The Perfect

The high-risk department had security so tight and offices so well-decorated, it felt like a different building. They spent so much money here but wouldn’t even add one more light to our office. They had all the lights on in broad daylight, wasting electricity. Pouting, I stood up, and an employee reminded me.

“Go to the Chief’s office.”

“Special Chief?”

“Yes. He wants to see you now.”

I forced a smile. The Special Chief who tricked me into working with Yangsimless? I had asked if CEO Na called me, and he evasively said it was the representative. I almost died yesterday because of him. The second biggest culprit after Yangsimless!

“Ah, you’re here.”

“Hello, Chief.”

I greeted brightly and sat down. He was my superior, the main culprit or not. As I sat, I noticed the same man sitting next to the Chief. The one who just watched me last time. Who is he? The Chief’s lover?

“I heard you did well yesterday.”

“I did nothing. It was all Director Kook.”

I answered the Chief and glanced at the man. He was staring at me again. This time, he spoke first.

“Did he use instinct again?”

“Who are you?”

He stared silently, then burst out laughing.

“Hahaha—an amusing fellow. Is that why Director Kook liked you?”

I gained an unknown friend. And Yangsimless would only like me after squeezing out several years of my salary.

“Ryu Jong-won.”

He handed me a business card. Sitting close to the Chief, he seemed of some rank. But this was unexpected.

‘Ryu Jong-won, CEO of L&Y’

“You know my company, right?”

Of course. It’s the competitor to the renowned 4K.

“CEO Ryu, don’t be modest. Of course, he knows. Who doesn’t know L&Y? Right, Hwang Jemyung?”

“My name is Han Jemyung…”

“I sent Hwang Jemyung without expectations, but Director Kook did great, so I’m very pleased. Honestly, Hwang Jemyung isn’t a field agent, right? Director Kook does all the work, but if Hwang Jemyung died on the first day, the contract would end. But he came back fine. Haha—”

No one laughed. But the Chief laughed hard alone, then suddenly frowned.

“By the way, why is the meal bet forty billion? What happened?”

“Well, it’s…”

“Forget it. Director Kook must’ve been unreasonable. I can guess.”

So why ask?

“The commander has a temper but isn’t careless. He had bad luck. Director Kook is efficient but has a terrible temper…”

“Chief.”

CEO Ryu pointed out, and the Chief stopped, realizing his mistake. He looked at me.

“Not that it would happen, but don’t tell Director Kook what I said.”

Yangsimless was indeed vengeful. The Chief must’ve experienced it.

“Understand, Hwang Jemyung?”

…Maybe I should anonymously post this.

“It’d be nice if you could mediate such issues, but that’s a lot to expect. The forty billion isn’t much considering Director Kook’s value, but who knows what’ll happen next. Report before it escalates.”

“To whom?”

“To the field commander or…”

CEO Ryu interrupted.

“Report to me.”

Why report to you, an outsider? Chief, this guy’s talking nonsense… I was about to complain, but my expression hardened. The Chief nodded, indifferent.

“What? He’s an outsider. Report to him?”

“I know Director Kook well. I can help handle it.”

“Yes, but he’s not with the agency. Reporting to him is difficult.”

“No. It’s fine, Hwang Jemyung. Report to CEO Ryu.”

The Special Director had taken initiative. Did this man take a bribe? CEO Ryu must have seen my incredulous expression, as he curled his lips into a smile.

“This only pertains to Director Kook. No need for work reports related to this matter. As you know, Director Kook is quite an unusual case.”

“Do you have a grudge?”

At my question, he merely laughed. Though I sensed it wasn’t about a grudge, it was unpleasant to be left without any explanation. It seemed like information not meant for a mere rank-and-file employee.

“You seem to know Director Kook well. Did you get revenge?”

He continued to laugh but his eyes turned cold for a moment. Another person answered in his stead.

“Is there anyone who hasn’t experienced a grudge from Director Kook? That guy’s personality is awful…”

“Chief.”

Once again, CEO Ryu stopped the Director and looked back at me.

“I am well acquainted with Director Kook. We’ve had issues, but they have been resolved. Director Kook no longer holds any grudges against me.”

Are you still holding one?

“It’s not about Director Kook’s grudges. Report any strange occurrences when handling matters involving Heartless.”

“What do you mean by strange occurrences?”

“Any abnormalities as you perceive them, Mr. Han Jemyung. The paramedic who died this time was a normal person, not Heartless, correct? Was there anything strange in what he said?”

Something strange. One thing immediately came to mind. He had asked Yangsimless if he was a cook. It was an out-of-context and peculiar word for that situation. A cook, out of nowhere. I thought about mentioning this but gave a straightforward answer instead.

“I have reported everything I saw and heard before coming up here. You can check the report for anything you need.”

“I want to hear directly from Mr. Han Jemyung, who was at the scene. Words on paper are limited in what they can convey. For example, didn’t you find it odd when the paramedic asked Director Kook if he was a cook?”

“…….”

“Is that a difficult question to answer?”

“No. I just wondered if you’d already seen my report.”

“I have reviewed the reports from other field staff.”

“Yes.”

“So what was the atmosphere like at the time?”

“As stated in the report.”

He stared at me for a moment and then chuckled. His smiling face wasn’t bad. Rather, if not for this situation, he could have made a decent character in my novel.

“Chief, can I borrow Mr. Han Jemyung for a moment?”

“Of course. Use him as you wish.”

Am I an object to be used? However, I was already standing up, following CEO Ryu as he stood. The Director gave me a reminder before we left the room.

“Mr. Han Jemyung, follow all of CEO Ryu’s instructions as if they were coming from me.”

Bribery, isn’t it?

The road was clear. The city roads, once plagued by traffic jams, now resembled highways, free of congestion. I drove through like a king in an expensive car, free from any noise or shaking.

“No need to feel pressured. I’m not asking for any confidential documents from the Special Department. Just watch Director Kook and report any oddities. Of course, you’ll be compensated. After this task, join our company as a team leader. I’ll give you five times your current salary and a 500% annual performance bonus. Naturally, you’ll have job security until retirement.”

“…….”

“You can choose a company house for residence with unlimited electricity. Just keep me updated about Director Kook’s activities first. That’s all.”

CEO Ryu, seated next to me, looked at me, waiting for my response. Not knowing how to respond, I awkwardly shifted in my seat.

“I’m usually quite dense.”

“You still found the cook question odd, didn’t you?”

“…….”

“Don’t worry. I’m not asking for certainty.”

“Is it important that Director Kook is a cook?”

He merely smiled again. This time, I smiled back.

“Don’t you think you should at least tell your spy the reason?”

“What matters to me is Director Kook’s instincts.”

“Instincts?”

“Yes. As you’ve seen, he has a remarkable instinct for identifying his enemies, especially Heartless. It’s not just when hunting Heartless. It’s like an antenna; he senses something off and acts on it, usually leading to something related to Heartless. That’s why his reactions are important.”

At that moment, the car stopped smoothly. The destination was visible across the street. The 4K office. I had received a call from Clicker in the morning. After visiting the Special Department, I was to go to the office. They needed to listen to the case as well. Fortunately, CEO Na was there, so I was willing to go.

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask Director Kook directly?”

I realized as I asked. Of course, if he could, he would have done that. They were competitors, weren’t they? It was predictable that they clashed often in the field. Yangsimless would never share information.

“I don’t want to deal with that person.”