Chapter 97: The Charity Event (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 97: The Charity Event (2)
The ship party was less fun than I expected.
Maybe it was because the ship was so damn huge, or maybe I just wasn't built for party culture, but I couldn't find anything to do.
Talking with my party members, all dressed up and holding glasses of sparkling wine, was pleasant enough, but these were people I saw every single day. The background had changed, but everything else was exactly the same.
It looked so enviable in movies, but now that I was actually here, there was nothing to do. They'd even made me wear this useless tuxedo, so I couldn't even go for a dip in the pool.
"Master, they say there's a casino on the third floor. Can I go check it out?"
Kwon Ye-jin was having the time of her life. She was snatching up every snack and drink the waiters carried past and seemed determined to try everything that looked remotely interesting.
"I'll go with her."
Lee Yu-na stepped up to look after Kwon Ye-jin, likely sensing that the girl was about to cause some kind of trouble.
Yoon A-young went off to explore the ship with Anna, leaving me behind.
What the hell? Am I the only one not enjoying this?
Apparently, it was an unwritten rule that party members shouldn't stick together at these events. They said it was to encourage people to meet others instead of huddling in their own groups, but no matter how I looked at it, it felt less like a hero's duty and more like doing favors for everyone else.
After all, it was much easier for sponsors to approach a hero when they were alone.
Maybe I was just being cynical, but I didn't like a single thing about this. Perhaps that was why I couldn't enjoy the party.
I ordered a non-alcoholic drink at the open bar and waited. It didn't take long for someone to approach me.
"I'm Marina Zuckerberg, Vice President of H&K. It's a pleasure to meet the hero Jeong Yeon-woo, who has contributed so significantly to our sales."
Who the hell is H&K?
She spoke as if I should obviously know, but I hadn't even lived in this world for a year yet. I didn't know the brands or corporate names that people here considered common knowledge.
And I boosted their sales? How? Did a photo of me using one of their products go viral or something?
Maybe Lee Yu-na should have been looking after me instead of Kwon Ye-jin.
I played along and made small talk, eventually realizing that H&K was the manufacturer of the pistol I used. I had just picked up whatever the clerk at the gun shop recommended, but the woman, unaware of that, praised my "excellent choice" and bragged about their products.
She then mentioned that, with my permission, they were thinking of creating a 'Jeong Yeon-woo Edition.'
"I'm still a bit burdened by that sort of thing."
"That's a shame."
The woman gave a bitter smile.
These people... trying to use my name without even mentioning licensing fees.
I finally understood why Lee Ru-da called this place a pigsty. They talked as if they were doing me a huge favor while subtly trying to rip me off.
A 'Jeong Yeon-woo Edition'? That meant they wanted to sell guns by using my name for promotion, yet they hadn't breathed a word about money.
I'd make plenty of money being a hero anyway, so that wasn't the issue, but I hated the mindset of trying to exploit me.
I needed to change my pistol immediately.
As soon as the party was over, I was going to contact Seong Hee-na and look into H&K's rivals.
I listened to her drone on about the "prestige" of a Jeong Yeon-woo Edition before making an excuse about a prior engagement to get away.
She seemed like she wanted to talk more, but when I firmly declined, she accepted it and left. At least she was wearing a polite mask and didn't cling.
The party had barely started, and people were already approaching me like this.
I was just glad the others were looking after Kwon Ye-jin and Anna, who were prime targets for exploitation. The quick-witted Yoon A-young and Lee Yu-na were guarding them.
Anna had probably experienced parties like this before, so she was fine, but Kwon Ye-jin might have been bled dry otherwise.
The main event of the ship party was the Hero Card auction.
It was a world where the rich went crazy over a useless piece of paper. Sure, it had the title of being the 'first card with an original signature,' but was it really worth an auction?
All proceeds from the winning bid were donated. It was a two-for-one deal for the wealthy: they got tax benefits and could curry favor with a hero.
I kept looking at everything through a negative lens.
I shook my head, telling myself I shouldn't be like this.
Let's think positive. Positive.
This was a charity event born of good intentions. It was an event to help those in need and to assist victims of Error phenomena in getting back on their feet.
Let's think that way.
I tried to mind-control myself like I was casting a hypnotic spell, but the moment I looked at the people on the ship, that thought vanished.
The gender ratio was nearly 50/50. In this world, which was socially similar to the Korea of the 80s and 90s, men rarely entered the workforce.
So why was the ratio so balanced here?
Because most of the heroes were women.
The place was crawling with people trying to seduce female heroes for their own gain.
According to Lee Yu-na, the ratio was 7:3 when she first arrived. Seven men for every three women? What a nightmare of a party.
Lee Yu-na had joked that the female ratio went up because of me, but that was a bit of an exaggeration.
Anyway, thanks to that, I had nowhere to go. My original plan was to go to the pool and watch the women in their swimsuits, but it had turned into something more horrific than I could have imagined.
Fine, I could deal with men being there. But seeing rows of men in swimsuits giggling while bouncing beach balls or wiggling their asses to squeeze out every drop of sex appeal made me want to gag.
Ah, so this was why I couldn't enjoy the ship party.
Realizing the greatest drawback of this reversed world, I turned a sunbed away from the pool and sat down.
A tuxedo on a sunbed... it looked ridiculously out of place.
I took off my jacket and unbuttoned my shirt a bit, which made me feel like I could breathe, but I could feel people staring at me as if I were a freak for lying down in this attire.
Who cares? It's too much work to care.
I ignored them all, pulled out my tablet, and started drafting training plans for my party members. The main event, the card auction, wasn't until tonight, so I had plenty of time.
"Haah... found you at last."
At the familiar voice, I looked up to see Park Su-jin in a flashy mini-dress, looking down at me.
Her healthy, tanned skin suited the sea perfectly, and her confidence, so fitting for a party, made her shine more brilliantly than anyone else here.
"Were you even qualified to attend this?"
"Getting ignored all of a sudden really pisses me off. I might not own a famous corporation, but I'm quite the capitalist, you know?"
"Capitalist? You mean your father left it to you."
"That father is in prison, and I'm the owner."
Park Su-jin grinned and sat down as her secretary, Kang Hye-in, turned a sunbed for her.
"A wallflower? I didn't expect you to be so bad at mingling."
"Only annoying bastards keep approaching me. Do you know what happened earlier?"
When I told her about the encounter with H&K, Park Su-jin burst into laughter.
"That idiot just killed the goose that lays the golden eggs. She underestimated Jeong Yeon-woo way too much. Just like my dad."
"I'm thinking of switching pistols. Do you know any of H&K's rivals?"
"Uh... well..."
As soon as the topic shifted to corporations, Park Su-jin's eyes darted around, and she fell silent.
When Kang Hye-in, who had been standing quietly, whispered something to her, she spoke up with renewed confidence.
"Poltsmith. They're H&K's traditional rival."
"It's Poltz, ma'am. Poltz."
"Poltzsmith."
When Kang Hye-in corrected her, Park Su-jin repeated it quickly.
Seriously, how would you even survive without Kang Hye-in?
I stared at Park Su-jin, who was still a spoiled brat despite her overflowing confidence, and she avoided my gaze.
"Why are you here? Did you come to see me?"
"Of course. I'd love to say that, but I came for a few reasons. There are few events as easy for networking as this one."
"Hmm... So you're using me too, Ms. Park Su-jin."
"Whoa? You noticed? See, I told you I shouldn't do it."
Park Su-jin complained, tapping Kang Hye-in's thigh.
The reason she was talking to me... it was partly because we were close, but also to show off that closeness.
Since I was the most valuable "item" at this charity event, just having a friendly conversation with me drew all the attention to her. For a businesswoman for whom networking was vital, this attention was a huge help.
"I apologize, Mr. Jeong Yeon-woo."
"No, I was actually going to make a grand entrance during the auction! I was going to surprise you by winning the bid."
Park Su-jin grumbled, having only thought about her cool entrance while Kang Hye-in apologized to me.
"I hate to say this myself, but do you even have the money to win the bid?"
"Do you think I'd lose? I brought plenty of cash."
I don't know... I hope she doesn't overdo it.
Lee Yu-na estimated my card's winning bid at 4 billion won. Even top prospects active in the US don't hit 4 billion; I felt she was overestimating me.
What kind of crazy person would burn 4 billion won on a piece of paper?
"Fine. Then shall we have a friendly chat for about thirty minutes?"
I set my tablet on the table and pulled my sunbed closer to hers.
When I lay on my side to face her, Park Su-jin's eyes drifted toward my open collar.
"Keep your head up and look at me confidently. Like a successful CEO."
"Hmm... Are you trying to help me? Why?"
"Because Park Su-jin is delicious?"
"You crazy bastard..."
She muttered a curse, but she didn't seem to hate it, as she smiled with slightly flushed cheeks.
"Then, in a secluded spot over there..."
"No. Everyone is watching. Show off our friendship. Let them know you're a badass CEO who's close with Jeong Yeon-woo."
"Tch, personally, I'd prefer a secluded spot."
Still immature, she whined for a bit before fixing her expression. She actually knew how to look quite dignified when she tried.
Park Su-jin lay on the sunbed, enjoying the stares of the crowd.
"I want to eat your cock."
"...You really don't know when to give up."
The people in the distance probably had no idea what kind of conversation we were having.
"How many businesses do you own?"
"Huh? All of a sudden?"
"I want to talk business."
"Here it is."
As soon as I spoke, Kang Hye-in, who had been standing still, quickly handed me a tablet with the data pulled up. It seemed she handled everything related to the business.
I looked through the companies Park Su-jin owned. There was nothing major, but a few small labs and SMEs that manufactured mechanical parts caught my eye.
"Do you make products related to Awakened?"
"We are currently researching, but we don't have anything for Awakened yet."
"Yeah, that's what she said."
Don't just say 'that's what she said,' you brat.
I looked at Park Su-jin, who answered nonchalantly, and handed the tablet back to Kang Hye-in.
"If you use me as your main model, how much of a promotional effect would it have?"
"Pardon?"
"Since you are currently the hottest topic, we can offer you the same rate as a top-tier celebrity."
"I don't need the money. I'm just curious about the effect."
"Hey, I'm the CEO here."
As business talk began, Park Su-jin, feeling left out, raised her hand and demanded attention.
"Su-jin."
"Y-yes?"
When I addressed her informally, Park Su-jin flinched, tensed up, and looked at me.
"Want to do business with me?"
"Yeah. I'm in."
That was a fast answer.
Park Su-jin agreed immediately without even hearing the details.
I showed the two of them some data on tactical equipment I had used in my previous world.
"I'll give you some time. Evaluate its worth and get back to me."
"I said I'm in! Let's make it and sell it right now!"
No, you stay out of this for a second.
Kang Hye-in hugged the tablet with the data and said she would contact me as soon as possible.
I needed to grow Park Su-jin's companies to manufacture useful tactical gear. And it would be great if I could eventually develop Rahiya's inventions too.
Talking business at a ship party... it made me feel like a businessman from a movie, which felt surprisingly good.
"Want to go to my room to stamp the contract?"
I stared at Park Su-jin for a moment as she whispered with lewd eyes.
If she wanted to be "stamped" that badly, I supposed I should oblige.