Episode 47. Hiring New Employees
***
I don’t trust the Personnel Department. Where would you find friendly and nice office workers in the Personnel Department?
They’re scary people.
Me, the Research Department Head, and other employees—our lives hang by a thread based on a few words from the Personnel Department. If the Personnel Department says die, most employees have to die.
It’s probably not an easy decision for the Personnel Department either. But, we have no choice but to meet them. Someone has to manage the people.
“Personnel Department Head. Do you have the list of people who passed the personnel verification? I’d like to review it before coming.”
“Ah, of course. You should attend the interviews.”
The Personnel Department Head handed me a sheet of paper in a transparent file. It listed the names and resident registration numbers of 20 candidate employees who passed this round of verification.
Looking again, it wasn’t just names and resident numbers. Tiny letters detailed their family addresses, personal information, physical details, academic records, residence…
“You’re like Santa Claus.”
The Personnel Department Head nodded.
“Sorry, but I’m busy. I’ll take my leave now, Acting Director Kim. Please take care.”
Busy, of course. The Personnel Department Head quickly left.
***
It was a bit awkward, but the meeting with the Personnel Department Head ended quickly. Let’s think for a moment.
How does the Foundation hire people?
It’s a bit complicated.
First, they don’t do open recruitment. They carefully select individuals one by one, conducting thorough investigations whenever a vacancy arises.
Often, they pick from containment subjects or amnesiacs. The logic seems to be saving costs by not killing or containing those people.
They also frequently hire from the families of Foundation employees. If the Foundation needs an expert, they sometimes manipulate that person’s entire life to bring them into the Foundation.
There’s an annual event where new employees gather. I haven’t participated as a new hire or as a Director yet.
Anyway. Let’s skim through the list.
These are the new recruits to be added to the Precognition Department.
The Precognition Department recommended 6 new employees, the Personnel Department recommended 6, and the Director’s Office and others recommended 8.
All have passed the Personnel Department’s verification. It’s too detailed, so I’m not sure. I took out the Crystal Clock.
“Doctor. Have you ever been involved in hiring?”
[Me? No. I wasn’t in personnel, nor was I high-ranking enough to be involved in hiring. I don’t think I can help this time.]
“Well, I understand.”
There are 20 candidates.
The number of non-combatants who died or were injured in the last operation is 12. Including combatants, it’s quite a lot.
Thinking about it again is dizzying.
“Doctor. Can we hire more than needed?”
[I don’t know. There’s probably no rule against it?]
I pondered for a moment.
My standing in the Director’s Office is shaky at best. It would be advantageous to have as many people as possible hired under my command.
My goal is to hire all 20.
“Let’s hire them all.”
[Is that possible? Changing the hiring plan would require significant pressure on the Personnel Department.]
“Let’s try. It’s advantageous to hire as many as possible while I’m Acting Director.”
[Alright. Do you know what kind of people join the Foundation as new hires?]
I shook my head.
“I’m looking at it now.”
[Let’s see. Four are contained humanoid supernatural phenomena or hostile group agents, five are internal students, and eleven are external personnel.]
“That’s right. The contained candidates can be visited, the students will probably come if called, but the external experts… that’ll require some thought.”
[What are you planning to do?]
“I plan to hire them all. I’ll meet them all.”
[I don’t get it. You haven’t even received confirmation to hire them all, why bother?]
No.
Even if they aren’t hired this time, these people are a kind of reserve managed by the Foundation. Meeting them won’t hurt.
Especially the Foundation’s students.
“Let’s call the Foundation students first.”
***
White lab coat, suit vest, tie, suit pants. And Nanami, armed and guarding one side of the office. My preparation was perfect.
A knock. I crossed my legs and sat as the Foundation students entered my office.
“Ah, hello, Director! I’m Park Seon, this month’s Research Intern Leader. We’re students from the Foundation-run school and came as research interns at Facility 82.”
Three students in light mint coats. Their faces weren’t fully visible due to masks and goggles.
Probably students raised by the Foundation.
Like Research Department Head Lee Se-ah?
“Um, right. What’s your field of interest?”
“Yes. We study extended physics, topics you can’t study outside the Foundation. Nonlinear time, causality distortion, reality adjustment—”
“You know there are new hiring positions this time, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Well… I’ve read all your records. I’ll push for you in this hiring.”
“Thank you.”
“Right, no need to be too formal.”
Extended physics.
Reality adjustment metrics, causality distortion metrics—all fall under extended physics. Of course, they work in the Precognition Department or observe supernatural spaces with observation equipment.
They’ll probably fill the gaps in the Precognition Department.
“By tomorrow, pick one extended physics paper and prepare a briefing summary that even non-majors can understand. Also, print out your resumes and portfolios.”
The research interns nodded.
“Alright, good work.”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you all leaving?”
The research interns shuffled out of the office.
***
Creak. The door to my office closed. Nanami chuckled as soon as the interns left.
“Aren’t you scaring them too much?”
Nanami’s hair fell over her face.
“Hmm, scaring? Research interns are treated as guests at this level. They’ll stay far from dangerous or important items.”
“Bossy…”
“Can’t let the students feel too comfortable. They already look down on me for seeming young.”
With the students gone, no need to stand formally. Nanami leaned casually against the wall.
“I don’t think that’s the case now. Honestly, the only one judging you by appearance is probably yourself.”
“……”
I looked at Nanami.
“Nanami. Can you explain Project Blue Rose? Do you know what it is?”
Nanami didn’t answer immediately.
“I’ve heard of it… but I’m just a soldier. I don’t know what happened in Project Blue Rose or what its goals were.”
“Alright.”
“All I know is that it was a joint interaction experiment by several national agencies, corporations, and the Foundation. They seemed to be trying to create something by combining multiple supernatural phenomena. The rest is classified.”
You know more than nothing, though.
“Let me know if you need anything, Dr. Kim. I’ll help as much as I can.”
I noted down what I’d just learned. Project Blue Rose, a multi-supernatural phenomenon interaction experiment I apparently participated in.
***
Returnee, Ahn Yuri. Now just a patient.
Ahn Yuri sat in the isolation room, staring out the window. Well, not a window, just a screen showing a forest.
A sigh.
Ahn Yuri looked down at her chest.
She didn’t know what the Foundation doctors did. But the scar from the heart surgery under her patient gown was already fading.
The Foundation doctors had cut out the Returnee’s heart and inserted a mechanical device. No pulse could be felt at her wrist anymore. Just a whirring sound from her heart.
But that’s not the real problem. The mana that should have pulsed with her heart was no longer felt.
Outside the window, a faint mist hung over a garden. A world that didn’t exist, unreachable.
She’d rather see a desolate winter plain or ordinary scenery. The screen’s view was just insulting.
“Hello, Miss Ahn Yuri.”
“You again?”
“Well, I understand your feelings. But this time, good news. Your designation as a supernatural phenomenon has been lifted. You can stay in a more decent place than this bleak isolation room.”
Miss Ahn Yuri looked at me.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes.”
“Where’s my heart, you devils?”
Actually, it’s in the Director’s Office biological storage freezer. For researching the mana core’s properties. But if I answered that… I’m not sure how she’d react.
“I don’t know.”
“Really? Does that make sense?”
“Miss Ahn Yuri. How about working for the Foundation? What do you think?”
“Just kill me.”
“Miss Ahn Yuri. You know we’re not the type to be swayed by threats. If you ask to be killed, we’ll really kill you.”
Miss Ahn Yuri frowned.
“Sigh.”
“I’m saying this because I’ve been in a similar situation when I joined the Foundation. I want to help you as much as possible.”
“You bastard.”
“A bit funny, but this is the third and final offer. Become a Foundation employee or cooperate with the Foundation. If not, we’ll kill you.”
“What do I get if I cooperate?”
“Just say the word. I’ll help as much as I can.”
The Returnee threw a TV at me. I dodged.
“Fine, do whatever.”
“Thank you. Let’s get you a suit first.”
***
Another problem solved. Maybe?
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