Chapter 602

A whip could be an effective way to make someone do what you wanted. It could also make them resent you. Team Leader Choi knew exactly how to use the one in his hand.

“Director Hong.”

From his seat at the head of the table, Team Leader Choi called on one of the youngest executives. Hong answered, his face tense.

“Yes, yes.”

“I’ve heard a great deal about you, Director Hong. They say you’re exceptionally capable.”

“Oh, no. I’ve just been lucky…”

“Luck alone doesn’t make someone an Ares Guild executive. Especially not at your age. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“…”

Team Leader Choi’s tone and voice were gentle, but an unmistakable anxiety appeared on Director Hong’s face. And there was bound to be a reason why Team Leader Choi had singled out one person from among dozens of executives.

“I grew up overseas, so it was hard to fit in at first. But people live there too, after all. One by one, I made friends.”

Exiled or not, he was still the royal grandson. Team Leader Choi had lived a life worlds apart from that of an ordinary guy like me. His connections went further than I could imagine.

“Some of those friends get in touch now and then with news. I’ve heard some interesting things about you too, Director Hong.”

“…Have you?”

“Yes. Nothing but praise. The same goes for the rest of you, of course.”

Each time Team Leader Choi’s calm gaze moved, the executive who met it flinched as if burned. None of them was stupid enough to take his words at face value.

Leave water standing long enough and it rots.

Ares Guild was one of the largest organizations in the world. An executive position there came with astronomical wealth and prestige.

How many people at this table were clean as fresh water? They hadn’t avoided a summons from the prosecutors’ office because they were spotless. They were just clean enough to pass for third-grade water.

The sewage, and those with filth floating in them, were already having a reunion in the detention center.

“Are you feeling unwell? You’re breaking out in a cold sweat.”

Director Hong wiped his forehead. “Oh, no. It’s just a little hot.”

“There must be a problem with the temperature-control Magic. You should have it fixed.”

Magic kept the conference room at a comfortable temperature, but half the executives were breathing as if they’d stepped into a steam room. They had all seen the whip tucked up Team Leader Choi’s sleeve. He didn’t have to swing it. A glimpse was enough to put pressure on them.

There was, of course, an exception.

“I can’t listen to any more of this.”

The speaker was a middle-aged man with irritable eyes and a sparse white beard. He tapped thick knuckles on the round table.

“Are you seriously threatening us?”

“You’re Director Kim, in charge of the Asian region.”

Team Leader Choi rubbed his chin. “Is that how it feels?”

“What if it did?”

“I won’t deny it. It’s true.”

“What?”

“I said it’s true. I’m threatening you, and I intend to make Ares Guild mine.”

He added gently, “With everyone’s consent, of course. Legally.”

“A lizard thinks it can swallow a dinosaur.”

Director Kim looked between Team Leader Choi and me and gave a short laugh.

“You two are young, and it shows. Do you think Ares Guild is a joke?”

I nodded, looking interested. “Hmm. A little?”

“…”

That seemed to leave him at a loss. After a brief silence, he went on.

“Headquarters fell. That doesn’t mean the whole of Ares Guild is helpless. No matter how strong you are, do you think you can take on all of us?”

He had a point. Ares Guild had branches all over the world, and the forces at headquarters were only a fraction of its strength. Even I couldn’t subdue them all on my own.

But…

“So what?”

At my question, bewilderment flashed across Director Kim’s face.

“What?”

“What, asshole?”

“Asshole?”

“You fucking bastard, I ought to—”

“…Huh?”

What the hell is this guy doing? His face said it all.

I raised my fist. Director Kim instinctively edged his chair back and blinked.

“What… what is this?”

“What does it look like? I’m about to fuck you up.”

“You’re going to use force? Now? Here?”

“Should I use my brains instead? It’s depressing enough how little I’ve got to work with.”

“But… that would be illegal.”

“Was it legal when I took Go Jun’s head off ten days ago?”

“…!”

“Something will work out. I’ve already sent a few people to the grave. Who’s going to complain if I add one more? Right?”

Team Leader Choi smacked his lips. “This is a different matter. Someone might complain.”

“Things have been going pretty well for me lately, but even I couldn’t stay out of prison, could I?”

“That’s right. But given how favorable the public image and public opinion surrounding Mr. Jin Taekyung are at present, if things go well, you might be able to settle for a few years.”

“Right. What if I was drunk?”

“Are you a genius? That would cut the sentence considerably.”

“Come to think of it, I’ve been through so much lately that I might have diminished mental capacity.”

“Oh, you could even aim for a suspended sentence.”

What a wonderful country. Get drunk, claim diminished mental capacity, and they’d throw in a generous sentence reduction.

The man listening to our hopeful discussion had gone ashen.

“You… you lunatics.”

“I thought you knew. You didn’t know I was a lunatic?”

“…!”

“Then watch yourself. We’re trying to do this the nice way. Why are you the only one making trouble?”

It was only talk, of course.

What mattered was how it sounded to him. I was the madman who had gone berserk, smashed up Ares Guild headquarters, and killed people without a thought for the consequences. Right now, even a joke from me would sound like a threat.

If the whip doesn’t work, you need one hell of a strong whip.

The one man who had come close to openly dissenting pressed his lips together. Vice President Park Daewon, who had been watching quietly, spoke up.

“I understand what the two of you want. As for Team Leader Choi Minwoo returning to Ares Guild… I support it in my capacity as Vice President.”

“V-Vice President.”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“Well, that…”

Startled voices came from around the table. But the tide had turned, and Team Leader Choi offered them the carrot he had prepared.

“If the rest of you accept Vice President Park Daewon’s opinion, Ares Guild will stabilize quickly. The vacancies created by this incident will soon be filled as well.”

“…What are you saying?”

“Whatever has happened up to now, I have no intention of discounting your abilities. Once things settle down, there will be major personnel changes.”

I could practically see the rabbits’ ears perk up as they recognized the carrot.

If Ares Guild changed hands, its existing executives had the most to lose. Take away that worry and promise them promotions instead, and things looked very different.

No reason to refuse.

Besides, Team Leader Choi had nothing to disqualify him. Quite the opposite. He was more than qualified, which was why he could speak with such quiet confidence.

“I’ll put everything that has happened until now behind me. I’ll quickly stabilize the Guild, restore its tarnished image, and use this incident as a stepping stone to make it grow even larger.”

No one questioned him now. It wasn’t only the carrot. They knew what Team Leader Choi could do.

In barely half a year, he had brought Peace Guild to where it stood today. I’d played a key role in that, sure. But without his eye for people, his ability to run an organization, and his political skill, there would be no Peace Guild as it was now.

And there was something else.

He’s Cheon Taemin’s only blood descendant.

Dynasties had vanished from this country long ago, but Cheon Taemin’s name belonged to the realm of the divine.

The bloodline of the man who saved humanity carried its own power and nobility. No chaebol¹ group, however wealthy, and no dynasty that had ever existed could claim to stand above Team Leader Choi.

And a title like that was bound to carry tremendous influence, especially within Ares Guild.

“Hmm.”

Low groans rose from various parts of the conference room. They knew it too. Lee Jungryong and Go Jun had been nothing more than usurpers, while Team Leader Choi—with undeniable legitimacy and ability—was the one suited to become the new City Lord.

Scrape.

The sound of chairs broke the silence. More than ten executives stood. They had been in the same boat since ten days ago, and they bowed respectfully to Team Leader Choi without hesitation, as though they had been waiting for this moment.

“…!”

The tide was with us now. The others had seen the whip and the carrot. It was time to choose.

One by one, the watching executives rose.

Scrape. Scrape.

Amid the sounds of shifting chairs, I sent a Sound Transmission to the last two holdouts.

—Oh, for fuck’s sake…

“…!”

“…!”

Executive Director Baek and Director Kim shuddered as though they’d been electrocuted. Then they got to their feet on trembling legs and bowed.

Only one executive remained seated.

Vice President Park Daewon.

Under the gazes of Team Leader Choi and me, he finally rose quietly from his seat. An aged voice slipped through his dry lips.

“Do you know I’ll be retiring soon?”

Team Leader Choi calmly nodded, and Vice President Park Daewon muttered softly.

“Then this will be my last task.”

“If you wish, I can arrange for you to stay longer.”

“No. I’m sorry I failed to look after you all these years… and thank you for coming back.”

Of everyone in the room, Park had been with Ares Guild the longest. That also meant he had turned away from Team Leader Choi the longest.

He looked at Team Leader Choi, conflicting emotions plain on his face, then bowed respectfully. His next words brought it all to an end.

“I’ll convene an official board meeting, Young Master.”

“…!”

A glint passed through Team Leader Choi’s eyes.

Surrounded by some thirty retainers, he was already the City Lord in all but name.