[(Breaking News) Japan Announces Second S-Class Crafter! Inoue Haruna!]

“What the hell...?!”

“What’s wrong?”

Chairman Nam’s daughter, Jeon Jinah, furrowed her brow as she read the article.

“No way. An S-Class emerging right now? Seriously?”

“...They might’ve kept her hidden on purpose. Japan wouldn’t want it to look like two S-Class crafters are competing within the same country.”

Chairman Nam crossed her arms.

They were probably calculating the exact timing for the reveal, aiming for a concept that wouldn’t overshadow Kazuki—something that wouldn’t pose a threat.

Otherwise, it was just too convenient that another S-Class crafter awakened the moment Kazuki left Japan.

In fact, it was standard practice for countries to delay S-Class announcements until the optimal moment.

'Korea’s just a mess ‘cause everything’s run by that Hyeonak crowd.'

Just then, Secretary Kim cautiously swiped to the next article. Chairman Nam’s eyes immediately shifted to the tablet.

[Inoue Haruna to Host “Japan–Korea Joint Artisan Showcase” Next Month]

“Hah!”

Chairman Nam scoffed after reading the headline.

The date lined up exactly with the planned opening of the Jjapso pop-up store.

And a “joint” showcase?

It was all obviously premeditated.

As she scrolled down, her eyes landed on the name of the Korean-side event representative—and froze.

It was a familiar name.

“Jeon Byeongho...”

Chairman Nam clenched her teeth and muttered his name.

Her ex-husband, it seemed, had planned a grand little party just to spite her.

“...Is that Dad?”

At Jinah’s question, Chairman Nam nodded, then started dialing.

The other party picked up immediately, as if they’d been waiting.

She switched the call to speakerphone.

“Jeon Byeongho. It’s me. So you’re in Korea now?”

— “Oh, Jiwon! Yep, I’m in Korea. Just picked up my luggage, heading out of the airport now, and then your call comes in! What’s the occasion? Miss ‘Too Good to Call’ is suddenly calling me first. Hahaha!”

Ugh. Jinah slapped a hand over her mouth, gagging.

Her dad hadn’t changed at all. That slimy tone, that inferiority complex toward Mom.

She now understood why her old-school mother, Chairman Nam—who had flawless business instincts and nothing else—had gone through with the divorce.

Chairman Nam growled, voice rising.

“Jeon Byeongho. You come back to Korea, and the first thing you do is try to screw me over?”

— “Screw you? What kind of language is that? I’m a businessman. I just saw a good business opportunity—”

“Japan reached out to you first, didn’t they?”

— “Haha! Well, who knows?”

“Don’t pretend. I already know.”

— “Jiwon, there’s no point probing like this. We’re not in that kind of relationship anymore, are we?”

“You know full well that you’re doing this to undercut Korea. And you still went along with it. You haven’t changed at all—you’re still scum.”

— “You’re the one who taught me that anything goes if the money’s right.”

“Fine. Try it. I’ll make sure you never set foot on Gangnam soil again.”

From the other end, a low chuckle came through.

— “They say Hwajin Group could make birds drop out of the sky, but how exactly do you plan to block Gangnam?”

“Try me.”

Click.

Just as Jeon Byeongho opened his mouth to reply, Chairman Nam hung up with an icy expression.

She then calmly handed the phone back to Secretary Kim, face now refreshed, as if the whole matter had been handled.

“Secretary Kim. I want you to find out where he plans to hold that showcase. He must’ve already booked a venue—make sure it gets canceled. You understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“He’s too dumb and single-minded to go outside Gangnam. He’ll want to flaunt it on Gangnam-daero, rub it in my face. So focus all outreach there, and push him toward Yeongdong-daero instead.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Chairman Nam folded her arms again.

Her threat to banish him from Gangnam had been calculated bait.

Jeon Byeongho, ever insecure around her, would now cling to Gangnam even more desperately.

Her daughter, watching her mother coldly manipulate her ex-husband without blinking, felt a chill run down her spine.

“But Mom, why Yeongdong-daero?”

At that, Chairman Nam curled her lips into a smirk.

“Your dad drank nothing but foreign Kool-Aid. He’s totally clueless about how things work in Korea.”

This would be the first public exhibition by Japan’s new S-Class crafter—of course he’d want it to be grand and flashy.

She mentally reviewed the buildings in the area where the event might be held.

Jeon Byeongho wouldn’t have many options. He’d need a privately-owned or corporate-owned space—somewhere that wouldn’t buckle under government pressure.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Hm? You don’t know either?”

“Don’t know what?”

At Jinah’s question, Chairman Nam broke into a laugh.

***

At the same time, the doors to the Hyeonak Guildmaster’s office burst open.

Jurim and Kazuki, seated across from each other, turned toward the door.

The person stumbling in with a ridiculous posture had Guru tucked under one arm—and was dragging Serhi along with the other.

“Hyuhyuhyuhyung!”

“Yeah?”

“Not you, Oppaw. I meant Zuki hyung!”

Kazuki looked up from the papers in his hand, blinking.

“Me?”

“Do you know that person? Ino... what?”

“Inoue Haruna!”

Guru shouted the name in Gidan’s place, and Serhi muttered under his breath, “Seriously. Idiot.”

“Oh, Inoue Haruna-san? I heard she awakened as S-Class?”

“Yes! That person!”

“Yeah, I met her once ages ago. She should be about Dan-chan’s age, right?”

Kazuki spoke casually, but both Gidan and Guru twitched with indignation.

“Is she really S-Class? I heard she can’t even make S+.”

The article had only called her a promising successor to Amakusa, saying she might someday create S+.

Even the upcoming showcase was centered around her S-Class work.

“If she can’t make S+, how is she S-Class?”

Serhi chimed in.

Now it was Guru’s turn.

“Wight...!”

She opened her mouth to agree—but her eyes went wide and started rolling.

'Gwuu is S-Cwass too, but can’t make S+ eithew! Wha dooo I dooo?!'

Sensing her panic, Kazuki smiled gently, his tone reassuring.

“I don’t know if she’s truly S-Class... It took me a long time to make S+ too. So don’t worry too much, Guru-chan.”

Phew. Guru let out a breath of relief.

'Gwuu awmost wost hew S-Cwass cewtificate...'

But Gidan couldn’t let it go.

“Even A-Class crafters can make S-rank items.”

“Exactly. So if she’s only making S, isn’t she basically just a hardworking A-Class?”

Gidan and Serhi doubled down on their criticism.

Throb!

Guru’s eyes widened again, darting around.

'Does dat mean Gwuu is just a vewy hardworking A-Cwass...? Aww da items Gwuu makes awe ones even A-Cwass peopwe couwd do?!'

She’d stormed in with her big bros yelling Down with Inoue Haruna!—but why did her chest feel tight?

Kazuki glanced down at Guru, whose lips were pouting sadly, and smiled awkwardly.

“Honestly, I don’t know if she’s S-Class. When I met Haruna-san, she hadn’t even awakened yet.”

“She hadn’t awakened yet? Then how’d you meet her?”

“Ah—Haruna-san is the granddaughter of the Inoue family.”

“The Inoue family?”

“Yeah. They’re super famous for ceramics in Japan. A bunch of them are A-Class crafters. Back when I had just awakened and started training, they °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° helped me out. That’s how we met.”

“Whoa, then she really might be S-Class now, huh?”

“...!”

At Gidan’s comment, Guru flinched, her eyes going round.

She hadn’t even beaten Sabbuu yet—and now a new rival was already emerging?

“Then don’t we gotta, like, get ready or something?”

“Yesh!”

Tucked under his arm, Guru flopped around like a fish in agreement.

Jurim, who’d been quietly listening, pressed his temples and muttered flatly,

“Get ready for what.”

“You know. A counter move.”

“What counter move.”

Gidan hoisted Guru into the air like Simba in The Lion King.

“They’re obviously trying to sabotage our Guru’s pop-up store from Japan. Look at the showcase date. Right?”

“Mmhmm!”

Guru nodded furiously.

“So? What do you plan to do?”

“If you ask, it’s only proper I answer.”

Gidan tucked Guru back under his arm. Then, with a deadly serious expression, he tilted his head and dragged a thumb across his neck.

“We strike first. Best defense is a good offense.”

Serhi raised a hand while blowing a bubble.

“Agreed.”

“Gwuu agwee too!”

“Wait, strike what...?”

Surely they don’t mean the Inoue family—

Kazuki stared in disbelief. The underage squad all turned to him and answered firmly:

“Japan.”

At that, Jurim covered his face with both hands in silent despair.

No matter where I take them, these damn kids are just plain embarrassing.