"Big Brother. Have some porridge."
Kim Gi-woo had brought porridge.
"What about Lee Se-jeong? Or should I say, Miss Se-jeong?"
"She went to the office."
"I see."
What a shame. I wanted to see that face a bit more.
The porridge was delicious.
"Big Brother. Here's some water too."
Kim Gi-woo seemed like a really good guy.
I wondered if he was like this even to the original CEO.
Curiosity struck, so I asked the AI.
⚙ AI SEARCH ⚙[Tell me about Kim Gi-woo's loyalty to me.] [I cannot answer questions about you.]
'Right. It said that wouldn't work.'
It wouldn't give answers related to my future, fate, information, or apparently even this.
Broad or abstract questions didn't work either.
So I needed to ask direct questions.
The description said to ask precisely for accurate answers.
Should I try asking indirectly?
What would be a good question?
⚙ AI SEARCH ⚙[Who is the person Kim Gi-woo trusts the most right now?] [Search Results] Kim Gi-woo currently trusts Jang Min-hoo—you—the most. He feels deep respect for your work ability, judgment, and personal charm, and he's in a state where he could make significant sacrifices for you.
'It was real.'
His worried expression and tone had felt genuine.
Impressive. Was there some deep connection between them?
⚙ AI SEARCH ⚙[Why does Kim Gi-woo trust me so much?] [Search Results] Five years ago, when Kim Gi-woo's parents were battling serious illnesses, you used your entire fortune to cover all their hospital bills. As a result, they fully recovered and have lived healthy lives ever since. Kim Gi-woo has never forgotten that grace and considers you the most trustworthy person in his life.
Five years ago—that was before starting the company.
Jang Min-hoo, the CEO, was one cool guy.
No wonder he has such unwavering loyalty.
Since I'll be running things as CEO now, keeping someone like Kim Gi-woo by my side is definitely a good idea.
A lot of people came to visit me in the hospital.
Managing Directors, Executive Directors, Department Heads, and even executives from other companies.
I absorbed rough info on all of them through the AI.
"This thing's killer."
It tells you everything you ask for.
Of course, vague questions get vague answers.
But input specific keywords like personality, hobbies, assets, family, and you get precise results.
The asset part surprised me.
"Wait, why's the money so low?"
The company's assets are huge.
On par with top players in the industry.
With over a thousand employees, it's operating in the trillions.
But personal assets and cash were low.
"At this level, shouldn't you hold cash for liquidity?"
You never know when something might blow up.
50 billion.
That was Jang Min-hoo's liquid cash assets.
A lot, but low compared to industry top-tier standards.
"Huh?"
Next to the white window, there was a [:] icon.
Clicking it showed a list of past questions.
"Nice."
To move forward, I needed the past, so I read through them all.
In the early days after getting the ability five years ago, he amassed wealth through coins and lotto.
Used that to start a small startup investment firm and made it succeed.
Then picked loyal people to grow the company.
"Smart as hell."
Managing Directors, Executive Directors, Department Heads, Section Chiefs—all top talent.
And they were all selected via AI searches.
No wonder the company grew so fast.
"But why the low cash?"
No records of stock or coin trades after the early days.
"He really only used it for investments."
Focused solely on growing the company, I guess.
Lots of questions about investment item performance.
Makes sense.
Running an investment firm this size, casually trading stocks or coins is tricky.
Could get accused of insider trading.
"Kinda wasteful, though."
Just do it with personal funds?
Lying in bed, I fiddled with my phone.
"I just wanted to feel that real dopamine rush."
Downloaded a coin app.
Linked it to my personal bank.
Transferred funds and hopped on an overseas trading site.
Planning futures trading.
"Leverage at 125x. Money... let's go clean with 10 billion for starters."
Once set up, I asked.
⚙ AI SEARCH ⚙[From now on, tell me the coin that maximizes profits with 125x leverage. Exact buy and sell timings.] [Search Results] Item: XXXXX Buy Timing: Today, 1:42 PM. Sell Timing: Today, 2:09 PM. Price Increase: +3.5% Expected Return (125x Leverage): +437%
A grin spread across my face.
With answers this solid, why hadn't he used it more?
I waited and executed the buy and sell at the exact times.
"Jackpot."
It actually worked.
The coin rose 3.5%, so with 125x leverage, total profit of 437%.
Turned 10 billion into 43 billion. In 27 minutes.
"Dopamine's insane."
This is why they say money begets money.
"If I wanted, trillions would be a breeze."
⚙ AI SEARCH ⚙[Tell me this week's lotto numbers.] [Search Results] [This week's 1XXX lotto winning numbers: (abridged)]
It even gives lotto numbers.
Bet he bootstrapped the company with stuff like this early on.
"Let's do a bit more."
I spent the whole day in bed trading coins.
By evening, exactly 500 billion.
"Damn. Losing sense of reality."
Time to stop.
Making money this easy...
Thinking of my old self brought a wave of self-pity.
Scraping by for a few million...
"No need for that anymore."
Now I can spend freely.
And get whatever I want through searches.
"Sweet."
Things I wanted to do flooded my mind.
Planning to enjoy them all now.
"Bet I can score girls too."
It gives info on women too.
Use that to target any girl I want easily.
Plus, handsome face and wealth.
Suddenly, Lee Se-jeong came to mind.
Prettiest girl I'd seen since possessing this body.
"Nah, crazy talk."
She's Kim Gi-woo's girlfriend.
For now, I dug deeper into past questions.
To avoid suspicion from those around, I needed everything about Jang Min-hoo.
"Whoa?"
Surprisingly, there were questions about me.
⚙ AI SEARCH ⚙[Among this new hire interviewees, who is the most desperate and sincere worker? Pick one who'll take responsibility like it's their own company.] [Search Results] 29-year-old applicant, Jang Min-hoo. Diligence and desperation both top-rated. Upon hiring, expect voluntary responsibility and immersion. Clearly a future asset for the company.
"..."
That was during my new hire interview.
My specs were lacking compared to others, provincial uni grad, thought I'd get rejected.
Was shocked to pass.
So I worked like mad, treating it like my own company.
Even took on others' tasks.
Got treated like a pushover.
Kinda touching.
Felt proud that the AI recognized my will and effort.
"That's why the company grew so well."
Most employees were hired this way.
"But some still treated me like a pushover."
They got lazy or schemed, probably.
I spent the whole day reading questions.
Then, at the end, some shocking info.
Why Jang Min-hoo attempted suicide.
Not just because his loved one died.
"That bitch. Yoon So-yoon."
She loved another man.
Even planned to start a company with him.
Straight-up betrayal.
No wonder the CEO tried to kill himself.
How devastating that must've been.
"The CEO was a pushover too."
This is why I don't believe in love.
"All pointless. Gone."
Even sweet-looking Yoon So-yoon betrayed him.
No more getting swayed by women or falling in love.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
While in the hospital, I asked about my original body too.
The body stabbed by the knife had died.
The killer was some incel otaku who'd gone dark.
Dude full of grudges against society; I just got unlucky.
"Nah, total win."
Thanks to that, I got this body.
The clip of me smashing my head with a rock to save grandma at the end is going viral as shorts.
Articles calling it a hero's sacrifice for saving grandma before dying.
"Hero my ass."
That's just who I was.
Only recognized after death.
Always got pushover treatment for caring about others.
"Time to change."
I have to. Definitely.
Can't live like a pushover as CEO.
Kim Gi-woo entered the room.
"Big Brother. Discharge prep is all set."
"Thanks for the hard work."
"I'll drive you home."
On the way home, I asked Kim Gi-woo,
"Company's fine, right?"
"...One employee passed away."
Pretending not to know, I asked for details and said,
"Do everything the company can. Funeral costs, all of it."
Won't need much attention anyway.
No parents, no friends.
His one brother will probably just come for the insurance payout.
'Can't let that guy off easy.'
Teamed up with relatives to steal dad's inheritance.
I got played like a pushover.
'Hmm. His wife was smoking hot, though.'
Maybe revenge on him a different way.
"I'm already handling it, CEO."
"Good. Take care of it, Gi-woo."
"Kinda sad, though. You always paid extra attention since he shared your name."
Jang Min-hoo, the CEO?
"Don't remember that. What'd I say?"
Acted clueless.
"Said he seemed kind and pure. Talented too. Not the type to betray the company, so worth nurturing. That's why you looked into him a lot."
"I see."
"Told us to check info since provincial uni grads get unfairly screwed sometimes."
Touching.
While everyone else ignored and pushovered me, Jang Min-hoo saw me as human.
Even planned to groom me for the company's future.
"...What a shame."
"Just look at him saving grandma on his way out. Company lost a real talent."
"Handle his funeral well."
Feelings got complicated.
Wasn't planning to care much about the company.
Even though Jang Min-hoo's gone,
he treated me right, so basic courtesy calls for it.
I'll lead this company he built so it doesn't crumble.
Plus, there's stuff to exploit.
"We're here, CEO."
"Thanks. Good work."
"Don't worry about the company. Rest up a few days."
"Got it."
"And Big Brother... please. Never do that again."
Warmth shone in Kim Gi-woo's worried eyes.
"I said I got it. I won't die now. For real."
Why die when life's just starting?
"Then rest well."
Kim Gi-woo left, and I headed straight upstairs.
I'd memorized the house from the question logs.
Got to the house and was impressed.
Way grander than expected.
"Money's the best, gotta see it to believe."
High-end apartment, obvious at a glance.
Furniture all luxury brands.
Me, living here?
Felt reborn.
"Cleaning'll be a chore."
Hire help for that.
Bed's plush.
Big enough for four; rolled around on it.
Resting a full day.
Ordered whatever I craved, slept like a log.
Heaven for a workaholic like old me.
Snuck in memorizing Jang Min-hoo info via AI in between.
"What now."
Too much rest; getting bored.
Not ready for work yet.
Hit the department store?
"Wanna fuck."
Seeing cute girls on Mitube got me hard.
As CEO now, scoring should be easy.
This body, face, wealth.
Don't need love; just sex.
That's when it happened.
Ding-dong—
Doorbell rang.
Wondered who; it was Lee Se-jeong.
Wearing a light sky-blue hoodie and black leggings.
Flashing a bright smile.
Why's she here alone?
Didn't call her.
But damn, she's gorgeous.
Hot as hell.
Lee Se-jeong