Chapter 94

Jang Seokyun looked out the window.

Outside the Director’s office window at the Trial Response Agency, the view was always the same.

Since this wasn’t the main headquarters building, the familiar scenery he always looked upon wasn’t there.

Even so, Jang Seokyun had no trouble picturing it in his mind.

With the main headquarters currently partially destroyed, they were temporarily using the Gyeonggi Regional Office building in Gwacheon.

The damaged headquarters was scheduled to be restored as quickly as possible with Samra’s technical guidance.

At the same time, they were also handling the reconstruction of the buildings CEO Cha and Je Hyun-oh had destroyed, erasing civilians’ memories, and controlling the spread of information.

As the Agency’s workload had increased dramatically, Samra’s workload had become equally overwhelming.

If Samra had been human, it would have been a workload no one could have endured.

Because Samra could process hundreds of tasks simultaneously through parallel computation, the Agency had been able to weather this terrorist attack without suffering major damage.

And that wasn’t all. If Samra were ever to stop functioning, humanity’s defense against the trials would immediately be compromised.

CEO Cha likely knew that as well, which was why he’d torn apart the Agency’s buildings while deliberately avoiding inflicting serious damage on Samra.

Jang Seokyun turned away from the window.

His eyes met Samra’s as the android stood before him with impeccable posture.

Even now, while reporting to him, Samra was simultaneously handling countless other tasks.

“Samra.”

Looking into the holographic-colored eyes before him, Jang Seokyun asked,

“Do you have some objection to my decision?”

An AI shouldn’t possess subjective emotions.

And yet, at this moment, he couldn’t help but ask.

“I do not.”

Samra continued in an even voice.

“My earlier recommendation was merely based on the judgment that your actions could provoke unnecessary resentment from Han Goyo-ssi.”

“I trust you, Samra, but when it comes to Trainee Han, I have no choice. Haven’t you lost your objectivity?”

Samra displayed an unusual tendency to favor Han Goyo alone.

Because of that, whenever the matter concerned Han Goyo, they deliberately discounted part of Samra’s judgment.

Samra did not answer, but Jang Seokyun calmly continued as though accustomed to the silence.

“Besides, Lieutenant Colonel Je clearly called him ‘the clue.’… Samra, I have no choice but to secure Trainee Han.”

It wasn’t only Han Goyo’s ability to close trials.

There were simply too many things connected to him.

Jang Seokyun absolutely could not afford to let him slip away.

That was why he had deliberately targeted what was likely Han Goyo’s greatest weakness.

The reason he’d first placed him on a one-month team hadn’t been solely because of the trial closures.

When Han Goyo had first been brought into the Agency under suspicion of being a national-level disaster, Jang Seokyun had received a report on him.

An orphan, a career cut short by injury, years spent in complete isolation afterward.

It only took a few lines of that report to understand what a twenty-four-year-old in his circumstances would long for most.

Believing Han Goyo needed to become part of the Agency, he had formed the team and intentionally given him time to grow attached to it.

Years of observing every type of person imaginable had given him confidence.

Han Goyo would never abandon the Special Mission Team.

“Surely the most important thing is making sure Trainee Han remains with the Agency. Even if I have to resort to underhanded methods.”

“…….”

“And that’s what you want as well, Samra.”

Instead of answering, Samra gazed into empty space.

Recognizing it as the behavior Samra displayed while processing important information, Jang Seokyun waited.

“Director.”

A moment later, Samra slowly lowered his gaze to meet Jang Seokyun’s eyes.

Then he said something Jang Seokyun had never anticipated.

“It appears Han Goyo-ssi intends to sign with Paseong.”

“…What?”

Jang Seokyun’s expression froze instantly.

“Han Goyo-ssi is currently using Director Ham Jiwol’s device to contact Director Mok Saehwa of Paseong. I intercepted the call. Han Goyo-ssi informed Director Mok Saehwa that he wishes to enter into a contract with Paseong.”

Jang Seokyun already knew that Ham Jiwol and Mok Saehwa were close.

What bewildered him was how Han Goyo had managed to obtain Ham Jiwol’s phone in the first place.

He had watched Han Goyo break down with his own eyes.

That had been exactly his intention, which was why he had deliberately chosen such cruel words.

Jang Seokyun had used similar methods in the past to recruit compatible Adaptees into the Agency.

No matter how favorable the contract offered, someone would eventually defect if another organization offered better terms.

So instead, he had shaken them psychologically until they bound themselves to the Agency.

Han Goyo was only in his early twenties, with almost no real experience in society.

After applying that much pressure, Jang Seokyun had been certain Han Goyo would willingly sign the Agency’s contract.

That assumption had proven to be a serious miscalculation.

Even so, he quickly composed himself.

‘Han Goyo would never abandon the Special Mission Team.’

He didn’t know how Han Goyo had persuaded Ham Jiwol, but it had to be some clumsy attempt at resistance.

“It seems I’ll have to go speak with Trainee Han.”

Samra, who had once again been staring into empty space, lowered his gaze.

“I do not recommend it. The call has ended, and Director Mok Saehwa has contacted CEO Cha. I predict CEO Cha will arrive at Han Goyo-ssi’s hospital room within one minute.”

“…Ha.”

A short laugh escaped Jang Seokyun.

There was nothing to gain from letting CEO Cha witness him forcing Han Goyo into a contract.

“Samra. What would you advise?”

As always, Samra’s judgments were those of an AI seeking the optimal outcome for humanity.

Whether to accept those judgments was ultimately Jang Seokyun’s decision, but in practice he relied on them heavily.

With an expressionless face, Samra answered,

“I recommend negotiating with CEO Cha of Paseong, rather than with Han Goyo-ssi.”

That was how Mok Saehwa’s contact was saved in Ham Jiwol’s phone.

The unusual contact name made me briefly wonder about the relationship between the two women, but I quickly dismissed the thought.

The farther I stayed from Ham Jiwol, the better.

Heart pounding, I pressed the call button.

The call connected before the ringtone had even finished sounding.

—Directooor Haaam!

The overly cutesy voice nearly made me drop the phone.

Holding it carefully with both hands, I said,

“Director Mok. This is Han Goyo.”

—…Goyo-nim?

Mok Saehwa called my name as though she couldn’t believe it.

—Is this really Goyo-nim? You didn’t have to cut off an arm for Director Ham just to borrow her phone, did you…?

She was so shocked by the fact that I was using Ham Jiwol’s phone that she immediately assumed I’d paid an unbelievable price for it.

Just borrowing the phone cost an arm?

Suddenly, giving up only 400 milliliters of blood felt like an extremely reasonable deal.

I assured Mok Saehwa that both of my arms were still attached.

Then I told her I wanted to discuss signing with Paseong and asked if I could meet CEO Cha in person.

Mok Saehwa immediately let out a cheer.

Even over the phone, I could vividly hear how delighted she was.

—Of course! I’ll send the CEO over right away!

Both she and I knew CEO Cha was currently being detained by the Agency.

Neither of us acted as though that was any sort of obstacle.

Before I could change my mind, Mok Saehwa hurriedly ended the call.

—Just wait a moment, Goyo-nim.

After ending the call with Mok Saehwa, I really did wait “just a moment.”

Not long afterward, the hospital room door slid open.

The fact that it opened immediately without so much as a knock told me exactly who it was, though I was still surprised.

‘That was fast.’

The Agency’s original building had been damaged, so they were temporarily operating out of another facility.

Naturally, security wasn’t as tight as before.

Samra had probably helped to some extent, but even then, I hadn’t expected him to arrive this quickly.

In truth, even before calling Mok Saehwa, I’d already contacted CEO Cha with Samra’s help.

The call to Mok Saehwa had simply been a performance for the Director’s benefit.

CEO Cha had agreed to hear my proposal in detail, and that was why he’d come to my hospital room.

I found myself wondering how he’d managed to get here so quickly.

‘Did he beat up every Agency soldier on the way over? Ah… or was it the perception-suppression mask?’

The level of perception suppression could be adjusted, and at 100%, one’s presence disappeared entirely.

I honestly hoped he’d show me that trick someday.

Keeping my noisy thoughts to myself, I greeted my guest while sitting on the bed as the patient I was supposed to be.

After thinking it over until the very last moment, I offered what I felt was the most polite and appropriate greeting.

“Thank you for coming, CEO Cha.”

I’d tried to keep a straight face, but I worried my eyes might still have revealed just how happy I was to see him.

I’d already acted suspiciously friendly toward him before, so I was trying to be more careful from now on.

CEO Cha was still wearing his tracksuit.

The headphones that had been around his neck, however, were gone.

Apparently they’d been confiscated when he’d allowed himself to be detained.

‘Daeil Yeorae is probably stored away in his inventory.’

Instead of returning my greeting, CEO Cha pulled over a folding chair and sat down beside the bed.

It happened to be the exact same spot where Director Jang Seokyun had been sitting earlier, giving me an odd feeling.

“…….”

CEO Cha folded his arms and silently stared at me.

As I looked back at the white mask, I remembered what Samra had told me.

Apparently, after I’d coughed up blood and collapsed, Je Hyun-oh and CEO Cha had immediately called a truce.

Je Hyun-oh was one thing, but I’d never imagined CEO Cha would quietly allow the Agency to detain him.

Had he simply decided saving my life came first?

‘…No. More importantly, a corpse can’t sign a contract.’

Correcting my thoughts in a more realistic direction, I opened my mouth.

“About the proposal I made…”

“How’s your body?”

I was so startled that my words stopped on their own.

For a moment, I wondered if I’d heard him correctly.

‘Did he just ask how I was doing…?’

As I merely stared at him in disbelief, CEO Cha leaned back in his chair.

The chair creaked beneath him as he spoke quietly.

“Did your eardrums stop working?”

I answered immediately.

“They’re perfectly fine. Ah, both my eardrums and the rest of me.”

Then I once again corrected my thoughts in a more realistic direction.

‘Right. I’d need to be healthy enough to sign the contract.’

Thinking back to the Body, Mind, and Soul Waiver Contract I’d glimpsed before, it made perfect sense.

Having convinced myself of that, I finally relaxed—

“You’ve been acting like you’ve known me for a long time.”

CEO Cha’s next remark made me tense up all over again.

He looked at me from an angle, one hand tucked into his windbreaker’s pocket.

I quickly put on my best business smile.

“CEO Cha is extremely famous.”

“For someone who’s just heard of me, you’re awfully enthusiastic.”

“…Well.”

I’d thought I’d hidden it, but apparently it had still shown.

CEO Cha questioned me as though the slightest hint of suspicion might make him split me in half with Daeil Yeorae.

“Well?”

“The truth is… I…”

With no other choice, I told the lie that was closest to the truth.

“The moment I met you, I became a fan at first sight! You’re just that cool.”

CEO Cha said nothing.

It felt less like he believed me and more like he’d decided to let it slide because it was too absurd.

Still, he didn’t seem to dislike hearing it.

‘Maybe… he secretly likes being complimented.’

In any case, the atmosphere wasn’t bad, so I cautiously brought up the real subject.

“As I mentioned before, I’d like to draw up a ‘Temporary Personnel Dispatch Agreement’ with Paseong.”

1. I agree to be dispatched on behalf of Paseong for a set number of missions.

2. I inform Director Jang Seokyun that I intend to sign with Paseong.

3. Feeling the pressure, Jang Seokyun is lured into negotiating with CEO Cha through Samra.

4. In exchange for stepping aside so that Han Goyo can sign with the Agency, CEO Cha demands immunity from punishment for this terrorist attack, along with the ‘Temporary Personnel Dispatch Agreement.’

The agreement will follow the terms I laid out in step one.

5. After CEO Cha and Jang Seokyun complete their agreement, I sign with the Agency.

I’ll be staying with the Agency from here on anyway, so there was nothing to gain by becoming openly hostile with Jang Seokyun.

If things went according to plan, I could avoid a major conflict with Jang Seokyun while CEO Cha would also receive immunity.

‘The compensation owed to the Agency can be handled by the wealthy CEO Cha.’

On top of that, by showing Jang Seokyun—who was convinced I’d ultimately sign with the Agency—that another possibility genuinely existed, I’d be able to negotiate far more favorable terms for myself.

‘From that point on, I’d be the one with the upper hand.’

As Director of the Trial Response Agency, Jang Seokyun would be forced to negotiate with me respectfully rather than resorting to threats.

And since my Epic Quest required me to enter as many trials as possible anyway, a dispatch agreement wasn’t a bad deal for me.

Even if the Special Mission Team remained together, entering seven trials in the span of two months would be difficult.

I intended to borrow Paseong’s strength to make that happen.

The only uncertain part of my plan was CEO Cha.

“The condition is that I’ll enter and close whatever trials Paseong chooses. How does five deployments sound?”

I couldn’t help worrying whether he’d agree so readily.

As I anxiously waited for his answer, CEO Cha spoke about something entirely different.

“The last day of the broadcast.”

CEO Cha, who had been lounging casually in his chair, leaned toward me.

“The one talking to the Creator… that was you, wasn’t it?”