Novel Full Chapter 204.2
“……”
Agent Choi lowered his head.
Inmate Number : 37-999
Inmate : Kim ■■ (Agent Codename : Grapes)
Affiliation : Black-Tortoise Team 1, Dispatch & Rescue Unit (Suspended)
He held the updated interrogation records for the inmate in his hands.
Each page he turned showed the miserable week of interrogations.
Refusal to testify, deteriorating health, increasingly extreme forms of questioning.
But after that painful stretch, a change began to appear.
Like this.Day 8
Inmate status : Poor. (Recovering)
After the previous day’s interrogation, a significant change was observed in the inmate’s attitude.
Non-cooperative behaviors, such as intentionally causing auditory or visual disturbances to avoid hearing questions or maintaining persistent silence during interrogation, were markedly reduced.
Time spent sleeping and eating increased to levels similar to the recommended amount. The inmate was also observed caring for his dokkaebi flame or checking on his doll (self-identified as a ‘friend’).
It is presumed that these changes resulted from the appointment of a new interrogator with whom the inmate is personally acquainted.
It started from the time Ryu Jaekwan arrived.
Officer’s personal note : The inmate appears to be regaining stability. Rather than increasing the intensity of interrogation, it is likely more effective to encourage a natural confession through continued interaction.
The majority of relevant personnel concurred with this assessment without objection.
And so the pages accumulate.
Day 9
Inmate Status : Poor. (Recovering)
Special meal (galbitang) permitted. The interrogator brought the same menu and ate together with the inmate during questioning.
The inmate earnestly participated in Q&A.
He acknowledged that the traces of contamination originated from separate supernatural disasters experienced prior to his work at the Disaster Management Bureau.
The inmate, confined in the Glass Prison, began to talk about more and more things, and there are hints everywhere that the interrogator and inmate had deeper conversations.
Personal stories, character, affection for the bureau, fear of supernatural disasters, even the relief and sense of reward felt when rescuing civilians.
Several days pass like that…
Eventually, it reaches this point.
Day 12
The inmate testifies that he previously worked for ■■■ Inc.
He affirms that there was external pressure involved in the process of applying to the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau, and that there was a separate objective he had to achieve while employed.
However, it is established as fact that a binding as powerful as a death curse was placed on him, that there was no intention to harm the bureau, and that during his employment, no actual harm ever came to the bureau as a result of the inmate’s actions.
It is confirmed that the inmate wishes to continue working, regardless of his initial reasons for joining.
The interrogator reports this testimony to the higher authorities.
“……”
The agent, whose hands had begun to tremble slightly, composed himself and turned the next page.
The final page.
Day 13
Inmate Status : Good.
And.
Testimony secured during interrogation was verified for credibility.
Release of 37-999 (Agent Codename : Grapes) from confinement and reinstatement of agent status approved.
Scheduled for release tomorrow.
And that ‘tomorrow’ is today.
Tak.
Agent Choi closed the file.
A mix of tension and relief crossed his tired face.
“He’ll be coming out soon.”
“Yes.”
“Stop pacing.”
“I should.”
But even so, Agent Choi continued to pace back and forth in the waiting room.
Because his plans for the future were already taking clear, concrete shape in his mind.
‘This isn’t the end.’
Since it was all but officially recognized that he had been a spy, he might have to go through quite a difficult process.
But that was a matter of gratitude and discipline given to agents.
Kim Soleum would undergo the relevant investigation as a member of Black-Tortoise Team 1…
‘Then, I’ll be able to help somehow.’
That was what mattered.
Now, the being in charge of the Glass Prison would retrieve the glass marble in which Agent Grapes had been confined, lift the binding, and then transfer him into their custody.
Before the disciplinary process, there would need to be a proper conversation about Daydream Inc., as well as the secrets, items, and abilities he had been hiding…
‘But that can be done gradually.’
The important thing was that the interrogation process had ended well, and that Kim Soleum had regained stability.
It had been a long way around, but it was a success.
Agent Choi finally let out a sigh of relief.
The nerve-racking past two weeks had come to an end.
He had no idea how many different methods he had tried to reach this conclusion. And then…
“…Jaekwan-ah.”
“……”
“Thank you. You worked hard.”
Agent Bronze, who was sitting across from him, gave a small nod.
His attitude was blunt, but Agent Choi could read a gentle gesture of reconciliation within it, and he simply gazed quietly at his junior.
A smile returned to Agent Choi’s face.
Feelings of apology and gratitude mingled together.
“First, the three of us should go to the hot springs. Seriously. I’ll pay for everything we do there.”
“Yes.”
It was as he was patting Ryu Jaekwan on the back—
Knock knock.
“…!”
The door opened, and the custodian appeared.
“The detention has been lifted.”
“Then…”
“Yes. Agent Grapes is waiting in the lounge right now.”
“Thank you.”
Agent Choi hurriedly shook hands with the custodian, then quickly made his way forward.
“W-Wait…”
He already knew where the lounge was. Without hesitation, Agent Choi entered the cave and headed for the iron door with the nameplate near the entrance.
He should be inside.
Kim Soleum.
“……”
…He still had no idea where to start the conversation.
Honestly, he still didn’t know the whole truth.
‘What on earth was that?’
That bizarre laboratory and the appearance of the supernatural entity, too.
But what he could be sure of was that, on the night the binding was placed, Kim Soleum had tried to save him.
Risking his life.
“……”
So, he thought,
‘I can start learning from now on.’
Without hesitation, Agent Choi swung the iron door open. And…
There was no one inside.
“……”
The lounge was completely empty. There was no trace of anyone.
As if there had never been anyone there at all.
“Agent?”
Agent Choi stood frozen for a moment, then looked around the lounge again.
On top of a steel chair, only something stark white remained, unnaturally out of place.
A single, neatly folded piece of paper.
On the front, just one word was written.
Resignation
Agent Choi picked it up.
Small objects tumbled out onto the floor. Round candies, stick-shaped syringes.
They looked like mere odds and ends, but each was probably an item.
“……”
He stood frozen for a moment, then unfolded the folded paper.
Handwritten, pressed-down letters appeared.
Hello, Agents.
I want to sincerely apologize for everything that’s happened so far.
I am truly sorry.
Thus began Agent Grapes’s letter.