PAHO 61

“This is the break room. As you can see, our center is quite a bit better than other logistics warehouses like the ones in Buk-dong or Seo-dong, so the workers are very satisfied. The water rates in the basement are quite expensive, but we’re providing bottled water for free.”

The smiling work supervisor cocked a scowling eye at Nam Gyeonhwa, whom he’d made eye contact with through the crack of the break room door. Just from the silent glance telling him not to come out of the break room, it was clear that the person with him was someone of considerable importance and influence. There was no need to think twice. Nam Gyeonhwa ignored Lee Seokjin, who was trying to viciously grab him from behind, and threw the break room door wide open.

“Hey, hey!”

The noise made by Nam Gyeonhwa, who had burst out of the door at the same time as Lee Seokjin, who was flustered by his failed grab, drew the attention of the people passing by. Simultaneously, four well-built men stepped in front to block the way, as if considering a sudden attack. Despite their efforts to protect their superior from the commotion, the person of high standing was looking at Nam Gyeonhwa. He had a refreshing impression that matched his tall stature. A man with a picturesque appearance, as if meticulously crafted from early in the morning. His smooth gaze fell on Nam Gyeonhwa’s eyes and the bridge of his nose, which met his at a similar height. He turned his head to the work supervisor standing beside him.

“A moment ago, didn’t you say this was the break room?”

“Pardon? Yes, that’s correct, Mr. Director. They’re… workers, who were resting inside. I suppose they came out wondering who was here.”

The work supervisor, his face troubled, gestured with his eyes at Lee Seokjin. Before the signal to quickly take him back inside could even be conveyed, the Director’s question followed.

“I know there’s a fighting ring here, but he isn’t a contestant from there, is he?”

“Pardon?”

“That man. He’s bleeding from his nose.”

At the timely mention of a nosebleed, the work supervisor’s face turned pale as he belatedly checked Nam Gyeonhwa carefully. The dripping blood had spread halfway to the side, revealing a vivid red color.

Carefully pushing aside the bodyguard standing in front of him, he slowly walked toward Nam Gyeonhwa. Nam Gyeonhwa stood still, watching the approaching Director with calm, yet indifferent eyes. Finally, he stopped a few steps away and looked intently at Nam Gyeonhwa. The nosebleed on his white face and even his cheek, swollen and pink. He clicked his tongue at the traces of assault, too obvious to be passed over lightly.

“Were you hit?”

“…”

Nam Gyeonhwa simply stared straight at him in silence. The silence, in place of an outcry, implied an uncomfortable affirmation. As if mesmerized by the heavy and quiet gaze, the man met his eyes for a moment before turning his gaze to Lee Seokjin, who was fidgeting behind him.

“This man’s nose and cheek, is that your doing?”

“It’s a, a misunderstanding, Mr. Director. Nothing happened.”

“Then why is his nose bleeding? Because the working conditions aren’t very good?”

At the pointed remark, which had twisted in another direction, the work supervisor swallowed dryly. Nam Gyeonhwa, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

“I can’t say if they’re bad since I haven’t been to other places, but it would be a misstatement to say they’re good.”

At the blatant accusation, the work supervisor glared as if he wanted to shout at him. Nam Gyeonhwa continued speaking without batting an eye.

“I can buy my own water if you don’t give me a single drop, but sexual harassment and assault… aren’t those negative factors in a working environment?”

The Director, who had been listening intently, drew in a breath. At that small movement, everyone tensed up at once. No matter that this was a worksite built in Nakdo, outside the reach of the law, being caught in the act by an executive who had come for a direct inspection was a different story. It was an incident in progress, unfolding in the presence of a director who was rumored to be strict with internal regulations regardless of the situation. It was the work supervisor who, in a situation that would not be an exaggeration to say would be directly reflected in his performance review, acted with quick-wittedness.

“I, I apologize for showing you such an unpleasant situation so early in the morning, Mr. Director. I will rectify it immediately, so you don’t need to worry.”

“This isn’t an incident that happened in my absence. Since I’ve witnessed it myself, I’ll rectify it.”

“M-Mr. Director…”

He didn’t pretend to hear the work supervisor’s pleading voice, his face clouded and ashen. At the Director’s nod of his chin, two of the bodyguards standing in front grabbed Lee Seokjin by both arms.

“N-No, Mr. Director. Th-this is a m-misunderstanding! It’s not fair to do this after hearing only one side of the story!”

He remained motionless even at the desperate plea. It wasn’t an attitude of pretending not to hear, but of treating him as completely invisible. The sound of Lee Seokjin’s voice, screaming that it was unfair, faded into the distance. He glanced back at the work supervisor, who was trembling like a sinner on death row with his shoulders hunched.

“Still, since the supervisory authority strictly lies with you, Manager Kim, I’ll leave it to you to write the incident report yourself.”

“Yes, yes! Thank you, truly.”

The work supervisor, who bowed obsequiously as if even that was a great honor, scurried away from the spot. After confirming out of the corner of his eye that an executive assistant was following him for reference, he stepped a little closer to Nam Gyeonhwa.

“You there, what’s your name?”

“…”

“Hmm, do you perhaps have any language or hearing difficulties? Should I call a sign language specialist?”

“No.”

At the direction of his kindness, which was so excessive it was distorted, Nam Gyeonhwa immediately refused. The man, who had been examining the dark red bloodstain starting to dry under his nose, took a handkerchief from his pocket and held it out.

“It doesn’t look like you need to stop the bleeding, but you’ll need something to wipe it with.”

Nam Gyeonhwa silently looked down at the navy blue handkerchief in the man’s hand. The silk material looked expensive even at a glance.

“I can wipe it with a tissue.”

“I won’t ask for compensation just because it gets some blood on it, so you don’t have to worry.”

“No, I think a tissue will wipe it off better than silk. Purpose is important, isn’t it?”

At the unexpected point, the Director’s eyes widened, and he soon burst into laughter. When the Director nodded his head, the executive assistant waiting behind him held out a palm-sized pack of travel tissues. At the kind gesture, Nam Gyeonhwa accepted the tissues without a word and, in front of him, gently pressed and wiped his face.

“Now, will you tell me your name?”

Nam Gyeonhwa, who had carelessly wiped the blood from his hand, let out the words like a sigh.

“There’s no need to exchange names. I know who you are, Mr. Director.”

Won Hyeonseong. The crown prince of the Samwon Republic, a man impossible not to know if you lived in Korea and had seen a television or a newspaper even once.

“And it’s also highly likely that you know me, Mr. Director.”

“That I know you?”

“Even if you don’t, your assistants will probably tell you. Because I’m on the Samwon Group’s internal investigation list.”

At the rather shocking confession, Won Hyeonseong’s eyes shook greatly. An executive assistant hurriedly fiddled with a mobile phone, then soon whispered into Won Hyeonseong’s ear. It seemed he was reporting the search results. Nam Gyeonhwa, who had put the used tissues in his pocket, gave a slight nod of his head.

“Thank you for the tissues.”

With a calm word of thanks, Nam Gyeonhwa nonchalantly tried to turn away, as if he had no more interest in the conversation. Won Hyeonseong reached out his hand readily and grabbed Nam Gyeonhwa’s wrist. As if it were an impulsive action, he quickly let go of the hand he had grabbed and continued speaking.

“The fact that you’re on the internal investigation list… are you perhaps referring to the confidential information leak that happened in July?”

“I haven’t seen the reason for the internal investigation myself, so it’s difficult to give a definitive answer, but that’s probably it.”

He looked at Nam Gyeonhwa, who had answered concisely, and let out a long breath.

“If that’s the case, then I want to talk with you even more. I won’t detain or arrest you, so please spare me a moment.”

The car was parked behind the logistics center.

The logo on the front of the hood, suggesting a domestically produced brand, and the extremely simple and intuitive body and paint job, indicated a mid-range car. For the business vehicle of a hereditary chaebol, who was generally thought to only ride in foreign cars or luxury limousines, it was an excessively modest appearance.

The bodyguards lined up on both sides of the car door bowed their heads at Won Hyeonseong’s appearance. They looked like subjects bowing before a king’s procession. When the bodyguard at the end of the line opened the car door, Won Hyeonseong declined to get in and gestured to Nam Gyeonhwa, who had followed him.

“You first.”

Looking at the face with a gentle smile, Nam Gyeonhwa got into the car without a word, and only then did Won Hyeonseong take the seat next to him.

“Come to think of it, it’s time for breakfast. Shall we talk over something to eat?”

“Weren’t you just planning to talk briefly?”

“Yes, we’re going to talk briefly, which is why I’m suggesting breakfast. If it were a long conversation, I would have asked you to my office, not treated you to a meal.”

At the gentle suggestion, Nam Gyeonhwa first checked the blinking clock on the car’s dashboard. It was just past 8 a.m. Normally, this would be around the time he’d have slept for a bit and started getting ready to go to Wuiyeonggwan, but seeing as things were, it seemed that getting to work on time was out of the question.

“Do you have somewhere urgent to be?”

“…I suppose you could call it urgent. I have to be at work around ten.”

“You mean at that center from before?”

“No, that’s a side job.”

Won Hyeonseong blinked his eyes.

“A side job. So you work another job during the day after that? That must be quite tough.”

“You say that, Mr. Director, but you also came out for an inspection early in the morning. Since the night shift ended at five, you must have been on-site since at least five o’clock.”

At those words, Won Hyeonseong simply smiled brightly instead of retorting. It wasn’t a smile of embarrassment or discomfort, but rather one that seemed to hide an interest he had failed to conceal.

“So, you agree to breakfast, right?”

Unlike his gentle tone, there was a subtle air about him of someone who had never been refused, who was certain there would be no refusal. Nam Gyeonhwa did not answer. Whether he agreed or not, now that he was in this car, the destination was set for Won Hyeonseong’s convenience anyway. As if his silent attitude had piqued his curiosity, he leaned his body slightly forward and quietly watched Nam Gyeonhwa, who was only looking straight ahead. His gaze was so intense it felt like his cheek was stinging.