The Second Coming of Gluttony - Chapter 189

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 189. Intrusion (1)

Having gathered her thoughts, Kim Hanna promptly withdrew a paper envelope from her handbag.
“Fine. Do it your way. I’ll just help you out.”
Of course, she didn’t forget to ask what was on her mind.
“I understand the Employment Contract and the Negative Balance Account, but why did you ask for the Company Cafeteria Menu?”
“I thought it might be useful.”
Seol Jihoo, having made quick work of an entire chicken, took the envelope as he spoke.
“My family has the most thorough personality of us all. He’s already suspicious, and he’ll definitely ask about every little detail. I’m certain of it.”
“Is that so?”
Kim Hanna, who had been listening quietly, suggested another method, citing one of the tools the company frequently employed.
After hearing the explanation, Seol Jihoo smacked his lips.
“I don’t know. Do we really need to go that far?”
“But you just said he’s incredibly meticulous.”
“Well, yes, but—”
“People like that don’t believe based on documents alone. You need to mix in the right circumstances too. We have people at my company who specialize in this sort of thing, so trust me on it.”
Seol Jihoo was reluctant at first, but as Kim Hanna pressed forward with such confidence, he relented with a nod.
“All right. Why not give it a shot? I’m counting on you.”
“Okay. I’ll call you once it’s ready. Just rest up.”
Kim Hanna brushed off her skirt and stood from her seat.
Seol Jihoo looked up at her languidly.
“You’re leaving already?”
“I have to. Do you have any idea how busy I’ve been lately?”
“Is something going on?”
“More than you know.”
Kim Hanna smiled sweetly.
“You didn’t even know the Intermediate Branch opened in September?”
“An Intermediate Branch?”
It only then dawned on him that she was referring to the Neutral Zone, and he grimaced at the oversight.
Quickly checking the date, he realized they’d already sailed well past September—it was mid-October now.
“Has it really been that long? How many people came in this time?”
“Don’t even ask. It was absolutely packed. The recruitment competition was fierce too. Though I suppose that was expected, given how much our active personnel has dwindled over the past six months.”
Kim Hanna picked up her handbag and licked her lower lip.
“If September was like this, I can’t even imagine what March next year will be like.”
“Next March?”
“Ah, well, in truth, the recruitment team had relatively little time to properly gather people in September. The war broke out without warning, after all.”
Kim Hanna continued, “So.”
“We assembled whoever we could, but we didn’t manage to fill all the required positions. Since it was done in a rush, the quality isn’t great either. But there’s still plenty of time until next March, isn’t there?”
In other words, they’d have time not only to recruit new personnel but also to increase the chances of winning the lottery.
“Anyway, whoever oversees the Intermediate Branch in March next year is really going to strike it rich. Just thinking about it makes me envious.”
‘Strike it rich?’
Seol Jihoo tilted his head quizzically.
“I’m not sure I follow. I remember hearing that Merit Points are needed to activate an Intermediate Branch, but is there really something to envy about overseeing it?”
“My goodness, look at you.”
Kim Hanna wore an expression of sheer disbelief.
“Of course there is! Why would a group bother opening it with the Merit Points they’ve earned if there’s no profit in it?”
“So there are some crumbs falling off the table?”
“Crumbs? It’s not crumbs—it’s a whole block of cake. That’s why everyone is scrambling to lobby and recruit for it. Plus, the more people who enter, the exponentially higher the Merit Points collection rate becomes.”
As Kim Hanna listed the advantages one by one, interest kindled in Seol Jihoo’s expression.
“How does one go about securing an Intermediate Branch?”
“There are certain criteria to meet, but ultimately it’s decided through a Temple Auction. Why, are you getting interested?”
As Seol Jihoo nodded in earnest affirmation, Kim Hanna let out a short laugh.
“Well, the person who’s going to oversee the Intermediate Branch in March next year is already as good as decided. Assuming, of course, that person is willing.”
“Oh really? Who?”
At that, Kim Hanna suddenly fixed him with a steady gaze.
“Who do you think?”
Then she winked with her left eye and told him to think hard about it before turning to leave.
“I’m going. You don’t need to see me out.”
The front door swung shut with a click. In the same instant, Seol Jihoo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, brushing away the crumbs clinging to his lips.
‘She’s starting to sound like Gulla.’
If you’re going to say something, say it clearly.
He grumbled softly to himself, then turned his attention to the paper envelope Kim Hanna had left behind.
True to form, she’d handled the task thoroughly—all the materials he’d requested were inside.
Seol Jihoo settled against the wall and examined his employee ID with the unfamiliar photograph, turning it over in his hands with a strange sense of detachment.
Then he pulled out the cafeteria menu and began committing it to memory.

He’d expected it to take days, but Kim Hanna called him back less than a day later.
Seol Jihoo invested another day in finishing his preparations flawlessly before making the call himself.
After a long phone conversation, he finally managed to set up a meeting.
The location was near the Subway Station.
Kim Hanna had recommended a coffee shop with a clear view of the Shin Young headquarters.
Ding!
Arriving twenty minutes early, Seol Jihoo pushed through the glass door and glanced around the shop.
The location naturally drew crowds, but since lunch hour had passed, there were a few empty tables.
‘She’s not here yet.’
Employee ID hanging from his neck, slightly rumpled formal wear hanging off his frame.
Setting a black bag on the table, Seol Jihoo looked every inch the fresh-faced salaryman—to anyone’s eye, unmistakably so.
How much time had passed?
Ding!
He’d ordered two americanos and was waiting idly when the bell above the door chimed in his ears.
The moment he saw the tall man in a white sweater and glasses striding in with stiff, purposeful steps, he rose from his chair.
“Brother.”
Raising his hand to catch his attention, Seol Jihoo saw Seol Woo-seok pause mid-step.
Then he walked straight toward where Seol Jihoo stood.
“You.”
He gave the formal suit a once-over, top to bottom, then abruptly frowned.
“What is that supposed to be?”
When Seol Jihoo made a confused expression, Seol Woo-seok sighed heavily.
“Even living alone, you could at least press your clothes before wearing them. People will talk if a new employee shows up looking like that.”
“I’ve just… been too busy lately.”
Seol Jihoo managed an awkward smile.
Seol Woo-seok snorted and pushed the coffee in front of him to the side before sitting down.
The moment Seol Jihoo sat down across from him, Seol Woo-seok got to the point.
“I heard the rough version yesterday, but… is it true? You really got hired at Shin Young?”
Without hesitation, Seol Jihoo withdrew his employment contract.
Seol Woo-seok examined the documents carefully, nodding absently as he murmured to himself.
“Well… you did graduate from Seoul University, and your grades aren’t bad…”
Then he suddenly threw out a question.
“Did you eat?”
“Already did. At the company cafeteria.”
“What did you have?”
“Samgyetang.”
Having memorized the menu thoroughly, Seol Jihoo answered without hesitation.
As he watched a sharp gleam flicker across Seol Woo-seok’s eyes, he laughed bitterly to himself.
‘Saw that coming.’
Seol Woo-seok was, to put it mildly, the male version of Agnes.
He was not someone to be taken lightly.
By now, he would surely be running multiple pieces of information together in his mind, trying to determine what was true and what wasn’t.
But there was no one to blame but himself.
Losing Seol Woo-seok’s trust was entirely Seol Jihoo’s doing.
Seol Woo-seok stared hard at Seol Jihoo’s employee ID, then set the employment contract down.
“By the way, you mentioned you’d opened a negative balance account?”
“Yeah. Here.”
Seol Jihoo produced not only the negative balance account but also his salary account.
Seol Woo-seok took considerable time examining both carefully this time as well.
He even pulled out a calculator and tapped at it thoughtfully.
After several minutes had passed, Seol Woo-seok pushed his glasses up and looked up from the documents.
“You’ve paid back quite a bit, haven’t you?”
“I put every won I earned straight into savings. Nothing but bare essentials got through.”
“The salary’s better than I expected. Didn’t you just start this year?”
“Shin Young’s always been known for good employee benefits. Plus I took every shift premium I could get—night work bonuses, holiday pay, everything. They even told me to ease up on the overtime.”
Seol Jihoo said this while
clasping his hands together.
“That money—it’s not from gambling. It’s honest earnings from real work.”
He wasn’t entirely blameless, but on the matter of how the money was earned, he could stand tall.
“Hmm….”
Seol Woo-seok closed his eyes, collecting his thoughts without offering commentary.
That’s when it happened.
A person at a nearby table who’d been watching the two brothers with interest quietly stood and slipped out of the coffee shop.
Moments later, the door opened and a woman walked in.
She wore a pristine white long-sleeved sleeveless dress that showed off a delicate waist, draped with an ash-gray dust coat, her feet in stiletto heels. The slim figure drew eyes as she glided forward, waving her hand playfully at Seol Jihoo.
‘Who is this?’
The thought passed quickly—Seol Jihoo soon recognized her as the reinforcement Kim Hanna had mentioned.
In that same instant, his gaze was utterly captured without his permission.
She was genuinely beautiful.
Skin like freshly fallen snow and sleek jet-black hair brushed neatly down her back.
The tall, willowy frame and evident care taken with her figure were striking enough to embody feminine beauty itself.
Most of all, the whole of her radiated an atmosphere as cool and serene as an autumn sky….
In any case, she was exactly the sort of woman Seol Jihoo would find attractive.
Only when the woman lowered her hand did Seol Jihoo feel a twinge of curiosity.
He’d expected a middle-aged team leader, but she looked far younger than anticipated.
‘Now that I think about it, there’s something familiar about her… something like Yoon Seora.’
“Jihoo?”
The woman called out with a bright face, approaching with crisp footsteps.
Seol Woo-seok opened his eyes and turned around.
“You were here…?”
The woman’s eyes widened at meeting Seol Woo-seok’s gaze, and she stopped walking.
“Oh. Were you in the middle of something?”
“Yes, we were.”
“This must be….”
Not entirely sure what was happening, Seol Jihoo decided to play along and quickly got to his feet.
Seol Woo-seok, glancing between them, also stood.
“Hello. I’m Jihoo’s older brother.”
Offering a courteous greeting in a deep, measured voice, the woman let out an exclamation.
“Ah! Ah—that’s it. I’m—wait.”
As the woman opened the small handbag at her side, Seol Woo-seok smoothly drew a business card from his wallet.
After exchanging cards, the two showed remarkably similar reactions.
Only the intensity differed.
While Seol Woo-seok’s eyes went wide as saucers, the woman’s smile merely dimmed slightly.
“You work at Haesol Research Institute?”
Seol Woo-seok was visibly taken aback, though he quickly recovered his composure.
The woman slipped the card carefully into her handbag and smiled faintly.
“You might know me, in that case.”
“I’ve heard the name, somewhat.”
“Same here. Goodness, to think Seol Jihoo was your younger brother all along.”
Watching his older brother and the woman converse as if they’d long been acquainted, Seol Jihoo felt intrigued.
“I always wondered who Jihoo took after, with how well he works. Now I see.”
“You’re too kind. I’m just grateful you think well of my less capable younger brother.”
“Less capable? Don’t say such things.”
The woman raised her voice, but not excessively.
“I consider Seol Jihoo joining Shin Young to be the greatest achievement of this year.”
It was high praise.
Given who she was, Seol Woo-seok showed his genuine surprise.
The woman took a subtle step forward and gently took hold of Seol Jihoo’s arm, her face beaming.
“This project was truly a home run. You were the primary architect of that massive contract, weren’t you?”
“Really?”

“Yes. He nearly fell flat on his face several times, but he kept running back and forth, determined to make something work. When I heard he’d actually pulled off the bid, I was absolutely stunned.”
Seol Woo-seok cast him a fresh look of surprise.
Seol Jihoo smiled bitterly to himself.
In truth, if you replaced a massive project with war and a successful contract or bid with capturing a general, it wasn’t wrong at all.
“He’s our company’s treasure. A real treasure.”
The woman burst into laughter, then crossed her arms and tilted her head.
“But Jihoo, lunch hour’s over—you’re not shirking here, are you?”
“Oh.”
Seol Jihoo floundered, and the woman laughed again.
“Just joking, joking! You’ve had quite the ordeal—you deserve to rest. Feel free to chat comfortably.”
“No, I’ll return to work shortly.”
“Really, it’s fine. I’m heading to the sauna anyway. When else would you take a break?”
Then she suddenly broached something new.
“Say, would you like to grab dinner with me after work? I know a place that makes excellent sushi.”
“What?”
“That’s a joke too. I had samgae-tang for lunch and it was so good I ate two bowls—I’m still too full.”
The woman chuckled and turned to Seol Woo-seok, apologizing because she found his brother’s reactions so amusing she kept wanting to tease him.
Seol Woo-seok laughed it off smoothly, but his expression still clearly showed disbelief.
Though a flicker of something crossed his eyes when he heard about the samgae-tang.
“Ah, I think I’ve bothered you enough.”
The woman chirped happily and gave Seol Jihoo a light pat on the shoulder.
“You can head home early today if you’d like. I’ll tell Team Leader Kim myself.”
“No—”
“No, really. Go spend the evening with family, enjoy some time together. All you do is work late. How can anyone live like that?”
The woman offered a warm smile, gave Seol Woo-seok a light bow, and then left the coffee shop with an easy gait.
The moment the bell chimed, Seol Woo-seok released the breath he’d been holding.
“Phew…”
He rubbed his forehead and sank heavily into his chair.
Then, watching Seol Jihoo still standing and staring toward the door, he opened his mouth.
“What on earth is going on with you?”

(To be continued in the next chapter)

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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