RE: Player again

378

[Chapter 111]

[Connections Are Somewhere (3)]

"Why did you call me?"

"Sit there. Don't try to leave right away."

These kinds of places were uncomfortable.

Hoshimiya Kaede entered the lounge located on the top floor of the lecture building after finishing class.

The girl carrying a longbow taller than herself looked for Kim Geunwoong with a grumpy face.

"What would you like to drink?"

"I won't drink. Just tell me what you want."

A battle of nerves continued.

In the end, Kaede receiving KK Group's sponsorship sat down across from Kim Geunwoong.

Nevertheless, she maintained her pride as if saying she wouldn't even drink coffee.

As if she would get up immediately as soon as the business was over.

Kim Geunwoong who now knew her personality smiled.

"Have you heard of Noh Eunha's corps?"

"Noh Eunha's corps?"

Kim Geunwoong who picked up a card placed on the table opened his mouth.

Kaede who had a sullen expression frowned and asked.

"It seems to be floating around as a joke. They say it means people Eunha chose, so they call it Noh Eunha's corps."

"So?"

"I heard you're in it too."

Hearing those words, she twisted her face in anger.

It was truly unpleasant.

To suddenly call a person and say only that.

"I'm not part of that."

Kaede spat out with displeasure.

She didn't like him treating her as the same kind as Noh Eunha.

Moreover, it was the first time she heard of Noh Eunha's corps.

She just wanted to find and beat up the person who put her in such a terrible category.

"I hear you've been getting along well with them lately..."

"Me?"

"You seem to hang out with them a lot."

"......"

Kaede put strength in her eyes.

She was furious inside.

One reason was that strange rumors about her spread throughout the school just from hanging out a few times.

"You, are you investigating me behind my back?"

The other reason was that Kim Geunwoong was secretly investigating her.

And he raised both hands in a gesture asking for forgiveness as if saying he wouldn't deny it.

Not a chance.

Kaede stood up from her seat.

It was good she didn't accept coffee.

She declined to create a debt to someone she didn't even want to deal with.

"We haven't even started talking yet, how can you get up like that?"

"......"

Kaede just turned away sharply.

Not speaking meant she didn't want to converse with him.

Regardless, Kim Geunwoong quietly stared at her.

Then he casually threw out:

"I need information about Noh Eunha."

"......"

"I know well you don't want to be under me or under Noh Eunha. So let's make a deal."

Kaede looked at him.

She disliked both Noh Eunha and Kim Geunwoong.

Even though she knew Kim Geunwoong wasn't a bad person.

She really disliked their unique composure and arrogance.

It felt like they were looking down on her.

However, she wasn't uninterested in the words Kim Geunwoong suddenly brought up.

She decided to stand silently.

Sure enough, Kim Geunwoong finally got to the main point.

"I'm trying to make Eunha my person. So I want to know about Eunha, but he seems to be distancing himself from me."

"......"

"So I want you to approach him instead. If you just do that, I won't touch you for other matters."

"......"

"I can persuade my father to promise you better sponsorship, and you don't have to come to places you're obligated to attend in the future. I'll just let you do whatever you want."

In other words, become my spy.

Using the so-called Noh Eunha's corps.

Kaede listened to those words silently.

She who tightly closed her lips thought about his proposal in her mind.

Certainly, it wasn't a bad proposal. Even without that, she was dissatisfied with the conditions KK Group presented in exchange for sponsorship.

It was quite attractive to her if they just provided sponsorship.

"How about it? I think it's not a bad proposal for you too?"

Kim Geunwoong asked triumphantly.

She found that face so annoying.

But an offer she couldn't refuse.

She tightly gripped the longbow on her shoulder.

The answer was already decided.

"─I'll refuse. I'd rather die than become your chess piece."

"You're picky."

"Is this business over now?"

Although the answer was already decided, Kaede didn't want to bend her pride.

No money, but no pride?

She'd rather bite her tongue and die than listen to words from someone she dislikes.

Kaede turned her body bravely.

Hmph, where does he get off ordering me to extract information about Noh Eunha?

Who does he think he is to─...

Kaede who got on the elevator soon stopped as she was about to press the 1st floor button.

There was a third reason she was angry.

She couldn't believe it when she realized that.

How on earth, when, where, how.

I'm not close with those kids at all.

Kaede assured herself.

She who got off the elevator soon left the group chat where students called Noh Eunha's corps gathered.

Come to think of it, she had been caught by them since some point.

So she's free from now on.

When she thought that.

[I'm Fine!]

PineChat rang.

Kaede felt déjà vu.

It seemed like similar things had happened several times so far.

Anyway, she checked PineChat.

...I knew it.

As expected.

She chuckled seeing the chat.

['Yoo Dojun' has invited 'Hoshimiya Kaede' to the chat.]

「Yoo Dojun」: Welcome, is this your first time in a chat room like this? (7:00 PM)

「Kim Minji」: Kaede what do you want to eat? Beef? Pork? Or how about horse? I was thinking of trying it (7:01 PM)

Then she suddenly realized.

Why she had just liked it.

This wasn't something to like.

Hoshimiya Kaede who had been unknowingly tamed at some point groaned ung.

☆

Class ended early unexpectedly.

So Eunha received a leave permit and left the academy.

There was a meat party on the weekend, so today was the only time if he wanted to make time.

It's not that today was the only time available, but it's better to do these things when there's time.

There was something he had to do soon.

And it was something he couldn't resolve completely by himself.

He needed a helper.

Yoo Dojun alone wasn't enough.

Therefore, Eunha made an appointment with Jung Hayang's grandfather, Min Junsik.

"I didn't expect you to ask to meet like this Eunha... Well, what's the matter?"

"Thank you for making time."

Alice Group Chairman Min Junsik.

The old man was still enjoying reading books in the study even after several years had passed since meeting.

He who discovered Eunha closed his book and welcomed him.

"What would you like to drink?"

"...Coffee please."

"I remember Hayang's father brought something recently. Please."

"Yes, Chairman."

Min Junsik spoke to Lim Dohoon who quit being an elementary school teacher and switched back to being a player.

Dohoon who exchanged eye greetings with Eunha quietly disappeared into the kitchen.

"Seeing you came alone, it seems you have some business."

"...Yes, that's right."

"I heard you visited Hayang's father recently too? To ask him to make something."

Eunha smiled bitterly.

Although several years had passed since Jung Seokhoon took over Min Junsik's work and managed the group.

Min Junsik was watching the flow of the outside world even without leaving the study.

Well, how could he not know?

Eunha understood.

He had independently asked Jung Seokhoon for something recently.

There was nothing left to obtain for elixir ingredients except Moon's Blessing.

So it was better to tell Jung Seokhoon in advance so he could make the elixir right away once Moon's Blessing was found.

Because elixir was a potion that didn't exist in this world yet.

No matter how skilled Jung Seokhoon was, it would take time to make a non-existent potion.

So he visited Jung Seokhoon recently and presented the Star of Purification.

"I'm looking forward to the potion you're trying to make, Eunha. I heard the ingredients you brought are ones Hayang's father has never seen or heard of."

It was making an elixir.

There was no way Jung Seokhoon could quietly resolve such a matter alone.

If he used Alice Group's laboratory, it could have reached Min Junsik's ears.

Eunha who guessed that situation just shrugged his shoulders.

Because he didn't think Min Junsik brought it up with intention.

"Well... what do you want to tell me? If it's something I can do, I'll help as far as I can reach."

Sure enough.

Min Junsik who put the coffee Lim Dohoon brought to his lips spoke casually.

Eunha chose his words for a moment.

After a while, he opened his mouth.

"There's information I heard from Dojun."

How should I say it?

Eunha who rolled his tongue in his mouth soon nonchalantly sold Yoo Dojun's name.

It seemed Min Junsik would know about Yoo Dojun too.

"I see. What did he say?"

Min Junsik smiled gently.

As if watching his grandchild's antics.

Eunha smiled following him too. Then he relaxed his body and leaned back on the backrest.

"Soon, fire will fall on the feet of the pharmaceutical industry."

Min Junsik just smiled at the corners of his mouth as if saying to speak more.

Eunha continued speaking calmly.

As if telling what will happen in the future.

"An incident that could shake Dangun Group will occur."

"And?"

"Dangun Group will shake, and KK Pharmaceuticals associated with Dangun Group will shake along with it. And if they shake─"

"─Other pharmaceutical companies will shake too, you mean."

Eunha nodded.

Min Junsik didn't try to ask for evidence in the story he brought up.

He just appropriately agreed with the future flow Eunha laid out.

"So what exactly is the favor you want to ask me?"

"When that time comes... I'd like Alice Group to absorb the shaking pharmaceutical companies."

A new concept of potion was created.

Jung Seokhoon who created it eventually established himself as a person leading the potion market.

While acting as Alice Group Chairman, he was reigning as the ruler of the potion market by acquiring and merging sound pharmaceutical companies.

Even now, but in the future there will be no company or group trying to covet Alice Group's position.

Such a future was approaching even faster than his previous life.

And Eunha was thinking of advancing that future even further.

"If what you say is true, there's no reason Alice Group wouldn't step up."

He couldn't say everything.

It was an ambiguous explanation.

Nevertheless, Min Junsik didn't harbor any suspicion.

Just thinking that must be how it is.

Min Junsik had also adapted to him whom he had watched since childhood.

Above all, before that─

"─Yes, it would be nice if things go as you say. But there's a condition in return. Let us exclusively make that thing Hayang's father is making."

"It's not even completed yet?"

"Even so, would Hayang's father rashly make something strange? Above all, it's what you brought."

Min Junsik was a businessman.

He was definitely not someone who would move out of pure goodwill.

Eunha sighed as if he expected this.

"Yes, alright."

He could hand over the manufacturing method for elixir as much as needed.

Even so, Jung Seokhoon would try to disclose the manufacturing method for elixir for free like in his previous regression.

Either way was fine.

As long as he had a connection with Jung Seokhoon, he could easily obtain premium potions and elixirs in the future.

"And if it's information you know Eunha, why don't you share it with us even if we can't verify the source."

"What?"

"Myeongwang Clan."

"......"

"The person who bought shares there was your friend, his name was definitely Yoo Dojun right?"

Min Junsik giggled playfully.

Eunha raised both hands and feet. He didn't expect Alice Group's information network to extend not only to Alice Group's affairs but also Yeongwon Group's affairs.

Eunha who stuck out his tongue finished the conversation and exchanged recent news about each other.

Although the speaker was mainly Eunha.

"I see, so Hayang is holding a meat party... I'm glad she seems to be doing well."

"Does Hayang come here often?"

"She seems very busy these days."

Min Junsik smiled bitterly.

Bitterness spread in his smile.

In a way, it couldn't be helped.

Because Jung Hayang didn't come out except on weekends since entering the academy. Moreover, she liked her younger brother so she often went to see him.

She also recently became of .

Jung Hayang couldn't help but be busy.

Min Junsik seemed lonely to that extent.

As a result, Eunha ended up becoming his conversation partner.

It's not bad to get close to Alice Group Chairman.

It'll still be a while before Hayang's father becomes chairman.

Half due to built-up affection.

Half due to calculating thoughts.

Eunha brought up topics happening at the academy when the deal ended satisfactorily.

They were mainly topics about Jung Hayang.

Min Junsik occasionally smiled gently.

"Then I'll be going back now. I need to return to the academy soon."

Time had passed before they knew it.

Eunha who finished his coffee stood up from his seat.

"By the way Eunha."

Right then.

Min Junsik called Eunha who stood up from his seat.

Min Junsik was smiling with affection overflowing as if looking at his grandchild.

"Yes, what is it Grandfather?"

So Eunha let his guard down.

That Min Junsik was a businessman.

Just as he briefly kept him company half out of calculating thoughts.

Min Junsik also conversed with him half out of calculating thoughts.

"─Have you thought about getting engaged to Hayang?"

The main point is always at the end.

Min Junsik smiled and spoke up thinking this was his chance.

Eunha became dumbstruck.

Eventually, what he chose was─

"Grandfather! I'll come again next time!"

─A hasty thirty-six stratagems retreat.

It was a speed invisible to the eye.

"Hoho..."

Min Junsik left alone in the study just laughed dejectedly.

Ah, it would have worked if I pushed a little more...

Min Junsik, 74 years old in the 11th year of Seonnyeo.

He had reached an age where he wanted to see his granddaughter get married.

Min Junsik clicked his tongue.

Next time I'll have to set the trap more elaborately.