Ch.78Crown of Laurels 1

“Where did you get that hairpin?”

Crimson Snake fiddled with the simple pin in my hair. She observed my side-swept bangs and elegantly tied ponytail with a blank stare.

“Jayi bought it for me.”

I answered with my hands behind my back and a slight smile.

“Did you go shopping together?”

“Yeah. What I’m wearing now is from there too.”

Only then did she look me up and down, examining my outfit. She shook her head as if something displeased her.

The female executive of Ilshim took off her suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

“Put it on.”

“But it’s hot outside.”

When I pouted, she forcefully helped me put my arms through the sleeves. Then she buttoned it up firmly.

“From now on, wear at least a t-shirt under your dress shirt.”

“…”

My face grew hot as I realized what she meant. I clutched the jacket tightly and turned my head away.

An awkward moment passed. Then the sharp sound of dress shoes approached us.

It was a face I’d seen before. Yellow Snake.

Though he wore sunglasses, they couldn’t hide his smirk. He swaggered toward us with a bow-legged gait, casually waving.

“Well, if it isn’t that young lady from before?”

His sleazy voice made me instinctively shrink back. I quietly hid behind Crimson Snake.

Wrapped in her oversized jacket.

“I warned you back then, but I see Crimson Snake caught you properly?”

He snickered while pointing at me. Crimson Snake responded by firmly bending his finger back with a resolute expression.

“And you’re always grinning like a pervert whenever you see Jayi.”

“Ow-! That’s all just fatherly concern…”

“Bullshit… I heard you even had dinner with her separately.”

Crimson Snake bent his finger until it nearly twisted. He shuddered and barely managed to escape her grip.

Holding his throbbing finger, he called out:

“Miss Ha… You know there’s a company dinner today, right? All executives must attend.”

“No. I need to eat with her.”

Crimson Snake gently held my shoulder. I nodded lightly in response.

I was planning to treat her anyway to celebrate my new job.

“But the Vice Chairman is coming too.”

“The Vice Chairman…?”

Crimson Snake’s previously relaxed eyebrows twitched. She pressed her lips together, looking troubled.

“Oh dear…”

“It’s okay, I can eat with you another time.”

“Or, how about the young lady joins our company dinner?”

Yellow Snake sleazily poked my shoulder with his elbow. Crimson Snake gently wrapped her arm around my bumped shoulder.

“Why would she go there?”

“Why not? It’ll be great. If the Vice Chairman comes, the side dishes will be fancy too.”

He made a sleazy gesture like he was feeding someone with a spoon.

“Don’t worry. You know the Vice Chairman’s personality, right? She’ll definitely like her.”

“…”

Crimson Snake folded her arms, deep in thought. I was concerned too.

If she missed an important company dinner because of me, it would surely cause her trouble. Maybe if I went along and just stayed quiet, it would be okay…?

“Alright, I’ll come along too.”

I said confidently while linking arms with Crimson Snake. The female executive looked down at me with a troubled expression.

“Hey…!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll just quietly eat my food.”

“Great~ The Vice Chairman will definitely like you~”

Yellow Snake chuckled as he wedged himself between us. Then he put his arms around both our shoulders and walked down the stairs.

Japanese restaurant, Gyeongwollu.

One of the massive restaurants managed by Ilshim, often used for executive dinners. All the employees are women, and rumor has it they’re hired based on looks.

Men in black suits stood in a line in front of the grand entrance. The executives of Korea’s largest organization gradually gathered on the red carpet.

Seeing that majestic scene gave me goosebumps. Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to come…?

Just as my body tensed up, Yellow Snake’s hand landed heavily on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry. We’re not such brutal people.”

The scar on his forehead gleamed. And those bizarre, reptilian golden eyes.

What do you mean “not”…

You look extremely brutal.

“Stay close to me. We’ll just eat and leave right away.”

Crimson Snake spoke to me in a reassuring voice. At her words, I linked arms with her tightly and leaned my head against her.

Soon it was our turn to enter. I walked gracefully on the red carpet, sandwiched between the organization’s two top executives.

Fortunately, my slacks and dress shirt outfit didn’t stand out much among the Ilshim members. But the organization members with lowered heads kept glancing at me with shifting eyes.

They seemed curious about who I was to dare position myself between the two snakes. I deliberately ignored their gazes and kept my eyes straight ahead.

After crossing a round wooden bridge, a stone pond came into view. It was a stone lake made entirely of granite without any water.

Was there such a place in Korea…?

As I looked around, Crimson Snake suddenly wrapped her arm around my waist. I let out a short gasp in surprise.

“We need to stand here.”

The waiting line for organization members. Crimson Snake stopped at the very front.

Yellow Snake did the same. He also stopped at the front of the line and waited briefly.

In the opposite line, I could see a man with white hair and another with blue eyes. They exchanged brief eye contact greetings with Crimson Snake.

“Um… Crimson Snake.”

“Yes?”

“So, are those two in front of us White Snake and Blue Snake?”

“That’s right.”

My cheeks puffed up at her confirmation. I barely managed to suppress my laughter by covering my mouth with the back of my hand.

White Snake because his hair is white, and Blue Snake because his eyes are blue. Simple enough to remember easily.

The middle-aged man called Blue Snake’s face turned grim at my amusement. Sensing his killing intent, I immediately pressed my lips shut.

“The Vice Chairman is entering.”

A man wearing sunglasses reported through his walkie-talkie. Crimson Snake straightened her back with her hands behind her.

I mimicked her, straightening my posture as well. The Japanese restaurant suddenly became incredibly quiet.

Despite all these people being present.

Light footsteps began to sound from the start of the red carpet. As the sound drew closer, my heart began to pound harder.

What would they look like? The organization’s second-in-command must look really intimidating, right?

Maybe they have multiple scars on their face like Yellow Snake. Or blood-red eyes like Crimson Snake.

Or maybe… huh?

A person with hands behind their back walked gracefully down the middle of the carpet.

Long black hair and neat bangs. And snake-like green eyes.

She had the appearance of a college girl wearing circle lenses. It was peculiar to see her wearing a turtleneck that covered her neck despite it being May.

She was about to enter the restaurant when she suddenly stopped.

First, she shook hands lightly with the white-haired man called White Snake.

“So, does the hospital have enough equipment these days?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Vice Chairman, we’ve secured plenty of reserves as well.”

“Good. If there are any problems in the future, report them immediately.”

Next, she shook hands with Blue Snake. The grim-looking middle-aged gentleman greeted her respectfully despite her looking young enough to be his daughter.

“You must be having a hard time with the Association troubles lately.”

“Not at all. I apologize for not handling it cleanly enough to avoid your concern.”

“Nonsense. They have many Rankers, so it’s natural to be at a disadvantage. Let’s discuss the details separately.”

The Vice Chairman nodded subtly. It seemed that the person called Blue Snake was in charge of Ilshim’s physical forces.

Finally, it was our turn. She gently turned her head to look at Yellow Snake and Crimson Snake’s line.

The face of Ilshim’s second-in-command gradually approached me. She first greeted Yellow Snake.

“Hey.”

A firm and sharp single word. Unlike her polite interactions with the two executives, she addressed Yellow Snake sharply, like an older sister.

“Yes…?”

“I hear you’ve been doing a lot of things I didn’t ask for lately?”

“When, when have I ever done anything that doesn’t benefit the organization… It’s all for Ilshim’s blood and flesh…”

“Bullshit-. I heard you started an entertainment company with the money I gave you to silence the press!”

The woman kicked Yellow Snake hard in the shin. The executive bit his lip and lifted his leg in pain.

“But… there’s no better external promotion than an entertainment company…”

“I’ll be watching. Just try to fail, and you’ll end up in Incheon Harbor.”

She rolled her snake-like green eyes. Yellow Snake resumed his position with hands behind his back, looking dejected.

Seeing this, Blue Snake and White Snake shook their heads and sighed. Blue Snake in particular seemed quite displeased with Yellow Snake, his brow furrowed deeply.

And finally, it was Crimson Snake’s turn.

When the Vice Chairman met eyes with the company’s only female executive, her expression softened. She smiled gently, showing a completely different attitude than with Yellow Snake.

“Our~ Team Leader Han!”

The Vice Chairman patted Crimson Snake’s shoulder. But Crimson Snake maintained her serious expression.

“I heard your distribution performance was excellent this month. I also heard the news about raiding the Association’s supply train!”

“It was nothing special.”

“Nothing special? Thanks to you, we’re in the black again this quarter.”

The green-eyed woman smiled and gently tapped Crimson Snake’s cheek. My goodness, how many people in the world could act like that toward Crimson Snake?

My thighs trembled involuntarily. I tensed my body as much as possible to hide it.

“But who is this cute young lady?”

The Vice Chairman tilted her head, looking at the short bartender standing next to Crimson Snake. Crimson Snake spoke up instead of me, who was extremely tense.

“She’s my sister.”

“Sister…? Wasn’t our Team Leader Han an only child?”

The green-eyed woman tilted her head curiously. She looked at me intently, scanning me from head to toe.

The Vice Chairman’s eyebrows twitched when she noticed Crimson Snake’s jacket draped over my body. Soon she smiled as if she understood everything.

“Ah-. So our Team Leader Han has that kind of taste.”

The Vice Chairman extended her hand to me lightly. At that gesture, my body froze like ice.

“Don’t be nervous. If you’re Crimson Snake’s sister, you’re my sister too.”

“I’m Choi Nahyun, Ilshim’s Vice Chairman.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. Her green eyes shimmered like jewels.

As if enchanted by those eyes, I naturally extended my arm. Her cold hand interlocked with mine.

“H-Han Siho.”

“You have the same surname as Team Leader Han. I almost thought you were real sisters.”

The Vice Chairman put her leather gloves back on after shaking my hand. She covered her body completely as if avoiding exposing bare skin.

“Now, let’s go in. Our family members must be hungry.”

She called out in a noble voice befitting a group leader. Then she led the way into the restaurant with her hands behind her back.

“Phew… That’s a relief. I thought she would be scary.”

After she had completely entered the restaurant, I placed my hand on my chest and exhaled deeply.

“You don’t find her scary?”

Crimson Snake glanced down at me and asked. I answered naturally.

“No. Her eyes are really pretty too.”

When I spoke innocently, the female executive smiled slightly. Then she silently stroked the top of my head.

“Why, is she scary?”

“No. Let’s go…”

“What is it… You’re making me curious.”

“You’ll find out later.”

Crimson Snake placed her arm on my shoulder and headed down the path the Vice Chairman had taken. I followed the four executives and entered the restaurant gracefully.

Gyeongwollu was a very unique building. In the center of the main building was a staircase that offered a clear view of the night sky, as if ascending to heaven.

Going all the way up leads to the restaurant’s rooftop. And on that rooftop sits a beautiful pavilion, like something from a fairytale.

Nahyun sat in the middle of a spacious table. We climbed up to the pavilion with reverent hearts, as if meeting a divine being.

“I’ve never been to a place like this in my life…”

I murmured absently to Crimson Snake. Nahyun smiled and answered instead of her.

“Right? I designed it myself.”

My eyes sparkled at her words. The Vice Chairman is truly a person of many talents.

“Amazing… This is the most beautiful restaurant I’ve ever seen.”

“It feels nice to receive praise for once. These so-called family members always mock me for being excessive.”

She pointed at the four executives and laughed heartily. Despite her delicate appearance, she had a very masculine image.

“So… what kind of work does our Siho do? Do you belong to any organization?”

Crimson Snake’s expression became troubled at that question. She desperately shook her head at me.

“Ah, I work as a bartender in Sindorim… and I just got a new job elsewhere.”

I do have enough sense not to say, “I got hired by the Association today!”

“Ah- a bartender! That’s cool. Then you must know quite a bit about alcohol.”

“I’m still a beginner, so I’m not that knowledgeable…”

I forced a smile and stroked my neck. The Vice Chairman beckoned to me with her long fingers.

“Then, would you come and help select today’s drinks?”

“Of course. It would be my honor.”

I rose politely from my seat. Following her summons, I slowly approached the chairman’s seat.

“Here, look at the menu and choose something appropriate.”

She asked in a historical drama tone, like a great lord. I respectfully bowed my head to look at the menu she was holding.

My hair fell into my view, so I gently swept it to the side. I could feel the Vice Chairman’s breath drawing particularly close.

The loose jacket was bothering me. I took off the jacket while simultaneously taking the menu from the Vice Chairman.

But at that moment…

Something I had kept in the jacket fell onto the table with a thud.

“Wait, what fell just now?”

The Vice Chairman reached out her hand. Soon, a badge rested on her palm.

The Hunter Association’s official badge…

The executives’ faces turned pale as they recognized it.

The peaceful cloud pavilion suddenly became as quiet as if time had stopped.