PASSION Chapter 2 Part 1

Chapter 2 Part 1

United Nations Human Resources Development Organization - Asia Branch

*

United Nations Human Resources Development Organization.

A cooperative organization aimed at supplying capable human resources by training and developing talent that can assist in the maintenance and operation of various institutions and private organizations.

Succeeding the International Talent Development Organization established in 1946, it is also known as UNHRDO (United Nations Human Resource Development Organization).

The United Nations Human Resources Development Organization focuses on non-profit dispatch, transfer, and supply of talent across various fields. Its headquarters and main organization is located in New York City, United States, while its auxiliary organizations - the European Branch, Asian Branch, Australian Branch, African Branch, and South American Branch - are located in Berlin, Germany; Hong Kong, China; Canberra, Australia; Johannesburg, South Africa; and São Paulo, Brazil, respectively.

(Continued...)

*

When they arrived at Chek Lap Kok Airport, a car was already waiting for them.

While a large man who didn't look anything like a chauffeur silently greeted his uncle and loaded the luggage, Tae-ui, whose only luggage was a not-so-large Boston bag, placed his bag next to his uncle's and got in beside his uncle who was already seated in the car.

The thin booklet his uncle handed him from somewhere contained brief explanations and photos about their destination. Though it was common knowledge that it wouldn't contain information suitable for external publicity, it was still a thin, nutritionless booklet that took less than a few minutes to read thoroughly. Besides, he had already done some basic research before departing.

While Tae-ui fanned himself with the booklet he had quickly finished reading, the car was leaving the airport.

Beside him, his uncle quietly took the booklet from Tae-ui's hands, flipped through a few pages, and laughed. His uncle must have also thought it was a worthless waste of pulp.

"It's easier to understand if you think of it as an organization that trains bureaucrats and key figures for various national public institutions."

"No matter how nicely you put it, in the end, it means you're raising people to sell them to various national organizations, right?"

"Well, since people who want to be sold like that gather and apply, it's mutually beneficial."

His uncle responded without seeming particularly displeased, even though Tae-ui's words became criticism despite not intending to criticize.

Tae-ui casually flipped through the booklet his uncle handed back. Ignoring the text that spoke only in vague terms, he focused on the photos used as backgrounds for those words. There were images of impressive buildings, conference rooms that seemed equipped with cutting-edge technology, and reliable-looking men standing at attention with stern expressions.

"See anyone among those guys who's your type?"

His uncle peered at the booklet alongside Tae-ui and laughed. Tae-ui frowned and tilted his head to the side.

"I'm not really into the straight-laced type... I don't feel like embracing someone who exudes such masculinity. I prefer the soft and lovable type who might smell like soap or milk, but I doubt there's anyone like that in this industry."

"Soap or milk smell... Even in China, sexual relations with minors is a crime. Well, though it's practically extraterritorial once you cross the branch's fence, there are no minors inside. Feel free to touch anyone you like."

".... Uncle. You've suddenly made me into an unprincipled child molester... I've never looked at anyone single-digit or teenage in that way."

His uncle laughed softly. Tae-ui stared at him blankly and said indifferently:

"You might have been exactly my type if you were twenty years younger."

Only then did the smile briefly disappear from his uncle's face. Blinking his eyes and looking at Tae-ui strangely, he eventually smirked. Shrugging his shoulders as if in understanding, he changed the subject.

"You'll find out anyway as you stay here, but do you have any questions?"

"Well... I'd need to know something to even have questions, but I don't know anything at all, so I don't even know what I don't know. As you said, I'll find out gradually as I stay here."

Tae-ui put the booklet on his knees and looked out the window. The road from the airport to downtown seemed similar in any city. A reasonably open highway with nothing particularly noteworthy to see.

"Brother worked at the American headquarters briefly before, right?"

"Jae-ui? Yes. He was thoroughly in the brain division. I hear the headquarters still covets him."

Tae-ui glanced sideways at his uncle.

"Brain division? Are the headquarters and branches divided like that?"

"Not necessarily, but generally yes. The headquarters is a brain house. Even if you have physical disabilities, you can get in if you're brilliant. The branches require basic physical fitness. ...Though that doesn't mean you can get in just by being good at fighting even if your brain is made of muscle too; simply put, you could say the branches aim to train MacGyvers."

"MacGyver... I don't think I'm cut out for that."

"Oh, come on. Everyone gets there after rolling around for a few months."

Tae-ui looked at his cheerfully speaking uncle with jaded eyes, and only then slowly voiced the questions that were beginning to occur to him one by one.

"So are the three branches not much different from each other?"

"Hmm, that's right. The training process is the same. That's why sometimes a few people get exchanged quarterly depending on circumstances. Though each branch has slightly different atmospheres. The South American branch guys are a bit crazy, the African branch guys are unpredictable, the Australian branch guys are somewhat annoying, and the European branch guys are absolutely goddamn annoying."

There was quite a gap between his cheerful tone and the content.

"Are you on bad terms with the European side?"

"The headquarters and branches are on bad terms, and the branches are on bad terms with each other too. That's how it is with groups in competition. Among them, the Asian branch and European branch are especially sworn enemies. There's joint training for two weeks once a year, and it gets quite bloody... quite a sight."

"..."

Somehow this uncle seemed to enjoy the bloody situations that arose whenever there was business, rather than simply finding the European branch annoying.

His uncle had what could be called a fairly kind impression, but there was quite a difference between his appearance and what was in his head. Sometimes even Tae-ui, who knew him well, would be dumbfounded.

Tae-ui sank into the seat. The moderately plush seat felt good.

He hadn't even rested properly, being driven around as if chased by time for several days following his uncle who had stormed in like a tempest. He felt like he could fall asleep if he closed his eyes now.

Perhaps noticing Tae-ui's drowsy state, his uncle quietly said:

"Though I'd like to tell you to get some sleep now since it'll be tough adjusting for a while, we'll arrive at the pier soon. It'll be harder to wake up if you fall into a light sleep."

"Pier?"

Tae-ui turned his head. The car had already entered the city, and the streets were gradually filling with buildings. Busy and disorderly signs competed above their heads, and buildings as run-down as the multi-family house where Tae-ui had lived stood packed together in rows. Just looking up from the flashy storefronts on the street level revealed shabby buildings with cracks and peeling paint, with poles sticking out supporting hanging laundry.

"Is the branch on Hong Kong Island?"

"No."

"Then why are we going to the pier?"

"Because we need to take a boat."

".... Is it in Macau?"

His uncle burst out laughing. Tae-ui looked at his uncle sheepishly. Since they were taking a boat from the Kowloon Peninsula side and it wasn't Hong Kong Island, that was the only place that came to mind.

His uncle shook his head.

"Lamma Island. An island a bit further out than Hong Kong Island. Though administratively it belongs to Hong Kong-China, it's practically extraterritorial. The UNHRDO Asian Branch is there."

"Ah... It's like how they used to keep prisoners on remote islands to prevent escape."

"Well, I can't say that intention is completely absent."

His uncle was still smiling as he said that and turned his gaze to Tae-ui.

"Every other week, from 5 PM Friday to 5 PM Sunday is free time, so you can go out and play then if you want. There are boats going back and forth to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula for the members on those days."

"Hearing you say that..."

"Hmm?"

"It sounds like rather than the UNHRDO Asian Branch being on that island, 'only' the UNHRDO Asian Branch is on that island."

"Correct."

"..."

Tae-ui gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

After passing through a straight stretch of bustling streets and rounding past a majestically towering hotel, the pier came into view in the distance.

Tae-ui, who had been gazing indifferently at Hong Kong Island visible across the water, suddenly turned his head.

"Come to think of it, I have one more question."

"Yes?"

"What should I call you there?"

His uncle smiled. And with an expression that mixed something between family and superior, he said:

"Instructor Jung Chang-in. Or just Instructor for short."

  *

It seemed to take a little over an hour from the peninsula to Lamma Island.

Though he had imagined a small uninhabited island since it was said to be a remote island with only the branch, it was surprisingly large, and they had to drive further along a coastal road from the island's pier.

Perhaps because it was sunset, the forest growing thickly along the inner side of the road looked particularly dark and lush.

"This looks like the kind of place where fierce beasts or poisonous snakes wouldn't be out of place."

When Tae-ui muttered this, his uncle nodded calmly.

"There are poisonous snakes. That's why you need to watch your feet carefully at night. --But don't worry too much. None of them have venom potent enough to cause instant death, so you won't die if you get proper emergency treatment right away."