Don't Feed the Professor! - Chapter 67

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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‘The research facility?’
“Are you referring to the Underground Research Facility at Gwangryun University?”
I pressed the question urgently, and Lee Ha-young’s expression grew uncertain.
“Actually, I’ve had a similar experience. I was forcibly brought to that place.”
Lee Ha-young nodded.
“Then you’d understand. Because of the drug that person used… my mind was in a haze. I barely retain any memories of the location. The Agency didn’t want to tell me either.”
“Ah, well, that makes sense…….”
“But I do clearly remember there was a woman present.”
‘A woman……?’
“What I remember is that there was some kind of conversation between the two of them, and as a result, this person became enraged and went wild.”
Lee Ha-young pushed the mugshot in front of me so I could see it clearly.
“And then he tried to kill everyone present, including me.”
Only then did the name typed below the photograph catch my eye.
「Kang Woo-jin (31)」
‘Kang Woo-jin? Could it be that Kang Woo-jin?’
It was an ordinary enough name, but it had been mentioned in Amelie’s diary.
That Amelie, with her strange emoticons—she said she’d seen the name ‘Kang Woo-jin’ on a PC in the Dormitory 3rd Floor Equipment Room.
‘Of course, I have no idea how many years ago that record was from.’
“Is something wrong?”
Lee Ha-young asked with a worried expression.
I shook my head.
“No. But could you continue the story?”
“Of course. The Agency’s retrieval team found me collapsed afterward, and only later did I learn that the woman I saw in the research facility was a key figure in the Agency. The operatives called her ‘A’.”
A research facility, a key figure in the Agency… Even without knowing who she was, I had a strong premonition she possessed information of tremendous importance.
“The Agency told me that Kang Woo-jin probably hasn’t given up on me yet. But they wouldn’t tell me why. They said the less I knew, the safer I’d be. Well, I agreed with that logic as well.”
I found myself sighing without meaning to. I’d gathered quite a lot of useful information, but I had no sense of where to start organizing it.
And besides, Lee Ha-young’s reasons for coming to the Fortress were remarkably similar to my own.
“I’ve burdened you with rather heavy topics, haven’t I?”
Lee Ha-young said with a smile.
“Not at all. It’s been incredibly helpful, actually. It’s just this Kang Woo-jin person… the Agency is still hunting him, then?”
“They must be. If the situation had been resolved in any form, there’d be no reason for me to be here.”
‘I need to visit that research facility. There might be traces left behind.’
Of course, to do that I’d need to ask Mallo to show me the research facility, but I’d figure that out somehow.
“……For now, I think it would be good to investigate this Kang Woo-jin person. Though it won’t be easy.”
Lee Ha-young nodded at my words.
“The Agency went eight years chasing dead ends. It would be helpful if we had someone who knows the Fortress well.”
Then my phone rang.
I checked the caller ID and couldn’t help but click my tongue. Does this guy never give up?
“……Sorry, I think I should take this.”
Lee Ha-young smiled and nodded in understanding.
I’d ignored him for days now, but he didn’t seem to be showing any sign of giving up.
I’d have to be more firm about it—make a clean, decisive refusal.
“Morrison.”
The voice on the other end burst out laughing.
-Aah, you even remembered my name! What an honor!
“……What is it this time?”
-What is it? I’m just calling to see how you’re doing. But while I have you, did you give any thought to my proposal?
“……No. I appreciate the offer, but I’m not doing any modeling work.”
-Come on, don’t say that. Don’t you realize how much of a talked-about person you are right now?
That’s precisely the problem.
“I’m busy right now, so I should——”
‘Wait.’
Just as I was about to hang up, my eyes met Lee Ha-young’s.
“Actually, Morrison, you work in Gwangryun University’s PR team, right?”
-Yes……, well, you could say that.
“Then you must know a lot of people?”
-……? Well, yes. Nobody in the Fortress circles knows more than I do. I’m the networking king of this business.
I wasn’t sure about the truth of that claim, but it didn’t sound entirely like bluster. Someone calculating how to peddle magazines to higher powers probably wasn’t your average person.
In that case…….
“Actually, I’m looking for someone. Or rather, two people. Could you help me?”
I could feel the person on the other end sizing me up.
-Well, there’s nothing I can’t do, but……, I’m not a detective agency, and if you’re asking point-blank like this…….
“I’ll do the modeling.”
-Really?!
“On one condition—it won’t be me as the model.”
-……What?
I told him I’d explain the details when we met in person and hung up.
As I hesitated, Lee Ha-young smiled.
“It sounds like there’s something I can help with?”
I outlined the situation roughly. That perhaps we could trace Kang Woo-jin’s whereabouts through Morrison, but to do that we’d need a magazine cover model.
“We could move the photography equipment to the building. Of course, that would only be if Jusija approves…….”
As I hesitated, Lee Ha-young shook her head.
“Jusija would certainly allow it if it involves photography. It’s nothing compared to the trouble you’ve gone through. Though I’m not sure if she’d actually use a washed-up actress like me as a model…….”
That wasn’t something to worry about. By both novelty and appearance, Lee Ha-young would be far better suited as a cover model than I would.
Jusija might even be delighted. She’s a ‘fan’ after all.
I put the remaining bagel in my mouth and mumbled incoherently.
If things work out this smoothly, maybe my luck isn’t entirely rotten after all.
Though one could argue that falling into the Fortress itself was a lifetime’s misfortune, at least… at least I met Mallo.
“…….”
I’m thinking like this again.
I stood up from my seat.
“I should get going. But before I do, could I ask you one more thing?”
“Of course, anything.”
“That cult organization you mentioned being part of for a while…… what was its name?”
“My memories from that period have faded quite a bit, but I still remember the name clearly.”
Lee Ha-young handed me my cardigan and continued.
“It was the Cheongsin Truth Research Society.”
* * *
I felt like I was about to throw up.
Perhaps because of the unstable atmosphere Mallo had mentioned, I could sense a sinister presence permeating the entire school.
“My head hurts…….”
I collapsed onto my bed as if I’d been struck down. I didn’t even remember how I’d made it back to my room.
The Cheongsin Truth Research Society. The moment I heard that name, my mind went completely blank. I couldn’t hear anything Lee Ha-young was asking me.
It’s a name I’ve never forgotten.
‘Is this all a coincidence?’
Lee Ha-young entering the cult I grew up in, and then being subjected to illegal drugs just like me and falling into the Fortress—could all of that really be pure coincidence?
If it wasn’t, then this Kang Woo-jin person had to be connected to me in some way.
Ding.
“……?”
A message had arrived from Mallo.
I gave a hollow laugh. Not answering my messages for who knows how long, then messaging me whenever he feels like it…….
“…….”
I was about to ignore it, but in the end, I picked up my phone.
[Why didn’t you ask me for help?]
“What are you talking about…….”
Could he already know everything about my conversation with Morrison? It’s plausible enough if it’s Mallo. Besides, they seemed to know each other well from the start.
I agonized over it for a long time before replying.
[Helping isn’t the same as a transaction]
This time he called.
“Damn it…….”
I checked the time. Two hours until lights out.
“……Hello?”
-So if I demand something from you, that makes it a transaction, then?
His voice was unusually sharp when he asked. I found myself sighing despite myself.
“That’s… that’s not the issue.”
-Then what is the issue?
By this point, I was starting to get frustrated myself.
Why are you so curious about everything I do? Can’t you just let some things go?
I exhaled deeply once, then spoke again.
“You know, it’s not that I find it burdensome when you, say, lift me up suddenly and pat my head…….”
I sighed.
I don’t want to say this. I don’t want to voice the thought that just crossed my mind.
But Mallo was still waiting for my answer.

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