Got Dropped into a Ghost Story, Still Gotta Work-Chapter 145

Jang Heoun.

The colleague who had received the ‘Bison’ mask was a man whose perpetually gloomy expression didn’t quite match his large physique.

During the new employee orientation, he had been the last to receive his mask, covered in blood, and was later assigned to the Cleanup Team, where he performed duties that were closer to workplace bullying than actual work.

But after surviving in this chaotic, mad pharmaceutical company, I thought he might have toughened up a bit....

“I... I hadn’t heard any news since I had to infiltrate the Disaster Management Bureau right after I last heard you had gone missing... But I’m really glad to see you like this.”

Surprisingly, he even seemed a little calmer now.

‘...Looks like this side suits him better, too.’

However, he kept sneaking glances at my missing right arm, his face gradually turning pale as if he wanted to ask but thought it would be rude.

At times like this, it was best to give an appropriate answer.

I deliberately waved my empty sleeve lightly and gave a wry smile.

“I was unlucky enough to get a tough mission right from the start. But since the Disaster Management Bureau will be taking care of me, I’ll be fine.”

“Ah... I see.”

For some reason, I could feel Ko Yeongeun’s strange gaze on me, but I decided to ignore it for now.

“You were assigned to the Field Cleanup Team, right?”

“Oh, yes.”

Jang Heoun’s face brightened a little.

“Well, there are times when I have to see some... rather gruesome things, but....”

Ah.

Right, the Cleanup Team’s job was literally to clean up the messes.

“But everyone’s been considerate since I’m new, so I’ve been able to adapt well.”

That was a relief. However, his face darkened slightly again.

“It’s just... that’s actually why I’m more worried.”

“Huh?”

“I heard earlier that we need to steal some really dangerous ghost story documents... Are we really going to be okay?”

“...!”

“The Disaster Management Bureau genuinely handles supernatural disasters with a strong sense of duty. I’m worried we might cause serious damage.”

Hmm.

“If that’s the case, are you planning to quit?”

“.......”

I didn’t need to hear the answer to know it.

—No.

Everyone here was desperate enough for the ‘Wish Ticket’ to come.

I knew that under different circumstances, they wouldn’t act selfishly. Considering the kindness and determination Ko Yeongeun had shown back at Lucky Mart, even more so.

But inside these people, there was something—something they couldn’t compromise on.

...Yeah.

‘If nothing’s going to change anyway....’

Might as well ease their minds a little.

“It should be fine if we take it.”

“...! R-Really?”

“Yes.”

This was the truth.

“The company wouldn’t dare tamper with a high-grade ghost story so recklessly. Besides, we’re not actually stealing the ghost story itself—we’re just passing along the information.”

Of course, Baekilmong Co. wasn’t looking for it for any noble purpose, but in the grand scheme of things, that Extinction-Level disaster hadn’t done any more harm to humanity than it already had.

...Because it had already been as harmful as it could be.

“As long as we don’t show excessive loyalty to the company and actually steal a supernatural disaster under government control, we should be fine.”

“Ah, o-of course...!”

What we should really be worried about was something else.

‘What if they decide to discard us once the job’s done...?’

...Would Director Ho really not dispose of us?

Once I got my Wish Ticket, I would return to where I originally came from, so it wouldn’t matter to me. But those two would still have to live in Korea, meaning they needed to be extra careful not to get blacklisted by the Disaster Management Bureau.

Hmm.

“For now, let’s make sure we don’t slip up on code names. Should we share our agent aliases?”

I pointed to myself.

“I’m ‘Grape.’ How about you, Heoun?”

“Oh, I was given the agent name ‘Hwagak.’”

“Hwagak?”

“Yes. Apparently, it refers to a traditional craft technique using ox horn... I, uh, it was recommended to me.”

Like a joke, he’d ended up with another ox-related alias.

“I’m... ‘Peppermint.’”

Then Ko Yeongeun spoke up.

“It used to be used as medicine in the past, and... I didn’t want to pick anything too flashy.”

“I see. It’s a good agent name.”

A brief, warm conversation followed as we shared recent updates.

Oh, and I got some vitamins too.

“The New Investigation Team has a bit of an individualistic atmosphere. But since I was reported missing and returned, my superiors gave me vitamins as a welcome-back gift... You two should have some too.”

“Ah.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Honestly, if this were a normal company, these coworkers would be more than enough to make it a decent workplace.

...If only I weren’t playing spy for a mad pharmaceutical company in a ghost story setting while infiltrating the government.

‘Sigh.’

I shared a brief update about myself as well.

“...! You’re going to be discharged within a week?!”

“That’s right.”

The wound where my right arm had been severed had stabilized quickly—likely due to some kind of supernatural treatment at the Disaster Management Bureau’s affiliated hospital.

‘I’ll probably be discharged after about another week of hospitalization.’

“And once I’m out, I’ll be an interim agent for three weeks, experiencing various departments. If we run into each other, let’s work well together.”

“O-Of course!”

I’m definitely heading to the Cleanup Team. I’m counting on you, Heoun....

That’s when—

“Soleum, about your discharge.”

“Hm?”

Ko Yeongeun suddenly spoke up.

“You’ll be receiving psychiatric counseling before you’re discharged, right? I mean, considering you were in a survival situation and suffered a serious injury... They should check for psychological trauma, too.”

“Oh, yeah. They’ll probably arrange something... Don’t worry. I’ll be careful not to reveal any of our information.”

“.......”

However, Ko Yeongeun shook her head.

“You’re already under some kind of geas or prohibition, so you literally can’t reveal anything. I just think it’d be good for you to talk openly.”

“...Thanks.”

“...Yeah.”

Ko Yeongeun nodded slightly.

“And now that we’re ‘officially’ acquainted within the Disaster Management Bureau, I’ll visit you at the hospital and pretend to exchange numbers with you. That way, we can stay in contact naturally.”

“Sounds good. Oh, Heoun, let’s find a way to do the same next time we meet.”

“Y-Yeah...!”

With that, we established our future plans.

Avoid any unnatural connections through the Fox Counseling Room.Use an anonymous messaging app for any critical or fatal emergencies—disguised as spam messages.“Then, let’s meet again safely.”

“Yes. Definitely...”

As I left the Fox Counseling Room, I suppressed a sigh.

‘Playing spy is no joke.’

Especially when the boss was like that.

If I wanted to stay safe, I needed more precautions.

I had already resolved to make thorough preparations—especially if I wanted to avoid another insane disaster like the one at Lucky Mart.

‘Alright.’

One week left until discharge.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

‘I’ll make sure everything is ready.’

And the first step was this.

I checked the message I had sent before entering the counseling room earlier.

[Team Leader, would you be available for a call this evening?]

A quick and concise reply had arrived.

[Yes.]

Team Leader of Team D—Lee Jaheon.

It was a response from my former superior.

The objective was simple.

‘The doll I bought from Lucky Mart... was on Lee Jaheon’s desk.’

It was definitely the same item I had seen there. And I was convinced it was a useful item.

Safety and performance.

I had managed to secure both.

If it were a dangerous item, there was no way Lee Jaheon would have just left it sitting on his office desk.

And considering the nature of that lizard, it was more likely to be an unusual and powerful item.

Even if I didn’t overthink it—wouldn’t an item sitting on the desk of a Field Investigation Team manager obviously be useful in dealing with ghost stories?

‘Good.’

Only one thing remained.

‘I need to figure out how to use it.’

And the Lizard Team Leader would be the one to give me the answer!

A few moments later, I was on the call.

Heart pounding, I immediately asked—

“Team Leader. Under what circumstances did you use the lizard doll on your desk?”

-? No, I didn’t.

“.......”

Wait a minute.

That unexpected denial... Could it be?

“You’ve never used the lizard doll at all?”

-That’s correct.

“...Wasn’t that item something you personally purchased?”

-Yes.

“.......”

I’m screwed....

‘N-No, wait.’

Let’s narrow it down.

Like this.

“Do you at least know how to use the lizard doll?”

Please.

Please...!

-Yes.

Phew.

Thank god.

“I actually acquired one myself, but I have no idea how to use it. I’d appreciate it if you could provide detailed instructions on its intended function.”

And in the end, I added—

“...The purchase wasn’t from an intergalactic shopping mall, by the way.”

I blurted it out because I felt guilty for no reason.

‘I haven’t even been able to visit there yet since I’m broke....’

Regardless, Lee Jaheon was unfazed.

-Understood.

And then, as if it was no big deal, he explained—

-It’s a reptile ecology education toy.

“.......”

Excuse me?

“An education toy?”

-Yes. If provided with the appropriate food, it undergoes shedding after eating.

“.......”

-......

“.......”

I barely managed to ask—

“Does the shed skin function as a defensive item?”

-No.

“......What if you feed it special items or blood? Does it exhibit unique abilities?”

-No.

I suddenly wanted a refund.

‘F***....’

Then why the hell did he leave it on his desk and confuse people?!

‘It’s just a glorified garbage disposal for food scraps!’

Of course, I couldn’t exactly yell at an alien lizard that shot lasers, so I barely managed to respond—

“I see. Thank you for the information.”

-Understood.

Fine. It was my own fault for betting on some bizarre possibility in that insane mart.

‘It really was just a toy....’

Finally, I resigned myself and changed the subject.

“It’s been a while since I last contacted you. I apologize for reaching out via call instead of visiting in person.”

-That’s alright. This way is safer.

Was he being considerate of the fact that I was a spy and didn’t want to risk exposing me to the Disaster Management Bureau?

“Thank y—”

Just as I was about to express my gratitude, his indifferent voice interrupted with a completely different reason.

-Director Cheong has caught onto your whereabouts.

“......!”

What?

-Director Cheong suspects that your disappearance was staged and that you’ve actually been working for Director Ho for the past month.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Wait.

If he thought my disappearance itself had been fabricated—

‘Then wouldn’t that mean he believes I betrayed him and sided with Director Ho from the beginning?’

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

“...Could this misunderstanding lead to retaliation against me?”

-Yes.

I swallowed hard.

-So be careful.

“...Got it.”

I made up my mind.

‘As soon as this spy mission ends—I’m running.’

There was no way I was going to hesitate.

As soon ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ as I secured my Wish Ticket, I was getting the hell out of this damned company and returning.

Back home!

“Thank you.”

After expressing my gratitude, I ended the call with Lee Jaheon.

Then, another notification popped up on my phone.

[Baek Saheon: Hey.]

[Baek Saheon: Are you not buying the information?]

My former dorm roommate—who had agreed to dig up the latest gossip and secrets from within this damned company.

[Baek Saheon: Do you not need the information or what?]

Hmm.

I sent him a message.

[Sounds like you’re confident?]

But there was no immediate response.

Guess he’s not ready yet.

‘Then I’ll just leave him alone until he’s desperate enough to bring back even more intel.’

The more anxious he got, the more he’d scrape together every last detail.

‘Besides... I don’t have anything to trade for information right now anyway.’

Of course, that didn’t mean I intended to stay broke forever.

I had just made up my mind—I needed to prepare.

‘...And I just heard something unsettling, too.’

—That thing’s worn out.

Director Ho’s ominous words.

‘If my silver ring has lost its mental defense effects, that’s dangerous.’

Fortunately, I hadn’t actively wanted to enter ghost stories or felt an unnatural attachment to them lately.

‘Unless I start having nightmares about getting dragged back into one....’

Even so, it was best to be prepared.

I briefly considered dropping by the Fox Counseling Room, but dismissed the idea due to unease.

Unlike before, I had a clear reason this time.

‘...It’s definitely connected to Director Ho.’

For now, it was better to avoid it.

And besides—

‘I have other places I can go now.’

That’s right. I was now officially an agent of the Disaster Management Bureau.

With my new affiliation, there were more locations I could visit without arousing suspicion and more useful groups I could access.

“Let’s see.”

I rested my chin on my hand.

10,000 welfare points in my account and an A-rank or higher Dream Liquid.

And since I was officially a Disaster Management Bureau agent, there was one place I could try to poke around in.

“Hm.”

I stood up from the café, pulled my hood low over my face, and started walking.

A gathering place within a ghost story, where real occult artifacts were traded.

The thing I needed to find was—

"The manhole where an arm emerges."