Please Cooperate In The Execution Of S-Class Official Duties - Chapter 56

* * *

“Why?”

“That’s…”

Actually, she couldn’t clearly explain why she disliked it.

Although she thought, “Wasn’t it because of the anti-graft law?”. But when she gave it further thought, the anti-graft law doesn’t prohibit the government’s public officials from being provided suitable formalities as per their rank dictates. It’s similar to the Director’s official vehicle.

It was also ridiculous that she felt uncomfortable about the change in treatment after becoming an S-class overnight. Didn’t she sign a contract with the constellation in hopes of that?

There was a tiny voice saying, you’re the one that said you also wanted to live the shining life of an S-class, so what are you disliking protocol for?

“……Erm.”

“It’s hard to explain why, but you just don’t like it.”

Surprisingly, Director Lee Eunjoo immediately spoke as soon as Hara hesitated.

Hara hesitated and nodded. She thought that Chief Jung would reprimand her, so she furtively glimpsed at her mood, but Chief Jung, who always had something to say, just looked back at Hara.

“Yes, that’s good.”

Contrary to her expectations, Director Lee Eunjoo’s response was rather plain.

Hara discreetly looked up at Director Lee.

Director Lee’s arms were folded as she gazed at Hara. Her expression was still devoid of any trace of humour, but strangely, it felt much more amiable than before.

“Kang Hara, do you know how to summarise all those formalities that I’d mentioned earlier?”

“……No.”

“It’s called the collaboration between authority and media (the authorities and the media forming close ties and combining forces).”

“Ah.”

Director Lee took off her glasses. The yellow coloured lens caught Hara’s attention.

While it looked tacky at first glance, everyone knows that she was wearing them due to the aftereffects of injuring her eyes while preventing a dungeon’s collapse in the past.

Director Lee rubbed her eyes once and wore them again with a tired look.

“Didn’t I tell you? As an S-class, you must constantly doubt.”

Director Lee was testing Hara.

“It’s good that you refused, even if you can’t specifically say the reason. There are many people who’d say they think about it even if they don’t like it.”

“……”

“I hope it isn’t because Jung Yoojin told you about it in advance.”

“I’m not that free.”

Chief Jung replied sulkily. Only then did Director Lee chuckle.

“There’s a rumour that these days, Jung Yoojin has been leisurely observing people. That Chief Jung has also changed a lot.”

“……”

“As Kang Hara-ssi is aware, the world of civil servants is a small and narrow one, so you should dislike unclear things. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“First of all, we’ll continue keeping this confidential.”

As she said that, Director Lee called in the secretary.

The director’s secretary came in and handed a folder to Hara. Within were things like a card, a Hunter Market ID. Even a phone was placed on the table.

The director gestured with her chin.

“If there’s anything you need, use that card.”

“But the Director’s name is written on it though…”

“Of course. Right now, Kang Hara-ssi must be feeling rather dissatisfied. You can’t access the Hunter Forum or Hunter Market properly, and it seems like you aren’t even able to maintain your dignity.”

In other words, Director Lee was telling Hara to use the card under her name for expenses. Hara’s pupils trembled.

However, a little later, she took out the card hesitantly and handed it back to Director Lee.

Director Lee looked at her like she was asking what’s going on.

“Erm…”

“You aren’t able to explain in words, but you just don’t like it?”

“No, it’s not like that…”

“You don’t have to doubt this.”

“Erm……”

Hey, just take it. That card has no limit. Chief Jung poked Hara’s side.

Earlier, she was only staring at me, but I guess I can accept this if she’s poking me in the side…… Should I just take it…… Such thoughts lingered in Hara’s mind.

But that wasn’t actually the case. After much hesitation, Hara finally spoke up.

“Well, actually, I wonder if I can say this.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ve been thinking…… If it’s a card under the Director’s name, no matter what I buy……”

The thought came to mind after hearing the words, ‘maintain your dignity’. Was there something she wanted to buy right now? Was there anything that she couldn’t do because she doesn’t have the money?

A house, so that she can become independent immediately. This can’t be bought with a credit card.

Yuri’s concert. It’s not that she doesn’t have the money, but she can’t enter without a ticket. In other words, having money doesn’t automatically mean she could attend it.

If she goes to a department store and says, ‘I’ll take everything from here to there?” If she used the director’s card for that, it’s likely to make the news.

Before Hara could finish her sentence, Director Lee understood what she meant and chuckled.

“So, are you saying you can’t even comfortably have a cup of coffee with a card in my name?”

“Well… I would probably feel comfortable if it’s just a cup of coffee.”

Hara answered honestly again. Next to her, Chief Jung thumped her chest.

“Goodness, Kang Hara, this dull girl.”

But it was true. If the card of the company’s president was given to the employee, telling them to buy whatever they want, how many employees are able to use the card comfortably?

That’s why they are superiors.

The director spoke again, a smile still on her face.

“But, couldn’t you use it for official duties, like going on a date with your boyfriend?”

“However, wouldn’t it be a violation of the anti-graft law if I swipe with the Director’s card for that…?”

It was a rather plausible answer. Director Lee laughed loudly.

“Kang Hara-ssi, you’re quite the funny one. You seem timid, but you say everything that needs to be said.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Well, there’s no need to apologise. I get it. Pass me the card.”

Hara held out the card with both hands politely, and Director Lee took it and placed it on the table.

Chief Jung reached out, saying, “In that case, give it to me, Sunbae,” but Director Lee firmly slapped the back of Chief Jung’s hand.

“If there’s anything new, report them to me quickly. Chief Jung, you stay behind for a bit.”

At the same time, the director took Hara’s cell phone number.

As Hara nodded and left after bowing, the director’s secretary guided her out, saying, “This way.” When she entered, it was through the main entrance of the Seoul Regional Office, but when she left, it was through the back gate.

Hara felt strange. Exhaustion welled up during the brief subway ride home.

The constellation persistently complained with, “What are you doing after receiving the skill,” and “Why aren’t you flying around,” but Hara ignored him. Anyone that didn’t want to be caught on the radar as an unidentified flying object and summoned by the Ministry of National Defense would do so.

She planned to go home and log into the Hunter Market. She was too excited. Hara tightly held the documents she received from the director close to her chest.

However, the day didn’t progress as smoothly as she had hoped. There were still tasks waiting for Hara to tackle.

* * *

“What an amusing fellow.”

As soon as Hara left, Director Lee asked Chief Jung.

“Were you originally well acquainted with Kang Hara?”

Chief Jung replied with a smile.

“It’s been ten years since she’s entered the mana stone management division. Of course I know her well.”

The Mapo branch office was relatively large. However, given the Hunter Agency’s nature, which operated like stagnant water, you’d naturally end up asking after the other after looking at each other for ten years.

Particularly, in the case of mana stone management division, hunters in dungeon dispatch units went in and out to obtain permits for mana stones quite often, so they were close acquaintances.

Even Chief Jung Yoojin wasn’t an exception.

“Right, she’s a decent person.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought you wouldn’t like her, because she can be timid and frustrating at times.”

That was what Chief Jung, who trained under Director Lee, said.

However, Director Lee replied without laughing along.

“One can’t exactly describe her as upright as a bamboo, but she has a flexible nature like a willow branch. It’s better that way. If you’re too rigid, you’ll break.”

Being too rigid will break you…… Yoojin seemed to know who Director Lee was talking about. There was only one person that Director Lee could think of that fit the description of someone too rigid while looking out of the window with a turbid gaze.

Someone who, despite being an S-class hunter, was currently in prison.

Since he was an S-class hunter, the government had fiercely debated about how to handle him. But ironically, he walked into that prison willingly.  He didn’t come out of the prison unless there was a national crisis.

Director Lee had unknowingly stood up and moved to the window. From that spot, Gwanghwamun Square could be seen. Chief Jung also got up and stood behind Director Lee. The director’s gaze was fixed somewhere in the square.

“I heard that Deputy Director Park has been busy these days.”

“Deputy Director Park Younghee?”

Chief Jung frowned at the familiar name.

The name of the relentless SA-class hater was mentioned. Someone who disliked and hated others, as long as they’re a highly ranked hunter. Chief Jung wasn’t on particularly good terms with that person either.

“Apparently, she came up to Seoul and had a meal right in front of Gwanghwamun. But I heard that Yoon Hyundong frequents that restaurant.”

Yoon Hyundong, that punk fell for it moronically. Chief Jung gritted her teeth.

But she didn’t say it out aloud. It’s because Chief Jung herself had once been full of vigour and fell into the cunning Deputy Director Park’s trap, ending up committing an error.

Let alone  a simpleton like Yoon Hyundong. Surprisingly few people knew just how ruthlessly Deputy Director Park discarded high-ranking hunters after using and changing them.

Everyone thought that Chief Jung had changed because of the marriage.

Chief Jung didn’t deny that. It was true that since starting a family, she’d changed to become more gentle.

However, the most decisive reason for Chief Jung’s transformation was Deputy Director Park.

“Even Kwon Wook is becoming weirder lately.”

As Chief Jung mentioned the name of her completely unfathomable colleague, Director Lee Eunjoo smiled faintly. She’d already received reports about the incident that took place in Ulsan.

“True. From the beginning, Kwon Wook has been like a child that climbed up from the bottom of the world.”

“……”

“A person like Kwon Wook should view the world more beautifully and love it more than someone like you.”

“What kind of person is someone like me anyways?”

Chief Jung grumbled.

Director Lee did not respond and looked down from the director’s office. There was a wave of people that protested in front of the Hunter Agency, at Gwanghwamun Square every day.

“Kwon Wook is attached to that friend, Kang Hara, isn’t he? I hope that Kwon Wook will gain some positive energy from being around her.”

However, at that very moment, a system window appeared in front of Director Lee.

[The skill ‘Ominous Premonition (A)’ has been activated.]

Lee Eunjoo’s eyes narrowed.