Chapter 142: After the Storm

Clouds tore apart under the sunlight. Rays piercing through the gaps connected heaven and earth like auroras, like soft curtains draped over the clouds.

The sun’s long fingers, extended through the cracks in the clouds, crumbled into glittering droplets only upon meeting the lake’s surface. The sparkling ripples were beautiful. It was a clichéd expression, but they truly dazzled the eyes.

In Lake City, where it seemed to rain endlessly, this novel scene only amplified the effect. Against a city perpetually shrouded in gray haze, the splash of vibrant light created a stark contrast.

Lee Taebaek lay half-reclined in his hospital bed, gazing outside. His breathing felt stuffy, so he cracked the window open a bit. A cool breeze gently brushed his nape.

The window framed the city’s landscape perfectly bisected. Taking the plastic window frame as the dividing line, the left side showed the half-destroyed upper district, while the right revealed the ever-chaotic lower district. Suddenly, and somewhat freshly, it struck him as a rather impressive city. The upper and lower layers achieved a fitting sense of unity.

Debris bobbing on the lake’s surface. Buildings shattered here and there. It looked as if a giant had toyed with the entire city before growing bored and abandoning it.

“…Is this the scenery the Three Calamities created?”

To be precise, it was a collaboration between the Art Master and Lee Taebaek… Though the Art Master’s share was roughly ninety percent. Not that he had any intention of filing a damage claim—absolutely not. From the planning stage, he’d anticipated bringing chaos to the upper district.

The scale exceeded plans, but the ‘chaos’ itself unfolded exactly as plotted.

Drurruk.

Lee Taebaek blocked out the polluted City air. Propping his head with both hands, he lay back down on the bed.

“…Still, things worked out somehow, seeing as I’m alive.”

Moreover, all his limbs were intact. Honestly, given the utterly absurd scale of the plan, he’d braced for half-paralysis at least.

With a restriction applied to buff [Faith], he figured it might somehow work. If not, he’d reluctantly opt for cybernetic prosthetics. Out of necessity.

To steel himself to that extent, despite his aversion to implants. It was a plan with insane risks. Conversely, the returns were equally tremendous. Jasbi had live-streamed a glimpse of those rewards.

“Hello, everyone! Your Jasbi is back again today! The big news I’m bringing you is that Daesung Group’s Madam has gone missing! This has caused a shake-up in the group’s power structure! Top-tier scoop— the internal dynamics of a megacorp family have shifted!”

Jasbi seemed perfectly suited to streaming. She was incredibly professional about it.

“Curious what happened? Of course you are! But… your Jasbi here went through so much trouble to get this info…”

A resident somewhere between 2D and 3D wiped at her eyes. The chat exploded instantly.

“Thank you for the 100,000-won donation, OOO!”

“Whoa! XXX with a massive 300,000-won donation!”

“Kyaaah! B-billion won?! What do I do? Should I do the zero-two dance for you?”

Don’t do that girly stuff.

But I kinda wanna see it lol.

“Ugh…”

Lee Taebaek still found this world’s dynamics exhausting.

‘Isn’t this too immersive?’

Jasbi had even bought virtual whatever-it-was out of pocket. It started as his half-forced idea, but now she was more dedicated than anyone.

No harm in it. Better she fully unleashed her talents stirring up the Hundred-Fold Sect’s Branches 1 and 2 this way than causing mere discord.

Plus, a fixed portion of the streaming revenue flowed into Lee Taebaek’s pocket. Roughly eighty percent? Fair, since he proposed it.

Jasbi protested it was an exploitative contract, but he shut her down firmly. That’s how the City worked. Learn the hard way if you don’t know.

“Ahem! Back to the main topic! What turmoil hit Daesung Group? As expected, a massive shake-up in the succession structure!”

“You all know already? Calm down, folks. Do you think your Jasbi would bring mere stock market gossip?”

Jasbi put her hand to her mouth like someone was beside her.

“Truth is, Daesung’s Madam’s kids are infamous wastrels. Leaning on their chaebol background, causing chaos in the upper district… Everyone who matters knows— even Daesung executives. What can you do?”

“Bloodlines are everything. The Chairman’s legitimate heirs, sons and daughters of that Madam. And where’s the missing Madam from?”

“Yes! Siesta. Despite their rotten personalities, as the Chairman’s firstborns with Siesta backing, the executives couldn’t even squeak.”

He found himself leaning in. The explanation was coherent. Plus, having been out cold for a week, this was Lee Taebaek’s first hearing via broadcast.

“Not just executives! Even the Chairman himself started struggling with his kids. He even tried sidelining them from succession— that’s the inside scoop… not gossip!”

“Pretending disinterest in management while poaching Sword Master Muyachi at personal expense. Public excuse? Bolstering competitiveness among megacorps. Yeah right? After all these years? Exactly— ulterior motives!”

But he couldn’t eliminate the Madam himself. There was natural law, and it would declare full war on her home, Siesta.

His thoughts branched. Lee Taebaek muttered with a wry smile.

“Siesta must have been waiting for that moment.”

Blood ties or not, Daesung’s Madam was essentially a pawn they’d placed. Her role was merely pretext for invasion. Once used up, discarded.

‘That’s how megacorps treat humans.’

Not surprising from Siesta, vying with Haragusa for top villainy.

‘The Madam tried handing Daesung to her home to secure her life.’

She didn’t crown a successor who’d obey her most. That would invite direct Siesta intervention post-designation— easy access.

Instead, multiple heirs to torment her home. Holding the succession key herself.

‘Better than fait accompli— uncertainty raised her value.’

Don’t bite quick; rattle them a bit.

A lesson from someone already a guest of no return— one he’d made so.

“Fresh news from this morning: At a pre-dawn unofficial press briefing, Daesung’s Chairman declared he’ll eliminate distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate heirs in succession. Timing’s suspicious, huh? Got the footage— let’s watch!”

Jasbi switched screens for a breather. Footage of a small press pool and the Chairman in mourning attire.

The gist matched: Madam’s disappearance tragic, full search ongoing, but Daesung must unite now. Rigid primogeniture outdated; give chances to all sons. Delivered with the Chairman’s eyes deeply sunken.

“Mm-hmm, the rest to you couch surfers’ imaginations!”

“Anyway, Daesung’s in chaos. Haragusa Entertainment had big drama at the festival too. On that…”

He muted at her donation-begging glance. Got the meat; no need wasting time. Then his device chimed.

Unlaborious income piled up nicely. More than enough for hospital bills.

Ah, but no bills here. This was the academy hospital sponsored by Daesung Group.

“Executive Director Ryu Subaek must’ve shelled out big.”

No dent in his wallet, but Lee Taebaek’s way of giving thanks. [Concept: Robber]’s aftereffects blocked genuine gratitude.

Drurruk.

The door opened. Speak of the devil— Executive Director Ryu Subaek entered with his daughter, Director Ryu.

Ryu skipped greetings, diving straight in.

“Brilliant.”

He plopped into the folding chair his daughter fetched. Then, casually before the patient, lit a cigarette.

“Never expected you’d dispose of the Madam like that. Ah, don’t misunderstand. ‘Brilliant’ is my highest praise. ‘Impressive’ falls short. Take it as beyond that.”

“I’ll believe it’s sincere. I nearly died here.”

The smoking man curled his lip.

“That’s what I like about you. Sharp-tongued but polite. White-collar talk.”

Honed rhetoric to gut corporate divisions.

“Commend your creativity. Me, Daesung’s planning strategy exec, best idea was marrying off my daughter. But you? On another level.”

Barbarian with barbarian.

“Using Haragusa Festival to eliminate Siesta’s infiltrator. Guess I owe tuition.”

“I’ll claim compensation separately.”

“Hahaha!”

Ryu slapped the blanket, chuckling.

“Anyway, if I take the Chairman’s seat, I’ll use your tactics forever.”

“……”

Their first meeting: He’d said surviving the Madam sufficed.

But that ear-to-ear grin suggested Ryu eyed beyond Chairman seizure.

Lee Taebaek didn’t poke. What were Ryu’s true intentions? Didn’t care, didn’t want to know. Lie or truth, irrelevant.

Fortunate: With the obstacle eliminated by Lee Taebaek, no more entanglements. Dealing with two-faced types long-term was hassle.

“You did well.”

Ryu sensed it. Lee Taebaek’s exploits spreading by word. Tempting prowess, yet Ryu distrusted keeping him close.

Besides, too massive a beast for Ryu’s cage. A monster matching Three Calamities’ Art Master briefly. Wariness overrode possession.

Tsssh.

Ryu stubbed the butt in a water cup, standing. Patting Lee Taebaek’s shoulder:

“Added to my separate reward, pick one extra option as you like. Suggest to Director Ryu here. Duties call.”

At the door, he glanced back slyly.

“Just to check.”

“No son-in-law ambitions. More, I showed you what happens tangling with chaebol kin. Business partners only.”

“Applies not just me and Daesung, but other megacorps too?”

Sly fox. Lee Taebaek snorted. Ryu nodded theatrically, exiting.

“Haa…”

Lee Taebaek sighed. Director Ryu fidgeted her lips, then spoke.

“…Sorry. Father can be…”

“Fine. Megacorp blood runs true. Wives, kids— all merchandise. No surprise, no disappointment.”

Lee Taebaek threw off the blanket.

“On rewards, what I want is…”

“……”

“……?”

Silence blanketed the room. A sunbeam caressed Director Ryu’s slender jawline.

“I’m not like that.”

Her perpetually shadowed lips flushed pink.

“Family matters most to me. If you were family, you’d be my top priority.”

“What suddenly—”

“Pretend you didn’t hear.”

“Wait—”

She bolted up, cutting him off. Glasses hiding her expression, she vanished.

Acrid smoke lingered emptily.

“……”

Least she could’ve given before leaving?