ANTITOXIN Chapter 16

Executive Director Hwang gave a warning with a stern expression. It was a remark he had already heard several times while meeting at the parking lot and moving all the way here. This time seemed to be about the fifth. In the aspect of saying the exact same thing over and over, Seolwon could tell how anxiously he was regarding his existence. However, it was an unnecessary warning. Because in the first place, he had no intention of doing anything in this seat. Seolwon’s purpose was merely to examine what kind of person that weapons broker was. It would likely take roughly 10 minutes to grasp the situation; even if it dragged on, it would be about 30 minutes. As soon as enough information to lay before President Kim gathered, he just had to make an excuse and slip away.

He didn’t bother to counter that there would be no reason to make a single peep. It was because he knew that even if he spoke, it would be of absolutely no help in settling Executive Director Hwang’s anxiety.

Fortunately, Executive Director Hwang did not consider Seolwon’s silence displeasing. Instead, as if his throat were burning, he poured and drank water by himself and then scrutinized Seolwon up and down.

“By the way, your appearance is completely… Is that the only suit you have?”

Out of the blue, he gave a snub to Seolwon’s attire. Since President Kim had told him to dress well, he had managed to search out and put on a 5-year-old suit, but it seemed like a cheap quality inevitably showed through. Honestly, since Seolwon was also wearing it after too long a time, he was feeling awkwardness. Especially because of the necktie, his neck was so suffocated that it even felt exactly like being choked.

“Yes, I have nothing but this. Because there are few occasions to wear one.”

Seolwon countered bluntly. Concealing the critique that the other side didn’t seem to have the feeling that a suit suited him all that well either.

“To be sure, if it’s a punk working under President Kim, it’s quite understandable. …But exactly what on earth is that man’s hidden motive?”

What the real intention of President Kim was in attaching a person of his own side, he still didn’t seem to know. Since it was a bit inappropriate to recklessly disclose what President Kim had not spoken of, Seolwon remained silent. At that, Executive Director Hwang clicked his tongue, and this time, he spoke while intensely scrutinizing Seolwon’s face.

“That aside, how old are you?”

This time, because it was a question not difficult to answer, Seolwon countered obediently.

“I am twenty-six.”

“Twenty-six? You’re older than I thought. I wondered if you were a university student… Still, it’s the prime of life. And has hair grown down there?”

“…Pardon?”

Though he threw it as if it were a joke, it was a remark no different from sexual harassment. Seolwon, who was accustomed to neither jokes nor sexual harassment, didn’t know how to strike back and was just thoroughly bewildered. Executive Director Hwang formed an insidious smile at Seolwon’s naive reaction.

“No, I didn’t know earlier, but catching the light… you’re a bit alright? It’s just because your complexion is gloomy, but you’d make several women cry. No. You’d make men cry. Right, it’s that side.”

“…”

Seolwon knitted his brows. It was not merely because of Executive Director Hwang’s rude remarks. It was because of the insidious interest toward him contained within it. Since he had already noticed Executive Director Hwang’s sexual orientation, it was impossible not to know.

Even without that, the uncomfortable seat becomes a tier more uncomfortable. Seolwon turned his gaze away from Executive Director Hwang and stared into empty space. He had chosen ignoring instead of a meaningless protest.

It was then. Just in time, the presence of people was heard from the outside. Soon the sliding door opened and two people stepped inside. One among them bowed his waist as soon as he saw Executive Director Hwang and extended a polite greeting.

“Hello, Executive Director!”

“Uh-huh, Team Leader Go, you’ve come? And over there is… who was it again?”

“I am Manager Kim Johoon of Development Team 1. I am in charge of the CK5 and HEAD130 project management.”

“Ah, right. Yeah, you all did well to come. Sit down for now.”

At Executive Director Hwang’s direction, the two men took their seats and sat down. One person sat next to Executive Director Hwang, and the other person sat next to Seolwon, striking a balance. Seolwon, who felt a sense of suffocation in a situation where unknown people were sitting on both sides, let out a sigh secretly. It was a relief at least that because the table was large, the interval with the person next to him was wide.

In the midst of this, conversations of social figures, which were seemingly private yet public, went back and forth.

“But when did you arrive? We also came thinking to arrive early, but we were surprised because you were already here first.”

“It hasn’t been long since I arrived either.”

“I see. We were a step behind. As expected, we cannot beat the Executive Director. Hahaha! …By the way, who is that person?”

Team Leader Go, who had been flattering while even raising his thumb, sent an eye gesture toward Seolwon. At that, without even a moment for Seolwon to respond in any way, Executive Director Hwang quickly stepped forward.

“You know Hanyang, right? A kid they are raising heavily over there.”

“Ah, then you’ve come from a law firm. Um, but isn’t Advisor Kang present?”

“Uh-huh, originally that gentleman was supposed to come, but they say an urgent matter arose. He asked to take him instead, saying he is as capable as himself? There’s no need to care.”

“I see. If you are under Advisor Kang’s direct control, you must be from Handae [Hanyang University]?”

Seolwon didn’t know who Advisor Kang was, let alone where Handae was located. It was natural. Since it was a lie that hadn’t been discussed in advance.

Fortunately, Team Leader Go showed a look of understanding immediately without suspicion. Not only that, he even went as far as to request a welcome handshake.

“First time meeting you. I am Team Leader Go Sangjun of the Planning Team. I also graduated from Handae.”

“…I am Han Seolwon.”

Seolwon responded to the handshake with a reluctant look. For now, he had no choice but to concur with the lie. On one hand, a worry also arose wondering what if he needlessly asked this and that on the pretext of being alumni.

However, fortunately, Team Leader Go’s interest toward Seolwon ended right there.

“That aside… Ah, coming here like this really makes me nervous. We should at least win some points…”

As if he were truly tense, not just in words, Team Leader Go mumbled anxiously while rubbing his chest.

“That’s what I’m saying. You know, right? This is no ordinary opportunity. If it slips, from now on it will be hard for either Team Leader Go or me to see any fun in the company.”

Whether Executive Director Hwang was not much different, he chimed in promptly.

“Whew, of course I know well. I will do my best.”

“Did you bring the PT materials?”

“Yes, I brought them just in case.”

“Good job. Let’s read the room a bit and slide them in subtly. Do we, fuck, lack technology just because we lack connections. If he’s a bastard who knows how to see, he’s bound to drool. This time, let’s back ourselves with oil money and climb up to the major league refreshingly.”

“Yes, sir. By the way, when I inquired around, that human Happy is no joke. They say his rank is higher than even that bastard Harbor. You know, right? The one who pocketed a 3 trillion won missile last year…”

“How could I not know. Didn’t the Jo family taste bitterness because of that bastard. Only the big house that sucked that Harbor’s asshole hit the jackpot properly.”

“Exactly. But if he’s above that bastard…”

“It means he’s a big fish among big fish. But is it correct that that bastard is a Kimchi bastard [a Korean]?”

“Well, I don’t know up to that point. As you know, identifying those people’s personal backgrounds is…”

“Yeah, I know. It’s hellishly difficult. The bastards are awfully sensitive about their own personal backgrounds.”

“Yes. For now, he seems to speak Korean quite well.”

“What line does he handle up to? Does he do up to Gray15)?”

“They say Felix itself officially handles only up to White16), but it seems they secretly handle not only Gray but even Under17). Isn’t the specialty of brokers laundering, after all.”

“To be sure, you have to fuck the law for more incentives to attach. There’s no way they won’t do it.”

For a long while, conversation went back and forth between them. Naturally, it was content within a category that Seolwon could not understand. In context, he could merely grasp that this drinking party would play an extremely important role in the future position of the company.

The conversation that had pulled on long subsided at a certain moment. Within the silence that naturally settled down, Seolwon distinctly felt the tension circulating among the company people. To the extent that even a person whose intuition was dull would have no choice but to notice, the atmosphere was immensely rigid.

Time flowed and before long, on the dot. It was when Team Leader Go, who had been the most anxious among the three, checked his wristwatch.

Drrrr— The sliding door, which had been quiet, opened again and someone walked inside. At that moment, the gazes of everyone, including Seolwon, shifted to one side.

At the place where the gazes directed, a man was standing. He was a man wearing a black suit and a neatly arranged necktie. Without even a greeting, he stood and for a short while scrutinized the people sitting in their seats one by one. The gaze beyond his thick-rimmed glasses was extraordinarily sharp. Although it was a flash of a moment, with just that short silence, he clearly imprinted his presence.

Thanks to that, Seolwon could recognize right away. That that man was the weapons broker.