Arena Chapter 26:
Chapter 26 Proposition (Part 2)
Kang Chun-seong’s strength need not be mentioned and I too, if I put my mind to it, am capable of using Sylph and causing a major accident .
If she has any brains at all, the research center won’t behave maliciously towards examinees such as us .
-We found your identity and called you out of the blue so I understand your apprehension . Please, be rest assured that whatever we talk about will not be unfavorable to you .
“I understand . Then we shall meet at Cheonan station . ”
After hanging up, we go into a nearby coffee shop, one at a time .
Kang Chun-seong seats himself next to the window and watches out of it .
I sit down at a nearby table, drinking an iced Americano, waiting for Cha Ji-hye .
I wonder how much time passed this way .
[I am at Cheonan station . ]
A text arrives from Cha Ji-hye . I use a map app to send her our location .
Soon after, a young woman and black formal clothes appears at the café .
‘Wow . ’
Unbeknownst to me, I am amazed .
She is a beautiful woman for whom a short haircut and black formal clothes are surprisingly appealing on . Her long and firm legs are wrapped in white pants and reminds me of a deer .
As soon as she enters the café, she purposefully walks over to me immediately . It is a strong walk, unlike a woman . Step, step, her red ankle boots hit the floor with discipline .
“Nice to meet you, Mr . Kim Hyun-ho . ”
“Yes . ”
Cha Ji-hye sits directly across from me .
I stare at her and ask .
“Are you a soldier?”
“How did you know?”
Cha Ji-hye’s eyes go big and round .
Her expression is cold but her surprised face is actually pretty cute .
“You don’t waste words, your walk is strong, and your hair is short so it just reminded me of a soldier . ”
At this she bites her lower lip and quietly mumbles .
“I still look like a soldier…”
“What?”
“Nothing . Anyway, I will go order and come back . ”
She briskly walks over to the counter and puts in an order to the female employee .
“One caramel macchiato, one mint chocolate bagel, and one strawberry waffle set . ”
For a moment I almost laugh .
She emanates the soldier pose but orders all these sweet things and its cute . Is she trying to distract me by making me laugh?
I glance over at Kang Chun-seong . Kang Chun-seong gives me a slight nod . It means there are no others .
She finishes her order and returns to the table and starts talking right away .
“I will introduce myself first . I am Cha Ji-hye of the Korean Arena Research Center . I was in the army, bypassed national intelligence agency, and became a researcher at the Korean Arena Research Center . ”
She’s not your average woman .
“When you say researcher, what kind of work do you do?”
“We research any and all information about the existential world, Arena, and its exams . For me, I am in charge of combat and survival . , and I am looking to assume the role for caring for the examinees that will join . But…”
Cha Ji-hye glances over to the side as she talks .
“Is the person over by the window an examinee from the same team?”
“…!”
“I knew before I entered the café . You will have verified that I came alone, won’t he join us for our talk?”
“… I suppose . ”
A sharp and discerning eye .
Eventually I call Kang Chun-seong over to our table .
Cha Ji-hye asks of Kang Chun-seong .
“What is your name?”
“I will not say . ”
Kang Chun-seong bluntly refuses .
As he does so, Cha Ji-hye’s eyes glow fiercely .
“Your intonation means you’re Chinese . ”
“…”
“Apart from a height of 185 cm, your well-toned physique may be because of a physical strength buff skill, but I think you are originally fit from having well acquainted yourself from specialty martial arts . And guessing from your extreme wariness, I think I will be able to find out your identity within the day by looking through a police database . Am I wrong?”
‘Geez!’
I am astonished . Wrong, my **** . She nearly got it all .
Kang Chun-seong exposes his teeth threateningly .
“You must not have thought that I can shatter your neck . ”
“Do you really think I came alone?”
“What?”
Even the great Kang Chun-seong makes a surprised face .
Then, Kang Chun-seong’s gaze becomes increasingly cold, and the two are locked in a death gaze .
But then .
“The caramel macchiato, mint chocolate bagel, and strawberry set are out . ”
“Excuse me . ”
Cha Ji-hye gets up suddenly and runs over .
In an instant, the stormy tension dissipates into nothing .
Perhaps it is due to the plentiful sweets, but Cha Ji-hye returns in a much lighter mood .
She begins cutting her waffles with a knife and talks .
“I did indeed come alone . ”
“…”
Kang Chun-seong’s face is blank . I am sure my face is akin to his .
She happily eats her waffles like a normal woman, but doesn’t blink an eye at Kang Chun-seong’s threats . She is originally a soldier and national intelligence, and Cha Ji-hye really isn’t average .
“I don’t like this kind of tension or wariness . We really want to help examinees survive . ”
Hm, I cannot just take those words for granted .
Of course, it doesn’t seem like she approached us with bad intentions . But I am sure they are not going to blindly offer us aid either .
At the end of my thought, I open my mouth .
“While I was waiting, I went online . All the posts I made have been erased . ”
“Yes, basically to prevent social panic, we are keeping the exams and Arena a secret . ”
“Is that all?”
“What do you mean?”
“It didn’t even take half a day for you to find out who I am, erase all my postings, and come meet us ASAP . It seems too fast paced for a Korean government institution . ”
“…”
“This is what I am thinking . There are other research centers like this, not just in Korea? I don’t know the reasons why, but they too are trying to convince examinees to join them . I am guessing that there is some benefit to be gained through examinees, or is this all my own delusion?”
“Wow, you are incredible . ”
Above Cha Ji-hye’s cold expression is a slight hint of amazement .
“All country research centers are working hard to scout examinees . That is why we are moving so fast . Mr . Kim Hyun-ho, are you by chance your team leader?”
“Yes . ”
“Of course . ”
She nods her head as she goes on talking .
“As you guessed, there is a benefit to be gained through examinees . That is why we give our utmost support for the survival of examinees, but we do gain a benefit that examinees bring us . There is, amongst our support, a monetary prize . ”
“And what is the benefit?”
“It is called majeong . ”
“Majeong?”
“All living and moving things from Arena are carried within your bodies . It is like an energy cohesion, and that energy can be used as a very high efficiency energy source, revealed through research done in America . ”
“And so competitively using examinees…”
“Yes . ”
“What kind of support are you lending in aiding examinee survival?”
“For example, we have this . ”
Cha Ji-hye lifts up her sleeve . And underneath it is a charcoal colored outfit that resembles a wet suit .
“It is a battle suit our research center invented . Without some incredible strength, knives won’t penetrate it, and it has incredible thermic capability, making it ideal for camping . Because you can enter exams with clothes, we have concentrated on performance clothes and shoes . ”
“Ah…”
“Not only that, we are collecting and researching information about Arena . We have completed the entire map of Arena, and found out what flora, fauna, and monsters reside in each location . ”
“It wasn’t just empty words when you said you support . ”
“Of course . Our priority is the survival of examinees . And your friend?”
“I am Kang Chun-seong . ”
“Mr . Kang Chun-seong, as long as you are short of being a brutal criminal, we can give you a new identity, with Korean citizenship . There are already a couple examinees living new lives this way . ”
“Hm . ”
It’s a sweet deal and Kang Chun-seong seems swayed .
“With the majeong you earn from the exams, you can increase your monetary prize and on top of that, based on your various skills, you will receive a salary . How does that sound? Do we still appear a suspicious research center scheming something malicious?”
“No, that is not the case . I would have been suspicious if you told me you were helping like a charity business . ”
“You can receive this same deal from other countries, but majeong is a precious energy reserve and working together with your country’s research center will have other benefits . I sincerely wish you decide to join us . ”
“It doesn’t sound like a bad thing . I will consult with my team mates and make a decision . ”
“Please do . Excuse me, but what turn are you on?”
Turn?
She is probably asking which exam number .
I slyly smile and speak .
“That is a secret . ”
Cha Ji-hye makes a small grin .
“You are indeed sensible . I hope you join us . If you accept, I will become the person in charge of your team . ”
“I will think it through practically . ”
We get up from our seats and shake hands . Then she sits back down in her chair .
“I wish to finish all the food I ordered first…”
“Oh, please do . ”
Cha Ji-hye concentrates on eating her waffles and bagel .
The first one to get up is Kang Chun-seong .
“I will depart first . I will contact you in the evening . ”
“Please do so . ”
Kang Chun-seong leaves and the two of us, Cha Ji-hye and I, are left alone .
She tastily eats her mint chocolate bagel and Cha Ji-hye speaks .
“There are some things I gathered from watching you two, would you like to know what it is?”
“Sure . ”
“Seeing as how you haven’t met other examinees, you are under exam 5 . You two are still awkward with each other so you’re under exam 3 . And Kang Chun-seong may be a criminal but his faith in you, Kim Hyun-ho, means he is not a bad person . ”
‘Damn . ’
I’m completely surprised .
She glances up at me and continues .
“Your physique is average but you are the leader, you must have well acquainted yourself with a magical main skill . ”
“Well, let’s say that’s true . ”
“Is it? You are definitely don’t have a combat skill but if not a magic skill, you are in possession of a more special skill . ”
“Let’s stop there . ”
“Ha, I understand . ”
Then Cha Ji-hye lets out a smile .
Her expression is cold like my older sister, but she is a girl with a rarely seen and cute smile .
After completely finishing her strawberry waffle set, Cha Ji-hye gets up out of her seat .
“It does not matter if it is late at night, so please consult with your team and decide and contact me before this day is up . ”
“Aren’t you in too much of a hurry?”
“You are just past the second exam, so your rest period is only 15 days . We must make a decision as soon as possible and then prepare for the next exam . Did you use all your karma yet?”
“No, I haven’t used it yet…”
I say it to that point and then catch myself . Cha Ji-hye lets out another small smile .
“You are definitely past the second turn . ”
‘Beat again!’
I am starting to fear this woman .
“Anyway, it’s all good . If you consult with us before using the karma and earn prizes accordingly, it will be all the more beneficial for further exams . ”
“Uh, I understand . I will contact you by the end of today . ”
“If you agree, we will make the contract and it would be good to go right into exam preparations . Nevertheless, I await your good decision . ”
We shake hands and leave the café and part ways .
Right after, I call Joon-ho and Hye-su and explain to them everything that happened today .
Both of them have an enthusiastic response .
“Wow, really hyung? I am of course going to say thank you! Supporting us so we can survive the exams and giving us money, there’s no reason to say no . ”
That is Joon-ho’s response .
“What do you think, Hyun-ho oppa? If you agree, so do I . ”
That is Hye-su’s response .
Kang Chun-seong contacts me in the evening and he too agrees . It seems it was most pleasing to him, the part about the Korean citizenship .
I send a text to Cha Ji-hye and a reply comes back immediately .
[Please give me the names and address of your team members . We will personally go **** you . ]