Chapter 317

The quadcopter carrying Jin-hyuk headed straight to Seoul. Since it wasn’t a car, they couldn’t stop by a bathhouse along the way. Upon landing on the rooftop of the building where the chairman’s office was located, Hong Ki-jun, who had been waiting, approached warmly.

“Hey, you’ve worked hard.”

Even though he’s been discharged, he still has to salute first. Feeling a bit awkward, Jin-hyuk kept his voice low.

“Unity.”

Old-school salutes are just more comfortable. Even after spending four weeks together, the loyalty slogans didn’t sit right with him.

“Hahaha! Right. Unity. You’ve worked hard.”

Despite being in a suit, Hong Ki-jun, a military veteran, received the salute with ease and patted Jin-hyuk on the shoulder.

“I’ve already told the house, so rest and head back in the evening. Let’s have lunch first. What do you want to eat?”

“Jajangmyeon. And cola.”

Ah, this is the national rule.

*

After getting Hong Ki-jun’s permission, Jin-hyuk went to the sauna first. Even though it was a weekday afternoon, there were quite a few middle-aged men who looked like office workers in the sauna. He could see why Hong Ki-jun didn’t want to come along.

‘Considerate, huh?’

How awkward would it be to run into the group chairman in the sauna during work hours? Forget feeling intimidated by a chairman who’s younger and in better shape than them—they’d have to prepare to be called in by their direct supervisor.

‘Ahhh, so warm.’

As he soaked in the hot bath, the heat surged from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He got a scrub and even a body wash service. The scrubber looked like he was struggling, but Jin-hyuk just closed his eyes and enjoyed it. Hah, feels so refreshing.

He also shaved cleanly with a disposable razor. His beard had started growing quite a bit since last year, so he shaved daily, but during his time in the training camp, the short washing time made it hard to shave once a day.

“Ouch.”

Ah, I’m bleeding.

Getting nicked by a razor must be a man’s fate. Since he didn’t have his usual aftershave, he used the product provided at the bathhouse.

“Ouch.”

Mr. Handsome Jin.

It stung worse than the drill sergeant’s glare. The cut swelled up noticeably red and hurt several times more. As he left the bathhouse, hunger hit him.

Hong Ki-jun and Son Jin-hyuk. The two big shots walked shoulder-to-shoulder down the street, naturally drawing attention. They walked on, unfazed.

“This place does Chinese food well.”

Even the chairman, being an old-timer, casually dropped the term “jjanggae” (a slang term for Chinese people), and his natural tone made the listener feel at ease.

Clink, clink, clink.

They easily polished off two bowls of jajangmyeon, scraping the bottom of the bowls.

“Want more?”

“No, I’m good.”

One bowl is too little, extra noodles ruin the taste, and three bowls are too greasy. So, two bowls of regular jajangmyeon are just right. This was Son Jin-hyuk’s meticulous calculation as an efficiency enthusiast.

After the meal, they moved to the chairman’s office. The Han River was visible, with high-end apartments and villa villages beyond it, and further still, Namsan Tower.

‘Facing north.’

The layout clearly showed the aspirations of businessman Hong Ki-jun.

“Do you know why I’m crazily hoarding money, buying up mines and oil fields, and developing weapons? Because someday, I want to swallow Manchuria and Primorsky Krai. I want to build a national-scale aerospace base there. Named the Balhae Base. To do that, we need to step on northern land. And to reduce the burden on the people, we need a lot of money. Corporations are profit groups that grew under the protection of the people’s taxes. When the time comes, corporations should use their money to protect the people. If I just wanted to live well myself, I wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble to change history.”

His ambition had grown so much that you couldn’t find any trace of his passive past self.

‘The land we live on is indeed small.’

A small country that can’t accommodate all its smart and talented people. Still, I never expected Hong Ki-jun to have such grand plans.

“War is out of the question. We must open doors with strength, but with the power of money. Some might wonder why I’m building up military power if I’m talking about opening doors with money.”

Well, isn’t that common knowledge?

└ “To confidently demand and present what I want, I need to possess similar or superior power compared to the other party. That’s the basis of politics and diplomacy, so that’s why I’m accumulating power, right? Even if the words are different, the essence is negotiation and compromise.”

It’s knowledge that isn’t often used in daily life, but it’s wisdom that any educated person should have. If you don’t know this, you’ll be called a fake smart person or someone who wasted their education. In extreme cases, you might even be praised for wasting your life or eating your years through your backside.

“We have a choice. This is the test question I’m posing.”

A test question…

Since he didn’t specify what it meant, I could only vaguely guess.

‘We have a choice. What does he mean by choice? Jajangmyeon or jjamppong…’

Ugh, so greasy.

Come to think of it, this old man didn’t order me a cola.

Knock, knock.

Following the knock, an SSS bodyguard opened the door to the chairman’s office. The person who entered was the employee who had ridden the quadcopter with Jin-hyuk.

The secretary, carrying a tray of tea, made eye contact with Jin-hyuk and smiled slightly, nodding. A cautiousness I like. Even though Jin-hyuk probably smelled bad when they rode the quadcopter together, this employee never once frowned.

“You can enjoy the view anytime. Let’s have some tea first.”

“Yes.”

Perhaps because he was so immersed in pondering the test question, Jin-hyuk heard it as “Let’s take the test.”

The warm black tea washed away the greasy aftertaste.

As he savored the tea, Hong Ki-jun spoke in a subtle tone.

“If you want to study at a university now, I’ll send you anywhere. America, England, Germany, France. Just say the word.”

The first test.

Jin-hyuk’s sharp instincts told him that, regardless of Hong Ki-jun’s true intentions, this was a test question to gauge Jin-hyuk’s first steps into the world.

“Really, it’s fine. They say truth is found in the field, not the classroom. I’ve already experienced that truth.”

It’s a line from the movie “Indiana Jones,” spoken by Professor Henry Jones Jr., a tenured archaeology professor. Of course, Jin-hyuk wasn’t thinking of that.

“I’m not dismissing universities. I also learned something in university. My homeroom professor once said something like…”

This was the first time Jin-hyuk was talking about his university days.

Curious, Hong Ki-jun raised an eyebrow.

“Law is the minimum of conscience and common sense. The reason you study law is to protect society from those who lack the minimum conscience and common sense. If you don’t have that intention, if you’re just studying law to climb the ladder, get ahead, and marry into a wealthy, powerful family, then you’re not qualified.”

Wow. Hong Ki-jun pursed his lower lip and nodded. It sounded quite impressive.

“I thought it was a great statement. It neatly defines the minimum conscience and common sense, and the social animal that is humanity.”

Hmm. While making a sound of agreement, Hong Ki-jun chose his words carefully.

To Jin-hyuk, it seemed like he was listening attentively because it was a test.

“But less than a month after he said that, a scandal broke out. With a female student.”

Jin-hyuk smiled bitterly, and Hong Ki-jun winced.

“It was a dirty deal. Holding grades hostage, an ugly game.”

“I can see why you became disillusioned with university.”

“Well… that wasn’t the reason I quit. I didn’t expect the hall of knowledge and culture, and they say the whole country was in a dark period, but when I experienced it firsthand, only the powerless and poor suffered. I didn’t have a safety net, but I had no debts and just had to take care of myself, so I didn’t need to blame the world. I just personally lost interest.”

Hmm. He took a moment to collect his thoughts.

“But even then, I stood out compared to everyone else. Back then, and now. ‘Ah! I guess I’m not destined to live an ordinary life.’ So I just wanted to go out into the world. Back then, it was too boring and tedious. The time spent waiting for lectures. But when I actually attended the lectures, they weren’t teaching anything new or anything I didn’t already know…”

Yeah, he must’ve been a hidden gem even back then. Hong Ki-jun, with his nose resting on the teacup, slowly shook his head. The tea aroma was exceptional today.

“About going to university with Soo-jung.”

“Yes.”

“That was for Soo-jung’s sake, right?”

Is this the second test?

Wait, is this even a test?

Why does the conversation feel so personal?

Shouldn’t he be asking about management philosophy or post-employment plans?

“If conditions allow, I’d like to attend together.”

While drawing countless question marks in his head, Jin-hyuk honestly and calmly expressed his thoughts.

Hong Ki-jun’s eyes sharpened.

“Haha. I thought you were just being polite, but you’re serious?”

“I owe her too.”

He didn’t elaborate.

– “Take good care of my daughter!”

It wasn’t because of Hong Ki-jun’s request.

“If, when the time comes, Soo-jung prefers to hang out with her friends, I’ll just focus on work.”

He just didn’t want her to be lonely.

There was also the influence of the guy’s lingering interest, which had only deepened over time. He didn’t want to ignore it or hurt her anymore.

“I see. Then you’ll need to build a solid foundation. You’ve got a lot to do in less than five years.”

“It’s a long time. I’m already prepared.”

Hong Ki-jun already knew what Jin-hyuk wanted to do.

That’s why the Salk Institute was created. The underwater research lab and underground cavern were added based on Hong Ki-jun’s input.

*

It’s only natural that the tone and level of conversation should vary depending on the person. With someone like Hong Ki-jun, you had to be even more careful, so their conversations always leaned toward constructive directions.

So much so that you could yawn until tears came out.

“You look tired.”

“No, I’m just full…”

“About coming to Seoul…”

“Yes.”

“Have you thought about where you’ll stay?”

“Not yet.”

“Should I find a place for you?”

“I can—”

Jin-hyuk, about to politely decline, stopped himself.

The way Hong Ki-jun was looking at him—it wasn’t coercion or pressure, but something felt off.

Ah, is this another test?

“You’ve already got a place in mind, haven’t you?”

“Hahaha. Right. You should catch on. That’s the Son Jin-hyuk I know. I’ll prepare a place you’ll like. Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to live with us.”

“A place I’ll like…”

“Back in the day, before you disappeared underground.”

“Yes.”

“You were always so quiet and cold-looking. But there was one time you got really excited talking. Not in a loud, showy way like others.”

Jin-hyuk was inwardly puzzled.

Was there such a time?

“You said you lived in a rooftop room when you first came to Seoul, that you deliberately looked for such a place.”

“Ah…”

It vaguely came back to him.

“You said you had the rooftop all to yourself, exercised, did laundry, read books, and even though it was a short time, it was the happiest you’d been.”

I’m just grateful he remembered such a trivial story.

In reality, it was a prefab single room on the rooftop of a building without an elevator, chosen to save money.

“In summer, it was like a sauna, and in winter, your joints creaked from the cold, but when it rained, you could hear the pure sound of rain, and when it snowed, you could touch untouched snow, reminding you of your childhood in the countryside. You even said you wanted to get a dog but didn’t have time to take care of it.”

“Yes…”

I’m grateful, but also sorry.

Even though his memories must be hazy, he remembered such details about me. It made me realize how special Hong Ki-jun considered me.

“Hmm… I also remember you saying it was an inconvenient but romantic space.”

Listening to someone else recount his past, Jin-hyuk could only nod.

“Then I’ll prepare a place for you to stay… Did you make it to manager?”

Hong Ki-jun, who had been reminiscing, changed the subject.

“Yes.”

“Got it. I’d like to start you as a manager, but we don’t have that position yet. We’ve been letting go of too many salary thieves, so there’s no backlog in HR, and departments aren’t fully specialized.”

Is this a humility test?

Inwardly puzzled, Jin-hyuk quickly spoke his thoughts.

“Even a probationary position is fine. I can climb up on my own.”

Ah, was that the wrong answer?

Despite the smile on his lips, Hong Ki-jun’s gaze was cold.

“Of course you can. The workplace ecosystem has changed, so it’s easier for capable people now. But you’ve achieved things, I have expectations of you, and you’ve done work, so I can’t ask you to start from the bottom. I have some decency.”

Ah, what do you want from me!

“Then…”

“How about starting as vice chairman?”