"H-how do I look?"

"You look splendid, sir."

"No. Not that…"

Chung-seop Jo, his voice tense, examined his face in a hand mirror.

After checking that there was nothing stuck to his face, that no chili flakes were caught in his teeth, he turned again to his chief of staff.

"Do I look all right? Hm?"

"All right in what way, sir?"

Having no idea what exactly was meant, what exactly was supposed to be all right, the chief of staff gazed at Representative Jo of Future Asset with a bewildered face.

Chung-seop Jo peered at his face once more in the hand mirror he was holding and said, "I mean, do I look like a good sort to an elder? Or like someone who does as he's told… you know, that kind of thing."

"Ah~ that? Yes. You look gentle, sir."

"Really? I really look gentle?"

"Yes, Representative. You've put on some weight lately, so you look even gentler. Your impression is better for it, too."

"So basically you're saying I've gotten fat as a pig?"

The chief of staff, looking sheepish, couldn't manage a proper reply.

He simply took the hand mirror and held it up so that Chung-seop Jo could examine his face more easily.

With the chief of staff holding the mirror, Chung-seop Jo studied his face at his leisure, then fussed with his hair and said, "Well, so long as I look good to the Chairman, that's all that matters."

"Representative."

The chief of staff spoke to Chung-seop Jo in a cautious voice.

"Why do you suppose the Chairman asked to see you?"

"How would I know?"

"Would the Deputy Head… not know? Shall I contact Secretary Choi and ask him to inquire on our behalf?"

"I already spoke with him, so it's fine."

"You spoke with him?"

The chief of staff asked Chung-seop Jo in a delighted voice.

Chung-seop Jo nodded, gestured that it was all right to close the hand mirror now, and said, "The moment I heard the Chairman had asked to see me, I called him."

"What did he say?"

"Just……