22. We met through work (2)
***
“Sister!”
A voice breaking the peaceful atmosphere in the room.
The word that suddenly came out was short but destructive. It was even more so when I thought about the place where it was said, the situation, and the person it referred to. The air in the room became chilly.
“······.”
After everyone stopped talking and an awkward silence fell for a moment, someone finally spoke. It was the person who had just been called in a way he didn’t want.
“I asked you not to call me that.”
A voice devoid of emotion. He spoke in a flat tone and pushed up his glasses.
The woman who had just received a surprise visitor while sitting at her desk was Blair Campbell. She was the chief secretary who assisted Chairman Jenkinson most closely. She was the elf who had personally delivered the Chairman’s handwritten letter to Ye Min-jun a while ago.
Blair walked through the closed door into her office and looked at the person who had suddenly called her, “Sister!”
“Ah, I···.”
The expression on the employee’s face as he reported to Blair hardened. The two men were so absorbed in their work that they didn’t even realize the other was coming in.
The intruder spoke to the staff.
“Oh, honey, do you want to go out for a bit and have a cup of tea? I have something to talk about with my sister here.”
Looking at her superior’s expression, Blair nodded with a shallow sigh as if she had no choice. The door opened and closed again. With the two of them left alone, the chief secretary took off his glasses and pressed his eyes.
“I wish you would observe some basic language etiquette at work, especially when other employees are present.”
The person I had asked several times but had not even pretended to listen was a woman in a bold red suit.
Her name is Larisa Andreyeva. She is the head of real estate security management at Jenkinson Companies.
She shrugged her shoulders as if to say, “What’s wrong?” Underneath her silver hair, which was trimmed to reveal half of her forehead, the twists and turns of her years were revealed. In human terms, she looked like she was somewhere between middle age and old age.
Larissa sits cross-legged on the desk, takes out what looks like a cigarette and lights it.
Hurrah!
A pink flame bloomed on her finger. Soon, the room was filled with the sweet scent of star candy along with smoke. Blair frowned.
“If the Chairman knows···”
“That gentleman went on a business trip to the other world. You can enjoy it while he’s away.”
He went on a business trip to a different part of the world, not even abroad, so it didn’t seem like he would be coming back today.
The sweet scent that flowed from between her fingers was not unpleasant and did not bother other employees, but Jenkinson hated it when she smoked it. It was due to Larissa’s racial characteristics.
Pointed ears, beautiful facial features, and even a slim figure. Overall, she looks similar enough to be mistaken for an elf. However, if you zoom out a little instead of getting right up close and observing her, the differences are quickly revealed.
Behind her, sitting on the edge of the desk, were four pairs of opaque wings, resembling dragonflies, neatly folded. Also, the proportions of the head, torso, arms, and legs were almost the same as Blair’s, but there was a big difference in size.
A body that appears to be an elf scaled down to a ratio of approximately 5:1.
Blair looked at the fairy tribe with disapproval as they spewed out smoky gas like mini humidifiers.
“Isn’t that too poisonous?”
To fairies, sugar acts like a drug. That’s why they are crazy about candy and cake. The sugar plant that Larissa is smoking now is like marijuana to other races.
Larissa replied with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“Well, so what? It’s not illegal.”
There is no law prohibiting the consumption of sugar by fairies. They have never immigrated to this world in large numbers. All attempts to accommodate them, who are noticeably small in size, were rejected because it was expected that the social costs would be high. If they were to create a separate area where only fairies could live and be herded into it, the costs would be significantly reduced, but that was not the committee’s way.
In other words, this world is not equipped with an environment where fairies can live comfortably. Nevertheless, the reason Larissa can wear a suit that fits her perfectly on Earth, smoke a flower that fits her finger size, receive treatment from a doctor who knows the fairies’ bodies well, and live in a house filled with furniture of appropriate size is because she has a lot of money and the ability to earn that much.
So I hired Jenkinson. That Elder Dragon only hires the best.
In the end, it is said that Larissa’s professional skills as the head of security are unparalleled. Even though she is a drug addict who inhales hallucinogenic substances even during work hours.
Blair asked, breaking free from her complicated thoughts.
“So, what’s going on?”
Larissa exhaled a strong scent that made you think you’d get diabetes if you smelled it for just a few minutes.
“The stuff that came into the ‘B-39’ area a few days ago.”
Blair tensed up for a moment, but expertly covered it up. He urged her to continue talking.
“What the heck is in there?”
Larissa’s job also includes being a vault keeper. The Jenkinson Company North Mountain Warehouse, which is like the second lair of the Elder Dragon, contains treasures that require extreme attention. Area B-39 is part of the warehouse.
“What’s going on?”
“I didn’t think I’d get an answer if I asked my older sister… When will our scaly old man come back?”
“······I think he’ll be back sometime next week.”
Blair answered ambiguously.
“Hmm, then this might be a bit of a headache.”
“What on earth is going on?”
The fairy frowned. The wrinkles on her forehead deepened.
“After the ‘things’ were loaded onto the B-39, there were signs that someone had started to stir around the Bukhansan warehouse.”
“······!”
“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have found it. The traces of erasure are too clean. This is the work of kids who were properly educated to make a living out of it.”
This must be true, as it was said by the most powerful member of the fairy tribe who can freely enter and exit the spirit world.
And the problem is the identity of the items stored in that area. The reason the Chairman is now away from the Earth is to negotiate how and when to share some of them with the Committee.
“We need to reinforce security.”
“Yeah, I think our kids alone might not be enough.”
“Is that it?”
“I told you, this is unusual. I’ve never seen anyone come and go so cleanly before. The past few days have been nothing but a passing glance, and if they have something in mind, they’ll show their true colors soon. It’s also strange that the traces started on the day the Chairman left Earth. That guy’s schedule… isn’t it top secret?”
This means that you may need outside help.
“But, what crazy people!”
The omitted comment was that what kind of crazy people would covet the Elder Dragon’s courtyard?
“You’re just hanging around because you’re confident you can handle it, right? That makes it more dangerous.”
Ugh, I let out a sigh mixed with anguish.
Suddenly, a name came to Blair’s mind. Those currently stored in the B-39 area were once in Sokcho, and an agent played a crucial role in the process of moving them to Bukhansan.
——————
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‘No, not yet.’
In a situation where only signs have been discovered, it was difficult to entrust a sensitive location like the Bukhansan warehouse to a contract agent. There are many things in that place that absolutely must not be known to the outside world. Even if he is the agent who is called the ace of aces.
“I will report to the chairman first and wait for his response. In the meantime, I will increase the security around the warehouse.”
Larissa frowned at the size of the position Blair had proposed.
“I don’t think that’s enough.”
“Considering the internal barriers that the Chairman has personally established, I think it is appropriate. Above all, this is the extent of my decision-making authority. I will proceed with the rest after receiving the Chairman’s approval. I think you will respond soon. Even if I am on a business trip to another world, communication will not be completely cut off.”
But contrary to her expectations, it was a long time before Chairman Jenkinson responded.
***
Cash muttered in a dazed state.
‘What did I just hear?’
An old man came in while being supported. No matter how low he was, he was in his 70s… or maybe 80s? That person called Minjun, “Unnie.”
Sister? Wait a minute… Sister? Why, sister? Why?
My mind is spinning. The old man’s welcoming expression and joyful eyes are still fixed on Minjun. It doesn’t seem like he mistook me for someone else.
Minjun clicked his tongue as he watched her almost in a state of panic.
‘The timing was tricky.’
Her trembling eyes spoke volumes. Before the delusion grew any further, Minjun decided he had to nip it in the bud.
“You’re not mistaken, are you?”
“Oh, yes?”
Kids these days probably don’t know. It’s easy to be mistaken.
Meanwhile, Minjun realized his identity because of the other person’s title.
“Professor Oh Man-sik?”
The man said with a big smile.
“Yes! You remember, sir!”
Minjun smiled bitterly.
“It’s better now that you’ve just called me teacher. What if you suddenly start calling me like you used to in front of so many people? People will misunderstand.”
Then, the old man, perhaps embarrassed, whispered to the middle-aged woman who was supporting him. ‘Honey, what did I call you just now?’ When the woman, who seemed to be his daughter-in-law, answered quietly, Oh Man-sik’s face turned red with embarrassment.
“Oh, I’m really sorry about this, teacher. It’s become a habit to call you that way in the past…”
Although the two met through work, I remember them being quite close at the time.
And even up until the 1960s and 1970s, there were often cases where male speakers would call older men they were close to as “unnie” instead of “hyung.” Language also tends to change with the times.
Oh Man-sik probably hadn’t uttered that word in decades. But when Min-jun appeared in front of him, those old memories and habits came back to life, even if only for a moment.
“No, sir, how is it that you have not changed at all since then? You are exactly the same.”
If Minjun had appeared in his old form and met her again, he might not have made the mistake. Seeing his face, which had not changed since then, he naturally blurted out the wrong words. After hearing the explanation, Cathy also realized her misunderstanding.
The two, who had not seen each other in a long time, exchanged greetings in polite language. In the conversation, Cathy retrieved the keyword ‘Goseong Academy’. It felt like a place where they had worked together in the past.
“So, what are you doing these days?”
Yeom Min-jun didn’t miss the fact that Oh Man-sik’s expression stiffened slightly.
“I just run a small… alchemy workshop.”
“Oh, that’s right. Mr. Oh was good at alchemy.”
“Does Mr. Ye Min-jun still teach magic?”
“I gave up teaching and now I go out and hunt aliens.”
“······yes?!”
His last words were not as loud as they could have been due to his low energy, but the tone of his voice sounded like a scream.
The woman who was supporting him was also embarrassed, and Cathy was also a little surprised.
Is that really such a shocking thing to say?
“No, I’m old and my hearing is poor… so I think I misheard what you just said.”
“I think you heard correctly. I am currently working as an agent.”
Then the old man could not close his open mouth.
And then, as if possessed, he repeated the same sentence several times in front of the person. ‘No, an agent… Mr. Ye Min-jun is an agent. This gentleman… A man who can’t even catch a rat… How can he do such a cruel thing… Oh my god, my goodness.’
The atmosphere was moving strangely.
Then, the woman standing next to him quietly placed her hand on the back of his hand. Only then did the old man come to his senses and let out a cough.
“Oh! I’m sorry for being rude.”
I checked my watch in a fluster, as if my thoughts were belated and I was going crazy.
“I wish we could have just exchanged greetings, but I’m really sorry. I have an appointment on the third floor right now…”
The two exchanged business cards before parting. The old man couldn’t help but sigh again after seeing Ye Min-jun’s. ‘Oh my… an agent!’ Then, after the woman gave him another hint, he slowly bowed down and greeted him.
“I don’t know how much time I have left to live, but… I hope to see you again someday and have a cup of tea. I am so happy to meet one of the most talented people I know.”
When I heard the words ‘best personality’, I heard Cathy gasp next to me.
‘······That guy really.’
He said, trying to control his expression.
“I’m too embarrassed to raise my head. Well, Mr. Oh, stay healthy too.”
“Ah, I···.”
The one who joined the conversation was the woman who had been with Oh Man-sik. Her eyes were fixed on Min-jun’s business card.
“Are you an immigration contract agent?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I heard that, too. Of all the contract agents working in our country, immigration agents are considered the best···.”
“Oh, what.”
It was true.
The woman hesitates and asks, observing his expression.
“Excuse me, do you also accept individual or corporate requests?”
What day is today?
The moment when I tried to respond in a similar way to when I returned the words of rejection to Attorney Jeon Nam-gyu.
“Baby.”
Omanshik’s mouth opened first.
“What are you doing now?”
This time, Minjun was also a little flustered. Oh Mansik’s expression as he looked at the woman had completely changed as if it were a lie. His face had become stiff with a different meaning than before.
The woman spoke in protest.
“Father, but.”
“That’s about it.”
There was a deep, dignified air in his voice. The embarrassment he had felt because of Minjun’s words just before was nowhere to be found.
“······.”
Then, she returned to her original face and bowed deeply to Minjun. Minjun nodded in return.
Minjun thinks as he briefly looks at his back as he heads toward the elevator.
‘It’s the third floor… The troll lawyer said he had some business there earlier.’
And he asked if I could take on his request, saying that his client had been treated badly.
‘Hmm.’
A picture was formed in my head. It was too exquisite to be dismissed as a mere coincidence. Jeon Nam-gyu seemed to have come here for Oh Man-sik.
‘Wait a minute. That lawyer, Jang Tae-jun, was in charge of that case too.’
A lawyer who could write a will for such a person would not accept ordinary clients. He looked down at the business card of Oh Man-sik that he had glanced at. The company name seemed familiar, so he thought about it for a moment.
A few seconds later, Minjun snickered.
‘A small alchemy workshop? That gentleman is still too humble.’
It’s true that my heart wavers a little when I think of our old relationship, but there’s no need to bother me when I say I don’t need help. I stuff the business card in my front pocket and prepare to go back.
“······Mr. Minjun?”
There, Cassie was looking at him with a face that seemed to be waiting for an explanation.
