Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: The Old Fox and the Young Tiger
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Inside a sleek black sedan gliding smoothly along.
Han Yura stared impassively out the window.
Familiar yet now utterly alien scenery slipped past.
The car, driven by the bodyguard assigned on Kim Cheolsu's orders, was heading to the university she had dropped out of.
Two years.
A short time if short, a long time if long.
Two years ago, Han Yura had wandered the musty darkness of karaoke rooms and kiss rooms, fretting over next semester's tuition.
Wearing threadbare sneakers, squeezing onto a packed bus for a thousand won, she dreamed only of a plain old 'diploma.'
And now, Han Yura oversaw projects worth billions, slipping into luxury heels.
One word from her could alter a company's fate, one gesture could move fortunes.
The de facto number two of the empire, seated beside its monstrous king.
Everything had changed.
This place wasn't a hall of intellect for her.
It was the public execution ground where she'd been branded a 'whore,' where her pride had shattered to pieces.
Whispers from back then echoed in her ears like hallucinations.
'Go on, Yura-mon. Go tame some useful ones for me.'
Kim Cheolsu's playful command surfaced, drawing a bitter smile to her lips.
He'd casually ordered her to wield her deepest wound as the most efficient weapon.
That was Kim Cheolsu for you.
Han Yura closed her eyes.
Sentiment ended here.
She was no longer the wretched student selling her body for cash.
She was a fiercer predator returning her scars to the hunting ground.
Today, she might just tame a few decent monsters.
The car door opened, and Han Yura stepped onto the campus—her flashy past and present.
The auditorium brimmed with student fervor.
Professors in the front row eyed her with curious mixes, while students welcomed their 'successful senior' with admiring gazes.
Han Yura stood at the podium, numbly absorbing every stare.
She knew exactly why this hypocritical welcome was happening.
Normally, a dropout like her had no business here.
Especially one who'd left amid ugly rumors.
Yet the applause and cheers now erased every past blemish.
The reason? Simple.
Success.
They hadn't invited the human Han Yura.
They'd summoned the owner of rising mid-tier Blue Sky Games, the CEO of BS Entertainment—the hottest idol agency around.
And those glittering titles? All tossed her way by Kim Cheolsu because they bored him.
That mad king cared only for conquering new lands, not managing the dull bureaucracy of the occupied.
In the end, this was just a stage to prove his success as his proxy.
Even so.
Han Yura curved her lips into a soft smile.
Now it was time to find the wolves hiding sharp fangs among these naive sheep, worthy offerings for the king's empire.
"Hello. I'm Han Yura, Managing Director of Blue Sky Investment."
Her voice echoed through the hall, unleashing even louder applause.
Han Yura waited briefly for it to die down.
Standing tall at the podium, she slowly scanned each student's face.
Innocent eyes brimming with hope, optimism, untouched by the world's bitterness.
Han Yura wiped the soft smile from her lips.
"You've probably come expecting talks of dreams, hope, the value of hard work."
Her cold voice hushed the auditorium instantly.
"Sorry, but that's not why I'm here. Those sweet lies are for has-been boomers hawking third-rate snake oil."
Murmurs rippled like waves.
She could see the front-row professors' faces stiffen.
Han Yura pressed on undeterred.
"You've been taught 'hard work leads to success.' Wrong. The 'hard work' you learned is the most efficient control system crafted by those who already have it all. While you blame yourselves and spin the hamster wheel, they build ever taller castles on your efforts."
She paused for breath, then delivered the knockout.
"There's a 'their league' out there, running on rules beyond what you know. A world where real laws—money and power—trump laws and morals."
Her gaze grew icier.
"In that league, your passion, dreams, effort? Worthless on their own. Their only question: 'So, what's your price tag?' Fail to prove your value, and you'll spend life staring up at their walls, doped on 'hard work' like a drug."
The hall was deathly silent, like ice water dumped over it.
Most students drowned in shock and confusion.
But a few eyes began to change.
Innocent admiration vanished, replaced by sharp insight and ambition.
Han Yura noted those eyes, diving deeper.
"Our so-called alma mater sits within the frame of a so-called prestigious university. First gateway to big corps. Do you know why conglomerates love hiring 'elite uni' grads?"
She paced the podium slowly, tossing questions to the crowd.
"Because they value the effort of studying sleeplessly while others played, proving sharp minds?"
A faint sneer curled her lips.
"No."
Firm denial.
"Truth is, you've perfectly proven over the last decade your ability to conform to the system. You're top-tier cogs trained to race efficiently toward preset answers within given rules. Conglomerates don't want world-changing kings—they want soldiers loyal to the king's word. You've been certified here as prime soldier material."
Han Yura halted center-stage, her gaze piercing the entire hall.
"In short, you're 'easy marks' who do as told."
Blatant mockery twisted her lips.
And she capped it with the crudest word.
"To put it harshly... you 'cocksucker' bastards."
Crash!
Silence shattered.
A low curse from somewhere, a girl's short shriek of horror, scraping chairs, professors' outraged shouts filled the air.
"Are you insane?!"
"Get down now!"
Furious students and professors reacted instantly to her insult.
But Han Yura's eyes ignored them.
Amid the chaos and noise, she locked on the few staring unblinkingly at her.
Eyes gleaming with weird thrill like 'interesting,' or vicious curiosity demanding 'So, if not cocksuckers, what then?'
Han Yura smiled in satisfaction, hurling her next words at the uproar.
"I've booked a cafe right outside school for the day."
Her gaze precisely swept the 'wolves' she'd already marked.
"Anyone wanting an interview, come find me. You've got exactly two hours. Miss the cutoff, no chance—remember that."
With that, she gently set the mic down on the podium.
The thud rang like a period ending her declaration.
As if no more business here, she turned from the noisy hall and headed backstage.
Leaving stunned students, beet-red professors chasing, all the pandemonium behind.
Her bodyguard opened the backstage door to the corridor; the hall's din faded like a lie.
Finally, true satisfaction curved Han Yura's lips.
Her two-hour limit was deliberate.
Even Taesung couldn't learn of this, contact unspecified interviewees in two hours, and plant 'pracks'—spies—in Blue Sky.
Kim Cheolsu's spy-free recruiting method, as desired.
Sliding into the waiting car, she murmured her destination.
"The cafe in front of the school."
...
Silence blanketed Taesung Group headquarters.
In the chairman's office at the top, only a low reporting voice echoed softly.
Chairman Cheon Myeonghwan sat behind his massive desk, eyes closed, absorbing his secretary-chief's report.
The report covered yesterday afternoon's uproar at one university.
Han Yura's provocative speech, calling students 'cocksuckers' and sparking chaos,
And her final two-hour ambush interview notice.
As the secretary-chief's calm report ended, silence settled in the office.
Soon, a low chuckle escaped Cheon Myeonghwan.
"Heh heh..."
Not joy.
The seasoned hunter's admiring laugh upon spotting a bold cub beast's clever trap.
"The young one's got some bite..."
Cheon Myeonghwan opened his eyes.
No anger in them—just the cool gleam of one facing an intriguing foe.
Talent filtering disguised as a speech.
Hurling insults to cull meek sheep for fierce dogs, then a two-hour limit to block his interference.
He pondered briefly, then issued a fresh order to the secretary-chief.
"Set up a meeting with Han Yura, the managing director."
"Yes."
The secretary-chief replied without a flicker.
Cheon Myeonghwan added the crucial point.
"Without Kim Cheolsu knowing."
"Understood. I'll prepare."
The secretary-chief withdrew soundlessly, leaving Cheon Myeonghwan alone again.
He sank deep into his chair.
The arrogant king Kim Cheolsu.
The bold number two overshadowed by him.
How big was her vessel?
A king's utter devotee always harbors one of two thoughts.
Eternal loyalty, or the desire to seize it all.
'Which is Han Yura?'
A serpentine, chilling smile bloomed on Cheon Myeonghwan's lips.
The best way to topple a king? Not assaulting walls, but finding the insider to open the gates.
Time to knock.