Surviving Restructuring

“... That’s everything I know.”

It had been a long explanation.

The chief secretary had detailed the abilities that had allowed the eight bureau directors to rise to their current positions. She had described how their true power only surfaced when the company faced major crises. She had even spoken of the delicate tensions and rivalries that kept them in a precarious balance.

“The secretariat doesn’t know everything,” she said quietly, absently tugging at her brittle hair with restrained hands. “Some, like the Personnel Bureau director or the Management Bureau director, reveal their strength openly, but others conceal it thoroughly.”

Hmm... So she doesn’t know everything, huh.

That was not particularly comforting.

“I was hoping you’d know everything,” Eun-Ho said lightly.

“Pardon?”

“At the very least, the chairman’s full abilities.”

She lowered her gaze.

“He’s a martial artist who has mastered every weapon in existence,” Eun-Ho continued, “he uses a movement technique that’s practically teleportation. And on top of that, the ability to stop time...”

With all that, he might as well be the overpowered lead in a power fantasy.

“There aren’t any more abilities, are there?” Eun-Ho asked.

“... No one knows.”

“What do you mean by that?”

She hesitated, her face caught between fear and doubt. After several attempts to speak, she finally forced the words out. “No one who has seen anything beyond that has survived.”

“... So they’re all—”

“Dead.” She curled inward as if the mere thought chilled her to the bone.

It did not sound like a lie. Besides, she had no reason to lie, and no strength left to try.

In that case...

“Thank you. This has been very helpful,” Eun-Ho said calmly.

Her eyes widened. “Huh?”

“We’ll end it here for today.”

“Then... you’re letting me go?” she asked carefully.

“No.”

“Oh.”

A self-deprecating smile flickered across her face, as though she had expected that answer all along.

“If you’re going to burn me, just do it.” She tried to sound firm, but her voice cracked with failure. “I really have nothing left to say.”

Though she snapped her head away sharply and folded her arms, her fingers shook uncontrollably.

I never actually planned to burn her.

Eun-Ho said evenly, “If you step outside right now, you’ll be executed on the spot.”

“What do you mean—”

“Whether you gave me information or not, you’re already marked for assassination.”

Silence fell.

Her eyes widened, then lowered again. She seemed on the verge of accusing him, “Isn’t this your fault?” Of course, she quickly realized that she was in no position to say that.

“Stay here until things settle,” Eun-Ho said. “You look like you’ve been through a lot. Finish recovering before you leave.”

“... What?”

“As you can see, we have spare rooms.”

He was not telling her to go outside and die.

“Are you trying to recruit me?” she asked suspiciously. “Planning to use me as a Healer?”

“We already have a Healer on our team,” Eun-Ho replied. “A very capable one.”

She looked up at him, confusion and suspicion mingling in her eyes. “Then why?”

He met her gaze calmly and said, “You cooperated with us. That makes you one of ours.”

Her breath caught.

“I have no intention of letting someone who stood with us be hunted down,” Eun-Ho added.

She could walk out and get stabbed if she wished, but he had no desire to let people say, “That’s what happens when you side with Eun-Ho.”

She froze in place, arms still crossed. Her eyes widened as her lips parted slightly. For a long moment, she resembled a wax figure.

“... He really does take care of his own,” she finally muttered, breaking the silence. Then, almost grudgingly, she added, “At least the reports weren’t completely useless.”

“What was that?” Eun-Ho asked.

“Nothing.”

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

There was a mountain of work waiting for him. Seeing no further reason to linger, he turned to leave.

Her eyes widened like a startled rabbit’s. “You’re leaving?”

“If you need anything, press the bell over there,” he said. “My team will respond.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, and for meals, you can choose between meat or vegetables. We’ll accommodate you as much as possible.”

“Meals?” she echoed faintly.

She blinked slowly, disbelief written all over her face.

Was she shocked that we would provide food while keeping her restrained? Or did she suspect some ulterior motive?

Eun-Ho smiled and extended his hand.

“Why are you holding out your hand?” she asked warily.

“Payment in advance.”

“Excuse me?” She stared blankly between his palm and his face. “How much?”

“Everything you’ve got.”

“What?!” She looked incredulous. “That’s outrageously expensive.”

“The land here is quite pricey,” Eun-Ho replied smoothly.

Her face twisted in disbelief. The taut string of tension she had maintained until now finally slackened.

Eun-Ho added casually, “Three meals included. All-inclusive. We’ll provide comfortable service in return.”

“You’re unbelievable,” she muttered to the floor, before giving a crooked smile. “If it’s all-inclusive, does that include alcohol?”

“I already gave you some, didn’t I?”

She snorted. “Fair enough.”

she nodded to herself and let out a breathy laugh. Then she doubled over, clutching her stomach as genuine laughter spilled out. “Honestly, Team Leader Eun-Ho, you’re completely beyond common sense.”

“Compliments don’t get you a discount.”

“That wasn’t a compliment... but whatever.” After laughing for quite some time, she shook her head and looked at him again. “There’s something I didn’t mention earlier.”

Her eyes were sharp now.

Eun-Ho’s anticipation grew. If she was offering more, he was ready to gladly take it.

“Once a year, the chairman changes,” she said slowly.

“Changes? In what way? And when exactly?” Eun-Ho asked rapidly, firing off questions.

“First...” She raised her hand, exhaling deeply. “For lunch, I’ll have the Personnel Is Everything restaurant’s special lunchbox.”

“What?”

“You said you’d provide comfortable service, didn’t you?”

He hesitated.

Well... I did say that.

“And extra wasabi please,” she added brightly.

Isn’t she getting a little too comfortable all of a sudden?

***

The opportunity to use the information he had extracted from the chief secretary arrived far sooner than expected.

A series of notification windows materialized before his eyes.

[New schedule has been registered.]

[Schedule Name - Audit]

[Target - Labor-Management Cooperation Team]

“A schedule? What is this?” someone muttered.

“Damn it, what are they trying to pull now?!”

The event had been registered without consulting a single person present.

“Hyungnim! A bunch of guys in suits just swarmed the main gate!” Jae-Hyuk sprinted down from the top of the wall where he had been keeping watch. “I don’t know who they are, but—”

“It’s the Audit Bureau,” Eun-Ho said calmly.

“What?! How do you know without even looking?”

Oh, because I’ve already seen the messages that came from Guk, the mentor from the Audit Bureau.

Guk Ryang: Audit of Labor-Management Cooperation Team

Guk Ryang: Accompanied by the director

Guk Ryang: Arriving in 10 mun

Even through the typo at the end, the urgency had been obvious. Guk was the type to keep his hair perfectly in place and his composure even tighter. If he sounded rattled, the situation was dire.

Bang! Bang—!

The pounding against the fortress gate reverberated like an omen of war. One by one, the team members abandoned what they were doing and gathered, faces drained of color.

“Why is the Audit Bureau here?!” Ye-Ji asked in a panic.

“Why else? To audit us!” Swear-Master snapped. “You think they came to hang out?”

“Can’t we just not open the gate?” Yeo-Jin asked hopefully.

If only that were possible.

“We can’t refuse,” Eun-Ho said.

“Why not?”

“Refusing an audit is equivalent to admitting every charge.”

“What?!” Yeo-Jin tilted her head in confusion. “What charges are they even talking about?”

Exactly. What charges were serious enough to warrant the bureau director’s personal appearance? Eun-Ho thought.

They had only worked diligently to improve employee welfare and increase company productivity.

“Is it for manipulating trials to promote people? Or wrecking the Operations Bureau while looking for Leira Unnie? Ugh, there are too many possibilities!” Bo-Ra blurted out.

Right. There are quite a few sore spots.

Still, they did not have long to speculate because a heavy bell tolled inside their heads.

Diiiing—!𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

“Hieek?!”

“A bell?!”

A deep, resonant voice followed. “Hear this, Labor-Management Cooperation Team.”

The accusations came, one by one, driven straight into their ears.

“You are hereby ordered to appear in court on charges of embezzlement, fraud, and bribery.”

“Embezzlement?! Fraud and bribery too? What the hell are they talking about?!” Swear-Master shouted, already pulling out his yellow megaphone. He seemed ready to hurl a storm of curses back.

“I’ll go out,” Eun-Ho said.

“No fucking way! If they’re spewing bullshit, we answer with bullshit!”

“It won’t matter.”

The chief secretary’s earlier words echoed in his mind.

“The Audit Bureau director’s ability is unique. Optimized for his work.”

If her testimony is accurate...

“We’ll have to go out either way,” Eun-Ho said.

“What do you mean, Hyungnim?!”

Diiiing—!

Just at that moment, the bell rang again. Jae-Hyuk’s eyes darted wildly as he stumbled backward.

“The defendant has the right to remain silent and the right to appoint counsel. The defendant, representative of the Labor-Management Cooperation Team, will appear before the court.”

Charges were stated. Rights were stated. Summons were issued. Then, here it comes, Eun-Ho thought.

[Conditions have been met.]

[The Trial will begin in one minute.]

[59, 58, 57 seconds...】

“Trial?!”

“Do we have to do it? We can’t refuse attendance?!”

“Mister! Pretend you’re sick and lie down or something!”

“Or use Acceleration and run—”

“It’s useless,” Eun-Ho said.

The Audit Director’s unique ability was Trial. No matter who the target was, once the conditions were met, he could convene a court anywhere, anytime.

[The Courtroom is now in session.]

The world lurched. Like a curtain of water, a pale wall shimmered into existence before them, then peeled away to reveal an unfamiliar interior.

“What is that?”

“Is that a courtroom?”

Long tables lined both sides, with a raised dais standing at the center. A wooden gavel even rested upon its block.

[The defendant may not leave the Courtroom until the Trial concludes.]

Clink.

Heavy chains coiled around Eun-Ho’s ankles.

“H-he’s chained!”

[During the Trial, the defendant is protected from external interference. Items or abilities that may influence the proceedings are restricted.]

A wash of light swept from head to toe. When it passed, the world seemed drained of color. His outfit had transformed into black-and-white striped prison garb.

“Even the clothes?!”

They really put effort into the weirdest details, Eun-Ho thought dryly, thinking about the System.

[If found Guilty, all in-company privileges will be immediately revoked. Punishment may include hanging, burning, flaying, or dismemberment, depending on severity.]

“Hieeek! H-Hyungnim?!”

“What kind of sentencing options are those?!”

Hanging. Burning at the stake. Skinning alive. Being torn apart limb from limb. Grotesque, medieval punishments... But the most terrifying part is not the method, Eun-Ho thought.

[The defendant must comply with the legally declared verdict. Upon conclusion, the sentence will be carried out immediately.]

There was no executioner, and the system itself was to enforce the sentence.

This is a full-blown offensive skill, Eun-Ho realized.

[Defendant - Labor-Management Cooperation Team(Representative: Lee Eun-Ho)]

[Awaiting appearance]

[34, 33, 32 seconds...]

He read the floating text quickly and closed his eyes.

“You are hereby ordered to appear in court on charges of embezzlement, fraud, and bribery.”

Fine. If that’s how you want to play it, I’ll make the best decision possible and will prove I’m not so easy a target.

“I will change the defendant to Assistant Manager Kim Ji-Woong of the Labor-Management Cooperation Team.”

“Ehe?! Hyungnim?!”

“For what reason?” the deep voice demanded.

“He is the head of our accounting division.”

Ji-Woong swayed, his legs nearly buckling. “Huh?!”

“Cutting off the tail, are we? You’ve learned quickly,” the voice mocked.

“C-cutting off the tail?!”

Diiiing—!

The bell rang once more.

Clink!

The weighted chains vanished from Eun-Ho’s ankles and reappeared around Ji-Woong’s. He also changed into the striped prison uniform. The red defendant marker shifted.

[Defendant - Labor-Management Cooperation Team(Representative: Kim Ji-Woong)]

“Ji-Woong,” Eun-Ho said.

“I-I’m fine! Then I’ll lend you and Ji-Eun all my stats and gather every remaining item—”

“No. That’s not it.”

“M-my room! There’s a file of ledgers, so if you need it later—”

“Appoint me as your counsel.”

“What?”

“Do it.”

“Coun...sel?”

“Yeah, just like that.”

[Defense Counsel - Lee Eun-Ho]

Cutting off the tail? No way. I have no intention of giving them anything. Not even a single fingernail.

He met Ji-Woong’s wide eyes. “Let’s go to the Courtroom.”