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To get to the bottom of this incident, we first need to investigate why the Gangdong Branch’s Management Team turned out like this, and sure enough, the problem lay with the containment object seized by the church.

That containment object was the only surviving cross.

I’m trying to deduce the reasoning behind it, but from what I can see, someone during management made a wish upon the cross, resulting in the appearance of a priest and the destruction of the management team along with several other departments.

Those exposed to the cross and those who encountered the priest soon transformed into devout believers, which subsequently caused the Gangdong Branch to rot from within.

The issue is that very few people have realized this.

Apart from the elderly person we met, a handful of others vaguely sensed it and attempted to resolve it, but after seeing the cross, they either got sucked in or were captured by the priest and eliminated.

Obviously, this news caused quite a stir within the Management Agency.

I’ve heard it was as dramatic as the Dream of the Butterfly incident.

Firstly, despite being brainwashed for quite some time within the Management Team, they failed to notice this incident.

Also, an unknown team from the Gangseo Branch handled this case all by themselves.

Fortunately, this rumor hasn’t spread too widely.

*

In the Gangseo Branch Chief’s Office, an elderly man sits in a chair, gazing at me with the sunlight streaming in.

“I’m sorry. At this age, my joints hurt, making it hard to stand.”

The old man bows his head slightly in apology.

“It’s fine.”

After the incident, everyone except me was sent home.

Except for one person—Song Ah Rin.

She was instructed to wait in the Human Resources Team office.

The usual Song Ah Rin would have thrown a fit asking why, but this time, she merely nodded quietly, and that sight weighed heavy on my heart.

“I always have gratitude for the Gangseo Branch’s Human Resources Team.”

The elderly man, who had been berating the branch chief, looked at me with a warm smile.

“You’ve personally resolved countless incidents.”

“One hundred seventeen… one hundred eighteen…!”

“This is all thanks to the Human Resources Team. Should I present a plaque or something?”

A plaque? What a terrible idea.

“I’m afraid I’d rather you not mention it elsewhere.”

To be honest, even as I’m caught up in an incident like this, the rumors of the Gangseo Branch’s Human Resources Team being unbeatable ace might make my life a lot harder.

“Oh, if that’s what you wish, I’ll certainly comply. I’ll ensure this incident is packaged well.”

“Thank you.”

“One hundred seventy-five… one hundred seventy-six…”

“…”

I couldn’t help but glance at the branch chief doing push-ups behind me.

While I prevented the chief from hitting his head, the elderly man’s stubborn determination to discipline him showed no signs of wavering.

“You’re being too quiet!”

“One hundred eighty! One hundred eighty-one!”

“…Could you indulge me with one more request?”

“Oh, of course. I could do a hundred if you want.”

The old man, who just moments ago was glaring at the branch chief, now turned to me with a gentle smile.

“The branch chief has truly done nothing wrong. He always tries to consider us.”

In fact, he has begged me several times to please take a break.

“…Really, he’s a good person.”

The old man’s smile deepened.

“Indeed, good souls spread their good influence wherever they go…”

“No, I mean it.”

Why doesn’t he believe me?

“Get up.”

“Yes!”

Even after doing push-ups with perfect form, the branch chief stood up without a single drop of sweat.

“You really have a good subordinate. Cherish him for life.”

“Yes! Understood!”

I felt uncomfortable just hearing that.

The branch chief stood behind me, not even casting a glance in my direction.

To be honest, this feels scarier than the cross incident.

“I thought you might be curious about many things.”

The elderly man clasped his hands, looking at me.

“What are you curious about?”

“…”

Honestly, I have more questions than I can count.

“Hmm…”

While I pondered how to address this old man, he nodded with a smile.

“Please call me the Headquarters Chief.”

“Understood, Headquarters Chief.”

Where should I even start questioning?

“How will this incident be handled?”

The old man continued speaking without losing his gentle smile in response to my question.

“Honestly, it’s quite common for incidents to occur due to failure in managing containment objects within the Management Agency.”

Well, it was the same during the Dream of the Butterfly incident.

“The problem this time is that it just so happens that a ‘church’-related object caused the incident.”

“…”

The church.

Since Aileen, I’ve known, but this incident made me realize.

They’re quite an annoying group.

“As you, Kim Jae Heon, have probably encountered many organizations and containment objects, you know that most organizations or containment objects have their own goals.”

The Headquarters Chief muttered while looking at me, and—

-Zap!

Just for a moment, a headache flared up, and images flowed before my eyes like a panorama.

“Theater Company. They supposedly initiate their plays from Act 1, proceed to Act 2, and after reaching Act 3, present their ultimate play to change the world.”

I see countless people moving like puppets.

“Hospital. They say their purpose is to research illnesses, but their actual goal is to create a perfect ‘human’… Honestly, I still don’t fully understand.”

I see scenes of countless people being devoured by a colossal monster.

“And what was the other one? Ah, Aestheticism. …This one’s truly malicious. It’s incomprehensible and unpredictable. They simply disguise their actions as art while killing people.”

Images flicker before my eyes.

A woman with a mannequin’s body walks by, makes eye contact with me, smiles, and waves her hand—

The vision abruptly cuts off.

The old man lets out a sigh.

“And then there’s the church.”

No images appeared.

“Their goal is to bring a god down to Earth.”

Just hearing it sends chills down my spine.

“Currently, the Management Agency is doing its utmost to prevent this from happening…”

As the old man blinked, the images in my sight flickered and broke apart, mingling with my headache.

“I’m sorry. The mental barrier is quite strong, so it must have been uncomfortable for you.”

He slightly bowed his head in apology.

“…It’s fine.”

So he’s saying he just broke through the mental barrier.

“Since you’re undoubtedly one of the best members of our Management Agency, we’re quite grateful for you.”

The old man nodded and looked at me.

“I’m always thankful.”

He bows his head to me.

“Is there anything else you’d like to know?”

“…”

Questions.

Honestly, I did have one more.

“…What happened to Kim Wan Woo?”

The Reincarnator.

I haven’t heard about him since his involuntary resignation.

“Kim Wan Woo, you mean?”

The Headquarters Chief smiled upon hearing my question.

His expression wasn’t surprised at all.

He turned to glance at the branch chief, who cleared his throat before lightly tapping my shoulder.

“Would it be alright if we went to the Headquarters to show you?”

“…If so.”

The Headquarters Chief nodded.

“Here, this is my contact information.”

He hands me a piece of paper.

“…”

I reached out and took it.

It was a blank sheet of paper.

Looking at the paper, I saw the Headquarters Chief smiling cheerfully.

“When people receive my business card for the first time, they tend to look at me that way. I simply can’t help but continue this joke.”

“…”

“I’ll know when you need a business card, and I’ll come to you.”

He waved his hand with a smile.

“I’m sorry. If I had it my way, I’d love to stay longer, but I have other things I need to verify right away.”

“No, you must be busy.”

If the branch chief is this busy, how busy must the Headquarters Chief be?

I absolutely don’t want a promotion.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

He smiled.

As I blinked, the elderly man who had been in front of me had vanished.

“…”

What just happened? Did he warp?

While I stared blankly at the chair, the branch chief spoke.

“Let’s go.”

He opened the door and walked out.

I hurriedly followed behind the quickly moving branch chief.

“Branch Chief.”

“Yes.”

“Are you, um… angry?”

Would someone that old get angry? In my 250 plus years of living, would I have ever met someone who could get that angry?

“I’m furious.”

He is angry.

The branch chief turned around and glared at me.

“I’m really upset about this! What are we going to do about it?”

“I have nothing to say about that.”

I feel the same way, honestly.

“Really, how can we avoid being pulled into these incidents… Should I just lock myself in my room?”

The branch chief, with a brazen face, muttered something horrifying.

We followed his lead and halted in front of the Human Resources Team office.

Come to think of it, why was Ah Rin told to stay alone?

As if predicting that I would ask this question.

Soon, the door to the Human Resources Team swings open, and Song Ah Rin steps out.

She alternates her gaze between me and the branch chief with a dazed expression.

She looks utterly exhausted, and our eyes meet.

“…Are you okay, Ah Rin?”

“…I’m fine.”

“Should we do the next one?”

The branch chief looks at Song Ah Rin with a gentle voice.

“…I’m okay. Here is better than home right now.”

Muttering, Song Ah Rin stands next to me.

What did she see in there?

Or is it…

“…”

The hypnosis has been lifted.

Myungil Apartment.

Could it be that the cross relieved all abilities and freed Song Ah Rin from her self-hypnosis?

The expression on Song Ah Rin’s face as she stared at the camera screen popped into my mind.

I turn my gaze slightly to look at Ah Rin.

She stands next to me with a dark expression.

“…Shall we go?”

Young people are complicated… the branch chief murmured as he moved ahead.

I align my steps with Song Ah Rin, walking with her.

“Ah Rin.”

“Yes.”

“If you have a hard time, please tell me.”

“…”

She looks at me.

“…What if.”

“Yes.”

An indescribable emotion flickers across her face.

“What if I’m not the good person you think I am?”

“…”

What should I say?

I look at Song Ah Rin.

A translucent window hovers above her head.

[Name: Song Ah Rin]

[Age: 21]

[Specialty: Hypnosis]

[Talent: Manipulation]

[Background: Nothing in this world is eternal. Regardless of how long you escape, the more you flee, the greater the suffering you must ultimately accept.]

[Weakness: Deny it now. Deny the life she has led. Accuse every righteous statement she has made as hypocrisy and push her down.]

I force myself to look away from the translucent window and meet Song Ah Rin’s gaze.

“I—”

“We’ve arrived.”

The branch chief looks at both of us.

A steel door with no handle.

“…”

Before I could finish my sentence, Song Ah Rin stepped forward, closed her eyes slightly, and—

-Creeeak…

The door opens.

“Kim Jae Heon.”

“…”

The branch chief looks at me.

“This is strictly confidential information that must never be leaked. You should be aware that I brought you here solely based on trust since mental barriers won’t allow a memory erasure procedure to work on you.”

“…Understood.”

“If you divulge this, there will be consequences beyond mere disciplinary actions. No kidding.”

The branch chief says this and walks into the room.

I follow behind her.

In the dark room, a bubbling sound is heard.

-Clic.

Song Ah Rin, who had been standing by the wall, turned on the light.

“…”

Kim Wan Woo’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, a small tank floated with a brain wrapped around electric wires.

-Pzzzt!

Occasionally, fierce sparks shot from the wiring.

“Don’t look.”

Song Ah Rin covered my eyes.

“There’s nothing good to see. It’ll only ruin your appetite.”

She muttered in an emotionless voice.

“We’re currently extracting information.”

The branch chief nodded at the brain while observing it.

-Pzzzt!

The electric noise vibrated throughout the quiet room.