Chapter 48.1

Chapter 48.1

The meeting room was in chaos.

“Seventeen people have reportedly returned alive!”

“Seventeen...?! Are you sure about that number? Could it be a counting error?”

“Yes. Oh! The count just went up to 20.”

Members of the Field Exploration Team, deployed earlier in the day into a high-risk Darkness, had suddenly returned in droves.

This unexpected turn of events completely paralyzed any immediate response.

“They said all the case studies were done and that they’d escape in small, sequential groups. What on earth is this?”

The room was filled with a cacophony of voices—speculations about whether the returning employees were really the ones who had entered, calls for lab testing to confirm their identities, and other theories about what might have gone wrong with their predictions.

But as the initial shock faded, a subtle thought began to form in the minds of some... The thrilling possibility of success.

Could this result be a remarkable breakthrough?

For a few of the key players who had backed this endeavor, similar thoughts emerged.

‘If this survival rate is real...!’

It would mean their bold and calculated investment had paid off. The unexpectedly high success rate was so surprising that it left them momentarily dazed.

‘Should we start shaping public opinion about this achievement?’

‘Wait, I should highlight my contributions while this is fresh.’

However, all the confusion, excitement, and self-congratulations were abruptly extinguished by one critical piece of news.

“It’s B-Class.”

“...Huh.”

The first survivor’s Dream Essence Collector had been evaluated, and the liquid inside was rated B-Class.

In other words, the dream of a ‘high-survival-rate A-Class’ Darkness had vanished.

The atmosphere in the meeting room deflated in an instant, sinking into disappointment.

“Ha... Of course, it’s too good to be true.”

“Wasn’t this jinxed the moment people started hyping it as A-Class?”

“Still, hey, isn’t a B-Class Darkness with this kind of survival rate pretty rare? What do you think, Section Chief Kwak?”

Kwak Jaekang, a researcher hurriedly called in, gave a faint smile.

“Indeed~ It’s an impressive result.”

No, it wasn’t just impressive—it was staggering!

Did these people even understand the survival rates associated with each grade?

“......!”

“He reportedly broadcasted the escape method to all the employees. We need to investigate the details of how he managed it.”

“......”

“Some people are already asking questions about it.”

It was Director Ho.

The Strategy Office’s people exchanged glances, muttering half-heartedly.

“Ah, yes. We’ll transmit the detailed exploration report as soon as it’s available.”

“That’s right. Usually, after field exploration, people are so out of it they babble nonsense for a while.”

“Still, they wouldn’t just make up something out of thin air, would they?”

“Well...”

“Which brings us to the matter at hand.”

The representative from Director Ho’s side interrupted the conversation.

“They’re curious about what decision the ‘Innovation Development Strategy Division’ will make.”

“......”

“Regarding the employee’s reward, that is.”

* * *

“Congratulations, Supervisor Kim.”

“...What?”

I almost choked on my iced americano while lying on a cot in the medical bay.

After hearing the heartwarming words, ‘Our maknae[1], you worked hard, so just rest,’ I had undergone a basic physical examination and had been dozing off for hours.

I thought I’d only hear more about this exploration when I came to work tomorrow.

Supervisor...?

“Oh, you heard me right. Supervisor Kim.”

Assistant Manager Eun Haje grinned.

“You’re getting promoted. Fastest record in the history of the company’s Field Exploration Team!”

“......!!”



Note/s:

[1] Maknae = youngest/newest member ↩