Chapter 29.
What Do You Think of .
……Bungeoppang?
Choi Jae-jun spoke in an excited voice, one sentence after another.
"What was the na again? Anyway, apparently it's all the rage on social dia right now—they say it sells out before they can even make more."
"There's a place like that?"
"Yes. I haven't seen it myself yet, but apparently several companies have already made contact, though there's been no word of a contract. They've caught the scent of money."
"Is that so."
"Actually, our Baekgyeong departnt store's food business division is planning to go visit, late as it may be, and offer them a spot. Anyway, that's exactly the kind of special item we need. Since it's co up, would you like to go check it out together?"
"Sure."
"Glad you think so. There's nothing more helpful than seeing a thriving store firsthand. I'll send you the location. We have our sect eting today—once it wraps up, around 5 o'clock? I'll see you at the Bungeoppang place."
Click.
The call ended. A mont later.
Ding-dong!
A ssage arrived. Of course.
……Pfft.
Mom called from the living room.
"Tae-yang, the red bean filling for the Bungeoppang is ready. We're almost out of gas—shouldn't you order more?"
"I'll call about it."
3 p.m.
I pulled the Bungeoppang cart and headed back to the front of Sanwang Technical High School.
Maybe because school was back in session, the street felt sohow lively.
Start of business.
Bake, sell, bake, sell.
4:35 p.m.
Ding-dong-daeng.
The end-of-day bell at Sanwang Technical High School.
A mont later, students ca pouring out.
"Bungeoppang please!"
"Get in line, you!"
The queue ford. Chaos.
Not long after—Vroooom.
A white, top-of-the-line SUV arrived.
Ring-ring-ring!
A call ca in from Choi Jae-jun right away.
I was in the middle of baking, so I wedged the phone between my cheek and shoulder to answer.
"Senior, where are you? We're here—"
"We?"
"I brought Jae-hwa along."
"Ah, yes. I'm right here."
Whirr.
The window of Choi Jae-jun's SUV rolled down.
He looked around from inside the car, searching for .
"Where? Wow, but this place is really doing great business. The line is enormous. We might not even get to eat today."
"I set so aside in advance."
"Haha, thank you. You've helped us out again. Have you tried them? How do they taste?"
"Incredibly good."
"Now that you're watching the business run—how does it feel? Getting any sense of it?"
"I'm not quite sure."
"In my opinion, the taste and the concept match up perfectly. A handso guy in his twenties selling incredibly delicious Bungeoppang…… Everyone would want to try it at least once. I think the owner has a real business sense. Oh dear, there's nowhere to park."
"You can park inside Sanwang Technical High School."
"Really? How do you know that so well?"
"I'm close with the teachers and the admin office."
"You must live nearby. But where are you? I can't see you."
"I'm right here."
"Where?"
"Right in front of you."
"……Pardon?"
Hi there.
I waved toward the white SUV.
Choi Jae-jun and Choi Jae-hwa's jaws dropped.
Thud.
An expensive phone slipped from his hand.
You ca?
Oh, it's the older brother again.
***
After finishing business, we headed to a nearby café.
Mom greeted the Choi brothers.
"It's been a while, you two. We t at the hospital last ti, didn't we?"
"Ah…… That's right, Ma'am. My apologies for the late greeting."
Having seen them a second ti, Mom's manner with the chaebol heirs was noticeably more relaxed.
A true woman of great ttle, indeed.
First, the younger one, Choi Jae-hwa, opened his mouth looking at Mom.
"Ma'am—or rather, Boss. Had I known you were running this business, I would have at least brought a flower basket."
Mom waved her hand in dismissal.
"I'm not the boss."
She placed her hand on my shoulder.
"My son is!"
Mom smiled broadly. Pride blood across her face.
"Haah……."
The Choi brothers' sighs deepened.
"Truly could not have imagined it."
"To think that Senior, who has achieved such trendous feats as an Unaffiliated Climber, would be selling Bungeoppang……."
As the brothers shook their heads in disbelief, Mom's eyes sharpened.
"Unaffiliated Climber? What's that? And Senior? Our Tae-yang should be younger than both of you—in what sense is he your senior—"
"Ah, it ans senior in the Bungeoppang trade."
I cut in hastily. The fact that I was a climber was still a secret from my family.
I gave the brothers a look, and catching on, they held their tongues.
I smiled and rose from my seat, asking the brothers.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Ah, we'll get it—"
"Today it's on ."
But the brothers insisted on getting up and following to the counter.
Swish.
I frowned and spoke to them quietly.
"The fact that I'm a climber is a secret."
"Yes. We'll be careful."
The Choi brothers looked thoroughly stunned.
They even forgot to pay, lowering their voices in admiration.
"You could have at least given us a heads-up, Senior."
"What would a whale like Baekgyeong care about a shrimp's little business? It's embarrassing—why would I bring it up?"
"Not at all! Beyond the taste, the shop's concept, the location it's claid, the attitude toward custors, their loyalty, the limited sales—not a single thing was unworthy of attention."
Choi Jae-hwa emphasized it was absolutely not so, praising earnestly.
Choi Jae-jun chid in.
"That's not all."
"What else is there?"
"Beyond the business acun, I was struck by the foresight."
"As expected of you, Senior."
……Hmm?
"The trendous achievent accomplished as an Unaffiliated Climber! A second identity to avoid the world's attention. And for that purpose—the Bungeoppang business, isn't it?"
"Ah."
"Truly remarkable. Not even Gukmubon, nor the Goryeo Sword Sect, nor anyone else would imagine that Senior is a climber."
"A perfect cover identity."
That's not it though.
I just started it to make a living.
"And thank you."
"For what."
"For telling us your true identity—that ans you now fully trust us, doesn't it?"
"……That's right."
That's not it though.
But the brothers kept nodding, giving a thumbs up.
Misunderstandings are theirs to keep.
Harmless misunderstandings need not always be corrected.
I returned to the table with the coffees.
The brothers hadn't co alone.
They'd brought along a suited man in glasses.
The man, impeccably dressed in a fine suit, seized upon a brief silence to hand his business card.
[Baekgyeong Departnt Store Food Business Division Manager, Jeong Jang-hyeon]
The manager overseeing the departnt store's food hall.
The reason the Choi brothers had brought him was precisely to negotiate a contract with my Handso Bungeoppang.
Of course, they hadn't anticipated that I would be the owner.
"Um…… Senior. Please open a location at our Baekgyeong Departnt Store's food hall."
Choi Jae-jun got to the point.
True to Chairman Choi's sons, who strike while the iron is hot—they intended to close the deal right then and there.
I turned to the Choi brothers.
"Let's set aside the departnt store talk for now and start with the chocolate."
"Ah…… Yes."
They have sothing they want, so delivering my business first is the art of negotiation.
Clack.
I placed a prepared box on the café table.
"It's chocolate. Please have a taste."
My part-tir.
It was the chocolate Min-jeong had made.
The Choi brothers each picked one up and put it in their mouths.
And then.
"Oh?!"
They looked surprised.
Choi Jae-hwa offered so to Manager Jeong.
"Please have so too, Manager."
Jeong Jang-hyeon put the chocolate in his mouth.
His head turned to the side in surprise.
He certainly shows extre deference toward the owner's family.
Right away.
"Oh! This is delicious!"
A gasp of admiration burst from Jeong Jang-hyeon.
He launched into professional terminology, trying to show off his knowledge.
"It's not inferior to sothing made by a French chocolatier. The ingredients seem quite premium. The cost of materials must be considerable. Is it French cacao mass?"
"No."
"Then what? Ah! It has a slightly Belgian feel. Like Brussels or Antwerp."
"It's from a traditional market."
"……Pardon?"
"She bought it at the market. Over there in that alley."
"T-that can't be right."
I smiled and raised my hand toward the corner of the café.
"Co here, part-tir."
Min-jeong, who had been sitting in the corner quiet as a mouse, shuffled over nervously.
"A-ah, hello……."
Min-jeong looked visibly tense in front of the chaebol heirs.
"Allow to introduce you. My chocolatier."
"This student? She looks young……."
"She's 19. Graduating this year."
Manager Jeong's eyes went wide.
"Where did you learn to make chocolate? École de Cuisine in France? If it's Belgian, Eliasson?"
Jeong Jang-hyeon rolled his r's heavily.
It seed like he was trying to show off his knowledge in front of the owner's family.
Min-jeong stuttered out an answer.
"A-ah, no."
"Then where?"
"San……."
"Sanotré? Ah, that place is famous too."
"That's not it."
"……?"
"Sanwang……Technical High School."
"Pardon?"
See that? This is my part-tir.
France, of all things.
How dare anyone underestimate my part-tir.
***
The contract was settled swiftly and smoothly.
First, Min-jeong was selected as a scholarship student for Baekgyeong Departnt Store.
A study abroad trip to Paris for several months was confird.
It was at Manager Jeong's strong insistence.
"I acknowledge that her skills are exceptional. But to command a higher price, you need credentials!"
"Is that so?"
"Of course! The credential from a prestigious chocolate school will be an asset that lasts a lifeti. Please trust on this!"
I decided to accept his advice.
When it ca to matters outside production—marketing was sothing Jeong Jang-hyeon would know better.
Min-jeong looked at with a dazed expression.
"I'm going to…… Paris? The Paris with…… the Eiffel Tower?"
"That's right. The Paris of Saint-Germain."
"The Paris of Notre-Da?"
"The Paris of Mbappé."
"I can't speak French—I can barely say a word of English."
"Baekgyeong will provide an interpreter."
"Is o-oppa coming too?"
"Why would I go? I'm busy."
There's the tower to climb, and the business expansion to prepare for.
"You don't want to? Should I cancel it?"
"No! I'll absolutely go!"
[Flabbergasted, Min-jeong rejoices at the opportunity that could change her life. 1,000 Happiness]
Next, ‘my Handso Bungeoppang’ signed a contract to open in the Baekgyeong Departnt Store food hall.
"Incorporation, brand logo, interior design, marketing—our departnt store will handle everything."
"Thank you."
Manager Jeong had clearly received a detailed briefing about from the Choi brothers; his discipline was impeccable.
Good to see.
It was evident he would give his all for my business's success going forward.
The share breakdown for Handso Bungeoppang Co., Ltd. was: 70%, Baekgyeong Departnt Store 25%, and Grandma 5%.
The Choi brothers asked .
"Who is this person, that you would give them 5% of shares?"
"There's soone. My Bungeoppang master. An absolute master."
I don't forget even the smallest grudge,
but I never forget kindness even more so.
I'm the poison demon, after all.
Of course, the chocolate would be kept separate from the Bungeoppang and incorporated as a distinct company.
Mom whispered to .
"Is it alright to just sign like this? I've heard chaebols are greedy."
"It's fine."
[The Choi brothers regard you as their lifelong benefactor.]
These two are all my subordinates anyway.
[Seeing your confident and composed manner, Mom is proud of you. 500 Happiness]
And you? How do you feel?
[Kim Tae-yang is happy. 100 Happiness]
Hehehe. From now on, give points more generously, you.
Anyway, I can leave the business expansion to the Choi brothers.
Ding-dong!
A ssage arrived right on cue.
The outco of educating the fraudulent Bungeoppang lady from the district office.
[We inform you that the case you reported has been concluded as follows.]
[Reason for report: Unauthorized occupation of road]
[Fine: 200,000 won]
As expected.
A slap on the wrist—a 200,000 won fine.
But that wasn't the end of it.
The tax evasion investigation was ongoing, and the defamation lawsuit had resulted in a summary indictnt from the prosecutor's office, apparently.
Fine of 1,000,000 won.
Trrring—
"Hello?"
"Kid. It's , the Bungeoppang lady from back then. Could you settle that defamation report? Hmm? I'm sorry."
"How did you get my number?"
"Hmm? That is—"
"I'll have to report you for violating the Personal Information Protection Act."
"No, kid! That's not what I ant—I really did make a mist—"
Beep beep.
Must've been the police who told her.
Maybe it's a chance to take down the lady's connections along with her?
Lady.
Overwheld, aren't you? Getting hit one after another.
How dare you spew insults at .
……Still.
200,000 won fine and 1,000,000 won penalty. The punishnt is far too light.
How can justice be upheld in society like this?
It's deplorable that I, the poison demon, must step in to handle things.
"Anyway, it's ti to enter the tower."
News had reported that a crowd had gathered in front of Murim Tower.
Expectations were high!
I'd purchased information on the 11th floor from the Black Market in advance.
The information was expensive, but knowing ahead and preparing couldn't hurt.
I was personally curious, too.
11th floor through 13: White Tiger Gate.
Like the Blue Dragon Gate before, a sect that branched off from the Four Divine Gate.
"Why White Tiger Gate, I wonder?"
They don't have a particular connection to .
Pondering what the tower intended to show , I stepped inside.
Wooooong.
***
After clearing the tower.
I shook my blood-soaked hands.
A curse slipped out involuntarily.
"What the hell…… What is this."
Sothing that had absolutely no business being here had erged from White Tiger Gate.
"This…… Why is this here?"
The Yama's Life-Chasing Threads!
So thin it was nearly invisible to the naked eye, yet strong enough that no precious sword could sever it.
And.
The Sacheondang Family's secret treasure.
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