178 – 178. Before the Conference (2)
A tryst requires a place without people.
Seong Yu-jin, who needed a place to talk with Min Chae-ryeong, took a car pulled by her subordinate and headed to a deserted coastal road. He was in the driver’s seat and Min Chaeryeong was in the passenger’s seat. Other than that, with no one on board.
The two of them didn’t say anything while they were moving. They weren’t friendly enough to ask each other how they were doing, and it took a lot of time to choose and organize what to say at the tryst later.
-Kikiiik.
Just like that, the car stopped at a corner shoulder of the coastal road, and Sung Yu-jin turned her head toward the passenger seat. The sky seen beyond the expressionless profile of Min Chaeryeong was slowly beginning to turn red.
-Shoot aaa.
If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of the waves. And the waning twilight that completely illuminates the world.
Sung Yu-jin, who was briefly mesmerized by the beautiful scenery that the more she sees it, soon turns her attention to Min Chae-ryeong again. Just in time, she also looks at her Sung Eugene.
“Isn’t this town very pretty? Living here makes you feel like your heart is clean for nothing?”
It was a bad joke. As for Min Chae-ryeong, she was one of the few in Korea in terms of her blackness.
And that has been an unchanging fact since before. Seong Yu-jin remembers Min Chae-ryeong, her senior, who seemed kind at first glance, but she always had a dark plot inside her.
“Senior. I don’t have much time. If you have any business, please tell me quickly.”
“Kick.”
Min Chaeryeong smiled at Sung Eugene’s urging. She starts to wrinkle his forehead.
“…… Why are you laughing?”
“Because the situation is the opposite from last time. The other day, when I wanted to get straight to the point, he asked me if I had met seniors and juniors for the first time in a while, and today you say that to me.”
“… ….”
“Yes. My position has changed since last time. Last time I was the one who felt sorry for you, and this time I felt sorry for you.”
Seeing how his attitude changes rapidly depending on his position, he said it must be true that there is no bond between seniors and juniors between the two of us. Seong Yu-jin nodded her head at Chae-ryeong Min’s joke.
Because each other’s positions were too different, and there were too many things in hand to be bound by the affection of seniors and juniors.
“Let me ask you directly. Senpai, why do you want her men to sabotage our work?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t pretend. You must already know about a series of incidents involving the Artifact ‘Early Silver’, known to the world as a parasitic monster.”
“I just know. This time I didn’t order it, it’s purely my subordinate’s opinion. My head hurts and I’m on the verge of going crazy.”
Min Chaeryeong let out a sigh as if thinking about it made her annoyed.
The reaction was sincere, but Sung Yu-jin had no way of knowing. Min Chae-ryeong laughs as she looks at him, who is trying to figure out whether she is serious or acting.
“Come to think of it, those artifacts are quite expensive, right? 4 Billion or something? It’s very sad.”
“You don’t have to worry. I’ll get it back somehow.”
“How? To sue? If someone else stole stolen property illegally, the court would give it a hard hit.”
“I have no intention of obtaining it through legal means. But there is a dark way to a dark side. Don’t you know your seniors well?”
Min Chae-ryeong nodded her head at Seong Yu-jin’s sarcastic remark. Both he and she were well versed in the illegal realm.
“I know that. That’s why I won’t stand by and watch you goof around.”
“I’m sorry. It must have been several times longer than the security guard Ahn Soo-ho that I have known with my seniors.”
“That’s why I’m warning you like this. Don’t touch my subordinates and bleed. If I touched him now, I’m sure there would be a big fuss? Can you afford that?”
At present, the surroundings of Ahn Su-ho seem peaceful at first glance, but in fact, it was in a state that was different from the eve of a storm.
From the previous case of attacking the knight’s tomb, to this parasitic monster incident. Thanks to Ahn Su-ho driving big events and making self-PR all over the place, now all kinds of organizations were watching him closely.
From the police, government, academy, Hansung Group, and hunter guild officials.
In such a situation, touching the hot potato Ahn Soo-ho for no reason would be like scratching it and making it boil.
“Besides, why, apparently, the trading partner is Li Haoyu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo? If you make a fuss for nothing and your black trade is exposed, won’t you be retaliated against from there?”
“You don’t have to worry. He is a member of the Standing Committee, after all, a foreign politician. This isn’t even China, so how much would you spend using your strength?”
“Okay. Upon investigation, I heard that there was no place that did not lead from the Chinese conglomerate family to the criminal organization of the underworld. You have the guts to trade with such a dangerous guy. Did you really need the silver in the beginning?”
– Flinched.
Under the poker face that floated on Seong Yu-jin’s face, a very faint sign of agitation spreads. And Min Chaeryeong doesn’t miss that color.
‘It’s strange when you think about it. What is the beginning silver? It’s just a rather special artifact, so why did I try to get it while paying more?’
There is a class of people in the world who are better off not getting involved in anything. And Li Haoyu, a member of the Standing Committee who has been talked about so far, is just such a person.
A big politician who dominates not only China’s political and business circles, but also the underworld.
It is natural to come into contact with such a person, but it also brings great risks. However, what I got from contacting Li Hao Yu was nothing special, and it was only a weapon-type special artifact.
‘Although artifacts with egos are precious, they are not something to be obtained by going so far… …. Is there anything else I don’t know about?’
Min Chaeryeong’s suspicion was natural. With her doubting eyes, she asks again.
“Yes. Let me ask you one thing. Why the hell did you need that? Why do you even go so far to get the original silver?”
At that question, Seong Yu-jin was silent. Because it was something she shouldn’t have said.
However, his thoughts soon change. Why does she need to keep her silence? Anyway, the fact that Min Chae-ryeong met her and asked her directly, that is, she must have come after knowing everything she knew.
“Why do you ask if you know everything?”
“Well? I don’t know what you mean?”
That’s why Seong Yu-jin asked back, and Min Chae-ryeong replied with a meaningful smile as usual.
Sung Yu-jin thought that even that answer was deception. As Min Chaeryeong said a little while ago, the one I regret between the two is Sung Yujin. That she enjoys the difference and belittles herself.
Seong Yu-jin felt a sense of longing for her somewhere. She was a person who, like the Min Chae-ryeong she knew, was always like this, with a smirk and malice oozing out in every little thing she did.
However.
‘……………… I really don’t know.’
In fact, contrary to Seong Yu-jin’s guess, Min Chae-ryeong was in a state of knowing nothing.
The reason he wants the primordial silver is because of the multi-ability research in progress at Yeoil, and Minchae-ryeong also knows that he is dipping her toes into such research, but she is just there.
How could she know the progress of her detailed research, or the internal circumstances of needing primordial silver to build her body strength to withstand her powers of vengeance? Not a party
However, Min Chaeryeong did not reveal that ignorance. She just smiles meaningfully as usual, and she keeps silent and presses Sung Yu-jin in silence.
To make it easy for him to misunderstand on his own.
Because of that misunderstanding, I made myself talk about my internal circumstances.
It was a gamble she could commit because she believed in the image she had built up over the years. Bluffing with the momentum of multiple Jin, who has no further backs if they are caught.
“…… Don’t be shy. Senior, you know that we are researching multiple abilities, right? Isn’t that why you deliberately had your subordinates steal the primordial silver in order to interfere with our research?”
‘Bingo.’
And Seong Yu-jin got caught in the bluffing. With a smile of repentance inside, Min Chaeryeong made a guess based on what he said.
‘The beginning of silver is needed for multi-ability research. Why do you need An experiment to implant abilities into artifacts with egos? Come to think of it, the other day Na Ju-yong activated his psychic powers with a strange machine. Is it an extension of that? Or the other way……. For example, transplanting the artifact’s ability to a person?’
The speculation stretched to infinity. Among them, there were speculations that were at a glance similar to the truth, and there were also contents that ran wild in a direction far away from the truth.
‘No matter what it is, the more you try it, the more the outline will come out.’
What question should I ask next to dig up a hint of the truth? It was when Min Chae-ryeong was choosing a question in her head.
“…… Senior. The Winter Alliance spent almost 5 billion on smuggling silver in the first place. The cost of related research is astronomical. We absolutely need primordial silver. They will take it away by any means.”
“So?”
“Do you want to turn me, the Winter Alliance, and Yeoil into enemies?”
An easy-to-understand threat to hand over the primordial silver if you don’t want to enmity us.
At that threat, Min Chaeryeong felt a strange sense of deja vu.
Yes, when Kang Ha-neul was almost kidnapped and her Yeo-il inspector approached her. When she met him, she said that she had heard similar threats.
What do you have in common between then and now?
It is that it is closely related to Yeoil’s multi-ability research, whether it’s Kang Ha-neul or the beginning of silver.
“…… Be the enemy Seong Yujin. You actually know That you and I are already enemies.”
After thinking that far, Min Chae-ryeong answered without the slightest sign of conflict.
“At the point Yeo-il got his hands on multi-ability research, you guys can’t side with me. I’m very much into that damn study.”
An answer dripping with sticky anger.
Seong Yu-jin tilted her head in surprise at that answer.
“…… Isn’t the government secretly conducting similar research behind the scenes through the Green House?”
“Right. So, if I can, I want to catch up with the government of this country or your spare time. But what if I have no power? What can a mediocre guard team leader who lives on money from the state do?”
“Senior has nothing to do with multiple ability research, is that so? Then why did you interfere so much when we tried to kidnap Kang Ha-neul?”
“Wow, are you talking about it now? If I were picking up the transcript right now, would you be in trouble for this?”
“Please answer the question.”
Min Chaeryeong weakly laughed at the question posed in a somewhat inflamed voice. Seong Yu-jin didn’t know why she was laughing, but she could clearly sense that at least she wasn’t in a good mood.
“Do you know about an organization called ‘Cradle’?”
“Yes.”
“Of course you know. Because all of your multi-ability research started there. So, do you know that Kang Ha-neul and I are from the experimental body there?”
At the second question, Seong Yu-jin silently nodded her head.
Min Chaeryeong possesses the ability to avenge through a mysterious principle. And Kang Ha-neul, who uses various additional abilities derived from one ability called ‘Avatar’.
Sung Yu-jin already knew that the blessing-like ability of the two people was not spontaneous. As Min Chae-ryeong said, Yeo-il’s multi-ability research was a successor to Yo-ram’s research as a test subject.
“I don’t remember him because he was so young, but he’s like a little brother next door to me. Isn’t it strange that you want to protect me?”
“…… I don’t think you were the kind of person who moved with that kind of humane feeling.”
Min Chaeryeong laughed at Sung Yujin’s words. As if she wasn’t convincing even with what she said.
“If you don’t believe me, you think there’s an ulterior motive. However, at least know that it is not intended to be used for multiple ability research like you guys.”
“You are insisting until the end that you have nothing to do with such research. And despite this, the original silver cannot be returned, is that so?”
“Of course not. There is no reason to hand it over, and if your research goes well, nothing good will happen to me, right? Furthermore… …. What’s the point if I say this in the first place? The one who has the primordial silver is my subordinate Ahn Su-ho. No matter what I think, in the end it’s up to him to decide.”
“Because she is the wealth of her senior, she will listen to her like a knife if she commands her senior.”
“That would be great. He has a strong rebellious temperament, so he seldom listens to me.”
“You say you rebel against your senior even though you are subordinate to him. It was like that during the attack, but he is a very strong friend.”
“Since I’m a kid who weighs a lot of gains and losses like me, try persuading him.”
After she finished speaking, Min Chae-ryeong took out a cigarette from her arms and placed it in her mouth. She was in someone else’s car, but she didn’t show any signs of getting in the way. Seong Yu-jin also opened the window without saying a word.
“By the way… ….”
Just as she lit her fire, Sung Eugene asked.
“Then, if I persuade Ahn Su-ho somehow and get the primordial silver… …. Are you going to let it go then?”
Sincerely, the ‘persuasion’ he refers to is probably not a word that only includes persuasion with words. Min Chae-ryeong pondered for a while as she smoked her cigarette.
“Okay. What is that…….”
And soon, along with acrid smoke, her answer rose.
“…… You’ll know when it’s time, right?”
There was a smile on his lips as usual.