Black Badger - Chapter 422



Only Noblemtl

422. Retirement Ceremony (2)

The short-haired senior stared at me as I got off the elevator.

“hi.”

That’s all she said.

He didn’t give me or Ami any particular explanation as they kept opening and closing their mouths.

“Stay over there.”

He nods and points down the hallway.

He didn’t seem to have any intention of moving from in front of the elevator.

I didn’t say anything. He must have come here because he had made up his mind to do something. Whether it was to see the last of the Commander-in-Chief or to have something to say, he must have something he wanted to say.

Whatever it was, I no longer had to worry about her pointing her gun at Ye-Hyeon.

I also knew there was no need to ask if it was okay.

He just smiled, nodded, and turned into the hallway.

A wide open office door and a brightly lit hallway.

The scent of fresh flowers wafts in.

The wide place was filled with people.

People I’ve talked to, people I only know by face, people I’m seeing for the first time. People wearing Black Badger special uniforms or just office clothes. People wearing lab coats or work clothes.

People of all kinds gathered freely and looked at one place.

People were crying and laughing, and many were holding gifts in their hands to hand out to each other.

Give to the person smiling in the middle of the crowd.

“Michelle.”

Yehyun smiled more cheerfully than ever.

“Stop crying.”

The commander-in-chief, holding a bouquet of flowers, looked at his sobbing secretary.

The secretary, who didn’t seem to be able to shed tears even if you stab her, was crying heavily. She was rubbing her eyes with the hand that wasn’t holding her glasses. Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen.

I was the type of person who never seemed to cry at work.

It feels strange to see someone like that cry like that.

I wasn’t the only one; several people nearby sniffed.

Yehyun laughed.

“I’m not going to discard the enhanced body. I’ll rest for a bit and then return to being a torturer once I’m stable. From then on, I’ll become the headquarters’ permanent resident and only train new Badgers, so you’ll get tired of seeing my face.”

Michelle didn’t respond, but just sobbed.

Ye-Hyeon with an awkward smile and the aides standing behind her.

“If Scar calls, I have to go to headquarters without fail.”

“… … .”

“Yes, I will call you often. Don’t relax and keep your phone ringing.”

“Look. The acting commander in chief said so. Maybe I can come to this office tomorrow.”

“… … .”

“So stop crying.”

“… … .”

“Thank you so much for all your hard work. Thank you for your excellent work. Thanks to you staying, I feel somewhat relieved. Please take good care of your remaining subordinates.”

“…yes.”

A small answer was heard.

The commander-in-chief smiled broadly and straightened his back.

He muttered, looking down at his secretary who was catching her breath.

“Your wedding is coming up soon, but one thing that bothers me is that I can’t congratulate you from my position as Commander-in-Chief. If I were in office, there would be more guests.”

“… That doesn’t matter.”

Michelle mumbled in response.

“Thank you for coming.”

Yehyun smiled faintly.

Then he lightly patted the secretary’s shoulder with the palm of his hand.

Michelle quickly calmed down. After stopping her crying, she raised her head and handed Ye-Hyeon a box wrapped in luxurious wrapping paper.

Yehyun accepted the box, muttering a word of thanks.

“I told you not to prepare something like this.”

“Please give me the road. I will take care of what you ask for.”

The secretary, who had completely stopped crying, took the box from Ye-Hyeon’s hands.

“I’ll bring a paper bag.”

“Oh, let me help you!”

Ami raised her hand.

People made way for her.

A senior who goes inside while mumbling.

Meanwhile, those waiting for their turn near Michelle approached Ye-Hyeon.

There really are a lot of people here.

I stood against the wall and quietly took in the series of events.

There must be many people who are celebrating Ye-Hyeon’s retirement. It’s amazing that so many people have gathered voluntarily to bid farewell to their boss. He was a truly respected boss.

It’s nice to have a warm ending to a long day of work.

People kept giving Ye-Hyeon bouquets of flowers. Ye-Hyeon smiled brightly as she became more and more buried in the flowers.

People shaking hands with both hands. Employees filming with slightly bloodshot eyes.

Yoon stands silently near his aides and secretarial staff who are reporting on the status of preparations for the retirement ceremony against the wall.

Michelle and Ami, who receive the gifts that Ye-Hyeon couldn’t receive because she didn’t have enough hands, and put them in a paper bag…

“You came too.”

I stood against the wall, noticing a woman standing quietly nearby and whispering.

“Are you here to say hello?”

“From a distance.”

Maya said.

“Because he is someone I respect.”

“Was he a good boss?”

As I muttered, feeling proud for no reason, Maya nodded without even looking back at me.

I looked down at her pensive eyes.

Eyes with the traces of time beautifully engraved on them.

The child who will now be called by another name said.

“There was so much to learn. I never thought I would see you step down like this.”

“I guess that’s to be expected, since you’ve been working for a long time.”

“You were the icon of the Black Badger. I thought you’d be there until I retired.”

Maya looked at Yehyeon, touching her lips.

A brightly smiling supervisor accepting a plaque of appreciation made by the Department of Science.

“Nothing lasts forever.”

yes.

“I feel like I’m watching a chapter of history come to a close.”

I know how you feel.

I was also happy about Ye-Hyeon’s retirement, but it felt strange to be standing in the flow of time that was creating a past that could not be returned to.

However, the person who actually gave me that refreshing feeling has a very refreshing look on his face.

“Aren’t you so happy?”

As Ye-Hyeon, who had taken a picture with the scientists, turned to the general staff, Ska joined in with a smile.

Those gathered in the hallway burst into laughter.

Yehyun also smiled with her eyes wide open.

“Sorry.”

There was genuine emotion in his voice.

“You know I’ve been feeling sorry for you ever since I put you in that position.”

“I thought I knew, but now that it’s come to this, I’m not really sure.”

People burst into laughter again at Scar’s words, “You really have to be nice to me.”

I also watched Ye-Hyeon rubbing Scar’s shoulder with a faint smile.

Then, a curly head suddenly appeared from inside the office.

“what.”

The owner of the curly hair was wearing a striped T-shirt today too.

Giacomo Loh arched an eyebrow.

“Peanut, what are you doing here?”

People’s eyes were focused on Giacomo Lo.

Ami’s round eyes bulged.

“what.”

She took back what Law said.

“What are you doing here? You don’t even know why people are gathered here.”

“I just followed the humans who were swarming up.”

Roh said something very typical of him.

Then he tilted his head. I don’t know what on earth he was doing in the executive office, but for the first time, Law rolled his eyes with an expression on his face as if he was realizing the chaos.

“What is it?”

That’s what he said.

“What is everyone doing?”

“You came to say hello to me.”

Ye-Hyeon answered without any sign of surprise.

The man with his arms full of bouquets of flowers smiled at Ro.

“I’m retiring.”

Ro’s eyes widened.

“Did you get cut?”

Amy was furious.

“No, you idiot!”

Ye-Hyeon and her aides laughed, and Yoon snorted.

People who smile brightly.

Yehyun answered.

“It’s roughly similar.”

“Badger is ruined.”

Yehyun’s laughter grew louder.

The superior, who tilted his head back and smiled brightly, looked down at Ro with a smile on his face.

“Not at all. I’ll make sure to properly hand over the job to the right person, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Im Soo Im Soo what?”

“Scar will take my place.”

Law blinked as the Commander-in-Chief placed a hand on Scar’s shoulder.

Scar stared at Law with a subtle smile.

Ro touched his earlobe.

“Oh, that black guy is your successor?”

What the heck is the title?

“It will be less ruined.”

“Oh really!”

Amy is angry again.

“Don’t call me Scar! You shouldn’t call people like that!”

“Why are you suddenly being picky?”

“How can you get scolded by Rick all the time and still not make any progress?”

“what?!”

“Don’t go out there and call me Badger! It’ll make you look like a fool!”

“What can I do, knowing that I’m a famous badger?”

Rowa and Amy started bickering.

Yoon, who was nearby, let out a heavy sigh. However, he did not stop the people who were bickering next to him. Instead of giving them a glance, he looked up at the ceiling.

Of course, the leaders had no intention of stopping him, so they just laughed and turned their attention elsewhere.

“Thank you for taking the time out of your golden hour to come.”

Ye-Hyeon receiving greetings from those who came to find her.

Hesh Riley stiffened her back.

The reason why he came to Badger out of respect for Ye-Hyeon was answered in a clear voice.

“no.”

I was utterly shocked when I saw tears in the eyes of my friend whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.

Is he crying?

“It was an honor to serve you, even for a short time, Commander.”

“You can stand comfortably and say hello.”

“no!”

“It’s really nice that everyone is comfortable. But it’s not the time for that.”

“No! This is more comfortable!”

“They said you come from a military family, and it’s true.”

All three leaders burst into laughter at the same time.

A small talk followed. Ye-Hyeon firmly grabbed Hesi’s right shoulder as he saluted her with his sword. Then, looking into Badger’s eyes, who was still quite young, she offered words of encouragement.

The conversation continued until the secretary, who had been stepping back to receive a situation report, quietly approached.

“You should start moving now.”

Only after receiving the report did Ye-Hyeon gently let go of his hand.

“okay.”

The boss nods.

The commander-in-chief patted Hesi on the back and turned around.

“Time really flies.”

He walked slowly towards the elevator.

People made way for me.

The corridor splits into two sides for the commander-in-chief heading to the main auditorium. Ye-Hyeon walked slowly down the corridor where the headquarters offices were located. She was wearing her usual neat suit, holding a gorgeous bouquet of flowers in her arms.

A silver shape-shifting weapon gleams from his ears.

The commander-in-chief smiled and accepted the gifts that people he had not been able to approach offered him one after another.

Even though I walked slowly, holding all the hands that were extended to me, I soon arrived at the elevator.

The story is about meeting Sophia Karlak.

“Karak.”

Yehyun called out Sophia’s name as she stared at him intently.

“Thank you for your hard work so far.”

Perhaps he wasn’t expecting an answer from his senior.

He probably thought she would remain silent or make an unpleasant expression. Ye-Hyeon’s gaze didn’t linger on Sophia for long, as if she thought her response might upset her.

But Sophia answered.

“Thank you for your effort.”

In a clear voice without sarcasm.

Ye-Hyeon turned her head in surprise and widened her eyes.

“I came to say hello.”

The commander-in-chief looked at Sophia with a speechless expression.

Sophia Karlak did not avoid his gaze.

The senior, wearing a black badge uniform, met his superior’s dumbfounded expression.

“Senior Jin, you probably knew that too. In fact, your judgment back then wasn’t wrong.”

The elevator door opened, but Ye-Hyeon didn’t turn around.

“I actually knew that too.”

“…there might have been a better way.”

“John lived as a badger and died honorably. No one can deny that.”

A faint smile appeared on Sophia’s lips.

It must have been written in memory of a deceased lover.

“I knew it, so I’m sorry for acting up.”

“… No. That wasn’t a tantrum.”

“I couldn’t continue to forgive myself for choosing John over me, because in fact, I hated myself for surviving because of his sacrifice.”

The smile on Sophia’s lips grew a little wider.

It was a carefree laugh like Ye-Hyeon’s.

“I just realized it now.”

“Karak.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Commander.”

She bowed her head in greeting.

“I will continue to work faithfully in the future.”

I saw Ye-Hyeon’s large eyes shaking.

I also saw a mouth that tried to answer but then closed again as if it was choking.

But in the end, I didn’t cry.

The eyes that were trembling with various emotions quickly regained their clarity.

“thank you.”

Yehyun smiled and greeted.

“And Karlak, you have always been faithful.”

The scent of flowers.

The sound of elevator doors closing. Flashes of light. People crying and laughing.

Time flies.

The time has come.

I applauded as I watched the Commander-in-Chief enter the auditorium with my seniors and peers.

Employees rushing out of their seats.

The retirement ceremony for Commander-in-Chief Lee Ye-Hyeon has begun.