Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Dispatch
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"You're here?"
"You survived?"
"Is that all you have to say to your team leader after so long?"
Surprisingly, the one greeting me when I opened the door was Team Leader with his bald head. And standing naturally beside him was Yoo Daon, as a bonus.
"No, I heard our branch got smashed."
"It did get smashed. But not everyone died. We've got some experience in this dump, so the ones who could hide did a decent job of it."
"Easier said than done."
"I've got good instincts."
Remembering that, I glanced above Team Leader's head.
[Name: Heo Chan]
[Age: 49]
[Trait: Complacency]
[Talent: Crisis Detection]
[Background: Living as the breadwinner, he works overtime today for his family's meal.]
[Weakness: Take away his job.]
So that's what it meant.
"Anyway, even if the team assignment's a bit different, we've got work to do."
Team Leader handed me a bag like it was the most natural thing.
"I've got your stuff."
"Ah, thank you."
Even with that look, he's office staff after all.
Thinking that, I sat at my desk and opened the bag. I immediately saw the pistol inside and closed it again.
"What's this, Team Leader?"
"A pistol. Didn't you serve in the military?"
"I was discharged as a private. I don't know how to use a pistol."
"Should I talk to procurement and swap it for a rifle?"
"Is that what it sounds like I'm saying? Give me a laptop. Why a pistol?"
I'm scared, you know.
"The laptop's at your desk."
Team Leader pointed to my spot.
"But you don't have to do paperwork anymore."
"Didn't I get hired as office staff?"
"You are office staff."
Am I doing riddles with him right now?
I looked at Team Leader with an irritated expression, and he waved his hand awkwardly.
"Just kidding. You are office staff. The job's just changed a bit."
"...What is it?"
"Now you patrol sometimes."
"..Patrol?"
"Yeah. Nothing big... Think of it like a business trip. Nice, right? Go have some fun or whatever."
"Isn't this a dispatch, not a business trip?"
Like dispatching containment personnel.
"Outing, I said. Outing. Good per diem too. And this friend who transferred teams is going with you."
"Fancy ending up on the same team, Jaeheon!"
Yoo Daon waved cheerfully, beaming. She seemed wary of me at first, but now she's all smiles.
"Such a bright kid."
Team Leader looked at Yoo Daon fondly, and she smiled back at him just as brightly.
At least with a woman around, the atmosphere's brighter.
"So, what's the real job?"
"What else? Sort the dead. Open the charts quick."
"Yes, sir."
Right. They have to pay my salary, so reorganize the roster.
As I sat typing away, someone tapped my left shoulder.
Yoo Daon was staring at me, laptop in hand.
"What?"
"...You okay?"
"What about?"
"If you're hurt... or woke up to some disaster... or feel like you're not yourself, or your head itches..."
"Did you get parasitized or something?"
"No! Nothing shows up!"
I tried to peek above Yoo Daon's head, but she quickly covered her crown with both hands and yelled. Her black hair swayed, covering half her eye.
Not like that hides it.
"I was just worried."
"Why worry about me? You got slapped, not me, Daon employee-"
"Daon-ssi."
"-Daon-ssi."
Yoo Daon cut in quick, and I corrected the address.
"Why? I won't die even if I get hit, like you said. But you would."
"I still feel the pain."
I don't think not dying makes the pain of a spine snapping ten times go away.
"Well, yeah... ...Hmm."
Yoo Daon's eyes wandered.
"Anyway, I endured it."
"Don't push yourself. It wears on your body, no, your mind."
Yoo Daon nodded vigorously at my words.
"By the way, Jaeheon, you know about our trip tomorrow?"
"Pardon?"
I hadn't heard.
I looked at Team Leader over the monitor.
Either he didn't hear or was pretending, humming as he typed.
"Um, Gangdong side needs some paperwork help."
"No, how short-staffed are they to pull office workers from a branch half-wiped out days ago?"
"What..."
Yoo Daon smiled awkwardly, glancing at me to gauge my reaction.
"You'll go, right?"
"...Have to."
I might've saved one branch, but I'm still a company man.
Someone whose freedom is taken for pay, working as ordered for a set time.
"Good."
Yoo Daon let out a relieved breath.
"I was worried you wouldn't come with me."
"What choice? If Daon-ssi goes, I go."
Like I'm some salaryman otherwise.
But at my words, Yoo Daon oddly blushed, coughing awkwardly and nodding.
"Ahem! Yeah. We're a set for work, right?"
"Yeah, sure."
If I'm prepping for a trip tomorrow, finish paperwork today?
Overtime.
In the end, I sighed heavily and stayed two more hours.
Why'd Yoo Daon stick around showing loyalty? She had nothing to do.
*
Next day.
I stepped out with light luggage.
Just in case, I brought the bag with the pistol too.
Do I really need all this for Gangdong?
I recalled Team Leader nagging last night about preparing for overnight stays.
Yoo Daon widening her eyes was extra.
"Seoul Station..."
Luckily, my place wasn't far from Seoul Station.
Remembering Team Leader's order to check the manual, I boarded the subway and opened it.
[Office Manual for Office Workers]
Q – Transportation Between Branches
1. The Management Bureau prepares various transport options for associates struggling with travel time.
Head to the subway gate at Seoul Station.
2. At Line 1 gate, present the manual instead of a transit card. Stairs down lead to the associate subway waiting.
3. Very low chance of reaching a basement instead of subway. Stay calm and find the manual.
Even the unlucky warning at the end didn't faze me anymore. I closed the manual.
Reading brought me to Seoul Station. I went to the gate and tapped the manual.
[Privilege card.]
Passed the gate, went down the stairs.
A massive subway sprawled before me.
"...Whoa."
Subway? Size-wise, it was a giant temple.
And before it, a huge steam locomotive.
Like something for a guy with a lightning scar waving a wand.
And in front,
"Jaeheon!"
Yoo Daon in pink hoodie and short jeans, dragging a carry-on, waving hard.
Her long hair swayed with each wave.
Approaching her, she looked excited at me, then the train.
"Seen it? So cool!"
"Yeah."
Train's ridiculously huge.
Inside, surprisingly empty.
Like we chartered it.
"Just us two- Eek!"
Yoo Daon looked around mid-sentence. Doors shut, train lurched forward.
[Train departing. Destination: Gangdong Branch. Gangdong Branch. Next: Australia Branch.]
Where?
I doubted my ears but remembered the Management Bureau. No more questions. Yeah, probably goes to Australia. Lesson from Bureau life: everything's possible. Train to Australia? Giant temple subway under Seoul Station? Sure. Goes to Australia? Sure.
Think anything's possible, no questions or stress.
*
"Hello. Gangdong Branch Incident Response Team Leader."
A middle-aged man bowed smoothly before me, showing a woman's photo.
Snow-white hair to her back, blue eyes cold and fixed ahead.
Straight nose, lips without a hint of smile.
Cold beauty. And... ridiculously huge... ...Anyway, huge chest.
But that wasn't the point.
"Current fugitive suspect. Stole Cube held by Gangdong Division. If escaped, expect major external damage. Please recover containment object and apprehend suspect."
He added to stunned me and Yoo Daon.
"Additionally, fugitive presumed telekinetic. Exercise caution."
"..."
This can't happen.
Oh, stress.