The Perfect

“The Special Department didn’t request your participation in this, but you still came. Without even reporting to the department.”Suddenly, the tone became accusatory. Knowing the Special Agent’s position within the Special Department, I tried to avoid getting on their bad side by being humble.“Uh, well, I received a sudden request last evening… Since I happened to meet the chairman during the day, I was asked to confirm something. I didn’t know it would be this serious.”I mumbled, my voice barely audible. I worried Yangsimless might say something odd about me, but he remained unusually quiet.“Why didn’t you report the chairman you met during the day immediately?”“He seemed more like an elderly person with dementia than a Heartless. Though it was strange how well he could run for someone with dementia.”I glanced up. Special Agent 1 looked at me with a business-like expression. Gulp, surely they wouldn’t report me? If I get a pay cut, I’ll have to eat only once a day. But he just looked at me without speaking.“The Special Department is so dirty.”Yangsimless, who had been watching, commented. I worried this would upset the Special Agent, but I couldn’t stop Yangsimless once he started talking.“Why beat around the bush? You want to hear the person who’s sick and needs to go to the hospital say they’ll go straight to the Special Department to file a report.”Oh, that’s what this is about? I thought they were deciding whether to discipline me.“Oh, then I’ll go straight to the Special Department…”“Of course, the esteemed Special Agent wouldn’t be interested in a mere administrative employee’s report.”Not interested? Then what do they want?“Are you terrified that Mr. Han Jemyung might leak something important to 4K first?”The Special Agents remained expressionless, just looking at Yangsimless. I finally realized. Oh, they’re trying to shut me up. They were worried I might unknowingly reveal something important.“Is there a clue 4K missed?”Special Agent 2 asked, and Yangsimless responded.“No. Even if there is, one thing is certain. I know a lot more than you. No matter what you do with Mr. Han Jemyung, you can’t beat me.”“This isn’t a competition.”“If it’s not, why don’t you share information with me?”“I don’t know what information you’re talking about, but if you formally request it, we’ll consider the validity and give an appropriate answer. But we also want to know, why doesn’t 4K share information?”“Give and take. You’re the ones who want something. Why should I beg for information?”“What information do you want?”“Do I have to tell you that?”Special Agent 2’s expression didn’t change, but he seemed annoyed. He must have realized it’s never good to engage with Yangsimless.“So you have information for us.”“Think whatever you want. If you believe I have important information, present valid evidence and formally request it. I’ll give an appropriate answer.”Yangsimless smirked. Special Agent 2 showed his experience by nodding.“Indeed, chefs are different.”Chef. That was the second time I heard that word. Unlike before, Yangsimless’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes darkened.“If you really want to find out, offer the information I want. Then I’ll be a chef or even a patent attorney.”No, you need to take an exam for that. It’s really tough. I wanted to point it out, but the door opened, and the final character appeared. The chairman, looking like he just woke up. Faint sobbing could be heard from the half-open door. Someone watching from afar must have burst into tears.People looked at the chairman curiously. Even with dementia, he showed Heartless symptoms. How could he be hidden and brought here so calmly? The chairman looked around his room. It seemed unfamiliar to him, so he quickly lost interest. Then Yangsimless asked a question.“Sir, how was it?”Huh? The chairman turned to Yangsimless. When he asked again, the chairman’s eyes lit up.“Did you run well?”“Of course! I ran so well. I need to keep running!”“Really? I was right, wasn’t I? Those shoes make you run super fast.”The chairman beamed with a wide smile.“I ran super fast! I could run around the world…”Whoosh, thud. The chairman’s next words were replaced by a dull sound as he hit the floor. Yangsimless’s thrown axe had severed his head. Soon after, the chairman’s body fell with a thud. No one moved. Only Yangsimless approached the chairman’s body and took off his shoes. He dusted them off and stopped to look at me. I kept staring at the shoes.“Were those Director Kook’s shoes?”“They’re expensive. I won’t lend them.”“……”The slight spark of admiration was crushed like a weed. After Director Kook left, I asked Clicker again.“Does Director Kook collect Jordans?”“Yes. Limited editions that are valuable.”“He must treasure them.”“Of course.”I nodded, but it felt different. Willingly lending limited-edition sneakers to cheer up an elderly man with dementia wasn’t the action of someone who only cared about money. I wondered anew. Why does he obsess over money so much? He earns plenty.“With this case, Director Kook can clear some of his debts.”Special Agent 2 remarked casually. I was surprised and looked at Clicker, who frowned.“If you’re curious, ask him yourself.”“No need. Plenty of people know that information, so I’ll check elsewhere. Still, clearing such huge debts in three years is impressive.”Clicker, unwilling to respond, turned away. But Special Agent 2 didn’t let him go.“He’s known as the god of investment failure, right? Famous for bankrupting every company he invests in?”“You said many people know. Ask them.”“It’s curious. No matter how poorly you invest, can you accumulate such massive debts? Where did all that money go?”How big must his debts be to surprise a Special Agent? Surely he didn’t resort to loan sharks. My question was echoed by Special Agent 2.“Did he use loan sharks?”Flinch. Clicker’s silent answer as he disappeared confirmed it. I realized again that debts are never good. Yangsimless was a pitiful life chased by debt. But I had my problems.“Mr. Han Jemyung, let’s go.”Where? I asked Special Agent 1, who looked at me with disdain.“You heard earlier. We don’t want crucial information leaking. We need to check everything first, so come with us.”“My head still hurts.”“They’ll give you medicine at the headquarters.”If my arm had been cut off, they would have said they’d sew it back on at headquarters, so I had no choice but to follow him. Thinking about the upcoming interrogation, the repeated questions and answers, made my head throb even more. But there was a hopeful future.I had definitely shouted in a dangerous situation. “Director Kook, save me.” Now I could escape Yangsimless’s annoying grudge. Although I was sad I wouldn’t see CEO Na, the protagonist of my novel, again, I had a plan. Find out where CEO Na lives and move next door! It would be expensive, but for the sake of creativity, I’d even take on debt…“Huh?”Lost in my daydreams, I let out a sound. Why wouldn’t I? The lounge, still bustling with injured people and numerous Special Department field agents, felt frozen with a cold wind blowing through. The reason was obvious.Yangsimless was holding an axe. He looked around with a menacing face, his eyes even more threatening. I instinctively took a step back. Was there still a Heartless? The Special Agent walking ahead of me also reached for the gun at his waist. Yangsimless’s reaction was definitely because of a Heartless.“Who threw up on my clothes?”Or a vomiter. Damn it. He created this tense atmosphere over that? I was stunned and remembered past events, ruffling my hair. I mustn’t show my double crown. Desperately making a bird’s nest of my hair, I felt a bit more at ease to look around.Those seeing Yangsimless’s crazy reaction for the first time were visibly confused, while those who had heard rumors frowned. But no one stepped forward. Except the captain. The field agent captain, who came to clean up, was annoyed.“Handle personal matters yourself. What are you doing with an axe, threatening everyone?”“What do you think? It’s a threat. No one leaves until I find who threw up on my clothes. Got it?”“Why should I take your orders? Whoever threw up on your clothes, most people here are sick and vomiting because of your weird weapon. It’s your fault, so clean it yourself.”The captain spoke firmly and turned away. But at about 150 degrees, Yangsimless turned him back. He was so strong that the large captain’s body returned to its place like a roly-poly with one hand. The captain’s face showed surprise. He quickly tried to remove Yangsimless’s hand but was surprised again by the unexpected strength.“Hey, what is this…”“Then you take responsibility.”“What?”“You stopped me, so you take responsibility. Find the person who threw up on my rare limited-edition shirt and bring them to me.”Yangsimless held up the precious limited-edition shirt. It was a glow-in-the-dark shirt. I wondered about the intentions of the person who made such a thing limited edition.“I heard you’re unreasonable and stubborn, and it’s true. It’s unfortunate that vomit got on your limited-edition shirt, but…”“My grandmother made this shirt before she passed away. She worried they wouldn’t find my body if I died fighting Heartless and told me to wear it under my combat gear.”“Even so, why should we all be held hostage for your personal matter…”“I have no friends, only enemies around me. My grandmother made it glow-in-the-dark, fearing no one would find my body if I died. She told me not to die fighting Heartless. She didn’t survive a Heartless attack three years ago.”The intention behind the limited edition was so touching it made me feel guilty. The captain’s voice softened a bit.“That’s a sad story, but you can’t act so unreasonably.”“My grandmother is dead, and I have no one on my side. Only this shirt she gave me is left, and someone threw up on it. This shirt, which someone treated worse than a rag, is my only ally and the only thing that cares about my life. I don’t care if you mock or criticize my actions. Come out.”Yangsimless looked around menacingly and pointed to a spot.“Who threw up on my shirt and hid it behind that pillar?”It was me. From the moment I heard the word “pillar,” I felt a dark cloud over me. I had thrown up and wiped the evidence with a random cloth, which turned out to be his grandmother’s glow-in-the-dark shirt. But why was the shirt there?“I know someone deliberately took the shirt I left in front of the pillar and threw up on it, then hid it behind the pillar. Confess now.”No one confessed. I had no intention of confessing either. I wasn’t even surprised anymore. I just calmly stepped back and whispered to Special Agent 1.“Let’s get out of here.”The Special Agent nodded, not wanting to get involved.“You there, moving!”Flinch! I stopped breathing and turned around. I hadn’t moved yet!“Where are you going? Do you think I wouldn’t notice if you blatantly act like the culprit?”He didn’t know. He was falsely accusing an innocent Special Department field agent. The accused wasn’t even here last night and couldn’t have vomited. The real culprit was me. My heart pounded, fearing I’d be caught. The falsely accused agent strongly denied it.“What are you talking about? I didn’t throw up.”“Prove it.”“What?”“Give me your DNA. Swab your mouth and submit it.”“Why should I give you my DNA?”“You’re the culprit, right? Lower your head. Do you have a double crown?”Thump! My heart pounded as if it would burst. I clutched my chest with one hand and ruffled my hair with the other. As the real culprit, I was on the verge of a heart attack. The suspect’s face turned red, seemingly having heart issues too. As he started to say “damn,” the captain stopped him.“Director Kook, this is unacceptable. You can’t just accuse anyone of being the culprit. And DNA isn’t something you can demand. If you keep causing trouble for the Special Department, no matter how great 4K is, we can’t stay silent.”“You’ll have to. No one will listen to a powerless captain whining about being harassed by a great Heartless hunter like me. If you want to threaten me, catch more Heartless than me and brag about it, Captain. Everyone here, including the Special Department and those Special Agents.”Yangsimless scanned the Special Department agents around him with his eyes, then stopped when he saw me. For a moment, his gaze felt strange, but he quickly moved on and continued speaking.“Even if all the field agents combined, they wouldn’t measure up to me. They’d have to give their all just to be as useful as the dirt under my toenails. Do you understand what your role is? Your job is to clean up after the main character, me, and be grateful for it. Do I have to spell that out for you?”The Special Department agents cleaning up the scene all stood up. The tension was palpable, as if they were ready to draw their weapons and confront Yangsimless. At that moment, Special Agent 2 stepped forward.“You’re not wrong. We’re all less skilled than Director Kook. So we should at least handle the cleanup so Director Kook can focus on catching Heartless. Is that the shirt in question? May I see it for a moment?”Special Agent 2 politely requested, and Yangsimless, after a moment of suspicion, handed over the vomit-stained shirt—my vomit. Special Agent 2 carefully took the shirt and examined it, then seemingly slipped and dropped it on the floor. What he did next was unexpected.Bang! Bang! Bang!He shot the shirt with his gun. The loud gunshots made a few people scream. Most were stunned, their mouths agape, staring at Special Agent 2. Wow, he’s tough.“My hand slipped. I’m sorry. That was a mistake.”He bowed his head and quickly stepped back. But his bangs were already falling to the floor in pieces. It was Yangsimless. He had swung his axe.Gasp!The onlookers were even more shocked. Special Agent 2’s bangs were now as short as a monk’s. If he had raised his head a moment later, his scalp might have been peeled off. It was a terrifying sight for the onlookers, and likely even more so for the person involved. Sure enough, Special Agent 2’s eyes filled with menace. Yangsimless smirked and placed the axe on the floor.“My mistake. It looks bad, so I’ll take responsibility.”With those words, Yangsimless lunged at Special Agent 2, grabbing his hair with both hands and starting to pull it out.“Stop that guy!”“Hey, you crazy bastard!”“Get him off!”Chaos erupted. I ran for my life. Should I leave this country?If there’s one thing that never changes, it’s the pointless bureaucracy. I spent two days at the Special Department, eating and sleeping there, writing reports, having interviews, writing more reports, and having more interviews. Repeating the same things over and over was exhausting.Whenever I tried to rest in the dormitory, the investigation team called me, and when I tried to rest again, another department called me. Those two days were hell. I barely slept and staggered out of the Special Department. But as soon as I stepped out, I was kidnapped by those waiting for me. It was Special Agent 1. Why are you doing this to me? I cried out, and he cruelly replied.“We read the reports, but we have more questions.”Seeing my despair, he looked at me sympathetically.“How did you get involved with someone like Director Kook?”“I was originally involved with CEO Na…”“What?”Never mind. I answered and looked out the window, but he said something shocking.“Getting involved with CEO Na isn’t good either. He’s a huge playboy.”“Don’t lie!”I shouted without thinking, then added in embarrassment.“CEO Na is so polite, always says the right things, and is very… No, that’s not it.”“Are you interested in CEO Na?”“No!”“……”“Ahem, I have no personal interest. Just a bit of professional curiosity.”What nonsense. Special Agent 1’s expression said as much, but he didn’t press further.“CEO Na is known for being a nice person. That’s why he’s popular and has many stalkers. People who like CEO Na have even fought with knives.”Gasp, knife fights. I never thought something from my novel would happen in real life.“But CEO Na doesn’t date anyone who isn’t exceptionally beautiful.”“Beautiful?”“Yes. He seems to care a lot about looks. Why do you look disappointed?”“No… I’m not disappointed…”“With GM Week coming up, there will be chaos around CEO Na again.”He mumbled more about CEO Na, but I didn’t hear it. He was the perfect protagonist. A perfect protagonist loves only one person and dedicates their life to them. CEO Na couldn’t be a playboy. Of course not! It’s an evil rumor spread by those who envy him.I consoled myself, but my heart was cracked when I got out of the car. We arrived at a shabby factory building on the outskirts of the city. Like most factories, it seemed to have stopped operating, with the main gate firmly closed. I hesitated, unable to move.“No need to be surprised. It looks like this on the outside, but it’s quite nice inside.”“…Yes, I suppose.”I mumbled and followed him into the factory.* * *Special Agent 1 had to pass three security checks to bring Han Jemyung, a Special Department administrative employee, inside. After card and password verification, voice recognition, and finally an eye scan, the elevator took them to the Special Management Department office underground. Once the doors opened, they had to pass another security check to enter a vast plaza.This place was used by another department until three years ago. It was a secret department known to only a few in the country, but everyone died during the great chaos three years ago. Using a place once occupied by a wiped-out secret department wasn’t pleasant, but this hideout was very useful.Its nickname was the Ant House. The underground corridors and rooms were so numerous and complex that even Special Agent 1 hadn’t seen them all. There were rumors about a room called the Queen Ant House, but no one had seen what was so amazing about it.Special Agent 1 led Han Jemyung through the maze-like corridors and rooms to a specific location. The Ant House was off-limits to most Special Department employees. When ordered to bring him here for questioning, he didn’t understand why. His partner and superior, Special Agent 2, also questioned the need to expose this place, but the orders from above didn’t change.“Important witness testimony can only be obtained here.”The witness didn’t seem to know what he had seen. Han Jemyung glanced at the mirrored wall in the interrogation room. He would be more scared, but there was no choice. As an outsider here, his access was limited.As soon as he sat down, Special Agent 1 handed him a confidentiality agreement to sign. With a grim face, he took a long time to sign. He must be really scared. Special Agent 1 chuckled inwardly. An administrative employee wouldn’t have seen a place like this.“No need to be nervous. Just maintain security, and there won’t be any problems.”Yes. He answered and looked around. His eyes were dark with tension.“Are you okay?”“Can I use the restroom?”Yes, go ahead. After granting permission, he checked the procedure documents for accompanying an outsider on the touchpad. Then he realized. Oh, it’s hard to find the restroom here. He hurried outside but didn’t see the administrative employee. Well, if he can’t find it, he’ll come back. Can he find his way back? Five minutes passed. Just as he thought about searching for a crying Han Jemyung, the door opened, and he came in.“Oh? Did you go?”“Yes.”“Really? It’s hard to find the restroom here?”He paused, his head lifting as he was about to sit down.“Someone passing by told me.”“I’m lucky then. The first time I came here, I couldn’t find the restroom for so long, I don’t even know how much I struggled.”“…The office is really like an ant’s nest, isn’t it?”“Huh?”Special Agent 1 asked again, but Han Jemyung shook his head. Something about an ant’s nest. He handed Han Jemyung a stack of papers prepared in front of him.“Now, please fill this out. Four hours should be enough, right?”Han Jemyung expressed his astonishment with his whole body.“In exchange, if there’s anything you want to eat for lunch…”“Lobster.”“…Fried dried shrimp is possible.”Han Jemyung slumped onto the desk in frustration. It was a mistake after all. There was no way this person knew that this place was nicknamed the ant’s nest.* * *It really took four hours. For four whole hours, he sat in a hard chair and wrote 1,000 questions and 1,000 answers disguised as their report. Shouldn’t they have at least made 10%, if not 50%, multiple choice? Later on, when there were no more questions to write, they even asked him what his last meal was.Fried dried shrimp, damn it! Exhausted, he scribbled the final answer. He wanted to go home. A small, cold place where no one was waiting for him, but where he could lie on an old sofa and doodle novels on a notebook. Now, finally, the protagonist Wi Siwoo would meet the perfect protagonist… As he was lost in a pleasant fantasy, Special Agent 1’s words interrupted him.‘It won’t be good to get involved with CEO Na either. He’s a huge playboy.’Suddenly, he felt even more depressed. He banged his forehead on the desk and ruminated on his frustration. Of course, CEO Na is an adult who can date. Still, he had secretly been looking forward to it. He wondered if he wasn’t a lonely prince who hadn’t found true love yet.But given his conditions – he’s handsome, the CEO of a top hunting company, wealthy, and tall – there’s no way a person like that would be single. Wait, with those conditions… Director Kook existed. Oh, damn it.“It’s almost over.”Special Agent 2’s voice suddenly came. When he looked up, he saw him sitting in front of him with a coffee cup in his hand, pulling the report towards him.“There are a lot of useless questions, aren’t there? We think so too, but the researchers say it’s necessary for psychological state measurement and various other things… Why are you looking at me like that?”Why? Your head, of course. He knew he had to look away, but his eyes wouldn’t move. Special Agent 2 had shaved his head completely. That’s why the red marks where his hair had been pulled out were even more noticeable.“It’s better this way.”“Because you’re bald?”When I asked in surprise, Special Agent 2 chuckled.“If it weren’t for my head, we would have had to pay the full compensation demanded by Director Kook’s side, but thanks to me, we were able to reduce the amount a bit.”“What compensation? Don’t tell me it’s for that glow-in-the-dark shirt?”Yes, Special Agent 2 replied and added lightly.“Fortunately, our department’s last insurance payout is still available, so it should cover it.”An insurance payout for a shirt? And the last insurance payout at that. After the Heartless disaster that swept the world three years ago, all insurance companies went bankrupt. Unable to cover the enormous claims, they closed down, and victims didn’t receive their payouts. But one globally renowned insurance company still compensates victims.Thanks to this company’s remarkable sense of responsibility, many people endured tough times and got back on their feet. It must have been insurance money from that company. Giving such precious money to Yangsimless. Special Agent 2 seemed to read my expression and explained nonchalantly.“To Director Kook, it’s an item of immeasurable personal value. I shot it to pieces, so his delicate heart must be shattered too.”It sounded like a subtle boast. The money was gone, but he didn’t care since he got to mess with Director Kook. He didn’t seem to mind his bald head either. But it seemed he got a talking-to from above.“I didn’t know Director Kook had such an excellent lawyer behind him. Now I understand why he acts the way he does.”“Is Director Kook’s lawyer that impressive?”“Mr. Han Jemyung, didn’t you go to court? You’re lucky to have avoided that with Director Kook.”Lucky? It’s not just being involved; it’s like being entangled with a vine. My luck is the worst. Seeing my dismal expression, he pushed a cup of coffee towards me, suggesting I drink more.“I understand. Only those who’ve dealt with Director Kook know the pain.”“Sniff.”I sniffled and wiped my teary eyes with my hand.“I read the reports, but there weren’t many details. What exactly did Director Kook do to you?”Swallowing my sorrow, I recounted how Yangsimless had taken three months’ worth of my salary.“Since then, he’s been watching me like a hawk, waiting for me to call for help in a life-threatening situation. He even puts me in danger on purpose. What’s the point? I survived this time too, but even when I screamed his name in a dangerous moment, he didn’t come.”As I vented my frustration, he nodded.“So that’s why he was so fixated on you at the chairman’s house. I thought there might be personal feelings involved.”“Of course there are personal feelings. Resentment! He’s obsessed with petty grudges against me. Sniff!”I sniffled loudly again. Special Agent 2 nodded. Maybe because he was bald, his comfort felt more reassuring, and I calmed down a bit.“At least you can escape this time.”“Escape?”“I told you. You called Director Kook’s name when you almost died in the lab.”“But Director Kook didn’t hear it.”Oh, that. I smiled leisurely.“Manager Hong from 4K heard it, so it’s fine.”“He might say it doesn’t count since he didn’t hear it himself.”He suddenly made me anxious. Then he gave me another cup of expensive coffee. What’s going on?“I reviewed all your reports and interviews, and there’s something curious.”“Curious?”“You never asked any questions. Aren’t you curious about what research was done in the lab under the chairman’s house? What the Heartless there ate, who gave them the drug? You never asked.”“I’m not really curious.”“Even in the previous case with Director Kook, the Heartless weren’t typical. High-risk Heartless acting sane and in groups. Aren’t you curious about that?”“No.”“Are you fearless, or just thoughtless? You saw it with your own eyes. Heartless unaffected by safety lights. Aren’t you afraid of the chaos they’d cause if they got out?”“The cause was revealed this time, right? The drug. So just get rid of the drug.”“……”Special Agent 2 looked at me in disbelief, perhaps impressed by my summary.“You really have no interest in this situation.”Special Agent 2 seemed to want me to deny it, but it was true. I had no worries, curiosity, or interest.“I don’t want to get involved in serious and complicated matters. I don’t want to die early because of unnecessary curiosity.”“You’re a very passive person. Perfect for a low-level Special Department employee.”“Exactly. I like a passive life. That’s why I only drive manual cars.”“…That’s a different kind of passive.”“Everything in the world is connected in some way.”Special Agent 2 looked at me with his characteristic blank expression.“In some ways, I envy you. Living so simply must be nice. But if there’s a drug that makes Heartless appear normal, they’ll become more cunning and harder to catch, affecting you too. If you want to live long, you need to get involved and solve this case.”“It doesn’t have to be me.”“No, it has to be you. Director Kook holds the key to solving this, and you’re the only one who can stay close to him.”I shook my head.“Let’s be clear. Whether Director Kook holds the key or not, my presence doesn’t affect the case. You’re just making it sound grand to say you want to extract information from Director Kook. And I’ve resolved my grudge with Director Kook…”“Would you like more coffee?”He interrupted me again.“So, Mr. Han Jemyung, aren’t you curious why Director Kook is called ‘the cook’ and how he’s connected to the drug issue?”“No.”“Director Kook’s English surname is pronounced like ‘cook.’ When he was a hunter abroad, someone must have called him that. The drug seems to have come from the U.S., but only the U.S. and Korea have responded to it. Isn’t that strange? The U.S. is a big country, but Korea is tiny. Why did the perpetrator target Korea? The clue is Director Kook. We suspect the supplier has a grudge against Director Kook.”Special Agent 2 kept revealing information I didn’t want to hear, trying to drag me in.“Agent, please stop.”“The drug appearing in the U.S. is top secret. Without their tip-off, we’d be floundering, not knowing where it came from or how it happened.”“You seem flustered now too.”He smirked.“We didn’t know Director Kook would be this challenging. To get help from the U.S., we need to provide some information.”“Why not just ask the great U.S. to come and catch them all?”“Even the great U.S. said they couldn’t handle Director Kook. Do you know? There’s a strong force protecting Director Kook. He got along well with powerful people while hunting in the U.S. Or it’s the result of international grudges.”“Agent, instead of obsessing over Director Kook, find other evidence.”“It’s not that simple. Sitting at a desk making calls and writing reports is different from fieldwork. We work for people like you who just want to live long.”“……”“Do you find me funny?”Oh, I must have laughed. Damn. I quickly managed my expression and sat up straight.“As you said, I just make calls and write reports, so explaining this to me doesn’t feel relevant.”“Let’s make it simple. What do you think of Director Kook?”“What do you mean?”“Your view of Director Kook. How is he these days?”How? Still annoying. But I can’t say that. He already holds grudges, can’t add another.“Well, he’s consistent.”“We know about his grudges. I mean, any recent personal interests? Even unrelated to work.”Hmm, I don’t really… I started and met Special Agent 2’s eyes. He pressed me with his gaze. Say something.“Director Kook’s interests… money and petty revenge.”“That can’t be all.”“It seems like all.”“Anyone he’s interested in? Someone he likes?”“Hahaha— Director Kook? Not unless he’s crazy.”I met Special Agent 2’s blank face and stopped laughing.“Hmm, doesn’t seem like there’s anyone.”“Really? GM Week is coming. Single Director Kook will participate. Any preferred styles?”“Busy with revenge, not sure about dating. Even if he has a preferred style, no guarantee they’d like him back.”“Director Kook is popular enough to date whoever he wants.”“Who said that?”“Director Kook is popular.”“……”Seeing my expression, he chuckled.“Reluctant to admit, but Director Kook is tall, handsome, top-skilled, rich, and heads successful 4K. He’s perfect outside, so not being popular would be strange.”Well, I understood. But I didn’t want to agree. My lips sealed tight, but his next words made them open.“Some find Director Kook more attractive for not dating, unlike constantly dating CEO Na.”“Who constantly dates?”“CEO Na.”Hearing it again lessened the shock, but the despair was unavoidable. It had to be slander. My perfect protagonist couldn’t be obsessed with dating.“Is that certain? CEO Na is so sincere, mannered, and gentle. Surely he doesn’t date that often…”“CEO Na never participated in GM Week. Meaning he was never single even once.”Special Agent 2 unnecessarily emphasized it, confirming the kill.“Each year’s registered partners were always different. Some were famous celebrities.”I turned away. I wanted to deny reality.“Though rumored to be a playboy, he doesn’t juggle or cheat, just changes partners often. As you said, his exes all praise him as gentle and mannered.”“Maybe CEO Na faked relationships to avoid GM Week? Many do that.”“All the exes unanimously said, ‘Very satisfied in bed.’ If it were a fake relationship, that wouldn’t fit with manners and being gentlemanly.”“……”“Mr. Han Jemyung, are you crying?”“It’s sweat.”I pretended to wipe my forehead with the back of my hand but also rubbed my eyes. Special Agent 2 watched me closely and asked.“Are you interested in CEO Na?”“Artistically interested.”“What?”“Excuse me?”Special Agent 2 looked at me as if I were crazy.“You seem to get along well with Director Kook.”What? Such an insult!“That’s too much. Insult my parents instead.”“……Would it be okay to insult them?”“Well, they’re not around… The living have to live.”Special Agent 2 chuckled and glanced at the mirrored wall. I followed his gaze.“Is someone there?”“Do you think so?”“Is it likely?”“……”I won. Now understanding me better, he explained candidly.“Our department is interested in you, Mr. Han Jemyung. Specifically, we’re interested in Director Kook, but we’ve never had someone who could report on his situation so vividly. We even tried to create minor grudges to insert our agents into 4K, but we always ended up with huge bills. It’s the first time Director Kook has obsessed over someone like you.”Anxiety washed over me. My voice trembled as I spoke.“But now I have no reason to stay with Director Kook.”“Mr. Han Jemyung.”I didn’t want to answer. Special Agent 2, checking his phone, spoke quickly.“Director Kook has arrived, so we’re short on time.”Yangsimless is here?“We want you to stay with Director Kook. Let’s get straight to the point. Even if you resolve your grudge and try to leave him, we won’t let you. So give up and stay with Director Kook.”“What do you mean, won’t let me? You’ll frame me?”“If we can. Remember the shirt vomiting incident that enraged Director Kook a few days ago?”Of course. It was my vomit.“If you try to leave Director Kook, we’ll tell him you were the one who vomited on his shirt. You can’t help it, even if it’s unfair.”Well, it isn’t unfair.“I understand. When I had to shave my head after pulling out my hair, I also wanted to find the person who vomited on my shirt and do the same.”I subtly raised my hand to protect my hair.“We won’t do that to you, so don’t be scared. But framing you is a fact. Consider it a threat if you want.”With my hand still on my head, I looked at the mirrored wall.“Did the high-ups in there decide that?”* * *The Special Department administrative employee stared at the mirrored wall. One of the people behind it spoke with interest.“Calling them ‘high-ups.’ Interesting.”“Maybe he knows I’m here. That’s why he said ‘high-ups.’”The speaker was Ryu Jongwon, CEO of L&Y. Standing next to him was the second-highest-ranking person in the Special Management Department. The Special Management Department, established three years ago, operated independently despite being part of the Special Department. CEO Ryu seemed close to the Special Department head but moved through this place like his own.Unlike other places, everyone here was identified by numbers. The lower the number, the higher the rank. The person next to CEO Ryu was Number 2. CEO Ryu had met Number 1 a few times, but he wasn’t very interested in this work. Number 2 was the practical manager of the Special Agents.“I’ve spoken to him twice. He’s somewhat perceptive and good at adapting. That’s probably why he gets along well with Director Kook.”CEO Ryu explained and glanced to the side. They weren’t the only ones in the room. The room was divided in half by a glass partition. Behind the partition stood a man in his fifties, chewing on a squid leg. He wore a shabby suit, thick-rimmed glasses, and had messy gray hair. CEO Ryu had never seen him before in his years here. Number 2 explained to CEO Ryu’s curious gaze.“He can’t hear the conversation here.”“I know. But who is he? He was here before we arrived.”“He’s the head of the Restoration Agency.”The Restoration Agency handled cleaning up and assessing damage caused by Heartless and restoring things to their original state. They also filed lawsuits when necessary. Not part of the Special Department, it was known as the government’s ‘Aoji coal mine’ due to its heavy workload.“He probably got involved when the cleanup from the recent Special Department incident led to Director Kook. How he got word and came to see for himself, I don’t know.”“How did he know Director Kook was coming?”“He initially came to see Han Jemyung. Seeing Director Kook is just good luck.”CEO Ryu looked at the Restoration Agency head again. Just to see Han Jemyung? Why does it feel like there’s another reason?“Regardless, the Ant House isn’t a place for just any department head.”“He pulled strings through Number 1, so I couldn’t help it.”Number 2 muttered, checking his phone. His eyebrows furrowed.“Is Director Kook causing a scene in the Ant House?”“No. Quite the opposite. He went directly to one place as if he knew the layout well.”Number 2 looked up in surprise. The door to the room behind the mirrored wall opened, and Director Kook entered. He was wearing a bright glow-in-the-dark shirt. Glow-in-the-dark shirt? Both Number 2 and CEO Ryu thought the same thing. Wasn’t that the shirt the Special Agent shot? It was. The exact same one. Director Kook was wearing his grandmother’s heirloom, the limited-edition shirt. Sure enough, Special Agent 2, recognizing the shirt, twitched his eyelids. His bald head gleamed under the fluorescent light.“Good thing there was another shirt.”Special Agent 2 said politely, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent. He looked ready to shoot that shirt too. Director Kook, upon entering, stared intently at the shocked Han Jemyung before finally turning to Special Agent 2’s voice. He acted as if he just noticed him and asked.“Who are you? Haven’t spoken to any baldies recently.”“……”Even through the glass, the tension in the room was palpable. Special Agent 2 seemed ready to draw his gun and shoot Yangsimless but managed a smile.“Was it difficult getting to the Special Management Department? It’s a bit complicated here.”“The Ant House isn’t that complicated.”Even if Director Kook knew the nickname “Ant House,” it wasn’t surprising. 4K is a top-tier hunter company, so they would have this information. But finding the way so quickly puzzled the observers. Special Agent 2 seemed to share this curiosity and asked, probing.“You speak as if you’ve been here before.”“Why should I tell a stranger that?”Special Agent 2’s hostility resurfaced. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Han Jemyung tried to edge towards the corner. But Director Kook didn’t let him remain a bystander.“What are you dawdling for? Aren’t you going home?”I should. Han Jemyung muttered, glancing at Special Agent 2.“Mr. Han Jemyung still has to give a verbal statement. Isn’t Director Kook here to explain the situation to us?”“No. I’m here to pick up Mr. Han Jemyung. He shouldn’t die when I’m not around, so finish quickly.”Director Kook sat down arrogantly. Han Jemyung, quickly adapting to Director Kook’s intrusion, sat opposite him.“He’s quite composed.”Number 2 commented, and CEO Ryu nodded.“He must be used to Director Kook by now.”Receiving their praise, Han Jemyung calmly asked Director Kook.“Director Kook, shouldn’t you worry less about me dying now? Shouldn’t you prioritize your own death?”The composed man’s blunt words made Director Kook’s eyes flash.“Are you so worried about my death? Am I more precious to you than your own life? Do you have to worry about me in front of everyone?”What nonsense. Everyone watching thought simultaneously. But Number 2 quickly understood Director Kook’s tactic.“Clever. Using nonsense to shut the other up.”“Indeed. It seems random, but it’s a calculated move to trap the opponent. Many have suffered by reacting to his nonsense.”CEO Ryu swallowed his resentment, recalling those taken by Director Kook. Outside the glass wall, Han Jemyung’s calm voice continued.“I know my strengths, so you don’t need to worry. And about my death, I told you in the lab. I called for you, Director Kook, when I almost died to the Heartless.”“I didn’t hear it.”“Ask Manager Hong.”“I did. He didn’t hear it.”“But…”Special Agent 2 interrupted Han Jemyung.“One reason Director Kook came today is to find who vomited on his shirt. While we can’t share personal information of Special Department employees, we’ll try to find witnesses. Mr. Han Jemyung, do you know anything about it?”A clear threat. But Han Jemyung’s eyes only flickered slightly, showing no real disturbance. Seeing his composure, CEO Ryu thought he was indeed the right person. Being threatened for something he didn’t do, yet showing no anger.“That administrative employee’s life is really messed up.”“It’s good for us. We can keep someone close to Director Kook. No matter how patient and good-natured, Director Kook cut them off sharply.”“Director Kook is single. Didn’t beauty tactics work?”“He believes he’s the most beautiful. He thinks he’s the best at everything. It’s impossible to draw out emotions and seduce him.”“But such people are hopelessly in love once they fall.”“He’s already in love. With himself.”While CEO Ryu was certain, the most beautiful person demanded from Special Agent 2.“Privacy protection? The Special Department, which uses field agents as disposable pawns, talking about that is laughable. Just give me the DNA of the person who vomited on my limited-edition shirt.”One of Director Kook’s nonsensical statements caught attention. Special Agent 2, sensitive about the shirt, asked.“What do you mean by the 100th shirt?”“The shirt your agent shot. The 100th shirt.”Special Agent 2’s gaze lingered on Director Kook’s glow-in-the-dark shirt. A sense of foreboding filled everyone’s minds.“Are you saying there are 100 identical shirts?”“Don’t be ridiculous. My grandmother wouldn’t make 100. Do you think she’d make 100 limited editions?”“How many are there?”“500.”Director Kook’s grandmother was revealed to be quite generous. Special Agent 2’s hand twitched towards his gun.“Don’t covet my shirts. Just find the vomiter. And not just the shirt. Why haven’t you found the double-crowned person who vomited in my car?”Screech— The sudden sound of a chair scraping filled the room. Everyone looked at Han Jemyung. He had pushed his chair back against the wall. What’s with him?“…There was a bug.”The onlookers frowned, but Director Kook quickly checked under the table.“There’s nothing. What bug?”“…Bookworm?”Director Kook turned his frown to Special Agent 2.“See? How much did you torment him to make him like this? His body’s already strange, and now his mind too! You probably didn’t even feed him properly.”“Why wouldn’t we feed him? He cleaned his plate of shrimp fried rice.”“Hmph, probably only had four shrimp. Right?”Han Jemyung shook his head vigorously.“Three. And one wasn’t even shrimp. I didn’t expect lobster, but I didn’t think I’d eat some unknown sea creature fried rice at the Special Department.”Han Jemyung tattled eagerly. Director Kook’s eyes grew more determined.“See? Before he gets dumber and dies, I’m taking him.”“Mr. Han Jemyung is part of the Special Department. His report isn’t finished…”“That’s your incompetence. That’s why you’re bald.”Special Agent 2’s hand moved closer to his gun. Meanwhile, Director Kook roughly grabbed Han Jemyung’s arm and pulled him up.“Huh? My report isn’t done.”“Repeating the same thing dozens of times means the Special Department is stupid. Especially those watching from inside are the stupidest.”Director Kook suddenly looked at the mirrored wall. Number 2 and CEO Ryu, watching from behind, flinched. Director Kook’s gaze was directly at them. He shouldn’t be able to see us from there. But Director Kook confirmed it.“L&Y CEO Ryu. You’re very interested in my intuition. Let me tell you, if you keep coming here, you’ll be buried alive in the collapsing Ant House. The person next to you will be the first to grab your ankle.”Director Kook grinned silently. CEO Ryu shivered at the smile directed at him. Number 2 muttered beside him.“How can he see in here?”