All eyes turned to Jinhyuk.
It wasn't just because of what he'd said.
A single credit card casually poking out of his pants pocket.
That wasn't something you could get just by having money.
It was a VVIP card that required an invitation from an existing VIP user to even start the issuance process.
Exaggerating a bit, it was known as the card that could buy a tank.
"I'll pay in full."
Unlike the shocked employees, Jinhyuk was completely relaxed.
Jun-tae, who'd been spacing out, absentmindedly took the card.
Then, over Jun-tae's shoulder, a hand reached out.
"Hello! I'm Woo Moon-do, veteran sales associate!"
The guy looked like his shirt was about to burst from all the bulking up.
Somehow, Jinhyuk's card was already in his hand.
"With a purchase like this, it's best if an experienced salesperson handles it for a smooth transaction! That way, our VIP customer stays comfortable! Right, Assistant Manager Oh Jun-tae?"
Moon-do pressed down on Jun-tae's shoulder with force.
At his appearance, the employees who'd been peeking curiously all turned away at once.
He was infamous.
For stealing newbies' sales.
They'd thought he'd quieted down after a warning from the branch manager.
But with a deal this big, his eyes must have glazed over.
And the branch manager was out on half-day leave, too.
Jun-tae bowed his head deeply instead of answering.
Normally, he'd have snapped back and walked away.
Getting on Moon-do's bad side would make life hell from then on.
But today, it wasn't that simple.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—could he really let it slip away?
"Come on, Assistant Manager Oh! You've worked hard attending to the customer. I'll take it from here..."
"Assistant Manager Oh."
Before Moon-do could finish,
Jinhyuk called out to Jun-tae.
Jun-tae lifted his bowed head.
"After the purchase, if I have questions, you'll explain them just as kindly as before, right? I'm a total newbie, but it all stuck with me. Enough to make me fall for a bike I haven't even ridden yet."
"O-Of course! I'll do my absolute best!"
Moon-do's brow furrowed.
"Haha... Customer. Deals like this aren't just about enthusiasm. Without plenty of experience, it's overwhelming. So..."
"Give me the card."
Once again, Jinhyuk didn't let Moon-do finish.
He just held out his hand toward the card.
Grit.
'Damn kid thinks he's hot stuff 'cause he's got some cash.'
But he couldn't back down now.
It was too good an opportunity to waste.
Nearly 200 million won bike.
Selling it would net a commission way over his annual salary.
"Oh come on! Let me handle it—I'll throw in all sorts of freebies, so just think it over a bit more...!?"
The card vanished from his hand in an instant.
Moon-do and Jun-tae's eyes widened.
How could a human hand move that fast?
"Looks like Manager Woo picked the wrong customer today."
"He got a final warning from the branch manager—tsk."
"Must be embarrassing. Made a fool of himself and got nothing out of it."
The whispering voices made Moon-do grind his teeth.
They were right.
If it had come to this, he'd snag it no matter what.
"Custom—"
"Manager Woo."
Cut off again, rage boiled inside him.
But he couldn't lash out.
"B-Branch Manager."
He was supposed to be on half-day leave?
"You don't seem to understand what 'final' means."
"It's not like that..."
"Enough. Assistant Manager Oh, take good care of our VIP customer. Looks like this year's top performer is already decided. Manager Woo, come to my office. Right now. And pack your things."
Jinhyuk swallowed dryly.
The guy reminded him of his middle school dean of students.
'You know this is karma, right?'
He offered a silent condolence to Manager Woo before following Jun-tae.
He couldn't wait to ride it.
His bike.
"See you next time!"
"Thank you!! I love you, customer!! Call anytime if you need help! I'll give it my all!!"
Jinhyuk waved back at the booming Jun-tae before placing his hand on the throttle.
Mmm, this grip. Excellent.
It felt special, being his first personal ride.
'Oh, right, there's Kentaripin too.'
Almost forgot about that guy.
Correction: first ride in the real world.
He brought his thumb over and started it up.
Fingerprint ignition, huh.
It reminded him of his dad's old bike, where you had to pedal like crazy to start it.
Vroooom!!!
He closed his eyes at the vibration rumbling through his body.
Ducati, living up to its reputation as a motorcycle legend.
He slowly twisted the throttle.
Jun-tae had warned that yanking it hard would send him flying, so caution was key.
The bike glided smoothly onto the road.
The free helmet matched the bike perfectly—nice touch.
'As long as I wear it properly.'
He'd already simulated accident responses in his head.
His body was tough enough to handle it, but he couldn't let the other guy's car turn into scrap paper.
'Everyone's being so nice.'
He'd heard horror stories about driving in Seoul, where modern stress really showed.
He'd been a bit nervous.
But no one was cutting him off, and they let him merge with just a signal—no issues at all.
Enjoying the smooth ride for a while,
He spotted the newly opened Yeonsanghoe building up ahead.
It hadn't been open long, but it was already packed with customers.
Probably the synergy of Yeonsanghoe's savvy and Generos's marketing muscle.
'Pretty stable now.'
Unlike before, Yoo Soo-yeon wasn't running around solo anymore.
Generos had sent over some top performers, and the shop had been remodeled to handle more traffic.
He slowed down and parked the bike near the building.
"Hey, hey, look over there. Isn't that a Ducati?"
"Crazy, a Panigale? It's got the Lamborghini mark too."
Jinhyuk, about to turn off the engine, twisted the throttle again.
They say riding a fancy car or bike gives you that 'arrival' feeling.
But for him, it was more burdensome than anything.
Thud.
He parked in a secluded spot and headed into Yeonsanghoe.
"Long time no see."
"Oh, crap."
There were so many people he missed the presence.
Grandpa Oh Jae-gap waving from near the entrance.
"What are you doing here? What about the Dongdaemun Everything Store?"
"Closed it down. That's my corner now."
Jae-gap pointed with his chin to one side of the shop.
Unlike the messy old everything store, it was neatly organized.
But he couldn't give up the name, apparently.
Everything Store Misc Corner.
Now dealing only in items that don't overlap with Yeonsanghoe.
"You said you'd never move? That it was comfortable there."
"I did. But the offer was too good to refuse."
Jae-gap made a circle with his thumb and index finger.
"Way too much money."
"My dad always said the top priority for a merchant is money, money, and more money."
"Your dad was in business?"
"Nah. He saw it in a YouTube quotes compilation."
"Ah, I see."
"Huh?"
Soo-yeon spotted Jinhyuk while checking the shop.
Next to her was Generos's CEO, Jin Seo-hee.
Soo-yeon pointed to a door when their eyes met.
"Go on in. I'll be out here."
After a light nod, he opened the door.
A conference room filled with the rich aroma of coffee.
"Hi! Jinhyuk, you're so famous these days, it's hard to catch you."
"Aw, famous? Nah."
After exchanging pleasantries with the joking Soo-yeon for a bit, Seo-hee leaned in close.
"Yu Jinhyuk."
"Yes?"
"I must've been blind. You're a Runner."
Jinhyuk gave an awkward smile.
He wasn't surprised.
Given everything he'd shown, it was only a matter of time.
"Sigh."
Seo-hee pulled back and let out a deep breath.
Being too close had actually been the problem.
What she'd seen was a fighting style worlds away from the known Runner traits.
"How'd you figure it out?"
"Around the time of the UK customs announcement? Grandpa and my brother suddenly said they owed you big time. Plus..."
She pointed to the top-tier items on display.
"After checking the books, it didn't add up unless you were a Runner. Anyway."
Seo-hee smiled.
"It's an honor, Runner. Grandpa and bro want you to visit. To pay back the debt."
"Oh, sure. I'll drop by when they're free."
"If you say you're coming, they'll clear their whole schedule no matter what."
Amid the cheerful chatter,
"Did Momo not come with you today?"
"Momo's here!"
"!?"
Startled, Seo-hee and Soo-yeon turned their heads.
Momo was on the sofa, demolishing cookies.
Beside her, a pile of today's deliveries.
"Momo! Sorry!! I didn't notice you again!"
Soo-yeon rushed over and hugged her.
She looked mortified for always spotting her late.
'You don't have to feel bad.'
Sure, she'd been detected once by that yakuza's special ability, but normally, Momo's aura suppression was otherworldly.
Not noticing was natural.
Wait, how'd she finish a whole tin of cookies already?
"Seo-hee, this is Momo. Jinhyuk's niece. She awakened a massive inventory ability. Isn't she amazing?"
"Amazing Momo, yeah!!"
As Momo puffed up proudly,
Seo-hee looked at Jinhyuk.
"You have a niece? Isn't your sister still young?"
"A distant niece, I guess."
What's a distant niece?
She had questions, but decided to let it go.
It'd just add one more to the endless pile.
After greeting Momo, Seo-hee examined the items.
'How is this possible?'
Another question mark popped up.
She'd visited various shops for market research.
Seen all sorts of levels and qualities.
Those had been pretty high-grade, but these... were a level—no, a dimension above.
"Impressive, right?"
Soo-yeon approached with a smile.
"I don't call Jinhyuk the pillar of Yeonsanghoe for nothing."
"Yeah. The processing is beyond perfect—godly, even. You're handy too?"
She glanced at Jinhyuk playing with Momo.
What can't that guy do?
"For stuff from the 60th floor onward, we should add a high-end corner. Too pricey for the current one."
"Totally agree. They'll fly off the shelves. You can't find this quality anywhere in the world."
Seo-hee nodded with a smile.
No denying it.
For Yeonsanghoe and Generos, he was a jackpot.
"So, for today's items payment..."
Beeeep----!!
A sharp alarm blared from everyone's phones.
Disaster alert.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
Jinhyuk checked the rapid-fire texts.
Transition in the 60th floor zone.
Right nearby.
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T/N:
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