal point."
"......A focal point?"
"Yes. If the Director becomes the one credited for blowing this wide open, you'll be able to clean out a great number of the internal enemies who've been obstructing you. A purge, in other words. The overall power of the Bureau will be weakened, sure, but once you've completely carved out the rotten parts, couldn't you build a solid tower again from the ground up?"
He spoke in an innocent voice, as if this was simply the way things ought to be.
'Is he still too young to understand the complexities of power......?'
For a moment, a shadowy thought surfaced inside Kim Ji-won.
Maybe it would be best to just accept the offer as it was.......
But, as if to negate that thought, Jin Yu-ha added something.
"After all, I think concentrating power in one place is a bad thing."
Kim Ji-won flinched at the boy's words.
Because the very thought she'd just had came directly out of his mouth.
"......Right, but why me? Surely there are plenty of others who could carry this out even if it weren't for me. We're meeting for the first time today. Can you...... trust me?"
Convinced that Jin Yu-ha had orchestrated this incident, Kim Ji-won asked him.
"Well, that's......."
As he spoke, the disciple looked back at his master.
He gave a charming eye-smile, his gaze filled with absolute trust.
"The instructor told me you were a remarkably decent person, Director."
At that, Baek Seol-hee let out a small "Ahem," clearing her throat awkwardly, her face flushing red.
'......Ha. The surprises really don't stop today, do they? The Slaughter-Crazed Woman, blushing and showing an embarrassed face like that?'
"......Right, I understand. I'll accept the proposal."
She'd worn an astounded expression for a moment, but caring about this detail meant she'd lose.
"However, the math still doesn't add up. At this rate, I feel like I'll be forever indebted to you. Then I won't be able to carry out impartial oversight on Velvet Academy. Regarding that—."
"In that case, how about this?"
Jin Yu-ha added, as if he'd been waiting for those words.
"Not on the level of the Hunter Management Bureau, but as a debt incurred by Hunter Kim Ji-won on a personal level."
'So, you want to place the debt specifically on me? Leaving the Bureau itself completely out of it. You're really quite impertinent, aren't you, kid.'
She felt like she'd been played from the very start, but,
the corners of Kim Ji-won's lips were curling upwards.
Because she had the feeling she'd gladly fall for a trick like this as many times as they liked.
"Baek Seol-hee. You really have got yourself one capable disciple."
At that, Baek Seol-hee gave a small nod as if in affirmation.
* * *
"Our youngest member!"
"Whoa, you're so cute!!!! Your skin is incredible!!"
"Hey, um, you wanna try calling me noona?"
"Ooh, can't this kid just not wear a mask even after joining the Extermination Squad? His face is a nutritional supplement all on its own."
"When do your official activities start?"
After coordinating a few more matters with the Hunter Management Bureau, when we came outside,
the shrieking ninjas—I mean, my Demonized Human Extermination Squad seniors—swarmed around me.
They had quite the boisterous personalities.
"U-uh, um, y-youngest. Do you think I c-could maybe p-pet your head just once, too......?"
Among them, a senior wearing a rabbit mask asked.
"......Uh, um. Sure."
Feeling a bit awkward at their warm welcome, I lowered my head anyway.
I mean, letting someone pet my head once wasn't a big deal.
But.
Just before her hand touched my hair.
"......Fall in."
A frosty voice dropped into the scene like a chill had descended.
It was Baek Seol-hee.
At once, the women snapped into perfect posture, rigidly standing at attention.
"From this moment, we monitor the Hunter Management Bureau."
"......."
"If anyone approaches Kim Ji-won, or tries to track Ryu Jin-ju, report it. Once orders are acknowledged, move to your positions."
The seniors in their animal masks scattered from the spot without a sound.
"Now, Jin Yu-ha. Let's go."
Baek Seol-hee turned her back with a composed expression and started walking a step ahead.
"Huh? Where are we......."
"The bastards will probably not show themselves."
"Pardon?"
"The situation is unexpected for them too, so there's a strong chance they'll lie low for now."
"But, the seniors......."
"That's just a precaution, so don't concern yourself with it."
"Ah."
"Classes are over now, so let's go home."
"Yes!"
'......But, did she do that on purpose to stop the seniors from petting my head?'
Nah, no way.
"Hurry and come along."
"Yes!"
I quickened my pace and followed after her.