Products from Another Gate
How did I know? Simple. I'd used Observation on the large dog that dared to growl at Hoya.
[Yeppe (Level 21)]
Owner: Go Yeon-ju.
[Go Yeon-ju (Level 24)]
Owner of Bidirectional Gate 92AC.
Pet: Yeppe.
I already knew the woman's name was Go Yeon-ju. She was a pretty successful celebrity, after all. And now I knew she was a gate owner too.
"I'm really sorry. Yeppe isn't like that at all, I swear."
The large dog called Yeppe resembled a bulldog, but far bigger than a typical one. Its face was even more wrinkly.
"Yeppe... right?"
"Yeah, she's such a good girl."
I glanced at Hoya on my shoulder. Hoya was licking her front paw like candy, looking utterly disinterested.
I wonder what her paws taste like. Not that they'd actually taste good, but still.
"This is Hoya. So, you're the gate owner, Go Yeon-ju?"
"Oh, how did you... Ah, you're the gate owner who was coming today?"
"Did Actor Park Sung-hwan mention it?"
"Of course! Oppa was so grateful. He never breathed a word before, but now that gate owners can come out publicly without issues, he let it slip to me."
Fair enough. When I'd talked to him recently, I'd mentioned registering as a gate owner, so there was no need to hide it anymore. Not Park Sung-hwan's fault.
"Yeah, I'm Choi Si-woo. Just an office worker."
"I know. The unique gate owner who still goes to work."
"Dad says a man needs a job. Haha."
"So this little one's your pet?"
"Yep, Hoya."
Nyaang!
Hoya dipped her head politely. Such a well-mannered girl, my Hoya.
"Oh! She's so pretty!"
Go Yeon-ju reached out toward Hoya, but Hoya wasn't one to accept just anyone's touch...
Grrr... gurrr...
I felt a deep sense of betrayal from Hoya as I looked at Yeppe. Yeppe stared back at me, sizing me up.
I handed Hoya to Go Yeon-ju and approached Yeppe. Leaning in quietly, I whispered,
"Hey, think you can take her?"
Yeppe flinched. She understood me too.
"She's got a nasty temper. Don't provoke her. Oh, and Hoya always gets revenge."
Kiiing... kiiing...
Yeppe whimpered and rubbed her head against me. Please talk some sense into her.
Serves you right for that first greeting.
"And you know what, Yeppe?"
Woof!
"I'm pretty scary myself."
I gave her just a glimpse of terror. Overkill for a dog? Nah. These guys live by hierarchy. Establish it upfront, or they'll walk all over you. Once they taste fear, they roll over and beg for belly rubs with those desperate eyes.
I chuckled at her. Scratching her belly, she seemed thrilled. The name Yeppe actually suited her now. And surprisingly, this tough-looking beast was a girl. Built like a general, though.
"Aww, Hoya, you're so pretty. Wanna come live with sis? Sis's gate is nice too."
Hoya bolted from Go Yeon-ju's arms back to my shoulder. Hell no.
"She's got some pride."
"That's her charm. Yeppe's such a sweetie."
"Right? No one believes me, hohoho."
Everyone thinks their dog is an angel. But you can't force that on others. Even a sweetheart like Yeppe looks like a monster to someone scared of dogs. That's on the owner to manage. Luckily, Go Yeon-ju seemed responsible—muzzle and all. Coming to a friend's party prepared like this showed good pet-owner etiquette.
"You have the Observation skill, don't you, Si-woo?"
"Huh? Why do you say that?"
"You were staring at Yeppe when we met."
"Yeah, I do. Helps me know exactly what our gate products do before selling."
No point hiding the obvious.
"Oh, do you know?"
"Now you're making me curious what I should know."
"Right. Out of all gate owners in Korea, only two have publicly admitted to having Observation. Now you're the third."
Whoa. Was Observation that rare? I got it right away. Though the Brann chicken gate owner didn't have it, and neither did Go Yeon-ju. Maybe it's for the chosen few? Gates are already a privilege for the selected. And among them, only the extra-special get Observation. Who's doing the choosing?
Nyaang!
Hoya suddenly nipped my head. Her way of saying stop overthinking.
"Got it. No more distractions."
Nyaang!
"I said okay!"
Go Yeon-ju, watching us, asked,
"You talk to Hoya?"
"Doesn't everyone? You don't with Yeppe?"
"I do, but you seem to get the details."
True. My Animal Affinity skill let me understand Hoya perfectly. Without it, even Go Yeon-ju couldn't grasp the nuances.
"I get what she says. It's my skill."
"You have a skill like that? Wow... jealous."
"You'd faint if you knew all mine."
No joke. I could barely remember them all. All kinds too. She'd pass out for sure.
"Anyway, shouldn't we head in? Actor Park's waving."
Park Sung-hwan gestured from the door. We entered the villa, Hoya and Yeppe in tow.
Oh, and I was carrying five cases of Siho wine. Despite the weight, it felt light. Proof my strength was superhuman now. Kinda hits you in random moments like this.
"Whoa, is this for real? They'll call me a wine nut, but this is the best I've ever tasted."
Park Sung-hwan gushed excitedly. His friend-looking guy said to me,
"Ten million per bottle? I'll take ten for now."
"Ten? That's..."
"One hundred million. Here, upfront."
He pulled out a hundred-million-won check. Who carries that around? Sure, I had billions in the bank now, but wallet cash like this? What kind of person...?
"Yeah, chaebol. Not some psycho third-gen, though. Runs a solid company. He's Park Sung-hwan's agency president. And your company president's cousin."
"Ah, got it."
Made sense. Chaebol family.
"One tip: Sell only twenty bottles a month officially. Via auction. Ten million's a steal."
Limiting official sales to twenty monthly? Gold advice. Officially was key.
"Also, I'd like a supply contract. Can you deliver your gate's pineapples and grapes to our company?"
Pineapples improved skin. Grapes broke down subcutaneous fat. Vital for looks-obsessed celebs. Competitive edge.
"Sure. But we don't handle shipping..."
"We'll take care of it. Just stock extras at that Seon-woo variety store. Deal?"
"No reason to refuse."
"Thanks. I'll send a rep for details."
"And that hundred mil? Probably the cheapest you'll ever buy this wine. Taking some to a foreign party to show off."
"Oh, thank you. I'll prepare extras for that."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Secret, but we have plenty."
"Haha, keep it secret then. Builds the mystique."
Solid logic. Rare good wine loses value if common.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Mid-conversation, Go Yeon-ju stepped forward.
"Let me introduce a specialty from my gate. Some of you might know it already."
She presented seafood. Coastal gate too? Thought islands were mine alone.
"Go Yeon-ju's gate is seaside. No monsters there, so tons of seafood."
The chaebol third-gen explained. I nodded. Not island, but coast worked. Some were still alive. I Observed them eagerly.
No stat-boosters, but the system raved about their flavors. One stood out: abalone.
Not stat-boosting, but a total jackpot product.
◈ Native to Kulrant coastlines.
◈ Continuous consumption reopens closed growth plates.
Abalone that makes you grow taller.