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CH183
🕑 Added 2025-04-23 06:23:43 +0000 UTCDevon entered his family home after a long time.
He wasn’t afraid of anything in the world, but there was one exception—his father.
Perhaps that’s why.
Loitering around the yard for no reason, he eventually headed to the workout area.
Since all the equipment was adjusted to suit his father.
“Ugh.”
Devon had to adjust all the weights.
Despite being old equipment, they were meticulously oiled.
Thanks to that, even when pulling with full force, not a single creak could be heard.
‘As expected of my father.’
It was around the time he completed a chest workout set.
“You’re here?”
“Pardon? Oh, yes. Did you just get off work?”
Devon quickly stood up and bowed his head.
“If you’re here, why don’t you help your mother instead of working out?”
“Well, I figured I’d only get in the way if I stayed in the kitchen…”
“You could at least keep her company, couldn’t you?”
“R-right, you’re right.”
“Doing chest exercises?”
“Yes.”
“Why are the weights like this?”
“I-I was just warming up.”
“Can you even feel any strain with this, as a man?”
His father, White Moore, adjusted the setting to the heaviest weight.
His already burly frame.
“Ugh-yah!”
It grew even more massive with every pull of the metal.
At this point, he didn’t seem like the Prosecutor General.
One might believe he was a legendary detective patrolling crime-ridden cities.
“Spot me.”
“Yes, sir…”
There was only one reason Devon was afraid of his father.
Whether it was intellect or physical strength.
It was nearly impossible to compare to his father in anything.
“Where’s Grandpa?”
“He went out for work.”
“For work? But he’s retired…”
Well, it made sense.
Even though he stepped down from public office, he still handled some legal advisory roles.
“Will he be back after dinner?”
“Why are you so interested in Grandpa’s work?”
“Well…”
‘It’s because eating alone with you is super uncomfortable! Ugh. If only I could grab some pizza with my students instead.’
Devon could only sigh in disappointment, licking his lips at the thought.
***
Meanwhile.
In Leona Harris’s office.
The room was bathed in warm sunlight.
Even so.
Leona Harris’s face looked pale beyond words.
Across from her sat an elderly man.
“I’m Somerset Moore, legal advisor to the Grosvenor family.”
A former Supreme Court Justice.
He hailed from the Moore family, the most prestigious legal dynasty in Britain, which had produced nine Supreme Court Justices since the 11th century.
In Britain, where the Chief Justice also served as the Attorney General.
It was the highest position attainable in law, making it unheard of for someone to open a private practice post-retirement.
However.
On occasion, such figures took on honorary roles as legal advisors to the royal family or dukedoms like Grosvenor.
“I hear your husband runs a law firm?”
“Yes… That’s correct.”
“You’d better mobilize every lawyer in the firm.”
“Pardon?”
“I intend to personally take on the case. Not only Clifford Brookhouse but also every top-tier law firm will need to be summoned.”
Gulp.
Leona Harris’s throat bobbed visibly.
“Will you fight to the end? Or will you sign this document and end the war?”
“What’s the use of ending the war if I lose everything in the process… What good is that?”
“Then go down in a blaze of glory. Who knows? You might even get a medal on your grave.”
“We’re the Harris family. Do you really have to go this far?”
“You’re up against Grosvenor.”
“……”
“I believe I’ve shown enough courtesy.”
Somerset Moore adjusted his fedora and continued.
“The next time we meet, it will be in hell.”
***
The next day.
The head of Harris’s protocol team headed to Oxford Street early in the morning.
It was because today marked the grand reopening of the street, a project collaboratively led by Park Ji-hoon and Tennessee.
“Sending a legal advisor just before the opening?”
This was practically a declaration of war.
“Fine, let’s see just how prepared they are.”
The street was already bustling with people from the very entrance.
After all, it was the weekend.
Unlike typical London weather, the sky was clear, drawing a sizable crowd out for outings.
Sure, it’s hard to discuss rosy prospects just based on this.
The first store was Louis Vuitton.
“They even issued new shares to support Park Ji-hoon, huh?”
‘Are they really intent on pushing him forward?’
It seemed there were quite a few exclusive items sold only at the Oxford store.
To put it simply.
What isn’t available at Harris Department Store… is here on Oxford Street… right?
And what was so amazing about it, you ask?
Ha!
Shockingly, it was Capsulemon.
‘I get wanting to look hip, but this? This was over the top. Kids were eagerly rushing in, but so what? They don’t have any purchasing power and only make the store noisy…’
“Child customers are the worst.”
But then, to my surprise.
“Sweetie, don’t run. That’s it, go slow. Good, such a good child. Here, take this.”
There were quite a few young volunteers wearing sashes, taking care of the children.
Thanks to them, what should have been a noisy store felt unexpectedly calm.
“What’s this?”
“I know.”
“Do you know what traits it has?”
“Of course, I know them all.”
There was a big guy, handling the kids at their eye level, who didn’t match his massive build.
‘Wait, isn’t that guy one of the young master’s subordinates? I think his name was… Ralph?’
Beyond him, there were others cleaning and tidying the streets.
Every face seemed familiar.
“Wait, why are those guys…?”
But those thoughts didn’t last long.
“Can I help you with anything?”
“No, no. I’m fine.”
Afraid they’d recognize him, he quickly moved away.
“Phew.”
Exiting the bustling Louis Vuitton store, he noticed Balenciaga.
He heard they collaborated with Ultimate this time.
A brand that was barely hanging on now had a line snaking out the door.
Word has it that Balenciaga is preparing to withdraw from Harris’s flagship store.
They cited high rent and low sales as the reasons.
It looks like they’re firmly shifting their allegiance to Park Ji-hoon.
“Damn it.”
Even as he sighed, the flow of customers didn’t stop.
“Well… sure.”
Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga are brands with history, after all.
People queuing to get in?
Considering the hype of a reopening, it’s not entirely incomprehensible.
But then.
“What is that place?”
No, what on earth is Gromhatz, and why is the line so long?
The most baffling part was… every single person leaving the store carried a peculiar shopping bag.
Gromhatz X Rolex.
What?
That startup collaborated with a prestigious watchmaker?
“Damn it!”
Park Ji-hoon, that man.
He knows exactly how to elevate a new brand’s name value in a short period of time.
“It’s not just that he knows it in theory…”
The problem is that he has the power to put it into action!
“Tsk.”
No matter how much Park Ji-hoon tried, he didn’t think the Harris chain would budge an inch.
But now, Grosvenor has started moving, and countless companies are racing to align themselves with him.
Is there any way to stop this momentum?
As his chest tightened with anxiety, he thought, ‘Could things get any worse?’
And then.
“What’s this now?”
He noticed murals subtly etched onto the walls of the store.
They weren’t flashy, so at first, he hadn’t paid much attention to them.
In other words, they blended seamlessly into the scenery of the street.
But upon closer inspection, the murals matched each brand’s image in a strangely harmonious way.
‘Damn it. They say luxury is the art of our era. Are they really planning to turn this entire street into one giant gallery?’
By this point.
“……”
Honestly, he was left speechless.
If there’s any way to stop this colossal trend.
“Compared to this, Harris Department Store feels too rigid, too outdated…”
No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn’t come up with a solution.
All he could do was drop his head in defeat.
***
Meanwhile.
Since it was opening day, many familiar guests had come to visit.
Even now, someone had just entered.
Steve strode confidently into the newly renovated Queensman.
He was holding a folding bike in one hand.
“Wow… This place is amazing!”
His expression was one of genuine admiration.
As Steve glanced around the space.
“What’s with the bike?”
“I got paid recently, so I splurged on it.”
These days, the factory is running at full capacity.
With a contract that big, a Ferrari should be the bare minimum, right?
As if reading my puzzled expression, Steve scratched his head and explained.
“Well, the thing is… You donate all your profits, don’t you?”
Ah, that.
We’ve been selling products as a marketing strategy.
But let’s face it, it wouldn’t feel right for a conglomerate to pocket profits from selling bread.
So, we decided to donate all proceeds to a children’s hospital.
“I could have just ignored it if I didn’t know. But once I found out, how could I buy a car?”
“……?”
“I ended up with quite a bit of money from the deal. I thought about just donating it all like a man… But wow, my hands were shaking.”
“What happened?”
“What do you think happened? I donated it with trembling hands.”
“How do you feel now?”
“I regret it twelve times a day.”
“Really?”
“But I feel proud about a hundred times a day.”
“Then it’s a good trade-off.”
“Yeah. Though all I have left is this bike.”
Heh.
He donated so much, he’s practically broke.
And yet, he still managed to buy something.
“It’s nothing fancy. Just some sandwiches or something.”
I always knew he was a kind soul, ever since I started teaching him rugby.
Smack.
A guy who loves cars so much… ends up donating Ferrari money alongside me.
How could I just let him leave without showing my gratitude?
“Want me to show you around?”
“Sure.”
“Let’s go then.”
“Huh?”
“There’s a brand I’d really like to introduce to you.”
The place we headed to was Gromhatz.
“Isn’t that Park Ji-hoon?”
“Looks like it, yeah.”
Ever since my face started appearing on TV, people recognized me more often.
It wasn’t uncomfortable, though.
They just looked at me curiously, without taking it any further.
“One Rolex collaboration, please.”
I swiped my card without hesitation.
No shareholder discounts or anything—just a cool, full-price purchase.
“This is for you, Steve.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“The bread project. You’ve been handling a huge volume of it without any issues. I wanted to thank you.”
Of course, that was just an excuse.
I simply wanted to send him off with a proper gift.
“This… feels a little too much to accept.”
“With the money you donated, you could’ve bought 50 of these, you know?”
“Still…”
“Just wear it often and promote it. That’s all I’m asking.”
I forced the watch into his hands and quickly turned to the staff.
By diving into work-related talk, I figured Steve wouldn’t have the chance to refuse.
“How’s sales today?”
“They’re so explosive, it’s hard to manage.”
“Really?”
“The stock we prepared to last at least two weeks…”
“……?”
“It sold out within half a day.”
What?
I was planning to restrict sales to one day a week.
At this rate, it might end up being only one day per week of availability.
The other brands were in the same boat.
Balenciaga had already sold out completely thanks to their collaboration with Ultimate, leaving their store practically empty.
Louis Vuitton’s Capsulemon collaboration also sold out immediately upon opening.
For those who came just to browse, it wouldn’t be much of an issue.
But for those who came to buy, it might be disappointing.
Of course!
We had stores prepared for such cases, too.
“From here on, it’s the space for emerging designers. You’ll find works by young, innovative artists personally discovered by co-representatives Park Ji-hoon and Tennessee…”
Even though no one had asked them to, Ralph and the other second-year seniors were busy guiding visitors.
Heh.
In any case.
From luxury brands to emerging designers struggling to open stores.
This street had become a space where diverse designers could coexist.
“Where else would you find a policy more pro-design than this?”
Grandpa!
I think the pinnacle of my design career (or in other words, my retirement) isn’t far off.
Of course, before that.
“I’ll make sure to fully conquer the Harris flagship store.”
As I looked at the bustling street, I renewed my determination.
