Jeong Taeui could roughly imagine the current situation. It seemed like there would be a man from the European branch who was the enemy of everyone sitting here. But the core of the problem was that that man was not easy to deal with and defeat.
"By the way, are all the people that 'bastard' touched members of this team?"
Jeong Taeui asked curiously. It seemed that the total of 96 members would be divided into 6 teams of 16 people each. And 6 instructors would be in charge of each team.
Hmm… …I heard that the higher ups are dividing into factions to fight over the vacant governor seat. Before even discussing the European branch, they are already divided three against three within themselves.
…. …So now they all have a common enemy. They will have to face each other in just 15 days, so for now, they still have to unite and face the common enemy first, right?
"That's not it. That guy knows exactly which side each member belongs to, so he picks and targets them. He just randomly grabs people from our side and enjoys what happens afterwards, that bastard!"
Alta began the sentence calmly but ended it with a surging angry shout.
Suppressed by that momentum, Jeong Taeui stealthily leaned to the opposite side to dodge. But just as he was about to run from the edge of the water, the person beside him also shouted in frustration.
"How the hell did such a crazy guy get into UNHRDO?! I clearly had to take a personality test for 2 hours straight?!"
"Me too."
"Me too."
Everyone shouted. They were all excellent human resources of UNHRDO, they had to go through all kinds of different tests and fierce competition to be able to get in here. They also surpassed many other excellent people who were not suitable in terms of appearance, personality and thinking.
Jeong Taeui, on the other hand, didn't have to take any tests. But he could only swallow those words.
According to his uncle, he was also curious about the personality test results of people who had 'broken a few bones and taken a bullet or two'. But that was probably not the main point they were talking about now.
"But… didn't everyone here hold guns before joining this place… there might be a few crazy people like that who could get in."
I don't know who that crazy person is.
However, the words that a neutral person like Jeong Taeui said were not enough to convince them. The man beside him put his arm around Jeong Taeui's shoulder affectionately and spoke softly.
"Wrong. It's true that everyone here entered this place with their hands on guns and knives. But our thinking is completely different from that madman's. When you point a gun at someone who has no grudge against you, can your finger immediately pull the trigger without hesitation? We more or less can't do that. Even if it's a mortal enemy, we would hesitate to harm someone. But that guy is different. He will kill without hesitation."
"....."
Those words were clearly not just hyperbole or exaggeration. The man sitting next to him said with a serious face.
For a moment, Jeong Taeui felt a chill run down his spine. His serious eyes and low tone seemed to paint a monster before him. A monster in human form.
...It felt like if he got close to that man in the next half year, the outcome wouldn't be good. Jeong Taeui didn't know what kind of person he was, but it seemed like it was better not to know.
"Well…. Not only this team, but all the other teams in the Asia branch seem to hold grudges against that bastard, if we just talk here then there shouldn't be any problem."
Jeong Taeui didn't want to be dragged into a topic that he felt uncomfortable with. Luckily, it seemed like the others felt the same way. Everyone looked tense, but they soon changed the subject.
Jeong Taeui let out a quiet sigh as he chewed on the last piece of dried fruit. The guy who volunteered to get the beef jerky hadn't returned yet, but if he continued to stay here like this, he thought he would have to stay up all night waiting for the beef jerky. Even when the beef jerky was gone, they still showed signs of wanting to drink some more.
What to do? Sitting among these men, drinking and listening to their gossip was fun, but getting some rest right now was even more fun. But even so, these men didn't seem to intend to let him go to sleep so easily.
Everyone was pretty laid back. Everyone had different personalities, so he wasn't sure if he would get along with any of them, but at least he didn't dislike the atmosphere in this group. If nothing special happened, he would probably live happily for half a year and then leave. Who knows, he might even make two or three close friends.
But other than that, Jeong Taeui didn't like this place very much. Eating, drinking and playing around in moderation was fine, but if it continued for too long, it would be tiring. Besides, right now he just wanted to rest in a quiet place.
While he was still pondering what to do, he saw Tou standing up from a chair quite far away with a pack of cigarettes in his hand, looking like he was about to go out for a smoke.
"I want to go to the bathroom - Tou, please help me to the bathroom."
Jeong Taeui put down his glass and stood up, Tou just nodded indifferently.
"Tou, you can only bring 3 cigarettes!"
"Be careful not to get lost when going to the toilet!"
Jeong Taeui followed Tou, leaving behind the jokes.
Tou went out to smoke but met his uncle, so he couldn't smoke anymore and had to take Taeui. Tou took a cigarette and put it in his mouth and led the way. He kept the unlit cigarette in his mouth as he walked.
"Is smoking prohibited in here?"
"Um. There is a separate smoking room but there isn't one on this floor. I have to go downstairs but I'd rather go upstairs and breathe the fresh air. The restroom is over there...."
Tou turned back to the corner at the end of the hallway and pointed his finger halfway down the path. However, Jeong Taeui didn't look in the direction his finger was pointing. He just stuck close behind Tou and wrapped his arms around his neck from behind.
"I saw the restroom when I passed by before, but the restroom I want to know about is the one in the room of the man I'm going to stay with. It'll be a pain for you, but if you could go downstairs together and show me the way, that would be great."
With the air of immediately strangling Tou if he dared to resist or scream, Jeong Taeui slightly tightened his grip on his arm and leaned close to Tou's ear to whisper. Jeong Taeui smiled bitterly as he felt like he was no different from a member of the European branch now, capturing and threatening others like this, but anyway, right now, resting was still the top priority.
Tou opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, then sighed as if he had given up.
"I know. Stop being so mean and leave. I'll show you the way. Seriously. But you didn't bring your luggage. Go back to the other room and bring it out. I'll wait here."
"If I go back now to get my luggage and say I want to go home and sleep, do you think they will let me go that easily?"
Half question but half statement.
"Are not…"
Tou did not hesitate to answer. Jeong Taeui smiled and patted him on the back.
"Alright. It's nothing valuable that anyone would want anyway, so I can come and get it tomorrow. If no one takes it, it's probably still where it is. Let's go to that man's room first. It's a three-person room, right? - Don't make that expression. After all, it was your fault for bringing me to the gym instead of my room in the first place, wasn't it? Oh, that reminds me, I still hurt a lot after being beaten up earlier."
When Jeong Taeui rubbed his shoulders and frowned, Tou shrugged as if he had given up once again.
"Okay, follow me. I'll take you to your room."
Tou walked past the elevator that was opening up before him and headed towards the emergency stairs. It seemed like it would be faster that way.
***********************************************
The sixth basement level was only one floor above the first, but the layout was completely different. Identical doors faced each other on either side of the hallway in a zigzag pattern. The floor was covered with a much softer khaki carpet than the fifth floor. On the walls were glass lamps and elegant picture frames. Fresh flowers were arranged on the console table at the end of the hallway. Next to it was a small glass table and two leather sofas.
"....Looks like a 5 star hotel. I'm really looking forward to what the room will be like."
Tou walked ahead and burst out laughing when he heard Jeong Taeui's voice ringing in his ears.
"The rooms are all the same inside, except there is no private bathroom."
"With such luxurious decoration, can't they install a bathroom for each room? Why not?"
"Well, they say the plumbing can't run from room to room."
"So we all have to use the same bathroom?"
"That's right. But it's not too crowded because the shared baths are located on both the east and west sides, so it's always quiet."
"Wherever I go…."
As if knowing what Jeong Taeui was thinking, Tou continued, 'Hmm, wherever I go. All men live like that." He hummed as he walked forward.
They passed by the communal bathroom. Even though it was a free time after a normal day, the room was empty. The inside was divided into individual bathrooms with doors separating them, and there was a large bathtub inside.
"Maybe I should use it."
Jeong Taeui thought as he looked at the steaming hot water in the bathtub, then asked Tou.
"So even the higher-ups use this place? Even people like the governor, vice minister, and officers?"
"No way. They're on a different floor than us. On the first basement floor closest to the ground. Each room has its own bathroom."
"Ha.."
Jeong Taeui suddenly thought of his noble uncle. He, he was the source of all this. Jeong Taeui harbored resentment towards him and swore that he would really go there and strangle him once to satisfy himself.
"So what is Officer Jeong Changin's room on the first floor?"
"What, you miss your little dad already? Hehe, get out of the elevator you took before, turn right, it's the second room."
Tou joked and went back to the bathroom. The toilet was right next door. Tou passed by it and went back to the hallway. Jeong Taeui could only shake his head silently as he thought of him. Tou, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped.
"Here, this is your room."
It was a room located quite deep inside the hallway. Tou said as he reached for the doorknob.
"This room was used by one Japanese member and two Russian members of our team. One of them died and the other two are being treated….. it will probably be difficult to come back here even after being discharged."
Tou muttered in a low voice and opened the door. The door opened easily as if it was not locked from the inside.
The room was quite spacious, big enough for three people to stay in. There were three single beds and all the necessities like a wardrobe, desk and bookshelf.
That fridge, you can just fill it up with stuff and use it. It doesn't hold much, but if it's just a few cans of beer and two or three snacks, it's enough. If you just want to wash your hands – see that sink in the corner? Just wash your hands there. Sometimes people go to the bathroom there, so it's best not to use the water there."
"....I don't know who that is but I hope my roommate won't be like that."
It was nice to have a private bathroom outside. It was quiet there, so it should be comfortable. Even though Jeong Taeui wasn't very neat and tidy, he wasn't lazy enough to wash his hands in the sink.
Tou heard that and shrugged.
"You'll have to stay here alone until someone else arrives. Or those who are undergoing treatment can fully recover and return here. Perhaps the former is more hopeful."
"Those people being treated must be seriously injured."
"Um…. Fortunately, if you live like a normal person, there won't be any inconvenience. But if you want to come back here, it will be very difficult. However, the compensation and severance pay are enough to live for several decades if you know how to spend wisely. It's because of the internal training that they became like this."
"Indeed."
Jeong Taeui nodded.
After completing the training and leaving here safely, they will be recruited directly into large enterprises or government agencies with a very large annual income. And even if they are injured during training, they will not have any financial difficulties. An organization equipped with facilities like this is no pushover.
Jeong Taeui could understand why people all over the world were fighting to get in here.
Tou said as he walked towards the door. Jeong Taeui wondered if he had finished introducing himself or if he couldn't resist the urge to smoke anymore.
"Go to the office on the first floor and get the key from Kyoho. The person in charge of welfare and internal life is Xin Lu. So go there and get the key and the internal rules. If you have any questions, just ask me. My room is room 15…. Want to come along? I'm going up there to smoke anyway."
"No, you go ahead, I'll go up there later. But is Kyoho still in the office at this hour?"
"Probably, go there and tell Xin Lu that you're new and he'll call you."
'Okay. Thank you.'
"No problem."
Tou waved and left, leaving Jeong Taeui alone in the empty room. He let out a deep sigh and sat down on the chair next to him. There were hardly any personal belongings in the room. Of course, dead people would have no belongings, but it seemed like the people being treated had already packed up their belongings and left.