On the third day after he and Chung-seop had gone to look at the Gangnam buildings, Chung-seop called again.

—Head, there are several people willing to sell. Would you like to meet them?

—Good. When should I make the time?

—They say they'll meet whenever you're free, even right this minute.

—Understood. Let me finish with what I'm looking at now…

Receiver still in hand, Seong-ho checked his wristwatch.

—I'll come over to Future Advisory in two hours.

—Understood. Then I'll tell the building owners to head over here as well.

Hanging up, Seong-ho tidied the documents he'd been reviewing and rose at once from his seat.

Just then Byeong-jin came into his office.

Byeong-jin looked at Seong-ho, up and packing his things, with a puzzled eye.

"Going somewhere? Don't tell me you're leaving already?"

Pulling on his coat, Seong-ho turned to Byeong-jin, who stood there holding a document for approval.

"If it's not urgent, let's do it tomorrow."

"It's not urgent, but I do need your signature before we can move ahead with the inauguration ceremony…"

"Inauguration ceremony?"

Draping the coat over his shoulders, Seong-ho frowned.

Missing the expression, Byeong-jin went on, eyes down on the paperwork.

"Yes. You're becoming a President in name and all—we ought to hold an inauguration."

Seong-ho paused a moment, then finished settling the coat and waved a hand at Byeong-jin.

"Hey, hey. Forget it. Forget it. What inauguration?"

"Maybe you don't need one, but for the sake of the rest of the staff we have to do it. This is tied up with the whole Headquarters' morale."

At the mention of Headquarters morale, Seong-ho let out a heavy sigh and held out his hand.

"Let me see it."

Still standing, Seong-ho took the document and looked over what was written inside.

Then he reached out, took Byeong-jin's pen, and drew lines through it.

"Cut this and this. What do we need a banquet for? Take out the bouquet presentation and that sort of thing too. And it's fine to hold it, but don't make it a big production. With the country in the…