“…….”

“…….”

The larger and fiercer the typhoon, the thicker the silence it breeds. The office Lee Taebaek had left was no different.

The screech of chair wheels, the clacking of keyboards.

Nothing could be heard. The office felt as hollow as a gathering place for the dead, cold enough to raise goosebumps.

“…What the hell is going on here?”

Team Member A nudged the chair beside him with his elbow. Team Member B let out a groan in response.

“You think I know? I’m just as baffled. But one thing’s for sure… we…”

Team Member B trailed off, unable to finish. In this pristine, tidy office, the crude words he wanted to spit out felt out of place. He swallowed them down with a gulp.

B’s gaze shifted in one direction. Not just him—the entire team looked the same way.

Where their eyes landed, Team Leader Seong Hayun sat with her chair reclined, back fully exposed.

They couldn’t see her face.

But they could guess her mood just from her back. Chilling strands of aura emanated from beyond the chair’s headrest.

Yeah. Team Leader must be thinking and feeling the exact same thing as everyone else. She just couldn’t show it.

We’re screwed.

…Who could’ve guessed that the trash-tier newbie Lee Taebaek was on familiar terms with Saber Master Muyachi? And to top it off, Team Leader Seong had clashed with the newbie on his very first day. Plenty of reason for her to worry.

No, but still.

How the hell do those two even know each other?

Lee Taebaek was a parachute hire straight from Executive Director Ryu Subaek. B had figured he must be something special. Handsome face, competent guy, that sort of thing.

Absolutely not because the newbie and Saber Master knew each other. B had felt that way from the first moment he laid eyes on him, and nothing had changed.

What he was really curious about was…

“I heard Saber Master joined the company, but I saw him for the first time today. His presence was insane.”

“Right? He barely ever leaves his personal office, so aside from Director Ryu Garyeon or the Chairman, no one really interacts with him.”

With the Team Leader not stopping them, the members began nodding and muttering openly. Given the situation, they couldn’t whisper.

“What’s up with today, though? Saber Master coming down personally to check on the newbie.”

“…You think the newbie’s related to the Executive Director by blood or something?”

“That doesn’t make sense! They have different last names!!”

“Nah, their names both end with ‘baek’.”

“What bullshit. So the newbie’s real name is Baek Ri-tae-go, and the Executive Director’s Baek Yu-su-ge?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Well… yeah… you’re right…”

The provincial chatter only grew louder.

The legendary giant shrouded in rumors, and the newbie about whom nothing was known.

Their encounter would stir up this office for now.

But the ripple effects would soon fill the entire company building. It wouldn’t be long. By afternoon at the latest.

“…Saber Master definitely took him to his personal office, right?”

“Yeah. That was the wrap-up line.”

“Ha, fuck… We’re screwed, aren’t we?”

The raw truth finally spilled out. And it was understandable.

Everyone here (except B, sitting across) had thrown shade at the newbie at least once. B had just coughed from choking on air.

Our newbie wouldn’t hold petty grudges over that.

The unfamiliar “our” now clung to Lee Taebaek.

“What if the newbie whispers something to Saber Master—”

They meant workplace ostracism. Those who’d failed to recognize Lee Taebaek’s true value early on shivered. Anxiety bloomed like breath in the cold air all around.

“Ugh, are Saber Master or the newbie kids?”

“We’re not kids, but we still ragged on the newbie.”

“Th-that was!”

“Hey, hey, enough. Is that the point right now?”

C subtly nodded toward the head seat. Then he whispered just loud enough.

“We didn’t come to blows, but Team Leader Seong?”

“Totally fucked. Worst relationship possible. And she even challenged him to a duel first.”

“Aigoo…….”

Our Team Leader must be fuming up a storm.

The team sighed in unison. Regardless of the circumstances, they could tell Team Leader was burning inside.

What if the newbie and Saber Master were closer than imagined? If they opened up and the newbie mentioned the conflict with Team Leader?

“Saber Master’s an outside director, but his influence outstrips even Executive Director Ryu Subaek.”

“Just him? Even the Executive Director’s older brothers wouldn’t mess with Saber Master.”

“The Chairman uses honorifics with him too. That says it all. This world runs on power and money. What’s the point of all that cash?”

“That’s because Daesung only recently joined the megacorp ranks. Other places don’t grovel to the Ten Wings.”

They kept shifting topics to shake off the anxiety. Anything to relieve the stuffiness.

“…Us…….”

But no matter how they laughed it off or cleared their minds, the conclusion was one.

“Should we… ride the newbie’s coattails?”

In society, connections trump competence.

The team’s eyes darted busily. They glanced back and forth between the Team Leader’s heavy-seated spot and the empty newbie’s desk.

Loyalty or pragmatism. That was the question.

“Whoa, this office is insane.”

Following Muyachi, Lee Taebaek gawked around like a country bumpkin visiting the capital for the first time.

“This is practically a palace.”

It was magnificent. He’d never felt the stench of money so vividly.

Saber Master Muyachi took the prime seat on the ‘ㄷ’-shaped sofa. He casually jerked his chin.

“Jealous?”

“Nah. It’s so opulent it’s not even enviable anymore.”

Lee Taebaek grabbed an empty seat. Saber Master smirked.

“One of the perks of the city. They treat you according to your ability.”

“Back home, humility’s a virtue.”

“This is Lake City.”

Saber Master leaned forward.

Just a slight narrowing of distance.

The air pressure shifted. It grew heavy. Lee Taebaek felt Muyachi’s strength on his skin.

Gulp.

Great Master, Saber Master. He truly felt it now: the Ten Wings were monsters wearing human masks.

How had he ever matched one, even briefly? Saber Master ranked high among them. Only the Three Masters were above him.

He could say that after tussling with Illusion Master.

He was strong, but a notch below Saber Master.

Lee Taebaek could see why Daesung’s Chairman felt secure with just Muyachi on board.

Lee Taebaek straightened his shoulders, which had been hunching for no reason.

“So, you didn’t call me to brag about your office. What’s up?”

“They weren’t treating you well in the office.”

“I’m not the type to blend in anywhere.”

Lee Taebaek shrugged. Saber Master nodded without hesitation.

“So that’s how it is.”

“I didn’t say anything?”

“Only once, but I know your personality well enough, Lee Taebaek. Surviving without getting jumped by security is impressive enough.”

That stung a bit.

“Get to the point.”

The sharp remark was just his mood. Anyway.

“Right.”

Saber Master wasn’t the type to nitpick trivial attitudes from the start.

He clasped his hands on his knees. Tapping his thumbs together, he spoke.

“This time, the seven excluding the Three Masters—no, now six.”

Illusion Master was in the afterlife.

“Those six are gathering.”

“……? Ten Wings having a ladies’ club or something?”

Saber Master shook his head.

“First time ever. People from different affiliations don’t meet without trouble.”

“Ten Wings official gathering.”

He didn’t remember adding that setting. The crooked question mark straightened like it’d been hammered.

Whoa, but if all six show up, any incident would be massive.

The Ten Wings were monsters born strong. Lee Taebaek pegged them high from the start.

Originally, the greatest mountain and longest river for players to conquer. The city’s strongest were the Ten Wings.

He hadn’t considered balance. Some had all stats nearing 100. Like the Heavenly Demon, or the Heavenly Demon, or the Heavenly Demon…

“…….”

Could he delete them?

“Deleting them would halt the main story.”

“What’re you talking about?”

Ah, his inner monologue had slipped out.

“Just shocked nonsense.”

Lee Taebaek wet his dry lips with water. Even the water’s surface seemed to ripple with the smell of money.

“You didn’t call to brag about a club meeting. If it’s Daesung Chairman business, I’ll go. No time for that. I’m busy enough over here.”

“Didn’t look busy with your colleagues. Must’ve gotten your free time sorted.”

Wow, deadpan hits like a truck. Innocent face, but landing criticals right on point. Definitely no ordinary guy.

“…Yeah. My free time lined up, so I’m heading out to clear it. Brag somewhere else if you want.”

“Impatient personality.”

The low voice grabbed his ankle.

“I wasn’t planning to attend this Ten Wings gathering. Don’t want to see those faces. But I changed my mind.”

Saber Master closed his eyes, then opened them. He fixed his deep pupils on Lee Taebaek.

“Lee Taebaek, come with me.”

“…….”

Is he sane?

Why the hell would I go there, man?

No way.

This bastard.

“Go prove your worth.”

Ominous assumptions always hit in times like these.

“Get recognized as one of the Ten Wings.”

It was overwhelming.

Overwhelming, yet struggling to keep up with Saber Master’s pace.

The megacorp Haragusa, topping market cap at number one.

Haragusa and the city were fervently preparing for its centennial founding festival. Haragusa had endured much internal strife, hardship, and a harsh start.

After World War II, it began by entertaining U.S. troops stationed in Japan, who were, in fact, colonizing Japan. It rose from the humiliation of defeat. The founder endured eggs, flour, and the indignity of picking up bills used as toilet paper thrown at him by American soldiers.

Thus, Haragusa was born.

An unprecedented entertainment megacorp leading without production lines.

And turning that shameful history into fertilizer, Haragusa hosted grand festivals every founding anniversary.

A festival by an entertainment company. Just its affiliated celebrities numbered in the tens of thousands. Bluntly put, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say every famous entertainer worldwide was under Haragusa.

There are many geniuses in the world. But pinnacles exist among them. If geniuses are those whom God notices, pinnacles are those whom God molds with His own hands from clay.

Even among Haragusa’s tens of thousands of entertainers, there was one.

A waiting room like a house of mirrors. Stylists, makeup artists, masseuses for every body part.

A woman in her prime, surrounded by roughly a hundred staff. Spirit flashed in her eyes as she glanced at the device screen.

“Saber Master, that old fart’s coming?”

Art Master.

“And bringing a companion.”

Her lips curved into a graceful arc.