Prove and Show (5)
Regardless of my mental breakdown, events unfolded rapidly.
"For now, I've received orders to return, so I need to head back first. I'm sorry I couldn't treat you to a meal."
"Prioritizing company orders is only natural. We can eat anytime, so no worries."
Even after several more calls back and forth, Team Leader Yu apologized to me with a regretful expression. I accepted it without a shred of resentment. Even in a normal company, you'd have to show up when called. And the company summoning Team Leader Yu wasn't just any ordinary outfit.
'Villains who even swindle welfare organizations...'
Nebula Group's reputation in my mind plummeted another notch.
I'm grateful just for getting me this far. Let's meet again in good health.
—or so I thought, but my mouth dutifully spat out a vicious remark that had half its usual rudeness.
"However, there might be an issue with transportation. It's only ten minutes by car, but since the heavy equipment crew has openly challenged Nebula, we need to arrive as quickly as possible."
At this point, I figured Kang A-ram or Team Leader Yu would say something like, 'What a rotten company. Can't be helped—let's tough it out together.' Then I could play along reluctantly, hop on a bus with A-ram, and be done. How much was on my transit card again? 1,200 won? Kinda tight... Gotta stop by a convenience store to top it up.
As I mulled that over and recited my mental playlist of "Top 100 Lines a Psycho Secretary Would Say," Team Leader Yu perked up and chimed in.
"Oh, don't worry about that. HR says they've prepared ample transportation, accounting for the sudden summons."
"?"
Eh? That wasn't in my script.
I felt a pang of bewilderment, but beside me, A-ram gazed at me with sparkling eyes.
"As expected...! No bunch of heavy machinery yokels could block the Chief Secretary's execution of duties!"
"......"
A-ram. If that "yokel" snaps his fingers and drops a forklift on us, we'll be cozy underground explorers... one-way ticket, of course.
I swallowed my words and kept a straight face.
"At least HR has some normal people. So, what is this transportation?"
"A warp channel."
"......"
In my less-than-ten-years as a total nerd, I'd devoured my share of sci-fi tropes. Still, I couldn't quite believe the mode of transport that had just come out of Team Leader Yu's mouth.
A warp channel? That space-slicing, teleporting rig?
I steadied my trembling voice and asked, please let me have misheard.
"Spatial transfer. Not bad. How does it work?"
"Simple. Grip the controller, infuse it with mana, and it opens a gate linking spaces for a set time."
"I-I can do it! Let me!"
Kang A-ram, who had barely survived flight sickness, approached slowly at first, then lit up like she'd found her calling and charged forward mid-stride. Her face screamed, I can't be dead weight forever! That's mine!!
For some reason, watching her felt strangely distant, like I was observing someone else.
Until I got dropped into this game world, even I had been known as an easy read.
'Gotta amp up the acting.'
I resolved inwardly. Plus, with President Seol's firm guarantee in my pocket, my goal was crystal clear: Pour everything into solving the Busan Oncheon Gate issue, quit, dump my severance into reliable investments, and coast through life on passive income.
'Perfect. I can watch Magical Girl Mikaru anytime, and binge any other games I want.'
Paradise. Pure paradise...
I stood ramrod straight, the picture of a cool-headed secretary, watching A-ram pour mana into the ring-shaped device.
*Whirrrrr!*
"I-It opened!"
"Hm. Quite abundant mana for a 7th-rank hunter. I'm specialized in physical enhancement over output, so new machines are tricky for me."
"Thank you!"
A-ram bowed repeatedly, thrilled at the praise from Team Leader Yu like she'd accomplished something monumental. Watching her, a practical question arose in my mind.
*Ripple.*
An opaque, ominously shimmering surface inside the ring.
"How do you set the destination for the channel?"
"Set the coordinates and maintain perfect mana alignment while using it. Sending the coordinates to your device now."
*Beep.*
Team Leader Yu tapped her terminal screen, and a string of cryptic numbers beamed to the smartwatch on my wrist. The watch President Seol had given me before sending me on this trip—later I'd learn it packed GPS, heart rate, and body temp sensors, but right now, I was clueless.
I methodically probed the risks of the spatial channel. No choice.
'I'm cotton-candy Seo Han-gyeol.'
A total coward who skipped elementary school trips abroad out of fear. The kind who triple-locks his bike lest it get stolen. I couldn't tolerate even a speck of threat. If someone flipped my skull open after death, "Safety First" would be etched inside.
"What if the mana alignment wavers mid-transfer?"
"A chief secretary of your caliber would never waver."
"Just in case."
"Hm."
Team Leader Yu pondered briefly before stating matter-of-factly,
"The mismatch between set coordinates and real-space position would shred you to pieces."
"......"
"But that won't happen."
Congrats. Seo Han-gyeol jerky, special discount sale.
So if it glitches midway, you end up as finely minced human jerky. What barbaric transport is this...!!
But Team Leader Yu's tone held zero doubt, her eyes dead serious. She truly believed I wouldn't screw up.
I swallowed the truth I couldn't voice.
"...Of course. Secretary Kang, stick right by my side."
"Y-Yes!"
A-ram flushed and plastered herself to my side. Team Leader Yu's eyebrow twitched slightly at the sight, but she simply said,
"Good luck."
*Thudder-thudder-thudder...*
She boarded the helicopter without another word and departed for the company.
I silently gazed down at the top of A-ram's head. She was short to begin with, and glued to my side, so our eyes never met.
'Thank goodness.'
If she'd seen my quivering pupils, my fingers trembling like whatever happens, happens, and me silently chanting "God Buddha Allah please," she'd have worried for sure.
'Just let me live!'
I squeezed my eyes shut and activated [Organization] with every ounce of will.
[Organization]
A sensation of being sucked somewhere hit me, followed by,
"Huh?"
My vision flipped upside down.
* * *
Near the Busan Oncheon Gate.
The heavy equipment crew's construction site.
Machines slick with monster blood lined up for repairs, workers bustling between them. Amid the lively scene, Myeong Gi-sa gripped his evidence tightly, eyes sharp.
'I'll get it for sure.'
Once an elite corporate spy, Myeong Gi-sa had changed completely after his beloved wife was devoured by a monster. He ditched his skyrocketing career, learned manual labor late in life, and joined the heavy equipment crew's management support team.
His innate accounting and practical skills caught the eye of an exec, letting him work the site despite not being an awakener or hunter. And with Foreman Ban's special orders, he'd even snagged a meeting spot with Nebula.
As a man who'd lost his love to a monster from Nebula's turf, and to punish the villains blocking the crew's devoted service,
'I won't back down!'
Myeong Gi-sa steeled his resolve, eyes blazing. For this day, he'd hidden and compiled countless documents. Just now, he'd assembled everything into a dossier exposing Nebula's abuses point by point.
He'd even sprung the meeting on Nebula without notice, setting the venue smack in the middle of their fortified site. A bit sneaky, but the only way with their ironclad leverage now.
Ambush notification to induce lateness, then crush their momentum with growling machines and surly workers upon entry.
Myeong Gi-sa felt no shame. Just returning the crew's humiliations, and
'No need for courtesy with beasts like Nebula.'
As he pondered scenarios to pressure the incoming Nebula rep, he trudged toward the bunker venue.
They'd arrive soon; best to get inside early and set the mood.
Myeong Gi-sa's calculations were flawless.
But through the screech of the opening door,
'Eh?'
A man and woman stood inside. Spotless tailored suits without a speck of dust, eyes bright and unbowed. The epitome of confident corporate elites!
Myeong Gi-sa's shock was just beginning.
'How the hell did they get here?!'
Reviewing possibilities in seconds, he reached the only conclusion.
'Spatial leap (teleport)?! These lunatics?!'
Using a method that could shred you if it glitched—right next to a gate with wildly fluctuating mana,
'Bare-handed flight?'
Myeong Gi-sa swallowed hard and entered the bunker.
...Looks like Nebula's getting serious too.
Of course, Seo Han-gyeol was.
'Ah, I didn't die! Thank goodness...'
Scared out of his wits.