Chapter 12: Muyeol Island (Continued)
Shit...
I completely forgot. Saturday was taken up by the Prestige visit, and Sunday... well, Sunday was spent indulging in carnal pleasures.
The artificial island had arrived in Incheon on Saturday evening, so it’s possible she’d been waiting for my call since then. It’s basic etiquette—when someone gives you a gift, it’s customary for the recipient to reach out first. But I hadn’t called or even sent a text.
“I’ve been so busy that I’m starting to forget basic courtesies.”
Before the call could go to voicemail, I quickly answered.
“Yes, Auntie! Have you been well?”
“Yes, of course! Oh, I’m actually on my way to see the island right now, Auntie.”
Her voice over the phone sounded as composed as ever.
“What do you mean, ‘shabby’? This is far more than I deserve. And most importantly, every time I see the island, I’ll think of you, Auntie. It’s a gift beyond value to me.”
The conversation drifted into sweet, flirtatious territory.
We exchanged words laden with subtle longing and unspoken desires. Sometimes, I would make an outright suggestive comment, and she would respond in kind.
Before long, I felt a bit more at ease. I’d been bracing for a scolding over my lack of contact, but thankfully—
Or so I thought.
Just as I let my guard down, she came straight to the point.
Ah... of course, there was no avoiding it.
I could feel sweat forming on my brow.
“Well, I... I’m sorry. There’s been so much on my plate lately...”
“....”Shit. I’m screwed.
What... what the hell?
Her choice of words was unusually explicit. She’s been candid before, but this was on a whole new level.
“Yes, ma’am... I’ll be more mindful from now on.”
Her words were unusual, but the meaning was clear: don’t neglect her after claiming her.
“Ah...”
It must have been about my grandfather’s debut as a Go professional last week. Auntie had to cancel all her plans to attend, and it must have caused quite the ripple effect.
“Now that I think about it, the last time we met, we parted with just a kiss. What a shame...”
The memory of Go Min-young’s body resurfaced—her sweet, passionate kiss, her skin that seemed to melt against mine.
We had been burning with anticipation, only to part ways before taking it further. That lingering heat and longing must be present in her as well.
“And this will keep happening, won’t it?”
She’s not just the Vice Chairman of the group and head of Militaris, but also manages countless other ventures. She’s impossibly busy.
Even I, with far fewer responsibilities, am this swamped. How much worse must it be for her?
“Finding time to actually... connect with her might be nearly impossible.”
Capturing Go Min-young with my body is one of my top priorities, yet finding the time to be with her is proving to be the real challenge.
“Maybe I should gift her a replica of my—no, that’s too much...”
The absurdity of the idea made me pause, but I couldn’t shake it entirely. A provocative thought, to be sure.
“Yes, next time I’ll call you first.”
The call ended. It hadn’t lasted long, but I felt inexplicably drained.
“We’ve arrived, sir,” the driver announced.
“Ah, right. Thanks.”
From the air, the artificial island already looked dense with greenery, but up close, it was even more overwhelming.
The trees weren’t just tall; they were massive—20 to 30 {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} meters high, with trunks so thick they seemed almost impenetrable. This wasn’t an island; it was a jungle.
“So this is why Auntie was worried...”
It was clear this island had only ever been used as a private retreat. The dense forest was likely meant for occasional strolls or hunting expeditions.
“Why are these trees so enormous?”
Out of curiosity, I approached one of them.
“Wow...”
The height was comparable to a building, and the trunk’s circumference was so massive that even with my arms fully extended, I could barely wrap around a quarter of it.
Despite my considerable height and build, this tree made me feel small. I’d never seen anything like it.
The problem? The island was filled with them, and I’d have to clear them all.
I tapped the tree lightly, and my knuckles stung from the impact.
Sigh. “Ji-hye.”
“Yes, sir?”
“How long do you think it’ll take to clear all this? We can’t make use of the island until it’s leveled.”
“Ah...”
Ji-hye, the Execution Team Leader, looked up at the towering trees with a conflicted expression. Clearly, this was no easy task. She hesitated before touching one of the trunks.
Ra Seung-hee, the Strategy Team Leader, stepped in to answer.
“Based on the provided data, the island spans approximately 106.2 square kilometers, or 10,620 hectares. The forest itself covers about 9,200 hectares. Under standard conditions, 100 heavy machines could clear roughly 200 hectares of forest per day.”
“That’s for an ordinary forest, right? Per day?”
“Yes. However, given the unusual nature of this forest, harsher conditions are expected. Being on an island presents additional challenges. A precise estimate would require a professional assessment, but I’d say it could take four times as long and cost significantly more.”
Four times the effort? That would mean 160 days—about five to six months—with 100 machines working daily.
“Auntie’s concern was valid...”
Mobilizing 100 heavy machines isn’t exactly easy. Transporting them to an island? Even harder.
“What about the cost?”
“Again, a precise estimate would require consultation, but...”
After a pause, Ra Seung-hee continued.
“...It could range between 2 to 4 trillion won.”
“What the fuck?”
My entire net worth is 16 trillion won, and this project alone could eat up 2 to 4 trillion?
“And that doesn’t include disposal and transportation costs for the debris. Handling and shipping the felled trees and roots would add several hundred billion won to the total. Of course, if we repurpose or sell the materials, we could offset some of the costs.”
“We haven’t even broken ground for the prison, and it’s already this expensive...”
“...”
Ra Seung-hee stepped back, bowing slightly. Just then, my phone buzzed again.
Another call? Auntie again?
Nope, it was her daughter—the mischievous psychopath, Go Min-ji.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“...Have you been well?”
A trip? More like piracy, probably.
“I see... So, what’s this about?”
“You’re helping me?”
“Yes, I just landed.”
“...”
Sigh. Why is she calling me?
“...You will?”
Just then, a sharp, distant hum reached my ears. A cluster of dots appeared in the sky, rapidly growing larger.
Mechas.
At a glance, there were over ten of them flying toward the island.
What the...?
She’s using weapons of national significance to clear a forest?
15 Knights, with mechas?
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“Master...!”
The mechas quickly descended, their massive frames lowering onto the island’s surface. And with that, Go Min-ji hung up.
Promise?
What promise? What the hell did I agree to with Go Min-ji?
As the mechas landed and their pilots emerged, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Whatever promise I’d made to her, I had a sinking feeling it was going to cost me.