Vol 5 Chapter 28

"Investors' anxiety will soon affect the stock market."

"Is there a reason to proceed with the work so secretively? To the extent of keeping it a secret even within the same company!"

Voices full of discontent expressed their agreement. Most of the men gathered were wearing angry expressions. After continuing to exchange polite-sounding complaints, they turned their arrows of attack towards one person sitting silently.

"Director Jang Myung-jin. What do you think about this issue? Aren't you responsible for the project that's causing problems now?"

The man called Jang Myung-jin raised his expressionless face to look at the person who had addressed him. Not missing the opportunity, others also poured out words with hidden sharp thorns.

"We haven't just been watching you people make some game from who knows where only because of the chairman's support. It's because we believed you would provide technology that would help, remembering that Saturn is a company based on advanced VT technology!"

"We understood and let everything pass, but even after more than half a year since the service started, you haven't announced anything really important! Is it that you actually haven't done anything?"

"It was nonsensical from the start to incorporate such technology into a mere game and then keep it all wrapped up..."

"Is the rumor that the project is over 90 percent successful really true?"

"Our board of directors has very great concerns about this matter."

"Director Jang Myung-jin."

"Jang Myung-jin..."

Yoon Seok-ho raised the corner of his mouth slightly as he watched all these scenes.

Jang Myung-jin, who had been listening expressionlessly to the continuous stream of sarcasm and complaints, finally opened his mouth only after the others had quieted down, exhausted on their own.

"This research is being conducted solely with the chairman's personal support. We came to Saturn as the chairman's research and development team, and we have no reason to report on a top-secret project to anyone other than the chairman first. Moreover, I wonder where you all heard about information that was clearly classified."

The atmosphere of the meeting, which had frozen for a moment at the cold statement, immediately exploded.

"What did you say?"

"Who do you think I am to treat me like someone completely unrelated!"

"Such arrogance and insolence from a mere director!"

"I was told this was a meeting I absolutely had to attend, but I guess I shouldn't have come after all. If I had worked during the time I wasted coming here, it would have been a much more productive use of time."

While people were at a loss for words at this surprisingly blunt speech, trembling with anger, Director Jang Myung-jin glanced at his watch and said, "Oh dear."

"Well then, I'm busy so I'll be leaving first. Please send me the results of this meeting by email later. Of course, I trust you'll exclude personal opinions from it. Goodbye."

With that cold farewell, Jang Myung-jin's face disappeared from the connection with a flicker, and those remaining all began to raise their voices, trembling with anger.

"Such an undisciplined person...!"

"He's being blatantly uncooperative. He seems to be full of himself because that mere game is doing a bit well, but let's see how far he can go."

After watching that much, Yoon Seok-ho quietly raised his finger and moved it.

"That's enough 'peeking'."

As soon as he finished speaking, all the hologram screens turned off at once. The office instantly became dark.

"Ahahahahah..."

Yoon Seok-ho, whose serious expression until just a moment ago seemed like a lie, burst into laughter for quite a while. Only after considerable time had passed did he finally calm his shaking shoulders and put on the goggles connected beside him. As his fingers, which had been quickly tapping several numbers, stopped, the scenery before his eyes changed all at once with the connection sound of entering a VT port. This most secret and quiet place. Inside the VT port, Director Jang Myung-jin was already connected and waiting for Yoon Seok-ho.

He was a man with eyes that showed a slightly deeper accumulation of years than Yoon Seok-ho. His face, cool and expressionless like winter, was so cold it seemed as if he had never smiled, and at the same time, he looked very tired. His impeccable suit gave the impression of a solid wall that would not allow others to approach.

However, Yoon Seok-ho used exaggeratedly polite speech playfully, with a rare friendly look in his eyes.

"Hello, Director."

Jang Myung-jin nodded at Yoon Seok-ho's smiling greeting and opened his mouth.

"From your expression, I see you watched."

"You mean the 'observation'. Of course. You were quite impressive. I almost fell for you."

It seemed very inappropriate to say to someone older than him, but Jang Myung-jin didn't rebuke Yoon Seok-ho's words at all. He just raised his thin, sharp eyes and slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.

"It's quite entertaining to see them getting more and more anxious because they can't find out anything about the ReL project."

Yoon Seok-ho smiled instead of answering. Jang Myung-jin kept silent, then suddenly asked in a slightly lower voice.

"How is... 'that side' these days?"

"The same as always. Seeing that even a kiss doesn't wake them up, it's certain they're not a princess."

"The doctor?"

"He still just repeats that he can't guarantee the future."

"I see."

For a moment, the same expression appeared and disappeared on both Jang Myung-jin and Yoon Seok-ho's faces. The atmosphere became subdued, but the questions continued, changing in content.

"It seems Dave will be going to Korea soon. The permission is already done, and Yup will probably go with him. How much do you plan to tell about 'that side' when you meet this time?"

"It's good that permission was granted. Mr. Lee... Well. This time... I suppose I should tell him. It's about time we started getting help from him too."

"...I see. Then what about the ReL project participants?"

"All of them are progressing smoothly."

"What about L-10? I heard there was a problem once before."

"He too seems to have had no problems since then. He's even progressing surprisingly well with the HZ quest."

"Excessive smoothness tends to breed carelessness. You know better than anyone that we don't have the luxury of failure, but... always remember that, Branch Manager."