“Um, aren’t you happy?”
“I-I’m happy, sir.”
“…Of course, it’s something to be happy and grateful about, sir, but I’m nervous about the upcoming report. I apologize.”
“Ah, of course. That’s perfectly understandable. Then let’s quickly touch on that topic!”
Director Ho smiled like he understood everything and swiftly turned to one of them.
“Yeongeun-ssi, I heard you were nearly declared missing, but thanks to this batchmate of yours, you made it out safely. That’s truly fortunate, isn’t it? Seems like it paid off for the three of you to infiltrate together.”
“……Yes.”
A short, sharp breath escaped Go Yeongeun-ssi.
“I also heard you’re doing well, Heowoon-ssi. You joined the Site Cleanup Unit, didn’t you? That team has good access to documentation, right?”
Jang Heowoon couldn’t lift his gaze.
Director Ho smiled and picked up the green tea I made for him.
“It’s really nice to meet and talk with you like this in person. Since it’s your first time, please don’t be too nervous and just relax…”
“……”
“……”
If this was the first report for all three of us…
Then who exactly did he ‘hear’ our assignments from?
‘…So there are other hands and feet in the Disaster Management Bureau.’
He knew exactly how to set the tone to keep us from making any careless moves.
I really hated this kind of higher-up…
But as low-ranking employees who had to follow orders, the three of us stiffly bowed our heads and silently sipped our instant green tea.
“E-Excuse me.”
“…!”
No, I thought that was it—but surprisingly, one of us spoke up.
Even more surprising, it was Jang Heowoon.
“If it’s not rude, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask…”
“Ah, what is it?”
“What exactly are the documents we’re supposed to locate in the Disaster Management Bureau—”
“That’s not something you need to worry about.”
Silence fell.
“When the time comes, I’ll let you know! Once you’ve gained sufficient access to the information we need for this project.”
“……”
“For now… Hmm, I think just this much is enough for you to know.”
Director Ho smiled.
“They’re documents related to a certain supernatural disaster.”
That much, I expected.
“They’re stored in the archives on the 33rd basement floor of the Gangwon branch of the Disaster Management Bureau. If we’re calling it by classification… Annihilation-sanctioned.”
“…! T-That’s……”
“Ah, you must’ve heard about it during training! That’s right.”
Annihilation-sanctioned.
“It’s the classification for supernatural disasters that the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau has officially designated as the highest level of danger.”
…Exactly that.
Even within the bureau that handles ghost stories resulting in casualties, this label is only given to supernatural disasters that cause uncontrollable, massive loss of life.
The standard is…
An estimated death toll of over 500,000.
In other words, it’s the kind of absurd catastrophe where a whole metropolis gets wiped out. The kind of cosmic horror ghost story where the term disaster truly applies.
But here’s the thing.
‘I… think I know what it is.’
That ghost story Director Ho just mentioned.
—An Annihilation-sanctioned ghost story from the bureau, connected to Daydream Inc.’s ‘project’.
Just from that one clue, the possibilities narrowed dramatically.
‘There’s only one in the Dark Exploration Records.’
Thanks to that, I now knew exactly what Director Ho was looking for, and what the hell this ‘project’ was trying to accomplish…!
‘This is gonna drive me insane.’
Just thinking about it made my mind reel. I had been digging into the background of that completely deranged ghost story.
My heart pounded like mad as my head went cold.
This won’t do.
‘At this rate… I won’t get the Wish Ticket for years.’
I have to cut ties.
However, I didn’t even want to imagine what might happen if that sharp, frightening director realized I already knew.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
The wisest choice was…
‘Just keep my mouth shut for now.’
Don’t get caught between fighting whales.
I kept my gaze on the table, avoiding eye contact with the director, trying to look as tense as everyone else. It wasn’t hard—I was already tense.
Thankfully, the director didn’t seem to notice.
“Um, would that answer suffice?”
“……Yes, sir.”
“Wonderful!”
The conversation continued smoothly.
“Ah, and about that ‘workers’ compensation’ matter.”
The regenerative potion.
“It seems formal approval might be difficult. Officially speaking, the three of you aren’t registered as headquarters employees.”
Thankfully, he wasn’t about to backpedal or say something else entirely.
“So let’s categorize it as an operational expense.”
Director Ho extended his fingers.
“Ten thousand points. Monthly.”
“…!!”
“I’ll issue you temporary Welfare Mall accounts. You’re free to spend it however you like, but if unused after a month, it will disappear.”
Holy shit.
That’s enough to buy a C-grade regenerative potion every month.
“So then, are we all satisfied?”
Director Ho glanced at each of us, including me.
I bowed politely.
“Yes. For now, I’m simply grateful.”
For now, that is.
“Excellent!”
Director Ho beamed.
And then he took it one step further.
“Ah, would it be alright if I offered you one more little aid for your activities? All three of you, please hold out your hands.”
“Ah.”
The two of them politely raised both hands, palms open.
I also lifted my one hand, palm up, and reached toward the table.
“No, like this. With the back of your hand facing up.”
“……”
The moment we adjusted the position…
“That’s right.”
Something began to form across the backs of our hands.
“…!!”
“Careful now. If you move, you might end up needing a regenerative potion…”
Oh, this is insane.
Dozens of punctured circles rippled like waves across the back of my hand.
‘What the hell is this?’
A strange sense of pressure, like being bound, began to spread…
– Man, woman, man. From this point on, the three of you will be unable to call one other by your codenames.
“……!”
– If there are any watching eyes, you will not be able to share any information that hints at your true identities.
Thump.
Thump.
– Should you attempt to break this, you will be punished.
Something round struck the back of my hand, as if burrowing into it.
The pulse spread from the hand across my entire body. And then—
“Haaah!”
It vanished. Without a trace.
“……”
“……”
The three spies, drenched in cold sweat, pulled their hands away from the table.
“…T-This.”
“I worked hard on this, just to help prevent any possible slip-ups from you all.”
Director Ho smiled benevolently.
But none of us could smile back.