The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 141

Between Delusion and Design (2)

***

Woo-oong-! Kwa-kwa-kwa-!

The combi boat carrying Jin-hyuk and Moon Seok-il sped across the water at a terrifying pace. It wasn’t cutting through the waves but rather skipping across the surface like a flat stone. The boat, instead of splashing, made a ‘chat-chat’ sound as it repeatedly bounced up.

‘Ugh, this is scary.’

But he didn’t show it.

Sitting in the middle on the right, Jin-hyuk tensed his inner thigh muscles.

He felt like he shouldn’t show any weakness alone. Moon Seok-il and the agents who came out of the cable car were calm, as if they were celestial beings lying on clouds, even with water splashing on their faces and their hair looking like Mr. Kim Chun-shik’s cowlick [a tuft of hair that stands up], Kim Eun-jung’s dad.

They were indeed agents who had survived superhuman training.

The first reason was a sense of responsibility.

It was about the reason for visiting Sakdo. He received a monthly salary in dollars from Hong Ki-joon, and he felt uneasy leaving the management solely to Moon Seok-il. Of course, there was a permanent manager within Sakdo, but Jin-hyuk was the manager above the manager, wasn’t he?

And secondly, there was also preparation for future plans.

‘Ten, twenty years pass quickly. I need to prepare.’

With the tacit agreement of Yoo Myung-sun, Hong Ki-joon had ousted most of the long-time contributors of the Sein Group, who could be called the vassals [loyal subordinates] of Chairman Yoo Myung-sun. And he filled those positions with young executives.

Jin-hyuk could clearly see the purpose.

Hong Ki-joon was trying to accelerate the future.

The reports he had seen in Yoo Myung-sun’s study and the topics that Min Yong-rak, with whom he frequently talked, brought up were evidence of that. Watching Hong Ki-joon’s pace of reform, Jin-hyuk realized what he had to do. Of course, it was his own judgment.

‘If it’s Mr. Hong, he’ll figure it out even with just a hint.’

Jin-hyuk was thinking ahead for when Hong Ki-joon would no longer be able to discover new items.

To do that, he needed a research lab with strict security.

When the combi boat had flown like a flying fish for about 30 minutes, the island finally came into view.

Sakdo was an unremarkable island.

Rocky cliffs, sandbars, and dense pine trees were combined like a natural fortress, making it a place where no human traces could be found. The difference from the coast was that the water depth didn’t gradually decrease but rather deepened rapidly.

The agent at the helm skillfully docked the boat at a sandy area that looked like a beach.

“Welcome to Sakdo.”

Moon Seok-il, who had nimbly jumped onto the sand, grinned.

Perhaps many trainees had felt that smile was evil.

***

‘It would be great to build a resort here.’

That was Jin-hyuk’s impression as he stood on the highest point of Sakdo.

It was a rocky area covered with naturally growing pine and oak trees, and on a clear day, the coastline could be seen far away. It was an excellent fortress, where the outside could be monitored while he remained hidden. That was probably why it had been used as a special forces training ground early on.

In one of the concrete buildings, which looked like a rural branch school, there were management and instructor offices, and trainee dormitories. Hong Ki-joon had put a lot of effort into renovating it, and it even had modern shower facilities and a bathhouse. Thanks to the meticulous interior finishing, it was incomparable to other dilapidated national facilities with exposed cement.

“It’s nice. You could lock them up and make them study for the bar exam.”

Heuk-.

Moon Seok-il snorted at the absurd analogy. However, as a taciturn person, he didn’t offer any further comments.

Jin-hyuk was serious. Daejung Group also selected and supported outstanding students as scholarship recipients in advance, so why couldn’t Sein Group do the same?

In another building, there was a large training ground with mats, a cafeteria, and a fitness center.

Hap-! Kung-!

In the increasingly hot weather, the agents were sweating profusely, filling their lungs with the humid sea air.

To Jin-hyuk’s eyes, they all looked like tigers.

‘As expected, there are no women.’

He had heard that there were many applicants due to the compensation and treatment that could not be received anywhere else in the world. Even though it was a selection that was only open to a very limited number of people through invitations. They said that only agents who were well-rounded in both martial and literary skills were selected after numerous tests. It seemed that female agents were pushed out in the physical strength measurements.

“There’s also a risk of accidents, so women were excluded. It was also the Vice Chairman’s order.”

It was Moon Seok-il’s explanation, having noticed Jin-hyuk’s slightly raised eyebrows. Although they hadn’t been together for long, Moon Seok-il had reached the level of accurately gauging Jin-hyuk’s mood. Of course, it was also because he knew about Jin-hyuk’s plan to hire regardless of gender.

“The ones who can handle those accidents are the real experts.”

It was a casual remark without any particular meaning.

He had no intention of arguing with Hong Ki-joon or Moon Seok-il’s decisions. They would do well on their own.

With a puzzled look, Jin-hyuk asked,

“But there aren’t many people here?”

There were only about twenty people in the outdoor training ground, and another twenty or so indoors.

According to the information he had heard, there were over a hundred people, but more than half were missing.

Moon Seok-il glanced at the instructor who was waiting nearby, and he stepped forward.

“Two groups have gone out for sea swimming, and another group is on vacation.”

The instructor’s voice was gentle but restrained.

Jin-hyuk nodded, not loosening his arms, and asked,

“They’re not doing things like illegally harvesting seafood, are they?”

“No. It is strictly prohibited.”

Looking at the sparring agents with a nonchalant expression, Jin-hyuk gestured with his chin.

“But, their skills are quite lacking.”

“It might look that way to your eyes…”

Moon Seok-il rubbed his forehead with an unchanged expression.

Who would be satisfied with anyone after seeing Yang Kang-wook throw people around?

But Jin-hyuk wasn’t referring to the agents’ level.

“No. I mean the instructors. They’re just explaining with words.”

His friend Park Sang-ki, who had transferred schools, said that explaining with words alone wasn’t the mark of a good coach.

*

Kkung-. Kung-.

Five instructors rushed in at once, but they all ended up pinned to the mat.

It was a demonstration sparring session that took place while the seated trainees watched.

Even while moving his body, Jin-hyuk didn’t stop talking.

“You need to prepare for the next move.”

“Don’t predict the outcome. Assume that this attack will fail.”

“Speed is more important than strength.”

“No matter how great your speed is, if you don’t have strength, it’s just like a fly’s wing flapping.”

It was contradictory teaching.

When did he emphasize speed, and now he’s changing his words to prioritize strength?

‘Ugh, damn it, it’s easy to say.’

The instructors, who were drenched in sweat as if they had just come out of the water, knelt down and grumbled inwardly.

Looking at him up close, he looked too young. Who was this young man to play with them like water balloons? Seeing the training captain Moon Seok-il accompanying him with restrained gestures, they had just assumed he was a high-ranking executive or a member of the owner’s family. But seeing his martial arts skills, he might be a martial arts instructor invited from outside.

Moon Seok-il smiled weakly as he watched Jin-hyuk, who was single-handedly dominating in his jeans.

He knew his skills well, so he could accept that.

‘That’s all nonsense.’

Was it as easy as he made it sound?

It was no different from Cha Bum-kun demonstrating how easy dribbling was to elementary school students. The elementary school students would be dying inside.

He was even worse than Yang Kang-wook.

At least Yang Kang-wook would respond appropriately after acknowledging that the opponent wasn’t a bear, but Jin-hyuk didn’t seem to think that his opponents were people of a similar level to him.

‘Selfish bastard.’

Still, Moon Seok-il was relieved that he wasn’t in that mix.

***

Hong Ki-joon paced around the reception room, holding Hong Soo-hyuk.

In his other hand, he was on a call with a secure phone.

“Really? Jin-hyuk?”

When Son Jin-hyuk said he was going to visit the SSS training center, he thought it was just the curiosity of a vigorous teenager. But after hearing Moon Seok-il’s sighing report, he felt dizzy.

‘As expected, that shadow bastard… Did he lie to me?’

When he showed behavior that was not like a child, he had just thought he was an extraordinary kid. From what he had seen in his past life, he was cold and intelligent. But recently, he had begun to doubt his very existence.

Hong Ki-joon had been the first to expect and make moves, but the reports coming up through Min Yong-rak far exceeded his expectations. No matter how brilliant one’s mind was, it wasn’t easy to express opinions so assertively. Even gamblers would predict the World Cup winner with probabilities, but this guy was giving out the complex and intertwined physiology of a company like an objective multiple-choice answer sheet.

The visit to Sakdo was also like that.

He had inspected the place like a ruler, not a visitor, and checked the training status. Two of the instructors who were sparring had passed out and had to be put on IV drips.

Of course, he had entrusted him with a part of the management. But Hong Ki-joon hadn’t expected him to get so directly involved and active.

Well, that was all fine.

“You didn’t request that, did you?”

– No. Jin-hyuk said he wanted to see it, so I brought him. From now on, I’ll prevent him from entering…

“No. Let him do whatever he wants.”

It’s his anyway.

If it hadn’t been for Jin-hyuk, he wouldn’t have been able to return. It was also impossible to seize control of the group in a short time and spend a lot of money like water using future information. His regression was solely due to Jin-hyuk’s contribution.

“Anything else?”

– He says there’s a lot of remaining land, and he’s asking if we can build more buildings.

“Buildings? What for?”

– I’ll talk to him more about it.

He could build as many buildings as he wanted.

Even if he poured money into the sea with excavators, the rate at which it increased was faster than the rate at which it was wasted. The Sein Group, which Hong Ki-joon had taken control of and redesigned, was that kind of conglomerate.

Hong Ki-joon turned on the TV while waiting for Moon Seok-il’s call. It was Sunday, so he wondered if there was anything fun on…

He had given up all his positions as president and was only handling important approvals as vice chairman, so it was nice to be able to rest on the weekends.

After a while, the phone rang again.

– Whaeng-al-aeng-al…

Huh-.

After hearing Moon Seok-il’s answer, Hong Ki-joon felt a tingling in his cheeks and a sensation of blood draining from his head.

‘This guy, it seems like he’s not just a maybe…?’

Hong Ki-joon thought of a three-legged race in the dark.

That was the only image that came to mind.

They couldn’t see each other, nor could they hear each other’s voices, but they were running together, matching their pace towards the North Star in the distance.

‘I don’t know if he’s doing it knowingly, but it feels like he’s giving me homework.’

The message that Hong Ki-joon vaguely grasped from Jin-hyuk was one thing.

‘I want to do something else.’

Whether Jin-hyuk intended to reveal his existence or not, it didn’t matter. In Hong Ki-joon’s mind, he was no longer just his son’s friend or a smart middle school student. Jin-hyuk had unintentionally given Hong Ki-joon a hint about his existence.

‘Stupid shadow! You talked about the weight of the soul, but it seems like you didn’t even know yourself!’

He couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Hahahaha-!”

Even though Hong Soo-hyuk was surprised and widened his eyes, Hong Ki-joon’s hearty laughter continued.

It felt like the loneliness he had felt while being unable to speak was being erased all at once.

A news flash appeared on the TV in the reception room, but he didn’t care at all.

「Kim Il-sung Dies」

Hahahaha!

The date of death is earlier than in the previous world. But who cares?

He knew that the entire military would be put on alert, but nothing would happen, so it was just another investment opportunity for Hong Ki-joon.

Hong Soo-jung, who was passing by with boxing gloves on her hands, narrowed her eyes.

“Dad, are you that happy that Kim Il-sung died?”

It was okay to be happy, but wasn’t he laughing too openly?

Her dad was a decent person, but he had become too strange after becoming vice chairman.

Did he have a problem with his character?

***

After finishing the visit, they climbed back up the cliffs of Sakdo.

It was a bit humid, but the summer sea fog made it cool.

The SSS agents on Sakdo were far superior to the level of bodyguards he had witnessed in his past life. It was a satisfactory visit.

Moon Seok-il, who had finished talking with the instructors, approached. He had made excuses about the instructors, but he also needed time to report Jin-hyuk’s actions to Hong Ki-joon.

“I heard on the way that Kim Il-sung died.”

“It wasn’t someone from our side who made a move, was it?”

Although it wasn’t exact, Jin-hyuk tilted his head, thinking that the death wasn’t in June. Hong Ki-joon had no reason to order an assassination, but if it was true, it could develop into a serious problem. Could there be some kind of secret? Jin-hyuk stared intently at Moon Seok-il’s eyes, hidden behind his expressionless face and sunglasses.

But Jin-hyuk’s tension was released in less than a breath.

‘I guess not.’

Moon Seok-il’s lips were twitching like a catfish’s whiskers.

Then what the hell is it, you old man-.

Moon Seok-il, who was grinning inappropriately, was displeasing to him.