Chapter 107 (2/2)
“Japan is a good country,” he began. “Of course, Korea is a good country, too. In fact, it’s up to anyone to decide which country is better for them.”
“I agree.” Yoo-seong nodded.
“Still, even with that said, Japan can be considered a more suitable country for main characters.”
“Main characters?” Yoo-seong was confused. “Like in the movies?”
“That’s right. Someone like Oh Yoo-seong.”
Kodama smiled before continuing.
“This evening, everyone will know about your achievements. More than half of the media have devoted their time to writing articles about you. There are already videos taken by civilians, all uploaded on the Internet and gaining views as we speak.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“It is but natural. It’s just that the other country you visited was… let’s say it’s quite a poor place.”
Kodama was, for sure, talking about China.
When he’d been there, Yoo-seong had also managed great achievements, much larger than what he’d done today. However, he didn’t get much attention for it.
Until now, the Chinese government hadn’t even officially acknowledged him for hunting one of the Four Perils. It was only through eyewitness accounts and promotions made by Tenz that Yoo-seong had gotten the credit.
“Of course, I understand that for someone like you, fame and wealth are not that important. Regardless of where you are, you can get both with your skills… but there may be people who hate what you’re doing.”
Yoo-seong felt that Kodama’s voice was rising. He kept silent and looked in the direction the car was heading.
“Of course, they won’t dare offend you by mentioning those things…”
The car was now beyond Tokyo’s city center. It was driving away from Leto’s headquarters.
“Don’t worry,” Kodama laughed as if he’d read Yoo-seong’s mind. “I’m taking you to the chairman. However, we’re meeting him somewhere farther away.”
“It seems like you have a very close relationship with him,” Yoo-seong remarked.
“Ah, I do.” Kodama nodded as if it were no big deal. “The chairman’s eldest daughter is my wife.”
“I see…” Yoo-seong leaned back against his seat.
This was where the confidence had come from.
From the beginning, Kodama had planned to bring him to the Leto chairman.
“It’s amazing,” Yoo-seong remarked.
“What is?”
“The Leto Group is so strong that they have the whole industry in their hands…”
For someone like Yang Chang-guk to be linked with a company would surely mean the end of his career. However, here in Japan, his counterpart was the son-in-law of the largest enterprise’s chairman.
“The chairman must be someone who has a very meticulous personality.”
Kodama shook his head.
“On the contrary, he’s good at developing people. I have risen from the bottom to the highest position through the grace of the chairman.”
Yoo-seong sighed. Then he took out his cellphone.
“Is there any problem?” Kodama sounded concerned.
“No, a message came.”
“You look tired.”
“Ah, the sigh? Rather, I’m excited.”
“You don’t have to worry.”
“I don’t worry about anything.”
As they spoke, Yoo-seong’s eyes remained on his phone. Then he added, “I have a magic button. I can get out of any crisis simply by pressing it.”
“Hahaha!” Kodama laughed as if he had heard a really funny joke.
‘If you realized it was true, it wouldn’t be so funny,’ Yoo-seong thought as he turned his gaze out the car window.
He saw a towering building against a deserted winter landscape.
‘Like a lab,’ he thought. ‘Or a hospital.’
“What’s inside,” Kodama’s cold voice came from behind him, “will surprise you.”
Yoo-seong turned his eyes on him.
“As you said earlier, there are conditions that drive the main character, and it’s not wealth or fame. To be able to show off my skills on a good stage…”
Kodama stared at him intently. “This will be a private visit, not a public display.”
“Well,” Yoo-seong said. “It seems they knew in advance that I was coming, so won’t the chairman blame you if I don’t arrive on time?”
“Uh… well. Do you need to use the bathroom or something?”
Beep-!
Kodama’s words were drowned by the winter wind.
Yoo-seong opened the car door.
“Mr. Oh Yoo-seong?”
“Sorry.” Yoo-seong stuck his tongue out playfully.
It was the mask he intended to use against Kodama and the Leto Group.
“You said I’d be surprised by what’s in that building. I can’t stand it!”
Then…
Yoo-seong jumped out of the vehicle. However, his feet never touched the ground.
Ta-ang-!
Against the cold, winter mountain air, Yoo-seong ran toward the building, using footholds made in the air.
‘They are waiting for me,’ Yoo-seong thought.
Kodama had led him here because the Leto Group wanted to show him something. That meant this must be a top-secret building.
He knew this because, when Yoo-seong brought up the navigation app on his phone, his location was not recognized. This place was not supposed to exist.
If so, he thought it would probably be best to see Leto’s real face before they could show him their made-up image.
“It’s… cold,” he muttered to himself as he landed on a tall tree.
Yoo-seong stared at the white building in front of him.
What happened now was not something he needed to think about.
Rather, like the joke he made…
He pressed the button.