There was a bit of a commotion due to the human “Goranistaz,” a follower of Haegneul, and Harubang No. 2, but we arrived safely at the ‘Safehouse’ on Jeju Island.
“Here is….”
[There’s no place as secure as this.]
“This is not… the auction hotel, is it?”
Desmond’s expression froze as he looked at the hotel visible beyond the window.
“Are you telling to step into a hyena’s den?”
The hotel, located in the heart of Seogwipo City, had a bustling entrance and lobby. In the coffee shop beside it, weary-looking n and won were anxiously waiting for soone, their necks stretched long with anticipation.
“Unbelievable. The sa people we t after disembarking in Gangwon Province are now waiting over there.”
[Journalists are aggressive no matter the country. Especially now, after your arrival in Jeju Island, everyone is aware of the situation.]
The Association must know.
Harubang No. 1 should have co to his senses by now and likely testified about Desmond being ambushed, followed by another unexpected attack.
However, there’s no way the Association would release such information to the reporters. They’re probably just waiting tirelessly at the hotel where the auction was supposed to take place, betting on a chance to et Desmond.
“Is this why you booked a hotel suite for a month? Did you plan to co here all along?”
[Of course.]
“I’ve been duped.”
[Still, you’re a chairman, aren’t you? It wouldn’t do for you to stay in a tiny underground bunker smaller than a studio apartnt for a month. No room service either.]
“Ugh, so it’s either living underground with no one around for a month or enduring nuisances while staying in civilization….”
[We can still turn back. Both options are prepared at the Safehouse.]
I placed my hands on the steering wheel.
Desmond kept gazing outside, watching the reporters sip their coffee idly, waiting endlessly for him to show up at the hotel.
“Those people… they’re not going to attack or anything, are they?”
[You’ve done nothing wrong. Naturally, this is the safest place. Just look at the hotel lobby—doesn’t that reassure you?]
The road leading to the hotel entrance was flanked by rows of orange trees, resembling street trees.
[You’ll be safe from attackers. If you’re really worried, you could always stick a Hallabong on top of your fedora or carry around a box of tangerines.]
“…You’re suggesting I carry a villain-specific bomb around. I guess that would relieve so tension.”
Tangerines were dangerous objects for villains.
At the sa ti, they were equally dangerous for those pretending to act like villains.
[Once word gets out that Chairman Desmond is here, many will co to the hotel. On the contrary, announcing your presence might give you the chance to converse with nurous celebrities.]
“Interacting with celebrities….”
[You’ll have the upper hand against countless political and economic figures, as well as S-class ability users. Just act like the Haegneul chairman would.]
“…If I die, the feather is destroyed, right?”
[Correct.]
The feather was in the safest place.
It was hidden in a location known only to .
I planned to keep the genuine article concealed until the auction day, prepared to destroy it imdiately if I faced threats or coercion.
[The more the rumors spread, the more people will show up, naturally raising the bids. Rember, once the Phoenix Feather is sold, the proceeds will go to Fayegreen Company first.]
“Minus the taxes.”
[That can’t be helped. Paying taxes in Korea is still cheaper than in the U.S., isn’t it?]
“Ugh….”
Desmond continued scanning the crowd nervously.
He looked tense, wondering if there might be villains mixed among them or even hitn targeting him.
[Relax. This hotel is managed by the Hero Association.]
“…Hoo. All right. I’m not doing anything wrong, so there’s no need to sneak in through the back door.”
Chairman Desmond unfastened his seatbelt.
“Thank you. I got to ride in a car driven by a goblin and see another side of this country. I’ll do my best in my role, so if I die, at least spare my life. Well, then.”
[You’re getting out?]
“I’m not going to walk into the hotel wearing that mask of yours, am I? It’s just a matter of grabbing my luggage from the trunk, so there’s no need to go inside.”
Although the car hadn’t entered the hotel yet, he seed intent on walking the rest of the way.
“See you later.”
Clutching the smartwatch on his wrist tightly, he stepped out confidently and headed toward the hotel.
“Right. For this month, I’ll just think of myself as both Gates and Buffett.”
He opened the trunk, pulled out his luggage, and walked toward the hotel as if nothing was amiss.
“Huh? Over there… a foreigner!”
“A foreigner! An old man! White hair! Check his face! Is that him? Wow, crazy—did he take a taxi and walk from far away?!”
Rustle, rustle.
“Excuse ! Are you Chairman Desmond Fayegreen?!”
As Chairman Desmond Fayegreen, whose face had already been publicized through the dia, approached the hotel, people near the entrance began crowding around him, thrusting their Taeguk Watches forward.
“Are you indeed Chairman Desmond Fayegreen?! Is it true that the item up for auction this ti is the feather?”
“If it’s the Phoenix Feather, how did you co by it? Did you perhaps receive it from the Phoenix in their lifeti?”
“Are you considering selling it through other ans besides the auction?!”
The scene was chaotic.
The reporters, close enough for their breath to reach him, shoved and jostled to get nearer to Desmond.
“Shall we have a conversation inside over so tea?”
However, Desmond calmly gestured toward the hotel and addressed them in fluent, polished Korean.
“There’s plenty of ti to talk. Slowly, in an orderly manner. Your questions can be addressed inside….”
“We’ve been expecting you, Chairman.”
Young n in black suits pushed through the crowd of reporters, forcing a path forward.
“What, what’s this?!”
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing? Where do you think you’re touching?!”
The reporters yelled angrily at the sudden appearance of the black-suited agents, but the agents, unfazed, cleared the way.
“Would you mind settling your luggage and sparing a mont of your ti? The Deputy Pri Minister of Economic Affairs will be here within ten minutes.”
“The Deputy Pri Minister…?”
At the ntion of a governnt official, the reporters exchanged nervous glances and reluctantly stepped back.
“Haha, is the Deputy Pri Minister really necessary?”
“Next week, the President himself will visit Jeju Island.”
“…To that extent?”
“Of course. It’s not just any item—it’s ‘that item.’”
Even the President.
Hearing that, Desmond straightened his posture slightly and smiled warmly.
“Well then, shall we first put down the luggage and begin our discussions?”
With an air of composure, he led the crowd into the hotel, as if he were the pied piper leading a procession.
[As expected of a group chairman. He was nervous, but he quickly realized his position and stepped into the role of the one in charge.]
[…If even the Korean President is coming to et him in Jeju, of course he’d beco fully aware of his power.]
Rustle.
The protective barrier enveloping her entire body disappeared as Chaos—Sung Ji-eun—dropped her pretense.
“Are you sure this is okay? Entrusting Desmond Fayegreen’s protection to none other than the Korean governnt?”
“Of course.”
I, too, released my transformation and calmly turned the car around to leave the road.
“Thanks to hosting the auction in Jeju, imagine the economic benefits it’ll generate. Just the private jets landing at Jeju Airport alone will number in the dozens, not to ntion the spending by ability users, governnt officials, and entrepreneurs who follow. It’s massive.”
I was sorry to those planning secret affairs in Jeju this sumr; they’d have to find another destination.
“For Jeju business owners, it’s much better to host foreign guests who’ll spend at least a billion won each over a month than Koreans spending two million won on a 3-day trip.”
“…Well, that does make sense. These people coming for the feather might spend hundreds of billions of dollars, maybe even more. There’s no way they’d stay in shabby accommodations.”
“If millionaires are gathering here for a month and throwing money around, of course the governnt has to manage it.”
Above all else.
“Even Haegneul caught the scent of money.”
If there was profit to be made, even Haegneul could be actively used to ensure Desmond’s safety.
“When the two groups most effective at controlling civilians in Korea join hands to protect Desmond, do you think any harm could co to him? If sothing happens, the auction will fall apart.”
“What if it does happen?”
“It won’t. The governnt, Haegneul, and the Association will ensure it doesn’t.”
They would risk their lives to protect Desmond Fayegreen.
“Why would we need to personally stand guard? We should relax in a pension ourselves.”
Instead of having the Society’s executives take turns guarding Desmond, the governnt would handle it directly.
An A-class agent would be assigned as his security detail. If Desmond so much as desired Hwangseong Hanwoo beef, they’d bring a cow from Hwangseong and slaughter it in Jeju.
Desmond was currently the “master.”
And the basis of his newfound authority was, of course, the Phoenix Feather.
“I spread rumors to make sure the governnt protects Desmond using taxpayer money.”
“Through the brewers?”
“Exactly.”
Desmond.
“If Korean service feels subpar, I’ll just host the auction in Osaka, Japan.”
He was Arican after all.
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