"Won-jae."
"Brother. It's been a while."
After the eting, the two brothers had a private audience in the chairman's office.
"How long has it been since we last t?"
"About a month, I think."
"Has it already been that long?"
Hwang Yong-jae said, caressing the whiskey bottle he had received as a gift.
"When we were young, we used to eat and sleep at the sa ti every day."
"Indeed. Sotis I miss those days."
Hwang Won-jae spoke in a polite and calm tone.
"Haha. Do you? It wasn't all pleasant for ."
"But you were there for , brother."
Hwang Yong-jae, the eldest son who beca the chairman leading B&S Group.
Hwang Won-jae, the second son who assisted his brother and proved his definite capabilities.
The two were considered the brightest minds in the Hwang family, the owners of B&S Group.
However, their childhood was not particularly smooth.
"...Father was quite harsh."
Chairman Hwang Yong-jae's eyes turned bitter.
Their father, forr Chairman Hwang Seok-ju, was a very strict and severe father.
The chaos of the Gate Era, the constantly changing circumstances, the crises he experienced several tis during his tenure, and the many ruffians who attacked even him as chairman whenever they thought they could get away with it.
It was a harsh ti that would be unbearable for anyone in their right mind.
And the outlet he found to vent that stress was his two sons.
"Yes. I sotis wonder how things might have been if father had been a little more generous to us."
Hwang Won-jae's eyes glead coldly as he lowered his head as if resigned.
Their father not only emotionally abused his sons with verbal abuse and pressure by demanding unbearable results every day, but also did not hesitate to use physical violence when he found fault.
And the two brothers showed opposite reactions to their father's behavior.
Hwang Yong-jae pretended to be a model, obedient, and diligent son, lying flat and obeying his father's commands.
Hwang Won-jae, unable to endure the excessive stress, showed signs of going astray many tis.
And forr Chairman Hwang Seok-ju continuously sowed discord between his two sons, turning his second son into a pariah who was shunned within the family.
Eventually, after puberty, Hwang Won-jae caused incidents like eating als, causing concern among family mbers and executives.
But it was Hwang Yong-jae who endlessly persuaded and comforted his brother, bringing him back to the path of study.
Later, forr Chairman Hwang Seok-ju's health rapidly deteriorated due to much stress and excessive drinking to relieve it, and he died at a relatively young age. Hwang Yong-jae, who inherited the family business, highly valued his brother's abilities and entrusted him with important responsibilities.
And his choice hit the mark precisely.
Instead of establishing his office in the headquarters where he had no good mories, he set up in a more distant affiliate building and contributed to elevating B&S Group to one of the top-ranked in the business world by greatly expanding the business with negotiation skills and drive no less than his brother's.
"As you know, I couldn't have brought our group this far without you."
"If it weren't for you, I can't even imagine what kind of life I'd be living now."
Chairman Hwang Yong-jae chuckled as he watched his brother bow his head politely.
"Life is such a ss. Just when you think you've overco a big wave, another wave awaits. Even if we overco this wave, it will probably be the sa."
"......"
"The situation seems like it's going to get as difficult as then, maybe even more so. It doesn't look good."
Hwang Yong-jae readily showed his honest concerns in front of his brother, sothing he didn't show in front of his subordinates.
"Yes. I'm worried too."
As if honored by such feelings, Hwang Won-jae spoke with an attitude so deferential that Ma-in who knew his usual self would laugh in disbelief.
"But with your decisiveness and judgnt that you've shown this ti as well, our group will be fine. Beyond fine, we might even take another leap forward."
"Co on, do you have to talk like Chief Kim?"
Hwang Yong-jae waved his hand as if to say stop the flattery.
"I'm always sincere. You know that better than anyone, brother."
"...You brat."
In Hwang Yong-jae's eyes, he could see the aura that represented Hwang Won-jae's emotions.
The color of emotion he read was 'extre loyalty to soone.'
'Sa as ever.'
Hwang Yong-jae believed without doubt that it was a brother's feelings for his brother who had shown him favor.
No, he couldn't doubt it.
And Hwang Won-jae knew this fact better than anyone.
'My loyalty to Him is sincere without the slightest wavering.'
So tricks are extrely simple.
But extrely effective.
As Chairman Hwang Yong-jae had achieved countless successes using his ability, he couldn't help but develop overconfidence in it.
And knowing this precisely, Hwang Won-jae had been deceiving him all along by exploiting his overconfidence.
That's right.
A very long ti ago.
From the ti when he, who had gone astray due to his father's abuse, coincidentally, no, fatefully ca to serve 'His' will.
'Brother. You still don't realize that your arrogance is strangling your neck.'
Hwang Won-jae thought.
'Even now, I could twist your neck like a chicken's at any mont...'
"Hahaha."
He spontaneously laughed as his mood improved.
"Being with you always makes for enjoyable conversation, brother."
"You brat."
Hwang Yong-jae snickered.
"I feel the sa. In this jungle-like era. In the end, blood is the only thing you can truly trust, isn't it?"
"Yes. That's what I've found as I've lived."
"Right. Groups gathered by interest scatter quickly. The sa goes for beliefs. Beliefs can be powerful enough to drive people to the edge of a cliff, but they're just empty shells."
"...I see."
Hwang Won-jae smiled very faintly.
"Of course, using interests to control people is what I do."
"No one but you could perform such a complex balancing act."
"I think you could do it well too."
"...I don't know. I'm still far behind you, brother."
Hwang Won-jae poured whiskey for Hwang Yong-jae.
"Have a drink."
"The aroma is nice."
"I prepared it for you."
"Uncle. It's been a while."
"It's Ji-a."
Hwang Won-jae, having finished his private audience, t his niece Hwang Ji-a.
"You're still working hard, I see."
Hwang Ji-a was going around the company to learn and observe the ongoing situations in advance, receiving explanations as part of her successor training.
"I'm young and slow, so I have to keep my feet moving."
Hwang Ji-a replied with quite a mature attitude.
"Haha. Your father will be pleased."
"Please teach
a lot, uncle."
"Of course."
Though she appeared quite mature and sharp for her age.
'She's still a child compared to her sister.'
Hwang Won-jae thought.
Hwang Ji-su.
'She's the only one who's wary of . She's been like that since she was young.'
Whether it was the intuition of an outstanding Awakened one or due to her antipathy toward her father, he wasn't sure.
Hwang Ji-su, who was now getting along well with Jeong Su-hyeon who had beco a person of interest, and growing vigorously as a potential next-generation leader, was clearly a more irritating presence than Hwang Ji-a.
'But I'm sorry.'
Hwang Won-jae thought.
'You probably won't be able to see yourself spread your wings, escape from your father's shadow, and beco a great hero.'
??????°??☆????°??????
I had skipped afternoon practice, finished my private sword training early, and was drinking coffee at Paul Baguette.
"Wow. What's this? Are you skipping class and hanging out here?"
Nam Tae-hoon, who had beco a coffee addict under my influence, clicked his tongue when he saw .
"I just finished sword training. I'm going to do physical training later."
"Look at you, making your own schedule. Are you a college student?"
"That's the privilege of being the Special First Place."
"Tsk. I'm so jealous."
Nam Tae-hoon shrugged and said.
"I should go train too."
"Are you going right now?"
"Yeah. I can't stand the envy."
"Okay. See you later."
Nam Tae-hoon, who had picked up a takeout cup of coffee, waved his hand and disappeared.
"...Hmm."
Seeing even that lazy guy acting like this, my existence seed to be providing quite a stimulus in many ways.
'It's a positive function.'
But I couldn't help feeling anxious when thinking about the peace that was crumbling much faster than before.
'The situation is becoming increasingly unsettling.'
I was also concerned about Jo Sujin's group text asking us to hang in there a little longer.
'Seems like she heard sothing.'
I had so guesses.
'Surely they're not already planning that operation?'
Though there was no way to know for sure at the mont.
If that operation did occur, it was clear that the tiline's distortion would worsen.
'The problem is that Hwang Won-jae will never just sit and take it.'
Hwang Won-jae.
The second-in-command leading the [Sword of Belphegor], and Hwang Ji-su's uncle.
One of his most important behavioral principles is his hostility toward his family.
'Hwang Yong-jae doesn't suspect Hwang Won-jae. He's not that easy to deal with.'
Even Hwang Yong-jae was outmatched by the depth of his mind.
Hwang Ji-a?
She was still just a clever child.
'Hwang Ji-su might harbor suspicions about Hwang Won-jae due to her relationship with her father, but she would find it difficult to voice them.'
How should I put it.
'Talk about a dysfunctional family.'
In any case, Hwang Won-jae's intentions were the most important on their side.
Who would make the first move.
Or who would more persistently exploit the other's weaknesses.
That would be the key factor determining the future situation.
"...Jeong Su-hyeon!"
"Hmm?"
I turned my head at the feeling of soone poking my side.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
It was Hwang Ji-su.
'What a coincidence.'
"...Just. Thinking about my future schedule."
"Hmph, I'm sure you have a lot to think about. Being the Special First Place and all."
Hwang Ji-su pushed out her lips as if dying of envy.
"By the way, my father was already interested in you, but after this incident, he's even more excited."
"Well, I guess he considers
a desirable talent."
"I don't like it."
Ding ding.
As the bell rang, Hwang Ji-su, who quickly received her coffee, naturally sat down in front of .
"You still don't get along with your parents, huh."
Hwang Ji-su sighed at my words.
"Does it seem strange?"
"Well, everyone has their own circumstances."
I answered nonchalantly.
"So families are harmonious like Seo Jun-seong's or Lee Yu-jin's, and so have cases like yours where people don't get along with their parents. And there are guys like
who don't even have that option."
"......"
Hwang Ji-su spoke with a sowhat dark expression.
"Do you think I sound like I'm complaining about a full stomach?"
"I don't know. Just as I didn't choose to be an orphan, you didn't choose your parents or your environnt."
"But I was born into a chaebol family, and I have outstanding innate abilities. So might think I'm just complaining despite having a blessed life."
'She's quite thoughtful.'
Given Hwang Ji-su's character, which rarely said such things, I could guess what kind of concerns were behind these seemingly random words.
'In the end, she can't fully hate her parents. That's a natural psychology in a way.'
So I said:
"Everyone has their own complaints and hardships. If you were to forget your background, look down on others, and disregard their efforts, then yes, you would be complaining with a full stomach. That would be deception."
But.
"From what I've seen, you work as hard as anyone else. Isn't that enough? Why are you thinking so seriously about it?"
"......"
Hwang Ji-su took a sip of coffee and said:
"You think so?"
"Sotis it's better to think simply. Setting aside complicated circumstances. And sotis, just follow your heart."
"Hmm..."
Slurp.
After taking another sip of coffee, Hwang Ji-su said:
"...Then it would be okay to give my father a birthday present, right?"
'Ah. I see.'
I smiled as I saw Hwang Ji-su's expression full of shyness and awkwardness.
"I think he'd like that."
??????°??☆????°??????
"What are you thinking? You could just kill him and be done with it."
Noh Hajun asked Hwang Won-jae, who had returned to the Catacomb after his conversation with Chairman Hwang Yong-jae.
"Haha. Their influence goes beyond simple force. Killing is easy. The question is when and for what purpose."
With his polite face gone, Hwang Won-jae spoke with a cold face devoid of any emotion.
"Queen."
"Speak."
Vampire Queen Song Yeonhui answered, crossing her legs in the opposite direction.
"Is that operation being prepared well?"
"Of course. It's sothing I'm personally overseeing."
The Queen smiled.
"I'm planning to make the final adjustnts from now on."
'With Song Yeonhui's power in the underworld, and the added skills of those guys taking action, the synergy would be trendous.'
Hwang Won-jae nodded.
"Good."
"Those bastards seem quite confident though."
Battle Maniac Jang Su-il said.
"That's right. They weren't intimidated even in front of the na Vampire Queen."
"I don't know why I dislike bastards like that so much."
"Leave it be. Isn't it good?"
Hwang Won-jae said.
"Those with great ambition are easy to use."
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