Chapter 81: A Meeting of Giants

“You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to keep a straight face in front of them. But thanks to Mu-hyeok, I got to witness something really entertaining,” the voice chuckled.

“Did you now?”

“Where did a treasure like him come from? I never envied the Cheon family before, but now I do. Raising kids never goes as planned, does it?”

Chairman Cheon burst into hearty laughter.

“Don’t laugh too much. Now, are you really planning to step down completely?”

“Not yet. Mu-hyeok still needs my name to carry some weight. I’ll stick around for a while longer. But what about you, Chairman Song? Still can’t let go?”

“When I die, my kids will probably tear each other apart.”

“You’re blessed, my friend…”

“Chairman Cheon.”

“No matter how much you try to sort things out before you go, it’ll be tough. The Daehyeon Group is too complicated for a clean handover. Just do your best to minimize the complaints.”

“I’ll have to.”

After hanging up the phone, Chairman Cheon stared at the receiver for a long moment before finally lifting his head.

“Where’s Mu-hyeok?”

“He said he’d be arriving today, sir.”

“Why did he go to Hong Kong?”

“I’m not sure, but he mentioned recruiting someone.”

Chairman Cheon nodded, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“Make sure Ji-soo and Ji-soo don’t get any funny ideas. If they get greedy, things could get bloody again.”

“I’ll keep a close eye on them, sir.”

“After I’m gone, if Mu-hyeok tries to get rid of them, Myung-hoon, I need you to stop him—just once.”

“…Chairman.”

Chairman Cheon waved off Chief Ha, whose face had darkened.

“History repeats itself. Even if they’re no real threat, it’s hard to just let them be. Especially the greedy ones.”

“You’re still in good health, sir.”

“I’m not dying yet, but just in case, you understand?”

“…Yes, Chairman.”

“What about Su-man?”

“He’s slowly starting to reappear in public. He’s even attending Korean community events and seems to be making connections.”

Chairman Cheon’s brow furrowed.

“He hasn’t made any big moves, has he?”

“No, sir. He poses no threat to the young master.”

“I’m worried about Su-man, not Mu-hyeok. He might be foolish enough to challenge him. And what about Su-han?”

“…”

“Well? Speak up.”

“It seems he’ll need to be transferred to a mental institution soon.”

“Tsk…”

Chairman Cheon clicked his tongue but didn’t give the order to move him.

That decision was up to Mu-hyeok. If he intervened, it would only give Mu-hyeok a justification he didn’t need.

“Have you looked into how the money in the U.S. is being used?”

“Aside from Han Gyeong-yeong managing it, we couldn’t gather much else. But it seems it’s generating significant profits.”

“I see. You can go now.”

After Chief Ha left, Chairman Cheon sat alone in the study, silently gazing out the window.

In that moment, he looked less like the king of the loan shark world and more like an old man nearing the end of his road.

* * *

The collapse of the Hyeonbo Group was a burden on the government. Only days after their final bankruptcy, Chairman Jang was arrested and jailed.

Meanwhile, the fallout from the Hyeonbo scandal spread through the political and financial sectors, and other major corporations continued to fail.

By March, the bankruptcy of Seommi Group, ranked 26th in the corporate hierarchy, sent shockwaves through the economy. Just when tensions were rising, IMF President Kandehshi made a statement that gave the government a convenient excuse.

‘There is no economic crisis in Korea.’

Kandehshi’s words headlined the front page of the Goryeo Daily, and the economic crisis was dismissed as mere conspiracy theory.

Then in April, Yoon Chang-ho, head of the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office, was appointed as the new Prosecutor General.

“Congratulations, Prosecutor General.”

“Haha, thanks. It feels best coming from a junior.”

A smile never left Prosecutor General Yoon’s face.

“Now, you’ve got nothing left but smooth sailing ahead.”

“The mood isn’t great. Everyone’s talking about some economic crisis.”

“How’s the Hyeonbo Group investigation going?”

“There’s a hearing soon. We’ll see what orders come down from the Blue House then.”

The Hyeonbo scandal led to the arrest of several bank presidents.

Seven current and former bank presidents from Jeil Bank, Choheung Bank, and others were summoned by prosecutors, and three were detained.

Numerous politicians were also investigated, with five of them ending up behind bars.

As the presidential election loomed, the political landscape grew more unpredictable, shrouded in a fog of uncertainty.

“Isn’t the president’s eldest son caught up in this too?”

“Heh… Your information network never fails. We don’t know the VIP’s stance yet, but it’s unlikely he’ll escape arrest. He took far too much money for that.”

The fall of the man once called the ‘Little President’ seemed inevitable.

“You can’t just remain the Blue House’s mouthpiece forever. You need to think about your future.”

“Exactly. With the lame-duck period already here, why hold back? Still, I’ll do what they want for now, but I’m also going to focus on my own goals.”

It was clear Prosecutor General Yoon had his eyes set on bigger ambitions.

“This economic crisis won’t be over anytime soon. Your role in this will be crucial. With corruption rampant and companies collapsing left and right, economic crime will skyrocket. Political pressure will mount as well. You’ll need to stay strong.”

“The economic crisis isn’t the end?”

Prosecutor General Yoon’s eyes widened.

“No, sir. It’s going to get much worse. Worse than anything you can imagine. We could even lose our economic sovereignty, as we did during Japanese rule. But if you stand firm and conduct an investigation without fear, you could be eyeing the presidency after your term.”

“Haha, even if you’re just flattering me, it feels good to hear.”

Flattery or not, the thought had crossed his mind.

When they first met, Yoon hadn’t considered it. But now, with the public’s support behind him, the idea of aiming for the presidency wasn’t so far-fetched.

Still, this presidential race was a poisoned chalice.

“By the way, I have a favor to ask.”

“Go on, anything you need.”

“Could you start an internal investigation into Jungwoo Group?”

Jungwoo would collapse after 1998, but by then, their debts would be too large to leave much to take.

Their astronomical accounting fraud and slush funds had already eroded trust in the company.

It was time to speed things up.

“Jungwoo Group?”

“Yes. They’re almost certainly guilty of embezzlement and breach of trust. I’d like you to time their summons with my schedule.”

“Hmm… That’s quite a heavy request. You know that, right?”

“I do, which is why I’m asking. But if you catch them before they become an even bigger problem, it’ll be a huge achievement for you.”

“Are you planning to take over Jungwoo? Do you even have the money for that?”

“I’m not the one who’s going to eat them up. My friends are.”

Prosecutor General Yoon studied me, as if trying to gauge my intentions.

“There won’t be any blowback for me, right? If I’m aiming for the Blue House, I can’t afford a single blemish.”

“Of course not. I’ll pave you a path of roses. Just keep walking, and the Blue House will be yours.”

And once he sat in the Blue House, he’d become my puppet.

“Fine. We’ll start the investigation right away.”

“Make sure it’s handled by people you trust.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got just the guy.”

The one who was sent down to the Jeju District Prosecutors’ Office?

“You brought him back to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office?”

“There was a lot of opposition, but I’ve placed him in a key position in the Central Investigations Department.”

“If it’s him, then it’s in good hands. He’s always exceeded expectations.”

“His career’s on the fast track now.”

It was true. Both ruling and opposition politicians were now clamoring for his favor.

“Fill the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office with your own people. Don’t share power. We’re entering an era where the prosecutors will wield unprecedented influence.”

The prosecutors were often seen as little more than the government’s attack dogs, but with Yoon at the helm, I was confident he could weather the pressures and carry out my requests.

“Alright, let’s eat.”

As Prosecutor General Yoon picked up his chopsticks, I followed suit.

After a pleasant meal, Yoon stood up first.

“I’ve got some delicious apples for you. Three boxes are already in your trunk. They’re pesticide-free, so you can eat them straight away.”

Of course, those three boxes were stuffed with ten-thousand-won bills, personally delivered by Manager Ma.

“I’m always grateful to you.”

After my meeting with Prosecutor General Yoon, I began my preparations for the post-IMF era step by step.

“Grandfather, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

It had been a while since I’d had a private conversation with Grandfather.

“Yes, a favor.”

“Heh… What’s with the tone? You’re going to give this old man a heart attack.”

Grandfather, who had finally let go of most of his burdens, was in a good mood these days, even cracking jokes—a side of him I’d never seen in my previous life.

“Next year, the Interest Limitation Act will likely be repealed.”

“What?”

Grandfather’s voice rose in surprise.

It was a shocking revelation.

“There’s a high chance it’ll happen. When it does, a flood of Japanese capital will pour in. Korea’s crisis has always been Japan’s opportunity.”

After Korea’s liberation, Japan, as a defeated nation, had its economy revitalized by the Korean War.

Thanks to U.S. and Allied support, Japan experienced explosive economic growth during that time.

But now, Japan’s golden age was over, and they were entering what would later be called the ‘Lost Decades.’

Korea’s economic crisis would be another chance for Japan.

“The Cheongpung Group will make their move.”

Once the Interest Limitation Act is repealed, the Myeong-dong private loan market will fall into chaos.

Illegal loan sharks will pop up like weeds, but more importantly, Japanese capital, backed by the Cheongpung Group, will eventually control half of the market.

In an effort to eliminate their competitors, the Cheongpung Group will push for the enactment of the Loan Business Act.

Despite their efforts, the law wouldn’t be established until 2002. It needed to be expedited.

We had to create a legal framework for the loan market before it descended into chaos.

I wasn’t planning on giving them a single opportunity.

“Grandfather, I’d appreciate your support in pushing that law through as quickly as possible.”

“What? Why on earth?”

Grandfather’s expression was one of utter confusion.

He couldn’t understand why I would want to create a law to limit interest rates, especially when the repeal of the Interest Limitation Act was a golden opportunity.

“It’s an opportunity for us, but it’s also an opportunity for the Cheongpung Group. I won’t give them even an inch. We’ll establish legitimate loan companies in Myeong-dong, offering lower interest rates than they could. I’ll use Hyeon-seong and his connection to Twin Blades to handle it. And as for the underground market, Viper will manage that.”

“Hmm…”

“Just because there’s no interest limit doesn’t mean big companies will take out high-interest loans. Our main clients will be small businesses and ordinary people, not corporations. We’ll handle the big companies separately. I told you, they’ll be bowing their heads to you again soon.”

At the top of our loan companies, I planned to place Hyeon-seong as the figurehead.

I would assign Twin Blades Kim Ho-sik to oversee operations, letting his subordinates and veterans of the Myeong-dong loan shark market run individual loan companies.

I reiterated my case to Grandfather, who still seemed hesitant.

“If we let this opportunity slip, it’ll be hard to keep the Cheongpung Group in check. They’ll strengthen their ties with Japanese capital. We need to throw a wrench in their plans before they get too far.”

By slightly advancing the timeline from the original history, I could create a more favorable situation for myself.

I couldn’t afford to give them even the smallest chance while missing out on seizing the upper hand.

I didn’t know what kind of butterfly effect this would have, but there was no need to repeat the failures of the past.

“Please, Grandfather.”

Grandfather remained silent for a long time.

As someone who had spent his entire life in the shadows of the loan shark world, it was no surprise that even the thought of curbing the Cheongpung Group would give him pause.

I waited patiently for him to respond.

“Alright. I’ll do as you ask.”

In the end, Grandfather agreed to my request.