Welcoming the New Recruits.

 

Cleaner.

A slang term referring to people who handle dirty work or contract killers.

Born as the child of a large corporation, but due to political and physical issues, lived a life as a cleaner rather than an heir.

The biggest problem was that with a brother five years older, having another successor could cause factional infighting.

If only I had been born a woman, I might have lived a better life.

Even as a tool for marriage, I would have been happier than back then.

The physical issue was that I was weak.

Albino.

White hair and strange red eyes.

“Even though I got my wish to become a woman, why are my red eyes still the same?”

Even though they changed my hair to black.

Anyway, when I was being trained to become a cleaner, there were many other children besides me.

A total of 30.

Initially, there were numbers 1 through 30, but as their bodies or minds broke down, they disappeared one by one, and gradually higher numbers appeared.

The reason number 62 particularly stuck in my memory among all those people was because she alone used a pistol.

As you know, Korea is a country where guns are illegal.

Cleaners disguise their kills as suicides or accidents; they don’t use guns.

So I too learned how to kill using a dagger and a cord.

I had fired a gun before, but only knew the basics.

“Her shooting skills were absolutely incredible.”

At first, I thought she had been sent by my family.

But thinking carefully, there were several strange things.

For one, the way she used her number as is, and the fact that she hadn’t created a backstory was strange.

Unless she was confident that I wouldn’t recognize her, it wouldn’t have been planned so sloppily.

Conversely, it felt like she wanted me to recognize her.

‘The part about being a war mercenary is also true.’

The most important aspect of being a cleaner is to appear ordinary.

They wouldn’t give someone a flashy record like being a war mercenary.

The one remaining possibility is that she’s living under a new identity like me.

It’s not impossible since my appearance and race have changed too.

‘Unlike before, my own fighting strength has increased, so there’s no need to cling to them anymore.’

I don’t know what the truth is, but I’m no longer the obedient person I used to be.

Creeeeak-

62’s room in the mansion.

Inside, weapons including firearms occupy the walls, and there isn’t a single item that appears to be a personal possession.

The interior wallpaper is a bleak gray, and her hair, pupils, and clothes are all gray.

If an ordinary person lived in this room for even a day, they might develop a mental illness.

“What do you want?”

“You’re quite terse with your team leader.”

62, who was cleaning a gun while sitting in a chair, looked in my direction.

Her disheveled ash-gray hair grown down to her buttocks and colorless, achromatic eyes give an impression somewhere between decadent beauty and devastation.

With a height of about 160cm and average proportions with moderately sized breasts, she appears smaller than she is, perhaps due to her hunched back and large sniper rifle.

Her eyes are quite large, giving somewhat of a small animal impression, but with no change in expression, it also feels eerie.

People with unusual tastes might eagerly come forward for her.

‘I’m somewhere in the middle.’

I can tell it’s a special suit, but skintight outfits aren’t my preference.

Besides, she’s already 37.

In their terms, would “past her prime” be the right expression?

‘More importantly, how does she not even blink an eye?’

I’m trying to intimidate her, but there’s not even a slight movement.

Since she’s a machine, is that to be expected?

“I was originally human. I know how to make facial expressions.”

“Then you should also know how to be respectful.”

“A luxury for mercenaries.”

Yes. It’s confirmed.

She’s definitely not a mole planted by them.

There’s absolutely no way they would keep someone who behaves like that.

“Number 62. What purpose do you have for applying here?”

“As I said, it’s for the money. There’s no other reason.”

“You didn’t think I wouldn’t recognize who 62 is, did you?”

“I purposely wanted you to know.”

I’m glad it was intentional.

If it hadn’t been, I would have wanted to fail her in the interview, regardless of the process.

I almost committed interview fraud, really.

“Setting aside why you came looking for me, how did you know to find me?”

“That unnecessarily polite way of speaking. Your combat habits and demeanor. The timing of your disappearance was also the same, and how many people in Korea learn to use a dagger?”

“You’re not just guessing, are you?”

“The goddess of fortune is on my side.”

What goddess of fortune.

More importantly, this kid knows I was a man, yet shows no reaction.

Is it because she’s an android and lacks emotions…

If she can make expressions, does that mean she has emotions?

“I was human. Having emotions is natural, isn’t it?”

“Come to think of it, the snow woman also had many emotional changes.”

If she wasn’t sent by them, then there’s no particular problem, so I might as well head back.

I have to deal with overseas matters too, so time is very tight.

I really can’t take a month off.

“Aren’t you curious about anything else?”

The tone is the same, but there’s a sense of urgency in it.

“No. I’ve known for a long time that they’ve been killing all the former cleaners.”

“You know everything and just let it go?”

“I arrived in Korea less than a month ago. I simply don’t have time to investigate the case.”

During the Gate incident 20 years ago, those cleaners under their control who developed abilities escaped to live their own lives.

No one looked for them when the world was in chaos, but they wouldn’t leave people who knew their dirty secrets alone.

“I could kill them all and look for evidence, but that’s a gamble. If I were taking responsibility alone, that would be one thing. But R.A can’t avoid responsibility either.”

“Don’t you have any desire for revenge?”

“Is there really a need for that?”

As I said before.

I know everything they’ve done, and now I wield power in Korea.

“As long as they’re criminals, I’ll have to do it even if I don’t want to.”

“Save me too while you’re at it.”

“If you perform well, I’ll save you.”

Capable people are always welcome.

“Shall we head to Paris?”

♦♦♦

“No! I won’t go! I absolutely refuse to go!”

-Then you’ll have to die.

“Is it okay for the association to use villain-like methods? I’m going to report this to a human rights organization.”

-Go ahead. Villain Phantom.

“Hey! I’ve worked hard for 8 years. Isn’t it about time you listened to me for once!”

-I told you I’d listen after you complete 10 years.

Phantom.

A villain who lived in cyberspace, hacking various institutions and personal information to sell for money.

Tracking her was not only difficult, but killing her was also nearly impossible.

After evading pursuit for over 5 years, Phantom was caught just 2 years after Tia joined R.A.

‘If it weren’t for that woman, I wouldn’t have suffered such humiliation.’

Just like with Death, Tia has the ability to kill things that don’t die.

Even Phantom, who could transform her body into information, couldn’t escape Tia’s grasp.

The terror from that time still remains in her body, tormenting her.

Her scattered body simultaneously felt fear and couldn’t move.

“No! How do I know when I’ll die if I’m next to that woman!”

-If you don’t go, you’ll definitely die. If Tia doesn’t do it, I will.

Phantom, whose ability had been exposed and weakness discovered, couldn’t escape from Sandra either.

-But I pay you well in return.

“I have no freedom!”

-Complete 10 years and I’ll give you time off.

“You demons.”

In the end, Phantom had no choice but to go to Korea.

“This is too much…”

Phantom, who had emerged from the world of information, sniffled tears in a corner of the room.

♦♦♦

Phantom.

A valuable Awakened who has raised R.A’s operational efficiency by two levels.

In today’s information age, living without the internet is nearly impossible.

Unless you’re escaping to live in the mountains, people can appear faintly in photos taken by others in this era.

Who knows how many criminals would have gone uncaught without Phantom.

That’s why we specially contracted that after working for just 10 years, all her past crimes would be forgiven.

This measure was possible because she had never physically harmed anyone.

Many people wanted Phantom’s personal information, and several countries demanded her custody, but we rejected them all and continue to make good use of her.

People have complaints?

Then catch her yourselves.

Phantom is one of the fastest runners counted from the top. What would you do if you take responsibility and she escapes?

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in person.”

“He…Hello…”

Where did the little brat who used to defy me go? Now there’s just a girl trembling in fear.

Her dull purple hair has never been cut, with bangs covering her eyes and the back dragging on the floor.

For clothes, she’s wearing just one stretched-out t-shirt.

She’s not wearing underwear, but with a height of 150cm and a figure that makes it hard to tell if she’s male or female, she doesn’t look provocative at all.

“I’m… sorry.”

Tears flow from her dull purple eyes.

‘Someone might report this as child abuse.’

I just hope she doesn’t act like this in front of others.

On the internet, she uses an avatar, so only the Association President and I know her real face.

There’s no problem with her walking around outside.

Her appearance isn’t bad either, so I’ve planned to use her somewhat like a mascot.

Her opinion?

I don’t take the opinions of criminals.

“We’ll be working together for the next 3 years, so let’s get along with smiles.”

“Yes… 3 years? But I… that is… I have 2 years left…”

“Are you planning to commit crimes again after 2 years? It’s easier to just stay with R.A.”

“But… that… freedom…”

“From then on, you’ll be an employee, not a slave.”

“So I am a slave after all!”

Trot trot trot-

That’s strange.

I only intimidated her a little.

Is the fear still lingering?

“Do you have clothes?”

“…No. I want to go home.”

This is your home, where else are you going?