I Became a Cyberpunk Tycoon

Playing with Fire (1)

"You were already probably the most famous businessman in Stella City... But you've gone a step further."

"Because that wasn't enough."

It was a bit funny, but in my current state, it seemed more comfortable to pass through the relatively secure outskirts rather than the city center.

The businessmen who had seen me as an 'object of respect' or 'object of reverence' until yesterday were now looking at me with hatred.

When someone who is similar to you, or someone you consider beneath you, achieves greater success, ordinary people become jealous of them.

But once they cross a certain line, people begin to perceive that successful person as 'a different kind of being.'

This is especially true if there are reasons like bloodline or talent that can be attributed as 'different' reasons.

Whatever evil acts they commit, whatever unfair benefits and authority they wield, people just think it's a story from a different world than their own.

"Did you need to antagonize them?"

"There was no reason to fear that particularly."

However, it's a bit different when that symbol of power and unreasonableness causes them harm.

The reason people hated me was simple.

"What do you want? I still don't understand."

"Well, I'm just doing what I want to do."

The stock prices fell.

For Stella City's corporations, that scandal wasn't such a grand affair.

The police began investigating, but no one really believed they could accomplish anything.

The victims were shouting at the companies to apologize, but the companies were merely responding with brazen faces saying, 'We will take legal action if unverified rumors continue to spread.'

While some victims were shouting, 'Finally people are listening to our story!', others questioned, 'Why did it have to be from Hansan?'

"At this rate, except for Hansan, there won't be a single company left that will take your side, young master."

"That's fine."

I didn't need riffraff.

It's okay if people dislike me right now. Anyway, at this point, the majority of people would frown just from seeing my face, regardless of what I did.

Even if a hundred more people start cursing at me, I need to create one person who can support me.

If I keep doing what needs to be done with consistency, eventually they'll find a way to use me.

"...?"

It was a phone call. When I carefully picked up my phone, quite a frightening number was displayed.

"This person is still as impatient as ever."

"T-this! Wouldn't it be best to answer this as quickly as possible?"

The secretary's eyes flashed. The person calling me was a big shot worthy of such treatment.

"Hello?"

"...You've been neglecting this old man without even a single phone call until now?"

"You were busy, weren't you?"

Among those who carried Hansan blood, there weren't exactly few.

Even the secretary beside me was technically a person with Hansan blood flowing in them.

However, after breeding as strict as pedigree dogs, those with the legitimacy and thick blood worthy of bearing the Hansan name were extremely rare.

And he was the most noble and influential figure among those people.

"Chairman."

Han Sanmok. The leader of the Hansan Group and someone who could be called Hansan itself without exaggeration.

He was a person like the heart of Hansan, possessing absolute power and political influence.

All my authority and wealth, the people I could meet and the choices I could make. All of these were merely gifts I could receive simply because I was 'his blood relative.'

"Don't you even want to see your family? My goodness, all my worrying has been for nothing."

"Of course, I missed you. But both you and I had many things we needed to do, right?"

A human who tramples countless people, doesn't hesitate to wage war for his goals, and plots all sorts of schemes to place the world under his hand, no, under the family's hand.

But the moment he called me, he showed a casual laugh like a countryside grandfather.

"Were you busy chasing women? As I've said many times, you're at that age. When the previous chairman was young, it wouldn't have been strange to have had three children by now."

The previous chairman he mentioned would be my great-great-grandfather.

Considering how technological advancement has greatly increased the average lifespan of wealthy people, he was literally someone from the distant past that you'd only find in history books.

Even the current chairman, Han Sanmok, who's speaking to me now, must have been listening to his grandfather's nagging at my age.

"I'm not scolding a man for bedding a few women, but you should at least have a child or two. Wouldn't that help you mature a bit?"

"I'll try."

Anyone bearing the Hansan surname could freely meet whoever they wanted.

Whether it was a TV celebrity, famous singer, or a police officer or flight attendant known for their beauty, not many would dare defy their 'orders.'

However, bearing a Hansan child required going through very strict procedures.

The members of the Hansan family treat each other truly like one body. And not even as replaceable body parts like wrists or arms.

They hurt together and anger together like the same person, plotting strategies for everyone's benefit.

A bond beyond simple blood relations, an unbreakable relationship that would hold even if the world split in two. That was the blood relationship of Hansan.

Creating an heir to that Hansan, naturally it couldn't be lightly permitted.

"Don't you like the girl I assigned to you? Should I send another?"

"She's sufficient. It's fine."

Changing secretaries here would create too many variables.

She's someone who has followed me since I was very young. Specifically, from when it hadn't yet been revealed that I was this kind of scoundrel.

Even for Hansan, they wouldn't gift someone more capable than her to me, who was already a scratched lottery ticket.

Someone younger might come, but not someone stronger.

While there might be less need to act as 'Han Sanwoo,' if I couldn't even convince my current secretary, being exposed was just a matter of time.

"Tsk... So, what wind blew this time that made you go around stirring up companies?"

"They're all vermin, aren't they?"

"That's true. But nurturing those vermin is also a virtue that Hansan should possess."

The way of thinking itself is different. This could be used somewhat advantageously.

"Well, did something upset you?"

"It's something I'm a bit embarrassed to say in front of grandfather... Personally, there was something that upset me."

"A woman?"

"That... it's not that..."

"Hah, fine. That's the age for it."

Though it was the body of Han Sanwoo who had been an adult for several years, to the family elder, he was still just a child.

Among Hansan's legends, there were some who lived as playboys until fifty and only showed their prowess when they turned sixty.

Even the chairman I'm talking to now was still working vigorously despite being over a hundred years old.

My age was one where all sorts of misconduct could be permitted with the words "That's the age for it."

"You got angry because something displeased you... Well, that's fine."

In the mind of the chairman leading the global Hansan Group, there wasn't even the hypothesis that I might have done this out of 'goodwill.'

He just thought it was anger. He only thought it was an incident where I 'attacked other companies' to vent boiling anger, not even imagining it could be an action to protect victims and gain their trust.

After all, he was someone who didn't even have eyes capable of recognizing the people in the slums.

"Yes. As I've said many times, this old man wants to see great-grandchildren. Understand?"

"Yes, yes. I'll try."

"Don't just say it with words; show me results. Got it?"

"Yes. I understand, grandfather."

Though it was somewhat forceful, it wasn't without love within it.

Though that wasn't my concern anyway.

The call ended. The secretary watched my expression carefully before cautiously averting her gaze.

"Thank you for covering for me."

"Because it's necessary. We're not exactly new acquaintances, are we?"

"I thought you'd prefer someone younger."

"I don't want to focus on such things right now. There are more fun... more important things to do."

She looked at me with an indecipherable gaze before carefully bowing her head.

"If you wish, I am always ready."

"What?"

"What the chairman said—"

"Don't say unnecessary things."

It's not that I dislike it. Originally, I could smile at any woman in this world if they were placed before me.

But not now.

When critical moments come, I'll ultimately have to rely on her combat ability. A pregnant woman cannot fight.

"You have many things you need to do. Besides..."

Looking at her eyes, I can't grasp what action I should take.

'Han Sanwoo's' gaze toward her was colder than this, and her gaze toward 'Han Sanwoo' wasn't much different either.

Clearly, she didn't view 'Han Sanwoo' favorably. Beyond my personal intuition, there was no shortage of evidence.

Even from documents and memos obtainable in the game, there was plenty of evidence that her relationship with Han Sanwoo had soured.

Players who thought, 'Maybe if I play it right, I could get Suhwa's help in bringing down Hansan Woo...' ended up having their heads crushed under her heavy loyalty and implants.

Even in routes cooperating with corporations, when protagonists backed by Hansan appeared, she was a woman who didn't abandon that loyalty.

There were reasons why I wanted to draw her in even while taking on many risks.

"What else would you like me to do?"

Perhaps finding my hesitation strange, she was waiting for me with an odd smile.

No matter how I look at it, there's goodwill mixed in. Though I wasn't particularly sensitive to others' emotional changes, I wasn't so oblivious as to miss such clear emotions.

"...Those mercenaries we hired recently?"

"Ah, you mean them."

She was disappointed. No matter how I think about it, this was strange.

She's a secretary serving the heir to the Hansan family. If she deliberately hid it, I shouldn't be able to notice her emotions with the naked eye without special equipment.

Or should I think all of this is some kind of act? To lower my guard...

No, there's no end to suspicion. I was Han Sanwoo, and there was no way for her to gain anything by personally deceiving me.

Even if she really suspected me, I couldn't reject her, nor could I ask why she showed such an attitude.

If she responded with flattery like, 'Isn't it natural to be happy when I'm with the young master of Hansan?', I would have no way to refute it.

"Those mercenaries... There's no way they haven't been discovered, right?"

"They must surely know. Since they were mercenaries with some reputation in the underworld, we might see some desperate ones emerge."

The corporate higher-ups will be frantically moving to contain the situation immediately.

But the factory managers who have already become 'cut-off tails' are different. They are now people who have nothing left to lose and plenty of time to spare.

"Actually, wouldn't it be fine to cut ties at this point?"

"That would be a bit wasteful. Brown Hood or whatever they're called... I heard they got involved too?"

It's like turning on a bright light in a dark night full of insects.

Many people will gather. Most of them are people who won't cause problems even if they disappear.

"They'll make good bait."

Only then did my secretary reluctantly nod.

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