Chapter 6: The Fire of Lust (3)
The Villain Organization followed a strict rule: every March, each branch had to relocate to a new location. Staying too long in one place risked the Hero Association catching wind of their presence, so this was their main precaution. Along with the mandatory mass transfers, the chief of the 41st Zone, Park Hae-su, had officially left. She had moved to the 44th Zone. It wasn’t a demotion; the internal regulations required the direct chief of each branch to rotate every two years.
For that reason, Kang-jun had heard little from her lately. Whether she was busy adapting in her new post or had already picked up a new lover was irrelevant to him. He didn’t really care. …Breaking and renewing ties like this was just part of life.
Kang-jun entered the authentication code and checked the map. After wandering down the crooked alley, he finally reached the destination. Just like before, the 41st branch had chosen the underground level, so he had to pass through the gloomy corridor first. …Who knew the higher-ups loved these creepy underground passages so much.
Dang-dang. He stepped into the pub exactly like the last time. Of course, the interior was completely different. The last one had felt a bit old-fashioned; this one leaned more modern. The decor reflected the chief’s taste, so Kang-jun could roughly guess the new chief’s personality from it.
“Welcome. Alone…?”
The chief was a much younger woman than Park Hae-su. She still had that fresh college-graduate feel, barely out of her early career.
Kang-jun glanced at his phone screen once more to confirm the map. Correct. He looked up at her, met her eyes, then swept the pub with his gaze. Aside from one man slumped snoring in the corner, there were no other customers.
“This is the first time since I transferred here. …So that’s a new transfer?”
The woman’s eyes shifted instantly. She knew he was an organization member, but since she didn’t recognize his face she had been playing it cool. Still, if he was the one coming out like this, there was no need to hide. He had clearly come for a reason.
“What’s your name…?”
“It’s Lee Kang-jun.”
The moment she heard his name, her eyes widened. There was no way she didn’t know. The branch members talked about that man constantly. She had overheard the name more than once over her shoulder.
She knew he was a formidable organization member, but she had no idea he was this handsome. At the same time, a faint sense of unfairness crept into her mind. His personality should have been filthy. …Or maybe, even with a boyfriend, the chance she would still fall was high. Long-distance relationships were the most dangerous. Hearts didn’t always listen to reason!
“Rachel Wagner. I transferred in about two weeks ago.”
“Yeah, let’s meet often.”
They shook hands lightly. Kang-jun smiled once at her and turned away. Rachel watched his broad back as he walked off, then slipped into the side room and typed with rapid fingers.
I just saw a super hot guy. Who the hell is he? A guy with a girlfriend? Let me snap a photo. If I leak classified info, my head’ll roll? …The conversation in the side room exploded into nonstop discussion about that handsome man.
Kang-jun opened the iron door marked “No Entry for Non-Employees” and stepped inside. He passed the zigzagging corridor piled high with supplies and finally reached the door to the branch office. Since it was still early in the move-in, security was tight. Still, because he was familiar with the face, passage was no problem.
Creak. The door opened. The inside was exactly the same as before. After all, they had only relocated the entrance with magic, so the contents never changed.
Kang-jun headed straight for the desk. The desk clerk had also been replaced. She demanded his ID. When he handed it over, verification finished. Because every staff member had rotated, the process felt a bit tedious.
“What brings you here?”
“Result of the evaluation.”
“…Just a moment.”
The clerk wasn’t familiar with this side of things yet and didn’t understand at first. After tapping a few times, she finally realized and guided him.
“You can go straight to the chief’s office.”
Kang-jun nodded once and turned. They had overheard each other’s whispers over his shoulder.
Of course, Kang-jun didn’t go to the chief’s office; he headed for the training room instead. Normally transfers went elsewhere, but certain positions like training instructors stayed in the same place for quite a while. Even this year the instructor who had been working here when Kang-jun entered saw him and his face lit up. The new assistant looked surprised by his reaction.
“Hyung! Kang-jun’s here.”
The assistant stood up with a wink and quickly poured two coffees, setting them down in front of him. Kang-jun leaned back comfortably on the couch.
“You’ve all changed.”
“Ah, yeah, of course. Transfer every two years. Half of them don’t know their own faces.”
Kang-jun nodded lightly and took a sip of his coffee. It was sweet; he had added plenty of sugar.
“You came because of the evaluation?”
“Yeah. Apparently it’s classified so it can’t be sent through regular channels.”
“Internal regulations are what they are.”
Of course, Kang-jun had served in the military and understood that kind of situation well enough. He wasn’t against these people, but if they were cautious, he had to be too. There were cases where minor leaks caused entire branches to collapse.
“Anyway, good to see you. Been a while, hasn’t it?”
“A couple of months.”
“You staying here tonight?”
“No. I have to leave right after the report. I’m busy too.”
“Yeah. Work’s piling up, huh. Can’t be helped. You’re in the middle of a busy season. …Me too, lately I can’t keep my head straight.”
The instructor with the beehive haircut asked for understanding with his eyes and put a cigarette in his mouth. The assistant quickly turned on the fan. Puff. Gray smoke curled upward and dispersed.
“Any usable talent among the trainees?”
Kang-jun asked if there were any promising new recruits. The instructor sucked on his cigarette, then exhaled with a crooked grin.
“Well, just barely usable. Nothing to expect.”
“Can I meet her once?”
“No problem. …Or I could give her a day of training.”
“Is that overstepping?”
“Ah, overstepping? Sure, sure. Like headhunting a teacher.”
“You want a day off, huh.”
“Hey, don’t get any ideas.”
They both chuckled. The assistant wondered who this guy was that the instructor could joke around with so freely.
Kang-jun finished his coffee and stood up. The instructor glanced at his watch and told him to check the report.
“I’m sure it’s fine. Probably just the oath and stuff.”
“Got it. …Then I’ll report and come back. I’ll talk to her for a bit.”
Kang-jun shook off the fatigue and left the instructor’s room, heading straight for the chief’s office. The security officer there was exactly like the last one. The moment he saw Kang-jun’s face, he gave a brief eye contact and passed the message inside. “Come in.”
“Ah, Kang-jun. You came.”
The chief, a fifty-something man with half his head shaved, welcomed him with a smile.
“Come in.”
The chief knew exactly why Kang-jun had come. He pulled out the sealed evaluation envelope from the committee and handed it over. Kang-jun took it and tore it open right there. The packaging was elaborate, but the content was simple.
- Evaluation Result: Pass.
As expected, the result was obviously pass. Kang-jun immediately signed the oath with his signature.
Now he could become a hero.
Of course, the responsibilities were enormous. If he leaked classified information, the consequences were severe. Since leaks would be caught immediately by the Hero Association, if his identity was exposed, the rules required destroying materials and suicide; if that failed, an assassination team would be sent. The oath was the pledge for that.
“You are stepping into a position with enormous responsibility. There are only about ten hero spies in the entire organization. It’s reserved for the elite alone. …Of course, you know that well enough.”
“I’m well aware.”
“Congratulations. You’ll be assigned your own team. Management is a subsidiary company of the organization. I’ll make sure you can contact them naturally.”
The original purpose of his visit was over. The chief suggested having lunch together sometime. Of course, Kang-jun didn’t refuse. After all, the chief had helped him during the evaluation, so at the very least he should show courtesy in return.
Kang-jun left the chief’s office after confirming the lunch time—12:30 p.m. There was still plenty of time left.
He went straight to the training room. The instructor’s boring lesson was still in progress. Kang-jun sat at the back, yawning widely, waiting for it to end. He was already half-dozing, heading straight into dreamland. The instructor didn’t bother waking them. After all, it was pointless to hit the board until they were wide awake. They would only learn if they failed the exam a few times.
The class ended at exactly 11:00. As soon as it finished, the sleepers filed out like nothing had happened. The instructor waiting outside grabbed one trainee.
“Sit here.”
Kang-jun glanced sideways at the trainee sitting next to him. A woman. Good.
Without checking her stats, it was pointless to chatter. First, he had to look at her stat sheet. It was a bit of a waste to spend two coupons, but he thought of it as an investment. If he kept relying on free gains, something could go wrong.
- Name: Barbara Olson (230th batch) - Age: 20 - Gender: Female - Level: 52 (+3) - Stats (1st) - Strength: 7 / 20 - Agility: 9 / 20 - Vitality: 8 (+3) / 20 - Intelligence: 9 / 20 - Luck: 9 / 20 - Mana: 10 / 20 - Traits (1 / 4) - Fall Seven Times, Get Up Eight (B / B): +3 Vitality.
Kang-jun alternated between the stat sheet and her face. Her eyes held an unreadable expression, yet she seemed naturally cheerful. Her looks were decent.
‘Her stats are higher than I expected.’
She came from Earth, and even at this late stage of training, her stats were far above average. On paper, she was at genius level. Of course, how well she used them would decide everything.
“What’s your name?”
“Barbara Olson.”
“Position?”
“Seems like a dealer.”
“Weapon.”
“I’ve been practicing with various ones.”
The interview format suddenly appeared, but Barbara answered honestly.
“Shielding might suit you too. The trait fits perfectly. Of course, the lack of physical or magical resistance is a small regret, but B-rank traits are usually reliable.”
Kang-jun didn’t ask more. This was enough. Once he tested her, if he didn’t like it, he would discard her.
He took a business card from his pocket and handed it to her. She scanned the card’s content, then read his name silently with her lips without making a sound. Her gaze moved from the card back to his face.
“If you come up next, contact me. If you don’t want to, that’s fine too.”
“Understood.”
Barbara tucked the card away carefully. Kang-jun told her he was done and left. She gave a graceful bow, then left the training room. Kang-jun asked the instructor waiting at the entrance. The instructor pointed to her back with his chin.
“How is she?”
“She’s super quiet. Keeps to herself. But she seems to have some talent.”
Kang-jun could feel the burning ambition in her eyes. She had suppressed it, but because she was young, she hadn’t fully mastered it yet. The moment he saw the card, he had caught her changing expression and eyes. Of course, she had quickly returned to normal, but he had already seen it.
For now, judgment was on hold. Whether he could leash her was a later decision. If she was usable talent, he would use her. To break through the dungeon, they needed as many strong people as possible.
But if there was even a hint of trouble in the team, no matter how talented she was, he couldn’t tolerate it. Especially Kang-jun, who had lost his 3rd playthrough because of betrayal, was even more resolute.
“She looks fine?”
“For now, yeah. I’ll test her first. Everyone says they can do it.”
“She’ll be lucky. Already opening the path to success.”
As soon as Kang-jun turned away, the matter of Barbara was neatly forgotten. When contact came, he would think about it then.
He didn’t have enough leeway to worry about such small things.