Taeseong followed Choi Harin’s lead as they walked down the corridor together.
Come to think of it, even Taesan, a Gamma-rank manager, had never seen the Korea Branch Director before. It was only natural, considering the rank of a branch director. Yet here was Choi Harin, personally escorting him.
That meant she had seen him multiple times.
From their conversation so far, it also seemed like she had direct communication with the branch director. Even if she was the designated successor for the intelligence division, the favoritism felt oddly excessive.
‘Does she have connections or something?’
They passed through a maze of corridors and finally arrived at a gate restricted to Gamma-rank managers and above. Beyond it, an unusually designed elevator came into view.
For something as simple as an elevator, its security was ridiculously strict—voice recognition, iris scan, fingerprint scan, and even a series of verbal security questions. Only after clearing all these steps were they finally allowed inside.
As they moved through the halls, managers in black suits occasionally passed by, throwing glances at Taeseong. Judging by their presence, they were likely Beta-rank or higher.
“Team Leader Choi Harin.”
“Hm?”
“Do you happen to know of an entity in a red dress?”
“Red dress?”
Harin pondered for a moment before pulling a document from her coat and handing it to him. Taeseong took it and flipped through the pages.
.
.
【??-Rank Entity Management Report】
No. ????.
Entity Name: Woman in the Red Dress.
[Access Denied]
After quickly scanning the report, Taeseong frowned.
“What is this?”
“Exactly what it looks like. Even as the head of the intelligence division, I don’t have access. I’ve heard a few accounts of sightings, but every time I try to check the reports, it just says I don’t have clearance.”
The file itself was locked. Taeseong could feel it—an incomprehensible force actively rejecting even the act of reading it.
“Not sure if it’s Tree that locked it down or if that entity’s power itself is causing this.”
“…Are there entities capable of manipulating management reports?”
“There are plenty with reality-altering abilities. Entities that manipulate perception are common. But one that directly interferes with documents to make them unreadable? That’s an entirely different level.”
At her words, an image surfaced in his memory. The woman in the recollections of those entities had stared directly at him.
She had been crystal clear in the memories. But now, as he tried to recall her, her figure was shrouded in a mist-like haze.
A chill ran down his spine.
“You’ve probably figured it out by now, but this is beyond our reach. It’s best to just leave things like this alone. You understand?”
Taeseong nodded.
There was no need to mention that, whether he liked it or not, he was already tangled up in this.
After walking for a while, they finally arrived at the Korean Branch Director’s office.
Despite the heavy security measures leading up to it, the office itself was surprisingly plain. Compared to the Japan Branch Director’s office, this one seemed downright shabby. It was clear that the Korea Branch Director wasn’t one for show and ceremony.
“Hey, old man. I brought Administrator Lee Taeseong.”
‘Old man? They know each other?’
“Come in.”
Taeseong stepped inside.
A bald, potbellied man sat at the desk, looking at him. He appeared to be in his fifties, at the very least.
‘This guy is the branch director?’
It was far from the image Taeseong had expected.
The Japan Branch Director had looked like an ordinary office worker, but this man seemed like someone you’d find in a local neighbourhood—an uncle who’d come home drunk after work, clutching a whole roasted chicken and rubbing his rough beard against his kids’ faces.
“Take a seat.”
Choi Harin casually sat on a nearby sofa, clearly accustomed to this. Taeseong sat beside her.
“Harin, how many times have I told you not to call me ‘old man’?”
“It’s already a habit! What do you expect me to do?”
The director—no, the branch director—sighed in frustration and ran a hand over his head. But since there was no hair, all he did was rub his smooth scalp.
An old habit from when he still had a full head of hair, it seemed.
“Nice to meet you, Administrator Lee Taeseong. I’m Park Woo-man, the Korean Branch Director. This is our first time meeting in person. You’re even taller and more impressive than what I read in the reports. Now I see why Harin keeps praising you.”
“Old man!”
“……”
There was no formality between them.
That meant they had known each other for a long time and were close.
‘Calling him ‘old man’… They must have known each other since she was a child.’
The branch director lit the cigarette in his mouth, then offered one to Taeseong.
“Want one?”
“Thank you.”
Taeseong placed the cigarette between his lips and lit it with a small flame at his fingertip. Harin, watching, naturally joined in.
Crackle.
The three smoked in silence, the quiet sound of burning tobacco filling the office.
Park Woo-man finished his cigarette in no time and finally spoke.
A nearby ashtray was already overflowing with cigarette butts—so much so that, from a distance, it might have looked like a hedgehog.
“Whew… I’ve been keeping track of your actions through Harin. Even the Japanese Branch expressed their gratitude for your work.”
“……”
“Tsk. Those cunning bastards. That bastard Hashimoto has always been specialized in scheming. If they’re grateful, they should offer a reward—why try to steal away a manager instead? It’s like pulling a drowning man from the water only for him to demand your entire bundle of belongings. That’s the mindset of a complete thief, don’t you think?”
“…Yes.”
Park Woo-man seemed to have a connection with the Japanese branch director, Hashimoto. It was natural for branch directors to have some level of acquaintance, but from the way he spoke, they seemed more like friends.
The Alpha-grade managers Taeseong had imagined were more detached from humanity.
Extraordinary beings.
Strategic weapons.
The strongest force within Tree.
Walking nuclear bombs.
That was the general impression he had, but the Alpha-grade managers he had encountered in person felt far more human than expected.
‘Hashimoto and Park Woo-man both… I can’t quite grasp how strong they really are.’
Despite their approachable appearances, their depths were unfathomable. Even Xiao Yun, a Beta-grade manager, could completely conceal his energy. There was said to be an insurmountable wall between Alpha and Beta grades, so it was only natural that he couldn’t easily gauge the strength of these two.
‘Then just what kind of beings are the Apostles?’
Naturally, he began to wonder about the Apostles’ level of power. Based on Choi Harin’s remarks, the Apostles seemed to be positioned far above the branch directors.
The deeper he dug, the more he was astounded by the sheer might of the organization known as the Tree.
Park Woo-man scratched his head, then took a sip of the steaming instant coffee in his hand.
“Hmm. You’re a quiet one.”
“He’s always like this. He only speaks when necessary.”
When Taeseong glanced at Choi Harin, she returned his gaze with a face that practically shouted, What? What’s your problem?
It seemed she was feeling rather proud with the branch director by her side.
“What is the relationship between you, Director, and Team Leader Choi Harin?”
Judging by the age difference, they could have been father and daughter, but the way she called him Ahjussi suggested otherwise.
Slurp.
Park Woo-man took another sip, savouring the sweetness of the coffee, then answered with a satisfied expression.
“She’s the daughter of a close friend.”
“Daughter… you say?”
So he was her father’s friend. That finally explained things.
The position of the Intelligence Division Team Leader wasn’t powerless, but even considering that, Choi Harin’s influence seemed unusually strong. If her backing was none other than the Korean branch chief, then it made perfect sense.
‘No wonder she’s so confident. She has solid support behind her.’
Noticing Taeseong’s gaze, Harin shrugged.
“Yeah. Her father and I were hired at the same time.”
He didn’t seem keen on elaborating, so Taeseong refrained from pressing further.
“In any case, I appreciate you staying with the Korean branch. Just having a talent like you here is reassuring.”
“Is the offer you made me still valid?”
“Of course. A man’s word is as good as gold, isn’t it? A branch director going back on his word? That’s unthinkable. Don’t worry. The team’s formation is already underway. Have you chosen your team members?”
“Yes. I still need to keep an eye on them, but I’ve shortlisted a few candidates.”
“I trust you’ll handle it well. We’ve accommodated all your requests regarding salary and benefits, so you don’t need to worry about that either.”
Satisfied, Taeseong nodded.
The man was far more reasonable than he had expected. He was also efficient in getting things done.
‘I like him.’
“But there is one issue we need to address.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about your grade. I’ve already reviewed your achievements at the Japanese branch. Most of them are feats that are hard to believe a Delta-grade manager accomplished.”
-Eliminating the entity known as Red Mask.
-Subduing and transferring the entity known as Hachishaku (formerly the land god Hojo-kami or the eight footed woman).
-In addition, numerous subjugations of Gamma-grade entities and multiple Beta-grade eliminations.
On paper, it simply didn’t make sense.
“Of course, I don’t doubt you. We’ve already cross-verified everything multiple times, and it’s all been confirmed as true. However… the problem is that your current grade is too low. So, I’m thinking of adjusting your grade. I have the authority to immediately promote you to Gamma, but advancing to Beta requires a more rigorous process.”
“You mean I have to undergo a promotion assessment?”
Park Woo-man nodded.
“A Delta-grade manager jumping straight to Beta-grade has never happened in Namu’s long history. If we’re going to do something so unprecedented, it only makes sense to go through at least a simple evaluation, don’t you think? Besides, I need to report to the higher-ups as well.”
Taeseong immediately grasped his intentions and responded.
“You’ve confirmed everything through reports, but you want to see it with your own eyes.”
Park Woo-man let out a cough before continuing.
“Ahem. Well, that too. I am personally curious, but more importantly, there’s been a lot of dissatisfaction from the senior managers. I can’t just ignore the voices of the lower ranks entirely. I understand their concerns about favoritism.”
“……”
“Jumping two ranks at once, creating a special management team under my direct command, and appointing you as a team leader with authority nearly equal to mine—all of these are unprecedented decisions.”
“I understand.”
The talk about a Beta-grade evaluation process was likely just a formality. The real issue was that a mere Delta-grade manager was about to receive a reward that had never been granted before in Tree’s long history.
If the branch director used his authority to force the decision through, it might silence the opposition temporarily, but that would only be a short-term solution.
To truly subdue the complaints, Taeseong needed to prove that he deserved such a reward.
That he earned it.
“That won’t be too difficult.”
