Chapter 239: Career Experience Learning 9
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 239: Career Experience Learning 9
“Still, if you add the performance bonuses to the base salary, isn't that a huge amount of money...?”
I asked Lee Ji-yeon, who had just made a massive bet with someone involved in the election.
“It’s fine. I’m guaranteed to win anyway,” she replied.
Lee Ji-yeon spoke as if it were no big deal while turning the steering wheel.
The place we arrived at was the campaign office for a member of the House of Representatives.
“Oh, Ji-yeon! You’re here! Welcome! Our candidate has been dying for a taste of that wisdom of yours!”
A middle-aged woman with a rather intimidating appearance greeted us, and we were ushered straight into the inner office.
“Hm? And this child is...?”
“He’s like my successor, so I’m taking him around to watch and learn.”
“Well, if you say so, Ji-yeon...”
After a brief introduction to the woman, who identified herself as the Office Manager, the real discussion began.
“For this month, if you proceed according to page twenty-two of the report, it will create positive public opinion regarding the attack they launched last week.”
The Office Manager nodded silently as she read the report Lee Ji-yeon handed over. Since I didn't have a copy, I just sat there sucking on a candy the lady had given me, watching as Lee Ji-yeon listed off things to do, things to watch out for, and points to attack.
What on earth is this suspicious pervert doing in places I don't know about?
“Ji-yeon, this is all great, but why are you working as a teacher?”
“Because it’s necessary.”
“The political route isn't bad... but do you really need to take that path? I know you’re capable, but it’s a rare case, so it must be exhausting...”
“I don’t plan on entering politics... but I’ll do it if it becomes necessary.”
The Office Manager looked at Lee Ji-yeon with an exasperated expression.
“I know someone... who wants to become a Senator. She’s got plenty of money and is the second daughter of a marquis family... Are you interested in working for her?”
“No.”
“How much does a teacher’s salary even amount to? You know the base pay here is on a different level, right? And someone like you, Ji-yeon, could probably even land a title as a Baronet.”
The Office Manager seemed incredibly eager to recruit her.
“And unlike us in the House, the kickbacks for a Senator are in a different league. You know that, don't you? Plus, they’re offering a start as an Administrative Officer. I’ll guarantee it, no matter what. If you feel like it’s not a good fit later, the candidate’s office or other Administrative Officer positions will always be open for you.”
The Office Manager’s efforts to gently persuade Lee Ji-yeon were almost admirable.
“I’m too busy right now, so I’ll think about it.”
Having submitted the report and briefed them on the relevant details, Lee Ji-yeon stood up without hesitation and picked me up.
“Isn't being an aide better than being a teacher?”
“I barely have enough time to spend with Master as it is. Why would I want to be an aide?”
“...Right.”
It was my fault for trying to read a lunatic's mind. Lee Ji-yeon gripped the steering wheel again, saying we had to get to the next appointment. I absentmindedly ate the snacks I’d bought before getting in, scattering crumbs all over the car seat.
The next place we arrived at was a corporate office.
“A company office? Why?”
“Can you stay quiet and not say a word here?”
“I mean, I don't mind, but...”
Seeing her emphasize the need for caution again, even though I’d been quiet the whole time, made me realize this place was no joke.
“I’m here to see the Section Chief. I’m Lee Ji-yeon, the teacher. Tell her I’ll be in the first-floor cafe.”
It was a building packed with various offices, not some massive conglomerate headquarters, so I still didn't understand why she was being so cautious.
“Order whatever you want to eat.”
“Is the person coming buying again this time?”
“Yes!”
Thinking back to the suspicious people we’d met earlier, I felt like I could order everything I wanted. I ordered cake, a shake, juice, a chocolate smoothie, and cookies.
“...I thought you’d come up yourself. This is the first time you’ve called me down here.”
Before the food even arrived, a woman in a suit appeared and sat across from Lee Ji-yeon.
“I didn't think you’d give this child a pass to enter.”
“If you knew that, why did you bring a kid? Hey, brat, the adults have important things to discuss, so why don't you step away for a—”
“Section Chief, it’s fine.”
Lee Ji-yeon cut off the woman who was trying to shoo me away.
“What...?”
“This is the child Hindel Dun Vurdia is raising.”
“...If anyone heard that, they’d think you’re better at our job than we are. Or maybe you already are.”
The Section Chief put a cigarette in her mouth but then crumpled it up after glancing at me.
“It seems the Imperial Intelligence Bureau is supporting Chairwoman Armand. Are you confident?”
“...What do you take us for?”
The Section Chief frowned as if offended. While I was mindlessly sipping my chocolate smoothie, I remembered where I’d heard the name ‘Chairwoman Armand.’
It was a name that had come up in the conversation between Lee Ji-yeon and that ordinary-looking woman we met at lunch. No, wait—Imperial Intelligence Bureau?
Come to think of it, I remembered Lee Ji-yeon mentioning Alicia’s name when those people were looking at me with disapproval.
The pieces started to connect: Alicia, that blonde vampire sister, was actually part of the Intelligence Bureau dispatched to the United Kingdom, hiding her identity while playing around as a movie actress and Viscount Yuu.
I stopped eating my chocolate cake and looked at Lee Ji-yeon. This crazy bitch was acting as a double agent. No, she was moving around, buying and selling information.
She was living a fly-by-night existence where she could die at any moment, and she’d dragged me right into the middle of it.
“...Can we just pretend I didn't hear any of that?”
The Section Chief narrowed her eyes and stared at me in silence for a long time.
“What’s this? Did this brat follow you around without even knowing what you do, Ji-yeon? Has Vurdia finally lost her touch? Is she trying to raise someone with such little backbone?”
Lee Ji-yeon giggled at the Section Chief’s words.
“I’ll explain the details to him later. Oh, Section Chief. Also, there’s a House member I’m backing this time. She’s very interested in security matters. We’re building her image and campaign around that, so it would be great if you could provide a little support.”
“Tough, truly tough. We pay you enough in information fees... but do you always have to make requests that are this hard to refuse?”
“It’s a request you don’t dislike, isn't it?”
When Lee Ji-yeon replied with a smile, the Section Chief shook her head and stood up.
“There are plenty of people who want to see you fail, Ji-yeon. You’d better be careful. I’ll provide enough support, but if you fail, there are those who will pounce on you like starving dogs.”
“Well, if I fail, I’ll just go back to being a full-time teacher.”
“This is exactly why I like you, Ji-yeon.”
The Section Chief patted my head once and left. She seemed to be walking away normally, but then she suddenly vanished into the crowd.
“So, explain. Are you trying to get me screwed over by showing my face to the spy world...?”
“No, no. I’m not a spy; I’m a mediator. ‘Lobbyist’ might be a more accurate term. There’s nothing dangerous about it~.”
Lee Ji-yeon made it sound far too easy.
“Isn't being a lobbyist dangerous too?”
“Master, you’ve watched too many movies. It’s not illegal. I just explain that this side thinks this, and that side thinks that. And in the process, if there’s an opportunity for profit, I mediate toward a good outcome.”
Spoken like a true double agent.
“I’m telling Hindel. No, Alicia too. No, I’m telling Mom.”
If I wasn't careful, my happy life could go down the drain.
“I wouldn't do anything dangerous to begin with, and if it were dangerous, I wouldn't have brought Master along, I told you.”
“That’s just your delusion!”
I stuffed a cookie into my mouth and washed it down with juice. I needed to distance myself from Lee Ji-yeon. No, I had to ask Hindel to make sure we became total strangers.
“First of all, the mastermind behind this project is Alicia. You’ll listen to the whole story before you go, right?”
“...Go on.”
For some reason, it sounded like it might be interesting, so I couldn't bring myself to run away.
“The goals within the Imperial Intelligence Bureau and the goals of those above the Bureau are different. Those at the top want to smear the United Kingdom no matter what, while those inside want things to proceed as smoothly as possible.”
“...Isn't that going to get dangerous later?”
“And then there’s the interesting part where the absolute top wants things handled without issue, while the middle-management types want there to be problems.”
It meant she was representing the field agents working under a sane superior who wanted to get rid of some manager trying to pad their performance record.
“Alicia wants there to be problems?”
“She wants there to be no problems. It’s a bit complicated to explain... if I go into detail...”
“I don’t need details. Give me a three-line summary.”
Lee Ji-yeon thought for a moment and took a sip of the coffee in front of her.
“First, Alicia and the Top Dog of her department want things to go well, but a ‘parachute’ appointee gunning for the Top Dog’s spot is stirring up trouble.
Second, the parachute will be removed soon.
Third, to reduce the administrative and personnel waste in the meantime, this job involves using a reliable mediator to contact the United Kingdom’s intelligence agency and mediate.”
She used the cheap slang term ‘Top Dog’ instead of better words like Boss, CEO, or Director of Intelligence, but I could understand what she meant.
“Then what about the Chairwoman Armand story?”
“Since they contacted me, I suppose it’s just a final battle of wits with an agent who’s about to be rotated back to the home country?”
Calling it a ‘battle of wits’ seemed a bit much, considering we’d just visited the office of the opposing candidate fighting Chairwoman Armand, and she was basically pulling a dirty trick by asking for support from the United Kingdom’s version of the CIA or NSA. But for now, I had no choice but to accept it and move on.
“Anyway, that’s the end of today’s schedule. If you have time this evening, maybe some ramen at my place...?”
“Ah, I have to go take my goldfish for a walk. Take me home.”
“Heeey...”
Lee Ji-yeon tried to pull a move after showing off her competence, but it wasn't going to work.