The man who stepped out of the car the moment he confirmed it was Jin-Woo had a familiar face. There was no need to dig through his memory to recall the name. A fixture in virtually every economic news segment in South Korea, he was someone Jin-Woo knew well for more than one reason.
"I'm Yoo Myung-Han of Yoojin Construction. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo."
Yoo Myung-Han bowed his head slightly, his back perfectly straight. Neither rude nor servile—it was a clean, measured gesture, as though he'd been taught exactly what a proper greeting looked like. Jin-Woo was quietly impressed. He hadn't expected the chairman of a conglomerate to be this courteous to someone he'd never met before. Because the man was courteous, Jin-Woo returned the greeting in kind.
"Sung Jin-Woo."
The moment the brief introduction was over, Yoo Myung-Han got to the point.
"I apologize for showing up without any notice, but if you have the time, could I ask for a bit of yours?"
A small question flickered through Jin-Woo's mind.
'If he wanted to see me…'
It would have been easier to reach out through his son. So why had Chairman Yoo Myung-Han gone to the trouble of coming here in person? Swallowing that question, Jin-Woo asked.
"What's this about?"
Yoo Myung-Han answered with a look that said it was unfortunate, but this was the only way.
"It's not something I can discuss here."
Now that he thought about it, sure enough—Jin-Woo might have been blending in with his comfortable tracksuit and hoodie, but people's gazes were already darting toward Yoo Myung-Han and landing on him one by one. With this many passersby, there was no way they could hold an important conversation in a place like this. Jin-Woo understood that much. The problem was—
'I have nothing that would constitute an important matter to discuss with Chairman Yoo Myung-Han.'
He couldn't think of a single thing. If he had to force something, maybe the story of Yoo Jin-Ho, the chairman's second son and vice president of the Ahjin Guild? As Jin-Woo's reply was delayed, more and more people casually turned to look at Yoo Myung-Han. Some were even pulling out their phones to take pictures. With attention steadily converging on them, the chairman grew a little anxious.
'If I let this chance slip, it'll be even harder to have a conversation.'
He had a reason he absolutely had to meet Jin-Woo. So he gathered his courage and made his request.
"Hunter Sung. Forgive the intrusion, but would you come with me? I give you my word—I won't bring up anything improper."
Jin-Woo happened to glance back. In the midst of the reporters' frenzied attention, Yoo Jin-Ho was looking flustered—no, outright overwhelmed. Jin-Woo stifled another laugh.
'Jin-Ho looks busy today too.'
He'd been hogging the nearby high-rank Dungeons thanks to the larger guilds' accommodations for a while now. Maybe it was time to give the raids a rest. Jin-Woo nodded.
"Very well." "Thank you."
Yoo Myung-Han dipped his head in a deep bow, then straightened up and opened the rear door of the car as though escorting a distinguished guest.
"Please, get in."
Once Jin-Woo had settled inside, the chairman walked around to the other side and took the seat beside him. The car was so large that even two broad-shouldered men fit comfortably with room to spare. Just before they set off, Jin-Woo asked.
"Where are we going?"
"There's no particular destination in mind. If you have somewhere you'd prefer, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo…"
Jin-Woo shook his head, and Chairman Yoo Myung-Han started the car. He looked over at Jin-Woo and spoke.
"I know a place where we can talk quietly, without anyone else paying attention. I'll take you there."
Jin-Woo leaned back against his seat. Being an expensive car, the cushioning was indescribably comfortable. The car glided along in silence and arrived at its destination before long.
"Here we are, Hunter."
The chauffeur approached to open the chairman's door, but Yoo Myung-Han shook his head. The chauffeur then walked around to the opposite side—Jin-Woo's side—and opened his door. Jin-Woo stepped out and looked up at the towering building.
'This is the place where we can talk quietly…?'
Standing there at a loss for words, Jin-Woo was immediately surrounded by attendants who bowed a full ninety degrees.
"Welcome, Chairman!" "Welcome, Chairman!"
The synchronized voices of six people startled Jin-Woo into silently marveling. How much practice did it take to get that level of coordination?
"Please, come in, Hunter."
Chairman Yoo Myung-Han strode into the building without a hint of arrogance. Near the top of the building, four characters in a clean typeface were affixed to the glass: "Yoojin Construction."
'…'
Jin-Woo followed Yoo Myung-Han inside. Yoo Myung-Han, who had been waiting for him to enter, matched his pace as they walked.
"This way."
Employees who spotted the chairman greeted Yoo Myung-Han with crisp bows. Though his expression remained neutral, he acknowledged each one with a nod. A big man. Jin-Woo felt the same kind of aura he'd sensed from Go Gun-Hee, chairman of the Hunter's Association, radiating from Chairman Yoo as well. Reading the sincere devotion in the employees' eyes, Jin-Woo formed a rough impression of the kind of person Yoo Myung-Han was, and followed him in silence. The employees who had bowed to the chairman soon took notice of the person walking alongside him.
'Who's that?' 'Huh? That guy?' 'No way…?'
Recognizing the S-rank Hunter who had pulled back his hood upon entering the building, the employees' jaws dropped. The nation's top Hunter and the nation's top businessman, walking into Yoojin Construction headquarters together—who wouldn't be stunned?
'Whoa!'
The employees' eyes went wide. The women felt their hearts pounding for reasons they couldn't quite explain, and the men nodded at Jin-Woo. They had no idea why Hunter Sung Jin-Woo was with the chairman, but seeing two people who were each the pinnacle of their own field standing side by side, the picture they made was striking despite the vast gap in their ages. It was the sort of scene any man couldn't help but admire. Passing through all those stares, the two of them boarded a private executive elevator that had been held for them. The attendants' duties ended here. The doors slid shut with a whisper, leaving only Jin-Woo and Chairman Yoo inside.
"…" "…"
Since Yoo said nothing, Jin-Woo kept quiet as well. The elevator rose nonstop to the chairman's office. Ding. Waiting in front of the door was Secretary Kim, Yoo's right-hand man. He gave Jin-Woo a quick nod of greeting, then bowed to the chairman.
"I apologize, Chairman. A guest is already inside waiting for you." "A guest?"
Chairman Yoo Myung-Han's expression stiffened.
"Didn't I tell you not to let anyone in while I was away?"
Secretary Kim was not someone who made mistakes often. The rigidity on Yoo Myung-Han's face was less anger than surprise. Secretary Kim looked troubled and trailed off.
"I did say that, but she was extremely insistent…" "Hm."
Hearing that much, Yoo Myung-Han already knew who the guest was. Shaking his head slowly, he pointed Jin-Woo toward the chairman's office.
"It's nothing to worry about."
Whirr. The door to the chairman's office swung open. An older man who had been killing time by leafing through a newspaper on the sofa looked up.
"Brother, why haven't you been reachable? And you suddenly cancelled today's appointment too."
The man, whose receding forehead gleamed under the light, was Yoo Myung-Han's younger brother, Yoo Seok-Ho. As he started to rise happily upon seeing his older brother, the chairman furrowed his brow.
"I told you I had important business today, didn't I? I'm busy right now—come back later."
"No, but I know your schedule inside and out, and there's nothing keeping you busy toda—"
Yoo Seok-Ho's eyes met Jin-Woo's, and he stopped mid-sentence.
"Huh? Huh?"
That face looked familiar. Others might have pictured a newspaper or a TV screen first, but Yoo Seok-Ho thought of his daughter Yoo Su-Hyun's social media. He remembered seeing the two of them in a photo together.
'Is that really Hunter Sung Jin-Woo?'
To confirm, he unfolded the newspaper he was holding and compared the front-page photo with the face in front of him, blinking all the while. It was an awkward moment for Jin-Woo, but strangely, he didn't dislike this half-bald, nameless middle-aged man. The reason was simple.
'His eyes look a lot like Yoo Jin-Ho's.'
Would Jin-Ho look like that once he aged and lost his hair? In Jin-Woo's mind, Chairman Yoo Seok-Ho—now the very image of an aged Yoo Jin-Ho—beamed and stuck out his hand despite the sharp look his brother was giving him.
"Well, well! Hunter Sung Jin-Woo!" "Ah."
Jin-Woo reflexively took the offered hand. Yoo Seok-Ho shook it warmly, as though greeting someone he hadn't seen in years after a long, difficult search, and then introduced himself.
"I'm sure you've heard a lot about me—I'm Yoo Seok-Ho of Yuil Pharmaceuticals." "…?"
Heard a lot about him from where and how? Still, it would be rude to snub someone being this welcoming, so Jin-Woo offered a casual reply.
"Oh. Yes. Nice to meet you."
Standing nearby with a worried look, Yoo Myung-Han appeared surprised. Yoo Seok-Ho caught his brother's eye, shrugged his shoulders, and puffed out his chest.
'See that, brother? This is the caliber of man my daughter is dating.'
Yoo Seok-Ho had always felt a quiet sense of inferiority when it came to Chairman Yoo Myung-Han's daughter, a musical genius. Now he could finally hold his head high—there couldn't be many men in all of South Korea on this level.
'…Seok-Ho has quite the reach.'
When Jin-Woo and Yoo Seok-Ho appeared to know each other, Yoo Myung-Han's anger—intent on giving his brother an earful after Jin-Woo left—melted away. This meant the conversation could go smoothly after all.
"Oh, look at me." Only then did Yoo Seok-Ho let go of Jin-Woo's hand. "You two had something to discuss, right? I'll step out now—go ahead."
He smiled, seemingly satisfied, and was about to leave the office when he stopped abruptly beside Jin-Woo.
"One more thing, Hunter Sung." "Yes?" "Pick a day and come visit our home. We'll welcome you anytime, Hunter Sung."
"…?"
Pick a day? Welcome him anytime?
"Heh heh heh hah."
The cheerful, enigmatic middle-aged man vanished like a wind. His boisterous voice and bright expression kept it from feeling unpleasant, but he was truly a man of mystery. As Jin-Woo tilted his head, Chairman Yoo Myung-Han asked carefully.
"How do you know my brother…?"
Since the man himself had left, there was no reason to hold back. Jin-Woo replied evenly.
"I just met him for the first time today."
At Jin-Woo's answer, the chairman's face went rigid.
'Yoo Seok-Ho, you…'
Of course. But right now, there was a guest present. True to his nickname of "poker face," Yoo Myung-Han concealed his emotions in an instant and offered Jin-Woo a seat.
"Please, sit down."
Yoo Myung-Han settled into the seat across from him. Secretary Kim, who had just entered, asked the chairman.
"Shall I bring you some tea?" "I'm fine—ask the Hunter." "I'll pass as well."
Jin-Woo shook his head too. Then Yoo Myung-Han spoke in a heavy tone.
"I have something to discuss with the Hunter—would you step out for a moment?" "Understood, Chairman."
Secretary Kim stepped outside, closed the door, and stood guard in front of it. He'd been given advance instructions. From this point on, even if the president himself showed up, he was not to be admitted. The weight of what rested on this meeting was that extraordinary.
"…" "…"
Just as in the elevator, silence settled between Jin-Woo and Yoo Myung-Han once more. But unlike before, the silence this time carried a different kind of gravity. Yoo Myung-Han needed time. This was not the kind of conversation you could have like idle chitchat. It was after a stretch of time—one that might have felt a bit tedious—that Chairman Yoo Myung-Han finally spoke.
"Hunter Sung."
Jin-Woo, who had been waiting calmly, answered in an even voice.
"Yes."
Yoo Myung-Han produced a single check from his coat. It was issued by Yoojin Construction's primary bank under Yoo Myung-Han's name. But unlike a normal check, it bore none of the numbers that would indicate its monetary value.
"Here."
He extended the check. Jin-Woo glanced down at it, then looked up. Yoo Myung-Han spoke with difficulty.
"I am not so arrogant as to believe money can buy anything. And if the other party is an S-rank Hunter who can earn as much money as he wants without batting an eye, that's all the more true."
His mouth kept going dry. More nervous than when he'd first inherited the family business after losing his father, more nervous than when he'd given his first speech in front of tens of thousands of employees, more nervous than when he'd been surrounded by hundreds of reporters—this moment right now was the worst. It made sense. The gravity of the matter couldn't be compared to any of those situations. At stake here was his own life, the future of the company he'd devoted his entire career to building, and—the desire of a father who wanted to watch his children grow up just a little longer.
"So I would appreciate it if you would regard this as a token of the sincerity I can show."
Reading the solemn look in Yoo Myung-Han's eyes, Jin-Woo could guess why the chairman had chosen this place for their meeting. Whatever he was about to discuss must absolutely never leak to the outside.
'This isn't some guild recruitment pitch.'
That was why he'd chosen a place he could control one hundred percent, short of a natural disaster. Jin-Woo was quick on the uptake. So he asked.
"What is it you want to buy from me, Chairman?"