Chapter 21

In a world where technology has advanced so much that human dignity is reduced to mere numbers, the government has lost its meaning. The authority meant to suppress corporations has knelt before overwhelming capital and technological power, and citizens no longer respond to government mobilization orders, chasing after spiritual values. Only money. In a world where everything is decided by money, the government is nothing but a puppet and a playground for corporations. Thus, each Megacorp is no less than a feudal lord or king in the region where its headquarters is located. The Hixen Group, one of the top Megacorps in the U.S., is no exception. Colorado is their kingdom. Even the employees of Hixen are guaranteed better air, water, and living conditions. Executives and their families, positioned higher than employees, enjoy all sorts of privileges and immunities like nobles. And the king of this kingdom stands above the law. The skyscraper, ignoring rights to sunlight and views, not only stands tall but also thick, monopolizing the sunlight and scenery of the surrounding area. Not satisfied with that, numerous high-rise buildings clustered around the skyscraper, forming a fortress wall. Thanks to this, the buildings behind the wall lived without sunlight or scenery, alongside mold. All these buildings belonged to the Hixen Group. This place was both the company building and the home of the Hixen family. At the top floor of this massive castle, the owner of the building and the ruler of the state was conducting his business. “So, the ninjas failed?” The old man with abundant white hair asked a man dressed like the ninjas who had chased Amon’s group. The man knelt down, replying humbly, “Yes. They lost the targets. All those deployed were defeated and captured by the Holy Knight Order.” “Are they alive?” “They all successfully committed suicide.” “I see. Then let’s overlook this failure.” “Thank you for your mercy.” The old man nodded, ordering a feast. The ninja quietly left the room. Silence filled the room where only the old man remained. The news of the ninjas’ annihilation brought no change in emotion to the old man. To him, their failure was no more significant than choosing the wrong knife to peel fruit. Just as one wouldn’t get angry for not being able to crack a coconut with an apple peeler, the chairman had no reason to punish or be angry about the ninjas’ failure. If the ninjas had survived and leaked information, he would have considered it a cut from the knife and changed it, but this time, nothing of the sort happened. The old man decided to assign the ninjas to other tasks and read the report. While reading, he pressed his fingers to his temples and spoke into the air, “Secretary. Come here.” Within a minute, a man in a neat suit entered. The secretary bowed and asked why he was called. “What’s the matter, Chairman?” “This report. Did Manager Bill write it?” “Yes. Given the importance of the project, the young master decided to handle it personally.” “I see.” The old man rubbed his chin and spoke again. “Just to ask, is he still bringing women into the office?” “…” “Don’t mind my reaction, tell me the truth.” “Well… He’s been frequenting a certain establishment and has been receiving women from there regularly.” After speaking, the secretary watched the chairman’s reaction. Afraid that the chairman might vent his anger on him for hearing that his son was so indulged in lust that he brought women into the company. But unexpectedly, the chairman’s reaction was calm. Rather, he considered it natural. “Well, he’s still young. It’s even better. A person must have desires to have ambitions, right?” To the chairman, his son’s minor flaw was nothing. If his son had been so indulged in women that he leaked security or didn’t do his job properly, the chairman would have been furious. But his son, while bringing women into the office and living a dissolute life, still did his job properly. Although employees were embarrassed by the women under his desk, the work still went smoothly. Moreover, objectively speaking, his son was competent. Even with women around, he did more work than most executives. If necessary, he knew how to send women away and didn’t shy away from field work that most businessmen disliked. If he hadn’t been his own son, the chairman would have set up a private office for him, so competent was his son. Therefore, the chairman tolerated his son’s deviations. The secretary also agreed with the chairman’s words. Of course, bringing prostitutes into the company building and enjoying such activities during work hours couldn’t be considered normal, but what could be done? The god of this space had declared it normal. The secretary merely obeyed the god’s words. Proud of his son, the chairman smiled faintly and read his son’s report again. Then, remembering why he called the secretary, his expression hardened. The secretary immediately straightened up, ready to listen. The chairman asked him, “Did any important reports come and go while that prostitute was here?” The secretary quickly took out his pad and checked the work records of that time. Comparing the times of the reports and the prostitute’s presence, there was an overlap. But upon closer inspection, the young master always sent the prostitute out of the office when discussing reports. Therefore, the secretary defended the young master by mentioning this fact. The chairman quite liked the secretary’s defense. “Don’t worry. I have no intention of scolding him. It’s a big project, and he must be under a lot of stress. Such things need to be relieved timely.” “Sigh…” “But forgiving that prostitute is another matter.” “Understood. I’ll handle that part.” The secretary’s loyalty was limited to the young master. As an executive, the timid commoner-like demeanor before the chairman was nowhere to be seen; only a cold businessman remained. Thus, the fate of one woman was decided. She, who had not entered the businessman’s fence, was a life of no value to them. The secretary immediately left the chairman’s office and used his connections to order the woman’s disappearance. It wasn’t a difficult task. It wasn’t the first time. How many prostitutes had died since the young master joined the company and was promoted to manager? To the secretary, this was just work. However, the secretary wasn’t entirely without feelings about the situation. “Sigh… He should be more careful.” The feelings he had were annoyance and pity. The pity wasn’t for the woman, but for the young master. Guilt? Does that make money? The secretary checked his phone’s calendar and muttered, “Still, seeing that she lasted a month, she must have been quite to his liking. He’ll be really angry when he hears she’s disappeared again.” The secretary shook his head and contacted the establishment the young master frequented. “Hey, it’s me. The young master will probably want a new toy. Huh? A new one just came in? Send me a photo.” Ding! A photo arrived on his phone. The secretary checked the photo and slowly nodded. “This should be to his liking. Send her by 6 today. Okay.” The secretary ended the call and headed to his small office. His steps towards the office carried no guilt or regret. *** Ding ding. One prostitute was erased from the world, and a new prostitute arrived at the company. As she stepped into the company lobby, people’s gazes turned to her. ‘Oh…’ Though her chest and buttocks were lacking, her beauty made up for it. While the guards were mesmerized by her beauty, she approached the secretary who had come to greet her. “Hello. I’m Ari.” “…Are you Korean?” “Do I look like it?” As the woman named Ari smiled with her eyes, the secretary slightly turned his head. The secretary, with some experience in such matters, recognized that the woman before him was top-tier. ‘Madam Marlo said she’s new.’ She would undoubtedly become the ace of the establishment within a month. Perhaps she might even catch the young master’s eye and become his concubine before becoming the ace. ‘If she becomes a concubine, she won’t die so meaninglessly.’ Prostitute, concubine, wife. These three were as different as heaven and earth. At least as a concubine, she wouldn’t be killed just for overhearing a conversation. The secretary saw a not insignificant chance for the woman before him to rise to such a position. ‘It’s not like she’s Cinderella.’ From prostitute to the heir of a Megacorp’s concubine in one leap. If it happened, this woman named Ari would have hit the jackpot in life. ‘Just in case it happens, I should make a good impression.’ Having calculated, the secretary began to guide her with a polite attitude. Not so much as to be looked down upon by her, but not so little as to make her feel ignored for being a prostitute. He treated her with the etiquette reserved for foreign branch vice presidents. Perhaps feeling the secretary’s attitude was good, the woman named Ari kept smiling with her eyes. ‘Wow, this must be what it feels like to be bewitched by a fox.’ A proverb he heard while dealing with Korean business came to mind. It was a strange feeling. Clearly beautiful, yet not arousing lust. It was like seeing an idol to admire or a beautiful work of art. Half-jokingly, with that smile, she might even take the position of the mistress. She had a bewitching charm that made such thoughts seem serious. In such admiration, the secretary, as if enchanted, guided her to the young master’s office. “He’ll be waiting inside.” The secretary opened the door to the young master’s office and treated her with utmost respect until the end. Ari slightly bowed her head and entered the room. Click clack. The owner of the room showed no reaction to the sound of heels. Behind a nameplate boldly inscribed with “Wilhelm Heisenberg,” the man was busily working. He didn’t even glance at Ari, focusing on his work. Ari, fearing she might disturb him, quietly waited. The silence lasted about an hour. Wilhelm, who had been burying his head in a pile of documents, finally spoke. “Pass.” “Huh?” “Ordinary prostitutes try to finish quickly and leave. Women like you, who wait quietly for me, are rare. Especially someone like you, who doesn’t even use a phone while waiting, is a first.” “Well… It’s my first time…” Ari’s voice, like a pearl, tickled Wilhelm’s ears. Whether he was pleased by her attitude, her voice, or her appearance, Wilhelm nodded gently. “Then even more so, you pass. Just to ask, where did you receive such education?” At his question, she hesitated, then told her past story. Roughly, she was the daughter of a decent company’s president, could have attended a prestigious university, but the company turned into a dungeon due to a failed experiment, and she started selling her body to make a living. A common story in this world. But combined with uncommon beauty and an uncommon voice, the common story became a tragic tale that tugged at heartstrings. Wilhelm liked the woman named Ari even more. ‘Being a first-timer means she’s a virgin… and her background is impeccable.’ If her story was entirely true, this was a situation straight out of a romance novel. Born into the family of a conglomerate, Wilhelm had lived without want, but he was still a man. He wasn’t entirely without a longing for a fateful encounter. ‘Impressive.’ Just in case. If she truly became his woman, he was even willing to save her family. Wilhelm’s gaze moved slightly downward from Ari’s beautiful face. Flat. But this wasn’t a disqualification. After all, size could always be changed with money. He nodded in satisfaction and gestured towards her. But she, truly a first-timer, froze in place. And looking around, she said, “Is… is there a monitoring system here?” “Huh.” Monitoring system. An internal surveillance system to keep track of every move of important figures in the office. Ordinary prostitutes didn’t care about such things, but being the daughter of a president, she seemed to care. ‘It seems her story wasn’t a lie.’ Wilhelm soothed her with a faint smile. “Don’t worry. This is my office. Who would monitor me?” In this office, all sorts of embarrassing things happened to Wilhelm. No matter how much Wilhelm was, he didn’t want to show his buttocks and genitals to his subordinates. Therefore, there was no such thing in this room. Only then did Ari feel relieved and approached Wilhelm. And hesitantly stroked his chin- Thud! “Fuck. I’ve really experienced all sorts of shit.” With a thick curse, she slit Wilhelm’s throat.