The Fake Chairman
The board meeting this time was held in the same building as the Sanghwa Restaurant they'd visited last time. It turned out the entire massive structure belonged to Cheonma Group.
Damn, they've got a shit-ton of money.
It wasn't for nothing that this was a company playing on a global scale.
They headed to the large conference room on the basement level, where Park Soo-hyeok ran into Jin So-wol, who had arrived early.
"You're here."
"Yeah."
Jin So-wol flashed a bright smile at the sight of him. He followed her into the conference room.
"Don't be nervous. It's nothing big."
"Mm... alright."
She was smiling on the outside, but knowing how dark her insides were in every way, it didn't come across as entirely pleasant.
Whatever.
Truth be told, it didn't matter much. Whether this woman was bad news or not, she was incredibly useful to him and his family right now in all sorts of ways.
And she saw him the same way. So as long as they were useful to each other, they could just keep using one another. That was that.
"Let's wait here together for a bit. Still some time left."
"Sure."
There were plenty of other people around besides Jin So-wol this time—high-ranking folks all set to attend the board meeting. Each had a few attendants hovering nearby. Most were dressed flashy.
One guy was in a purple plaid suit, and another sported a jade-green suit with a white beard hanging down to his solar plexus.
And their eyes weren't ordinary either; they didn't seem like average people.
They said they're all 1st gen awakeners.
Sure enough, they all carried a thick lingering scent of mana, as did their attendants. Probably no non-awakener in the bunch.
"!@#$"
He considered eavesdropping on their chatter, but it was Chinese, so no dice.
"Lots of foreigners, huh."
"Yeah. The head office is in China, after all."
"And yet the board meeting's in Korea?"
"Hehe. Because Chairman Cheon is Korean."
"Ah."
As they exchanged small talk with Jin So-wol, a heavy voice suddenly boomed out.
"The Chairman is entering."
Clunk.
The conference room doors swung open, and a familiar face stepped in. Black, flowing hair and refined features—the same face from before.
But the vibe was completely different. Like a whole other person.
Hmph.
Still, no trace of mana lingered around him.
Hm.
Though it felt a bit different from when he'd visited their house last time. A thin coat embroidered with subtle dragon patterns in gold thread. There was a faint, unnatural mana residue, like some kind of enchantment.
Thanks to that, perhaps, every Cheonma Group director shot to their feet, crushed under the pressure.
"......"
Since they were acquaintances, he gave a casual eyebrow raise as a sign of greeting.
Chairman Cheon offered no reply and simply strode to his seat.
With all the eyes on them, he couldn't help it.
"You'll do your presentation toward the end, in order."
"Got it."
"Then, excuse me."
Jin So-wol stood and headed to the front.
"Cheonma Group. 2023 Q2 Board Meeting. Let's begin."
Jin So-wol, the director, was handling proceedings. For her to take the reins in a setting like this, she must wield some real influence.
"Ahem!"
"...Hmph."
Not everyone approved, judging by the uncomfortable murmurs rippling through the room here and there.
"Before we proceed with today's board meeting, note that Executive Director Ju Ho-ryeong, who was to lead, is absent for personal reasons. I, Director Jin So-wol, will substitute. Your understanding, please."
Oho.
Personal reasons. They didn't know he was dead yet?
Or maybe they were pretending not to.
The meeting kicked off with Jin So-wol's apology.
He wondered if a bumpkin farmer like him even belonged here, but nothing too noteworthy came up.
The other directors seemed to peg him as just Jin So-wol's attendant.
Anyway, as a farmer observing a Cheonma Group board meeting, his takeaway was...
What the hell. Fuck.
Most of the presentation materials were in hanja, so he had no clue what they said. Piecing it together from the numbers, it was a company raking in insane cash. Like, this much?
"...That's all."
The minor agenda items wrapped up, and Jin So-wol nodded at him.
His turn for the presentation next. More like testimony, really.
"Then..."
"Hold on."
As he started to stand, one director raised a hand. The white-bearded guy whose beard reached his solar plexus.
His speech was a bit slurred—not Korean, probably.
"Sorry to interrupt, but what happened to Executive Director Ju Ho-ryeong?"
Maybe due to age, he spoke down to Jin So-wol like she was his subordinate.
A flicker of displeasure crossed her face, but she didn't show it much.
"...As I mentioned earlier, personal reasons..."
"Mm. I could say that too. What I want to know is why a guy who was fine just last month suddenly has 'personal reasons'—right before the board meeting, no less."
"......"
Her expression crumpled at his words.
"We're still investigating. It's unrelated to this board meeting..."
"Unrelated? An executive director vanishes?"
"Heard something fishy went down."
"Can you even reach him?"
Other directors chimed in like they'd been waiting.
"......"
The meeting was devolving into chaos, but Chairman Cheon Ji-hoon—the star of this show—just sat there with a bored look.
Thud.
Jin So-wol, fed up, lightly tapped the table with the gavel.
"'Fishy'? What do you mean?"
The man smirked at her aggressive pushback.
"For example, if Director Jin egged Executive Director Ju Ho-ryeong into doing something stupid."
"......"
Huh?
Something stupid? What was that about.
Ju Ho-ryeong had been up to plenty of crazy shit lately. Sneaking into the Sonaeho Dungeon to munch on hunters. Trying to bug the house of his future top customer for Cheonma Bio Farm.
"......"
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over him.
The reason behind Ju Ho-ryeong's deranged antics. From facing the guy, it didn't seem like some innate perversion.
There was definitely some other reason.
His gaze naturally drifted to Jin So-wol, mid-meeting.
'Egged Ju Ho-ryeong into doing something stupid'... Wait, is she talking about me?
Her eyes met his and trembled faintly.
It had been mild suspicion until then, but eye contact turned it to certainty.
"Ha."
He glanced back at the director who'd just spoken. The guy hadn't even turned his head his way, so he clearly didn't know he was the subject.
"...Chairman Cheon has already issued discipline on that matter."
"Ha! That's not all... Hngh!"
The man, gleefully snarking away, suddenly gasped for breath.
A thick mana scent poured from the chairman's seat at the front, aimed straight at the man's nape.
"...I won't tolerate disruptions to the meeting."
"Guh... kuhk...!"
Only after the man foamed at the mouth did the intense pressure lift.
"...We'll take a 20-minute break. Resume after."
With that, Jin So-wol halted proceedings and stormed out.
"......"
He followed right after.
She'd gone to the auditorium next to the conference room. Empty, no schedule today.
"Hoo..."
Jin So-wol let out a deep sigh, anger not yet faded.
"You okay?"
"...Yeah. Sorry you had to see that mess on your rare visit."
"Nah, it's fine."
Truth be told, after staring at unreadable hanja, watching a fight was kinda fun.
Fun aside, some things needed addressing.
"But what was that just now?"
"What?"
"You know."
The white-beard's claim that she'd incited Ju Ho-ryeong. A director wouldn't spout baseless crap mid-meeting.
Her reaction only confirmed it.
"......"
"For real?"
"...And if it was?"
"...Ha. Unbelievable."
He sighed shortly, sorting his thoughts.
The reason Ju Ho-ryeong had bugged them obsessively. Probably what that director meant.
She'd incited him to pull that off.
Why? Her target wasn't him or Sujin—it was Yelena.
She already knew Yelena lived with them, using the hookvine grass as an excuse to get close.
Curious about Yelena, but living with them was a problem.
Rash approach might ruin things, so she tested their level first.
"Hey, Park Soo-hyeok."
As he wrapped up his thinking, Jin So-wol glared, brows furrowed.
"What if I did? Huh?"
"......"
"Fuck! Why do these assholes keep pissing me off? Fucking nobodies!"
"Huh."
Bam!
Jin So-wol stomped hard, screaming curses. Complex characters floated around her foot, spreading out.
They grew until they engulfed the entire auditorium.
"Fuck!"
Her shrill shout echoed off the walls.
Those hanja seemed to form a barrier.
"Hey. What the hell are you doing?"
"What? Venting at these clueless fucks!"
"......"
"That damn Ha Gang-sang-ju fucker too. Weak-ass nobodies! Why do they keep yapping?!"
Her pent-up emotions exploded as she kept cursing and yelling.
"Fine, Park Soo-hyeok. I did it all. That dumbass Executive Director Ju Ho-ryeong—I just dropped a hint, and the little rat dove right in!"
"I see..."
"Didn't expect the thick-headed bastard to drop dead suddenly, though. But."
"......"
"So what? Think anything changes? Huh? What can a non-awakener like you do?"
She grabbed his collar, shouting. Her grip was no joke.
That lent more weight to his hypothesis.
"Guess we can't work together after all, Director Jin."
"...What?"
"Was gonna let it slide since we help each other, but this seals it."
Honestly, yeah. For the utility.
But touching his family? No overlooking that.
"Seals what?"
"We can't do business."
"...Ha."
She let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Park Soo-hyeok. Wanna die?"
"Uh... no."
"Then what makes you talk big?!"
Fierce wind pressure shook the entire warded auditorium.
Blue energy swirled around the screaming Director Jin So-wol.
"Think Cheonma Group is a pushover?"
"...No."
"...Ha. Fine. Wanna partner up again?"
"...Sigh."
He sighed deeply and gripped the wrist clutching his collar.
"Not that either."
"Playing word games?!"
She swung a palm strike with her blue-energy vortex hand.
A ripping air sound. As expected of the legendary 1st gen who founded Cheonma Group. That unique ability Cheon Ma-joon once used.
Bang!
Crossing his arms to block sent him flying back. He landed far off, rubbing his numb arms.
Any non-awakener would've had both arms snapped, rolling broken on the floor.
When pissed, she didn't care about that stuff.
I might've gotten under her skin a bit.
Seeing him unscathed, Jin So-wol tilted her head.
His act at Sanghwa last time had worked perfectly.
"...What? You're an awakener?"
Sorry, but the shocks weren't over.
"Is that the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?"
"Wh-what?"
Her face filled with bewilderment at his words.
"N-no way? The Heavenly Demon Divine Art is only for Cheonma Group's master..."
"Probably was originally."
"......"
She clamped her mouth shut, hit right on the mark.
Then she schooled her expression. Murderous intent—she'd kill him here.
Bingo. My guess was right.
This all made sense thanks to Jin So-wol's unique ability, Absorption.
The cheat skill that sucked in the target's mana along with their unique ability.
The ability of Cheonma Group's master, Cheon Ma-joon: Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
She was using it now. Clear as day.
With the situation grasped, he smirked at Jin So-wol.
"The current Chairman Cheon Ji-hoon... he's a fake, right?"