Taking Down the Pervert
"Wow... he really lined his pockets, didn't he?"
I couldn't help but marvel as I scrolled through the list of Deputy General Manager Kang's corrupt dealings that Hera had pulled up.
Not a marvel of admiration, mind you, but of sheer, unadulterated disgust.
The sheer scale of what Deputy General Manager Kang had embezzled was staggering.
"Does he really want to live like this? A flash-in-the-pan success like that is bound to burn out fast."
Though, to be fair, if a wild card like me hadn't entered the picture, he probably would've lived like a king for the rest of his days.
But hey, who told him to mess with me?
"He's even connected to ACE Construction?"
Among the names on Kang's list of connections was the head of ACE Construction.
"Looks like we won't even need to go through the Corporate Audit Division."
Originally, I had planned to leak Kang's corruption list to the Corporate Audit Division to get the pervert's head on a platter, but now I realized there was a much easier way.
Going through Corporate Audit would involve a highly complex process, and Hera had warned me it would take quite some time. So, I decided to take the path of least resistance.
"Hera, get me through to Executive Director Gu Si-min."
Understood.
Before the phone could even ring, Gu Si-min picked up.
"Hmm? What's the occasion?"
"Well, you see..."
I laid out the whole story about Deputy General Manager Kang to Gu Si-min.
Once I finished, Gu Si-min spoke up.
"I've actually been grinding my teeth trying to track down and get rid of that Construction Division Head for a while now. I never expected to get my hands on the perfect weapon like this, though. Thanks for the tip."
"I'll leave it in your hands, then."
"Don't worry. Leeches that prey on the company need to be ripped off."
Now that I'd handed it over to Gu Si-min, things would move at lightning speed.
The next day, H Mulsa was thrown into absolute chaos.
It was all because of a notice posted on the company bulletin board.
[NOTICE: Audit Initiated on Deputy General Manager Kang Yuchan of the H Mulsa Management Support Team for Breach of Trust and Embezzlement]
The moment the notice went up, investigators from the H Group Headquarters Audit Team marched in and dragged Deputy General Manager Kang away as if he were a violent felon, throwing the entire Management Support Team into a frenzy.
"Did Deputy Manager Kang really do all that?"
"I always got a bad vibe from him, but I didn't think he'd actually go that far."
"They say physiognomy is a science. I never liked that bastard Kang anyway."
As the members of the Management Support Team buzzed with gossip, someone slammed their hand on a desk, instantly cutting through the noise.
"Is everyone here idle? Have you already finished all your backlogged work? Get back to it."
At Assistant Manager Han Yunseo's sharp words, the employees stopped whispering and scurried back to their respective desks.
What incredible charisma. Someone like her should be in the Deputy General Manager's seat.
Of course, she was only an assistant manager, so she'd have to make manager first, but still.
After putting an end to the commotion, Assistant Manager Han tapped a stack of scattered documents against her desk to align them, then walked over to my station.
"Associate Kim."
"Yes, Assistant Manager?"
"A word with me, please."
What could she possibly want with me?
Nursing my doubts, I followed Assistant Manager Han.
Once we stepped into the breakroom, Assistant Manager Han let out a sigh, turned around, and locked her gaze onto me.
"It was you, wasn't it? With Deputy Manager Kang."
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"You're the one who blew Deputy Manager Kang out of the water, Associate Kim."
Huh?
Her words left me utterly dumbfounded.
How did she know? I had made sure to do this completely behind the scenes.
"Whew... I'm not trying to scold you. I was planning on getting rid of Kang anyway. He was colluding with a member of our Youth Division to distribute drugs within the Sect."
"Excuse me? The Sect? What on earth do you mean by that?"
A sect? And a Youth Division?
A terrible premonition washed over me at those words.
In this world, there was only one group that would refer to themselves as a "Sect"—since the White Star Cult didn't use that term.
The Bohemia Sect.
Memories of that cult, which I thought I'd long forgotten, began bubbling back to the surface.
"It's been a while since we last met. Your name was... Ju Ae-ri, correct?"
She even knew my real name.
How?
Youth Division... Sect... Could it be?
"Y-you... are you Department Head Gu Hayeon?!"
"So you do remember me. I didn't think you'd recognize me, considering you look completely different from back then."
As for why Department Head Gu Hayeon was here, I could easily piece it together from what she had just said.
"Did you approach me because Iris is targeting me?"
"No, it's nothing like that. The Sect Leader doesn't hold any particular grudge against you. Though, of course, she was quite furious about being played for a fool back then."
That was a surprisingly crude way to put it.
"I simply wanted to thank you for taking care of Deputy Manager Kang for us."
"Did you really infiltrate H Group just to take down Deputy Manager Kang?"
I had a strong feeling that wasn't her only motive.
After all, there was no reason for someone as high-ranking as the Youth Division's Department Head to personally go undercover just to deal with a minor pest like Kang.
"Of course not. I have my own objectives. I can't share them with you as they are highly classified, but I must admit I'm curious as to why you've joined H Group as a new recruit. Still, since we both have our secrets, I won't pry."
Thank goodness.
If the Youth Division's Department Head—whose specialty was interrogation—had actually started grilling me, I might have accidentally spilled the beans about my partnership with ACE Group.
"That's all I wanted to say. By the way, are you still in touch with Christine?"
"Ah, yes. Well... we talk occasionally."
Though "occasionally" actually meant once every two days.
"Then could you pass a message to her? Tell her I'll be coming for my rematch soon."
For someone with such a cool, professional demeanor, she sure held a serious grudge.
I had thought she defeated Christine before, but Christine told me it was actually the other way around. It seemed Gu Hayeon was still incredibly salty about that loss.
"Well then, let's get back to work. Whatever our goals may be, we still have jobs to do."
At least she knew how to keep her personal and professional lives separate.
And she was incredibly by-the-book about it, too...
The audit results came back swiftly.
Most of the allegations against Deputy Manager Kang were proven true. In the end, his disciplinary action was decided: immediate termination, a full clawback of all his embezzled funds, and a massive fine requiring him to pay H Group back several times over what he stole.
"Justice doesn't always win, but when it does, it sure feels sweet."
Highly satisfied with the outcome, I set off on my commute home.
"Watching Kang pack up his things and waddle out was absolutely priceless."
Ae-ri, you have a rather wicked sense of humor.
"Hey, it's not a wicked sense of humor. Let's call it a profound appreciation for the fact that justice still exists in this world, okay?"
As I was happily making my way home, I felt a sudden prickle of unease at the back of my neck.
"Hera."
Omnidirectional scan complete. There are three targets following you. Well, technically four, but only three pose any actual physical threat. The fourth is the disgraced Deputy Manager Kang.
"Sigh... I knew this would happen."
Why does reality never fail to meet my lowest expectations?
This is literally the most basic cliché ever.
The classic "disgraced boss seeks revenge on the whistleblower" trope.
"How did he even find out it was me?"
I came to a sudden halt.
Right on cue, several hulking thugs stepped out from the shadows.
And behind them, Deputy Manager Kang—no, Kang the Pervert—revealed himself.
Seeing this, I immediately channeled my inner Oscar-winning actress.
"W-who are you?!"
"'W-who are you?!' Are you kidding me, Kim Yeri? Just because you have a pretty face and I showed you a little affection, you thought you could stab your boss in the back?!"
"D-Deputy Manager Kang? What is the meaning of this?!"
"Did you think I wouldn't find out? You're the bitch who reported me!"
At the pervert's roaring accusation, I pretended to shrink back in terror.
"I-I would never do such a thing! Even if you've been disciplined, you can't just corner me like this based on mere assumptions!"
"Ha... look at this bitch. Still playing dumb, are we?"
Kang the Pervert gestured with his chin toward the hired muscle.
"Hehehe, we can do whatever we want with her, right? Just like we agreed?"
"Of course. Just do what I paid you for."
The thugs cracked their knuckles and began closing in on me.
"S-stay back!"
I screamed, putting on a perfect show of sheer panic.
"Damn, she's a looker. Hehehe!"
He should be arriving right about now...
Thud!
"W-what the?!"
One of the thugs was suddenly sent flying by a newcomer, instantly throwing the remaining goons into a panic.
"Deokcheol!"
I dashed over to Deokcheol and ducked behind his massive frame.
"I apologize for my delay. Are you unharmed?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Who the hell are you?!"
One of the thugs barked at Deokcheol.
But another thug seemed to recognize him and began to tremble.
"T-that guy... is he 'Lee Jeong-wu's Sword,' Yu Deokcheol?!"
"W-what?! The Yu Deokcheol?!"
I hadn't known at first, but apparently, Deokcheol was a legendary powerhouse in the underworld.
Well, I always knew he was built different.
After all, he could unleash that kind of raw, destructive power without a single cybernetic modification.
"S-so what?! If we flank him and jump him together, even Yu Deokcheol won't stand a chance!"
"Yeah!"
What an incredibly stupid decision.
"I will make you regret laying a finger on who you shouldn't have."
The phrase "one punch, all teeth gone" was literally manifested by Deokcheol's fist.
A single blow from Deokcheol shattered every tooth in one thug's mouth, sending him crashing to the pavement. Seeing his buddy drop, another goon tried to turn tail and run, but Deokcheol wasn't about to let him escape.
Deokcheol grabbed the fleeing thug by the scruff of his neck and slammed him face-first into the concrete, knocking him out cold instantly.
"Eek!"
Seeing his hired muscle completely annihilated, Kang the Pervert tried to scramble away, but—
Crack!
"What's with this punk?"
Lee Jeong-wu suddenly appeared in his path and delivered a swift kick. Kang tumbled backward, his head cracking against the asphalt as he blacked out.
"Yo, Ae-ri. You alright?"
"Ah, yes. I'm fine, thanks to Deokcheol."
"Is that so?"
"But what are you going to do with him?"
I pointed at the unconscious Kang and asked Lee Jeong-wu.
"This idiot? He tried to do something awful to you, Ae-ri. Don't we need to show him what real terror looks like?"
Lee Jeong-wu flashed a wicked grin.
Even though Kang was a massive pervert and a scumbag, I figured it wouldn't hurt to pray for his soul.
"Well then, Miss. I shall escort you home."
"Alright, Deokcheol. Take care of Ae-ri."
"Yes, Boss."
And so, under Deokcheol's sturdy protection, I made it back home safe and sound.