Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Ramen with the Chairman
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After wrapping up my enjoyable chat with the reporters and stepping out of the building, what awaited me was a single car and a few guys in suits.
"Are you Hunter Yoo Chan-seok?"
I glanced back at the building once before replying.
"Out of all the hunters who could come out of there right now, who else is there besides me and Hunter Han Sang-ah?"
I guess that was a roundabout way of confirming it.
"This car was sent by the chairman of Geumyang Group. We'll take you to Seoul."
I turned to look at Han Sang-ah.
"Your grandfather sure is aggressive."
To send a car right after we arrived in Donghae. At this speed, it wasn't so much that he sent it—he must've been waiting for me to show up.
"That's why he's good at business."
After Han Sang-ah's curt response, I tacked on one more question.
"What about his character?"
"Shitty."
The suits' expressions hardened instantly at her assessment.
"Miss Han Sang-ah."
"Wow, he called you 'miss'."
I shot Han Sang-ah an incredulous look, like I couldn't believe it. Now she finally felt like a chaebol heiress. I turned back to the suited men and asked,
"So, did he tell you to escort me politely, or break a few bones to drag me along?"
"He said to escort you politely."
No reason not to hop in, then. Han Sang-ah and I climbed into the car sent by Geumyang Group's chairman and headed straight for Seoul.
The head of the Geumyang Group giant was calling for me.
In Siberia, it takes days to travel from one end of the border to the other. But Korea's different. A few hours from Donghae City to Seoul City was all it took.
"He's waiting for you."
We arrived at Artea Seoul, one of Geumyang Group's subsidiaries. Owned by Geumyang Group, in simple terms: a fancy, flashy, massive hotel.
"You can head right in."
Han Sang-ah and I headed underground.
"The basement, huh."
I knew there was a club down here. We passed a dance floor pulsing with loud music and people grooving, until we reached a massive private room.
"Come on in. I've heard a lot about you. I'm Han Sang-cheol, chairman of Geumyang Group."
Han Sang-cheol wasn't big-framed. He looked downright frail. Leaning on the cane beside him, he seemed so feeble that he needed it just to walk.
An old body where even if you handed him a knife, you couldn't be sure he could kill one person. But that cane had magic called money woven into it—if swung right, it could crush a few countries.
And what a sight. First thing that caught my eye: a young man and woman in their late twenties lounging on the big sofas flanking Han Sang-cheol.
Next up: over ten women in thin outfits—what they call "hallbok"—sitting around. I wasn't the only one here; Han Sang-ah, granddaughter of the Geumyang owner, was too.
So what's the intent behind setting up this lounge-bar vibe?
"Why not just have them strip naked and wait? Doesn't look much different from what they're wearing anyway."
I said that to the old man in front of me, Han Sang-cheol.
"Anyway, I'm Yoo Chan-seok."
Han Sang-cheol's gaze locked onto me.
Sorry, grandpa, but I've dealt with all kinds of big shots... been through every damn situation imaginable.
The knight commander with an undefeated record in 57 battles. The emperor who summoned bloodbaths to reinforce imperial power and shut the nobles' mouths.
The duke who broke through heaven-sent limits, seized a kingdom in his grip, and shook it to its core.
The woman who steamed 25 nobles and royals under her skirt, sucking their wealth and power dry to the bone before becoming queen.
"Should I sit down and have these folks pour me a drink? Oh, I like that girl over there. Mind if I sit here?"
Trying to throw me off with an unexpected venue and atmosphere. Nice try.
"Pour him a glass."
I sat, held out my glass to the side, and it filled up. Without a word, I eyed Han Sang-cheol and downed the liquid in the crystal glass.
I set the empty glass on the table, and Han Sang-cheol stared at me before muttering softly.
"That fucker, look at those gains."
Han Sang-cheol tapped his cane on the floor once and said,
"Clear out the decorations."
The women, who hadn't caught on at first, finally got it and stood up to leave.
"Let's reintroduce. This is Han Hoon, my grandson. That's my granddaughter, Han Su-hee."
So the grandkids are desperately trying to look good to snag grandpa's fortune. Fascinating. Where are their parents, letting the grandkids fight over succession?
And where are the other grandkids besides these two? This family's got questions piling up.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Han Hoon."
"I'm Han Su-hee. You live up to the rumors—quite the looker."
Han Su-hee eyed me like she was pricing me out, while Han Hoon looked down his nose. Whatever. These half-baked kids aren't who I need to deal with.
"The rumors are impressive, Hunter Yoo. First in the industry to rack up results this fast, they say."
"When you've got talent and luck on your side, stuff like this happens."
Han Sang-cheol stroked his chin at my words.
"Ah, we should eat first."
Tteok ramen and tuna kimbap—that was today's menu. Intriguing.
"It all turns to shit when you eat it anyway, right?"
"People put in so much effort just to shit expensive shit."
Han Sang-cheol chuckled and nodded at my remark.
"Right, expensive shit."
"Even so, at least throw in some kimchi."
He nodded, and kimchi was added to our menu. Han Hoon and Han Su-hee were working hard to keep straight faces—they clearly hated the spread.
But they didn't want to fall out of grandpa's favor, so their efforts were almost admirable. Han Sang-cheol picked up his chopsticks and spoke.
"By the way, I heard Sang-ah, you worked hard this time too."
"Yes, I did a lot of hard work."
Han Sang-ah's reply wasn't to fish for her grandpa's approval. She just worked hard, so she said so.
"That's just how she is, always."
And so the meal continued. Anyone else would've called this an anxious dinner. No one speaking, just the clack of chopsticks on plates.
I took a bite of ramen, then stared at Han Sang-cheol in disbelief. What the hell, is this old man actually eating this? Looks like we're not gonna get along.
"Ah, let's finish eating first. I'll step out for a bit."
Whatever he was thinking, Han Sang-cheol stood and left the room. Then Han Hoon spoke up.
"Han Sang-ah."
"What?"
Han Sang-ah replied while twirling ramen on her chopsticks.
"Why do you keep getting in my way? You said you weren't interested."
"You believe everything people say? Come on, oppa."
Han Su-hee jumped in on Han Hoon's words.
"You said you wanted to be a hunter, and now you're doing it."
"Then what's with that punk that grandpa—the chairman—calls in?"
I lifted my water glass and replied.
"This punk just busted his ass overseas and came back to Korea as some super famous hunter."
Han Hoon's gaze turned to me. I met his eyes and took a sip of water.
"So what? You're just a stray dog that rummages every mountain for a paycheck..."
I slammed the glass down on the table. It shattered with a bang in my hand. Glass shards couldn't hurt me, so water just dripped from my palm.
I shook off the water from my hand, stood up, and grinned at Han Hoon.
"Ever been bitten by a dog?"
"You little shit, think you're somebody just 'cause the chairman called you?"
A flying chopstick whizzed past his ear and embedded in the wall.
"You've got the order wrong. I'm somebody to begin with—that's why the chairman called me."
"That cocky with your flash-in-the-pan popularity? You'll regret it later. We're not that easy."
At Han Su-hee's words as she watched the exchange, I gave Han Sang-ah an exasperated look.
"Han Sang-ah, did you suck up all the good genes in the Han family?"
"What kind of question is that? I told you not to beat around the bush. I don't get it."
Han Sang-ah was munching on kimbap, acting like it wasn't her problem.
"You really wanna pick a fight with Geumyang Group?"
I scratched the bridge of my nose at Han Hoon's words.
"What are you talking about? Since when were you Geumyang Group? Who's the chairman again?"
"Geumyang Group belongs to grandpa."
Han Sang-ah chimed in indifferently, popped some kimbap in her mouth, and slurped ramen broth.
Meanwhile, Han Su-hee said to Han Hoon,
"Grandpa's not here. Let's not make a scene, Executive Director Han."
Han Hoon's gaze shifted to Han Su-hee.
"You think you've got a shot?"
Han Su-hee picked up a single strand of ramen with her chopsticks, grimaced in disgust, and tossed it back into the bowl.
"That's why I'm forcing down this garbage—to think I might."
She finished and turned to Han Sang-ah.
"While you were in England, their government reached out. It was about signing a housing supply contract via 3D printing."
I rubbed my temple at that. Han Su-hee kept going.
"Analysis showed that deal owed a lot to you and... Yoo Han-seok? The hunter staying there."
Yoo Chan-seok, damn it, Yoo Chan-seok. Impressive memory for hotel management.
"So basically, Han Sang-ah stuffed some cash into the chairman's pockets."
Han Su-hee let out an "oh my" and laughed.
"You catch on quick. Honestly, the chairman couldn't quantify how much your hunter gig helps Geumyang. But look."
She spread her palms wide with a ta-da.
"Crossing Siberia to deliver aid... protecting the Dover shield generator, both of you involved. And you even cleaned up that Dover mess in the end."
So that indirectly swayed the housing contract.
"The British stiffs had a bad image of Geumyang to begin with. That's why their government kept delaying more contracts..."
Ta-da—Han Sang-ah accidentally smoothed it over. They couldn't avoid more deals with Geumyang anyway, so they seized the softened mood and sealed it.
"How's that make me and oppa feel—good or bad?"
"Must feel great with cash flowing into Geumyang. Congrats."
Han Su-hee snorted at my words.
"Guys like you shut up nice once you gag 'em, tie 'em tight, and whip 'em."
"Women like you tame just fine that way too."
Who wouldn't after being tied and beaten? Han Su-hee, who'd been listening, shifted her gaze to Han Sang-ah.
"Sang-ah, if you're not into him, pass him my way?"
"Sis, I like my bones unbroken."
Anyway, I got the picture. Han Sang-ah, out of the succession fight, hunter work accidentally padded Geumyang's wallet.
That gave Chairman Han Sang-cheol, who'd only vaguely guessed at her hunter impact, solid proof from the money scent under his nose. And now these two were wary of her again?
"What a pain. Do I have to mind their family drama while working?"
"Wish you would—this 'family' owns Geumyang Group."
I grimaced at Han Hoon's point, chugged some cold water, and shot back,
"Go eat shit."
I've got enough headaches without babysitting chaebol playtime.