"Can't we move any faster?"

"I'm sorry. The traffic right now—"

"You think I don't know there's traffic? I'm asking if there isn't another way around."

"I'm sorry…"

Hyeon-u Bang knew perfectly well that the streets were paralyzed by the crowds.

He also knew perfectly well why it had come to this.

None of which cooled his impatience.

"If this drags on and one of the other jackals swipes it first…"

"Vice-Chairman."

His secretary, at the wheel, turned his head.

"Would it perhaps be faster on foot?"

"On foot? From here?"

"Yes."

The secretary pointed through the windshield at the tide of people beyond it.

"The road occupation doesn't look like it's going to ease anytime soon. The police have essentially let go of it — they're even joining in — so seeing it clear in the next hour or two looks unlikely."

Hyeon-u Bang looked out through the windshield and nodded.

He too didn't see the situation clearing anytime soon.

Korea had beaten Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout and advanced to the semifinals.

Not only the people who had been out street-cheering, but even those who'd been watching at home had all now flooded into the streets.

Taegukgi flags were in everyone's hands, and the horns blaring in rhythm with chants of "Dae-Han-Min-Guk!" were loud enough that you couldn't clearly hear the person next to you.

Even when people who had run out spilled in front of cars, no one got angry.

If anything, the drivers were mostly rolling down their windows to share in the joy.

Under such conditions, waiting for the road to clear was, the secretary was saying, likely slower than walking.

"From here to the Ilhyeon Group headquarters isn't far. Waiting on the road to clear will take longer than walking."

At the secretary's words, Hyeon-u Bang slowly nodded.

"Right. Thirty minutes at a good pace. Better than killing the time here."

Clunk.

"I'll go ahead and get the conversation started. You wait it out, take the car, and meet me at the Ilhyeon headquarters."

"Yes, sir."

With no intention of being late, Hyeon-u…