Upon arriving in Seoul, I received two calls that I couldn’t disregard. I put aside my plan to visit my parents and said, “Let’s make a U-turn to go to Ilsung Hotel.”
The taxi driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, then replied with a smile, “Have you made an appointment? It’s a mess there right now. A Korean Awakened named Caliber is staying at that hotel, so everyone is there to see him.”
When I answered that I had made a reservation, the taxi driver increased the radio volume.
“This is a report about the current KOSPI market. As of 2:13 PM, the KOSPI index has hit 1273.90, experiencing a significant rise of 52.94 points from yesterday. The KOSPI began the day with a 12.33 point increase from the previous day, starting at 1233.29.
Despite being two weeks into the U.S.-led economic sanctions against China, the worldwide stock markets continue to soar. This afternoon’s announcement of the ‘Microchip Transplantation on Awakened’ plan by the World Awakened Association has alleviated concerns and is driving the surge in the market.
Moreover, stock prices of all affiliates, including Ilsung Group’s parent company, are…”
“Wow. Stockholders… I can hear investors getting lots of money, haha. Right?”
Taxi drivers often gauged a passenger’s social status based on their appearance, demeanor, and final destination, and this ability only improved as they got more experience. There was only one reason why he continued talking to me even though he knew that I didn’t want to talk. He clearly wanted advice from me about investing in stocks.
“It’s not too late. Even if you start investing now, you won’t lose money,” I finally said.
He responded enthusiastically, “Really? Some of my clients said that the stock market is at its peak right now, and that I will lose a lot if I get in right now. I guess you have a different viewpoint. Hahaha.”
I smiled slightly. “Buy it now and withdraw half of it when it reaches 2500 points.”
I didn’t know if the taxi driver would follow my advice or not.
As he mentioned, the Ilsung Hotel was quite chaotic as the press were camping out at the entrance. The security guards of the hotel were busy stopping broadcasting vehicles from entering, and this showed that the interview of the Awakened named Catalina was of little use.
I was escorted from the lobby to Seong-Il’s room. Boxes of empty soju bottles were stacked on one side, creating a stark contrast to the lavish room that cost thousands of dollars per night. In addition, there were soju bottles neatly placed on the table in front of the couch, where Seong-Il was sitting. The glass in front of him was also filled with soju instead of water. Seong-Il was venting his spite from the Stage of Advent with every sip of soju.
However, he wasn’t drunk. After all, he could easily raise his level of drunkenness with just a small sip if he wanted to. In fact, he now had the capability to regulate his mental state, regardless of how much alcohol he consumed.
He greeted me, “Yo, you look so fancy in your suit. Did you finish what you were doing?”
“Did Ki-Cheol say nothing about all of these bottles?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged and took another sip. “He just complimented me that I’m a heavy drinker, hehe. It looks like he’s tried soju multiple times before. He is freaking young, but… that’s my fault.”
My lips quirked. “Kids learn from their parents, so parents should take the initiative and be role models.”
He waved a hand. “Yeah, so I’ll stop doing this from tomorrow. I’m going to quit drinking.”
“Oh yeah?” I said sarcastically.
He suddenly grinned. “Hehe. There is something Tae-Han gave me yesterday. Would you like some? I don’t like the taste, but it’s super expensive. So… I don’t want to waste it.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Where is Ki-Cheol?”
Seong-Il gestured with his free hand. “He is hanging out with his friend in the pool. His friend’s name is Yong-Joo, and he is much better than me. Tae-Han took great care of me, and I really appreciate it.”
Seong-Il wasn’t aware of the fact that all the facilities in the area, including Ilsung Hotel, Department Store, and Duty Free Shops, were owned by the Jeonil Group. Although they still used their old branding, they had switched owners a long time ago.
When I sat on the couch, Seong-Il pushed toward me a piece of paper that had what he had prepared. He even wrote down the messages that had appeared on his notification window. They were the same as what I had heard from Yeon-Hee.
He asked somewhat anxiously, “Do we have to start the Ritual now? It’s not a big deal with Mary since she lives close by. But the King of Hell and Osiris are the problems.”
I responded, “Let’s wait. I also called Mary to come.”
“To here?”
I nodded. “Yes. Were you about to leave Ki-Cheol alone? It will take a few days.”
“Oh…”
A quick look at .com will leave you more fulfilled.
Seong-Il rubbed his nose with a touched look.
***
I wondered what the ritual ‘Mammonism’ was. It was clear that there was a difference in the rituals depending on Doom Man or the corps’ characteristics.
After relocating to my room on the same floor as Seong-Il’s, he visited me in my room accompanied by a young boy. The boy had a skinny build and a face shaped like an egg as if he inherited more of his physical traits from his mother rather than his father.
Seong-Il quickly said, “What are you doing? Introduce yourself. This is Odin.”
“H…Hi.. I’m…” he stuttered.
I interrupted. “You are Ki-Cheol, right?”
“...Yes.”
I said, “Your father endured the Stage of Advent only because he wanted to come back to see you, then he became one of the most powerful Awakened. Don’t forget what kind of man your father is.”
He nodded. “Yes, sir.”
I continued kindly, “Take good care of yourself. If something happens to you, your father will start a world war just to save you. You know what I’m saying, correct?”
His eyes became round. “Y… yes…”
“Good.”
He hesitated before finally asking, “But that coupon…”
I smiled slightly. “Think carefully when you use it.”
Seong-Il smiled as if he was embarrassed after sending Ki-Cheol back to his room.
“He is still a kid, haha,” he said.
I shrugged. “That’s only to you. He is all grown up since he is in eighth grade. By the way, I’m glad he doesn’t really look like you.”
Seong-Il guffawed. “Haha. You sound like you have raised a child before. When are you going to tell me the good news about Mary? I can’t wait to cut some steak at your wedding.”
Then, Yeon-Hee arrived without a guide from the hotel.
“Was that Ki-Cheol?” she asked curiously.
Seong-Il immediately responded, “Yes, noona.”
She smirked. “He looks like his mom, right? That’s a relief.”
“Why is everyone saying that? He does look like me! Well… a little bit. My face is good enough for a man,” he blustered towards the end.
Yeon-Hee smiled wickedly. “Are you sure?”
“Huh? Sure about what?”
“Do you really think you are handsome?” she asked teasingly.
He huffed. “I’m not saying that I’m handsome, but my face is good enough for a real man. The girls in the bar all swooned when they saw me. They touched my thigh and chest every time.”
Yeon-Hee quirked an eyebrow. “I thought you were a good guy. Gosh, you even cheated on your ex?”
Seong-Il became flustered. “Hey, I’m talking about what happened after the divorce. Before that, I had always been loyal to my ex. Oh, I just asked Odin when you would feed me some steak at your wedding. When can I get the invitation, noona? I’m waiting for that day.”
“It has been less than a month since we came back, Seong-Il. You must have gotten used to the normal life here already.”
He grinned. “A glass of soju gives you a life lesson, and since I’ve guzzled down dozens of boxes, there is no need for an explanation. Hehe.”
Yeon-Hee rolled her eyes. “Ah, I’m going to get drunk just by smelling you. Doesn’t Ki-Cheol say anything about that?”
Seong-Il sighed. “Gosh, you guys are the same. If it were anyone else, they would have thought you guys had colluded beforehand. All you have to do is schedule the day.”
“What?”
Seong-Il just winked at Yeon-Hee instead of answering. Yeon-Hee then looked at him and shook her head, but soon smiled brightly. She was genuinely happy. The Kciphos in her arms began to make strange noises.
Grrrrr.
Seong-Il suddenly asked, “By the way, is it okay for you to carry it around like that? I thought this hotel didn’t allow dogs. It’s such an expensive place.”
***
That evening, Ji-Ae noona delivered information regarding Orca’s whereabouts. The Awakened had emptied out the hotel where they were initially relocated so Orca had moved to a suite at Jeonil Resort, which served as the headquarters of the association.
A photo sent by Ji-Ae through the messenger app depicted Orca’s new dwelling, and it resembled a monster’s den. Huge tentacles wriggled out of the broken window, providing a clear indication of the hideous state inside the room. After instructing Jamie to prevent anyone from accessing the area occupied by Orca, I pushed my smartphone aside.
Yeon-Hee climbed on top of me as if she had been waiting. She said, “I’ve been waiting for so long. I didn’t know it would take two weeks when you left.”
“It’s not because you’ve been thirsty?” I smiled.
She slanted a look at me. “Hohoho. Then do you want to be eaten by a hungry monster?”
I cheekily responded, “No, I’m more thirsty for you.”
When I hugged her and put her to the side, she giggled in happiness.
Then, my smartphone rang again. There were only a few who had this number: my parents, Yeon-Hee, Seong-Il, Kim Cheong-Soo, Ji-Ae noona, Jamie, and a few more.
Yeon-Hee crawled under the blanket and poked her head out. “It might be the King of Hell or Osiris.”
She was half right.
Jamie’s voice was filled with bewilderment.
As soon as I finished talking to her, I found the remote control and turned on the television. All the channels were focusing on Joshua and his squad members. Their arrival scene unfolded on the screen.
「[Breaking News] Joshua von Karjan, the Head of German Karjan Family and the Director of the World Awakened Association, Has Arrived in Korea.」
Joshua was undoubtedly wearing a necromancer robe, and only darkness filled the hood. Despite the cameras’ attempts to zoom in, the inside of the hood remained shrouded in an enigmatic blackness.
Moreover, his subordinates were wearing the same clothes as they did during the Stage of Advent. Their blood-stained equipment seemed to exude the stench of blood from the television. Their distorted faces and murderous eyes were threatening the cameras. This was why Jamie was flustered and the arrival gate was silent. It was obvious to everyone that the dark messenger had brought demons along with him.
“I’m reporter Lee Soo-Won. What made you suddenly come to Korea? Are you here to meet President Lee Tae-Han? Or is it because of the microchip?”
There was no sound other than the voice of a reporter shouting from a distance. A number of reporters crowded there, as much as the ones around Ilsung Hotel.
However, no one blocked Joshua and his people’s path. Instead, everyone unconsciously cleared a path for them to pass through. The scene was changed to a studio desk after they got on a black van. The newsreader seemed to have forgotten her duty for a moment. The director would have cued her, but five silent seconds passed before she finally got ahold of herself.
「[Breaking News] The Head of the Karjan Family Has Entered Korea with Other Awakened. 」
“We will now connect to the reporter who is out at the arrival gate. Reporter Park So-Yoon.”
“Yes. Joshua von Karjan, also known as Osiris, has just arrived. Then, he left without going through the press conference in a prepared vehicle.”
「[Breaking News] The Head of the Karjan Family Has Refused to Hold a Press Conference.」
“So, let’s delve a bit deeper into the recent arrival of the Head of the Karjan Family. The appearance of him and the Awakened forces under his command has certainly caught the attention of many, wouldn’t you agree?
And with the ongoing speculation about the whereabouts of the Karjan’s mysterious leader, the sudden emergence of a fully armed Karjan has definitely sparked a lot of questions. What are your thoughts on how we should approach and understand this in the current scenario?”
「[Breaking News] The Head of the Karjan Family is Equipped with Items to Cover His Face. The Awakened Under His Command were also Equipped with Items.」
“It is believed that he neutered the country as Osiris, the director of the World Awakened Association, rather than Joshua von Karjan, the head of the Karjan Family. Yesterday, the World Awakened Association had announced that they would implant microchips to the Awakened. The whole world is paying keen attention to whether his sudden entry will lead to a new phase or not.”
“Breaking news just in. Our sources have confirmed that Jonathan Hunter, the CEO of the prestigious Jonathan Investment Finance Group, who had been missing in action like Joshua von Karjan, has left the United States and arrived in Korea. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.”
「[Breaking News] Jonathan Hunter, the CEO of Jonathan Investment Finance Group, Joins the Journey to Korea.」
“Yes, the field press is raising concerns as they question the level of communication and transparency within the association regarding the controversial topic of microchip transplantation. With only two weeks remaining before the deadline for the registration of the Awakened, the public is eagerly awaiting a response from the association.”
“In other news, Korea is basking in pride as the World Awakened Association has chosen the country as the location for its headquarters. Furthermore, President Lee Tae-Han has been appointed as the president of the association, adding to Korea’s prestige…”
There was no need for me to watch anymore. The Four Priests of Doom Man were coming, so it was time for me to move.