Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Direct Transfer!
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Crash! Shatter!
A heavy door muffled the explosive sound of something breaking apart from beyond.
In front of the VIP waiting room.
Lee Seo-ah, standing behind me, flinched, her shoulders jumping.
"Uh... should we just go? He looks really pissed right now..."
"He'd be crazy not to be. He got his ass handed to him after trying to screw us over."
"Pardon?"
I chuckled and grabbed the door handle.
Hesitation? Not a chance.
The momentum had already shifted in my favor. Whatever was behind that door was just prey with a glaring weakness.
I flung the door open.
A chaotic scene unfolded before my eyes.
Shards of shattered glass littered the floor, and a man who looked like a manager was groveling with his head bowed low.
"No, Big Brother, that's not what I meant..."
"I said shut up! You trying to teach me right now?"
Kim Sung-hyun was yanking his tie loose with rough jerks.
His face flushed red with rage, veins bulging on his neck.
That vulgar display was his true nature.
He whipped his head around at the sound of my footsteps.
"Who the hell just walks in here? This bastard can't even guard a damn door..."
His stream of curses halted abruptly.
The moment our eyes met, his pupils contracted slightly.
"...You."
In that split second, Kim Sung-hyun instinctively schooled his expression.
Whether because of Lee Seo-ah's presence or not, he forcibly smoothed his furrowed brow and crossed his legs on the sofa, feigning nonchalance.
"Han Yujin. Business should've been done. Why are you back?"
His voice strained for calm, but it couldn't hide the underlying suppressed killing intent.
I snorted at his pathetic acting.
"Still some unfinished business. Got some money you owe me."
I grabbed Lee Seo-ah's wrist—she'd frozen just outside the VIP room—and pulled her in front of me.
"What are you doing? Come on in."
"Ah, hello..."
Lee Seo-ah greeted him in a timid murmur.
Kim Sung-hyun's eyebrow twitched.
"Ah, Member Lee Seo-ah. You've arrived."
Kim Sung-hyun's face transformed in an instant.
The beast that had been about to devour the manager vanished.
In its place sat a hypocrite wearing the mask of a kindly shepherd admonishing a wayward lamb.
"Here to report, I assume. But my mood's a bit off right now."
He shot me a serpentine glance.
"And Seo-ah. Bringing an outsider to a clan command report without permission? What's your relationship with this guy?"
"Well, that's..."
"You wouldn't be doing this on purpose after knowing what we just discussed, right?"
His attitude dripped with condescension, like he was addressing a servant.
Lee Seo-ah's shoulders visibly shrank.
The pressure from his title as a high-ranking executive in a massive clan weighed heavier on her than I'd thought.
"N-no, it's not like that... I just think The Shelter isn't right for me."
"So you're bringing in someone you know to protest?"
Cracks formed in his facade.
He glared at Lee Seo-ah like he wanted to crush her right then.
As she stammered, at a loss for words, he started ranting on his own.
"You said this last one was tough, right? I get it. But that's because you're still inexperienced, Seo-ah. The Shelter's intel was flawless. You should've owned up to failing to execute it properly instead of dragging outsiders in to complain. If anyone's truly wronged, it's those who didn't come back—not you, who survived in their place. Isn't this a bit much?"
Gaslighting.
Classic tactic.
Shifting blame to the victim, instilling guilt to force submission to his authority.
Listening made my stomach churn.
"Hey."
I cut in, and Kim Sung-hyun's brow furrowed deeply.
"I said we're done with you."
"Who said I came to see you? I'm here for my money."
I plopped down on the sofa opposite him and crossed my legs.
"Hand over the 300 million. Lee Seo-ah's quitting that Shelter crap."
Silence fell.
Kim Sung-hyun let out a hollow laugh and turned to Lee Seo-ah.
"Quitting? Is that true, Lee Seo-ah? You won't be able to rejoin if you walk out now. Think you can survive this scene without The Shelter?"
"Th-that's..."
"And."
Kim Sung-hyun's voice hardened.
"That money wasn't a membership fee—it was a donation. You agreed to the terms: no refunds. Even legally, you won't get it back."
He oozed confidence.
The law? Terms of service?
Just fences the strong built to fleece the weak.
But he only knew half the story.
This wasn't a courtroom. It was a jungle ruled by raw power.
Tap, tap.
I pulled out my smartphone and lightly drummed my index finger on the screen for emphasis.
"Legally, huh... Fine. Let's do it by the law."
"..."
Kim Sung-hyun's gaze locked onto my fingertip.
His face drained of color in an instant.
"Say the donation refund's off-limits per terms. But what law covers an actor threatening and trying to ruin a civilian? Intimidation? Coercion? Or... defamation?"
"You, you right now..."
"And that oh-so-great Shelter. Perfect intel, you say? Then why'd people die? Isn't that fraud? Selling faulty info at premium prices."
I leaned forward, locking eyes with him.
"If this blows up, 300 million's the least of your worries. The Shelter's rep in ruins, and your career? Done."
"...You son of a bitch."
Kim Sung-hyun ground his teeth.
But he didn't lunge.
He'd felt it in his bones: he was outmatched in force and justification.
His trembling hands rubbed his dry face.
Running the numbers.
Coughing up 300 million versus his career imploding.
The answer was obvious.
"...Hah."
Kim Sung-hyun irritably swept back his hair and glared at Lee Seo-ah.
"Fine. I'll refund it special. But from this moment, you're cut off from The Shelter forever, Lee Seo-ah. We'll see how long you last."
He whipped out his phone and opened his banking app.
"Account number."
Lee Seo-ah stared at me blankly.
She looked genuinely shocked he'd actually pay.
As she fumbled for her phone,
"Royal Bank XXX-XXXXXX-XX."
I beat her to it, reciting my account.
Kim Sung-hyun's fingers froze mid-air.
Lee Seo-ah and the eavesdropping manager gawked at me.
"...What? That's not Seo-ah's account."
Kim Sung-hyun asked incredulously.
"Nope. Mine."
"What the hell...? It's a refund. Why give your account? You insane?"
Made sense he'd wonder.
But I shrugged like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Why? You know, like debt refinancing."
"...What?"
"Y'know, switching loans. Lee Seo-ah's transferring her massive 'donation' from the shady outfit 'The Shelter' to the top-tier firm, my Rice Devourers Expedition."
"..."
"Why bother with multiple transfers? She gets it, sends it to me anyway—direct is easier. No need for complicated steps!"
Kim Sung-hyun's jaw dropped.
Like he'd never heard such bullshit in his life.
I knew it too.
I was spouting pure nonsense.
'So what're you gonna do about it?'
He couldn't muster a rebuttal.
"Hah... Got properly tangled with a lunatic."
Kim Sung-hyun spat the curse and finally hit send.
Incoming: 300,000,000 won (From: Kim Sung-hyun)
My phone chimed cheerfully.
Dopamine surged through my brain like electricity as I checked the amount.
300 million.
Money I'd never dreamed of touching in my lifetime, pocketed with a few clever words.
This moment felt like my era had truly dawned.
"Confirmed. Clean deal—I like this house's style."
I pocketed my phone and stood.
Perfectly polite.
"Best wishes on your business. Let's never meet again."
"...Get out. Now."
Kim Sung-hyun turned away and waved me off dismissively.
I wrapped an arm around the dazed Lee Seo-ah's shoulder and led her out.
"Let's go, Seo-ah."
Until the door clicked shut behind us, not a peep came from Kim Sung-hyun's office.
My flawless victory.
No—our Rice Devourers Expedition's grand first triumph.
[Bodyline] Studio lobby.
The gym noise was blocked out here, leaving utter quiet.
"Um... Han Yujin?"
Lee Seo-ah called out to me with a stunned expression.
She was still staring intently at her phone's banking app.
Having witnessed me snag 300 million, she was probably freaking out I'd bolt with it.
"Don't worry. I'm not running."
To preempt any demand for the money back, I shot out a party invite.
No time for second thoughts.
A blue hologram likely popped up before her eyes.
"What's this...?"
"Hit accept. The moment you do, you're my party member. From the next stage, follow my lead. Survival guaranteed."
"Okay. I'll do it."
[Lee Seo-ah has joined the party.]
"Good."
I flashed a smooth, salesman-like smile and offered a handshake.
"Looking forward to working together. Ask if you have questions anytime. Oh, gotta give you my number."
"Y-yes...? Ah, yes... thank you..."
A look of utter bewilderment crossed Lee Seo-ah's face.
The prickly, curt guy from the tutorial had turned overly friendly—hard to adjust.
But what could she do?
Before me stood my premium customer, willing to burn 300 million without batting an eye.
'I've changed a lot since then. Back then, I couldn't even talk straight to a beauty like this.'
Confidence really was key for a man.
Experiencing what people called hell first-hand.
That was making me brazen, laid-back.
"See you at the next summon. I'll introduce the other members then."
"Other members?"
"You'll see."
I waved lightly and left the studio.
On the way home.
I swept up tens of thousands of won worth of convenience store food.
"Come here."
Thud thud thud!
No sooner had the door opened than something burst from inside the room.
A silver-haired elf in a loose shirt flapping around her—Yuriel.
"M-Master! You're back!"
She flattened herself at the entryway, wagging an imaginary tail.
Her ears were actually quivering at the tips.
"No issues?"
"None! Didn't move a step, just watched the door! Not even an ant got in!"
Her solemn report cracked me up.
I dumped the bags by the shoe rack.
"Good job. Let's eat."
"F-Food... you say?"
Yuriel's eyes darted to the bags I'd brought.
Topping the pile: a bundle of cup ramen boxes that snagged her gaze first.
Gulp.
She wasn't drooling, but she was devouring it with her eyes.
Couldn't forget that stimulating dawn taste.
Too timid to beg her master, 'I want that'—her rolling eyes were kinda cute.
"That's emergency rations. Nights like this call for more. Feasting tonight!"
"F-Feast...?"
Moments later.
I unpacked the delivered foods across the floor.
Glossy tuna belly + assorted sushi, crispy Diamond Olive chicken, marbled Hanwoo yukhoe bibimbap.
"Wow..."
Yuriel's mouth gaped.
A riot of colors and scents she'd never seen.
"Sit. Eat up."
"C-Can I... eat all this? A slave like me..."
"No point pretending humility when you'll eat it anyway. Before I really starve you."
"I-I'll eat! Thank you! Master's grace is boundless!"
Yuriel snatched a chicken leg and tore in.
Crunch! Her eyes rolled back in bliss.
"Hng...!"
The elf slave moaning through her nose, scarfing it down.
I cracked a beer can, watching.
'Kaaah, this is why we grind. Eat up, put on some weight.'
One hand sushi, the other firing up a shopping site on my phone.
[Women's Clothing], [Dresses], [Lingerie Sets]...
Even at home, just a shirt was iffy.
Kept sparking stray thoughts every glance.
And it wasn't exactly flattering right now.
"Size... 44 maybe? Or kids'? Legs are long, though."
I eyed Yuriel appraisingly.
'Bra... gotta get one, right?'
Blushing to myself, tossing stuff in the cart—
US White House Emergency Statement: "Abyss Phenomenon is Humanity's Chance to Evolve... National Management Begins"
A red banner flashed on the portal main page.
Normally, I'd scroll past celeb gossip, but the headline was wild.
I set down my sushi and tapped the article.
[Washington Correspondent = This morning, the US President held an emergency press conference announcing the official stance on the global 'Abyss Disappearances.']
[The US government has officially confirmed that survivors from the Abyss possess special physical abilities and superpowers, dubbing them 'Awakened.']
On-screen footage: a man crumpling steel beams barehanded, melting tank armor with flames.
'That's...'.
Not showy feats like mine on Hulk Hong's stream.
Real lethal force.
Precise, destructive—military-trained.
[The US government designates them strategic assets, forming national special forces. Also urging all global Awakened to register...]
Whoa, insane—not AI? Superhero era incoming?
Lmao. Wanna get disappeared too. Gimme superpowers!
What're Korean gov doing? We need a unit ASAP!
Weird. Friend who vanished has zero powers.
I set my phone down and rubbed my face.
'This sudden?'
Disappearances started at least six months ago.
What took them so long to react?
'National strategic assets...'
Pretty words for 'government dog.'
Register, and all my info's exposed—collared hound rolling in battlefields.
'Hard pass.'
But that guy's power nagged at me.
Flaming blasts with super strength beyond mine.
'Six months in, stronger guys are obvious. Higher levels too.'
US this, assets that—didn't care.
One worry.
'Gonna have to face those kinds now.'
Stage 1-1 foes were greenhorns fresh to dungeons.
Future ones: survivors adapting to that brutal world.
If they turn enemy, can I always dominate like against monsters?
"Master? What's wrong? Food not to your taste?"
Yuriel offered a chicken leg with worried eyes.
Sauce smeared on her lips, innocently yielding her share.
"Yuriel. Those Hailon guys I fought yesterday."
Her face darkened at the sudden words.
"There stronger ones, right?"
She nodded slowly.
'Figures. They were newbies too.'
Made sense—real heavies wouldn't spawn at the start.
I chuckled and shoved the chicken leg back at her solemn face.
"Sorry. Meal time. No more questions—eat up."
Yuriel finally relaxed and resumed devouring.
I watched, pondering.
Solo's fine, but maybe properly train her.
Insurance for worst-case scenarios.