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The weight of authority was palpable from his deep, resonant bass voice. I never dreamed he would come here, so my body stiffened of its own accord.

“Hello. I am Seong Yihyeon, Information Team Leader of the Information Security Department.”

“I am Hong Seongbeom, Manager of Field Operations.”

I immediately bowed my waist in greeting, and Manager Hong gave a faint smile as he reached his hand out toward me. I politely grasped his large, thick hand and shook it. The texture of his palm was rough.

“I’m somewhat acquainted with Director Shin, but this is my first time meeting you, Team Leader Seong. It’s a pleasure.”

“Yes, it’s my first time meeting you as well. It’s an honor.”

In truth, the acquaintance was one-sided on my part. Given his position as Field Operations Manager, Manager Hong often appeared on the Center’s broadcasts to give briefings and such. He had also held the microphone at Kang Juha’s return ceremony not long ago.

Though he was currently retired from the field and working as a commander, I had heard stories that during his prime, he had made a name for himself as an ace comparable to Kang Juha. While Kang Juha’s nickname was Alpha, they said his nickname had been Captain.

But come to think of it, people overseas call Kang Juha ‘Alpha.’ Isn’t it a bit ironic that the Republic of Korea Center has a separate Alpha Team? It’s not like it’s an Alpha Team without an Alpha.

“After Esper Kang Juha was processed as deceased, we expanded the scale of the Alpha Team and increased the training intensity. Because of that, we ended up conducting training in Training Room K, which Esper Kang Juha used to use exclusively.”

“I see.”

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but it was the most recently designed facility, so the structure is extremely similar to an actual Gate. Even if Esper Kang Juha is gone, leaving a place like that neglected would be a waste of taxes. Don’t you agree?”

Manager Hong glanced sideways toward Kang Juha.

Strictly speaking, he would be Kang Juha’s direct superior, yet Kang Juha didn’t even acknowledge him, let alone salute him first; he acted as if the man didn’t even exist. Instead, he took the tablet PC from my hand and scanned the schedule with indifferent eyes… I was the one who felt more uncomfortable.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he wanted to find fault, as Manager Hong did not take issue with Kang Juha’s attitude.

“Please understand that Esper Kang Juha’s memories and mental state are not yet fully intact.”

I sought his understanding first out of moral obligation. Manager Hong laughed heartily and waved his hand.

“It’s quite alright.”

For a split second, it felt like his gaze toward Kang Juha turned cold, but the moment was too brief to be certain of any strangeness.

…It must be my imagination, right?

“Well… whether it’s a training room designed for Esper Kang Juha or not, it is owned by the Center and built with the citizens’ blood-earned taxes, so I have no objection to sharing the training room.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Also, since we have no intention of pushing Esper Kang Juha through training right this second, it doesn’t matter if he trains during the leftover scraps of time.”

“Yes.”

At first, I wondered why the Alpha Team was using that place, but after hearing Manager Hong’s explanation, I felt that I couldn’t carelessly interfere with the Field Operations Department’s judgment. Since they truly believed Kang Juha had died during a mission, there was no reason for them not to use the facility.

“However, if Esper Kang Juha’s training hours increase later on, I believe a schedule adjustment will be inevitable.”

Normally, an Esper’s training schedule should be managed and supervised by the Field Operations Department… It was a bit laughable for me, someone who had never even been out in the field, to argue about such things.

Still, they say blood is thicker than water. Having watched over Kang Juha for more than a month, I was beginning to feel like he was almost an Esper belonging to the National Security Bureau.

And since I had seen things in his memories, I didn’t want to let Kang Juha have any friction with the Alpha Team. No, if possible, I didn’t even want them to make contact.

While one reason was that I had to minimize negative stimuli given the currently incomplete state of Kang Juha’s brain, above all… simply, I just didn’t want to do that.

At my words, Manager Hong wore a faint smile.

“We are also considering that part, so you don’t need to worry. The Field Operations Department also wishes for Esper Kang Juha’s swift return to the field and intends to cooperate with the National Security Bureau as much as possible.”

Ah, as expected, was I being meddlesome for nothing? Just because the Alpha Team dislikes Kang Juha doesn’t mean the entire Field Operations Department dislikes him.

Seeing Manager Hong respond with such a mature and relaxed attitude, I felt embarrassed as if I had shown useless bravado without knowing anything.

Although our duties, work, and departments were completely different, for some unknown reason, Manager Hong felt like a senior Esper from a far-off generation even to me. Perhaps it’s because he’s such a legendary figure.

“Thank you for saying so. The National Security Bureau will also do its best to aid Esper Kang Juha’s recovery.”

I spoke in a noticeably more polite tone than before, and Manager Hong’s smile deepened even further.

“If you two are done talking, would you mind talking to me as well?”

Director Shin waved one hand to make her presence known.

Only then did I tactfully step back. Director Shin put her glasses, which she had taken off and left on the table, back on and showed a refreshing smile.

“You’ve come because we need to discuss matters regarding Esper Kang Juha’s training, correct?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Shall we sit and talk?”

At Director Shin’s guidance, Manager Hong took a seat on the sofa, and Juyoung, who had been waiting by the door, moved briskly to serve tea.

Director Shin does not have a secretary because she finds it troublesome to have someone beside her while she works. Since her work involves handling major national secrets, I could fully understand her desire not to leave even the slightest variable.

Still, perhaps she covets the existence of a secretary sometimes, as she would occasionally cast a suspiciously dark gaze whenever she saw Juyoung tactfully assisting her. It was a look like a professor coaxing an undergraduate student to join their grad school.

Of course, I had absolutely no intention of handing Juyoung over. A secretary who doesn’t play petty tricks, is just a tiny bit stupid, is quick with his hands and feet, is impudent, and is good at reading the room was not easy to find. I had put in the legwork to bring him in myself, so I couldn’t let him be snatched away.

“Thank you, Secretary Park.”

Look at that. She only calls him Secretary Park at times like this. Usually, she just says Mr. Juyoung.

I narrowed my eyes and sent a wary look, but Director Shin desperately avoided my eyes as she placed a file on the table.

<Mutual Business Cooperation Agreement>

1. Miscellaneous information regarding Esper Kang Juha’s health status is considered top secret, and leaking or disclosing this to the outside may result in punishment according to Center law.
2. Both parties promise to do their best for Esper Kang Juha’s return to the field, and must actively engage in areas where mutual cooperation is needed.
3. If there are no grounds for disqualification for Esper Kang Juha’s field deployment, Esper Kang Juha may be deployed to missions at the discretion of the Field Operations Department.

.

.

.

I quickly scanned the items that followed. The Center Director’s seal was already stamped at the bottom of the document. While Manager Hong and I read the copies of the agreement, Director Shin’s seal was also stamped.

Since it was a document drafted by Director Shin and had received the Center Director’s permission, weighing the pros and cons was virtually meaningless.

Seeing the seals of the Center Director, the National Security Director, and the Field Operations Manager stamped in order, the thought occurred to me anew that this case was not simply a problem regarding Kang Juha as an individual.

I wondered why so many things were attached to just one Kang Juha.

Licking my dry lips for no reason, I stamped my seal next to the section for the person in charge. Today, the title of ‘person in charge’ felt particularly heavy.

The agreement finally arrived in front of the party concerned, Kang Juha. Even though he had received a copy along with me, Kang Juha didn’t even make a pretense of reading it. He just stared intently at the paper I was holding; I contemplated telling him that the one in front of him was the same as mine, but then decided against it.

“I don’t have a seal.”

Then, he let out a small, thump, single sentence.

Only then did it occur to me that while I had verbally explained the training and the agreement with the Field Operations Department, I hadn’t given him any hint about what was needed. Naturally, it was my mistake for assuming Kang Juha would know the business process.

“You may write your name by hand.”

For now, as an emergency measure, I handed him the fountain pen I always kept tucked in my pocket.

Taking the pen, Kang Juha pondered for a moment before beginning to write his name clearly next to the word ‘Self.’ Kang Juha’s name, written in black letters next to the seals stamped in red ink, looked out of place.

I couldn’t tell what the subtle expression on Kang Juha’s face as he looked at the agreement meant.