Chapter 83
After a long negotiation, a deal with the assistant mod was finally reached.
Now all we had to do was exchange information and get what we needed. For now, their priority was information about the fake Bureau, so we should hand that over first.
-How much do you know about the fake Bureau?
-Almost nothing. All we know is that they suddenly appear, take people away, and after that, those people can never be found again.
They only know exactly as much as they should.
It feels like I'm looking at my old self.
-Us World Politics board regulars are always keeping an eye on them.
-Understood.
"Team Leader Jaldi. How much information about the fake Bureau should I give them?"
"I'll handle that part. I'll just be writing down the information, so there won't be any problem."
"...Understood."
If it's just writing out information rather than actually talking, I can handle that. If it looks like there might be a problem, let's stop them before they hit Enter... No, come to think of it, this is the first time I've felt Jaldi was this unreliable.
In any case, Jaldi sat down and immediately began typing out information on the fake Bureau.
Their size, equipment, how to avoid them, how to run away, and finally even how to contact the Bureau.
For an ordinary person, just knowing this much would be enough to survive the fake Bureau.
-Is there no fundamental solution? In the end, do we have to contact your Bureau?
"Team Leader, it's your turn."
"..."
Jaldi reluctantly swapped seats with a dissatisfied look.
-The fake Bureau is a massive ghost-story organization. Dealing with them on an individual level is impossible. I believe we told you we're at war, too.
-I see. That was useful information. This should make our World Politics board regulars a little safer.
-Then it's your turn now. Prove who you are.
-I'll think of a way.
The chat was cut off.
But I didn't think they'd run away. They'd already learned about the fake Bureau, and once you know one thing, you want to know two.
Their immediate problem wasn't just the fake Bureau. To survive, they would desperately need our Bureau's information.
Then a photo was uploaded.
"This is Kim Seongjin?!"
It's a photo of Kim Seongjin!
"Is this Kim Seongjin? What an unusual guy."
"No, what is this!"
But seriously, what an unusual photo!
In the photo, Kim Seongjin was wearing some bizarre aluminum-foil hat. His expression was awkward too, and he was holding an A4 sheet of paper with "Sorry for not contacting you" written on it in marker.
-What is this? Did you torture and threaten Kim Seongjin?
-No. He is safe.
-Then what are that awkward expression and bizarre foil hat supposed to mean?
This is the most awkward photo in the world!
-The expression is because he's not used to being photographed, and the foil hat is a must-have item for our World Politics board regulars.
-What use does it have?
-This foil hat blocks paranormal waves.
What on earth.
"Jamtree. Can you track them?"
"Not at all. I thought it would work since it's a real-time chat, but it doesn't."
"Hmph. As expected, there's nothing to be done."
Even in the middle of this, Jaldi was ordering a trace. But it didn't seem to be effective.
-Seeing that Kim Seongjin is safe, you won't suspect our identities any further.
-That's right. You are indeed World Politics board regulars. But proving your identity is basic. Since we told you about the fake Bureau, you need to provide valid information too.
-Of course.
I wonder what information the assistant mod will give us.
-You lot. Have you heard of geocaching?
Geocaching?
"Team Leader Jaldi? What's geocaching?"
"I don't know. Look it up."
"Yes."
I looked up geocaching right away.
"Hm?"
What is this?
Geocaching... is this something like a treasure hunt?
According to the explanation, geocaching is when you hide an item in some place, record the coordinates, and then make them public. Someone else uses GPS to go to that place and find the item at the coordinates.
It doesn't seem to have any special ritual or meaning; apparently it's just a sort of group treasure hunt done this way.
It's a game where people hide treasures, write in a guestbook, and have fun together.
"What! That's fun! Team Leader Jaldi! Let's try this too!"
"Stop saying nonsense..."
I want to do it with Spangdal!
If not that, then contacting my vampire hunter friends and enjoying geocaching together would also be really fun. If board games are something you play indoors, then geocaching is a game you can enjoy outdoors too!
-So geocaching in the literal dictionary sense?
-That's right. But the geocaching we do is a little different.
Just how is it different?
-We World Politics board regulars get together from time to time for geocaching.
"Geocaching meetups?! That's insane! That's so cool! Could I join this group too?!"
Could I become one of the World Politics board regulars too?
If I used my Bureau agent identity, I'd be accepted into the group in no time, and I could lead whatever game they played.
In the end, I'd surely become the most talked-about, most popular person among the World Politics board regulars.
"Grong. Please calm down."
"Sorry. I got carried away. Anyway, it looks like this geocaching thing isn't a normal treasure hunt."
"There's a high chance this is something very important to them too. Keep chatting."
"Yes."
-You cautious types actually meet up for geocaching? There must be some reason for it.
-That's right. We don't just enjoy treasure-hunt games for fun. This geocaching is anything but ordinary.
The assistant mod continued with his explanation.
-It's a kind of supernatural-phenomenon tracking.
-Supernatural-phenomenon tracking?
-We World Politics board regulars occasionally obtain certain codes. Sometimes we find them on the internet, and sometimes we happen to get them in real life. Of course, these aren't ordinary codes.
-What kind of codes?
-Coordinates.
Coordinates?
Could they be the coordinates where a treasure is hidden?
-We share the codes we've obtained and interpret them. Those codes take the form of ciphers, so it takes quite a while to decode them. Whatever they are, once the decoding is done, the coordinates come out.
-Then you go geocaching there?
-That's right. Once the coordinates are confirmed, we discuss it and then hold a meetup.
-Is there a reason to risk your life to find them?
-Of course.
That's an incredible treasure.
-Hidden in those coordinates are messages that seem to hint at mysterious tools or something of the sort. Those are very useful to us as well. That's why we try to find them.
Mysterious tools and messages!
-But sometimes dangerous things are found.
-Dangerous things?
-We don't know how to handle these dangerous items. Besides, it's scary if some terrifying being finds them. We don't know what the world might become, so we hide them away.
I turned my head.
"Team Leader Jaldi. I think I get it now."
"Hm... dangerous items, huh. Interesting. I had no idea these guys were doing something like this."
"I don't know what those dangerous items are, but they can't just be left alone."
"Right. It seems they want us to handle them too."
Jaldi nodded.
"For now, the World Politics board itself seems to have pure intentions. They prioritize safety, but they also know that they need information in order to stay safe."
"Once you've gotten involved... ignorance won't do you any good."
"Exactly. Geocaching is an operation for obtaining information."
Mystery is like a swamp.
For ordinary people who know nothing at all, that's a blessing in itself. The saying that ignorance is bliss applies.
But the moment you step into the hidden world even once... ignorance becomes a bomb that could go off at any time.
World Politics board regulars are such people.
-When did geocaching start?
-I don't know. It's probably been going on since before our World Politics board even took the form of an internet forum.
So this organization has been around since ancient times.
"From what I'm hearing, it seems like they've been around for a long time. The Bureau really never managed to figure them out?"
"Hmm. They must have had some way to evade the Bureau's eyes. But it seems they've finally reached their limit and revealed themselves. Grong. Tell them we'll help with the geocaching."
"Understood."
-Assistant mod. It seems you have concerns about this geocaching. If you give us the coordinates, I'll investigate them myself to verify your identity as well. Will you agree?
-I agree.
Good.
-I'll explain the coordinates for the first one we'll send. The World Politics board regulars who went geocaching there disappeared. Among them was an assistant mod.
-What? There are multiple assistant mods?
-That's right.
So this guy was a middle manager.
-I want you to look into those missing people. Just learning their whereabouts and existence will be a huge piece of information for you.
If we find the missing people and investigate them, we'll be able to learn a great deal about the World Politics board.
"This assistant mod is willing to risk exposing the World Politics board's secrets in order to find the missing regulars. He seems to have a strong sense of camaraderie."
It really does seem like the kind of organization Kim Seongjin belongs to.
"I'm glad it's not an evil organization. Ah, the guy sent a file."
-Download this file and copy it into your notebook before it disappears. I don't recommend storing it on electronic devices.
-Understood.
I immediately downloaded the file and copied down the coordinates in it.
"Team Leader Jaldi. I obtained the coordinates. If we investigate this place and find the missing people's whereabouts, it seems like we'll be able to learn the secret of the World Politics board. What should we do? I think it'd be fine to try."
The things we're handling right now are the cannibal factory and Kim Seongjin. Those two. But the cannibal factory case is still in the analysis and training phase, so there's nothing we can do about it right now.
And since Kim Seongjin's matter is already half resolved, trying this geocaching should be fine. Once we finish it, we can tell him to contact us.
"Since Kim Seongjin's whereabouts have been confirmed, it should be fine to proceed. Jamtree. I'll go with Grong. If Spangdal comes, pass it on to him."
"Sure, sure. Grong, have a good trip. And you know to bring back snacks when you return, right?"
"Understood. I'll buy all sorts of things."
"Ah, Team Leader. Take some gear with you when you go. I think Grong should have something to carry."
"I was planning on it anyway."
Equipment...!
"As expected! If you're going treasure hunting, gear is essential!"
"Grong. Don't get too excited. We don't know what kind of threat may be lurking."
"I'm going with a Bureau director, so what could happen? Besides, I'm an elite agent."
"Well... You say that, but once you're actually in the field, you'll stay calm. I won't give any further advice. Follow me."
"Yes!"
We're going treasure hunting!
* * *
"First off, there's no treasure hunt."
"Huh?!"
"Didn't I say it's a danger zone with a large number of missing persons? We'll only go there for reconnaissance and then come back."
No way!
"It won't do you any good to stare at me like that. We'll do a preliminary reconnaissance first and then formulate a plan... Stop pleading with those teary eyes. No, why are you so obsessed with treasure hunts?"
"Because they're fun!"
If I don't chase at least a little fun while doing this kind of work, how could I keep being an agent for long?
"Anyway, understood. I'll do my best at reconnaissance."
"Right... I'll prepare the gear. I'll bring whatever is needed for reconnaissance and investigation, along with some self-defense gear."
"Ah, come to think of it, you said you had tools for catching ghosts and such, right? Are we bringing those too?"
"We'll bring several. I'm also planning to bring anti-anomaly weapons."
"Anti-anomaly weapons?!"
They had those?!
"What, is it some kind of sword?! Like Chief Lee Do-hyung?!"