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Luxury.

There was simply no other way to express it.

“Wow…!”

Seeing Yu Da On constantly marveling at the splendor here, rather than thinking she’s being overly dramatic, I found myself agreeing that it’s justifiable.

The chandelier on the ceiling sparkled with golden light, the marble floor was so clean I could see my reflection, and elegantly dressed people bowed to welcome us.

On the first floor, a luxurious hall with a chandelier, and the staircase leading up to the second and third floors was adorned with red carpets—designing it like a high-end hotel had left me speechless.

“Welcome!”

It’s overwhelming.

Looking around.

If we were the only ones here, I might have genuinely felt threatened, but thankfully, quite a few people were milling about.

I also spotted someone I had seen passing by in the Management Agency a few times, mixed in with those who just looked wealthy as they strolled around.

While I was busy taking note of the people around us, I realized others were also looking at us.

How strange it must be to see one guy awkwardly standing there with three girls.

Of course, it might not be that exaggerated.

“Let’s go see the rooms! The rooms!”

“If we don’t get one room per person, I’m seriously going to report it to the HR Team.”

“We are the HR Team, you know?”

“Do you have to nitpick about everything?”

As Yu Da On and Song Ah Rin excitedly strolled toward the room section, Jang Chae Yeon followed them and turned to look at me.

“Let’s go together.”

“Yes.”

Jang Chae Yeon walked alongside me.

“Is this your first time in a place like this, Chae Yeon?”

“It’s my first cruise.”

“Then, you don’t like luxurious things, I take it?”

“…Not really interested.”

After a brief silence, she glanced at me with raised eyebrows, as if gauging my reaction.

“Dislike?”

“No, not like that…”

How could I criticize someone’s personal preferences? Besides, I truly didn’t mind.

Working in the Management Agency, especially being caught up in bizarre incidents these days, my bank account was increasing meaningfully.

Jang Chae Yeon might be the same. Even if she indulged in luxury, it wouldn’t be beyond her means unless it was extremely burdensome.

As we chatted idly, we made our way to the rooms.

A room as lavish as the lobby.

The fact that we even got a private room showed the Management Agency must have pulled some strings.

I peeked around from behind Song Ah Rin.

There was an enormous bed, a bathroom, and a dazzling mirror—nothing was missing.

“This is really nice.”

Song Ah Rin nodded in satisfaction while looking out the window, taking in her room.

An endless sea stretched out before us.

“Maybe it could feel a little scary to see that alone before sleeping.”

“Let’s ask Chae Yeon or Da On to sleep with us.”

“Why would I call them? If I’m gonna sleep with the white-haired one, I might as well sleep outdoors, and being near the black-haired one feels suffocating.”

“Are you talking about Da On?”

I thought of Yu Da On. She was social and seemed fine chatting with others.

“…Yeah. You wouldn’t know, but that’s how the black-haired one hides things.”

As I pondered, Song Ah Rin sighed and shrugged.

“What is it?”

“Forget it. I’m a woman who respects people’s privacy.”

“No, what are you talking about?”

In response to my question, Song Ah Rin waved her hand dismissively, gesturing for me to leave.

In the end, she didn’t give me an answer, so I had no choice but to step out.

So, where’s my room?

As I wandered aimlessly in search of my room, Yu Da On dashed over to me.

“Kim Jae Heon!”

“Yes?”

“Look at this! They’re having a concert with a famous orchestra and theater company!”

Her eyes sparkled as she handed me a paper.

When I looked closely at Yu Da On, she tilted her head to meet my gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

What could a person like her possibly be hiding? Song Ah Rin only knew how to hypnotize, completely lacking insight into people.

Thinking this, I glanced over the paper Yu Da On gave me.

Sure enough, written in luxurious script was “An Unforgettable Luxury Concert.”

Truly, there was nothing but luxury.

The mention of the theater brought back bad memories, but I pushed those thoughts aside and handed the paper back to Yu Da On.

“We have plenty of time, so let’s take our time looking.”

Let’s not rush. If I peeked too soon, who knows what might happen again, like last time at the theater—I wouldn’t be prepared to handle it.

Thinking this, I realized just how much I had become like a typical Management Agency employee.

With a complex mix of emotions, I watched my colleagues busy with their own tasks as I began walking outside.

I should familiarize myself with the area, and then maybe cool my head a bit.

I passed through a corridor glowing with golden light.

An empty restaurant for now.

The central hall filled with chatter.

And the theater with a sign reading “Under Preparation.”

A gym… a swimming pool… an arcade… there was everything.

They truly designed this cruise to accommodate everything.

Soon, with a grand sound, the ship began to set sail, and I walked up to the deck to match its rhythm.

A lukewarm breeze brushed against my face.

The stench of fish pierced my nose.

Unbeknownst to me, my brow furrowed as I looked around, but I was the only one there.

Was it just the smell of the sea?

Since there weren’t many people on the deck yet, I had plenty of time to enjoy my solitude.

I rested my elbows on the railing, gazing out at the endless horizon as I opened the manual.

Let’s see, there should definitely be regulations regarding the sea in the manual.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[SB – Surviving a Fall Overboard]

1. Working in the Management Agency sometimes leads to getting stranded on the open sea.

2. In such cases, find something to climb onto as quickly as possible. Even Management Agency employees are human and often die from hypothermia.

3. Don’t stay in the water too long. If you sense something in the water, refer to [SY – Maritime Survival Guide].

I shook my head as I read through the manual.

Am I really developing job-related anxiety? How long will I keep worrying about this even during my break?

With a snap, I closed the manual and gazed at the deep navy-colored sea before re-entering the cruise interior.

Perhaps it was due to the ship setting sail, but the cruise inside felt even more lively than before.

People who looked like they knew each other, wealthy individuals, held glasses of wine that seemed to have appeared from nowhere and chatted joyfully, while a few ordinary-looking folks walked by, possibly intimidated by the atmosphere.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

While I apathetically observed this scene, someone brushed past me to ask for my pardon, and I stepped aside, giving them a slight nod.

That same nauseating fishy smell wafted into the air.

Unknowingly, I turned to look at the person who had just walked by, but he had already disappeared.

Just to be safe, I focused my eyes and scanned the surroundings, but they were all just ordinary people.

“…What are you doing?”

As I squinted and continued looking around, I turned around to hear the ever-same unemotional voice.

Jang Chae Yeon was staring at me intently.

“…Do you smell something fishy?”

“Fishy?”

In response to my inquiry, Jang Chae Yeon closed her eyes, sniffing the air.

“…Not at all.”

“That’s odd.”

But as she said, there really was no smell at the moment.

Just the scent of expensive perfume mixed with liquor.

“Do you know anything about a Containment Object that smells fishy?”

“…Um. Not really.”

At my question, she frowned slightly, as if contemplating, then shook her head.

“It’s difficult to specify. It’s a smell you encounter more often than not when working near the sea with the Isolation Team.”

“That makes sense.”

“But I’ll be careful. Should I tell the others?”

“Please do.”

At my request, Jang Chae Yeon slowly nodded her head and was about to walk toward the rooms when she looked back at me.

“Don’t think about it too much. We’re here to have fun.”

“…Okay.”

“And since there are Management Agency people here, they will respond if something happens.”

“That’s a bit of a relief.”

She smiled lightly and nodded at my response.

“I’ll go notify them.”

She walked gracefully toward the room, and as I watched her back, I turned my gaze forward again.

Will everything be okay?

*

In the end, I couldn’t find the source of the fishy smell.

“That fishy smell.”

“Do you know anything about it?”

“Well… the sea was originally an unknown territory for humanity compared to land.”

Jang Chae Yeon quickly returned with two people, and upon hearing my question, Song Ah Rin shrugged and replied.

“The Management Agency tends to avoid Containment Objects in the sea. To be precise, they can’t handle it well. Most humans struggle to breathe underwater.”

Unless they were a Branch Chief like the Gangseo Branch, she concluded.

Song Ah Rin nodded, humming as she mused aloud.

“…I don’t know. If you give me a keyword about this fishy smell and expect me to deduce something, what do you expect me to find?”

She scratched her head in frustration.

“I’ll be on alert. If something happens on the ship, it’ll be a real dead end.”

“I’ll be cautious too.”

Yu Da On nodded in agreement.

“Yes. I hope you two can keep an eye out.”

“Of course, but there are a few people from the Management Agency among us, so I’ll let them know.”

Song Ah Rin sighed deeply and stood up from her seat.

“I really hope nothing happens.”

“I think that too.”

Song Ah Rin chuckled softly and waved her hand as she headed in another direction.

“…I’ll go and notify them too.”

Jang Chae Yeon followed her lead and walked toward the opposite side.

I watched the two of them.

They both approached someone to speak, and I noticed their expressions gradually hardening while they exchanged words with those individuals.

Realizing this, I also stood up from my seat.

“Where are you going?”

“Just taking a look around.”

“Shall I accompany you?”

“No. Enjoy yourself, Da On.”

I might be overreacting.

I surveyed my surroundings.

Yeah. I’ve faced too many similar situations. I could surely be overreacting—

Just as I thought that, one name caught my eye.

[Name: XX Min]

[Age: 23]

[Attributes: X]

[Talents: X]

[Background: He was merely an employee working here. Until the sea came along with him.]

[Weakness: Just an ordinary person. If killed, he dies.]

I jumped up from my seat.

“Da On, come with me for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Something is happening.