Translator: Khan
Editor: Aelryinth
I read it again with my lips gathered . 'They're sending me a reporter?'
It was a little strange to me, who had only been receiving emails online since I first got 12 Hours After . I would meet someone offline!
'Crow? Is the reporter a crow? Does he fly over to me and give something? I didn't think so . The Customer Service said, “Our reporter is a very competent person . ”
'Then… this Crow… is it some sort of nickname?'
I looked a little more down .
[Please specify the place and time to meet . ]
The cursor glittered down . I didn't think much and I tried to write, 'Invictus Investment Headquarters . President's Office . ' But I took my hands off the keyboard, stroked my chin, and looked at it .
'This guy's from 12 hours After… I'll keep him as secret as I can… like the email 12 hours After . ' I thought for a moment, and then I wrote something down on it . ——–
At 10:30 a . m . I left the president's office .
Secretary Seo asked me, “Are you going out? Do you want me to help you?”
I shook my head, “No, it's personal . ”
“Oh, okay . ”
I went to the underground parking lot alone and drove a Porsche west . After passing Banpo Station and Express Bus Terminal Station, I stopped at the National Library . I parked at the side of the road and went up on the hill next to me . Under the hot, sweaty August heat, I arrived at Montmartre Park . I settled on a shaded bench and looked at the clock .
10:55 a . m . It was just five minutes until the appointment .
I looked around . There were few people in the park in broad daylight, except for some of the residents who were taking their dogs for a walk . There was no chance of me encountering someone I knew here . When the Crow came, we would talk and part like strangers in the movie “Mission Impossible,” like the cool spies who hid each other's identity .
I sat on a bench and recalled a scene from the movie . After a moment, a black figure began to approach in the distance, and I had to give up such expectations . 'What's that…?' I could see a tall man walking toward me, wearing a black suit and a black overcoat . The coat was made of some materials, its surface covered with irregular fur . The word that came to my mind when I saw him was “Crocodile . ”
Good . The concept was right . But the problem was that it was in the middle of a heat wave that was over thirty-five degrees . I was about to die in a half-sleeve right now, but the man was in a full suit and black overcoat .
One woman who was taking her dog for a walk saw him and said, “Minky . Don't go that way . Let's go home . Let's go . Quickly . ” She caught up the leash . The dog leapt up and down in surprise .
I stood firm for a moment and watched him . 'No, no way…' The moment our eyes met .
He was tall, about 190cm . His skin was white and his face was odd . The eyes were black and long like Asians, and his nose was high and big just like Europeans . Up and down, his lips resembled those of Africans .
'What, is he a mixed-blood person?' Thinking that far, I suddenly felt fear beyond the sense of wonder . A mixed-blood foreigner in this heat was dangerous . I tried to leave, but as soon as I got up from the bench, he said in a deep, low voice, “Is this Han Sang-hoon?”
I spoke to him, not trying to leave, “… yes . ”
Then, as if he were a medieval knight, he said, kneeling before me on one knee, “Hello, I am Crow . I've been ordered to be the servant of Hang Sang-hoon from today on . ”
His manner was excellent . I put my fists on my head . It was the picture I had seen in the spy movie .
'Is this Crow?'
'Are you Han Sang-hoon?'
'All right, let's start the story . '
Sitting side by side on a bench, looking into the air, my idea of having a private conversation with him was completely shattered .
I didn't have the confidence to look around, but at the same time, I was sure everyone would be watching me like, 'What the hell are those crazy people?'
'If I had known this would happen, I should have asked him to meet me at 4 a . m . ' I spoke to him with my hands on the brow, “Yes, nice to meet you . Please sit down . ”
I offered him a seat next to me, and he just sat right next to me . The hairs surrounding his coat touched my skin . Apart from being hot, this was like we were mad coworkers . I gestured and pushed him to the edge of the bench .
“Sit a little bit far away, all the way to the edge . ”
“Yes . ” Fortunately, he followed me well . “Master . ” He even used the title of master .
'Oh, my God, is he a madman from another dimension?' I glanced at him, thinking that in my mind .
He was staring at me hard . I said, gesturing forward this time, “Look up ahead . Don't look at me . ”
“Yes, master . ” He turned his eyes forward .
Now, there was a painting I wanted . I, like him, turned my eyes forward and said, “Okay, let's talk like this . ”
“If the master wants it…”
Now, the word “master” kept bothering me .
“And… instead of the master… please call me boss . ”
“Yes, boss . ”
'All right . He's a good listener . ' This was good . He corrected himself right away .
I spoke to him without turning my eyes, as if speaking to myself from afar, “Isn't it hot?”
“It's very hot . ”
“By the way, why are you wearing such a coat?”
“This is our basic dress, boss . ”
“Who's chosen that basic outfit?”
“My boss . ” He must have a boss .
“… That boss is a strange man…”
He spoke in a very obtuse way, “Yes, I think so . ”
“What's the boss doing?”
“He's in charge of us . ”
“We…?”
“Crows . ” Crow seemed to mean group rather than name .
“Are there any more crows besides you?”
“Yes . ”
I asked in amazement . “Are you saying that there are more people in action now in this world?” In this question, there was a nuance, 'There's another madman like you?'
But he continued to speak in an obtuse tone, “I'm the only one in this world who's ever been sent . ”
“This world?”
“Yes . ”
There was a conversation going to Andromeda . I remembered the conversation I'd had with the Customer Service . I knew from experience that this question was pointless to pursue . I turned the subject around .
“The… about the basic dress, if I told you not to wear it, you might not wear it, right?”
“Yes, of course, sir . ”
“Then… …next time, don't wear that coat . Just wear a suit . ”
“Yes, sir . ”
I glanced at him, and he was looking forward, not even giving me a glance, as I commanded .
'Isn't this a person? Really? Is he a robot?' At the moment, he took a white handkerchief from his coat and wiped the sweat from his forehead .
“That… If it's hot, take it off . That coat . ”
“Yes, sir . ”
“Umm… that shirt, too . ”
“Yes, boss . ” He took off his coat and shirt and put them on the bench .
Looking closely, it was the feathers of a bird hanging on his coat, a crow's feathers . I thought I had taken the wrong skill .
'Can this slightly broken robot investigate something well? I'd rather get the news 12 Years After and plan a long-term corporate investment . ' I asked him, thinking about it, “Are you a reporter?”
“Yes . A reporter, that's what they call me in the world . When I am paid for, I do the work of providing information, Boss . ”
“Price? What's the price?”
“That's a secret . ” This guy also used the same words . I thought it had something to do with Customer Service .
“… that's what I'm paying for?”
“No . It's the employer's responsibility . I understand you're already paying a large subscription fee to our employer . ”
The employer was like the side sending emails, including Customer Service .
“Well, yes…” I muttered to myself .
Then he said, “Yes, boss . ” That was how he took my words to himself . He was very polite .
'If I say, “Go ahead and do three back-dumblings and push-ups at the handstand a hundred times,” he will at least try .
'I like that point… but I wonder if he'll do a good job of investigating…'
I asked him, “Do you know about stocks or the economy?”
“What are you asking…”
“If I ask you to find out what a company's performance this quarter is like…”
To my question, he spoke in a confident voice, “Of course . I'm competent . ” That was what the Customer Service said, and he said that he was capable of it .
I looked around from here . Everyone who was going to run away in amazement earlier had run away, and the newcomers were just walking around the park in a free and easy way . Now we looked like just an ordinary businessman and a tall foreigner .
I spoke to him, “Well, then, I'll ask you this: During the recent Bisang Construction scandal and stock price manipulation, who ordered the stock price manipulation; how did they launder the money and spend it on stock price manipulation; is there any evidence of collusion with the president of Bisang Construction, Jung Gi-woong; how was reporter Kang Joo-hyuk killed, and how are they related to the delisting of Go-Young Food . Please investigate all the information about them . ”
I said this and looked at him slightly, wondering if there was any chance he would say, 'There are so many things you want at once . ' So I added a word after putting it together . “In a word, I want you to investigate everything about this Bisang Construction and the stock price manipulation case . ” I looked at him .
He told me without turning his eyes to me, “Is that your request this month?” He was serious .
I turned my eyes forward again and said, “Yes . Please organize the details and let me know . ”
“Yes, boss . ” The answer was refreshing .
I didn't know what the result would be . For a moment, silence ensued, and I asked him in a vague question . “By the way, how the hell can you tell me about the findings? By email or do we meet again like this?”
By the way, there was no answer coming back . I looked sideways, but he was gone . The coat on the bench was gone, too .
'What is it?' I looked around the park . I couldn't see the black clothes .
'I only looked away for a few seconds… How come…?' It was like a scene from a spy movie . I looked around for a moment as if possessed by a ghost, and finally gave up .
'He appeared briefly and then vanished… well… I'll have to ask Customer Service . '
I stood up thinking about it . Now I saw a black feather left on the spot where his coat had been placed . I lifted the black feather of a crow . I thought of the name while touching it with my hands .
'Crow…'
Chapter end
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