A silence descended within the meeting room, which was broken by Jimin’s sonorous voice .

  “Mr . Sungyoon cut right to the point . We have no plans on doing business with Daesung Energy . ”


  “I heard there was a misunderstanding between Mr . Woo Sungyoon and my son, so Mr . Sungyoon’s reaction is understandable . However, it is surprising to hear such a statement from the president of a company . Is it because you’re still young? This is business . You have to think about profit and the interest of your company, and avoid making decisions based on personal feelings . ”


  Hooyoung was barely maintaining a smile as he spoke . However, Jimin’s expression remained the same as she answered him .

  “Jungbum wasn’t established to do business . That’s why we don’t care about profit . ”


  “Profit isn’t your goal? What nonsense . . . ! Then why are you running your company?”


  Hooyoung’s words turned a little rough, but Sungyoon replied to them instead of Jimin .

  “Raiding the Great Labyrinth . ”


  It was a short phrase, yet everyone understood what he meant .

  “That’s right . Ultimately, my company’s goal is to raid the Great Labyrinth . I’m sorry to say this here, but our moonstone business is only a means to replenish our resources for this goal . ”


  Some were impressed by her bold words, while others were offended . However, one thing was certain . No one objected to what she had said .

  “Look at what she is spouting! Do none of you have anything to say? This woman thinks running a business is a joke!”


  Hooyoung had spoken forcefully in order to get others to agree with him . However, Jimin continued without blinking .

  “You have no right to interfere with how I do my business . Even if others object to it, we will not bend our knee . We will do as we like . ”


  No one spoke out against her . They neither took Jimin’s side nor sided with Hooyoung . The people in the meeting room took a wait and see approach .

  The Connector companies hoped the Minister would accept Jimin’s stance as it would set precedence and strengthen their rights .

  On the other hand, the moonstone processing companies were already in a tough spot because of the moonstone shortage . If they made the wrong move, they were at risk to lose access to the moonstones provided by Jungbum . Therefore, they were worried about crossing her .

  Hooyoung became very frustrated when there was no response in his favor . The situation had betrayed his expectations . Moreover, he had misjudged the goal of Jungbum and Sungyoon .

  This time Hooyoung turned to look at the Minister even though he knew the Minister wasn’t the answer to his problems .

  In fact, the Minister was adamant about avoiding the feud .

  ‘If things go wrong, and he switches nationality . . . ’


  Sungyoon was a 1st Gen capable of operating within the Great Labyrinth . On top of that, he was a hero to the whole world . His growth rate was astonishing . Many countries wanted him; the main one being the US . The US was the world leader, and they were at the forefront of technology with enormous capital at their disposal .

  He was also very popular in Britain . After the attack on London, Princess Grace had joined his party, and it had the effect of keeping his popularity high in her country .

  Sungyoon’s party also had two natives from Canada .

  Aside from these countries, many more wanted Sungyoon .

  If Sungyoon declared his desire to change his nationality, these countries would bring everything to the table to entice him .

  ‘He hasn’t shown any desire to change his nationality, but it was said that he wouldn’t hesitate to change it if given a reason . ’


  The Minister thought about the information he had about Sungyoon .

  If he unnecessarily offended Sungyoon and the Connector changed his nationality, the Minister would lose his job . His political career would be put in jeopardy .

  “Let’s end the meeting for today . I’ve heard all your concerns . When we meet next, we can work toward finding a solution that everyone can accept . ”


  The Minister quickly ended the meeting, and everyone trickled out of the room . Sungyoon and Jimin stood up in order to leave .

  “.…… Let’s go!”


  Hooyoung glared at Sungyoon and Jimin one more time before departing with Jaeho in tow . Jaeho refused to meet Sungyoon’s eyes . He silently looked forward as he crossed the door .

  ***

  “You dumb bastard!”


  As soon as they got into the car, Hooyoung berated Jaeho .

  Jaeho closed his eyes .

  “Is this how you conduct your business? How did you let it get this bad?”


  Hooyoung kept a public image that made him look magnanimous . However, it was only a mask . He was cold and heartless . It was apparent where Jaeho had gotten his personality from .

  “We could barely lay down the foundation of our moonstone processing company, yet you dare ruin it like this!”


  “It isn’t completely dead . ”


  Jaeho tried to come up with an excuse .

  “I hope so! If that isn’t the case, you can forget about becoming the successor . In fact, I might just disown you!”


  Jaeho felt a chill run down his spine . Hooyoung didn’t speak any further, but Jaeho knew he couldn’t relax .

  ‘Father is serious . ’


  The furious Hooyoung had given Jaeho a task and then shown zero interest . It meant that Hooyoung was really giving Jaeho his last chance .

  ‘I have to succeed somehow . ’


  Hooyoung didn’t know about Jaeho’s investment into Gagarin·Yang city . Jaeho had lost everything in that investment .

  ’If he finds out about that . . . ’


  Jaeho’s body shook .

  ‘I have to pull this off somehow . Even if I can’t return the company to its former glory, I have to find a way to at least make it functional . . . ’


  While an unpleasant silence deepened between the two, the car smoothly drove toward their destination .

  ***

  Jaeho entered his office, took off his necktie, and violently threw it on the ground .

  “Fuck!”


  His office that had felt like a throne to his kingdom in the past was basically his jail now . However, Jaeho soon centered himself .

  ‘It’s fine, Lee Jaeho! This is your final tribulation! If I pass this with flying colors, Father will see that I can manage a crisis! I’ll be one step closer to receiving the keys to the company . I’ll be ahead of my brothers . ’


  Like the famous quote that went ’in the midst of every crisis, lies a great opportunity’, Jaeho was trying to spin his situation into a positive . But his thoughts were cut off by the ringing of his phone .

  Jaeho frowned when he saw the name displayed on the phone . He was about to end the call, but he changed his decision at the last second .

  “What is it?”


  His poor mood was reflected in his voice . Those familiar with him would have ended the call if they heard his voice right now . However, the person on the other side of the phone had a thick skin . She wasn’t someone that would back off so easily -

  It’s me .

  “What do you want again!”


  Jaeho’s annoyance with her was revealed in his voice . He had just come back after being humiliated by Sungyoon, and Miyun’s voice made him think about Sungyoon again -

  I’m calling about my father’s company . Are you really going to end the contract?

  “You are tiresome . Are you still talking about that?”


  When it came to money, Miyu was tenacious .

  “I’ll tell you this for the last time . Clean out your ears and listen! I have no intention of doing business with your bitch of a father! I will never form a contract with his shitty company! Get your head out of your ass, and stop calling me! If you love money that much, go sell your body!”


  Without waiting for a response, Jaeho ended the call .

  “That bitch doesn’t know her place . ”


  However, he felt a bit better after unloading his anger .

  ‘That piece of shit was useful for something . ’


  With a calm mind, Jaeho started thinking about his future plans .

  ***

  Ddoo! Ddoo! Ddoo!

  The robotic disconnect tone hit her ears . Miyun kept her phone on her ear even though the call had ended . However, nothing changed, and she kept hearing the disconnect tone repeating itself .

  Miyun finally ended the call . She had listened to Jaeho’s abuse and experienced being cut off, yet her expression was unexpectedly calm . She stood up and went to her desk . After taking out a key from her pocket, she opened the lowest drawer .

  Her hands grabbed a thick stack of paper . Miyun then took out her phone and dialed a number . However, this number didn’t belong to Jaeho -

  What do you want?

  The cold voice of a woman responded to the call as Miyun firmly bit her lips .

  ***

  Miyun stood at the entrance of the cafe and looked at her surroundings . She soon found the people she was looking for . Her high heels clicked as she walked toward the table .

  Tuhl-suhk!

  She roughly threw her bag in the empty seat next to her and looked at the man and woman sitting in front of her .

  “It seems you aren’t in a good mood . ”


  The contents of these words expressed concern, but the tone of the voice made it clear that she was taunting her . Miyun did her best to avoid the ridicule on Jimin’s face .

  “It’s none of your business . ”


  “All right . Would you like a cup of coffee? I can buy you that . ”


  “I don’t feel like drinking coffee with the two of you . ”


  In the past, Miyun had an easygoing and impudent personality . However, all that was nowhere to be seen around the current Miyun . In fact, one could see her cold demeanor and a venomous air around her .

  “As you’ve requested, Mr . Sungyoon didn’t speak to the media . We did that for free, so why are you in such a bad mood?”


  Jimin continued to antagonize Miyun, but the latter remained silent . Miyun just took out an envelope from her handbag and threw it on the table .

  “How much are you willing to give me for this?”


  “Is this what I think it is?”


  “Stop playing around . ”


  Jimin was about to touch the documents when Miyun snatched it back .

  “You have to give me the money first . ”


  “We don’t know if it’s real, yet you want us to give you the money?”


  “Please transfer the money first . Then I’ll hand it over right afterward . ”


  Jimin looked at Miyun for a brief moment, then nodded .

  “Alright . If it’s fake, I can just recover the money by suing you . How much?”


  “Twenty million dollars . ”


  It was an astronomical figure . Miyun expected Sungyoon and Jimin to reject the offer and was prepared to lower to figure if push came to shove .

  However, their reactions were out of her expectations .

  Sungyoon—who had crossed his arms and remained silent all this time—pressed a number on his phone . It connected him to his bank . After a short conversation with them, Sungyoon turned toward Miyun .

  “I sent it . ”


  “Really?”


  Since the amount was so high, Miyun became suspicious . Sungyoon frowned at her reaction .

  “Do you think I’m like you guys? If you’re suspicious, you can check your bank account . ”


  Miyun opened her phone and did exactly that . Sungyoon was right, and she gulped when she saw the overwhelming figure of twenty million dollars in her bank account .

  “I’ll take this now . ”


  Jimin took the documents, and Miyun didn’t stop her this time . After taking out the documents, Jimin went over them with Sungyoon .

  When Miyun looked at their faces that were right next to each other, a complicated expression appeared on her face . If she hadn’t betrayed Sungyoon, she would be the one sitting next to him . He was a man that could hand out twenty million dollars without blinking an eye .

  She could imagine herself wearing designer clothes and carrying an expensive bag while standing next to Sungyoon with a pretentious smile on her face . However, that scene would only appear in her mind .

  “It’s genuine . ”


  Sungyoon had finished looking over the documents . The paper was indeed a copy of the contract between him and Jaeho .

  “I’ll be going now . ”


  Miyun no longer wanted to converse with the two of them .

  “Wait a moment . ”


  Sungyoon stopped Miyun from getting up .

  “There is something more important . ”


  Sungyoon shook the envelope .

  “What are you talking about?”


  “Give me the waiver to disestablish maternity for Shinhae . ”


  ‘I forgot about that . Maybe, I could string him along and extract more money from him using this?’


  Miyun had to change her mind when she saw Sungyoon’s face .

  “I will never budge on this . If you do anything stupid, you’ll be very sorry . ”


  Even if they were monsters, Sungyoon’s job was to kill living creatures . The pushover from the past had vanished, and he had been replaced by a scary man .

  If this had happened in the past, Miyun would have shamelessly walked out without giving in to his demands . However, she had gone through a lot recently, and it had tired her . She gulped as she opened her mouth .

  “.…… I understand . ”


  On that day, Miyun lost all her rights toward Shinhae .