Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 69

The money Ocean Shipping poured into its directly-operated stores was several times that of its chain stores.

The grand scale, splendid interior, and continuous promotions and events were noteworthy.

Initially, the menu prices were set absurdly low.

The profit margin was nearly nonexistent.

This was in preparation for the theme park that the parent company, the Ocean Guild, planned to establish in Seo District, Incheon.

The Ocean Guild was mobilizing its subsidiaries, including Ocean Shipping, to deeply infiltrate the daily lives of the district’s residents.

By dominating the commercial area and expanding its influence, they aimed to suppress any opposition to the theme park as much as possible while garnering goodwill from the residents.

Of course, when viewed from a broader perspective, a few directly-operated stores by Ocean Shipping were as insignificant as dust.

Even if they completely failed, it wouldn’t hinder the grand plans of the guild.

However, it would certainly affect the evaluation of the Ocean Shipping president.

‘I’ll be entirely disregarded.’

Yeon Horang, the eldest son of the Ocean Guild master.

He was already demoted due to causing a major incident.

Unlike his siblings, who were achieving remarkable feats in the guild, he couldn’t even properly manage a so-called small fish shop.

‘Father would never give me another chance.’

Master of the seas.

Yeon Horyeong, Yeon Horang’s father, was a legendary figure.

He founded the guild himself and, within 30 years, dominated the sea gates.

Thus, he earned the title of ruler, akin to a king, making him one of Korea’s strongest players.

To Yeon Horang, such a father seemed too high and distant, beyond any hope of receiving kindness.

He needed to prove himself, but things were getting tangled at this crucial moment!

“Damn it!”

Unable to contain his rising anger, Yeon Horang smashed his nameplate in two.

The title of Ocean Shipping president was insignificant to him.

“Explain what exactly happened, step by step.”

The current situation defied Yeon Horang’s common sense.

The Dark Abyss Tuna, which only existed in gates with oceans.

A delightful and nutritious ingredient.

Popular in China and Japan, it could be sold for at least six times more than the current price.

But Ocean Shipping offered Dark Abyss Tuna to customers at a very reasonable price.

They even hired top chefs and instructed them to prepare it.

And yet, customer visits had completely stopped?

How was such a thing possible?

“The, the Lion’s Castle is….”

An executive, unable to breathe due to Yeon Horang’s overwhelming anger, finally managed to speak.

“Lion’s Castle is supplying large amounts of Dark Abyss Tuna to a small sushi restaurant at the heart of three directly-operated stores. Based on their menu prices, it seems they’re practically giving it away for free.”

“Why?”

What the hell was this about?

“Why would Lion’s Castle go to such lengths to hinder us? Are they planning to oppose the Ocean Guild?”

Interpreting a few of the subsidiary’s directly-operated stores going under as a challenge to the Ocean Guild was a colossal leap.

But nothing else came to mind.

As Yeon Horang struggled to understand, the executives explained.

“That’s not likely. It doesn’t seem like the school itself is involved, so we presume it has to do with club activities.”

“Ah, clubs….”

Yeon Horang frowned.

The club activities at the Lion’s Castle were essentially a prelude to guild experiences.

Students formed organizations, operated them, received commissions, and competed.

It was practical learning that perfectly mirrored a miniature version of society.

In that process, naive youngsters accidentally created quite a ruckus often.

“These supposed future pillars of the nation are supplying fish to a mere sushi restaurant? How pathetic. Tsk.”

After getting a rough understanding of the situation, Yeon Horang let out an outburst.

He spoke without considering that the executives before him had spent their entire lives working in the fish trade.

He felt like he was going to lose it.

He felt like a frog hit by a blind stone.

‘Frog? Me? Damn it!’

He realized he was being treated poorly because he was in a trivial place.

The fact that he was in crisis because of the playful activities of students filled him with self-pity and frustration.

How could he possibly manage these bratty kids to vent his frustrations?

As he pondered, his lips curled into a scowl, and one of the executives suddenly brightened up and shouted.

“Manager Kim! Isn’t your son studying at Lion’s Castle?”

“Oh… he is? Manager Kim has raised quite a fine son, hasn’t he?”

Yeon Horang showed interest.

Manager Kim, who usually wouldn’t even get a glance from the president, felt a deep sense of foreboding as the young president smiled at him and spoke carefully.

“Sir, with all due respect, I don’t intend to involve my son in company matters.”

Ocean Shipping wasn’t an ideal workplace from an employee’s standpoint. It was closer to a black company.

However, like many other employees, manager Kim persevered, enduring every humiliation solely to support his family.

He wasn’t willing to let even his hard-raised son get entangled with the company.

“Are you crazy?”

“Why is Manager Kim speaking like that?”

As Yeon Horang raised a hand to silence the room, he spoke in a gentle tone.

“Company matters? Do I look like an idiot who’d entrust a child with company affairs? Manager Kim, did you always see me as a fool?”

“No, Sir.”

“I merely wish to ask for mediation. As adults, we can’t shamelessly go to students asking them to stop supplying Dark Abyss Tuna to the restaurant. It’s undignified. So I was just thinking of politely asking your son, a student like them, to convey our intentions.”

“But I don’t know my son’s stance within the school. Parents and children don’t know everything about each other’s lives. Even a trivial commission could put my son in a difficult position, so I must decline your request….”

The moment Manager Kim mentioned ‘decline,’

“Are you giving me a lesson now?”

Yeon Horang’s face twisted with disgust, his voice quivering with anger.

“What do I care about your son’s situation! Hell, it’s not even a difficult request, so why are you going on and on! Hey? Manager Kim! Manager Kim…!!”

“Eek!”

As Yeon Horang picked up a golf club and his aura flared like a wave, chaos erupted.

Executives, pale with fear, hid behind Manager Kim, screaming for their lives.

As employees oppressed by power and rank, they were terrified.

The atmosphere of fear made Manager Kim’s mind go blank.

Watching the defiance drain from Manager Kim’s eyes, Yeon Horang put down the golf club and straightened his tie.

“Manager Kim, who does your son have to thank for successfully enrolling at Lion’s Castle? Isn’t it thanks to your hard work supporting your family? Moreover, it’s thanks to Ocean Shipping for providing you with a job and a steady paycheck. I’m sure your smart son understands that. If he doesn’t, he’s ungrateful.”

“……”

“Just discreetly ask him to pass on a few words. After all the company has done for you, surely you can manage that?”

Looking at Kim’s shirt torn by the aura, Yeon Horang tossed him several checks, urging him.

“Come on, now. Right here, make the call.”

***

Lion’s Castle.

‘Oh, what to do?’

Kim Jinrae, a student in the first-year class B, was in shock.

After an unexpected call from his father, he was anxious.

The voice on the other end had been deeply unsettling.

‘What kind of club gets an ordinary office worker into trouble?’

His father had asked him to identify and persuade the club delivering Dark Abyss Tuna for free to the sushi restaurant.

However, Kim Jinrae had just been in the school for three months as a freshman.

He was not yet familiar with clubs, let alone capable of finding and persuading any specific club.

‘Seeing how malicious their actions are, it seems unlikely they’d listen to reason.’

They were showering an expensive ingredient for free right in front of Ocean Sushi’s competition.

How many office workers like his father had been pushed into awkward positions by this outrageous prank?

Sensing the tremendous malice and madness from the unnamed club, Kim Jinrae swallowed his dry saliva.

“Are you not paying attention?”

“Eek!”

Jinrae turned around, startled at the grip on his neck.

Kang Jaehyuk.

Despite transferring a month later than other first-year students, he had already become the center of the class and was staring at him intently.

Natural talent. Handsome appearance.

And outstanding status with an innate charm to make friends instantly.

… Well, maybe not the last two?

Anyway, Kang Jaehyuk was different from him.

Born with a decent first skill, Jinrae acknowledged that his talents were lagging behind his peers.

Jaehyuk, on the other hand, was a bundle of talent.

He skillfully wielded swordsmanship to the point of art and even mastered staff techniques.

He even had high stats.

Interacting with him often made Jinrae feel guilty. He felt like he was dragging down the class average.

“Sorry.”

Covering his behind with both hands, he apologized as Jaehyuk looked at him blankly.

“You should apologize to your family, not me.”

“Huh…?”

“You almost died just now.”

Only then did Jinrae look at his feet.

One step.

With just a single step forward, he would have fallen into an endless crevasse.

“Eek!”

Reeling back in shock and slipping once more, Jaehyuk stopped him again with a puzzled look.

“How curious. Your strength lies in your focus and perseverance, yet why aren’t you showing that today?”

“Do I have a strength?”

He knew something about himself even he didn’t?

He actually paid attention to someone like me?

“Of course.”

“Ah….”

Moved, Jinrae got careless for a moment.

Revealing his backside, Jaehyuk kicked him.

“Who in the world doesn’t have a strength?”

Clicking his tongue.

Flying through the air in an arc, Jinrae spotted the confused face of the approaching yeti and swallowed his tears.

‘He’s the worst.’

Compared to Kang Jaehyuk, even that malicious club might seem humane.

At least, they wouldn’t throw or kick their classmates to monsters, right?

‘Yeah, let’s muster some courage.’

Gaining unexpected courage, Kim Jinrae entangled in a fight with the yeti.

Observing his unusual determination, Jaehyuk smiled with satisfaction.

‘Indeed, people change when they’re on the verge of death.’

Back when Jaehyuk was a child, the Kang family had hundreds of warriors under their command.

All were strong and brave individuals.

Jaehyuk’s father personally trained them, holding duels or repetitive training until they were near collapse, then pushing them off a cliff.

In his childhood, Jaehyuk gained much inspiration from it.

‘Anyway….’

Jaehyuk cast a glance at Park Haerin.

‘Her observational skills are amazing.’

When Jinrae’s abnormal state led him to act, Haerin was similarly alert to the situation.

Given her handling of both sword and shield, she seemed to have a tanker-type skill, and he believed she might grow into an excellent tanker.

‘If the team needed a tanker, I would’ve definitely recruited her.’

But what Jaehyuk’s team needed was a supporter.

And within Class B, there wasn’t one that caught his eye.

‘I’ll have to monitor other students during this upcoming duel assessment.’

If Jaehyuk were an average student, he wouldn’t have had the luxury to worry about others.

His second duel assessment opponent was from Class A again.

Moreover, a martial artist.

Martial skills naturally formed counters to weapon techniques, making them powerful in PvP scenarios.

But Jaehyuk wasn’t anxious at all.

All Master.

This time, he intended to showcase the supreme art of martial arts.