Jeong-cheol Choi came over to Seong-ho Kim, who was gazing at the painting.

"Sir. Word has come from the Chairman's secretariat."

To Seong-ho Kim, still gazing at the painting, Jeong-cheol Choi bowed his head slightly and spoke.

"Congratulations. You're to be formally elevated to Vice-Chairman."

"Congratulations, at this late stage — what for…"

Unlike Jeong-cheol Choi, who offered his congratulations with a glad face, Seong-ho Kim turned his head with an unruffled face, as though it were a matter of course.

"There's to be a formal announcement through the press next week, and I've been told to reorganize into a vice-chairman structure from now. Congratulations once again."

"Somehow it seems Secretary Choi is more pleased than I am."

"Of course I'm pleased. It's the vice-chairmanship of Ilhyeon Group, isn't it? You've risen to the seat of the one man below one and above ten thousand — how could I not be glad?"

"Are you filming a period drama, Secretary Choi? One below one and above ten thousand, indeed…"

Seong-ho Kim let a laugh slip and clapped Jeong-cheol Choi on the shoulder.

Then he walked slowly over toward the sofa, sat, and spoke.

"Secretary Choi is going to be busy. For me it's only the title that changes, but you'll have to overhaul the secretariat and the whole system all over again."

Jeong-cheol Choi walked toward Seong-ho Kim seated on the sofa and shook his head.

"I've been preparing it from some time back, so I need only see it through to the finish. And if that counts as busy, I can do it any number of times over."

"It isn't as far as all that… Now there's just one time left."

It had been said in the emotional sense of being glad enough to do it any number of times.

And yet Seong-ho Kim took the words seriously and answered that it need only be done one more time.

One time?

Understanding what the words — that it need be done only one more time after he became Vice-Chairman — meant, a look of tension colored Jeong-cheol Choi's face.

"I'm…