Time passed, and the season off period was nearing its end.

Each pro team gave their players one last 4-day, 3-night break before they had to jump back into the pro league and individual league again.

It was meant as a short recharge before starting another season.

Lee Shin also stayed home without going to work, and just in time, the awaited call came.

It was a call from Ji Soo-min, the leader of the Lee Shin Sect.

– Shin-nim! Have you been well?

"It hasn’t been many days since we last spoke."

– Ehehe, but if you caught a cold in the meantime, that would be terrible. It’s been getting pretty hot lately, so you might’ve turned the AC on full blast while sleeping and caught a cold.

"I’m fine."

– That’s a relief.

"What happened with the car?"

Lee Shin pressed her to get to the point.

– We secured the car long ago. It just took some time to find a driver.

"Did you find one?"

– Of course. I looked for someone quick and capable, with experience as a driver, who could also double as a bodyguard and run errands like a manager.

"That’s good. How much should I pay him?"

– About five million won a month. But the driver issue—just leave it to me—

"That won’t be necessary."

Ji Soo-min pouted, but Lee Shin didn’t budge, as solid as a fortress.

– Hmph, fine. Anyway, I’ll bring the driver and the paperwork over.

"You personally?"

– Of course. It’s your matter, Shin-nim. I should take care of it myself.

Lee Shin glanced at his wristwatch.

The watch gave off a dark brown luster of serious weight. The name Vacheron Constantin was engraved in alphabet letters.

An item more expensive than that capable driver’s annual salary.

It had been included by Ji Soo-min as a sly gift during a recent offering from the Lee Shin Sect.

Since the sect didn’t usually send overly extravagant gifts, Lee Shin had been wearing it, thinking it was just a cost-effective watch.

"It’s almost time for dinner. I’ll treat you to a meal as thanks."

– Oh my, how wonderful! Then I’ll be at your place by six on the dot!

"Alright."

When the time came, Lee Shin threw on a button-down shirt and jeans, slipped into brown dress shoes, and stepped outside.

He had picked the outfit without much thought, but it was actually one of the combinations that the high priests of the Lee Shin Sect had once sent him via text. His physique was so good it looked like a fashion model’s outfit.

While riding the elevator down, a female college student who got on halfway flinched when she saw him.

Lee Shin gave her a slight nod in greeting, and she awkwardly bowed back in a fluster.

He paid her no further attention, but she kept stealing glances at him with a blushing face.

From the luxurious back seat of a Rolls-Royce Phantom came the sound of a cheerful whistle from a young woman.

"You seem to be in a good mood."

A sturdy driver in his mid-30s struck up a conversation.

The woman in the back seat, Ji Soo-min, beamed brightly.

"I can't remember the last time I got to see Shin-nim’s divine face in person."

"Does it really make you that happy?"

The driver sighed.

His name was Jeong Sang-beom.

He had practiced hapkido since childhood, then started judo in middle school, and nearly made the national team for the Asian Games during his college years.

After serving in the Marine Corps Recon Unit, he worked as a bodyguard, eventually catching the eye of IT media group AllDoor’s chairman Ji Chang-hyun and becoming his driver as well.

And now—

‘How did it come to this?’

One day, Ji Soo-min, Chairman Ji’s second daughter, threw a royal tantrum demanding that Jeong Sang-beom be transferred to her.

She even offered him a raise, mixing coercion and persuasion.

Jeong, who had been quite satisfied with his position as the driver and bodyguard of AllDoor’s chairman, couldn’t believe it.

Chairman Ji, weak to his daughter, told Jeong to endure it for a few years.

And so, Jeong became Lee Shin’s driver.

That part was still fine.

The salary was higher, and Lee Shin was an internationally recognized figure.

The real problem was, as expected, Ji Soo-min.

"You remember what I asked, right?"

"...Yes."

Jeong couldn’t understand it.

"But are you really going to pay me ten million won more annually just for that?"

"Of course. It’s worth it."

"Haa... Still, secretly photographing someone...?"

Jeong looked displeased.

Ji Soo-min sharpened her gaze and replied,

"It’s not ‘secretly photographing.’ It’s quietly capturing Shin-nim’s daily life so he’s not bothered."

"Isn’t that exactly what secret photographing is...?"

"We don’t need any photos that invade privacy like nudity or anything. Just pictures of his daily life—stuff people normally can’t see."

Then she added in a small voice,

"O-of course, at least upper body shots should be fine, right? Since he’s started physical training again with the MBS team, his body should be improving again, ahhng…"

Letting out a sweet moan just from imagining it, she was visibly overwhelmed.

Seeing her through the rearview mirror, Jeong felt a headache coming on.

He could already see himself caught between a superstar and the rabid fangirl daughter of a chairman.

‘Ugh…’

They soon arrived in front of the officetel where Lee Shin lived.

Having arrived exactly on time, Lee Shin was already outside.

"Shin-nim!"

Ji Soo-min rolled down the window and waved furiously.

Her already high level of excitement now seemed to spike even further.

Jeong stepped out of the driver’s seat to open the door, but Lee Shin stopped him with a light wave of his hand, opened the back door himself, and got in.

Jeong flinched at the gesture, which felt like how someone would treat a subordinate.

A natural demeanor on par with Chairman Ji Chang-hyun.

It was the innate scent of a true alpha.

Meanwhile, as Lee Shin opened the car door and got into the back seat, he was startled.

He didn’t even need to lower his head to get in.

The seat cushion embraced his body softly.

“How is it? Nice, right?”

Ji Soo-min leaned in close and asked.

“Yes, it’s nice.”

The car’s interior was so spacious and comfortable that he could stretch out his legs.

Lee Shin looked around the interior of the Rolls-Royce Phantom in admiration.

“Take a look at this too.”

Ji Soo-min opened the car door and showed him a black, custom umbrella tucked into the door slot.

“If it rains, just pull this out and use it. There are three umbrellas hidden in the car, and each one costs about 2 million won.”

Her explanation flowed smoothly — they were coated with Teflon, so even if you put them away wet, they wouldn’t rust or warp.

The car also had plenty of storage compartments for various small items.

The backrest could recline up to about 27 degrees, with a leg rest adjustable within a 68-degree range, and a footrest that tilted up to 30 degrees.

Lee Shin nodded.

“I’m very satisfied. Please give me the contract.”

“Here you go.”

Lee Shin signed the documents that she handed over, page by page, without hesitation.

He also finalized the employment contract for the driver, Jeong Sang-beom.

Since Ji Soo-min had already prepared the contract, all he had to do was sign it, and the matter was quickly concluded.

“Time to eat now, right? You must be very hungry, our dear Shin-nim.”

“I’ll treat you, as thanks.”

“Yes! I know just the place — let’s go there.”

That day, they went to a hotel restaurant located in Gangnam for dinner.

While eating together, Lee Shin suddenly asked,

“Do you know anyone who does private investigation work? Like a detective?”

“A detective? Why?”

“I need something looked into. It’s not a difficult task.”

“I know a good detective.”

She had once hired a detective to investigate the wrist attack incident involving Lee Shin.

“What’s the matter?”

“Just trying to find someone. They’re not exactly in hiding, so it shouldn’t be hard.”

“If it’s that kind of job, it should be simple. If it’s not something too sensitive, you can leave it to me.”

Lee Shin nodded and began explaining the details.

“There’s someone named Jang Min-jae who lives in a studio apartment near Hongdae Station. He’s 22 years old and lives with his pregnant girlfriend.”

Ji Soo-min took out a notebook and started writing things down.

“Okay, and?”

“Jang Min-jae’s parents are said to be farming in Cheongju, but I don’t know their exact address.”

“I’ll find it quickly. And?”

“Just let his parents know how he’s living now. It’d be better to explain in detail that he’s involved in repeated criminal behavior and isn’t a good person.”

“Understood. But who is this Jang Min-jae person?”

“You don’t need to know that.”

When Lee Shin cut her off firmly, Ji Soo-min flinched.

“Okay……”

And with that, the dinner ended, and Lee Shin returned home after saying goodbye to her.

‘With this, the matter involving Hwang Byeong-cheol can roughly be settled.’

He felt uneasy about simply leaving things as they were — it bothered him that Hwang Byeong-cheol continued to be extorted by Jang Min-jae. But if he went to the police, it was obvious Hwang Byeong-cheol would be dragged into it as well.

Fortunately, from what he saw through the black orb given by Flauros, Jang Min-jae was extremely afraid of his father.

If his father stepped in to punish him and drag him back to the countryside, that would be enough to resolve everything.

While driving, Jeong Sang-beom glanced at Ji Soo-min through the rearview mirror.

Her expression had hardened to ice.

She had been cheerful and bright just moments ago, but the moment she parted ways with Lee Shin, she transformed completely.

“Jang Min-jae……”

Ji Soo-min looked down at her notebook with a cold gaze.

“How does Shin-nim know this bastard?”

She had once hired a detective to find out who attacked Lee Shin.

Though they never identified the culprit, they had found a suspicious individual during the investigation — Hwang Byeong-cheol’s friend, Jang Min-jae.

According to the detective’s report, he had been meeting frequently with Hwang Byeong-cheol both before and after the incident. Further digging revealed he was a shady character involved in various minor crimes.

However, there was no concrete evidence, so nothing could be confirmed.

They couldn’t be sure whether Hwang Byeong-cheol had instigated the attack, had been wrongly implicated, or whether it was all a misunderstanding.

The investigation had stalled, and once Lee Shin returned to the pro scene after recovering from his injury, she had let it go.

But now, Lee Shin had mentioned Jang Min-jae by name.

Ji Soo-min couldn’t help but be surprised.

What did it mean that Lee Shin mentioned Jang Min-jae?

Her sharp instincts quickly put several things together.

First, Lee Shin believes Jang Min-jae is the culprit.

Second, Lee Shin wants this matter resolved quietly.

Third, judging by how he’s proceeding, he doesn’t seem intent on taking any action against Hwang Byeong-cheol.

In other words, he likely believes that once Jang Min-jae disappears, everything will be neatly wrapped up.

‘Then I’ll take care of it for him.’

Ji Soo-min decided to follow Lee Shin’s wishes to resolve the matter quietly and cleanly.

She agreed completely.

‘I’ll make sure he never shows up again.’