DDB Ch 14

“Nice.”

Heo Seungjae clapped his hands and limped over to a bar set up in one corner of the office. He lined up three small whiskey glasses and poured golden liquor into them to the brim.

Returning with the glasses balanced precariously in his hands, he handed one each to Ishin and Jiwoon, then asked abruptly:

“Is it for money?”

Heo Seungjae was asking Jiwoon why she had betrayed even her long-time client, Oh Kyungseok, and her mentor, Giotto, to side with them.

“Or… is it for a handsome man?”

His gaze briefly met Ishin’s, his brow furrowed in an odd manner as if measuring something.

“Well, of course…”

Jiwoon, enclosing the small whiskey glass in her warm hand, nodded while staring at Ishin.

“It’s for the handsome man.”

Jiwoon, with her lips lazily curved, took a sip of the lukewarm whiskey.

The strong liquor warmed her throat. It felt like her heart was warming up too.

🐬🌊🐳

After emptying the first glass, Heo Seungjae, saying “Ho, you drink well?” offered a three-tiered lacquered box.

When he opened the three boxes on the table, they revealed colorful dried fruits, ginseng candy coated in white sugar, and thick sweet potato jerky—quite traditional Korean snacks.

Jiwoon, who had licked her lips, didn’t hesitate to pick up a dried apricot and put it in her mouth.

It was delicious.

As she chewed the chewy fruit, Heo Seungjae, with a pleased look, refilled her glass.

“Take your time, eat a lot.”

Despite his generally unappealing appearance, his round eyes were quite likable, drawing a kind smile. In this state, he looked like a friendly neighborhood uncle.

“Thank you.”

Jiwoon, smiling cheerfully, picked up a piece of ginseng candy from the second box instead of the second glass.

Ishin, leaning against the round window that reminded one of a giant’s eye, watched her actions intently.

Their eyes met briefly, and Jiwoon stared back at him while biting into the candy.

At that moment, Heo Seungjae spoke up:

“There are two main lines in [Heritage Beyond].”

Heo Seungjae, with his smooth, woman-like hands, filled his glass with whiskey as he continued.

“The Vice President’s line, and Oh Kyungseok’s line.”

Nodding while enjoying the sweet yet bitter ginseng candy, Jiwoon looked at him.

“Miss Seo Jiwoon is now with the Vice President’s line. Baek Ishin is the top of that line.”

“Ho,” Jiwoon pursed her lips and looked back at Ishin leaning against the window frame. He slightly raised his glass and nodded.

His eyes were gently curved, but his dark pupils were cold and sharp, causing a strange sense of discomfort along her spine.

“You’ve chosen the right side. I’m the next chairman.”

Heo Seungjae shook his head and downed the newly filled glass.

“But as soon as the chairman handed me the painting, a coup happened.”

Did he say the painting symbolizes succession?

Heo Seungjae shrugged his shoulders, twisting his lips, then gestured towards her second glass.

“What are you waiting for, offering a toast? Drink up.”

Jiwoon carefully tilted her glass and drank the whiskey that smelled strongly of oak. Satisfied, Heo Seungjae continued:

“Unfortunately, the painting disappeared, but the coup was also put on hold. That’s why I’m still at the top.”

Heo Seungjae turned to look at Baek Ishin, who was guarding his back.

“Almost 80% of it was thanks to our Director Baek Ishin.”

Then, looking back at Jiwoon, he furrowed his nose.

“So, I would do anything Baek Ishin tells me.”

“…”

A coup.

If it’s [Heritage Beyond], then the pinnacle of power might be controlling national hegemony.

“Did… Director Oh Kyungseok attempt the coup?”

Heo Seungjae let out a laugh, “Ha ha ha,” then turned back to Ishin with a playful wave of his hand.

“This one’s a smart technician. Teach her one thing, and she’ll understand ten.”

…Excuse me, even a high school student would know that much, right? These two are in competition over the painting, aren’t they?

“The painting…”

Jiwoon smiled prettily at Heo Seungjae, who had turned his attention back to her, her brown eyes shining darkly.

“Is the core of the coup… The one who gets it first wins.”

That’s why they’re rushing to replicate it.

As she mumbled the latter part, Heo Seungjae’s brow furrowed slightly, while Ishin, standing with his back to the window, tensed his jaw.

‘Did I make a mistake…?’

Jiwoon bit her lower lip, then licked her lips with her tongue before speaking again.

“So, I am…”

Baek Ishin had said not to give any cause for suspicion.

“All I have to do is beat Oh Kyungseok, right?”

So, I need to strongly assure the other side that I’m on your team.

“…”

But I should also make it clear that I’m not entirely on your side alone.

“And Director Baek Ishin will continue to shine in the Vice President’s line?”

At that moment, Heo Seungjae’s eyes widened significantly. His mouth also opened wide, and he covered it with his right hand.

“Director Baek!”

His abruptly raised voice carried a rough Gyeongsang dialect. Excitement was evident in his voice.

“Where did you find such a kid?”

Setting aside his loud voice, even his body, which was sitting on the sofa despite his bad leg, bounced up and down.

“I really like this one.”

Where did you get her from? She’s as smart as you.

With his voice slightly raised and his cheeks flushed, his fists trembling from excitement, Heo Seungjae, whose words clearly showed his sincerity, refilled both his and Jiwoon’s glasses with whiskey for the third time.

‘I can drink, but whiskey isn’t my taste.’

Jiwoon, with a smack of her lips, picked out a dried peach from the lacquered box.

The two whiskey glasses, filled to the brim, clinked loudly, and Jiwoon, closing her eyes tightly, swallowed the whiskey. She wouldn’t do something she hated even if her life depended on it, but this, she could endure.

So, the painting… is the core of the coup.

The real painting is now in Baek Ishin’s hands.

Doesn’t that mean he might swallow this giant’s house, this goblin kingdom, whole?

So what can I do? I have to do it, smile, and drink even if I don’t like it. That’s what support is all about.

Enduring the burning esophagus, Jiwoon smiled brightly and put down her glass. The fourth glass, and then the fifth, were filled in the same way.

At some point, Jiwoon was lying on the sofa with her legs curled up, dozing off.

She was naturally excluded from the conversation, and the positions of Heo Seungjae and Ishin had changed.

Leaning against the window frame, Heo Seungjae asked while sipping his drink.

“Where will the work be done?”

His speech, mixed with a bit of dialect, sounded quite hearty and gentle.

Ishin, looking at Heo Seungjae, tilted his head slightly.

“Somewhere out of sight of Director Oh Kyungseok would be best.”

At Ishin’s response, Heo Seungjae’s smile twisted oddly, feeling both greasy and mocking.

“Why, do you think Director Oh Kyungseok… will try to steal our pretty technician lady?”

Heo Seungjae’s glass briefly pointed towards Jiwoon.

Ishin’s gaze also lingered on Jiwoon.

“He might try, wouldn’t he? She was originally discovered by his side.”

It’s said that even a sharp needle will show itself from the pocket, and indeed, Jiwoon, having grown into an excellent technician, had caught Oh Kyungseok’s eye.

To that, Heo Seungjae asked Ishin a teasing question.

“Are you confident you won’t lose her?”

Ishin’s lips curved into a crooked smile.

“What would Oh Kyungseok use to take her away?”

His dark eyes gleamed with a strange light.

His gaze, sharp like a well-honed knife, lingered on Jiwoon, who was curled up and asleep, almost like he was savoring her.

He watched her closed eyes under thick eyelashes and her tongue licking her sugar-coated lips even in her sleep.

Ishin also licked his lower lip with his tongue.

“With money, or with charm?”

His voice was languid as he spoke slowly.

“Why would I lose her when I lack nothing, especially with the Vice President’s firm support behind me?”