Chapter 119
Two days later.
Before starting the next broadcast, three of the five people who had received secret consultations posted testimonials.
And then, it was time for the broadcast.
[Balbari donated 50,000 gold!]
[Vortex donated 30,000 gold!]
[Garbex donated 70,000 gold!]
[King of Dobong-gu donated 100,000 gold!]
.
.
.
That's quite a lot of donations.
-Whoa. What the...
-This is no joke.
-Is hyung going to be today's top donor?
-He already is.
A flood of donations fell the moment the broadcast started.
That shows how badly private consultations are needed.
"Hmm... Thirty people today? Well, let's wait until the broadcast ends and do it then."
Looks like no one's in immediate danger yet.
"Hey. By the way, did you guys see the news yesterday?"
-What news?
-I saw something about the National Assembly holding a UFC match.
-Was it that it's going to rain a ton next week?
"Yeah. That it's going to rain a ton next week. They said Seoul would get a huge amount of rain, but it actually won't be that bad."
I confirmed it earlier from Mr. Cheolhon's future.
According to the weather forecast, it looked like there would be a week of heavy rain next week, but in reality, it would only rain on Monday.
"It'll come down like a shower on Monday, but not that much. Still, carry an umbrella when you go out."
-Whoa... Thanks, hyung.
-Shouldn't hyung just go work for the Korea Meteorological Administration?
-Seems like they ought to hand their salary over to hyung...
"Don't be like that. All I do is see the future. They're making predictions."
When I was in high school, I once went out briefly without an umbrella because the forecast hadn't said it would rain, only to return completely drenched.
The opposite happened plenty of times, too.
"So I got curious and visited the Korea Meteorological Administration once."
With Prosecutor Gu Nam-cheol's help, I entered the Korea Meteorological Administration.
Perhaps because he was a prosecutor, he could bring one person into a public institution without much trouble.
-And?
-Do they really decide the weather by drawing lots?
"You think so...?"
They were working seriously in their own way.
The weather was simply so bizarre that they failed to predict it.
"That's how the world works. Reading the future accurately isn't easy."
-But you do.
-This is hyung's class...?
-Wow, what a humblebrag...
"No, I'm serious, I swear. Ahem. Anyway, that's that. Shall we start today's readings? Let's do about five people first..."
-Me, me, me, me, me, me, me!!
-Read mine!
-Please do mine! Tell me how this project will turn out...!!
[Valtveloden donated 100 gold!]
[Hyung, I'm preparing for the civil service exam. Will I do well?ㅠㅠ]
Request posts continued to pour in.
I picked five among them.
"OneBallEach. Your father said he'd kick you out if you scored a C or lower on this exam, right? He means it, so study."
OneBallEach : Damn it... Do I have to study after all!!
-How cowardly, trying to study!
-Challenge it fair and square by cheating.
-Giving up is easier...
"AcePunch. Don't confess your feelings. She'll cry."
-AcePunch : No way!!
-Lmaoooooooooooo
-Confession attack!
-How can he be so vicious...
These were requests and worries that weren't particularly serious.
They might have been serious to those people, but isn't it human nature for a thorn under one's fingernail to hurt more than someone else's heart disease?
Of course, that didn't mean there were no serious cases.
"MoonThatComesAtNight. Your mother is going to develop breast cancer. Take her to the hospital first thing tomorrow."
-MoonThatComesAtNight : Really? Really? Damn it...
-Whoa, that was close.
-May your mother live a long and healthy life.
-You really have to watch out for things like that...
-Health checkups are a must.
"PulledACadillac. Your company's accountant is embezzling. It's not much for now... but if you leave it alone, they'll take more, and the company will be badly shaken."
After reading the future of PulledACadillac, who ran a small business, and telling him about it, he donated 10,000 gold as thanks.
I'd read five people, so I guess it was time to play again.
"I'm going to play a game... What fun games are there on Steam these days?"
-I hear Train 49 is fun.
What is it?
When I checked the Steam window...
"It's an adult game!!"
-What? Hyung, are you looking down on adult games?
-There are lots of fun adult games too.
-Those who've never played an adult game should not speak of love.
"We can't use that on stream, you idiots..."
I quietly added it to my cart.
Its reviews were overwhelmingly positive, so I'd have to try it later.
Thus, I played with the viewers, read fortunes, played more games, chatted, and read more fortunes.
As I said before, after reading thirty people, when it was time to finish, I drew the ladder again.
"All right, then, see you next time..."
[King of Dobong-gu donated 100,000 gold!]
[King of Dobong-gu donated 100,000 gold!]
[King of Dobong-gu donated 100,000 gold!]
[King of Dobong-gu donated 100,000 gold!]
-Whoa... What the?
-He donated three million gold just today. My God.
-Is he some chairman...?!
-At hyung's broadcast, the level of donation you'd expect from another stream's chairman is just ordinary.
-King of Dobong-gu : Hyung, I'm really desperate, so please, please read mine...
But ladders were cold and impartial.
"See you next time~!"
I ended the broadcast and read the fortunes of the five people selected by the ladder.
Everyone was satisfied.
Having read those five as well, my work for the day was over.
"Hmm."
Normally, I would have played a game, or turned off the game and watched YouTube in bed.
But King of Dobong-gu was bothering me.
"Oh, hell."
I picked up the phone.
-Oh my~ Mr. Noah~! I really enjoyed today's broadcast~!
It was Hong Si-yeon.
As always, she answered my call with a bright, laughing voice, and she was still at the office despite the late hour.
"You must be busy. Seeing as you're still at the office?"
-Yes. Because of Japan. Since the policy changed last time, there's now a way for us to make even more profit. Your company will benefit too, Mr. Noah.
She confidently told me that the dividend I would receive this time would be substantial.
It was something to be grateful for.
The fact that I could earn money equivalent to an ordinary person's annual salary even when I did nothing but breathe was largely thanks to her stake in my company.
"You're planning to make a deal with Spain next month, right?"
-Yes. Is there a problem?
"Yes. That company has a lot of debt. It will go bankrupt after doing business with you."
-Oh dear. It would be better to avoid doing business with them.
"Yes. Ah, it changed. Yes. Another company would be better than that one... There is a global infrastructure and major construction company called ACDS, right?"
-Yes. You mean it'd be better to do business with them?
"Yes. Their deal with China has fallen through, so they'll have trouble importing steel."
Therefore, it would be better for Hong Si-yeon to handle that part.
-Our company doesn't deal in steel...
"You could broker it. You know a steel company, don't you? And... aren't you acquainted with people from the Cheonmyeong Group?"
-Yes. There are a few heirs of the Cheonmyeong Group whom I contact for business.
Cheonmyeong.
It was a conglomerate ranked among South Korea's top ten companies, operating in various fields such as steelmaking, automobiles, and construction.
It was also one of Madam Yang Chun-ja's longtime clients, since she was a loan shark who lent money to corporations.
"You know the president of Cheonmyeong Steel, right?"
-Yes. Why? Shall I introduce you?
"Hmm... Not the president. His second son."
-Uh... He's a wastrel, isn't he? We're not particularly close. I've only seen him a few times.
"Haha. A wastrel..."
Well, was he really a wastrel?
I said to Hong Si-yeon with a smile.
"Could you arrange a meeting with him?"
-It's not particularly difficult. Shall we meet him today?
"Aren't you busy?"
-Come on~ It's a request from you, Mr. Noah. Of course I should do it right away~
That's why I liked Hong Si-yeon.
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.
.
The place we arrived at in Mr. Cheolhon's car was an upscale bar in Gangnam.
It wasn't one of those places where men entertained women. It was the sort of establishment where company executives held serious conversations.
When we opened the door, we found an establishment where solemn music was playing.
"Welco... Gasp! N-Noah hyung?!"
A woman who looked to be in her mid-thirties welcomed me, then jumped in surprise.
She called me hyung.
"You were one of my viewers."
"Y-yes!! Wow! Wow! I can't believe I'm seeing hyung here!"
"Since this is fate, I'll read your fortune."
I held out a card, and she drew one.
"Hmm... How much should I tell you?"
"Since it's you, hyung, you can tell me everything. No one else is listening, right?"
"You're the illegitimate daughter of the chairman of Changyeong Group, aren't you?"
"...I didn't expect you to put it quite so bluntly."
"The chairman of Changyeong Group will call you soon. When he does, it's best not to get greedy."
"...Sigh. You mean my brothers are going to cause a fuss?"
"Yes. As you know, those bastards think the company belongs to them. A gentleman doesn't go to dangerous places. You know that, right?"
You will greedily pursue your right to succession and hope for some scraps, putting even the bar and fortune you currently possess at risk before eventually fleeing to the United States.
She let out a heavy sigh.
"Yes. I shouldn't get greedy..."
"That's best. If you keep quiet, your eldest brother, who will become chairman next, will look after you well. But don't go around openly taking his side."
"I understand. Thank you. Did you come here to drink? Since you've helped me so much, tonight's drinks are on me."
"No. I have an appointment."
It was then.
The door to the inner room opened, and a beautiful red-haired woman came out.
"Oh? Mr. Noah. You're here?"
"Yes. I just arrived."
"Whaaat? Sister Jane. You know Mr. Noah?"
"O-of course I do! Hey! Who in our country doesn't know Noah hyung?"
"Quite a few people don't... Anyway, don't forget what I told you."
"Oh! Okay!!"
I greeted the delighted Jane, whose real name was Lee Suk-ja, and went into the room.
Expensive bottles of alcohol and snacks had already been set out in the room.
"That person will be here soon too. He said he'd come right away when I called. What is your relationship with him?"
"You watched the broadcast earlier, right?"
"Yes."
"You know King of Dobong-gu, the guy who dropped a huge donation at the end? That's him."
"Oh..."
It was then.
The door flew open, revealing a man who was panting for breath.
"H-hyung..."
A man more than five years older than me saw me, then immediately sat down with tears in his eyes.
Then he said weakly,
"Please save me... My older brother is trying to kill me..."
Uh, well.
This guy had gotten the wrong idea.
Your brother isn't attacking you.
And you won't die.
Though you'll be badly injured.