Chapter 1 Part 5

In half a year, our branch’s Director-General will be moving to the Americas Headquarters. So, the two Vice Director-Generals are contending for that position behind the scenes, and there’s always factional strife in any organization, you know. Because my superior is involved, it’s become quite tiresome for me too. Anyway, I have to help my direct superior rise to the Director-General position. This means that for the next half-year, we’ll have to fight fiercely within the branch. And during that time, many petty and despicable tactics will be employed. In other words, I need a subordinate who can luckily survive for a long time amidst all that.

“I’m not exactly known for my good luck.”

“Hmm——-you’re a chicken instead of a pheasant, then. What do you think?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do I think’? Who would be happy to be called a chicken instead of a pheasant?”

Jeong Tae-ui replied gruffly, but he wasn’t particularly offended by the remark itself. If someone like Jeong Jae-ui is a pheasant, then just being called a chicken is more than enough for him. Jeong Jae-ui was that exceptional of a person. He could only half understand his uncle’s words. The half Jeong Tae-ui understood was, ‘This sounds like something that will be a headache if I get involved.’ Not only was there talk of factional strife, but any place his uncle was involved in was practically no different from the military society that Jeong Tae-ui currently wanted nothing to do with.

“Uncle, you were at the Asia Branch, right?”

“That’s right.”

“If you’re looking for someone luckier and more capable than me who wants to join there, you’ll find countless people, like stars in the sky. Just pick anyone from among them and take them.”

“I’ve already told you about the internal secrets, so you can’t back out after hearing all that.”

“What secrets? It’s probably an open secret anyway. Just fight well on your own and get promoted safely.”

Jeong Tae-ui waved his hand, as if to signal the end of the conversation, and stood up to clear the empty dishes. Then his uncle firmly grabbed Jeong Tae-ui’s wrist. Jeong Tae-ui clicked his tongue. It seemed his uncle was serious, judging by his face. This makes it hard to refuse.

“Uncle… you know, so why are you doing this? I can’t do it.”

Jeong Tae-ui sighed audibly and muttered. Then his uncle asked seriously.

“Tell me why you can’t. If it’s a convincing reason, I’ll look for someone else.”

“You know, don’t you?”

“Well…?”

He couldn’t understand what this man was thinking. Judging solely by his words, there was no particular reason for Jeong Tae-ui to be the person needed. Perhaps Jeong Jae-ui, but people like Jeong Tae-ui were a dime a dozen in the world.

“Uncle, first of all, I hate the military. I’ve had enough of that authoritative and closed-off world.”

“We’re not the military. We just do a lot of physical training; the hierarchy and internal atmosphere are different from the military. We do handle classified cases sometimes, so in that sense, you could say it’s closed off, but it’s not authoritative, at least. If you join, the ranks above you will be the Director-General, two Vice Director-Generals, and six Instructors; you’ll hardly ever see the Director-General or the Vice Director-Generals in person. The rest are all equal colleagues. Alright, any other reasons?”

“…And I’m not in good health.”

“I know you’re fully recovered.”

“I might not need to go to the hospital, but my knees still ache and my body stiffens up when the weather’s bad.”

“There’s no one there who isn’t like that. Everyone’s been shot once or twice and had a few bones broken. Alright, any other reasons?”

“And I don’t meet the conditions you’re looking for, Uncle. Both my luck and my abilities are ordinary.”

His uncle’s eyes narrowed again. After looking at Jeong Tae-ui subtly for a moment, he said slowly.

“I need someone who can follow orders well and survive for a long time. Still, I think quite highly of you, Jeong Tae-ui. Even if I appear this way, I believe I have a decent understanding of you, but for reference, I still looked at your records from Military Academy until recently. You, you see, possess the most important thing for surviving safely.”

“What’s that?”

“Quick wits.”

…

Just when the conversation seemed to be getting serious, an unexpected word popped out. Jeong Tae-ui, who had been expecting some kind of compliment, felt the strength drain from his body.

“Uncle… ‘quick wits’? That’s…”

“Why, are you disappointed?”

“More than disappointed——yes, I am disappointed.”

As Jeong Tae-ui slowly shook his head and muttered, his uncle chuckled softly.

“There’s nothing to be disappointed about. Someone with extraordinary luck like Jae-ui is an exception, but for most ordinary people, quick wits are essential for survival. In other words, instinct. Depending on the situation, whether your instinct is slightly better or worse than others can mean the difference between living or dying.”

His uncle’s voice trailed off slightly. Jeong Tae-ui had never experienced the numerous crossroads of life and death that his uncle had passed through. The times he had nearly died weren’t in such a fierce life. They were merely dangers from accidents that anyone could experience. Nevertheless, he seemed to understand what his uncle meant by instinct.

“So, what’s next?”

“What?”

“Any other reasons besides that?”

His uncle gestured, as if telling him to speak if there were more reasons. His expression showed that what he had said so far wasn’t a convincing reason. If it had been a convincing reason, he wouldn’t have argued.

Jeong Tae-ui silently stared at him. He also looked back at Jeong Tae-ui. Without rushing him further, he slowly waited for Jeong Tae-ui to open his mouth.

Occasionally, Jeong Tae-ui would be surprised by his older brother. It wasn’t about his genius or luck, which he was already well aware of, like air clinging to his skin. It was when he realized that his brother surprisingly knew him very well.

Having grown up together for a quarter of a century—even if their individual lives differed and they weren’t always together—he believed they knew each other well enough, yet sometimes Jeong Jae-ui would catch Jeong Tae-ui off guard.

This was true when Jeong Jae-ui pinpointed Jeong Tae-ui’s tendencies or thoughts that Jeong Tae-ui himself hadn’t even consciously recognized. Even without deliberate observation, Jeong Jae-ui naturally grasped the essence of people.

In that regard, this uncle certainly shared a similar make-up with Jeong Jae-ui.

…