Ch.37Chapter 2. Seed of the Devil (6)

After handing my business card to Malttugi.

I immediately transformed into a spirit form and, taking advantage of the darkness, climbed up the wall of the official residence toward my destination.

Click.

“You’re here? Good work… ugh?!”

I opened the window, entered, closed it behind me, and immediately subdued the Tavern Owner.

[Is this betrayal?]

“W-what are you talking about?!”

[Someone called Malttugi from Hwalbindang appeared at the place I went to attack. What’s going on?]

“Hwalbindang? Wait, I honestly have no idea what’s happening!”

The Tavern Owner seemed genuinely confused.

This could also be an act, so I maintained my hold.

[I have three possibilities in mind right now. One is that by sheer coincidence, two forces attacked the same place simultaneously. Another is that Hwalbindang followed your trail while you were gathering information. And the last one is…]

“That I betrayed you? That’s impossible…! Even if I die, I’ll die as a member of The Syndicate!”

[Then was it truly a coincidence that our paths crossed? I don’t think so.]

Malttugi appeared right after I destroyed all the facilities and dealt with the demon.

Unless he was timing his appearance, there’s no way he could have shown up at such a perfect moment.

[I don’t believe in coincidences. Especially not in situations like this.]

“I’m really being wronged here…!”

[Are you sincere?]

“Yes! I just followed the orders that came from above!”

[Then there’s only one possibility left.]

I felt slightly irritated.

[…Who was the first person to give you this mission and order you to gather information?]

“What? Don’t tell me you think there’s a traitor within The Syndicate?”

[Answer me.]

Information had leaked.

If the Tavern Owner who collected the information wasn’t the traitor, then naturally, something must have gone wrong higher up.

[It’s against etiquette to ask this among Syndicate members, but which legion do you belong to?]

“Qiongqi Legion! I belong to Lord Qiongqi!”

[Which division in Qiongqi Legion? Is it the Bifang Division? Or the Suzaku Division? Phoenix Division?]

“…Night Raven. Ugh, to think I’d have to reveal everything.”

When an informant reveals all their affiliations, it’s equivalent to walking the path of ‘dismissal’ themselves.

Just as intelligence agents don’t specifically disclose their affiliations, Syndicate members naturally don’t speak in detail about their information.

But the fact that she’s said this much means that the Tavern Owner, in her own way, is innocent.

Revealing her affiliation to me, who belongs to a different unit, is like putting her life on the line.

That’s how it is in The Syndicate.

[Alright. I’ll believe you. But I can’t trust your superiors.]

“T-that can’t be. Night Raven is directly under Lord Qiongqi. There’s no way Night Raven would betray The Syndicate.”

[We’ll see.]

I deactivated my transformation.

“I’ll find out the details by checking directly.”

I put on the hotel robe I had instructed to be prepared beforehand, tied the belt, and then put the Taegeuk Watch back on my wrist, which had been placed on the desk.

“Are you going to call the Night Raven captain?”

“No.”

I pointed upward with my finger.

“It’s a Korean trait. When something goes wrong, we don’t confront the rank but the person in charge, the higher-up.”

“…You don’t mean?”

Beep beep.

The phone rang about three times.

[Ah, hello!]

“Hello, Director.”

[Ah, Director? Yes, right. I can talk now.]

The Tavern Owner’s expression turned to shock as she looked at me.

Probably because the ‘Director’s’ voice was completely different from what she usually heard.

“I just experienced a strange situation while on a mission with someone from Night Raven.”

[……What?]

Unlike the cheerful voice from just a moment ago, the voice turned cold, causing even the Tavern Owner’s expression to change.

“The situation is roughly as follows.”

I relayed the situation I experienced without missing a single detail.

[Can you put them on the phone?]

“You can speak now. They’re right next to me.”

[Name and rank.]

“Yes, sir! N-Night Raven Second Generation, Deputy Celestia, sir!!”

She was called Tavern Owner, but her name isn’t tavern-owner-like at all.

[Celestia…. Celestia…. Hmm, I see. Manager, can you give me 3 minutes? I’ll check right away.]

“It’s fine if it takes longer.”

[Stay on the line. I’ll quickly check… Done.]

The Director let out a hollow laugh.

[It seems there’s someone in Night Raven who wants to join Hwalbindang. They’ve lost their mind. To mess with the Goblin of all people.]

“Is this woman not involved?”

[Poor thing, she was just used. If you want, say the word. I’ll send someone else right away.]

“It’s not that serious, so it’s fine. If there’s any fault, it’s that she didn’t notice her superior had sinister plans. Or… maybe there are still many in The Syndicate who don’t approve of me.”

[T-that’s not true! How could anyone not approve of someone as capable and excellent as Manager Do!]

“That’s exactly my point.”

Who in the organization would like someone who rose from a low-ranking official to directly under the leader in just 6 months?

Especially when I’m not even part of any team but working independently.

“Anyway, be careful. Since many of the people under you, Director, are from this country, there might be others besides the one who leaked information this time. Whether through family ties, teacher-student relationships, regional connections, or school ties.”

[I understand. I can’t suddenly cut off everyone’s heads, but I’ll look into it step by step. And you there, Celestia.]

“Yes, Director!”

Celestia straightened her posture with a disciplined voice.

[Keep working as you have been. Don’t skip any missions or orders that suddenly come your way.]

“Pardon?”

[After all, whether it’s Hwalbindang or anywhere else, just because they contact the Goblin doesn’t mean the Goblin will betray and go elsewhere.]

That’s right.

I have no reason to betray The Syndicate, and I have no intention of doing so.

Even if they offered three times what The Syndicate does.

[But I can’t tolerate them using The Syndicate’s internal information network to keep trying to pull the Goblin to their side. So, pretend you don’t know and accept all instructions. Whether they come through Night Raven or indirectly through requests for support from other units.]

“Perhaps… if the same thing happens again, do you plan to handle it personally, Director?”

[Oh my, me personally? I’m not that free. The HR team will handle it ve-ry well.]

I translated that for the Tavern Owner by mouthing the words.

It means she’ll deal with them directly.

[Manager Do. I’d appreciate if you didn’t tell the other directors about this. Especially that gloomy friend.]

“Of course. I have no intention of causing trouble for you, Director. Oh, and it’s a bit awkward to chat during work.”

I extended my hand toward the Tavern Owner to stop her, cleared my throat, and gently kissed the Taegeuk Watch.

[…Huh?]

“Thank you, Director. Thanks to you, I was able to clear up the misunderstanding.”

[Oh, u-um, yes…! It’s only natural to resolve an unfortunate incident that happened in our team! If anything else comes up, let me know. I-I’m hanging up!]

Click.

The call ended.

I pressed the Taegeuk Watch to turn off the screen, then stood up and formally apologized to the Tavern Owner.

“I apologize. I thought you were a Syndicate traitor in league with Hwalbindang.”

“N-no, it’s fine.”

“Let’s be comfortable like before the mission. After all, knowing your identity doesn’t change what you have to do.”

“Oh, okay. I understand… But…”

The Tavern Owner, seeming a bit more relaxed, carefully asked while pointing at my Taegeuk Watch.

“Is that… Lord Qiongqi?”

“Yes.”

“…You’re on direct calling terms with Lord Qiongqi?”

“I have direct numbers for all director-level… ‘Four Executives.’ Though I rarely call them.”

I can call them, but they can’t call me directly.

By the leader’s orders.

“I apologize for the rudeness, but I look forward to working with you. I’m a bit desperate to hide my identity.”

“Oh, n-no, it’s okay. It’s my fault for accepting orders without properly checking where they came from. So, it’s okay…?”

I’m the one who committed the rudeness by restraining her arm, but the Tavern Owner is clearly worried and watching my reaction.

“Then to make up and clear the misunderstanding, shall we have a drink together?”

To celebrate the successful completion of the mission.

As a purification ritual to wash away the heat of killing various evil entities.

“Chicken and beer, how about it?”

“…Ah.”

The Tavern Owner brightened up with a wide smile, then—

“…But I just ran out of beer.”

Her expression immediately stiffened.

“Can’t be helped. Tavern Owner.”

I pointed at her Taegeuk Watch.

“Order delivery.”

“Ah.”

“There are places that sell late-night food and beer even at this hour. I’ll take a shower in the meantime.”

“Alright. I’ll order right away, so take your time showering. But… can I just ask one thing? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“What is it?”

“What kind of relationship do you have with… Lord Qiongqi?”

“……”

It’s a somewhat complicated relationship.

“To you, Qiongqi might seem like an extremely cold and calculating person, but to me, she’s a woman with a warmer heart than anyone.”

“Wow….”

That’s exactly right.

Qiongqi is.

She truly is a woman with a warm heart.

“After I shower, let’s chat a bit while eating chicken. I don’t really care who the missions you receive come from.”

“Then…?”

“Missions related to demons.”

It was fortunate that the first mission was exactly what I was looking for.

“From now on, accept anything related to demons, demon seeds, or anything demon-related, even if it seems suspicious. Especially… Pandemonium.”

The massive organization where all named demons gather.

“All demons must be killed.”

For the peace of the world, and for our Syndicate’s smooth conquest of the world.

And so.

I dealt with the ‘first’ demon seed.