Chapter 15: A Lawsuit Designed To Lose

Jin-yeop calmly stated that he would sue Tifone.

At those words, however, the branch head’s face brightened considerably.

It was because he perfectly understood what Jin-yeop meant.

It was somewhat akin to playing with words, but it was certainly worth attempting.

“Regarding the illegal restoration without the original finder’s consent!

Then, while the lawsuit is ongoing…”

“No one can request disclosure of the research data.”

“And if we lose the lawsuit, the research data and the artifact itself would entirely belong to you, Esper Cha Jin-yeop.”

“Yes, and after that, no one can request information disclosure.

The research data of an artifact that has an owner cannot be accessed by anyone other than the restorer and the owner.

Moreover, during the lawsuit, we will submit the fully restored artifact as evidence.”

“Since re-restoration could lead to further damage to the artifact, they would have to acknowledge the restoration work.

A lawsuit is only possible if that restoration is acknowledged from the start.

And if the restoration is acknowledged, the bid for re-restoration becomes null and void.”

“It’s practically a rigged game anyone can see through, but since the artifact is going back to its original owner, there won’t be major issues.”

“How could you think of such…”

“Ah, and after Tifone loses the lawsuit, you just need to refund me the cost of the artifact.”

As Jin-yeop added this neatly, the branch head burst into laughter.

It was because of his manner of concluding—he had mentioned buying it, but that was only for the sake of the lawsuit; he wasn’t actually going to pay for it.

“Ha, haha.

At this rate, this is an incredibly generous deal.”

“Even if the restoration rights are acknowledged and the data released, the fine will be substantial.”

“Esper Cha Jin-yeop-nim, do you think Tifone would have restored an unregistered artifact without being prepared to pay such fines?”

“…..”

“If we can stay in the market with just a few pennies in fines and also exclusively obtain the research data, there’s no better deal.

Especially if the owner becomes an A-class Esper.”

Jin-yeop immediately caught on that he was referring to dungeon raid broadcasts and smiled back.

An A-class Esper wearing an artifact exclusively restored by Tifone appearing in the media every time—could there be a better advantage?

If Jin-yeop also filed a lawsuit, it would widely publicize that Tifone was a company with the technology to perfectly restore artifacts to the point where re-restoration was unnecessary.

Wasn’t this truly noise marketing?

Even more unregistered artifacts might flock to Tifone in the future.

And item sales would also prosper.

From the start, the real money-making market now wasn’t simple watches with luxury logos, but items themselves.

Gun-il smiled and looked at the Tifone item on Jin-yeop’s wrist.

“Our product suits you very well.”

“Tifone products are luxury goods, after all.”

***

After Gun-il left with a satisfied expression, Jin-yeop was left alone with Director Im.

Watching Jin-yeop hum a tune, Director Im narrowed his brow and asked.

“Who are you?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’re not the Cha Jin-yeop I know.

Be honest, who are you?”

“I am Cha Jin-yeop.

I’ve just become fiercely determined.”

“…What exactly happened with Kang Jung-hoon?”

Director Im’s voice softened slightly as he spoke.

Jin-yeop stared at him silently.

“You heard everything, didn’t you?

From the branch head.”

“About him stealing your artifact.

Yeah, I heard.

But let me be honest.

If it were the Cha Jin-yeop I knew, he would have just let it slide.”

At Director Im’s words, Jin-yeop chuckled.

Because his words were nothing but the truth.

That’s how pushover Cha Jin-yeop would have been.

He wouldn’t have even made it an issue in the first place.

He might have been momentarily disappointed in him, hurt again, but that would have been it.

He would have repeated to himself that he had to try to love him again somehow, even covering up his faults.

“Director Im, if I had stayed quiet as you just described, what would you have done?”

“Would I have just watched?

I would have resolved it somehow!”

“Exactly.”

“…..”

“So I resolved it.

With my own hands.”

“…..”

“Because this is something I have to settle myself.”

It wasn’t something Cha Jin-yeop would do, but at the same time, it was something Cha Jin-yeop had to do.

Everything from the past that happened by his own hand had to be resolved by his own hand, somehow.

Even if it was something he only realized after a very long time.

“Maybe this is my true self.

Not changed, but returned to the original Cha Jin-yeop.

The me you knew was just the past Cha Jin-yeop, trapped in guilt and harming himself.”

“…..”

“I won’t hurt myself with my own hands anymore.”

“That’s not why it feels strange.”

“…..”

“What feels strange to me is all of your current self, but at the same time… the current you looks like the old you who tried to do something, even if it meant destroying yourself…”

“Director.”

“…..”

“We agreed not to bring that up.”

At Jin-yeop’s words, Director Im fell silent.

It was a part that Cha Jin-yeop himself had hidden deep within himself, a trauma no one else could uncover for him.

Director Im just let out a deep sigh.

“Is this why you didn’t mention it regarding the divorce?”

“Yes.

It’s much better for forming public opinion if Tifone breaks it first, and then we prepare the materials.”

“…..”

“And this isn’t the end.”

“This isn’t the end?”

Director Im shouted in surprise, then stammered, his face flushed.

“You, that… blind date!

Yeah, blind date!

Is that related to this too?

You can’t have anything explode before the divorce lawsuit is finished!

A blind date while you’re blowing things up like this!

If you become an adulterer, you’re just as bad, you know!”

“Who cares about that?

That’s why I asked you to block it.”

“What?”

“What, are you scared?

So I told you, if you’re afraid, just step back.”

“What, scared?

Step back?

This won’t do, you!”

What, is he thinking of hitting me?

Jin-yeop snorted and looked at Director Im, who suddenly shot up from his seat, stomped heavily across the floor, grabbed the phone on his desk, and pressed the call button.

“Hey, tell that friend to come up.

Right now.”

“You have a guest?

Then I’ll be going.”

“What guest!

Just wait.”

“Ah, why?

I have a lot to do.”

“Do you, really?

I already sent you a housekeeper.

The homeowner isn’t supposed to go home until they’ve done all the cleaning and cooking, that’s the rule.”

He waved his hands wildly and pressed down on Jin-yeop’s shoulder, preventing him from getting up.

Although they were close enough for Jin-yeop to be blunt with him, he too was an A-class Esper.

A physical enhancement type, at that.

“Let go, what are you trying to make me do?”

“New Awakener training.”

“…Why would I do that?

There’s a person in charge.”

“A-class should be handled by an A-class!”

“There are other A-classes besides me!”

“They’ve all gone dungeon raiding.

You’re the only one lazing around.

Now that you’re not even doing housework, I can say you’re lazing around, right?

Looking at you, you must think this agency is an errand service.”

As a light scuffle broke out between Jin-yeop trying to escape and Director Im trying to keep him seated, a knock came from the closed door.

Director Im immediately shouted for them to come in, and the moment Jin-yeop saw the face of the person who entered, escorted by the secretary, his own face turned pale as snow.

“Oh, you’re here?

Jin-yeop, say hello.

This is Vibes’ new A-class Guide who you’ll be training from now on… um, what was the name again?”

As Director Im rolled his eyes trying to recall the name, the handsome man with a bright smile answered in a refreshing voice.

“I’m Lee Eun-ru.

Director-nim, Senior-nim, please take care of me.”

Why is that person here?

Jin-yeop unconsciously shot up from his seat.

Then, frozen for a moment, he blankly met the gaze of Eun-ru, who was smiling with an innocent face.

Being merely flustered wasn’t enough to describe it.

Jin-yeop immediately averted his eyes from Eun-ru, turned his head, and glared at Director Im.

Startled by the sudden sharp stare directed at him, Director Im looked surprised.

“What, why are you looking at me like that?

At least greet him.”

“You don’t know why?”

“What, what am I supposed to know?”

Director Im genuinely looked clueless, but Jin-yeop didn’t drop his suspicious gaze.

As if to show him, he had told him to wait, then brought Lee Eun-ru, telling him to handle new trainee training he’d never been asked to do before.

Anyone could see this was a deliberately prepared situation.

Gritting his teeth, Jin-yeop turned his head toward Director Im and spoke, keeping his voice as low as possible.

“You brought him on purpose, didn’t you?

Just to show me.”

“It’s true I brought him on purpose, in the sense of, ‘Instead of lazing around, do some work and refresh yourself’ kind of thing.”

“Who refreshes themselves by working?

Do you go to dungeons for vacation, Director Im?”

“…..”

“Anyway, be honest with me.

Didn’t you deliberately bring the person I had a blind date with?”

“What?

Blind date?

Mmp!”

Startled by the word ‘blind date,’ Director Im shouted, and Jin-yeop quickly reached out and covered his mouth.

As they huddled close whispering, and Jin-yeop suddenly covered Director Im’s mouth with his hand, Eun-ru, who had been constantly smiling, subtly furrowed his brow.

But unaware of this, the two continued glaring at each other, still pressed close together.

“Don’t pretend you didn’t know.

One moment you’re yelling about whether I think this is an errand service, and now you’ve assigned someone to me?”

At Jin-yeop’s words, Director Im got indignant, knocked away the hand covering his mouth, and spoke in a hushed tone.

“You bastard, why would I assign someone to you?

Wait a minute, you said he’s twenty years old?”

“…..”

“You thieving bastard!”