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There’s only one month left until the global simultaneous launch of ‘Another World Online.’

The internet and every corner of the city were filled with advertisements for ‘Another World Online.’ The media and foreign press were also reporting it as a game worth paying attention to… amplifying people’s expectations.

Naturally, all employees of Stella Corp., gearing up for the service launch, were busy working overtime across departments. However, there were exceptions.

“Director.”

“Hmm?”

“Is it okay for us to be doing this?”

Director Choi Jae-man and his secretary, Park Se-hee, were having lunch at a high-end Chinese restaurant near the company. It wasn’t a cheap lunch menu but a course meal costing nearly 100,000 won per person. And just the two of them in a quiet room.

There was no business meeting or work nearby. They were there simply because Director Choi wanted to eat.

Of course, this wasn’t rare. Director Choi was whimsical and self-centered. He was quite mood-driven, and just moments ago, he even tried to order alcohol, which she barely managed to stop him from doing.

Park Se-hee had gotten used to most things about Director Choi, but his spending habits were something she couldn’t wrap her head around. Spending close to 200,000 won on lunch? Buying clothes only from luxury department stores? He spent money like water. Sure, it was all on his own card… but as an ordinary person, Park Se-hee couldn’t understand it.

Even as a high-ranking executive of a major corporation, was it okay to spend money like this? Is this how rich people are? She was starting to get confused.

Director Choi swallowed a Peking duck wrap in one gulp.

“What? Is it too expensive? Didn’t I tell you? It’s my money, so I’ll spend it as I please.”

“…I’m in no position to comment on your spending habits, and since I’m always on the receiving end, I can’t really nag. It’s just… I’m worried that we’re being too relaxed while everyone else is so busy.”

“Hahaha. What are you talking about? Park Se-hee, am I just like any other employee? In the military, when an emergency happens, it’s the privates who are busy. Generals are always at ease. You didn’t serve in the military, so you wouldn’t know.”

“…But didn’t you say you were exempt from military service?”

“…Ahem. It’s just a metaphor.”

Director Choi, clearing his throat, seemed a bit flustered and changed the subject.

“Well… I admit it. I’ve been taking it easy lately, as you said. I should get back to work soon.”

“Yes, well said. Even a general has to do their job…”

“Park Se-hee.”

Oops. Did I go too far? She felt a chill, but Director Choi didn’t seem angry. In fact, he looked serious.

“Do you know why I brought you on as my secretary?”

“Huh?”

“Out of many people, why did I specifically want you by my side?”

She thought she knew. Director Choi had a thing for women, and he liked Park Se-hee’s bold attitude, which is why he hired her as his secretary. But asking this question now suggested it wasn’t just that… right?

“I’m not sure?”

“You were the only one. The only employee who had actually logged into the game.”

“Huh? Logged into the game?”

“Well, strictly speaking, there was one more. That employee who wrote the resignation letter… Jeong Ji-hwan, was it? Sora’s older brother.”

At the unexpected mention of the name, Park Se-hee’s eyes widened.

“Yes, Jeong Ji-hwan. But why…?”

Park Se-hee was immediately on guard. Jeong Ji-hwan being trapped in the game was due to Director Park’s actions. There was a possibility that Director Choi had also been involved in what happened to Jeong Ji-hwan. But fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“If that employee were still here, I would’ve brought him along too. It’s a shame. He was the right talent for the project I’m working on.”

“A project? This is the first I’m hearing of it. I thought you weren’t working on any projects right now?”

“Well, I’ve been hiding it from you until now.”

“Huh? A project…?”

“It’s a project I’m working on behind Director Park’s back. At first, I wasn’t sure if you were on Director Park’s side, so I kept it hidden. But it seems you’re not on his side after all. Honestly, Park Se-hee, you don’t like Director Park, do you?”

It was a direct hit. How could she not dislike someone who had turned Jeong Ji-hwan and his sister into what they were now, sacrificing innocent people for the Remina Project? But she couldn’t just admit it outright.

“Not really…”

“Ah, you don’t have to hide it between us. I could tell from your expression when we met Director Park last time. From an ordinary person’s perspective, he’s just incomprehensible.”

It was unclear whether Director Choi was just perceptive or if Park Se-hee had failed to control her expression. But more than that, she was curious why Director Choi was working on a project behind Director Park’s back. It was clear that Director Choi had been involved in the Remina Project, yet he was speaking as if he wasn’t on Director Park’s side.

Park Se-hee pretended to remain calm.

“Director Choi, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“‘Another World Online.’ There’s only one month left, right?”

Director Choi took a sip of tea. Then, as if it were no big deal, he continued.

“The project I’m working on… the goal is to prevent its launch.”

“…Huh?!”

Did I hear that right? Director Choi is trying to stop the game from launching?

Clang!

“Ah.”

Park Se-hee, trying to pick up her teacup, accidentally knocked it over. The cup shattered into pieces on the floor.

Knock knock.

“Excuse me.”

An employee, hearing the sound, quietly cleaned up the broken pieces and left. For about a minute, Park Se-hee’s thoughts were frozen.

“Tsk tsk… what a waste.”

Director Choi’s clicking tongue brought her back to reality. It was probably an expensive tea.

“I’m sorry…”

“Isn’t it a shame? A world created from Sora’s imagination, turned into the Milky Way.”

“Huh?”

What Director Choi found a shame wasn’t the tea she had spilled.

“‘Another World,’ that place is filled with things you could never find in reality… a world like a goldmine. For example… you could even get something like this.”

What Director Choi pulled out from his pocket was a small, shiny stone. Glowing with a faint purple light, it was as beautiful as a gem.

“Is that… a gem?”

“I haven’t named it yet, but for now, you could call it a gem.”

“Huh?”

“This isn’t a gem mined from this world. It’s a gem mined from Another World.”

“?!”

“Hahaha. You’re curious how I brought something from the game world here, aren’t you? Want to know? If you hear this story, you’ll have no choice but to become my accomplice.”

Park Se-hee felt chills. She had thought he was just a carefree director who spent money recklessly, but he had been planning something behind the scenes all along. And all of it behind Director Park’s back.

She realized just how cunning the man in front of her was. Perhaps even having lunch at such a restaurant in broad daylight, choosing a quiet room for a secret conversation, was all part of his plan.

But Park Se-hee wasn’t scared. She had prepared for this when she became Director Choi’s secretary. She had resolved to expose the dark side of Director Park and the company, and to free Jeong Sora and Jeong Ji-hwan, who were trapped in the game.

In fact, this situation was something she should welcome. It meant she had passed Director Choi’s test and was being invited to join a project even Director Park didn’t know about.

Park Se-hee quietly opened her mouth.

“…Honestly, isn’t it too late to refuse? Just from what I’ve heard, I’m already an accomplice…”

“Right. Exactly. You’re smart. You can’t refuse. You’re already an accomplice. Hahaha.”

“Then stop beating around the bush and tell me. What’s the connection between the gem you just showed me and stopping the game’s launch?”

“I like your boldness. But I’d like to see you surprised at least once. Alright, let’s start with the Milky Way. The Milky Way isn’t a machine that creates a virtual world, as it’s known.”

The Milky Way. It’s the next-generation machine created by Stella Corp. using BCI (Brain-Computer Interface) technology.

“You might not believe it, but the Milky Way is a machine that creates a real world.”

“A real world…?”

“Simply put, it’s a world from another dimension. From a certain perspective, our world is just one of many dimensional worlds.”

She had somewhat guessed it. The world where Jeong Ji-hwan was trapped wasn’t just a virtual world for a game’s background.

It had been proven through the ‘Gate’ that Jeong Ji-hwan created. People from that world had crossed over to this side, and Park Se-hee had even sent ice cream and gifts through the ‘Gate.’ Naturally, the Milky Way wasn’t just the machine it was known to be.

Of course, since Director Choi didn’t know that, Park Se-hee had to act surprised.

“Oh my… so… does that mean the game world really exists?”

“Yes. This gem I have is proof. Look… isn’t it beautiful?”

Director Choi held the purple gem up to the light, his expression entranced. It was indeed a beautiful gem. But the beauty Director Choi was talking about seemed to be something else.

“This thumb-sized thing is worth 500 million.”

“500… 500 million?”

“That’s just the appraisal value. Isn’t it amazing? That world is filled with not just gems but even more valuable things. Director Park doesn’t seem to think much of it, but I disagree. It’s such a waste to hand over a goldmine like this to ordinary users. But if they don’t take it, can I have it?”

“Huh? Oh, yes…”

Director Choi pulled a plate of cold dishes toward himself. Watching him greedily chew his food, Park Se-hee blurted out.

“So… the project you’re working on is to monopolize that world…”

“Tsk tsk. Monopolize? That’s a bit harsh. I plan to share it with those who help me, like you. Isn’t that better than handing it over to random users?”

“Well…”

“Unfortunately, accessing that world is blocked right now. The development department… well, Director Park alone has the access rights.”

For now, only Director Park had access, but before the department transfer, Park Se-hee and Jeong Ji-hwan also had access rights.

“So, Park Se-hee, I need your help.”

“My help…?”

“You’re the only one in this company who has actually logged into the game. You might not think much of it, but… Director Park seems to trust you quite a bit.”

Director Choi grinned, his golden tooth glinting.

“I’ll cooperate with you, so can you get the access rights from Director Park?”

 

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