353 The Showdown 2 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
”Mr. Woo.”
Upon reuniting with Nabi, Jang Mi, and Dong Baek in the hotel lobby, Juho greeted each person. There were also other publis.h.i.+ng agents, who were accompanying them, there.
”It sure feels different with you around, Mr. Woo,” Nabi said, nodding, and Juho chuckled awkwardly. She had been to the award ceremonies that Coin had attended as Juho's representative. The interior of the hotel was decorated mostly in gold, including the walls, furniture, and the fabrics, which gave it a luxurious look.
”It's already getting crowded around here.”
”Of course!”
”That's crazy,” Juho said, looking around. Then, Coin sneered at him, saying, ”Mind blown?”
”Yep. It's my first time here. I'm sure it's a feeling that you've long forgotten.”
”You make it sound like I've been around too long.”
”Whoever said anything like that?”
Juho kept looking around the hotel. Isabella was already interacting with other people, which included Nabi. They seemed to be introducing each other to other people.
”Well, I'm gonna go relax,” Coin said out of nowhere, walking off on his own. His professional acquaintances, who were attending the ceremony with him, followed the author.
Standing in his place, Juho asked Jang Mi, who was standing next to him, ”Can I go up to my room too?”
”Sure, but you might as well try talking to a person or two while you're here. It'll be a good experience.”
After staring at an elevator, which was already on its way up, Juho turned around upon hearing Nabi, who was talking to a group of people, calling for him.
”Ah! Mr. Woo!” somebody said, greeting the young author gladly. Every single person in the group was a department manager or in higher within their respective companies. As Juho approached, Isabella stepped aside to let Juho through. Everyone looked at him with friendly eyes.
”I loved your new book! It was superb!”
Juho thanked them.
”How do you feel?” a person standing next to Nabi asked. The long eyegla.s.s chain stood out quite a bit.
”How do I feel?” Juho asked, looking at the man's chain, which moved with him.
”This is your first time at an award ceremony, isn't it?”
”Oh, right. I'm still getting used to it.”
”Is that so? It didn't seem like it! Have you been to Chicago before?”
”No, this is also my first time in Chicago.”
”You know, Mr. Woo, I stayed up all night last night because I was that nervous,” the man said, impressed.
”How come?” Juho asked.
”Why? Because this is the ceremony for the Nebula Award, of course! It's the moment of truth, if you will. It's one of the largest, most prominent literary awards in the world. Personally, I'm looking forward to a book getting the recognition it deserves, so I always attend these ceremonies with a thumping heart.”
Juho nodded haphazardly, pretending to understand him.
”Besides, there's something special about this year's ceremony,” the man with gla.s.ses said with a big smile, his eyes fixed on one particular person.
”The showdown between you and Coin is finally happening!”
At the mention of the showdown, everyone else chimed in, as if they had been waiting for someone to bring it up first.
”It's the highlight of the ceremony, really.”
”I heard the Authors' a.s.sociation found themselves in a sticky situation. They are quite conscious of the press, after all.”
”I've been so curious as to who will win! Whoever it is, I'm ready to applaud them at a moment's notice,” somebody, who introduced himself as a former editor, said, adding that the author he had worked with in the past was not a high-ranking official in the Authors' a.s.sociation.
”I saw you two walk into the lobby together. Did you guys come together?”
”Yes, we did.”
”If I were in your shoes, I would be much too scared to be in the same car as him.”
”Are you ready to win?”
Juho remembered Coin, who had walked off to his hotel room. It was very Coin-like not to give Juho a single warning ahead of time. Feeling people's gazes, Juho replied, ”What about you guys?” avoiding answering a difficult question by replying with another question.
”Who do you think has more potential to win?” Juho asked, a.s.suming that they had already placed bets by that point. ”You all seem to have sharp eyes. So, who do you think will win?”
”We're not in a position to make that guess, really.”
”But you've read both of our books, haven't you?”
As they shook their heads, Juho added light-heartedly, ”That's exactly how I'm feeling.”
”I see. That gives us an idea.”
They broke out into laughter, lightening the atmosphere.
”You should consider working with us next time, Mr. Woo,” a balding man said, reaching his hand to the young author for a handshake. Juho saw the high-end watch on the man's wrist.
”I'd love to, as long I get the opportunity,” Juho replied politely. At which point, the man laughed out loud as if having heard a good joke. His demeanor exuded confidence.
”I'm sure finding an opportunity is rarely a challenge for you, Mr. Woo. You are the Great Storyteller, after all.”
After staring intently at his watch, Juho replied, ”You have a point there. Then, I'll contact you when I feel like it.”
At that moment, Nabi subtly plugged herself into the conversation by asking, ”You worked with Mr. Kings at one point, right?”
”Yes. Several times, in fact,” the man replied, proceeding to list the different products from his company, as well as the company's philosophy on books. From his description alone, the company sounded as though there were no other publis.h.i.+ng companies in the world that could stand up to it. Wondering where the man's confidence came from, Juho darted back and forth between the man's large forehead and his luxurious watch. At that moment...
”Mr. Woo?”
Dong Baek called for the young author.
”Would you excuse me?” Juho said to the group of people he had been talking to. After staring intently at the man with the luxurious watch, Juho said, ”It was a pleasure talking to you, sir.”
”Likewise. I sincerely hope we run into each other again.”
”Should we run into each other again in the hotel, don't hesitate to talk to me,” Juho said and turned around without hesitation, following Dong Baek down the hallway.
”Where are we going?” Juho asked.
Taking a deep breath, Dong Baek murmured, ”I'm not sure if it's because you were in the military or because you spent too much time around Coin…”