"…Mirage Counseling Office?" I repeated slowly, the words scraping out of my throat before I even realized I'd spoken them.
Han's smile returned — soft, harmless, almost tender. The kind of smile you'd expect from a teacher, not a Vice-Director discussing anomalies at four in the morning.
"Ah, right," he said, tilting his head slightly. "You probably haven't heard of it. You've been to the Fox Library anomaly, yes?"
My pulse jumped.
'How does he know that?'
"Yes," I said carefully. "A brief visit with a team member. I was told it's an anomaly directly affiliated with you, not with the Bureau itself."
Han let out an impressed gasp, his expression brightening as if I'd just answered a quiz correctly. "You really did your homework? How flattering."
He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. "The Mirage Counseling Office — or M.C.O., as I like to call it — is also one of my direct affiliations. Its primary function is cleansing contamination. Thoroughly."
I frowned slightly. "That's strange. It was never mentioned in any of the Bureau's briefings."
"That's because," he said smoothly, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve, "unlike the Library — or any other cleansing method you've heard of — the M.C.O. doesn't gradually remove contamination. It erases it. All of it. In a single session."
His golden eyes gleamed faintly under the lamp. "It's the fastest, safest, and most effective way to return a contaminated human to complete purity. By far."
I studied him for a moment. The way he said purity made something crawl under my skin.
"And this… Office," I asked slowly, "is it open to everyone?"
"Not quite." He smiled again, running a hand through his hair in that casual, almost boyish way that made him look younger — and more disarming. "The Mirage Counseling Office is reserved for Field Department personnel ranked at least Supervisor or Team Leader. And even then, the counselor himself is quite… selective."
His tone shifted — not in volume, but in weight. "he decides who deserves a session. Most people don't get a second chance."
I froze. My jaw almost dropped before I caught myself.
'He's giving me access to something even top-ranking members barely qualify for?
At this point, it doesn't feel like generosity. It feels like investment.'
"…And it's really okay for me to go?" I asked, trying to sound casual. "I mean, I'm basically a rookie."
"Yuwon," he said, his voice low and steady, "I'm the one who made the appointment. I insist you attend it."
The warmth in his tone didn't match the gravity of his words.
For a moment, he simply sat there, watching me — like a teacher assessing an essay, or a scientist observing a living experiment. Then, almost too softly to hear, he added:
"Do you have any further questions, Yuwon?"
The tone was calm, but I could swear there was something expectant behind it.
"Uh… the others," I murmured. "Silva, Mira, Theo — are they alright?"
His expression softened instantly. "All fine," he reassured, tone warm again. "Silva actually stayed by your side for the first sixteen hours. I had to insist she go home and rest. Mira and Theo are stable, too. They wanted to stay longer, but I wouldn't allow it."
I closed my eyes, letting relief wash through me like slow heat. "Thank you," I whispered.
Han gave a small nod. Then, almost casually, he continued, "I should also mention that the joint operation for the anomaly [The Pale Shore] will be delayed a week. Elite Team B had a rather… rough investigation. They'll need time to recover."
He pointed at me, his golden eyes glinting. "And you're on paid leave until then."
"Huh? On… paid leave?"
"Precisely," he said, almost cheerfully. "A small arrangement. You opened the path to neutralizing a Tier-2 anomaly and paid an immense price for it. Consider this the Bureau's way of showing gratitude."
Yeah, no. This is definitely investment.
"Thank you, Vice-Director Han."
"No need to thank me just yet," he said softly. His hand slipped into his jacket pocket. When it emerged, something shimmered faintly in his palm.
Nestled in his palm gleamed a pocket watch unlike any other — a masterpiece of craftsmanship and quiet opulence. Its surface shimmered with a deep, sunlit gold, every inch etched with intricate patterns that danced like ancient runes beneath the light. The design radiated outward in perfect symmetry, as though each engraving had been carved with reverence, meant not merely to adorn but to tell a silent story. At its heart lay a small crystal window, revealing a compass-like dial whose delicate hands moved with a precision that felt almost alive. Even the chain, a cascade of polished links, gleamed with a liquid brilliance, heavy with promise and time itself. It did not look like merely a timepiece — it was a relic of pride, power, and something far older than either of us.
"Here," he said, extending his hand. "It's yours."
"Pardon?"
"It was found in your hand after the Nine Frequency Anomaly was neutralized. A leftover anomalous item. We've named it
『Watch of a Broken Timeline.』"
My fingers twitched slightly as I accepted it. The metal was cool — lighter than it looked, almost warm to the touch.
He continued, "It's made of hundreds of dying timelines. A storage-type item. It can hold anything below two square meters in volume, and anything inside doesn't age. Living things can't be stored. And it weakens any time-altering effects around you."
That's… ridiculously powerful.
"Do I really get to keep this?" I asked, incredulous.
Han laughed softly, almost playfully. "Yuwon, the Bureau might not have the best reputation, but do you really think we'd steal from our employees?"
"Right… yeah." I rubbed the back of my neck. "Just tell me how to use it."
"Simple," he said. "Hold it, focus on what you want to store, and picture it. Same for retrieving. Closing your eyes helps at first."
"Got it." I set the watch gently on the nightstand beside me. "Thank you, Vice-Director Han. For everything."
He smiled, straightening his amber tie. "It's the least I can do. It's nearly five now, so get some sleep."
"I will. Thank you."
He nodded once, turned toward the door — then paused.
"Wait!" I said suddenly.
Han glanced over his shoulder.
I pointed to the chair he'd been sitting in. "You forgot your book — the one you were reading when I woke up."
His smile didn't change. Not one bit. But something behind it… did.
"Oh," he said lightly. "That's not mine. It's the one you borrowed from the Fox Library."
He waved his hand dismissively as he opened the door.
"Try to finish it before your session."
The door clicked shut.
A slow chill crept down my spine.
'I definitely left that book at home…'
'How did he have it— no, how did he even know I borrowed it?'