A few days later.
A red piece of clothing at a station’s Exit 4 appeared again, just as before.
– There’s one at Yeongdeungpo Station exit. Everyone, avoid it.
By now, people had started to become afraid of even mentioning the red clothing directly.
It seemed like TV stations would start covering it soon. With several missing person and death cases, people on the internet were murmuring that, even though it’s a supernatural matter, at the very least, there would be an investigation.
However.
– what’s this?
This time, there was black writing on the red garment.
[Red Baccarat New Signup 50,000 Won Free. Poker, Sports Toto, Roulette – All in One. Guaranteed ghostly chills and profits (website address)]
– what, it was a damn gambling ad?
People exploded.
– are you shitting me? isn’t spam sms enough damn
– fuckass buildup for nuthin
– goddamn illegal gambling ㅋㅋ
– Are you happy now, using people’s fear to get clicks?
– let me kill these scammer dickwads
– Reported to police. I’m seriously pissed off.
Profanities and annoyance flew everywhere.
But after things settled down a bit, a few other opinions quietly appeared.
– but arent they jus using the red garment for clout cuz it went viral?
– doesnt it look like their just exploiting it tho? tbh im kinda scared like wont sm happen to those guys now?
At a glance, it sounded plausible.
So those who firmly believed in the ghost story of the red garment began to whisper again, saying, ‘Isn’t something going to happen to that company?’ and started creating an ominous atmosphere.
But the very next day.
[Were you frightened by this red garment?]
[Human life is filled with fear. The lover of paradise, who will protect and love you so that you no longer have to be afraid, is waiting for you. Come to the Paradise of Love.]
A famous cult put the red garment on official display at the exit, complete with a sign…!
– tf is this
– HAㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– arent these the guys who always go around asking about your ideal type and then ask you to buy them coffee on the street
And to top it all off, even a phrase attached under the sign!
[We are a wholesome religion and do not operate illegal gambling sites. We are proceeding with legal action against the aforementioned company for intellectual property theft.]
People picked up on the subtext.
– wait a sec… so the red clothes thinf was their doing all along?
– it was a religious cult?
It turned out that the trap created by the cult to lure in emotionally vulnerable people had been hijacked and used by an illegal gambling site!
– there they go outing themselves in a panic as soon as their idea got stolen.
– just go get sued for illegal waste dumping
– I really hate it. The scum of society.
– thinking back on all that atmosphere with shamanism and stuff just makes me feel even more annoyed
People, shuddering with irritation, started to remove the red clothing from their conversations altogether.
‘Perfect.’
Kim Soleum smiled as he scrolled and checked the scene.
That’s right.
If it’s a ghost story that becomes reality through people’s belief, then the solution was simple.
‘Just make it so that no one wants to believe it.’
Make it cringe, make it lose all its tension.
‘If you connect it to something that annoys and bothers people in everyday life, it’ll disappear in no time.’
– never falling for it again u damn phishing asshats
And so, together with their irritation, people quickly erased the whole affair from their memories.
Even the fact that there were actually dead or missing people was conveniently dismissed as “Ah, it was all a fake for advertising.”
And just like that…
—’Red Clothes at Exit 4’ has been resolved.
Amazingly neatly, the ghost story ended.
Safely, without a single agent getting hurt.
All it took was the cost of making a few banners.
– gratz gratz
– Amazing but how did it end as soon as it was found tho
– Great work, everyone~
Borrowing Go Yeongeun’s phone to check the unusually active agent anonymous group chat, Kim Soleum smiled to himself.
‘Investigation, solution proposal, and documentation of the ghost story all handled in the office. I did it right.’
And if he gets recognized for his ability in the Preliminary Investigation Unit like this…
– Nono to be honest ㅎㅎ It wasnt all our unit’s work sirs and maams
– eh?
– That famous new recruit wrote up the documentation and even included a solution… and it worked perfectly ㅎㅎ
And then.
– that rookie again?
– daebakㄷㄷㄷ
– Destruction King as expected
– Truly, as consistent as ever ㅎㅎ
– even destroying ghost stories with documents now
“……??”
Kim Soleum really did prove himself.
And in truth, the conclusion of a ghost story is always achieved by teams piecing together clues and trying different ideas.
But the world already has its set images.
And so, the ‘Destruction King Rookie’ made a major contribution to destroying the ghost story, even while working in the Preliminary Investigation Unit…!
– Look at that initiative, must be destined for black tortoise team 3
– team 1 you mean maam? ㅎㅎ
– born to slay in d&r
It was all consumed as reinforcement of his existing image!
So, Kim Soleum, who had ruined a ghost story through image, ended up ruining his own plans through image as well.
“……”
‘Hwaiting, Soleum-ssi…’
Foreseeing all of this, Go Yeongeun just squeezed her eyes shut and sent a silent message of support to her colleague…
And on the last day of the two-week probationary training for new recruits.
Kim Soleum… was assigned to Dispatch & Rescue Unit, Black Tortoise Team 1……
Not a single soul was even surprised.