I fell into thought.

Yeongnam Marine Industry is small in scale, but maneuverability and flexibility are its strengths.

On the other hand, Sammyeong Heavy Industries possesses precision assembly technology and technical power that endures even in extreme environments.

If I connect these two companies appropriately, I will be able to produce a powerful synergy effect from the beginning of the U.S. advancement.

After a moment, I turned my head, looked at Choi Seo-jun, and said.

“Let us confirm Director Choi’s schedule for tomorrow morning. We should have a meeting near Yeongnam Marine Industry in the morning and look around the shipyard site immediately in the afternoon. President Yu Hyeon-seok of HJ Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has also decided to join us.”

Choi Seo-jun said while checking the schedule.

“Should we not try to contact them first? It will not be easy to adjust the schedule for three people to meet at the same time.”

I scratched my head and wore a smile.

“Ah, that…. Actually, I tried contacting them in advance earlier. Fortunately, all three said they are fine tomorrow morning.”

“When did you do that again? I was going to do it….”

“Hahaha. My personality is just impatient….”

Choi Seo-jun shook his head as if he found it absurd.

“It seems my position is gradually disappearing because of you, Representative.”

“In exchange, you can perform splendidly at tomorrow morning’s meeting.”

I continued speaking while wearing a smile.

“I have set the schedule to move to the Sammyeong Heavy Industries workshop in the afternoon and look around. So that we can also continue technical cooperation discussions right at the site.”

Choi Seo-jun nodded while checking the schedule again.

“With this, we could finish it all in one day.”

I said while looking at the tablet screen.

“I have to hurry even a day faster. There is not as much time as one might think.”

Choi Seo-jun looked into the schedule for a long time and then frowned.

“Representative, for all three people to gather and have a meeting tomorrow morning… the time will be a bit tight if we start from Seoul in the morning?”

I nodded.

“That is correct. I was thinking of that as well.”

Choi Seo-jun said while contemplating.

“Considering the road conditions, we might have to leave at dawn.”

He said while checking a map.

“At this rate, it will only be possible if we leave before five o’clock at the latest. It will not be easy.”

I said while wearing a smile.

“That is why I am saying this. It would be good to leave work a bit early today and go down near Yeongnam Marine Industry in advance around 3 PM. That is much more relaxed, and we can start tomorrow morning’s meeting neatly.”

Choi Seo-jun opened his eyes wide.

“Today?”

“Yes. It is better to move in advance. The schedule is tight, and we have to look around the shipyard and the Sammyeong Heavy Industries workshop tomorrow.”

Choi Seo-jun, who contemplated for a moment, eventually nodded.

“I suppose so. Then I should pack my bags as I leave work today. Shall I reserve a lodging separately?”

“No. I have already prepared it.”

I said after touching the tablet a few times.

“There was a decent hotel near Yeongnam Marine Industry. I have made a reservation there. President Yu Hyeon-seok will also stay there. Ah, just in case, General Hong should also join us.”

Choi Seo-jun burst into laughter.

He felt like he was going on a trip using work as an excuse.

Because right now, I was notifying Choi Seo-jun after having done everything.

On top of that, my expression was so bright that I looked like a person who was anxious to go quickly.

“You have done everything. I guess I just have to follow along.”

“Director Choi must perform splendidly at tomorrow’s meeting.”

Choi Seo-jun waved his hand while letting out a hollow laugh.

“Wait a moment, Representative. Perform splendidly at the meeting? I am the Financial Director and do not know even one thing about the technical side?”

I spoke slyly while tilting my head slightly.

“President Yu Hyeon-seok is there for the technology. Director Choi, you just need to organize the financial-related side. Capital structure, investment capacity, profitability analysis… things like that.”

“That is fine, but I really do not know anything about the technical side.”

I wore an expression as if I understood.

“Do not worry. President Yu will entirely take charge of the technical side. I will only organize the strategic direction. Director Choi, you just need to grasp the profitability and scale as an investor. Both companies, Yeongnam Marine Industry and Sammyeong Heavy Industries, have outstanding technical power, but the key is how to structure the scalability and fund-raising.”

“I understand.”

I said while wearing a smile.

“As expected, Director Choi is my right-hand man. Then let us depart around 3 o’clock. I will also send word to General Hong.”

Choi Seo-jun stood up from his seat while letting out a sigh.

“You said it is a business trip, but I feel as if you are going on a trip, Representative.”

“Hahaha. Oh, did I get caught? It is because I like looking at the sea.”

The two of us were filled with expectation along with a sense of camaraderie while wearing pleasant smiles.

The meeting and site visit tomorrow were not just a simple cooperation meeting, but an important task of laying the foundation for entering the U.S. market.

When it became the afternoon hour, the three of us packed our respective bags and got into the car.

Thanks to leaving early to avoid the city’s rush hour, the sunset gradually turning red was stretching long outside the car window.

While running on the highway, talk about work went back and forth occasionally inside the car.

Overall, the atmosphere was not bad.

Everyone was feeling a moderate sense of tension and expectation ahead of the important meeting tomorrow.

By the time we arrived at the hotel, the sun had already set and it became a dusky evening.

After finishing check-in at the front desk, the three of us unpacked simply and naturally brought up the topic of dinner.

“Are you not getting hungry soon?”

General Hong said while patting his shoulders.

“Since I only drove, I am getting famished. Is there a decent place nearby?”

As if I had been waiting, I wore a meaningful smile on the corners of my mouth.

“Actually, I have checked out one place in advance.”

Choi Seo-jun said while shaking his head as if he could not stop me.

“As expected, I knew you would be like that, Representative. Even though you say it is a business trip, you always visit famous restaurants without missing them.”

I left the hotel while guiding the way skillfully.

“Is that not the joy of life? Now, follow me.”

The place we arrived at after driving for about ten minutes was the outskirts slightly away from the city center.

A worn-out sign said ‘XX Raw Fish Restaurant’.

It was a small restaurant that only local residents would likely know.

Not a single bit of flashiness could be found, but the smell of seafood seeping through the gaps of the door stimulated the appetite.

“This place looks quite old?”

Choi Seo-jun looked around with a skeptical expression.

I smiled confidently.

“A place like this is a really famous restaurant. Do not be deceived by the appearance.”

When we opened the door and entered, an elderly lady welcomed us warmly.

“How did you know and come? This is a place where only local people come…. How did you find out and come from out of town?”

My eyes sparkled for a moment, but I soon made an excuse while smiling naturally.

“It is because I originally like going around looking for delicious things. I tried searching a bit?”

“Hoho, how amazing. These days, the world has become so good that even a place like this gets rumored.”

The lady guided us to a seat while laughing joyfully.

Actually, for me, this place was a spot I had stopped by by chance on a certain winter night in my past life.

At that time, because it was a late hour, the raw fish was already all sold out, and instead, the spicy fish stew the lady boiled for me was so delicious.

The moment I took the first spoonful, I was surprised by the deep and spicy taste of the broth spreading in my mouth.

My body, chilled by the cold winter wind, melted away in an instant, and I had a memory of finishing every single drop of the broth while accompanying it with soju on the spot.

Because the impression at that time was so strong, as soon as the schedule for this business trip was set, the place that came to mind first in the list of famous restaurants in this neighborhood was right here.

As soon as General Hong sat down, he spoke like a person with an impatient personality.

“What shall we order? Raw fish? Spicy fish stew?”

I pretended to contemplate for a moment and then spoke slyly.

“Since we came all the way here, we should order both raw fish and spicy fish stew. You must absolutely eat the spicy fish stew here. It is truly amazing.”

Choi Seo-jun asked as if it were strange.

“You are speaking as if you have tried it.”

“Ahahaha. I saw it on a blog.”

I quickly ordered for fear that other words might come out.

“Boss, please give us one large size of raw fish and spicy fish stew as well.”

“Raw fish and spicy fish stew…. This is completely a side dish for soju. Tsk.”

As General Hong said so while feeling regretful, I also chimed in.

“Kueuh. That is right. There is nothing more delicious than that when you dip raw fish in vinegar-based gochujang, put it in your mouth, and drink a sip of soju….”

As soon as those words fell, the gazes of General Hong and Choi Seo-jun headed toward me at the same time.

The eyes of the two people were filled with suspicion.

“Representative, you are not drinking alcohol somewhere without us knowing, are you?”

This time, General Hong asked while smiling slightly.

“Who knows. You might have come down here alone and tasted it…s”

Choi Seo-jun also said while narrowing his eyes.

“That could be the case.”

I denied quickly while waving both hands as if I were flustered.

“No. I am saying it is really not. Since when would I.”

However, a sign of being pricked by conscience was evident somewhere in my expression and tone.

General Hong and Choi Seo-jun met each other’s eyes and then burst into laughter at the same time.

“Hmm. Suspicious as expected.”

“Representative, you can speak honestly. What does it matter? It is just us.”

“I am saying it is really not!”

I shouted as if I were being wronged, but the two people already seemed not to believe me.

I pouted my lips because I felt wronged.

Really, after the possession, I had never once touched alcohol.

It had been a long time since I completely cut it off, including the habits from that time when I was Jeong Taeshik.

I did not even have time to drink alcohol in the first place because I was busy realizing the plans I had drawn in my head every night.

Nevertheless, Choi Seo-jun still looked at me with a skeptical gaze.

With the corners of his mouth slightly raised, it was even to the point where it was obvious that he did not believe me.

I felt a bit of annoyance for no reason internally.

‘They do not believe me at all….’

Choi Seo-jun thought while staring intently at my face.

Although I am acting maturely as the representative of HJ Partners and showing only a diligent and neat appearance now, only a year ago, this person was the accident maker of Taeseong.

According to the seniors who were in charge of me, there were stories that a dispute broke out at a bar, and causing a disturbance in a club VIP room was already a famous matter.

Therefore, when they saw the appearance of naturally adding a glass of soju like that to the talk of raw fish and spicy fish stew, anyone would think of the past.

Choi Seo-jun chuckled internally.

‘Well… back in those days, would alcohol be the only problem? Just everything was a problem.’

The me sitting in front of his eyes now has changed so much that such shadows of the past cannot be felt at all.

It was a fact that it was rather difficult to believe because that change was so extreme.

I spoke while even crossing my arms with a wronged face.

“No, I am saying it is really true. How diligently I am living these days.”

General Hong brought a soju bottle and shook it while giggling.

“Then today, just have the side dishes healthily. Representative, it is okay for me to have a drink, right?”

“O-Of course. Of course it is.”

I raised my voice for no reason, but the two people were still out of their minds laughing while looking at each other with suspicious eyes.

At that moment, the lady served the table bountifully.

Seeing that, I swallowed my saliva unknowingly as I watched General Hong coolly open the green bottle and pour it into a glass.

Soju is the perfect match for raw fish.