“The States? As in the United States of America?”

Lee Hyeon-Su nodded. “Yes, that country.”

Wiggins stared at his disciple with a hint of vexation. “Why so suddenly?”

“I’m also a bit unhappy about it, sir. But it’s what the Assembly Master wants, you see?”

“Hmm, America, you say...?” Wiggins slowly scratched his cheek. “I don’t recommend entering America at this point in time, unfortunately.”

Lee Hyeon-Su frowned slightly. “Is there a problem we should be worried about?”

“Not, it’s not a problem per se, but...”

Wiggins contemplatively rubbed his beard next.

“It’s the current status of our situation, which is not as good as you think it is. Tell me, Mister Lee. Which country hates China the most?”

“South Korea?”

“...No, it’s the USA.”

“Oh, really? I thought we wouldn’t lose on that front, though.”

“Don’t get competitive in weird things, Mister Lee.”

Wiggins chuckled helplessly, then resumed his explanation.

“In any case. Yes, America holds a dim view toward China. Very dim, as a matter of fact. Why would they like a competitor racing to catch up to them in all things in the surface world? And that hostility is even more pronounced in the martial world. America wishes to be the number one in the world, so imagine how they would feel about the Chinese having a clear upper hand over them in martial arts. Of course they wouldn’t let that slide.”

“Ah, you’re right, sir.”

Lee Hyeon-Su finally figured out what Wiggins was hinting at. If the Americans didn’t have a martial society, there would have been little to worry about, but it had, and that made things trickier than perhaps he’d like.

Didn’t the Americans spend an astronomical sum of money on their military? So much so that some military otakus in Korea fondly call America as the Celestial Empire?[1]

If the American government viewed the American martial society as a part of their military force, it would obviously invest heavily into American martial artists. And that also meant it’d keep a wary eye on its competitors on the global stage.

Lee Hyeon-Su frowned deeply. “Okay, so... You think they are keeping tabs on the Assembly Master, master?”

“Yes, I do. Considering all that has happened, it’s impossible not to figure out that my lord has joined hands with the Chinese government by now. And with how good the American intelligence network is, they should already know the contents of the deal the Chinese have made with my lord.”

“Mm...!”

Lee Hyeon-Su slowly nodded. Even he had not considered this before.

Of course he knew Kang Jin-Ho was now famous all over the world, but to think his fame would get in the way like this!

“Then... Do you think we should cancel this trip altogether?”

“Hmm, let’s see...” Wiggins frowned while rubbing his beard. He then glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su again. “How far along are you with your preparations? Have you discussed any of this with my lord yet?”

“Uhm... Well, I’ve already gotten all the tickets, found a plane, and even booked a place to stay for everyone.”

“...!” Wiggins’ expression crumpled subtly. “Mister Lee! I told you, didn’t I! I told you to come to me right away if something like this happened! Blooming hell?!”

Wiggins stopped sounding like a fine English gentleman just then.

The sweating Lee Hyeon-Su lowered his head in shame.

“Damn! Considering my lord’s personality, he won’t listen now, what with how far the preparations have come.”

“Y-yes, there’s a good chance of that.”

“Hmm... That means we don’t have a choice, doesn’t it?” Wiggins grunted while resting his head against the couch’s cushion. His expression conveyed how anxious he felt. “There are too many factors that could lead to various problems, but... We can’t keep dodging this issue forever, especially since we haven't done anything wrong. And we would have had to do something about this situation sooner or later, anyway.”

Lee Hyeon-Su nodded. “I agree, master.”

“It can’t be helped, then. Let’s proceed. I shall accompany you all, too.”

“Understood. I’ll wrap up the preparations accordingly.”

Just before Lee Hyeon-Su got up to leave, Wiggins beckoned at him. “Oh, and by the way...”

“Yes, master?”

“Can you make extra room for ten more people?”

“...? I’m sorry?”

Make room for that many extra bodies? But, why?

Wiggins frowned. “I was thinking of installing a portal in America. That might come in handy in the future, you see?”

Lee Hyeon-Su blinked his eyes. “I thought you needed someone on the other side to link up the portals?”

“That depends on the type of portals and how they are installed, Mister Lee. The Round Table was worried about us invading them, so the portal on their side works that way. Don’t worry, there are ways to make it work for us.”

“Mm... In that case, that sounds like a great idea. Leave it to me.” Lee Hyeon-Su briefly nodded, then turned around to leave, only to face Wiggins again. “By the way, master?”

“Mm?”

“Those people you have in mind... Do they even have passports?”

“...How should I know?”

Oh, of course. Why am I not surprised to hear that?

Lee Hyeon-Su groaned deeply while thinking that his workload kept increasing for some dastardly reason!

***

“America?”

Choi Yeon-Ha shot up to her feet, her expression brightening.

Her hand holding the phone subtly trembled in excitement, but at the same time, the light of skepticism flickered into life in her eyes.

“With me? Just the two of us?”

Kang Jin-Ho hurriedly replied.

—Oh, no. Some people will come with us.

“...”

Why wasn’t she surprised to hear that? A man who sold all of his senses related to romance down the river in his previous life wouldn’t come up with such a romantic idea, after all!

Although feeling a little deflated, Choi Yeon-Ha cautiously asked, “Do you have something to do in America?”

—No, I don’t.

Really? That was surprising.

“Then... Why are you going there?”

—I wanted to cheer Yu-Min on during the finals, you see? It’s taking place this weekend.

“Oh...”

Choi Yeon-Ha slowly nodded in understanding. That made more sense. Only the company matters or events related to Park Yu-Min would make Kang Jin-Ho travel overseas, after all.

However, why was that knowledge riling her up a bit all of a sudden?

“I see, I see. Who else is going with you, then?”

—The Seongsim kids.

Oh? Well, I guess there’s nothing to get riled up about, then...?

—And Chief Lee Hyeon-Su, plus this grandpa working for the Assembly, and ten other people...

“Have a fun trip, okay?”

—...?

“Gimme a break! That’s like a business trip, isn’t it?! For your Assembly, no less! So why do you want me to tag along, too? When it’s not even related to MK?”

—They are the ones who want to tag along, you know? Not me.

Without a doubt, Kang Jin-Ho was just too dang popular. Of course, Choi Yeon-Ha wasn’t worried since he was disinterested in the opposite sex, but being popular with men awakened a whole different kind of irritation in her!

Geez! He always has hangers-on wherever he goes, doesn’t he!

With an entourage like that, how could he even have a private life? Choi Yeon-Ha was genuinely worried about the possibility of those people wanting to cohabit in the same house as her once she got married to Kang Jin-Ho!

Heol?! Did I just think about marriage?!

Choi Yeon-Ha snapped out of her thoughts and spoke into the phone. “I-in any case! Sounds like it’s not a trip I should butt in, Mister Jin-Ho. I want to cheer Mister Yu-Min on too, but...”

—Mm, I see. It can’t be helped, then.

Choi Yeon-Ha pouted when Kang Jin-Ho threw in the towel so soon. At least he could’ve tried to persuade her one more time or something!

Argh, what was I expecting, anyway? I should be realistic here, no?

That was when she heard something completely unexpected coming from the phone’s speaker.

—I was thinking of making everyone go home once the weekend is over and staying there for a few more days to recharge my batteries. But I guess that’s not going to happen now.

What did he say just now? What was that?! Choi Yeon-Ha’s eyes powerfully quaked. “W-wait? You mean... Just the two of us?”

—Yes, that was the plan.

“H-h-hold on! T-that means we’d be staying until next week? Please wait! M-my schedule is... uh...”

Choi Yeon-Ha urgently turned her head to look at her manager, Han Eun-Sol. However, he powerfully crossed his arms in a clear “X” to tell her, No, you can’t go! You have filming next week!

Choi Yeon-Ha nodded gracefully after noticing that gesture. “Ah, I see. Looks like I’ll be free next week.”

“...!”

Han Eun-Sol freaked out and charged at her, but she easily pushed him away with an accurate kick to his side. She then continued with the conversation as if nothing had happened.

“Isn’t that great? I was thinking of staying put if I had work lined up next week. And I would love to cheer Mister Yu-Min on, too. After considering all that, uh... Mm?”

She suddenly couldn’t think of a clever thing to say and mumbled something out.

“I-in any case! Don’t get the wrong idea, though! I hadn’t lost my mind at the prospect of spending time alone with you, okay?”

Han Eun-Sol sighed in lamentation as he listened. It would’ve been better if she hadn’t said that, though! However, what was he expecting from a romance virgin like Choi Yeon-Ha, anyway?

Despite boasting a face like that, she was someone who had never dated anyone for almost thirty years of her existence. Expecting a normal-ish response from her was asking for a miracle here.

—That means you’re coming, yes?

“Of course! I am!”

—I see. Then, we’ll proceed with the preparations. As for the visa and passport, Chief Lee said he’d take care of them.

“Really? Is he actually Dorae*on or something? Isn’t there anything he can’t take care of?”

—Probably not...?

Choi Yeon-Ha chuckled softly. “Okay. I’ll check my schedule one more time and give you a call again.”

—Got it. I’ll speak to you later, then.

When the line went dead, Choi Yeon-Ha put the phone down as stupefaction filled up her expression.

“Goodness me? What just happened?”

After that fiasco of a trip to China, she swore off traveling to other countries for good, but to think she’d get to go to the United States of America, of all places!

Of course, some other impurities were trying to get in her way, but Kang Jin-Ho said he’d filter them out as long as she patiently waited for a few days, didn’t he?

Tagging along when the trip’s participants were all work colleagues might pose a significant challenge, but she enjoyed the presence of powerful allies this time, didn’t she? The Seongsim Orphanage was like her home ground, after all!

As a matter of fact, she felt more at home in Seongsim than in her actual home. So, she should feel right at home while traveling with those kids.

She should just let Kang Jin-Ho hang out with his colleagues, while she’d tag around with the Seongsim kids for a few days. With that, she would get to enjoy this cozy trip to America with...

“Noona?! What about the commercial shoot next week?!”

...Eeeh. Here comes yet another impurity.

Choi Yeon-Ha turned her head and stared weirdly at Han Eun-Sol.

“What? What do you want?”

“The commercial shoot! For next week! What are you gonna do about that?! Did you forget how insanely difficult it was to renegotiate this contract?”

“Difficult, my foot! Didn’t you say they called us first?!”

“...Yes, that is true, but! But this is still a major contract, noona! It’s not just for any company, but for a telecommunication giant!”

Choi Yeon-Ha snorted derisively. “Being in commercials for companies like that went out of fashion a long time ago already! I don’t need to go out of my way to humor them, okay?”

“Wha?! Don’t you know how incredible this opportunity is?! Do this, and the record of the oldest South Korean actress to model for a giant tele...”

“You wanna die?!”

Choi Yeon-Ha grabbed a nearby cushion and threw it at Han Eun-Sol with a vengeance. He couldn’t defend himself this time and yelped in surprise.

Choi Yeon-Ha yelled at him. “Hey, you! You’re deliberately discriminating against me because I’m getting older, aren’t you?! Is this your way of saying my prime as an actress is over?!”

“N-no, of course not! I was just saying! If I really thought that way, do you think I would still be here? I would have dumped you already and would have gone with someone youn... H-hang on? That’s not what I wanted to say, so, uh...?”

“Did I raise a Judas here? Is that it?” Choi Yeon-Ha glared murderously at Han Eun-Sol and yelled at him again. “Listen here! Actresses over forty get paid top dollars in America to star in various projects, okay?! And I’m so much younger than they are! I still have a long freaking way to go, okay?!”

“I’m telling you, that’s not what I meant, noona. Regardless of what, though, we gotta sort this out first.”

“It’s simple. Tell them to delay the shoot for a week.”

“Ehh?”

“They canceled on us the last time without even consulting us, right? So it should be fine for me to keep them waiting for another week. Don’t you agree?”

Han Eun-Sol urgently shook his head. “Agree? Agree with what, noona?! Isn’t that why they agreed to pay you double the original amount? That’s the highest ever payment for this kind of role, okay?”

“See? That means it’s fine to delay the shoot for a week, right? They think I’m worth the highest amount of money, so why can’t they accommodate me on this one?”

How did her logic reach that conclusion?! It felt like regardless of what Han Eun-Sol said, everything would get sucked into this black hole-like reason called “Delaying the shoot until next week!”

“Whew~! Hey, call the director,” said Choi Yeon-Ha.

“I’m sorry?”

“I don’t care if it’s the director or someone from the production company. Just put me on the phone with someone in charge!”

“...Sure thing, noona.”

Han Eun-Sol took his phone out and dialed the number of the director in charge of the shoot before handing it over to Choi Yeon-Ha.

She accepted the phone, then put on her trademark business smile.

“Oh, hello there, director! It’s Choi Yeon-Ha speaking. How are you?”

Han Eun-Sol’s expression grew weird when he heard a totally different type of voice coming out of Choi Yeon-Ha’s mouth. That was not how she usually talked, though!

How unfortunate that the world didn’t know the true side of...

Eh? Hang on a minute. Everyone already can see through her facade, right? Then, how is she still so popular?

As usual, the South Korean entertainment industry managed to flummox Han Eun-Sol once more.

Choi Yeon-Ha headed to the corner of the living room to chat with the director. A short while later, she returned with a triumphant smile on her face.

“It’s done. They are gonna delay it.”

How could it be this easy?

“W-what did you say to the director, noona?”

“Well, I told him I won’t lose my cool during the shoot if he’d oh-so graciously delay the shoot for a week or so.”

“Ehhh? That actually worked?”

“Yup. It sure did.”

Just how scared other people were of her temper tantrums that they would actually say yes? Despite how... well everything worked out, Han Eun-Sol still felt a bit sad for some reason.

“Okay, so! You talk to them and reschedule everything, okay? We just agreed to do it next week, you see? You guys hash out the details.”

Han Eun-Sol cocked his head at a weird angle. “...Noona?”

“Yeah?”

“That means I’m going, too, doesn’t it?”

“Go where? To America?”

“Yes!”

“Why? Isn’t it like a vacation for you without me around? Why bother coming with me in that case?”

“A needle is always accompanied by a thread, noona.”

“Huh? And who made you my thread?”

“Eiii, don’t say that after all we’ve gone through, noona! And I’m going, no matter what! Here I come, America! Let’s go!”

“...”

Here was another man who just couldn’t help himself but ask for more work.

1. The term, “Celestial Empire” is a play on Korean words. The “empire” bit should be self-explanatory, but the “celestial” bit will require some explanation. Basically, “Celestial Empire” in Korean Hanja is “Cheon-jo,” but it can also mean one quintillion in Korean. In short, calling America as the Celestial Empire is making fun of them for spending “one quintillion” won in defense budget. ☜