Black Cell's Public Relations Ambassador
I accepted the Director’s proposal to serve as Black Cell’s public relations ambassador. To be more precise, it was to expand our connections with the heroes for the future. As a result, I prepared to attend the entrance ceremony of the Hero Academy—the cradle of all heroes—as an honored guest.
When Amano heard the news, she was incredibly envious.
“Ugh… I wish I could go with you too, Senior Maxwell.”
“You know perfectly well that it’s impossible given the current climate.”
This place was an evil organization, after all. It echoed with screams and despair. Having been stuck in such a dreary environment all the time, my junior researcher naturally craved a little sunlight. But because of the recent internal whistleblower, all personnel were banned from external activities unless there was a special reason. Amano looked utterly disappointed.
In any case, the entrance ceremony started in the morning and ended before noon. It was a surprisingly short event. Considering travel time, I should still be able to meet the children as usual. But the moment anything went even slightly wrong, there was no telling what might happen. Since I could end up being late, I told Gloria the truth.
I honestly expected her not to care at all. Instead, I heard something unexpected.
“You’ve been busy lately.”
“It can’t be helped. It’s the beginning of the year.”
Everyone was celebrating new beginnings with the arrival of spring, so there were quite a few external events. Gloria didn’t look particularly happy when she heard the news, but I decided to test the waters anyway.
“Would you like to come with me?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Unfortunately, she rejected me immediately. She clearly didn’t want to leave Black Cell’s grounds for some personal reason. Since she had already said no, it felt wrong to keep pushing. Instead, I asked if there was anything she wanted.
She fell silent for a moment, then stared straight at me. I waited, meeting her eyes, until she finally spoke in a tiny, creeping voice.
“…A blanket.”
“Ah, you mean new bedding.”
There was a clear reason Gloria would want something like that. The only piece of furniture in her otherwise empty detention room was a bed, but the bedding provided was naturally terrible. Giving her a soft comforter and a proper pillow was something the Director would surely approve.
After meeting with Gloria, I went to see the other two children. When I told Liberty and Victory I might be late again, they both puffed up in displeasure. But the moment I added that I would bring back new bedding as a gift—
“Arf!! Arf!!!!”
“Hehehe… Maxwell-nim’s present…”
—their moods seemed to improve, at least a little. Of course, there was still a chance I genuinely wouldn’t make it. Until the day of the entrance ceremony, I pulled all-nighters and spent every possible moment with the children.
Today was the day I would attend the Hero Academy entrance ceremony as a distinguished guest. I had been pushing myself too hard lately, and having to get dressed before dawn made my dark circles especially prominent. Yet the moment my junior—who had also arrived early—saw me, she thrust both thumbs up.
“Senior Maxwell’s exhausted aesthetic is shining even brighter today!”
“You really do have unique tastes, Amano.”
“Come on~ I bet everyone else feels the same way!”
As expected of an evil organization, work-life balance here was nonexistent. Thanks to that, the other researchers who had also come in at dawn all chimed in with compliments.
“Maxwell really fills out a suit nicely with that build of his.”
“Anyone would think he was a model.”
“No matter how much you all flatter me, nothing’s going to come of it.”
After exchanging various remarks with the staff, it was soon time to depart. I received everyone’s well-wishes and headed down to the underground parking garage, where four men were waiting for me exactly as the Director had arranged. They looked like ordinary men in suits, but these were the special agents from Black Cell that the Director had assigned to me.
There was no reason to make a bad impression on the superhumans who would be responsible for my safety today, so I greeted the bodyguards warmly.
“I’ll be counting on you all today.”
“The pleasure is ours, Mr. Maxwell.”
The man who appeared to be the security team leader immediately guided me to the vehicle I would be riding in. Honestly, traveling with a group of large men made me feel overly protected.
“Anyone watching would think I was an important politician.”
“This is the only way to display Black Cell’s dignity properly.”
“Even so, seeing that car makes me feel embarrassed no matter what.”
A sleek black vehicle stood before us. I had never imagined I would ride in something reserved for VVIPs, but it really showed just how much money this evil organization made.
Since we couldn’t be late, I got in with the bodyguards right away. The car slowly pulled out of the underground parking garage. Soon, a forest of towering skyscrapers filled my view. The brilliant cityscape was packed with countless signs written in Korean.
It was still surprising that Black Cell’s headquarters was in Korea. And in a very unusual location, at that.
“How long does it take to get from Pyongyang to Seoul?”
“Using the newly opened expressway, it should take about two hours.”
“You must be tired, Mr. Maxwell. Why don’t you rest your eyes for a bit?”
“Then I’ll take you up on that.”
This world had seen the Baekdu bloodline severed several decades ago.
While Maxwell closed his eyes in the car, an event signaling a new beginning unfolded like flowers blooming at once.
“Th-this is the starting point for all heroes…”
“Hoo! Let’s do our best!”
“E-even if I can only become a sidekick…!”
Young superhumans gathered at Seoul Hero Academy with dreams in their hearts. The faculty and heroes who had come to watch looked upon the fresh sprouts with warm, satisfied smiles.
Inside the academy, a very youthful-looking girl with fluttering pink hair was reviewing some documents.
“Headmaster Baek So-ah, here is the list of distinguished guests attending today’s entrance ceremony.”
“Sigh… So many of them again this time.”
A whole crowd of troublesome people had shown up. Just thinking about it gave Baek So-ah a headache, but as the headmaster, she recognized most of the VIPs attending the ceremony. However, one name in particular stood out.
“What? Why is Black Cell participating?”
“This was quite unexpected for me as well.”
After North Korea collapsed due to a certain incident, foreign capital had flooded in like a tidal wave. Among them, one conglomerate had invested in Pyongyang even more aggressively than China, resulting in the massive pharmaceutical company known as Black Cell taking root in the former capital of North Korea. It was originally a reclusive giant that almost never engaged in external activities.
“To think they’re attending this time… Could it be because of that conspiracy theory that spread recently?”
“It could also be part of their corporate image improvement campaign.”
“That makes sense. And the attendee’s name sounds familiar…?”
“He is the young man who defeated a strong artificial intelligence that once boasted of possessing superintelligence in a direct confrontation.”
“Ah, that genius of the century?”
A talent who, despite having no intelligence-related superpowers, had proven difficult problems and produced various significant papers in a short period of time. Maxwell Gray’s name was listed as Black Cell’s representative.
“He is seen as a beacon of hope for non-powered individuals and has gone quite viral because of it.”
“Hmm… So he became famous for being famous, in a way.”
“However, considering what Black Cell has shown of him recently, I don’t think he should be underestimated.”
“It was quite surprising to see him remain completely unfazed even in front of Solar and Sunray. Still, it makes sense that such a talent would go to Black Cell since they pay well, but has he really become their public face?”
“He is certainly very well-suited to be their promotional ambassador.”
Seeing that Maxwell was continuously appearing at major events, it was safe to assume the role had been confirmed. Although she felt a bit uneasy since she didn’t know exactly what kind of research he did, Black Cell was making enormous amounts of money. If handled well, they could become a major donor to the academy. Baek So-ah raised Maxwell’s priority level.
After that, she finished preparing to greet the guests, and the time for the entrance ceremony quickly approached. Many people had gathered in the grand auditorium, but when Baek So-ah received a certain report, she headed to the school’s main gate.
Soon, a sleek black vehicle approached from the distance.
“Headmaster Baek So-ah, it’s Black Cell.”
“I know. Don’t worry.”
The moment the vehicle stopped, Baek So-ah and her secretary slowly approached. First, several large bodyguards stepped out. Just as she was thinking they looked like they were escorting a famous politician, the most important person—Maxwell—slowly emerged from the car. He gave off a very cold impression at first glance. But the moment he confirmed Baek So-ah’s presence, his entire atmosphere changed.
“I didn’t expect the headmaster herself to be waiting. I’m truly sorry for being late.”
Maxwell smiled like warm spring sunlight melting pure white snow.
To be honest, I had expected nothing more than a low-ranking professor to greet me at the academy. I never imagined the headmaster herself would be waiting at the main gate. Did Black Cell’s influence in Korea exceed my expectations?
In any case, Headmaster Baek So-ah looked exactly the same as she had in the past, present, and presumably the future, so I recognized her immediately. I greeted her with an apology.
“I didn’t expect the headmaster herself to be waiting. I’m truly sorry for being late.”
“Not at all. You came all the way from Pyongyang. It must have been exhausting.”
“Hahaha, thank you for your understanding.”
Fortunately the atmosphere remained pleasant. To my surprise, Headmaster Baek So-ah personally gave me a tour of the academy. Even though it felt like I was sitting on a bed of thorns, I somehow managed to maintain a business smile and continued the conversation.
It seemed the headmaster was quite interested in me.
“I had heard stories about you before, Mr. Maxwell, but you’re much gentler than I expected.”
“I have to survive in the workplace, so it can’t be helped.”
“Pfft. Such an ordinary reason leaves me with nothing to say.”
After exchanging a few more words with Headmaster Baek So-ah, we soon entered the grand auditorium. It was a magnificent space filled with numerous heroes, along with the future heroes who would shoulder the next generation. Here, I needed to avoid raising the bodyguards’ suspicions while somehow expanding my network of connections.
Fortunately, there were heroes present who already knew me.
“Eh?! Headmaster Baek So-ah!! And even Mr. Maxwell?!”
“Whoa! Does this mean Black Cell is finally participating in the academy’s events?!”
“Solar, Sunray. It’s been a while.”
The connection we had made last time was continuing now.