Riser
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29-48
🕑 Added 2025-06-28 22:07:47 +0000 UTCEpisode 48: The Morning of the Decisive Battle
On the day of the buyer meeting, I woke up long before my alarm went off.
Outside the window, it was still shrouded in a bluish darkness, but whether it was thanks to Rizeta’s attentive “service” the night before, or the anticipation for the coming decisive battle, I felt unusually clear and alert.
After finishing my shower, I found Rizeta already waiting with a perfectly pressed suit.
It had been ages since I last wore a suit, probably not since my new-hire interview.
It wasn’t intentional, but I was glad I’d had a new suit tailored during our last shopping trip.
“It feels awkward to wear this after so long.”
“It suits you very well, Hyunseong-nim.”
Rizeta adjusted my tie with her usual emotionless voice.
Satisfied with my reflection in the mirror, I smiled at her.
After dressing, I returned to my bedroom for a moment of solitude.
I picked up my phone, still plugged into the charger, and launched the hypnosis app.
‘Maximize concentration, boost logical thinking, unwavering composure, eloquence in any situation.’
As I activated each self-suggestion I’d prepared for today’s meeting, the effects came quickly.
A strange sensation of my mind cooling and heating at the same time washed over me, filling my whole body with confidence.
I’d already confirmed the effect while preparing supplemental materials for the meeting.
That’s why I was sure.
Today, my plan would succeed.
Zing!
“Ugh.”
It was just then.
A sudden, sharp headache, as if an awl had stabbed my temple.
I lightly rubbed my brow, then quickly composed my expression.
Fortunately, the pain didn’t last long.
‘This has been happening a lot lately.’
As I used the hypnosis app more often, these mild headaches had become more frequent.
I’d thought the cost was gone, but maybe there’s still some mental strain from using the app.
“Are you alright, Hyunseong-nim?”
Rizeta’s voice at the door interrupted my thoughts.
Her expression was as usual, but I thought I saw a faint hint of worry.
“It’s nothing. Just a little dizzy for a moment.”
“That app might be putting a strain on your body and mind.”
She’s as perceptive as ever.
“Yeah, maybe. But this is nothing.”
“Still, you should try to limit your use if possible…”
Rizeta trailed off, bowing her head.
“…That was presumptuous of me, I’m sorry.”
“No, thank you for your concern.”
She had a point, but I couldn’t afford to cut back on the app now.
At least not until this is over and I’ve conquered Kang Jooyoung.
I steeled myself and turned my gaze back to the app.
From the list of registered targets, I found Kang Jooyoung’s name and opened her status window.
=========================
[Status Window]
Name: Kang Jooyoung.
…
[Status]
Extreme anger and fatigue from a fierce argument with her husband.
Decreased rational judgment due to hypnosis suggestion.
Ongoing confusion and cognitive dissonance about her own actions (kissing, fellatio, etc.).
Abnormally heightened trust and dependency on Lee Hyunseong.
=========================
Seeing the updated status window, I couldn’t help but smile.
If she was this mentally cornered, it would be easy to push in at the right moment.
Satisfied, I pocketed my phone and headed for the door.
“Well, I’m off.”
“I wish you the best of luck, Hyunseong-nim.”
[Don’t pee yourself from nerves~!]
With Rizeta’s farewell and Child’s nonsense behind me, I left the house and headed down the stairs.
On the first floor, I noticed the door crack open.
A familiar face popped out from behind it-it was college student Jung Seung-ah, whom I’d run into before.
I hadn’t seen her since that morning after returning from the motel.
She looked like she’d just woken up, with messy hair and cat-ear headphones hanging loosely around her neck.
She was holding a fairly large parcel in her small hands.
“Uh?!”
Our eyes met for a moment.
Her round eyes widened in surprise, then quickly filled with suspicion as she hurried back inside.
The sound of the door slamming echoed loudly in the stairwell.
‘Guess she still hasn’t cleared up her misunderstanding.’
Probably still because of the maid outfit incident with Rizeta.
I’ll have to clear that up someday.
But for now, I’ll leave it be.
All I needed to focus on today was the meeting and Kang Jooyoung.
With pleasant anticipation for what was to come, I left the building.
Today was bound to be a long and interesting day.
The conference room, the site of the decisive meeting, was filled with a different air than usual.
A mix of tension for the important meeting and the anxiety and anticipation over the project’s outcome hung heavily in the air.
On one side of the table, the Japan team members sat in sharp suits, their faces tense.
Across from them, the Japanese buyers sat relaxed.
Two middle-aged men and a young woman.
Their eyes were sharp, and it was hard to read their expressions.
Team Leader Kang Jooyoung sat at the head, reviewing documents and keeping her face composed, but her hands betrayed her nerves.
It was clear the morning’s fight with her husband and the pressure of the meeting weighed heavily on her.
Park Mina, sitting next to me, kept swallowing nervously.
She occasionally glared at me, her thigh trembling.
Son Junhyuk, surprisingly, seemed full of confidence.
He was checking his presentation materials with a satisfied smile.
‘Idiot. He doesn’t even know he’s about to ruin himself.’
I sneered inwardly as I reviewed the suggestion triggers.
My mind was cold and clear as ice.
I felt ready to handle any unexpected situation.
Soon, the meeting began with an introduction from Kang Jooyoung.
“Hello, I’m Deputy Son Junhyuk, today’s presenter. Thank you for making time in your busy schedules.”
Taking the mic, Son Junhyuk started smoothly, showing off his eloquence and polished manners.
He glanced at the team, including me, with a confident look.
“Now, as the ‘key person in charge,’ I’ll personally brief you on our project. The rest of you can just sit back and watch.”
He really emphasized “key person in charge.”
It was obvious he was trying to slight me.
Some team members coughed awkwardly, but I kept my expression neutral and listened.
He continued his presentation smoothly.
He was good at packaging market analysis and our company’s strengths in an appealing way.
The Japanese buyers nodded, looking interested.
Even Team Leader Kang Jooyoung seemed relieved.
But that was as far as it went.
When it came to the core data analysis and understanding of the Japanese market’s cultural specifics, his flaws became obvious.
The weaknesses I’d identified and confirmed with Mina came to light.
“So, based on this data, the young consumer segment in Japan, um…”
He faltered for a moment.
“Deputy Son, sorry, but the source and analysis criteria for the data you just showed aren’t clear.”
The oldest buyer, Mr. Tanaka, jumped on the opening.
“It seems to differ from recent market trends we’ve observed. Can you explain this in more detail?”
“Yes? Uh… that data was obtained through a reliable agency…”
Son Junhyuk’s face filled with visible panic.
Unable to answer properly, he stammered and sweated, offering only excuses.
He clearly wasn’t prepared for questions outside his script.
Mr. Tanaka frowned slightly.
The other buyers exchanged puzzled glances.
The atmosphere in the room turned cold.
“And about the promotion method you mentioned earlier,”
To make matters worse, the young female buyer, Ms. Sato, asked a question.
“Given current Japanese consumer trends and public sentiment, your approach could actually provoke backlash. Did you sufficiently assess the risks?”
“Ah, yes! We’re aware of that…”
Son Junhyuk, sweating, again offered only feeble excuses.
His earlier confidence had vanished.
A cold silence, awkward coughs.
The sound of papers turning echoed heavily in the room.
The other team members fidgeted, glancing at each other, and Kang Jooyoung’s face turned pale.
Her composure, already shaky from the morning’s fight, seemed to collapse completely.
She bit her lip, at a loss, and finally turned her desperate gaze to me.
Her eyes trembled with urgency.
It was as if she was silently pleading, ‘Do something, Assistant Manager Lee.’
It was a side of her I’d never imagined-so proud and cold, now so desperate.
But in her state of suggestion and under pressure, she couldn’t help but rely on me.
I met her eyes and gave a slight nod.
Recalling the suggestion I’d set that morning, I slowly stood up.
All eyes in the room turned to me as my chair scraped back.
Especially clear was the ‘What is he doing?’ look from Son Junhyuk and the team.
I walked confidently past the frozen Son Junhyuk to the front.
Facing the cold, tense atmosphere, I spoke in a calm but confident voice.
“Esteemed buyers, may I add a few supplementary explanations?”
My confident voice echoed through the room via the microphone.
