MTL
One of the many offices in the main building of Baekilmong Co., Ltd.
A small, curly-haired employee sits at a conference table in the neat space.
“Hmm hmm.”
An elite member of the field investigation team who is already wearing a dolphin mask on his head.
The few documents on the table she was reading were today’s special assignment that had been assigned yesterday.
Specifically designating oneself.
and….
“Hello, sir!”
Representative Lee Seong-hae raised his head.
As she opens the office door, an employee comes in, greets her cheerfully and nods.
“My name is Kang Yi-hak. Oh, you can call me Joramal!”
“Yes. Hello.”
He is an employee who is familiar with Lee Seong-hae.
If you survive for about a year after joining the company, many employees will start to remember each other.
There is also an incident that serves as evidence for that.
Promotion to supervisor.
“Oh, so you’re the manager this time?”
“Yes, yes, yes. We all got promoted together.
Hahaha, it’s nice not having to worry about promotions~”
Kang Yi-hak smiled and patted his chest.
Yes, that’s right.
About half of the new field investigation team members who survived without dying or retiring were almost all promoted to supervisor right before the new recruits were selected this year.
Of course, some of the students with good grades were accepted two or three months earlier… but Kang Yi-hak wanted to decline first.
Because I realized it recently.
’There’s no need to create something to spend money on!’
Isn’t it the nature of shameless people to want to give something back when they see something going well?
Here, it wasn’t a structure where getting promoted first would necessarily mean earning a lot of money or getting good things in the end.
Of course, if the reward was more substantial… say, a shiny gold or green reward, then that would be a different story!
If we look at it from a national perspective, it would be a loss to raise wages even a little.
Thanks to this, she was able to suppress the reward center that wants dopamine for short-term gains… .
’I think there are some people who are just good at being bosses first.’
Kang Yi-hak thought of a colleague who had been promoted before her.
Baek Sa-heon, a goat-masked employee who always wears an eyepatch.
That employee was so obsessed with information and items from the beginning that he grilled his superiors, and eventually got promoted first.
’It seems like you’ve been investing a lot in getting information from your seniors from the beginning!’
It’s been a bit quiet lately. It’s clear that they’ve come to the realization that investing is better done in the dark.
And when I think about it that way, other motivations come to mind.
People who are no longer on the headquarters field investigation team.
“Ah~ Originally, there were people who became supervisors really quickly, and there were also people who were very exemplary…
Oh, do you remember them?”
Kim Sol-eum, Ko Young-eun.
The two men nod as they think of the same employees. “That’s right. They were good people, it’s such a shame….”
Lee Seong-hae frowned as if he felt truly sorry.
Kang Yi-hak smiled and changed the subject. There’s no need to upset your boss when it doesn’t even cost you money!
“Congratulations on your promotion as well, sir. I heard that you were recently transferred to Group B after your promotion.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Lee Seong-hae nodded.
“Hahaha, what about Group B?”
“Hmm. The work at the company is the same!”
But the information of the elite team is worth money.
Kang Yi-hak’s tone softens as if to please others.
“Hey, but the people I work with have changed, so if you have anything you want to say, feel free to just tell me….”
“Huh, me?”
“You don’t have to. Yes!”
Don’t nag your boss! Again, there’s no need to nag your boss!
Even more so if he’s the person rumored to have submerged two of his superiors in Group C and sent them to Group B!
’Long-term vision, long-term vision.’
Kang Yi-hak quickly changed his stance and sat down neatly.
“Then I will also read the materials diligently!”
“Yes, yes.”
After the small talk before work was over and I was done reading and familiarizing myself with the work materials on the table…
“Hello!”
The research team members appeared.
The person who will brief you on today’s work.
When Team 1 Research Manager Kwak Je-gang and a superior from another department appear, everyone stands up with appropriate courtesy.
“Have you all looked at all the materials?”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“Hey~ Our elite team’s Deputy Manager Lee, even so, Chief Kang is quite fast. Is it because he’s a chief now?”
“Hahaha, thank you!”
No, because I found a way to make extra income from my work.
And Kwak Je-gang knew that too, but he smiled anyway, looked back at the two, and then did the most important thing.
An introduction to the darkness that holds the power over his life and death.
“Then… this is the superior you will be serving today!”
The office door opens.
The one who appears with black smoke.
A strange bony horn is as large as a crown, and yellow lantern-like eyes and light sources shine out from among the black security team uniforms.
Lee Seong-hae’s eyes widen at the sight of that familiar sight.
Owner of Flower Golden Resort! “Masco… no, security team member!”
I never thought I’d see this again!
Lee Seong-hae, with a big smile on his face, got up and approached.
“It’s really nice to meet you! How have you been?”
The Black Security Team Special Forces agent looked down at the opponent without moving an inch.
And then one of his eyes seemed to look at the researcher for a moment, but soon he lowered his head toward Lee Seong-hae and raised his hand… .
Question: Current health status
“I always stay healthy!”
As always, the staff were friendly and kind!
“As expected, you are the elite team’s Dolphin Deputy. You even know the security team members who look so strong!”
And Kang Yi-hak, who had grasped the situation, quickly came to find a place to lie down.
“It’s really nice to meet you. I would appreciate it if you called me Pony, sir!”
He even asked to shake hands.
“….”
“….”
ah.
I made a mistake.
As that eerie sensation passes through my mind, a gloved hand emerges from the black smoke and grabs my outstretched hand.
“…!”
Surprisingly, the other person accepted the handshake.
But a strange sense of crisis rose up Kang Yi-hak’s neck.
It’s cool.
My spine feels tingly.
A warning signal, a warning bell of instinct that gives strength and greatness.
… … But somehow it feels familiar?
It seems like we met in the darkness sometime ago… .
“Okay, anyway. It’s hard for him to walk into the broadcasting station, so I called our two field investigation teams.”
But before Kang Yi-hak could think of anything, the handshake ended and the business briefing followed.
Kwak Je-gang smiled brightly and explained why the two field investigation teams had been called.
I need two people who are comfortable with the dark, but not too polluted.
“The staff that originally assisted the staff were members of the security team, so they couldn’t go to the broadcasting station during the day either. Haha!”
Yes, that’s right.
Since this ghost story occurred in a place where the public’s attention is focused, such as a broadcasting station, cooperation from relevant parties is needed to properly confirm it.
It is a natural situation where it is difficult for supernatural beings who are too conspicuous or security teams who cannot go out during the day to come to the forefront.
Lee Seong-hae smiles brightly at the researcher who explains, “We have already hired a PD.”
“Then you are bringing dangerous darkness from the broadcasting station!”
“yes!”
“Well, okay!”
If daydreams can isolate and secure that darkness, ordinary people will no longer be caught up in dangerous ghost stories.
Rarely did a good deed start with the premise that it would be welcomed with open arms.
The ’employees’ transportation method will be introduced soon.
“Okay, I’ll put you in here, so you can carry it and move it.”
As they watched the staff being ’stored’ in a black moving box as if it were a lie, the two field investigation teams felt a strangeness similar to what they felt in the dark.
And they were also given communication devices in case of an emergency.
It’s a small radio
.
“It’s a radio that connects you to the security team… Well, if there’s an ’emergency,’ just press it.”
The researcher laughs, saying that even this alone would have made new recruits nervous.
And a light pre-conference is also held.
Click.
[Hmm… can you hear me… .]
“Yep. I can hear you!”
“Okay. This is Team I’s Pony Chief, and I’m Team B’s Dolphin! Nice to meet you.”
silence.
[… Group B?]
“yes.”
[…I see.]
[Um… Be careful… holding it. Don’t drop it… .]
The man with the languid voice explained slowly.
How can I call the security team in charge if there is a problem?
And even how to simply communicate with the ’staff’ inside the mobile unit.
[If you agree, knock once. If you disagree, knock twice.]
“Oh, I see.”
Kang Yi-hak noticed.
That Chief Kwak Je-gang was watching the security team and Deputy Lee Seong-hae talking on the other end of the radio, holding back a snicker.
But it doesn’t matter to me!
Kang Yi-hak, who realized that there was no smell of money right away, immediately turned his head.
Something that smells like money right now.
The moving box the employee was carrying.
Dark, black, and cold, it had a strange presence even when lying on the floor… .
“Haha… Then, can I carry it and move it? Shouldn’t the subordinates be the ones doing this?”
How much will it cost?
What if I could just take this carrier and smuggle it somewhere?
They say there’s a darkness somewhere in the annex that will return its weight in gold if you offer something fun to it, so what would happen if I offered this mobile home?
Kang Yi-hak approaches the moving box… .
“….”
The dolphin that had been watching intently opened its mouth.
“hey.”
“…yes?”
“I’ll take it. The moving box.”
“…yes!”
So, Lee Seon
g-hae, the deputy, packed the moving box.
It was cold and light.
There was a deep darkness inside, but Lee Seong-hae asked without hesitation, stroking the iron bars. “Are you comfortable?” Bam.
“thank god!”
She hummed as she carefully picked up the carrier.
And he headed to the scene with the pony.
To the broadcasting station.
* * *
“I, that, that, that… Those people that the company introduced me to… Are you right? Dreamwalking?”
“Yes, yes.”
They were guided to the entertainment department’s editing room through a prearranged entrance for staff.
There, a PD with dark circles under his eyes and an anxious expression greeted them alone in a secret room inside.
He holds his breath as he continues, believing that Daydream Inc. uses an elaborate identity when it is necessary to do supernatural work in the private sector.
“I never thought I’d meet people who really specialize in this kind of thing… Is this really some kind of exorcism?”
“Okay, then.”
The PD became a little calmer, perhaps because the two strange people wearing masks and suits gave him a strange sense of trust.
Yet his face is still pale. His emaciated face is filled with worry and fear.
No, it wasn’t just the PD. The main writer, two assistant writers, and even the lighting director I ran into on my way here all looked unwell.
Something that everyone knows to this extent.
“You’ve heard the story, right? About the current situation….” Representative Lee Seong-hae recalled.
An internet posting attached to the materials on the table.
A creepy urban legend floating around among the public.
[Has anyone seen this guy on the PBS show? (Caution with photo)]
======================
Anyone remember PBS?
Kids who are going to school these days have probably heard of it.
It’s an old broadcasting station that was around about 20 years ago, but it’s now a defunct channel.
Until about twenty or thirty years ago, many of the entertainment programs that were popular at the time were broadcast on PBS.
Things like Sarangbang Sports Festival, Family Outing, Hot Talk Talk, and Happy Saturday Night.
======================
Various images are attached.
Large, colorful subtitles, poor picture quality, exaggerated audience reactions and sound effects.
Looking at it now, it may seem a bit old-fashioned, but it also brings about a strange sense of nostalgia. Various entertainment scenes from the 2000s.
There was one thing in common.
They all have a lot of cast.
======================
There are entertainment shows with a lot of people on TV.
If there are a lot of panelists, and if there is a special feature, dozens of participants, or even hundreds of audience members, the reactions are captured through sound or screen.
It was really popular before observational variety shows or YouTube content became popular. I heard that there are still quite a few people who miss it.
On the other hand, there are many who say they don’t like it because it’s distracting and old-fashioned… Anyway, it seems like that type of variety show pretty much dominated during that time.
But at that time, something was gradually spreading to the PDs in charge and the editorial staff.
Look at this.
(picture)
======================
It was a photo that appeared to have been captured from a video of people competing in an athletics competition on a set in the shape of an old-fashioned board game room.
Love Room Sports Festival, that’s the PBS entertainment show I just described.
And the photos don’t end there.
After that, photos that seem to have been randomly captured from different entertainment shows continue to be listed.
Family is coming, hot talk, happy Saturday night… .
And finally.
======================
Did you notice?
======================
I’ll show you all those pictures again with red circles in the corners. one.
======================
We are all the same people
======================
A man with black eyes looking at the camera.
He is wearing a hat and has a toothless smile.
======================
The man was seen among the cast, audience, and people on many of the entertainment programs aired on PBS.
The person who was editing it thought something was strange, so he looked it up and found out it really existed.
And as I talked to people, I realized something…
This guy definitely appears only in episode 6.
======================
There is a description below the photo.
======================
To be exact, there was a rumor going around that it only appeared in episodes that ended in 6.
Isn’t it creepy?
But, well, there are so many ghost stories in the broadcasting industry. There are also frequent reports of ghost sightings… .
So, it was just something that people involved talked about, and at the time, it was published in ghost story magazines and became a rumor among the general viewers.
In fact, the probability is low, but of course, the same person could continue to appear on these entertainment panels or in the audience.
But here something strange happens.
======================
A newspaper article is attached.
An incident where broadcast data was lost due to a power outage at the broadcasting station.
======================
There was a problem with saving the editing data of the footage due to the power outage.
There were also problems with the documentary and news sections… This is the important thing.
I think there was a final edit of episode 166 of Hot Talk Talk among them.
In the end, episode 166 was just aired as a compilation of highlights from the previous episodes….
and
Things get weirder from here
…
I saw this guy in every highlight reel.