Gulp. Gulp.
The transparent purple liquid slid down the throat of the youngest son, Choi Eun-seok.
The room fell into absolute silence.
No one dared to breathe.
All eyes were fixed on Eun-seok as he swallowed the elixir.
Though it was only 100 milliliters, it took him a surprisingly long time to finish it.
When the purple liquid inside the glass bottle finally ran dry and the mouth of the bottle left Eun-seok's lips, the silence that had filled the room slowly unraveled.
"Eun-seok… how do you feel?Is anything different?"
Chairman Choi Chang-sik leaned toward his son, asking with desperate eyes.
"…I don't think it works instantly just from drinking it…"
Eun-seok answered weakly.
The chairman turned to me, barely holding himself together.
"T-Then… when will the effects begin to show?Can you tell me?"
"…What did you say?"
After hearing my answer, Chairman Choi's face twisted in disbelief.
The eldest son, Choi Eun-hyuk, reacted the same way.
"That's ridiculous!This isn't magic!You're clearly trying to deceive us after all!"
Eun-hyuk shouted, his face filled with outrage.
But then—
Eun-seok suddenly sat upright.
And with a thin, trembling voice, he spoke.
"I… I think something's changing…!"
"…Really?!"
"…What?!"
Father and son cried out at the same time.
Of course.
When I had injected the elixir into my father, visible changes had begun within a minute.
That time, it had been administered intravenously.
This time, it was oral ingestion.
So there was a slight delay—
But both methods showed effects that were nearly instantaneous.
"The effect should start appearing any moment now.It's about time."
"…My body feels lighter…My stomach—always nauseous and bloated—feels calm…And my skin… the itching that drove me insane is fading…I've never felt like this since I got sick…"
"…A-Are you really… being treated…?!"
Eun-hyuk still stared at us with suspicion.
"You didn't put painkillers or drugs in that, did you?!Even if a cure existed, improving this fast makes no sense!If anything, it's far more likely to be some kind of narcotic—"
"Enough."
Chairman Choi raised one hand, cutting him off.
"Eun-hyuk. Your concern isn't unreasonable.But this is something we can verify through medical tests."
Then he turned to me.
"Tell me honestly.Is my son truly being treated right now?This isn't some trick using painkillers or narcotics, is it?"
"Yes, Chairman.I can state this with certainty.Your son is being treated by the effects of the medicine we developed."
"…If you are so confident, then I will have Eun-seok taken to our group-affiliated hospital for a full examination."
He looked straight into my eyes.
"I'll ask you once more.Is my son truly… being treated?"
"Yes.He is."
The chairman turned to his chief secretary.
"Jae-seok.Take Eun-seok to Daesung Hospital and have him examined immediately.Call me as soon as the results are out."
"Yes, Chairman."
Park Jae-seok approached the bed respectfully.
"Young Master, please allow me.I'll carry you."
But after hesitating, Eun-seok said,
"I… I think I can walk on my own.My body really does feel much lighter."
"But, Young Master—"
"I'm really okay."
Park Jae-seok glanced at the chairman.
After a brief moment of thought, Chairman Choi nodded.
"Very well.But be careful."
"Yes, Secretary Park.Thank you for always worrying about me."
Together, they left the room and descended the stairs.
Silence filled the room once more.
It was broken by Eun-hyuk.
"Father, no matter how I think about it, this is still strange.Without instant-acting drugs or narcotics, improvement like this is impossible."
"By conventional standards, yes."
"…What?"
"But look at the case of Min Seo-ah they treated.Was that something conventional medicine could explain?"
"…That was—"
"That is why I chose to trust them this time.I didn't bring them here after being swayed by empty words."
"…I see.I understand what you mean, Father."
"Let's wait and see.If they truly cure the illness that has tormented Eun-seok his entire life…there could be no greater joy."
Eun-hyuk lowered his head.
"Yes.I'll wait quietly for the test results."
After that, silence continued.
Then Chairman Choi spoke to us.
"It wouldn't be polite to leave our guests waiting like this.Would you like to go down to the dining room for coffee and desserts?Our chef is quite skilled."
A private dining area.A chef who even prepares desserts.
At this point, the economic activity happening inside this residence alonewas probably larger than that of many small companies.
I was about to accept—
When Dong-sik sent me a desperate look, shaking his head.
…Ah.
I finally understood.
Once the examination finished,Chairman Choi would receive a call from Park Jae-seok.
Dong-sik didn't want to miss it.
He wanted to see—
The exact moment when Eun-hyuk's face collapsed after hearing the truth.
Relief and joy over his brother's recovery.
Shame for having doubted and insulted us.
And the chilling realization that his own rash behaviormight have cost his brother the chance to be cured forever.
…Now that I thought about it,I kind of wanted to see that too.
So I declined politely.
"Thank you for the offer, Chairman, but we're fine.We'll wait here together for the test results."
Dong-sik nodded enthusiastically.
Chairman Choi looked at us with mild surprise.
"Ho…So you intend to stay and see this through to the end.I see now—this seriousness must be what led you to develop such technology.Our employees should learn from your attitude."
…That wasn't exactly what I'd intended,but leaving a good impression wasn't a bad thing.
Eun-hyuk, however, stared at his father with visible displeasure.
Perhaps he didn't like the fact that we were being viewed favorably.
About thirty minutes passed.
Chairman Choi remained standing the entire time.
Despite being the head of Daesung Group,despite the endless workload he must normally shoulder—
He stood there without moving.
That alone showed how deeply he loved his youngest son.
Then—
The chairman's phone rang.
He checked the screen and answered with a tense expression.
"…Yes.What were the results?"
[ … ]
"…I-Is that really true?How much improvement…?!"
[ … ]
"I understand.Bring Eun-seok back once everything is settled."
The call ended.
Chairman Choi stared blankly into space.
"F-Father…?What did they say…?"
He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.
Then he looked up again.
At that moment, Eun-hyuk glared at me and spoke angrily.
"Don't tell me—this was really just a trick using painkillers—"
"No."
Chairman Choi cut him off sharply.
"The inflammation that filled Eun-seok's body due to his immune disease…has been almost completely cleared."
"…What?"
"Over 95% of the inflammation has disappeared.And even now, it continues to decrease at a rapid rate."
"…That's… really…?"
I looked straight at Eun-hyuk.
See?My expression said it all.
He immediately averted his gaze.
From that moment on,he couldn't meet my eyes again.
His face was a complex mixture of emotions—
Joy and relief that his brother was finally being freed from lifelong suffering.
Shame for having insulted and doubted the very people who made that possible.
And the horrifying realization that his own recklessnessmight have destroyed that chance forever.
I glanced at Dong-sik.
He was wearing the unmistakable smile of a victor.
You really enjoyed that, didn't you?
Chairman Choi turned to us.
"It seems you're pleased as well—hearing that Eun-seok is being treated.That warmth of heart and conscience…this old man will remember it for the rest of his life."
…To be honest, Dong-sik's reason for smiling was probably a bit different,but hey—if it was taken positively, that was good enough.
Chairman Choi then bowed slightly toward us.
"Thank you.You are the greatest benefactors I have met in my entire life.I doubted you several times—for that, I sincerely apologize."
"There's no need.We simply did what anyone should."
"No.One must know how to honor benefactors to accomplish great things.My son has suffered his entire life…and today—finally—thank you… truly… thank you…"
His voice trembled.
The old man struggled to contain his overflowing emotions.
After a moment, he composed himself and continued.
"I made a promise.That I would grant you anything you desire—except control of Daesung Group.But before that…there is one more thing I must do."
Something beyond the promised reward?
Chairman Choi turned sharply toward his eldest son.
"Eun-hyuk.You have committed grave discourtesy toward our greatest benefactors.Apologize. Properly."
Eun-hyuk froze.
"Now."
At a glance, Dong-sik's grin stretched nearly to his ears.
The man who had insulted, doubted, and looked down on us until moments agonow bowed deeply—almost at a right angle.
"…I-I'm… s-sorr—"
"Speak clearly!"
Chairman Choi barked.
"I sincerely apologize!I committed an unforgivable offense!Please forgive me!"
Eun-hyuk shouted his apology.
Well—a gentleman shouldn't dwell on small matters when the greater good is at stake.
I decided to forgive him for now.
After all—
The truly important conversationwas about to begin.
The reward Chairman Choi had promised.