Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Playchip Hotel Gambit
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After meeting Han Sang-cheol, we wrapped up preparations over the next few days and arrived at the Playchip Hotel in Hongcheon.
From the hotel staff's perspective, things must be absolute chaos right now. They were already swamped with the auction hosted by Blue Wrench, and on top of that, Geumyang Group had announced they were holding their company's milestone anniversary event here.
But even if their minds were fried, their moods had to be flying high. After all, it meant money. The moment our car pulled up to the hotel, reporters and all sorts of people came swarming over.
It felt like I was the protagonist in The Walking Dead.
Amid the zombie-like horde charging at us, I gazed out the window at the massive banners flapping in the breeze.
One advertised the Blue Wrench auction, the other celebrated Geumyang Group's achievement of topping the market cap rankings.
"Looks like the auction's drawing a lot of interest too."
"Word must have spread among the hunters by now."
Han Sang-ah glanced at her face in a hand mirror as she replied to me, then touched up her makeup a bit.
Jeong Oh-hoon, who had been watching her, chimed in.
"Never thought you'd be the type to fuss over your looks."
And she looked pretty skilled at it, fixing her makeup while staring into the mirror.
"It's a necessary occasion. If Geumyang Group's granddaughter shows up to the anniversary event in sweats with her hair tied back in a yellow rubber band, it'll stir up gossip. Not that I get why that would even be scandalous."
Sweats and a yellow rubber band. That's how Han Sang-ah wanders around during training. Sure, she's a hunter, but she looks more like some unemployed guy milling about the neighborhood.
But right now, she had makeup on, a sleek mini-dress, accessories galore, and even a pair of sparkling heels.
If the price she quoted me was accurate, she was wearing the equivalent of a 100-pyeong house on her body.
"No earrings, though."
"I'm scared of getting my ears pierced."
She's scared of the weirdest things. Isn't getting sliced and torn part of a hunter's daily life? Piercing your ear doesn't hurt compared to flesh tearing and bones breaking.
Then again, fear and pain are two different beasts. Meanwhile, Jeong Oh-hoon had been rustling through something and now looked back and forth between Han Sang-ah and me.
"The event itself doesn't seem like it'll require much from us anyway."
From skimming the pamphlet's schedule, our role was dead simple.
Just sit there, smile, and clap. Truth be told, there was no reason for us to have any real duties at Geumyang Group's internal event just because we showed up.
"The reporters are the ones who'll have a field day."
Jeong Oh-hoon chuckled at my words.
"Introduce me to any good catches~"
Not reporters—full-on matchmakers. Fair enough, our presence at a Geumyang Group company event would be prime bait for the press.
Of course, I had no intention of playing along. From the start, I planned to stonewall them completely today. I didn't want to waste time on pointless nonsense. We had a lot to do, and only four days to do it.
"Over here, please!"
"What's your reason for attending Geumyang Group's anniversary from Headhunter?"
"Hunter Yoo Chan-seok! Hunter Han Sang-ah!"
Jeong Oh-hoon put on a slightly hurt expression.
"Out of all those people, how come not a single one is interested in me?"
As Han Sang-ah walked over to him, she tossed out a line.
"Need some attention? Drop your pants right here."
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at that. If he dropped trou and flashed them for five minutes, he'd definitely grab some eyes.
The reporters, desperate for a soundbite from us, scattered the instant Geumyang Group's security team stepped in—and for good reason.
"They actually shot him."
One of the guards had tased a reporter trying to force his way through despite the warnings.
No one had the guts to keep charging after seeing the guy stiffen up and flop face-first onto the ground.
Jeong Oh-hoon glanced at the guy being carted off, then scratched his head.
"Hope that doesn't lead to a lawsuit or something."
"Even if it does, it won't matter. It's Geumyang Group."
One zap from the taser cleared the scene neatly, and we made our way into the hotel along the carpeted path.
The anniversary event was in the Diamond Hall on the second floor of the Playchip Hotel.
"Ah, there you are."
Han Sang-cheol, who had been chatting with some guests, approached us. He extended a hand to me.
"It's been a while, Chairman."
He gave a slight smile and nodded at my greeting.
"Thanks for coming. Hope the trip wasn't too rough."
Standing beside Han Sang-cheol were Han Hoon and Han Soo-hee. I greeted them with a smile too.
"Welcome. I was so worried you might not come since it's a company event, but I'm thrilled you made it."
Han Soo-hee's tone was worlds softer than last time. But I knew full well it wasn't because her opinion of me had improved.
You can't exactly spit in someone's face at a formal event.
"It's an honor to share this special day with Geumyang Group."
Han Hoon was much the same. But the moment their eyes flicked to Han Sang-ah, they turned icy cold. Still on guard, I see.
"Ah, salami."
Of course, Han Sang-ah completely ignored their stares and was picking out hors d'oeuvres she liked onto her plate from the buffet setup.
She seemed oblivious, but Han Hoon and Han Soo-hee were still eyeing her warily.
They were like puppies barking at the moon's reflection in water. Anyway, we quietly ate our fill to the strains of Strauss II's waltz echoing through the banquet hall.
"This is good."
The food, prepared for Geumyang Group's anniversary, was top-notch. Attending the ceremony was just an alibi for us, nothing more.
We passed the time politely—listening to tales of how Geumyang Group started small and grew grand, clapping, posing for photos.
The event wrapped up after about four hours.
"Now the real work begins."
We arrived at the suite where we'd be staying.
"But... is it really okay for us to share a room?"
Jeong Oh-hoon asked Han Sang-ah.
All three of us in one suite. Even with two bedrooms, it felt a bit off. But Han Sang-ah looked genuinely puzzled.
"I beat you in a fight. I can't beat Yoo Chan-seok anyway. If he wants to rape me, do you think sleeping in a separate room would stop him?"
Well... yeah, that's true. Han Sang-ah ordered a room service coffee, then plopped on the sofa and pointed to the equipment set up in the living room.
Stuff we'd prepared for the plan.
"Plus, if I were in another room, I'd have to keep coming back and forth for this gear. Total hassle."
That was true too. Jeong Oh-hoon nodded and leaned against the wall.
"Chairman Han Sang-cheol heads in tonight, right?"
"Yeah. Honestly, I was pretty surprised."
It was Han Sang-cheol's idea, hashed out after our chat at his mansion.
I figured just securing a spot would suffice, but apparently Han Sang-ah's grandfather was even more unconventional than I thought.
"The man's a character, alright."
Tonight, Han Sang-cheol was set to enter the junket room in question.
"Who could stop Geumyang Group's chairman from stepping into a junket room?"
Hunters can't gamble in casinos—it's banned, no matter how rich you are—so we couldn't enter the Playchip Hotel's junket rooms. But Han Sang-cheol was different.
He had the money and no reason to be barred.
He'd take a hunter's location tracker chip inside the target junket room, play a bit, then casually express interest in some under-the-table dealing.
When they show him the smuggled goods, he'd slap the tracker on it and back out of the purchase.
Naturally, the contraband would head back via secret channels to wherever they stash the smuggled stuff.
Once we pinpoint that storage spot, we raid it.
"Not sure if he'll pull it off."
If Chairman Han Sang-cheol succeeds, we'd locate the smuggled goods lightning-fast.
But if he fails, our alibi goes up in smoke too.
We were here at his invitation—if he gets caught scheming, suspicion would splash onto us naturally.
"If there are any decent pieces in the smuggled haul, I'd like to snag a few."
"Don't get greedy."
If there were worthwhile items, grabbing a couple as bonuses wouldn't hurt.
Just need to tweak them first so the originals can't be traced. For now, though, Chairman Han Sang-cheol's success is priority one.
Chairman Han Sang-cheol slicked back his hair with a comb, straightened his suit, and gripped his cane.
"Gambling, huh."
He knew the rules. But his gambling experience amounted to betting meals while playing League with friends at a PC bang.
Truth be told, he thought the very idea of gambling to win money back or break even was misguided.
It was like paying for a game session then demanding a refund from the owner.
Gambling was entertainment you paid for upfront—no take-backs.
"Probably something like baccarat anyway."
There were two ways to the Playchip Hotel's casino.
One through the main entrance, the other via a VIP elevator straight to the junket rooms.
"Chairman Han Sang-cheol."
Naturally, he took the second. The junket room manager was already waiting by the elevator.
"This way, sir. But first..."
"First?"
Han Sang-cheol furrowed his brow slightly and tapped the floor once with his cane. The sharp crack echoed.
"We need to do a body scan. Security concerns, you understand. Even in a junket room, we can't allow cheating."
Han Sang-cheol smoothed his expression and replied smoothly.
"I see. If it's necessary, then so be it. You think I'd cheat over losing a measly 5 billion?"
He'd prepared 5 billion won in seed money for junket entry.
"Never gotten this kind of treatment even meeting the president."
With that, he spread his arms wide.
"Go on, scan me. Never thought I'd get this ridiculous treatment over pocket change I could earn napping."
Arms outstretched, he addressed the junket room manager.
"You've got some nerve. Seems like nothing in this world scares you."
At that, the manager visibly faltered. Seeing it, Han Sang-cheol barked.
"What are you waiting for? You planning to keep this old man standing here like an idiot?!"
Han Sang-cheol's reputation was infamous. Geumyang Group's empire was built on the corpses of countless companies crushed under his hand.
The old fox of the business world, slithering between legal and illegal to devour his foes.
When it came to strangling funding and swallowing companies whole, the man standing before the manager was the world's top expert.
Han Sang-cheol said nothing more, just stared silently.
And that was terrifying. In a capitalist world, money was power.
The man before him was a monster he could never defeat. One puff from Han Sang-cheol, and he'd vanish without a trace.