Chapter 127: Adaptation Period (3)

Rain streamed down the double-paned window outside the hospital room.

The city appeared faintly through the gaps. Layer upon layer, sharply divided. The higher it rose toward the sky, the cleaner it got. Below sprawled a chaotic mess of haphazard buildings encroaching on one another, their green sewage ditches a stark contrast to the lake that symbolized the upper district.

It was a city of stark contrasts. Dazzlingly brilliant yet hopelessly dark in its duality. And with no gray areas in between, it felt all the more hollow.

Neon signs shimmered in the raindrops. Air vehicles zipped busily through the gaps between skyscrapers. Rays of red and yellow light pierced the thunderheads. It was then that Seong Hayun, sitting up in bed, took in the full view of Lake City.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

No sooner had she spoken than the door swung open. Spotting the visitor’s face, Seong Hayun let out an involuntary wry chuckle.

“…To think the first person to visit me right after waking up is the one who put me in this state. It’s bringing tears to my eyes in more ways than one.”

“Should I head back out?”

Lee Taebaek turned, hand still on the doorknob. Seong Hayun waved him off with an exaggerated grimace.

“Can’t even joke around with you. Fine, come on in. Grab a chair and sit. We’ve got things to talk about—properly, with words, not fists.”

“You’re the one full of jokes.”

“Handsome face, but zero tolerance for teasing, huh?”

Lee Taebaek didn’t reply. Seong Hayun showed no regret in her teasing.

True to her word, even after being forcibly hospitalized, she just let out a light laugh and brushed it off. Was she just that cool-headed, or hiding something else? He’d figure it out in time. That’s why he’d come to visit.

He dragged over a spare chair. Before sitting at a careful distance from the bed, he set a can of fruit by the bedside.

And then, silence fell.

Plip, plip.

The rain tapped rhythmically against the glass. The two watched the upper district reflections in the droplets without a word.

For Seong Hayun, it was a familiar sight.

For Lee Taebaek, his first raw glimpse of the upper levels with his own eyes.

Though they gazed at the same cityscape, their thoughts undoubtedly differed.

“I think I get why Executive Director Ryu Subaek went out of his way to recruit you.”

Seong Hayun spoke first.

“To weed out spies from the insiders. That’s why he skipped the rigid hiring process and slotted you straight into our Security Team 1.”

“Should I remind you I’m a parachute drop? Kinda embarrassing.”

Lee Taebaek rubbed his nape as he spoke. It was also a roundabout confirmation of her deduction.

‘How will she react if I admit it outright?’

He narrowed [Presence Detection] to a pinpoint, scrutinizing her aura minutely. Not missing even the slightest fluctuation.

“Don’t scan a girl in a patient gown like that. I’m still a lady, you know.”

As team leader of the security squad, she’d clearly picked up on the detection. He hadn’t planned to hide it anyway. Separately, she gave him a wary once-over.

“……”

Was that something for someone to say who disliked her girly name? Lee Taebaek sighed.

“Anyway.”

Down to business.

“So, the new guy’s suspicious because he’s got ulterior motives?”

“Nah. If anything, it’s refreshing because you’re consistent. Asking outright instead of hiding it.”

Seong Hayun popped the lid off the fruit can. Her steel hand clinked crisply against the metal.

She gulped down the syrup, wiped her mouth, then turned to Lee Taebaek.

“Newbie. How much do you know about Daesung’s situation?”

“Just what the city folk know.”

“…Nothing extra from Director Ryu Garyeon? No point hiding it now. Be straight with me… though you really seem clueless.”

Seong Hayun chewed on a yellowish peach slice as she spoke.

“For the record, I’m Executive Director’s person.”

“……”

She shrugged.

“Director Ryu Garyeon—his daughter—might not trust me and sent you here, but I’m clean. I’ll prove it with actions. No need to convince a newbie like you.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

“Anyway, keeping that in mind.”

Seong Hayun ran her tongue over her steel fingers one by one before continuing.

“Daesung’s succession structure isn’t exactly healthy right now. All because the chairman elevated even his illegitimate kids to contender status.”

“That’s what got Executive Director Ryu Subaek into the running, though. Good for you, his loyalist.”

“How many kids do you think the chairman has? Twenty-three. All thrown into the succession war. Not exactly great news for the director.”

…That many? Figured a megacorp head ate well, but damn.

“Where does Executive Director Ryu Subaek rank?”

“11th. Pretty high up.”

Hmm.

Mid-tier, right about there.

“Thanks to being more capable than the other mistresses’ kids. The top ten are all from the wife proper.”

“De facto number one among the bastards.”

Seong Hayun nodded.

“Exactly. Means nothing on paper, but it can matter depending on the situation.”

The distance between them lingered. They’d only known each other two days, and their first meeting had been all fangs and snarls. Not to mention the rough brawl.

Ironically, that had stripped away the pretenses. After taking the hits, Seong Hayun knew Lee Taebaek harbored no personal malice. So she laid out Daesung’s internals plainly.

“Depending on the situation, huh…”

“If the lady of the house makes a huge blunder. Those ten kids could plummet in rank.”

“…Even if she slips up, punishing ten kids for their mom’s mistake? Hard to swallow. Not like guilt by association.”

“Haha… oof.”

Seong Hayun clutched her solar plexus mid-laugh. A broken rib jabbed her lung from within.

“You say that ’cause you’ve never met the couple. Why do you think the chairman included the bastards in succession?”

“To pit them against each other. A warning to any kid baring fangs: I’m still kicking.“

“Sharp.”

Tears beaded at the corners of Seong Hayun’s eyes as she grinned.

“That’s part of it, but what he really wants is to boot the lady of the house from the group entirely.”

“Divorce her… turn family into corporate exile…”

Seong Hayun reached sideways and tapped the window twice. It frosted over gray. She pointed at the numbers overlaying it.

“This is Daesung’s internal share breakdown. Chairman’s at 36.7% out of 100, rest scattered.”

The pie chart was mostly one big chunk, splintered small elsewhere. Seemed no one threatened him via shares alone.

But.

Something’s off.

Lee Taebaek narrowed his eyes.

Too many slices clustered around 5% increments. Six of them. Totaling 30%.

As his lips tightened, Seong Hayun smiled approvingly, then feigned gravity.

“The lady’s faction’s been quietly snapping up internals. 30%. Toss in her kids’ shares, and it rivals the chairman’s.”

“The bastards hold the scraps that broke off.”

“That’s why he’s covertly backing them. Side with him, get full support. Our Executive Director Ryu Subaek’s a prime example.”

Their voices blurred under the thickening rain.

“Sounds like the chairman’s too under her thumb.”

“What can you do? She was Siesta’s prized daughter. Daesung went from local Korean firm to Lake City player thanks to her.”

The name Siesta hit like a chokehold.

These bastards just won’t quit haunting me.

Karma?

Borrowed their name to bust out of Brain Prison, and now they’re here. Thought he’d shaken the annoying tail, but it latched back in the worst way.

Lee Taebaek grimaced, but Seong Hayun played dumb. She’d caught the hint from his posture.

Not often, but security teams from megacorps held friendly sparring events. His moves matched Siesta watchdogs he’d faced back then.

“Makes sense why the director put you on security. Root out the lady’s plants in our team.”

No point hiding.

Lee Taebaek came clean.

“…To be precise, that’s Director Ryu Garyeon’s call, not the executive’s.”

“Her will is his. Leave that to me anyway. You focus on boosting Executive Director’s succession rank, newbie.”

“…?”

Lee Taebaek tilted his head. Seong Hayun gave a bitter smile.

“Why use a sledgehammer for chickens? Everyone’s got their role fitting their vessel. Too wasteful to sic you on cockroaches.”

Self-aware? Or just hard on herself? Hard to tell.

“Not self-deprecation. Without that, no progress for the director. Rolling stone like you pries ’em loose on purpose—who’d cheer a stuck one?”

Seong Hayun leaned back leisurely against the white duvet.

“You look like you’ll wrap up and bail from Daesung quick. To see less of your face even a day sooner, gotta finish fast. Means smart staffing. That’s what a team leader does.”

“……”

A vague sense of déjà vu sharpened. He’d heard those words from Team Leader Seo.

– Assistant Manager Lee knows Reycons better than me anyway. So I’ll back his call. Whatever business says, I’ll block what I can. Show your stuff.

Hah.

Lee Taebaek bit back a leaking laugh and nodded firmly.

“Then, looking forward to working with you for a bit, Team Leader Seong Hayun.”

The sudden formality flustered her. Topped with the name she hated.

Smirk.

But Seong Hayun flashed a sly eye-smile. Outside, the rain poured heavy with a sharp metallic tang. Yet the room felt remarkably warm.

“Let’s get along till we both hit our goals.”

From there, they shared intel and sketched out operational bones. In this barren, cold skyscraper jungle, it felt like gaining an ally.

She might still be an insider foe or the lady’s puppet. But Lee Taebaek chose to trust his gut over the hypothesis.

In this rain-soaked city, faith in someone was like a lantern glimpsed in a dark cave.

Even if a will-o’-the-wisp luring him astray. He wanted to fall for it, just once.