Reunion (13)
Korea Hotel.
Just before 2 p.m., Ayaka stepped out of the Mercedes S-Class.
It was a company car from Pureum Corp.
Though she was just a team leader, the title "Global PR Team Leader" carried weight equivalent to a deputy branch head in most divisions.
Ayaka gazed at the Korea Hotel while waiting for Hyun-soo.
It was the most beautiful—and expensive—hotel in Korea.
Suddenly, she recalled a community post she'd seen on the drive over.
These days, Hyun-soo could do no wrong in the eyes of the Korean public. But that wasn't the point.
'Status demands a certain dignity.'
She gave a wry smile.
Then.
Vroooom—
The hotel staff suddenly sprang into action.
'What's going on?'
A citizen heading into the hotel spoke up.
"Holy crap... that's a Rolls-Royce Black Pearl Edition! There's only 30 in the world!"
"I can't believe I get to see one in person."
Ayaka was a car enthusiast too. A sleek black Rolls-Royce was pulling into the hotel.
'Did the chairman come?'
What threw her off was that it parked right behind their car.
'Why here, of all places?'
No matter her rank, she was still just a team leader.
She shrank back instinctively as a hotel staffer opened the door.
A strikingly young, dapper man stepped out.
A woman who seemed to be his secretary got out beside him.
Ayaka couldn't place him at first.
'Was there a young tycoon like this in Korea?'
A citizen's voice snapped her out of it.
"Master Craftsman Hyun-soo…!"
"…?"
She blinked in shock.
"T-Team Leader…?"
"Is this…?"
Her team members looked equally stunned.
They'd been hyping themselves up moments ago: 'Let's show 'em elite corporate power—fighting!'
Soon, Hyun-soo approached.
"Team Leader Ayaka?"
Ayaka recovered with a bright smile.
For deals, she had a signature move to throw opponents off: speaking Japanese instead of Korean.
An unfamiliar language rattled them, giving her the upper hand.
"Impressive. The first legend is far more dashing than I imagined."
She flashed a coy smile, expecting his flustered reaction.
But he glanced sideways without missing a beat.
The woman beside him spoke.
"I'm Manager Kim Hye-in. It's an honor to meet the famous Team Leader Ayaka."
Ayaka faltered.
Her Japanese was flawless—native-level, even.
And then:
"But I've heard you speak excellent Korean too, Team Leader Ayaka. Or am I wrong?"
Ayaka knew little about Hye-in.
She'd returned from the States just days ago and been abroad recently.
Ayaka switched to Korean hurriedly.
"That's right. I speak Korean pretty well too. Let me reintroduce myself—Team Leader Ayaka."
They entered the hotel.
Ayaka's mouth felt dry.
'What the hell?'
The Global PR team was a multinational crew—Americans, Russians, Italians, Japanese, French, and more.
Yet Kim Hye-in was identifying their nationalities and conversing fluently in their native tongues.
'Five languages...? No, probably more.'
They filed into the hotel conference room.
'Now the real game's on.'
Time to negotiate the contract fee.
But first, Ayaka recalled one leverage point.
"I heard you brought the mad movie footage. Is that right?"
Mad movie.
A hype reel of cool, epic clips.
She'd suggested it because Hyun-soo had no public videos.
'Made in a day? Or had it ready?'
He didn't know.
She'd base the fee on it.
Hyun-soo pulled out a USB drive, and Ayaka said:
"You've heard rankers and stars are different, right?"
"Yes, I have."
"High ranks don't guarantee stardom—only a tiny few make it. Was it edited by a pro?"
Hobum flashed in Hyun-soo's mind.
This was Hobum's mad movie.
Hobum had once worked as the famous editor "Jin."
Hyun-soo had asked after getting it last night:
'Hobum, you confident?'
Hobum's KakaoTalk reply:
It drew from when Hyun-soo made Jumong's Composite Bow.
Having seen it himself, Hyun-soo brimmed with confidence.
"I think the contract fee will differ before and after you watch this, Team Leader."
Ayaka pegged it at 1 billion won.
Hyun-soo said:
"This footage isn't public yet, so clear the room. Negotiations from here are just us."
Ayaka was relieved—Hye-in would be out.
She feigned mild disinterest.
'Do you know what I do? Watch mad movies and replay footage hundreds of times a day.'
Ranker videos too.
She donned earbuds and focused on the laptop.
'Starts the same—epic music buildup.'
Click.
The video began.
A black screen.
No epic music, defying her expectations—just silence.
In the hush of Ares, sharply dressed Hyun-soo sits in a chair.
White subtitles rise as keyboard clicks echo.
-Tell us what drove you to start Ares.
On-screen Hyun-soo bows his head.
His rigid body relaxes after deliberation.
He lifts his gaze slowly and speaks.
-I wanted to live.
Silence breaks.
Fast-tempo epic music surges.
Demon Grout looms; Hyun-soo kneels before him.
Grout asks:
-This is the path you've walked, unbroken to the end. Why persist?
Cuts flash rapidly.
Hammer strikes pierce the music.
Clang—
On screen:
Hyun-soo wields a sword; ice waves rage around him.
The first sword for Barad.
A mysterious woman's voice echoes:
-What sword in the world can rival this one!
Scenes accelerate.
Clang!
Dragon Light Sword, forged in a dragonless world.
Clang!
Four Signs Sword for people and nation.
Clang!
Trident before the burning world tree.
Jumong's Composite Bow, Korea's own legend.
Clang—
Supreme Sword, the world's mightiest longsword.
Clang!
Twelve turtle ships saving the nation.
Yi Sun-sin's demonic sword Tyrfing.
Legendary assault Twin Dragon Swords.
Finally:
Coat of the Sovereign.
Scene shift.
Huff... huff...
Exhausted from endless forging, Hyun-soo collapses.
Sweat-drenched, his eyes heavy with fatigue.
But as he raises the hammer—his gaze ignites.
Clang!
The strike reveals what the world craved:
Ayaka's heart pounded wildly.
Her palms sweated in sync with the crescendo.
Then, the continental war finale.
Minerals erupt above Hyun-soo marching on the castle.
As it forms in his hand, Ayaka nearly cheers aloud.
Music slows, volume fades.
Back to the opening.
Bloodied Hyun-soo before Grout, unflinching.
-This is the path I've walked.
Screen darkens.
[Master Craftsman Hyun-soo.]
His path unfolds on black: artifacts from his hands.
Ten legends and Twin Dragon Swords form a circle, standing proud at right angles.
Video ends.
Ayaka sat speechless.
Her bored expression had vanished.
'Why is this... so gripping?'
Brilliant editing—whoever did it was a pro.
Backed by Hyun-soo's artifacts.
And Ayaka loved stories.
It skipped the bombastic intro for Hyun-soo's tale.
Her lips parched.
'If I find this riveting, how will viewers react?'
But business first—this was for fee negotiation. Point out flaws despite being hooked.
"'I wanted to live.' Heart-stirring words, but if it's just for cool factor, it'll backfire."
She knew this best.
Fake emotional pandering turned global audiences off.
Hyun-soo replied:
"…What if it's real? People love stories."
"They do. But contrived ones…?"
"It's not contrived."
He undid his suit jacket button.
"People love tales of rising from rock bottom—mud rags over silver spoons."
He rolled up his sleeve.
"And my power? They think it's from a legendary class."
Ayaka tilted her head.
A faded burn scar emerged.
Her eyes wavered.
He was right.
People craved stories—especially phoenix-from-ashes ones.
Hyun-soo added:
"My manager said you'd lowball the fee."
Ayaka's estimate: 1 billion won.
Hyun-soo knew his worth best.
His power never rusted.
With server integration looming, this preview would shine brighter over time.
He recalled Hye-in's words:
'You set the fee, Hyun-soo.'
The value of starring in her integration teaser.
"3 billion. No less."
Ayaka reeled.
But replaying his words, she noticed the prominent scar on his right hand.
She gasped.
"No way… Master Craftsman Hyun-soo is…?"
If true, this story outvalued any she'd known.
"The real deal?"
She flashed back to his line:
'The contract fee before and after you watch will differ.'
Now she got it.
Hyun-soo wasn't just a ranker—he'd be a global star.
Proving "I wanted to live" real ignited massive empathy.
Before fees, Ayaka had to say this.
A one-minute masterpiece. Even as a businesswoman, she conceded.
"This isn't a video."
Hyun-soo looked puzzled.
"It's art."
Yes—the path Hyun-soo walked in a year was art.