Chick 242
by Cristae242
[(Breaking News) Japan Welcomes Its Second S-Rank Craftsman! Inoue Haruna!]
“What is this…!”
“What’s wrong?”
Chairman Nam’s daughter, Jeon Jina, scowled as she checked the article.
“This is ridiculous. An S-rank just happens to appear at such perfect timing?”
“…They might have kept it hidden. They probably wanted to avoid a scene of internal competition between two S-ranks in one country.”
Chairman Nam crossed her arms.
They were likely strategizing on the best S-rank concept that wouldn’t threaten Kazuki, and timing the reveal to suit their needs.
Otherwise, the idea that another S-rank craftsman would awaken the moment Kazuki left Japan was far too convenient to be coincidence.
In fact, the announcement of an S-rank was customarily made at a time determined appropriate by that nation.
‘As for Korea, all the mess is because of those Orchestra kids.’
At that moment, Secretary Kim, wearing an apologetic expression, slid the next article forward. Chairman Nam immediately directed her attention to the tablet.
[Inoue Haruna to Hold “Korea–Japan Joint Special Master Exhibition” Next Month]
“Ha!”
Upon reading the headline, Chairman Nam let out a derisive snort.
The date was perfectly timed to coincide with the opening of the Jappso pop-up store.
And a Korea–Japan simultaneous event?
Clearly, it was all part of the plan.
She scrolled through the article, stopping on the name of the Korean host representative.
A familiar name.
“Jeon Byungho…”
Chairman Nam clenched her teeth as she read his name.
Her ex-husband seemed to be orchestrating a grand spectacle to rub salt in her wounds.
“…Is that dad?”
At Jeon Jina’s question, Chairman Nam nodded and quickly placed a call.
Her ex picked up instantly, as if he’d been waiting. Chairman Nam switched to speakerphone.
“Director Jeon, it’s me. So you’re in Korea, I take it?”
— Oh, Jiwon! Yes, I am. Just picking up my luggage and leaving the airport, and here you are calling. What’s going on? For the high-and-mighty Nam Jiwon to call me first—ha ha ha!
Ugh. Jeon Jina covered her mouth, suppressing a gag.
Her father hadn’t changed at all. That greasy tone, that inferiority complex toward her mother.
Aside from his business acumen, it was no mystery why Chairman Nam had ended their marriage.
Chairman Nam’s voice rose, almost a growl.
“Director Jeon. So you come to Korea after a long time away, just to stab me in the back?”
— Stab you? What kind of language is that? I’m a businessman. I simply found a good business opportunity—
“Japan approached you first, didn’t they?”
— Ha! Well, maybe.
“Don’t bother pretending. I know everything.”
— Jiwon, what’s the point of digging? We’re not at that point in life where we share deep secrets, are we?
“I know full well you’re doing this to hold Korea in check, and you’re still going along with it? You haven’t changed one bit. You’re still at rock bottom.”
— You were the one who taught me that money justifies anything.
“Fine, try all you want. I’ll see to it you never set foot in Gangnam.”
A low, mocking laugh echoed from the receiver.
— Even for the Hwa-jin Group, with its sky-high reach, how exactly do you plan to keep me out of Gangnam?
“Try me.”
Click—
Jeon Byungho tried to say something more, but Chairman Nam hung up, her face icy.
She handed her phone to the secretary with a refreshed smile, as if the matter were already settled.
“Secretary Kim. Find out where Director Jeon plans to hold the special exhibition. He must have already reserved a venue—make sure it gets canceled. You know what to do.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Director Jeon is stubborn—he won’t want to go outside Gangnam. He’d want to open somewhere on the main Gangnam Boulevard and flaunt it in front of me. So focus your calls there, but try to funnel him toward Yeongdong-daero instead.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Chairman Nam folded her arms.
Barring him from Gangnam was a calculated provocation.
Plagued by his own insecurity, Jeon Byungho would now be unable to leave Gangnam behind.
Her daughter gave a shudder. Watching her mother smoothly manipulate her ex-husband without a hint of emotion was enough to send chills down her spine.
“But Mom, why Yeongdong-daero?”
At this, Chairman Nam curved her lips in a sly smile.
“Your dad spent all his time overseas—he doesn’t really know the lay of the land in Korea.”
This was Japan’s first time unveiling a new S-rank craftsman, so he’d want the exhibition to be as grand as possible.
She ran through the list of possible venues in her mind.
Jeon Byungho wouldn’t have many options. It would need to be somewhere privately owned, by an individual or corporation unconcerned with the Korean government.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Hmm? You don’t know either?”
“Don’t know what?”
At Jeon Jina’s retort, Chairman Nam burst into laughter.
Around the same time, the doors to Orchestra’s guildmaster office burst open.
Joorim and Kazuki, seated facing each other on the sofa, turned toward the noise.
The one who entered in that odd fashion, clutching Groo at his side with Sergey trailing behind, was none other than Gidan.
“Hyung, hyung, hyung!”
“Yes?”
“Not you, Joorim hyung. Kazuki hyung!”
Kazuki, holding some documents, looked up in surprise.
“Huh? Me?”
“Do you know that person? Ino… what’s her name?”
“Inoue Haruna!”
Groo blurted the name loud and clear in Gidan’s place, while Sergey muttered under his breath, “Hopeless idiot.”
“Ah, Inoue Haruna-san? I heard she awakened as an S-rank, right?”
“Yes! That’s her!”
“Yeah, I met her once, a long time ago. She’s about Dan’s age, I think?”
Kazuki spoke with casual ease, but both Gidan and Groo trembled with frustration.
“She’s really S-rank? I read she can’t even make S+.”
The article had described her only as “the promising successor expected to create S+ items after Amakusa,” and the exhibition would focus mainly on S-rank works.
“How can she be S-rank if she can’t even make S+?”
Sergey chimed in from the side.
Now it was Groo’s turn.
“Right…!”
About to agree with her brothers, Groo’s eyes grew wide, darting from side to side.
‘I’m S-rank too but can’t make S+ either! What do I say?!’
Kazuki offered a gentle, reassuring smile.
“I’m not sure if she’s really S-rank… It took me a long time to make S+, too. Don’t worry so much, Groo-chan.”
Phew—so that’s how it is. Groo let out a breath of relief.
‘I nearly lost my S-rank pride.’
But Gidan was not so easily consoled.
“Even A-rank crafters can make S items, though.”
“Right. So only being able to make S just means you’re a hard-working A-rank, doesn’t it?”
Gidan and Sergey pressed their attack.
Twinge!
Groo once again opened her eyes wide, glancing anxiously.
‘Does that mean… I’m just making items that A-rank crafters can make? Am I just a hard-working A-rank?’
They had all marched in chanting “Down with Inoue Haruna!” together—so why was her chest starting to sting?
Kazuki, glancing downward, managed a troubled smile at Groo’s pout.
“I honestly don’t know if she’s really S-rank. When I met Haruna-san, she hadn’t even awakened yet.”
“How do you meet someone who hasn’t awakened?”
“Ah—Haruna-san is the granddaughter of the Inoue family.”
“Inoue family?”
“Yes. It’s a family famous for pottery in Japan, and there are several A-rank crafters among them. I met her when I’d just awakened and was training—they helped me out, so I had the chance.”
“Well… then she really could have awakened as S-rank?”
“…!”
At Gidan’s words, Groo flinched, her eyes going wide in shock.
She hadn’t even bested her master yet—could it really be that a new rival had now appeared?
“Then shouldn’t we get ready too?”
“Right!”
Groo, wedged at Gidan’s side, wriggled excitedly in agreement.
Joorim, who had been listening with little interest, pressed his temple and replied without much enthusiasm.
“Get ready for what, exactly?”
“You know. Countermeasures.”
“And just what are we countering?”
Gidan hoisted Groo under the arms, raising her Lion King-style.
“They’re trying to mess up Groo’s pop-up store in Japan. Just look at the dates for that special Ino-whatever exhibition. Right?”
“Yeah!”
Groo nodded emphatically.
“So. What’s the plan, then?”
“If you ask, it’s only right to answer.”
Gidan tucked Groo back under his arm, tilting his head seriously and drawing a thumb across his throat.
“We strike first. The best defense is a good offense.”
Sergey, blowing a bubble, raised a hand.
“In favor.”
“Groo, too!”
“Wait a minute. Strike what, exactly…?”
Surely you’re not plotting against the entire Inoue family?
Kazuki, alarmed, looked at the minors clustered before him, and they answered with conviction.
“Japan.”
For a moment, Joorim sank back, covering his face with both hands.
No matter where you took these kids, they were just hopelessly embarrassing.