24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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24-Hour Friendly Market Specializing in Dimensional Items Episode 107

Episode 107. Adding Insult to Injury (2)

As I urgently opened the front door and rushed out, Alessandro followed behind me, hastily taking off his light purple apron.

“Lee Hae, where are you going! At least eat something!”

“I won’t eat!”

“Tower people should live on rice power…!”

Alessandro reached out desperately with a tearful voice.

Despite the desperate gestures of Alessandro, who had become a 9th-dan housewife while I was away, I ran down the stairs two steps at a time without hesitation.

‘What, do I look like I can swallow food right now!’

I had been absent from work for a whole month without any contact.

A whole month!

Even if it were just a part-time job, it would be a big mistake, but the problem is this isn’t just any part-time job.

It was a part-time job I had infiltrated with the clear purpose of avoiding suspicion from Ahn Yeon-seo and Nam Pu-reum.

‘If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have done it in the first place!’

Regretting it now doesn’t change the grim reality.

I hurried my steps, squeezing through the hunters filling Babel Square.

I dove into the Warp Gate and rushed out of the Tower of Babel as if being chased.

“Ah, I really don’t want to read this…”

My phone started ringing like crazy.

I already had a headache from the countless missed calls and messages that clearly numbered over 100.

This feels like being a prisoner who’s received their execution date.

I sighed deeply and checked my phone.

34 messages from Lady Jang Kyung-hwa, Sister Yeppi, and other comrades who had been sorting slime mucus with me.

21 messages from Guk Min-seong asking if I was crazy for skipping work, then demanding to know if I had entered the Tower.

29 various notification and spam messages.

And…

[Hello, Lee Hae-won. This is Ahn Yeon-seo. I have something I’d like to ask you, so I’m reluctantly contacting you. If you have time, could we meet briefly to talk?]

One message from Ahn Yeon-seo.

The message was sent about two weeks ago.

So exactly two weeks after I entered the Tower and started being absent from work.

I read it again, but the letters didn’t change.

This is reality.

There’s no chance this is a dream, right?

‘Please…’

It would be so nice if this were someone I could just get angry at for somehow getting my number without me giving it and end it there.

‘Secretary Ahn is a persistent person. Very severely so. Just endure it…’

This was the firm assessment from Guk Min-seong, Ahn Yeon-seo’s workplace colleague.

I stopped walking and squeezed my eyes shut.

“I’m screwed.”

If Park Ji-woon had stayed here, he would have tactfully covered for me.

My last fortress had been sleeping like the dead at Laoco Inn all this time.

It’s not a situation Park Ji-woon can step in and fix now.

It’s gone beyond spilling water to causing a leak in the apartment below.

No, this can’t be compared to just a leak.

For me, the seriousness of this matter is like having to pay for interior costs and hotel fees during construction after being sued by the downstairs neighbors.

‘Ah, my life really…’

Unless I convince her that I’m not suspicious, Ahn Yeon-seo’s suspicion won’t disappear and will wander the nine heavens forever.

Moreover, the problem is that Ahn Yeon-seo isn’t the only one suspicious of me.

‘There’s Nam Pu-reum too!’

That Nam Pu-reum who came looking for me directly because he found me suspicious even though Ahn Yeon-seo had commissioned him.

He was already suspicious about me being away from home for long periods, but I’ve been away for a whole month…

It’s practically proving that his judgment was correct.

What do I do about this?

The most maddening thing is that there’s nothing I can do here.

Going back to Aegis on my own feet is out of the question.

I should reply to Ahn Yeon-seo… but I really don’t want to right now.

‘First, let’s hold Park Ji-woon accountable.’

[Director Park Ji-woon, could we talk? I’ll come to the Management Bureau.]

I deliberately sent a message through the system instead of using my phone and looked around.

The faces of people gathered near the Tower of Babel were brightly lit with joy from clearing the 53rd floor.

…Am I the only one in winter?

Am I the only one feeling lonely and sad?

[> New Message

– I’ll clear my schedule. Ι Director Park Ji-woon (Dimension-Earth)]

Park Ji-woon’s message arrived quickly and was completely to the point.

‘He probably knows what I want to talk about too.’

I brushed back my fallen hair and steeled myself.

I have business at the Management Bureau anyway.

I should at least discuss this with someone who knows my situation to find some kind of solution…

I moved my heavy steps with the feeling of a prisoner being dragged to the execution ground.

* * *

In the silent corridor where Park Ji-woon had even overstepped his authority to kick everyone out, only the sound of our footsteps echoed.

This was right after I told him about receiving Ahn Yeon-seo’s message.

“…I was actually planning to tell you this when you came.”

Park Ji-woon began with an uneasy tone.

“A request already came in from Aegis a week ago. It was asking for a background check and separate investigation on Lee Hae-won.”

“Ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped automatically.

“Don’t tell me they’re already investigating?”

“That’s not the case. It was on hold because I, the approver, was away. But now that I’ve returned, there’s a high possibility another request will come in. Moreover, since it’s an official request from Aegis Guild, there’s also a high chance it was reported to Seo Jae-hyuk.”

He answered in a calm voice, but the content was anything but calming for me.

Ahn Yeon-seo might have finally informed Seo Jae-hyuk about me, and how am I supposed to stay calm after hearing that!

It’s not that I dislike Seo Jae-hyuk, but there’s psychological pressure that comes with the title of being number one.

‘Ah, I just want to cry.’

I wish this were a problem that could be solved by crying loudly.

Or maybe they’d let it slide with just a slap on the hand…

“I can suggest two directions. The first is to reveal the truth to Aegis.”

“…Why would we reveal that?”

“Mr. Seo Jae-hyuk is one of the most important figures in Tower conquest. Didn’t I mention before that it might be good to bring someone along during reconnaissance?”

This means that I might end up going on reconnaissance missions with Seo Jae-hyuk in the future.

“Ms. Lee Hae-won’s abilities will become an important factor as we climb higher in the Tower. Even if it’s not essential for conquest, it will be more important than anything else in conquest preparation. And if you reveal the Market ability as well, it will become even more so.”

Park Ji-woon added this firm fact.

I asked back with a somehow complicated feeling.

“I said I wanted to hide my identity, and that’s something you promised, Director. The first method you just mentioned goes against our contract, doesn’t it?”

After thinking about something for a while at my words, Park Ji-woon asked as if muttering.

“Do you really think you can hide your identity until the very end, Ms. Lee Hae-won?”

“…”

An answer doesn’t come immediately.

Because I also know that it’s an impossible task.

To be honest, I didn’t think I could hide my identity forever either.

I’m not a thorough person to begin with, and I’m someone who gives in easily and makes frequent mistakes, so I’d definitely get caught eventually.

But that time isn’t now.

That much is certain.

No, wasn’t the problem from the start that Park Ji-woon left his post to join the conquest team?

Why would someone who barely climbed the Tower before go into the Tower and leave his post for a whole month?

I suppressed my irritation and spoke coldly.

“Even if I reveal it, I’ll do it when I want to. Not now. I think the problem started when the Director, who should have been my shield, joined the conquest team.”

“That was unavoidable.”

Did he think I’d just let it slide because he’s making that ‘I have my reasons’ expression?

“Then you need to explain that.”

I’m not the type of person who overlooks such things.

I try not to blame Park Ji-woon, but I can’t help it.

When I stopped walking and stared at Park Ji-woon intently, he let out a light sigh.

“Pressure came from above because I didn’t reveal the source of my information. They told me to go check it out myself since they couldn’t verify the authenticity of the information.”

“…Mr. Park Ji-woon, aren’t you ranked 3rd?”

“According to the Tower of Babel’s guidance, yes.”

“But you went without complaint when they told you to go?”

“I’m a civil servant belonging to the state. And if I had disobeyed there, it would have disrupted the conquest. The Management Bureau would have delayed the scenario entry.”

Ah, I see.

So that’s how this ridiculous situation was created.

I understand after hearing the explanation, but I’m still angry.

‘Why do our country’s Hunters listen so well to the government?’

Aren’t Hunters supposed to be a bit defiant, trusting in their abilities, and oppose government decisions?

Did they really expect that if the Management Bureau told them not to enter, they really wouldn’t enter?

As I glared at him with increasing irritation, Park Ji-woon turned his gaze away.

“There’s also a second method. Processing Ms. Lee Hae-won as deceased.”

“You want me to die?”

“I mean creating a new identity for you. However, that would come with many restrictions.”

It seemed like the easiest and most extreme method, so I was momentarily tempted.

“That won’t work.”

I thought it was a bad idea within one second.

It means I’d have to start over with everything from scratch – my phone, bank account, officetel registration, and all the websites I’ve signed up for.

Most importantly, it would be a problem when Brother returns.

Wouldn’t it be strange for me to live with him under a name like Hae-won Martinez instead of Lee Hae-won?

We’re back to square one.

How exactly can I naturally avoid Aegis’s suspicion?

While I was lost in such thoughts, Park Ji-woon spoke again.

“Ah, Ms. Nam Pu-reum has been in the 43rd floor for three weeks now. It seems she entered because of a Title Quest.”

That’s information I like in this terrible situation.

Of course, since she’s been away for a week even at that point, they can’t help but be suspicious.

‘First, I need to deal with Aegis…’

Should I casually probe Guk Min-seong about the internal atmosphere?

Though a servant of a noble house probably won’t know the solution.

Wait, but haven’t we been walking for too long?

“By the way, how far are we going?”

“We’re almost there. Since everything there is top secret, access itself is complicated, so it can’t be helped.”

The place Park Ji-woon and I were heading to was the archive.

Park Ji-woon had promised to share materials about Brother with me, and after postponing it repeatedly, I could finally check it today.

But why did I come to check that at this timing when I should be hiding?

‘It was perfect timing for escaping reality…’

I asked with a self-deprecating smile.

“Have you checked it too, Director?”

“You mean about Mr. Lee Hae-on? I haven’t checked the Management Bureau’s internal documents. Access permission isn’t easily granted. However, I did examine external activity records for investigation purposes.”

Park Ji-woon said this while scanning his security card at the archive entrance.

Seeing him activate his mana to have the red pattern recognized as well, it seemed like only registered people could enter.

The heavy door slid open smoothly without a single sound.

They called it an archive, but I couldn’t see any documents or papers.

All I could see was a single computer sitting alone in the empty gray office interior.

The old computer, with a monitor that looked about 30 centimeters thick, had a small screen that seemed barely 14 inches.

Only an empty white search box was displayed on the black screen.

“I thought it would be paper documents since they said no removal was allowed.”

“Nothing can be taken out except memories when entering and leaving. It’s also impossible to bring paper in and take notes.”

What kind of Skill did they use to build such an amazing system?

Without further explanation, Park Ji-woon pulled back the chair and said.

“I’ll step back.”

That was the most pleasant thing he’d said to me today.

Since I’d be looking at records about my missing brother from now on, it was probably his way of being considerate.

I sat down in the chair, rubbing my hands that had grown cold from nervousness.

It was time to check what exactly Brother had been doing while wandering around.

[Search: Lee Hae-on]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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