Evil Organization’s Extra Mr. A – Chapter 41

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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“Yes, I’ll be okay on my own.”

A few days had passed since the incident with Green. The monsoon season had arrived, and it rained constantly, so I rarely went out unless absolutely necessary.

With Green’s father in custody, our park meetings had come to a halt. For the time being, she was safe at home, finally able to rest.

That didn’t mean she had let go of her old habits. Even when I wasn’t there, she would still sit on that weathered bench, watching the rain pour down as if searching for something in the sky.

As for me, I was buried in the archives at Spacetroe’s Seoul headquarters, sifting through files with Seira’s credentials. The back-and-forth to her office had been more trouble than it was worth, and after enough pestering, she had simply handed over her login information in exasperation.

I still hadn’t made any significant progress. I’d reached the limit of what I could find in the archives. While they contained older data, they didn’t include classified information, so I needed higher-level access.

But lacking the connections or the authority, I had to make do with what I had.

Today, Green had to go to the police station. While it sounded like she was in trouble, it was just a routine visit. She’d been summoned for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

I’d initially considered going with her, but she’d reassured me,

“I’ll definitely call you if I need help.”

So, I decided to wait and let her handle it independently.

While it sounded like I was looking after her, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride, seeing Green taking control of her situation, finding her own path after such a difficult experience.

“Okay, then please call me after you’re done.”

I hung up and put my phone down. It was an absurd situation, calling Green of Hunter Killer from Spacetroe headquarters, but knowing all this would eventually contribute to our mission, I didn’t find it strange at all.

“Still working on that data?”

As I browsed through the archives, I noticed Ruche approaching. She had probably just come from the salon, her grey hair smoother and more polished than I remembered.

“Yes. Did you go to the salon?”

“Yeah, my hair was getting too messy.”

We chatted casually as Ruche pulled over a chair and sat down next to me, staring blankly at my monitor.

“Are you bored?”

“A little.”

It seemed Ruche didn’t have anything else to do today.

Since I’d been coming to headquarters more often lately, she often sought me out when she was bored, and I’d have to entertain her.

It wasn’t a burden. I was a simple person, and so was Ruche, so a simple conversation was enough to alleviate her boredom.

“Do you know anyone in the research team?”

“Where? At headquarters?”

“Yes.”

“Doubtful.”

Though Ruche and I got along, her personality could be quite demanding, especially around those unfamiliar with her. But it was merely a facade. At heart, she was just someone who wore her emotions on her sleeve.

Anyway, her perceived demanding nature, coupled with my own, meant our social circles were small. Hers wasn’t as small as mine, but it wasn’t particularly wide for a team leader.

“All the team leaders are at headquarters today. Is something going on?”

“We had the monthly meeting. Last month’s review and all that.”

While I hadn’t spoken to them directly or even seen them today, I’d heard from others at headquarters that all the team leaders were present, which made me curious.

We had regular weekly and monthly meetings, but I wasn’t privy to the exact schedule, so I just acknowledged Ruche’s answer.

There was no reason to be surprised. I was just curious, and my curiosity had been satisfied.

“Why don’t you go say hello to Team Leader 1?”

Her suggestion made me frown.

“Do you want to see me get ripped to shreds?”

“Not really, but it might be entertaining.”

Her wide-eyed, deadpan expression told me she was partially serious.

“You know a lot of people in Team 1, don’t you?”

“They’re from my old unit.”

“Why didn’t you join Team 1?”

“You specifically requested me for Team 3.”

“That’s true.”

Before coming to the Seoul branch, I’d been stationed on the mothership in the Pacific, and I was transferred to Seoul because Ruche, who had become the Seoul branch team leader, had requested me. Honestly, I doubted a simple request from Ruche would be enough to get me transferred, but

That’s what I’d been told, so I responded to her question with a puzzled look.

“Do you dislike Team Leader 1 that much?”

“It’s not that I dislike her, I’m terrified of her.”

It wasn’t a lie. If you asked me what I feared most in the world, my third biggest fear would be Ruche when she was crying uncontrollably, my second would be Yu-bin when she was angry,

And my biggest fear would be Team Leader 1.

“You might not know this, Ruche, but back when I was under Team Leader 1…”

“I know.”

“How do you know? We were in different units back then.”

“…You don’t need to know.”

I’d been with Spacetroe for a long time and had been transferred to various units. My superior on my home planet had been Angelica, now Team Leader 2, and my superior on the ship, after we fled into space, had been Team Leader 1.

I hadn’t known much about Ruche back then. I’d only heard rumors about a talented ace in another unit. I’d only met her in person after arriving on Earth. Had she heard about it from another team leader?

I didn’t need to think twice about who would have spread those old stories.

“Did Team Leader 4 tell you?”

Seira, who’d been in the same unit as me from basic training to our time on the ship, knew my history better than anyone.

“Whatever. Just look at your monitor.”

Ruche avoided answering, and I assumed it was Seira who’d told her.

“Hey!”

Speak of the devil. A sharp voice called out from behind me, and I turned around to see Seira, her long black hair tied back, walking towards me.

“Yes?”

“Are you using my account?”

“Yes.”

Seira, seeing Ruche sitting next to me, glanced at my monitor.

“You’re supposed to use it in my office if I’m here. Whose account is that?”

She was right, so I just sat there awkwardly, avoiding her gaze.

Since I was using her account without her permission, while she was in her office, I couldn’t defend my actions.

“I’m sorry. I thought you’d be busy.”

I used formal language, since Ruche was also there, and we were in her office, but it felt incredibly awkward, since we usually only spoke informally when we were alone.

Seira, also unaccustomed to me apologizing, didn’t say anything else.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d given her a proper apology.

After a brief silence, Seira turned to Ruche.

“Why do you look so glum?”

“None of your business.”

“How dare you!”

Seira, displeased by Ruche’s curt response, pinched her cheek, and Ruche swatted her hand away, complaining.

“While A is your subordinate, I’m your equal!”

Ruche had become a team leader because of her recognized abilities as a rising ace, but Seira had also been quickly promoted for her skills.

In addition, Seira wasn’t as easygoing as I was and wouldn’t tolerate the kind of behavior Ruche often directed at me.

And she wasn’t tolerating it now.

“Team 3 is lively as always.”

Another voice called out, and I instinctively tensed, stood up, and saluted.

Angelica, her long silver hair flowing behind her, was walking towards us with a smile.

The problem wasn’t Angelica. It was the woman next to her, dressed in a black suit, with long platinum blonde hair. The sight of her made me tense.

“Commander Esmeralda, hello.”

I knew all the team leaders were at headquarters today, but this sudden gathering was unsettling. There was no reason, or rather, no one liked having their superiors hovering around them.

“Yes, it’s been a while, A.”

“I haven’t had a chance to greet you lately, with all the work I’ve been doing.”

Seira released Ruche’s cheek as the two approached, and Angelica looked at my monitor.

“Still researching?”

“Yes, but I haven’t found anything useful.”

I answered Angelica’s question, my gaze darting between the team leaders, a cold sweat breaking out. I wished they’d all just disappear.

“What brings you two here?”

They hadn’t left yet, so their purpose must have been related to me, but I couldn’t figure out why.

“Kirk is looking for you.”

“Kirk?”

Esmeralda’s words made me tilt my head. Kirk, from Team 1, was one of the few colleagues I’d kept in touch with until my surveillance mission started.

We’d been in the same unit under Commander Esmeralda, so we had a long history, but the important thing wasn’t that Kirk was looking for me.

‘They came all the way here just to tell me that?’

Two team leaders had come to find me just to relay a message.

“I wanted to relay the message and see how you were doing.”

Esmeralda, as if reading my mind, looked directly at me, and I chuckled awkwardly, feeling slightly exposed.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

I quickly excused myself, eager to escape the gathering of four team leaders.

I didn’t know what was going on, but the atmosphere had become tense ever since Seira arrived and the other team leaders joined us. Kirk looking for me was a convenient excuse to leave.

I glanced back and saw they were still there. I decided to take my time before returning, stepped into the elevator, and went down to the first floor.

I hadn’t been anywhere on the first floor besides the lobby lately. I only came down to take a break or to use the elevator, and I didn’t have any business here.

I walked towards the office area, found Kirk, and approached him.

“Hey.”

“Oh, A, you’re here.”

“You sent team leaders to call me over?”

“I didn’t. I was about to leave when they asked me what was up and went upstairs.”

“So, what’s up?”

Kirk hesitated, then suddenly clasped his hands together and bowed his head.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Why so formal?”

“It’s my wedding anniversary today.”

Kirk was unusual. He wasn’t from my home planet but from one of the planets Spacetroe had invaded. He’d joined our ranks, a man with a burly physique and a surprisingly sensitive nature. He’d married an Earth woman seven years ago and now had a daughter.

His influence had been a major factor in my decision to pursue a relationship with Yu-bin without prejudice, despite her being an Earthling.

Anyway, I decided to hear him out.

“So, I want to go on a date with my wife. Could you watch my daughter from the time she finishes kindergarten until the evening?”

“Why me?”

“Who else could I ask?”

It wasn’t that he thought I was the only person he could ask, but that he’d probably asked everyone else and had been turned down.

“What’s the pay?”

I agreed to help, partly because he was a friend and I knew his daughter, though not very well.

“100,000 won.”

“Deal.”

The payment wasn’t important. I would have helped him even without it. But relationships were a two-way street.

It was more comfortable for both of us if I received some compensation for the favor.

“When does kindergarten end?”

His daughter was six years old and still in kindergarten.

“2:30 PM.”

It was currently 12:30 PM.

“Did you take the afternoon off?”

“Yeah, I need a favor.”

“You should have asked earlier.”

I grumbled but still took down his daughter’s kindergarten address, and he thanked me profusely. While it would have been better to go back to the office and organize my thoughts, I didn’t want to return to the tense atmosphere on the 3rd floor.

I had nothing else to do, so I decided to go to the kindergarten early and kill some time nearby. I checked my belongings, grabbed an umbrella from the lobby, and left headquarters.

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