Possessed an Academy Security Guard

45 – 045. Negotiation

The parlor where Sung Eugene took Chaeryeong Min was a half-exclusive living room that he used whenever he greeted guests visiting the foundation.

The luxuriously decorated living room reminded me of an antique European castle. The furniture and props used in the interior were all top-of-the-line products costing hundreds of millions of dollars, and boasted an outstanding aesthetic that made even those who did not recognize its value feel intimidated.

However, none of the guests who have visited this drawing room have been distracted by such an interior. No matter how good the quality of the furniture or props are, they will not attract more attention than the man in front of them.

Sung Eugene. An S-class superman and a certified first-class hunter with less than 20 people in Korea. A man who is an executive of an S-level guild, a director of the Yeoil Scholarship Foundation, and an outside director of the Yeoil Group, its parent company.

Anyone who came to this drawing room to meet him was intimidated by his presence. He was desperately busy chasing his notice, paying attention to even the smallest words and actions. In this country of Korea, there are many people who can be alone with Seong Yu-jin and be able to relax.

“Since there is no time, let’s get straight to the point, right?”

And Min Chae-ryeong was a woman who could be held in those two hands.

“It’s been a while since we met, isn’t it too cold-hearted? I thought our relationship was a close senior-junior relationship.”

“Even among seniors and juniors, there are certain kinds of business ethics that must be followed. And your spare time broke that moral.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t pretend. Do you think I don’t know the purpose of your supervisor’s approach to Kang Ha-neul? Are you planning to use it as a sample for research on multi-powered people?”

“Kuhm.”

At those words, Seong Yu-jin coughed in relief. His sharp gaze pierced Min Chaeryeong’s forehead.

“Please stop making groundless slander. Multi-ability research is a research prohibited by law in the country. Do you think we would do such an illegal act?”

“Uh. You’re doing it. Superhuman Rehabilitation Research Center under Yeoil Group in Yongin. On the surface, it’s a rehabilitation treatment study related to superpowers, but in fact, it’s a research institute that studies multiple abilities, right? Is not it?”

At that confident question, Seong Yu-jin took a deep breath. However, he soon regained his composure and shook his head.

“…… Let me say it again. Stop making groundless slander-“

“What’s wrong with people you know? It’s illegal in name anyway, and you’re researching everything in secret, whether it’s the Green House or Yeil.”

“This is true.”

Sung Yu-jin’s mouth soon caught a laugh as if it was ridiculous. It was absurd to see a person with the name of an academy guard revealing the secrets of the centipede academy without adding or subtracting.

‘Yes, Chaeryeong-senpai was originally that kind of person.’

Seong Yu-jin recalled her academy days with Min Chae-ryeong. She said that from that time she was a woman who couldn’t get hold of the primeval species. A deep smile appeared on Seong Yu-jin’s lips as she recalled the nostalgic past.

“You really can’t be beaten by seniors. Even so, isn’t that the National Academy? But can I admit it openly?”

“What can’t you do? It wasn’t something that was said in an official setting, and how much public confidence the words of a guard team leader must have.”

“One guard team leader… ….”

When she introduces Min Chae-ryeong, can she say anything that deceives the listener as much as those words? Although it is true that her only official position is her guard team leader, no one who knows her well thinks of her as her ‘one guard team leader’.

“It’s just a guard team leader… …. Then, why is ‘a mere guard team leader’ getting involved in our scholarship foundation?”

“They said they were going to drag our students into illegal activities, of course we should get involved. Is not it?”

“Isn’t that your senpai’s delusion? Our supervisor, who approached Kang Ha-neul, only wanted to help student Kang’s studies with really pure intentions.”

“You want me to believe that now?”

“What if I don’t believe it? Are you going to make a statement about scouting Green House students for illegal multi-ability research?”

Sung Yu-jin knew that was absolutely impossible.

Min Chaeryeong’s strength comes not from herself, but from her various personal connections. And such connections were not only in the Green House, but also here in Yeoil. Because of this, she can’t openly lose Yeo-il and Chuck.

At best, the only thing she could do was to come alone and negotiate directly with her officials, as she does now.

“And you have to be precise. It’s ‘our student’. When Kang Ha-neul drops out of Green House, isn’t she a student there anymore?”

“That’s something you never know. A person’s heart can change as much as he likes, right?”

“Okay. After hearing the story, it seems that student Kang Ha-neul dropped out of school at the Green House.”

“You really have to be honest. Kang Ha-neul did not study Green House, but he has a dislike for the hunter industry and the superhuman society as a whole. So, even though Yeo-il tried to scout her by offering her best terms, she was rejected?”

“That’s what we have to do ourselves-“

Seong Yu-jin leaned her body forward deeply. He clasped her fingers together and cupped her forehead with both hands. The flowing bangs cast dark shadows over his eyes.

“As I said before, we are just trying to scout Kang Ha-neul without any ill intentions. Therefore, this is not a matter for a senior, the head of the guard team, to step forward. Do you understand?”

“You are right. But if-“

Min Chae-ryeong also bent her body to Seong Yu-jin’s eye level. With a table between them, the faces of the two faced each other closely.

“If Kang Ha-neul did not listen to your request, what if you took a tough line? For example, forcibly kidnapping Kang Ha-neul, who has no intention of cooperating with Yeo-il’s research…….”

“I will never do anything illegal like that.”

“There are thousands of people working under Yeoil. Can you guarantee the actions of all of them? For example, wouldn’t a researcher with high motivations for research want to kidnap Kang Ha-neul and use it as a research material?”

“The leap of logic is a bit harsh.”

Even though he said that, Seong Yu-jin couldn’t strongly refute Min Chae-ryeong’s words. In fact, there were similar opinions from the research institute.

In multi-ability research, Kang Ha-neul is a valuable sample that cannot be missed.

If you can’t secure it in a moderate way, you might have to take a somewhat radical method. It was an opinion that was immediately frustrated, saying it was an excessive idea, but it was not known what would happen if Kang Ha-neul continued to reject scouts from this side.

Most of Yeo-il’s executives involved in this incident were ordinary citizens with universal morality, not villains like the dawning party, but in the end, their essence was profit-seeking entrepreneurs.

If it’s for the attractive fruit of multiple abilities, I’ll be able to commit a few transgressions. While lightly putting aside his own universal sense of morality.

“I hope it’s a leap of logic too. But if, really, if Yeo-il took a hard line against Kang Ha-neul-“

“What if I take it out?”

“At that time, I will go out on my own without any hesitation. As a team leader of a guard unit.”

Min Chaeryeong cannot do anything harmful on her free days. However, it is different if a cause is given. She said that if Yeo-il crossed the line first, she would cross the line herself as well. It was a declaration with such meaning.

“…… You pay so much attention to just one student.”

She couldn’t help but question Seong Yu-jin. Isn’t it strange that she would pretend to be in a relationship with Yeo-il just for the safety of one student?

Of course, as the head of her security team, it is true that she should be concerned about the safety of her students, but I did not think that Min Chae-ryeong would value her own external business card more than her hard-earned connections.

‘What kind of merit does student Kang Ha-neul have? ….’

At first, I wondered if she wanted to raise her well and later use her as a subordinate, but the reason was still insufficient. Does it make sense that she gave up her connection with Yeo-il in order to get only one competent subordinate?

‘Wait, come to think of it, it must have been a while ago… ….’

A possibility crossed his mind at that moment.

‘What’s wrong with people you know? It’s illegal in name anyway, and they’re doing research on the Green House and Yeil in secret.’

A little while ago, Min Chaeryeong spat out such words with an attitude as if she knew everything. She said that Green House and Yeo-il were already conducting research on people with multiple powers who were secretly illegal.

What if that didn’t just mean an end to the obvious lies, but a hint of her purpose for being here?

“…… No way.”

Sung Yu-jin asked with a somewhat tired expression. It had to be.

“Are you trying to use Kang Ha-neul for multi-ability research in the Green House? Is that why you were trying to drop out or stop being scouted?”

“Well? I’m just a security team leader, so I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes.”

Chaeryeong Min shrugged her shoulders with a smirk. However, Seong Yu-jin was not naive enough to believe those words straight away.

Behind Chae-ryeong Min, the Green House, and the government of the country to which the Green House belongs, will stand.

Thinking that, she naturally broke into a cold sweat. No matter how much he was said to be a superman, he was not the type to show off his courage against the government of a country.

“Is that so?”

However, he was in this position as an outside director of Yeoil Group, not Seong Yu-jin.

“I understand what you said. I don’t think that will ever happen, but if someone on our side tries to approach Kang Ha-neul in an illegal way, I will stop it. But-“

And if it was a spare day standing shoulder to shoulder with the Hansung Group, I was able to pamper myself enough against the government of a country.

“As long as we are trying to scout Kang Ha-neul only in a legal way, I ask you, the senior member of the security team, to get out of this.”

“Oops.”

At Seong Yujin’s words, the smile disappeared from Min Chaeryeong’s lips.

“Still, I thought it was easy to understand. Did you become a little more arrogant while I didn’t see you?”

“It’s just that I have the attitude that suits the position. Do you still see me as the academy junior who was embarrassed by the seniors?”

As soon as those words were finished, Sung Yu-jin’s thick blood flowed.

-Kudeudeuk.

Intangible energy squeezed Min Chae-ryeong’s body from all sides of her. Seong Yu-jin himself was not aware of it, but he was now physically exerting pressure on Min Chae-ryeong by emitting the magic within his body. If you were an S-class superhuman, you could use it even if you didn’t know the concept of magical power.

-Less. Less so

The furniture around Seong Yu-jin and Min Chae-ryeong began to shake. The energy he radiated was truly powerful. A normal person would pass out at once, and even a fairly average superman could not get his pulse out of it.

However, Min Chae-ryeong remained calm even in the middle of the pressure. Although he was an A-class superman, the gap between him and S-class Sung Yu-jin was as wide as the sky. It wasn’t common sense.

“…… Sung Eugene.”

However, Min Chaeryeong was not a woman with common sense.

Min Chae-ryeong straightened her back and looked at him as if the pressure Seong Yu-jin was radiating was nothing. The gazes of the two cross fiercely in the air.

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Looking at that face, Min Chae-ryeong suddenly remembered her academy days with him.

Seong Yu-jin, who was clumsy whenever she pretended that her current fame was a lie, and at least she remained innocent.

That is the past, and the present two have completely separated from that time. The clumsy junior became one of the strongest in the country, and the senior, who only had a healthy spirit of improvement, was developing dark power by stepping into all sorts of dirty worlds.

I thought that even after decades, it would be a strong senior-junior relationship, but how did it turn out to be this kind of relationship?

Min Chae-ryeong, who suddenly recalled the gap between the past and her present, looked at Seong Yu-jin and smiled.

“…… Did you grow up a lot? It seems like just yesterday that you followed me around.”

The moment he saw that smile, Seong Yu-jin’s expression hardened.

Her smile wasn’t the incomprehensible laugh she always had. The smile she showed him several times in the past when she was with her Sung Yu-jin, as Min Chae-ryeong, an academy senior in her youth.

The attitude of looking down from above hasn’t changed, but that gaze isn’t overbearing at all.

At her warm gaze, like that of a caring older sister looking at her younger brother, and at that smile, as if she were admiring her own growth, Seong Yu-jin had no choice but to reap the killing spree she had been spewing out.

“Huh.”

Instantly, a collapsed exclamation escaped from his mouth.

“You’ve grown so much… ….”

Though he pondered the words, he immediately smiled. Min Chaeryeong’s attitude was embarrassing.

I was very embarrassed.

But it wasn’t a bad feeling.

“No matter what position I rise to, in the end I will be the junior of my former senior, right?”

“There is no relationship as strong as academic ties in Korea. So, as a courtesy to the seniors, can you take your hand off this matter?”

“To say such an old-fashioned thing casually, Chaeryeong-sunbaenim must be very old.”

“………… What?”

Seong Yoo-jin stood up from her seat, smiling at Min Chae-ryeong, who frowned between her eyebrows. As if she had nothing more to say at this place.

“We used to be seniors and juniors, but now we are members of Yeoil and Greenhouse, respectively. Stop thinking about relying on your old feelings and compete fairly with your abilities.”

“Can you take that as your own declaration of war?”

“Think what you want. But let me make one thing clear. Yeo-il will never back down from this job.”

“…… Ok, fine.”

Min Chae-ryeong sighed and got up from her seat and headed for the door of her drawing room.

‘It turns out like this in the end.’

She expected it, but for the next few days she had no intention of backing down when it came to this. The same was true of the Green House she belonged to. Then all that was left was a crash. Whether it’s a legal conflict or an illegal conflict.

‘I ordered Ahn Su-ho, who had no duties, to stop Kang Ha-neul from dropping out, but he probably won’t succeed.’

In fact, the mission she gave to Ahn Su-ho was given lightly, with the thought that it would be good if it worked and it would be okay if it didn’t work. If I had to pick a role that was expected of him, would it be a bait to draw attention to the next day, or a use to earn time to cope with the next day’s actions?

‘Looking at the way she speaks, at least Seong Yu-jin herself doesn’t seem to have any intention of taking a radical method like kidnapping…….’

With her back turned to Seong Yu-jin, Min Chae-ryeong spat out as if to confirm it one last time.

“I told you a little while ago. The moment Duk-Ji is caught doing even the slightest bit of illegality, she will immediately arrest her with special charges and investigative powers. So take care and be careful what you do.”

“I will listen carefully to what you say.”

“It’s no use pretending to be polite now.”

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Leaving those words behind, Min Chaeryeong left the parlor without saying goodbye. She was rude in the way she treated Yeo-il’s director, but she was also like Min Chae-ryeong if he was like Min Chae-ryeong.

“Hmm.”

Seong Yu-jin, left alone with her, blankly looked at the door she had left.

Her mind was complicated, too. Originally, it was her ulterior motive to quietly get her out because Kang Ha-neul, who had been watching her for the rest of her days, would drop out of school. The confrontation with Green House, including Min Chaeryeong, was not what they wanted.

However, even if it is an unwanted confrontation, Yeo-il will never back down once it is confronted.

She’ll have to discuss a course of action with her foundation directors right away. She thought so, and his gaze suddenly turned to the teacup that Min Chae-ryeong was serving. I brewed a high-end brand of black tea after a long time, but the black tea in the cup remained cold without a single sip.

‘…… I guess you still don’t like black tea.’

Sung Yu-jin laughed lowly in the drawing room, where silence fell, saying that there was nothing different from when she was a student.