Prove and Show (2)
"So. You've brought Kang A-ram into the secretary's office?"
"Yes, ma'am."
The moment I'd been dreading had finally arrived. I steeled myself and swallowed hard. Sure, pulling out the tea at just the right moment had softened the mood a bit, but I'd still gone against the Chairman's wishes.
But surprisingly, the Chairman didn't seem upset at all. If anything, she looked a little... amused?
What the hell?
Whatever the reason, it didn't matter! This was my chance. I rattled off the data I'd prepared in advance.
"The registered ability of Hunter Kang A-ram is [Temperature Drop]. It lowers the temperature in an area, but it's only useful in very specific situations."
"Ah, the kind that's only handy in explosion-trap dungeons, right?"
I nodded instead of answering. It was tough to make practical use of an ability that only shone when surrounded by flames.
"That's right. But the key point isn't the result—it's the process. Even [Temperature Drop] on the surface is just a superficial phenomenon."
"Then what is it?"
This was the crucial moment. The Chairman's mood had eased, and I had solid evidence ready. In Nebula, a place full of nothing but elites and cold-blooded types, this was my golden opportunity to add one of the rare cotton-candy colleagues!
If I don't snag Kang A-ram now...
I might relive the nightmare of my military days, going six months without a replacement. Ugh... Why did I have to shovel shit even as a corporal, with no one to hang out with because even the seniors kept their distance...
I'll do my best. Dreaming of the beautiful life of a salaried Lupin—chilling with friends over dried pollack, steadily cashing paychecks!
I hardened my resolve. Chairman Seol Hwi's red eyes watched me with keen interest.
"It's hard to see Ms. Kang A-ram's ability as simply lowering temperature. The essence of her power is more fundamental."
Before Seo Han-gyeol could finish, Seol Hwi had already guessed it.
"Reaction interference, huh. Makes sense—it's in the same vein as temperature stasis or molecular manipulation. But reaction interference varies wildly in utility depending on what reaction you're messing with."
"......"
Seo Han-gyeol froze for a moment. It felt like the strawberry on his last slice of cake had been abducted by a UFO. He'd spent three hours racking his brain, scouring the web and AIs like a rat hunt, only for Seol Hwi to nail it in three seconds flat.
Hiding a surge of envy bubbling up inside, Seo Han-gyeol continued.
"Exactly. From my investigations and confirming with my own ability, it's interfering with combustion reactions."
"Hm."
Seol Hwi nodded without further comment, seeming convinced.
'?'
Seo Han-gyeol, who'd braced for a barrage of objections, was the only one left puzzled. It wasn't really his fault. Normally, Seol Hwi would demand more proof. But he'd overlooked something.
First off, 'It's my custodian speaking—hard to go full combat mode on him.'
After agonizing over Seo Han-gyeol's treatment all weekend, Seol Hwi had finally defined him as her 'custodian' that morning and felt refreshed. Having transcended human limits upon reaching 1st rank, nearly immortal, her warped sense of time made it feel like...
'Gotta put up with him for at least 50 years. Starting off by picking fights? Nah.'
Fifty years—at minimum. Later, she might shove immortality elixirs down his throat and drag it out to 100 or 200. Her pent-up frenzy, starved of stimulation for years, was just kicking off. Having just realized her odd feelings for Seo Han-gyeol, she had no desire to make him uncomfortable.
Anyway. Secondly, 'What abilities has Secretary Seo shown? First was coordinate fixation and entropy delay, right?'
Coordinate fixation was top-tier material interference. Entropy delay was pure entropy.
'Coordinate fixation... Even in manufacturing or defense, division heads would drool and scout him on the spot.'
Coordinate fixation, independent of mass, had infinite potential. Fix concrete structures at key points, and you could halve most conventional firepower.
Entropy needed no explanation. Among Korea's three 1st-rank hunters—including herself—one wielded entropy. Rarity alone made it a guaranteed high-rank ticket.
'And that's not even the end of it.'
Seol Hwi's surprise at the tea from Seo Han-gyeol's briefcase that morning wasn't for nothing. She'd been theorizing: 'Secretary Seo's ability is material interference or entropy. Composite? Or a third type I don't know?'
Poof.
'...?'
Warm tea appearing out of nowhere? With a cute cup to boot. Seo Han-gyeol had casually shown an unrelated ability.
'Multiple abilities?!'
Multiple abilities—a privilege for just 1% of users. Most multi-ability holders could only wield one properly, but Seo Han-gyeol handled both freely. Not mediocre ones either: at least spatial interference (teleportation), at most space-time interference. The tea's warmth pegged it at 80% space-time.
A cheat character even game devs would catch flak for. Even Seol Hwi, Korea's top martial powerhouse, had to admit: this guy's something else.
So roughly, 'If Secretary Seo says so, it must be true.'
Why isn't the Chairman asking more? Wait, is she gonna suddenly fire me?!
"Alright. Combustion suppression has its uses. Good choice, Han-gyeol. I'll give HR a heads-up—contact them if you need anything."
"As you command. I stake my honor and chief secretary position on realizing Hunter Kang A-ram's full profit potential."
"You joke well too."
"......"
He'd tested the waters with a voluntary resignation ploy, but Seol Hwi's light smile and pat on the hand sank it instantly.
Thus, in the chairman's office under a lax tension, Seol Hwi leisurely watched her first-ever custodian, while Seo Han-gyeol sweated bullets inside but kept his cool smile.
'Th-this is my limit! My face is gonna crack!'
'His silence means he's plotting something wild again. First guy as meticulous as me.'
Beam.
Beam.
The two smiled at each other. To anyone watching, the perfect chairman and secretary. In this painting-like scene,
'My choice was right.'
'My choice was totally wrong. Should've quit day one...'
They were miles apart.
The conversation didn't end there.
"Read this."
Seo Han-gyeol deftly snatched the flying document.
[Organization]
Shraaap!
Now familiar with [Organization], he read the document solemnly, patting himself on the back.
Flip. Flip.
His expression hardened as he turned the pages.
'Secretary's office staffing proposal? Assigning other staff and a 3rd-rank hunter to the office?'
Hard to say if good or bad. He nodded, and Seol Hwi, assuming understanding, spoke.
"The board suggested normalizing the secretary's office. I see your value, but I can't force my intuition on others."
Seo Han-gyeol was shocked by her sensible words.
'If I'd said I wanted to quit day one, would she have let me go?'
His mood soured. Maybe he'd chosen the thorny path over flowers...
But Seol Hwi was sincere. The board were her handpicked collectibles—respecting them was natural.
"I acknowledge your competence, but they say the risk of failure is too high."
"Hm."
I agree! Totally agree! Part of me wants to beg for a life vest too! But he kept his poker face.
Seol Hwi eyed him.
"So we're running a test bed."
"A trial, then."
"Yes. Gate BU-F-25. The so-called 'Busan Oncheon' Gate. Nebula won the bid years ago, but development's halted—it's just eating costs now."
"Real-time losses ongoing."
"A dud property."
Costs out, revenue uncertain—a true dud. And with the talk here, even oblivious Seo Han-gyeol sensed what was coming.
'Ah.'
It's over.
"Your face says you're excited?"
X for disaster! Ignoring his dread, Seol Hwi misread his stoic face as eagerness to shine.
She issued the order gleefully.
"Just slaying beasts and firing idiots is fine, but not enough for you. Solve the headache and prove your abilities to all of Nebula."
"......"
"I'll be your biggest backer."
"...I'll do my utmost."
Swallowing tears, he barely choked out the words.
'Arrrgh! Save me, Mikaru!'
A cry into the void.