## Chapter 2609 – 2609. Eternal Eden

“I received the gift well. Now, it’s time to get down to business.”

If the purpose was simply to give a gift, there was no need to call them here.

Shin Go-deok swallowed hard and spoke.

“We want to work with Seong Yu-jin.”

“Well, didn’t you invest in Sejong City to live well among yourselves? Even before the world turned to this state. No, you’ve been preparing Sejong City since long before that. A city for businessmen. Isn’t it a city to beat the Korean government?”

“…No, we didn’t prepare it to beat the government, but to escape its influence. At the time, there was tremendous hostility towards corporations, so we had no choice but to prepare. That’s what Sejong City is for.”

“Escaping the government’s influence is the same as trying to beat it.”

This world is similar to the history of the real world, but slightly different in small parts. The existence of the Agency for National Security Planning proves that. Originally, it should have been called the National Intelligence Service, not the Agency for National Security Planning.

I don’t know much about the relationship between the previous Korean government and corporations. I’m not interested either. What’s important is whether it bothers me, helps me, or if I can use it.

Sejong Businessmen Whatever? Frankly, I was planning to take care of it before the presidential election. Through assassinations and terrorism using the Holy Knights. The aftermath? I judged it was much better than leaving the corporations intact. That’s why I was going to do it.

“We know that we are not trusted. But we haven’t done anything yet.”

“Not doing anything is doing something. When Ilwoo Group was acting up, what did you do? When the war crisis with North Korea came, what did you do? Neutrality? Did you think you could remain a third party forever? Eventually, you will also come onto the stage.”

“…If I may make an excuse, we didn’t know about the Ilwoo Group’s actions either. We judged that the North Korean issue was a matter for the country, not something we should interfere with. We worked as corporations. Even during the war crisis, we were in charge of distribution and production. The peace that the people are currently enjoying includes our efforts. Please take that into consideration.”

“Okay. I’ll take it into consideration. But it doesn’t seem like you’ll be particularly useful. I have a strong feeling that you’ll be more of a hindrance.”

“We will pledge our loyalty to Yu-jin. If Yu-jin wishes… we will also dissolve the Sejong Businessmen’s Association. If our gathering in Sejong bothers you, we will each move our headquarters to the provinces.”

I looked at Shin Go-deok. Dissolving the Sejong Businessmen’s Association? Looking at the reactions of the other chairmen, it seemed they all agreed.

Are they sincerely trying to submit to me? If that’s the case, the story changes. The tool called a corporation is too valuable to just throw away. I can’t handle everything in the country’s operation with just the military.

“Can you provide me, the government, with the core technologies that you have developed and advanced?”

“Of course. We will provide all of our Guryong Corporation’s semiconductor and AI research data.”

“What about the other companies?”

“Our KS can also provide bio-food technology.”

“We will provide all of Gaon’s defense technology.”

“I will gladly provide the core technology of Jumil, which is the construction support robot technology that I developed.”

The businessmen shouted one after another. Even companies without special technology clamored that they could do anything.

“Quiet.”

They all shut their mouths at once.

“Okay. Now I see. You don’t just want to be with me for safety. If you have the technology that your large corporations possess, China and Japan would welcome you with open arms, so there’s no reason for you to be so humble. Tell me, what do you really want?”

“What good is having countless amounts of money if you can’t use it? We don’t want power that shakes the nation. We just want our position to be maintained for a long time.”

Shin Go-deok’s eyes were burning, not befitting his age.

I looked around and laughed.

“Heh heh.”

There were few young people among those gathered here.

Those with a lot of money. The status they hold is by no means small. And those with high status tend to hear information that ordinary people cannot access.

They know that I can give them youth.

‘I gifted youth to some generals and officers to seize the military. The information leaked.’

Well, I don’t think the information will be kept forever. No matter how much you cover it up with makeup, it’s obvious when your body suddenly becomes younger.

“Let’s be direct. Do you want youth?”

Thud!

Shin Go-deok immediately knelt on the floor. He looked at me and clasped his hands together.

A man who had more power than the president when the world was normal.

An old man who can’t even walk without a cane.

The oldest person here, he knew the fear of aging and death better than anyone else.

What good is having a lot of money? You can’t live for thousands of years. But what if you could live for thousands of years?

“I feel death. The grim reaper is always behind me. As I get older, I can’t see well, and I can’t move my body as I please. No matter how many good medicines or expensive wild ginseng I eat, there’s no sign of improvement. Every time I go to bed, I’m afraid I won’t be able to wake up again. I’ll do anything! Please, save me!”

I looked down at him and smiled. If I hadn’t controlled the government, if the Holy Knights hadn’t existed, this guy wouldn’t have been so humble. Knowing the true value of my abilities, he would have tried to kidnap me somehow.

“Anything, huh. That’s easy to say.”

I got up from the fancy chair and approached him. I reached out my hand to his shoulder. I could feel the thin bones that seemed like they would break if I applied any force.

I used recovery.

The bones became stronger, and the flesh filled out. His white hair turned black. The wrinkles noticeably disappeared.

I didn’t give him complete youth. He went back from his 80s to his 50s. That alone moved Shin Go-deok. He lowered his eyes and bowed his head. Having enjoyed and possessed so much, he realized the value of youth more than anyone else.

“Oh, oh, oh! You are the true savior!”

The other businessmen who were watching this were shocked and amazed. Desire was pouring out of their eyes.

“Do you want the youth of your 20s? Then prove it. Prove that you can truly do anything. Then I will give you youth as compensation.”

“Just say the word! For youth…! I can do anything!”

“I will test if your words are true. I’ll give you five minutes. Choose one of the companies here and kill them. Offer a sacrifice to me.”

“……!!”

I sat back in my chair. I watched, resting my chin on my hand.

They looked at each other. It was a suffocating silence. I watched without urging them.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Shin Go-deok who stepped forward first, but Chu Gyeong-seok. The chairman of Gaon Group, ranked 4th in the business world.

The voice of Chu Gyeong-seok, an old man in his 60s, rang out loudly.

“Let’s kill Baekdong! Although Baekdong’s business ranking is 15th, they are in a cooperative relationship with Ilwoo Group! If you think about it, aren’t they traitors to the nation! Let’s kill the traitors this time!”

I was impressed.

That was an appeal to look good to me. To show such judgment in that short moment. As expected of a large corporation chairman. Not easy.

The chairman of Baekdong, who was pointed out, was startled and jumped forward. And he pointed his finger at Chu Gyeong-seok.

“Chairman Chu! Why are you bringing up old things! I didn’t know Ilwoo Group would act like that either! Our Baekdong has cut all ties with Ilwoo! I can assure you!”

“Ha. How can I believe that? Didn’t your niece marry someone from Ilwoo? That’s a family relationship.”

“She married of her own will! She hasn’t contacted us much since then! She’s cut off contact now! Baekdong has nothing to do with Ilwoo!! Let Ohmun be the sacrifice! Isn’t their business ranking the lowest and useless in the Sejong Businessmen’s Association!”

The situation quickly became as noisy as a marketplace. The chairmen started criticizing Baekdong while looking at me.

“Honestly, hasn’t Baekdong committed a lot of illegal acts?”

“Come to think of it, there was a rumor that Baekdong received Japanese funds before…”

“Let’s just sacrifice Baekdong. Their main business is distribution, so they don’t have any particularly important technology.”

Three minutes passed.

Thud!

Shin Go-deok threw his cane to the floor, drawing attention.

“Let’s decide by vote. There’s no time to prepare ballots, so by a show of hands. If you agree to sacrifice Baekdong, raise your hand.”

Clap, clap, clap!

The majority raised their hands.

“Y-you crazy people! Are you all crazy?!”

“Everyone decided fairly. Accept it.”

Chu Gyeong-seok said with a sneer. The other chairmen’s gazes were cold. In the end, the chairman of Baekdong ran to me and prostrated himself.

“Yu-jin! Our Baekdong is in charge of distribution and logistics! If Baekdong dies now, there will be problems with distribution, causing a serious inflation….”

I gestured with my chin to Son Tae-hyung. Son Tae-hyung pulled out a hyper-vibration blade from his waist and beheaded the chairman of Baekdong Group.

It was a clean job, not a single drop of blood splattering on my side. I slowly clapped, watching the head of the Baekdong Group chairman roll down the red carpet.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

“I was impressed by your decision. In that sense, I will give you a reward. Chairman Chu Gyeong-seok. Gaon Group has proven itself to me. I will give you a reward. Come forward.”

Chu Gyeong-seok approached with an expectant face and knelt. I grabbed his shoulder and used recovery. The old man regained the young body of his 20s.

“T-thank you! Your Holiness!”

Your Holiness. Just now, the number of believers in the Seongjin Church has increased.

“Yes. The other companies should follow Chairman Chu Gyeong-seok’s example.”

“Yes, Your Holiness!!”

The chairmen answered. The chairmen looking at Chu Gyeong-seok were very envious. Some seemed to regret not stepping forward first. Especially Shin Go-deok’s gaze was intense.

“Dissolve the Sejong Businessmen Whatever. It’s bothersome for large corporations to be gathered in one city. Shouldn’t large corporations’ headquarters be in the provinces for development? Oh, and make sure to pay your taxes properly starting next year. If you evade taxes, I’ll kill you. Tax reduction? Try it if you’re confident.”

I got up from my seat. It was boring to deal with old people.

“Your Holiness. What about the Baekdong Group?”

“Take care of it yourself. Don’t disappoint me. Oh, and don’t forget to vote well next year.”