Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work

“……”

I turned on the phone I had stored inside my tattoo.

Messages that had been left unattended for two weeks appeared.

‘It’s a relief I didn’t slip up during the interrogation.’

If I had, Yeongeun-ssi or Heowoon-ssi’s identities could have been exposed.

I shoved my phone into my tattoo as soon as I got caught in Jisan Village, and since the tattoo lost its function inside the Glass Prison, it was actually a relief.

I let out a sigh of relief and scrolled through the messages.

Most were advertising texts.

But among them, there were also several messages from acquaintances.

[ Are u okay? ]

[ Let me knw when u get this ]

[ excuse me ]

[ If ur sick ]

[ If there’s a problem, contct m e ]

It was the sergeant.

“……”

Somehow, I felt strange.

With this person, it feels like I’ve always just been on the receiving end of worry and help.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t been in touch since the binding.’

After some thought, I replied.

[ Sorry, I had something come up. I’m okay now. ]

Then, after hesitating, I sent another one.

[ Thank you again for looking into that information for me. Would it be possible to talk tomorrow or the day after? ]

[ Let’s get something good to eat, too. ]

Confirmation was quick, but the reply came slowly.

[ O k ]

“……”

That’s enough for now.

Now it was time to take care of my business.

I picked my next destination.

I wasn’t keen on it, but there wasn’t a better option.

And…

I was already prepared.

[ Please prepare the Wish Ticket. ]

[ I’ve found the information you requested. ]

To Director Ho.

“Soleum-nim, you’re back!”

“……”

I looked up.

At the familiar table in the Fox Counseling Office’s waiting area, Director Ho was sitting there, smiling.

My stomach churned reflexively.

…A sense of resistance at the act of making this choice.

A strange feeling of guilt, as if I were betraying the people who’d even released my binding.

And at the same time, it was a contradictory feeling. Now that the binding was gone, I could finally negotiate in a way that felt like a real negotiation.

“I’ve come to collect my Wish Ticket.”

“One moment, please. There’s something I’d like to say first.”

Director Ho, still wearing a gentle smile, hesitated a little awkwardly as he spoke.

That made my skin crawl even more.

“I think the binding regarding your death was a bit excessive on my part, Soleum-nim. Looking back, it seems I made a rather emotional decision because of the situation… I’m a bit embarrassed about it.”

“……”

“It’s a good thing that it’s gone now though. Don’t you agree?”

I recalled the strange shamanic ritual led by the Great Tiger General of Daecheongbong.

And Director Ho’s bizarre reaction at the time when possessing Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s body.

‘…Even if I’m worried or curious about the assistant manager, I won’t ask.’

If Director Ho noticed me showing concern or recognition, it would probably harm Assistant Manager Eun Haje instead. My insides twisted.

Instead of nodding along easily to Director Ho’s words, I answered carefully.

“It doesn’t matter. A promise is a promise, regardless of the binding. I came here to fulfill my promise to you, Director.”

“Really? But that should be impossible.”

“……”

“You don’t even know exactly which ‘annihilation-sanctioned disaster’ I requested, Soleum-nim.”

That’s right.

Director Ho had said he’d give me more details if us spies managed to access the secret archives under Gangwon Province.

But…

I know.

I could already guess what Director Ho was after.

“I tracked it down through deduction.”

“……”

“Just tell me the name of the disaster. If the information I brought doesn’t match, I’ll accept the penalty.”

For Director Ho, there was no risk.

He could impose a penalty or another binding as he wished.

Either way, the situation had changed. I no longer had any agent allies to lift a binding for me.

So…

“Alright.”

I knew it.

Director Ho smiled and laced his fingers together.

“The name of that supernatural disaster is ‘Sekwang Special City’.”

“……”

“Oh, and! Don’t try to utter the name outside the Fox Counseling Office. Bad things will happen.”

Director Ho looked into my eyes.

“So.”

“……”

“Does it match the information you brought?”

I did not avert my gaze.

“Yes.”

“…!”

“Here it is.”

Thud.

A document was placed on the table in the waiting area of the Fox Counseling Office.

“This is the report regarding the ‘annihilation-sanctioned supernatural disaster’ you just mentioned, Director.”

“……”

“Please check it.”

Director Ho reached out, picked up the paper, and began to read.

And then…

“……!”

He covered the paper.

Director Ho stared at me, his expression now wiped blank.

“…How did you find out?”

So it was correct.

“That’s not important.”

The truth is.

It’s not that I found it out.

‘…I already knew.’

That’s right.

This was why I’d been so confident I could bring the information within a month.

It was because I already knew.

The fastest and surest method.

To simply write down the information from the <Dark Exploration Records>.

It was a method I’d set aside because there was no way to convince or explain it to other spies, and because I was afraid Director Ho might become suspicious and do something terrible to me. I wanted to do it as safely as possible.

But with the whole situation in ruins, there was only one option left.

‘I had no choice but to move quickly.’

If I delayed any longer, the Disaster Management Bureau would start checking for and rooting out other spies.

If Yeongeun-ssi or Heowoon-ssi got caught, they’d never be able to receive a Wish Ticket and would suffer doubly, bound by Director Ho’s binding…

Before that could happen, I had to act first.

However…

“I’m certain you were still imprisoned in the Glass Prison until yesterday. So, how could you have found this…?”

“……”

“They don’t store this kind of information in there.”

He’s right.

Naturally, the crystal cave that stores the Glass Prison doesn’t keep valuable information inside.

Occasionally, reports on supernatural disasters, based on what is obtained from prisoners, are written for updates.

But…

‘There are a few bureau-issued report forms lying around for that purpose.’

Like this, for example.

A blank Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau Disaster Report Form.

Since it’s written inside the Glass Prison, of which the location was generally unknown, it comes in a format where the branch information is automatically redacted for censorship. So…

It’s the most suitable paper to print out documents about annihilation-sanctioned disasters kept in the secret archives.

Ironically, being imprisoned in the Glass Prison became my chance to obtain exactly what I needed.

Thus, I was able to present to Director Ho the ‘Sekwang Special City’ document I’d crafted myself, based on what I’d read in the wiki.

“……”

But there’s absolutely no need to explain any of this to Director Ho.

It would only be dangerous.

‘I did bring my own last line of defense, just in case…’

Cold sweat beaded on my back.

Still, I had to say it.

“The important thing is that I brought the promised intel. And I received help from the other two people during this process. Without a doubt.”

“……”

“Now, Director, it’s your turn to keep your promise.”

A smile spread across Director Ho’s face.

“Very well.”

“…!”

“Congratulations, Soleum-nim. As for the collection of your Wish Ticket…”

I clenched my fist tightly.