Chapter 60: Chapter 60

Vigilance is key.

People are always capable of harboring a hidden knife in the corners of their hearts.

There’s a saying: you may know the depths of the water, but never the depths of a person’s heart.

Just because everything looks harmonious on the surface, and people treat me kindly, doesn’t mean I should simply believe it and let my guard down.

Keep your wits about you. This is the Go-Ryeo Group, a conglomerate with an explicit reputation as an evil enterprise. A family that owns such a company being genuinely harmonious? It might be a hasty judgment, but it’s certainly hard to trust. Caution is essential.

Didn’t they give me expensive gifts?

Sure, Ha-yeon nuna did give me an Aston Martin “for me to stop crawling around everywhere.” It’s worth about 30 billion won, twice the value of my mansion in Songdo, but to a conglomerate, that’s pocket change.

I’m grateful, but it wasn’t an immense sacrifice for her. Judging her sincerity based on this would be absurd.

"Oh, the young master looks so radiant! The chairman must be so proud!"

"Haha, absolutely!"

After finishing our meal and some light banter, we descended to the first floor.

The group of distant relatives who had been chatting among themselves crowded around us to greet us.

Wow, there are so many of them. How many people are here?

I’d heard that, in terms of direct descendants, Grandfather only had a handful of children, and including me, only four grandchildren. But when it comes to extended family, the number becomes almost impossible to memorize.

Grandfather officially recognized four wives and had an additional eight more casual partners.

From those twelve women, he had a total of twenty-one children, each of whom married and had children, meaning I had over forty cousins, nearing fifty. Among them, a few even married early and already had kids of their own, adding another five to the count.

So, while the direct family numbers fewer than ten, the extended family, including their spouses, almost reaches a hundred.

"Young master, it’s been a while. I’ve heard your expression has brightened quite a bit."

"Oh… yes. Good to see you, too."

One unsettling detail: if you’re not a direct descendant, you can’t call Grandfather "Father" or "Grandfather."

Everyone addresses him as "Chairman," and even for direct descendants like myself, they use formal titles like "Young Master" or "Miss" or "Vice President."

This level of hierarchy—it feels less like family and more like servant treatment for the distant relatives…

They may be outsiders here, but outside, each one is a "Young Master" or "Miss" of the Go-Ryeo Group, respected and untouchable. In the world outside, they are complete overlords in their own right.

Yet even they are clearly segregated, restricted to the first floor here.

Grandfather’s wives receive a bit more courtesy, but are they really at ease, knowing their children are not considered part of the inner family?

"Put this away for me."

"Oh, y-yes…."

My aunts’ husbands were treated similarly.

The aunts themselves seemed to regard their husbands more like servants than equals, while the daughters ignored them almost entirely.

Wow… is this for real? What kind of people are these?

The same family members who had warmly welcomed me and chattered like high school girls upstairs became cold and distant as soon as we stepped down to the first floor. It was as if we’d entered another world.

"Muyeol! Come here a moment."

I was observing the family’s behavior when Grandfather called me over.

He threw an arm around my shoulders, gathering everyone’s attention.

"Everyone, look here!"

All eyes turned towards me.

The distant relatives of Go-Ryeo Group, who control much of Asia, all looked my way.

"Here is my eldest grandson—Muyeol."

"..."

A heavy silence hung in the air, and I felt a chill run through me.

"All your concerns, your doubts—I’m here to tell you they’re unfounded. My eldest grandson here gave up drugs on his own. What can’t he do? If anyone has something to say, speak up now."

Apparently, while Go Muyeol was strung out on drugs, there had been considerable talk within the family’s inner circle.

The relatives glanced at each other, some exchanging looks, others bowing their heads, but ultimately, everyone seemed to acquiesce to Grandfather’s words.

"Focus on your own kids. Stop with the needless gossip!"

It was satisfying to hear him shut them down.

It made me wonder how much he must have worried about Muyeol’s behavior to say this in front of everyone. It was almost touching.

"Now, Muyeol, if you have anything to say, go ahead."

"Excuse me?"

Me?

"Aren’t you the young master here? Don’t you have ambitions, our family’s future leader?"

"..."

Well, I wouldn’t go that far…

All eyes were on me.

I could feel the weight of their stares.

Ah… I wanted to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible…

But there was no going back now. I couldn’t just stand here like an idiot, saying nothing.

"I promise to do nothing to tarnish the name of the Go-Ryeo Group. Please, forget everything about the past Muyeol."

As I said this and bowed slightly, a few people began to clap, and soon it spread throughout the room.

I had no idea why such an ordinary statement warranted applause, but even Grandfather was nodding in approval, which meant they were starting to reassess Go Muyeol.

So it wasn’t that he was just an idiot—he was a complete embarrassment.

For a few simple words to get applause—well, that’s telling.

As evening approached, the main event concluded.

But that didn’t mean the gathering was over.

The immediate family gathered once more in the Solar Pavilion to chat, creating a surprisingly warm atmosphere that felt cozier than any regular household.

They watched out for each other, empathized with each other’s struggles and annoyances, and even after a few drinks, the mood didn’t change. Faces turned red with alcohol, but conversations continued pleasantly, showing a genuine affection between them.

…Can this be real?

Honestly, even as I saw it with my own eyes, it was hard to believe.

Maybe I had a needless prejudice against wealthy families?

It didn’t fully make sense, but it was all right here in front of me.

"Hey, what’s got you so deep in thought?"

A thick slice of steak plopped onto my plate.

Minji had cut a piece from her own plate and placed it on mine.

"Oh… thank you."

"Ha. Why don’t you just ask for a new piece? Why give him yours?"

Ha-yeon, who sat beside us, scoffed, then suddenly kicked the man waiting beside her in the shin. He jumped in pain, clutching his leg as he whimpered.@@novelbin@@

"Why didn’t you serve it sooner? Who told you to daydream?"

"M-my apologies!"

"Why bully him for no reason? I gave it to him as soon as he started eating. Are you okay?"

Minji glanced at the man, looking genuinely concerned.

Grateful, he repeatedly said, "Yes, I’m fine," as he stood back up.

"Here, eat up. This one’s a tough cookie."

She poked another piece of steak with her fork, holding it out to me.

"Oh, no, I’m okay—"

"Just eat it."

"…Thank you."

As I leaned forward to take a bite, she let the fork slip, dropping the steak to the floor.

"Oh. My bad."

"…"

"It’d be a shame to waste it. If you eat it quickly, it’ll be fine, right?"

"…"

Her expression turned wicked, and the man bowed his head in humiliation.

"Calling me temperamental? You’re the one who’s acting like a brat."

Minji chuckled as she watched him lower himself to pick up and eat the steak from the floor.

She really was as psychotic as the rumors said.

After losing interest in him, she suddenly turned to me with a suggestion.

"Now that Muyeol’s joined us, why don’t we plan a gathering with just us?"

"Just us?"

"Yeah! Young and beautiful people, having a blast. How about at my villa?"

Ha-yeon sighed.

"No thanks. I’m passing."

"Such a spoilsport."

"I’ll pass too."

"Why?"

"I don’t feel like it."

"Hah."

Ha-yeon and Seon-yul both declined without hesitation, leaving Minji’s eyes fixed on me.

"Then it’s just you, Muyeol. Okay?"

"…I think I’ll pass too."

There had to be a reason everyone else was refusing.

I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off.

"Oh, come on! You all suck!"

"Minji."

Just then, the adults arrived.

"Get up. Let’s go."

"What? Already?"

"Already? The sun’s already setting. We have work tomorrow, remember?"

"Oh… I really don’t want to."

Minji whined a bit, but one look from Aunt made her flinch and reluctantly stand up.

Min-young looked at me.

"Nephew."

"Yes?"

"I’ll let you know once your personal armor is ready. Come by the Military Tech Headquarters then."

"Oh…."

Didn’t Minji say she’d deliver it?

"…Understood. I’ll see you then."

"Good."

I agreed, not wanting to argue with Aunt Min-young, who could even keep that psycho Minji in line with a single glance.

Might as well use the chance to look around.

Military Tech is one of the pillars supporting the Go-Ryeo Group’s power.

The media has never uncovered what it truly looks like, so I’m curious to see it for myself.

I’d heard there’s supposed to be a vast underground city. Could it actually be true?