Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: The Spear Tip of Longinus and Behemoth's Fang (3)
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"Is the boss still waiting?"
Manager Jang, who had snatched the sealed sword from Da-hee, asked Secretary Mi-seon in front of Agwi's office door.
The loan shark operation run by Agwi occupied an entire floor of a building right along the road with a view overlooking Teheran-ro.
Agwi had set up his own room in the spot with the best view.
Mi-seon's desk was right in front of Agwi's room, cordoned off by a low partition.
"Yes, he's waiting. Go on in."
Mi-seon spoke without looking up from her phone, focused on it.
Manager Jang turned back as he reached for the door.
"Why haven't you gone home yet?"
He seemed curious about her lingering there with nothing particular to do.
Mi-seon, still glued to her phone, replied.
"My card bill's huge this month, so I'm sticking around for overtime pay. If I clock out past midnight, I get all-nighter bonus on top... total steal. Go on in. He's been waiting since earlier."
Manager Jang thought her words sounded just like something from a loan shark employee as he opened the door and went inside.
Inside the room, Agwi and Executive Director No were sitting on the sofa, chatting.
As he entered, Agwi Yeo Do-hyeop greeted him.
"Did you get it?"
"Yes, here it is."
He pulled the sword from his coat and handed it over.
Agwi took the sword, turning it this way and that to inspect it, then asked Manager Jang again.
"You gave her the money properly, right?"
He seemed worried about any issues with the delivery.
To ease Agwi's concerns, Manager Jang replied loudly.
"I handed over cash so it can't be traced!"
Agwi shot him an incredulous look and yelled.
"You idiot! It needs to be traceable! You should've used a check to prove who gave it! What were you thinking? Did you at least give her your business card?"
Wilted by Agwi's scolding, Manager Jang replied.
"Yes, I gave her one, sir."
"Why'd you tell him to give her the business card?"
Executive Director No cautiously chimed in, gauging the mood.
Agwi grinned and explained to him.
"This sword seems special. If it's worth more than a hundred million, she'll come looking with that card in hand. If not, she'll just pocket the cash."
"Ah!"
"If no one shows up for it in a few days, send Manager Jang to collect the money. If they do come, chase 'em off and I'll keep the sword. Director No, find someone in Insadong who can appraise antiques."
Executive Director No looked puzzled and asked.
"You promised to find the sword in exchange for getting rid of Kotulpa. What about that?"
"Oh, our naive director. You really bought into what that redheaded supermodel-lookin' girl said, hook, line, and sinker? Sure, it'd be great if she takes out Kotulpa, but you think it's that easy? Let's see... what's so special about this sword that a pretty girl like her wants it bad?"
As Agwi examined it closely and tried to draw the blade from its sheath, Manager Jang panicked and stopped him.
"Boss, they said not to draw it. It'll summon all sorts of stray spirits. Don't do it."
Ignoring the warning, Agwi drew the sword with a shink and sneered.
"What, ghosts gonna swarm out? Look at you, scaredy-cat. How you gonna be a thug like that?"
The blade, about a handspan long, gleamed with a blue edge, radiating an icy chill.
Agwi swung the small sword a few times, then stood, opened the safe behind his desk, and stowed it away.
"Blade's too short; won't feel as good for stabbing as sashimi. That's it for today. Let's wrap up."
As he mocked Manager Jang, Agwi felt a freezing cold at his fingertips where he'd drawn the sword and hurried to get ready to leave.
Heading out to his parked car, Agwi settled comfortably into the back seat opened by his driver-cum-bodyguard.
"What's that?"
Agwi spotted three men standing at the building entrance, staring up.
Even in summer, they wore shabby winter jackets, hair a wild mess—clearly homeless.
"What's with these eyesores ruining my beautiful building? Go chase 'em off."
"Yes, sir."
At Agwi's order, the driver got out.
It had been a day full of weird happenings.
Feeling tired, Agwi leaned back on the cushion and closed his eyes.
Moments later, the driver returned and pulled away.
"You chase 'em off?"
"Well... by the time I got there, they were all gone..."
Agwi brushed it off casually.
"They saw your ugly mug and bolted. No wonder you're still single."
* * *
Alone in the now-empty office after everyone had left, Agwi's secretary Mi-seon checked the time on her phone and stretched.
"Alright, midnight! All-nighter pay, jackpot! They give bonus just for clocking hours—great company. Hope it blows up big. Time to head out?"
She got up from her chair and headed to the hallway restroom to touch up her makeup when she heard the elevator moving.
"Who's that? The security guy?"
Hearing the elevator doors open, Mi-seon entered the women's restroom and started fixing her makeup in the mirror.
As she did, she heard dragging footsteps pass the restroom toward the office.
"Weird. Did the security guy hurt his leg?"
Thinking it was the night patrol, she kept at her makeup—until her eyes widened.
Bang! Bang!
Rough pounding from the office side.
"Huh? Security wouldn't knock like that. Weird. Who's dumb enough to bang on a loan shark's door?"
Having seen it all as the boss's secretary, Mi-seon calmly finished up, left the restroom, and yelled from the hallway.
"Who is it! We're closed. Make noise here and you're in deep shit."
The pounding continued despite her shout.
"What the—"
Mi-seon rolled up her sleeves and hurried into the office. At the far end, in front of Agwi's room, a man in a winter jacket was slamming his head against the door.
"Do you know where you are...? You're gonna regret this. Mess around here and the scary guys show up—you'll get wrecked. Bad people work here. Get lost."
Mi-seon rushed over and grabbed his arm, yanking hard.
Without much effort, his arm came off at the shoulder, sending her tumbling backward onto her butt.
The armless man didn't scream. He turned, reached down toward her with his remaining hand.
"S-s-sorry! A-arm... I d-didn't know it'd come off like that. H-here, t-take your arm?"
Terrified, Mi-seon held up the severed arm above her head. The man drenched her face in blood from his shoulder as he snatched it back and tried jamming it onto his stump.
But it wasn't some toy robot arm—it wouldn't stick.
He kept rubbing it against his shoulder, spraying blood all over her with each try.
"N-not, not working? I-I'm off the clock, so I'll head out. G-good luck. Fix that arm."
Like a faucet left running, blood gushed from his shoulder, soaking her through.
Even then, Mi-seon kept talking to him.
"I-I was just fixing my makeup to leave. I'll go now. G-good luck with the arm."
As she struggled to stand, the man bared his teeth viciously and roared.
"Sword!"
"Pardon? Arm? Here's your arm... See, you have it."
Mi-seon pointed at the severed arm in his hand. He opened his mouth impossibly wider and bellowed.
His jaw seemed unhinged, stretching down to his chest.
"Sword!"
"Arm? Arm... there..."
"Sword! Sword!"
"Arm, right there. Why you yelling at me?"
The man shouted "sword," Mi-seon countered with "arm," her face scrunched in distress.
His expression turned murderous, eyes blazing with killing intent.
"Sword!"
He gnashed his teeth, glaring daggers.
Any second, he'd lunge and tear into her.
"Arm... I gave it to you. Why me?"
"Listen, girl! Not arm—sword! No, not arm—sword!"
A sharp voice rang out from behind her, like flapping wings.
'A magpie?'
Turning, Mi-seon saw a man in a black suit, a magpie perched on his shoulder flapping its wings.
"So damn noisy. Hey, magpie! Both ghosts? What's going on?"
Dong-su and the magpie had appeared unnoticed, watching Mi-seon and the man trade off-beats of "sword" and "arm."
"Tricky one. Looks like both ghosts, but one's human, one's a stray. And this lady ripped off that stray's arm. Impressive. No ordinary housewife."
The magpie on Dong-su's shoulder pointed a wing at the stray's shoulder.
Mi-seon and the stray were startled by the newcomers but kept at it.
"Sword!"
"I gave you the arm. Why yell at me?"
"Amazing. She's deaf in one ear or something."
As the magpie marveled at Mi-seon, Dong-su leaped, kicking the stray's head clean off.
The head flew, smashing into Agwi's door in a spray of blood and gore.
The headless body collapsed onto Mi-seon.
"Is Agwi Yeo Do-hyeop not in the office?"
Mi-seon shook her head.
"Figured. Too late, he went home. Why're you still here, miss?"
As Dong-su shoved the body off her, Mi-seon finally snapped to and answered.
"Overtime pay."
"What? Night shift's ghost hunting?"
Dong-su gawked. The magpie whispered in his ear.
"Hey, newbie! Look at her. Normal? Leave her and check that room. What's with this insane aura?"
The magpie flapped off Dong-su's shoulder, hopped down, and bounced on thin legs to Agwi's door.
Despite the magpie's urging, Dong-su worried for the blood-soaked Mi-seon and spoke gently.
"Go wash up in the bathroom and head home."
The talking magpie scared her, but Dong-su seemed trustworthy, so Mi-seon replied bravely.
"Too scared to go to the bathroom."
Dong-su tilted his head, then dashed to where the magpie waited by Agwi's door.
"What'd she say?"
The magpie glanced at him, pecked the door with a wing, and asked.
"Too scared. Hates washing up."
Dong-su leaned in quietly and opened the door.
"See? Told you she's not right. Hey, newbie—she's following."
Turning, Dong-su saw blood-caked Mi-seon staggering after them, leaving bloody footprints.
"She's creepy. Hurry inside."
The magpie urged the staring Dong-su and entered first.
Dong-su followed, and blood-soaked Mi-seon trailed behind.
"Hey! Why'd you bring her? She's scary!"
As Mi-seon entered after Dong-su, the magpie snapped at him, circling his head.