Chapter 27 – End Convergence Factor Surveillance and Management Bureau

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The End Convergence Factor Surveillance and Management Bureau, managed by Mertzel, is the largest subsidiary of Round Ark.  

This is because “End-Convergence Factors,” or simply “Factors,” are so abundant in this world.  

Not long ago, didn’t chaos erupt when one of the “Sword Emperors” disappeared in China?  

Of course, not many were overly worried due to the individual’s personality and character, but it was still a state of emergency.  

Fortunately, the Sword Emperor, Cheongung, was found not long after.  

And in a very unexpected place.  

On the day Mertzel went to find a Vampire Lord, one of the Factors, out of sheer curiosity.  

Even though she almost got beaten up by the Vampire Lord, her decision to stay was the right one.  

Who would have thought the Sword Emperor who disappeared in China would be found here?  

Thanks to that, Mertzel, who was about to be sent on a long-term assignment to China, was able to stay by the Vampire Lord’s side.  

If asked why Mertzel is so interested in the Vampire Lord, there are many reasons.  

To name a few, she’s simply cute.  

Her demeanor too.  

Ultimately, it’s because the nameless Vampire Lord herself is fascinating.  

Mertzel has a deep interest in the nameless Vampire Lord.  

This isn’t unique to Mertzel.  

People in the underworld usually have their quirks.  

Traits, individuality. Something distinctly recognizable.  

This is what Mertzel calls the “Persona,” the strong individuality unique to underworld humans.  

The stronger the person, the clearer the Persona.  

The employees of the End Convergence Factor Surveillance and Management Bureau, who handle the Factors, are naturally strong.  

They too have distinct personalities and strong Personas.  

Thus, their quirks are evident.  

They’re not much different from Mertzel.  

They have an almost pathological obsession with their surveillance targets.  

It’s a kind of voyeurism.  

Without that, chasing someone all day for surveillance isn’t something a sane person would do.  

Chasing people you don’t want to see or those with repulsive appearances all day would drive anyone insane.  

So, they only choose targets they’re interested in.  

This place, where they can satisfy their pathological quirks while doing their jobs, is practically their calling.  

“Hmm.”  

This is the End Convergence Factor Surveillance and Management Bureau, or simply the End-Surveillance Bureau.  

The headquarters of the End-Surveillance Bureau.  

It doesn’t have the atmosphere of a typical office.  

Photos and sketches, taken in voyeuristic angles, are pinned all over the place.  

Frankly, it looks more like a stalker’s room than a corporate office.  

Surveillance…  

Disguised as voyeurism, stalking.  

“None of them are normal.”  

Mertzel shook her head at the sight.  

It was almost self-criticism.  

After all, Mertzel was like that too.  

‘No, is it criticism?’  

The word choice was wrong.  

In truth, Mertzel didn’t view such scenes negatively in the first place.  

It’s not normal, but it’s not bad either.  

‘What a pleasing sight!’  

Might as well do what you want while working, no need to complicate things!  

And they handle their work properly, so there’s nothing to criticize!  

In fact, this place is like the ideal workplace culture!  

Mertzel went to the Vampire Lord’s assigned area and shouted.  

“I’ve developed new photos! This time, she’s fully awake!”  

At her words, dozens of men and women who were in the middle of a heated discussion looked up and cheered.  

Mertzel smirked and pulled out an envelope.  

If the Vampire Lord were here, who knows how she’d react, but that wasn’t the point.  

The goal is to surveil, stay close, and take as many photos as possible when communication is possible.  

People can change at any moment.  

The Vampire Lord might leave like other Factors, seeking her freedom.  

By then, it’d be too late to reminisce about how cute she was.  

It’s better to milk this opportunity for all it’s worth and let her go.  

That’s why Mertzel particularly loved the Vampire Lord’s cute moments.  

Who doesn’t love cute things in this world?  

In other words, those photos alone could make money.  

Oddly enough, the more skin shown, the higher the price.  

“Alright, there are 20 new photos, no duplicates. Start bidding.”  

“No duplicates? Are they for private collection?”  

A single photo, protected by unparalleled security measures, guaranteed by a current knight, using advanced techniques no one else can replicate.  

Its value skyrockets.  

When a photo of her sleeping, with her outer clothes loosely draped, appeared, everyone held their breath and exchanged glances.  

It was a bad habit, but with no adults around to scold them, such photos were taken.  

Though it felt immoral, the archival value was undeniable.  

A rare, unrefined side of a Factor, something unimaginable.  

A fleeting, disheveled appearance that could disappear at any moment.  

That’s why the price kept rising.  

Some might bid just for the glimpse of her bare stomach, but the voyeuristic collectors of the End-Surveillance Bureau wouldn’t let such a treasure slip by.  

“Sold!”  

That day, Mertzel went home with dozens of bundles of golden bills in her pocket.  

* * *  

Lately, the End-Surveillance Bureau has been busier than usual.  

While the Bureau usually handles significant events, recent incidents have been particularly heavy.  

The disappearance of the Sword Emperor alone was a big deal, but just a day before, the Sword Emperor and the Vampire Lord had a massive fight.  

Two End-Convergence Factors clashing.  

‘It was nerve-wracking.’  

Mertzel expressed her gratitude to the priest who reported the incident to her in time.  

If things had gone wrong, not just Areas A and B, but the entire C Industrial Complex could have been destroyed.  

Still, it’s a relief that things were resolved somehow.  

Moreover, the priest even paid the cleanup costs out of his own pocket.  

Being introduced by Maximilian, he was indeed a wise and reliable person.  

‘A true magnanimous soul!’  

I might have to treat him later.  

For now, it’s a shame he’s affiliated with the Vatican.  

“Hmm.”  

Anyway, Mertzel is now staring intently at a whiteboard.  

“…”  

It’s a whiteboard systematically organizing recent events.  

On one side, there’s information about a large-scale vampire uprising in Europe, and on the other, details about a drug case commissioned by Eucalyptus Pharmaceuticals.  

And then, the disappearance of the Sword Emperor and the appearance of the nameless Vampire Lord.  

These are the significant recent events.  

Mertzel, who can think more logically than others, is trying to piece things together.  

Though her brain is far inferior to Maximilian’s.  

This is also due to her lack of education, having been thrown into this insane underworld since she was five.  

At least, as someone not originally from the underworld, she has some logical structure, which is fortunate.  

Being introduced to this underworld at five means Mertzel was once a normal person in her early childhood.  

Though that’s irrelevant now.  

Mertzel kept thinking.  

‘All these events happening simultaneously isn’t a coincidence.’  

It’d be easier to dismiss it as coincidence, but Maximilian always warned against doing so.  

But Mertzel quickly got a headache.  

Deduction is exhausting. I’d rather see things with my own eyes than rack my brain like this.  

Before she knew it, Mertzel was admiring the photos pinned to the whiteboard instead of deducing.  

There were photos of Cheongung taken by some overly enthusiastic fans, and cute shots of the Vampire Lord sleeping soundly.  

The quality of the portraits was oddly high, a hallmark of the End-Surveillance Bureau.  

Anyway, Mertzel stopped thinking and enjoyed the photos.  

Then, she suddenly snapped out of it when she sensed someone approaching from behind.  

Turning around, she saw one of the Vampire Lord’s surveillance team.  

“Isn’t it too early for a shift change? The other watchers haven’t returned yet.”  

Mertzel pointed out.  

Then she checked the clock.  

“…Why haven’t they returned?”  

It was already past 3 a.m.  

There’s no way they wouldn’t have returned by now.  

Did something happen to the Vampire Lord’s surveillance team?  

Mertzel turned to the watcher who had approached her.  

His face was resolute, but his body was wrapped in bandages.  

The watcher hesitated for a moment before speaking.  

“Sir, I need to correct something. The information needs to be revised.”  

“What?”  

The watcher pointed at the Vampire Lord’s photo.  

“Sir Maximilian’s assumption was completely wrong. The nameless Vampire Lord is not the same person as the one we know.”  

“…What?”  

“We didn’t missee. We all clearly saw the nameless Vampire Lord and her existing in the same place simultaneously. They are not the same person.”  

It was a moment that drastically changed the whiteboard’s layout.