◈ Episode 42

Basement 4th floor.

The research director's office was uniquely located next to a storage room where documents were piled up. Kim I-hyeon entered the room alone and confronted Kushan.

"Is this your first time meeting in person?"

A man with long, tied hair. His businesslike voice gave the listener a cold impression. It was a familiar sight to Kim Yi-hyun.

"I've heard a lot about you through the agents. I feel a bit closer to you now, but I still think I should introduce you."

Kushan extended his right hand.

"I'm Kushan, the director of the Cellbrox Lab. Oh, is this information something you already know?"

It's been quite spicy from the start. I wonder if it's okay to say that it's still the same. Kim Yi-hyun held his hand while snorting.

"This is Kim Lee-Hyeon from Dustborne Corporation."

"Have you decided to stop acting like a vagrant?"

"Yeah, that's true."

He shrugged and calmly accepted it. Kushan, who had been staring at Kim Ihyeon silently for a moment, let go of his hand. He gestured for a seat.

Kim Lee-hyun sat down on the sofa without any hesitation and looked around the room. If you looked at it cautiously, it looked like he was spying.

"How careful."

"huh?"

"Don't worry, there are no traps. The weapons, of course, have been dropped in an invisible place."

"Oh, I wasn't really worried about that?"

Kim Yi-hyeon tilted his head and said.

"I just thought it showed your personality."

"personality?"

"It doesn't seem like they have a separate secretary, but aside from the obvious parts, it's well organized. For example, there's the books sorted by title."

On the desk, it is even more noticeable. The cleanliness without a single speck of dust. The stacks of documents that are neatly arranged. All the stationery that is neatly arranged without missing a single thing.

"I guess you're a bit of an obsessive-compulsive disorder?"

"...I've heard that it's unusual."

"Aha. Well, thanks to that I'm comfortable and happy, though."

Kushan didn't show any particular reaction. He naturally changed the subject.

"First of all, I should say thank you. I appreciate you accepting my invitation so readily this time."

"What, I'm grateful that you called me. The way here wasn't boring either."

"Did Leila give you a good tour? I'm glad you liked the lab."

"Honestly, it doesn't really feel like a research center. It would be more accurate to say it's a kind of complex plant."

"...I've been through a lot of changes."

Kushan snorted softly. Past scenes flashed through his mind.

Originally, Cellbrox Lab was not this large. Although it was one of the leading research institutes in the country, it was limited to the form of a 'research institute.'

Not now. We have gone far beyond the existing framework and are trying our hand at various things. It might seem strange to outsiders.

"It was necessary. If you had seen the ground, you would understand."

"Normally, we would relocate the facility early."

There is no reason to stubbornly live in the territory of a ruined country. If you move, you will be able to live more comfortably.

"Is it before?"

Kushan didn't even laugh at Kim Yi-hyeon's comment.

"Shalem was destroyed in an uncontrolled manner. While we were going about our daily lives as usual, the people became refugees."

It was a habitual phrase. Whenever Kushan was asked similar questions by outsiders, he would always give the same answer.

"For 20 years, there have been several attempts to rebuild Shalem. During that time, we still stood and played our part. There were many inconveniences, but there were also some comforts."

His attitude was completely calm. He continued speaking as if explaining a simple and clear proposition.

"As we have more to bear on our own, so too has our freedom. We have responsibilities. Once we figure it out, it's a responsibility we can never abandon."

Her blue eyes looked straight at Kim Yi-Hyeon.

"I am grateful to you, Kim Lee Hyun."

"There are many things to be thankful for."

"I can never thank you enough. If it weren't for you, Ghost might have died in Tulabia. Cilicia would have fallen into the hands of the Legion. I wonder what happened next."

Cilicia. The central part of the continent. Although it is now smaller than before, its location has not changed.

"The technology of many countries is concentrated there. Abundant funds, excellent equipment, accessibility to any country... If Cilicia had been taken away, it would have been a disaster. The current precarious peace would have collapsed like dominoes, and the entire continent might have been engulfed in the flames of war."

After taking a deep breath, Kushan sorted things out.

"You stopped it. How could I not be grateful?"

Kim Yi-hyeon was purely impressed rather than embarrassed. He had an excellent eye for reading the situation.

What if he were in Kushan's position? He probably wouldn't have taken the influence of a single foreign substance seriously.

In a way, Kushan was the person who most accurately evaluated Kim Yi-hyeon. He recognized the value of the things Kim Yi-hyeon had done.

That's why I'm more vigilant than anyone else.

"What do you wish for?"

Kushan's eyes became sharp.

"We know nothing about you. No purpose, no origin, no connections. We have found no record or trace of any previous encounter with Leila in Tulavia."

"...."

"Where do you come from? What do you know? What is your relationship with the Legion? Are your only allies members of the Dustborne Corporation?"

One-sided questions poured in. It was an uncharacteristic behavior for Kushan. Armed with a sense of mission and responsibility, he always led the rap calmly.

Then, Kushan showed up in such a disheveled state. Kim Yi-hyeon, as a user, was amazed, but maintained a relaxed attitude.

He said, raising both hands halfway.

"well."

"...뭐?"

"I know you have a lot of questions for me, but I don't feel obligated to answer them straight away."

The current Kim Lee-hyun is not a player. He is not an agent of the lab, nor is he a researcher. It is true that he has goodwill toward the CellbroLogics Lab, but there was no need to answer the interrogation that was almost like an order straight away.

"I'm here to collaborate with CellbroLogics Lab, not to be interrogated. You can do whatever background investigation you want, but I'd like you to draw the line."

"This is also part of cooperation. It requires mutual trust. And you don't have my trust."

"Isn't that common sense?"

In fact, I believe in Kushan just as much as Leila, but that's just the user's feelings toward the game character.

"I don't think trust is the most important value when it comes to helping each other. The key is usefulness. A friend who never betrays but is incompetent, and a friend who is competent but has a dirty back... I think the latter is definitely better."

He added right away without waiting for an answer.

"Of course, there should be more detailed conditions. We also have to consider how much it would hurt if we were hit in the back of the head. What do you think? Is it difficult for the rap to handle us?"

"What an obvious provocation."

"That's all I have to say. We've already proven our usefulness without you having to talk so much."

Knock, knock. He tapped the table with his fingers.

"Shadow, Snowfield. Shadow may have borrowed the power of your agents, but Snowfield's elimination is definitely our achievement."

What if I just said, 'Don't talk so hard that you're sick of it'? Humility isn't the only virtue. You should brag when you can.

"Having a record of annihilating a powerful Pecatum unit, or serving in some military force... That's much more direct than that. Isn't our common goal the Legion right now?"

Kushan did not deny it. He drove a wedge into him as he listened silently.

"Enough with the petty squabbling for dominance. I can assure you that you will not find a more suitable ally than us. We are capable and small in size."

"Does this mean you want to come into the mountains?"

"Why is that so?"

Where are you going to hit me? Kim Yi-hyeon snorted as if it was out of the question.

"I'd like to be guaranteed autonomy as much as possible, but in an emergency, I'll follow operational commands."

I'd like to be under the professor's direction for once. That is, after I come to my senses.

That's the end of the story.

The room suddenly became quiet. Kushan lowered his gaze to the table and became lost in thought.

After about a minute of silence, Kim Yi-Hyeon blurted out.

"I don't really understand why you're wary of me in the first place."

Kushan's head rose again. His expression was clearly visible, as if he had heard a strange sound. Regardless, Kim Ihyeon continued to say what he wanted to say.

"I only know what I know. You don't. How many people in rap, or on this continent, know more than you?"

Spellman is not the only research subject at Cellbrox Lab.

disaster.

They are investigating the disaster that is sweeping the world. Its causes and solutions.

At this point, the results have already been achieved to some extent. In particular, the one with deep knowledge was Kushan, who was a professor before losing his memory.

The eyes looking at Kim Yi-hyeon were filled with suspicion. Soon, Ku-shan began to press his eyes with a face that was suddenly tired.

"...When you say something like that, you often say things like, "Don't be so cautious."

"I have a talent for being shameless. Thanks to that, I've saved lives more than once."

Kim Yi-hyeon snickered and checked his watch. It was almost evening.

"Have you decided on an answer? Actually, I haven't eaten yet. I heard from Leila that the food at the restaurant here is really good."

Kushan ended up laughing in vain. He wondered what kind of person this was.

"I'll make another appointment tomorrow. We'll work out the details then..."

He let out a huge sigh and said,

"I hope you have a pleasant meal."

* * *

The business agreement was successfully concluded.

For a while, the three of them, including Kim Yi-hyun, stayed in the lab and worked together on the operation. At first glance, it seemed like Dustborn was suffering a one-sided loss, but in reality, that wasn't the case.

'Because we were promised sufficient compensation.'

It's not just about money. The lab is a place where people of various social status gather. Various training courses are systemized to help agents grow.

It was a great opportunity for Chelsea and Asterique, as well as for Kim Eui-hyun. He even asked Ghost to teach him separately.

And after a week had passed.

"...Hmm, Hyun. I wonder if something like this would work."

"I think I know what you're trying to say."

The fifth training room, which was almost exclusively used for training, was slumped down, catching his breath. The floor was covered with step leather that looked like it would be used for soccer practice.

"Am I that untalented?"

He didn't even get to the point of combat skills. He was learning how to walk, and even that was progressing slowly. I couldn't help but doubt his talent.

But the ghost shook its head.

"It's not a matter of talent. It just takes time. It takes a lot of time. It's a task that involves overhauling all the habits you already have."

I learned it in Cilicia, but it was only for a week. It was shallow learning. Only a genius can make such great progress in such a short period of time.

Kim Lee-hyun himself felt a sense of distance. There were too many things to worry about.

How to leave almost no footprints, how to make no sound, how to pass through pedestrians unnoticed, how to walk efficiently through swamps… … .

It's not that it can't be done. The problem is efficiency.

"How long will it take to get to a usable level?"

"It depends on how you set your standards. It would be helpful to practice for just a few months, but if you're going to go undercover on your own... you'll need to train steadily for at least five years."

"Five years."

It's not bad in terms of time efficiency. If you can just spend that much money to grow to a similar level as Ghost.

'But how could that be?'

Ghost has incredible talent and has been training for decades. It would be impossible to catch up to him without cheating.

In the first place, there is no room for 5 years.

Of course, the Legion would have faltered due to its failure in Cilicia. But even so, if it had been left alone for a long time, the world would have been half ruined before we knew it.

"If you want to acquire a wide range of personal tactics, this is fine. However, if your goal is to increase your operational capabilities in a short period of time, it would be wise to change the method."

"In what way?"

"hmm."

The Ghost lowered his gaze and remained silent. After a moment, he suddenly spoke.

"I'll bring in someone. He's an agent who's quite different from me in terms of how he carries out operations, but he might be a better fit for you."

The ghost left after telling me to rest. When he returned after about twenty minutes, a man was standing next to him.

"You're Hyun. Nice to meet you."

Naturally, it was not the first time meeting Kim Lee-hyun.

'… … West Creek?'

The person brought by Ghost is an elite agent of the lab. He is the second 6-star agent that Kim Lee-hyun meets after falling into Polaris.