Adaptation Complete
"Life's full of surprises, huh."
I pulled out a cigarette, stuck it in my mouth, and lit up. We weren't in a car—it was out in the open with a bunch of secretaries and aides around—but I didn't give a shit.
"Gonna see all kinds of crazy now."
Possession. The more I thought about it, the better it sounded. The more I chewed on it, the more excited I got. I'd been a total game addict in my old life because reality couldn't give me the thrills and dopamine hits. But now I'd straight-up possessed a game character, and not just any—he was from the owner family, so no money worries.
Plus, I've played through to the ending, so I've got some knowledge locked in.
The only downside was that the original Gomuyeol was such a pathetic fuck-up that his reputation was in the gutter... Guess I could chalk that up to a penalty.
Let's see... Goryeo Entertainment? It's an entertainment agency, so I guess that means scouting actors or debuting idols or whatever.
Honestly, I wasn't that into this stuff, so I had no clue what to do. The only things popping into my head were... snagging some hot, stacked aspiring idols or actresses to fuck, or buying out top active stars to fuck, or... yeah, nothing but sleazy thoughts.
Nah. No rule saying I have to stick to that. It's mine now—who's gonna bitch if I turn it into an investment firm overnight?
I wasn't some all-knowing god like those overpowered novel protagonists, but since I'd seen the ending, I had a grip on all the major events and key shit. If I pivoted to investments and threw the capital around aggressively, I could balloon it to over a trillion in a year, easy. And if not, commercializing the RK-99 that flips the whole world on its head in the story would suck in every penny out there.
The real question was what I wanted to do in this world... I'd have to mull that over.
For now, maybe I'll just have some fun?
Around Geumsu Mountain Sun Palace stretched the biggest skyscraper district on the North Peninsula. Towering behemoths casually pierced hundreds of meters, endless rows of them, with countless AVs (Aero Vehicles) zipping through the air around them.
The Goryeo Hotel was right there too.
Smooth stop. As the car pulled up, guys in black suits rushed over and opened the door.
"Welcome, young master."
I stepped out, and already the staff swarmed around me. They kept their waists bent deep until I was fully past, only straightening up after I went through the glass doors.
It was treatment I wasn't used to, so my ears perked up and excitement bubbled—had to hold it back, though. A scoundrel getting all hyped over this would look weird.
"Secretary Han."
"Yes, young master."
"What do you know about Goryeo Entertainment?"
I got a quick briefing on the way to the room. Secretary Han didn't seem to know much either.
"It was established last July. Only one actor under contract—a male actor named Han Sung-ki—"
"Male actor? Cut him."
"Pardon?"
"I said cut him."
"Ah. Yes, sir. Understood."
No interest in grooming dudes. Only actresses. Only girl idols. That was common sense. That was justice.
Ding.
Top floor. Elevator doors slid open. One secretary swiped a card ahead of me.
Beep.
As the royal suite door unlocked, Secretary Han suddenly stepped forward and bowed sharply.
"My apologies, young master. Due to a personnel transfer effective immediately, I won't be able to serve you going forward."
"What? What the hell?"
"It's an order from headquarters, just came in."
"..."
Looks like the chairman, thoroughly disappointed in Gomuyeol, was cleaning house for real. Pulling the secretaries too...
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"We'll assemble a new secretary team by tomorrow morning."
Good, not totally abandoning me.
"Fine. Get to it."
"Yes, sir."
Probably yanking the competent ones back to HQ and dumping rookies or screw-ups on me like scraps. How touching.
Once Secretary Han and the team left, I was finally alone. I flopped onto the massive bed, and that's when time really started to feel real. Before, it was like... I knew it in my head, but it hadn't sunk in?
How the hell did I possess this body...? Whatever, pondering that shit's pointless.
Dwelling on how I got my abilities wouldn't change anything.
With that thought, I grabbed my phone and called Secretary Han, who'd just left. He picked up on the first ring.
"About the Goryeo Entertainment funds—can I use them freely?"
"Thought so. Prep it so I can use it."
"Oh, and about the secretary team—don't assemble it yourself. Just send up the candidate reps. I'll pick."
"Yeah. Gotta see 'em myself to know if they're any good."
Call ended. I headed to the window. From the top floor of this over-100-story Goryeo Hotel, Pyongyang's nightscape was stunning. Dazzling, radiant—like it would prosper forever.
"Fuck, it's all mine."
Right now, all I had in hand was an empty agency and about 100 billion won, but in my mind, I'd already claimed Pyongyang, Korea, the whole damn world. Hell, I was starting to love the devs I'd cursed out before.
"Oh yeah, it's a game—gotta be a stat screen or something, right?"
Then it hit me—I'd forgotten because it was so damn realistic. The UI that made it feel like a game: stat screens. Demonic Incheon 2077 had stats and items like any game.
"Whoa... whoaaa...!"
Stat screen confirmed. But...
"How the fuck has this guy survived this long?"
The stats were pathetic. Even average joes hit 70-80 in their specialty to be useful, but this dude? Leadership barely scraping 69—probably a chaebol buff—and everything else in the gutter.
"Damn... Next year when the story kicks off, most characters roll in with main stats over 90. This is middle-schooler level."
And it wasn't just that. The debuffs strung out like sausages in his traits were giving me a headache. Weak will? Fine. But smoking, drugs, sex addiction? Why no alcohol too? Sloppy.
"...Tomorrow. I'll figure it out tomorrow."
One look at the stats and dizziness hit. I crashed onto the bed.
Next day. I rubbed my crusty eyes awake, head pounding like it might split. Barely coherent—probably withdrawal.
Smoking addiction, drug addiction, sex addiction. A perfect storm of hell.
Drugs worst of all...
Fuck, anything but this—gotta kill it for good.
Vowed that, but still hunted for the stash. Withdrawal wasn't something human will could beat. Cursed the original Gomuyeol a dozen times in my head while digging through memories. This junkie wouldn't stash it far.
In clothes? Wallet?
"Ugh... ungh..."
Even shuffling to the closet felt endless. Stumbled, nearly face-planted a few times. Reached it and plastered myself like an octopus, trembling hands yanking clothes out.
Luckily, drugs in the outer pocket.
"Hah... hah... you fucking idiot..."
Loaded the syringe like memory said, jabbed a vein-ish spot. Thick needle piercing skin? Pain didn't register. Just the massive euphoria coming...
"Guhhhoooob??!!"
Instant bliss crashed in. I felt like a god overlooking the world. Enlightened to all creation, my mind touched the profound.
This... is why... the drugs...
I melted.
...
Once the high faded, my body finally settled. The splitting headache eased.
"Hah... hah..."
First time feeling that ecstasy. Instinct screamed: one more hit and I'm done for. Never again. Rip out my brain if I had to—cure this addiction.
Gotta live long and happy. Dying young as a junkie? What a waste.
Upside: one hit holds for a day. Find a fix today.
Then the bell rang. Intercom showed Secretary Han with secretary candidates.
"Come in."
Threw on an outer jacket, ran a hand through my hair. Body soaked in sweat—withdrawal? The hit? Didn't look good. But no need to impress secretaries.
Gulped water, sank into the sofa. In came Secretary Han and the candidates: four guys, one woman—the one I'd groped yesterday. Front view? Face was killer too.
They all look green as hell... Just slapping together scrubs to be done with it.
Maybe Han ignoring me, or HQ pressure. They ordered the team disbanded and his transfer, after all.
"Introduce yourselves. You first."
"Ah, yes, young master. I'm—"
The guy I pointed at started. No enthusiasm. I half-listened, pulling up the sole woman's info. Young woman over dudes...
"Pfft!!"
I spat out my water.