That was when a customer walked in.

“How can I help you?”

“I’m here to look at a house.”

Broker Lee Jong-woo looked the customer up and down.

‘An outsider?’

He seemed to be oozing refinement. It felt like he had some kind of aura.

‘Strange. His clothes are nothing special…’

Even his shoes weren’t designer. Everything was generic. And yet he still gave off this refined air?

“Excuse me?”

“Ah? Ah… sorry. Please have a seat. Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Or green tea?”

“I’m fine. But it looks like you were in the middle of a meal. Are you sure it’s okay?”

“I won’t die from skipping a meal. So, what kind of house are you looking for? If you tell me your desired price range and size, I’ll find something that fits.”

“The conditions are a bit tricky, so I’m not sure if there’ll be a match.”

“If it doesn’t exist, it’s the broker’s job to make it happen. Go ahead and speak freely.”

“Well then…”

The customer began explaining. The more he explained, the more stiff Jong-woo’s expression became.

‘Man, those are some seriously picky conditions.’

Still, it wasn’t like there was no listing at all. It just had a bit… just a bit of a flaw.

“Hahaha! You came to the right place. This might sound like I’m bragging, but no other broker in District 12 has a listing that meets those conditions. Shall we go take a look?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go. It’s nearby.”

“What do you think?”

“It’s nice.”

“Right?”

“Can I take a closer look?”

“Of course. Take your time.”

Smiling, Jong-woo answered as Seo-jun, who came to strike while the iron was hot, began looking around slowly.

Following behind Seo-jun like a duckling, Jong-woo added commentary.

“As you can see, it’s very clean. Very modern and well-built. And the price is quite reasonable too.”

“How much is it listed for?”

Jong-woo hesitated for a moment. The actual price the homeowner had given was 450 million won. But no matter how he looked at it, this young customer was…

‘He looks like someone I could milk.’

The guy definitely exuded refinement. But that was all. Probably… some rich family’s young master or something.

He didn’t know why someone like that would come himself instead of sending someone else, but that didn’t matter.

“630 million won. But since you’re young and we’re getting along well, I’ll try explaining it properly to the owner and maybe get you a 30 million discount.”

“A whole 30 million?”

“Ah… well, I can’t promise. There have already been other visitors besides you. If it looks good to you, it probably looks good to others too.”

As Seo-jun nodded, Jong-woo continued talking.

“Also, the owner designed this house himself. He’s an architect. That’s why he’s very attached to it. After a lifetime of building for others, he made his own house with his own hands—it must be very meaningful to him.”

“……”

“Still… I’ll try my best to match things. That’s what a broker should do.”

Trying to show enthusiasm, Jong-woo smiled. Seo-jun returned a faint smile.

“If you’re certain you want to buy, I can call him right now and try to negotiate. What would you like to do?”

“I like the house. But I think I should know the exact price first.”

“Ah… of course. Then I’ll call the owner now and try to get the best deal. Excuse me for a moment.”

Jong-woo stepped out, pretending to make a call.

“Ah ah… yes, sir. It’s me. Lee Jong-woo from Bareum Real Estate. Yes, yes. It’s nothing big, just… someone came to see the house you listed…”

How much time passed?

Jong-woo came back with a bright smile.

“Phew… that was tough. Since you’re a young guy and all, he’s willing to go down to 590 million.”

“I’ll look around a bit more.”

“Yes, of course.”

Seo-jun slowly examined the house.

Whether the wallpaper was peeling.

Whether there was any leakage.

What the water pressure was like, and so on.

‘Damn, this guy’s meticulous.’

Jong-woo muttered to himself internally.

Still, as long as the deal closed, it didn’t matter.

A little while later—

“So? Did you get a good look?”

“I’m very satisfied.”

“Hahaha. As expected of a young man, you’ve got a good eye for houses—”

“Except for one thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your posture.”

“Excuse me?”

“Your business posture, I mean.”

“Haha… I’m not quite sure what you’re getting at. I do have a bit of a bent back, but I doubt that’s what you’re talking about.”

“You said the price was 590 million, right?”

“Yes.”

“Can I have the homeowner’s contact number?”

“Why all of a sudden…?”

“I’d like to ask him something.”

“Sorry, but I can’t give that out due to the Personal Information Protection Act.”

“Then let me ask you one thing. How does a 450 million house become 590 million?”

“……!”

You son of a—!

Jong-woo’s eyes widened.

How did he know?

Did he hear it from someone?

No, that couldn’t be. This was a listing only he had among the nearby brokers.

He hadn’t even posted it on any sites… so how did he find out?

As the sound of his eyeballs rolling echoed to the other side of the planet, Jong-woo made a decision—to brazen it out.

Even after the upheaval, being loud still worked best. Especially with young customers.

“Wait a minute, sir. The way you’re speaking is making me uncomfortable. I went through the trouble of negotiating the price down, and you talk like that? If you’re going to probe, you should do it subtly.”

“If I offended you, I apologize.”

Good. He was almost there.

“I’ve worked in this industry for decades, earning commission from deals. I’ve kept in touch with many clients even after transactions, maintaining good relationships. But labeling me as a scammer right from the start? That’s too much, especially when we just met.”

Seo-jun let out a short laugh.

This time, even Lee Jong-woo could clearly tell it was a sneer. Veins popped up on his forehead.

“Ha... this young man, I’ve been holding back, but seriously. Hey. If you can’t afford to buy it, then don’t. Why are you trying to nitpick so much, huh?”

“...”

“You asked for the owner's number, right? I’ll give it to you. But when you call and he confirms I really did negotiate, then what?”

“Who knows.”

“What the hell kind of young person is so shameless and irresponsible? ‘Who knows’? You call someone a scammer and then just say ‘who knows’?”

“Then just sell it for 450 million.”

“...What?”

“I have zero intention of being anyone’s sucker.”

“Huh? Look at this punk. You think we’re friends? Why’s your tone all chopped up like that?”

“You’re doing the same thing.”

“I’m way older than—”

“So being older means you can talk down to people? Then I guess I can talk down to you too.”

“Huh!”

“Let’s call the homeowner. If what you say is true, I’ll hand over the 450 million right to you.”

“Ha, this is ridiculous.”

“I said make the call.”

“Heh, forget it! I don’t want to deal with someone like you! What a cursed day. Get the hell out!”

Seo-jun hesitated.

Since returning, this was the first time he encountered someone like this. Ah... well, it’s not like it never happened. But back then, he wasn’t the one going through it himself. He just happened to get involved in other people’s situations. But now that he was experiencing it himself, perversely, it brought back old memories.

The old Seo-jun had seen plenty of people like this. People who thought being loud meant they were right. People who refused to admit fault no matter what.

So he hesitated. No—he pondered. How should he handle this?

Subspace came to mind, but that felt too extreme...

“Hmm.”

As he was debating, he remembered how Seo-woo sometimes woke him in the middle of the night.

- Big Uncle! I'm scared to go to the bathroom! I hear weird noises from over there!

A cat’s cry that sounded like a ghost wailing.

Yes, that’ll do. A little suffering should snap him out of it.

Seo-jun reached out his hand.

“What are you doing, you bastard?”

Formless energy surged toward Lee Jong-woo, but as the name implied, it was invisible to the eye.

With a contemptuous look, he shook the gun at his waist.

“You don’t get out, I’ll shoot you.”

“From now on, live without lies.”

With that, Seo-jun walked out of the house.

“What a cursed day.”

Back in his office, Lee Jong-woo irritably loosened his tie.

He’d met all kinds of crazy people.

“Damn bastard couldn’t even afford it, just came to piss me off. Should’ve just shot him.”

He could always claim during questioning that the guy suddenly turned violent.

“But that’d be a hassle... Anyway, where’s the salt?”

Jong-woo rummaged through the break room. He spotted a plastic container filled with coarse salt.

Grabbing a handful, he flung it outside the office.

“This bastard didn’t even take the bowl.”

A bowl of leftover black bean noodles still sat outside the office. Thanks to the weather, flies were already swarming it.

With a scowl, he kicked the bowl aside and headed toward the convenience store across the street.

When you’re angry, sugar’s the best medicine. As he was browsing for chocolates and other snacks—

“Hm?”

Jong-woo tilted his head. Something just brushed past him. But when he looked up, there was nothing.

“Must’ve imagined it.”

Yeah, must’ve been nothing.

Thinking it unimportant, Jong-woo made his way to the counter.

- ...Give it to me.

Jong-woo flinched. Someone had whispered right into his ear. But when he turned, no one was there.

“Ha... shit, what the hell.”

“Are you alright, sir?”

“Huh? Ah... yeah. Just ring me up.”

“Yes, sir.”

The clerk started scanning the items.

Beep—!

Beep-beep-beep!

- ...Heeheehee.

“Ugh!”

“Sir?”

“What the hell! Kid, you didn’t hear that just now?”

“Huh? Hear what?”

“A woman’s voice!”

“No, I didn’t hear anything.”

“I definitely heard it...”

Maybe his energy’s been off lately?

He should probably get some herbal medicine or something.

“How much?”

“Seventy-four thousand won.”

As he handed over his card—

“...!”

Jong-woo couldn’t even scream.

Because clinging to the clerk’s shoulder was the grotesquely crushed face of a person.

Staggering backward, Jong-woo fell on his butt. He cautiously opened his eyes...

“Huh?”

It was gone. Just moments ago, he’d seen a hideous woman’s face on the clerk’s shoulder...

“Ha.”

After meeting that crazy bastard, now he was seeing things.

“You sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah, yeah. The bill?”

“All done.”

Back at the office, Jong-woo headed for the restroom. It must’ve been the booze from last night.

He’d overdone it, and didn’t sleep well either. No wonder he was hallucinating. A splash of water might help.

Shhhhhh!

Splash, splash!

After washing his face, he felt a bit clearer. Yeah, definitely the booze from last night...

“...!”

Jong-woo froze.

- Heeheeheehee.

A hideous face appeared, its mouth torn to the ears. Then it let out an eerie laugh.

“Aaaaargh!”

Frightened, Jong-woo stumbled out of the restroom, gasping for breath.

“Huff! Huff!”

Then—

He felt a chill on his left arm. Slowly, very slowly, he turned his head.

- You can see me, can’t you?

Jong-woo couldn’t even scream.

“Gkkk! Gaaaargh!”

He passed out with foam at his mouth.