Chapter 142. Whistleblower (3)
[You have completed the hidden trial, Justice Served.]
Without even realizing it, Eun-Ho had carried out justice and received a special reward for it.
[You have received one new gift. Would you like to check it?]
“Yes,” he eagerly answered the system’s cheerful question.
Then, the air began to gather softly like a delicate soap bubble, forming a perfect sphere.
Puff—!
With a pleasant sound, it reshaped itself into a neat cube. It was larger than usual, with a shimmering golden ribbon tied at the top. When Eun-Ho reached out toward the gift box, the ribbon unraveled on its own, revealing the special reward nestled within.
[Congratulations!]
[You have obtained the Goddess’ Scales!]
“Huh?”
Eun-Ho lifted out an ancient bronze scale, weathered by time. Despite its age, it balanced perfectly, not tilting even slightly. It was as if some invisible force held both pans steady, protecting them from any disturbance.
[The Goddess’ Scales]
- A set of scales crafted by an unknown goddess. You may choose one of the two weights to borrow her power.
- Usable only once and the item vanishes immediately after use.
- Available Skills: [Redistribution(Lv. - )], [Empathy(Lv. - )]
Two small, dice-shaped cubes rested on the steady plates, one red and one blue.
So I can only use one of them and only once, he thought.
He looked at the red cube first.
[Red Cube]
- Redistribution(Lv. - ): Redistribute all stats as desired.
- Effect lasts twenty-four hours from activation.
Then, he looked at the blue cube.
[Blue Cube]
- Empathy(Lv. - ): Swap positions with your chosen target.
- Can only be used on a visible target.
Either one of the cubes would be invaluable and perfect for a crisis. Both could turn the tide of any battle in an instant, so he couldn’t help but grin.
“Not bad, justice served indeed.” Eun-Ho murmured.
***
It was 7:40 AM. After a noisy night came a new morning. True to the tower’s name, Eastern Rest, sunlight poured through the windows, marking the start of another day earlier than expected.
“Hyungnim! This is really good!” Jae-Hyuk said, tearing into the ribs with both hands.
“Yeah,” Eun-Ho replied, nodding. “Better than I thought.”
[Welcome to Eastern Gourmet Voyage!]
[Would you like to spend 650 Welfare Points for a Braised Rib Set?]
They had bought breakfast at the restaurant on the first floor of the tower, paying 650 Welfare Points. Eun-Ho hadn’t expected much and just wanted to see what the system-cooked food was like, but it turned out to be surprisingly delicious.
[Braised Rib Set]
- A special dish from Eastern Gourmet Voyage. Slow-cooked ribs from a Great-Horned Boar.
- Increases satiety and provides long-lasting energy.
- Consuming it increases Stamina recovery rate by one percent for two hours.
It even came with a recovery buff.
“This tastes way better than that fancy dinner at the company’s year-end party,” Jae-Hyuk said enthusiastically. “Don’t you think the system cooks better than most people?”
“Well... I don’t think it’s the system. I think they have a cook,” Eun-Ho murmured.
“Huh? What makes you think that?”
It was a fair question. After all, they had ordered through the system, and the meal had appeared right before them.
“The plating’s different,” Eun-Ho said quietly.
“What?” Jae-Hyuk blinked.
“You’ve got ten pieces of meat, and I’ve got nine.”
If the dishes had been auto-generated like copied files, that wouldn’t have happened. Jae-Hyuk froze, his face growing stiff. Then, misunderstanding, he pushed his tray ever so slightly toward Eun-Ho. “Should I give you one, Hyungnim?”
“What? No, that’s not what I meant—”
“It’s fine! If it’s you, Hyungnim, then one piece of meat is nothing!”
“... Just eat it, please.” Eun-Ho sighed.
By the time they had finished their meal, which was seasoned with a few theories and misunderstandings, the announcements began to echo through the hall.
[Attention, all new recruits of Sector 13.]
[Your second OJT project will begin shortly, at 9:00 AM sharp.]
The announcement signaled the true start of the day.
[All new recruits, please gather in the banquet hall.]
“Banquet hall?” Eun-Ho asked.
“Isn’t that the low building just ahead?” Jae-Hyuk replied, pointing at the aforementioned building.
Whoosh—!
A map appeared before their eyes, highlighting a round, single-story structure located at the center of the four towers, where the survivors had settled.
[Welcome to the Banquet Hall for Strangers!]
“What now...”
“Yesterday, they sent us straight to the offices. Why gather everyone today?”
“Well, whatever it is, it doesn’t sound good...” someone murmured anxiously.
About a hundred survivors gathered in one place. As they stood there, tense and suspicious, a web of system messages fell over them like a net.
[Your second OJT department will be the Audit Bureau.]
Eun-Ho had been there before, once to deliver anonymous complaints, and once more when he was summoned as a reference for an internal investigation. Now, it seemed, he would be visiting again for a third time, two days in a row.
[There are a total of twenty-five departments available for OJT.]
[The hundred participants will be randomly assigned into teams of four.]
At least this time, he wouldn’t be going alone.
“Teams of four? Damn it, doesn’t that sound even more dangerous than yesterday?”
“Not necessarily,” Eun-Ho said calmly.
“What do you mean, not necessarily?”
“Well, considering the nature of the Audit Bureau, a lot of their work must be confidential. We’re still outsiders here. They probably chose only the departments safe to show us.”
“Huh?” Swear-Master frowned at Eun-Ho. Maybe the explanation had been too long-winded, but then he squinted and asked, “What the hell are you, anyway?”
It wasn’t the bureau he was curious about, but Eun-Ho himself.
“How do you even know stuff like that? What are you, on your second life or something?” asked Swear-Master.
Eun-Ho laughed quietly. “Haha...”
A second life? Well, he’s not entirely wrong, if you just look at the results.
Thanks to Cho Bok’s reports and his own sore feet from yesterday’s exploration, he had learned quite a lot. It was just like doing homework in advance. However, that wasn’t something he could explain.
“Anyway,” Eun-Ho said, “the real issue is who we’ll be grouped with. There are people from other countries mixed in now.”
“Right... Damn, that’s true,” Swear-Master muttered, suddenly serious. He clenched his fists and began mumbling under his breath, as if praying. “Let it be... Please... Eun... Please... Ho...”
[This OJT will also last for two days. Performance grades will be evaluated at the end.]
[Carry out your trial diligently and earn a good rating!]
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! ...
Metal doors appeared one by one along the curved wall of the banquet hall, each marked with a number.
[1]
[2]
[3]
...
[25]
There were exactly twenty-five of them.
Fwoosh—!
Then, light burst from one of the doors.
“Why’s only number one glowing?” someone asked.
“What do you mean? Only number twenty is lighting up!”
[Team assignments have been completed.]
[All new recruits, please gather in front of the door that is glowing.]
In other words, everyone standing before the same door would be working together for the next two days. However, a team didn’t necessarily mean trust in this place.
“Stay alert! It could be a competitive evaluation.”
“... See you after work, then,” someone muttered darkly.
Several rough-looking individuals whispered among themselves, no doubt plotting strategies. Even if they had to move as one group, it was clear that standing out within that group would determine their score.
Eun-Ho sighed inwardly.
If I end up with weird people, that’ll be a pain.
He’d already been singled out as the new recruit representative and top performer, so he was bound to attract attention.
But it doesn’t matter who it is.
With that thought, he walked up to his assigned door.
[7]
There, standing beside him, was a familiar face.
“No way! Holy crap! My prayer worked!” exclaimed Swear-Master, punching the air with a grin.
Then came another voice. “Hyung!”
It wasn’t Ji-Eun with glasses on, but Ji-Woong, her younger brother.
“Huh? Are you number seven as well?”
“Yes! You’re not disappointed it’s me instead of Ji-Eun, right?” Ji Woong glanced around. “Looks like we’re just waiting for one more.”
“Who do you think it’ll be?” Eun-Ho asked.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Then came the final teammate, his footsteps heavy and deliberate. He wore his blond hair in a near buzz cut, the sharp lines accentuating his rugged features. Muscular forearms flexed beneath a fitted T-shirt, and his utility pants, heavy with pockets, suggested a man accustomed to action. He was Russian, unmistakably.
“Dmitri, right? I’m Eun-Ho,” he said, extending a hand.
“... You know me?” the man asked, his deep voice edged with suspicion.
“I remembered your name from training,” Eun-Ho replied.
Dmitri had competed in both soccer and the relay races. Even without any special abilities or skills, Dmitri had stunned everyone with his inhumane raw speed and endurance. He’d also barely scraped by as the hundredth survivor to qualify, making his name stuck in Eun-Ho’s mind.
[Permanent Full-Time Employee]
100. Dmitri (RUS)
Three Koreans and one Russian, Eun-Ho thought.
With the majority of survivors being Korean, it made sense the random assignment had turned out this way.
[Please proceed through the assigned Door.]
“Anyways, let’s go,” Eun-Ho said.
The next moment, they stepped forward into Room 7, the lucky number.
***
“Hey, Guk! The alarm’s still going off!”
“Sir! It’s actually a call for you! I was told it’s an urgent matter!”
“I’m the urgent one here! Where’s the audit data from the Investigation Bureau?! Bring it, now!”
The Audit Bureau felt completely different from the Investigation Bureau. If the Investigation Bureau had been a calm, desk-bound environment, this place was a war zone. Every second was a battle of reports, orders, and shouting overlapping from all directions.
“I checked, but the department head still hasn’t signed off! We might be able to send it by tomorrow! Ugh!”
“Tell them if it’s not done in ten minutes, their division chief’s head is on the line! Move it!”
Thud!
The man who had been shouting suddenly kicked the shin of the worker bowing beside him.
“S-sorry, sir...”
“Don’t apologize! Move!”
The poor guy ducked once more and bolted out of the room like a terrified rat. “Y-yes, sir!”
It’s been a while since I’ve seen this kind of scene, Eun-Ho thought.
It reminded him of the real-world offices he’d known either firsthand or through his unfortunate coworkers. He hadn’t expected to see that kind of office culture here, of all places.
“These numbers look strange...”
“Ah, about that, yesterday I—”
“Forget it. I’ll handle it later with Guk...”
As Eun-Ho watched the chaotic, strangely familiar scene unfold, someone suddenly shouted, “Who the hell are these people?!”
It was the same man who’d been kicking shins earlier, his voice sharp with irritation.
“We’re new recruits,” Eun-Ho explained calmly. “We’re here for OJT.”
“New recru—ah! Guk!” The angry man caught someone by the arm, a blond-haired man who had been striding briskly toward the exit. “Where do you think you’re going? You’ve got new recruits to take in.”
“... Was that my job?”
“Who else would do it? Everyone’s busy! Open your eyes.”
The man sighed. “So am I... Ha... Never mind.”
His blond hair was neatly slicked back, not a strand out of place, as if polished with wax. His sharp, upturned eyes gave him a fierce, calculating look. Beneath his rolled-up sleeves, lean muscles moved with every subtle shift.
What’s that hanging from his belt? Is that a baton? Eun-Ho thought.
It seemed like something a police officer would carry on patrol. This guy, their mentor, didn’t look easy to deal with. Talking back to his shouting superior without flinching proved he wasn’t the type to bow down easily. He seemed like a strong-willed man who’d say his piece no matter who was in front of him.
“... Can’t we just dump them in a meeting room somewhere? I’m heading to the field right now.”
“Field? Where?”
“The Center.”
The Center?
There was only one that could mean, the Future Research Center. It was the same place where Iro had once been.
“Shove us in there? What the fuc—”
Before Swear-Master could finish, Eun-Ho clamped a hand over his mouth and focused on listening again. “Shh.”
“Oh, then just take them to the site. Things are chaotic here anyway,” said the angry man.
With a perpetually sour expression, the blond supervisor said again, “If we drag along rookies who can’t tell their own ass from their elbows, they’ll wreck the scene!”
Hmm.
It seemed like something had happened at the research facility again. That piqued Eun-Ho’s interest. He’d gotten plenty out of the place last time, so it would’ve been a shame not to go again.
“What the hell did the bastard just say?!” hissed Swear-Master through gritted teeth.
While his teammate seethed, Eun-Ho quietly watched the two arguing and acted.
“Access company network,” he murmured.
He kept his tone low, scanning for information while the quarrel continued.
It’s not ideal to step forward first, but if there’s a chance, I’ll take it.
Then came the opening he needed.
“I heard the investigation’s already wrapped up and the researchers went back. What field are you talking about now?”
“Still, I can’t allow it.”
“Oh, come on! What, should I give them a tour myself then? Well, rookie! Do you want to stick with me or follow this guy instead?”
Perfect.
“I’ll go with him,” Eun-Ho said, stepping forward. “I was actually disappointed that the OJT only lasted two days. I’d like to learn as much as I can while I’ve got the chance.”
The manager raised his brows, as if to say, See? Told you so.
The blond supervisor, on the other hand, stared at Eun-Ho like he’d just sprouted another head. “If you don’t know what’s going on, just keep shut. That way, you’ll look less stupid.”
Noticing the man’s deepening scowl, Eun-Ho calmly explained, “I noticed all the meeting rooms are full.”
The manager craned his neck, glancing around at the small glass-walled meeting rooms lining the office. “Full? Huh... You’re right.”
“And what do you want to say?” the blond supervisor asked irritatedly.
“It means we can’t just stand here blocking the hallway,” Eun-Ho said. “But according to OJT policy, we’re not allowed to enter unauthorized areas.”
“Is that so?”
“... Yes, that’s correct.” the mentor replied.
The system had hammered that warning in from the very start of training.
[Please note that entering any unauthorized areas or engaging in unapproved activities will result in disciplinary action according to company regulations.]
Of course, I already know the rule doesn’t matter if you don’t get caught, Eun-Ho thought. But they don’t.
“Well, it seems like someone has to accompany and supervise us,” he continued, “but you’re all busy. So wouldn’t it be easier if we just went along with you?”
The blond supervisor clicked his tongue in annoyance. “And if something happens while you’re tagging along? You expect me to spend the next few days buried in paperwork because I wanted to save five minutes?”
“I doubt it’ll be that dangerous,” Eun-Ho said.
“Oh yeah? And how would you know that?”
Without hesitation, Eun-Ho smiled faintly. “Well, you’re sending the junior out there alone, aren’t you? That means it’s safe enough.”
Both the manager and the supervisor snapped their heads toward him. Their eyes narrowed, suspicious and guarded, as if they’d just caught a spy in their office.
“How the hell did you know he’s the junior?” asked the manager.
“... Do you know me?” asked the blond supervisor.
Eun-Ho only shrugged and said, “I’ve heard his name exactly seven times since I got here.”
“So what?”
“Only two types of people get called that often in a day. The team leader and junior. If he were the former, nobody would be yelling his name.”
The blond supervisor’s mouth fell open.
“Am I wrong?” Eun-Ho asked lightly.
“Hey, Guk! The alarm’s still going off!”
The owner of the name that had been echoing since the moment they’d arrived stared at Eun-Ho dumbfounded.
“Anyway,” Eun-Ho continued, “we should get moving. Sir, you’ve got an external appointment at ten, don’t you?”
“Huh? How did you even know that?” asked the blond supervisor.
“It showed up in the system,” Eun-Ho said. “Seems OJT trainees can view their mentor’s schedule. I checked right after I heard your name.”
“... You accessed my schedule through the internal network?”
“Yes.”
The blond supervisor hissed sharply in half disbelief and half irritation.
The manager’s expression twisted as if he’d bitten into something sour. “... What the hell is up with this guy?”
“I’m just saying, I’m not one of those rookies who can’t tell their own ass from their elbows.” Eun-Ho then glanced at the clock. “It’s five minutes to ten. We’ll wait outside, sir. You can join us when you’re ready.”
We’re ready to head over to the Research Centre.
“What?!” said the blond supervisor.
“Pfft! This guy’s nuts! We’ve got some completely insane ones this round!” said the manager.