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“…It smells strange, doesn’t it?”

When I showed the invitation to the others, Yu Da On, who had been sniffing the air, frowned and said.

“Smell?”

“Yes. There’s an overwhelming scent of paint. Especially coming from here.”

Yu Da On mumbled as she looked at the red marks.

If it smells like paint…

The monster I had envisioned popped into my mind.

The woman’s head attached to the mannequin’s torso.

And even the statue safely cradled in my arms.

“…”

“Kim Jae Heon, you don’t look too good.”

“Well, it’s just…”

Do I need to tell them this?

It seems like it would only add to their worries.

Just then, Jang Chae Yeon, who had been watching me, spoke up.

“It’s okay.”

“…”

“We’ll hold on fine.”

Jang Chae Yeon said this while glancing at the other two.

“That’s right!”

Yu Da On beamed a trustworthy smile, completely missing Jang Chae Yeon’s gaze.

“…It’s not just holding on; this must be nothing at all. I don’t mind—”

Song Ah Rin continued, arms crossed and clicking her tongue when someone interrupted her.

“I do mind, so at least hear me out first.”

Then Team Leader appeared from behind, shoving a paper in my face.

“…What’s this?”

“Your business trip plan.”

“Huh?”

“I heard you’re going to the Gangbuk Branch.”

“That’s correct.”

“The Branch Chief just sent the business trip plan via email.”

The Team Leader showed me the email.

<You've worked hard again today.>

<I've sent you the business trip plan, so please take a look at it. ^^>

“…”

I read the business trip plan.

Gangbuk Branch business trip. The personnel are…

“Kim Jae Heon, Yu Da On, Jang Chae Yeon, Song Ah Rin…”

“Huh? Us too?”

Yu Da On exclaimed, her eyes widening as she pointed to herself.

“Right?”

“…I’m feeling uneasy.”

Song Ah Rin mumbled from the back, and I had no choice but to agree with her.

“When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

“…Huh?”

“I said, we leave tomorrow.”

The Team Leader blinked at me, handing over the paper.

“But I still need to sort out the payroll…”

“I’ve already taken care of that.”

“And… well, uh, the bonuses and insurance as well…”

“I’ve handled that too.”

“Or, um, the administrative tasks…”

“Oh, I did that too.”

The Team Leader chuckled with arms crossed.

“Jae Heon, whatever you mention, I’ve already done it all. So just go.”

“…”

In the end, thanks to the Team Leader’s unintentional kindness, the four of us were off on a business trip.

*

“So, what were you trying to say?”

As work hours ended and I packed my things, three people approached and gazed at me.

“Oh, well, you see…”

I began explaining about aestheticism to the three of them.

Yu Da On was listening with an innocent look, clearly hearing about it for the first time, while Song Ah Rin narrowed her eyes, pretending to recall where she had heard it.

Finally,

“…”

With a serious expression, Jang Chae Yeon listened to what I had to say.

“…Chae Yeon?”

“I know about it.”

She replied in a low voice.

“…How do you know?”

“I chased after one at the Gangdong Branch.”

“But why didn’t I know about this?”

At Song Ah Rin’s sudden interjection, Jang Chae Yeon briefly shut her mouth before slowly opening it again.

“You weren’t there back then.”

“…So it was after that incident?”

“…”

At Song Ah Rin’s comment, Jang Chae Yeon fell silent, while Song Ah Rin sighed and shrugged.

“Shall we go?”

Before the atmosphere got any more serious, we should hurry back.

As I quickly packed my bag, the others nodded and did the same.

Before stepping outside, a sudden question crossed my mind and I turned to look at the others.

“But where do we get on the plane?”

“Where do you mean?”

Song Ah Rin looked at me with a perplexed expression.

“At the airport, of course.”

“…Is there a place to board the plane at the airport?”

Before I could expect an answer, Song Ah Rin took out the manual and knocked it lightly before stepping outside.

“I’m going ahead. See you tomorrow.”

“Ah, okay.”

“I’m coming too.”

“I’m going too, Jae Heon! See you at the airport tomorrow!”

The other two waved goodbye as they stepped out, and I started reading the manual I pulled from my pocket.

So how do we get there?

[Manual for Office Staff]

[GB – Transportation to Gangbuk Branch]

1. You cannot get to the Gangbuk Branch by conventional means.

2. Head to the airport. Then, stand in the far right line of the domestic gate entrance and submit your manual instead of an ID. You will receive your ticket.

3. After that, take the earliest departing flight. A seat will be prepared for you.

4. However, if it’s fully booked, take the next flight.

5. The flight will arrive at the destination within 30 minutes, and the passengers will not know you have disembarked.

6. Afterward, you will find yourself standing in front of the main gate of the Gangbuk Branch.

7. If you happen to disembark at a gloomy nursery or a place labeled “Happy Apartment,” do not turn back; refer to the manual.

I clenched my fist as if to punch the page of the manual.

Did it really have to end with such an ominous statement?

– Swish!

The manual closed and remained unyielding, as if in protest.

“Well, of course, if you say something ominous like that…”

Seriously.

Pretending to swing a punch at the manual, I felt the gazes of others on me, clearing my throat as I tucked the manual back into my pocket while heading home.

Moreover, I promptly tore the invitation and tossed it into the trash, but of course, it was sitting there in my mailbox without any surprise.

*

When I arrived at the airport, the others had already gathered with their bags.

“You arrived early.”

“I did come early, didn’t I?”

I replied calmly to Song Ah Rin, who was glaring at me.

I honestly arrived five minutes early.

“Once again, you didn’t say a word.”

As Song Ah Rin grumbled, I stood in the far right line.

People were handing in their tickets and passing through the gate, a man extended his hand.

“Your ticket, please.”

“…”

I handed him the manual, and he took it as if it were just another day, glancing here and there before pulling a ticket from his back pocket and handing it to me.

“The next flight boards in 15 minutes.”

“Thank you.”

He whispered that to me and then said loudly while looking back.

“Next person!”

Soon, the others received their tickets and entered, and Yu Da On, looking excited, shone with anticipation as she looked at me.

“Doesn’t this feel like secret agents?”

“Secret agents… it is fitting, isn’t it?”

The Management Agency hides the secrets of the world, so if those working there aren’t secret agents, then who are they?

“Let’s go. There are 12 minutes left until the flight.”

While Yu Da On and I chattered idly, Jang Chae Yeon glanced at her watch and mumbled.

“Oh really? Let’s hurry.”

As we hurried towards the destination written on our tickets, the last of the crowd had already entered, and the flight attendants were just checking their watches.

“Excuse me…”

The flight attendant looked at our tickets and nodded, then gestured for us to follow her.

“Please come this way.”

Following her, we soon came to the entrance of the airplane, next to four seats.

“…”

I wasn’t aware that there could be airplane seats like that.

It looked like an ordinary airplane seat crammed with another seat in some awkward design.

Oddly enough, none of the passengers seemed to find those seats strange.

We cautiously took our seats. Yu Da On did the same.

Conversely, Jang Chae Yeon and Song Ah Rin comfortably sat down and buckled their seatbelts.

Soon, a voice from the captain started announcing.

<This flight is heading to Busan.>

<During the journey, severe turbulence is expected, so passengers are advised to keep their seatbelts fastened at all times.>

The announcement ended, and not long after, the plane took off.

This is far more uncomfortable than the subway.

Just as I was settling into the seat, within 20 minutes, someone tapped my shoulder.

“…Yes?”

The flight attendant gestured for me to follow her.

“Please come with me.”

“Already…?”

“Shh.”

She put her finger to her lips, indicating for me to be quiet, and I followed her lead, closing my mouth.

Following her forward, we passed the passenger area until we reached the cockpit.

The other three were already waiting for me in front of the cockpit.

The flight attendant held the cockpit door.

“When you open the door, you’ll need to step right in.”

“Uh…”

“You understand, right?”

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

“I’ll go first!”

The flight attendant opened the door.

Black darkness swelled, and Yu Da On stepped in without a second thought, melting into the shadows.

“Next…”

“I’ll go.”

They say getting hit first is often better.

The flight attendant opened the door and stepped inside.

Along with a brief sensation of floating in darkness.

“Jae Heon! Over here!”

I snapped back to reality at Yu Da On’s voice.

The hallway’s design was so familiar yet with hints of subtle differences.

“I really hate this.”

“So do I.”

And I realized it while listening to Song Ah Rin and Jang Chae Yeon’s grumbling voices behind me.

So this is the Gangbuk Branch.

“Then next…”

Come to think of it, we only agreed to meet someone; we never discussed whom to meet.

While I was pondering that, an older voice came from behind me.

“Ah, you must be the new recruits from the Gangseo Branch.”

A voice reminiscent of a greedy old serpent from the books I had read.

I turned around to find an elderly man standing there.

His back was hunched, his eyes filled with greed as he scrutinized me and the others.

“Hello. My name is Kim Pil Soo.”

Above his head hovered a translucent window.

[Name: Kim Pil Soo]

[Age: 73]

[Specialty: Greed]

[Talent: Greed]

[Background: Not all organizations in the world can be pure and clean. If you can still see people like him around, that may prove it.]

[Weakness: Every greed has a warehouse to fulfill it.]

“I’m the Branch Chief of the Gangbuk Branch.”

He said, giving an unsettling grin as he locked eyes with me.