Wearing a temporary visitor's pass around her neck, she followed an employee's guidance into the conference room.
She froze! 'Hmm... should I go in or not?'
Inside the conference room were two people.
Including herself, that made three.
Looking at their name tags, one was from Ilsung Apparel, the other from Daehyun Trading—neither was a president or CEO.
If they had been, she'd have known at a glance.
Directors, most likely.
Which meant she was the only CEO here. '...
Was it pointless to come?' She felt awkward.
This had turned into a bit of a joke.
As Ko Yeonha entered, the men scrambled half to their feet and bowed.
"
CEO-nim, it's, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Kim Seokjin, Managing Director of Ilsung Apparel.
"
"
Hello, I'm Ko Yeonha. I take it CEO Jeong is busy?
"
"
He is currently in New York to attend a fashion show.
"
"
Ah.
"
One of them was abroad.
Well, fashion shows are important.
"
Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Yang Sejun, Executive Director of Daehyun Trading.
"
"
Nice to meet you, Director Yang. I'm Ko Yeonha.
"
She didn't ask where the president of Daehyun Trading was.
That old man was always running around busily.
Usually traveling for pleasure, though.
In the end, she turned out to be the one with the most free time.
The CEO of a fashion company with a loose enough schedule to show up the moment a government office called.
A managing director and an executive director, at least they looked the part.
Not decision-makers, but positioned to report to their presidents immediately if something unexpected came up.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
No one opened their mouth first. 'Should I make up a busy excuse and slip away?' All sorts of thoughts ran through her mind.
But right at that moment!
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the conference room door and entered.
"
Ah, my apologies for being late.
"
Huh?
The Deputy Director came in person?
Everyone sprang to their feet and bowed at the waist.
Ko Yeonha was no different.
She bowed her head politely.
One mustn't look down on a mere government official.
Jeon Kwangil, the real power of the Awakened Management Agency.
The man who drafted the Elite Team Player Project and grew South Korea into a leading nation in tower conquest.
As a result, the nation's climbed floor count reached parity with the United States.
Nam Ga-eun, who appeared to fill the vacancy left by Yu Cheol-min's naturalization, had established herself as a star player.
And that wasn't all?
There were rumors that he had also obtained the Holy Sword.
Some even speculated he might know Korea's S++-rank record holder.
Since he was virtually certain to become the next Director, he was on par with a chaebol chairman.
No—a chaebol chairman would be harder to meet.
For Deputy Director Jeon Kwangil to appear here in person, this alone made attending worthwhile. 'Hmm, I suppose it was good I came.' At that moment, Jeon Kwangil, with a troubled expression—
"
Um, I'm afraid I must apologize. The representatives from Ilsung Apparel and Daehyun Trading will have to be seen another time.
"
Kim Seokjin and Yang Sejun looked bewildered, as if to ask what he meant.
"
When I sent the official document, I specifically requested the CEOs attend. There was a reason for it.
"
At that—"No problem at all. We can contact our presidents in real time right now.
"
"
Same here. Our CEO told me to call him immediately if anything came up....
"
Jeon Kwangil sighed as if regretful, and said:
"
My deepest apologies. That's our internal policy. If you'll excuse us, I'll be speaking only with CEO Ko Yeonha. Well then—"
His tone was courteous, but his words were firm.
Kim Seokjin and Yang Sejun had no choice but to gather their belongings and leave.
Thus only two remained in the conference room.
Ko Yeonha, beaming.
"
Did I catch my lucky break, Deputy Director-nim?
"
"
Hmm... I can't give you a definite answer yet.
"
"
I hope it's luck. I've even brought something I prepared.
"
"
Prepared, you say?
"
Ko Yeonha took a binder out of her bag and handed it to Jeon Kwangil.
He opened it—design proposals.
There were photos, too.
Models styled after Player Nam Ga-eun, wearing leather armor emblazoned with the brand name "Wildflower," holding the Holy Sword.
Not only female models, but male models as well.
Of course, imitation armor and an imitation Holy Sword.
"
What do you think? Our head designer spent days creating these design proposals.
"
"
Ah....
"
"
Please take a look.
"
It was out of nowhere.
Suddenly thrusting design proposals at him?
But they were quite pretty.
If armor were made like this, it would be popular at the Player Shop.
"
I'll review them. And CEO Ko, if you don't mind, come with me somewhere.
"
"
Yes.
"
The two walked out of the Management Agency building.
They headed toward a secluded spot behind the building.
Their destination, at last.
Before an iron gate, heavily guarded by armed police.
"
This is....
"
"
The tower materials warehouse. It's where we store the material items we purchase from Players.
"
"
Ah, I see.
"
At Jeon Kwangil's signal, one of the guards brought over two thick long padded coats.
"
Please put these on. We run the cooling system, so it will be extremely cold.
"
The iron gate opened and the two entered. It was dark.
They couldn't see a hand in front of their faces.
And as promised, it was very cold.
Good thing she wore the coat.
"
I'm going to turn on the lights, so please don't be alarmed.
"
"
Ah... yes, yes of course.
"
Click! The lights came on.
It was slightly blinding.
So she kept them closed a moment, then opened them—and what was this?
On the floor lay black, monstrous-looking things... monsters? Monsters? Did I say monsters?
"
Kyaaaaak!
"
Ko Yeonha screamed and stumbled backward.
"
Calm down, CEO-nim. Those are all hides. Whole hides, look closely.
"
"
...Eh? H-hides? A-animal? Umm, lizards? Crocodiles?
"
"
Something like that. Except these came out of the tower.
"
What did that mean?
The tower?
"
This one is an Iron-Armored Basilisk. This one an Iron-Jawed Basilisk, and there's a Long-Tailed Basilisk too.
"
"
Bas... ilisk, you say?
"
In truth, Ko Yeonha didn't know much about what monsters appeared in the tower.
But she knew the names of the wyvern and the basilisk well.
The wyvern, hailed as the finest of hides.
The basilisk, a grade below, yet said to rival the wyvern in certain respects.
But what were they doing here?
They looked like props for filming a monster movie.
"
Are these really basilisk hides?
"
"
Yes. We've secured 36 in total and are storing them. What you see here is 34 of them.
"
There was no way someone of the Deputy Director's rank would pull this stunt just to startle her.
Only then did she muster her courage and cautiously creep closer.
They were definitely whole hides, all right.
They'd been skinned intact down to the head. "We intend to supply these hides to the private sector. We won't just be making armor—they can be used in everyday life as well.
"
"
S-supplying, you mean, allowing tower materials to be provided to private companies?
"
"
Yes.
"
Insane!
"
And the supply recipient is our HG Fashion?
"
"
As you've gathered, yes.
"
"
Hmm—"
Tower materials—monster hides—are extremely expensive and rare.
Which meant the limits were clear, too.
That's why they hadn't been commercialized until now.
"
What about volume? If this is all there is, commercialization could be difficult.
"
"
Steady, continuous supply is possible. The supply price will need to be negotiated, though.
"
"
Ah!
"
"
Perhaps it could spread as widely as crocodile leather.
"
Continuous supply is possible?
Like crocodile leather?
If those hides were expertly processed into bags or wallets?
Clothes could be made, shoes, hats, gloves, keychains, phone cases...
There'd be nothing that couldn't be made.
They could be made entirely of leather, or blended with other materials. 'And stamped with the Wildflower brand.' Good heavens!
Just imagining it sent a thrill through her body.
She realized it once more.
She was so glad she came.
If she had sent someone in her place, like Ilsung or Daehyun had, she might have regretted it until the day she died.
No, this wouldn't do.
She had to take a closer look.
Ko Yeonha stepped right up.
Then strange patterns unlike those seen on ordinary wild animals caught her eye.
The feel was entirely different from even the finest crocodile leather.
It was incomparably more beautiful, luxurious, and unique.
There were three colors as well: black, dark brown, and deep gray.
Her mind spun rapidly.
If Jeon Kwangil's words were true, commercialization was feasible.
At that moment!
A sudden thought.
"
Deputy Director-nim.
"
"
Yes.
"
"
You said you secured 36 hides in total?
"
"
That's right.
"
"
There are only 34 in this space.
"
"
Correct.
"
"
Then where are the other two?
"
Jeon Kwangil smiled broadly.
"
Follow me.
"
He led her to a section just across a wall.
And the moment they rounded the corner—
Ko Yeonha couldn't help but stop dead in her tracks.
"
Aaaahh....
"
There were exactly two.
Hides on a silver base that shimmered with a riot of colors.
Gorgeous, but not overwrought.
Neither tacky nor vulgar.
The colors seemed almost alive—fading, deepening, swirling like watercolor paints floating on water, blending without ever fully mixing, merging and parting and merging again.
"
Th-this is really a h-hide?
"
"
A Rainbow Basilisk. I guarantee you, even a wyvern's hide can't match this one's.
"
"
Is this hide also s-supplied to the private sector?
"
"
Of course. Making armor out of this hide would be a bit much—it's too flashy, you see.
"
Her head spun.
If they unveiled this to the market, it was the kind of thing that could turn the world of fashion upside down.
Was she getting too excited?
She calmed herself for a moment.
"
Since I was the only one who came to the CEO meeting, HG Fashion has the right of first purchase on these hides, correct?
"
"
You could say that. At least for the first batch..."
"
I'd like the second batch to be ours as well.
"
"
That can't be decided right now, but there is one condition.
"
"
Anything.
"
"
Please keep this as confidential as possible until HG Fashion commercializes these hides. It won't be easy, of course.
"
"
I'll do my best.
"
Commercializing the hides would take considerable time.
They couldn't be processed with existing leatherworking tools.
They'd need to first secure tools made with tower metal.
Craftsmen would need training too—which meant all of them would learn of these hides' existence.
Well, they could just sign NDAs.
"
Then there's just one thing left. At what price will you supply them?
"
At Ko Yeonha's question, Jeon Kwangil sighed and said:
"
Phew, that's the hardest problem of all. This is the kind of hide ordinary Players receive as tower conquest rewards.
"
Jeon Kwangil showed Ko Yeonha a hide about the size of a cushion.
"
So this is also a basilisk hide.
"
"
That's right. But there's a difference, isn't there?
"
Indeed.
The pattern and markings were blurred, and the sheen slightly faded.
"
We purchase them at ten million won per hide. We use them to make defensive gear, which we sell to Players at cost.
"
Ko Yeonha nodded.
Even hides like these were so rare they were hard to come by in the private sector.
And that was with Players' own needs already exceeding supply.
"
So we'll need a bit of help from you.
"
"
Help, meaning?
"
"
Your company has leather specialists and craftsmen, doesn't it, CEO-nim?
"
"
Of course.
"
Jeon Kwangil handed her two envelopes.
One contained an A4-sized piece of ordinary basilisk hide; the other, a piece of Rainbow Basilisk hide the size of half a banknote.
"
Samples.
"
"
Ah!
"
"
Consult with them and set the value of the hides.
"
She understood what he meant.
The buyer, not the seller, should set the price.
"
And if I lowball it?
"
"
Well, then we'd simply have to ask elsewhere.
"
Ko Yeonha broke into a wide smile.
"
Don't worry. I have absolutely no intention of undervaluing these hides. If anything, I'd want to price them higher.
"
Short-term profit wasn't the issue.
She had to look far ahead.
"
We'll discuss it with our specialists. And don't worry about secrecy. This will never leak out.
"
"
I'll trust you.
"
Jeon Kwangil was curious, too.
If it were released to the public, how much would the pelt actually be worth?***Late evening.
Arc Hill Apartments, Cheongdam, Seoul.
Juhyeok stood in front of the penthouse-exclusive elevator alongside the building's management staff.
The property registration transfer had been completed.
The owner of Arc Hill Apartments was now Bong Juhyeok.
The reason he had come here today was to spend a night in commemoration of the apartment becoming his own.
The security was certainly thorough.
"To use the private elevator, you need to pass through this door with your card key. You'll also need to press the buttons with your card key. Without it, the door won't open at all."
"Oh, if I lose it... what then?"
"You just report the loss to the management office. Then the lost card key is deactivated and a new one is issued."
Juhyeok rode up the elevator with the management staff.
The door opened, and a space came into view.
Luxurious-looking tiles on the floor, dazzling lighting, and a grand front door.
"This is the entrance. To go inside, you'll use your card key again."
The apartment was right there as soon as they stepped off.
"There's an instruction manual on the living room table for your reference. Call us anytime if you have questions. Well then, have a good evening."
"Yes, thank you."
Juhyeok opened the door with his card key and went inside.
As he moved forward carefully, "Wow!"
An exclamation of admiration escaped him involuntarily.
The word "resplendent" would fit this place perfectly.
According to Jeon Gwangil, the penthouse interior had been completely renovated.
Tiles, wallpaper, kitchen sink, bathroom, bathtub, toilet, sink, built-in furniture...
Everything that seemed to bear Yoo Cheolmin's touch had been entirely demolished.
At this point, Juhyeok designated-summoned all his Subordinates.
"Chwit! The right arm and confidant of Summoner Bom—huk! Wh-where is this?"
Kosaku had been here once before.
"Our new home. What do you think?"
Gobang, Gyeon Dallae, and Rajix's eyes also went wide.
"Ahh, how luxurious it is. Truly worth its price, I must say."
"It's spacious and tall. Comfortable."
"Hoh... How lovely."
Juhyeok pressed the switch and turned on all the interior lights.
"Go ahead, look around as you please."
Whoosh!
The Subordinates scattered.
"The, the bathroom, go see it. It's big enough to sleep in. The toilet is a work of art too. Taking a dump here would feel like a sin."
"Oho, there's even a small sitting room attached to the bedroom."
"The ceiling is high. I won't bump my head."
The TV was so enormous it felt like being in a movie theater.
The home appliances seemed to have been replaced with new ones as well.
Everyone was busy touching this and that.
They opened all three refrigerators, admired the top-of-the-line kitchen sink, turned the chandelier on and off—
Right at that moment.
Someone must have activated it. Viiiiing—the living room curtains opened by themselves with a whirring sound.
Everyone's eyes turned that way.
Through the large panoramic window, the nightscape of Seoul came into view.
Juhyeok slowly approached.
The Han River flowing serenely through Seoul.
The procession of car lights passing along the roads beside it. Large and small buildings with lights glowing on every floor.
Ahh, why was this man-made scenery, created by human hands, so beautiful?
He couldn't take his eyes off it.
"It is beautiful, my lord."
"It is."
Kosaku and Gobang also came up to the window and gazed at the view outside.
"...
This world must never fall to ruin. I will not allow it."
"The warrior will protect it without fail. The Summoner as well."
"This girl, too, shall devote this body."
They stood there for a long while.
No matter how much they looked, they never grew tired of it.
But what was Rajix doing?
Juhyeok turned his head and looked back.
"Hm?"
Rajix was standing tall, in a standoff with something.
Her body trembled with what was clearly fury.
So much that the hat on her head was bobbing.
Why was her angry appearance so adorable in its own way?
"Hoek!"
"Weee, wing, wing!"
"Hoeeek!"
"Wiiiiing!"
It was a robot vacuum.
No one knew when it had started running, but Rajix was blocking the robot vacuum's path.
Blocking it was useless.
The artificial intelligence nimbly dodged around her, cleaning the floor.
"An electronic servant, I see."
"It seems our foremost servant is feeling competitive toward the electronic servant."
It certainly looked that way.
Every time the electronic servant—that is, the robot vacuum—sucked up dust, Rajix stomped her feet in anger.
She sometimes put laundry or dishes in the washing machine or dishwasher, but she always cleaned the house herself.
For someone like her, that robot vacuum seemed to pose quite a threat.
Perhaps she feared losing her job.
He understood.
Kosaku had been the same way.
He too had been anxious with fear that he might lose his position.
'We mustn't threaten our Rajix.'
Juhyeok whispered into Gobang's ear.
Gobang nodded.
He strode over to the robot vacuum, snatched it up with both hands—Kwak!—and with a crunch and a splat—
Crushed it flat.
"Hoeng?"
Rajix's face brightened instantly.
Then she brought a broom and dustpan from somewhere and swept up the remains of the broken robot vacuum.
"Hoeee..."
The electronic servant was gone.
The only servant in this house was her.
Rajix wore an expression of complete satisfaction.────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────