Evil Organization’s Extra Mr. A – Chapter 52

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

While helping Blue look for apartments, we’d found one she really liked. It was a bit too big for a single person, but it would be a significant step towards her independence, and I wanted to help her.

Financially supporting her wasn’t difficult. I wasn’t a materialistic person and could easily afford to help her.

But simply giving her money wouldn’t help, and even if I offered, Blue would stubbornly refuse.

Then I had an idea. I could provide financial assistance, not directly from my own pocket, but as a temporary loan of sorts, something she could repay when she eventually moved out.

It would also help stabilize her finances, which would be tight after moving out.

The next day, I went to Spacetroe headquarters and barged into Ruche’s office without knocking.

“Kyaa!”

Ruche, startled, quickly hid whatever she’d been holding.

“You’re going to burst my eardrums.”

“Don’t you know how to knock?”

“It’s urgent.”

I sat down on her office sofa, and Ruche, curious, sat across from me.

“What’s going on? You’re not acting like yourself.”

“About the relocation allowance you mentioned before. Any updates?”

My plan revolved around the Spacetroe relocation allowance. Compared to the Earth Defense Alliance, or any other Earth corporation, Spacetroe offered excellent benefits.

The executives handled most of the work, and the ordinary soldiers, like me, only did what was necessary. However, the required tasks were often demanding, so the pay was quite good.

They also offered various allowances, and since many employees lived alone, scattered across the city, the relocation allowance was quite generous.

“Are you moving?”

“Not exactly, but I’m looking into real estate, and I was wondering if there’s an allowance for that.”

There weren’t many options. I didn’t think I could realistically receive a relocation allowance without actually moving. But if there was an allowance for real estate investments, or something similar, it would be a significant step forward.

“There are other allowances besides the relocation allowance. You have considerable seniority, so you should be eligible. But why the sudden interest in real estate?”

Ruche’s curiosity was understandable. I wasn’t usually proactive, avoided social interactions, and wasn’t the type to engage in financial ventures.

I was content with doing my job and earning my keep, and Ruche knew that.

“I’m… considering a new venture. So, there are allowances, right?”

“Yes, there are. Want me to look into it for you?”

“That would be great.”

Ruche went to her computer to check, and I was about to follow when she stopped me.

“Don’t come any closer.”

“You’re acting like I’ve committed some unforgivable sin.”

Ruche coughed, realizing she’d been too harsh.

“Just stay there. I’ll look into it.”

As I’d mentioned before, Spacetroe server accounts allowed for personal data storage, and some people kept private files there.

I assumed Ruche was one of them and sat back down on the sofa, waiting for her to finish.

“There’s a business venture allowance, but are you planning to start a business?”

“I’m not the type to start a business.”

I had no confidence in my management skills and had never considered starting a business. But to receive the allowance, I needed a plausible explanation, a way to frame my assistance to Blue as a business venture.

“I’m on surveillance duty, and I used to develop programs using deep space technology, remember?”

“You used to?”

She probably didn’t remember. While I knew of Ruche’s reputation back when I was stationed in space, we hadn’t known each other.

“Yeah, back when you were a complete asshole.”

We both turned our heads at the voice, and Seira stood there, having entered without knocking.

“Didn’t we agree you’d knock before entering my office?”

Seira ignored Ruche’s complaint about her unannounced entry and handed her a document.

“Team Leader 1 told me to give this to you.”

“What is it?”

Ruche frowned as she looked at the document.

“What is it?”

Curious about her reaction, I peeked over her shoulder from the sofa. It was our team’s performance evaluation report. Seira must have run into Team Leader Esmeralda on her way up from the first floor and had been asked to deliver it.

“You can deliver it yourself.”

“Fine.”

Seira, having approached Ruche, glanced at her monitor.

“Allowances? Your team still has allowances left?”

Our team’s poor performance meant significantly fewer allowances compared to other teams. It didn’t affect our individual salaries, just the additional funds for team operations.

“It’s not for our team. A asked me to look into it.”

“You? What does the allowance have to do with you being an asshole?”

She always phrased things so harshly. It was true that I’d gone through a bit of a rebellious phase during my time in space.

“I wasn’t being an asshole, I was just… going through a phase.”

Seira, having been in the same unit as me back then, knew my history well. She’d been a fighter pilot, and I’d been a mechanic, so we’d interacted frequently.

“Why? Back then, Ruche…”

“Ahem!”

Ruche’s sudden cough interrupted Seira, and Seira, confused, looked back and forth between us. I also looked at them, not understanding why Ruche had stopped her.

“Forget it. He wouldn’t remember anyway.”

Wouldn’t remember? Had I met Ruche back then?

“Really? He doesn’t know? Don’t tell me…”

Seira, who usually bickered with Ruche, looked at her with wide eyes, then turned to me, and seeing my clueless expression, muttered, “So it’s true.”

“Did I meet Ruche before?”

“Yes.”

“Wow.”

“What?! Tell me what happened!”

They continued their cryptic conversation, leaving me out, and I was subjected to their cold stares for something I didn’t even remember.

“So, you’re looking for a workspace for this… project?”

Seira, still unaware of the details, had pieced together a story based on what she’d overheard, and it seemed plausible enough, setting up a workspace for a work-related project.

“Yes, why?”

“As I always say, you’re better off doing nothing.”

Her words, which I hated, made me frown. It was one of the reasons I’d become so passive. She’d been saying that ever since our academy days, and I’d had to endure it throughout our years in the same unit.

I’d thought I’d finally escaped her constant discouragement after being transferred from the mothership to Seoul, but then Seira had also been transferred to the Seoul branch, after being nominated by Ruche, whose name I’d only known back then, and I’d had to endure her comments again.

“Leave A alone. He’s good at his job.”

Ruche, surprisingly, came to my defense, and Seira turned to look at her. The tension between them was palpable. I wanted to escape the awkward situation, but I couldn’t, since I’d asked Ruche for help.

“You might not know this, but A is better off doing nothing.”

“Have you ever considered how that makes him feel?”

“Who are you to judge how he feels?”

While her words did bother me, I knew I couldn’t say anything and that I couldn’t let their argument escalate. I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Don’t fight. I’m not planning anything major, so don’t worry, Team Leader Seira.”

Seira frowned, hearing my formal tone. She disliked being addressed formally.

“What’s wrong with doing something? You have no right to tell him what to do. A is my subordinate.”

“What?”

My simple plan to get information about the allowance was unraveling. Ruche, who’d been typing on her computer, also stopped, and I sighed, frustrated by the escalating tension.

“Whatever, I delivered the message, so you two do whatever you want.”

Seira grumbled and left the office, slamming the door behind her. Ruche stared at the closed door, then turned back to her computer and resumed her search. I watched her, unsure what to say.

“Ruche, don’t worry about it. She doesn’t mean any harm, even if she speaks harshly.”

While her words did bother me, Seira was my oldest friend, and I didn’t want her to argue with Ruche, my supportive superior.

“I know, but she could be a little nicer. Words matter.”

Ruche’s gaze turned to me.

“What? Are you taking her side because you’re childhood friends?”

Her voice was laced with annoyance, a hint of hurt, and a touch of childish petulance. I knew she’d sulk, or even cry, if I didn’t reassure her.

“Of course not. If I were to take sides, I’d be on your side, Ruche.”

Having become Ruche’s subordinate, I’d learned how to manage her moods, and the best approach in this situation was to agree with her. She knew I was just saying that to appease her,

But it seemed to work anyway. I wasn’t sure how I’d become so adept at handling her.

“?”

As Ruche turned back to her computer, I felt a fleeting thought cross my mind, then it vanished like dust.

“Ruche, did we meet before I came to the Seoul branch?”

“…Think about it, with that tiny brain of yours.”

Had my question upset her again? She was now completely ignoring me, her attention focused solely on the computer.

This was a headache. I didn’t know why she was upset, so I couldn’t apologize.

And honestly, even if we had met before, was it really that big of a deal if I didn’t remember?

I tried to recall, wanting to appease her, but I had no memory of meeting Ruche during my time in space.

“…”

I sat back down on the sofa, waiting for her to finish her search.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇