Some thirty minutes had passed with Modu Bank's president Don-su Park and the vice-president staring anxiously at nothing but the empty table.

"Why isn't he coming?"

"Don't make a fuss. It's not 8 o'clock yet."

"Still, it's nearly 8 now…"

Just as the vice-president was noting that the appointed time was nearly up, the door opened and Seong-ho, whom they'd been waiting for, appeared.

"I'm a little late, aren't I?"

President Don-su Park and the vice-president, who'd been seated, sprang to their feet and greeted Seong-ho.

"Not at all. You've come right on time."

"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Seong-ho Kim of Ilhyeon."

When Seong-ho held out his hand first, Don-su Park clasped it.

"I've heard a great deal about you. I'm Don-su Park of Modu Bank."

Seong-ho held Don-su Park's hand and talked with a smile for a moment, then exchanged greetings with the vice-president too.

"Shall we sit, then?"

Seong-ho invited them to sit and instructed the staff waiting at the door to bring out the food.

"So, what's the occasion that you asked to meet me?"

At Seong-ho's words, President Don-su Park first offered his thanks.

"First, let me offer my thanks to you, Head Seong-ho Kim, for making time like this."

"Not at all."

When Don-su Park went so far as to bow his head, Seong-ho rose slightly from his seat and took hold of the bent Don-su Park's shoulder.

And waving a hand to say it was fine, he said,

"When it's the president of Modu Bank, of all people, asking to meet, I ought to make time even where there is none. It's fine. We'll have to keep meeting going forward, so if you're overly formal at our first meeting, it makes me uncomfortable."

"That won't do."

Don-su Park shook his head and said in an earnest voice,

"I should have come early and greeted you first, Head, but I was late. My apologies."

"My apologies."

When Don-su Park apologized, the vice-president seated beside him also bowed his head and offered an apology.

Seong-ho, who'd stopped them from bowing when they gave thanks,…