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Wiiiing!
An ear-splitting siren suddenly sounded at the lab affiliated with the Player Association Satelite Management Team.
The association was currently experiencing communication problems inside and outside, but the alarms were operating without any problems so far.
The researchers stopped talking and checked the hologram.
[Otherworld warning.]
The letters on the red hologram indicated that there was an otherworld within the association.
It wasn’t a common phenomenon to have an otherworld occur in the association’s area, but it was possible.
The researchers’ faces became speculative.
Following the unprecedented incident is an otherworld suddenly spawning inside an association building, something that flustered them greatly.
“There’s an otherworld inside an association building? It’s ridiculous… I think this is the first time this happened!”
“There was no sign of it though, was there?”
The precursor phenomenon of otherworlds can be detected by Player SAT-K if it’s a high-ranking otherworld.
Usually low-ranking otherworlds are the only ones that appear without warning.
They can occur anytime and anywhere, but they can be easily cleared.
However, that common sense was overturned by the events this year.
Several SR-rank or higher otherworlds have appeared without being detected by the satellite beforehand.
The researchers were aware of this.
“Calm down. The Moon Palace didn’t detect any abnormality around the association building. It’s not an otherworld that appeared without warning. Check the rarity!”
Im Jihwa talked to the panicked researchers.
The researchers came to their senses and checked the rarity of the world, confirming that it was N-rank.
It was a very low rarity.
“…N-rank? Even a well-armed non-player can deal with that.”
“Anyone here can handle it then.”
“Gah, what the heck! The siren scared me for no reason!”
The atmosphere quickly turned around.
Red screens were still everywhere as sirens sounded, but people had relative ease.
When two researchers who were dispatched under Im Jihwa’s directive came back…
Beep!
A warning bell rang through the sirens.
It was an alert that an outsider was approaching the lab.
“What is that again?”
“I don’t think it’s an enemy. …Is it a person?”
Someone seemed to have access to the laboratory as they weren’t being blocked by the doors.
However, all the people who were supposed to be at the lab were already there.
The only non-researchers who could access the lab were the director of the Support Office for Otherworld Attacks and the head of the Players’ Association.
‘But the director and the head aren’t in Korea.’
After Im Jihwa turned off the access notification, she instructed something to one of the researchers.
“Put up a CCTV closest to the people approaching.”
“Yes ma’am!”
A hologram floated when the researcher manipulated the panel.
All the researchers, except Song Daesok who was focused on his work, frowned when they saw the person in the hologram.
It was Team Leader Park of PR Team 2.
“…It’s TL Park.”
“What the, why’s he here? Is he coming to rob us of satellite research while he pretends to attack the N-rank otherworld?”
“That’s possible. He tried to come here last time using security checks as an excuse.”
“How did he get access?”
TL Park, who came in front of the laboratory, was smiling.
Im Jihwa looked at the screen with disgust.
“TL-level officials get temporary access to most areas in the event of an emergency. The association building is vulnerable if security procedures are kept stringent during an emergency.”
It has low rarity, but an otherworld is an otherworld.
It’s not to be left unattended, so the association is considered to be in an emergency.
Therefore, Im Jihwa and TL Park are given temporary access to other areas of the association.
That’s why TL Park can invade the laboratory on his own.
‘Why is TL Park heading here as if he’s aiming for us? Though it doesn’t seem so strange.’
TL Park is ambitious.
He’s anxious to keep Hong Gyubin and Im Jihwa in check, dig up high-quality information and secrets secured by the two, and just disrupt them in general.
The satellite research institute is currently working on several secret projects unknown to the outside world.
With the cooperation of the Rabbit Clan, the Moon Palace, and the satellite are on a linkage plan, and the projects are accelerated by Song Daesok’s genius.
There is nothing good that could come out of letting TL Park know these things, especially since he’d do anything to satisfy his greed.
‘He’s going to use this opportunity to dig up secrets even though there’s a lot going on inside and outside the association? Is he insane?’
Im Jihwa was dizzy with anger.
If the security measures were up, she wouldn’t have to deal with TL Park.
But if she let him be, the man was sure to invade the laboratory.
He’d get clues related to the project and get a glance at Song Daesok, and he might encounter a person from the Rabbit Clan who’s working with the Moon Palace inside the laboratory.
Im Jihwa decided that she should stop TL Park from entering.
“I’m leaving for a while. I won’t let that bastard come in here.”
Im Jihwa’s eyes opened wide as if she entered combat mode.
The researchers cheered on her with all their might.
“Good luck, Team Leader!”
“Win and come back!”
“Can you hit him at least once?”
Im Jihwa smiled at her subordinates who recommended violence.
Then, the researchers saw Im Jihwa off with a look of anticipation.
If Im Jihwa takes charge, it won’t matter that TL Park has temporary access.
He will not be able to pass her.
The researchers felt great relief.
That’s how the situation inside the association was left, but the crisis still continued.
The situation outside the association hasn’t improved.
“Another news of victory from a professional player team!”
“Keep updating the list until the team leader comes back.”
“Another otherworld appeared, and it’s a little remote… Who should we send here?”
“Isn’t there a team that’s targeting another one around there? Divide the defensive groups and then send another attack…”
While the researchers put their heads together to deal with the situation, the sirens stopped.
The attack of the otherworld that occurred in the association has been completed.
The outbreak of otherworlds outside also stopped for a while, so the researchers were able to regain their composure.
Im Jihwa was yet to return, perhaps she was still in the middle of dealing with TL Park, but everyone believed that she’d return victorious.
The topic of the researchers’ conversation naturally went to the unidentified girlfriend of TL Park.
“He really doesn’t know how to read the room.”
“An incompetent person like him wouldn’t get promoted if he isn’t so corrupted.”
“Come to think of it, didn’t he bring his girlfriend? Why’d he leave her behind?”
“But you know, that girlfriend… Do you know PR Team 1’s Deputy Yoon?”
TL Park’s current girlfriend is Deputy Yoon’s ex-girlfriend.
This wasn’t publicly known, but everyone interested in the rumor knew it.
Most people didn’t believe it though.
Although Deputy Yoon was similar to his boss Hong Gyubin who had workaholic tendencies, Deputy Yoon was much better than TL Park.
Objectively speaking, he was better in terms of personality, appearance, and age.
TL Park is in a higher position than Deputy Yoon since the latter took a year off work, but that won’t remain like that.
“Really? Deputy Yoon’s ex-girlfriend?”
“Then why the hell did she…”
“I heard from the PR Team and they also don’t know why she left Deputy Yoon for TL Park.”
“Are they dating well?”
“Yeah, very well. TL Park brags about his girlfriend every time, so people in the PR Teams know everything.”
With the girlfriend's topic on fire, someone raised a question.
Although dating doesn’t always work with common sense, there was something strange.
“…She’s dated both people from the association PR teams. Does she work there too?”
The question made perfect sense.
Unless there was some other connection outside the association, the dating history was indeed quite strange.
The researcher who was familiar with the rumors answered.
“I don’t think so? I heard she has some accessory shop or something.”
“Accessories?”
“TL Park sometimes wears what his girlfriend made for him. If he’s wearing anything good, it’s sure to be from his girlfriend.”
While the researchers were talking about the unidentified girlfriend, someone was left unbothered.
Song Daesok.
‘I want to take a closer look at Eungwang High’s sky with the Moon Palace.’
Song Daesok did everything to find out what was the deal with the cloud that covered Eungwang High.
But he just couldn’t find the answer.
So, Song Daesok quietly got up from his seat and decided to visit someone.
“I’ll be right back.”
Song Daesok announced like so, but everyone seemed busy talking about TL Park’s girlfriend.
She wasn’t that far away, so Song Daesok decided to visit Ok Toyeon.
While Song Daesok passed through the hallways of the institute, he saw TL Park and Im Jihwa arguing in the distance.
Im Jihwa was talking without losing her smile, but TL Park was huffing and puffing.
Song Daesok continued to walk without looking at them.
After passing through a few doors and finding the hidden passage…
Song Daesok put his hand on the panel and the wall became transparent.
He arrived at the target place.
“Is it really okay? Maybe I should go too…”
He heard the sound of someone talking to themselves.
Ok Toyeon was looking at the Moon Palace with a very anxious expression.
She was so anxious that she had piled up barley rice cakes next to her, but she didn’t eat but a few bites.
“Uhm, I have a question.”
Hwik!
Ok Toyeon raised her head.
She looked at Song Daesok with her red eyes.
But instead of an annoyed response…
“You! What did you bring here!”
Ok Toyeon spoke, surprise leaking from her face.
“What?”
“How on earth did that get here…”
A shivering Ok Toyeon pointed behind Song Daesok.
When he turned around, Song Daesok saw a very small butterfly.
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