SBTGC 15

Chapter 15

About twenty minutes later, the car came to a stop in front of a building.

It was an ordinary-looking three-story commercial building. The third floor was residential, the second floor was up for lease, and the first floor was a cafe without a sign.

But Genzer was nowhere to be seen through the full-glass windows. The cafe itself was completely closed.

“You can get out now!”

I quickly got out of the car, following Ma Ye-eun. I looked up at the ivory-colored building and asked her.

“Is this the headquarters?”

“No, this is just our team’s area.”

“Area?”

“Yeah! Think of it as a sort of hideout. Each branch has these designated places. Some are supermarkets, some are bookstores. Ours is a cafe!”

Ah, I see. Since it’s a secret organization, they probably keep these places separately. They’re civil servants, so they probably don’t actually run the businesses.

Ma Ye-eun guided me to the entrance next to the building, speaking as we walked.

“We usually keep it open year-round and have some customers, except on days like today.”

“Why not today?”

“Well, you’ll see when we get there…”

In front of the stairs leading to the basement, Ma Ye-eun suddenly turned to me.

“Did you hear anything from the manager before you came?”

I thought about it and shook my head. Other than revising and signing the contract, there was nothing else.

*Hoo*. Ma Ye-eun fiddled with her chin, lost in thought, and then muttered in a puzzled tone.

“Right. Maybe seeing it directly is better than explaining…”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, nothing. Let’s go down.”

With that, she descended the stairs first, and I tilted my head before following her.

After going down two flights into the dark basement, an old iron door appeared.

I could see a handle and a keypad. But instead of pressing it, Ma Ye-eun felt along the side of the door, and then…

*Creeeak…*

“…Wow.”

A different handle, invisible just moments before, appeared, revealing a hidden sliding door.

Just as I was marveling at the trick,

“Hey!”

You startled me…

Ma Ye-eun, who had been about to slide the handle sideways, suddenly whipped around to face me. Then, with the expression of a child caught making a mess, she grinned.

“After you go inside, you might see something… quite shocking, okay? Even though I’m telling you this in advance, I think you’ll still be surprised!”

Even with the explanation, I didn’t understand. As if she felt the same way, Ma Ye-eun scratched her head and then said something even more incomprehensible.

“It’s okay to be surprised, just please don’t run out.”

Isn’t that a bit out of my control?

“What’s inside?”

“Manager Geon. And…”

Before Ma Ye-eun could finish.

*Beep, beep, beep.*

A faint electronic sound came from inside, and then the sliding door Ma Ye-eun was holding slid open sideways. Ma Ye-eun, who staggered from the movement, and I both turned to look through the gap.

“What are you doing?”

A tall man looked down at Ma Ye-eun and asked.

It was the male doctor I’d seen then. His name was… Cha Seo-rok, right?

Ma Ye-eun, letting go of the handle, said with an awkward air.

“Oh, I was just giving a warning before we went in.”

“The manager said not to do that.”

“I know, but still…”

Cha Seo-rok’s gaze remained fixed on me. He had a somewhat sharp impression at first glance, but due to his somewhat slow speech and half-lidded eyes, he didn’t feel particularly piercing.

He gave a slight bow.

“Hello.”

“Ah, yes…”

“Come in.”

Cha Seo-rok stepped aside, and I cautiously stepped inside. There was another door; it seemed to be a double door.

As I opened the last door and entered, a cold draft hit me.

Inside, with a black and white interior, only a few simple pieces of furniture were placed. Yet, perhaps because of traces of human use, it didn’t feel particularly bare.

“The manager is inside.”

Cha Seo-rok, who had followed me in, pointed to a gray door across the way. Behind him, Ma Ye-eun wore a smile that seemed like it would fit well with cold sweat.

What is this. It looks like a gate to hell, making me not want to go in.

But I have to go anyway…

*Pad, pad.* I clenched and unclenched my nervous fists as I walked to the door. After lightly knocking on the surface, I heard a voice say, “Come in.”

I opened the door and shuffled inside.

*Creeak, thud!*

“…”

The lights in the room were off. As a result, everywhere was as dark as night.

All I could sense was the cold air, reminiscent of dawn. Since it was a space without even windows, I couldn’t see the exact interior.

But why are all the lights off?

Just as I was waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness,

“Myeong Sena-ssi.”

Genzer’s voice called me from somewhere in the darkness. It was a distance that seemed both near and far.

“Yes?”

“I’ve added your requested items to the contract. You can sign after reviewing it.”

*Tap, tap.*

I felt footsteps, reminiscent of gunshots, approaching nearby. Staring intently into the darkness, I could see a very faint silhouette approaching me.

“Before that, there’s something I need to ask.”

From a closer distance than before, Genzer spoke.

“Do you remember what I agreed to tell you once we enter into the contract?”

What Genzer agreed to tell me?

…Ah, that.

“The syndrome?”

“Yes.”

After a brief pause, Genzer continued.

“Would it be alright if I told you that right now?”

…The way he asks suggests it’s something I need to mentally prepare for.

I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s something I’ll find out eventually anyway.

“I don’t mind, but… could you turn on the light first? It’s too dark.”

“Would you prefer simple, or complex?”

Then, Genzer suddenly offered a strange choice.

“If you say simple, I’ll turn it on now. If you say complex, I’ll turn it on in ten minutes.”

Surely this isn’t some test I don’t know about. I came here to sign a contract today, not to take a test.

I came to a conclusion quickly. There was no reason to hold a conversation in the dark when perfectly functional lights were available.

“I prefer simple.”

Then, a voice tinged with a hint of amusement came from the darkness.

“Good to know we think alike.”

Soon, with a *click!* sound, the light came on.

It took a moment to adjust to the suddenly brightened view. I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut, and only after about five seconds could I slowly open them.

Finally, I could see the interior of the room that had been hidden in darkness.

A room as simple and neat as the outside. An interior with so many empty spots, not cluttered or filled, that it actually made you want to put things in them. One black sofa, one desk, two leather chairs.

Genzer, standing before me in a suit.

Dark gray pants. A shirt with a few buttons undone, no tie. And above the shirt collar…

“…”

Emptiness.

As if only the neck had been cleanly severed, the spot where a face should have been was completely vacant.

So.

I fainted on the spot.

“…Ugh.”

When I opened my eyes without realizing it, my view was tilted to the side. As I stirred slightly, the sound of leather rubbing against itself came.

Blinking my dazed eyes, I focused my vision.

The interior of the room I’d seen before came into full view. It seemed I was lying on that sofa I saw earlier…

Gasp.

The moment I recalled what had just happened, I shot up abruptly.

That’s right, Genzer. The decapitated Genzer…!

“You’re awake?”

“AAAH!”

At the sound coming from right next to me, I screamed first.

“Definitely awake.”

Turning with frightened eyes, I saw Genzer’s body sitting at my feet. I pray it’s a dream, I hope I mis-saw it, but…

“…”

Genzer before my eyes… still had no head.

That distinctly cold and sharp face had vanished, leaving only the neck.

What is this. Is this even possible?

Cowering, I pressed myself into the corner of the sofa. Then it struck me – in a normal situation, it would have been impossible for Genzer to even speak.

…Wasn’t his neck severed?