Chapter 90
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Meeting
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Russell heard the detailed story from Ryu Min.
"Whoa, you earned that much from the lottery?"
"Yes, I made a killing, enough to rival the Powerball."
"And then? How did you grow that money?"
It felt like bragging, but Russell kept asking, so he had no choice.
He explained everything, from growing his money with crypto to buying a 51% stake to take control of the company.
"Ah, so that's why you said you were the company's actual owner?"
"Yes. It's a company with nothing but growth ahead of it. We've changed the company name and completely overhauled the business items, so we're preparing ambitiously."
"Coming from the Prophet who multiplied his wealth into hundreds of billions in such a short time, how could it not succeed? I made a great decision investing, haha... Ah, wait, when you think about it, this is your money too, isn't it?"
Ryu Min smiled benevolently at Russell, who scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Don't feel burdened. Please, use it."
*No, I hope you continue to feel a little burdened. That's how you'll become a reliable ally in the future.*
Mumbling his inner thoughts, which contrasted with his outward expression, Ryu Min led the way to the office.
"Let's go inside. I'll explain what kind of business it is."
"I don't think I even need an explanation. If it's a place the Prophet has gone all-in on, it's bound to be a massive success."
"Still, you've invested a considerable sum, so you should know what kind of company it is. Once you hear about it, you'll probably be hooked too, Russell. It's a business that any Player would be interested in."
Grinning, Ryu Min opened the office door.
Non-player employees, all looking to be in their thirties or older, could be seen here and there.
They were all people who had worked there when it was Cheonma Consulting.
"This way."
Ryu Min ignored the employees' stares and headed for the CEO's office.
Just then, Ahn Sang-chul was standing stiffly in front of the CEO's office.
*Why is he blocking the door like that? Is there a guest?*
As Ryu Min wondered, Ahn Sang-chul spoke to him with surprised eyes.
"Major Shareholder Ryu Min? What brings you here...?"
"I apologize for visiting without notice. I'm here to give a foreign investor a tour of the company."
"Ah."
Ahn Sang-chul's gaze flickered to Russell.
His first thought was that the young-looking man might be a Player.
"I'm here to see the CEO. Is he in?"
"Yes. He is, but he has a guest right now..."
"A guest?"
Even though Ryu Min deliberately craned his neck, Ahn Sang-chul just stood there blankly, showing no intention of moving aside.
It seemed Ma Kyung-rok had ordered him not to let anyone in.
*Even so, I'm the Prophet, and I'm dropping such obvious hints, yet he's just staring off into space.*
It was absurd, but understandable considering Ahn Sang-chul's character.
*Well, he's the type who would even pretend to die if the CEO told him to.*
He might not even pretend; he might actually die.
*But who came to visit?*
Curious, he read Ahn Sang-chul's thoughts.
Reading his thoughts, Ryu Min couldn't help but be inwardly surprised.
*What? Who did he say it was?*
An unexpected guest had arrived.
*Christine... is here?*
He had to struggle to suppress the corners of his mouth and maintain his composure.
The Priest he needed to take to the 20th round, the very reason he'd approached Ma Kyung-rok, had come to him.
*Now that it's come to this, I have to meet Christine. But how do I get her to come out?*
On second thought, there was no need to ask her to come out.
*I'll just wait here until she does.*
Ryu Min pretended to turn away, then stood to one side to wait.
At this, Ahn Sang-chul's eyebrows twitched.
"Um... are you going to wait?"
"I have something to say to the CEO."
"..."
Unable to bring himself to tell him to leave, Ahn Sang-chul once again stared into space, standing his ground like a statue.
"Mr. Ryu, what were you talking about?"
"I came to see the CEO, but it seems he has a guest."
He explained the situation to Russell in English and waited.
He intended to stay like this until Ma Kyung-rok came out.
*It's a little early, but there's no harm in making an impression on Christine.*
A moment later, as if their conversation had ended, the door clicked open and two people emerged.
One was Ma Kyung-rok, and the other was the Priest Ryu Min had to take to the 20th round.
"Huh? Major Shareholder Ryu Min?"
Ma Kyung-rok's eyes widened at Ryu Min's sudden appearance.
"What brings you here without any notice?"
"I'm not exactly someone who needs an invitation to come here, am I?"
Ma Kyung-rok gave an awkward laugh at Ryu Min's retort.
"Haha, it seems my poor choice of words caused a misunderstanding. I apologize."
*Misunderstanding, my foot. I know that while you pretend to respect me as the Prophet, deep down you're looking down on me.*
Of course, Ryu Min looking like an easy target was part of it, but fundamentally, Ma Kyung-rok perceived him as a weak being.
Prophet wasn't a strong class, and aside from seeing the future, he didn't seem like much.
*That's probably why he's always worried about whether I survived after each round ends.*
He subconsciously thought it wouldn't be strange if I died at any moment.
Ma Kyung-rok continued, trying to break the awkwardness.
"As our Major Shareholder, you are, of course, the top executive of our company, so you can come anytime. It's just that you always make an appointment, so I was surprised by your unannounced visit today."
"Is that so?"
Ryu Min grinned.
*Nice excuse. But no matter what you say, you're still in the palm of my hand.*
Ryu Min's gaze shifted to the side.
A blonde foreign woman stood there with a graceful posture.
*I've finally met her. The one and only Priest in the entire world.*
Christine Craig.
A woman with the unique class of Priest, who had a record of surviving up to the 15th round.
She was also the one Ryu Min had in mind to take to the 20th round, no matter what.
*Like Buffers, Priests are considered an essential supporter class.*
A Priest's skills were all incredibly helpful, without exception.
In particular, the level 60 skill [Resurrection] was an undeniably overpowered skill that could bring back the dead.
*Of course, there are restrictions. It can only revive a Player who has been dead for less than ten minutes.*
Even so, gaining an extra life was an incredible advantage.
*I didn't expect to meet her at this point, though.*
His original plan was to carefully make contact through Ma Kyung-rok, but he had met her earlier than planned.
*Then again, I'd never visited the company at this time before.*
If Russell hadn't shown up, he wouldn't have thought to stop by the company.
Ma Kyung-rok would handle the business preparations just fine on his own.
The future had changed, but it was for the better.
She was someone he had to meet eventually.
The plan had just moved up a bit.
*No matter what, I have to make Christine my ally.*
Ryu Min looked at Christine and asked Ma Kyung-rok.
"And who is this?"
"Ah... this is my friend, Christine Craig."
*Friend? Don't make me laugh.*
Ryu Min knew.
Christine was not just a simple foreign friend of Ma Kyung-rok's.
*She's his foreign fiancée for a marriage alliance.*
Corporate chaebols used to find partners for arranged marriages within the country, but that was a thing of the past.
*These days, they look for marriage alliance partners overseas as well.*
Perhaps because it was a global era, chaebols now turned their gazes abroad.
Of course, they wouldn't spare a glance for the child of an ordinary family.
*Naturally, Christine's family is quite wealthy.*
Christine was the daughter of a pastor who ran the largest Christian church in the United States, with a congregation of 100,000.
Naturally, she was more than qualified to be his fiancée.
*He told me he shouldn't hide anything from me, but he was going to hide the fact that she's his fiancée?*
After glaring at Ma Kyung-rok, Ryu Min turned to Christine and spoke in fluent English.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Christine. I'm Ryu Min, CEO Ma Kyung-rok's business partner."
Ma Kyung-rok's eyes widened at Ryu Min's introduction.
Anyone could introduce themselves in English, but his accent was impeccable.
If you closed your eyes and listened, you might think he was a native speaker.
Christine also looked surprised, then bowed her head demurely in the Korean style.
"A pleasure, Ryu Min. I didn't know the CEO had a business partner."
"Is that so? I also never imagined CEO Ma had such a beautiful fiancée."
"Ah, I see he's told you about our relationship?"
Ma Kyung-rok flinched at Christine's gaze.
Because he had never mentioned she was his fiancée.
*Don't tell me he even knew about my fiancée?*
Realizing anew that he should never try to deceive the Prophet, Ma Kyung-rok looked at Ryu Min.
His gaze seemed to ask, "Were you trying to hide your fiancée from me?"
Ma Kyung-rok had no choice but to admit his fault.
"I'm sorry, Prophet. It wasn't that I was trying to deceive you, but..."
"It's fine. You must have felt pressured to introduce your fiancée. I understand."
"Thank you for understanding..."
"But I wish you had trusted me a little more..."
As he trailed off with a disappointed expression, Ma Kyung-rok couldn't help but feel cornered.
*Damn it, nothing good can come from getting on the Prophet's bad side...*
While Ma Kyung-rok was regretting introducing her as a friend, Christine asked.
"What are you two talking about?"
She seemed curious about the serious-sounding conversation they were having in Korean.
"It's nothing. We were just discussing business for a moment."
"Really? Well, you did say you'd be launching the business soon..."
Christine spoke as if she understood, but her eyes were completely indifferent.
Although she was his fiancée, it was an arranged marriage, and there was no sweetness to be found between them.
"Please give my regards to the Chairman. Tell him I have to leave early for service."
"Of course. My father is busy too, so don't worry about it. He'll understand."
"Thank you. Well then, I hope to see you alive in the next round."
"I'll pray for your good fortune as well, Christine."
After bidding farewell to Ma Kyung-rok, Christine glanced at Ryu Min once before turning to leave, as if uninterested.
Or rather, she was about to leave.
"Just a moment, Christine."
Ryu Min stopped her in her tracks.
Ma Kyung-rok and Ahn Sang-chul stared at him with puzzled eyes.
As did Christine.
"Is something wrong?"
"It's about the next round. You should be careful."
"..."
Instead of answering, Christine looked at Ma Kyung-rok.
*What's with this guy?*
Reading her expression, Ma Kyung-rok hid his own bewilderment and said.
"Major Shareholder. Let's talk about that later, just the two of us."
"CEO Ma. There's no need to hide my identity. Wouldn't it be good for your fiancée to know about the next round as well? For her sake, that would be the right thing to do."
Ryu Min deliberately spoke in Korean.
To give Ma Kyung-rok a chance to choose.
But Ma Kyung-rok had no choice.
The upper hand had just shifted to Ryu Min due to his own mistake.
Refusing now would not only anger Ryu Min but also make him seem like a cold-hearted man who didn't care about his fiancée's life.
"The Prophet is right. For my fiancée's sake, I shouldn't hide it."
Ma Kyung-rok looked at Christine and said.
"Shall we step inside for a moment? There's something we haven't finished discussing."
Christine looked bewildered but nodded.
She was perceptive enough to sense that they were about to discuss something important.
"Russell, please wait here for a moment."
"Understood, Mr. Ryu."
Leaving Russell to wait, Ryu Min followed Ma Kyung-rok into the CEO's office.
*Creeak— Click—*
When the door closed, the noise from outside was completely blocked out.
Christine watched Ma Kyung-rok as if to say, "Alright, let's hear it."
"Christine. I didn't introduce him properly, but this man is my business partner and the executive of our company. And..."
Before continuing, Ma Kyung-rok glanced at Ryu Min as if asking for permission.
When Ryu Min nodded, he continued.
"He also has the Prophet class, which allows him to see the future."
"What does that mean? A Prophet?"
Christine didn't believe it right away.
Who would believe that someone could see the future?
Seeing the look in Christine's eyes, Ryu Min took over.
"What the CEO said is true. I am a Prophet, a unique class, and I can see the future. For example, the strategy for the upcoming 7th round."
"Is that true?"
Ma Kyung-rok nodded.
"There isn't a shred of falsehood in the Prophet's words. He has never once been wrong."
"Does that mean you've been receiving his help all this time?"
"Yes. Thanks to the Prophet, I've been able to know about the next rounds in advance and strategize accordingly."
"..."
It was hard to believe, but the expressions on both their faces were dead serious.
"So, what's the reason for suddenly revealing this to me?"
"Christine. I will give you the information for the 7th round."
"With nothing in return?"
The fact that she immediately brought up compensation gave him a rough idea of the kind of life she had lived.
"Don't worry. I'll give it to you for free."
The Priest's survival would benefit Ryu Min as well.
*She'll survive until the 15th round even without my help, but...*
Regardless of the outcome, what mattered was the appearance of helping her, right?
"..."
Christine gave him a suspicious look but soon nodded.
"If you're offering information, I'll at least hear you out."
She was so composed, even when being offered information about the future.
*She probably still doesn't believe me.*
Ryu Min shared the information for the 7th round, speaking as if for Ma Kyung-rok to hear as well.
"Do not be swayed by temptation. For the 7th round, that is all you need to remember."
"Hmm... is that all? Prophet?"
"I cannot say more. Doing so would bring harm to everyone. Do not be swayed by temptation. You must remember this like a mantra. That is all I can say."
"..."
Both Christine and Ma Kyung-rok were silent.
They seemed bewildered by the rather vague prophecy.
"Is that it?"
"Yes. But Christine, I have something else to tell you specifically."
"What is it?"
"This is also the reason I arranged this meeting..."
Pausing for effect, Ryu Min spoke with a rather serious expression.
"Christine. When the 11th round comes, you will be in danger. Your life could be at risk."
"...Me?"
"But do not worry. A lifeline will be sent down to save you."