Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: The Great Plains Tribe's Dumb Savage Meat Shield
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Ilseong Apparel Headquarters.
Vice Bureau Chief Jeon Gwang-il and Jeong Dong-hoon were having a conversation alone in the office.
He had heard the whole story.
How he knew Player Bong Joo-hyuk's name, where the documents came from.
"I... I really wasn't going to do anything. I planned to dispose of the documents. This is unfair. This is a trap."
Jeon Gwang-il looked at Ilseong Apparel CEO Jeong Dong-hoon with indifferent eyes.
It wasn't something he had orchestrated.
If it were, he wouldn't have slipped up on the phone call, and he wouldn't be trembling now with anxious eyes.
It seemed clear he received the documents from Chairman Jeong Seong-tae.
'Where did these documents even come from in the first place?'
America, Japan, or maybe China?
Actually, at this point, the source of the documents wasn't the main issue.
The problem was that Player Bong Joo-hyuk's name was circulating even among private companies.
Anyway, Chairman Jeong Seong-tae.
The more he thought about it, the more infuriating it was.
'That raccoon-like old man.'
It was an obvious ploy.
He probably handed off a task that was awkward for him to do directly to his nephew, intending to watch how the situation unfolded.
Then, once he judged the information was solid, he'd move political circles and sneak his foot in.
"When you received the documents, did you record it?"
"N-no."
"Then there's no evidence these came from Chairman Jeong Seong-tae."
"Yes. W-will I be arrested?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Don't worry. That won't happen."
Anyway, now he understood the situation.
"Actually, the reason I called in the first place was about a business proposal."
"Ah..."
"If it's alright with you, could you hear out the rest of the proposal you couldn't listen to before?"
Jeong Dong-hoon hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Um, I'm not sure if I can remain as CEO. I only have 10% of the shares, and my uncle will probably use this incident as an excuse to strip me of management rights and oust me."
"Hmm."
"Honestly, I have no attachment to the CEO position either. I was thinking of letting everything go with this chance and just rest deeply..."
Jeon Gwang-il nodded.
The more he saw, the more he liked him.
As a business partner.
'No greed, seems kind-hearted, and looks easy to control.'
Of course, Jeong Dong-hoon might change later, but for now, he seemed much more reliable than Go Yeon-ha.
Ilseong Apparel was a privately held company.
Most of the shares were probably held by Chairman Jeong Seong-tae.
What if they spun off the company and transferred the shares to Player Bong?
That would somewhat solve the worries about the leather.
"The content of the business proposal is about Wyvern leather supply."
Jeong Dong-hoon flinched! He was surprised.
"Wyvern? Wyvern leather, you say?"
"We are planning to supply Wyvern leather to the private sector. What are your thoughts, CEO Jeong Dong-hoon?"
"Uh, well..."
Wyvern leather.
Its biggest advantage was its durability, above all else.
It was incomparable to Basilisk.
Beautiful, vivid patterns and excellent self-repair capabilities.
It could be used in a wide range of applications, not just leather products like bags.
For example, furniture products like chairs or sofas, automotive interior and exterior materials, and of course, as top-grade material for Player armor.
However, Jeong Dong-hoon couldn't accept the offer.
Because he had already let go of his attachment to the company.
"If a new CEO comes in after me, you could make the proposal again..."
"No. I need you, CEO. If you don't accept, I'll go to Daehyun."
"Umm..."
"Why don't you continue running the company instead of quitting?"
"Th-that's not up to me."
"Become independent from Ilseong."
"Huh? Wh-what?"
He couldn't help but be taken aback.
Vice Bureau Chief Jeon Gwang-il was no ordinary bureaucrat.
He was a powerful figure in the Management Bureau.
He probably wasn't just throwing out words.
"Whether independence is possible is one thing, but whether I can do well..."
"You'll do well. I'll help you."
"..."
Jeong Dong-hoon pondered.
If he could secure a supply of Wyvern leather, he could run the company with his feet and it still wouldn't fail.
"Then I'll decide to maintain the CEO position, and we can discuss the details later."
"Uh, yes, yes."
Jeong Dong-hoon nodded in a daze.
Vice Bureau Chief Jeon Gwang-il was certainly as rumored.
His drive was something to be acknowledged.
'I thought I was caught for sure.'
For an opportunity to come so suddenly...
It felt like being possessed by a ghost.
After finishing his meeting with Jeong Dong-hoon, Jeon Gwang-il returned to the Awakening Management Bureau.
He went straight to the Bureau Chief's office and reported everything that happened today to Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su.
"...That's the situation. It's out of my weight class to handle directly."
"Really, that Mr. Jeong Seong-tae, he's not even at the age for it, but has he gone senile?"
Park Kyung-su wore a very displeased expression.
"People sometimes make mistakes, thinking that as power grows stronger, they can cross a line like that. They don't realize the moment they cross it might be the end."
Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su made a few phone calls somewhere, then spoke to Jeon Gwang-il.
"Give me the documents."
"Here they are."
"I'll handle this matter. You go focus on other things."
"There's something else I'd like to ask of you."
"Huh? Tell me."
Vice Bureau Chief Jeon Gwang-il explained his plan in detail, and Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su listened while nodding.
Cheongdam-dong Penthouse.
How much time had passed? Joo-hyuk suddenly opened his eyes.
"...Huh?"
When did he fall asleep?
Where was this?
'The living room.'
He heard you get a stiff neck if you sleep in a cold place. But he had slept deeply, so his body felt light.
'Gwang-ma-nim has left.'
Gwang-ma-nim.
From now on, he had to add the honorific 'nim'.
He couldn't just call him Gwang-ma.
There were manners to follow.
'But what's this smell?'
Did someone take a dump?
"...Hmm."
Only he was in this penthouse.
'Must be because of the Molt Purge.'
He had heard about it.
His skin would shed, and waste products would leave his body, making the smell quite foul.
After learning the internal energy technique and the Blood Jade Astral Qi circulation method from Gwang-ma-nim, he underwent the final process, the Molt Purge.
He said something about using the Yin-Yang Duo Meridians and the Life-Death Mystic Pass to open the Great Heavenly Circuit, but he was overcome by drowsiness and fell asleep.
Ah, Gwang-ma-nim, who gives without holding back.
He regretted the poor treatment he'd given him so far.
He opened the Catalog, selected Gwang-ma, and gave him 5 stars.
Anyway, what to do about the smell.
The clothes he was wearing went straight to the trash, he wiped the living room floor with a mop, and then he turned on the air purifier.
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEENG!!!
A serious air quality red light turned on, and it spun frantically.
'Sorry, Air Purifier Butler.'
Joo-hyuk went into the shower and washed thoroughly.
He changed into fresh clothes and came out.
'Phew,'
He felt a bit more alive.
The smell had mostly dissipated too.
'Should I review what I learned yesterday?'
Starting with the Heaven-Earth Unity Breathing technique.
One shallow breath, one deep breath.
"Hoo, hooooo, hoo, hooooo..."
He couldn't feel it yet.
It worked fine when Gwang-ma-nim's hand was on his back.
'Is it because I'm doing it alone?'
He kept breathing anyway.
Right then.
"Oh!"
He felt energy in his lower abdomen. It moved.
Following his breath, a small lump circulated through the blood vessels all over his body.
It was definitely different from mana.
It felt heavy and sticky.
'Blood Jade Astral Qi is...'
Ssss.
A faint red energy swirled at his fingertips.
Compared to the Blood Jade Astral Qi he unleashed inside the Tower, it was barely there.
But he wasn't disappointed.
Could you expect to be full from the first spoonful?
To reach this level after just one day of breathing exercises was amazing.
'Anyway, I reviewed.'
Should he call his Summoned beings? First, he checked the Catalog.
Actually, 6 people and 1 holy sword.
First, the elite members.
Spot! Kosak appeared.
"Thank you for calling me. Summoner Bong's right... Huh?"
He sniffed the air a few times.
"Did you perhaps pass gas?"
"...No."
"Aww, I think you did. Your intestinal movement is active, I see. This Kosak is moved."
"I said no!"
"Yes sir!"
He rolled his eyes around, not just his nose.
"Hmm, something seems different. Your skin is clean."
"My skin was good before."
"...It's certain you've become healthier."
He called Gyeon Dal-rae too, and she also seemed to smell something.
"Kosak-nim, which safehouse did you pass gas in!"
"It wasn't me."
"Then you mean the Young Master passed gas? How dare you have such a rebellious thought!"
Gobang too,
"Warrior... Hmm, assassin, mouth smells."
"You bastard! It's not me!"
"Then it was the princess."
"Y-you, you scoundrel!!!"
Razix's reaction was different.
"Huh?"
After checking the smell.
Swish!
He pulled out a golden mop from his subspace backpack.
"Hoooooooo!"
He began mopping the living room floor like crazy.
Especially the spot where Joo-hyuk had been lying down.
Then he went to the bathroom, rinsed the mop, and swish-swish again!
The trash can also didn't escape Razix's attention.
Rumble rumble.
He put the clothes Joo-hyuk had thrown away into a volume-based waste bag, sealed it tightly.
Rumble rumble,
He placed it outside the front door by the elevator,
Rumble rumble,
Then mopped the living room floor again.
"Phew!"
It was all done.
Now no smell remained.
"Impressive! It's fragrant now."
"Excellent butler, you worked hard. You cleaned up the turd Kosak-nim left so cleanly."
"How many times do I have to say it wasn't me!"
Joo-hyuk just stood still.
There was no need to say it was him.
"Now, now, let's go see the promoted one's face."
How had she changed?
"Veronica Caliber, Designated Summon."
Whoosh!
Spot!
She finally appeared.
"Zzz, zzzz, hrurp! Slurp slurp,"
Lying sprawled out on the living room floor,
"Huh?"
"Hmm."
"Wow."
"Um."
"Hoong?"
Before, she appeared while dozing off.
"Looks like she was pulled out from somewhere she was hiding and sleeping."
Kosak sneakily approached and poked her side with his finger.
Instantly,
"Heeek! Staff Sergeant, no, I mean Sergeant Major Veronica Caliber!"
She shot up, looked around, saw Joo-hyuk, and then,
"Salute! To the Commander, present arms!"
Swish!
A crisp salute.
"Congratulations on your promotion."
"Whoa!"
"Truly a presence worthy of one against a hundred."
"I look forward to working with you."
"Applause!"
The promoted Veronica.
What looked different?
Her abilities came from her equipment.
First, her gun had changed.
The body was larger, and the barrel was longer.
And her powered suit.
It was still a form-fitting type, but,
'...It feels a bit thinner somehow.'
Shouldn't it get thicker if it's an upgrade?
She also wore goggles on her face.
Plus, long boots that reached her knees.
Her grade was SSR, and the Catalog descriptor was Sergeant Major.
It was unclear why the descriptor 'Glamorous' was attached.
"Then now...
What to do?
A promotion commemorative Tower climb? A celebration party? But,
"Zzz, zzzzzz,"
Veronica, who had fallen asleep standing up. She slept soundly. Sleep well.
"Should I wake her?"
"Leave her. Let her sleep deeply."
When she wakes up, let's go conquer the 66th floor.
After that, he probably wouldn't be able to climb the higher, unconquered floors for a while.
Well, he could just go around mining leather and ore.
In a private room in a high-end Korean fine dining restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul.
Ilseong Group Chairman Jeong Seong-tae was waiting for someone, having arrived early.
The person he was meeting today was Awakening Management Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su.
The other side had contacted him first.
When a big shot asks to meet directly, you have to make time even if you don't have it.
So why did Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su want to meet?
He could guess.
'Dong-hoon, that punk, must have been caught trying to approach Player Bong Joo-hyuk.'
He probably wanted to discuss how to handle Jeong Dong-hoon's custody.
Whether it's punishment or whatever, he needed to consult with him first.
He had already thought about how to respond.
A sincere apology, and appropriate countermeasures as well.
He would take all responsibility.
He would have his nephew Jeong Dong-hoon step down from the CEO position and willingly accept legal punishment.
Then have a deep conversation.
After Basilisk leather was exclusively supplied to HG, sales dropped, so his nephew must have been cornered.
It's not good to concentrate supply on one company like that.
It doesn't look good, so please supply to other places too.
And it would be nice if he could be given a chance to apologize to Player Bong Joo-hyuk.
His intentions would be obvious, but so what?
He was Jeong Seong-tae.
The chairman of Ilseong Group, who dominated the Korean business world.
Knock knock.
With a knock, the private room door opened,
"Oops, I'm late. Did you wait long?"
Bureau Chief Park Kyung-su entered.
Chairman Jeong Seong-tae also responded with a relaxed expression.
"Hahaha, not at all. A bored old man like me is just grateful you called, Bureau Chief."
"I feel the same."
But as soon as he sat down, Park Kyung-su rummaged through his bag.
"I found this on the way. I think it might be yours."
Thump!
He placed a folder on the table.
It was a familiar document.
The one he had passed to his nephew Jeong Dong-hoon.
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
What was he trying to do?
Jeong Seong-tae didn't even touch the documents.
With an expression of displeasure.
"You say this is mine?"
"Isn't it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Let's start by frankly discussing where this document came from."
"What... Are you interrogating me now? Just like that, out of the blue..."
Park Kyung-su chuckled.
"You fucking bastard, your tongue is sharp as expected."
Did he hear wrong? It sounded like he just swore.
"Wh-what?"
"Did we look that stupid to you? Did you think we wouldn't know if you used your nephew to scheme?"
"...Bureau Chief Park, do you realize you're crossing a line right now?"
"You crossed the line too, so why can't I? You son of a bitch!"
"Do, do you know who I am..., have you gone senile?"
"You're the one who's senile. Because people have been praising you all this time, you think there's nothing to fear? A mere chaebol chairman dares to dig into an Elite Player's background?"
"Uh, th-that's n-not..."
For Chairman Jeong Seong-tae, this was an unimaginable situation.
His mind went blank.
He didn't know how to respond either.
It was inevitable.
Where would he have experienced something like this before?
The relaxed expression from the beginning was nowhere to be found.
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