Chapter 122

Episode 122. Hostile Groups Collection

****

I sat at the Director’s Office desk, staring at the person across from me. This was the person who was supposedly resigning over this incident. Director Han.

“Director Han. Are you really resigning?”

“I did say that, yes.”

Hmm.

Director Han was nervously chewing his nails, seemingly unaware that he was doing so.

“Relax a bit. Why?”

“The position of External Communications Department Head seems too overwhelming for me.”

Director Han bowed his head deeply.

“What did you do before?”

“Support Department. I was a team leader in the Hostile Groups Investigation Division.”

“Hostile Groups Investigation Division. If I send you back there, will you reconsider resigning?”

“Yes.”

But I won’t send you back. Here’s what happened.

I tried to capture the Clockwork Angel by dropping a nuclear bomb in the sea, tens of kilometers off the coast of Taean County. By the way, it failed.

As a result, a tsunami occurred, and the Korean Meteorological Administration sent out disaster alerts claiming it was an earthquake. The External Communications Department was flooded with calls.

On the first day of the mission, things went so badly that he declared he couldn’t handle it and was ready to quit.

I can understand, but…

It’s not a combat role, so I’m not sure if it’s worth giving up so quickly. Maybe it’s about the pay?

“Is the salary insufficient?”

“That’s not the issue. No employee ever thinks their salary is too high.”

“I apologize for the nuclear explosion. It must have been a nightmare for those handling related tasks.”

At the time, I thought it was the best course of action.

But now I know the nuclear explosion failed to kill the monster. It just polluted the sea and caused unnecessary suffering.

“No need to apologize.”

“Do you still want to quit?”

Director Han shook his head.

“Let’s see later. We’ll see what tasks you’ll handle, how many hotlines there are, and adjust your salary accordingly.”

“Ah. Thank you.”

Creating a new department at the director level wasn’t without issues.

Of course, I didn’t expect the newly appointed director to quit after just one day, but then again, I didn’t expect a nuclear explosion either, did I?

****

This is the External Communications Department Head’s office.

It’s no exaggeration to say that all the department’s personnel were here to support this one room. There were 11 hotlines in the External Communications Department.

Ministry of National Defense Anomalous Phenomena Response Bureau.

Armed Forces Special Weapons Tactical Unit.

National Intelligence Service Unusual Incidents Investigation Team.

National Police Agency Supernatural Phenomena Management Bureau.

Ministry of Science and Technology Anomalous Phenomena Research Lab.

These were the Korean government-affiliated hostile groups. The rest were non-governmental hostile groups, of which there were also many.

UN Peacekeeping Force Korea Branch.

Enlightenment Group 8th Research Utilization Team.

Ideal Humanity Association.

Isaac’s Sacrifice.

Lotus Corporation.

Pluto Limited Company.

The 11 phones in the External Communications Department Head’s office had a certain intimidating presence. Not as much as the headquarters phone in the Director’s Office, though.

“Why are there so many communication channels with the Korean government? They should all be under one control tower.”

I shook my head.

“Caesar said it.”

“The die is cast?”

“No.”

“Et tu, Brute?”

Are you trying to be funny? I looked at Director Han, but he just looked confused.

“Divide and conquer. The Korean government might manage supernatural phenomena more efficiently if united, but those groups themselves are hostile groups. Powerful ones supported by the state. They need to be kept in check.”

At least, that’s what the Foundation’s experts told me. I didn’t think it was entirely wrong.

“Why?”

“Here’s the thing. If, say, the Anomalous Phenomena Response Bureau, being under the Ministry of National Defense, hypnotizes people to recruit more non-commissioned officers…”

Director Han frowned.

“Ah. I see.”

That’s why we need to keep them in check. The government’s supernatural experiments have failed more than once.

****

“Director Han, your team’s task will be to communicate with these 11 hostile groups. Gather information, cooperate within possible limits.”

“I see.”

“That’s it. If you have any questions or need anything, come to the Director’s Office.”

Director Han hesitated for a moment.

“Uh, just a moment. Sorry, but I’m not entirely clear on some of these hostile groups. What does the Research Utilization Team do?”

Didn’t he get a briefing?

Well, there was no predecessor.

“The 8th Research Utilization Team is the Enlightenment Group’s royal guard. They possess several useful supernatural phenomena. They act for corporate interests, dangerous but not impossible to negotiate with.”

“What about the Ideal Humanity Association?”

They use the character for “ideal” (異像), not “ideal” (理想). Their goal is to use supernatural phenomena for humanitarian purposes.

“People who use supernatural phenomena to help others. We don’t necessarily exterminate them…”

They’re still suspicious.

There are several issues surrounding them, one being that their ethical standards are ambiguous depending on the operator.

The quickest way to explain why they’re dangerous is this: in some countries, especially in the West, they’ve been exterminated alongside communists.

“Dangerous.”

“Hostile groups aren’t problematic because of their ideologies. It’s the arrogant attitude and worldview that if they find the Holy Grail, all the world’s problems will be solved, that there’s a supernatural phenomenon out there that will solve all our problems.”

This is a problem common to almost all supernatural humans and hostile groups.

They expect magic to solve their problems… but magic doesn’t grant such wishes.

In fact, the opposite is true. Magic often creates complex problems with no clear solutions.

Yet, magic still has the power to draw people in. Today, someone will try Bunshinsaba out of curiosity, hire a shaman to meet a lost family member… and if the world beyond responds to their prayers…

****

The conversation continued for a while.

“Isaac’s Sacrifice… I’ve never seen this one before. Why are they here?”

Simple.

“Think of them as a church. They’re supported by the Vatican’s exorcists.”

“Ah, really?”

They collect, manage, and research Christian, sometimes Jewish and Islamic, supernatural phenomena. By the way, they’re a cult.

Given that they deal with the “real thing,” they naturally seem like a cult. It’s why there are over 30 reincarnated Jesuses in Korea.

They’re unpleasant but in a legally ambiguous position. The police don’t forcibly disband groups just for being cults.

“What about Lotus?”

Same as Isaac’s Sacrifice. They collect, manage, and research Buddhist supernatural phenomena.

Director Han scribbled something in his notebook.

“What about Pluto Limited Company?”

“They make money trading supernatural phenomena. Notably, they only deal in supernatural phenomena trade and their own entertainment, nothing else. They say it’s not profitable.”

Pluto Limited Company. They operate globally but have only 200 members. I don’t know how they maintain the organization.

“I see.”

“They sell or transfer dangerous, useless, or unsellable supernatural phenomena to the Foundation. The problem is…”

Like the Foundation, they strive to maintain the Veil and adhere to some ethics for their clientele. The issue is…

They often sell supernatural phenomena to the Foundation’s enemies. And they kidnap humanoid supernatural phenomena for some purpose.

“They’re more of a nuisance than an actual threat, so we don’t always track and exterminate them. They usually hide their tracks well.”

Director Han took more notes.

“Thank you, Director. I think I can handle this now.”

I wonder.

Is this out of fear for his life, or does he genuinely believe it? At least he doesn’t seem ready to quit immediately.

****

[Regarding Humanoid Supernatural Phenomena Outings]

[Author: Humanoid Research Department Head Kang Cheon]

[While training for close protection, surveillance, tailing, and assassination readiness is included…]

[A plan has been made for high-output humanoid supernatural phenomena outings.]

[However, the handlers for these humanoid supernatural phenomena are a problem. We need someone who can physically subdue them while being sensible and humane.]

[Sigh.]

[Nanami: Unreliable. Threatened to use weaponized anthrax to capture a humanoid supernatural phenomenon.]

[Research Department Head: Unreliable. Do I need to explain why?]

[Dr. An: Lacks physical strength.]

[I won’t list further. Suitable handlers seem to be Dr. Chae and the Director. Sorry, but could you spare half a day?]

****

[Regarding Humanoid Supernatural Phenomena Outings. Reply.]

[Author: Paper (Secretary)]

[Possible. Let’s coordinate the schedule.]