Chapter 61: The Truth About Cheongpung Group

“Who is this person called the Chairman?”

When Grandfather sent Cheon Su-man to Australia, I had asked him about Cheongpung Group.

“Please tell me about Cheongpung Group. Why can’t even you, with all your power, take revenge against them?”

Grandfather remained silent, just staring at me.

Frustrated, I pressed him again.

“What’s your relationship with them that you’re staying quiet? I need to know. Please tell me, Grandfather.”

Grandfather, who had been sitting quietly, opened the safe behind him.

It was his personal safe that even Chief Ha couldn’t open.

In the past, it was only opened after his death. Back then, it had been empty.

Grandfather took out a ledger from inside and placed it on the desk.

“Do you know what this is?”

“I’m not sure. It looks like a ledger…”

Grandfather’s smile turned cold.

“This is my power. How could a mere loan shark like me safely navigate through two fierce military regimes? It was the power of money.”

That blank ledger was the history of Grandfather’s life.

“I won’t pass this on to you. When I die, this should go to the grave with me. Even if I used this to wage an all-out war against Cheongpung Group, the odds of winning would be less than 50%. Even if I won, I would have lost everything—family, money, even my life…”

I stared intently at the ledger in Grandfather’s hands.

As if avoiding my gaze, Grandfather gripped the ledger tightly and looked down at it.

“In here are the names of politicians I’ve bribed, from both ruling and opposition parties. Not just them, but high-ranking officials, military personnel—almost everyone who’s held power in our country. Do you understand now why they do as I ask?”

I had a vague idea.

So that’s why I, who was designated as the successor after Grandfather’s death, couldn’t properly exert power—because I hadn’t inherited this ledger.

‘What’s the reason he doesn’t want to pass on that ledger?’

Grandfather continued speaking.

“Even the upright civil rights activists have all taken my money. If they didn’t accept it, I gave them even more. Yes, I gave money to Cheongpung Group too. I met him in the late 50s.”

Grandfather spoke slowly, as if recalling an old memory.

Not ‘them’, but ‘him’.

“I’ve told you how I made my money, right? It started with properties left by the Japanese.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“When the war ended and I came back to Seoul, that was my opportunity. I bought up properties left by the Japanese that the government was selling off, and I grew my wealth through money lending. That’s when I met a man. That was the beginning.”

This wasn’t just reminiscing.

It was a voice filled with regret.

“That man held considerable sway over the government. I did many things with him. With his help, I, who had been quietly lending money, started dealing with corporations. And I gave him money.”

A deep sigh, as deep as the wrinkles on his face, echoed through the study.

“He created Cheongpung Group. From then on, our goals diverged. He wanted to control Korea from behind the scenes, while I just enjoyed making money. Still, I kept giving him money. I needed power to protect the money I earned.”

The story about Cheongpung Group began in earnest.

“When the military regime took power, he colluded with the military to gather strength. That power was truly immense… That’s when our relationship started to drift apart. Japanese money started going to him. I found out later that he was a descendant of pro-Japanese collaborators.”

I knew pro-Japanese collaborators were involved, but it was the first time I heard that the head of Cheongpung Group was their descendant.

“As time passed, our relationship cooled. After the private loan freeze incident, I started giving money to those in power instead of him. We grew further apart that way. But suddenly, when the President died and the 5th Republic came to power, they started working to hand over the Myeong-dong private loan market to Japan.”

The memory of that time still seemed vivid, as anger rose on Grandfather’s face as if it had happened yesterday.

“I didn’t care if they were pro-Japanese or whatever, but I couldn’t stand them encroaching on my territory. So for the first time, I used both money and the whip. This ledger, I mean. That’s when our relationship completely fell apart.”

As Grandfather tapped the ledger with his palm to suppress his anger, I organized my thoughts.

‘So the private loan market being devoured by Japanese funds after the IMF crisis was a battle that had already begun back then.’

Listening to Grandfather’s words, questions that even my future knowledge couldn’t fully answer were resolved.

I couldn’t understand how the private loan market had been handed over so easily, but it turns out it had been a long-standing battle.

Finally calming down, Grandfather took a sip of water and continued.

“Cheongpung Group now is an even bigger monster than it was then. Key figures from the 3rd to the 5th Republics have joined, and the descendants of pro-Japanese collaborators play a significant role as financiers. It’s not just pro-Japanese people—politicians, journalists, conglomerates… Even some respected democracy activists known as dissidents are members. Probably only the Chairman knows all the members.”

I understood why Grandfather couldn’t take revenge.

“Who is this person called the Chairman?”

A murderous intent flashed in Grandfather’s eyes.

“Lee Yong-hyun. He’s an unknown descendant of Lee Wan-yong. He’s the pinnacle of Cheongpung Group and the body of the force operating behind the scenes in Korea.”

At last, I learned the identity of Cheongpung Group’s Chairman.

The person who led my parents to their deaths.

The person who killed me.

The person who manipulated the Cheon Su-man and Cheon Su-han brothers like puppets.

“Is the current administration also working with them?”

Grandfather nodded heavily.

“Even if not the President, you should assume that most of the officials and politicians working under him are under their influence. I don’t know exactly how many from the ruling or opposition parties are involved. If the President were their puppet, he wouldn’t have disbanded Hanahoe. It was a core force of Cheongpung Group, after all.”

The more I listened to Grandfather’s words, the more I could feel their power.

“What exactly is in that ledger that’s protecting you, Grandfather?”

“Heh heh heh. Don’t try to find out. It’s a poisoned chalice, Mu-hyeok. The moment this ledger passes to you, you might gain power, but you’ll never be able to step into the light. That’s why I won’t pass it on. It’s a karmic debt I must take to my grave.”

I could understand a little of Grandfather’s feelings.

“I understand.”

Grandfather smiled bitterly.

“For a while, even Cheongpung Group will be wary of me. If they know that parents who’ve lost a child have nothing left to lose… But… I keep thinking about you, Ji-soo, Ji-soo, and Ji-young. Please understand.”

Grandfather’s eyes looked sad as he gazed at me.

I met his gaze without avoiding it.

“I understand. I’ll wait until I have the power to take them down. But please pass on that ledger too. We can’t win unless we’re willing to risk everything, even if it leads to my downfall.”

“But…”

“Please.”

After staring into my eyes for a long time, Grandfather sighed deeply and nodded.

“Alright. When the day comes that you need this ledger, I’ll pass it on. But not now.”

“Yes, I know.”

The conversation went on for a while.

It was a time when I could understand Grandfather a little better.

Time flowed unstoppably like a river. As I spent each day busily, 1994 was already nearing its end.

All the kids had passed the third round of the bar exam and received their final acceptance notices.

It would be impossible to continue attending university if they were to enter the Judicial Research and Training Institute next year.

“You’re taking a leave of absence, right?”

It was when we were eating to celebrate Myeong-su’s final acceptance.

Myeong-su stopped eating and looked at me.

“I have to, don’t I? I can’t drop out completely. It’s a career issue, isn’t it? The batch is important, but the Korea University title can’t be ignored either.”

The Prosecutors’ Office places a lot of importance on batches.

It’s even customary for all senior prosecutors to resign when someone from a junior batch becomes the Prosecutor General.

“What about the others?”

“They’re all taking leaves of absence, of course. After graduating from the Judicial Research and Training Institute, we’ll have to go to the military too… Sigh…”

“You’ll serve as a military judicial officer, won’t you?”

“Still, military service is military service. How would you, who’s exempt, understand how I feel about going to the military?”

As I picked up my spoon with a smirk, Myeong-su suddenly asked as if he just remembered something.

“Oh! Hyeon-seong contacted me too. He said congratulations. Are you two still not in touch?”

“Forget it. We’ll contact each other someday.”

My mouth turned bitter at the mention of Hyeon-seong’s name.

After our conversation in Busan, I hadn’t contacted Hyeon-seong.

Hyeon-seong hadn’t contacted me either.

“Oh, come on. It’s not like you’re dating or something.”

Not wanting to talk more about Hyeon-seong, I quickly changed the subject.

“What about your parents?”

“I contacted them. They’re coming to Seoul, but I said I’d go down. It’s almost winter break, and it’s been a while since I’ve been home. Want to come with me?”

“No, I need to stay in Seoul for now. Visit Grandma for me, will you? She must be feeling lonely. I talk to her every day, but still…”

Myeong-su raised one eyebrow with a puzzled look.

“What are you talking about? Hyeon-seong visits her every day, keeps her company, and has dinner with her before going home. Didn’t Grandma tell you?”

“Huh?”

This was news to me.

“Ah~ You’re really something else.”

Myeong-su’s words didn’t register.

Myeong-su looked at me with disdain and clicked his tongue.

“Just wait a bit. Hyeon-seong must be having a hard time too. He’s just a big softy, isn’t he? He can’t even exercise anymore, and he must feel guilty and scared that you took revenge for him.”

Right, relationships aren’t cut off just because you want them to be. I tried to let go of my lingering feelings, but I kept thinking about it.

I returned home and called Grandma.

As always, I asked about her well-being, then asked,

“Grandma, I heard Hyeon-seong visits you every day?”

“Huh? How did you know? Hyeon-seong told me not to tell you.”

“Myeong-su told me. Since when has he been coming?”

“He came about a month after you left for Seoul. Oh my, he cried so much that day without saying a word. Since then, he’s been coming every day to keep me company and have dinner with me.”

“You should have told me, Grandma.”

“Hyeon-seong asked me not to. He said not to tell you because you’re busy. Did you two fight? You never used to fight when you were young.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Hyeon-seong is my child, and Myeong-su is my child too. Thanks to them, I’m spending my time well, so don’t worry about your grandmother.”

“Okay. I’ll come down soon.”

“Alright.”

After ending the call with Grandma, I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

‘Let’s wait. He’ll contact me someday.’

I felt that contacting him first might backfire.

That night, I was able to sleep with a slightly lighter heart.

December arrived.

The streets were filled with Christmas trees and carols, and the sound of bells began to ring near the Salvation Army donation kettles.

As December 20th approached, I became more nervous.

The peso had been slowly declining since June, but what if the future changed because of my bet?

Mu-hyeok, is it really the 20th? I haven’t been able to do anything for days.

“Let’s trust and wait, hyung.”

Just like in the original history, Mexico’s turmoil was at its peak.

Even if I was anxious, it was already irreversible. All I could do was trust my memory.

And finally, on December 21st, Korean time.

The day of reckoning had arrived.

It was early dawn, but I couldn’t sleep.

It wasn’t an era of advanced internet, so it was difficult to know the situation in Mexico in real-time.

I spent the night wide awake.

At 5 AM, as soon as my phone rang, I rushed to answer it.

“This is Kim Mu-hyeok.”

Mu-hyeok! The Mexican government… they’ve expanded the dollar exchange rate fluctuation range to 13%! Just as you said, they’ve devalued their currency!