Two days later, a Hyundai Grandeur driven by Chief Secretary Park Jae-seok arrived in front of our warehouse building to pick us up.
Dong-sik and I each carried a thick briefcase as we got into the car.One contained a bottle filled with the Stage 1 Elixir,the other held tubes of the Skin Regeneration Agent.
"Mr. Hyun Si-woo, Mr. Kim Dong-sik—thank you for coming.The chairman and the young master are waiting for you at the residence."
We took our seats.
"…The treatment method—is it what you're carrying in those briefcases?"
Park Jae-seok asked, checking us through the rearview mirror.
"Yes.We'll be using both an oral medication and a topical treatment simultaneously.The disease affecting the chairman's youngest son internally,and the rashes and blotches on his skin,will be treated rapidly at the same time."
"I sincerely hope that will be the case.The chairman has very high expectations."
After about an hour of driving, the Grandeur arrived at Chairman Choi Chang-sik's residence—the same place we had visited two days earlier.
It had been imposing even in the darkness,but seeing it clearly under the bright daylight made the scale of the estate overwhelming.
A massive three-story main building built in a modern European style,a gray marble fountain standing before it,and a circular driveway branching into three paved roads.
Between the roads, meticulously maintained lawns and geometric hedges stretched far into the distance.
Behind the main building, a small forest and a lake added a sense of calm and balance to the scenery.
Dong-sik and I stared out the window in amazement.
It looked like something straight out of a Western fairy tale—yet it existed quietly on the outskirts of Seoul.
The car stopped in front of the fountain.
"We've arrived.The chairman is waiting."
Just like before, suited staff hurried over and opened the doors for us.
Once again, we were treated with a level of hospitality we had never experienced before,passing through massive doors into the central lobby.
Chairman Choi Chang-sik was waiting there.
Unlike his usual tailored suits and tie,today he wore neat, casual clothing.
For a moment, he almost looked like an ordinary grandfather from the neighborhood.
Almost.
The heavy aura emanating from his eyes and expression was impossible to hide.
"You've come.You still have confidence that you can treat my youngest son, Eun-seok?"
"Yes, Chairman.Of course.We'll show you today."
Chairman Choi glanced briefly at the two briefcases we were carrying.
"Is that all?Everything you need for the treatment is inside those cases?"
"Yes.They contain treatment agents that represent the pinnacle of Luktic's latest technology.They will show significant effects on your youngest son as well."
"I certainly hope so.Then let us go.Eun-seok is waiting in the same room you saw two days ago."
"Yes, Chairman."
Chairman Choi began walking.
Following behind him were Dong-sik, myself, Chief Secretary Park,and a noticeably larger number of suited staff and maids than before.
…Wait.
There were far more people than last time.
Well over ten.
Most of the men in suits were large, broad-shouldered individuals.
Bodyguards.
In case something went wrong,they were likely here to restrain Dong-sik and me.
Considering the many incidents surrounding Eun-seok's treatment in the past,it was understandable.
Soon, we arrived at the door at the far end of the third-floor corridor—the same room as before.
Chairman Choi opened the door himself and guided us inside.
Inside were Choi Eun-seok, lying on the bed,and Choi Eun-hyuk, the eldest son, standing beside him.
…And Eun-hyuk was glaring at us.
When I glanced sideways, I noticed Dong-sik glaring right back.
Were they… having a silent staring contest?
Breaking the uncomfortable silence, Chairman Choi spoke to me.
"Very well.Explain it to me properly.How exactly will you treat my son?As his father, I should at least understand the process."
I nodded and exchanged a glance with Dong-sik.
We opened our briefcases.
Inside Dong-sik's was a tube of Skin Regeneration Agent.Inside mine was a 100 ml glass bottle filled with the Stage 1 Elixir.
I held up the tube first.
"This is the medicine that completely healed Min Seo-ah's burn scars.It's a topical pharmaceutical cream."
"…Ah. So this is it."
Chairman Choi studied the tube intently.
For some reason, all the staff and maids around us also seemed to be staring at my hand.
Then Eun-hyuk spoke sharply.
"How is that cream used?How long does it take to work?And what is it made from?"
His tone was still aggressive,but after being reprimanded by his father two days earlier,he had at least switched to formal speech.
Suppressing my irritation, I answered calmly.
"You simply apply an appropriate amount to the affected area.In most cases, recovery is nearly complete overnight.The cosmetic product we sell—Luktic Cream—is also made using technology derived from this treatment."
"Hm."
Chairman Choi let out a thoughtful sound.
"Remarkable.To heal burn scars of that severity in a single day…I didn't realize the same technology was applied to your cosmetic products.No wonder our group's skincare line has been struggling recently.Against foundational cosmetics made with such technology, conventional methods wouldn't stand a chance.It seems our researchers need to work harder."
…To be fair, comparing modern R&D teams to technology left behind by an ultra-ancient alien civilization felt a little unfair.
If this caused Chairman Choi to pressure Daesung Group's cosmetics R&D division,I felt slightly bad for them.
Chairman Choi then turned to his eldest son.
"And Eun-hyuk—mind your manners.Is that how I taught you to speak?"
Eun-hyuk clenched his jaw, clearly displeased,but lowered his head.
"…Understood, Father."
Next, I lifted the Stage 1 Elixir from my briefcase.
Inside the ornate glass bottle,a transparent purple liquid shimmered gently.
"This is a treatment we developed very recently.It's designed to be effective against a wide range of incurable and rare diseases that originate within the body."
"Such a broadly effective medicine…Is that really possible?"
"Yes.The patient simply drinks it.If your youngest son drinks this and applies the cream,his condition will improve dramatically within a day."
"That's absurd—"
Eun-hyuk tried to interrupt,but Chairman Choi cut him off.
"…Was the same medicine used on your father?The one whose condition recently improved so suddenly?"
"…!"
For a moment, I was speechless.
"I did my homework.You worked at Shinjeon Chemical's factory and fell ill.Modern medicine declared treatment impossible,and the doctors believed death was imminent—yet just a few days ago, your condition suddenly improved, and you overcame the critical stage.That's what I heard."
"Yes… that's correct.I used the same medicine on my father.He couldn't take it orally, so I administered it intravenously.The effects began almost immediately."
A chill ran through my body.
He really wasn't someone to take lightly.
He had investigated my background thoroughly.
"And can you tell me the ingredients of this medicine?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, Chairman, but that will be difficult.As you know, it's a trade secret.However, I can guarantee that there are no side effects.Min Seo-ah also recovered completely and is preparing to return to the entertainment industry in perfect health."
"I see…With technology of that level, it would be unreasonable to demand disclosure."
Chairman Choi fell silent, thinking deeply.
Then, as if making a decision, he spoke.
"Very well.I'll trust you once.I don't believe you would gamble with your own father's life.I'll entrust my son's treatment to you."
He turned toward Eun-seok.
"Eun-seok.Are you okay with this?Among all those who have come before,these people seem the most trustworthy."
Eun-seok hesitated, unable to speak.
Then Eun-hyuk interjected.
"Father, please reconsider.They're saying they'll make him drink something unknown again.What if it damages his body like before—like those quacks did?"
Ultimately, the most important opinion was Eun-seok's.
At this rate, he might refuse treatment under his brother's influence.
I stepped in.
"As I said, I gave this medicine to my own father first.Would I give something dangerous to my own parent?Please trust me."
Chairman Choi nodded.
"I feel the same.Let's try it.If this truly is a cure, Eun-seok—you'll finally be freed from the illness that has tormented you for half your life."
Eun-seok stared blankly into the air.
Then, as if gathering resolve,he closed his eyes tightly and spoke.
"…I'll try it.The treatment."
"E-Eun-seok!" Eun-hyuk shouted."Don't do anything reckless! What if it turns out like last time—!"
But Eun-seok replied quietly.
"…Waiting hasn't changed anything.They still don't even know the cause of my immune disease.I can't eat anything except thin rice porridge.I sleep more than fourteen hours every day.I don't want to live like this anymore."
"…Eun-seok…"
"…Eun-seok…"
Tears welled up in both Chairman Choi's and Eun-hyuk's eyes.
Chairman Choi turned to me with a resolute expression.
"Then… I ask you to proceed with the treatment.You are confident, yes?"
"Yes, Chairman."
Eun-hyuk stared at us bitterly,holding back tears, unable to say another word.
I lifted the bottle containing the elixirand removed the cork sealing it.
"First, please drink this."
I handed the bottle to Eun-seok.
He brought it close to his nose and sniffed lightly.
"…It smells sweet.Almost like grape juice…"
"Yes.It shouldn't be unpleasant to drink.Please drink all of it."
Eun-hyuk glared at me, his voice trembling.
"If anything happens to my brother…I won't forgive you."
"You don't need to worry."
For the first time, Eun-seok met my eyes briefly and nodded.
He raised the bottle to his lips.
Gulp. Gulp.
The transparent purple liquid flowed down Choi Eun-seok's throat.