Substitute-Chapter 25

In the grand auditorium, twenty-nine young men, all led in by three supervisors dressed in the same navy uniforms as the Captain, had gathered.

Honestly, Jiwon hadn't imagined they'd select so many people. For a moment, he felt a pang of unease. At the same time, he started to doubt whether the “party” he had signed up for was truly the sex party they had promised.

You are invited to Paradise.

Are you looking for a true escape of your own?

Have you spent endless nights frustrated, craving more?

Do you long to meet someone with whom you can share a genuine connection?

Have you ever wished to be treated like royalty?

Then you've come to the right place.

The Paradise Project promises you the finest in rest, pleasure, cuisine, and entertainment.

You, our beautiful and dazzling guests, are free to shine and indulge here.

Taste everything you desire. Enjoy everything you crave.

In this place, the world belongs to you.

You are the Crew — the owners of this Project.

Welcome.

Welcome to Paradise.

Recalling the ridiculously flashy wording of the invitation, Jiwon forced himself to calm down.

“We will begin orientation shortly! Please take your seats!”

One of the Captains called out loudly.

The previously noisy auditorium quickly quieted down, and the young men began sitting down one by one.

As if waiting for this moment, a man stepped up onto the podium.

The host of the orientation was a middle-aged man in his early fifties, wearing a plain gray suit, his appearance as dull as his demeanor.

“Hello. I’m Manager Kim, and I’ll be leading today's orientation.”

Introducing himself simply as Manager Kim, he delivered his greeting in a dry, monotone voice.

The twenty-nine recruits, now part of Crew Zero, had been divided into teams, each under a Captain who had escorted them here from the bus. Jiwon was part of Crew Zero, under his Captain’s team, grouped with seven other men who looked disturbingly similar to himself.

“You will be living here for the next three weeks, in what we call ‘Paradise,’” Manager Kim continued. “Together, you and the staff will create a luxurious environment with the finest facilities and services. Therefore, your role as Crew members is crucial. Before discussing your specific duties, there are a few important rules you must be aware of to prevent any unfortunate incidents.”

He immediately launched into warnings about breach of contract.

Given that a bunch of young men in their twenties — full of hormones — were being crammed into a limited space, problems were inevitable. Without so much as a blink, and with a completely serious expression, Manager Kim used the word "erection" openly as he explained.

One of the major risks involved sneaking into restricted areas. He gave examples of what had happened to previous violators: some had been found electrocuted, their bodies charred after getting caught on the electrified fences, while others had lost hands or feet.

Regardless ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ of how they died or were injured, no compensation would be offered. In fact, their families would be charged a penalty fee instead.

“Remember,” Manager Kim said flatly, “the reason we are willing to pay each of you 700 million won is based on the condition that you honor the terms of your contract.”

Then came the part about sex.

This was it.

Jiwon finally felt his tension ease.

The message was simple: their primary duty was to satisfy the guests. However, romantic relationships among Crew members were permitted. If they found themselves mutually attracted to one another — sucking, fucking, getting fucked — it was not only allowed, it was encouraged.

The only plea was: end it cleanly.

Manager Kim stressed that just like in the real world, men had trouble accepting breakups, often leading to pathetic outbreaks of violence. He lamented the stupidity of it all.

He showed no hesitation, no change in tone, even while speaking so bluntly in public about erections and sexual conduct.

Hinting that this wasn’t his first rodeo, Manager Kim casually mentioned a past incident where someone had nearly stabbed a romantic rival with a knife and fork during a fight.

Naturally, anyone who committed violence would be immediately expelled and forced to pay a penalty. The victim’s fate would be determined after a committee review — they could either stay or be expelled too. If expelled, even without paying the penalty, the victim would lose the promised 700 million won.

If death occurred, however, the family would receive a condolence payment of 100 million won.

Minor infractions would result in demerits. Accumulating 50 demerits meant immediate expulsion — but without additional financial penalties.

Still, all Crew members, even if expelled, were bound by the confidentiality agreement they had signed. Speaking even a single word about this place — even about the interview process — was forbidden.

Manager Kim stressed it again: any breach of contract or violence would end in expulsion and heavy penalties.

“Now, I will show you the areas you are forbidden to enter. After orientation, you’ll each be issued a tablet that includes a map, so make sure to memorize it.”

He clicked his laptop. The lights in the auditorium went dark, and a giant map illuminated the screen.

The facility resembled a vast resort: three underground floors, three aboveground, plus a rooftop — six levels in total.

“On Basement Levels 2 and 3, you’ll find swimming pools, gyms, saunas, a billiard hall, movie theater, arcade, waxing salon, massage parlor, and barbershop. Most entertainment facilities are open 24/7, while others have limited hours, which will be announced separately.”

Only Basement Level 1 was completely off-limits, with no information listed about what lay inside.

“Basement Level 1 will open when the parties officially begin. You’ll be made to go there whether you want to or not, so don't get too curious.”

Manager Kim said this with a strangely ominous tone, as if warning them.

The map of the first floor appeared next.

At the center stood a massive lobby. Down the left corridor were the Grand Auditorium, where they currently were, and a smaller auditorium. Opposite them were the infirmary and ten training rooms.

On the right side of the lobby were the staff cafeteria, an unmanned café, and a convenience store.

Jiwon noticed that all facilities, including the cafeteria, had separate back entrances besides the main doors — but Manager Kim made no comment about those hidden pathways.

"The cafeteria will serve as the Crew’s dining area for the next two weeks. After that, once the parties begin, it’ll be converted into a banquet hall. You can look forward to it," Manager Kim announced.

There was nothing in his voice that made Jiwon want to look forward to it.

"The unmanned café and convenience store need no further explanation, right?"

With that, the screen changed again.

The second floor.

Like the first, the second floor was divided into left and right wings by the central lobby. Except for eight rooms labeled "Headquarters (H.Q)" on the right, the entire floor was made up of bedrooms for the team leaders and Crew members. Manager Kim briefly explained that H.Q rooms were accommodations for some of the administrators — but Jiwon couldn't help suspecting they were really surveillance rooms.

Manager Kim pointed to the rest of the map with a red laser.

"This is where the twenty-nine Crew members and their team leaders will be staying. Each of you will be assigned a single room. All supplies, including toiletries, will be replaced or replenished every morning, so feel free to use as much as you like. However, three days before the parties begin, you’ll be required to vacate your rooms. You’ll stay in a temporary facility set up in the Grand Auditorium until new room assignments are given after the parties start."

During the first week, moving between rooms would be strictly prohibited.

"And one more thing — no sex, and no masturbation, either."

Before he even finished speaking, groans and boos erupted from the audience.

"How the hell are they gonna stop us from jerking off?"

Someone spoke loudly and cockily from the crowd.

Manager Kim's eyes immediately found the speaker. He stared at him with an expression of quiet contempt before delivering a cold warning.

"As stated in the contracts you’ll be signing shortly, every room is equipped with CCTV. That includes the bathrooms. If you are caught engaging in any prohibited behavior, you will not simply be penalized — you will be expelled immediately. Keep that in mind."

‘They told us to put it in, not to cum. They want people who do exactly as they’re told.’

Without meaning to, Jiwon recalled something Han Seoho had once said.

The room buzzed with uneasy murmurs, but Manager Kim remained unfazed and continued.

"Instead, feel free to spend your nights however you want — playing pool in the billiard room, singing at the karaoke, anything else you prefer. Use the facilities as much as you like. As for the third floor and the rooftop, they aren't strictly forbidden zones, but they are restricted areas. You’ll learn more about them later, so I won’t be explaining further now. That concludes the briefing. You have a fifteen-minute break."

With that, Manager Kim exited the stage, followed closely by the team leaders in Captain uniforms.

Only the Crew remained in the Grand Auditorium.

As if on cue, everyone stood up at once. But with no permission to leave the building, they had nowhere to go — so they simply dispersed around the vast auditorium.

Most of them drank the bottled water or tore open energy bars they had been given upon arrival, their eyes constantly shifting around, sizing each other up. Only a few exchanged quiet conversations; the rest kept their distance, calculating silently.

Jiwon took a slow sip of water as he scanned the room.

He started counting heads.

Someone was missing.