Lovers

23

Fucked, Screwed, Royally Screwed

Thanks to Riegel sending me off in a limousine, I was able to return comfortably to the cafe. However, as soon as I got back to the cafe, I heard news that made me extremely uncomfortable.

Otto Layer, our department chief, had ordered me to come to headquarters to “report.” And he did it through the Department 2 chief.

“Report,” he says? When did he ever care before, that son of a bitch.

My heart was pounding. Baral, seeing my face, tried to dissuade me with a worried expression.

“Why don’t you just not go? It could be a trap.”

“Our department chief setting a trap through their team leader?”

I laughed. Because I knew this was a real possibility. Baral knew I wasn’t doubting his words, but lamenting the situation. Nevertheless, he deliberately emphasized the situation once more. It was for my sake.

“You need to accept that Otto Layer is capable of that and more. The situation of Team 9, whether it still exists within Department 1, nothing is clear, right?”

All true, but.

“I need to ask at least one question about my kids.”

Did you kill them? Why did you kill them? What did they do wrong? How did things go down?

I can’t not ask this. Baral sighed at my words.

Just then, the kitchen door opened. The person who entered was Nina Volkari, the Department 2 chief. She was in perfect formal attire today as well. A rare sight in our country, tanned skin. Add to that a pantsuit with restrained beauty. Dizzying stiletto heels. Sensual yet stoic. How can those two coexist? The result of their coexistence is power. She looked strong. And she actually was strong.

“I’m not saying Team Leader Schnieke’s actions were wrong. I think they were courageous and loyal. Even considering professional ethics, what you’re thinking is right. But it’s a mistake to think your opponent is someone who cares about such things. You need to think strategically.”

Saying this, Nina turned on a voice recorder in front of me.

“I, Director Andrea Dill of the Security Bureau, agree to definitively protect the status of Armin Schnieke, Team Leader of Department 1 Team 9, who is cooperating with ‘Operation Mouse Trap Recovery’. This agreement grants immunity from all work-related responsibilities that occur until the end of ‘Operation Mouse Trap Recovery’. However, this agreement is limited to my agreement alone.”

The director made it clear that while she agreed, it didn’t mean she would protect me from everyone. In other words, if an audit committee is activated against me within the Security Bureau, or if someone above the Security Bureau, like the President, holds me accountable, there’s nothing she can do about it.

But this was enough. With the director’s immunity, generally, about 90% of issues would be a free pass.

Volkari stopped the recording and tossed the entire recorder to me. As I caught it in mid-air, I was honestly impressed.

I didn’t expect her to go this far.

As I looked at Volkari in surprise, she pressed her eyelids firmly. I could sense a bit of fatigue.

“A rumor has spread that there was a Security Bureau mole within Canaris. The White Sparrow’s situation might be more dangerous than we thought.”

I’m probably not the only one approaching Canaris. One or two others might be trying different routes. But if word is going around about a Security Bureau spy, those Canaris bastards will have strengthened their guard.

“Riegel asked for a date tonight. I’ll try to set a time as quickly as possible.”

“The goal is to make contact with Canaris figures. …The best case scenario would be-“

“To find out Canaris’s base of operations. I know.”

Volkari nodded. Looking closely, her face seemed drained of color.

“I’m counting on you.”

Still, we shouldn’t view the world too negatively. There may be bastards like Otto Layer, but some superiors are making every effort to save one of their subordinates.

I nodded. I felt as eager to save the White Sparrow as I did to save my own kids.

Layer was the same as always today. That means even in this situation, he still had that “nice uncle” face on.

Similar height to me, maybe slightly shorter, and about 15kg heavier, a round-bodied civil servant. He was a law graduate from Fates University and entered the Security Bureau through recruitment. Most of his career was filled with analysis. He rarely worked in the field. He probably knows how to shoot a gun, but I wouldn’t go into the field with him. I couldn’t be sure if his blind shot would hit the enemy or me.

When it was time for him to be promoted to department chief, he should have first become the chief of Department 8 or so. But he wanted to have the achievement of being promoted directly to Department 1 chief.

He did something.

What exactly that something was differs depending on who you ask. Some say it was bribery, others say it was blackmail. Anyway, he became the first case of someone being promoted to Department 1 chief through somewhat shady means, and he came to look like the smartest of the smart. Of course, he also got closer to the director’s position.

Department 1, being the ace group, filled his performance record nicely. But within Department 1, dissatisfaction with his leadership was circulating beneath the surface. He didn’t know the field well and didn’t know how to handle field agents. For the first year or two, teams tried to adjust to him somehow, but eventually, they changed their method to just fulfilling his demands. Corruption festered internally.

But Layer didn’t care as long as the performance was good. That was his leadership. Because he didn’t do anything for his agents, everyone ended up looking out for themselves. Things that shouldn’t happen, like embezzling evidence or taking bribes from witnesses, became commonplace. Of course, our team did it too. That’s how we covered necessary expenses. We could even secure hazard pay.

“Are the Department 2 kids treating you well? I heard Volkari was running around a lot.”

Layer’s words were spiteful. I said nothing and perched on the edge of his desk. As I got closer, his body stiffened slightly. Seeing that fearful reaction, I realized he was just pretending to be calm.

“They’re treating me well.”

“I heard you took spy cameras. Where did you plant them?”

“In Riegel’s house.”

“What’s the camera access password?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you know?”

Layer grumbled. He seemed to be trying to act the same as usual. I glanced at his monitor screen. It was a portal site. I could read his intention to not give me any information.

“Nothing. I didn’t even know the team was being dealt with, how would I know anything?”

At my words, Layer’s eyebrows twitched. He looked down at his keyboard. I watched his lips quiver.

Come on, say something. An excuse, a justification, anything.

Quite a long time passed. About a minute? No, 40 seconds? Long enough to make the silence uncomfortable. At the end of that long silence, Layer asked.

“So what? Are you upset?”

I had simulated many possible responses I might hear. I had even thought of several worst-case scenarios. But it seems I had underestimated him. This response wasn’t among my expected answers.

Upset? Can it be expressed with such a mild word?

As I stared at Layer without saying anything, he got irritated, banged on the keyboard, and glared at me.

“Hey, Armin Schnieke. Let’s speak plainly. How many people have you killed, and you’re upset because your team got dealt with? Your team, and you, are all murderers. As you guys said, as others said, you were hunting dogs. Hunting dogs are replaced quickly. And now what, you’re complaining about animal abuse? Fuck, if you were going to complain about animal abuse, you shouldn’t have hunted in the first place!”

He shouted. He was raising his voice as if he had done nothing wrong.

I looked at him and reached out my hand. I’m not sure what I was going to do. Whether I was going to grab his collar, or make a gesture of lightly choking him.

Anyway, he hurriedly backed away. He was so startled that his heavy chair rolled back, and he ended up falling on his butt.

He shouted, “Oh, shit!” As if him falling on his butt was a bigger deal than people dying or people being treated like dogs.

What did I come here to say?

What did I expect to hear by coming here?

As I turned my back, the department chief shouted.

“Hey, shouldn’t you help me up!”

I debated whether to leave him there or pretend to help him up while actually breaking something. But I ended up just helping him up. The problem is that I can’t confirm whether my kids are in this person’s hands or not. It would be troublesome if I vented my anger.

As soon as I helped him up, I tossed him aside like removing my hand from a bug and turned my back. His phone rang, and he immediately answered with a cheerful voice, “Yes, mother.” Hypocritical bastard.

Even as I cursed him, I understood a little. Even in this situation, if my father called, I would answer cheerfully too. As if nothing was wrong.

“Yes, mother. I did as you said. Don’t worry about anything.”

As I listened to him having a cozy mother-son conversation, I opened the door to leave his office. But as soon as I saw a man walking from the end of the corridor, I slammed the door shut like lightning. As I glared at the door I had just slammed, Layer said with confusion, “Mother, I’ll call you back. Yes, it’s because of work,” and quickly hung up. I turned to look at him.

“In the corridor… Riegel.”

At my words, Layer’s eyes widened.

What?! Why is Riegel here?!

He looked surprised too.

How should I know!

He seemed to want me to leave the office quickly, and I desperately wanted that too, but it wasn’t possible. Until Riegel left this corridor, we had to stay in this uncomfortable room together with bad feelings.

I tried to listen for the sound of Riegel passing by with my ear against the door, while Layer fidgeted, waiting for me to say it was okay now. As we were both awkwardly playing ‘freeze’ like this…

Knock, knock.

There was a knocking sound.

Aaaargh.

We both silently screamed. As I gestured wildly at Layer, he cleared his throat and managed to ask.

“Yes, who is it?”

His voice, which hadn’t trembled even when he called me a hunting dog who deserved to die, was now shaking uncontrollably. You mindless slave to power!

“It’s Sebastian Riegel. Could I see you for a moment?”

Ugh, ugh, uuugh.

We both silently screamed again.

What do we do! Layer shouted, and I shot back, I don’t know!

What do you mean you don’t know!

You called him here, Chief!

I’m the analyst, and you’re the field agent!

This is your office, Chief!

As we were both panicking, we heard the dreaded sound again. Knock, knock.

Forced by the urging sound, I had no choice but to open the closet in the corner. I crouched in the corner of the closet where Layer’s coat was hanging and gestured to Layer.

Hurry up and close it!

At my words, Layer rushed over and closed the closet. Then he cleared his throat once more. I heard footsteps. Thump, thump. And the sound of the door opening. It seemed Layer had opened it.

He really is a monster created by capitalism, a slave to power. And he’s actually opening the door himself. Leave that to the staff, why are you doing it!

Even as I grumbled and cursed, I took out my phone and switched it to silent mode. If the phone rang, it would be truly fucked, screwed, royally screwed.