Chapter 1: The Devil is in the Details (Part 1)

“Mr. Lee has such a pleasant demeanor. I believe your name means ‘blessed with good fortune,’ right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

As the president of the company spoke, Lee Kyungbok smiled slightly. His trembling lips indicated how hard he was trying to maintain this smile. However, through his professional life, he had learned to grin even when he wanted to curse someone out.

“That’s true. They say one’s destiny can be reflected in their name. In that regard, doing business with you, Mr. Lee, seems like it will indeed bring much prosperity.”

“Oh, then…”

Was all his effort finally paying off? This time, Lee Kyungbok couldn’t help but let a genuine smile form on his face.

“But we won’t just do one or two deals together, right?”

Suddenly, Lee Kyungbok felt a headache coming on—not just figuratively but literally. The man sitting across from him was clearly full of crap. Of course, since this meeting had been ordered by his own company, he stayed put. Amidst these thoughts, the president continued with a wry smile.

“Although it’s technically business-to-business dealings, ultimately, we’re dealing with people here. Don’t you think the atmosphere feels too focused on transactions?”

“A-ha-ha!” Kyungbok laughed, though more out of disbelief than amusement. His discomfort around the other president intensified.

So, he’s essentially asking me to entertain him more…

Despite the flowery language, the message was clear: show more sincerity. Checking his watch briefly, the president chuckled and stood up.

“Oh dear, how time flies! I must have kept you for far too long.”

“You’re right. It’s quite late now. So you won’t be accepting my proposal today?” The president seemed slightly taken aback by Lee Kyungbok’s response and hastily continued.

“Ahem… Well, I’ll need to review your offer with our team again. Being impulsive as the president could lead to complications. But rest assured, I will persuade them. Let’s discuss this further over drinks next time.”

The president smiled and gently patted Lee Kyungbok on the shoulder. His demeanor was friendly, but his intentions were not.

“One thing that concerns me is that you’re too rigid, Mr. Kyungbok. You should try being more flexible like other employees.”

Throb.

Suddenly, pain returned to his head, stronger than before. This familiar ache signaled an impending event.

“Yes, thank you for your advice. Until next time.” Despite his frustration, Lee Kyungbok maintained his smile as he exited the business meeting. Seeing the twilight sky prompted him to sigh heavily.

I knew it would go just as I predicted. Why do they keep forcing me into these situations…?

He sensed ominous energy not only from the president but also the entire establishment. However, despite his gut feeling, he couldn’t cancel the deal when the company had pushed so hard for it.

Tsk, no wonder I’ve been sensing impending doom at work.

Lee Kyungbok tried to reassure himself. It was more important to think about his paycheck than the future of the company. He quietly made his way to the train station and used his smart ring on his wrist to purchase the fastest available ticket back home.

,..It’ll be past eleven by the time I get home.

He felt hungry since he hadn’t eaten dinner yet. Once he arrived at his place, it would just be enough time to grab something quick before showering and going straight to bed. Then, wake up early for work again tomorrow. Just thinking about it made him feel suffocated.

Is this company really worth my loyalty?

A wave of disappointment washed over him. It might have stemmed from today’s failed deal that had seemed like a sure thing earlier. His mood, which was already down in the dumps, plummeted further due to sudden anxiety.

His head throbbed painfully as he turned around simultaneously.

His gaze landed on a child darting across the crosswalk despite the signal not having changed yet.

“Damn…!” He instinctively sprang into action, grabbing the kid right before they ran out onto the street.

“What—?” The startled mother started to protest but stopped short when…

A delivery motorcycle turned around the corner with a loud roar and narrowly missed hitting the child. Had Lee Kyungbok not stopped him, there would’ve been a terrible accident. The boy burst out crying from shock as his mother belatedly hugged him tightly.

“Jiwoo! Are you okay?! Um, thank you so much. Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome.” Lee Kyungbok gritted his teeth at the sudden headache but forced a smile and added, “Please hold your children’s hands when crossing the street.”

“Oh, yes…” As the mother repeated his words in a daze, Lee Kyungbok crossed the crosswalk.

If only I’d become a shaman like my grandmother, things might be better now.

From a young age, he had always felt disconnected from others. His parents refused to acknowledge it, but his grandmother, who was also a shaman, recognized what made him different.

However, his grandmother had fervently hoped Lee Kyungbok would not receive divine possession.

Kyungbok, the divine power within you is too great for a human body to bear. Do not even consider becoming a shaman, understood? If you do, the gods will consume you.

Her repeated warnings were still vividly etched in his mind.

Divine power…

He couldn’t ignore her caution because he’d already experienced numerous instances of “recoil.” It was happening again now. His head throbbed inexplicably, and he felt slightly dizzy.

I won’t die from this level of recoil at least.

Lee Kyungbok consciously regulated his breathing while waiting for the recoil to subside. * Even if I don’t die, this much recoil could seriously injure me.

Fortunately, the symptoms didn’t worsen, allowing him to safely sit down on a bench in the large lobby.

Just as he was catching his breath…

A vibration accompanied by a call notification sounded.

[Human Fringe]

It was from his supervisor.

Lee Kyungbok slightly frowned and answered the call while activating the recording app on his phone.

“Yes, Assistant Manager Jung.”

[How’s the contract going?]

Hearing that voice instantly increased his stress levels. However, revealing his feelings would only make him more exhausted.

“It’s almost finalized. Perhaps next time—”

[You didn’t get it done, did you?]

His supervisor interrupted before he could finish. Lee Kyungbok pursed his lips tightly.

[Hey, how much time have you wasted chasing just one deal? Are you planning to show only this single achievement for the entire month?]

“I’m working diligently. And at our next meeting, I can provide updates.”

[Is that what they told you? Waiting until next time?]

“Yes, sir.”

[Ha, seriously…? Hey, are you out of your mind?]

“Are you crazy?” The supervisor’s words poured out incredulously.

“What? You’re really pushing it. How dare you talk back to me! Hey! Have you been doing this for only one or two years?! If something seems possible, push harder! And when they say ‘see you next time,’ do you actually think they mean it?”

“Yes.”

In this situation, short answers were sufficient. I was used to these kinds of conversations. It was obvious that nothing I said would be heard anyway.

“Huh? Yes?”

“Yes.”

“Sigh, damn brat. Answering questions. What good does it do just to answer? Huh? Shouldn’t there be some improvement? Why? Is work hard? Are you the only one struggling? Don’t you consider how your mediocre efforts affect others?”

“Should I head over there again now?”

Of course, his boss wasn’t going to send him back, but neither would he let Kyungbok leave. His supervisor had reached this point because Kyungbok usually helped him with his workload, so he must’ve felt at a loss without Kyungbok’s assistance.

<Forget it, have you taken the train yet?>

“No, not yet.”

<What time is your train?>

“In 10 minutes.”

<…Sigh, never mind. I’m passing by there anyway, so just get on the train. I’ll take care of the aftermath.>

“Huh?”

<Ah, isn’t your smart link ‘Pineapple Inc.’? >

We had been working together for quite some time, but he still didn’t know this?

“Ah, yes… Why do you ask?”

<Tsk, tsk, aren’t you supposed to be good at sales? You should use Android devices. Your basics are seriously lacking. That’s why you’re struggling like this. Got it? Wake up and get your act together!>

The call abruptly ended, leaving me utterly baffled.

‘Is my supervisor really offering to handle things for me?’

Despite being assigned as his supervisor at work, Lee Kyungbok couldn’t recall ever receiving any help from him. Whenever he asked for guidance, his boss would snap at him, asking why he didn’t figure it out himself or accusing him of doing things his own way instead of following procedure. Instead, his manager constantly nagged Lee Kyungbok to clean up after him.

Something isn’t right.

A growing sense of foreboding gnawed at him deep inside. It wasn’t just a hunch but rather a near-psychic intuition.

Sure enough…

His expression involuntarily contorted.

Throb…

“Dammit.” His head was throbbing again, more intensely than before.

Lee Kyungbok checked the time. He should have boarded the train by now, but he remained seated. After some deliberation, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Gradually, his senses dulled, bringing a sense of tranquility.

Then, a voice echoed in his mind.

What time is my train again?

His supervisor, who usually showed no interest in his schedule, checked it for him.

I’ll take care of things here.

He even volunteered to handle any follow-up matters. Plus, wasn’t Lee Kyungbok acquainted with the president from their dealings?

It would be good if you could learn some flexibility like other employees.

Oddly enough, the president mentioned “other employees,” although Lee Kyungbok was clearly the only one assigned for this account.

“So that’s why I keep getting these headaches.”

He couldn’t let this slide. Something was happening behind his back.

The throbbing pain… It wasn’t just a regular headache but rather a kind of signal. Despite not receiving divine revelations, he felt a message being conveyed—a foreboding one. As he pieced together fragmented clues instead of dismissing the ominous signs, something within him, which he had been suppressing, started moving uncontrollably.

Lee Kyungbok reflexively grabbed his pen and notebook to randomly draw symbols. If he had some rice on hand, he would’ve performed a divination using grains like his grandmother used to do, but it wasn’t feasible at this moment. Still, this was enough for now.

What if I go up there as planned?

Great Misfortune.

And what if I return to my client first?

Minor Fortune.

And with the possibility of blessings in disguise…

Based on the results of the divination, Lee Kyungbok made a decision: He wouldn’t head straight upstairs but instead revisit his client first.

However, a dizzying pain surged through his head, causing his vision to blur—a side effect from activating his ability.

“Ohhh…!” A drop of blood hit the floor of the lobby. Quickly grabbing a tissue, he wiped away the blood from his nose and took deep breaths.

His body felt drained, yet he harbored no regrets.

Based on the information and divination results, he knew what was about to unfold.

Are they trying to steal credit for my work? But why exclude me from this assignment? They could still claim it as their own even if I went along with them. There’s more going on here.

Lee Kyungbok wore a resolute expression. Even his grandmother had been concerned by these ominous signs, and her intuition had never once proven wrong.

Once the pain subsided, Lee Kyungbok immediately headed toward the business meeting location.

… Wait, what’s that?

He witnessed his supervisor exchanging friendly handshakes with the president of the client company. Their interaction seemed too familiar for a first encounter. Soon, the president casually got into a car, while Lee Kyungbok’s smart ring captured every detail without missing a beat.

Later that night at a dimly lit bar…

“I’ve tried e-cigarettes, but nothing beats regular smokes for me.”

“I know, right? I can’t believe how well you and I get along, Assistant Manager Jung.”

“Well, of course we do! Cuban cigars suit you perfectly, President Park.”

The tipsy supervisor and president laughed as they returned to their table.

“Oh really? Ha-ha, maybe I’ll be able to afford one with this deal. But is it okay to drink like this?”

“No need to worry.” The supervisor waved off his concern with a grin. “Nobody knows I’m here today. My employees didn’t see me, did they?”

“Well, yes, that’s true…”

“You can just say you signed Lee Kyungbok today. Besides, we both need to get something out of this deal, don’t we? That jerk will screw everything up anyway.”

The president chuckled at his bold declaration.

“All right, all right. Then I’ll trust your judgment, Assistant Manager Jung. By the way, I have no idea why Lee Kyungbok is so clueless. If he’s going to work in sales, he should know how to schmooze people. It’s frustrating, really. You must’ve had it tough working with him.”

“Oh boy, please spare me. All bark and no bite, that guy! Do you know what they say about him around here? He always tries to charm female employees instead of focusing on his job.”

“Oh really? Is he that outgoing?”

Of course, Lee Kyungbok had never been like that, but his supervisor perceived him as such due to feelings of inferiority clouding his judgment.

“Yes, sir. I can tell right away that he’s destined for great things! And it seems this is also beneficial for our company.”

“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”

“If we let that jerk run loose, he’ll definitely cause trouble with female employees, wouldn’t you agree? In the long run, it’s actually better for the company.”

“You’re right about that.”

The two men chuckled and finished their soju bottle.

“Well then, shall we head to the second round, boss?”

“Oh, sure thing. Let’s go.”

As the two men stumbled away from their table, an employee approached to start clearing it. At that moment, another man came towards where they had been sitting.

“Excuse me. I think I dropped my smart link here.”

“Oh, yes, sure. Do you need a flashlight?”

“No, no, it’s okay.”

The man pretended to grope around on the dark tabletop before retrieving his hidden smart link from beneath it.

[New Recording]

[00:47:57]

Lee Kyungbok stopped the recording. He gave a slight nod to the employee and exited the establishment.

“You’ll pay dearly for making me bleed, very dearly indeed.”

Tomorrow, chaos would likely erupt at the company.

The next morning…

As soon as Lee Kyungbok arrived at work, he found himself surrounded by curious colleagues.

“Kyungbok, what’s going on?”

“The department head is furious.”

“You’ve been summoned to his office.”

His coworkers questioned him with concern etched on their faces. Before Lee Kyungbok could respond, his supervisor approached them, scowling deeply.

“What happened, Kyungbok? The company is in chaos over that contract!”

Lee Kyungbok couldn’t help but chuckle at the overly dramatic display. Perhaps it was time for his supervisor to switch from sales to acting instead.

“Didn’t Assistant Manager Jung say he would handle that contract?”

“What?! No, what do you mean by that?!”

This supervisor truly was despicable. Kyungbok had always noticed how insincere he was—using casual language when alone and feigning respect in front of others—but today, his true colors were even more apparent.

“…It’s pointless to continue this conversation.” Lee Kyungbok looked down on his overconfident supervisor with disdain, which infuriated him further.

“No, what do you mean—?”

“Mr. Lee and Assistant Manager Jung! Get in the meeting room now!” Just as the supervisor was about to retort, their direct boss yelled at them from afar. The supervisor flinched, shot one last glare at Lee Kyungbok, then started walking toward the conference room.

Lee Kyungbok followed close behind.

“What’s going on here?”

“Yes, sir…”

The sales department manager and assistant manager were visibly furious while their team manager seemed nervous and uneasy. Despite the suffocating tension, Lee Kyungbok faced them unfazed.

“You know very well why we called you here, don’t you?” The irate manager interrogated Lee Kyungbok, who feigned ignorance by tilting his head slightly.

“I’m not sure.”

Their faces twisted simultaneously, but the corner of the supervisor’s mouth curled up ever so subtly.