Trainee
"You came to ask my Boss for a favor without even that much resolve?"
With that, Sapiens waved his subordinates back out of the room.
"Haah... you really know how to give a man a headache."
"I'd appreciate it if you'd consider it."
"They can't travel with our own people. That's not happening no matter what deal you offer me."
"I understand that. I'm just saying they should tag along with you and build some experience. If they stay here, they never improve. We've confirmed it this time, haven't we? They're all idiots who did nothing but stuff themselves with coins."
"Still, they fought reasonably well."
"Reasonably doesn't cut it. At the very least, they shouldn't feel like dead weight dragging the others down. And this time... it was pretty bad."
"Not everyone can fill the same role. You brought plenty of manpower along yourself, didn't you?"
"Even so."
"Fine, I get the point. Thin out the candidates and send them to the Arctic Giant Sector. Narrow down their profiles while you're at it. Are they all enhancement-types?"
"Yes. Enhancement-types last the longest."
"That's a prejudice. Guys with unusual Gifts have the highest ceilings."
"And how common are rare Gifts, exactly?"
"Gusik's case didn't just fall out of the sky. That, too, is talent. Plenty of enhancement-types die without ever coming close to that ceiling."
"So what you're saying is they just burn through coins for nothing?"
"Exactly. Better to pour everything into one solid bet. You signed a contract when you joined the organization, didn't you? Are you just allowed to jump ship whenever you like?"
"Of course not. Once you're in our organization, there's only one way out — death."
Sapiens said it with a thin smile. Had anyone else witnessed it, that smile would have sent a chill down their spine.
That was how hideous the scar on Sapiens's face truly was.
He could have walked onto a horror film set without a stitch of makeup and been perfectly cast.
"Is that supposed to be a boast?"
"Boss, we never force anyone to join us."
"I'd imagine not. Force the contract and the contract doesn't hold properly."
Even a contract brokered by an Underworld Broker couldn't override all cause and effect.
Contracts formed under coercion, in particular, often failed to take effect at all.
The basic foundation of a brokered contract was that the parties entering into it had consented of their own free will.
That went double for contracts drafted by high-tier brokers, where the penalties were brutally severe.
"In this harsh world, we saved their lives. Handing those lives over in return is a fair trade, isn't it?"
"Aren't you special."
"Boss, I think you see me in too poor a light."
"You think I see you poorly?"
"Yes."
"Not especially. If I did, I wouldn't be sitting across from you like this. I know it's a world where there's no helping certain things."
"..."
"But don't go too far with it."
"Of course. That's exactly why I'm asking you, Boss — so we don't overreach."
"Then bring me someone you actually want to push, not these enhancement-types. Enhancement-types can be vetted just by grinding them through a few rotations in the Field. The ones with real potential grow fast."
"Still, give the profiles a careful look. These are men chosen with great care."
"Send me ones with special Gifts instead of these types. I mean that as sincere advice, Gu Yeon. I can roughly guess what you're scheming, and it's not worth much."
"So the Gift matters most?"
"That's right. Gift first. Experience second. You'll be handling the coin supply anyway, won't you?"
"If they show promise, I can push them as generously as needed."
"Then pick out at least one who's the real deal. Someone suited for combat. Do that, and I'll draw up a full guideline for you."
"Oh — seriously?"
"Yes, kid. As long as it's within the bounds of what I understand about coin reinforcement, I'll set the direction for you. Bring me someone worthwhile."
"Understood."
"You have anyone like that?"
With that, Won-goo plucked a snack off the table and ate it. A half-dipped chocolate biscuit.
"There are a few. But... their mental state, I'm not sure they're ready for the Field..."
"Mental fortitude gets solved with experience and coins. You think our people were all this tough from day one? Jo Mu-sa used to tremble like a leaf at the sight of an orc."
"I know exactly what you're getting at, Boss. But... hhm..."
"Send me a shortlist sorted by Gift first. I'll make the judgment call."
"Understood."
"And what is this snack? It's good."
"Apparently it came out of the market in the next shelter over, so I brought some in. Shall I send some to your office?"
"I'd appreciate that."
Won-goo rose from his seat, and Sapiens stood up after him.
"One more thing — send those enhancement-types you showed me today to the Arctic Giant Sector. Run them there for about a week and you'll know right away who's got a ceiling worth anything and who doesn't."
"I'll do that."
Leaving Sapiens's office, Won-goo made his way to Baek Seol's shop.
As always, Baek Seol was absorbed in her darts.
"Has your aim improved any?"
"It's harder than it looks."
"Sounds like you've finally found yourself a proper hobby."
"Well... it's a boring world, isn't it? A person has to do something."
"Pfft. The woman selling the most powerful entertainment in the apocalypse says that? Baek Seol, you'll last a long time."
"...?"
"You don't partake of the sweet stuff yourself, do you?"
"Not unless it's a special case."
"That's my point. They say once the dealer starts sampling the product, it's all over."
"That was the old world. These days the side effects barely linger."
"Hm. True enough. Then why don't you touch it?"
"No particular reason."
With that, Won-goo pulled out his pocket and set the payment down.
"That's for the medicine I took last time. It went to good use."
"You really didn't have to pay."
"I've been taking plenty without paying for a while now. And this is for what I'm taking this time."
Clack.
This time it was gold coins that Won-goo laid on the table.
"You mean everything you have on hand?"
"That's right. As you know, our new crew member lives half his life doped up on your products."
"Well... he did take quite a haul last time, too."
"I know. I'm stocking up in advance. And this includes an information fee. Did you manage to dig anything up?"
Baek Seol shook her head.
"Nothing at all?"
"There's plenty of information floating around about curses in general. But when it comes to actually breaking one — that's proving genuinely difficult."
"Keep digging. I'll pay the information fees generously. By the way, what happened to the weapons I commissioned last time?"
"There's a backlog."
"That Poke bastard might be playing games with you. You have to keep squeezing him regularly or he stops doing proper work."
"He is doing proper work. It's just... there's a catch."
"...?"
"The higher the quality of the item, the longer the appraisal takes. Especially items with multiple option enchantments on them, you know?"
"Fair enough... the appraisal fees on those run steep, too."
"If you're in a hurry, why not use the Shelter's company services?"
"They can't appraise anything above a certain grade. Surely Dr. Woo hasn't never even attempted that tier?"
"Come to think of it... right, he hasn't."
"Anyway, keep a firm grip on that Poke fellow. Appraisal-related Gifts are genuinely rare. That man is money, plain and simple."
"I know well enough."
"And let me say it once more — the information. I'm truly counting on you for that."
At that, Baek Seol stared straight at Won-goo.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You've caught me off guard."
"Off guard how?"
"This isn't your style, Director Gong."
"And what exactly is my style?"
"The type who won't give someone the time of day once their limits become clear? Pacific's limits are obvious as long as that curse is on him, wouldn't you say? Unusual Gift or not... it's strange to see you going this far."
"Limits? They're certainly clear, as long as the curse holds."
"Exactly."
"So I'm breaking that limit for him."
"That's what I don't understand. Is there really a reason to invest this much? Because he's one of your people?"
Won-goo grinned.
"Right. Because he's one of my people."
"I know how much your people mean to you, Director. Which is exactly why I have another question."
"Baek Seol, you've had a lot of questions pent up, haven't you? Have you been holding them in all this time? Or is this something special?"
"Both, but closer to the latter. You do know I like you, Director Gong?"
"I do. And I like you too, Baek Seol. Not as romance — as a human being. At the very least, you don't stab people in the back."
"Same here. But you see, there's one more reason I like you."
"Because I'm handsome?"
"..."
"Oh, come on. You can't take a joke? We're the ones out there getting bloodied, so why does this room feel more dangerous than the Field?"
"I like you, Director, because you're predictable."
"Predictable... I'll take that as a compliment."
"And yet this time..."
"I know. Bringing in Pacific falls outside the 'range of predictability' I've shown you all this while. That's what you're getting at."
"Yes, exactly."
"It's simple. That man saved one of our people. So I saved Pacific, and decided to take him in as one of us."
"Something like that happened during the earthquake, then..."
"You know my rule. As long as they're not one of those 'death' types, once I accept someone as my own, I don't cast them out. So? Does that make me predictable again?"
"Plenty."
"Then find me that information. They say a famous doctor once claimed medicine and poison are, at their core, the same thing. The way I see it, you're the one most likely to find something on the curse fastest. That's why I'm asking."
"Understood. I'll do my best."
"Good. I'm off."
"You gave him the full tour of Sapiens's shops and he still won't break?"
"Yes. Boss! I'm sorry!"
"Neverland's a stubborn one — there's no helping that. Leave him be."
"Are you sure that's wise, Boss?"
"That bastard won't be cured in a short stretch. You have to keep working him over, slow and steady."
"So we're just leaving the goblin alone again?"
Pacific asked.
"Until we get back from the Giant Sector, that's how it has to be. Don't worry. You think there's no way to harvest him? I've already put in a request with Baek Seol for curse-related information, so something's bound to get caught in the net. More importantly — did you find it?"
"Find it? We finished testing it while you were out, Director."
Matching the weapon meant one thing: Dulla.
"So? Is he worth his size?"
"Worth his size? He's way past that. His strength is something else. And he's surprisingly sharp, too?"
"He's smart. We upgraded him."
"And that's how I found something fun. Chul-soo!"
True to his merchant roots, Pacific had melded into the crew with remarkable speed.
Before anyone noticed, he was on comfortable speaking terms with everyone.
"Yes, hyung."
"Hyung?"
"You told me to call you hyung. Is that a problem?"
"Do whatever you like."
Geum Chul-soo stepped forward and promptly summoned Dulla.
The massive figure of Dulla materialized inside the office.
Fortunately, the office had been converted from a warehouse, so summoning Dulla caused no trouble whatsoever.
"Whoa!"
The moment Dulla appeared, even Won-goo — a man not easily startled — let out a gasp of admiration.
"What do you think? A classic sword-and-board warrior."
"Wait, what is that? What did you do to its neck?"
"Tried it, and it worked."
Right now, Dulla's head was attached just as it should be.
Which was exactly why Won-goo couldn't help but marvel.
A Dullahan with its head on.
Unless the creature had suddenly been promoted to the Dullahan clan proper, the sight defied easy explanation.
"We braided a cord from a Tail Dog's tail, ran it between its thighs, and tied the head down. Like a pair of suspenders."
"It doesn't fall off?"
"Only if the Tail Dog's tail snaps."
"And it can still move properly?"
Pacific nodded at Chul-soo.
Dulla moved.
"DULLA!"
It thrust its shield forward into a textbook stance, then showed off a full swing of its sword.
"Why didn't anyone know about this before? Whose idea was it?"
"Mine."
"So you actually pulled your weight for once?"
"You know how long I ran a shop floor. Handling every kind of merchandise builds a certain expertise."
Truth be told, the look of it had a slightly comical edge.
It resembled nothing so much as a man wrapped in bandages after an injury.
But one thing was certain — this was a major gain.
A Dullahan with both hands free was never a monster to be taken lightly.