S120

Society Protocol 20

Freedom of Choice

After Min-hyuk left, Ji Seo-hoon, the agency president, picked up the contract, went to his desk,

put it into a file on the desk, and put it back in the drawer.

Then he called over the manager, Lee Jun-hyun.

“Does it look okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. You did a great job. You really are the most trustworthy person. You proved it once again today. Good job.”

When he was praised so heavily, Lee Jun-hyun became shy like a young girl.

He showed a fearsome side in front of people he disliked, but strangely, in front of the president, he transformed into a gentle and kind child.

“Congratulations. You are the president now.”

“Huh? I don't know what you mean.”

“I need to use the office until the end of this week, so let's formally appoint you as president starting next week and have you begin work immediately. Is that okay? Even if you use the office for a few days. President.”

Lee Jun-hyun was so shocked by the sudden news that he sobbed and knelt down.

Standing on his knees, he took Ji Seo-hoon's hand.

“Hey, don't overreact. A company CEO shouldn't be acting like this. Besides, I'm only doing this because you're capable of handling it. Let's make this clear.”

Wiping away his tears, Lee Jun-hyun stood up as Ji Seo-hoon pulled him by the hand.

“I have only one request. Just because you've achieved something, don't cross the line. That is absolutely unacceptable. You are yourself, the company, and me. If you smear shit on yourself, you are smearing shit on the company, and you are smearing shit on my face too. Understood?”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind, Mr. President.”

“President Lee Jun-hyun will take over as CEO now. And push Min-hyuk as much as you can. You said he’s doing a drama, right?

Have him meet with the director and writer to see how far he can be taken.

Also, secure a few commercials—ads that can be continuously displayed, especially in places where girls can see them.

Since he’s in school, book him for variety shows that will showcase his intellectual side.

But you know people will find it annoying if you look too smart, right?

You need to create an image of being subtly dim-witted... well, not exactly dim-witted, but with a bit of a flaw that makes people want to comfort him.

I hope you do some training and that he has just the right amount of charm for you.”

He couldn't quite tell if it was praise or disparagement, but since it was coming from the benefactor who had given him, a nobody at the time, the opportunity to become the president, he tried to take it to heart as much as possible.

“You will only be using the office for the time being, so don’t come in here alone.

I can send a few guests to come and go.

Give the managers a heads-up in advance, and leave the overseas concerts to the regional managers for now.

As for the handover of duties, there isn’t anything major on my end. I’ll hand over the company seal,

the accredited certificate for using company funds, and the business card holder next week.

Get everything from Secretary Kim first, and she should stay with you for at least six months.

Then, if you want to replace her with your own, take about three years’ worth of salary and send her off well. Since we’ve grown together,

you handle the work after that on your own. Don’t tell Secretary Kim yet.

I’ll meet with her separately tomorrow to talk.

And since you are the CEO, buy yourself a new car. Of course, since you’re signing a two-year lease, you’ll feel a bit awkward with a car that’s too expensive,

so pick out a color and things within a reasonable budget. Since you’ll have a lot of work to do, take your vacation in about three months.

Oh, and I. I’m asking for a lot even after saying it.

Also, I have other business to attend to, so I’m heading overseas in a few days. Good luck on your own. Good luck.

He couldn't remember everything because he had heard the details so quickly, but he remembered the important things.

It was to take good care of Secretary Kim and to get a car.

They had suddenly brought in a rookie actor, but everything was going so smoothly that it felt like a lucky charm had arrived.

“You handle everything else on your own, but send me an email with weekly progress updates on how Min-hyuk is doing. Just take care of the rest. Alright, I trust you. Good luck.”

Ji Seo-hoon took Lee Jun-hyun to the underground parking lot. He then put Lee Jun-hyun in the car and sent him off first.

Once he confirmed that Lee Jun-hyun had left the underground parking lot, one of the parked cars

began driving out with Ji Seo-hoon inside.

The headquarters of the SS Korea Branch was located at a golf driving range in downtown Seoul.

It looked just like a regular golf driving range, with iron pillars standing there and covered in netting.

He was escorted from the lounge and entered the president's office.

When he reached into the display cabinet hanging golf trophies on the wall of the president's office, the cabinet slid to the side

revealing a staircase leading to the basement.

The entire wall was covered with iron plates.

It was a device designed to block the entry of radio waves.

However, an internet line was installed inside the basement, allowing for communication with headquarters.

That communication network was a line used exclusively by SS members. Using such a line meant that the telecommunications company also had its members.

The space inside the basement was equivalent to the entire area of the golf practice range.

In other words, it was the driving lounge—which was the golf practice range on the third floor of the building—and the reception desk and president's office on the second floor.

There were various shops on the first floor and basement, and although the underground parking lot was marked as basement level 1,

it was actually basement level 2.

Therefore, SS was using the entire basement level 1.

This place housed a monitoring room displaying indicators for each country, and occupying exactly half of the entire building was a monitoring room providing information and news regarding Korea.

Due to the large number of attendees, this meeting was held in the multi-purpose space next to the monitoring room displaying country indicators.

Normally, it was a space used to store specialized equipment. The seating was nothing special.

It consisted of a few golf course chairs and folding camping chairs.

This time, all SS members were to attend, with the exception of a few who were traveling overseas to attend the meeting in person.

Some were practicing golf to warm up while they were there.

Since it was a space open to anyone, no one suspected them.

This was because they had all either become regular members or appeared with the mindset of simply socializing with regular members.

All mobile phones were collected and stored at the information desk on the second floor.

This was because nothing was more important than the meeting.

Of course, they had also implemented their own special program to prevent wiretapping and various forms of hacking in communications, but

since they didn't know what subversive elements or defecting members might do,

it was a system created for the minimum level of safety.

The seats were already full, and Ji Seo-hoon arrived the latest.

“I did hear you were becoming the branch manager, but you’re showing up at the very end like a star. There are seniors here, so you should have arrived early.”

Ji Seo-hoon scratched the back of his head awkwardly and stood before the man holding a golf club, bowing and scraping.

“I apologize. I was a little late because I was coming back from interviewing players. Please forgive me, both seniors and juniors.”

Reading Ji Seo-hoon’s expression, the members immediately and intuitively realized that he had achieved good results and asked no further questions.

“We will proceed with the meeting. Let’s get straight to the point. Secretary, please give us the briefing.”

Among the people sitting in camping chairs, the only woman sitting in a proper chair stood up and stepped forward. A large monitor behind her turned on.

“We have received intelligence that they have begun operations in earnest. They do not seem to be fully aware that we are watching them yet. However, we believe that some members are currently vaguely aware of our presence. Therefore, we request that members exercise special caution.”

On the large monitor mounted on the wall, a slideshow of photos of the people gathered in Las Vegas was passing by.

“What makes this one different from previous terrorist organizations?”

A young man raised his hand and asked.

“If I had to point one thing, it is that they haven’t received any professional training in armed action.”

A burly man sitting somewhere in the middle spoke while still seated.

“I heard a little about them beforehand, and they seem like just some churchgoers. Is it really necessary to hold a global general meeting like this? Even Al-Qaeda didn't gather like this.”

Ji Seo-hoon stepped forward and answered.

“Since this is a special directive from Headquarters, I suspect there is definitely some unseen threat at play. We are likely analyzing the data right now, and it seems the numbers are the issue. They say they are recruiting one million people.”

A man who did not reveal his face from behind the wall spoke somewhat cynically.

“What’s so special about one million? With 400,000 people dying every day on Earth, what’s so great about a mere one million?”

Ji Seo-hoon felt a bit offended, but he tried to answer honestly.

It was because the gathering was filled with people who could pick up on every piece of information from the other person at the slightest sign of weakness.

“The problem is that it is not the sick and weary who are making the resolution, but rather people filled with conviction. Besides, we barely number 8,000 in the whole world combined, so a million is a lot.”

The man behind the wall continued speaking. The others made no attempt to join the conversation between the two.

“Do you think we are the only ones? There are at least 100 people under each of you here. The new branch manager has quite a few people around him, too.”

“The difference is that the people we work with are all acting for their own benefit, whereas those people are acting out of conviction.”

“Conviction my ass. It’s no different from them wanting to go to heaven or securing their own interests. Just wait until a sea of fire spreads before their eyes, and see if they still develop conviction then.”

Ji Seo-hun cast his gaze toward the man whose face was hidden in the darkness.

“So, what do you want to talk about, Senior?”

The man who had been in the shadows walked towards the lights, and his back glowed with the halo of the spotlight.

“I’ll handle it. If I burn a few of them to ashes, they’ll all scatter on their own. Their lives are on the line right now, so don’t talk about faith.”

“I understand your point, Senior. Let’s wait until the results of the general meeting come out later. Now, since everyone is gathered here for the first time in a while, let’s go have a meal.”

The burly man sitting in the center suddenly stood up and drew everyone's attention.

“Alright, alright, we have to finish what we need to do before we go. Let’s give a round of applause to the newly appointed Branch Manager. Here comes the congratulations.”

The people clapped and entered the Korea Monitor Room to eat. Buffet food was laid out there.

After more than a week, Min-hyuk finally met Mi-hee.

Mi-hee’s gloomy mood had subsided a little.

At the thought of seeing Min-hyuk, she felt her body heat up intensely.

However, she had to talk about something important today. She didn't know if she would ever see Min-hyuk again after this.

But she couldn't just be afraid any longer.

Because she had to give him a chance to choose, and the choice was Min-hyuk's.

It was around 5 p.m. when they met at the cafe in Sinchon where they had first met.

Although she was very happy to see him, she tried not to show it because there were other people around.

She was also a little nervous, as it was the first time they hadn't been able to contact each other or meet for a whole week.

Min-hyuk spoke up.

“I have something really important to tell you today.”

Mi-hee also spoke while looking at Min-hyuk.

“What is it? Tell me.”

Mi-hee thought for a moment, then looked at Min-hyuk and said.

“You go first. I think this is going to be a bit long, so I’ll talk after you tell me.”

Min-hyuk shared that he had appeared in minor roles, that he now had lines, that he had joined an agency and met with the CEO,

and that since that day, he had received a new script from the drama director,

and that filming would begin in earnest starting tomorrow.

Mi-hee continued to look at him with surprise and interest,

and listened excitedly to Min-hyuk as he told his story.

[I don't want to break up, Min-hyuk]

Mi-hee kept muttering these words to herself.

“Now, tell me your story. What happened over the past week?”

Mi-hee took a deep breath and began to tell her story.

She went to church to receive congratulations on her admission, moved from there to a prayer retreat,

and then, after hearing the sudden news, stayed at the prayer retreat with her mother. She only went as far as saying that.

She did not add any further details.

However, perhaps thinking she had left out an important part, she took Min-hyuk's hand and looked at his face.

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Would you still be with me even if I went crazy?”

Min-hyuk smiled slightly at Mi-hee’s words.

“You’re not exactly normal even now.”

In that moment, Mi-hee raised her arm to hit Min-hyuk, but instead grabbed the part of his arm where his biceps were.

“Please go to church with me just once. I’m begging you.”

Min-hyuk saw deep sadness and fear mixed together on Mi-hee’s face.

Her arm was trembling. It was ringing as the grip on Min-hyuk’s arm tightened and loosened.

“Okay. Let’s go together.”

At Min-hyuk’s warm smile and bright tone, Mi-hee’s tension seemed to release in an instant, and tears began to flow.

However, she had not yet told the whole truth. Still, she silently offered a prayer of gratitude, realizing that the mere fact he was going with her meant she had found the only person in the world, besides her family, to whom she could open her heart.

Season 1 concluded. Continues directly into Season 2.