You Think You Can Buy Me with Money!? (4)
You Think You Can Buy Me with Money!? (4)
I've got a card with no spending limit, and I've snagged a beauty of an S-Class Hunter.
So, does that mean I'm officially part of Changseong now?
Of course not. To be precise, I haven't decided yet.
If there's giving, there's taking, and if you gain something, you lose something else—that's how the world works.
With this insane amount of capital as the price, I wonder what and how much I'll have to give up.
The one who can tell me that is Changsung Electronics' chairman, Lee Yong-jae, whom I'm on my way to meet right now.
'But... it looks like the road there won't be a smooth ride.'
'Yeah, Hero-nim.'
Scarlet, who's been silent and stiff-faced since earlier.
The SUV reflected in the rearview mirror... it's been tailing us since that intersection we passed a while back.
And now, two mid-sized vans pulling up on either side.
They all look different in shape, and the drivers have these totally nonchalant faces.
'The intent is obvious.'
'Well, this kind of thing happens all the time.'
'Right~ The moth-like idiots who swarmed you demanding proof that you're the real Hero... these folks don't know, so what can you do.'
What can you do... Yeah, she's right.
Just like I'm curious about what I'll lose, it's only natural they're dying to know more about me.
Wasting emotions on something so predictable isn't very adult-like.
So, I tossed a word to Scarlet, who's been staring straight ahead.
"Pull over somewhere convenient."
"Ah... You noticed..."
"Yeah. I'm not pissed or anything, so don't worry. Oh, by the way—are you with them?"
"Yes. So, what I'm saying is... please don't go too hard on them..."
"Haha, got it."
If anything, it's perfect timing, I was thinking.
I've been chilling easy the past three years, so it's good to break a sweat now and then.
'What... hoping it'll just be a warm-up. Why send these half-baked guys anyway.'
'Scouting battles are always about probing lightly without committing full power.'
'True that.'
In short, I need to prove just how amazing I am.
Not with words, but actions.
Not linked moves, but distinct ones, from one to ten, in detail.
Hmm... already feeling annoyed.
"Hmm, looks like the rumors spread faster than I thought."
"Pardon? What...?"
"There's a lot of eyes on us. Or are they all from Changseong?"
No outright hostility or killing intent, but gazes from all over.
Unpleasant surveillance eyes watching our movements and reactions.
The reason I can sense this stuff is simple.
If I couldn't, I'd be dead.
Anyway, it seems big corps' intel networks are way more impressive than I vaguely imagined.
Scarlet's eyes were sharply narrowed too.
"Ours is just the SUV right behind us."
"So the vans on both sides aren't yours. Nor the sedans at left-front and right-rear."
"Understood."
Scarlet pulled an in-ear from her pocket and spoke in a voice cold as ice.
"CP, this is Sierra. Vehicles on left and right flanks from current position, followed by left-front and right-rear. Handle immediately. Out."
"Ooh... you're cool when you're on the job."
"Aaang~ Really~?"
"Haha."
At that moment, the clogged road started clearing up.
Miraculously, just our lane.
Thanks to that, I even got to see Clare freak out after so long.
'Was wondering how you'd handle it... but damn, clean execution. This'll shake 'em off naturally.'
'Top of the corporate food chain. Gotta expect this much.'
No idea how they pulled it off.
Man... the faces of those flustered, clueless pursuers are always a riot.
Racing down the now-wide-open road, a sudden question popped up.
"Oh, wait—where the hell are we going anyway?"
"Hehe, asking that now?"
"Thought we'd head somewhere secluded... but we're sticking to main roads."
"We were gonna at first. But with more flies than expected, the chairman said to meet right away."
"Chairman man's got some fire in him, huh."
"Uh... you're not even tense...?"
"I'm older than I look. Been through a lot, this and that."
So, even if I wanted to get tense, I couldn't at this level... though.
That said, I'm not underestimating the top dog of Korea's number-one conglomerate.
'Lee Yong-jae chairman's been leading Changseong from the 2040s to now.'
'Yeah.'
The man who overcame hardships and trials, leading an era of prosperity and glory.
That's the public's take on Lee Yong-jae.
'Of course, there are all sorts of suspicions behind it. Stock manipulation, aggressive hostile takeovers...'
'Lotus roots grow in mud. I'm no saintly gentleman myself.'
'True~ All those public enemies who got beat down by Hero-nim for not listening or having ugly mugs, lined up in four ranks by number...'
Erm, were there that many who'd eaten my fists?
Anyway, killing time with Clare—or Scarlet's—silly banter.
Finally, not just Korea's but the world's largest hotel loomed into view.
[Yeongnakwon]
The moment I stepped out of the car, the hotel's name jumped right into my eyes.
Yeongnakwon... Internet says it's named after Emperor Gwanggaeto the Great's reign title.
The area around Yeongnakwon is dead quiet.
No sparkling Seoul nightscape jewels in sight, no passersby, not even a cockroach.
You have to crane your neck way up to barely glimpse the hotel's top, with just a chilly full moon up there.
Made me feel like I'd been isekai'd again.
"Ready. Shall we go?"
That was Scarlet, coming around to my front.
"Hmm..."
"Why?"
"Weird. You seem like a different person from earlier."
"Hehe, everyone has a mask or two."
"Haha."
Chatting like that, I followed Scarlet through Yeongnakwon's vast gardens.
About halfway in, sure enough, Clare's voice echoed in my head.
'Pretty skilled.'
'Yeah. I know we're being watched...'
'Can't pinpoint how many. Hehe, heart's racing after so long.'
'You can't do that stuff.'
'Just a figure of speech!'
The surveillance eyes stuck like glue wherever we went.
Even after crossing the gardens to the lobby.
Up to standing at the elevators with the front desk staff.
The only place without eyes on us was inside the elevator.
—Whirring...
Of course, there was CCTV inside.
"Who the hell do they think they are, staring like that."
Muttering to myself without thinking, Scarlet turned to me.
"Security protocols—I can't help it. Sorry..."
"You're just doing your job. No need to apologize."
"Hehe, thank you."
—Ding~
The elevator, climbing for a while, finally stopped.
The sign that caught my eye this time: Soseon.
Meaning "where immortals stroll," it's the restaurant that's the symbol of Yeongnakwon... or so it's known.
Though there were men in black suits and pitch-black sunglasses standing at the door.
Scarlet gave an awkward smile my way.
I nodded with a faint chuckle.
Immediately, two agents in black suits approached me.
"Apologies for the inconvenience, but could you cooperate with a brief security check?"
"Sure, sure."
"Thank you. It won't take long."
One agent lightly patted me down from top to bottom.
The other stepped back a pace and scanned me up and down.
Curious about it, Clare chimed in.
'Looks like those sunglasses are scanners.'
'Yeah. You know about that stuff?'
'While you were sleeping, Hero-nim, I was web-surfing all night. The net's vast.'
'Web-surfing my ass—more like thrust, you simp-gone-wild Clare-nim. What holy sword rocks a gonik and stirs shit up?'
'I-I don't have a gonik?! Never stirred shit!'
Having this ridiculous chat, the security check finally wrapped up... or so I thought.
One of the agents I'd figured would vanish pointed at my wristwatch.
"Sorry, but may we inspect the watch you're wearing?"
"Why?"
"Pardon, but it's a luxury piece that doesn't match your attire, so we need to rule out any risks."
"Haha, risks."
"Sir. Will you cooperate?"
I'm a hero, sure, but no saintly gentleman.
Even so, I'm starting to get pissed now.
Why? 'Cause I came here at the chairman's invitation.
Even if he's top of the corporate chain, treating a guest like this is bullshit.
So, my voice coming out now was laced with that mood.
"What if I don't cooperate?"
"Urk...?!"
"You gonna subdue me? Drag me on my knees to the chairman?"
Hand still in my pocket, the two agents dropped to their knees.
More like I made 'em kneel.
By unleashing outward the power and mana I'd always kept bottled inside.
I eyed Scarlet to back off as she tried to intervene.
"You seem to be misunderstanding—I've been maximally cooperative just by coming this far."
"Hah, hah, grk...! M-my... fault...!"
"But if this is how you greet guests, I got nothing to say to you lot. If there's something to say, tell your chairman to come himself."
It might really be legit security.
Or maybe a power play to break my spirit.
Or some other intent—who cares anymore, not my problem.
The top dog here is me, not some number-one corp.
So, I headed back to the elevators.
"M-Master, no, H-Hyun-do-ssi...! Wait, please...! Let me apologize on their behalf...!"
"Haha, what're you saying. If an employee's fucked up, the boss comes out to apologize."
"Th-that's..."
You're right, you're so right...!
Scarlet's face seemed to say, as I looked away and hit the elevator button.
—Ding~
The elevator from one floor up came right down.
And inside the opening doors, someone was there, as expected.
Stranger to me... but Scarlet seemed to know him.
"T-Team Leader-nim?!"
"Sorry, Lee Hyun-do-ssi. For the excessive security measures that upset you, I sincerely apologize."
"Hmm."
This Team Leader Lee guy... not bad.
Decent matchup against me, I'd say.
If someone's climbed this high and bows their head to apologize... I can shelve the annoyance for a bit.
They got face to save, just like me.
"Got it. Apology accepted."
"Thank you. From here, Scarlet and I will escort you. Shall we?"
"Sure."