***
The dinner menu was a relatively light traditional Korean course meal.
By light, I didn't mean it was cheap; it meant the stomach felt relatively light because they served food made of high-quality ingredients in small portions. This kind of thing wasn't bad either.
Was it quality over quantity?
Side dishes that whetted the appetite, refreshing porridge, and beautifully fried pancakes. The excess oil was removed, and the texture was crispy, so the taste was good. Following that, fresh raw fish and beef tartare came out, then meat dishes freshly grilled over charcoal and steamed dishes with tender meat.
Lastly, I ate rice with stew, and for dessert, rice cakes and cinnamon punch.
Everything was small in quantity, but they served it by accurately knowing the timing to properly taste the best ingredients and the taste of the food. It was visible that they paid a lot of attention, to the extent that a server came in and out almost once per room.
While eating, we only exchanged formal conversation.
Things like hometown, school, family relations, hobbies, etc.
It wasn’t like I was being interviewed—if anything, it felt more like an interrogation, or maybe just careful questioning. Either way, she asked about me meticulously, as if testing a stone bridge before crossing it, and she did it all very naturally.
Of course, I responded faithfully according to the script Jo Sang-nim had prepared. To think that having a good memory was such an efficient thing. As I continued to answer without a single blockage and unfolded the story consistently, she also seemed to be convinced.
“You speak quite well.”
“Yes. I hear that often. It’s because I’m a bit smart.”
“Pfft.”
When I answered brazenly without changing my complexion one bit, she snickered.
I cheered inwardly. She had finally laughed. A good sign.
However, I still couldn't let my guard down. If I gave even the slightest opening, she might persistently dig into it. Perhaps she had already finished talking with the affair partner. Telling him to find out about me in detail.
“By the way, you said you operate an investment firm, but what kind of investments do you mainly do? If it’s difficult to answer, you don't have to.”
Finally, she was getting to the point. Her mouth must have been itching to ask while holding back until now. It seemed she had quite a lot of patience. I should take note of that.
“No. There’s no reason to hide it. We mainly focus on venture capital or startup investments. We sometimes operate hedge funds, but we tend to do so based on certain information, and we also do asset management and risk management for clients. It’s not much, though. Ah, sometimes when requests come in, I also participate in consulting or advisory roles.”
“Wow, you must be very busy, right?”
She asked, slightly surprised.
“No. It sounds like a lot when I say it like this, but since I only manage and operate for a small number of clients, I’m not particularly busy.”
“I see. Then, big shots? Do you deal with people like that?”
“Well, you could say that. I cannot tell you who they are, but there are quite a few famous people.”
At my words, her eyes shone slightly. People are bound to be interested in famous people. Anyway, since client lists are secret by default, it didn't matter even if I attached just anyone’s name to it. Although the other party would be curious.
“Ah, I asked too much about work. Shall we get up now?”
“Let’s.”
I stood up quickly and took the lead to open the room door. The shoes had already been placed neatly to make them easy to put on. Since I had left my card at the counter from the start, the payment was already finished.
When we came outside, the cold wind pushed in through the gaps in our clothes.
“Would you like to go for a simple drink? Or a coffee shop would be good too.”
“Hmm… a coffee shop would be good.”
She said after contemplating for a moment. Seeing that she didn't say let’s part ways, it seemed the dinner went by safely and well. I had intended to use the Mental Control ability if she said she was going home, but for now, it was a keep.
“Let’s go. I know a wonderful coffee shop near here.”
I gestured lightly and took the lead. And I began to enter the alleyway I had scouted in advance.
Since there were streetlights appropriately and quite a few people passing by, it didn't look dangerous. Of course, I had intentionally chosen such a path.
Just as I was about to enter the next alleyway according to plan, someone blocked my path.
Since he was wearing a black hat and a mask, his face wasn't visible, but I could feel the hostility sufficiently from the killing intent emanating from him.
“Ugh!”
At that moment, I heard the sound of sucked-in air from behind.
Turning around, another assailant was threatening Kang Jin-ah by holding a knife to her neck.
Huh? These aren't the guys I had an appointment with.
“Hand over everything you have. Bag, wallet, smartphone, everything.”
The man standing in front of me said in a low voice while slightly showing the knife.
The tone of voice, the manner of speaking, and the calmness. He wasn't a stray robber. Why? At this time? In a place with a high probability of being exposed to people?
Something was unnatural.
Could it be, are they aiming for my ID and phone?
If so, the probability that the affair partner ordered this was high.
However, that was only one speculation. I had to act cautiously.
There were two assailants, front and back.
Unlike the guy who was quietly holding out his hand in front, the guy holding the knife to Kang Jin-ah’s throat had nervousness permeating his movements. The guy in front of me looked stronger.
Then, if I only subdue this guy, it’s a problem that can be solved easily.
“Hand it over quickly!”
I began to act.
“Ah, yes. I will give it to you. I will give it. So please, let her go.”
“Just hand it over quickly!”
I took my wallet and mobile phone out from inside my clothes. I intentionally held them out while shaking my hands, and then naturally dropped the smartphone.
“You pathetic bastard! Pick it up quickly!”
The man said while thrusting the knife close. If I delayed time, the probability of being exposed to people was high.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I will pick it up quickly.”
I bent my waist and pretended to pick up the phone. At the same time, I bent my legs to apply force, and by stepping one foot forward, I narrowed the distance to the guy.
Whoosh—
Grab!
“Ugh!”
And rising quickly, I grabbed his arm, and pulling him immediately while keeping my waist tight against him, I hooked one of his legs and executed a shoulder throw just like that.
Crash!
“Ack!”
The man who fell forward had no choice but to receive the shock of hitting the ground fully, and he writhed in pain while twisting his body like a shrimp.
Crack—
“Ugh!”
I broke the man’s hand, snatched the dagger he was holding, and threw it right at the guy who was threatening Kang Jin-ah.
Thwack!
“Argh!”
The dagger passed exactly by her side and was embedded in his shoulder.
The surprised assailant let her go and began to run away in a hurry.
The man I had slammed into the ground also barely managed to stand up and avoided the spot while limping. This was because people were gathering due to the commotion.
Fortunately, things were handled according to my thoughts, but I wasn't certain.
However, the reason I was able to throw the dagger boldly was because I was trusting in the Taste of Regression. If things went wrong, I had intended to turn back to 2 minutes ago and choose another method.
The Taste of Regression seemed to have quite a lot of useful applications besides earning money.
“Jin-ah-ssi! Are you okay??”
“Ah… ah…”
She was looking at me with her eyes unfocused. If the reaction was to this extent, it meant she didn't know at all. It was either a real coincidence or the affair partner had planned it alone.
“Let’s go to the hospital first.”
When I raised her up, she suddenly shook her head.
“Ah, no. I’m fine. I’m not hurt anywhere. I want to go home.”
“I understand. I will take you.”
I didn't ask the reason. In fact, there was no need to ask. Her safety was outside the scope of my interest. Perhaps she also speculated that it was the affair partner’s doing.
However, I was inwardly pleased at her words that she was going home.
If it turned out like this, the probability of me entering her house was high.
As expected, it was as I had anticipated.
As she got out of the taxi, she grabbed my collar and opened her mouth as if embarrassed.
“I’m scared… could you stay with me today?”
Bingo.
“Ah! Of course. You must have been shocked. Go in quickly. You’ll feel a bit better if you wash up with warm water and rest. I’ll be by your side, so rest assured. Even though I look like this, I’m quite a dan-ja (person with a black belt/dan rank).”
I followed her straight into the officetel building. It was a high-end officetel that even had a front desk on the first floor, and her house was on the very top floor among them.
There was a wide living room and many rooms, and the interior was also luxurious.
“Would you like to rest in the living room? I’ll wash up and come out first.”
“Let’s do that. Now, relax your tension and take it easy. It’ll be a big problem if you slip in the bathroom while tense.”
“Thank you.”
She looked at me with affectionate eyes and then disappeared into the bathroom.
A short while later, she came out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe, and this time, I also entered the bathroom to take a shower.
I was soaking my entire body with warm water, and I could see her slowly entering the bathroom through the steam.
“Um… thank you so much for saving me today.”
She slowly took off her bathrobe and approached me. Because of the steam rising hazily, I couldn't see her body clearly, but I could tell it was a sufficiently attractive figure.
“Jin-ah-ssi…”
She approached the place where I was and hugged me softly.
“Hug me.”
She whispered in my ear.
I hugged her tightly and thought.
‘Hmph. Look at this. No matter how I look at it, it seems she’s completely determined to seduce me. Fine, I’ll play along with your intentions.’
Sharing a kiss with her, I lifted her up in my arms and headed straight to the bedroom.
‘But there’s a fact you overlooked, bitch. The fact that I have the Mental Control ability. I can even use it twice today!’
As I pinned her down and moved with all my might, her eyes widened and she began to hug me tightly.
It was a natural thing. This was because Physical Enhancement, one of my abilities, strengthens the body and heightens motor nerves and reflexes. Naturally, it was an ability that also applied to nighttime activities.
Several hours passed, and her eyes rolled back as her body convulsed. Every time she reached a climax, I used the Mental Control ability, splitting it into two times.
Once to tell her to be loyal to me in the future, and another time to tell her to hate the affair partner.
Of course, it wouldn't be of use just once today, but there were many days left in the future. If I slowly injected it, she would eventually become my puppet.
“Huuuh! In-seok-ssi. Stop!”
She cried out and called my alias yearningly.
“One more time!”
“Aaah!”
Thus, I tormented her all night long and did not let her go until she fainted.
Thinking of the disgraceful things she had done to me in the past, I treated her more and more roughly in order to take revenge.
I still couldn't believe that such a haughty and arrogant bitch was currently wriggling beneath me.
I look forward to it. Because it’s only just started now.
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