In front of Incheon Airport, countless reporters had formed a massive crowd.

Watching only the arrival gate with anxious expressions, as though waiting for someone, they immediately started smashing their shutters like crazy the moment the person they had been waiting for finally appeared.

Burly bodyguards surrounded the VIP as they pushed through the reporters and the crowd.

“Representative Han Kyungyeong!!”

“Representative Han! Please say a few words!”

The reporters couldn’t even get close and desperately shouted toward him.

Han Kyungyeong briefly stopped walking and spoke to the aide beside him.

“Please prepare a quiet place for a press conference.”

“Yes, Boss.”

One of the bodyguards split off and began speaking with airport personnel.

A short while later, a makeshift press conference area was hastily set up in one corner of the airport.

Not only reporters, but passing travelers gathered in front of it as well, creating a sea of people.

The moment Han Kyungyeong stepped forward, camera flashes exploded nonstop.

“I’ll take a few brief questions.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the reporters all raised their hands at once.

Han Kyungyeong pointed at one of them.

“Hello, I’m Reporter Park Changho from Hanminjok Daily.”

“Yes, Reporter Park Changho. Go ahead.”

“The identity of the person newly appointed to lead the Korean branch still hasn’t been revealed. Could you at least briefly tell us something about them?” 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

“Hmm. It’s difficult to speak carelessly about that right now. But you’ll know in a few days. If I had to give one hint, it would be this: it’s someone already in all of your heads. You’ll probably recognize the name once you hear it.”

Small sighs spread among the reporters.

The easiest way to drive people insane was to stimulate their curiosity.

The longer people remained ignorant about something, the greater the impact when its identity was finally revealed.

After finishing his answer, Han Kyungyeong pointed at another reporter and continued the Q&A session.

“I heard the Korean branch’s authority is being significantly expanded. Could you explain that in detail?”

As if he had expected that question, Han Kyungyeong nodded and answered immediately.

“The Korean branch will oversee overall investments throughout Asia. It will possess full authority over investments and will be able to make decisions independently without consulting headquarters. In particular, the newly appointed branch manager is very favorable toward the Korean market. He’s the person who persuaded me to invest in Korea during the foreign exchange crisis. I expect the synergy effect to be tremendous.”

The Q&A continued afterward, but Han Kyungyeong stubbornly refused to reveal the identity of the new branch manager until the very end.

After the brief press conference concluded, Han Kyungyeong immediately boarded the prepared vehicle.

Unable to let go of their obsession, the reporters continued taking photos of his departing car.

* * *

Watching Han Kyungyeong’s press conference, I smiled.

“So much for entering quietly. He ended up holding a press conference anyway.”

Once the short conference ended, I turned off the TV and asked Manager Ma:

“Did my brother arrive?”

“Yes. We just received word that he arrived and checked into Myeongdong Hotel.”

“Then let’s head out too. Should we walk?”

“Understood, Boss.”

I left the Myeongdong office together with Manager Ma. For the first time in a while, we decided to walk instead of taking a car.

From the Myeongdong office to Myeongdong Hotel was only about a twenty-minute walk.

Even though it was still early evening, Myeongdong was packed with people.

Japanese and Chinese could be heard from every direction.

“There are a lot of foreigners.”

“Yes. I heard the numbers have been increasing recently. Apparently the rent for nearby shops has gone up significantly too.”

“Jiyoung will probably like that.”

“I heard she hired someone separately to manage it. Miss is too busy to handle everything herself.”

“Really? Is that manager trustworthy?”

It had been quite a while since I last saw Cheon Jiyoung. She handled herself well enough these days, but I still couldn’t help worrying about her.

“I heard the person was introduced through an acquaintance.”

“Hmm. Look into it once.”

Cheon Jiyoung had never cared much about money.

She’d probably dumped everything onto ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the manager and stopped paying attention entirely.

Guess I’ll have to look after it myself.

By the time I finished chatting with Manager Ma while walking, we had already arrived at Myeongdong Hotel.

Reporters were waiting all around the hotel.

“The other bodyguards can stay outside. Only Manager Ma and I will go in.”

I dismissed the bodyguards following behind us and entered through the main entrance with only Manager Ma.

The reporters didn’t even pay attention to me as I walked in and continued talking among themselves.

We boarded the elevator and pressed the floor where Han Kyungyeong was staying.

The moment the elevator doors opened, bodyguards blocked the way.

Then they recognized my face and immediately stepped aside.

“You’re all working hard.”

“It’s nothing.”

One of the bodyguards, answering in a rigid posture, opened the door to Han Kyungyeong’s suite.

I patted his shoulder and stepped inside.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Han Kyungyeong was sprawled across the sofa in comfortable clothes.

Watching him scratch his stomach while watching TV made me laugh without realizing it.

“You really never change.”

“If a person changes, they might as well die.”

Han Kyungyeong replied shamelessly before suddenly jumping up from the sofa.

“So? I handled the interview well, right?”

“Yeah. Funny for someone who said he wasn’t going to do one.”

“If attention’s coming either way, it’s better if I step forward personally. That way all the focus gathers on me.”

I nodded in satisfaction and sat down on the sofa.

Everything had been prepared for exactly that purpose.

One elaborate show.

“The inauguration ceremony’s being held at Myeongdong Hotel, right? The lineup of invited guests is insane. It’s basically every person controlling Korea attending.”

Today, the attendee list for the inauguration ceremony had been released.

“And that’s not all.”

“Huh? There’s more?”

“Medvedev said he’s coming personally. He arrives tomorrow. And Bo Xilai also contacted us saying he’ll attend in person.”

“Damn, that’s crazy.”

Han Kyungyeong waved the guest list around while making a huge fuss.

“Why are you reacting like that? We already expected this.”

“Come on. I didn’t think they’d actually show up in person. So are we letting the press know about this too?”

I shook my head. Bombs were most shocking when they exploded unexpectedly.

“No, leave it alone. That way the impact will be bigger. The attendance of ambassadors from each country is already public knowledge anyway. That level is just right.”

“Got it. Then I’ll keep my mouth shut while handling my schedule too.”

“Good. Anyway, starting tomorrow we’ll be too busy to spend time like this. There are a ton of reporters outside, so going out’s a bad idea. Let’s just order room service and have a drink.”

Han Kyungyeong grinned and nodded.

A short while later, the ordered food and alcohol arrived. We drank late into the night while talking about many things.

Several days later.

The day of the inauguration ceremony finally arrived.

From the crack of dawn, everyone moved busily while getting their hair done and putting on makeup.

After finishing all preparations, I headed to Myeongdong Hotel, where the ceremony would be held.

Avoiding people’s eyes, I took the elevator directly from the parking garage.

Han Kyungyeong was waiting in the lounge prepared beside the banquet hall.

“Damn, you already looked classy normally, but after dressing up you look even better.”

“Does it look okay?”

Han Kyungyeong gave a thumbs up and nodded.

“Yeah. When the base material’s good, everything works. The makeup really brings out your aura.”

Unlike his joking tone, nervousness was obvious on Han Kyungyeong’s face.

“But why are you the one getting nervous?”

“You’re not nervous? This is the first day you’re revealing yourself to the public.”

“All the people who matter already know me anyway.”

“Hey. Is that the same thing?”

“Nothing’s going to change. I’m still me. So stop being nervous.”

“Hah. Cold-blooded bastard with no blood or tears.”

He spoke like that, but seeing his tension ease made me smile unconsciously.

* * *

While Kim Muhyuk and Han Kyungyeong waited in the lounge, attendees of the inauguration ceremony gradually began arriving one after another.

The lobby of Myeongdong Hotel had even set up an official photo line specifically for the event.

Ambassadors from various countries, along with chairmen of major conglomerates, all attended the ceremony.

Faced with a lineup so extravagant it rivaled a presidential inauguration, the reporters were busy snapping photos nonstop.

“This feels even flashier than a presidential inauguration. Is Dreamhigh’s status really this insane?”

“Come on, it’s not that extreme.”

“What are you talking about? Do ambassadors from every country gather together that often? And all these chaebol chairmen in one place too.”

“For just a Korean branch manager inauguration?”

“The influence of Dreamhigh’s Korean branch is too big to call it ‘just.’”

“Still...”

Conversations like that continued among the reporters.

At that moment, a man entered the lobby.

“Medvedev?”

The reporters who recognized him widened their eyes.

Medvedev had entered Korea yesterday to visit the Blue House carrying a personal letter from the Russian president.

Yet despite visiting Korea for official business, his very first public appearance was attendance at this inauguration ceremony.

“Why is Medvedev here?”

“This isn’t even a state event, so why...”

Smiling calmly, Medvedev stepped onto the photo line.

“Medvedev! What brought you here today?”

It had already been agreed that no questions would be asked at the photo line.

But one reporter couldn’t restrain himself and shouted a question in Russian.

Hotel staff immediately moved to remove the reporter who had broken the agreement.

“Today, I came here without any political interests whatsoever. I came simply to congratulate my dear friend.”

Medvedev’s answer caused the hotel staff to stop in place.

But that only created even more commotion.

“What? What do you mean by that?!”

“Your dear friend? Have you known the new branch manager for a long time?”

Reporters who knew Russian shouted in Russian, while others yelled questions in Korean and English.

But Medvedev answered nothing further and simply boarded the elevator.

After he disappeared, silence fell over the lobby.

“Bo Xilai?”

Before the shock could even settle, Bo Xilai entered the hotel lobby.

“Bo Xilai’s attending too?”

News that the likely future chairman had entered Korea had only broken a few hours ago.

Yet his very first move was attendance at the inauguration ceremony.

Like Medvedev, Bo Xilai stepped in front of the photo line.

Now that the reins had completely snapped, the reporters bombarded him with questions too.

“Secretary Bo Xilai. Why are you attending this inauguration ceremony? Did you visit Korea specifically for this event?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

People immediately erupted into murmurs.

“What relationship do you have with the new branch manager?”

“Good friend!”

The moment Bo Xilai called him a “good friend,” those familiar with Chinese culture were visibly shocked.

“Well then, the inauguration ceremony will begin shortly, so I’ll head inside.”

Though reporters continued firing questions, Bo Xilai also simply boarded the elevator without answering further.

* * *

“I’ll go in first. Come when they call you later.”

Han Kyungyeong exited the waiting room first and entered the banquet hall.

I closed my eyes while waiting and organized my thoughts.

“Boss. It’s time for you to go in now.”

I opened my eyes at Manager Ma’s call.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

I entered the banquet hall through a small side door.

The moment I appeared, every attendee stood up and applauded.

As I climbed the stairs toward the podium, the reporters gathered in the very back continuously snapped photos.

When I finally stood before the podium, the long applause gradually faded.

I spoke into the microphone in front of me.

“Hello. I am Kim Muhyuk, the newly appointed branch manager.”

On the giant screen behind me, a profile containing my background appeared.

“Today, it is a tremendous honor to stand before all of you as the new branch manager of Dreamhigh Korea. First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Representative Han Kyungyeong and everyone else who gave me boundless trust and this incredible opportunity.”

I briefly paused and looked around.

“True to its reputation as a legend of Wall Street, Dreamhigh has built its name through innovative investments and remarkable achievements all across the world.”

People focused entirely on my voice. The massive hall felt silent.

“Our Dreamhigh Korea branch seeks to grow together with all of you based on a deep understanding of and affection for the Korean market. Korea plays an important role in the global economy, and Dreamhigh will grow alongside Korea’s innovative companies while achieving mutual success together.”

As I spoke, images of companies Dreamhigh had invested in appeared one after another.

“The area I will prioritize most as branch manager is cooperation and innovation. Through close cooperation with local companies, we will pursue mutual growth and create new value together. Furthermore, through innovation, we will discover new investment opportunities and strengthen our position within the Korean market even further.”

The red recording light on the nearest camera blinked nonstop. This entire scene was probably being captured exactly as it was.

With a warm, trustworthy smile, I continued speaking.

“I want to write a new chapter in Dreamhigh’s history together with all of you here in Korea. To achieve that, I will listen carefully to your opinions and support each of you so you can fully demonstrate your talent and passion. If we all cooperate together, then without question, we will achieve tremendous success within the Republic of Korea’s market.”

Turning my head slightly toward Han Kyungyeong, I concluded:

“Lastly, I would once again like to express my deepest gratitude to Representative Han Kyungyeong and every member of Dreamhigh, and I promise that together we will move toward a new future hand in hand. Thank you.”

My inaugural speech came to an end.

At the same time, thunderous applause engulfed the entire banquet hall.