Chapter 74
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Suspicious Atmosphere
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"Hmm..."
'Something's... off with the vibe lately, isn't it?'
Choi Go-eun sat at her desk in the office, as usual, reviewing the Monday report past 9 p.m. She could sense the atmosphere surrounding her at the company felt strangely off-kilter.
- Tap tap tap
She irritably drummed her nails on the thick report, but no matter how much she pondered, she couldn't pinpoint the exact reason. Was it because she had plenty of experience from her long tenure at the company?
'There's definitely something...'
Something subtle was nagging at her nerves for sure.
'The team members' expressions during meetings? The CEO not asking any follow-up questions at the kickoff report? The vice president's lecherous stare?'
No female employee was oblivious to the vice president's habit of blatantly ogling any decent-looking women, even if everyone hushed it up.
'The vice president has always been like that.'
- Drip
Recalling the vice president's sleazy gaze, Choi Go-eun crumpled the report in mild annoyance, venting her frustration.
That was why she stubbornly stuck to impeccable suits without a single flaw—they kept creeps like the vice president from nitpicking her outfit.
- "Isn't that skirt a bit short today, heh heh?"
- "You look like you put in extra effort. Got a hot date?"
- "Aren't you a little too sloppy for the office?"
Dressed up, and they'd complain it was too much; casual, and they'd say she lacked professionalism. Tired of the pointless jabs, she'd naturally gravitated toward suits since her newbie days.
Of course, even her suits didn't escape the pervert vice president's blatant once-overs, so it was business as usual.
"What is it...?"
There was definitely something, her instincts warned. But even after staying glued to her seat until nearly midnight, she couldn't grasp the source of her unease.
- Flip... rustle
With time seemingly frozen in the office, only the steady sound of turning pages echoed.
"Hmm..."
The CEO slowly reviewed Choi Go-eun's report, which she'd finalized until midnight the night before. His thinning, graying hair was neatly combed to the side. A former high-ranking government official who'd risen to bureau chief after passing the civil service exam, he scrutinized not just the content but the format and design with meticulous care—likely a habit from his long public service career.
That trait had played a huge role in Choi Go-eun's special promotion to head the Organizational Innovation Task Force, one of the company's key positions.
No one else could produce a report near-perfect enough to satisfy the CEO.
"Team Leader Choi, you've organized the progress so far excellently. Good work. But... hmm... no, never mind. You're free to go."
- Scribble scribble
The CEO pulled a fountain pen from his pocket, signed the report, and handed it back. He always wore a satisfied smile during her direct briefings, but today he trailed off with an uneasy expression.
'What the hell?'
If he was going to beat around the bush, why say anything? Loathing vagueness as much as he did ambiguity, Choi Go-eun wanted to demand he reject it outright and explain his dissatisfaction.
But even she couldn't confront the CEO like that. With a polite bow, she took the approved documents and quietly exited his office.
- Flutter flutter
The moment she stepped out, Choi Go-eun furiously flipped through her report. A thorough check revealed no typos or errors.
'Of course I didn't mess up. So what was that look at the end?'
The report was flawless as always. Yet the CEO's troubled expression suggested an issue. Frustrated by the mystery, she was on the verge of losing it.
- Click clack click
Heading back to the office after the CEO briefing, she felt employees' gazes on her. Used to stares thanks to her tall stature and prominent chest, something felt different about their eyes this time.
'Something's... no, definitely there.'
The anxiety gnawing at Choi Go-eun was taking shape, like storm clouds slowly engulfing her.
"Next, here's the proposed new organizational chart for the company's upcoming changes. We'll reorganize the current five divisions and three direct offices into a fully flat structure..."
At the interim report meeting with heads from major departments like HR, organization, budget, accounting, and IT, Choi Go-eun presented the reorganization plan.
True to her intolerance for even minor slip-ups, her visible PPT and over-an-hour presentation flowed flawlessly from memory, without a hitch.
Her delivery was textbook perfect—precise pronunciation and a comfortable tone, like a news anchor.
'Considering she stayed up all night making that...'
'That page took ten revisions.'
'Ugh, still makes me nauseous.'
Yi Hyunwoo and the four other task force members recalled the grueling times sliced away by Choi Go-eun's perfectionism with each PPT slide.
Still, watching her flawless presentation brought a tiny spark of pride.
"That concludes the Organizational Innovation Task Force interim report. Thank you."
Choi Go-eun and her team had anticipated the enthusiastic applause from the kickoff meeting. But the team leaders filling the conference room offered no reaction—just silence.
"Ahem... Finally, we'll open the floor for Q&A on the presentation. Please feel free to ask any questions..."
Slightly flustered by the unexpected response, Choi Go-eun pressed on. The real key was nailing the Q&A to cap off the proposal.
Hands shot up around the room as soon as she finished.
- Whoosh
Park Hye-su, the assistant manager waiting on the side, swiftly handed a mic to the first team leader to raise their hand.
"I heard the presentation, but the proposals seem quite detached from actual operations..."
"Change is necessary, sure, but some parts are hard for employees to accept..."
"Timing matters for reforms too—blindly adopting trends and success stories isn't wise..."
Negative opinions poured from team leaders grabbing the mic. A far cry from the kickoff's praise and excitement for innovation, Choi Go-eun sensed something amiss.
Yet she fielded the unexpected sharp questions one by one with logical rebuttals—a feat impossible without total mastery of the report.
"Impressive..."
'Her skills are respectable. Even though I helped make it, could I counter point-by-point like that without stumbling?'
Yi Hyunwoo marveled again at her competence. But despite her perfect answers, the room's mood hung heavy.
'The effects are kicking in.'
Yi Hyunwoo had poured all the hard-earned Employment Contracts from relentlessly working his dick into fueling [Smear Campaign] to topple Choi Go-eun.
Negative rumors about her spread primarily among managers.
Baseless whispers floating around gained specifics, infiltrating division heads' and team leaders' minds naturally.
Just as with Eun Seol, he'd reduced male employees' positive feelings toward Choi Go-eun via [Smear Campaign].
[Trust] toward Choi Go-eun - Decrease Activated
[Favorability] toward Choi Go-eun - Decrease Activated
[Respect] toward Choi Go-eun - Decrease Activated
...
...
Her outstanding skills had earned her a positive image across ranks and genders.
Male employees, lacking [Leadership] metrics unlike female ones, were easy targets for dialing down positives.
'No need to conquer them, so no Leadership required, huh.'
Yi Hyunwoo was glad the system dev hadn't made him target male employees—probably wasn't gay.
His current Leadership was 5, with Kim Ji-young, Seo Jin-ah, Eun Seol, and Kim Hye-ri registered under [Female Employees]. One slot left for Choi Go-eun.
Anyway, this interim meeting showed his efforts to undermine her were paying off bit by bit.
Positive images build slowly in minds, but negatives stick fast. Her decade of solid reputation crumbled easily under his meddling.
Though her poker face still held firm, judging by her expression.
'They say even the toughest tree falls after ten strikes.'
Yi Hyunwoo figured the day he'd plunge his thick cock straight through Choi Go-eun's pussy wasn't far off.
- Click clack
Despite the trashed atmosphere, Choi Go-eun exited the meeting room coolly after acing Q&A, her task force trailing behind.
'Next up, Kim Hye-ri.'
Timing was critical. Choi Go-eun's position was wobbling precariously—she needed a decisive final blow.
For that, more [Employment Contracts] were essential. Having scored a bunch at once via Eun Seol and Seo Jin-ah, Yi Hyunwoo now aimed to milk Kim Hye-ri too.
'Gonna drain all three dry.'
Maybe due to the poor reception at the interim report, Choi Go-eun kept her poker face, but the office froze cold. Team members slaved through overtime, eyes on their boss, unable to leave.
'No early exit today anyway.'
Yi Hyunwoo stepped out for fresh air to clear his head, fiddling absently with his phone when the random chat app he'd hidden for Kim Hye-ri caught his eye.
"Hold up... this is it..."
'Exhibitionist Kim Hye-ri... lovers with me, but also submissive to her Master...'
Sneer.
Pieces clicked in his mind, forming a solid scenario.
Bored and unproductive from forced OT, Yi Hyunwoo bolted from his chair and dashed to the parking lot.
- Beep
Sliding into his SUV, he grabbed a mask from the console and put it on. He messaged Kim Hye-ri via the app.
- Connect video call now
A blunt order. Was she on her phone? Her reply pinged.
- Right now?
- Yeah. And the title. Forgot already?
- No, Master.
Their video call connected via her request. Lounging at home in comfy clothes, mask on, Hye-ri appeared.
First call in ages? Even masked, excitement shone on her face.
[User Kim Hye-ri's Submissiveness increases by 2.]
'Oh?'
Her anticipation bumped her [Submissiveness] just from the call—likely because he was "Master" now, not Hyunwoo, triggering Submissiveness over Favorability.
"Take off the mask."
Abrupt demand to bare her face.
'Huh?'
"What, embarrassed? After fingering your pussy in a park men's room like a perv?"
'Th-that's not...'
"Then hurry up and remove it."
[User Kim Hye-ri's Submissiveness decreases by 1.]
Full exposure required major resolve from Hye-ri, dipping her [Submissiveness]. But she couldn't refuse and fully removed the mask.
'Ugh... nooo...'
With her face revealed obediently, Yi Hyunwoo moved to execute his planned scheme in earnest.