The Cruise's Famous Personages
Thanks to Seo Jia's help, I had entered the cruise without any issues at all.
...
And only now did I realize.
This appearance had far greater destructive power than I'd thought.
'...I had completely forgotten.'
In the company these days, there had been almost no incidents like this.
When I first joined KJ Group, employees often startled or froze upon seeing my face.
But over time, those reactions had gradually disappeared.
Now everyone greeted me with smiles and carried on business conversations as naturally as possible.
So...
I had thought the effect would show.
Every morning and afternoon.
Before coming to work, before going to bed.
I had practiced my gentle smile in front of the mirror every day, as if strictly doing gratitude training.
Yet today, seeing how the security guards reacted, I finally understood.
It wasn't my effort at all.
It was simply that the people in the company had become familiar with my face.
I had quietly felt gratified, thinking my efforts had been rewarded.
"Ah, that's a shame..."
For some reason, I felt a little sulky.
"What?"
Seo Jia, who had followed me in, stared straight at my face.
"Why are you hanging your head like a dog that's been hit by rain?"
She had been observing my face for a moment before breaking into a smirk.
"Ah, not a dog, but a bear that's been hit by rain?"
She giggled like a little devil, covering her mouth as she laughed mockingly.
Maybe it was my mood.
She had seemed unusually tense since earlier.
Thanks to that, I had entered without any trouble.
"So, why are you staring so fixedly?"
Seo Jia narrowed her eyes.
Her words might have been sharp, but her heart was kind.
In Kang Taeseong's memories, Seo Jia had always been the one who looked out for him.
In fact, that was exactly the problem.
...
To me, Seo Jia felt a bit unfamiliar.
In my memories, Seo Jia definitely existed.
We had known each other since childhood.
Thanks to our fathers' friendship, we naturally saw each other often.
On holidays or during vacations, it was common for us to meet face to face.
We played hide-and-seek together, splashed each other with water guns.
The memories of us, the chaebol heirs, playing so normally that it was almost ridiculous still lingered faintly.
Among them, the most surprising was that even as a child, Seo Jia had never feared my terrifying face at all.
"Hey, pig."
"That's mine. Come here."
"Pudding, you idiot!"
She'd pat my back, grab my arm.
She'd say words that could be insults or nicknames without a second thought.
Even when the adults around us were shocked, she herself paid no attention.
To her, Kang Taeseong had only ever been the pig they'd grown up together with.
In a way, it could even be called a childhood friend.
But that was all in Kang Taeseong's memories.
I could look at the memories, but they didn't feel completely my own.
Moreover, they were often broken up, like watching an old film reel.
That might be why.
Approaching like this without hesitation felt strangely unfamiliar to me.
"Why."
She looked at my face with a mischievous smile.
"Was it because you got caught by the guards?"
"..."
"Why are you sulking over something like that, like a fool?"
"...I wasn't sulking."
"Then?"
I hesitated for a moment before speaking honestly.
"...My face seems scarier than I thought."
"..."
A brief silence fell.
Then...
"Puff."
Seo Jia burst out laughing.
"Now you get it? You were always super scary from the start, weren't you?"
"..."
"With your big build and all, you're actually a bit timid."
She gave my back a light smack and walked ahead.
"Let's go."
I followed her in silence.
*
The inside of the cruise was far more spacious than I had imagined.
Groups of people were gathered with champagne in hand, chatting.
Businessmen exchanged business cards and greeted each other at various spots.
When we started walking together, people's gazes naturally turned toward us.
"Good evening, miss."
"Thank you for preparing such a wonderful venue again today."
"Please convey my regards to the chairman."
The third-ranked Seohan Group.
Its name carried enormous weight.
After the greetings, however, every person's eyes shifted to me.
"?"
'Who is that?'
'Bodyguard?'
'...I think I've seen them somewhere.'
Whispers followed.
Only then did I realize.
'I see. It was deliberate.'
I recalled the incident at the entrance.
There had been far more people who didn't know my face than I expected.
That's why Seo Jia had deliberately walked me through the crowd.
She had told them this was the guest invited today.
It didn't even require an introduction; simply walking beside her was enough explanation.
"...Thanks."
"Whatever."
Seo Jia shrugged.
"I sent the invitation, but I thought you wouldn't come."
Her voice had become much calmer than before.
"...Now it's okay?"
"?"
"You've come to these gatherings again."
"..."
"Are you okay now?"
For a moment, my words stuck in my throat.
Thinking back, in Kang Taeseong's memories, attending these gatherings had been truly rare.
No, it had been years since he'd appeared at all.
The periodic chaebol gatherings, as well as various events and social parties, he hadn't attended at all.
Living by going back and forth only between the company and home, with no outside activities.
It wasn't strange that young chaebol heirs 2nd and 3rd generation didn't know my face.
'What exactly happened.'
That part of my memories was hazy.
"...So."
I gave a short laugh.
"Life gets in the way."
Dodging like that was familiar.
A vague expression, and no one would ask questions.
Seo Jia looked at my face for a moment, then didn't press further.
"...Sorry."
"Huh?"
"I brought up a heavy topic for nothing."
She immediately returned to her playful expression and continued.
"You've been doing well at the company lately, haven't you?"
"It's improved a bit."
Seohan Group was third in the world; even 33rd in KJ Group looked poor in comparison.
But thinking of the old KJ, it was a tremendous leap.
Just as we were deep in conversation, a secretary in a suit approached.
"Mr. Chairman is looking for you."
"Ah."
Seo Jia stuck out her tongue.
"I should go now."
She pointed at me with her finger.
"Don't run away, okay?"
"..."
"See you later!"
She waved and disappeared into the crowd.
When she was gone, the surroundings suddenly felt quieter.
'Now what should I do?'
In truth, I hadn't planned anything major.
I'd only come here relying on a vague feeling that something could be gained.
*Sigh.*
A dry chuckle escaped me.
"I'm no Conan..."
Somehow, I'd ended up acting like a detective chasing clues.
But I had no choice.
The thirsty man must dig a well.
I could only move around busily everywhere.
On this cruise, the wealthiest people in Korea and those in power had gathered.
Surely something would be gained.
I needed to treat my hair loss.
Kang Taeseong, pull yourself together.
For my precious hair, I could endure this much hardship.
Well, then... where should I start looking?
*
This cruise was the largest social event hosted by Seohan Group to date.
The phrase "floating hotel" wasn't an exaggeration.
Champagne bar and jazz lounge.
A Michelin-starred chef's restaurant.
Gallery displaying works by famous painters.
Wine cellar storing vintage wines.
Private business meeting rooms.
Even a casino and spa facility were included.
If you needed anything, almost everything was on board.
You could go a day or two without stepping outside.
The most eye-catching person inside this cruise was surprisingly not the host of the party, nor the daughter of a famous politician.
Just one large-built man.
KJ Group president, Kang Taeseong.
"Have you heard?"
Rebel heirs at the outdoor bar tilted their champagne glasses and spoke.
"The curator's explanation in the gallery was wrong."
"Eh?"
"Someone quietly said something, but it turned out they were right."
"No way."
"Really."
"Who is that person?"
A woman who had been thinking for a moment expressed it with her hands.
"That... the one with the enormous build."
"The bear-like guy?"
"Yeah, that's him."
The women burst into laughter together.
"But how did he get here?"
"Yeah. He looked like a gangster in a suit."
"Hey, shh."
One quickly put a finger to her lips.
"That's the one walking with Seo Jia."
"...Ah."
The laughter died down like a lie.
"Then he's not just a guest."
"Don't let him hear or it'll be bad. Be careful."
"Still... he really looks scary."
"Yeah, even when he smiles, he's terrifying."
...
A bit away from the casino.
"Kyaaaah!"
In front of the poker table, a man shot up from his seat, clutching his head.
His face was flushed red with rage.
People around him turned their gazes one by one.
"Why is he like that?"
The man next to him tilted his wine glass and asked.
"He's been doing this since earlier."
"Lost everything?"
"What?"
"Money."
"That guy...? Who?"
The reply was unexpected.
"To some uncle."
"...Uncle?"
Several tilted their heads.
The term 'uncle' wasn't common here.
Most people around this age were young chaebol heirs or well-known figures.
But just a moment ago, a completely unfamiliar man had appeared in the middle of the casino.
He had sat at the poker table and swept the table clean in a few hands.
"He took everything?"
"Yeah."
"That can't be. He's not someone who can't play."
"I saw it myself. He was a real pro."
The man spoke quietly.
"He was acting like he knew every possible hand."
"So where did he go?"
"He just took the money and left right away."
Someone on the side curled the corner of their mouth in mockery.
"He sat down to get fleeced, and got fleeced himself."
"Yeah."
The man beside him suddenly asked.
"But who is that person?"
"I don't know. Never seen that face."
A moment later, someone remembered and spoke.
"Ah."
"You remember?"
"That super big guy."
"..."
"At the entrance, there was a commotion."
Everyone around remembered at the same time.
Overwhelming physique.
A massive body visible even under the suit.
At first glance, he had looked like someone from an organization rather than someone from this place.
"I thought he was Seo Jia's bodyguard."
"Me too."
The man next to him nodded.
"But what kind of person is he?"
One man said quietly.
"Heard he's the KJ Group president."
"...KJ?"
Several asked at once.
"Was the KJ president like that?"
I had definitely heard the name.
But in my memories, the KJ Group president was different from the massive man in front of me now.
Then.
High voices erupted again from inside the casino.
"Where the hell is that guy!"
The man whose face was red with anger shouted in fury.
"He's still at it."
"How much did he lose?"
"It's not just money. Losing that much means his pride is gone too."
One of the men chuckling at the table smirked.
"That person will be tired out."
"Why?"
The man looked at the troublemaker inside the casino.
"You know his personality."
"Right. He wouldn't stay quiet."
The surrounding men nodded slightly.
The youngest son of Inha Group.
He was quite famous in this underworld.
Well, he was free-spirited, but bad... he was a playboy.
He was known for believing in money and power and acting tyrannical.
If something annoyed him, he'd cling to anyone.
If he felt insulted, he felt the need to retaliate.
"Yeah."
Someone shrugged.
"He looks like he's never been here before, but he got caught on his first day."
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