103 – Scared of Love! #2
Shlick—.
Iason showed everyone the CCTV photo of Jo Iseo with "some mysterious woman."
"Look at this. Jo Iseo's dating someone. But he kept it secret from everyone. Why do you think that is? Obviously because it's not an affair he can be proud of!"
Iason nodded confidently.
However, Hector, the department head, thought the story was a bit too radical.
"Department Head I, isn't it too hasty to say Jo Iseo's having a shady secret affair based just on this photo? It could be he just happened to hold hands with someone."
"Then how about this?"
Click—.
Iason pulled out a tablet like he'd been waiting for it. On it was a post from Helmes, the office workers' exclusive SNS.
"It got deleted in a minute, but since our department monitors all employees' SNS, I saved it quick. A witness saw the exact same thing as this CCTV photo?"
It was getting harder to dismiss as mere coincidence—the evidence was piling up.
Even Hector, who had declared he'd be Jo Iseo's staunch defender at this meeting, could only groan now, unable to speak up easily.
At that moment, Welfare Department Head Hippolyte smiled as if intrigued instead.
"A man who didn't even blink at the advances of the world's most alluring Amazons... I'm actually curious just how amazing the woman he's seeing must be."
Seeing Hippolyte's attitude, Iason intuited this would blow up into a scandal bigger than the Argo Expedition—a team-up of superheroes.
As HR department head, this is my chance to boost my presence and stock all at once. And my guess is Jo Iseo's probably seeing a married woman he absolutely shouldn't—a high probability.
Iason's personal investigation showed Jo Iseo was suspiciously entangled with married women.
All his achievements so far are probably thanks to that married woman. Jo Iseo himself is just a no-talent househusband type who's been sucking honey by charming women. His face screams it.
A face like a host who climbs by sucking women dry. Iason hated men like that most.
Thus, Iason swore he'd uncover who Jo Iseo's secret affair partner was, no matter what.
She had to be someone extraordinary to give him such false credit. Incredibly capable and bold. A married woman so ruthlessly excellent.
"Some new kind of harassment?"
Two days back at HQ. I'd been utterly despairing when my return as department head was decided.
But now, I couldn't even go back to the Audit Team 1 office—I was wandering the employee lounge.
Why? My desk was gone.
The return and promotion to department head had been so sudden, HQ still hadn't prepared a spot for me.
So for two days straight, from yesterday to today, I had nothing to do but sit in the lounge.
"Department Head Jo Iseo, earning money while chilling in the lounge? What a talent! This Marquius acknowledges you!"
My old colleague Marquius handed me a mixed coffee, full of admiration.
Of course, my heart was burning blacker and more bitter than black coffee.
The only reason I'd returned to HQ was to execute the "major fuck-up operation" worthy of a department head position—smash everything to bits.
Lazing around like this meant no problems, no chaos.
"Sitting idle's boring anyway. Marquius, got any work for me right now?"
I had to cause some trouble! So I asked, and Marquius was impressed instead.
"In a world full of guys racking their brains to dodge work, you're the first twisting yourself to take on more. Jo Iseo, this Marquius truly acknowledges you!"
"Skip the acknowledgment—give me work! Work!"
"I was gonna bring you something you'd love anyway. Something no one's solved. Something no one can easily touch. You love cracking tough nuts more than anyone, right?"
Oh! Marquius! Connections and networks really are the best.
The dull conversation suddenly sparked energy, and even the tasteless black coffee bloomed with deep flavor.
"What's the job?"
"Handling a persistent complainer. Not usually department head level, but some folks just won't let it go."
Complainers are normally handled by front-desk staff.
—But when fire-swallowers start spewing flames from their mouths, they demand higher-ups.
Apparently, the Safety Management Team was in deep trouble with an ultra-persistent one.
"Tried handling it myself, but she's no ordinary lady. Jo Iseo, I bet you could manage her. How about it? Do me this favor—owe me one."
Nothing as noisy and draining as dealing with a Karen. Screw up, and it's like an unextinguished cigarette sparking a massive wildfire—the situation escalates fast.
A battle you start on the back foot.
"Where's this lady? I'll go!"
Battlefield, where art thou? I come!
I headed to the Safety Management Team office.
"Get the highest-ranking person in charge out here! The highest! I don't wanna talk to grunts like you anymore!"
Some woman was bellowing, her grief and fury so intense it made my skin prickle.
"Hieeek...! This Paranoy knows exactly what to do in times like this...! It's the Nymph Skill: Massive Escape-dat...! All nymph employees, evacuate-dat...!"
Even Paranoy, the nymph shadow boss of Safety Management, was flailing and fleeing wildly—no explanation needed.
Perfect setup for me to step in.
"Everyone, stand down."
I cleared out the regular staff. Then approached the woman.
"I'm Department Head Jo Iseo. What brings you to this office?"
Department Head Jo Iseo—saying it myself felt like cactus spines sprouting in my mouth, but I endured and sized her up.
She had dark golden blonde hair and striking golden eyes like blazing light. Froth at the mouth, but stunningly attractive—clearly a married woman at a glance.
And her expression crumpled at the sight of me?
"Department Head Jo Iseo...? Aren't you from Audit? Back off! I'm here to complain about Safety Management!"
This dazzling-eyed married woman knew I was from Audit Team 1 and seemed well-versed in Safety Management's duties too.
But it was just amateur shaman play.
"You seem knowledgeable about our company org chart, ma'am, but unfortunately not about the rules."
"What? What don't I know?"
"Being a department head at Soul Society Inc. means overseeing and handling all company operations regardless of department. So we can work without being tied to one."
HQ department heads had to handle even unrelated fields like pros.
Say Audit's Hector and Welfare's Hippolyte swapped posts. Despite totally different departments, the company would run smoothly.
That's why they pick such people as heads. Only such people become heads.
Everyone except me!
"Fine. I'll tell you. Someone stole my stuff, but they say I can't view CCTV footage without being a stakeholder! How am I supposed to find the thief without seeing the video?!"
Soul Society had CCTV everywhere. Installed to monitor Prince Zagreus's multiple runaway attempts to the surface.
Safety Management handled them, so naturally, she'd complain there.
"I'll handle it."
I boasted big. Marquius from Safety was shocked.
"Whoa, Jo Iseo. No hesitation, straight bite? This Marquius acknowledges you! Fastest promotion to department head is no joke!"
"So, ma'am, where do I need to go?"
"Follow me. And I'm no 'ma'am'—I have a proper name. Call me Medea. I don't fancy being called ma'am by strangers."
Medea? If it was the witch Medea from the Argo Expedition I knew, I'd met a real celebrity.
But Medea led me somewhere like she couldn't care less.
The park near her house.
"I let my sheep graze here every night—got permission. But lately, thieves have been stealing them. Must be on that CCTV!"
The CCTV angle covered the whole park. Time to check the park management office.
"I'm HQ Department Head Jo Iseo. Mind if I review the last few days' footage?"
I showed ID at the security booth. Figured department head status would skip procedures—
"Someone already took all the footage?"
Who'd want footage from this deserted park? The skeleton guard answered.
"Said he was from HQ too. HR department head whatshisname. Came suddenly a few days ago demanding CCTV—thought it was weird."
HR department head—
As I recalled the org chart, Medea clapped.
"Iason! That bastard's the sheep thief! He took all the footage to cover his tracks! I won't let him get away!"
Medea dashed off somewhere; I followed.
A luxury housing complex in Happy World, known for prime lots.
Bang—creeeak—!
Medea kicked open a gate, spotted golden-fleeced sheep tied in the lawn, and yelled.
"Monasiph! Taihon! There you are! Iason, you dog! Stealing my sheep? I'll report you and make you eat prison slop!"
—Meeeh.
The stolen sheep were really at Department Head Iason's house?
No way! If we stayed like this, tomorrow's headlines: "Department Head Jo Iseo Catches HR Head's Shocking Crime!"
That'd been the pattern so far!
I've gotta do something!
A brilliant idea flashed.
"Don't report it yet."
"Huh? Don't report? What're you saying?"
"HR Department Head Iason is your ex-husband, right, Medea? My hunch is this isn't simple theft. Reporting now might just drag it into a maze."
"Maze what? What nonsense is this?!"
Of course it was nonsense. Just babbling whatever came to mind!
"Medea! Trust me, please! I stake my department head position on it!"
"...Hah, your position...? Fine, if you're that serious, let's hear it."
But the "department head" title carried weight! Power really was great!