46 - Time

TL/Editor: raei Schedule: 5/week

Illustrations: None.

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Yeonwoo received a response to his words.

-TPL: Of course, we have to continue.

They had gone as far as to activate the apocalypse defense system all on their own. Although briefly discouraged, their determination was not weak enough to break completely.

Yeonwoo gave a slightly awkward smile and looked at the monitor.

-TPL: Judging by the trend of the critical value, we have about a month left. During that time, we'll reorganize and set up general guidelines for action.

A month.

It was a short time to continue the research, so they decided to first determine what to do once time resumed. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

-TPL: Our goal is Earth's regeneration. We will use any means necessary.

-CHS: We will mobilize the technology and anomalies of all groups to find a way. Is that correct?

Yeonwoo asked, and TPL answered.

-TPL: That's right. It won't be easy. Robbery and coercion will be essential.

TPL then sent the data they had gathered during their investigations. Various anomalies owned by different groups. Important resources considered key by each group.

Goldberg Club's omnipotent gold, Free Artists Association's Earth Drawing, erasers from red-level wanted individuals, and more.

Anomalous entities that wouldn't be handed over even at gunpoint. Reading this, Yeonwoo had a question.

-CHS: You said "we." Who is with us?

-TPL: Not many. A few employees who sympathize with my cause, a few people from various groups I'm acquainted with. And you two.

-ACTR: That's really just a few….

It was less of an organization and more like a club formed by the director of the Time Physics Laboratory gathering acquaintances.

-TPL: Still, we have to try. If each of us does our part, like gears in a clock, we can get the Doomsday Clock moving again.

Yeonwoo let out a small sigh. It was clearly not easy. He had expected a coalition when they said everyone would unite.

Of course, he would still help....

-CHS: What should I do? I'm an investigator.

-TPL: Excellent. If you find any anomalies needed for our goal during your investigation, set them aside for us.

It was similar to the proposal the Goldberg Club had made before. But Yeonwoo's answer was different. He nodded and typed on the keyboard.

‘I was going to get the anomalies needed for survival anyway.’

-CHS: I'll do that if possible. Is there anything else?

-TPL: You're in Korea, right? From now on, you are the head of the Korean branch. If there is any need in Korea, let me know.

His expression turned sour.

-CHS: Are there any members in Korea?

-TPL: Only you.

-CHS: Then what about support?

-TPL: Our capacity doesn't allow for support….

So there was work but no support or compensation. The only thing he got was an empty title. It was pure passion alone.

TPL, feeling awkward, added to the chat, but Yeonwoo's enthusiasm had already hit rock bottom.

-TPL: Still, the company won't interfere. They don't have the capacity for that, and there's some tacit understanding. If necessary, I can provide some financial support.

-CHS: Yes, understood.

Yeonwoo answered with a slightly grimaced face. He would help with what he could. That was it.

‘My top priority is my survival.’

Ensuring his survival from the impending doom in the near future came first. Helping TPL would be secondary, done only when he had spare time and without overexertion.

-ACTR: By the way, what is the name of our organization?

-TPL: Isn't "The Group of People Who Can't Give Up on Earth" sufficient?

-ACTR: What? That's too lame! Let's come up with a new name!

-TPL: I think it's straightforward and good. But if you insist on changing it, do you have a good name in mind?

ACTR and TPL argued over the name. They suggested various names, but their opinions differed, and the chat continued without end. Yeonwoo didn't intervene. The name wasn't important.

He just sat back, staring into space, thinking about how to prepare for survival.

‘Secure anomalies that help with survival, find a way to sneak into a shelter or migration site. In the end, gambling with the dice wouldn't be bad.’

There was also the option of using the dice to trigger dimensional travel and go to a migration site.

In the meantime, the name was decided. Yeonwoo looked at the monitor.

-ACTR: Then let's go with Clock Repairmen.

People who fix the Doomsday Clock that struck midnight so it moves again from 00:01.

-TPL: Alright, alright.

-ACTR: CHS, you agree, right?

-CHS: I don't care about the name.

Thus, Yeonwoo became the head of the Korean branch of the Clock Repairmen.

---

---

While making and revising various plans, the critical value soared to 99. They decided to continue communication through a messenger app and waited for time to resume.

Shuffle- Shuffle- Plop-

Returning to the underground auditorium, Yeonwoo handed back the ID card to Researcher Kim Gak-jung and went back to his original seat.

He quietly watched the stage.

A banner about the anomaly possession reporting period was hanging, and Researcher Kim Gak-jung was frozen in the middle of giving a lecture.

In a world where time had stopped, everything remained the same, but Yeonwoo had changed. He closed his eyes.

‘I did what I could during the month.’

He had found and read confidential documents from the Clock Hand Manufacturing Lab. He had learned information he didn't know before and discovered that the Goldberg Club's firearms workshop was in this city.

When Yeonwoo patted his chest, the outline of the homemade pistol in his inner pocket became clear.

‘There were no gold bars, but the pistol is enough.’

He had stolen a few homemade pistols from the Goldberg Club's firearms workshop. He had plenty of bullets too.

As he was still an investigator, he didn't touch company property, but he had no qualms about hostile groups.

‘It's a pity I couldn't secure any anomalies….’

Then, time started to flow again.

Everyone began to move slowly, and noises poured in.

The sound of tapping on phones, countless breaths, rustling movements, murmuring chatter, and the researcher's voice.

“-oooo can be moved.”

Researcher Kim Gak-jung blinked. Something had changed, but he didn't know what. He straightened his clothes for no reason and continued the lecture.

The noise boomed through the speakers.

The sound felt unfamiliar. Having lived in silence for about a month, Yeonwoo curled up.

‘I’ll get used to it soon.’

His sensitive ears protested in pain, but his senses quickly dulled. By the time the lecture ended, he had returned to his previous state.

“This concludes the lecture. I was Researcher Kim Gak-jung of the Clock Hand Manufacturing Lab.”

Clap clap clap clap-

Applause thundered. Yeonwoo joined in, then mingled with the people leaving the underground auditorium.

In front of the first-floor desk.

The security guard who had stopped Yeonwoo took out an eco bag from under the desk and handed it to him.

“Here it is, sir.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Without looking back, Yeonwoo merged with the crowd pouring out and left the building.

The security guard, watching him leave, clicked his tongue as he returned to his post.

“It was just superstition. Nothing happened after all.”

---

---

Office of the Anomaly Investigation Team.

Yeonwoo carefully wrote a report. Titled “Lecture Review,” it detailed what he did while time was stopped.

‘TPL's director said the company would ignore it.’

It turned out to be true.

Despite the considerable time that had passed since the report was submitted, the upper management of the company took no action.

Whether it was because they lacked the capacity or because they too couldn't give up on Earth, they pretended not to notice.

And so time passed, bringing a lazy afternoon in late summer.

Yeonwoo, Yoo Ji-yoo, and the team leader were slouched in their chairs. Yoo Ji-yoo tapped the floor with her toe, spinning her chair around.

Screech-

Her toe dragged on the floor, stopping the chair in Yeonwoo's direction. Yeonwoo was focused on his phone.

"What are you looking at so intently? Did you get a girlfriend? You've been on your phone a lot lately."

Yeonwoo flinched and turned off the phone screen. The chat room of the Clock Repairmen disappeared, leaving a black screen.

"Huh? No. I've just had something on my mind lately...."

As Ji-yoo smirked and seemed about to tease him, Yeonwoo smoothly changed the subject.

"The weather's been weird. There's been a lot of talk about the world ending. It's worrying."

He spoke nonchalantly, observing Ji-yoo and the team leader to see if they knew about the extreme weather.

But it seemed they didn't. Ji-yoo let out a small laugh, and the team leader shook his head slowly.

"Yeonwoo, do you believe in that stuff? Even though you're a company employee?"

"Rookie, if it were really that dangerous, the company would do something. Stop worrying about weird things."

The optimism and confidence of being a company employee.

Yeonwoo's heart sank heavily. Pretending to look at his phone, he spoke in passing.

"...But it's interesting to look into. Survivalism? Survival techniques? It might even help with my investigation work."

He hadn't decided whether to recruit them. He considered telling them about the extreme weather scenario but hesitated, not wanting to worry them without a solution.

The brief conversation ended.

Ji-yoo watched a video on her phone, the team leader started to nod off, and Yeonwoo checked the chat room of the Clock Repairmen.

Knock, knock-

Someone knocked on the door of the Anomaly Investigation Team. When the investigators looked at the door, two Intelligence Department agents walked in.

"Hello. We're from the Intelligence Department."

"Hello!"

Kim Gapdong and Lee Seoyeon.

The two agents, who he had seen during the interrogation, bowed and then straightened. The team leader looked at them with sleepy eyes.

"Intelligence Department? What brings you here?"

Yeonwoo tensed. Was it because of the Clock Repairmen? His hand holding the phone was damp with cold sweat.

The two agents glanced around the spacious, empty desk area before making eye contact with Yeonwoo. They had ambiguous expressions.

"We need Yeonwoo's help, so we've come to ask for support."