Chapter 37: The Devil's Seed (6)
After handing over the business card to Mattluk.
I immediately turned into a spirit, took advantage of the darkness, climbed up the dormitory wall, and headed toward my destination.
Scrape.
“Are you here? You must have had a tough…ugh?!”
I opened the window, entered, closed it behind me, and immediately subdued the Brewer.
[Is this treason?]
“What, what are you talking about?!”
[I encountered a person from Hwalbindang named Mattluk at the place I attacked. What happened?]
“Hwalbindang? Wait, I really don’t know what’s going on?!”
Brewer seemed genuinely confused.
This could also be an act, so I didn’t let up on my grip.
[I have three possibilities in my mind right now. One is that two forces coincidentally attacked the same place at the same time. Another is that Hwalbindang followed you during your information gathering. And the last is…]
“That I betrayed the Association? There’s no way…! I’ll die as a member of the Association!”
[Then, was it really a coincidence that our paths crossed? It doesn’t seem so.]
Mattluk showed up just as I destroyed all the facilities and took care of the devil.
Unless he was timing his appearance, there was no way he would show up at such a perfect time.
[I don’t believe in coincidences. Especially in situations like this.]
“I’m really being falsely accused…!”
[Are you sincere?]
“Yes! I just followed the orders that came from above!”
[Then, there’s only one possibility left.]
A slight irritation crept up.
[…Who was the first one to give you the mission and order you to gather information?]
“What? Do you think there’s a traitor in the Association?”
The information was leaking out.
If the Brewer, who collected the information, was not the traitor, then there was a possibility that something went wrong with the Brewer’s superiors.
[It’s rude to ask this within the Association, but what faction do you belong to?]
“Gunggi’s Legion! I’m under Gunggi!”
[Gunggi’s Legion, where? Is it the Biikjo Squad? Or is it the Jujak Squad? Phoenix Squad?]
“…Night Crow. Ugh, to be exposed to this extent.”
For an informant to reveal all their affiliations meant that they were heading down the path of ‘dismissal.’
Just like the agents of the National Intelligence Service did not reveal their affiliations in detail, members of the Association naturally did not disclose their information specifically.
But speaking to this extent meant that Brewer was claiming her innocence in her own way.
To reveal her affiliation to me, who belonged to another faction, was equivalent to putting her own life on the line.
That’s how it was in the Association.
[Alright. I’ll trust you. But I can’t trust your superiors.]
“But, there’s no way. Night Crow is directly under Gunggi. The Night Crow wouldn’t betray the Association.”
[We’ll see.]
Transformation released.
“We’ll find out more when we check directly.”
I put on the hotel gown I had instructed her to prepare in advance, tied the belt, and put the Taegeuk Watch on the desk back on my wrist.
“Are you going to call the Night Crow captain?”
“No.”
I pointed upwards with my finger.
“It’s a Korean thing. When there’s a problem, they don’t touch the rank; they touch the person in charge, the superior.”
“… You’re not?”
Beep.
The phone rang about three times.
[Ah, hello!]
“Hello, Director.”
[Ah, Director? Yes, I can talk now.]
Brewer’s face turned pale as she looked at me.
Perhaps it was because the ‘Director’s’ voice was completely different from what she usually heard.
“I am currently on a mission with someone from Night Crow and encountered a strange situation.”
[……What?]
Her previously bubbly voice turned cold, and Brewer’s expression changed.
“The situation is roughly this.”
I relayed the situation I had experienced, not missing a single detail.
[Could you hand the phone over?]
“You can talk now. She’s right next to me.”
[State your rank and name.]
“Loyalty! I am Celestia, an agent of the second generation of Night Crow!”
Brewer had a name that didn’t sound like Brewer at all.
[Celestia… Celestia… Hmm, I see. Director, could you give me three minutes? I’ll check right away.]
“It’s okay if it takes a bit more time.”
[Stay on the line. I will quickly check… It’s done.]
The Director let out a hollow laugh.
[It seems there is a friend in Night Crow who wants to join the rebels. They’ve lost their minds. To mess with the Goblin.]
“Does this woman have nothing to do with it?”
[Unfortunately, she was used. If you want, let me know. I will send you someone else.]
“No need for that. The only mistake would be not realizing that someone is plotting something malicious. Or… there are still many within the Association who dislike me.”
[No, no! That’s not it! The Director is a very capable and excellent person!]
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Who in the organization would really appreciate someone who rose from a low-ranking executive to the direct subordinate of the Boss in just six months?
Especially since I was not even part of a team, I operated solo.
“Anyway, be careful. There are many locals under your command, Director, so aside from the one who leaked the information this time, there may be others. Be it ties with the rebels, or a priestly relationship, delays, or school ties.”
[I got it. I can’t just suddenly cut off everyone’s heads, but I’ll look into it step by step. And there, Celestia.]
“Yes, Director!”
With a resolute voice, Celestia stood at attention.
[Keep working as you do now. Don’t arbitrarily ignore the tasks or orders that are suddenly given.]
“Yes?”
[Even if the Goblin contacts the rebels or anywhere else, it’s not like the Goblin will betray and go elsewhere.]
That was exactly it.
I had no reason to betray the Association nor any intention to do so.
Even if they offered me three times as much.
[But I can’t stand them using the Association’s internal information network to constantly lure the Goblin to their side, can I? So, pretend you don’t know and accept all the directives. Whether it’s directives coming through Night Crow or requests for indirect support through other units.]
“What if…the same thing happens again? Are you going to handle it personally, Director?”
[Oh, me personally? I’m not that idle. The HR team will take care of it very well.]
I interpreted those words for Brewer by mouthing.
It meant that she would handle it personally.
[Director, please don’t tell the other directors about this. Especially that gloomy friend.]
“Of course. I have no intention of causing trouble for you, Director. I know it’s a bit odd to chit-chat during work, but…”
I reached out my hand to stop Brewer, cleared my throat, and lightly touched my mouth to the Taeguk Watch.
[…Huh?]
“Thank you, Director. Thanks to you, I was able to clear up the misunderstanding.”
[Oh, uh, yes…! It was my duty to solve the unpleasant situation that arose in our team! If something happens again, contact me. Hang, hang up!]
Click.
The call ended.
I pressed the Taeguk Watch to turn off the screen, then got up from my seat and formally apologized to Brewer.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were a traitor of the Association who was colluding with the rebels.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay.”
“Just be as comfortable as before our mission. Even if I know your status now, it doesn’t change what you have to do.”
“Oh, yes. Understood… But…”
Brewer, seeming to relax a bit, cautiously asked, pointing at my Taeguk Watch.
“Is it…Gunggi?”
“Yes.”
“…Did you directly call Gunggi?”
“The directors… ‘The Four Executives’ all have numbers that connect directly to each other. Though we hardly call each other.”
While I could make calls, they could call me directly.
Because it was the Boss’s order.
“I know it was impolite, but I look forward to working with you in the future. I was a little desperate to hide my identity.”
“Oh, um, no, it’s fine. I accepted the order without properly verifying where it was coming from. It’s my fault. But it’s okay, right…?”
Even though I was the one who forcefully subdued her, Brewer was clearly worried, looking at me with concern.
“Then, as a reconciliation and to clear up misunderstandings, how about we grab a drink together?”
As a celebration for successfully completing the mission.
As a purification ritual to wash off the heat that had killed various negative things.
“How about chicken and beer?”
“…Yes.”
Brewer paled a little and started to smile broadly-
“… We’ve just finished all the beer.”
Her expression immediately hardened.
“Can’t be helped, Brewer.”
I pointed at Brewer’s Taeguk Watch.
“Order delivery.”
“Okay.”
“There are places selling late-night snacks and beer even at this hour. I’ll take a shower in the meantime.”
“Okay. I’ll order right away, so take your time. But…can I really just ask one question? Oh, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“What is it?”
“What kind of relationship do you have with…Gunggi?”
“…….”
It was a bit complicated.
“To you, Gunggi might seem extremely cold and calm, but to me, she’s warmer inside than anyone else.”
“Wow….”
Just like I said.
Gunggi was….
A woman with a truly warm heart.
“I’ll take a shower, and we can chat a bit while tearing into the chicken. The future missions you’ll have to undertake and where they came from aren’t very important to me.”
“Then…?”
“Missions related to demons.”
Fortunately, the first mission was exactly what I was looking for.
“In the future, whether it’s about a demon, a seed of a demon, or anything related to demons, accept it even if it seems suspicious. Especially… Pandemonium.”
A massive organization where all the named demons gathered.
“We have to kill all the demons.”
For the peace of the world and the smooth world domination of our Association.
And thus.
I dealt with the ‘first’ demon’s seed.
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This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢