Chapter 161: America (3)

Translator: Dreamscribe

A woman's voice rang out the moment Kang Jae-ha arrived in LA, USA. Jae-ha couldn't help but smile faintly.

【It has been confirmed that Kang Jae-ha-nim has arrived in another country (USA).】

Because the lines he heard were familiar. It was the same as when he'd arrived in Japan before. The 'Language Pack'. Back then, Kang Jae-ha had gained native-level Japanese.

'I thought this might happen. So I was right.'

Kang Jae-ha had somewhat expected this when he thought about his business trip to the United States. He'd wondered if the 'Language Pack' might activate once again as soon as he arrived in America.

His guess was right.

Soon, the woman's voice sounded again.

【Kang Jae-ha-nim's 'Language Pack' is activating.】

【The 'Language Pack' is collecting and analyzing the language of the country (USA) Kang Jae-ha-nim is currently in.】

【Collecting, analyzing......complete.】

【From this point forward, the restored 'Language Pack' will allow Kang Jae-ha-nim to speak English.】

【Well then, good luck.】

With that now-familiar good-luck sendoff, a pleasantly warm sensation spread throughout Jae-ha's entire body. It was the same as when he'd gained Japanese. Back then, he'd wondered if that was all there was to it, but the current Kang Jae-ha barely gave it a second thought.

When it came down to it, the 'Language Pack' in this world was basically another Perk exclusive to Commander Kang Jae-ha.

After all, he'd already confirmed that none of his other subordinates had a 'Language Pack'. Either way, Kang Jae-ha had now gained English on top of Japanese. It wasn't as though Jae-ha had been completely unable to speak English before, but there was a huge difference between that and being at a native level.

'English acquired too. Nice.'

By then, the four or five Leon employees gathered around Kang Jae-ha were exclaiming in awe at the sight of the LA airport.

"This is my first time in America, and wow, the people here are really diverse."

"Seriously. And aren't people here huge? It feels like we've wandered into a village of giants."

"Even the air smells kind of heavy. America really is different. It didn't feel anything like this when we went to Japan. Well, I guess that's obvious?"

Except for the employees who had been to America before, the first-timers seemed fascinated by every little thing. It was Jae-ha's first time in America as well. But he wasn't surprised at all. It was new, sure, but not enough to amaze him.

'After living in the Other World for more than ten years, America is nothing.'

Kang Jae-ha calmly spoke to the employees.

"Let's head to the hotel first."

"Ah, yes. But Manager Kang-nim, have you been to America before?"

"No. This is my first time."

"Huh? Then why are you so calm? You look like someone who's been to America ten times already."

"I've been somewhere much farther away."

"Ah..."

Jae-ha and the employees agreed to take it easy today and adjust to the jet lag, then start their respective work in earnest tomorrow. They had come here together, but there was no reason they had to move together starting tomorrow. They had different jobs to do in the first place.

Soon, one of the employees started to move, then spoke up.

"But shouldn't we wait for CEO-nim before we leave?"

At the mention of CEO Han Tae-sung, who had come to America with them, the other employees agreed.

"Hmm, that might be better. CEO-nim probably wouldn't mind even if we just left, but it'd bother us."

"He flew business class, so he's probably already out. Should we contact Secretary-nim?"

Just as the employees had guessed, CEO Han Tae-sung was already out in the airport lobby. They were in the same lobby, but he was quite far from Kang Jae-ha's group. Together with his secretaries and Directors, CEO Han Tae-sung was waiting for the vans they had arranged in advance.

"CEO-nim, the driver says he'll be here within five minutes. Looks like traffic got backed up a little in front of the airport."

"Mm."

Han Tae-sung quietly nodded and looked around.

"It's been quite a while since I was last here, but this place hasn't changed."

Compared to the huge foreigners passing by, even the fairly large Han Tae-sung looked small. One of the Directors turned to CEO Han Tae-sung and spoke.

"Exactly. It doesn't feel much different from when I came here with you the year before last. Even that statue over there that we saw back then..."

The Director stretched out his arm and accidentally struck the shoulder of a Black man passing by. Startled, the Director turned around and immediately recoiled. The Black man who had stopped was an outright giant. He was bald, and he looked mean as hell too. At least, that was how the Director saw it.

The flustered Director let out a groan.

"Ugh."

The giant Black man stopped dead, looked down at his shoulder, then furrowed his brow. He glared at the Director and growled in English with a rhythmic cadence.

"Hey, if you hit someone, you should apologize."

The Director was flustered by the man's threatening attitude. With so many people watching, including CEO Han Tae-sung, the Director gave an awkward laugh and muttered.

"Damn."

Apparently that irritated the Black man even more, because his expression twisted further.

"What's with you?"

Sensing even more danger, the Director stumbled through a reply in English.

"S-sorry."

The Director's awkward laugh and other reactions only fueled the Black man's anger.

"Are you making fun of me? Pissing me off first thing in the morning."

The Black man rubbed his large hand over his bald head. Then came a sigh. He was about to step threateningly toward the thoroughly intimidated Director when CEO Han Tae-sung, sensing that the situation was escalating, glanced at his chief secretary.

'If I leave this alone, someone's going to end up with something broken. Help him out.'

He was telling him to step in and mediate. CEO Han Tae-sung's expression wasn't good, as though he thought his business trip to America was already getting off on the wrong foot.

"Tch."

The chief secretary nodded and was just about to call out to the Black man. Then a low, dry voice speaking English came from behind him.

"I'm sorry. I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose."

The fluent English made the Black man turn around with a frown. Of course, CEO Han Tae-sung, the secretaries, and the Directors all looked in the same direction. Kang Jae-ha stood there with an expressionless face.

The Black man snorted when he saw Jae-ha and muttered.

"Who the hell are you?"

Without any change in expression, Kang Jae-ha answered in English.

"Same company as that guy."

"So why are you butting in?"

"Because we're with the same company. Our guy bumped into you, so I'll apologize. I'm sure it wasn't intentional."

"Intentional or not, I'm the one who got hit."

"So? Are you going to kill him over a little bump to the shoulder?"

"What?"

"I'm saying there's no need to make this bigger than it is. It's tiring for both of us this early in the morning. He bumped your shoulder, you got an apology, and it's better for both of us to leave it at that."

"......"

The Black man glared at Kang Jae-ha while studying his eyes. A gaze stripped of emotion. Something about it rubbed him the wrong way, yet it was also the kind of look he instinctively felt he should avoid.

'Guys like this are usually psychos.'

This was America, where a gun could come out at any moment. The Black man's anger cooled a little, while everyone from the Directors to the secretaries stared at Kang Jae-ha in surprise.

'His English......why is he so damn good at it??'

It was because of Jae-ha's native-level English. Of course, a smile had appeared on CEO Han Tae-sung's lips as he watched Kang Jae-ha with interest. Regardless, Kang Jae-ha continued speaking to the Black man in the same dry tone.

"It was a minor thing. If you want to make a big deal out of it, that's fine. I don't care if I ruin a day over this. But if not, let's leave it here. You already got an apology."

"Hoo..."

As more and more people began watching them, the Black man made up his mind.

"Hey, watch it."

After warning the Director, the Black man strode away. Jae-ha watched his retreating back, then spoke to the thoroughly intimidated Director.

"Are you all right?"

"...Huh?"

"I asked if you're all right."

"Ah... I'm fine. Th-thanks, Manager Kang."

"No need."

By then, the employees, Directors, and even the secretaries were all staring fixedly at Kang Jae-ha. Neither the insane level of English he'd just displayed nor the guts he'd shown in front of that giant Black man was something they saw every day.

'W-what the hell is with this guy? He stood his ground in front of that monster of a Black guy like it was nothing. And why is his English so damn good?'

'I heard his Japanese was native-level, but he's good at English too?? Just who the hell is this guy......'

As though voicing everyone's thoughts, the smiling CEO Han Tae-sung calmly asked Kang Jae-ha.

"You speak English too?"

"Yes, a little."

"A little? From what I heard, you sounded practically American."

"You're giving me too much credit."

"Japanese and English."

More than anything, CEO Han Tae-sung's attention was drawn to Kang Jae-ha's composure, which hadn't wavered at all even in the face of that monster's threat. Soon, Han Tae-sung let out a faint, peculiar laugh and murmured.

"You really are full of surprises."

About two hours later.

Kang Jae-ha traveled from the LA airport to the hotel where he was staying. It was a different hotel from CEO Han Tae-sung's, and Jae-ha also had a separate room from the employees who had come with him. After unpacking in his room, Kang Jae-ha changed into more comfortable clothes and immediately headed out.

Before leaving the room.

-Swish.

Kang Jae-ha changed his face using the 'Ability' Mask. Instead of Director Kim Ha-jae, he now wore a fairly ordinary-looking face. Jae-ha left the room and walked down the hallway while calling Go Chun-seok, who was staying in the same hotel. He answered almost immediately.

"Where are you?"

"I'm in the room with Ha Yeon-ji."

It wasn't long before Kang Jae-ha arrived at Go Chun-seok's room, and the moment she saw the Commander, Ha Yeon-ji asked.

"You're not doing anything today? For Leon?"

"Yeah. There's the jet lag and everything, so we'll take the day off. Starting tomorrow, I'll be moving separately from the employees too, so you two stick with me."

"Yes-"

"Understood."

Kang Jae-ha explained to Go Chun-seok and Ha Yeon-ji what they would be doing in America and where they would be going. First, he needed to get a feel for the market atmosphere regarding the Korean Wave, and somewhere in the middle of that, he had to meet CEO Seok Ji-yeon over the 'K:FESTA' matter. The schedule wasn't particularly packed. It was loose enough that they could take their time while getting the work done.

After finishing the conversation, Jae-ha had a meal with Ha Yeon-ji and Go Chun-seok at the restaurant inside the hotel.

Several foreigners glanced at Ha Yeon-ji during the meal. Well, it was probably because she was so pretty. Surprisingly, Go Chun-seok didn't attract much attention here. In Korea, Go Chun-seok was practically monster-sized, but men his size were fairly common here.

As soon as they left the restaurant, Ha Yeon-ji spoke to the Commander, barely managing to contain her excitement.

"Commander, let's go for a walk! Come on, a walk! You said you're taking today off too, right? Then even if we don't go sightseeing, let's at least walk around near the hotel! We came all the way to America, we should at least take some pictures!"

Kang Jae-ha figured one day would be fine after they'd been running nonstop without a single day off until now, and he gave a small grin.

"Sure."

"Wow! Did you see it out front?? There's a huuuge park! Let's go there, there! If they sell hot dogs, we can have one while we walk!"

Ha Yeon-ji stuck close to Jae-ha and chattered away, while Go Chun-seok silently followed behind them. As they crossed the hotel lobby, Kang Jae-ha activated his 'Ability' without thinking much of it. Sensing. First, a check for anyone connected to the 'New Light Truth Church'.

There was no reason anyone from it should be in LA, but he checked just in case.

The result was exactly what he'd expected.

'Nothing, as expected.'

By the time they reached the hotel entrance, Kang Jae-ha activated Sensing again. This time, he searched for a subordinate. In an instant, his vision abruptly changed.

The moment he spread out the radar, Jae-ha stopped dead.

"......"

Ha Yeon-ji and Go Chun-seok, who had been walking ahead, turned around. Of the two, it was Ha Yeon-ji who voiced the question.

"Commander? What's wrong?"

"There is one."

"What??"

Kang Jae-ha merely turned his expressionless face to the right and murmured in a low voice.

"There's a subordinate here."

*****

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