Chapter 55 : A Clandestine Deal. (2)
Chapter 55: A Clandestine Deal. (2)
During China’s Spring and Autumn period, the State of Wu and the State of Yue were rival nations.
One day, people from each country happened to board the same boat, glaring at each other and growling, when they encountered a violent storm.
As the boat teetered on the brink of capsizing, the people of Wu and Yue forgot the mutual hatred they had long harbored and desperately united, barely managing to survive.
“Wu and Yue in the same boat (吳越同舟), huh.”
I summarized Lee Yu-seol’s proposal in a single phrase.
Quick-witted as she was, Lee Yu-seol had already grasped my intent.
“That’s right. Even if we were enemies before, if our interests align, we could become a team.”
From Go Ju-hoon’s death to the Gangnam Station multi-gate incident.
Thinking back on it, there were things that didn’t quite add up.
Everything I had done was being covered up far too easily.
“Did you cover up Instructor Nike too?”
The fact that Nike had been a devout believer of the Cheonyangji cult, along with his attempt to murder the interns and kidnap Hase-na, would have been more than enough to shake the world.
Yet in the mass media, Nike was reported as having died while fighting a boss monster.
If the truth—that I had killed Nike—were to leak out, it was obvious I’d get dragged into a headache-inducing mess.
I’d have to stand in court and bring witnesses.
I could claim self-defense, sure, but one misstep and it could be judged as excessive force.
Lee Yu-seol readily admitted it.
“You’re half right and half wrong. There were also instructions from Go Pil-hoon. At a time when you’re being hailed as a hero, there was no need to create unnecessary noise.”
Go Pil-hoon.
I still couldn’t tell what kind of person he really was.
Judging only from the impression I got during our brief encounter…
‘A Machiavellian.’
A term derived from the treatise The Prince.
It referred to someone who would stop at nothing—no matter the means—to achieve their goal.
For example, the reason Lee Yu-seol had come to see me was probably related to that.
Go Pil-hoon was charging straight ahead, eyes fixed forward, in order to obtain something.
‘And Lee Yu-seol probably disliked both the process and the outcome.’
The proposal had come from their side.
Whether to accept it or not was entirely up to me.
“Why? Is there a reason you need to push Go Pil-hoon out?”
To understand someone, it was important to look into their desires.
“He…”
She clenched her fist tightly.
For a while now, Lee Yu-seol had looked angry.
And the target of that emotion wasn’t me.
“He’s trying to sell the Dio Guild overseas. Negotiations broke down over the share price, but at this rate, it’ll happen eventually.”
Cases of Korean guilds being sold abroad weren’t uncommon.
Poor management, legal requirements, fundraising issues.
There were various reasons.
But in this case—
“A strategic sale.”
“Yes. He’s planning to maximize the value of the shares he inherited from his older brother and make a huge profit.”
To think the younger brother wanted to sell off a company that had been built up with such effort.
If Go Ju-hoon found out, he’d burst out of his coffin.
It was a reason I could fully understand, but—
“I didn’t know. I didn’t think you were that much of a patriot.”
“Not at all. It’s not because of patriotism. It’s personal greed.”
Lee Yu-seol jutted out her lips.
“I respected the former CEO. I truly believed that a man named Go Ju-hoon would someday rise to the very top. Until that day came, I planned to stay by his side.”
She turned and walked toward the window.
“I never thought his empire would collapse like this.”
Lee Yu-seol cast her gaze beyond the glass.
“Selling Dio at a bargain price. CEO Go Ju-hoon would never allow it.”
She looked straight at me.
“Mr. Choi Yong-gi. Help me carry on that man’s will.”
Humans were truly mysterious beings.
They rejoiced, grew angry, felt sorrow, took pleasure, loved, hated, and yearned desperately.
All of that was condensed into the reason Lee Yu-seol had come to see me.
It was quite a long-winded story, but—
Unfortunately, I wasn’t sentimental enough to readily grasp her hand.
“Why should I?”
Lee Yu-seol had a motive to betray Go Pil-hoon, but I didn’t really have one.
Even if Dio were sold overseas,
my salary wouldn’t decrease, nor would my待遇 worsen.
‘It might even get better.’
Standing before someone urging Wu and Yue to share the same boat, I coldly ran the numbers.
Lee Yu-seol let out a breath.
“…Alright. Then how about this? If you put me in the CEO’s seat, I’ll make you the mastermind behind the scenes.”
She alternated pointing at herself and me.
“I’ll be the figurehead, and you’ll be the one controlling me.”
Lee Yu-seol’s proposal was quite intriguing.
For a woman with such strong pride to cast everything aside and volunteer to become a puppet.
Perhaps her feelings toward Go Ju-hoon—
‘Weren’t just simple respect.’
The enemy who killed the person she loved.
The one trying to destroy that person’s most fervent wish.
Between Go Pil-hoon and me—
‘Looks like the scale tipped more in my favor.’
Aboard a ship shaken by fierce winds, the two of us gradually found our balance.
“If that happens, Lee Yu-seol. What do you gain?”
By now, the keyword of revenge had faded.
Even the sweet words of loyalty to the deceased were nothing more than empty flattery.
What I wanted was a clear exchange of benefits.
“I like how straightforward you are. I don’t want to stay a team leader forever. If I become the CEO, my salary will go up, and I want to own more shares of the Dio Guild. I also want the luxury vehicles, housing, and other perks the company provides.”
She said it in a roundabout way, but—
In the end, what she wanted was wealth and honor.
Blunt, but honest.
‘I like that.’
I didn’t trust Lee Yu-seol.
However, until she got what she wanted, the probability of her betraying me would decrease.
“I’ll say it again—Mr. Choi Yong-gi, you’re the true master of the Dio Guild. We can even write a contract. No, if I break my promise, then kill me. You’d be more than capable of doing that.”
I put Lee Yu-seol in as the CEO, and I gained the power to manipulate an entire guild.
‘That’s tempting.’
Acquiring the Fourth Factory in the Ilsan Hunter Industrial Complex had been a business decision.
I secured a pipeline that would steadily generate money.
And by setting up a workplace where I could be together with like-minded colleagues such as Kkalkki, it was killing two birds with one stone.
What about the Dio Guild?
The reason I had joined this place was because it was advantageous for hero activities.
It served as a channel to receive information on gates and various villains.
And as a hunter, it offered many benefits by allowing me to gain experience.
After much deliberation, I finally made my decision.
“No need for a contract. Let’s agree verbally.”
Lee Yu-seol once again walked over to the window and pointed down at the workers bustling below the building.
“Look at those people. Working busily late into the night—don’t they look just like a swarm of ants?”
They were scooping out dirt with forklifts and laying down new asphalt where it had been damaged.
“Mr. Choi Yong-gi. I’ll ask one last question.”
Lee Yu-seol opened her mouth.
“CEO Go Ju-hoon said that weak people aren’t to be bullied, but ruled. What’s your vision? I thought it’d be good to know in advance.”
A payroll statement lying on the desk caught my eye.
On the first page, the full name of the Dio Guild was written.
<< Dikaiosyne Guild >>
There had been a time when I was consumed by the desire to purify this place someday.
Not false justice.
To transform it into a group that stood for true justice.
“Saving even the weak. That’s my justice.”
Lee Yu-seol, upon hearing my answer, wore a dazed expression for a moment before breaking into a gentle smile.
Lee Yu-seol politely extended one hand and bowed at the waist.
“I look forward to working with you. Next CEO.”
I shook hands with Lee Yu-seol.
For an A-rank Hunter, her hand was cold and soft.
Under the moonlight slipping through the window gap, we concluded our clandestine deal.
“Auntie. Please give me some more soup.”
“Yes! Madam. I’ll bring it right away.”
A middle-aged woman wearing an apron brought over beef radish soup.
As the hot broth slid down my throat, warmth spread all the way to my stomach.
The whole family had gathered at the breakfast table.
There were three people seated in total.
Me, my younger sibling, and Grandmother.
We huddled together around the marble dining table placed in the spacious kitchen.
When I lifted my head, the Han River came into view beyond the full-length window.
It had already been a week since we moved.
It still didn’t feel real.
‘This is my home.’
The very first thing I flexed with the money I’d earned—
Was none other than a premium fifty-pyeong-class apartment.
Buffet, swimming pool, gym, golf course, library.
All kinds of auxiliary facilities were provided, and there was even a bomb shelter prepared for monster invasions.
‘They say times change dramatically. So this is how one can live.’
I worried that Grandmother might feel stifled living in a super high-rise building, but it was needless concern.
She loved it, saying the living room was as big as a playground and that there were three bathrooms.
After even hiring a lady to help with housework, this place truly became my own small castle.
While we were eating, my younger sibling glanced at me nervously.
“What? Want allowance?”
He was wearing a newly bought school uniform.
We threw away all the worn-out, shabby ones and had three sets custom-made at the highest quality.
I sent him to a salon in Gangnam for a haircut and made him apply expensive cosmetics every day.
As a result, he looked far less scruffy and now gave off the vibe of a kid from a wealthy family.
“Hyung. You know… I want to get private tutoring…….”
My sibling trailed off.
“Tutoring?”
“I’m top grade in every other subject, but my math is a bit lacking…….”
Just as expected, once he steeled his resolve and started studying properly, his grades shot up.
In the last mock exam, he ranked third in the entire school.
In truth, he said his math was lacking, but at worst he occasionally got a second-grade score.
By my standards, he was already doing more than well enough.
‘Still not quite enough for his own standards, though.’
Getting into the best medical school in South Korea.
That was my sibling’s goal.
“Do it.”
“Huh? Really?”
His face brightened, then darkened.
“But tutoring is kind of expensive. The math teacher’s a famous top instructor, so they charge by the hour…….”
“Do it. I’ll pay for it.”
I said it casually, but pride welled up inside me.
Isn’t there a saying?
When a child wants to do something but the family can’t afford it, a parent’s heart gets torn apart.
I had never been married.
Nor had I ever had children.
But to me, who grew up without a father, my sibling was like my own child.
“Thanks, Hyung. This time, I’ll definitely get first place in the whole school.”
I put my spoon down.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
My sibling hunched his shoulders.
I’d hardly ever hit him once he grew up, so why was he this intimidated?
“You don’t have to get first place. It’s fine even if the tutoring money goes to waste.”
I met his eyes.
“Don’t deceive yourself.”
I had deceived myself my entire life.
No one forced me to, yet I worked as forced labor in a factory my whole life.
Even if it was miserable, I kept telling myself I mustn’t stray because it was the path I had chosen.
That it was right.
That it was the life given to me.
When I was about to die, what burned into my mind was regret.
I spent each gift-like day focusing only on making money.
‘I should’ve taken better care of my family…….’
No, I should’ve taken care of myself first.
Looking back, I could have chosen a completely different life.
For instance—
Instead of saving up a billion won,
A life where I spent that billion won however I pleased.
“All I can support you with is money. The rest, you figure out yourself. What you want, and how you want to live.”
My sibling nodded.
“Yeah! I got it. Thanks, Hyung.”
In the middle of our sibling conversation, someone barged in.
“The hell are you babbling about, you sons of bitches. What kind of bullshit are you spouting at the dinner table. Just eat your damn food! Anyone would think, Yong-gi, that you’ve lived longer than me.”
If you added up my lifespan from my past life and this one, it might actually be about the same.
“You heard Grandma, right? Just eat.”
Grandmother tasted the beef radish soup, then gestured to the lady.
“Goodness. This tastes incredible. What did you put in the broth?”
“I simmered it with radish, but honestly, I added a bit of seasoning too.”
“Oh my. It’s nicely savory, just perfect. What kind of seasoning comes out this well these days.”
“Shall I tell you what it is?”
“That’d be great!”
Grandmother cursed me out without restraint, but she was fairly kind to the lady.
Well, that tsundere-like side of hers was kind of lovable.
Grandmother rose with a bent back, holding the dishes.
She was about to do the dishes herself.
“Madam. I’ll do it.”
“No need. You know. An old woman’s got nothing to do all day anyway. And can’t you stop calling me madam already?”
“Then what should I call you?”
“Hmm. Older sister?”
“Oh no. How could I do that. Please give it here. Madam.”
“Hey! You’ll break the dishes. Won’t you let go? Want to get cursed at too?”
“Alright. Please curse at me too. Madaaaam~”
“You damn—!”
Despite her words, Grandmother was smiling.
Leaving her behind, my sibling grabbed his backpack and stood at the entrance.
“I’m off to school!”
Warm sunlight poured down, and fluffy clouds drifted by.
It was the moment I had dreamed of while enduring each day like a cockroach in a semi-basement.