Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 353

The anxious atmosphere hung thick in the hallway outside the delivery room. Beomseok continued to wait, his face tense as he paced nervously before the closed door.

“Why isn’t she out yet? Is something wrong?”

Gelsomina, glancing at her watch, replied with a hint of annoyance.

“How could she be out already? It’s only been an hour since we arrived.”

Normally, most mothers arriving at the hospital in labor would wait considerably longer before childbirth was imminent. However, Liza’s situation was different.

All modified humans delivered babies via cesarean section. Inducing natural birth could be fatal to the baby, given Liza’s enhanced strength.

“That’s for normal women. Didn’t you see Liza went straight to the delivery room after arriving? Modified humans always have C-sections; there’s no waiting involved.”

“Really? How do you know so much about it?”

“I’ve seen it often enough.”

Gelsomina gave him a sidelong glance.

“Often?”

Realizing his slip, Beomseok quickly composed himself and stammered, “Ah, no, I’ve seen it very occasionally.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then why did you say ‘often’ just now?”

Beomseok subtly wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Well, I meant I’ve seen it a lot online. My child is being born, so I need to check what kind of situations might occur.”

“Hmm, I guess that’s possible.”

Barely escaping the awkward moment, Beomseok fidgeted and changed the subject. “Ah, why isn’t she out yet? I’m going crazy.”

“Then why don’t you go inside and check?”

That was impossible. Even during a normal delivery, outsiders were strictly prohibited, let alone during a cesarean section.

“Why are you saying that when you know it’s impossible? How can I go in during surgery?”

“Then we have no choice but to wait.”

Just then, Beomseok’s pocket rudely rang with a long, continuous call. Assuming it was his teammates who had heard the news, he hurriedly took out his electronic notepad and projected a communication screen into the air.

“Who is it!”

– Hmm, you’re doing well.

Beomseok’s face crumpled as he recognized Chairman Lucas on the screen.

“What’s going on?”

– It’s been a while. How have you been?

He nodded. Unlike the Black Society, Beomseok was thriving. He hoped his life would continue as smoothly as it was now.

“Of course. But I don’t have time to talk right now, Chairman. I’m quite busy.”

Lucas scrutinized his appearance, looking puzzled. Beomseok was wearing sterile clothing typically seen only at a hospital.

– Are you injured?

“Why? Are you going to visit me if I am?”

– There’s no reason not to, between us. Weren’t we quite close before?

Chairman Lucas’s voice dripped with false familiarity. Beomseok, understanding the reason, clicked his tongue.

It was impressive how Lucas could set aside past grudges and speak so warmly now that the Black Society was in trouble. They were currently facing a major crisis, surrounded by the Economic Organizations, Ilsimhoe [a fictional organization], and Vice Chairman Louis’s social club members.

“But there’s no need for you to come. I’m just here for a visit.”

– Is that so? That’s fortunate.

“Then I’ll hang up if you have nothing else to say.”

Chairman Lucas hurriedly stopped him as he was about to turn off the screen.

– Wait! I have something to say.

“What is it? I don’t have time, so make it short and concise.”

– It’s about whether you might consider joining hands with us again.

Beomseok stared at him in disbelief. It was absurd; there was no way he could rejoin the Black Society. He and they had crossed an uncrossable line.

“Are you kidding me? Why would I join hands with you again? If it’s a joke, it’s going too far.”

– It’s not a joke. We’ll offer you generous terms, so think about it carefully. It could be very beneficial for you.”

He was curious about the terms, but Beomseok immediately shook his head. They were a sinking ship. He wouldn’t grab their hand and drown with them. The Black Society was facing a huge crisis.

The Economic Organizations had already bought 4.9% of the shares of all 30 of the Black Society’s main companies. Taking a hint from Beomseok’s WBS broadcasting station stock purchase strategy, they were trying to drain the Black Society’s money and attempt corporate acquisitions.

Now, the only option for the Black Society was endless defense, a shortcut to ruin. The Economic Organizations could wait, sell the shares of companies whose stock prices rose due to the defense, and focus their efforts on companies that couldn’t defend, succeeding in M&A [mergers and acquisitions].

The acquired companies would then become a source of funds to attack the Black Society again.

This strategy consumed enormous funds, so the Economic Organizations risked a counterattack. However, due to unexpected cooperation, there was no need to worry. LHN Financial Group, Wilkins Financial Group, and Unique Bank were subtly cooperating by significantly increasing their shareholdings in the Economic Organizations’ companies.

Now, the Black Society was bound to gradually lose companies and eventually collapse.

“Heh heh. No thanks. I wouldn’t even do it if you gave me a fortune, so stop begging.”

– Listen. Don’t be so negative; think carefully. Think about Emma in your God’s Knights team. Isn’t she also a member of our Black Society?

Beomseok let out a bitter laugh. Emma was ready to leave the Black Society at any time. Her favorability was at its peak, and the organization had been sidelining her, even though she had stayed with God’s Knights. Beomseok wouldn’t budge, no matter how much they hoped for cooperation by using her as an excuse.

“Don’t worry. Emma will continue to do well as a member of God’s Knights.”

– Wh-what does that mean? Are you saying Emma is leaving our Black Society?

“Well, you’ll have to wait and see.”

– You! If you really do this…….

Before Chairman Lucas could finish, Beomseok cut off the communication and looked at the delivery room door. A nurse was peeking out, looking at him. Hearing the loud cries of a baby echoing from the doorway, he couldn’t think of talking to Lucas at all.

“Is the baby born?”

“Yes. Congratulations. It’s a healthy son.”

Beomseok’s face stiffened slightly. He had expected a daughter, so he was disappointed that it was a dark-skinned son. But he composed himself when he saw Liza being wheeled out on a reclining bed. He couldn’t show his disappointment after all her hard work.

“Hahaha. Liza, you’ve worked hard.”

A bright smile spread across Liza’s exhausted face as she lay in bed. Nothing was happier for a woman than to have the baby’s father greet her so warmly.

“Thank you, Instructor.”

“No, I’m more thankful. Yeah, was it tough?”

“No. I was a little scared at first, but I didn’t feel any pain because of the anesthesia.”

“Still, you’ve worked hard.”

Gelsomina stroked Liza’s hair and said, “I’m jealous. Our Liza. Having a baby before this older sister.”

“Hahaha. If you’re jealous, you should have one soon, too.”

Soon after, the baby in an incubator came out of the delivery room. Gelsomina hurried over and peered inside with wonder. The wrinkled and reddish skin was a bit grotesque, but the sight of the tiny hands wiggling was incredibly adorable.

Gelsomina looked at Beomseok with a bright expression and said, “Senior. What’s the baby’s name?”

Beomseok came closer, looked at the baby with her, and said, “Well, I haven’t decided yet.”

“Then can I decide?”

He immediately shook his head. Naming the baby was Liza’s job.

“That won’t do. The baby’s name should be decided by the mother, Liza.”

“Tch. Stingy.”

“Hahaha. If you’re so upset, you can have a baby too. Don’t be so grumpy and look forward to the future.”

Leaving the sulking Gelsomina behind, Beomseok went back to Liza.

“Liza. Do you have a name in mind for the baby?”

Liza glanced at Gelsomina and nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“What is it?”

“Philip.”

Philip wasn’t bad, but it was a common name. Beomseok wanted to give his son a more meaningful name.

“Isn’t that too common?”

“It is, but I like it. It’s my grandfather’s name. I hope this child will become a great prosecutor like my grandfather.”

What could Beomseok do when she wanted to name him after the deceased Dantes? He immediately nodded in agreement.

“I have no reason to object to naming him after Instructor. Okay, let’s go with Philip.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“What for? Okay, let’s go to the hospital room. I’ve specially prepared the best suite in this hospital.”

Liza gave him an awkward look. “Y-you didn’t have to go that far…… I don’t mind a regular room.”

“It’s okay. I didn’t get the suite just for you. I’d be in trouble if it was a regular room. Gelsomina knows that too.”

Gelsomina, still watching the baby, said, “That’s right. It was crazy in the waiting room earlier because of the fans. The team members will probably never be able to visit you if you go to a regular room.”

At those words, Liza fell silent. Her friends were all gladiators from God’s Knights, well-known in the area, and would be surrounded by fans as soon as they came. Both the visitors and herself would be in a difficult situation.

“Okay, I understand.”

“Hahaha. I’m glad you understand. Then let’s go to the hospital room now.”

Beomseok immediately went up to the top floor, where Liza’s special room was located. He called a postpartum caregiver to ensure her comfort and stayed up all night with her so she wouldn’t be lonely.

The next day, Beomseok decided to return to the training camp to recover. There was a league match in two days, so he couldn’t stay in the hospital.

“Liza, I’ll be going now. I’ll come again in the evening, so take care.”

Liza waved with an awkward smile. She wished he would stay, but knew he couldn’t because of his circumstances.

Beomseok was a key gladiator of God’s Knights, and the league matches were ongoing. Moreover, this year was important for God’s Knights, standing at a crossroads of whether or not to advance to the World League.

She couldn’t hold him back.

“Yes, go ahead.”

Gelsomina, holding her hand tightly, said, “Liza, I’ll be going too.”

“Yes, go ahead, Sister.”

Leaving the hospital room, Beomseok looked at Gelsomina following him with a strange look. She had stayed even though he had told her to leave yesterday, and now she was leaving with him.

“Gelsomina, why are you staying too?”

Gelsomina replied casually, “Ah, it’s okay.”

“What’s okay? The match is in two days. You should have gone back to conserve your energy.”

“I was going to, but it doesn’t matter. I called Director Diana last night, and it seems like she won’t be putting me in the next match. So I stayed with Liza because she seemed lonely.”

Beomseok snorted. She said she was worried about Liza, whom she considered like a younger sister, but she kept staying next to Philip’s incubator.

If he hadn’t been urging her today, she would have continued to play with the baby. He greatly regretted booking the special room.

If she had been admitted to a regular room, Philip would have been in the newborn room, and Gelsomina would have left early.

Boarding the elevator, Beomseok said reproachfully, “Tch. You expect me to believe that? Liza talked to me almost the whole time. You were just agreeing with her and looking at Philip.”

“Well, I did stay to see Philip too. It was a combination of things.”

Pressing the first-floor button, Beomseok shook his head. “No, why are you so interested in him when he’s not even your child?”

“He’s cute. And amazing.”

“Geez. That’s no reason to stay up all night. If this goes well, you might adopt him.”

Gelsomina looked at him with sparkling eyes. “Can I really take Philip with me?”

In an instant, Beomseok’s hand slashed through the air. Sensing it, Gelsomina dodged.

“Are you kidding me? Liza would hardly give him up.”

“Well, I was just saying. That’s how jealous I am.”

“If you’re jealous, you should have one too.”

At those words, Gelsomina pouted. It wasn’t as easy as saying it. If she were to have a child, she would have to rest for about a year, and God’s Knights would be in a difficult situation.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

Ego ego, I’m a bit late. I had almost finished writing by 12 o’clock, but there was a complete revision. Originally, I was going to write the story with natural childbirth as the background, but when I thought about it, it was impossible. Whew~ Those who have seen the main text will know the reason.

Then everyone have a great weekend. I’ll see you again tomorrow.