Episode 71
The Awakener Management Bureau had been busy since morning.
“Is the research wing ready?”
“It’s finished. For security, we’ve settled on drafting seven from the Crisis Management Office and five from the Intensive Security Office.”
“After all that posturing, I guess the Security Office finally gave in.”
“Well… there was the matter at the medical center, after all. They had no choice but to concede a step to the Crisis Management Office.”
It was because of the preliminary preparations for Han Chasu’s entry into the training system.
“So the preparations are finally done. Honestly, dragging this out for something so trivial…”
A staff member let out a long sigh. If things had gone as they should have, this would have begun ages ago, but it had been delayed because the director kept stalling.
He had been wary that Han Chasu might get into yet another accident and that he would have to take responsibility for it.
Then, not long ago, the director received a terrifying phone call from Baekdam. When Baekdam said he would turn the Management Bureau into a zombie den if the promise was not carried out immediately, the director had no choice but to raise both hands in surrender.
But of course, there was no way he could feel at ease as things stood. The director immediately conveyed his intentions to the Intensive Security Office and the Crisis Management Office.
“The two departments will confer and select security personnel for the training system. Choose no fewer than ten and no more than fifteen, and only the very best are to participate.”
The two departments had always been displeased with each other as it was. The director’s official notice was no different from setting fire to a fuse.
“Doesn’t this basically mean we’ll decide which department is stronger based on who sends more people?”
“Obviously, all of them should be chosen from the Crisis Management Office. What kind of experts would the Security Office have when all they do all day is act dignified behind National Assembly members?”
And so, while Han Chasu spent his time at ease, a fierce under-the-table struggle broke out between the Crisis Management Office and the Intensive Security Office.
“You bastards helped knock down a precious patient instead of protecting him, and now you’re trying to stick your feet in? Have you got no conscience?”
“Why are you looking for something in us that even your boss doesn’t have?”
No, in truth, it would not have been wrong to say they were fighting openly.
The two groups snarled at each other in front and schemed behind each other’s backs. Of course, it was mostly the Security Office scheming one-sidedly and getting caught.
“What are you doing here?”
Several times a day, the Crisis Management Office caught Security Office staff going in and out of the research wing while pretending to be porters.
They claimed they had only helped because the work looked difficult, but it was a laughable excuse.
Everyone in the Management Bureau knew how busy the Security Office was. They were mobilized for all sorts of matters in order to expand their influence both inside and outside the Bureau; there was no way they had the leisure to care about carrying the Development Office staff’s luggage.
“If you don’t leave now, I’m calling our chief.”
“You think you’re the only ones with a chief?!”
Unfortunately, however, the gap in ability between the two chiefs was enormous. On top of that, the Security Office chief had recently suffered two crushing defeats at the hands of the Crisis Management Office chief, so it was inevitable that they would lose the battle of momentum.
Moreover, Han Chasu’s statement had also played a part.
One bright, ordinary morning.
At the center director’s threat-like recommendation, Han Chasu was walking along the path behind the counseling center. That was when the Security Office staff blocked his way.
“Hello, Hunter Han Chasu. We’re from the Security Office.”
There was naturally only one reason the Security Office had come to find Han Chasu. Han Chasu had a close friendship with Gi Taeyeon, the chief of the Crisis Management Office. They wanted to prevent him from supporting the Crisis Management Office one-sidedly.
But things took a strange turn.
Han Chasu’s expression as he looked at the Security Office staff was peculiar.
“You will be standing guard while I undergo training…”
“Yes, that is why—”
“I see.”
The Security Office staff, who had thought things might be going well, froze the next instant.
“In that case, I would like to ask the Security Office staff to take charge of intermediate security. Controlling risk factors is just as important as close protection, is it not?”
“Pardon?”
“In any case, neither the Crisis Management Office nor the Security Office will be able to enter the training room, so I do not see it as a major issue.”
Strictly speaking, he was right. The control space would be completely isolated while the system was operating.
Even so, they could not help being flustered. “Intermediate security? Where did he even pick up a security term like that… No, that’s not the problem. What is happening all of a sudden?” He seemed to have a less pliable personality than expected. Then again, they should have known when he turned them down several times. The Security Office staff exchanged glances.
Soon, one of the Security Office staff cried out in a protesting tone.
“Are you saying you don’t trust our skills? In terms of individual ability, the Security Office is—”
Han Chasu shook his head and cut him off.
“On the contrary, I am making this request because I trust the skills of the Security Office staff even more.”
“No, that’s—”
“I heard about your performance in the rooftop garden. They said you came running at the medical center director’s request.”
“……”
“I believe the medical center director would not have made such a request if she did not trust your abilities. Is there anything wrong with what I said?”
“Mm…”
Awkwardness appeared on the faces of the Security Office personnel. In truth, that day’s incident was an uncomfortable matter for both sides.
They had not directly harmed Han Chasu, but they had not exactly been helpful either.
That was why they had deliberately avoided bringing it up, but they had not expected Han Chasu to make it the topic first.
And yet he was not using it to pick at them, but as a means to praise them. The eyes of the Security Office staff grew complicated.
They could sense that things were not going according to their wishes.
Their prediction was exactly right.
“I am not telling you not to come close at all, so please do not worry. About… ten meters should be fine. The Crisis Management Office will take charge inside that range.”
Close protection would be handled by the Crisis Management Office, and anything beyond that by the Intensive Security Office.
After neatly specifying even the distance, Han Chasu rose from his seat with support. The Security Office staff grew desperate.
“Wait, Hunter Han Chasu. Could you reconsider? It’s not two or three meters, but ten? That’s too far…”
Han Chasu had his own reasons for that distance, but there was no way the Security Office could know that. Just as they were trying pitifully to hold him back—
“You should be satisfied with having forced a sick person to listen to your whining once.”
As if afraid Han Chasu might be blown away by the wind, the man holding him firmly glared at the Security Office group. Behind his glasses, his sharp eyes were full of anger.
It was Seo Jeongmin.
“Han Chasu isn’t here to listen to your sob stories, so what do you think you’re doing? If you wanted to make a good impression, you should have come earlier. Look at you, whining now of all times.”
“Aren’t you going too far?”
“Seeing as you deliberately chose only people who weren’t dispatched to the rooftop garden that day and brought them along, doesn’t that mean you feel guilty in your own way too?”
The Security Office staff clenched their teeth. Seo Jeongmin’s tongue carved them up like a blade.
“It’s embarrassing enough that while Chief Gi Taeyeon was kneeling for Han Chasu’s sake, your chief was smashed into a wall, unconscious with his tongue hanging out… but the truly embarrassing part is this.”
“What?”
“How nice it looks, clinging to a sick person just to save face.”
The Security Office staff froze on the spot. They could not move, as if they had been struck by Gi Taeyeon’s freezing ability.
“I suppose you have nothing more to say. Let’s go, Han Chasu.”
“…
Yes, let’s.”
And so Han Chasu left, surrounded by the medical staff, while the Security Office staff returned to their office like defeated soldiers.
When the Security Office chief heard the story, he hit the roof.
“Intermediate security? Who does he think he is, assigning us duties?!”
His wounded pride did not recover easily. The Security Office chief ground his teeth, saying Han Chasu had picked up only bad habits from being around Gi Taeyeon.
At that moment, someone offered a commendable idea.
“What if we put only rookies on the list?”
It was a rookie staff member he had been taking around with him recently.
“You said the director ordered each department to select only their best. If we do that, couldn’t it imply that the ability of a Crisis Management Office veteran is equal to that of a Security Office rookie?”
“You little rascal, you use your head pretty well!”
As it happened, the director had hinted that an external VIP might visit on the same day. If they did this, they could mobilize all the capable ones for the VIP’s escort, killing two birds with one stone.
“Good. Let’s do that. You take command of the other four.”
“Just leave it to me!”
And so, the day after a security roster was completed—one that made the Security Office chief beam with satisfaction and made Gi Taeyeon unable to hold back a sneer—
“Then we will begin the live operation. Everyone except the participants, please exit.”
“For the next three minutes, you may experience nausea due to system acclimation. If it becomes difficult to endure, please tell us immediately.”
The long-awaited training system finally began.
Han Chasu loosened up while standing face-to-face with Gi Taeyeon.
“You came thoroughly dressed in protective gear today as well, Hunter Han Chasu.”
“You never know what might happen.”
Gi Taeyeon looked at him and gave a faint laugh.
“You’re more active than I expected.”
At that point, Han Chasu still did not know.
What kind of outcome the training system, which he had regarded as both treatment and a warm-up, would bring about.
“Then shall we start?”
Nor whom he would end up meeting.
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