#119
Only employees of the Anomaly Management Agency were allowed to enter the agency building. When bringing items from outside, each item was inspected in designated individual spaces before being brought in, and deliveries and takeout food had to be received directly at designated locations. This was the policy established after a part of the building was blown away by a terrorist attack using artifacts.
In other words, this meant that the person who kidnapped the Deputy Director after coming into the parking lot was an employee of the Anomaly Management Agency. It was natural that tension was spreading within the building.
“Yeah. So everyone is afraid that they might be next. Me too… I don’t know what’s going on.”
Section Chief Nam sighed with a confused expression.
“Was there no evidence in the dungeon? If there was anything, I could…”
“That’s strange too.”
“What’s strange?”
“As soon as we heard the news that the body was found, we transported it to Seoul. Then we called an appraiser to appraise the artifacts the Deputy Director was carrying. But… nothing was left.”
“Did they all break?”
The Deputy Director was someone who took extreme care of himself, so he carried as many artifacts as Jin-ha, including expensive protective artifacts obtained through his position as Deputy Director of the Anomaly Management Agency.
“Not only were they broken, but the information was damaged.”
“Information…”
“The parts where words should have been written were all blank.”
“…I want to see that too.”
“I can’t.”
Section Chief Nam sighed deeply.
“I’m sorry, but none are left. The family took them all…”
“Then I’ll go find them…”
“Jin-ha, the Deputy Director is dead. And he was kidnapped.”
“Ah…”
It was a circumstance of kidnapping followed by murder, not natural death. In this situation, the Deputy Director’s family might also be in danger.
“Are they under protection?”
“Yes, the police are moving. It seems they had a connection with them.”
If another agency was taking protective measures, it meant they suspected that the killer was within the agency. Since the Deputy Director was kidnapped inside the agency, it was a natural conclusion. The police would be wary of all employees of the Anomaly Management Agency. Jin-ha, who had been in the other world all this time, was no exception. Even if he didn’t commit the crime directly, there was no guarantee that he wasn’t an accomplice.
In this situation, to make contact even through protective measures, the Director had to be present.
“…This is troublesome.”
“Me too. There’s not a single thing running properly in the agency right now. I didn’t like the Deputy Director, but…”
Section Chief Nam scratched the back of his head and sighed again.
“I didn’t wish for him to die.”
Jin-ha felt the same way. He didn’t like the Deputy Director, who tried to use him as he pleased, but he didn’t expect to never see him again like this.
Section Chief Nam checked his phone screen to see a message and then looked back at Jin-ha.
“I have to go help with the Director’s return. What will you do now, Jin-ha?”
“I think I’ll go home for now.”
There seemed to be nothing he could do even if he stayed at the agency. Originally, Jin-ha had planned to meet the Deputy Director’s secretary and get the contact information of the Deputy Director’s wife. To deliver condolence money to her and ask for permission to examine the clothes and items the Deputy Director was wearing at the time of his death for clues about his death. But now that he couldn’t meet her, he had to go resolve another matter.
Section Chief Nam nodded.
“It was good to see you for a moment. See you later then.”
“Yes. Goodbye.”
Section Chief Nam left the office with a heavy expression. Jin-ha silently watched his back until he completely disappeared, then turned his gaze away.
—
“Jin-ha!”
When he visited after contacting in advance, not only Cha Ki-young but also Mrs. Cha was at home. Jin-ha accepted the patting on the back as he was embraced by Mrs. Cha, who welcomed him with open arms.
He was also glad to see Mrs. Cha. He hadn’t seen her face for quite a while since she was on a business trip to America last time.
“Did you stay safe?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“I’m glad. I was very worried because that other world place is not easy. Are you not sick anywhere?”
“I’m healthy.”
Even with the blunt answer, Mrs. Cha couldn’t hide her joyful smile. Seeing this, Cha Ki-young pouted.
“No, Mom, welcome your son like that too!”
“You, don’t cause any accidents.”
“What accident did I cause!”
“Don’t you always cause them? Should I list them one by one?”
“……”
Cha Ki-young flinched and glanced at Jin-ha. Since he kept his mouth shut, it seemed he had caused an accident that shouldn’t be found out.
“Food! Let’s just eat. Seok-ho, is the food ready?”
As Jin-ha frowned, Cha Ki-young pretended not to know and turned his gaze away, then fled to the kitchen. Mrs. Cha clicked her tongue at his back and gently held Jin-ha’s hand.
“Jin-ha, I heard the story. You’re investigating Seung-jun’s background.”
“…I heard.”
“That fool is such an accident-prone. I was worried he might cause a big problem, so I had someone keep an eye on him separately.”
It seemed those people had found out about Cha Ki-young’s misdeeds and reported them. Well, there was nothing he could do about that. Jin-ha first bowed his head to Mrs. Cha.
“I’m sorry for making Ki-young do dangerous things, Mother.”
“No, I didn’t mean to say that… but…”
“Even if you don’t say that, I’m sorry.”
Mrs. Cha smiled as if she couldn’t help it.
“That’s why I can say that it’s okay for you to use my son as you please. Thank you for playing with our child. If it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t have had a single friend.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jin-ha smiled without being modest, and Mrs. Cha smiled back. As Mrs. Cha was about to lead him to the living room, Jin-ha impulsively spoke up.
“Mother, you said you’ve been close to my mother since you were young, right?”
“That’s right. There were times when we were apart for a while, but after we met again, we lived close to each other. Oh, should I tell you a story about your mother when she was young?”
“I heard that you were the one who received me when I was born.”
“Yes, that’s right… Why?”
Unlike usual, Jin-ha’s expression was heavy, so Mrs. Cha turned back to him and asked.
“Did something happen?”
“Actually, the reason I’ve been investigating my father lately…”
He couldn’t bring himself to speak. The impulse to ask if Mrs. Cha knew about the truth he had come to know and the shame of wanting to hide his father’s disgrace were mixed.
“Father… Father…”
“What about Seung-jun?”
But the moment he met Mrs. Cha’s gaze, which looked at him worriedly, Jin-ha unknowingly blurted out something completely different from what he had intended to say earlier.
“He seemed to be from another world.”
“…What?”
“On the day my parents passed away, I saw it. Clearly, the words ‘Abon-born’ were floating. So I’ve been investigating what happened.”
Mrs. Cha looked at Jin-ha with a confused expression. Jin-ha continued as he looked at her.
“But according to what Ki-young investigated, my father was American. I’m so confused because only information that’s completely different from the father I knew comes out.”
“…Seung-jun was American.”
“You knew that my father wasn’t originally Korean?”
Mrs. Cha hesitated for a moment and then nodded reluctantly.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me until now…”
“Because it was something that had to be hidden. Honestly, I…”
After a moment of hesitation, Mrs. Cha cautiously spoke up.
“I don’t know if I should tell you this story. If your father’s identity is revealed, you might be in danger too…”
“But my mother… Yes, my mother said never to tell. I can’t break my promise with your mother. I’m sorry, Jin-ha.”
“Mother wouldn’t have told you to hide everything. Please tell me a little.”
Jin-ha pleaded earnestly, holding onto Mrs. Cha. He understood that she cherished her promise with his mother, who was her most precious friend. But now, Jin-ha wanted the truth about his father.
“Please, Mother.”
At Jin-ha’s unusual appearance, Mrs. Cha pondered and pondered, then finally sighed. Jin-ha brightened up, knowing that this sigh meant acceptance.
Mrs. Cha pulled Jin-ha to the dining table and sat him down, then scolded him playfully.
“Don’t smile like that. I can’t tell you everything. It might be hard to understand, but my promise with your mother is really important… But as you said, she didn’t tell me to hide everything, so I can tell you a little. But remember, it’s really dangerous, so you have to be careful about your safety from now on. Understood?”
“Yes, I’ll be careful.”
“Good. It’s not Cha Ki-young, it’s Lee Jin-ha, so I can trust you.”
At Mrs. Cha’s playful whisper, Cha Ki-young got flustered and swung his fist in the air, then was caught by Seok-ho and dragged into the kitchen. Jin-ha naturally pretended not to see this and seriously listened to Mrs. Cha’s words.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
