A suffocating silence flowed.
In front of my eyes is Chief Lizard.
The one who thinks I'm a frontman for a pseudo-religion… no, I guess that's an accurate description of the situation.
"..."
"..."
This won't do!
"Hyung-nim~"
I said, smiling brightly and rubbing my hands together like a sycophant again.
"I'm sorry. You look so much like my manager… Would it be alright if I called you Manager? It's a pleasure to meet you. Since we've met like this by fate, are you perhaps curious about the Plush Body?"
"No, I'm no…."
"What a wonderful idea! This way, please!"
And then, like a cultist kidnapping someone off the street, I dragged Lizard to the space between Car 2 and Car 3….
[Friend!]
Gah!
"Just a moment, just a moment…."
I pretended to place the doll reverently in the velvet box while swapping it with another doll, and the real 'Good Friend' went into my pocket.
[A stand-in for me, oh, may that plush doll fully enjoy this undeserved glory!]
Whew.
Once we were more than one car away from Car 1, the bustling crowd thinned out.
Occasionally, a shelter resident who couldn't sleep and was debating whether to join the dopamine fest in the front car would cast a curious glance our way, but once we entered the space between the cars, they didn't follow and disappeared.
Drrrk.
As soon as I entered the small passageway between Cars 2 and 3 and closed the door, I slumped to the floor.
"…Manager."
This is really tough….
"Mr. Grapes."
"When it's just us, you can call me Roe Deer…."
Let's stop with the nickname that reminds me of grapeseed oil….
"Yes."
Anyway, embarrassment is embarrassment, and relief is relief.
"Did you just enter Segwang City this time? No, uh, well. I mean, I'm asking the reason for your entry."
"Yes."
And an explanation followed.
To summarize, after a few days of me being stuck on this train and not coming out, Director Ho seems to have thrown a fit, saying he had to deploy another team to extract information.
"I was requested to confirm what the last entry team is currently doing in the exploration area and report back."
Hmm. I understood.
It was a rare occurrence for someone to not come out of Segwang Metropolitan City for this long. It was understandable to be curious.
"So you came directly to the train?"
"No. I first visited Midnight Station to assess the situation."
Ah!
"You visited the Body Casino."
Come to think of it, Agent Haegeum did say she'd contact me once things were sorted out. I wonder if that's happened yet?
"Were there any unusual findings?"
"Yes. The Body Casino has suspended its operations."
"…!"
Awesome.
But at the same time, there was a brain cell in my head shouting, 'I knew it, of course!'
'It felt unusual from the moment Agent Haegeum confidently requested those two people and took them with her.'
Entrusting the casino to her was indeed the right choice! I wore a triumphant smile and prepared to listen intently to the details.
I figured they must have cleaned out the casino so thoroughly that it couldn't take it anymore and shut down on its own….
"They said it received a suspension of business order."
...?
"Who… gave such an order?"
"I do not know."
I was almost speechless.
"Could you please tell me the detailed circumstances so I can try to guess?"
"Yes. The three agents who were deployed at the time entered the Body Casino and then acted individually, continuing to gamble for half a day."
Section Chief Lee Jaheon continued his explanation in his characteristic, unexcited tone, but the content itself was like some crazy gambling movie script.
"They were caught trying to rig a slot machine?"
"They were watching a dealer and another visitor play a game and stabbed the back of that person's hand with a knife?"
"…They incited gambling addicts to bet coins separately, like a sports toto, on who would win or lose… is what you're saying? While taking a commission?"
"...An addict who pushed her and tried to take over the table, saying she had 'good energy'… yes, I understand. You're saying the addict's life or death status is unknown..."
I could just… feel who the subjects were.
'Ms. Kang Yihak… Deputy manager Jin Nasol….'
And I realized.
Agent Haegeum…!
'She took the other employees… to draw aggro.'
A person crazy for money and a person with no blood or tears—a lineup that seemed destined to create an incredible interaction with a casino.
What on earth was Agent Haegeum aiming for in that pandemonium….
Section Chief Lizard quickly produced the answer to that question as well.
"At the same time, the exploration member corresponding to the team leader is said to have found a blueprint inside the casino."
A blueprint?
"It refers to the blueprint of the casino that was operating near that station before it turned into Darkness."
…!
—Midnight Station's ■■ City Royal Casino is no longer for foreigners only. Passengers who wish to visit are welcome to enjoy the machines at the casino at any time.
That was definitely its name.
'Then it must have certainly been a hint.'
Since they were getting information from the source of the ghost story.
"Was it an attempt to find a secret space in the Body Casino using the original blueprint?"
"Yes."
Oh!
"In that case, it seems they found some kind of breakthrough through that secret space."
Manager Lee Jaheon replied with a blank expression.
"They used it as evidence to report illegal business operations."
"..."
"Under current law, arranging secret VIP gambling in a secret space not on the blueprint is illegal."
Ah.
"The exploration agent, citing the fact that the said gambling den was located in a state facility, emphasized that it was an illegal act subject to business suspension, and showed their civil service ID, stating that a business prohibition order was also possible."
Agent Haegeum…!
'You displayed your gambler's spirit there, did you…!'
And it seemed to have worked splendidly.
"The entities that appeared to be casino dealers showed a confused reaction, then sent all personnel out of the casino and closed the doors."
"..."
"Afterward, I personally confirmed that a sign saying 'Under Remodeling' was posted on the casino door at that station."
So they closed down to avoid an audit….
It was a strategy that pierced through the nature of a ghost story, which is governed by concepts and rules.
'And it's truly an idea that only a public official could come up with….'
I accepted the result, my mouth agape in admiration. This was truly an exploration that would be recorded as an 'Irregular' in the Darkness Exploration Record.
Wait a minute.
"But she was the one who issued the business suspension order."
"Yes."
"Then why did you say you don't know who did it?"
"I could not confirm the specific identity of the said team leader."
Ah....
I just nodded my head at the familiar taste of Lizard.
"?"
Anyway, the exploration members all got out of the casino safely, but Agent Haegeum reportedly stayed behind at the station, saying she would observe if there were any other strange phenomena at the casino.
'…She was going to call me after confirming it was completely secured.'
In addition, she probably wanted to gain some more time to explore and look around this Segwang Metropolitan City underground.
And after observing for about two days, she asked Manager Lee Jaheon, who had appeared at the station, to relay her message and then left.
And so, everyone on that team returned to reality.
"Among them, Manager Pony is currently hospitalized in the Fox Counseling Room, receiving Contamination treatment."
"..."
That person… it feels like she always receives Contamination treatment whenever money is involved, but that must be my imagination....
Anyway, this means that Midnight Station, where the Body Casino used to be, is now empty.
'I should go check it out soon.'
A sense of relief settled in my heart that things had worked out well. I smiled sincerely and nodded.
"Thank you for telling me."
"Yes."
Just as the atmosphere was about to get a little warmer.
"Mr. Roe Deer."
"Yes?"
Manager Lee Jaheon was looking at the pink rabbit doll ear that had slightly slipped out of my pocket when I sat down.
I broke into a bit of a cold sweat.
"Is this the 'perfect Rabbit Doll' that the people protesting on the train are claiming?"
I suppose it is….
[Oh, friend. If the conversation is over, shall we return to the scene? Won't the audience be waiting for you and me!]
[Of course, I hope you do not give this ignorant sword grunt a chance to lay a hand on my plush body. His gaze is lecherous.]
But instead of snatching the rabbit doll's ear, Manager Lee Jaheon said in a dry tone.
"Evacuate."
"Excuse me?"
"The current situation on the train is dangerous. Please evacuate outside first and then re-enter."
"Just a moment."
I said, pressing my forehead.
"It might seem a bit dangerous because of the current boisterous atmosphere, but it's not that dangerous of a situation…."
It's just… like a rabbit doll enthusiast parade….
Just as I was thinking that with a solemn heart.
A soft voice echoes from my pocket.
—Sir. If it's not an inconvenience, would it be alright if I joined the conversation?
Hmm?
I took the silver coin out of my pocket. It was the coin inhabited by Ho Yuwon's former personality, Juror Number 1, the 'Counselor.'
I looked back at Lizard.
"…Can you hear it?"
"Yes."
I see….
Then you can speak freely.
"Yes, please speak."
—Thank you.
A gentle voice speaks to me.
—Sir. I have watched your actions closely over the past few days.
—You tried to create a fun atmosphere, like a festival, in a way that would cause the least harm to people, right?
Well, fun wasn't exactly the intention….
But it was true that I tried to cause a commotion with minimal damage, so I nodded.
—A wonderful intention.
—But sir. Have you ever heard this saying? Before the modern era, the most popular and common festival was the public execution.
...!
[Good heavens, are you trying to teach my friend that, as if he wouldn't know? This is quite perplexing. The expert in that field is right by my friend's side, always with him.]
[The masses are beings who always seek stimulation and pleasure. Would an execution be any different? My friend is already well aware of that….]
—Of course. That was just an opening remark to start the conversation. I thought it would be good to talk about the important role of these execution festivals….
—It's about community solidarity.
I reflexively cast my gaze toward the car interior, beyond the window between the cars.
The Train Shelter residents are gathered, talking with excited or joyful faces.
Tension, pleasure, focus.
Dopamine.
A sense of solidarity.
—In a boring, frustrating, and isolated daily life, people easily become immersed when an interesting stimulus appears.
—And people who share the same experience form a stronger bond.
"..."
—And they want more stimulating, more aggressive experiences. A pleasure just for us.
—For example… like the execution of a bad person who is not one of us.
A person who received the Rabbit Doll mark proudly shakes hands with the people of the 'Religion devoted to a rabbit doll,' gently stroking the badge.
Then he raised his middle finger toward the engineer's compartment. People tried to stop him, but then they all burst out laughing together.
—Even if it looks very joyful on the surface, I wanted you to not forget that there is always a risk of it escalating to an extreme.
"..."
[Oh, I can hardly listen to this any longer.]
A sharp and elegant eloquence pours out like cream with a sigh.
[Now… let me ask this trace of the Plague, who claims to be a counselor, gathered here today.]
[Let's think for ourselves. Is an attitude that tries to instill guilt in a client for something that hasn't even happened yet a counselor-like attitude? I think not!]
—…!
[Furthermore, you are pushing an overly self-protective statement as an established theory. But isn't content more thrilling and enjoyable precisely because there is risk?]
[An Entertainer, by definition, must be able to walk the tightrope between danger and stimulation. Its advantages and disadvantages are two sides of the same coin!]
I feel the sensation of gloved hands patting my shoulders encouragingly.
[If you permit me, I shall speak as an expert. Friend! This Braun does not agree with that counselor's words. You are providing the public with very enjoyable entertainment.]
[Who knows? If you hadn't done this, they might have really made an old-fashioned festival like an execution their entertainment!]
—That is a statement based on the values you pursue in your profession, so that is understandable.
—But I would appreciate it if you would take the time to contemplate my story when you have the chance, sir.
[Persistent!]
Let's all please stop.
"For now…."
I said, rubbing my forehead.
"I understand what you're trying to say. I'll be careful."
[Oh, friend!]
I chose an effective method and ended up with a cult, but it was flowing in such an unexpectedly absurd and heartwarming way that I almost lost my sense of tension.
'Right.'
For it to become like this purely for fun.
That could actually be more dangerous.
"So, what you're saying, Counselor, is that you don't know what this atmosphere will become in the future, right?"
—My current diagnosis is that there is a high probability it will not last long.
In a way, it was a matter of course.
It was all too easy for thoughts and ideas to become distorted in an already isolated survival shelter.
Hmm.
"I understand. Then it's become more certain."
—Pardon?
"In any case, this situation is something I started, so I have to take responsibility and see it to a gentle and good end."
That was the plan from the beginning, so I'll just try to do it faster.
And to do that.
I declared gravely.
"First, I'll take care of it quickly while it's still funny and I can ride the atmosphere."
The Counselor is silent for a moment, then asks.
—Take care of what…?
"The Chief Conductor."
—Excuse me?
[Oh!]
Now that I have an accomplice, I can pull the plan forward.
Wait for me, engineer's compartment.
I'm coming in right now.
—Sir?
Thank you for the advice, Counselor.
And I looked at my cheat key.
"Manager. Would it be possible for you to accompany me for a moment?"
* * *
I returned to Car 1 with Manager Lee Jaheon.
Fortunately, after I insisted again, Manager Lee Jaheon agreed to help me with today's task, instead of kicking my ass out of the train.
"Distributor-nim!"
On Manager Lee Jaheon's chest was a rabbit-shaped badge made from cut-out gold tape, just like the others….
"He's someone staying in Car 8, and he said he was deeply moved after seeing the perfect form of the Plush Body…!"
"Oh!"
Fortunately, there was no atmosphere of displeasure or exclusion towards him for being an outsider to the train yet.
'I don't know what will happen after tonight, though.'
Right.
I'll wrap this up amicably during this crazy 'Do you believe in the Rabbit?' atmosphere, and settle things while they're still in the rabbit-lover phase, before they evolve into a crazy cult.
With firm resolve, I stepped to the front of Car 1.
And, as if there was no other seat, I sat down right in front of the engineer's compartment door, with my back to it.
Waiting for the signal….
"Everyone! The President is now going to share the contents of the dream he just had!"
"Oh!"
At the front of Car 2, people flocked to the President, who had just woken up and appeared to share his amusement park dream story.
'I put in a particularly fun advertisement today.'
I had included souvenir shop shopping in the ad.
And around the President, who was excited by the shopping dopamine, a raffle for Rabbit Doll merchandise was beginning from a lottery box I had entrusted to them beforehand.
"Everyone, get one!"
The people gathered in Car 1 of the Train Shelter all flocked that way for the additional dopamine. Even those who were still wary stared in that direction for a different reason.
Then, for a single moment, an artificial situation that would be absolutely impossible in a normal Train Shelter was created.
A moment when all eyes on the engineer's compartment were temporarily erased.
"..."
Manager Lee Jaheon very quietly reached a hand behind him and grabbed the lock on the engineer's compartment.
There was no particular need for lock-picking skills.
Because Section Chief Lizard acted like Section Chief Lizard.
Crack.
The door opened with an incredibly small sound.
'Whew.'
Thank you.
I silently expressed my gratitude to Manager Lee Jaheon with a look and a nod, then carefully slipped inside the engineer's compartment.
And I quickly closed the door.
Manager Lee Jaheon will be standing guard outside now, so I can work with peace of mind….
"Kuuuuhhh…."
The Chief Conductor was asleep.
As if his heart was anxious, he held a pole in one hand and a can of food in the other.
And on the front of the engineer's cockpit, a crumpled notebook page was taped, with a long list of people's names.
Judging by the X's next to each name, it seemed to be a list of people he had kicked out because he didn't like them.
…Most of them were probably dead.
'How very thoughtful of you.'
Thanks to that, my head grew even colder.
The inside of the engineer's compartment, which seemed to have poor ventilation overall, smelled musty and old.
'I can't give that bastard a chance to wake up and scream.'
I very carefully approached him, knocked away the Chief Conductor's pole, and grabbed him by the neck.
And at the same time, I covered his mouth.
"…!!"
"Shh."
I whispered to the Chief Conductor, who had jolted awake and was about to struggle in terror.
"Please be quiet…. I'm holding a knife. I'd rather not use this to silence someone."
The part about the knife was a lie.
"~!!"
But the Chief Conductor, unaware of this fact, gestured frantically with his head, but I didn't trust this man.
"You can hear what's outside, can't you?"
I paused, letting the Chief Conductor listen to the sounds from outside, filled with cheers, laughter, and shouts.
And after waiting for him to sufficiently hear and savor it, I spoke.
"Everyone's in high spirits…. They might even see you die and just find it amusing, wondering what's going on."
"…!"
Of course, I have no real intention of doing it….
But based on what the 'Counselor' said, it was a truth with a high probability of happening. There was also a high chance of it Triggering and turning into a real 'cult-style execution'.
'Then it really would be rapid pseudo-religionization.'
In other words, it would be better for the Chief Conductor's lifespan if I was the one doing this.
But it was important that the Chief Conductor didn't know that.
"Are you going to be quiet?"
"Ughp."
The Chief Conductor desperately nodded his head. Sweat, saliva, and tears smeared onto my hand.
"I understand. But promise me. I don't want to take any extra measures either."
"Ughp."
Only after confirming the Chief Conductor's response and being certain he wouldn't suddenly scream did I let go.
And looking into the Chief Conductor's trembling eyes, I said,
"Tell me everything you know about this Train."
His eyes trembled.
I had deliberated.
'How should I speak to get information out of this person quickly, one-on-one, without getting into an argument?'
So I had already thought of the most efficient and comprehensive words that would yield the maximum result when talking to this man one-on-one.
Something like this.
"…!!"
In front of him, I magically pulled a piece of clothing from my wrist and changed my outer garment.
It was a Disaster Management Bureau jacket.
The Agent uniform left behind by Juror Number 1, with the Fox patch on it.
And in a calm tone, I said,
"I came here knowing that Agent Chogae created this Train."
I watched the Chief Conductor's eyes widen drastically at the sight of the Agent uniform and said,
"So please answer me honestly. I will find a way to escape from here, no matter what."
And so, the human information thresher began to run.