Chapter Title: Gathering Forces
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As I went down to the first floor with Sua, Aram was ready, Han Siljang looked as impeccable as ever, and there was one woman who seemed familiar.
A woman with her black hair tied in a ponytail and a cold expression on her face.
A beauty so striking that even a single glance made it unforgettable for life.
'That's the NIS pipsqueak.'
She smiled brightly like a flight attendant in front of me, but her true identity was a spy planted by the NIS.
I didn't know what her purpose was for infiltrating, but her real feelings surely didn't match that expression.
'She was one of the secretary candidates I sent back yesterday, but why bring her up again?'
The three of them rose from the sofa where they had been sitting and bowed their heads as soon as they saw me.
"Greetings, young master."
"And who's this?"
"Ah, this is the girl who will assist Ms. Im Sua, as I mentioned yesterday."
"…Seo Eun-mi. Young master."
"I know. I saw her yesterday."
"Even if she doesn't quite meet your standards, young master, she's the most capable among those left."
It seemed like there had been some personnel shuffle, leaving no other options to assign to me.
'Or could Han Siljang be NIS too?'
Just in case, I checked Han Kyung-baek's info.
[Han Kyung-baek]
Age: 41
Affiliation: Goryeo Prestige
Race: Human
Level: 119
Martial Prowess: 118
Willpower: 131
Tech: 102
Leadership: 110
Charm: 76
Ambition, Cold-hearted, Loyalty, Smoking Addiction, Impotent
Nothing particularly noteworthy.
He didn't seem like the type to spy for the NIS or any other agency.
If anything stood out, it was that his stats were a bit underwhelming.
In absolute terms, he was an outstanding talent, of course, but compared to a secretary serving the owner family directly—especially one with the title of 'Siljang'—he was on the younger side and lacking in ability.
Well, that's probably why he'd been assigned as a secretary to a scoundrel like Ko Moo-yeol.
'But impotent?'
That was unexpected and a bit pitiful.
I hadn't imagined Han Siljang, who seemed perfect in every way, had this side to him.
"Fine. If there's no one else, no choice. Start assisting Ms. Sua from today."
"Yes, young master. I'll do my utmost not to disappoint you."
Seo Eun-mi bowed with a bright smile.
She really was pretty.
I wondered how she'd react if I touched her.
Yesterday, when I groped her ass, she hadn't reacted at all.
Would she stay still even if I went all the way? An NIS spy?
"I'm Im Sua. Looking forward to working with you, Eun-mi."
"…Yes. Likewise."
Han Siljang greeted them again as he watched the two women exchange greetings.
Seo Aram hesitated for a moment before following suit and bowing.
"Then, young master, we'll take our leave."
"G-Goodbye."
"Yeah. See you."
"Yes. Farewell."
The two disappeared.
Now, only Im Sua, Seo Eun-mi (Ha Eun-young), and I remained in this vast house.
'Police and NIS—they must be going crazy.'
Im Sua was a corrupt cop, so no issue there, but Seo Eun-mi was an outright spy who had infiltrated using a fake name.
Plus, her traits blatantly included 'Patriotism,' making it hard to buy her off with bribes or turn her to my side by exposing corruption.
'How should I handle her?'
"So, Master, what should I do now?"
"Before that, did you sort out your workplace?"
"Ah, yes. Through this morning's personnel transfer, I've been officially assigned to serve you, Master. All my team members too."
"Wow. Fast."
To me, who still remembered pre-possession Korea, this was incomprehensible.
The police, called the staff of the people and so closely tied to public welfare, forming an entire team just to protect a jobless chaebol third-gen heir.
It showed just how rotten the public power in this story's Korea had become.
"…"
And sure enough, Seo Eun-mi's expression twitched ever so slightly, with her 'Patriotism' trait.
Corruption she couldn't tolerate.
Private use of public authority.
It must grate on her badly.
'Not that she can do much about it.'
In the story, Korea grows more corrupt over time.
No, not just Korea—the whole Earth stagnates endlessly.
If the player pursues reclaiming 'justice,' that changes things, but otherwise, it degenerates without end, eventually collapsing 'democracy' itself and ushering in autocratic rule under different names.
'Practically hell… but none of my business.'
I had no intention of bucking the era's flow, though I did plan to change who sat at the top.
If someone's going to become emperor anyway, better it be me, right?
Especially since I'd possessed this body.
With that in mind, I reviewed what needed doing.
1. Get a secretary
2. Acquire the heroine
3. Kill the protagonist
4. Secure RK-99 development and production facilities
Of these, 1 and 2 were done.
Left were 3 and 4.
For RK-99, I could make it right away.
The problem was protecting it.
The moment I developed it, everyone— even folks from the same Goryeo Group—would come swarming.
So, I needed at least minimal force secured first.
But suddenly hiring mercenaries and arming up without reason would scream, 'What's that bastard up to?'
Best to move with plausible excuses.
'Conveniently, my company's Goryeo Entertainment, so I can bring in celebrities or trainees and build up forces under the guise of bodyguards.'
It wouldn't be perfect cover, but way better than doing it out of nowhere.
Plus, Ko Moo-yeol's perfect scoundrel image allowed some overreach.
'No, wait. Simpler: buy cheap trainees, load them with cyberware, debut some and use others as my secretaries.'
Use mercenaries briefly early on, then pivot to Goryeo Entertainment trainees as main force.
So, right now…
"How many team members do you have? Fifteen yesterday?"
"Thirty total. Including me."
"That's a lot. There's a criminal I need handled. I'll give you his info—send half to grab him. Or just dispose of him."
"Uh… Dispose? He's a criminal, right?"
The protagonist's background was swinging fists in Incheon alleys, so yes, a criminal.
"Yeah. Report up properly so no backlash."
"Reporting might bring interference. Could hinder your plans, Master."
"Don't care. Just take him out."
"Understood."
I gave her the protagonist's info, and Im Sua immediately picked up her phone to relay orders.
"And Seo Eun-mi?"
"Yes, young master."
"My company's a proper entertainment agency, but no affiliated celebrities."
There'd been one yesterday, but a male actor, so I fired him.
Paid about 300 million in penalty, but worth it.
"Find some actors, idols, trainees worth buying. Call around agencies."
"Yes, young master."
"Ah."
I stopped Seo Eun-mi as she started to move.
"Young women."
"…"
"Pretty and sexy. For marketability."
"…Y-Yes. Young… pretty women."
She looked reluctant, forced a smile, and left.
I admired her swaying backside before picking up my phone.
Recipient: not my soulmate Han Siljang, but Ko Moo-yeol's half-sister, Ko Ha-yan.
The woman I'd met at Geumsusan Sun Palace yesterday.
Family, so contacts were all there.
- Who's this? Did the sun rise in the west today? You calling me?
"Didn't think you'd pick up. Thanks, sis."
- Amazing. A name that shouldn't be on my screen.
A seductive voice laced with mockery.
It pierced my ear through the receiver, and recalling yesterday's face and figure made me hard on the spot.
'Damn, she's my sister though.'
…Or so I thought, briefly.
But she was Ko Moo-yeol's sister, not mine? Crude logic popped up.
- Anyway, what do you want? We're not close enough for chit-chat.
I checked the wall clock.
10:39 AM.
Plenty of time till lunch.
Even more till dinner.
"How about a meal later? Family. My treat."
- What?
A sharp, tinkling laugh came through the receiver.
Asking to eat together must've been that weird.
After laughing a while, she lowered her voice.
- Hey, what's your angle? Planning to drug me?
"What angle could a loafer like me have? Just want to grow the company I inherited."
- Company? Oh right. You got Goryeo Entertainment or whatever. Calling me to get your lackeys on TV?
Ko Ha-yan.
Later takes a high position at Goryeo Card, core of Goryeo Group.
But before that, wields major influence in Korea's broadcasting and advertising.
One-person media's the trend now?
Sure, but even that bends to ads.
- Fine, go on shows. But calling me? Worried I'd block you?
"No way. Just, as someone using 'Goryeo Group,' didn't seem right barging into your turf without a heads-up."
- Wow… You've been weird since yesterday? What, did you eat something? Can't adapt.
"Please see it as reflecting on past mistakes. I got a shock yesterday."
- …
A soft hum came through.
She was struggling to adapt to the sudden personality change.
I wasn't some genius, but original Ko Moo-yeol was a real idiot.
- Fine. My cute brother's turning over a new leaf to work? Gotta help as big sis. What do you need?
"Just let my 'Goryeo Entertainment' fully use the Goryeo Group name and influence."
- Telling me not to interfere, fancy way. Fine, mess around. But if your lackeys succeed, their ads go to me first. Cool?
"Of course."
Ads weren't my money plan anyway.
Raising celebs was just a side gig.
- Oh, and no meal. Hanging up.
She cut off without hearing my goodbye.
Rude as hell, but recalling Ko Moo-yeol's memories, even this much was grateful.