Hong Jang-gun shook my hand without realizing it.

My hand was warmer than he expected.

If he were to pick something as impressive as that, it was my gaze.

My sparkling eyes were exceptionally clear.

He felt a purity as if not a single speck of worldly dirt had touched them.

At that moment, a sense he had lived while vaguely forgetting boiled up inside Hong Jang-gun's chest.

He thought of a fellow who was loved as the youngest member of his team.

However, that sentiment did not last long.

I naturally placed a document on the table with a thud and opened my mouth.

“Then let us start with this first.”

Hong Jang-gun asked while raising his eyebrows.

“What is this?”

I opened the document myself to show him and took out a pen, placing it in front of him.

My smiling appearance was like a mischievous devil.

On the first page of the document, it was written like this.

[HJ Partners Special Advisor Contract]

“A contract?”

I continued as if it were no big deal.

“This is not a simple one-time request. It seems we will have much to do together in the future as well.”

Hong Jang-gun slowly turned the pages of the contract and looked.

Wages or conditions did not enter his eyes.

Rather, the sentence that entered his eyes as if being embedded was this very one.

[In case of emergency, follow the orders of Representative Lim Hyunjun, the decision-maker, as the top priority.]

He snorted.

“Is this place like a military rather than a company? To the point that I have to even receive orders.”

I did not laugh.

“As long as our team moves together, there is no exception for anyone. Any matter takes priority according to the Representative’s orders.”

The man spoke with a sneer.

“Why should I do that?”

At those words, Choi Seo-jun inhaled as if he were tense.

The atmosphere turned heavy in an instant.

I wore a smile and did not back down even a little.

I said while pushing the contract toward Hong Jang-gun with my fingertip.

“Of course, even if it is not you, I would be able to find someone to contract with. But I’ve come to want to do it with you. Do you know why?”

“…….”

I stopped speaking for a moment and then soon opened my mouth slowly.

“It is because you have experienced losing a team. So you must be a person who also knows how to protect one.”

Hong Jang-gun’s gaze, hidden between his hair, shook slightly for a moment.

“That is the reason you are here right now. And this is not an order, but a promise. My people never die. I will keep that until the end.”

Hong Jang-gun wanted to ask back if I knew how hollow those words were.

But for some reason, he wanted to believe my words in his heart.

If it could really be so, wouldn't it be worth a try.

Wouldn't it mean for him, who lived hidden in the darkness after turning his back on the world, to live a new life.

Before he knew it, he gripped the pen.

And he wrote his name on the last page.

I looked at that and felt satisfied, then slowly raised my head.

“Let’s do well together.”

Looking at me, Hong Jang-gun thought that it was quite tiring.

“Now, Director Choi, would you give a card to Advisor Hong Jang-gun? First of all, he must take a bath.”

Director Choi Seo-jun took out a card and held it out to Hong Jang-gun.

“Please buy clothes with this and return to being a human quickly.”

Hong Jang-gun wore an absurd smile and went outside holding the card.

I looked at Choi Seo-jun.

“We should restore Advisor Hong’s resident registration first. He can’t go around like a ghost anymore, can he.”

“Yes, Representative. It will take some time to do a formal registration. I will consult with Advisor Baek.”

“Please do it as quickly as possible.”

Choi Seo-jun disappeared outside the conference room with the contract.

The next morning.

I stopped by the hospital at an early hour, finished a simple treatment, and headed to work at HJ Partners.

My body had not yet fully recovered, but I considered it a relief just to be able to move.

However, I was just a bit dissatisfied with receiving the focused attention of the employees as I was led around by Choi Seo-jun while riding in a wheelchair.

The place I stopped at first after getting on the elevator was not my office but the conference room.

In order to handle the work that had been delayed, people were gathered by team since the morning, waiting for me.

But someone was standing next to the conference room door.

A jacket lightly draped over a well-ironed dress shirt and slim black slacks made his physique clearly stand out.

His neatly trimmed hair was cleanly swept back, and his shaved jawline was sharp.

The profound look around his eyes, which hovered over a cool impression, was deep.

His handsome appearance on flawless skin was reminiscent of a movie actor.

‘Who is it?’

I blinked my eyes momentarily.

In my mind, the man from yesterday who was impressive with his blackish beard, disheveled hair, and green tracksuit came to mind.

It was completely different from the image at that time.

He had changed as if he were a different person.

He recognized me and Director Choi and bowed his head.

“Representative, Director Choi, good morning.”

The voice was the same, but the way of speaking, gaze, and expression were completely different.

He was such a handsome man that his appearance of laughing with a friendly smile made the viewer laugh as well.

“Advisor Hong Jang-gun?”

Hong Jang-gun smiled broadly and took something out of his inner pocket, then showed it to me.

It was the card Choi Seo-jun had handed over yesterday.

“This thing is quite something. I washed off the dirt and polished myself up a bit, so how is it?”

Female employees passing by could not take their eyes off him as they looked at him.

“You look very good. I couldn't recognize you.”

At that time, Choi Seo-jun subtly whispered in my ear.

“He swiped nearly ten million won yesterday.”

I had a hard time holding back my laughter at those words.

Right now, laughing was actually one of the prohibited items for me.

“You are someone who knows how to spend money. Since all the shopping is finished now, don't you also need a house soon, Advisor Hong?”

At those words, Hong Jang-gun blinked and asked back with a serious expression.

“Can I buy a house with this card too?”

In an instant, Choi Seo-jun, who was holding the wheelchair, shouted while being horrified.

“How could that be possible!”

Pfft.

I almost burst into laughter and quickly clutched my stomach.

The surgical site throbbed so much that I could not endure it.

“Ah, wait a moment. You shouldn't be that funny. My stomach hurts.”

I turned my head to look at the wall, and after barely catching my breath, I said.

“You can’t buy a house with that, Advisor. The limit isn't that high.”

Hong Jang-gun smacked his lips.

“That’s a pity.”

I smiled and subtly winked.

“Didn't you use it exactly to the amount, knowing the limit was ten million won?”

At those words, Hong Jang-gun closed his mouth without a word.

He felt a sting inside.

‘This fellow, he’s no ordinary guy.’

In his eyes, I was clearly a high school student who had just gotten up from a sickbed, but looking at how I spoke, it was extraordinary.

At that time, Choi Seo-jun cleared his throat and said.

“In any case, you do not have to worry about the lodging issue. There is company housing prepared for employees. Stop by the HR department today and get the key.”

Hong Jang-gun spoke while being happy.

“Oh, there is company housing too? That’s good.”

Differently from yesterday, he was a very bright person.

I said with a smile.

“Shall we head into the conference room now? Everyone seems to be curious about what is going on.”

I pointed toward the door with my eyes, and everyone was stuck in front of the door, listening to what was being said.

The conference room door opened.

As I entered while riding the wheelchair, the working-level staff who were huddled in front of the door scattered in an instant.

“Representative, good morning.”

“How is your health?”

I lightly raised my hand as a substitute for a greeting.

“Everyone, please take your seats. There is someone I’d like to introduce.”

Eyes shifted to the man who entered the conference room following behind me.

The team members whispered all at once while looking at him.

“I heard he’s a new person….”

“…He’s handsome.”

Then someone recognized Hong Jang-gun and their eyes widened.

“Huh? Uh-uh? Wait a moment. Is he perhaps that person from the lobby yesterday?”

Several employees who heard those words tilted their heads as if it were unbelievable.

“No way, that makes no sense.”

“How could he be the tracksuit guy? He’s completely different.”

“He isn't, right?”

A strange stir began to occur inside the conference room.

In the middle of that, Hong Jang-gun, the party concerned, stood without a single movement.

Rather, that calm attitude made it feel more overbearing.

I pretended not to notice that reaction and opened my mouth.

“Let me introduce him. He is the person who recently joined our team. His name is Hong Jang-gun. His position is Special Advisor. He will be working with us in security and external crisis response related tasks from now on.”

The employees clapped awkwardly.

Most of them stared blankly at Hong Jang-gun’s face even while clapping.

They were probably comparing him with that man from yesterday.

At that time, Hong Jang-gun opened his mouth.

“It seems I was in a bit of uncomfortable attire yesterday. From now on, I will maintain a human appearance as much as possible.”

Laughter burst out from here and there in the conference room at that joke.

I added with a smirk.

“If you mess with this person carelessly, you will be in big trouble. He is a martial arts rank holder. You know, right?”

Hong Jang-gun scratched his head and threw words nonchalantly.

“I also kill after looking at the person. Swish.”

He threw a meaningful joke while passing his hand across his neck area.

Thinking he was trying to be funny, laughter bloomed brightly inside the conference room.

“Well, that’s a relief. We are all good people.”

“Advisor, you remember me, right? I greeted you yesterday.”

The tension inside the conference room disappeared like melting snow, and the unfamiliar new face also seeped in naturally before long.

At that time, I raised my arm and wrapped things up.

“Good. Then let’s start the real work now.”

The conference room became quiet in an instant.

My voice became calm again.

“The suspect caught in Iraq will soon be extradited to her home country. Circumstantially, this may be the last chance to approach the core of this incident.”

Everyone’s gaze was directed toward me.

“So I am going to the UK personally.”

The air in the conference room settled heavily.

No one spoke, but everyone knew.

That this departure from the country was not a simple business trip but a matter to reach a conclusion.

I spoke while meeting their gazes one by one.

“I leave the company to you during that time. Please do your best in your respective positions. If you work with the heart of protecting the company on my behalf, we will be able to overcome any crisis. Of course, performance bonuses will be paid separately and generously.”

At the word performance bonus, everyone nodded.

“We believe in you, Representative!”

I lowered my head to hold back my laughter again.

I controlled my emotions and raised my head.

I spoke while shining my clear eyes.

“I ask you to just keep doing as you have been.”

After that, the work that had been postponed was reported to me in order.

In the meantime, Hong Jang-gun, who was sitting still, had his eyes closed.

Choi Seo-jun kept looking at him with a suspicious eye, wondering if he was perhaps sleeping.

Then, as he tried to wave his hand in front of his face, Hong Jang-gun snapped his arm away in an instant.

“Whoa there. I told you not to touch me. You’ll hurt your arm if you do that.”

“Wha, what?”

Even though Choi Seo-jun glared, Hong Jang-gun picked his ear and closed his eyes again.

This time too, only I, who was watching them, had a very painful stomach.