Chapter 167 - Chapter 167 (2/2)

An older gentleman sitting on the couch, passing the time by browsing through a newspaper, raised his head to look.

"Hyung-nim, why was it this hard to get in touch with you? You even cancelled our appointment for today, too."

The man sporting a smooth and reflective balding forehead was none other than the younger brother of Yu Myung-Han, Yu Seok-Ho.

As he got up to greet his older brother with a bright face, Yu Myung-Han returned a bit of a frown.

"Didn't I tell you that I have an important matter to deal with today? I'm currently occupied, so come back later."

"What do you mean? Hyung-nim, I know your schedule back to front, so what important matter could you be.....??"

Yu Seok-Ho's words came to a stop once he met Jin-Woo's gaze.

"Uh? Uh, uh???"

Didn't this young man's mug look familiar, somehow?

Other people would've recalled newspapers or images from the TV news broadcasts, but the first thing Yu Seok-Ho recalled was the SNS profile of his daughter, Yu Soo-Hyun, instead. He remembered seeing a photo of two young people looking quite comfy with each other.

'Is this really Hunter Seong Jin-Woo??'

In order to confirm the truth, he turned the newspaper in his hands to the front page. He kept blinking his eyes as he compared the front page photo and that of Jin-Woo's actual face.

This situation was weird enough to fluster Jin-Woo somewhat, but for some reason, he didn't find this unfamiliar half-bald uncle detestable at all.

'Is it because his eyes resemble Yu Jin-Ho's by a lot?'

Could a much older and balding Yu Jin-Ho look like this guy in the future?

Chairman Yu Seok Ho didn't know that he had instantly become the aged Yu Jin-Ho in Jin-Woo's mind. He didn't even mind the sharpened glare his older brother was giving him and extended his hand out with a bright smile on his face.

"Aigoo! Seong Jin-Woo Hunter-nim!"

"Oh, hello."

Jin-Woo unwittingly grasped the offered hand and shook it.

Yu Seok-Ho energetically shook hands as if he was greeting someone he met again after going through many years of hardship. He then introduced himself.

"I'm sure you have heard a lot about me, but well, I'm Yu Seok-Ho from Yu-il Pharmaceuticals."

"....??"

And just where would Jin-Woo have heard a lot about this uncle now?

Still, it wasn't cool to shoot down someone greeting you so happily like this, so Jin-Woo said something suitable as his reply.

"Ah, yes. Hello. Nice to meet you."

Yu Myung-Han was worriedly watching on from the side, but he was now forming a surprised expression, instead. Meanwhile, Yu Seok-Ho's back straightened up in pride as if to show off a little, and he opened his chest up a bit more.

'See this? Hyung-nim, my little girl's standards for men are on this level.'

Yu Seok-Ho had been feeling a slight case of an inferiority complex over the fact that Yu Myung-Han's daughter possessed a genius-level talent in music. But now, he thought he could definitely regain his self-esteem with this event.

Because, well, there wouldn't be that many men as amazing as this youth in the whole of South Korea, after all.

'….Seok-Ho's connections run pretty deep, I see.'

Yu Myung-Han was planning to raise his voice at his little brother once Jin-Woo had left, but now, after seeing that these two seemed to have 'heard' of each other, his anger had rapidly melted away and disappeared completely.

It seemed that the talk could go down favourably because of this.

"Oh, my goodness. Where are my manners at?"

Yu Seok-Ho finally released Jin-Woo's hand.

"Right, you said that you two have something to discuss, didn't you? Looks like this is where I make my exit, so please, don't mind me."

He smiled in satisfaction and turned around to leave the office, but stopped next to Jin-Woo.

"Ah, and by the way, Seong Hunter-nim?"

"Ah, yes?"

"Please, do stop by at my home if you have some time in the near future. I shall eagerly await for you, if it's you paying us a visit!"

".....??"

Stop by if he had time?

He'd eagerly await??

"Huhuhuhuht!"

The good-natured uncle said some mysterious things and left the office like a refreshing breeze passing by.

Even though his loud voice and bright expression ensured that he didn't come across as unlikeable, that uncle still came across as a weird quandary to Jin-Woo.

He stood there tilting his head a bit, and Chairman Yu Myung-Han cautiously asked him.

"Your relationship with my younger brother is....?"

Since the uncle in question was no longer around, was there a reason to mind his feelings anymore?

Jin-Woo's answer was rather straightforward.

"It's my first time meeting him today."

His reply caused Yu Myung-Han's expression to harden instantly.

'Yu Seok-Ho, you fool....'

Just as he suspected it. Unfortunately, there was an important guest present here. As befitting the nickname of 'Pokerface', Yu Myung-Han immediately masked his emotions and suggested that they take a seat.

"Please, have a seat."

Yu Myung-Han settled down on the opposite side to Jin-Woo. Secretary Kim entered the office with excellent timing and asked the Chairman.

"Sir, would you like some tea?"

"I'm fine, so please ask Hunter-nim."

"I'm also fine, thank you."

Jin-Woo shook his head.

Yu Myung-Han addressed Kim with a grave tone of voice.

"I wish to speak privately with Hunter-nim here, so can you leave us alone for a while?"

"Understood, sir."

Secretary Kim exited from the office and stood before the door to guard it. He had received the orders to do so earlier on.

From here onwards, no one could enter the office, even if it was the President of the nation coming for a visit. That was how heavy the weight of the matter today was.

"..."

"..."

Just like how it was back in the elevator, another bout of silence flowed between Jin-Woo and Yu Myung-Han. However, there was a certain difference in the weight of the silence this time.

Yu Myung-Han needed some moment to compose himself. This wasn't going to be a carefree conversation to catch up on old times or some such.

That was why Chairman Yu Myung-Han could only open his mouth after such a long time had passed by. Enough that one might start to get slightly bored by it, even.

"Seong Hunter-nim."

Jin-Woo had been patiently waiting until then and replied calmly as well.

"Yes?"

Yu Myung-Han pulled out a cheque from his inner pocket, issued under his name by a bank that often had dealings with Yujin Construction.

However, this cheque was somewhat different from a normal one.

Where there should have been numerical letters denoting the value of money represented by this slip of paper, there were none to be found.

"Here."

He pushed such a cheque forward.

Jin-Woo looked at this blank cheque for a little while before raising his head back up again.

Yu Myung-Han continued on with some difficulty.

"I'm not some arrogant fool who thinks he can buy anything with money. Especially even more so, when I'm dealing with a rank S Hunter such as yourself."

His mouth was drying up even further.

Compared to when he buried his father and inherited the corporation, back when he was about to give his first speech in front of tens of thousands of his employees, even when he was surrounded by hundreds of reporters and had to suffer from ignoble insults to his name – this moment made him tremble more than any of those times in the past.

But, it was obvious why. The importance of this matter greatly outstripped those moments in his past, after all.

Because, his desire to live, to see the future of the company he raised up by sacrificing his entire youth, and then, and then, the greed of a father wanting to see the growth of his offsprings for just a little bit longer - all of those were hanging in the balance right now.

"That is why... I'd greatly appreciate it if you consider this as nothing more than a small gesture of my sincerity."

Chairman Yu's eyes were burning in a determined light.

Jin-Woo could now guess the reason for him choosing this venue to hold this conversation. The things to be discussed from now on could not be leaked outside of these walls, that was why.

'This isn't about me joining his Guild or something like that.'

That was why the Chairman had chosen his own territory that he could control 100% per cent unless some kind of a natural disaster was to befall them.

Jin-Woo had always been quick on the uptake.

That was why he simply asked this question.

"Chairman. Just what is it that you wish to buy from me?"

< Chapter 167 > Fin.