Side Story 2. Perfect Weather (1)

The building towering in the center of Seoul looked no different from the surrounding companies on the outside. However, the large and rough cornerstone visible as one approached the main entrance, and the name honestly engraved on the signboard, fully revealed it to be an old-fashioned government facility.

Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters.

The incident occurred two weeks before that name was to be removed.

The 15th floor, where the directors' offices of both the Field Operations Bureau and the Reconnaissance Bureau were located, restricted access during morning hours once a month. On such days, if one accidentally pressed the 15th floor in the elevator, they would see the following sign as soon as the doors opened:

<Field Operations Bureau Chief-level Meeting in Progress. No Entry>

The director's office, which appeared after walking along the corridor behind the sign, was connected to a small conference room. Today was the day when the table placed there was surrounded by people in formal attire.

The Seoul headquarters, which played the role of the main base for hunters in Korea, had the largest number of high-ranking hunters. Moreover, the Seoul and metropolitan area under the headquarters' jurisdiction accounted for about 70% of all rift occurrences. With talents aggressively scouted from all over the country, plus the inevitable practical experience that followed, it was natural for the headquarters to maintain its formidable strength.

Among them, the chiefs representing each team were people who had risen to the top, standing out even among the powerful headquarters hunters. Any citizen of this country would be able to name all of them. The chiefs of 7 teams, the director, and the deputy director. Though only 9 people were present in the conference room, each carried the weight of hundreds.

"Let's start the meeting."

Director Park Jae-seon, the hunter representing them all, focused everyone's attention with his gentle voice.

"First, the most urgent agenda."

The peaceful time that came after the 4th Great Rift. It had been a while since Director Park Jae-seon used the expression "urgent". Even Jin Soram, the 7th Team Chief who had been blinking his sleepy eyes, raised his head at the director's voice. As it was a meeting day, his brown hair was neatly swept back for once.

Director Park Jae-seon looked around at those surrounding the table and opened the serious meeting.

"Anyone want to be the director?"

Silence fell over the conference room. After a moment, Kim Ga-eul, the 1st Team Chief, barely managed to ask back.

"That's... so sudden?"

"Is it really sudden? Haven't I been doing it for too long? It's about time I stopped."

"Well, ah, no, I'm just a bit surprised..., of course, if you want to rest, I'm not against it! But still..."

Ga-eul rambled, seeming not to know what she was saying herself. Soram, sitting on the opposite side, couldn't say anything with his mouth slightly open.

"..."

The director is retiring?

Jin Soram, who had repeated the same time 20 times, had just broken free from his shackles and was enjoying completely new days. And now, the ranking of the most shocking events that had occurred after the Great Rift changed.

Similar emotions, though varying in size, were evident in the other team leaders as well. Still, Ga-eul and Soram seemed to be the most shocked by the director's retirement statement.

That was understandable, as Park Jae-seon had been the strongest without fail from the moment the two joined the headquarters after awakening until now. His large back had become a reliable shield for the two who had been pushed to the forefront of citizens as geniuses overnight.

Of course, they knew that Park Jae-seon was human and could get tired. But it was hard to imagine the headquarters without Park Jae-seon as its leader.

"Is there really no one who wants to be the director?"

"..."

None of the seven team leaders stepped forward. Far from accepting the director's position, they couldn't even open their mouths, wanting to hold Park Jae-seon back... The director looked around at the audience avoiding his gaze and smiled faintly.

"It's a good opportunity, I wonder why. As you all know, the headquarters is being promoted to an agency this time. The treatment and authority will be much better than when I was director."

Having experienced the Great Rift four times, Korea had truly realized the threat of rifts. As a result, the "Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters" was promoted to the "Rift Phenomenon Management Agency". This content was scheduled to be announced at the time of the regular press conference in March.

"That's not the important part. We're not mentally prepared..."

Soram felt that the words that finally came out of his mouth sounded just like a complaint. And he felt sick at the selfishness dripping from the content. He couldn't bring himself to push him away saying he should rest as much as he wanted... Even while regretting his words, he hoped he would give a little more time.

Silence fell again. It was the day with the fewest opinions expressed among all the chief-level meetings so far.

Finally, when everyone was about to sigh with relief, albeit with heavy hearts, at the director's "Well, it can't be helped" response.

"I was thinking of accepting the offer for the agency director position, but if no one will take the director role, I have no choice. We can't leave the Field Operations Bureau director position vacant."

"!"

Soram unknowingly hit the desk and raised his head sharply. The director continued calmly.

"There's no other way. I'll have to decline this opportunity..."

What did he say!

The guilt and pangs of conscience he had felt until just now completely disappeared from his mind. Pounding heartbeats replaced them instead. Agency director?

Soram quickly turned his wide-open eyes to look at the other six team leaders. His gaze contained a fierce message: 'Someone quickly raise your hand to be the director, and let's send the director to the agency director's office!' Everyone who met his eyes had similar expressions to Soram.

'What is everyone doing? Are they going to miss this opportunity?'

Until now, the final decision-maker of the Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, that is, the head of the headquarters, had always been a non-awakened person. It was because of the nonsense that if power was given to a group of hunters with abilities, trouble might occur someday.

This time, finally, even among those who had been talking nonsense, opinions came out to let the headquarters freely, and it seemed an opportunity had come. Probably, as the public sentiment was unsettled, they seemed to be trying to calm anxieties by putting hunters at the forefront while promoting to an agency. They would try to take the position back later...

Once handed over, there was no intention of letting it be taken away easily. Soram's eyes shone brightly.

But Director Park Jae-seon—already the agency director in Soram's mind—spoke with a calm and unimpressed expression unlike him.

"Actually, I'm fine with continuing as director. It's a position I've grown fond of."

What are you saying?

'Director, you know best what kind of opportunity this is.'

Soram had sat in the director's seat in a past life. He was more anxious because he had seen and felt things then.

The power to command hunters should be given to a hunter who has experienced dungeons firsthand, even if just once. If this time passes, attempts to sit at the top of hunters and feed them restrictions will appear again, sneaking in.

No, well. Even putting aside that it's a golden opportunity.

More than anyone, Soram wanted to see Park Jae-seon, who did his best to protect this country and was respected by all colleagues, rise to a higher position. Especially if it was the agency director position he couldn't even imagine in previous lives.

Tuk tuk.

Soram quietly tapped the arm of the 6th Team Chief. He was ready to serve anyone wholeheartedly as director if they would just apply now. With the know-how from his past life, he would show them what a flower path really was.

"?"

However, 6th Team Chief Yoon Yeo-hyeon didn't receive the signal.

Soram's gaze, which had been trying to make eye contact with each of the other chiefs one by one, finally turned to Ga-eul at the opposite end. Ga-eul's lips, meeting Soram's eyes, moved preemptively.

'Hey, Jin Soram, you do it.'

'What nonsense. Ga-eul, you do it.'

'Are you crazy? Is there anything more nonsensical than telling me to be the director?'

'Ga-eul, how about saying you'll do it for now to get the agency director up there, and then think about it later?'

'...You're trying to betray and sell me out, aren't you.'

"Well, is there really no one?"

The director asked as if it was the last time.

In fact, it wouldn't be strange for anyone here to become the next director. They were all hunters who had shown great achievements, including Ga-eul who was young but not lacking in experience and skill, and Soram.

So, it really didn't matter who it was...

Director Park Jae-seon picked up his phone.

"Can't be helped then. I'll contact them right now to decline..."

Ah, no!

"I'll do it!"

"I'll do it!"

Two people sprang up from the seats at both ends of the team leaders, the 1st Team and 7th Team Chief positions. Simultaneously, dismay appeared on each other's faces. Damn, should have stood up a little later.

Clap, clap clap, clap clap clap clap clap.

At that moment, applause burst out from the people between the two. The expressions looking at the two flustered people were all smiling. Among them, the person clapping most enthusiastically was Director Park Jae-seon.

"To think two active candidates would come forward, I guess I didn't live wrong during my tenure as director."

"..."

"..."

Ga-eul and Soram's eyes vibrated in confusion. What... was this situation?

"Then from today, we'll enter the period for selecting the next director. The candidates are Chief Kim Ga-eul and Chief Jin Soram. As you all know, they are excellent talents."

"?!"

It felt like they had just taken one wrong step, but unfortunately a super-strong trampoline trap had been installed, bouncing them off in an unexpected direction. While they were unable to grasp the situation and just raising countless question marks, the conversation progressed smoothly. The two who had become candidates for the next director could only watch the scene in a daze.

"Then shall we take about two weeks to deliberate, and decide by vote?"

"Yes, let's do that."

"Ah, both of them are so admirable."

"Chief Kim, Chief Jin. Fighting."

Those who had been silent throughout the meeting left one comment each and left the conference room. Only then did Soram and Ga-eul's expressions harden.

They had been played.