By Zephyria The department’s situation was dire, considering they had asked for a chance. Among the products they handled, the only ones generating meaningful sales were low-priced processed foods sold with minimal profit margins.
Canned foods made from low-grade rice and wheat, artificial meat scraps, or Beast Meat maintained steady sales, but even those barely yielded any profit after deducting production costs.
‘Small O Pasta, Sandeul Noodles, Frozen Bobo Chicken…’
Jin Mu-hae silently checked the product names before turning his head with a look of realization. Joo-oh, who was pressed against the glass wall, looking at the same list, smacked his lips and swallowed hard.
He had seen those foods often too. They were always displayed in grocery stores or delivery malls in the slums.
All of them were products sought after by citizens with poor incomes or members of the slums. The consistent sales mostly came from there.
“Damn it.”
He had been deceived by Gu-reum. He had made it sound like he could just do some token work and go back, but that wasn’t the case.
The Company’s processed food department was entirely targeting a specific class of people. Whether they wanted it that way or it just ended up that way as they sold, if that entire part were to disappear, these low-priced foods would meet a similar end.
Of course, private companies would step in where products that had become staples disappeared… but there was no guarantee that there wouldn’t be problems with price or quality. No wonder the department had remained despite such poor performance.
“It’s getting complicated.”
“What is?”
“What were they thinking, throwing this at me?”
Whether in the distant past or in the present where Hover Cars flew, food, clothing, and shelter were important elements that sustained human life.
Even people who had fallen to the bottom were able to adapt and live in the Goryeo City system because they could at least make a living with meager labor.
Of course, Central or the Company would take some measures, considering the management of the lowest class. However, they saw everything as numbers.
Only someone who had experienced life in the slums could accurately predict the inconveniences that would arise in that neighborhood.
“What do we have to do?”
Mu-hae slightly frowned at Joo-oh’s question. It was hard to answer readily.
Was it right to cause a stir while being dispatched under disguise, not for real? Should he even care about this when his original purpose was different?
“I don’t know.”
Joo-oh shrugged at the ambiguous answer.
“Do whatever you want, Jin Mu-hae. It’s your choice.”
Those slow words came with a strange thud. Perhaps it was because he was still smacking his lips, despite acting like it was nothing.
Mu-hae delved into the data, deep in thought. He had done many tough jobs, but he had rarely experienced a situation where a single choice could affect the lifestyles of so many.
Beep-.
“Who is it?”
-This is Lee Man-jae. I was wondering if the Executive Director is having a meal…
“The Executive Director is busy. He has a meeting with the higher-ups soon, so take care of it yourself… um.”
Just then, an employee sent a call from the office. Joo-oh, who had been chattering into the receiver as he had practiced, suddenly paused and trailed off.
“…send something delicious.”
-Ah, yes. What kind of thing would you like?
“The Executive Director likes meat.”
-It’s all audible, no matter how quietly you whisper. He glanced at him, then turned away, pretending not to notice.
Mu-hae, forgetting his seriousness at the absurd situation unfolding before his eyes, raised his eyebrows.
-Then I’ll have it delivered from outside.
“Oh, and the Executive Director eats a lot. He’s big.”
-Ah, right. Yes.
What was so right about that? Joo-oh, unable to withstand the gaze that asked what kind of nonsense he was spouting, mumbled excuses.
“But if the Executive Director starves, the secretary starves too.”
“I heard the Executive Director doesn’t eat much.”
“The secretary takes care of what’s left over.”
He was going to take it all for himself and gobble it up from the start, yet he was so good at saying things in a hateful way.
It was a relief that his condition was gradually improving, but somehow, more and more things were getting on his nerves. He wanted to knock him on the head.
Knock knock.
Soon after, Joo-oh opened the door at the sound of knocking. Six lunch boxes were stacked in his arms as he excitedly returned.
Even if one portion was for Joo-oh, that meant he had sent five portions. What was it about this body that made him think he could shove that much in at once?
“Oh. There’s a lot of meat.”
He neatly swallowed three pieces of chop steak skewered on a fork.
Judging from the packaging, it didn’t seem like they used Beast Meat. The diced meat, at least, had visible texture, and it wasn’t artificial meat scraps.
He had received more expensive food than he had expected. Even if it wasn’t all going into his mouth, Mu-hae felt strangely uneasy.
“He really does all sorts of things.”
“I like eggplants too.”
“Not that kind of eggplant… ha. Do you even know what an eggplant is in the first place?”
“Umm. Eggplant Parmesan. You mix it with water and spread it on biscuits.”
Judging by the way he spoke, he seemed to know it was food, but still. He had never heard of an eggplant dish that was mixed with water.
Even if it was an artificial food that only tasted like eggplant. Considering how detailed the explanation was, he must have really eaten it somewhere.
“…Yam.”
Joo-oh stopped talking, rolling his eyes. Whether he was busy eating or pretending to be, he focused only on his meal from then on.
Indeed. As his mental state improved, he was also recalling certain memories. Even if it was something useless like Mu-hae’s past of eating cookies, the fact that Joo-oh was changing was important.
He wanted to ask more now, but he remembered how he had avoided the topic with an uneasy expression whenever he brought up dream stories.
In the end, Jin Mu-hae quietly opened his own lunch box. Joo-oh had immediately picked up the meat and swallowed it, but Mu-hae, ridiculously, was drawn to the fresh salad first.
Look at these various kinds of leaves. How luxurious it was to fill up on dietary fiber and vitamins with fresh vegetables.
‘…Wait.’
Come to think of it, in the blurry memory of eating cookies, there seemed to be a fruit basket on the black table as well.
Whether that was a fantasy created by his mind or real, it was definitely a rather unfamiliar scene.
Mu-hae slowly chewed the salad, tracing his faint past. As he reduced his mercenary work and started frequenting places like this, he had developed a habit of leaving some complex thoughts in the corner of his mind.
Because he wasn’t threatened with his life even if he didn’t focus only on what was in front of him. Even if he was distracted by random thoughts, there was no chance of a thug or Beast jumping out and aiming for his neck.
“Does Jin Mu-hae like grass?”
“Eat your own.”
“I like it too. But I’m giving it to you.”
Scattering all those strange feelings, a mountain of salad was suddenly piled into Mu-hae’s lunch box.
Mu-hae gritted his teeth inwardly, wondering what to do with this guy, but he pretended not to notice Joo-oh’s recklessness.
It was better to let it go. In any case, he was doing a good job of acting as he was told without causing any accidents.
Besides, if he scolded him and ruined his mood, he would look like he was about to die of sadness.
Not that he wanted to see that look. It seemed like it would interfere with work, so it was better to leave him alone.
Was it effective to write Dmitri’s name as a reference?
The contact from the Natural Phenomenon Society came sooner than expected. As soon as he turned on the site after coming to work the next day, a reply was posted in the guestbook as if to show off.
↳ [This post can only be viewed by the author and administrator.]
Hello, Lee Haemu.
First of all, we sincerely thank you for your deep interest in the Natural Phenomenon Society (NPS).
Our NPS is a knowledge community established in XXXX year to explore the wonders of the natural world that directly affect human life.
A strong passion for exploring the truths of the world, especially Blue Energy, is at the heart of our research and collaboration, and based on this, all explorers are expanding their academic pursuits.
We have confirmed that you visited the site at the suggestion of Dmitri Sidorov.
Mr. Sidorov is a highly respected member of our society, and his recommendation is of great significance to us.
However, as an informal academic community that connects the energy of the natural world with human life, NPS approaches the welcoming of new members with greater caution.
We apologize for the inconvenience, but if you could leave the necessary documents and procedures below, we will actively review them and contact you again.
→ Required documents: A brief self-introduction including your name, age, occupation, city of residence, and areas of interest.
→ Confirmation of recommender: We have confirmed that Dmitri Sidorov already supports your application. Based on this, we can proceed with additional procedures.
→ Conditions requiring confirmation: According to NPS rules, all members agree to a confidentiality agreement.
All procedures can be conducted remotely, and we will provide detailed information about your role and responsibilities within the society at a later date.
We are very pleased to have the opportunity to begin an intellectual journey with a new explorer.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you.
“It’s disgustingly thorough.”
He had expected it, but it was a really troublesome and suspicious procedure.
Mu-hae, adjusting the glasses he was slowly getting used to, pressed his throbbing head.
“How old is Lee Haemu?”
“I don’t know. Thirty?”
The newly created identity wouldn’t have an occupation or areas of interest.
Mu-hae stared blankly at the air with a rare dazed expression.
Occupation… Researcher? As for areas of interest, would the utilization of Blue Energy and the expansion of the Crystal Zone be good enough…?
“Haha. Jin Mu-hae has a stupid face.”
Joo-oh seemed to be stomping his feet, and then-! There was the sound of a picture being taken.
A faint vein stood out on Mu-hae’s forehead. No matter how he thought about it, he was an extremely arrogant guy.