Chapter 14: The Frustrations of Bureaucracy and an Unexpected Alliance

“Excuse me.”

As the door opened, cool air greeted them. Three or four staff members were seated at their desks in the office. Yet, despite someone entering, there was no reaction. Frowning, Jungwon raised their voice slightly.

“Excuse me, I’m here for the registration process.”

One of the staff members finally looked up, their face devoid of interest. However, their eyes, previously dull and lifeless as a frozen fish, widened dramatically upon spotting Seokjoo standing behind Jungwon.

“Oh, Seokjoo!”

‘Are they acquainted?’ Jungwon wondered. They turned to Seokjoo, seeing the staff member’s face light up as if greeting a long-lost friend.

Kang Seokjoo, for his part, visibly looked uncomfortable and averted his gaze, but the atmosphere among the staff was the complete opposite. At that single exclamation, all the previously bored staff members brightened, welcoming Seokjoo with enthusiasm. They treated him like someone who had been in this country for a very long time.

Several approached Seokjoo, encircling him and striking up conversations. Jungwon casually ignored Kang Seokjoo’s subtly pleading expression, leaving him amidst the crowd, and headed toward the desk.

“I am Jungwon, a guide affiliated with the National Agency. I’m here to collect my permit.”

“What mission have you been dispatched for?”

“A formal document should have arrived, correct?”

“It did, it did. So… is this about the Taft matter?”

Jungwon openly frowned at the staff member’s bewildering question. The way they frantically glanced at the computer screen, only then asking, filled Jungwon with profound distrust.

It suddenly became clear why Kang Seokjoo had seemed so reluctant to visit this place.

“Ah, so you’re Jungwon~ I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Still engrossed in the monitor, the staff member nodded and muttered to themselves. Their lingering gaze, sweeping over Jungwon after speaking, was deeply unpleasant.

It was obvious what rumors they were recalling to make such an expression; likely whispers of ‘the nation’s s*ave’ or ‘the director’s dog.’ Jungwon was accustomed to such meaningful glances, so it was hardly surprising.

“Yes, it’s confirmed. To receive your usage permit, you’ll need to undergo re-examination. Please come this way.”

Jungwon, however, couldn’t help but react sharply to that statement. Their face immediately contorted into a deep frown.

“It was agreed that the examination procedure would be waived, and I could receive the permit without it, wasn’t it? Please confirm.”

“What? This examination doesn’t take long. It’s just a formality, a brief one. You just go in and come out…”

“Precisely, that formal procedure was supposed to be waived.”

Seeing the staff member’s bewildered expression, Jungwon felt even more exasperated. This was precisely the point the director had grandly promised when persuading Jungwon: a permit issued without an examination.

Guides affiliated with national agencies, like Jungwon, could obtain permits from their country’s branch office located abroad. Otherwise, they would have to visit the relevant national institution.

Although permits were typically issued after a simple ability test, Jungwon vehemently disliked these examinations. This aversion was one reason they avoided foreign assignments.

Fortunately, for those affiliated with national agencies, the agency could submit a certificate guaranteeing their identity directly to the foreign country. This process allowed for a permit to be issued without an examination, and the director had promised to arrange it.

Given that the director was not one to go back on his word, the arrangement must have been made. However, the staff member seemed unwilling to handle the matter properly.

They persisted, acting as if they couldn’t understand, insisting on the examination as per the manual.

Jungwon rarely felt such a dizzying headache; it was more than mere exasperation. As Jungwon stood, pressing a hand to their forehead and remaining silent, Seokjoo pushed through the small talkers who had surrounded him.

He approached Jungwon, stopping right beside them.

“What’s wrong, Jungwon? Is there a problem?”

He casually placed a hand on Jungwon’s shoulder. The air instantly grew heavy.

Jungwon, though a stickler for principles, wasn’t so inflexible as to be rigid in such a situation. They didn’t push away Seokjoo’s friendly hand on their shoulder as they explained.

Since Seokjoo had likely overheard the conversation from behind, Jungwon didn’t elaborate on every detail. As expected, Seokjoo reacted immediately to the brief explanation.

“Please confirm properly. If it was already discussed, why are you being so difficult?”

Though he spoke with a smile, his usual intimidating aura was palpable. With his hand on Jungwon’s shoulder, that powerful energy distinctly transmitted through them.

Jungwon shivered slightly. It was strikingly clear that the unique pressure which usually made Jungwon uncomfortable was, astonishingly, a result of Seokjoo deliberately holding back.

If Jungwon felt it, others felt it even more acutely. The staff member, visibly shrinking under the pressure, frantically checked something on the computer.

“Ah… yes, you’re right. In that case, I’ll issue the permit immediately…”

‘So, it was a situation that could be resolved this easily.’

Clutching the permit, which had appeared in an instant, Jungwon couldn’t hide their annoyed expression. The staff member, cautiously observing Jungwon and Seokjoo, spoke carefully.

“What are your plans now?”

“I’ll need to survey the sites, starting with the most recent anomaly. I heard it was near a residential area, a bit away from here.”

Annoyance was one thing, but work was another. As Jungwon gave a businesslike reply, the staff member waved their hand dismissively.

“Ah, it seems you haven’t heard. Another similar anomaly occurred nearby the day before yesterday. Since Taft withdrew, no one can openly link it, but the incidents are strikingly similar.”

“It happened at a construction site around here, so if you’re going to investigate, that would be the best place to start.”

“Who is currently in charge of that site?”

“TX. They’re a local company, but essentially, they’re under Taft’s umbrella.”

Perhaps feeling awkward after the previous incident, the staff member finally provided useful information. Jungwon pondered for a moment, then bowed their head in silent acknowledgment before opening the door and stepping out.

They heard a hesitant greeting directed at Seokjoo, but having turned away, Jungwon couldn’t tell if he reciprocated.

Outside the building, Jungwon’s expression was utterly frigid. Many things made them uneasy.

They disliked their own agitated reaction to the unexpected situation, and it was awkward to have revealed such an uncomfortable struggle to Kang Seokjoo. The fact that they ultimately relied on his help to resolve the matter also displeased them.

The inefficient way information was handled, with crucial details only provided at the very end, further soured their mood.

Seeing Jungwon’s grim face, Seokjoo offered a lighthearted joke.

“See? I told you it would be better not to come.”

Jungwon lacked the energy for a sharp retort. While they had anticipated the branch staff wouldn’t be particularly helpful after Seokjoo’s words, they hadn’t expected this level of incompetence.

There was a reason Jungwon had no choice but to come all this way, but they had no desire to elaborate.

“You were right, Kang Seokjoo. But I’m used to following orders, no matter what.”

Seeing Jungwon not take his joke lightly, Seokjoo stopped walking. He seemed to be carefully choosing his words.

His reply came after a significant pause.

“You don’t have to do that for a while.”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t have to follow orders blindly with me.”

“……”

“Because that would actually reduce efficiency. If you have something to say, say it. If you disagree, say that too.”

He seemed to anticipate Jungwon’s rigid objections, adding words that were somewhere between an explanation and a clarification. After hearing such a statement, Jungwon couldn’t possibly respond sharply with something like, ‘I can’t do that.’

There was nothing to do but give an awkward affirmative.

****

The site mentioned by the branch office was indeed nearby, less than a ten-minute taxi ride away. The situation on site was even more deplorable than Jungwon had imagined.

The ground was completely split in two, indicating a severe situation. Yet, apart from a shoddily strung rope and a single ‘No Entry’ sign, there was no proper management.

Only two bored-looking Espers were supervising the area. They appeared to be B- or C-rank, but their aura felt like that of ordinary people compared to Kang Seokjoo, who stood beside Jungwon.

Only Jungwon, being sensitive to Esper energy, could barely discern their power. Even with just two idle Espers, direct observation of the site would be difficult with eyes watching.

‘Should I try to persuade them?’ Jungwon wondered. As Jungwon pondered, Seokjoo spoke.

“Jungwon.”

“Yes. Do you have a good idea?”

“Can you put that person to sleep?”

Seokjoo pointed towards an Esper who happened to be yawning.

“I’ll create a distraction. They probably won’t both go investigate if something happens. So, I’ll draw one away, and you put the other to sleep.”

Jungwon wasn’t sure of the exact method, but it seemed Seokjoo’s plan was to draw one away with a distraction, and then Jungwon would use guiding to put the other to sleep.

Jungwon had never used guiding in such a manner during a mission before. This was likely because they had never worked with someone as flexible in their thinking as Seokjoo.

‘To connect catching a pickpocket to this situation—what ingenuity.’

Jungwon was confident in their ability to succeed, so after a brief moment of thought, they nodded.

Seokjoo immediately sprang into action. Jungwon thought he was merely preparing when he flexed his fingers, but it was not preparation; it was execution.

Boom!

The moment he moved his hand, a thunderous explosion sounded, as if something had burst. It seemed to come from a block or two away.

Jungwon turned to Seokjoo, their face contorted in surprise.

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