Chapter 130: Ha Eun-young (Seo Eun-mi)
Ha Eun-young harbored no suspicions whatsoever. To celebrate acquiring the artificial island, he was throwing a grand Jotjip Association gathering, so everyone should return. It was a perfectly Ko Mu-yeol-like order, leaving no room for doubt. Moreover, that nagging feeling of being watched, which she'd sensed before, had completely vanished now. It seemed to start the moment she left Incheon to buy up the Namdong Industrial Complex land—the timing was too precise, so she tentatively concluded it was just standard security protocol. Not targeted surveillance on her specifically, but blanket monitoring of everyone around Ko Mu-yeol. And indeed, Prestige already had people embedded for exactly that role, independent of each family member's personal secretariat. It was simply part of Prestige's routine duties since Ko Mu-yeol was family.
So she felt somewhat at ease. Everything was progressing smoothly. The Prestige infiltration had succeeded, and she'd climbed to a fairly significant position among his inner circle. She didn't have an official title, but since she'd been glued to his side almost from the start, she was generally seen as second only to Im Sua—though still below the secretariat team leaders. That alone put her ahead of most secretaries. She met Ko Mu-yeol face-to-face constantly and received orders directly from him whenever needed. Just being able to take direct commands from family was an enormous privilege.
With the infiltration going so well, her mission execution was smooth sailing too. The only worry was whether the secret reports she'd sent had arrived safely, but obsessing over that every second would make it impossible to function as an agent. She didn't fret much about her colleagues either. The agents on this mission were all top NIS elites. If anything, she worried her own specs might be considered low. Without her unique advantage of having lived her life exactly as planned from the start, she might have been pulled from the op. So she pushed aside needless concerns and focused solely on the job.
I need to monitor Ko Mu-yeol's movements again once I'm back and draft the secondary report. But where should I send it? With such thoughts, she closed her eyes for the first time in ages inside the car heading to Incheon.
If Ko Mu-yeol had been there, he'd have groped or fucked her without warning, but with just the secretaries, it was peacefully free of that. Among them, only Im Sua could really chew her out, given her recognized status—and since even she was staying quiet, there was no tension.
After hours on the road, they arrived in Incheon and switched to an AV to head for the artificial island. An enormous structure loomed over the sea, its dense forests visibly shrinking in real time.
Artificial island... a national-level maritime fortress... And a private individual owns it.
It hit her anew just how much the Goryeo Group had sucked this country dry. In a world where even nations struggled to possess such a thing, a chaebol third-gen could claim it just because. How rotten did it have to be for this to happen? While someone like her had nearly died abandoned in a women's restroom trash bin.
To build a better world, the chaebols had to be dismantled. Power had to return to the state. For that...!
"You've arrived."
Waiting for them was Ko Mu-yeol's secretariat executive team leader, Jin Ji-hye. She approached Sua and whispered something.
"...Got it."
Sua nodded and turned to Ha Eun-young.
"Eun-mi, you need to come with me. The Master has a secret order to deliver."
"A secret order?"
"Yes."
...What could it be?
A vague unease prickled her. Ha Eun-young tilted her head but followed for now.
They arrived at a massive warehouse building. It was late evening already, giving the whole area an eerie vibe—and that structure right in front of her amplified it.
"Go on in."
Jin Ji-hye stepped aside at the door.
What kind of order requires just me and Im Sua...?
Clunk.
The door opened. And the scene inside revealed itself.
"...!!"
Nothing like she'd expected. At the far center lounged Ko Mu-yeol casually, flanked by his closest: Baekseol and Levi. A bit further out stood security team leader Kwon Dam-bi and strategy team leader Ra Seung-hee. Twenty or so other secretaries were positioned around, creating an oppressively intimidating formation.
What the...?
That wasn't the issue. That lineup was standard for wherever Ko Mu-yeol went. Him being in a warehouse was the odd part; their presence wasn't.
The problem was the eight figures—or things?—writhing on the floor, hooded in bloodstained burlap sacks. They'd clearly been beaten badly: the sacks were crumpled, and the floor was slick with blood.
"Eun-mi, you're here?"
The gaping maw of Ko Mu-yeol spoke while blatantly kneading his bulge through his pants. For some reason, her mouth went dry.
+++
Clunk!
"!"
As the building door slammed shut, Ha Eun-young, who had entered with Sua and Ji-hye, flinched and whipped around. Her tension was obvious in the uncharacteristic stiffness of her movements and smile.
Well, anyone would tense up in a place like this.
Click-clack.
Sua strode quickly to me, bowing deeply.
"We're back, Master."
"Good work, Chief Im. Stand here beside me."
"Yes."
She stepped back, and Ji-hye and Ha Eun-young approached too. They halted before the eight sprawled spies.
Ji-hye greeted me and smartly moved aside. Ha Eun-young tried to do the same, but I motioned her to stop. Leaving her alone in the center.
"Must've been cramped in the car for hours. You did well."
"...No, sir. Young Master."
Ha Eun-young flashed her signature smile—the one that put people at ease while simultaneously making cocks throb. The kind of smile you wanted to defile.
"The situation's a bit weird, right? Wondering why I called only you."
"..."
"Never pondered it before? Why that guy mixes honorifics only with me. Why I make you call me 'Young Master' instead of 'Master' like the others."
"...Come to think of it, no, I haven't really."
"I'm here to give you the answer."
"!"
She licked her dry lips, swallowing, her hands clasped politely before her abdomen tensing subtly. Was it nerves, or had she assessed the situation and was gearing up for action?
"Remember when we first met? Right when I was hiring new secretaries. You applied to be mine."
"Yes... I remember."
"Then you recall me rejecting you and sending you back."
"Y-yes..."
Her smile lingered at the corners of her mouth but was starting to fade.
"I did that because your first impression sucked."
"..."
"Ah, that bitch has betrayal written all over her face."
"...Pardon?"
"I figured you weren't someone I could trust with my work."
"..."
Ha Eun-young's smile nearly vanished, a bitter expression creeping in. But only for a moment. Perhaps noticing how far it strayed from her usual mask, she caught it and revived the smile.
"But watching you all this time, you spread your legs without complaint, work diligently, great skills... Nothing bad."
"...Thank you."
"So... final test."
"Final... test?"
"Yeah. The grand finale to make me fully trust our Eun-mi."
"..."
"Can't keep calling me 'Young Master' forever. I do have some affection for you, after all. We've been together since the start—time to get the title right."
One secretary approached Ha Eun-young and handed her a long sword. She took it reflexively.
"Nothing tough. See those eight up front? Finish them off. Prove absolute obedience to my commands. Then you'll call me Master."
"...!"
Ha Eun-young gripped the hilt tightly. Then slowly walked toward the eight.
The one farthest right from my view was first target. Would she do it to some unknown? But without hesitation, she crouched and plunged the blade into the sack repeatedly.
"Guhk! Urk!!"
A muffled scream erupted like something choked, thick blood oozing from under the sack.
Ha Eun-young stabbed with a blank expression. After dozens of thrusts, the twitching sack went still, and she straightened up.
"Hoo..."
"Ooh!"
I clapped for her. She shot me a brief glare, then moved to the next target. Repeating the process. Stabbed it dead without pause.
"...?"
She tilted her head slightly at V. Probably recognized the voice and hesitated, but figured the guy who should be in the Pacific couldn't be here.
Squish!
Minutes later, Ha Eun-young had killed all eight. The floor was a bloodbath, her sword dripping gore and oil.
Sweat-soaked, she wiped sweat and blood from her face with her sleeve.
Time to reveal the truth.
"Seung-hee."
"Yes, Master."
Ra Seung-hee approached with a document and handed it to Ha Eun-young. She looked up from wiping sweat.
"?"
"Take a look."
Ha Eun-young took the papers with slightly trembling hands and opened them.
"There've been pests buzzing around me. The ones you just finished? Spies. Fucking traitors."
"!!!"
Her eyes widened. Pages rustled faster. The elegant smile gave way to twitching lips, tension, shock, rage.
"Come to think of it, Sua,"
"Yes, Master."
"Weren't there two more?"