Healer

— Myunghwan is unconscious.

The voice was like announcing an obituary. It was Chairman Cha who woke Cha Yiseok from his morning sleep.

― Dr. Yang said that it has been like that since the healer left yesterday. What the hell happened?

Cha Yiseok pulled out the blanket and laid down on his back. The unexpected good news cleared his mind.

“It was nothing. We sang two songs and it was over. He must have been tired from fighting with the healer for two days.”

— It’s not something that can be looked past so easily. Dr. Yang also said he doesn’t have any obvious abnormalities, so we’ll keep an eye on it, but from last night until this time, he didn’t open his eyes once, isn’t it an abnormal finding?

“Surely, you don’t believe that life and death goes back and forth after a few songs, don’t you?”

— That remains to be seen. Listen carefully. If something happens to Myunghwan, I won’t let the scammer go. It’s the same with you.

Chairman Cha took a crushed breath and said.

― You should contact Chairman Lim today and have lunch together. The news of Myunghwan is circulating in the stock market. Before announcing an official position, talk to the management first, and please do something worthy of your title at least once. I didn’t put you in that position just to fool around at work!

Tutu— He heard a call ending tone. Since Cha Myunghwan was unconscious, Chairman Cha was anxious and urgent right away. Cha Yiseok ruffled his frizzy hair and lit a cigarette. Under the duvet, an albino Burmese python slid over Cha Yiseok’s bare torso. The snake’s skin touching his skin was cool and bewitching. He stroked the slimy body with yellow and orange patterns.

“Want some food?”

He got up and walked leisurely to the utility room behind the kitchen. Inside, a rectangular glass tube was visible. Inside, there were six or seven rabbits asleep. Cha Yiseok opened the glass lid, twisting his cigarette. He chose the most plump rabbit and went out into the living room. He whistled. Soonyi, who had been idle under the blanket, slipped out. It was the instinct to sense the prey, not to hear the sound. Cha Yiseok said, touching the bunny’s nose in his grasp.

“The pain will be over soon. He’s a natural hunter.”

He threw the rabbit at the same time. The prey fled desperately, but the faster predator coiled around it splendidly. Its bones shattered and its eyeballs popped open as he roamed the scrambled prey without an inch. The herbivore hung its neck at the end of a faint scream. Soonyi opened his mouth muscles and began to swallow prey several times larger than his head. Cha Yiseok inhaled the cigarette smoke and watched it.

It was very fascinating to watch him wrap its prey around him with its shiny body, break bones and prey on it alive. Reptiles were the most difficult animals to communicate with humans. But there was no other roommate who was so lovable and you don’t have to care about every little detail like a dog. After watching Soonyi swallow his prey for a long time, Cha Yiseok turned to the bathroom.

Soonyi’s neck was bulging when he came out of the shower. Cha Yiseok bit a piece of uncooked bread. He slung a black jacket over the table to his arm, and with his feet he pushed away the ragged papers on the floor. He put a magazine in a black briefcase. Ding— The elevator bell rang and the door slipped to either side. There was a parking lot reminiscent of an exhibition of famous cars from around the world.

The Pontiac, which ran through the city, rolled up with a slim body in front of the main entrance of the Taeryung group office building. A guard ran from the front door and took the key from Cha Yiseok while a group of male and female staff members greeted Cha Yiseok. He got on the executive elevator and went up to the 5th floor. When the door opened, he stretched out his feet coolly and entered the office. It was 11 am when he arrived. The secretary, with her straight hair tied neatly, stood up and greeted him. There was also a resentful look asking why he had only come now. She must have been troubled by the Chairman a while ago.

“You’re here? Executive Director.”

“Hello.”

Cha Yiseok bowed and entered the lobby. The secretary spoke.

“Chairman Cha has been looking for you since a while ago. And now Department Head Han…”

Han Sungjae was just leaving the office. He wrinkled the tip of his nose and said.

“I know. What time is it? Are you going to work now? Come in at once.”

Han Sungjae strode into the office as if he was the owner of the office and sat down on the sofa.

“It’s hard to see your face these days? If you’ve been somewhere nice, let’s enjoy it together.”

Cha Yiseok touched the undone paperwork on the desk with his finger.

“I’m sick of you. I need a fresh face now.”

“If you forsake me, you’ll be the only one who’ll lose? Don’t you know that my mouth is bigger than yours?”

“If there’s a chance, we’ll see which one is bigger.”

“Hey. Hey.”

Han Sungjae wrinkled his forehead. Cha Yiseok said, looking at the documents dryly.

“I heard Cha Myunghwan is unconscious right now.”

“I can imagine it without having to see it. If Yabawi is being impudent, it is enough to cause a headache. Or was the song such a mess that he foamed at the mouth and collapsed?”

“The cat doesn’t care. It’s just that the time has come.”

“Cat?”

Han Sungjae furrowed his eyebrows. Then he crossed his legs triumphantly.

“Next week, I set up a meeting with Woosung Land’s Chairman Lim. The old man pretended to be so busy that I had a hard time finding time.”

“Pull it forward. Speaking of, how about today?”

Cha Yiseok pulled out a Paradiso membership card from his wallet. The P-shaped logo engraved on the gilded card was hit by the ray of sunlight.

“If it’s a rape play, his thing will get hard just by listening to it. I tell Paradiso’s boss to prepare something with realistic acting.”

“What? He looks decent, but I never guessed that he was a pervert. Apparently he’s well versed in oriental paintings, so my father even gave him a painting as a gift, but it was a waste of money. How did you find that out? Are you sure?”

“Just take a stab at it once. It’s good if you get it right, or not, never mind.”

“Taking a stab is my specialty.”

Han Sungjae received the card with a sly smile.

“Don’t leave a trace from the beginning and move well. As Chairman Cha said, “Even if it’s lost its tooth, a tiger is a tiger.”

When Cha Yiseok himself led from the back, Han Sungjae took on the role of the vanguard from the front. Chairman Lim of Woosung Land was a close aide to Chairman Cha and occupied a large enough stake to show a big influence. He also had a good relationship with the management, so if he convinced Chairman Lim well, he could hold the entire management in his hands. However, he was the most practical and at the same time the most difficult prey to handle, so he must be more secretive and thorough than anyone else.

“I’ll stop by Myunghwan hyung soon. I want to see his face once before he dies. I’m leaving, bye.”

After Han Sungjae left, Chairman Cha’s voice came over the intercom.

— Have you made an appointment with Chairman Lim?

“I have decided to meet him this evening.”

— Do your best without making any mistakes. Myunghwan is sure to get better, so at least until the shareholders’ meeting, make sure you get it right. Chairman Lim is well versed in oriental painting, so he should prepare carefully.

An ecstatic gift for Chairman Lim would be delivered by Han Sungjae. When Chairman Cha’s voice disappeared, Cha Yiseok sat down on the desk. He looked down on the city below through a floor-to-ceiling window. Buildings where wealth and power were concentrated were stretched out toward the sky as if they were challenging it. He put his palm on the window and stroked the dignified kingdom. If the world that Chairman Cha had built up falls into this grip, it will be torn to pieces and turned into a garbage republic. It will crush the face of an old man in despair. Along with his son, the old man’s favourite.