Chapter 163 - Chapter 163

Chapter 163

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Translated by Jinmu

Read more at hivetoons.org

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The fact that when clearing a Dark under the jurisdiction of Daydream Co., the escape location was set to the company.

It was not a strange thing. But....

‘If the entry routes were different, they could have left through the places they respectively came from...!’

I swallowed my saliva.

Looking around, it seemed that all the people who were in the escape craft had fallen into the research team office without exception.

No, I mean, why on earth did the escaped people have to be shoved into Daydream Co.? If it was an escape craft, at least asking the passenger where they wanted to go....

Ah.

‘Could it be that, at the very beginning, the one who boarded the escape craft and operated it was a person from Daydream Co....?’

Was the destination set based on that?

‘The possibility is sufficient.’

The problem was that thinking about this now was meaningless.

Sweating coldly, I quietly turned only my eyes to look at Agent Bronze, who was in a standoff with Manager Gwak Je-gang.

“Looking at those uniforms, you must be from the Disaster Management Bureau? Somehow, a rescue request must have been made from our Dark this time. Haha!”

“Supernatural disasters are not possessions. Please refrain from inappropriate designations.”

Agent!

“Ah, well. You may say so, Agent, but....”

Gwak Je-gang smirked behind his glasses.

“At any rate, didn't you trespass on a private company's property?”

“…….”

“But well, it must have been something like clearing it while helping each other, right? Haha, in that case, if you just do a brief interview, we won't charge you separately....”

“Charge?”

“I mean, since you used our clear passage! Things like information usage fees, labor costs, expert consultation fees, and so on.... Since you're a government agency, surely you won't stiff us.”

I wouldn't have been surprised even if Agent Bronze struck Manager Gwak Je-gang.

Remarkably, however, instead of getting angry, Agent Bronze stared at him with a contemptuous gaze and spoke as follows.

“We have never sought your consultation. The escape method used just now is also information we had already grasped.”

“Huh... then it becomes trespassing rather than collaboration.”

Gwak Je-gang stared at Agent Bronze with a smile.

“…….”

Agent Bronze silently watched him and reached his hand inside his jacket.

A strange tension was created.

Yes.

‘This is... the middle of a psychopathic conglomerate pharmaceutical company's headquarters.’

Even the research team.

With just a press of the call button, Security Team personnel would rush in and subdue 'trespassers' by any number.

And since the Security Team members were personnel who had already reached a state of being non-human, there was a high possibility that even two veteran agents would be subdued in a horrific manner.

In short, it was the middle of a bizarre enemy camp where social common sense did not apply.

...A chill ran down my spine.

‘For this crazy company, just treating a few civil servants as missing persons and using them as test subjects is...’

“Oh, my aching body....”

“…!”

At that moment, a figure lying on the floor stood up with a stretch, making a groaning sound openly.

It was a cheeky attitude that completely shattered the tension.

‘Agent Choi!’

“No, it's too scary to lie down. What's all this about trespassing... I mean, is crash-landing while escaping a ghost story considered trespassing these days? Good grief, how can anyone work when things are this harsh.”

Rising to his feet, Agent Choi made eye contact with Gwak Je-gang and smirked.

“Our Disaster Management Bureau doesn't act that harshly even when we see someone who happened to wander in during a safety inspection....”

“…….”

Ah, right.

In the first place, the reason Daydream Co. was sick to death of the Paranormal Disaster Management Bureau wasn't because their desire for public recognition seemed useless.

Naturally, the government did not recognize the ownership of ghost stories. Officially, that is.

Thus, the Disaster Management Bureau identified the ghost stories managed by Daydream Co., and if it seemed capable of being terminated, they would push in and try to end it.

Namely under the pretext of a 'safety inspection.'

‘From Daydream's perspective, the Disaster Management Bureau is the true disaster that destroys their raw material supply sources.’

Thanks to this, rules were even established to ensure that the exploration records of the two factions clashing in ghost stories did not occur too frequently.

Because otherwise, there would have been too many records written indiscriminately just because it was interesting.

...Just like this case.

“I'm worried that we'll keep doing this and end up at each other's throats~ right?”

In other words, Agent Choi was putting pressure on Gwak Je-gang, implying that he could behave in an extremely annoying manner in the future.

And while the veterans of the two factions fought a bloodless battle, Agent Bronze, who was out of the spotlight, turned around as if checking the children and locked eyes with me.

I read the shape of his lips.

-Stay still.

Of course.

‘Shut my mouth and keep a low profile.’

If I was caught here, things would grow ridiculously huge from that point on.

Agent Bronze probably tried to protect my identity because he believed I had pretended to be dead, gone into hiding, and resigned from this company, but in reality, it wasn't just to that extent.

‘I am manipulating my identity to appear dead within the company because I'm performing spy work.’

If my identity was discovered by the research team and that fact reached Director Ho's ears... it was baffling to imagine what on earth would happen.

Moreover, what if Director Cheong, who believed I had stabbed them in the back and fled, found out that 'Kim Sol-eum' was currently inside the company?

I swallowed my saliva.

‘...I will die.’

No, I might end up in a state worse than death. Because this is a ghost story.

‘I must absolutely not get caught.’

I naturally kept a low profile among the children and concealed my presence as much as possible.

At any rate, Agent Choi's subtle threat—'if you keep this up, we will track and inspect only the ghost stories under your jurisdiction even more persistently'—was gradually leading to a conclusion.

“We will take only the citizens and leave. Well, you don't even have to thank us separately for saving your employees~ Hahaha!”

It was a neat compromise.

But Gwak Je-gang was a lunatic.

“...Ah, indeed. How could I not know that you are always busy with public affairs, working for the citizens.”

Carrying a folder, he spread both of his arms wide.

“Then take only the citizens!”

“……!”

Gwak Je-gang walked over to this direction.

‘...!’

I hurriedly held my breath and bowed my head, pretending to have not regained consciousness.

Footstep sounds.

Clack, clack.

He drew closer.

A voice heard from above my head.

“But these contaminated entities here... no matter how I look at them, they don't seem to be normal citizens of our society.”

Damn it.

“Look here. I mean, they have gills instead of ears, so there's no way they're our citizens! Ah, this one has an extra arm, and here...”

“This one is missing a right arm.”

Goosebumps broke out all over.

“Ah, of course, they could be a pitiful civilian—no, citizen—who lost their right arm in an accident... but we have to inspect them to know for sure!”

An excited voice.

“Since the overall contamination is also severe, we will inspect them, screen out the citizens, and send them back safely.”

‘If they aren't citizens.’

They meant they would handle them on their own.

“Then the busy agents must be occupied with other matters, so you can head off home~”

Here, Agent Bronze's patience seemed to have snapped.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“Nonsense?”

Damn it.

“I'm saying it's not clear if this falls under the jurisdiction of the Disaster Management Bureau agents... Good grief. If you keep this up... Right. Let's hear some testimonies from our employees. Hey, Assistant Manager Jin!”

From the side, the sound of Gwak Je-gang shaking Jin Na-sol awake was heard.

And also a dry voice, sunk in annoyance.

“...What.”

“Oh, you're awake. To the eyes of the elite team, did all these kids look like good civilians? I mean, I'm just so frustrated!”

“You're frustrated every day, Manager.”

Jin Na-sol, perhaps having grasped the situation, dryly stated only the favorable facts. Damn it!

“...Those things are baby mermaids.”

“Oh!”

Gwak Je-gang's footsteps grew hectic.

“Baby mermaids! This is so interesting—no, what a new discovery. Then in truth... they aren't good civilians, they are more like collaborators of the Dark!”

“Wait.”

Agent Choi's voice grew firm.

“That is a matter for the Bureau to judge, a private enterprise must not draw its own conclusions. Especially,”

Even though he was not visible, it was felt.

“You as an individual, that is.”

The pressure.

“…….”

“…….”

“...Haha, opinions are divided!”

Clap. Gwak Je-gang clapped his hands.

And he backed away slightly.

“As you said, I think I might have acted too hastily. Then... how about taking a short rest first and resuming the conversation?”

“…….”

The two agents seemed to be calculating the situation.

It was a close shave.

No.

‘The conflict must not intensify any further here.’

Escaping as smoothly and intactly as possible was the best policy.

If hostility were expressed directly, there was no telling what would happen in this situation where they were already exhausted from escaping the ghost story.

Therefore....

“We can have a conversation anytime~”

Whew.

“We will rest here with the children. Come when you've organized what you want to say.”

“Haha, um. Understood.”

The agents sat right where they were as if they would never let the children out of their sight, and Gwak Je-gang seemed to have no choice but to leave in the end.

But....

‘His tricks won't end with just that.’

I opened my eyes naturally.

Before I knew it, as if it had naturally happened that way while moving, I heard the agents sitting beside me conversing.

As if wanting me to hear.

“How long will it take?”

“Well~ half a day at most.”

A sigh-mixed composure returned to Agent Choi's voice.

“It's not like I've seen that kind of bastard just once or twice. Let's just stay a moment until backup arrives.”

Thank goodness.

It seemed they had successfully bought time to contact the Disaster Management Bureau and receive assistance.

The problem was....

“Wait a moment. Our work...”

That the research team would play as many tricks as possible until then.

Narrowing my eyes, I watched the person approaching the people.

A dark-circled, glasses-wearing researcher gathered the field exploration team employees, had them treated, and led them to the interview room.

[Lee Yeon-hwa]

Assistant Manager of Research Team 1.

The name written on the name tag was the researcher I had confirmed in the Records of the Dark Exploration. What this meant was....

‘She has enough unique characteristics to be mentioned on the wiki.’

That characteristic was....

Being one of the few researchers at Daydream Co. who was conscious of research ethics.

She was a researcher whose attitude reflected that.

If it hadn't been for this situation, I might have been somewhat glad to see her, but not now.

Because Gwak Je-gang had likely sent her on purpose.

To lower the agents' wariness.

“Excuse me, the children as well... I think it would be good for you agents to receive basic first aid. Especially since the children have severe bleeding, and some are in a state of shock.”

“...Well.”

Wouldn't it be difficult to refuse this?

Having confirmed that the researcher bore no ill intent, the Disaster Management Bureau agents inspected the recovery medicine offered by the researcher with their equipment and gave the okay.

However, they did not drink it themselves. It seemed they had inevitably permitted it only because the children had gone through a rough ordeal like tearing off their tails, given the urgency of the situation.

“Drink this.”

Like that, the recovery medicine naturally came to me too.

The entry-level red potion deployed in the medical room here.

‘It's been a while.’

I tried to receive it with both hands, but realized I was missing a hand and received it with my left.

Then, instead of drinking the potion... I pretended to and stored the liquid inside the tattoo on my wrist.

‘Just in case they recognized me and gave me something strange.’

Even if not, they might have played some tricks to 'study' the children.

...Because I had clearly seen it.

Several researchers handing out the medicine exchanging signals, selecting potions to give to 'somehow different' children.

‘It's indeed a treatment medicine, but they mixed in something slightly, or something like that.’

It might be a bit paranoid, but there was no harm in it, was there?

However, in this process, I realized something.

The moment I moved, I felt the presence of an object in my chest that hadn't been there before.

‘...The glass lantern!’

The Dokkaebi Fire, which had returned to a glass-made lantern from my right arm, was inside my outer coat.

“…!”

If this is caught, they'll discover I am an agent.

To put it another way, it is perfect for drawing Gwak Je-gang's attention.

‘No.’

Pretending to be a good civilian child, I tried to block their view by squeezing among the children with a frightened face and store the glass lantern in the tattoo.

However, a violent rejection reaction returned from the Dokkaebi Fire inside.

“…!”

It doesn't want to go... into the tattoo?

‘Damn it!’

Having no choice, I covered it as much as possible with my loose jacket.

And sitting back down, I offered the empty glass bottle to the researcher, pretending to be scared.

While doing so, I made eye contact with Baek Sa-heon, who had just opened his eyes.

“…….”

“…….”

-‘If you pretend to know me, you're dead.’

-‘Ah, yes.’

I figured roughly that kind of eye conversation was exchanged. Baek Sa-heon, his eyelids trembling, quickly looked forward.

Frankly, I wondered if he had also imagined the picture of betraying me and getting promoted....

‘He won't act recklessly because he has items to collect.’

Since he is a guy who thoroughly calculates gains.

I recalled the conversation I had before escaping, when I used Baek Sa-heon as a means of transportation in order to read the Necronomicon.

-‘Do it properly, and it's yours.’

And also how his heart beat with greed.

‘Good.’

I can hold out quietly.

Sitting still, I decided to quietly pass the time while observing the state of the children who were dazed from shock.

But at that moment.

“Group D has returned!”

Along with an announcement in the lab, a new figure entered.

I jerked my head up.

“Ah, you've returned.”

“Yes.”

An insensitive voice.

And... a white lizard head.

‘G-Group Leader...!’

It was Manager Lee Ja-heon.