Plundering the Association (2)
"Is this a teleportation point too?"
"The Association's teleportation points are distributed all over the world."
He said this as we left the cafe and turned into an alley.
"Oh, right."
Then Jin Tae-seong pulled two cards from his pocket and handed them to us.
"It seems the Association has come to trust you since that last commission. These are Association access passes."
They felt like credit cards, but nothing was printed on the surface.
"So with just this, we can come and go from the Association freely?"
"Yes, that's correct."
As he spoke, he showed us his own pass from his pocket.
"If you think about teleporting to the Association while holding it, you'll be instantly transported."
"Whoa."
I let out an exclamation and stared at the card. To think they could implement teleportation with something this simple. Of course, it wasn't real magic, but recreating it like this was impressive in itself.
Honestly, I don't even need this anymore.
Since I'd already pinpointed the internal coordinates of the Association, I could just teleport there directly. Still, as a token of trust, I should use it graciously.
"Then follow me."
With those words, Jin Tae-seong vanished as if he'd never been there.
I followed him to the Association.
It's the real deal.
My body was transported to the Association without any warning. I hadn't sensed even a trace of mana flow in the process.
The Association scenery we arrived at was different from last time.
"This isn't the Special Ability Agent Team, is it?"
"Ah, the arrival point varies by teleport location. This is the Monster Dissection Analysis Team."
"Oh ho."
"Also, before the tour, there's something I need to ask."
He asked cautiously.
"What is it?"
"How many days do you plan to spend on the tour?"
"Days...?"
"The Korean branch of the Association has about 250,000 personnel. It's that vast. Walking from one end to the other would take a full week if you're generous."
Could a building that insane even exist above or below ground?
"Our Special Ability Agent Team is small, so it's compact, but the other teams are enormous. That's why we need to confirm how many days you'll spend touring."
"How long would it take to see everything?"
"Hmm... I'd say about ten days if you take it easy."
Way too long.
This is the Monster Dissection Analysis Team, right?
The only department I cared about was the one holding Re Nerd's corpse. I'd need to poke around a few others to avoid suspicion, but they weren't priorities.
"What does the Monster Dissection Analysis Team do here?"
"Ah, this department collects and organizes information on monsters. All the monster data that Association staff verify comes from here."
Just a sorting department. No real need to see it...
"Since they compile all info on monsters, they also handle analyzing monster corpses and such."
Guess I do need to see it.
Re Nerd's corpse is probably here too.
Luckily, I'd hit the jackpot right from the start.
"Then let's start the tour here. And I think we should wrap up the whole tour in one day."
"Understood. I'll introduce the Monster Dissection Analysis Team first."
"Who are you people?"
At that moment, a hollow-eyed woman approached and asked.
"Ah, I'm Agent Jin Tae-seong from Special Ability Agent Team 7. Here's my card..."
Jin Tae-seong pulled a blank business card from his wallet and handed it over.
"Hmm... Looks legit. What brings you here?"
"I'm giving Heuk Seol-ah and Yoo Hwa a tour of the Association at their request."
"Heuk Seol-ah? Yoo Hwa... Ah!"
The woman chuckled and spoke.
"You're the Association-affiliated monsters, right? We're compiling dossiers on you... Want to take a look?"
"Our dossiers?"
"Ah... It's Association policy to make dossiers on all monsters. We distinguish between friendly and hostile ones, so please don't take offense."
I didn't really mind. But having dossiers on us felt a bit odd.
"No need to see them."
"Not curious? Well, they're not finished yet anyway... I'll send them over once they're done."
With that, she waved and vanished.
"Have a nice tour."
She had a strong personal vibe, somehow.
"Let's get going."
Jin Tae-seong took the lead and started walking.
Around us, countless people were shouting and hustling through their work.
"Teams 1 through 30 handle info sorting, 31 through 70 handle info control."
"Thanks to info control, monster knowledge doesn't leak to civilians."
Forty teams controlling Korea's monster info. If each team had 30 people like the Special Ability Agent Team, that was 1,200 folks solely dedicated to plugging leaks. No wonder civilians were clueless.
"Everyone looks busy."
"Yeah, insanely so. The Association splits into two types."
Jin Tae-seong held up two fingers.
"Those who fight for their lives but have downtime, and those who stay safe but are worked to death. I'm the former; those folks are the latter."
The agent team folks definitely seemed more laid-back.
"Doesn't seem like much to see here. Let's go without bothering them."
"Yes, got it."
I followed as he took the lead again.
"Teams 71 through 100 analyze monster corpses. This place is busy too right now, as you know—a big one came in."
"Big one... You don't mean...?"
"Yes. The founder of Invincible Research Group."
I smirked inwardly. Jackpot—my target was right here.
If I'm lucky, I might snag it without even infiltrating.
Brimming with anticipation inside, I said in an excited tone,
"Let's hurry!"
"Hm? Alright."
Jin Tae-seong sounded puzzled at my sudden enthusiasm.
We arrived at a massive surgery-room-like space, and the sight was spectacular. Everyone wore masks and dissection suits, darting about, with all sorts of liquids splattered on the floor. Black, red, blue... Did monsters have different blood colors?
The first thing that caught my eye was a 2-meter head with all its facial skin peeled off.
Swish.
"Here, wear this. The blood stench is nasty."
Jin Tae-seong handed me a mask. He was already wearing one.
"I'm fine."
Demon king nature, maybe? Blood smelled almost pleasant to me.
"More importantly, let's tour quick. This is the spot I'm most excited about."
"Ah... Sure."
Jin Tae-seong looked a bit queasy as he started walking.
"So many corpses,"
Yoo Hwa whispered to me, her mask on.
Fitting for the department's role—corpses everywhere. Even human ones... probably humanoid monsters like Yoo Hwa.
But they're all grotesquely fucked up.
True to monster form, every corpse was horrifically mangled. The star was a 3-meter giant cockroach being impassively dissected by staff.
"Halt. No further access beyond this point without Monster Dissection Analysis Team staff or other department team leaders."
As we kept going, someone wielding a massive saw approached.
A human holding that?
The saw was about 2 meters long—too big for one hand unless you were ripped. A skinny guy wielding it looked unnervingly off-balance.
"Pardon? Why not?"
"Dissecting a fresh 3rd Grade monster. Can't allow access due to potential classified info."
"But this person is the one who took down that 3rd Grade monster herself?"
"Pardon?"
The man stared at me intently at Jin Tae-seong's words, then said,
"Ah, you're Heuk Seol-ah? You're free to enter. Sorry for blocking the way."
Swish.
The saw-wielder stepped aside and vanished.
"Huh?"
He literally disappeared into thin air.
"What? Why'd he vanish?"
"Space distortion. Tech for handling info that can't be seen outside. Once you enter the space, it'll be visible to us too."
Jin Tae-seong explained as he walked forward—and promptly vanished into thin air.
They've got tech like this too.
Amazed, I stepped forward slowly. A vibrating sensation rippled through my body, and I entered a new space.
Dozens of people were gathered, dissecting Re Nerd's corpse. Tiny saws—like giant's fingers—slicing through his body was an insane sight.
"The founder of Invincible Research Group has been classified as a 3rd Grade monster. Top tier among 3rd Grades. A bit stronger and it might've been 2nd Grade."
Jin Tae-seong shuddered slightly, creeped out.
"Now this area is strictly off-limits."
The saw-wielder from before approached again.
"Even for cleared personnel, no access where classified info is possible. We'll undergo memory erasure if any surfaces, so please understand."
"That's what they say. Better end the Monster Dissection Analysis Team tour here."
Jin Tae-seong said cautiously to me.
"Got it. Sorry for the interruption."
I smiled and complied.
Coordinates locked in anyway.
"This is the Training Team. Not an official department, but trainees here get assigned to agent teams or others."
"This is the Armaments Management Team. They handle the Association's weapons. Stuff that could wipe a city has to be managed carefully."
To keep up appearances, I toured a few more departments.
Tour over—it was 8:30 PM.
Whoosh.
"Enjoy the tour?"
"Yeah, it was fine."
Back on the surface, Jin Tae-seong asked.
"Glad you had a good time. Hope we cross paths again sometime."
Swish.
He extended his hand for a shake.
"If you take another commission, sure."
I grabbed it and shook.
"Finally... thank you for sparing me."
With that, Jin Tae-seong returned to the Association and vanished.
"Hm, fun, right?"
"Yes! It was fun!"
Yoo Hwa beamed at my question.
"Yoo Hwa, head to the Demon Realm."
"Right now?"
"Strike while the iron's hot."
I slashed the ground, opening a gate to the Demon Realm.
"Call me when you're done."
"Will do."
Yoo Hwa jumped through to the Demon Realm ground.
Now it begins.
Whoosh!
Demonic energy enveloped my body. A black suit clung to my instantly formed frame. It accentuated my already aggressive curves—but that was my view. To others, with demonic energy blazing, it'd look like a moving black mass.
Snap!
I flicked my fingers and teleported straight to the Association.
Location: right where Re Nerd's corpse was.
Shocked eyes locked onto me, but I ignored them and bellowed,
"GET DOWN, ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"