Chapter 44: Subcontractor Registered

“It would be best if we take it as subcontracting first, then set up an office in China.”

Todd’s idea.

The reason?

If we take it as subcontracting, dispatch workers will be involved.

After that, if we open a branch, we can send people there as well.

Todd, our information source.

He often shares crucial info like this.

Just like back when we started the Labor Management Office.

But…

It’d be nice if he told us in advance.

I tried to casually hint at it.

“Sorry. The rule is that I can only inform you when the Sohjang gets close to the information.”

That’s all he said.

Dang.

Would be nice to get a heads-up sooner…

Not sure what kind of rule that is, but I’ll find out later.

For now…

“Then let’s accept the subcontracting. As for the China branch, someone has to go there and handle the talks…”

Hmm.

‘Who to send?’

I glanced around casually.

“Wasseo, you can do it! Just leave it to you!”

“Hmmm. Rani doesn’t want to go… too difficult…”

“Shall the Grand Mage go?”

Hmm.

Umm…

“Sohjang, I would be grateful if you leave this task to me.”

Okay.

Deal made with Todd.

“Wasseo?”

“How about a cup of coffee?”

“Sounds good! Wait, boss, changing the subject?”

Ah.

Caught red-handed.

But, to be fair, dealing with people?

Todd, the merchant, is the best at that.

“We’ll just go have coffee.”

“Oh, right.”

First, we need to open the gate.

[Subcontractor Registration Request Received.]

Eye of Truth

[Do you accept?]

“Of course.”

Clicked accept immediately.

[Subcontractor registered.]

[New feature unlocked.]

[Dispatch Worker]

[Office (Eye of Truth)]

Ah.

Registration complete.

If you check the Labor Management Office, you’ll see a new option under the Dispatch tab.

‘Shall we open it?’

[Dispatch Worker]

[Office (Eye of Truth)]

Good.

Opened it.

“Todd, now you can go in.”

“I’ve only seen other workers go in before; it feels strange.”

“Gomdori, do well!”

“Thank you, Rani Worker. We’ll be off then.”

Todd entered right away.

No message about starting auto-hunting popped up.

Well…

That would be a problem if he actually hunted.

Instead, this appeared.

[Monitoring]

Oh…

‘Shall I check?’

Tapped the message.

“Ahem… Haha, how is everyone?”

Huh.

Todd’s tone…

“Hmm…? Gomdori’s tone changed strangely!”

“Right? I’m not the only one who feels that way, right?”

“Ah! Gom ate butter!”

Exactly.

‘Why did he suddenly lower his voice like that?’

Look at this.

Everyone is gathering because it’s so fascinating.

“Surprised, everyone? This is Todd from the main contractor. I will be in charge of subcontractor management from now on.”

“Rani knew it! That’s the boss’s tone!”

“Gom, why are you like that?”

“Hehe…”

Oh no.

Our workers.

See their smiles?

They’re usually playful, but this one really hit the mark.

They’ll tease Todd a lot when he returns, won’t they…?

Sorry, Todd.

But even I didn’t expect him to suddenly go full-on roleplay like that.

Well, fighting spirit…

Do well.

We’ll watch and cheer you on…

“Gom… the doll…?”

Two subcontractor staff tilted their heads in confusion.

They exchanged glances…

Hmm.

With such obvious expressions, I could read them all.

What’s that about…

I have no idea…

***

They must be thinking stuff like this.

The Bear Plush, who moved to the subcontractor under the Sohjang’s orders.

Todd was satisfied.

Yes.

This feeling.

People feel confused when they see something unusual.

Add a spoonful of roleplay to that?

“Surprised, everyone? This is Todd from the main contractor. I will be in charge of subcontractor management from now on.”

Boom.

Atmosphere complete.

Woonjang Worker tone is truly overpowered.

I wanted to use it sometime.

Now I’m using it like this.

“Main contractor…?”

“Oh, maybe it’s easier to understand this way. The Labor Management Office Head sent me.”

“Gasp, yes, sir!”

As expected, the effect was immediate.

Everyone snapped to attention.

But…

Woonjang Worker.

What kind of behavior made the discipline so tight?

Anyway, good.

First move secured.

Now if we talk business and throw in decent rewards?

Game over.

Going smoothly.

Let’s talk business now.

Private detective guild, Eye of Truth.

Now a subcontractor of the Labor Management Office Head.

‘Guild Master Kim Sunwoo’s impression?’

“Is this a dream…?”

Pinched my arm lightly.

Ouch.

Not a dream after all…

“Since this is the first task, I’m only assigning something simple.”

No.

And they even talk.

‘How is this not a dream?’

“Um… by chance, is the person who came yesterday…”

“Oh, the Woonjang Worker? Why, do you want to see him?”

“No, no!”

Whoa.

That was close.

He may be a benefactor, but I don’t want to see him.

He’s scary.

The bear plush might be better.

“Really a bear plush…”

“Quiet, dude.”

“Hehe, it’s fine.”

Yeah.

I heard about him yesterday.

That bear guy.

But…

I didn’t expect it to be a real bear plush.

“Feeling a bit calmer now?”

“Yes…”

I answered, but no.

‘How could I be calm?’

I mean, just looking at them, they’re a crazy bunch…

‘Making gates in midair to move?’

Of…

‘Is this how they cleared the China S-grade Dungeon?’

No wonder.

***

They did clear it, but rumors said no one was there.

Right.

If they suddenly appear and vanish like this, how would you find them?

A strange but strong man who calls himself a mage.

And a talking bear plush.

No.

There’s likely more to come.

I suspect there might be a separate person making weapons.

Thinking about that sends chills down my spine.

These kinds of beings follow one person?

‘Who exactly is he?’

“How, is it possible?”

Lost in thought, the question came again.

They told me to open a branch in Beijing.

‘Is it possible?’

‘What can I say?’

“We’ll manage somehow.”

“Of course, it’s possible. I will do my best to proceed.”

The Labor Management Office Head and his subordinates.

Kim Sunwoo and Lee Minkook’s benefactors.

If not for them, we might already be dead.

Yesterday, I thought I’d give them anything if they just saved me.

No way that changes in one day.

Besides…

Now that I know so much, can I back down?

There’s no way I’d be left alone.

“You’ll need money as you proceed, use this.”

“Thank you—What?!”

Wait.

‘They’re even giving money?’

Crazy.

‘How many magic stones is this…?’

Jackpot.

“The harder you work, the bigger the reward. Do your best.”

More?

Saved and paid too…

If they give all this, what’s left for them?

“Guild master, if this keeps up, I could bring back the other guild members.”

“Contact them. Tell them the vacation is over.”

[Eye of Truth guild members: 5 in total.]

Currently 2.

Why?

They were on vacation due to lack of work.

Everyone gather.

Looks like we’re going to work hard from now on.

Ah, before that.

“Yes, sir! Whatever you order, I’ll work hard!”

“Todd, mission accomplished and returned.”

Cool…

Our brain, Todd.

***

Having perfectly completed the subcontractor meeting, he returned.

Time to greet him warmly.

“You’re back.”

“Hey, Gomdori, welcome back.”

“Oh, Sohjang? Rani Worker? Why that tone?”

“Wasseo, look. Gomdori copied the new guy’s tone.”

“Gasp… no way.”

Yeah.

That no way is correct.

“Hehe, I saw well. He must’ve carefully observed the Grand Mage’s tone.”

“Even Woonjang Worker… Sohjang, why?”

“No, I didn’t know Todd would roleplay so seriously.”

“Wasseo didn’t know either that Gom had that side!”

“These people…!”

Brain Todd’s new side.

Fresh, indeed.

Usually calm as ever.

Still.

Playtime’s over.

If I tease him more, he might quit.

Let’s slowly change the subject.

“Todd, earlier I saw you got something. What was it?”

“Ah… this? The Woonjang Worker told me to keep it.”

“That’s right. It’s a fascinating item, so they said to give it to this kid; they’d like it.”

“Hmm? Rani?”

‘What is that?’

‘An anklet?’

Ah, could it be…

“The Chinese guys attached it and used it to threaten us?”

“That’s right.”

Gasp.

That’s dangerous.

Surprised, I looked over—

“Hehe… the boss gave Rani a fun toy!”

Rani’s reaction was calm.

Tapped it lightly, then held it tightly with both hands.

Looks like she likes it.

“Rani, is it okay to play with this?”

“Not dangerous?”

“Hmm? Umm… yes! Rani can touch this!”

“Then, play with it.”

Well.

‘What’s there to worry about?’

Rani’s an upper-grade worker, after all.

“In that case… Rani, do you want to enter here?”

“Okay.”

Trying to make something?

She asked to open the training ground.

[Training Ground ON / OFF]

Switched it ON immediately, then checked Todd again.

“Definitely a convenient feature.”

“Yeah, since it’s a gate for coming and going, we can move items too.”

The Labor Management Office (Temporary)’s new feature.

[Dispatch Worker]

ᆞOffice

‘Tried it once?’

I could only be amazed.

The insane convenience of being able to go anywhere the subcontractor exists.

And even move items?

If used well, this could be unbelievably convenient.

Let’s think about that later.

“First, let’s see how they handle the China job, then decide on the next steps.”

“Right… we need to see what kind of people they are.”

“Yes. That’s why I deliberately brought a lot of magic stones. To see how it goes.”

“Good job.”

Todd, the merchant.

He already has many plans.

Most notably, creating a company utilizing workers’ abilities.

Like Rani’s kind of items?

Watching them work, maybe he’s thinking of other avenues.

Well, good.

First task.

Set up a branch in Beijing.

Let’s watch how this goes.

***

“Looks like the urgent matters are resolved, Sohjang.”

“Indeed. Quite a few things changed in a short time.”

China.

And the subcontractor.

Especially China, it’s shocking.

Good grief.

They almost discovered my identity.

And I didn’t know a thing.

Yoon Hajun, 23 years old.

D-rank Hunter.

…But honestly, just auto-hunting to get by.

Honestly, it’s scary.

But.

“The more so, I can’t just stay still.”

Quit now because it’s scary?

Nope.

Once started, I have to see it through.

So, even if scared, I have to do what’s necessary.

Then, what to do?

One answer.

[Unique Skill: Worker Summon (Grade – Gold)]

I have to level this up.

Todd said before.

If you raise the unique skill rank and expand the space, the Labor Management Office also upgrades.

A proper, official Labor Management Office, not temporary.

Then I won’t need camouflage coupons to disguise.

Meaning, I won’t be alone anymore.

No fear.

Our workers.

Even if sometimes a bit off, their combat power is monstrous.

Having at least one around is reassuring.

The problem is.

“The missions get tougher…”

‘To raise the rank?’

Complete missions and accumulate experience.

Current experience is.

[4/20]

[Mission list:]

[Clear Chaos Tower floor 50 (42/50).]

[Clear S-grade Dungeon 5 times total (3/5).]

Chaos Tower is chaos enough.

But that S-grade Dungeon mission…

“Tough.”

‘Clearing an S-grade Dungeon?’

It’s doable.

Even with just Arthur and Robin, they cleared it.

Now we have one more top-tier member.

The problem is…

“You need to be there to clear it.”

Usually, once you break through a tough mission, the rest fall easily.

‘Isn’t there some ownerless S-grade Dungeon I can clear twice and be done?’

Sigh.

No way.

Can’t be helped.

“Let’s try clearing the Chaos Tower.”

Two floors a day.

Reach floor 50 in four days.

That’s the plan.

“Ahem.”

Woonjang coughed.

‘Why?’

“Sohjang.”

“Yes, Woonjang?”

“Grand Mage needs a new staff.”

‘A staff?’

I already have something perfect in my inventory.

“Have you heard of the Cheongryong Eonwoldo?”