Time passed, and before I knew it, the weekend had arrived.
While Peter sat at his computer, working on setting up the community bulletin board, I started getting ready to go out.
'Today, I'm meeting someone famous.'
So, I needed to pay attention to my outfit.
Let's see… Since it's the weekend, wearing a school uniform seems a bit much. As for formal attire, well, I have only one choice: the tailored suit crafted by Sir Lewis.
'Good thing I got it!'
Navy suit paired with Alden derby shoes. This should be the height of formality. After exchanging a quick farewell with Peter, I left the room.
Maybe because it was the weekend, the hallway was particularly bustling. Everyone seemed excited, as it was their first outing since enrollment. People were dressed up, stepping out of their rooms in style. Most of them wore jackets and even added ties and vests. Still, no one else was as dressed up as I was.
If I buttoned up to the top, my classmates casually left a couple of buttons undone, keeping just enough formality while showing off their own flair, distinct from the older generations. 'American casual.' Preferring loose-knit ties over silk ones and adding a cap to their jacket ensemble. Or switching dress shoes for white sneakers to bring a touch of freedom to their look.
I observed their outfits as I walked down the hall, exited the dorm, and headed toward the school gate. Although I was noticing this for business purposes, it didn't feel like work at all—after all, I'd been fascinated by this era's fashion since my previous life.
But what's this? A bit farther ahead, a man stood, dressed in an unfamiliar style. He wore a deeply pulled-down hoodie, a long tee hanging below it, baggy pants, and skate shoes. Wait, isn't that style from around ten years into the future?
As I turned to the man standing next to him, I was greeted by a loud, joyful voice.
"Boss!" The voice echoed with excitement.
"Look! I did it!"
Of course, it was none other than Jo Soo-deok.
We headed to a nearby café, where Jo Soo-deok wore a supremely satisfied expression.
"How did you find him?" I asked.
"That's my job," he replied confidently.
"But with such little information… how…?"
"Boss, who am I? I'm Jo Soo-deok!"
Well, today he could brag as much as he wanted. After all, he'd tracked down someone with barely any leads in sprawling New York! Listening to his story was the least I could do.
"At first, even I felt a bit lost," he admitted.
"Who wouldn't?"
"But with the one piece of information you gave me, I went drifting around like a dandelion in the wind. Then, the name hit me!"
"…?"
"Ralph Warren!"
Ohhh. So he went all the way to California to pick up this guy after catching him surfing in New York!
"This guy, he's usually just lazing around by the sea, endlessly waiting for waves. But once I explained to him the path our boss has walked, his eyes started to change."
The white man listening along nodded his head vigorously. It must have been a very satisfying reaction because Jo Soo-deok continued, looking extremely pleased.
"Seems like he wanted to get serious about it himself… He even brought a bunch of t-shirts he personally designed. Brother, show what you've got in that bag."
When did he start calling him "brother"? Anyway, the white man began pulling out the t-shirts.
"This guy's specialty is logo play."
Perfect. With the word "Ultimate" stamped in white on a red background, it really stood out.
"As soon as I saw this logo, I got it. I understood immediately why you sent me all the way to New York…"
"Hold on."
"Taking a moment to appreciate it?"
"That's not it."
"…?"
The logo is excellent, but… something feels a bit off from what I expected.
Perhaps sensing that something was amiss, a hint of unease appeared on Jo Soo-deok's once-confident face.
"You did a great job, Professor."
"R-really?"
"You really did. You did an excellent job."
His face looked as if he hoped I had no more to say.
"I'm sorry, but it seems like you'll need to make another trip to New York."
"What? What do you mean…?"
"It's just that you brought back someone a bit different from who I had in mind."
If there were a contest for the world's most stylish signature, Lukash would win hands down. Lukash was the man who became a sensation by turning his name into a logo. Although he's strongly associated with street fashion alongside "Ultimate," his designs, except for the logo play, are relatively clean and minimalistic. This makes his brand easy to pair with casual looks as well. While it doesn't have the explosive appeal of "Ultimate," it's a solid company with a loyal fanbase—a brand worth at least a billion if you ask me.
But here we are, and Jo Soo-deok looked as if he'd committed a grave offense.
"Boss, I'll cover his lodging expenses."
After dropping Lukash off at his hotel, Jo Soo-deok still looked uneasy.
"A minimum two-week stay in the highest-end hotel suite. You'll cover that?"
"Then maybe I could downgrade it to a deluxe room…?"
"Why put an esteemed guest in a deluxe room?"
"A-an esteemed guest?"
"I told you, you did well."
But he looked as if he was saying, "But this isn't the person you wanted."
"It's like asking for a house in Gangnam and getting one in Hannam-dong instead."
Now he seemed to get it.
"Still, Hannam-dong is…"
"It's wonderful. It's like getting a second home in Hannam-dong while still keeping the original in Gangnam."
"Ahh."
Soon, we moved to a different location. Even though we were speaking in Korean and didn't need to worry about being overheard, we relocated to a restaurant with private rooms just in case.
To reward Jo Soo-deok for his hard work, I ordered wine first. The legendary name, Romanée-Conti. Jo Soo-deok might be more familiar with soju, though.
"It's an honor to present this wine to you."
Picking up on the sommelier's words, Jo Soo-deok quickly straightened his posture. Even just swirling the glass a couple of times released a flood of fragrance.
"Boss, I'm fine with something simple, really."
"That won't do."
"Then I'll gladly enjoy it."
He took a small sip, and then—
"Wow!"
Jo Soo-deok looked at me with wide eyes.
"It's like a burst of floral scents!"
"Really?"
"Yes. It feels like I'm holding a whole bouquet in my mouth. It's almost like flowers could start blooming in there."
I smirked. Jo Soo-deok tended to exaggerate, but this time, he probably wasn't. This wine is legendary, after all.
"I, uh… feel bad drinking this by myself."
"It's fine. Go ahead."
"Still…"
"When I'm older, I plan to drink until I'm dizzy every day."
"Wow."
After Jo Soo-deok finished his glass, I got down to business. I started explaining in detail how we would expand the fashion business, sharing ideas I hadn't told anyone before—except for the bit about the IMF.
By the time I was done, Jo Soo-deok's face was frozen in amazement.
"Boss, do you have some kind of advisory board I don't know about?"
"Not at all."
"Then you planned all of this yourself?"
"That's why I'm the boss."
Scratching his head, he replied, "At this point, it shouldn't surprise me anymore, but… it still does."
"Enough being surprised—get to work?"
"Yes, yes."
He scooted his chair closer to the table.
"But, Boss."
"Yes?"
"The final step you mentioned… If we could acquire that company, it would be an enormous achievement."
"But the cost won't be cheap, is that what you're saying?"
He nodded right away.
"Even guessing, I'd say it would take at least twice the funds required for buying Manchester United. To gather that much in a short time…"
"We'd need either major investments or explosive success with our current projects."
Jo Soo-deok thought about this for a moment.
"Knowing you, you're probably not a fan of taking investments."
Bingo. The idea of sharing profits is truly unappealing.
"Which means one of your current projects would need to blow up."
At this, he shot me a sideways glance, as if asking if I had anything in mind.
"Of course I do."
I replied with a sly grin.
***
Meanwhile, in Japan.
Suzuki, having recently completed his first work with flying colors, was now enjoying busy days. He spent his mornings catching up on backlogged games, then headed to the office in the afternoon to meet with junior writers. He was currently planning a game and manga simultaneously, though progress had been slow lately.
But what could he do? At times like this, the only solution was for a senior to step in.
Suzuki stood in front of the whiteboard with a serious expression. Opposite him, Tajiri sat with a frozen look on his face.
"What was the name of the project you're working on?"
"Capsulemon."
"Capsulemon, huh? Not a bad name. So, what's the issue?"
"The concept is set, and we've got most of the characters. All that's left is to keep making it, but I can't shake the feeling that we're just dragging along."
Suzuki nodded, understanding exactly how he felt. But his gentle reaction lasted only a moment; he then looked at Tajiri with a stern gaze.
"Serialization, you see, is a promise to the readers."
Tajiri quickly jotted down his senior's words on a blank sheet of paper.
"When serialization begins, even if the sky falls, you have to draw, no matter what. And why is that?"
"Because it's a promise to the readers."
"Exactly! You draw even if it wears you down. Even when you feel you absolutely can't do it today, sit at the desk. Stick it out for thirty minutes. Then pick up the pen. And then ask yourself, 'Can I really not draw even a single panel?'"
At this point, Suzuki solemnly shook his head.
"No! If you were truly unable to draw even a single panel, you'd already be in the emergency room. So unless you're that far gone, at least get one panel done."
"So… even if I'm not feeling well, I can draw at least one panel?"
"The key is that one panel leads to two, and two panels lead to three. That's how it goes."
"Then is that how you finished your works, too, senpai?"
"Do you even have to ask?"
"Wow!"
"Go ask the publishing folks; not a single false word here. Do I seem like the kind of person who would make my juniors do something I can't?"
"Of course not. If anything, you're known for your dedication to serialization…"
"That's right. So, just follow your senior's example, no more and no less. Got it?"
"I-I'll keep it in mind!"
With that, today's lecture was about wrapped up. Suzuki was about to leave the meeting room with a satisfied look when—
"Senpai, if I may…"
"…?"
"I have a question from a purely reader's perspective."
"What is it?"
"I was just wondering when your next work is coming out. I'm really looking forward to it."
Suzuki had planned to rest for the next five years—or even retire without a second thought. But maybe because of what he'd just said…
"W-well, I'll release it as soon as I can."
"Because it's a promise to the readers?"
"…"
Instead of answering, Suzuki hurried his steps out of the room, almost as if he were fleeing.