"The recovery of our Section Chief Hong's body was completed just yesterday."
Inside the conference room. The Director surveyed the faces of each section's chiefs and the two newly ford teams as she continued.
"I say this over and over, but do not underestimate the Dokkaebi. Mr. Lu-[redacted] is a neat freak who mostly just pops heads and calls it a day, but that doesn't an anyone here thinks their life is cheap."
"Our team tends to attract people who don't value theirs, Director."
"Yeah, well, I value you. Do you have any idea how much budget it costs to raise one of you? You wouldn't know, would you, you fuckers. Don't our higher-ups handle your year-end taxes every ti?"
"We are always grateful, Director."
Watching the staff bow in unison, the Director let out a deep sigh.
"What great enterprise am I supposed to accomplish with these morons?"
"Ah, if you're planning a coup, please send us the contract. We'll be waiting."
"Special Team Leader, stay after the eting, you bastard. Every ti you open your mouth, it's one load of shit after another."
"It's fine, Director. I confird there are no listening devices before entering."
"Mr. Lu-[redacted] is watching. Show so restraint. Let's live with dignity."
"If dignity is the issue, that might be hard for you, Director."
The Director turned to one of the section chiefs beside her.
"Can't I swap those guys out?"
"Even Section Chief Hong, who only just departed, helped build that team -- it can't be helped. I'll grind them."
"Good lord, these bastards are making
out to be a monster."
Since she could not actually grind the fresh successors of the late Section Chief Hong, the Director returned to the main topic.
"The reason I've gathered all our busy section chiefs in one place."
"Because you were bored."
"If the Special Team keeps its mouth shut for the rest of this eting, I'm buying chicken."
"One chicken per person?"
"Three total."
"......"
"Field guys, I swear, always chasing food."
She tapped a specially processed docunt with her finger.
"That 'thing' you've all been busting your asses on for five years."
"Ah... you an the Dokkaebi saturation phenonon on the Korean Peninsula?"
"You'll know once you read it, but it seems related."
A different section chief rubbed his chin.
"If it's enough to make a 'White Crow' cross the sea...?"
"Korea's fucked, people."
"Director, our juniors are here today as well."
"I'm the only piece of trash. These bastards."
"Pretty words, if you please."
"Yes, my lovely Sensitivity Bureau employees, listen to what your Director has to say."
"We are all ears."
"This is seriously dangerous."
As faces around the room either swallowed hard or dragged hands down their faces, the Director added.
"Over the past five years, the number of Dokkaebi that have crossed the sea already exceeds five. That's only the observed cases -- considering how ridiculously wide the Gaps are, who knows what else has slipped through."
At that, the solidly built Section Chief Min raised his hand with a grin.
"Why don't we just accept the cooperation dispatch?"
"《Twist the leg screws.》"
"AAAARGH!!"
Section Chief Min howled at the vivid pain crushing his joints without any visible source.
"My calves from Pilates—!!"
"Have you reflected, Section Chief Min?"
"But no matter how I think about it, fuck, Korea alone can't handle--"
"Look at this treasonous bastard, there's no saving him."
"GYAAAHH↑↑↑!!"
"Good grief, sounds like a pterodactyl."
Rubbing his throbbing calves, Section Chief Min whimpered.
"Ahhh, my DOMS are gone...!!"
"Gone is good, what's the problem?"
"The day-after DOMS is what proves the workout was real!"
"Since when do you peddle folk redies in front of the Sensitivity Bureau Director?"
"That's not the point -- if it doesn't hurt, it doesn't feel like I worked out!"
"I truly cannot communicate with fitness fanatics...."
"Good soreness is a reward."
"Lord, you're not in your right mind."
At that, the Cleanup Squad Leader quietly lowered his mask and spoke.
"Permission to speak, Director?"
"Please go ahead, Squad Leader."
"Section Chief Min's point has rit."
He continued.
"If the issue is the 'high-risk entity dostic influx concentration phenonon' from five years ago, I understand the entire Sensitivity Bureau is currently collaborating with private enterprises to address it."
"That's right."
"I have also been told that the section chiefs from the Gangwon Province Bureau here have been jointly working on the case but have been unable to locate traces of the incoming Dokkaebi. In that case, this is not sothing Korea can handle alone."
"It's not that I haven't considered that...."
The leg-screwed Section Chief Min muttered, "Huh? Then why did I get punished?" but was ignored. The Director rubbed her chin and answered the Squad Leader.
"I'm terribly sorry to say this to our mages, but most of the population in the Gaps has no human rights to begin with."
"Every ti I hear that, the cognitive dissonance hits."
"I understand how you feel, Section Chief Yun. Everyone from outside says the sa thing. Anyway, most Labyrinths, no matter how much they rampage amongst themselves, don't openly ss with people on the outside... that is, 'people with human rights.'"
"Correction -- they do ss with them."
"They don't do it openly, so the official figures co out about the sa regardless. Stop interrupting . The point is, that's why the overseas agencies won't lift much of a finger to help."
There was no real 'law' in force in the Gaps, and no matter how much damage was done, ti alone restored everything. The Director shrugged.
"They'd rather keep it all bottled up in our Gaps."
"But I heard the British Union sent a cooperation dispatch."
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
One must not expect conscience from fellow Gap agencies. They were the type to counter 'they wouldn't really go that far, would they?' with 'oh yes, we will.' Largely because conscience, for most of them, was a vestigial organ.
The courtesy of saving face only applied among the sizable institutions in major cities. Anything less, and they did not even bother hiding their true colors. Those who knew, knew.
"Given the nature of the Gaps -- the more you pioneer and develop, the wider they grow. If it cos to it, there are ways to sever the paths and separate them. And above all, most of what happens here is, critically, 'not illegal.'"
"That's generally true, but...."
"Which bureau are you from, Squad Leader? Seoul? Gyeonggi Province?"
"I was called in from Gyeonggi Province."
"Things are... quite different here at the regional level. We're already deprioritized dostically for being a low-importance region, so you can imagine what happens internationally... does that... give you so idea?"
"I understand what you an."
The Squad Leader did not press further and nodded. Having primarily handled tropolitan cases, he had not known the details, but he was aware that conditions in regional Gap environnts were poor.
'If she's going this far, I can imagine how mages are treated around here.'
For soone who led several mage team mbers, it was a bitter reality.
Given the nature of their special duties, they had been prepared for filthy deaths. But if the cause turned out to be fellow humans or mages... that would be wretched.
"......"
"I'll get an execution dispatch from the Chief Director in Seoul, so don't worry about that."
"Thank you."
The Chief Director of the Sensitivity Bureau was, of course, one and only. An official dispatch bearing that stamp wielded significant influence even in the provinces. That much should be enough to avoid anything excessively filthy.
"So reject every cooperation dispatch that cos in. If they say they're sending personnel, tell them to fuck off even harder."
A bespectacled section chief asked.
"Director. Is there truly no way to accept even a modest subsidy from overseas agencies? Their Dokkaebi are all here on our soil."
"How many tis do I have to tell you those bastards have no conscience?"
"Those irresponsible bastards...!!"
"Look at those bloodshot eyes. Why is this guy so obsessed with money? It's scary sotis."
He was a patriot, all right, just a slightly mutated one.
"It's not that I don't want help. But just be patient a little longer, kids. Your trusty Gangwon Province Director has been steadily querying the GBC. They've been responding, too."
"Ah, our Director might not be quite at that level?"
"I pestered the central bureau's ribs until they gave in, so I suppose I've inquired by proxy."
"I need to live my life like that."
"Take notes."
The Global Boundary Council.
In the Gaps, it was known as the GBC or simply the Council -- a private collective that diated or intervened in incidents related to spiritual power. The largest and most influential private collective in the Gaps.
They would sotis glance at incoming dispatches and, if intrigued, deploy a lone agent.
"They've got a fair number of Tarot folk over there, so we should be able to lure at least one."
At that, the Cleanup Squad Leader spoke again.
"Pardon , but is there not an Arcana mber formally registered with the Korean Cultural Sensitivity Bureau?"
"Have you ever even seen that person's face, Squad Leader?"
"Ah... no, I apologize. I have not."
"I'm not scolding you -- it's a fair question, but."
The Director smiled wistfully.
"That person is quite... open."
"Is that a problem?"
"Open to Labyrinths, too."
"Ah... aah. Ah."
"That's why we lure, not summon."
Those commonly called 'Arcana mbers' were far removed from common sense.
"I don't know their exact criteria for action, but when I first submitted the dispatch five years ago, there was no real movent. Given the radio silence since, it's hard to tell whether they're uninterested or biding their ti...."
"I didn't know all that. You two must know each other well."
"Absolutely not that close. I was just so desperate I went up to Seoul several tis to grab them by the trouser leg and beg for help. Every ti things got dire, I'd seek them out and treat them to a warm al."
"I... see."
"That person has refined taste -- really liked soup and rice. Keep it in mind if you need to."
"Thank you."
"It might also be that no major damage has occurred yet, so they see no reason to step in. They're formally registered, sure, but we don't even know if they're aligned with us or against us. What can you do?"
For an Arcana mber, registering with an agency at all was more than enough. In a world where all manner of scum engaged in dirty dealings, simply not actively playing villain was sothing to be grateful for.
"Well, let's look on the bright side. It's not like they're 'The Devil' -- the kind of card that's a committed villain."
At that, one section chief pinched the bridge of his nose in exhaustion.
"Words beco seeds. Please refrain from that na, Director. With the Korean Peninsula already in chaos, I'm terrified that card's owner might show up. We cannot handle any more."
"As if two Arcana mbers would end up on this tiny strip of land. Drop it -- the world is wide."
"And yet it's surprisingly small sotis...."
"Honestly, it's not like it's Vol○emort. This Foundation trauma allergy sure lasts a long ti."
The Director rubbed her rough chin.
"Those rotten bastards."
"Director, I'll forfeit my three chickens to make a statent."
"Well, well. Did you not hear
say to keep your mouth shut, Special Team Leader?"
"Didn't the Foundation collapse exactly five years ago?"
"Ah, fuck, I really need to dunk that one."
"Ah, wait--"
"《Twist the leg screws.》"
"GKKHHH—!!"
As Section Chief Min nodded "I know that feeling," the Director spoke over the screaming.
"Yes, it's possible. Maybe 'The Devil,' who we thought died with the Foundation, snuck onto the Korean Peninsula and stirred sothing up, and that's why high-risk entities are converging here."
"Then why am I being punished right now?"
"That person was always hard to pin down, and their work was so eerie that they got along unusually well with Dokkaebi. But it's not as if anyone actually knows their true face."
"Right, that's exactly what I was trying to say."
"But it's probably not that."
The Director waved her hand.
"I bought the Tarot person soup and rice and they told
--"
"Why didn't we know about this?"
"I filed the report upward, you fuckers. Don't throw a fit because the central bureau didn't pass it down."
"Isn't this classified, then?"
"My people are about to fucking die -- is 'classified' really the issue here?"
"It is. I'll go get my brain wiped after this."
"Anyway, what that person told
was."
She shrugged.
"Nothing."
"Nothing as in?"
"That Tarot person's main ability is that thing -- 'Black-and-White Scales.'"
Set a reference point, and based on that reference and its conditions, weigh the good and evil deeds of a target.
"On the 'scale of sins' applied to the entire population of the Korean Peninsula, there has been no significant change."
If the infamous 'The Devil' had co to Korea, the weight of sin should have increased.
"They checked every country overseas just in case, and sure enough, no major change. 'The Devil' is confird dead. Unless the Tarot person lied."
"What about the opposite?"
"Didn't ask."
The filth in this industry was always the sa anyway.
"I found all this out by buying that person soup and rice with my own money, so be grateful."
"Does that person eat nothing but soup and rice three als a day?"
"Fuck, don't disrespect the cuisine. They had boiled-pork rice soup, sundae soup, AND bean sprout soup. All three."
"At this point, I'd rather get my brain wiped on the way out too. I don't want to make an enemy of an Arcana mber."
"Suit yourself, you fucker. I worry about you people and this is what I get."
The Director exhaled a heavy sigh and scratched the back of her head vigorously.
"Anyway, the cause is being investigated with personnel deployed everywhere, so our Special Team and Cleanup Squad should take note of that. If there's a problem, contact any section chief. No need to go to the central bureau -- I'll handle it at my level."
"Yes, thank you."
"Yes, thank you."
"I'm grateful to our section chiefs for all their hard work, and when I get the chance, I'll scrape so incentive out of the central budget team, so let's hang in there a bit longer. They said they'd send new recruits to the provinces too -- we'll discuss that at the next eting."
"Yes, Director."
"Thank you."
"Also, the funeral for Section Chief Hong, who died in the line of duty, will be held this weekend. I'll send out a separate notice, but consider this a heads-up. The bereaved family will be attending, so dress properly. And...."
It was then.
RING--
"......"
"Go on, pick up. Work calls. We'll all shut up."
"Then, if you will excuse ."
Section Chief Yun went to the corner and listened to a brief ssage, then announced without even hanging up.
"The high-risk Labyrinth 'Count Dracula' has gone missing from its ho territory."
"Section Chief Yun, how do you just drop sothing like that without catching your breath? Have you no rcy?"
"The movents of his 'apprentice disciples' remain consistent, but traces of so senior disciples pursuing him have been found, suggesting this is a solo action by the Count."
"You're telling
that damn vampire ditched his own blood children and ran?"
They really were his blood children, in a sense. One section chief thought as much. The story continued.
"My apologies in advance."
"Fuck, hold on, let
take a heart pill first."
The section chief asked again, courteously.
"Have you taken it?"
"Yeah."
"His last traces were found on the Korean Peninsula."
"A White Crow and now the Count?"
"You've grasped it imdiately."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Are you alright?"
"Wake
up in exactly three hours."
The Director's head tipped backward with a neat thud. A clean faint.
"DIRECTOR—!!"
The section chiefs wailed in unison. They still had a mountain of docunts awaiting her signature.
***
"Does the aroma please you?"
"Yes!"
"I am glad."
Yeon-woo took out a small pot, filled it with water, and set it to heat.
"What I am preparing now is Ottoman-style coffee."
"Ottoman-style."
"It may differ sowhat from the coffee modern people drink. This one has no filtering process."
Finely ground beans were added to the water and simred gently together.
'How best to put a twist on it?'
The guest did not seem to have a strong sweet tooth, but Yeon-woo added a touch of sugar. In that era, sugar had been the exclusive symbol of aristocratic wealth.
To this he added cinnamon.
"Shall I add a little cardamom as well?"
"Pardon? Yes."
"The developer of this place certainly covered an impressive range of ingredients, would you not say?"
"Yes."
A complex flavor reminiscent of lemon, eucalyptus, and mint in a subtle blend. Yeon-woo had learned of this spice through Hoone. Mixed into the coffee, a pungent yet sweet aroma blood sharply.
When the coffee rose to a boil, he lowered the heat and let the grounds settle.
"The aroma is not bad."
From here, without filtering, only the clear portion on top was poured into the cup.
"I have practiced a few tis, but this is the first ti I am serving it directly to a guest."
"Yes."
"A bit of cream would round it out nicely...."
It was a far cry from the espresso Yeon-woo usually drank like a transfusion.
Sweet yet exotic spice. A heavy, warming drink that heated the core. Yeon-woo neatly arranged biscuits and pretzels beside the cup for palate-cleansing.
He handed the silver tray with the prepared items to a staff mber.
"If you would."
"......"
The staff mber bowed deeply, yet beyond that flawless smile, its gaze swept over Yeon-woo's appearance. As always, there was not a single thing out of place.
Having casually deflected that gaze, Yeon-woo felt Coco hop lightly onto his shoulder.
"Hello?"
"Yes, thank you for your concern."
"Hehe."
"Shall we go, then?"
"Yes!"
It was ti to talk.
Reviews
All reviews (0)