Chapter 18
‘Nice.’ Absolutely perfect.
The skies had finally cleared after days of gloom, and maybe that’s why the neighborhood looked even more beautiful today. Especially the wide, scenic lakeside park—it looked just as breathtaking as I remembered.
I parked my car in a decent spot and started strolling around the area. Tall apartment buildings stood proudly, some so high they seemed to scrape the sky. The shortest ones looked about 20 floors, and the tallest easily reached 40.
‘This place looks good… and that one too…’
I wandered for a while, until I found myself standing in front of an apartment complex that pulled me in at first sight.
“This is it.”
From the layout, it looked like if you opened the windows, you’d have the lake right in front of you. Without hesitation, I pushed open the door of a nearby real estate office.
A middle-aged lady, busy eating jjajangmyeon, quickly set down her bowl and greeted me warmly. “Welcome! You’re here to see an apartment?”
“Yes, I’d like to look at something in this complex.”
But when she got a good look at my face, her expression shifted slightly—like she was… disappointed? She glanced me up and down.
‘What’s this about?’
“Uh… were you looking for a rental?”
“No, I’m looking to buy.”
Her face instantly lit up. “Oh! I see!”
I felt a twinge of annoyance. “Do I not look like someone who could own an apartment here?”
She flustered and waved her hands. “Oh, no, no! That’s not what I meant. You just look so young! Like… you could still be in college.”
Her tone carried that signature real-estate-agent playfulness, but oddly enough, I didn’t feel offended anymore.
“College student, huh…?”
“Yes! You don’t look a day over your early twenties. How could I imagine you were here to buy a place?”
“Well, well… is that so…?”
A moment ago I’d been slightly put off, but now… being told I looked younger had me humming in my head.
She handed me a cup of instant coffee and asked, “So, how big are you looking for?”
“More than the size, I want a high floor. Something with a full lake view.”
She clapped her hands. “Perfect timing! We’ve had a top-floor unit sitting for a while, and the owner just dropped the price.”
“Really? Can I see it right away?”
“Of course! Hold on, I’ll call.”
After a quick phone call, she grabbed her coat. “They’re home now. Let’s go up.”
We took the elevator to the 39th floor—the highest in the building. Unit 3908.
“Just a moment,” she said, ringing the bell.
A man who looked about ten years older than me opened the door. “Great, you’re here. Mind if we look around?”
He nodded silently. I gave him a polite nod back and stepped inside.
“How is it? Nice, right?” the agent said. “It’s about ten years old, but it’s well-built. Still feels fresh.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. For a decade-old apartment, it was remarkably clean and modern.
But the real charm hit me when I stepped into the living room—right there, in full view, was the sprawling Gwanggyo Lake Park.
The agent spread her arms dramatically toward the window. “Look at that! You don’t get this in Gangnam. I’m telling you—Gwanggyo is a hundred times better to live in. Even if you brought a hundred Han Rivers here, they wouldn’t compare.”
‘Beautiful.’
I was hooked. Compared to my current goshiwon, this was another planet. Even my old villa from before the divorce didn’t hold a candle to this view.
But as I stayed quiet, just gazing out at the lake, the agent started shifting nervously. “You’re awfully quiet… Is something wrong with the place?”
“No, nothing like that. How much is it?”
“Originally 3.3 billion won, but now it’s 3 billion. If you check the going rates, you’ll see—this is practically a steal.”
‘Three billion…’
It was more than I’d planned. My budget was 2.5 billion. This was 500 million over.
“Hmm…”
It was tempting—painfully tempting. Five rooms, a living room the size of a gym, and endless ways I could customize it.
‘Come on, I’ve got 8 billion sitting around…’
Just as I was about to agree, the silent owner finally spoke. “If the price’s a bit much, I can take another 200 million off if you sign today. I need to sell quickly.”
‘Well, hello, unexpected blessing.’
The agent practically cheered. “Twenty-eight hundred million! At that price, you have to take it!”
I made a show of hesitating, then nodded. “28 it is. Let’s do it.”
The agent patted my back. “Smart choice! You won’t find a better place.”
We went straight back to the office to sign.
“When would you like to move in?” she asked.
“As soon as possible. My current place is cramped.”
“How about May 4th? One month from now,” the owner suggested.
That worked perfectly—time to shop for furniture and maybe secure an office nearby. “May 4th it is.”
I wired the 280 million deposit on the spot. The agent handed each of us a copy of the contract.
Then, with the deal sealed, she turned chatty again. “No loan, all cash, and you’re still so young—what line of work are you in to make so much?”
I couldn’t exactly say “treasure maps,” so I kept it vague. “I run a business.”
“What kind?”
“Investments, development—various things.”
“Impressive for your age.”
‘Well… that’s not a lie.’
After securing the perfect home, I drove back to Seoul. Standing in front of my goshiwon, I felt a strange mix of relief and nostalgia.
I hadn’t lived here long, but this was where I’d started making real money. Still, sentiment doesn’t outweigh safety—and this place had practically no security. A bent spoon could pick the lock. If anyone here found out I was wealthy… it could be trouble.
I started toward the elevator, but a wave of dizziness made me stop. ‘Too much driving today…’
Sugar. I needed sugar.
I walked to a convenience store, bought five Häagen-Dazs cups, opened one on the spot, and carried the other four back.
As I passed the manager’s room, I noticed the light was on—unlike last time.
I knocked on the window. “Yes… who is it?” came a tired voice.
“507.”
“Oh, 507! Just a second!”
There was a loud clatter inside before the door finally opened. The room looked hastily tidied.
“What’s up?”
“I wanted to let you know I’ll be moving out next month.”
“Moving out? To another goshiwon?”
I shook my head. “No, I got a proper place.”
“Oh… I see.” She sounded disappointed.
“I’ll be out May 4th.”
“Understood.”
I felt a little bad, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong. I handed her two of the Häagen-Dazs cups. “Here, have these.”
“Huh? You always give me these… they’re expensive.”
“It’s fine. Take them before they melt.”
She bowed slightly. “Thank you… I’ll enjoy them.”
“No problem. Please take care of me until I leave.”
‘She really does seem different every time I see her. Interesting person.’
With the housing issue solved, my next step was to register my business and find an office—especially after seeing the new treasure map.
[Treasure Map] [LV003 – Stage 1] [Hint: In the holy land of spice lies clear water. Beneath the highest mountain in the village with clear water rests a cave where the spirit of Goryeo sleeps.] [Location: Chungcheongnam-do]
The last part of the hint was the giveaway. ‘Goryeo celadon…’
If anything could rival the value of the Banksy painting, it was authentic Goryeo porcelain. Of course, the market was flooded with fakes, so I’d need a trustworthy appraiser. And with the search area growing wider, I’d need partners too.
It was time to build a team.
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