Dinner and Deception
We settled into seats across from Jin So-wol at the round table, Yelena right beside me.
Clink.
As we sat, Jin So-wol lightly rang a tiny bell placed in front of her. At once, restaurant staff swarmed in like they'd been waiting, setting out the food.
First came tea in white porcelain teapots. I sniffed mine—subtle, rich green tea with a grassy aroma. Across from me, Jin So-wol's smelled different.
"Do you like green tea?"
"Eh, it's fine. Nothing fancy."
"I'm glad."
She smiled brightly as she said it, and on the surface, she didn't seem like a bad person at all. Her pretty features probably helped with that impression.
Next came the amuse-bouche, signaling the start of the course. I'd read about these in novels a few times, so I had a rough idea of the order.
"...Huh?"
But what arrived was a large pepper, glossy and shining on the outside.
A pepper?
Did rich people eat peppers before meals? I'd figured it'd be something like sesame-dressed cabbage slices.
I grabbed my fork anyway, figuring I'd give it a shot. The glossy pepper split open with a squelch, oozing thick liquid. A taste revealed it wasn't a pepper at all—just pumpkin porridge shaped like one, wrapped in some coating.
"Mmm! Soo-hyeok! This is delicious!"
"...Yeah, it is."
It was the best pumpkin porridge I'd ever had in my life. Even better than Mom's on winter solstice, nostalgia bias included.
Did they really need to make pumpkin porridge look like this?
Still, it was good. As an appetizer, though, it vanished after a couple of spoonfuls. I wanted seconds, but held back—it was meant to whet the appetite, after all.
Then the main dishes started arriving: steamed fish, braised short ribs, that sort of thing. I had no idea what they were exactly, but they looked expensive at a glance.
"...Hmm."
I shook my head, momentarily distracted by the parade of food. What the hell was she planning to talk about? With staff coming and going like this, what kind of conversation could she want?
"I figured it'd be distracting, so I had them bring out the rest all at once."
"Ah."
Jin So-wol seemed to read my mind. Soon, everything was laid out: a mix of Chinese and Korean dishes. The kind of spread a Joseon king might've eaten.
"Then, please enjoy your meal."
With setup complete, the staff left the private room.
"Ahem."
Well, it was here now—I had to eat. Honestly, it was delicious. Delicious enough to slightly melt my wariness toward the woman across from me.
"This soy-braised meat... any more?"
Yelena pointed at the short ribs, smacking her lips. Even I, who wasn't big on meat, found it pretty damn good. It melted tenderly in my mouth, letting me feel the texture of the fibers—a new sensation for me.
"As much as you'd like."
Clink.
Jin So-wol rang the bell again, and staff quickly brought fresh short ribs, stacking empty bowls neatly beside us.
Where are they watching from?
I glanced around subtly—no visible cameras. Probably hidden well enough.
"Don't worry. Seonghwa is a Cheonma Group-owned restaurant. Nothing said here will leak out."
"Oh, really?"
"Absolutely."
Jin So-wol smiled and poured from a separate teapot—three glasses total.
"Can't have a meeting like this without drinks. That okay?"
"No issue. We took a taxi."
Clink.
The full glasses spun around the round table. I caught mine as Jin So-wol raised hers from afar in a toast.
"Here's to continued good relations, President Park Soo-hyeok."
"...Yeah."
I downed it. Warmth spread down my throat, followed by a fruity aroma. Pretty strong stuff.
"Mm. This liquor's not bad."
"You think so? Good."
"......"
Yelena, oblivious, kept devouring everything that suited her taste. Should've come alone if I'd known.
"What do you want?"
Staying passive would let her control the pace. Better to cut straight to it.
"What I want?"
Jin So-wol raised an eyebrow innocently.
"President Park knows a lot of things I want—like that otherworld crop cultivation method. Of course, you'll keep that secret, so I won't press. But."
"Hmm."
"Your supply is a bit short."
"...Is it?"
I'd intentionally held back, but hadn't expected her to bring it up directly.
"Then I'll double it. Seondo peaches—at twice the current volume. That work?"
"Ho. Double?"
"Yes."
"Sounds great to me."
"But keep the price the same. Or no deal."
I pushed hard once, testing the waters. If not, whatever.
But Jin So-wol just shrugged.
"Obviously. Seondo peaches—we can't even meet demand now."
"...Right?"
"And that other one... what was it? The one you named..."
"Hookweed?"
"Yes. Double that too. Same price."
"Uh..."
Was she serious? As a director, she wouldn't say this drunk.
My probing had worked.
"For real?"
"Of course. To our continued partnership. Another round?"
"Sure... why not."
The glasses spun around again. Strong liquor, but smoother on the second go.
"Mm."
"And one more thing. A bit tricky—possible?"
"Tricky request?"
What could be 'tricky' for her?
"Cheonma Group's board meeting this week. Could you make an appearance?"
"...Me?"
What nonsense was this? I didn't own a single share.
"Just as a reference. Lots of skepticism about the otherworld crops. Did we really succeed, or is it bluff?"
"Aha."
I got it. No one had succeeded in 20 years publicly. Doing it overnight? Doubt inevitable.
"So, prove it for you?"
"Heh. Not that much. Just a quick intro. We can provide materials and staff if needed."
"Hmm."
"Do that, and future deals with us will go smoother. No supply limits."
"True... that'd help."
Otherworld crops: less than half a year since success. Cheonma was holding back reports for now, but secure a reliable supplier and restrictions lift. Demand skyrockets, all flowing to my farm. I could already hear the money rolling in.
"I'll think about it."
"By tomorrow morning. Board's Friday."
"Got it."
"Another round?"
I'd come suspicious of schemes, but it was all business—favorable to me. Balanced proposals, nothing too generous.
What gives?
Paranoia? But the chairman himself warned me in person.
Hmm.
"Heh. You hold your liquor well."
"So do you, Director Jin."
"Hehe. I drink a lot for work."
She refilled as glasses kept clinking.
"Euuu... Harasho!"
"......"
Yelena, who'd been eagerly toasting beside me, suddenly garbled something odd. Her pale skin flushed red—classic drunk talk.
Jin So-wol across from her looked unchanged: pristine white skin, no sign of buzz.
This liquor's... strong.
I felt a slight buzz too. Dizzy haze, body heating up.
Wait.
No way. My body was the same as in that other world—minus the horns. Back then, I never got drunk. Poison, maybe.
Poison?
But Jin So-wol was fine. How?
No way...?
I looked up, meeting her eyes. She smiled sweetly.
Snap!
She snapped her fingers. My mind fogged instantly, vision darkening.
And then.
"...Gasp!"
I snapped my eyes open.
"...Huh?"
Everything was the same: half-eaten food, empty bottles. Except Yelena beside me was out cold, peacefully asleep.
"...Huh?"
A strange groan escaped—not mine. From Jin So-wol across the table.
Snap!
She snapped again. My mind fogged briefly but cleared right away.
"Wh-what?"
Her perpetually enigmatic face twisted in bewilderment. My mind raced.
Why the sudden surprise after acting so composed? And that finger snap—what was it?
In that split second, I reached a conclusion. She'd used something. It worked on Yelena, out like a light, but not on me.
Fallen asleep?
There were guys in my other world with abilities like that.
Succubus.
Dream demons who fed on and manipulated dreams. Their hypnosis ability worked just like this: snap fingers, everyone around drops instantly. Annoying bastards.
Is she from the same other world as mine...?
Too early to say. Abilities didn't vary much across worlds.
So, what now? She'd dared use it on me—punishment due? Beat her ass? No. Too much unknown about her still. Hold off.
Then... play along.
Snap! Snap!
Panicked, Jin So-wol snapped repeatedly. I timed my method acting perfectly.
"Ugh... suddenly so... sleepy...!"
Thud!
I face-planted into the small plate in front of me. Peeking through slitted eyes, I watched her.
"......"
She stared for a moment, then reverted to her calm facade.
"Heh. Of course. Some resistance, huh?"
"Mmm... nyah..."
It worked. Nothing easier than someone who thinks they've won.
Now, what did she plan under hypnosis?
Asking for the otherworld crop method?
Fine. Pretend only Sujin knows, play dumb. She'd buy it, thinking me hypnotized.
"......"
Huh?
But things veered off-script. Jin So-wol approached not me, but Yelena.
"Yelena Marcoova."
"...Yes."
"Your father. Why did you kill him?"