Translator: Khan

Editor: Aelryinth

I read it again with my lips gathered . 'They're sending me a reporter?'

It was a little strange to me, who had only been receiving emails online since I first got 12 Hours After . I would meet someone offline!

'Crow? Is the reporter a crow? Does he fly over to me and give something? I didn't think so . The Customer Service said, “Our reporter is a very competent person . ”

'Then… this Crow… is it some sort of nickname?'

I looked a little more down .

[Please specify the place and time to meet . ]

The cursor glittered down . I didn't think much and I tried to write, 'Invictus Investment Headquarters . President's Office . ' But I took my hands off the keyboard, stroked my chin, and looked at it .

'This guy's from 12 hours After… I'll keep him as secret as I can… like the email 12 hours After . ' I thought for a moment, and then I wrote something down on it . ——–

At 10:30 a . m . I left the president's office .

Secretary Seo asked me, “Are you going out? Do you want me to help you?”

I shook my head, “No, it's personal . ”

“Oh, okay . ”

I went to the underground parking lot alone and drove a Porsche west . After pa.s.sing Banpo Station and Express Bus Terminal Station, I stopped at the National Library . I parked at the side of the road and went up on the hill next to me . Under the hot, sweaty August heat, I arrived at Montmartre Park . I settled on a shaded bench and looked at the clock .

10:55 a . m . It was just five minutes until the appointment .

I looked around . There were few people in the park in broad daylight, except for some of the residents who were taking their dogs for a walk . There was no chance of me encountering someone I knew here . When the Crow came, we would talk and part like strangers in the movie “Mission Impossible,” like the cool spies who hid each other's ident.i.ty .

I sat on a bench and recalled a scene from the movie . After a moment, a black figure began to approach in the distance, and I had to give up such expectations . 'What's that…?' I could see a tall man walking toward me, wearing a black suit and a black overcoat . The coat was made of some materials, its surface covered with irregular fur . The word that came to my mind when I saw him was “Crocodile . ”

Good . The concept was right . But the problem was that it was in the middle of a heat wave that was over thirty-five degrees . I was about to die in a half-sleeve right now, but the man was in a full suit and black overcoat .

One woman who was taking her dog for a walk saw him and said, “Minky . Don't go that way . Let's go home . Let's go . Quickly . ” She caught up the leash . The dog leapt up and down in surprise .

I stood firm for a moment and watched him . 'No, no way…' The moment our eyes met .

He was tall, about 190cm . His skin was white and his face was odd . The eyes were black and long like Asians, and his nose was high and big just like Europeans . Up and down, his lips resembled those of Africans .

'What, is he a mixed-blood person?' Thinking that far, I suddenly felt fear beyond the sense of wonder . A mixed-blood foreigner in this heat was dangerous . I tried to leave, but as soon as I got up from the bench, he said in a deep, low voice, “Is this Han Sang-hoon?”

I spoke to him, not trying to leave, “… yes . ”

Then, as if he were a medieval knight, he said, kneeling before me on one knee, “h.e.l.lo, I am Crow . I've been ordered to be the servant of Hang Sang-hoon from today on . ”

His manner was excellent . I put my fists on my head . It was the picture I had seen in the spy movie .

'Is this Crow?'

'Are you Han Sang-hoon?'

'All right, let's start the story . '

Sitting side by side on a bench, looking into the air, my idea of having a private conversation with him was completely shattered .

I didn't have the confidence to look around, but at the same time, I was sure everyone would be watching me like, 'What the h.e.l.l are those crazy people?'

'If I had known this would happen, I should have asked him to meet me at 4 a . m . ' I spoke to him with my hands on the brow, “Yes, nice to meet you . Please sit down . ”

I offered him a seat next to me, and he just sat right next to me . The hairs surrounding his coat touched my skin . Apart from being hot, this was like we were mad coworkers . I gestured and pushed him to the edge of the bench .

“Sit a little bit far away, all the way to the edge . ”

“Yes . ” Fortunately, he followed me well . “Master . ” He even used the t.i.tle of master .

'Oh, my G.o.d, is he a madman from another dimension?' I glanced at him, thinking that in my mind .

He was staring at me hard . I said, gesturing forward this time, “Look up ahead . Don't look at me . ”

“Yes, master . ” He turned his eyes forward .

Now, there was a painting I wanted . I, like him, turned my eyes forward and said, “Okay, let's talk like this . ”

“If the master wants it…”

Now, the word “master” kept bothering me .

“And… instead of the master… please call me boss . ”

“Yes, boss . ”

'All right . He's a good listener . ' This was good . He corrected himself right away .

I spoke to him without turning my eyes, as if speaking to myself from afar, “Isn't it hot?”

“It's very hot . ”

“By the way, why are you wearing such a coat?”

“This is our basic dress, boss . ”

“Who's chosen that basic outfit?”

“My boss . ” He must have a boss .

“… That boss is a strange man…”

He spoke in a very obtuse way, “Yes, I think so . ”

“What's the boss doing?”

“He's in charge of us . ”

“We…?”

“Crows . ” Crow seemed to mean group rather than name .

“Are there any more crows besides you?”

“Yes . ”

I asked in amazement . “Are you saying that there are more people in action now in this world?” In this question, there was a nuance, 'There's another madman like you?'

But he continued to speak in an obtuse tone, “I'm the only one in this world who's ever been sent . ”

“This world?”

“Yes . ”

There was a conversation going to Andromeda . I remembered the conversation I'd had with the Customer Service . I knew from experience that this question was pointless to pursue . I turned the subject around .

“The… about the basic dress, if I told you not to wear it, you might not wear it, right?”

“Yes, of course, sir . ”

“Then… …next time, don't wear that coat . Just wear a suit . ”

“Yes, sir . ”

I glanced at him, and he was looking forward, not even giving me a glance, as I commanded .

'Isn't this a person? Really? Is he a robot?' At the moment, he took a white handkerchief from his coat and wiped the sweat from his forehead .

“That… If it's hot, take it off . That coat . ”

“Yes, sir . ”

“Umm… that s.h.i.+rt, too . ”

“Yes, boss . ” He took off his coat and s.h.i.+rt and put them on the bench .

Looking closely, it was the feathers of a bird hanging on his coat, a crow's feathers . I thought I had taken the wrong skill .

'Can this slightly broken robot investigate something well? I'd rather get the news 12 Years After and plan a long-term corporate investment . ' I asked him, thinking about it, “Are you a reporter?”

“Yes . A reporter, that's what they call me in the world . When I am paid for, I do the work of providing information, Boss . ”

“Price? What's the price?”

“That's a secret . ” This guy also used the same words . I thought it had something to do with Customer Service .

“… that's what I'm paying for?”

“No . It's the employer's responsibility . I understand you're already paying a large subscription fee to our employer . ”

The employer was like the side sending emails, including Customer Service .

“Well, yes…” I muttered to myself .

Then he said, “Yes, boss . ” That was how he took my words to himself . He was very polite .

'If I say, “Go ahead and do three back-dumblings and push-ups at the handstand a hundred times,” he will at least try .

'I like that point… but I wonder if he'll do a good job of investigating…'

I asked him, “Do you know about stocks or the economy?”

“What are you asking…”

“If I ask you to find out what a company's performance this quarter is like…”

To my question, he spoke in a confident voice, “Of course . I'm competent . ” That was what the Customer Service said, and he said that he was capable of it .

I looked around from here . Everyone who was going to run away in amazement earlier had run away, and the newcomers were just walking around the park in a free and easy way . Now we looked like just an ordinary businessman and a tall foreigner .

I spoke to him, “Well, then, I'll ask you this: During the recent Bisang Construction scandal and stock price manipulation, who ordered the stock price manipulation; how did they launder the money and spend it on stock price manipulation; is there any evidence of collusion with the president of Bisang Construction, Jung Gi-woong; how was reporter Kang Joo-hyuk killed, and how are they related to the delisting of Go-Young Food . Please investigate all the information about them . ”

I said this and looked at him slightly, wondering if there was any chance he would say, 'There are so many things you want at once . ' So I added a word after putting it together . “In a word, I want you to investigate everything about this Bisang Construction and the stock price manipulation case . ” I looked at him .

He told me without turning his eyes to me, “Is that your request this month?” He was serious .

I turned my eyes forward again and said, “Yes . Please organize the details and let me know . ”

“Yes, boss . ” The answer was refres.h.i.+ng .

I didn't know what the result would be . For a moment, silence ensued, and I asked him in a vague question . “By the way, how the h.e.l.l can you tell me about the findings? By email or do we meet again like this?”

By the way, there was no answer coming back . I looked sideways, but he was gone . The coat on the bench was gone, too .

'What is it?' I looked around the park . I couldn't see the black clothes .

'I only looked away for a few seconds… How come…?' It was like a scene from a spy movie . I looked around for a moment as if possessed by a ghost, and finally gave up .

'He appeared briefly and then vanished… well… I'll have to ask Customer Service . '

I stood up thinking about it . Now I saw a black feather left on the spot where his coat had been placed . I lifted the black feather of a crow . I thought of the name while touching it with my hands .

'Crow…'

Translator: Khan.

Editor: Aelryinth.

I read it again with my lips gathered . 'They're sending me a reporter?'.

It was a little strange to me, who had only been receiving emails online since I first got 12 Hours After . I would meet someone offline!.

'Crow? Is the reporter a crow? Does he fly over to me and give something? I didn't think so . The Customer Service said, “Our reporter is a very competent person . ”.

'Then… this Crow… is it some sort of nickname?'.

I looked a little more down

[Please specify the place and time to meet . ].

The cursor glittered down . I didn't think much and I tried to write, 'Invictus Investment Headquarters . President's Office . ' But I took my hands off the keyboard, stroked my chin, and looked at it

'This guy's from 12 hours After… I'll keep him as secret as I can… like the email 12 hours After . ' I thought for a moment, and then I wrote something down on it . ——–.

At 10:30 a . m . I left the president's office

Secretary Seo asked me, “Are you going out? Do you want me to help you?”.

I shook my head, “No, it's personal . ”.

“Oh, okay . ”.

I went to the underground parking lot alone and drove a Porsche west . After pa.s.sing Banpo Station and Express Bus Terminal Station, I stopped at the National Library . I parked at the side of the road and went up on the hill next to me . Under the hot, sweaty August heat, I arrived at Montmartre Park . I settled on a shaded bench and looked at the clock

10:55 a . m . It was just five minutes until the appointment

I looked around . There were few people in the park in broad daylight, except for some of the residents who were taking their dogs for a walk . There was no chance of me encountering someone I knew here . When the Crow came, we would talk and part like strangers in the movie “Mission Impossible,” like the cool spies who hid each other's ident.i.ty

I sat on a bench and recalled a scene from the movie . After a moment, a black figure began to approach in the distance, and I had to give up such expectations . 'What's that…?' I could see a tall man walking toward me, wearing a black suit and a black overcoat . The coat was made of some materials, its surface covered with irregular fur . The word that came to my mind when I saw him was “Crocodile . ”.

Good . The concept was right . But the problem was that it was in the middle of a heat wave that was over thirty-five degrees . I was about to die in a half-sleeve right now, but the man was in a full suit and black overcoat

One woman who was taking her dog for a walk saw him and said, “Minky . Don't go that way . Let's go home . Let's go . Quickly . ” She caught up the leash . The dog leapt up and down in surprise

I stood firm for a moment and watched him . 'No, no way…' The moment our eyes met

He was tall, about 190cm . His skin was white and his face was odd . The eyes were black and long like Asians, and his nose was high and big just like Europeans . Up and down, his lips resembled those of Africans

'What, is he a mixed-blood person?' Thinking that far, I suddenly felt fear beyond the sense of wonder . A mixed-blood foreigner in this heat was dangerous . I tried to leave, but as soon as I got up from the bench, he said in a deep, low voice, “Is this Han Sang-hoon?”.

I spoke to him, not trying to leave, “… yes . ”.

Then, as if he were a medieval knight, he said, kneeling before me on one knee, “h.e.l.lo, I am Crow . I've been ordered to be the servant of Hang Sang-hoon from today on . ”.

His manner was excellent . I put my fists on my head . It was the picture I had seen in the spy movie

'Is this Crow?'.

'Are you Han Sang-hoon?'.

'All right, let's start the story . '.

——–.

Sitting side by side on a bench, looking into the air, my idea of having a private conversation with him was completely shattered

I didn't have the confidence to look around, but at the same time, I was sure everyone would be watching me like, 'What the h.e.l.l are those crazy people?'.

'If I had known this would happen, I should have asked him to meet me at 4 a . m . ' I spoke to him with my hands on the brow, “Yes, nice to meet you . Please sit down . ”.

I offered him a seat next to me, and he just sat right next to me . The hairs surrounding his coat touched my skin . Apart from being hot, this was like we were mad coworkers . I gestured and pushed him to the edge of the bench

“Sit a little bit far away, all the way to the edge . ”.

“Yes . ” Fortunately, he followed me well . “Master . ” He even used the t.i.tle of master

'Oh, my G.o.d, is he a madman from another dimension?' I glanced at him, thinking that in my mind

He was staring at me hard . I said, gesturing forward this time, “Look up ahead . Don't look at me . ”.

“Yes, master . ” He turned his eyes forward

Now, there was a painting I wanted . I, like him, turned my eyes forward and said, “Okay, let's talk like this . ”.

“If the master wants it…”.

Now, the word “master” kept bothering me

“And… instead of the master… please call me boss . ”.

“Yes, boss . ”.

'All right . He's a good listener . ' This was good . He corrected himself right away

I spoke to him without turning my eyes, as if speaking to myself from afar, “Isn't it hot?”.

“It's very hot . ”.

“By the way, why are you wearing such a coat?”.

“This is our basic dress, boss . ”.

“Who's chosen that basic outfit?”.

“My boss . ” He must have a boss

“… That boss is a strange man…”.

He spoke in a very obtuse way, “Yes, I think so . ”.

“What's the boss doing?”.

“He's in charge of us . ”.

“We…?”.

“Crows . ” Crow seemed to mean group rather than name

“Are there any more crows besides you?”.

“Yes . ”.

I asked in amazement . “Are you saying that there are more people in action now in this world?” In this question, there was a nuance, 'There's another madman like you?'.

But he continued to speak in an obtuse tone, “I'm the only one in this world who's ever been sent . ”.

“This world?”.

“Yes . ”.

There was a conversation going to Andromeda . I remembered the conversation I'd had with the Customer Service . I knew from experience that this question was pointless to pursue . I turned the subject around

“The… about the basic dress, if I told you not to wear it, you might not wear it, right?”.

“Yes, of course, sir . ”.

“Then… …next time, don't wear that coat . Just wear a suit . ”.

“Yes, sir . ”.

I glanced at him, and he was looking forward, not even giving me a glance, as I commanded

'Isn't this a person? Really? Is he a robot?' At the moment, he took a white handkerchief from his coat and wiped the sweat from his forehead

“That… If it's hot, take it off . That coat . ”.

“Yes, sir . ”.

“Umm… that s.h.i.+rt, too . ”.

“Yes, boss . ” He took off his coat and s.h.i.+rt and put them on the bench

Looking closely, it was the feathers of a bird hanging on his coat, a crow's feathers . I thought I had taken the wrong skill

'Can this slightly broken robot investigate something well? I'd rather get the news 12 Years After and plan a long-term corporate investment . ' I asked him, thinking about it, “Are you a reporter?”.

“Yes . A reporter, that's what they call me in the world . When I am paid for, I do the work of providing information, Boss . ”.

“Price? What's the price?”.

“That's a secret . ” This guy also used the same words . I thought it had something to do with Customer Service

“… that's what I'm paying for?”.

“No . It's the employer's responsibility . I understand you're already paying a large subscription fee to our employer . ”.

The employer was like the side sending emails, including Customer Service

“Well, yes…” I muttered to myself

Then he said, “Yes, boss . ” That was how he took my words to himself . He was very polite

'If I say, “Go ahead and do three back-dumblings and push-ups at the handstand a hundred times,” he will at least try

'I like that point… but I wonder if he'll do a good job of investigating…'.

I asked him, “Do you know about stocks or the economy?”.

“What are you asking…”.

“If I ask you to find out what a company's performance this quarter is like…”.

To my question, he spoke in a confident voice, “Of course . I'm competent . ” That was what the Customer Service said, and he said that he was capable of it

I looked around from here . Everyone who was going to run away in amazement earlier had run away, and the newcomers were just walking around the park in a free and easy way . Now we looked like just an ordinary businessman and a tall foreigner

I spoke to him, “Well, then, I'll ask you this: During the recent Bisang Construction scandal and stock price manipulation, who ordered the stock price manipulation; how did they launder the money and spend it on stock price manipulation; is there any evidence of collusion with the president of Bisang Construction, Jung Gi-woong; how was reporter Kang Joo-hyuk killed, and how are they related to the delisting of Go-Young Food . Please investigate all the information about them . ”.

I said this and looked at him slightly, wondering if there was any chance he would say, 'There are so many things you want at once . ' So I added a word after putting it together . “In a word, I want you to investigate everything about this Bisang Construction and the stock price manipulation case . ” I looked at him

He told me without turning his eyes to me, “Is that your request this month?” He was serious

I turned my eyes forward again and said, “Yes . Please organize the details and let me know . ”.

“Yes, boss . ” The answer was refres.h.i.+ng

I didn't know what the result would be . For a moment, silence ensued, and I asked him in a vague question . “By the way, how the h.e.l.l can you tell me about the findings? By email or do we meet again like this?”.

By the way, there was no answer coming back . I looked sideways, but he was gone . The coat on the bench was gone, too

'What is it?' I looked around the park . I couldn't see the black clothes

'I only looked away for a few seconds… How come…?' It was like a scene from a spy movie . I looked around for a moment as if possessed by a ghost, and finally gave up

'He appeared briefly and then vanished… well… I'll have to ask Customer Service . '.

I stood up thinking about it . Now I saw a black feather left on the spot where his coat had been placed . I lifted the black feather of a crow . I thought of the name while touching it with my hands

'Crow…'.