"Han Jemyung from the Special Disaster Prevention Agency, Management Section 5, Team 3, where do you live?"
"That's personal, so I'd rather not answer."
"So, you're saying you don't trust me even though we're working together."
Director Kook muttered, looking at the business card. Behind him, the three employees grimaced, warning Han Jemyung. Answer! Don't upset him over something trivial, just answer! Encouraged by the employees, the Special Disaster Prevention Agency member reluctantly spoke.
"Since we're working together, I suppose I can share this personal detail."
"Where do you live?"
"…Garibong-dong."
"Really?"
"Yes. …If you stretch it."
"What?"
"Pardon?"
Their gazes locked for a moment, but Director Kook, seeing the confident look in the other's eyes, decided to let it go. As Han Jemyung finally exhaled, Director Kook turned his attention to the documents.
"Why did this take a month?"
"There was a misunderstanding in the process…"
"How incompetent are you?"
Director Kook asked seriously, making Han Jemyung flinch.
"Even the most useless people in our company could handle this in a week. Does the Special Disaster Prevention Agency only hire the most incompetent?"
* * *
I checked the time after leaving 4K. Two hours. Only two hours had passed. It felt like two years. I was relieved I wouldn't be fired but soon realized another problem. I couldn't go home. I reached the apartment entrance but couldn't go further.
"Return the batteries. We have a witness, so why deny it?"
I quickly hid behind a wall, peeking out to see the people gathered at the entrance. Three women were confronting a tall man. It was Yangsimless, of course. Damn, how long has it been since we parted, and I'm seeing him again?
"These are for emergencies, for everyone to use. How can you take them all?"
The residents' association president, whom I had met before, pointed accusingly, her head tilted back. The other two women stood with hands on their hips, supporting her. I supported them from afar. But Yangsimless was as rude as ever.
"Ma'am, is that how you say thank you?"
"Thank you? Ha! Do I look thankful? Can't you see the warning sign saying we can't use the emergency box because of you?"
"I see it. That's why you should be thankful."
The three women simultaneously shouted, "What?!" Yangsimless mistook it for a question and kindly pointed to the warning sign.
"There's an issue with the emergency box, so carry your personal safety light. This means some idiots relied only on the emergency box and didn't carry their own safety lights. Isn't it common sense to take care of your own safety? Why spend public funds to provide this kindness to those who don't even follow basic safety? To help those complacent idiots, we should wake them up, not provide safety lights. If they don't prepare even basic safety lights, they deserve to die. Thanks to me, this warning is up, and even the biggest idiots will take care of their safety."
The three women looked up at Yangsimless in disbelief. I was also stunned.
"Does that make sense?"
Actually, it did a bit. Safety lights are essential for protecting oneself from Heartless. I always carry one and check it regularly. But saying they deserve to die?
"People can make mistakes, or accidents can happen, making safety lights unusable. Are you saying those people deserve to die?"
"That's why I left one."
"Is that something to be proud of?!"
"Yes."
"You, you, you!"
"If your life is the most important thing, you should be prepared for mistakes and accidents. Thinking 'it won't happen' is like saying you're ready to die anytime. Well, it's better for the world if such idiots die quickly."
Yangsimless smirked. His expression was infuriating. The women kept exclaiming, "Unbelievable."
"So you stole the batteries to wake people up? You, the shameless one?"
"Of course not."
Yangsimless answered lightly, raising his chin.
"Ma'am, if you knew the state of the first batteries I stole, you'd bow to me."
"I'd bow to that rock before bowing to you!"
The residents' association president shouted, then asked, still fuming.
"What was the state of the first batteries?"
"They didn't work."
"What?"
"They were all dead. What's the point of having an emergency box with a few safety lights if you don't maintain them? How long was it neglected for the batteries to die? And you call this emergency equipment for those in danger? Those who didn't value their lives because of non-working safety lights would die. In the end, idiots die no matter what. But thanks to me, they saw the warning and might take care of their safety."
The women looked at each other, flustered. True, emergency boxes are rarely used except in emergencies. But I thought they'd be maintained.
"Still not thanking me?"
The women's faces hardened. So did mine.
"Even so, what you did was wrong. It's theft."
"How is it theft if I took a communal item that anyone can use, and I'm part of 'anyone'?"
"It says it's for emergencies!"
"It was an emergency."
"You're not starving to death or anything…"
Yangsimless narrowed his eyes, making the flustered woman stop and clear her throat suddenly.
"Anyway, you're not starving right now, so why did you need emergency batteries?!"
The flustered woman tried to point again, but another woman stopped her, preventing her from falling into Yangsimless's trap about what constitutes an emergency. Instead, the woman who stopped her stepped forward.
"You should have prepared batteries ahead of time. Why did you sneak around like a thief? Because you felt guilty, right?"
"Who said I sneaked around like a thief? I took them openly. Who's the so-called witness?"
I flinched and pressed myself against the wall. Yangsimless gritted his teeth.
"Daring to slander me and spread nasty rumors around the apartment? I'll find that coward who tarnished my reputation and make them pay for the pain I've suffered."
Gulp. I swallowed hard. Watching Yangsimless vow revenge, I wondered if I should avoid going home today. The fight seemed to be wrapping up as one of the women shouted.
"And why do you keep using informal speech with us? Huh?"
The topic shifted to Yangsimless's way of speaking. The residents' association president surprisingly explained.
"If someone speaks informally to him, he does the same."
"Even so, we've been going to the same pool for a year. Every time we meet, he uses informal speech."
"Ma'am, when you speak informally to me, that's informal speech too."
Yangsimless interjected. The woman's blood pressure seemed to rise as she repeated, "You, you…" before finally shouting.
"Is it a brag to speak informally to someone older? Is it?"
"Yes. And ma'am, the way you talk influences how I respond."
What's influencing what? As I doubted my ears, the women collectively grabbed their necks in frustration.
"Oh my, this idiot is talking nonsense again. Oh my."
The women seemed more shocked about losing an argument to an idiot than not getting the batteries back. I was shocked too. I must never get close to Yangsimless. Worried, I walked towards the back entrance and stopped in front of the flyers looking for a witness. I looked around and quickly took one down.
Damn, do I have to move? Filled with concern, I sneaked through the back entrance like a spy in a movie and finally got home. Just as I closed the door and sighed in relief, my phone rang. Startled, I saw 'Manager Kim' on the screen. I had briefly explained the situation in a text, promising to call later, but he couldn't wait.
[Hey, Jemyung! Is it true? 4K's really going to help?]
The manager acted overly familiar, calling my name. If Manager Kim in the novel did that, the protagonist's heart would race. No. The protagonist would be happy to finalize an important deal, but their thoughts would be on CEO Na, not hearing Manager Kim's voice…
[Han Jemyung. Hey, Jemyung?]
The manager's annoying voice was all too clear in reality.
"Yes, they said they'd do it. They're going hunting today."
[Today? Are you sure it's not another 4K? It's '4K,' not 'FOR K' or something, right?]
"I saw the sign."
[Just in case, ask for their business registration too.]
"…"
[…That's difficult, isn't it?]
"You know my personality."
[I know you're timid and shy. At first, I didn't believe it because you don't look it, but now I do. It's like I've been brainwashed by you.]
I felt validated.
[But sometimes you're so sarcastic and say such nonsense that I wonder if you're a Heartless.]
You're one to talk, being like a Heartless 24/7. But the manager was right. Sometimes the sarcastic remarks in my head come out of my mouth. It feels like my mouth moves before my brain realizes it. Anyway, the manager knows me well. I decided to tell him.
"But I have to provide field support."
[Okay. You provide field support… You?! How can you, being so scared?]
The manager's surprise reminded me of the hardship I faced at 4K, making me tear up. I was about to vent my frustration when the manager spoke first.
[Make sure to take calming pills and carry an extra one.]
"Can't you replace me with another employee?"
[Nope. You have to do your job.]
Manager Kim in the novel is out. Forever out. I'll send him to a remote island with only two residents.
[I'll get you calming pills. You'll be fine. You won't face Heartless directly in field support.]
Even so…
[And I found out CEO Na has a great reputation. He's responsible and has never made a mistake. You'll be safe with him.]
If I were going with CEO Na, I'd jump into the middle of Heartless.
[By the way, there's another director there. Everyone clammed up about him. They looked gloomy and shook their heads.]
I realized the importance of holding grudges. People must be so scared of Yangsimless's grudges that they never talk. That's why I couldn't get any information about 4K or Yangsimless.
[Is he not skilled?]
He's the best in the industry. I wanted to say but held back, not wanting to praise Yangsimless. After hanging up, I was about to change clothes but stopped at the dresser. After thinking for a while, I opened the second drawer. I pushed aside the junk and pulled out a box. Inside was an emergency gun. But I just looked at it and closed the lid. Would I need it? Instead, I packed two more safety lights. Three should be enough. As I prepared thoroughly, the phone rang again.
Ring—
I thought it was the manager again, but the phone screen showed no number. What's this? Then I remembered CEO Na's call to the office. That also had no number!
"Hello."
There was no sound. CEO Na was the same at first! I cleared my throat and spoke as gently as possible.
"Hello?"
My voice cracked. Damn it.
[Are you home?]
Startled by the sudden voice, I pulled the phone away. Surprised once by realizing it was Yangsimless, then surprised again by his question. Home? How did he know?! I quickly dropped to the floor. Thud! My knee hit the floor hard, and I almost cried from the pain, but I stayed low and scanned the window. Damn, is he watching me from outside? This is the 15th floor. But it was too early to be relieved. I got up but pressed my back to the wall, still watching the window. After a long while, I realized I was on a call. No sound was coming from the phone.
"Hello?"
[Why did you drop to the floor?]
Startled, I pressed closer to the wall and crab-walked away from the window.
"Me?"
[I heard a thud.]
Ah, he heard the sound. Of course, it's the 15th floor, no one can see in from outside. …Unless 1406 can see from there?! I looked out but thankfully, no nearby buildings had a view inside. I closed the curtain just in case.
"I didn't drop."
[Yes, you did.]
He couldn't have really seen, right?
"I just rolled."
[Rolled? What a clumsy body. Why are you like that?]
What made his words more infuriating was the innocence in his voice. It was a pure curiosity, like a scientist exploring the truth.
"If I figure out why, I'll let you know first."
[Knowing won't change your clumsy body.]
"…Why did you call?"
[You said you live in Garibong-dong, right?]
"Yes. …If you stretch it."
[Pardon?]
"Yes?"
An uncomfortable silence followed. Damn, it won't work a third time.
"The site is about an hour from Seoul, so I'll head there first. Let me know when you'll arrive…"
[I'm going to Garibong-dong now.]
"Why?!"
[To get a government contract signed.]
Ah, a signature.
[Let's be clear. Our company has already fulfilled this year's government quotas. We'll charge a strict fee for this case. If we don't agree on this, I'll drop it immediately. Whether you helped Na Jinwook or pathetically clung to him.]
"But CEO Na didn't mention a fee…"
[Then let Na Jinwook handle it.]
"How much is the fee?"
[Two million per day.]
"Two million won?"
[Two billion.]
Right. Two billion per day. Ha ha, more than our team's monthly budget. Is this a joke?
"I can't pay two billion."
[Then it's over...]
"Two, two million might be possible."
[Alright.]
What? He agreed so quickly it seemed suspicious, but there was still one more hurdle.
[I'm heading to Garibong-dong now.]
"No! I'll come to Gaebong-dong. Actually, I just left the house."
[No background noise. You're still inside.]
"…I'm in the elevator."
I quickly ran to the bathroom, closed the door, and gently hit the sink with the showerhead.
Thud.
A dull porcelain sound echoed.
"Ha ha, I'm already at the first floor."
[Special Disaster Prevention Agency must pay well. Elevator fees are high.]
Pay well, my foot. I'm barely scraping by. That's why I got a cheap 15th-floor apartment and don't use the elevator.
"It's important, so I'm in a hurry."
I quickly ran to the veranda and leaned out the window.
"The weather's great today. The breeze is nice."
[There's a dust storm today.]
…No wonder my throat is scratchy.
[Meet me in front of XX Apartments. How long will it take?]
"It'll take an hour."
[You must be really slow because your body's so clumsy.]
Click. The call ended. I almost shouted at the phone while still hanging from the balcony railing. Should I appear in a minute and make your heart burst?
Ring—
Gah, startled! I nearly dropped my phone at the ringing. Another call with no caller ID. Did Yangsimless sense me cursing him? I answered the call while still hanging from the railing. Yes. I muttered absentmindedly.
[This is Na Jinwook.]
"…Gulp."
[Were you eating?]
"No. I swallowed my spit."
Oh, you fool. You said you swallowed your spit. But I thought I heard a faint, short laugh from the other end. But it seemed like an illusion, as the calm voice continued.
[Director Kook might call and demand a fee. If he does, refuse and contact me immediately. I've taken full responsibility for this case.]
"I couldn't refuse."
[You already spoke with him?]
His question brought a surge of frustration.
"Yes. He mentioned a two-billion won daily fee, said I should call you if I didn't like it… And he insisted on coming to Garibong-dong…"
[Garibong-dong?]
"Never mind that. He agreed to two million won daily, but…"
It was pathetic to say, but I had to vent.
"Even two million won is a lot for our department…"