How to Survive as an Extra

Chapter 33

We, along with the disguised Baek Dojun, chased after the vehicle ahead.

The place we arrived at was a port located in Seoul’s District 17.

Due to the aftermath of the Great Fissure, the width of the Han River had grown enormously, and District 17 had naturally acquired a port during the city’s reconstruction.

Of course, it took some time to get out to sea.

We parked the car we came in at a distance and followed the Dispel personnel to a huge cargo site.

At the cargo site, an innumerable number of containers were stacked at least 20 stories high.

A scene like a huge forest of steel frames.

“It wouldn’t be strange to call it a container forest.”

“Hmph, you probably don’t know because you’re from the outskirts, but all the items used around the world are made in Seoul. So there’s no need to be surprised by this volume.”

“Sorry, but this is District 17, which is the outskirts.”

“…….”

Because we were standing at a relatively high position, the cargo site was visible at a glance, but once inside, it was a dense and packed place that would be no different from a maze.

“No, I was just trying to say that the amount of loaded cargo is enormous.”

“Is that so……. Well, it’s a scale that requires reinforcements to search with only the 3rd Branch. It would be easy to get lost if you wandered around without a guide.”

“Get lost? If worst comes to worst, you can just jump up onto a container.”

“…….”

“Ah, don’t tell me you can’t? Pfft! Don’t go around saying you’re a Hero Prep cadet. It’s embarrassing.”

Was I just ignored by Gwon Chihun?

I ignored his provocation and cast my gaze around the port.

The most noticeable thing among them was the cargo ship docked at the adjacent port.

A huge ship, likewise fully loaded with containers.

If there was one peculiar point, it was that the large anchor that secured the ship was raised.

As if it would set sail at any moment.

“Huhu, you two have a very strange relationship. One moment you seem to get along well, and the next you’re at each other’s throats. Still, to embark on such a daring adventure together means you trust each other.”

I stared intently at Baek Dojun, who was spouting scathing nonsense nearby, and said.

“But Officer, aren’t you going to be deployed to the scene?”

Stop following me, please.

“Ah! It’s fine. I’m a low-ranking officer anyway, so I often wait in the vehicle. More importantly, after hearing about your passion for the investigation, I decided I had to help.”

A nerve on par with Park Cheolyeong…….

This man, what on earth is he planning?

The Special Affairs Division investigator who participated in this incident was Baek Dojun.

I had known this from the beginning, but I did not expect him to be hiding like this.

Anyway, the important thing was that he was the one in charge who had to resolve this episode proactively.

Since I only knew the result, there was nothing I could be sure of, but it was clear that it was not the time for him to be following around cadets who had come to cause trouble for the sake of an assignment.

“Hey, it’s fine. What’s the problem if he’s offering to help? It’s good to move together.”

“Hmm, your friend says so. Don’t be too conscious of me.”

“…….”

What on earth was the reason he was following us?

If I had to pick one of the far-fetched reasons, it was that my identity was piquing his interest.

That was because it was none other than Baek Dojun who had raised questions about me through Yun Jeongseop in the entrance ceremony incident.

Thus, Baek Dojun might be trying to confirm the abilities I possessed himself.

Since Yun Jeongseop had not reported my secret at that time.

“You said you’d take responsibility, so you handle it.”

When I answered with a sigh, Gwon Chihun changed the subject as if satisfied.

“The fact that Dispel came here means that Hong Dahee’s family of Ghouls who ran away are here, right?”

Hong Dahee’s family of Ghouls…….

So cold.

“I suppose so.”

“But why on earth did they run away to a place like this? If they had used the land route, they would have been out of Seoul by now.”

“They must have their reasons.”

“Look at the way you talk……. You insincere bastard, this is why I hate you.”

“Do you think I’m enjoying this?”

“Shut up. You must have some idea.”

Indeed, if I just relied on Gwon Chihun’s head, I would not get anywhere.

I observed Baek Dojun’s reaction.

As the person involved in the incident, he should be doing something, but he was still just watching us with an unreadable expression.

Having no choice, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“……Aren’t they looking for something.”

“Looking for something? Then is it valuables after all? Their bank accounts would have already been frozen, so they’re trying to smuggle out valuables and themselves at the same time.”

“I wonder, would Ghouls really bother to take valuables? They’re guys who are only interested in Demonic Beings and mana.”

“They might be trying to use the valuables for their own plans. The Awakened world is a society that revolves around money.”

“I guess so……. I don’t know any more than this, so why don’t you ask directly.”

“What? Who?”

At his question, I indicated Baek Dojun with my eyes.

“To the current practitioner and investigation official.”

“……Ah!”

Gwon Chihun’s face brightened up as he looked back at Baek Dojun.

“Mister, you were an investigation official too, right? What are the Special Affairs Division and Dispel tracking here? Are they just chasing Ghouls?”

What would he answer, I wonder.

This time, I watched Baek Dojun with shining eyes, but he gave a very unsatisfactory answer.

“In my opinion, it seems to be valuables, just as you said. In fact, whatever it may be, if it can be converted into monetary value, then everything is a valuable. Isn’t that right? Hahaha.”

“…….”

With this answer, it became certain.

This man was taking his hands off this case.

Although he was riding in the car alone, his aide, Kim Seyeon, was probably nearby.

Given Baek Dojun’s nature, it was unlikely that he would go around alone without an aide.

However, since she had not shown her face until now, it was highly likely that she was moving independently.

In other words, it meant she was carrying out the case that Baek Dojun should be in charge of, all by herself.

“What do you think, Ji Seokhyeon? What do you think they’re hiding?”

Baek Dojun constantly observed me.

My gestures, my way of speaking, my expression…….

Even at the moment I was observing his reaction, without fail.

“I wonder, but I think it’s more important to think about how to find it first. As for its contents, it’s obvious they’ll be impure.”

“Hmm, a new perspective.”

Gwon Chihun chimed in.

“Let’s just go straight to the site. We won’t get an answer by just standing here and watching.”

“What if we get caught?”

“It’s fine, as long as my uncle doesn’t catch us.”

He took the first step with a confident expression.

But at that moment, a man’s scream came from the container site.

“……!”

“……U-uncle?”

Before I could even distinguish the voice, Gwon Chihun, with a pale face, ran towards the site.

Gwon Chihun’s fierce speed, the kind you would only see in a real battle.

By the time I followed him and arrived at the source of the sound, Dispel personnel were surrounding Gwon Seongjun, who had collapsed against a container.

“Branch Chief, are you alright?”

“Damn it! Who on earth……!”

“The culprit’s description! Who was it?”

Gwon Seongjun, who had already emptied one potion, was catching his breath raggedly.

He looked like he had been attacked.

But was he attacked while searching alone…….

“Whew……. It was a Ghoul. It was a swift attack, but there’s no way I couldn’t distinguish them……. Ugh! Cough!”

Gwon Seongjun coughed up blood.

Despite the potion.

Gwon Chihun, who had been hesitating at the back of the group, worried about getting scolded by Gwon Seongjun, rushed forward.

A instinctive reaction, worried about his family’s safety.

But as soon as Gwon Seongjun saw him, he got up and grabbed him by the collar.

With that series of movements, he charged with all his might towards the container on the opposite side.

“……!”

Soon, with a strong screeching sound, the container was dented, and Gwon Chihun was helplessly stuck there.

“You…… I told you to go back……!”

“Th-that is…….”

“Did my words seem like a joke! I told you it was dangerous……. Ugh!”

Blood poured out once again.

This time, onto Gwon Chihun’s dress shirt.

At the same time, the medical unit rushed to stop him, but Gwon Seongjun lost consciousness and collapsed.

“U-uncle!”

“It’s poison! What are you all doing! Quickly, get the first aid kit from the vehicle……! No! Forget it! I’ll carry him and transport him myself! Get out of the way! I said, get out of the way!”

The medical unit chief lifted Gwon Seongjun onto his shoulder and jumped up onto the container.

Immediately, an order from another investigator was given.

“They are in this area! We will now reorganize the tracking formation! According to the number of personnel in the medical unit……!”

A rapidly developing situation.

The Dispel personnel quickly divided their ranks and scattered into the maze in an instant.

Just like that, in the blink of an eye, Gwon Chihun and I were left behind.

Baek Dojun, only after everyone had scattered, discreetly revealed himself.

Although we were left in a limbo in an instant, thanks to that, the process of this episode began to take shape in my head.

Even if it was an episode of which I only knew the result, like ‘Baek Dojun solved the case,’ the cause and purpose did not change.

I approached Gwon Chihun, who was stuck in the container.

What was needed now was proof of my reasoning.

In other words, it was time to move.

“Are you going to stay like that.”

“Hmph, laugh if you want.”

……Is he filming some youth growth drama.

“What about the case? You said it wasn’t cool before.”

“What’s so important about that now.”

“It is important. We have to get revenge for the Branch Chief.”

“Revenge? The opponents are Ghouls, strong enough to take down my uncle.”

“Fighting isn’t the only way. ……Even if we don’t have to face them directly, there are ways to interfere.”

“……What?”

He seemed to have taken an interest in my words, as his throat moved.

I, satisfied with his reaction, curled one corner of my mouth.

A suitable reason to add to this case also came to mind.

“Listen carefully, I’ll explain it at your level. Do you know what an alchemy guild does?”

“Are you ignoring me now? Of course it’s a place that makes potions.”

“That’s right. Then why did a Demonic Being turn an alchemy guild that only makes potions into Ghouls?”

“……Well, they must have had their uses.”

Is this the extent of his reasoning ability.

In the original work, his setting was blatantly ignorant, so it was not surprising…….

I let out a self-deprecating scoff and continued.

“Then the next question, why did the alchemists who became Ghouls hide here? What were they trying to hide?”

“They wouldn’t be hiding small potions……. As I said before, it would be valuables, big ones.”

“No, if it were assets, it would be more efficient to launder it through a borrowed-name account than to move it physically. In this case, it would be something with enough volume to be hidden in a container.”

“What on earth… is it?”

I did not answer right away and looked at Baek Dojun.

“Officer, what do you think it is?”

He shrugged as if he was playing dumb.

“Hmm, I’m not sure. I usually just follow the orders of the investigators.”

“…….”

So this is how he’s going to play it.

Well, it was a relief as long as he did not interfere.

I looked back at Gwon Chihun.

“There aren’t many things an alchemist can do for a Demonic Being. In this case, it was probably a secret research.”

“……Research?”

“Yeah, for example, inhumane biological experiments on test subjects.”

“Test subjects……”

“Nothing can be asserted, but in this case, it’s highly likely to be human. For the past 80 years, the only interest of Demonic Beings has been humans.”

“…….”

Experiments on other living beings.

Even humans were not innocent of such cruel acts.

In other words, even the cadet uniform I was wearing now was made from monster leather.

“Probably, their test subjects are hidden in the containers.”

“……Alright, I understand. But isn’t it realistically difficult to check all these containers one by one? We’ll definitely become a target for the Ghouls before then.”

The core of this episode.

The location of the container that hid the test subjects.

In fact, if I used my Demonic Eye, I could see the mana inside the containers, so it would not be much trouble, but right now, a persistent stalker was attached to my side.

Meaning, it was not a situation where I could carelessly close and open my eyes.

Furthermore, I could not even use the last resort of squinting.

If I could not convince Baek Dojun in the process of finding the containers, the suspicion about my abilities would only amplify.

If so…….

“Of course it would be. But didn’t you feel something strange about the attack just now?”

“What?”

“The Branch Chief screamed normally even after being attacked.”

“Why is that? My uncle is as strong as a hunter…….”

“No, that’s not what I’m trying to say. Logically, an attack means the intention is to not reveal this location.”

“Uh……. W-wait a minute! Are you saying the attack was intentional?”

“That’s right. If it were a proper attack, they would have cut his breath so that not even a death agony would come out, and if necessary, they would have hidden the corpse as well.”

The moment I finished speaking, Baek Dojun nodded his head greatly.

As if it were a brilliant deduction.

Gwon Chihun, unbecoming of his character, started to make sounds of his brain working.

“That means……. They deliberately lured them here to limit the search area.”

“That’s right. Then where would the real container be hidden? On the premise that it’s adjacent to this site, right? Otherwise, there would be no reason to deliberately draw their attention.”

“If we’re just looking at the possibilities, it would probably be…….”

He turned his head.

What his gaze pointed to was none other than the huge cargo ship.

Just in time, the ship’s horn sounded.

As the hull vibrated, a dirty current was created, and the ship began to move away from the port.

“A-a sudden departure?”

“It’s not sudden, but as planned. More importantly, are you going to keep sitting there?”

I held out my hand to him.

“It’s a chance to make a proper impression on a Special Affairs Division investigator.”