I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 143
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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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Episode 143
‘It’s not wrong, is it?’
It’s certain that these guys are trying to get something for nothing right now.
“I can certainly understand why you’d think that.”
Yorn nodded as if he understood and rested his chin on his wrinkled hand.
“And knowing that, the condition I offered includes two days’ time.”
“What does that.”
“No matter how ordinary a factory it is, a comprehensive investigation of all suspicious circumstances and any possible contingencies. Would it be easy to finish that within two days?”
“That’s.”
Thinking about it again, it’s a speed that’s nearly impossible.
“We’ll pull personnel from other operations and handle it as top priority. How about it? Does the weight of the scales seem more balanced now?”
A completely unexpected counterattack.
My head started aching considerably.
“If we change the cost to something else.”
“For money, we’ll do it for 20,000 gold. Instead, it’ll take about 8 weeks. What will you do?”
He speaks as if I won’t be able to refuse.
He’s right.
‘8 weeks means after we’ve already signed the contract and received the first batch of gloves.’
That’s far too late.
‘I need the first proposal, but how should I put it. Should I just ignore my uneasiness and sign the contract?’
Yorn might not know, but the answer is already decided.
“8 weeks, you say. Then let’s pretend what you just said never happened. Let’s get up. Thank you for the tea.”
In a situation where every day is urgent, I don’t have the luxury to wait 8 weeks, so I stood up from my seat without hesitation.
“Tsk tsk, what a shame. Take care on your way back.”
“Yes, and next time… I hope there will be some different options. Something that would make me want to deal.”
Where did this sudden boldness come from?
I lowered my voice and spoke like a warning, then walked out through the corridor I had come through.
* * *
“The deal has fallen through.”
A black shadow approached from behind Yorn, who was left alone in the room, and spoke to him.
“No matter what we bring, he doesn’t seem like he’ll give it up. As if he’s under some prohibition.”
“I think so too. He didn’t even show signs of contemplation.”
Paran had talked about the weight of scales with his own mouth.
But Yorn knew that he hadn’t even measured the weight of the scales to begin with.
“What will you do? Isn’t securing the antidote important?”
“It is, but if we act rashly, we might end up getting nothing at all.”
“Understood.”
The man bowed his head at Yorn’s decision.
“Cambedia, was it? Look into it. We might find something to offer as a trade condition.”
“Understood. I’ll begin the investigation immediately.”
The man who received the order left the room.
Yorn, left alone, carefully rolled up his sleeve.
“Hmm.”
His right arm was necrotic, no longer looking like human skin.
This was the damage from a curse Yorn had suffered a year ago while exploring ruins.
He couldn’t identify the curse, but judging by what was visible, it was a kind of disease that slowly caused skin necrosis.
He had tried everything from the help of elves, who were said to be hard to meet, to all kinds of medicine, but couldn’t break the curse.
When he was about to give up on life, the information he heard was about Paran’s antidote.
“Should I consider it completely stopped now?”
From the day he took the antidote, his body stopped necrotizing further.
The feeling of being freed from pain and the fear of death couldn’t help but be good.
“Heh heh, how interesting.”
Yorn showed a truly pure, child-like smile and stood up from his seat.
* * *
“Section Chief, we need to get started as soon as possible to meet the delivery date. What are you thinking about the contract?”
Two days after meeting Yorn.
Sergeant Major Kairon asked about the winter gloves matter with a worried voice.
“Phew, that’s right.”
In a situation where time is tight and the contract is being delayed meaninglessly.
It’s practically impossible to back down any further from here.
‘Tsk, it feels ominous. But what choice do I have.’
It’s a regrettable and sad fact, but there’s nothing I can do alone.
“Tell them to come sign the contract tomorrow.”
“Understood. As soon as the gloves contract is signed tomorrow, I’ll put out bidding announcements for the other items too.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Since work has been delayed due to my personal reasons.
Now I need to pick up the pace even more.
‘That child… let’s just think of them as an employee’s family member.’
Logically, that probability is higher anyway, so this wouldn’t be rationalization.
‘Starting today, it’s going to be solid overtime for a week.’
To process the documents piled up on my desk, I’d need to go beyond overtime and sleep on a cot on the floor.
However, just because I work overtime doesn’t mean everyone has to work overtime.
“Um… Manager, I need to head home first because of curfew.”
8 PM.
Though we’d already passed official closing time, Captain Bern packed his bag and stood up in an atmosphere where everyone was working overtime.
‘Leaving work? Right now?’
Of all people, Captain Bern from the clothing department who has the most work right now leaving early was hard to believe.
“Did you finish all the urgent work?”
“Well… I haven’t processed everything yet, so I’m planning to come in early tomorrow to do it. I’d like to stay and do more, but there’s a curfew.”
He looked troubled, but if it’s because of curfew, there’s nothing to say.
‘Just how much trust did he lose with his wife to have a curfew?’
He doesn’t seem like someone who drinks heavily, so it’s quite a sad story.
“I should write a letter to your wife saying the Captain is busy. Even after finishing the gloves, there’s still a lot of clothing work left, so overtime will be essential.”
“What? Oh, it’s not that. It’s a neighborhood curfew. Since two days ago, we can’t move around after 10 PM, so I need to get home quickly.”
“There’s a curfew in the neighborhood…?”
What on earth does this mean?
‘Even when I go out for drinks at 11 PM, the streets are bustling with people.’
It was a bit hard to understand.
“Yes, I live in the city outskirts and apparently missing person cases have increased recently. So the Security Guards imposed a curfew.”
“You live in the outskirts? Then your commute must be quite far.”
“I live on the second floor of the bar my wife runs. But now I’m thinking of moving into the quarters. Having a daughter makes me anxious.”
“Considering security, that would be better.”
Raising a child in a place where missing person cases occur isn’t easy.
“Be careful yourself before your daughter, Bern. I heard from someone I know in the Security Guards that they kidnap adult men the most.”
Captain Dennis, who had been listening to the conversation, joined in.
“I heard that too. What kind of kidnapping is that?”
“Wait, they kidnap adult men?”
At this fact that didn’t make sense logically, I looked at Captain Dennis and asked.
“Yes, half of the identified victims are adult men. We can’t even guess what the purpose is.”
“Adult men.”
What’s the biggest advantage adult men have compared to women?
Strength.
And strength is… the foundation of labor.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. Go home.”
“Yes! Good work! Loyalty!”
Captain Bern left work early to observe curfew, and the remaining staff frantically processed the backlogged documents.
We were finally able to leave the office at 10 PM.
After returning to my quarters, I… changed into casual clothes and left the military base.
‘What wealth and glory am I trying to enjoy by going this far?’
It’s really a damn situation, but what can I do about something that keeps bothering me?
“Please take me to District 9.”
When I got on the carriage and stated my destination, the coachman frowned slightly.
“Sir, District 9 is under curfew right now, so we can’t go in.”
“Then just drop me off in front of it.”
“Hmm, the security in that area recently…”
He looked like he was pondering.
He wants money.
“I’ll pay double, so let’s leave quickly? Or should I find another carriage…”
“Haha! No sir. I’ll take you right away.”
The coachman, who had grabbed me as I was about to get off the carriage, urgently drove the horses.
“But sir, what business do you have in District 9 at this hour of all times?”
“Just some urgent business. More importantly, do the kidnapping incidents happen often enough to warrant a curfew?”
Since the journey would take time, I asked about things I was curious about.
‘No one knows all kinds of information like a coachman does.’
In South Korea terms, you could think of them as taxi drivers.
“I’ve been living here for 20 years now, and this happens from time to time. Plus, we’re at war right now, aren’t we? Since security is poor, they’re causing even more trouble. Sigh, when will this war end.”
The coachman let out a tired sigh.
“Is District 9’s security particularly bad? It’s still Dembad though.”
“You must have come from really far away, sir. The security guards only care about up to District 7, and they don’t even patrol the areas beyond that properly. That’s why we have this mess.”
For reference, the higher the district number, the farther from Dembad’s center, and from District 7 onward, it’s called the outskirts where people below middle class live.
“That’s negligence of duty.”
“When no one cares even if you slack off at work, wouldn’t you do the same? There’s no one enforcing the curfew either, so people follow it half-heartedly. Ah, we’ve arrived.”
The coachman stopped the horse and opened the carriage door for me.
“The double payment you promised…”
“Will this do?”
I took out a gold coin from my pocket and placed it in the coachman’s hand.
“Oh my! Thank you! I hope you stay safe.”
“Take care.”
I gave a brief greeting, grabbed my bag, and entered District 9.
“Ugh, let’s have one more drink! There’s a great restaurant right up ahead.”
“Come on, I’ll treat you guys!”
Men reeking of alcohol were wandering around the street.
Even though it was well past curfew time, they were walking around without any problems.
‘Wait, did they leave work early since the curfew isn’t being enforced anyway?’
I wondered if they were pulling some trick, but thinking about it again, following the curfew would be normal.
‘There aren’t even any soldiers patrolling around. At this level, it wouldn’t be strange at all if the kidnappers became active again.’
Isn’t there a saying like this:
The criminal returns to the scene of the crime.
Actually, it would be ridiculous for me to search for them directly here, so I’ll borrow some help.
【District 9 Security Guards】
A neat two-story building standing properly among the commercial district.
Without hesitation, I opened the door and went in, only to be greeted by a refreshing scene.
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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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