Chapter 8

The menu also had differences.

Most of the places were high-end, offering dishes like Hanwoo beef tartare, sushi, eel, and tuna specialties.

Indeed, being located in a commercial area with a lot of money flowing through it, the places were quite upscale.

"Maybe I'll indulge a bit today."

Tae-sik confidently entered the restaurant. The staff did not judge him by his dress code.

Tae-sik came out after enjoying a 60,000 won lunch course.

"Expensive, but worth it. Should I have bibimbap tomorrow? The porridge place next door isn't bad either."

Tae-sik took a sip of the 500 won coffee from the coffee auntie in the alley and headed up to the rooftop.

Feeling full and with coffee in hand, adding a cigarette would be the perfect touch.

"Whew, ah-. This is the life."

While enjoying the view beyond the railing with his cigarette, Tae-sik noticed Bang-woo approaching from a distance.

"Hey, rooftop!"

"Ah, yes, sir."

Bang-woo handed over the store to a repairman and quickly came up to the rooftop.

"Sir, I've brought in a carpenter who can lay a low profile and do the job well, so you can rest assured."

"Don't make it look new; just match the old atmosphere. Just as it was before."

"Ah, yes. I'll go down and come back."

Bang-woo quickly went down and came back up.

"I've spoken to him, sir. It seems possible without having to abandon the entrance."

"Alright, have a smoke." Tae-sik offered only words, not a cigarette.

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

Bang-woo bowed his head slightly and turned to put his own cigarette in his mouth.

Holding it so that the flame couldn't be seen, he lit it with his thumb and index finger, which looked quite amusing.

He must have overlearned, but it wasn't something to be upset about.

"How's it going with Dae-ho? Did you get any leads?"

"Well, there's no particular mention. No talk of a fight or any blame. We tried to contact them, but they didn't pick up."

"So it's a fight, then?"

"It's not even a fight. Our sir said this isn't something Kim Team Leader can handle alone. If we prepare on our side, there might be something to talk about."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, so I was trying to set up new antennas. Park Manager is a middleman, so..."

"Why did you do that? Putting all your eggs in one basket."

"So this time, I'll go for an octopus approach."

"Ah! Speaking of octopuses, it reminds me. Your hair won't grow back."

"What do you mean?"

"The knife you used to shave your head had a root deletion function. Don't be resentful. You came in with a knife." Bang-woo's expression twisted for a moment before smoothing out again.

"I was thinking of getting a buzz cut anyway. It's a good way to save on haircuts, isn't it? Hahaha."

Bang-woo laughed heartily. It didn't seem forced. This was also a kind of talent.

Tae-sik chuckled.

"You're quite the talker."

"Ah, but if the roots are gone, will my hair never grow back?"

"Yes."

"Phew, hahaha."

"What's so funny? Why are you laughing to yourself?"

"I'm just a bald guy, but Kim Team Leader! Hahaha. He's carrying all the weight. Hahaha."

Daeho's Eldest Daughter (3)

"Here are the test results."

"Skip the document and just give me the conclusion."

"There has been a permanent loss of the hair follicles."

"Permanent loss means..."

"There's no possibility of regrowth." Kim Team Leader closed his eyes tightly.

This was a test at Daeho Hospital's VIP Center. If they say no, there's no hope anywhere in Korea.

"I understand."

"But what kind of dangerous mission did you undertake to end up like this..."

"Shh-. Too many questions can shorten your life."

"Ah, I asked something unnecessary. Please come in." Kim Team Leader put his cap on and left the examination room.

'Keep calm, keep calm...' Kim Team Leader's legs trembled as he slumped into a chair in the lobby.

'If you're going to shave it, do it thoroughly...'

Kim Team Leader was lost in thought for a while.

The phone rang. It was Park Manager.

Kim Team Leader composed himself during the brief ringing.

This is the level of mental fortitude required to be the leader of Team 3.

"Hmm-."

Kim Team Leader left the hospital and called Park Manager again.

"Hey, Park Manager."

-Team Leader, I've completed the investigation you requested. Should I send it to your phone right away?

"Yes, send it right away."

Kim Team Leader checked the file he received from Park Manager and called him again.

"Is this information reliable?"

-Yes. The recorded information is reliable. I believe the results of the investigation also have no significant errors.

"Is there any possibility of it being related to electronics or life?"

-Definitely not.

"Is there any possibility of it being a government agency?"

-No. If this person was affiliated with a government agency, they wouldn't have been able to hide it until now, and they wouldn't have approached us in this manner.

"Alright, good job. Make sure to erase any traces of the investigation. This is a big deal."

-Understood.

Kim Team Leader hung up and organized his thoughts again. Indeed, this is a big deal, beyond his capacity to handle.

Kim Team Leader called 0.

-Yes, Team Leader.

Even through the phone, the voice exuded dignity.

"Sir, I have an urgent report."

-I have an external meeting at 4, but should I cancel it?

"Yes, I would appreciate it if you did. I'm also outside, so I'll come to where you are."

-Okay. I can wait, so don't rush. Be careful.

"Thank you, sir. I'll come right away."

Kim Team Leader headed towards his boss, or rather, the young lady he had grown up with since childhood, Ma-ryin.

"You've seemed busy these past few days. What's going on?"

"It's a big matter. Please review the file first."

Kim Team Leader sent the file to Park Manager, who opened it on a tablet and showed it to Ma-ryin.

"Kang Tae-sik? Who is this person? Is this someone I need to know?"

"Yes, an incredible ability holder. I personally confirmed his ability to create wormholes and interfere with space-time. I believe he has more abilities. Also, there's a high possibility that he possesses an Opus-level item from the Abyss."

"An Opus-level item? What kind of item?"

"It's an item that can extract memories."

Ma-ryin couldn't hide her surprise.

As an owner, she had the ability to infer the impact of a piece of information.

Memory extraction. Depending on how it's used, it could spark a revolution in this world.

Given its impact, it is classified as an Opus-level item.

"Remarkable. So what?"

"After a thorough investigation over the past few days, I believe there's a high possibility that he is unaffiliated. We must recruit him. If we can't, we need to at least eliminate the possibility of him joining another organization."

Tap, tap.

Ma-ryin tapped her fingernails on the table, a habit she had when making important decisions.

Tap.

And three taps were enough.

"I'm not interested in such hunter organizations. Exclude all of that and tell me this: Can his abilities improve my father's condition?"

"I can't say with absolute certainty, but among the options available in the current situation, this has the highest potential."

"If you say so, Team Leader Kim. You are one of my father's people."

"Of course. I sincerely wish for the Chairman's recovery."

"Alright. Let's go."

Ma-ryin stood up. Park Manager naturally placed her jacket on her shoulders.

"Do you plan to meet him right away? He's a very free-spirited person and could be dangerous. It would be better if our Team 3 first coordinates and then schedules a meeting."

"Given his abilities, he could be a Terminator. The ultimate being that all ability holders with special abilities aspire to be, someone who has seen the end of the mind."

Although it's a title given to a non-existent person, all divers in the Abyss dream of becoming a Terminator.

"It's only been five years. It's unlikely that a Terminator would appear in such a short time."

"I turned a deficit hotel into a profit in just three years. Don't limit your thinking to the limits of human potential. You might make a big mistake. Let's go; it's more appropriate for me to take the lead from the beginning."

There's no mistake in this. This is why Ma-ryin, among the third-generation tycoons, is known for her humility.

"Yes, Miss. Your words are wise. I will follow you."

Kim Team Leader gathered the entire Strategy Team 3.

"What's going on, then?"

"Is it a TV show or something?"

"There are no TV station cars. Is some big shot coming?"

"It's not election season, so why are they bringing so many cars into this narrow alley?"

It's noisy outside.

Tae-sik put away the old comic book he had been reading and stood up.

The air was unusually good today, so he had opened the window, and the sunlight was bright.

Tae-sik went to the window and looked outside.

Black sedans were squeezing into the narrow alley one after another.

"Maybe I should suggest to the city hall to make this a car-free street. This is such a nuisance. If this is how the rich behave, they're just thinking about making money."

Tae-sik clicked his tongue and took out a cigarette. It was a new pack of Marlboro he had bought yesterday.

If the cigarettes he brought from the Abyss were KaKao Black, then Marlboro was like milk chocolate.

Sometimes you crave something sweet.

"When eating something sweet, black tea is good."

He tore open a tea bag from the break room and put it in a paper cup.

He used tap water, purified it with a purification spell, boiled it with a heating spell, and cooled it with a cooling spell to make iced tea. It was a routine he was familiar with, so it wasn't bothersome or difficult.

"I should go out for a drink."

He only had 10 million won. It was more than enough for food, but not enough to buy anything substantial for his pawn shop.

Still, he would delay it. There were no customers coming right away.

Isn't the true taste of being unemployed to delay what can be delayed?

Click.

"Miss, I'll go up first."

The voice from outside the window was familiar.

"Ugh-. This guy, he can't understand and makes things worse."

Tae-sik took a big sip of the black tea, which was bitter in his mouth.

At the same time, the shop door opened.

"Why are you making things worse, Team Leader Kim? You're causing inconvenience."

"Sir, I believe this is also a good opportunity for you. Please consider it carefully."

Unlike before, Kim Team Leader's attitude was polite.

That didn't make him any more welcome.

"Do you teach people to wear hats and bow when they make a request at Daeho?"

"Ah... "

Kim Team Leader took off the fedora he was wearing.

His slicked-back hair looked like lettuce leaves sticking out of a hamburger.

"Ah, I shouldn't laugh. Why didn't you get a proper buzz cut?"

"I had to inspect it. I'm about to tidy it up."

"Hmm-. From what I can see, it looks like you tattled on me. What did you say? Did you say I was right?"

"He is a necessary talent and must be recruited. Nice to meet you. I'm Ma-ryin from Daeho."

Ma-ryin came up and greeted him smoothly.

The sound of her heels climbing the stairs was elegant.

"Oh, what a distinguished place. How could someone like me come here?"

Ma-ryin's eyebrows twitched for a moment but quickly returned to their original expression.

Ma-ryin passed by Kim Team Leader and handed over a business card.

The front had "Daeho" and the back had "Ma-ryin" in three characters.

"Is this a business card? It looks more like a paper nameplate."

Tae-sik held out the business card again.

Ma-ryin naturally took it back. Her expression didn't show any displeasure.

Her expression didn't reveal her true feelings.

She was still dignified and elegant.

"Your image of me seems quite poor, doesn't it?"

Ma-ryin even smiled as she asked.

"Would you like it? Coming in with a bunch of people and talking about image."

"Please have the team members go down."

"But, Miss..."

"It's fine. Hmm. Manager, please wear your hat."

"Ah, he laughed. Hey, Team Leader Kim. Your lady just laughed at your hair."

Kim Team Leader quickly put his hat back on to hide his red head.

They all went out of the shop. Tae-sik leaned his elbow on the window and looked outside.

"Hey, get your cars out! What are you doing in this narrow alley? Are you trying to block the road?"

Tae-sik shouted loudly.

They didn't move. Only after Ma-ryin came to the window and told them to move did they finally do so.

"Are you being mischievous? Or do you not like me and are doing this on purpose?"

"Are you saying you don't like me? That's unlikely. I wanted to join Daeho Group when I was a job seeker. Not the hotel, though."

"Is that so? What an honor."

"What honor? Is there anyone in Korea who doesn't want to join Daeho?"