85 Bundles of Crimson Thread – V

A tall high-rise building in the middle of Seoul. Sinyoung's main headquarters.

There, on the top floor, an emergency meeting of Sinyoung's board of directors was taking place in a conference room. And in that meeting, ringing phones and panicked conversations filled the air.

"What do you mean the stock price is dropping?"

"Dammit! What do you mean you bastards can't find her?! She's one woman! Even if she's a big deal over there, she's just a helpless woman here!"

"N-No way! I did not have relations with that woman! That's a lie! It's a fake video!"

"Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck! Why can't we reach any of the men we hired to transport goods from that place?!"

"Shit! Who filmed us sending those girls over?! WHO!?"

Fat businessmen in ruffled suits. Sleazy businessmen in sharp suits... All-in-all, the typical looks of scumbags who lived in the business world using corporate money and assets for their own benefit without concern for the law.

And all of them were panicking.

A dozen television screens arranged around the conference room showed local news reports.

One showed a reporter talking about an explosion that occurred at another office building nearby. Experts were speculating that it was a terrorist attack, and that the casualties were still being accounted for.

Another showed an overseas news channel, reporting about a major scandal. Powerful figures in Hollywood and the U.S. government were seen along with some members of Sinyoung's board of directors, soliciting 'services' from young women. Among them, popular female KPop idols... and unwillingly at that.

Yet another showed a graph with Sinyoung's stock price per share... Which had dropped to a hundredth of its previous price in the course of a few hours as the news broke.

Then there were more screens showing live feeds of social media and testimonials from legitimate customers of Sinyoung Pharmaceuticals saying their products were defective. Not only that, but the foreign shareholders in the U.S. had filed a derivative suit to hold the board accountable...

In short, a complete and utter PR and business disaster.

"Argh! Who!? Who's doing all of this!?" An overweight director slammed his fist on the table, causing his chin to wobble. "Is it the Haesol Institute? Hayeon Science?!"

The door to the conference room opened. When it did, a man walked inside.

The moment he did, the room grew quiet. Despite the chaos and panic, each of the men there shut up and bowed towards him.

Yun Seojin, the father of Yun Seora and Yun Seojin. On paper, just another member of the board and former CEO of Sinyoung. But in actuality, the true power behind it all.

"G-Greetings, Sir!"

One man called out those words. Quickly after, a chorus of "Greetings, Sir!" followed after him.

Yun Seojin swept his gaze across the television screens and then slowly walked over to the head of the table in the conference room. His cold face and controlled strides calmed the chaotic aura in the room.

Footsteps echoed. And then the man took a seat at the table.

Silence.

Each of the directors started to sweat, looking anywhere but at Yun Seojin's direction.

And then Yun Seojin spoke up. "Vice chairman. Since you were caught on camera, resign immediately and turn yourself into the authorities."

The vice chairman, a fat man with balding hair, jumped out of his chair. His face turned red and said, "It wasn't me! I don't know how that video got out, but it's a fake! It has to be!"

Yun Seojin tilted his head. "Perhaps this video was. But you still blackmailed and extorted those idols to powerful men overseas. Or did you think I didn't know?"

"Grk..."

"...How is your niece?" Yun Seojin tapped his fingers on the table and said, "The September Halfway Point is coming soon, isn't it?"

The vice chairman paled and then slowly sat down. "...I understand, Sir."

"Good." Yun Seojin looked around at the rest of the board members. "Who has news about my daughters?"

All of them averted their eyes.

"...Nothing? Have their bodies not been found?"

One brave man raised his hand and said, "...Bodies, Sir? Are you not worried about them dying?"

Yun Seojin leaned back in his chair and said, "I simply want confirmation either way. My oldest doesn't matter anymore since she broke, but her younger sister shows promise. And if she survived this attempt on her life, then she will be suited to inherit her sister's position."

Silence.

"...Very well. Inform me if news comes up regarding my daughters."

"Yes, Sir!"

Yun Seojin grabbed the stack of reports from nearby and started flipping through them. "Legal summons, complaints from our business partners... Hmph. Those idiots don't know that this is just a minor setback... But fine." He tossed the papers over and said, "Settle with them. It doesn't matter how much it costs, but shut them up."

"B-But Sir. The treasury-"

"Can be replenished. We just need to have more of our 'contractors' work hard. And in the worst case... The 'Bugs' have been making overtures to work with us. The same with those old priests. We can accept their offer and rebuild from there." Yun Seojin rapped his fingers on the table and muttered, "Though this is odd. Just who is behind this?"

It was a masterstroke.

Yun Seojin planned to use the attack on his daughter and their second office to make a press conference and raise their image. Sympathy and overtures to compensate the harmed were always good PR.

But someone turned it around.

Could it be that Sinyoung was becoming an eyesore to the power propping up the other major conglomerates? The enigmatic figure behind Soyoung Trading Corporation, Hayeon Science, Haesol Institute, and Beauty Vivien?

...No. That couldn't be the case. If so, then the figure would have done something when Sinyoung spent their contribution points to import accessories from Paradise and sent trained Earthlings to scout the place out.

Those men had been returned with the accessories purposefully arranged in a broken pile, showing that whatever power was behind those corporations knew about Paradise. And what Sinyoung tried to do.

The fact that they hadn't crushed Sinyoung but allowed it to fluorish and stand on equal grounds meant that they were at least tolerant of Yun Seojin's efforts.

But then who?

Yun Seojin tapped his fingers on the table again. And then a stray thought came to mind. "...The second Irregular. Seol Jihu. Is there news about him?"

One man stood up and bowed his head. "N-No, Sir."

"Have you done anything that might antagonize him?"

Silence.

"...So you have." Yun Seojin frowned. "Hm. I thought he was just an ant, but it seems that we've poked a hornet's nest..."

Yun Seojin had tolerated the young man because he seemed useful. That and the young man seemed to have some affection for Yun Seojin's second daughter. Enough to be a leash. And Yun Seojin had been planning to use that leash to chain him to Sinyoung.

However, it seemed like he wasn't the only one who had that thought.

A cold smile cut across Yun Seojin's face and he said, "Interesting. So the other organizations want to start a battle here as well?"

It was the only explanation. And it made sense.

Seol Jihu was known to have numerous connections in Paradise. And while he was friendly with Yun Seora and Kim Hannah, he had also made his disdain for Sinyoung clear.

Of course, that wasn't known to the public at large. But the people in power knew. And those people seemed to want to both appeal to the new power in Paradise as well as grab the ankles of the former pillar.

Even so...

"Idiots."

...They were underestimating Yun Seojin.

He was a man who created Sinyoung from nothing.

He was a man who not only saw an opportunity in Paradise, but put blood, sweat, and tears, as well as climbed a mountain of corpses to reach where he was now.

And he was a man who spent all of his remaining contribution points and over half of Sinyoung's combined resources to take back a private arsenal of equipment from Paradise.

Yun Seojin rolled up his sleeves and muttered, "It seems that it's time for Sinyoung to make an example of those who are thinking of defying us."

xxx

"Pft."

Hao looked at me and tilted his head. "Something funny, Bro?"

I looked away from Sinyoung's office and shook my head. "Nothing. Just realizing that the dumbest people are those that think they're clever."

[Yun Seojin]

Pissed off about Sinyoung's situation.

Doesn't suspect a thing about your involvement.

He's written off the current situation as a complete loss.

Currently planning to track down officers from the major organizations in Paradise on Earth and make an example of them.

Hao laughed. "True." He grinned as he looked around the surroundings. "Though I doubt that even a genius could predict what you have in mind, Bro."

We were in an ordinary high rise building in Seoul's commercial district. A simple rented office space with computer labs already prepared.

There, my men were running a simple operation: forge as much evidence against Sinyoung and its board of directors as possible, as well as raise a storm on social media.

Deepfake tech wasn't that big yet at this point in time... or in this world. Neither had there been any big media scandals or weaponized usage of social media.

As a result, the world didn't have the suspicion that should have existed against that sort of stuff... Meaning that we could wreak havoc on Sinyoung's bottom line and drag their name through the mud on an international scale by causing a shitstorm on social media through retweeting and reposting 'leaks'.

Of course, some people would be collateral damage. After all, you had to have some credibility and 'star power' to make the headlines.

Fortunately, I remembered a few infamous individuals that were going to be canceled anyway in the future. And while I didn't know if those allegations were true back when I heard them... I knew they were true here.

Which meant that I didn't really give a damn what happened to them.

But anyway, it was a simple job for the guys at the office: make accounts, post the video, chain likes, and then spam reposts.

AI moderation wasn't too great yet at this time, and so even if mods tried to manually take things down, the damage would be done. Not only that, but ordinary people would catch on and repost it if they were taken down. Human nature and curiosity would play its part there.

And also, since the 'deepfakes' were actually created through the magical BS ability of <Concept Manipulation> that I recently got... Well, even if they were put under expert scrutiny, it'd be impossible to show they were fakes. Especially since the context was all information I found out from Transcendent Insight and true anyway.

Looking back at Hao, I shrugged and said, "Geniuses are overrated anyway."

Hao snorted. "Says the transcendent being who's surpassed us mere mortals."

"Hey. I'm still human. ...Probably."

"That doesn't reassure me, Bro."

"Don't worry about it." I started walking out of the room. As I did, I conjured a soda and cracked it open. Taking a sip, I glanced back at Hao and tossed him a can of beer.

He grabbed it and cracked it open. "Thanks."

"No problem. Now... How's Seohui?"

Hao sipped his beer and then pursed his lips. "Ai... She's a headache and a half. Miss Seora says she's fine, and the physicians I brought in to check on her says she's fine, but..."

"But what?"

"But what the hell did you do to her, Bro?" Hao drained his beer and then wiped his mouth. He waved his empty can at me and said, "Yun Seohui is famous for being a crazy, ruthless, and sly woman! A poison lily that's dragged down countless men, women, and heroes! Just what the hell did you do to her to turn her into such a meek and shy young maiden?"

"...What?"

Hao shook his head. "My brother... I get that you can't help yourself with how much of a man you are, but at this rate won't the concubine wars become worldwide? I can't even imagine the mess that your children will have when vying for the throne... "

"...You do realize that my whole thing about being Emperor is just metaphorical, right? I don't really plan to rule anything or anyone."

"So you say. But when you have Haramark's Princess, the Daughter of Luxuria, Sinyoung's First and Second Lady, Miss Agnes, your Saintess... and however many other mistresses in addition to having that foxy Kim- Ah, 'Seol' Hannah as your wife... I find it hard to believe, Bro."

I cleared my throat. "Anyway... How are the other things going?"

Hao crumpled his beer can and tossed it into a waste bin as we passed by. "Everything should be in place by midnight to settle things here. Miss Seora is gathering her men right now and rooting out the traitors while Miss Seohui is cooperating by providing names. Though..." He grimaced and said, "To think that the Queen was forced to be like that..." He clicked his tongue and then shook his head.

"I know." My eyes narrowed, thinking of Roe Scheherazade and all the wrongs done to her.

"Oi." Hao looked at me and said, "You be careful now, Bro."

"What?"

"Don't 'what' me. Things are already a mess with your girls. Don't go adding the Queen to your harem now unless you really plan to be Emperor."

"I don't."

"...Don't say I didn't warn you then, Bro."

I cleared my throat. "Anyway... Did you need my help in anything here?"

Hao waved me off and said, "Go take a break, Bro. I'll call you when it's time. Besides, didn't you say your sister's nagging you about being out so long? Go home already."

"Thanks."

Hao waved his hand and said, "Thank me by resting up so we can start on our plans in that place in a few weeks."

"I will."

"Ai, just leave already!"

I laughed and then walked out of the office, making sure to change into a typical businessman's appearance as I did with <Conceptual Manipulation>.

It was noon now. Twelve more hours until Sinyoung had its rug pulled out from beneath it and that bastard Yun Seojin along with the other scumbags on that board apologized to the world and repented for their sins.

Police sirens echoed nearby. No doubt heading towards Sinyoung to apprehend the people caught on film.

I carefully kept my expression neutral, forcing down a smirk, and then got in my car.

Let's see...

...I should probably get Flonnie an apology gift. With all that she did to help me with Hannah, and also to give up her rightful place as my wife despite how much she loved me... Yeah. I really needed to make it up to her.

She liked the sweets I made her, so maybe a cake would be good? I think there was a good bakery somewhere here... Might as well try my hand at stealing- referencing some high quality goods with Transcendent Insight.

xxx

Hannah stared out the car window at the seemingly ordinary suburban house. After that, she said, "Are you sure we have to do this, Miss Agnes?"

Claire turned off the car's ignition and pulled out her key. After that, she nodded and said, "Jihu requested that I protect both his parents and you. I cannot do that if you are somewhere else."

"But..." Hannah fiddled with her ring on her left hand and said, "I-I haven't even come to terms with it yet. I mean, it was all so sudden, and I didn't expect that guy to say yes, and then there's Miss Flone, and-"

"And you are now Jihu's legal wife and thus have every right to meet his parents and declare yourself as such. As well as make it clear that you endorse my position as Jihu's mistress and bedwarmer."

"...And why are you even okay with that, Miss Agnes? Don't you have any pride? Shame?"

"'Claire' will be fine. And I do have pride and shame... But I also know that the only man who would ever see me and accept me as I am is Jihu. Furthermore..." Claire blushed and said, "...I am not getting younger. It would be nice to enjoy my youth with someone who appreciates me while I can."

"Hm?" Hannah tilted her head and said, "How old are you anyway?"

"27. How old are you?"

"..."

"Hannah?"

"...28."

"...You sly fox."

"S-Shut up!"

"I thought the three age year gap between us was large, but-"

"I-I know!" Hannah blushed. "You don't need to remind me! A-Anyway... Let's just get this over with already." She opened her car door and stepped outside.

Claire laughed and stepped out as well.

Hannah adjusted her purse around her shoulder and then looked towards the front door.

Claire locked her car and then walked behind Hannah.

Hannah glanced back and said, "You're not taking the lead?"

"Again, you are Jihu's wife. ...Even if you are a shameless and cunning fox."

Hannah blushed again and then took a deep breath. After fanning her face to cool down again, she nodded. "Alright. Then... I-I guess it's time to meet the in-laws..."