Invitation (2)

So that's the end of the similarities of that dream, no, vision; a growing tinge of anticipation ran through my heart at the new possibilities that opened up before this conclusion.

Although on second thought, why weren't the winning lottery numbers in that vision? Damn: That would have been great; Get so much money easily that it will be very difficult to spend it in a lifetime.

I've never had the opportunity to drive a Lamborghini - is it as awesome as it sounds? My hair blowing in the wind and a beautiful girl by my side. Or first class rides all over the planet?

I shook out her business card again and blurted out a blunt phrase: "Otherwise, Shinyoung, known for developing new drugs, won't like to know how incompetent their director is."

I continued with a relaxed smile, "I mean, it's clear that you failed to close a contract with someone like me, and besides, certain information that was not supposed to leak out got out."

And that information was about the existence of that other side.

"Are you threatening me?" inquired Kim Hannah, her face on the verge of abandoning expressionlessness to transform into one of rage. None of this was supposed to happen, so she was unsure how to act.

"I don't know, you tell me." I shrugged my shoulders, watching his movements and changes in facial expressions in detail.

"Funny, do you think anyone will believe you, a gambling addict, of all people?" Inwardly, I nodded in agreement at those words. However, not completely.

"I guess you're right. But no one knows what's going to happen tomorrow. That's the amazing thing about life, don't you think, Principal Kim Hannah?"

Seeing his reaction, a thrill of insecurity was awakened in her and unable to take any more, Kim Hannah lost her poker face for the second time and exclaimed in frustration and anger, 

"Son of a bitch!"

Good.

'Now, I should give him his carrot, shouldn't I?' It will be bad and counterproductive for her to get even angrier. The invitation is the goal, after all. Therefore, I backed off.

"Of course, I don't want to go that far either. Simply, give me an invitation contrary to a slave contract, and that will be it."

Kim Hannah, baring her teeth and with a vicious face, replied, "A contract and an invitation are two completely different matters. I can complete contracts with my authority, but not an invitation."

'So you still won't give up?'

Immediately, "Really?" I tilted my head in confusion before adding, "However, if I remember correctly, you said, 'Tell me why I should use my precious invitation with a worthless gambling addict,' am I wrong?"

'Son of a bitch...!'

Kim Hannah bit her lower lip while at the same time thinking, 'A cursed deity is what you are. Saying that there would come a time when I would have no choice but to use it. Is this what you were referring to?'

And after ruffling his carefully combed hair, he commented, 'I'm not lying. I have yet to receive permission to deliver an invitation. Even if it's the most normal one."

Despite the anger burning inside her Kim Hannah had to admit that this Seol, was a completely different talent than the gambling addict the reports detailed.

She was not vain or arrogant; she assessed herself objectively. As much as she hated to admit it, she had been cornered, and by this man in front of her no less: Seol.

So she was already resigning herself to handing over an invitation, but not completely. She still had to proceed with care. She was an experienced woman; she would not make beginner's mistakes or make a misstep.

However, this case was an exception. This man was behaving completely differently from the investigations conducted, suddenly and for no apparent reason.

Also, changing a contract to an invitation was not an easy thing to do. No matter how much she embellished her own words, 'Damn it, it will still be difficult to escape punishment...'

Because of being a career-focused woman, she did not wish nor would she tolerate her record being tarnished; an intense internal struggle raged in her heart.

Anyway. 

Kim Hannah caught her breath as she organized her thoughts, and firmly expressed while looking at Seol; the one she previously saw as a mere gambling addict, "First of all, you must agree to three conditions."

Jackpot. 

Then, "No problem, I hear you," I expressed, accompanying my words with a confident smile.

Kim Hannah gave me a look that seemed to question the veracity of my words, but then nodded and spoke.

"Number one. You have to swear you've never entered that world before. Right here, right now."

"I swear: I've never been to that other world." Of course, I am not lying if you ignore the fact that I am a reincarnator.

"Number two. I want you to tell me your secret when I give you the Invitation. About how you already knew these things..." 

"No." I waved my hand in denial and added, "At least not until I'm sure you can be trusted. But if I can trust you more, we can discuss it in the future..."

I smiled and added, "Well, I could reveal it, although I don't guarantee that the answer will be satisfactory. But I'll need a little encouragement..." I pointed to her purse on the floor, with money about to overflow.

Her brow furrowed at my proposal and, Kim Hannah thought for a second, somewhat dissatisfied, but then sighed before looking away from the night sky. 

"...The final condition. After successfully entering that world, you must first negotiate with me before anyone else, no matter what. understood?"

You're already assuming I'm going to get there... No, you're actually calming yourself down that way. But you don't seem like a person who talks out of turn.

On the other hand, with all that I have gained lately, at least on my part, I certainly have reason to believe that I will not fail; I have yet to meet hers.

And apparently I had been rejected. I chuckled and as I finished listening to her and said, "I accept: your three conditions, I mean." Although she relented on the second one, so it was really only two conditions.

However, by all accounts, she would not back down on that last one: If I refused, it would probably all be over at that point.

"... Right." 

She sighed heavily before searching her pocket with trembling hands. The obvious reluctance was reflected in the shaking of her hands as she reached for the Invitation.

Finally, she extracted her hand from her pocket, revealing four seals distributed between the spaces of her fingers. There was a red one, a bronze one, a silver one, and finally a gold one.

"You stated that you would not sign the Contract..." 

Kim Hannah removed the red seal and continued, "Regarding the bronze, I can employ it on my authority, though it remains a shared asset. I don't even need to mention the silver one."

The way she spoke while casually wagging her middle finger elicited another laugh from Seol. 'Hey, you know I have a heart too, right?' ' I thought as I looked at that, her so-called 'Precious Invitation'. 

With an anguished look, she tightened her hand around the gold seal. Then, she ran towards Seol as if to devour him on the spot. 

Seol bowed his head and remarked in a voice that simulated shyness, "Wait, I'm not ready yet." However, his muscles tensed and in his eyes, certain things were revealed.

Kim Hannah's expression clouded with annoyance and displeasure as she exclaimed, "Shut up, you bastard! Didn't you want an invitation? Well, here it is!"

Kim Hannah grabbed Seol's left arm, who after a detailed analysis, impossible for someone normal during that short period of time, concluded that there was no danger.

She therefore pressed the gold seal into her palm as if it were a dagger. Instantly, a golden light shimmered, ascending before dissipating like a receding tide and turning gray.

'How... Magical.' 

It was the only thing I could think of at that moment.

Likewise, right in the middle of my left palm, a reddish-golden light emitted from a small circular mark quickly disappeared in the next moment.

"The door will open at 10:30 p.m., tonight."

As I was mesmerized watching the remnants of that energy, an envelope hit me hard in the chest: it was the Invitation letter. 

"It's about two hours from now, so attend to your personal business as soon as possible in case you have to."