Cheon Ji-hoon?
The moment I saw his name on the business card—Cheon Ji-hoon—my mind started spinning at full speed.
The head of Cheonma Group. I knew the name, of course. I'd looked into them myself because both Executive Director Ju and the whole Cheonma Group gave off this shady vibe that just wouldn't quit.
Cheonma Group. A multinational corporation with influence stretching from Asia to Europe. Sujin worked at Yukang Group, which was definitely a big company, but there was a different flavor to these two. Yukang was mainly focused on Korea, while Cheonma had its tentacles in multiple countries.
And their headquarters is in China, to boot. Not that it was a huge deal on its own. But for a company that tried planting bugs in their customers' homes? No legit business does that.
Not to mention most of their executives were 1st gen awakeners, or at least that's what backed their rise—and they climbed to major corporate status in just twenty years. Suspicious points? Plenty.
And the most suspicious of all? Cheon Ji-hoon himself, standing right in front of me.
The second-generation owner of Cheonma Group. Son of the first chairman, Cheon Ma-joon, who appeared out of nowhere one day and took the company by storm. To wrangle all those 1st gen awakener executives in one go? He had to have insane charisma, no doubt.
Which made this even weirder. The guy in front of me just looked like your average twenty-something.
What the hell?
No power radiating off him at all. Awakeners have that distinct scent—the unique aroma that comes from mana flowing through their bodies.
Back when I had horns, I could spot it just by focusing my eyes. Now that they were gone, I mostly gauged people by smell. Hit rate? Pretty much spot-on so far.
Even Executive Director Ju had only been tricky because of his unique ability; the mana residue I sensed was just a notch above Sujin's.
But from Chairman Cheon Ji-hoon? Nothing. Zilch.
Which made him even more off-putting.
What kind of trick is this?
Maybe a unique ability masking it. I'd seen plenty like that back in the otherworld.
So, what now? Play it cautious?
“……”
All that raced through my head in about a second. I sorted my thoughts and slipped into character.
“Uh… r-really?”
I widened my eyes as much as possible and stammered. For now, this was the play. I was just a simple country bumpkin. Sure, I grew otherworld crops, but otherwise? Totally ordinary guy.
A massive corp chairman like Cheonma Group's head showing up at my door? Acting shocked was the only normal response.
“You're really the Cheonma Group chairman? Whoa! No way!”
“……”
“Ah! S-sorry. It's just… having someone so important right here is kinda blowing my mind…”
I hammed it up with gestures, and Cheon Ji-hoon watched me quietly for a moment.
“Haha, no worries. Happens all the time.”
He gave a faint smile, like it was no big deal.
“W-whoa. So how does a big shot like you end up in a dump like this…?”
“Dump? Hardly. You're the first in the world to cultivate otherworld crops. And you're supplying them exclusively to us? I'd shout it from the rooftops if I could.”
“Ahaha…”
“Of course, that'd just draw unwanted eyes, so I'm holding back.”
“I see.”
The small talk flowed, but nothing seemed off. Though the chairman trekking out to this boonies in the first place? Super weird.
“So, what brings you here…?”
“…Heh.”
I prodded again, and he just flashed another enigmatic smile.
Does he know what happened to Executive Director Ju?
Nah, hopefully not. I'd taken Ju out in less than half a day. Hell, his body might still be chilling in the Sonaiho Dungeon right now.
If he knew? Headache city.
“Just passing by and thought I'd drop in. I heard we offered to acquire your otherworld crop tech and you turned it down. Figured maybe the chairman showing up personally might change things.”
He gave a pretty plausible excuse for the visit.
“Hmm. I remember saying that wasn't happening.”
“Yeah, figured as much.”
He pouted like he was genuinely bummed. That's when I caught it. Just like I was playing the naive farmer, he was putting on the big-shot chairman act.
“Nothing to be done, then. Here's hoping for continued strong partnership between you and Cheonma Group.”
“No worries there.”
“Heh, thanks.”
He downed the last of his coffee in one gulp. Probably gone cold from all the subtle mind games. He set the empty cup down and scanned the surroundings.
“Nice place you got. Quiet. Peaceful.”
“Yeah.”
“Makes sense why you might not realize how famous you two are. You're pretty big deals now—not just to Cheonma, but across the board.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“Hmm.”
What was that supposed to mean? Keeping tabs on us?
“Anyway, thanks for the coffee.”
“Glad you enjoyed it.”
He flashed a bright smile and stood. Outside, a sleek black sedan waited, flanked by burly bodyguards in dark sunglasses glaring my way.
“Let me walk you out.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Usually, this is where they say 'no need.' Whatever—a few steps anyway. At the car, the guards snapped to attention and opened the door. Thick mana residue wafted off all of them.
“Safe travels.”
“Thanks for the hospitality. Oh, one thing—what should I call you?”
“Call me?”
Formality stuff. He looked about my age, face-wise.
“Just by name's fine. Chairman Cheon.”
“Haha, if that's easier.”
He chuckled lightly and offered a handshake.
“……?”
“Well, I'll be off. Mr. Park Soo-hyeok.”
With that, Cheon Ji-hoon hopped in the car and peeled out.
“...What the?”
Guy was shady as hell. Especially that handshake. Wasn't just polite chit-chat. Tucked in his palm was a tiny note.
Jin Executive Director. Caution.
“Caution with Jin Executive Director?”
Jin Executive Director—that name popped up from those Cheonma PMC C-Team goons before. Jin So-wol, I think. Ju Ho-ryeong had flipped out, yelling she was on his side or something.
Jin So-wol. Her name kept cropping up.
What did it mean? Wasn't Cheon Ji-hoon the chairman? Why warn me about an executive director?
“……”
“Soo-hyeok!”
“Gah!”
Deep in thought, someone yelled right in my ear.
“Damn, you scared me.”
“Ah, sorry, Soo-hyeok.”
Did they leave?
It was Yelena who'd called me. She'd been hiding with Do-cheol since we got word someone from Cheonma was coming. Appreciated keeping Do-cheol out of sight, but seriously—how long was she planning to live like this?
“What was that guy?”
“What else? Cheonma Group chairman.”
“W-what? The chairman?”
Yelena's eyes went wide once she clocked who it was. That was the normal reaction.
“Why would a guy like that come to bumblefuck nowhere?!”
“Bumblefuck? Watch your mouth. You dissing our house?”
“Uh… sorry.”
Per data, Cha-sun-myeon in Gangwon-do qualifies as bumblefuck.
“Hiding behind facts like a coward… Sigh, whatever. Drop it.”
Yelena nodded at Do-cheol's jab. They were ganging up on me sometimes, these two.
“Hey, Yelena. You've got an ID now. You don't have to keep hiding, y'know?”
“Eek.”
Shouldn't have poked. It was mid-May now. Yelena had been crashing here since early March—over two months. Sujin, uneasy about her living without papers, scored a fake ID somewhere. Kim Ye-na. Solid enough; she was passing as legit.
The mart owner in town even recognized her now. Buying mayo and cup ramen by the case? Bound to happen.
“Sorry, Soo-hyeok.”
“Nah, no need to apologize.”
Just asking, and now she was bowing her head all sorry-like. Nothing to say to that.
“Ahem.”
Felt kinda performative, though.
“Whatever. Anyway, that guy was Cheonma Group chairman Cheon Ji-hoon.”
“Hm. What'd he want?”
“Said he was passing by. But check this.”
I showed them the note from Cheon.
“Jin Executive Director. Caution?”
“Yeah. What d'you think it means?”
“Dunno.”
Search results: No signs of any code or cipher.
“Huh.”
Even Do-cheol could check that? Anyway, if even he said so, it was probably literal: Watch out for Jin Executive Director.
“…Got it for now. I gotta head out for a bit.”
“Soo-hyeok! Where to?”
“Got a place. Keep an eye on Ji-hyang, yeah?”
“Ji-hyang?”
“The kid crashed out in my room.”
“Ah, gotcha. Leave it to me.”
Yes! Leave her to me!
I left them to it and headed out. Destination: Sonaiho Dungeon. Kept watch for tails—just in case—but nothing suspicious.
Fwoosh.
I shook off the mild dizziness from the teleport and made for where I'd left Executive Director Ju.
“…Damn it.”
My worst-case gut feeling nailed it again. The spot where his corpse should be? Empty.
If there were other monsters around, maybe they'd eaten him—but no signs of that. The General and Lady General were off in the distance, just staring blankly at me.
They couldn't move, so not them either.
“Time's about…”
Around 3 p.m. I'd hit Ji-hyang and the dungeon at 7 a.m.—generous estimate, eight hours tops.
His body vanishing that fast? Someone took it.
God knows what for, but nothing good.
“……”
Nothing for it now. What was done was done. Even if it came out, no biggie—I'd bagged all the bugs and evidence from my place.
Ju struck first anyway. Self-defense against a monster-munching psycho who'd eaten countless hunters.
Hell, they might even pin a medal on me.
I tabled Ju for now.
Shh.
A cool breeze swept through the empty Sonaiho Dungeon. Pink cherry blossoms fluttered softly in it.
The serene beauty clashed with my tangled thoughts.
Grab what I can.
I scooped up the drifting petals, stuffed them in my pocket, and bailed from the dungeon.