Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Morning of the Decisive Battle
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Buyer meeting day. I woke up well before the alarm even rang.
The world outside the window was still shrouded in a bluish darkness, but thanks to Lizetta's meticulous "service" last night...
Or perhaps because of the anticipation for the battle ahead, my mind felt unusually clear and sharp.
After finishing my shower in the bathroom, Lizetta was already waiting with a perfectly pressed suit ready for me.
It had been ages since I'd worn a suit—probably not since my new hire interview.
Not that I'd planned it, but I'd been smart to get a new one tailored during that last shopping trip.
"It feels awkward wearing one after so long."
"It suits you perfectly, Master Hyun-seong."
Lizetta spoke in her usual emotionless tone as she adjusted my tie while I was in the suit.
I smiled at her, satisfied with my reflection in the mirror.
After getting dressed, I returned to the bedroom for a moment alone.
I picked up my smartphone, which was plugged into the charger, and launched the hypnosis app.
'Maximize concentration, amplify logical thinking, unshakable composure, flawless eloquence in any situation.'
As I activated the self-suggestions I'd set for today's meeting one by one, the changes came quickly.
A bizarre sensation washed over me—my head cooling like ice even as it heated up—while confidence overflowed through my entire body.
I'd already confirmed the effects while preparing supplemental materials for the meeting.
So I was certain.
Today's plan would succeed without fail.
Zzt!
"Tch."
It happened right then.
A sharp headache stabbed my temple like a chisel, sudden and piercing.
I lightly pressed my brow but quickly schooled my expression back to normal.
Fortunately, the pain didn't last long.
'This has been happening more often lately.'
Ever since I'd increased my use of the hypnosis app, these mild headaches had become more frequent.
I'd thought the backlash had completely vanished, but maybe using the app inflicted some mental strain.
"Are you all right, Master Hyun-seong?"
Lizetta's voice cut through my thoughts as she approached the doorway unnoticed.
Her eyes were the same as always, but there seemed to be the faintest flicker of concern.
"It's nothing. Just a brief dizzy spell."
"That app might be taking a toll on your body and mind."
Lizetta was as perceptive as ever.
"Yeah, it could be. But this much is nothing."
"Still, you should try to cut back on using it as much as possible..."
Lizetta trailed off worriedly and bowed her head.
"...That was overstepping. I'm sorry."
"No, I'm grateful for your concern."
She had a point, but I couldn't reduce my app usage now.
Not until this was over—at least not until I'd made Kang Joo-young submit.
I steeled myself and turned back to the app screen.
I found Kang Joo-young's name in the registered targets list and opened her status window.
- Intense anger and exhaustion from a fierce argument with her husband.
- Reduced rational judgment due to hypnotic suggestion.
- Ongoing confusion and cognitive dissonance over her own actions (kissing, fellatio, etc.).
- Amplified abnormal trust and dependency toward Lee Hyun-seong.
A smile crept onto my lips as I checked the updated status window.
If she was this mentally cornered, it'd be easy to press the advantage if things got dicey.
Satisfied, I pocketed my phone and headed for the entryway.
"Well then, I'm off."
"I wish you the best of luck, Master Hyun-seong."
[Don't get so nervous you piss yourself~?]
Leaving Lizetta's send-off and Child's nonsense behind, I stepped out and descended the stairs.
As I reached the first floor, I noticed a door slightly ajar.
Immediately after, a familiar face poked out from the gap.
It was Jung Seung-ah, the college student I'd run into before.
First time since that morning after coming back from the motel.
Her hair was a tousled mess like she'd just woken up, and she had a pair of cat-ear headphones loosely around her neck.
In her small hands, she clutched a fairly large delivery box.
"Eep?!"
Our eyes met for a split second.
Her round eyes widened in surprise, then filled with wariness as she hurriedly ducked back inside.
Bang! The door slammed shut, the sound echoing loudly down the stairwell.
'Guess the misunderstanding hasn't cleared up yet.'
Probably from that maid greeting incident with Lizetta back then.
I'd have to clear it up someday.
Eh, too much hassle for now. Let it be.
Right now, the only things on my mind were the meeting and Kang Joo-young.
With pleasant anticipation for what the day would bring, I stepped out of the building.
Today was sure to be a long, intriguing day.
The conference room, site of the decisive battle, was thick with an atmosphere unlike the usual.
Tension ahead of the crucial meeting mixed with expectations and anxieties over the project's fate hung heavily in the air.
On one side of the table sat the Japanese partner team members, sharply dressed in suits, faces taut with nerves.
Across from them lounged the Japanese buyers we'd face today, relaxed in their seats.
Two middle-aged men and one young woman.
Their eyes were keen, their thoughts hard to read.
Team Leader Kang Joo-young sat at the head, reviewing documents while maintaining her composure, but her trembling fingertips betrayed her.
The aftermath of her morning fight with her husband and the pressure of the meeting were clearly weighing her down.
Park Mi-na sat beside me, swallowing dryly in unease.
She occasionally shot me glares while jiggling her thigh restlessly.
Surprisingly, Son Jun-hyeok brimmed with confidence.
He reviewed his presentation materials one last time, a satisfied smile on his face.
'Idiot. No clue the axe is about to fall on his own foot.'
I sneered inwardly while double-checking the suggestions.
My mind was ice-cold and crystal clear.
I felt like I could handle any curveball perfectly right now.
Moments later, the meeting kicked off properly with Kang Joo-young's introduction.
"Hello, I'm Assistant Manager Son Jun-hyeok, in charge of today's presentation. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules."
Handing off the mic, Son Jun-hyeok opened with fluent speech and polished manners.
With a smug expression, he glanced over the team—including me—as he continued.
"Well then, as the 'key person in charge,' I'll brief you on our project directly. The rest of you can just sit back and watch."
Emphasizing 'key person in charge' like that.
His blatant dismissal of me was obvious.
Awkward coughs rippled through the team, but I kept my expression neutral, listening to his presentation.
After that, Son Jun-hyeok smoothly rolled through his prepared slides.
His packaging of market analysis and our strengths was undeniably appealing.
The Japanese buyers nodded with interest, leaning in.
Kang Joo-young's face even showed a flicker of relief.
But that was as far as it went.
When he reached the core data analysis and explanations of Japan's cultural nuances, his presentation started revealing glaring flaws.
It was the moment his weaknesses—which I'd spotted in advance and confirmed through Mi-na—laid bare.
"So based on this data, we're targeting Japan's young consumer demographic with... uh..."
The instant he faltered, words catching in his throat...
"Assistant Manager Son, apologies, but the source and criteria for that data you're showing aren't clear."
Tanaka, the section chief who seemed the most senior among the buyers, pounced on the opening with razor sharpness.
"It differs somewhat from our grasp of recent market trends. Could you elaborate further?"
"Pardon? Ah... th-that data came from a reliable agency we commissioned ourselves..."
Son Jun-hyeok's face visibly flushed with panic.
He couldn't give a proper answer, just spouting vague excuses while sweating bullets.
Clearly unprepared for questions outside his slides.
Watching this, Tanaka subtly furrowed his brow.
The other buyers exchanged puzzled glances.
The room's air turned frigid in an instant.
"And about that promotion method you mentioned earlier."
As if that wasn't enough, the young woman buyer, Sato, lobbed another question.
"Considering Japan's current consumer trends and national sentiment, it seems like it could backfire and breed resentment. Have you thoroughly reviewed the risks?"
"Ah, yes! We're fully aware of that aspect and..."
Son Jun-hyeok wiped sweat, fumbling through more lame excuses.
His earlier confidence had evaporated.
"Ahem."
Icy silence, awkward coughs.
Only the sound of rustling papers filled the heavy quiet.
The other team members fidgeted, exchanging uneasy looks, while Kang Joo-young's face had gone deathly pale.
Her already fragile composure from the morning quarrel had completely crumbled.
She bit her lip, at a loss, until...
Finally, she turned to me with a pleading gaze, begging for salvation.
Her eyes shook with desperation.
'Do something about this, Assistant Manager Lee.' It was like she was screaming silently.
An expression the haughty, cold usual her would never show.
But now, under the suggestions and the dire situation, she was unconsciously relying on me.
I met her eyes and gave the slightest nod.
Recalling the morning suggestions, I slowly rose from my seat.
The scrape of my chair drew every eye in the room to me.
Especially Son Jun-hyeok and the team's 'What's this guy's deal?' stares burned clear.
I strode past the frozen Son Jun-hyeok to the podium with confident steps.
And toward the chilled atmosphere, I opened with a smooth, assured voice.
"Buyers, may I supplement the explanation for a moment?"
My confident voice rang through the mic, filling the conference room.