The Seryu Military Company Picnic
After finalizing the contract with Lalla Sinclair, we agreed to keep in close contact. I then stepped out with Han Yuhyeon, Mimata Chieri, and Eve to grab lunch together.
Eve looked absolutely thrilled, as if this were her first time venturing outdoors. She gazed at the people passing by and the buildings with wide-eyed fascination, like a country girl seeing Tokyo for the first time. Of course, she must have viewed countless scenes through CCTV feeds and monitors, but experiencing it in the flesh seemed entirely new to her.
“Is this your first time outside?”
“I was assembled at the Tokyo branch. And since the android concept came from you, Ryuta, I wanted to show myself to you first. Hehe.”
Han Yuhyeon seemed slightly bewildered by Eve’s demeanor. She knew Eve was an AI android, yet her appearance was that of a stunning, curvaceous beauty. When Eve acted so affectionately toward me, Yuhyeon wore an expression that suggested she was debating whether or not to feel jealous.
“Yuhyeon, have you ever considered becoming an entertainer? Among everyone I’ve met, your looks easily rank in the top three…”
“Oh, it’s not that impressive.”
Han Yuhyeon’s confusion quickly melted away under Mimata Chieri’s not-quite-flattery. Since both women could speak each other’s native languages, the mood grew warm and lively as they chatted away.
We headed to an upscale restaurant known as a popular date spot for couples and enjoyed our lunch. No matter how human she appeared, Eve couldn’t actually eat, so it worked out perfectly that I could finish her portion as well.
“I’ve replicated taste receptors, but I haven’t developed digestive organs yet.”
“That makes sense. Tasting food would be nice, but if it started rotting in your mouth or stomach, it would be awful.”
I nodded at Eve’s explanation. Eating real food did seem like a difficult hurdle.
“Regarding TG-Tech’s operations…”
Once everyone had more or less finished eating, I brought up my upcoming six-month assignment at St. Francisco Academy with my business partners Eve and Han Yuhyeon, as well as my secretary Mimata Chieri. I especially emphasized to Eve that she must never sell information about it to others. The Dark Merchant app had functions for buying and selling intel, after all, so caution was essential.
After she assured me with, “I won’t sell a partner’s information,” I continued.
“I’ll be working at St. Francisco Academy for about six months, so I won’t be able to participate actively in TG-Tech’s management.”
“Mm, that’s true. You won’t be able to focus for those six months.”
Han Yuhyeon nodded in understanding.
“Can’t you just handle things through texts or calls?”
“That would work for most matters, but we wouldn’t be able to meet like this. Plus, with the mission I’ve been given, I won’t always be able to respond to sudden issues.”
I shook my head as I answered Eve. Of course, the majority of work could be managed remotely, but I couldn’t keep disappearing from the academy, and openly meeting Han Yuhyeon or Mimata Chieri risked exposing my true identity. That was why I was informing them in advance.
“In that case, if any important decisions come up, I’ll trust Yuhyeon’s judgment.”
I left all decision-making in my absence to Han Yuhyeon, who held the second-largest stake after my own. She gave a dependable nod, her expression saying she would handle it perfectly.
“Since we’re all together today, why don’t we move to a café and settle the important matters before our junior heads to that academy?”
At Mimata Chieri’s suggestion, we relocated and continued our business discussion.
“First, I think we should prioritize the bodyguard pets.”
Orders had been flooding in explosively since the LA incident. We needed to begin production on the bodyguard pets right away. We had already started advertising while we were at the New York auction, so it was time to move into manufacturing.
“Then I’ll have the pet line produced at the Tokyo factory owned by the Dark Merchant.”
This meant the entire process from production to delivery would be handled by the Dark Merchant, so we would have to yield a significant share of the profits to Eve. It was unavoidable given the urgency.
“We’ll also need to create a catalog. Dogs and cats will be the basics, but clients in the Middle East are ordering large pets like lions.”
“Let’s discuss the catalog together.”
Even with the surge in orders, the total was only around three hundred and forty units. According to Eve, since this wasn’t mass production, they could currently make about ten bodyguard pets per day. Creating a standardized catalog would allow for greater output.
“Market research for the catalog will take a few days… Next…”
We kept discussing future business plans. Everyone involved was highly competent, so the conversation flowed smoothly and efficiently.
By evening, the discussion wound down. Everyone except Han Yuhyeon and me headed home, leaving us to enjoy the date we had postponed. We savored a Tokyo evening together, then returned to the hotel where I ravished Han Yuhyeon passionately until the morning she had to return to Korea.
“Yongtae…”
As expected, the pain of parting weighed on her. Han Yuhyeon clung to me with tears shimmering in her eyes. There was a tender ache between us precisely because we wouldn’t be able to see each other often.
“I’ll come to Korea too, so don’t look so sad.”
“Mm…!”
After all, several events in Korea meant I would have to visit at least once before the year was out. At my words, Han Yuhyeon forced a smile and nodded, her large eyes still glistening with unshed tears.
“I should go now.”
“Yeah. Travel safely. And don’t do anything too dangerous.”
“You’re the one who shouldn’t do anything dangerous, Yongtae!”
She was right. I had caused far more trouble than she ever had. The upcoming situation at St. Francisco Academy could easily spiral into something massive if things went wrong.
Han Yuhyeon waved at me repeatedly while glancing back over her shoulder. I kept waving until she disappeared from sight, then climbed into the car I had left in the parking lot.
Oddly enough, Mimata Chieri was already sitting in the passenger seat.
“Senior??”
“Hehehe…”
Mimata Chieri wore a slightly unhinged smile as she showed me her phone. On the screen played footage of me having sex with Han Yuhyeon from last night all the way until dawn.
How had she recorded it? I suddenly remembered that she had arrived at the Dark Merchant Tokyo branch later than the rest of us yesterday. She must have slipped into the hotel after we left and installed a hidden camera. It looked like she had used one of the ultra-compact models I had purchased from the New York Dark Merchant.
“Hiss… Senior~?”
“I was bad, so please punish me, junior♥”
I immediately drove back to the hotel. Today, I was going to discipline Mimata Chieri thoroughly.
After seeing Han Yuhyeon off, my daily routine grew even more hectic. I was already busy studying to become a Korean language teacher, but now business research and decision-making piled on top, turning every day into a whirlwind.
While I was deep in my studies, a LINE message arrived. Wondering who it was from, I checked and saw it was from Sawayanagi Azuma.
I replied as if I had never forgotten the promise. Even if preparation was needed, there were still three days left, so I could manage. Sawayanagi Azuma seemed to want to chat longer, but I was too busy. With the outing scheduled for the weekend, I had to work even harder until then.
After ending the LINE conversation with Sawayanagi Azuma, I returned to my studies. Not long after, my phone rang.
“Ugh, what now?”
Slightly irritated, I picked up the phone. The screen showed Fujigasaki Rinka’s name. Was something happening in America? I answered the call.
“Kyahaha! Your master will arrive in Japan three days from now in the morning, so the disciple had better be ready and waiting!”
It was an abrupt order to stand by. Three days from now… that was the day of the outing. The schedules were overlapping, which was awkward.
“I actually have an outing with the company I’m investing in three days from now.”
“Even better! Just pick me up at the airport and we can go to the outing together. I can take a look at the people from the company you’re investing in. Perfect!”
She wanted to observe them like animals at a zoo… Once Fujigasaki Rinka made up her mind, there was no changing it, so I reluctantly agreed.
“Understood. Tell me the exact arrival time.”
“Probably around seven? I’ll check the exact details and send them via LINE. Wait for it!”
Soon after we hung up, a LINE message arrived from her.
She really was the most self-centered person I knew. Between Taira Danjo, Mimata Chieri, and now Fujigasaki Rinka, it felt like there wasn’t a single normal person in my life.