The Newbie Civil Servant Hunts Villains Before Going Home

Chapter 8: Scout (2)

Hyeon-yul got off the bus.

He’d caught up on two days’ worth of missed movies, done some grocery shopping, and even cooked and ate a proper meal—for the first time in a long while.

After living like that for the first time in years, he wondered if there could be a better workplace than this.

And to think he could enjoy it even more moving forward.

He knew this was a job, but his body felt light.

“Hey.”

Someone called out to him and approached.

He was a broad-shouldered, muscular middle-aged man.

Except for the wrinkles on his face, the man was dressed in a neat outfit, with hair combed sharply into place. He looked like the CEO of a large company.

‘That’s the guy I saw back then, right?’

Hyeon-yul stared blankly.

“I’m Yang Do-jin, the team leader of Team 2.”

Do-jin confidently held out his hand.

Hyeon-yul’s gaze shifted to it.

“I…”

“Come to Team 2.”

Do-jin smiled boldly.

‘Do I just look like the perfect scouting candidate or something?’

It was hard not to scoff.

It hadn’t even been a full day since he received that peculiar scouting offer wrapped in poison.

And now, a team leader from Black Eagle was making a proposal?

‘Why is this team leader making an offer? I get that I’m the perfect profile for villains, but I’m not exactly what Black Eagle would look for.’

Hyeon-yul’s eyes grew sharper as he looked at Do-jin.

‘…Is he a spy?’

Would it be strange if there were villains embedded within Black Eagle?

Even a team leader could be one.

“Did you not hear me clearly?”

Do-jin glanced at a passing bus and, thinking his voice might have been too quiet, spoke up again.

“Become my team member, Seo Hyeon-yul.”

Do-jin flashed a toothy grin.

He confidently pointed to himself with his thumb.

“I was the first one to support you becoming part of Black Eagle.”

Hyeon-yul couldn’t understand why he would bring that up here.

Something felt off.

It was as if someone was using him to deliver a message.

Who was he trying to alert?

“I remember. Thank you for that at the time.”

“Not sure if Hae-ryeon explained, but that re-vote was chaos.”

Yesterday, a re-vote had taken place.

—Before we vote, I’d like to say something. Please make your decision after reviewing the mission Mr. Seo Hyeon-yul completed today.

Hae-ryeon had spoken confidently just before the vote.

The content of the mission had been something no rookie could have pulled off.

“A re-vote? I joined through proper channels.”

“Exactly. You were legitimate. But the other team leaders were so petty the re-vote happened anyway. Three in favor, two against, and two abstentions. You won by a single vote.”

Hearing that, Hyeon-yul’s eyes twitched.

Two abstentions.

Two votes against.

Technically, abstaining wasn't neutral.

‘They’re just waiting to see how the wind blows. That’s practically four against me.’

Even during a re-vote, they couldn’t set aside their pride, so they went with abstention.

‘And now they’ll nitpick everything to push me out?’

Hyeon-yul forced his lips, which were about to curl upward, back down.

‘They must be desperate to survive, huh.’

He began to wonder just how strong a team leader might be.

“I can protect you.”

The sudden declaration made Hyeon-yul look up.

Do-jin met his gaze with unwavering eyes.

“Is that so?”

But Hyeon-yul didn’t believe him.

Even if it sounded sincere, he couldn’t trust it.

Do-jin laughed heartily at the reply.

He’d faced death countless times himself, so Hyeon-yul must have too.

How could anyone take such words at face value?

“I’m not asking you to decide now. Take your time. It’s not strange to change teams. I’ll show you my sincerity…”

“Team Leader Do-jin!”

A sharp voice cut in.

A short woman came running over.

Do-jin looked at her with an expression that already screamed ‘What a bother.’

‘She really does have good eyes.’

He didn’t even bother opening his mouth.

She already saw right through him.

“Team Leader, that was quite the dangerous statement just now.”

“What? What did I say?”

“You know how good my eyes are, right? I sprinted here from the entrance the moment I saw you talking!”

As the woman pointed toward something, Hyeon-yul turned his head.

‘That direction… That’s where they mount the Eagles. Did she see us from all the way over there?’

It was over a 15-minute walk.

He studied the woman with reddish medium-length hair.

How good was her eyesight, really?

“This is just another chance to confirm how sharp your eyes are.”

Do-jin brushed it off like it was a routine occurrence.

“Team Leader. The newbie is one of our team members. Ours. That was clearly decided.”

‘So she’s from Team 3?’

Only now did Hyeon-yul understand why she was interfering.

They were on the same team.

“I know. He’s your teammate for now. But you should really hear the whole story first.”

“What story?”

The woman’s eyes softened a bit at Do-jin’s now-gentle tone.

“Just, hold on a sec! Wait!”

A familiar voice rang out.

“Hae-ryeon. She sounds urgent.”

Do-jin smirked as he looked at Hae-ryeon.

“…Na-yoon. Why don’t you take Hyeon-yul and head in first?”

Hae-ryeon quietly said to Na-yoon.

“Got it.”

Na-yoon looked around and gave a small nod.

This situation wasn’t ideal for a rookie.

Regardless of the reason, having two team leaders arguing over you was terrifying.

‘I’ll handle the newbie…’

Na-yoon stopped mid-thought as she looked at Hyeon-yul.

Even though he was the topic of conversation, he stood there as if he were just listening in on someone else’s story.

‘…He’s frozen from fear, isn’t he?’

She blinked, then clenched her fist.

‘I’m the senior here.’

It had been a while since they had a new recruit.

She had to look out for him.

“Let’s go.”

Despite Na-yoon urging him, Hyeon-yul gave a polite bow to Do-jin and Hae-ryeon.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Do-jin and Hae-ryeon returned the bow in kind, and only then did Hyeon-yul follow after Na-yoon.

Once they were out of sight, Hae-ryeon turned to Do-jin with a light smile.

“Team Leader Do-jin. What a nice morning. Your voice carries well too. I could hear everything from way back there.”

“It is a good morning, Hae-ryeon. Sleeping well lately?”

“Of course. Sleeping with both legs stretched out.”

“Didn’t know you were so quick on your feet.”

“You didn’t?”

“To think you not only made a move right after going on a bomb defusal mission with Seo Hyeon-yul, but even declared in the meeting that you’d be taking him.”

“You’re mistaken. Team Leader Do-jin, you never actually said you were going to take him, did you?”

As Hae-ryeon’s smile widened, Do-jin burst out laughing.

“I left to scout a new team member.”

“And that’s what team leaders are supposed to do.”

“I’m glad you’re serious. But don’t let your guard down.”

“I’ll handle that…”

“Protect him well.”

Do-jin smiled softly.

Hae-ryeon’s eyes widened.

This wasn’t a throwaway line like before.

“What do you mean by that?”

She lowered her voice.

Do-jin’s eyes drifted somewhere else for a moment.

Just as Hae-ryeon was about to follow his gaze, Do-jin chuckled.

“If you don’t want him stolen from you.”

“Then I’ll protect him. He’s my team member.”

Hae-ryeon replied firmly.

When she thought of Do-jin, she knew there was always more beneath the surface.

‘…So he’s saying someone’s watching us, and I should figure it out myself?’

She blew gently at the hair that had fallen over her face.

‘I figured it wouldn’t be easy for Mr. Hyeon-yul to adjust here, but I didn’t expect things to kick off this fast.’

Still, she found the situation amusing.

A stagnant organization was a dying one, after all.

In a way, Hyeon-yul had stirred things up for the better.

“Exactly. That’s the idea.”

“And I intend to do just that.”

Hae-ryeon smiled brightly.

This kind of warning was always appreciated.

“…I’m Chu Na-yoon. I’m on Team 3, same as you.”

Na-yoon introduced herself as they walked.

She made it look like a casual move, but Hyeon-yul didn’t feel the same.

He already felt drained.

“…Seo Hyeon-yul.”

“You were surprised I recognized you, right?”

“Yes.”

Na-yoon giggled at his reply.

Maybe she was just the honest type.

“I begged Shin-woo to tell me what the new recruit looked like. So I knew right away when I saw you. I have really good eyesight.”

“When did Baek Shin-woo take a picture of me?”

Just as Hyeon-yul’s expression began to cool, Na-yoon hastily held out her phone.

[Baek Shin-woo (psycho): Talking about Hyeon-yul?]

[Baek Shin-woo (psycho): Black hair, kinda got that ‘seen everything in life’ expression? Just this heavy mood all around him. That’s Hyeon-yul.]

Seeing the messages, Hyeon-yul’s eyes narrowed.

“…So I give off a heavy mood all by myself?”

“Yes! …Wait, no. No, no!”

Na-yoon initially nodded, then quickly shook her head.

She laughed awkwardly and took a small step back.

“Anyway, isn’t it impressive that I recognized you right away? Some people don’t give off any vibe at all, but you’ve got that aura. That’s amazing, right?”

She raised both thumbs, albeit a bit timidly.

But the furrow between Hyeon-yul’s brows didn’t ease.

Making excuses just meant it was true.

“I was so happy when I spotted you from afar. I don’t know if Team Leader or Shin-woo told you, but we’re always short on people. Getting a new recruit? Seriously, I’m thrilled!”

Na-yoon’s cheerful chatter and rising tone had a strange power that almost made the earlier tension fade.

Her deep green eyes sparkled with a clarity that was borderline overwhelming.

“…Is that so?”

Hyeon-yul lowered his gaze slightly.

As she heard the same answer again, Na-yoon looked at him for a moment.

‘Is he just really shy?’

She quietly giggled to herself.

When she started walking again, Hyeon-yul followed.

“But Mr. Hyeon-yul, why did you join Black Eagle?”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“Because we’re teammates. For reference, I came in through a special recruitment.”

Na-yoon lowered her voice as if sharing a secret.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. Just like you, right?”

Her smile deepened.

She pointed to her own eyes while looking at Hyeon-yul’s still-expressionless face.

“It’s thanks to these eyes. I reported every villain I saw on wanted posters. I’m probably still ranked number one in reporting.”

With a proud tone, she walked ahead again.

‘Is her power concentrated in her eyes?’

Hyeon-yul pondered for a moment.

Even in this world where many were born with powers, having strength concentrated in a particular part was still unusual.

Just as he was about to respond, he felt a gaze.

He spotted White Sparrows darting about.

They seemed busy, yet he could sense them glancing at him from time to time.

‘Even if their faces are different, they clearly mark us as Team 3, right?’

So why would they bother looking over here, knowing that?

It seemed like rumors were spreading.

‘Let’s see how far the rumors go.’

Hyeon-yul decided to wait.

The more tails there were, the more likely the head would show itself.

“Oh! Don’t tell me… do you want to become a noble?”

Na-yoon looked at him with anticipation, her dark green eyes wide.

“How would I become a noble?”

Hyeon-yul asked in return.

In this world, nobility existed—more like a modern honorary title than a social class.

There was no status discrimination, but it came with considerable benefits.

Still, not just anyone could become one. It was akin to receiving a medal of honor.

“Black Eagle members can become nobles. It’s not listed in the job posting, but when Black Eagle was first established, the Empire promised this: the person who makes the greatest contribution to eradicating villains can rise to the rank of noble. Of course, no one has actually achieved it yet. There are still way too many villains.”

That was something Hyeon-yul didn’t know.

Nobility, huh.

He had zero interest.

“I just hate villains.”

He let out a long breath as he answered.

There was nothing more to add.

Immediately, Na-yoon pulled out her phone.

“…?”

Hyeon-yul blinked in confusion.

“If you ever have questions, just ask. I’ll always answer. I…”

“Na-yoon!”

Someone called out to her.

“Oh! Hello!”

Na-yoon waved both hands cheerfully at a passing manager.

It was unclear whether she was naturally outgoing or just knew a lot of people.

Either way, the attention she attracted wasn’t something Hyeon-yul appreciated.

He tried to walk past like he didn’t know her, but she tugged at his sleeve.

“Can I get your number?”

Na-yoon looked up at him with sparkling eyes.

She seemed determined not to let him go without it.

“Is this how it’s usually done? Even Mr. Baek Shin-woo—no, Shin-woo hyung—asked for my number too.”

Na-yoon rolled her eyes briefly, then smiled playfully.

“Of course. This is how we do it.”

“Is that so?”

Still doubtful, Hyeon-yul keyed in his number.

“You call Shin-woo hyung, so you can call me noona. I’m the same age as him.”

“…What?”

“Surprising, right? Shin-woo just looks older than he is. So, will you call me that?”

“……”

Hyeon-yul said nothing.

Na-yoon stared at him with mischief twinkling in her eyes.

‘…Why do I know so many people already?’

He hadn’t even taken on a mission yet, and he was already exhausted.

Just walking with Na-yoon drew attention.

At first, he thought it was just in his head—but then she greeted someone every three steps.

Another three steps, another acquaintance.

Eventually, even Hae-ryeon was walking alongside them.

How had Na-yoon gotten so close to people while staying undercover?

“Want some coffee…?”

Hae-ryeon looked at him while in the middle of brewing some.

He already looked worn out.

“I’m fine. I just realized this place has… a lot of people.”

Hearing that, Shin-woo—who had arrived earlier—gave Hae-ryeon a surprised look.

That look clearly said, Team Leader… you paired Na-yoon with Hyeon-yul?

Only then did Hae-ryeon look slightly awkward.

She’d been too distracted by Do-jin.

And Na-yoon was, in many ways, Hyeon-yul’s opposite.

“Hey, Baek Shin-woo. Why are you looking at the Team Leader like that? Did you think I was going to devour Mr. Hyeon-yul?”

“You did say only a little, right?”

When Shin-woo asked, Na-yoon rolled her eyes.

“…Of course. I only said a little. People just recognize me a lot, that’s all.”

Hyeon-yul was stunned inside.

‘That’s what she calls just a little?’

“Mr. Hyeon-yul. Just a sec.”

Hae-ryeon waved him over the moment she saw his expression harden.

Still wearing that stern look, he followed her into a room.

“It’s about that information on Shin Dae-ho you gave me yesterday.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll correct it.”

He responded reflexively, surprising Hae-ryeon, who quickly waved her hands.

“…No, no. That’s not it.”

“Aren’t you pointing out something I got wrong?”

“I’m still comparing and analyzing it. How could I say what’s wrong yet? And even if there is something wrong, it’s not like I’m going to scold you. I called you because of the urgent meeting we had right before clocking out yesterday.”

“You mean the re-vote?”

“So you heard. Yeah. There was a re-vote. That kind of thing won’t happen again…”

“I’ll take care of anything related to Shin Dae-ho.”

“What?”

“There were talks about trust and proving myself during the re-vote, weren’t there?”

If people were going to keep saying things, then they needed to be silenced.

Hyeon-yul flexed his fingers, wondering who he’d need to kill first.

“All that talk was crap. No need to worry. With the re-vote result, that nonsense will stop.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t agree. I know those comments will keep coming. That being the case, it’ll be faster if I show them myself.”

His tone suggested this wasn’t his first time dealing with such harassment.

Hae-ryeon furrowed her brow and then lowered her hand.

He must’ve endured so much.

“Mr. Hyeon-yul.”

“Yes.”

“Whatever gets said, I’ll handle it.”

Her deep brown eyes sharpened.

“I’ll crush them. So you just focus on yourself. You need to adjust.”

Why?

Hyeon-yul couldn’t easily accept her words or demeanor.

He believed he had to handle his own matters.

But instead of pushing back, he smiled lightly.

When you couldn’t understand something, sometimes it was better to just smile.

“Understood. Actually, there’s something I wanted to tell you too. May I?”

“Go ahead.”

“Two days ago, a villain came to me. It was after you texted me.”

“…What?”

Hae-ryeon’s eyes widened.

A villain approached him?

“…You didn’t change your home, did you? No, wait, I didn’t tell you to do that, did I? Damn, I’m out of my mind.”

She clutched her thickly permed hair.

Normally, there was no need to move house—but Hyeon-yul was different.

He’d worked at a villain-run company.

Of course they’d go to that address.

“I thought if they knew I joined Black Eagle, they wouldn’t show up. Seems I was too naïve.”

“How would a villain know you joined Black Eagle? That’s the real issue.”

“Is it?”

“Of course! Why do you think we have those magic-disguised smartwatches?”

“If that’s the case, whether it’s a villain hiding among us or someone willing to work with them—it’s a great chance to identify them.”

When Hyeon-yul smiled, Hae-ryeon was taken aback.

‘Did he hear what I talked about with Team Leader Do-jin? No, that’s not it.’

He couldn’t have.

He’d been with Na-yoon the whole time.

‘Then… did he already anticipate the strange movements happening internally?’

He wasn’t ordinary.

She started to wonder what kind of position he held before—and what kind of work he used to do.

A flicker of curiosity sparked in her eyes.

“That’s true. It is a good opportunity.”

“There aren’t many organizations that are clean on the inside. I can be of help.”

Hyeon-yul wanted to prove his usefulness.

Hae-ryeon was his team leader and, when needed, could become his shield.

He decided to lay a foundation and handed her the business card he had received earlier.

“What is this…”

“Don’t touch it. It’s laced with poison.”

“Poison? …Poison?”

“Yes. There’s nothing on it—no name, no title, just a number.”

“They put poison on a business card?”

Hae-ryeon’s brows twitched.

She’d seen this somewhere before.

‘…Ah.’

While the Empire called all those who aimed to destroy it “villains,” some of them were clearly in a different league.

Each of these high-caliber villains had their own nickname.

‘The Poison King.’

Her fingers clenched.

One of the true heavyweights.

And now that very Poison King had extended a scouting offer to Hyeon-yul.

“So… the Poison King tried to recruit you?”

Hae-ryeon let out a stunned breath.

It sounded too absurd to be real.