Comrades Met in New Seoul (2)
Jo Miyoung, the Leaders Club manager, couldn't make sense of the situation unfolding before her.
'Chairman Kim Taeju and the prince know each other?'
How?
What kind of connection could a man fresh from Gurye possibly have with the imperial family—the most exalted status in all of New Seoul?
'Jirisan monster subjugation comrades... no way?'
If that was true, it meant the prince had taken part in the Jirisan operation.
Imperial events were always shrouded in utmost secrecy; even the best informants couldn't pierce that veil.
'So that's where they met—Chairman Kim Taeju.'
Even assuming her guess hit the mark perfectly.
Did that justify this level of familiarity?
The prince was even adopting a deferential posture.
Chairman Kim Taeju, meanwhile, looked mildly annoyed.
'Anyone watching would think the chairman outranks the prince.'
At any rate, they were clearly close.
Jo Miyoung quietly reflected on her own meeting with Kim Taeju.
Had she done anything that might give him cause to nitpick?
Said anything to offend him?
'...No.'
She hadn't.
She had treated him with the same courtesy as always.
A faint sense of relief washed over her.
Meanwhile, Ryu Jincheol couldn't have been more pleased with his decision to visit the Leaders Club today.
Trapped in the stifling palace with nothing but boredom, he'd stepped out for some fresh air—and ended up reuniting with a welcome face.
His lifesaver.
Chairman Kim Taeju.
If he hadn't shown up back then, the Sancheong unit's special raid team would have been annihilated, and Ryu Jincheol himself would surely have perished.
But that incident couldn't be publicized—nor could it ever be.
What would happen if word got out that the prince had faced mortal peril during the subjugation? The operation's hard-won success would be overshadowed entirely.
Even after arriving in New Seoul, he'd been confined indoors for quite some time.
Yet to encounter him here, of all places, completely unexpected.
On the other hand, Taeju found Prince Ryu Jincheol a bit burdensome.
It had been the same back in Jirisan, and it was no different now.
Suddenly calling him "hyungnim" out of nowhere?
In a place swarming with people, no less.
"Hyungnim! You a member here by any chance?"
"Just signed up. And could you drop the hyungnim bit...?"
"Oh! So you're a member like me. Feels kinda proud."
"..."
"I was gonna recommend it myself, actually... Mind if I ask what brought you here?"
Taeju recalled how the prince had mentioned the Leaders Club back in Jirisan.
And the purpose of joining.
No need to hide it.
"Opened a Taehong Bio branch here in New Seoul recently. Figured it might help with business."
"Hahaha! Knew it. Hyungnim's a businessman through and through."
Then his gaze lingered on the bronze tag hanging around Taeju's neck.
"...But bronze rank?"
"They said everyone starts at the bottom."
"Hmm. Club manager tell you that?"
"Yeah, explained it all nicely."
"Ah..."
Ryu Jincheol pondered deeply for a moment.
"Hold on just a sec, hyungnim."
He beckoned Jo Miyoung over with a gesture.
"Got a question."
"I'll answer to the best of my ability, Your Highness."
"You the one who gave hyungnim—er, Chairman Kim Taeju—the bronze rank?"
"Yes? Y-yes, that's right."
"On what grounds?"
"Strictly by the rules. Major success as a military supplier, but a newly established company with no other standout achievements... Still, we saw tremendous potential, so we sent the invitation."
"Rules, huh... I see."
Not wrong, on the surface.
But was the Leaders Club just some casual social gathering?
No—it was where the empire's elite traded the finest, most valuable information.
And this manager had gleaned that from Kim Taeju? There was a problem.
Whether deliberate or a blunder, key details were missing.
His lifesaving act was classified, so fair enough.
But equal treatment to a legion commander in his old unit? The key figure in eliminating the Gurye mine? Pivotal role in the monster subjugation?
Basic legwork would uncover it all.
Especially with the club's intelligence network.
"When did you send the invite? Before or after Jirisan?"
"Before."
"Really? Ever hear about that mine showing up in Gurye?"
"I have."
"Invite before or after the mine appeared?"
"Hmm... Pretty sure it was before."
"Got it."
The invitation had gone out right after Kim Taeju set up shop in Gurye.
When the spore antidote hit the market and Taehong Bio's name spread to New Seoul.
"No follow-up intel after sending it?"
"...N-no, I don't think so."
"Tch. Always bragging about premium intel, top-tier quality—and now this."
"W-what do you mean?"
Prince Ryu Jincheol unclasped the diamond-rank tag from his neck and handed it to Jo Miyoung.
"I'm withdrawing from the Leaders Club as of today."
"...Pardon?"
"Didn't hear me? Remove my name from the roster."
"N-no, Your Highness! S-suddenly like this...!"
"This isn't the Leaders Club I knew. I'll speak to the owner myself."
Jo Miyoung's face twisted in panic.
The prince himself was calling out her judgment on Kim Taeju.
She fidgeted anxiously.
If the prince quit, did she think she'd escape unscathed?
"P-please wait, Your Highness! I-I...!"
"It's decided. Hold your tongue."
"Ahh!"
Tears gushed from Jo Miyoung's eyes.
How much had she toiled to climb this far?
And now her carefully built tower was crumbling in an instant.
Right then.
Taeju spoke up to Prince Ryu Jincheol.
"Your Highness."
"Ah! Sorry for the unsightly display. Hyungnim, you can ditch this dump of a club too."
"...Hmm."
"I'll handle the business side personally. No point relying on a sloppy outfit like this."
Taeju's mind cooled to a detached chill.
This was textbook power play.
He understood—the prince's very existence screamed privilege.
But joining the club? Accepting bronze? Those were his choices.
'Act like a prince if you want, but don't drag the club into your mess.'
He had zero interest in being lumped in with some bully act.
So.
"I'll be sticking with the club."
"...Huh? Y-yeah?"
"Manager Jo explained the rating perfectly. Very. Po. Lite. Ly! Signed the form and everything."
"...I-is that so?"
"Kinda bummed I won't be clubbing with Your Highness, but no plans to quit."
In that instant!
Killing intent surged from behind the prince.
His guards.
Imperial guardsmen, no doubt.
His response must've struck them as insolent.
Whatever the reason, he'd brushed off the prince's goodwill.
But so what?
That level of bloodlust was laughable.
Prince Ryu Jincheol was flustered.
Chairman Kim Taeju surely knew he'd been slighted.
'Why?'
It wasn't just refusing to quit.
There was a veiled reprimand toward him, too.
'Was my approach wrong?'
Only then did Ryu Jincheol glance around.
Manager Jo still weeping, club staff frozen in expressions of utter devastation.
'Ah!'
Mistake.
He'd let emotions cloud his judgment.
Didn't even consider the fallout.
His withdrawal would cost most of these people their jobs—or worse.
Fix errors fast.
Ryu Jincheol stared steadily at Jo Miyoung.
After long deliberation, he spoke.
"Manager Jo Miyoung."
"Yes?"
"...Sorry. I was shortsighted."
"Y-Your Highness?"
"Acted too harshly without thinking it through. My failing."
"No, it was my mistake."
"As apology, I'll retract the withdrawal."
Relief flooded Jo Miyoung's face at his words.
"But I'm still unsatisfied with the rank judgment."
"Grant me a chance to make it right. I'll review everything from scratch—fair and thorough."
"Fine. I'll trust you."
Then Jo Miyoung shuffled timidly toward Taeju.
"Ch-Chairman, the bronze badge, please."
"Huh? I'm good with bronze."
"Please..."
Taeju reluctantly handed it back.
With the prince going this far, any further protest would make him the bully.
Only then did Ryu Jincheol's face light up with satisfaction.
He didn't forget to add one more thing.
"This is the man I call hyungnim. Bear that in mind for the judgment."
"Absolutely."
Jo Miyoung turned to Taeju.
Her deep bow brimmed with heartfelt gratitude.
He gave her a quick wink.
Her face flushed crimson in an instant.
'...Huh?'
Not what he meant.
Speaking of which, where'd those two silver-rank guys go?
Probably bolted with tails between their legs.
Won't sleep soundly for days.
Cute, how they'd scrambled to impress the higher-ups.
Anyway, from the prince and manager's exchange, the Leaders Club wasn't just social—it doubled as an intelligence network.
Like Haomun in the murim world?
As the prince said, the invite timing lined up with when the company was just getting its footing.
Bronze wasn't off-base then.
Taehong Bio had been a local Gurye outfit at that point.
'Though now...'
It had changed.
A lot.
More than he could've imagined.
Taeju left the Leaders Club with the prince and his entourage.
After all the favors, he couldn't just brush him off.
Joined him for a meal at a lavish, discreet restaurant, shared warm tea, nodded along to the endless chatter.
But this guy showed no signs of leaving.
Even after Taeju hinted it was time to part—let's meet at the club next time—no dice. Clueless or playing dumb?
Poor imperial guards trailing him.
Wish he'd just head home already.
"Gotta run—urgent business."
"What kind?"
"Company."
"Haha, mind if I tag along and check it out?"
"Pardon?"
"Can't ignore my Jirisan comrade and lifesaver opening shop in New Seoul. Bad form."
"..."
Fine. See it through to the end.
"At the company, keep your identity under wraps...?"
"Got it. 'Acquaintance's little bro' work?"
"Perfect."
Taeju entered the company with Ryu Jincheol.
The imperial guards, naturally, too.
"Chairman!!! Welcome back!"
Song Suhee beamed, greeting him warmly.
"Yeah, you get home safe? Sounded like you overdid the drinks."
"Vitality Surge works too well. Effects lingered into the next day."
"Haha, glad to hear."
"CEO Baek Seoyeonn and Branch Manager Choi Dongil are in the meeting room."
That's when Prince Ryu Jincheol smoothly cut in.
"Hello! Taeju hyungnim's dongsaeng, Jincheol."
"...Ah, yes. Marketing Team Lead Song Suhee."
Song Suhee blinked in confusion.
She'd seen the handsome young man enter with Chairman Kim Taeju.
He looked familiar—probably one of his past escorts.
But "hyungnim's dongsaeng"?
And that face...
'Where do I know him from?'
Impossible not to recognize.
Just then.
Baek Seoyeonn and Choi Dongil emerged from the meeting room, arms full of documents.
They greeted Taeju cheerfully.
"Chairman, how'd the club go?"
"Welcome back, sir. Was just about to report on the patent stuff..."
"Right! Any progress? Issues?"
Needed that patent fast to leave New Seoul.
"It's a hassle. Patent office demanding everything—ingredients, manufacturing process, raw material sources. Absurd."
"Hmm."
"Not standard procedure. Suspect rival pharmas leaning on them."
As expected.
Turf bullying.
That's when.
One of Baek Seoyeonn's awakener officer escorts stared blankly toward Taeju.
Tilted his head, rubbed his eyes, muttered to himself...
"Gasp!"
He yelped in shock.
"P-Prince?"
Prince Ryu Jincheol, eavesdropping on Taeju and Baek's talk, looked up at the call.
"Hm? You?"
"Lt. Col. Kim Cheongseok of the Sancheong unit. Fought alongside Your Highness in the special raid team..."
"Oh! Another comrade here of all places. Great to see you. Ah! You're with hyungnim—Chairman Kim Taeju."
"Y-yes."
Silence blanketed the office.
The prince—right in front of them.
'...What?'
'No way!'
'The real prince?'
'Knew he looked familiar...'
'It's the Fifth Prince.'
The Samhan Empire was constitutional; no prostrating at a prince's appearance.
A polite bow sufficed.
But no one moved.
Too stunned, mouths agape.
How many in this office had seen the prince up close?
And they'd clearly heard him call Chairman Kim Taeju "hyungnim."
'Just who the hell is our chairman?'
Even Baek Seoyeonn was startled.
The prince in his network?
Chairman Kim Taeju?
But the shock passed quickly.
Prince Ryu Jincheol turned to her.
"Mind filling me in on those patent details? Absurd demands, you said?"
Her eyes sparkled.
Immortal Realm.
Moments ago, Dokseon Dang Gunak had been anxiously opening and closing the infinite space over and over.
But he'd resolved to stop.
Now he sat cross-legged, meditating in silence.
Sharing the infinite space was akin to a soul link, in a way.
A signal must have appeared upon connection.
'Too faint to notice before.'
Time to find out.
He focused his mind.
A day passed, two days, three, four...
Suddenly!
Zing!
A faint signal buzzed in his head.
'This it?'
Dang Gunak opened the infinite space.
It glimmered.
"It's here!!!"
His booming cheer echoed across the Immortal Realm.