noveltune Chapter 85
Chapter 85
Ryu Seo-ha slightly lowered his eyes, hiding his embarrassment. If he answered that he didn’t know here, it would make Choi Gang-hu, who had specifically asked him the question, look bad.
“...As everyone knows well, shouldn’t we focus on securing friendly stakes?”
When he carefully gave a safe and standard answer, people’s questioning gazes shifted back to Choi Gang-hu. As if asking why he had bothered to encourage participation by mentioning “my person” just to hear such a generic answer that anyone could give.
It was strange to begin with that he had brought a guild healer instead of his personal secretary to this important meeting. At first, he thought he had just brought him along to keep an eye on him... Was there some other intention?
“Even if we combine all the shares of myself, the chairman, Gangseong Trading’s representative director and key executives, it doesn’t exceed 40%. Should we ask for cooperation from the chairman of the Gangseong Cultural Foundation and Guild Master Choi Junwan?”
Choi Gang-hu calmly mentioned his competitor in the midst of an underground battle and his mother. While looking around at the executives showing various expressions.
Ryu Seo-ha could finally understand Choi Gang-hu’s seemingly meaningless actions. He was now confirming the authenticity of the book titled ‘Future Event Journal’.
That book also contained information on the tendencies of surrounding figures and group power dynamics. He must be comparing its contents with the real-time reactions of executives siding with Choi Junwan.
“It’s not just any matter, but defending management rights from speculative forces, so they will surely cooperate.”
“Hmm... I wonder...”
“It should be fine since the chairman is still healthy.”
“For now, we should gather as many stocks as possible during market hours...”
Those naively asserting, those worrying while anticipating difficulties, those trying hard to manage their expressions, those glancing around to gauge the atmosphere. Knowing in advance, it quickly became apparent who was neutral and who was an enemy.
“Um... If I may say so...”
At that moment, one of the executives who had been agonizing with his head in his hands spoke up painfully while watching Choi Gang-hu’s reaction.
“If problems like today occur again, it becomes quite difficult to predict the average price of stocks to purchase. If you could please refrain...”
“Problems like today?”@@@@
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
But the courage squeezed from his lungs disappeared without a trace the moment it faced Choi Gang-hu’s question. Ryu Seo-ha tried hard to swallow a sigh that was about to burst out. Honestly, he felt the same way.
Early this morning, false news reporting Choi Gang-hu’s indiscriminate massacres blared from all speakers across the country. It was a massive hacking incident.
Of course, as soon as the stock market opened, the stock prices of companies associated with From Hell Guild fluctuated wildly. The domestic stock market was greatly shaken by one staged act to lure Ryu Seo-ha.
“Are you talking about the news of unknown origin that tried to slander me?”
Choi Gang-hu lied nonchalantly as if he had put on an iron mask. It was a strategy to cover up the incident he had caused without much fuss and make the arrow of suspicion point towards Choi Junwan.
“Yes, yes. Of course we need to uncover the hacking forces, but if you could just pay a little attention to stabilizing the stock price...”
The executive who had been trying to point out his actions so far and make a request couldn’t finish his words and bowed his head, sweating profusely. He couldn’t withstand the pressure of the cold gaze.
The emergency board meeting ended like that without a clear answer. They only decided to focus on scraping together Gangseong Trading’s stocks even if it meant buying at prices higher than market value.
“Ryu Seo-ha.”
In the car moving to the guild headquarters. Choi Gang-hu, who had been caressing the faint binding marks on the inside of Ryu Seo-ha’s wrists, called him in an implicit voice.
Their gazes, looking down at the reddish traces left on white skin with different meanings, intertwined in midair. The black eyes curved gently.
“What do you think I should do from now on?”
Ryu Seo-ha gauged Choi Gang-hu’s intentions in asking like that. The ‘Future Event Journal’ also contained guidelines necessary for defending Gangseong Trading’s management rights.
“Does bare skin need to touch?”
“No, that doesn’t matter.”
“Move quickly before I change my mind.”
At the implicit urging resembling a threat, Han Gang-seok approached the two while scratching the back of his head.
“No, wait a moment.”
Ryu Seo-ha, who had been blankly nestled in the broad embrace, belatedly waved his hands and showed his embarrassment.
“I’d prefer if we just collected saliva samples and submitted them. While we’re at it, it might be good to analyze other body fluids like tears, sweat, and blood.”
“Uh...”
Han Gang-seok hesitated, watching the reaction of the highest authority.
“What observation could be more definitive than an on-site reaction?”
As expected, Choi Gang-hu narrowed his eyes as if displeased.
“We don’t have time for this right now. We barely have enough time to set up a rescue operation...”
“We have about ten days left to prepare for that side.”
A public purchase can proceed only after 10 days have passed since submitting a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission. He seemed to judge that time was sufficient to rescue Hwang Munseok, receive the list of borrowed-name accounts, and negotiate with the hidden major shareholder.
“But Ryu Seo-ha is different, isn’t he?”
The deep gaze fixed on the moist, red lips after traveling down the soft bridge of the nose extending from the white, round forehead. It was a hot gaze that felt like desire boiling up from the pit of his stomach.
“How many days are left? One? Two?”
“...”
“What are you worrying about in this situation?”
His voice, softly reproaching why he was concerned about other issues while setting aside a matter of his own life, was sweet. He almost fell for it and agreed to the unprecedented madness of demonstrating a kiss.
“...then it’s fine.”
“Hm?”
Ryu Seo-ha, who had been hesitating while chewing his lips, whispered something in a mumble. It was such a small voice that even Choi Gang-hu, with his terrifyingly developed hearing, barely missed it.
“...If Choi Gang-hu does it every day...”
Finally unable to finish his words, Ryu Seo-ha covered his face with both hands. Choi Gang-hu, who had been staring at him as if enchanted, forcibly removed those hands. Inwardly repeating that he wanted to bite that face red like an autumn persimmon.
“What?”
“...”
“You have to say it properly. What would you like me to do?”
It was an urging that felt like he was determined to hear the omitted words from his own mouth.
“...A kiss.”
After finally spitting out the answer after a long while, Choi Gang-hu grinned and grasped his delicate chin, lifting the deeply bowed face.
Ryu Seo-ha, who had been reflexively rolling his eyes looking for a place to avoid, met eyes with Han Gang-seok, who was watching with interest. His fingertips trembled slightly from embarrassment.