Chapter 154: When Allies Multiply

“What’s the big deal? The more allies we have in a situation like this, the better. Now that things have turned out this way, let’s have a proper go at it. This is a good opportunity to gauge Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi’s influence, isn’t it? Oh, and just so you know, don’t you dare run to your grandfather begging for help. If a heavyweight jumps into a flyweight fight, the whole thing gets ruined. Heh.”

Oh Se-hyun, well-versed in investments, acquisitions, and mergers, seemed to relish the familiar thrill of having a clear adversary.

“So, there’s no need to drag Father into this, right?”

“Brothers might have things to say to each other. Maybe there are things only Yoon-ki can do. Let’s leave it be for now. It sounds like it could be interesting.”

There was no point in arguing further. Like my uncle said, the only option was to wait and see.

“What about us, though? Do we get a tour of the Southern District Prosecutors’ Office as witnesses?”

“Ignore it. I plan to go alone. I need to figure out what they’re after, but discreetly. No reporters, no cameras….”

“Wouldn’t it be better to have more ears on the ground? I’ll go and listen to what they have to say. I can also greet my old colleagues.”

“Ah, you’re from that side, aren’t you? In that case, can you get a feel for the atmosphere?”

The reason for our relaxed attitude was simple.

Even if the National Tax Service came after us, we wouldn’t be in deep trouble. Miracle operates under US accounting standards. Minor infractions can be settled with fines, and Aunt’s eleven hundred billion won embezzlement was handled transparently.

All we did was buy Aunt’s distribution shares. What she did with the money to plug the hole is none of our concern.

No matter how hard the prosecution tries, they’ll only end up barking up the wrong tree.

“Exactly. Let’s find out what the prosecutors want.”

* * *

Contrary to his son’s expectation, Jin Yun-ki didn’t immediately rush to his eldest brother. Instead, he returned to his office and stayed glued to the phone for a while.

“Director Kim, bring Hee-eun and Tae-hyun to the office quickly. I have something important to discuss.”

“Team Leader Choi, find Director Bong right now and bring him here. And check Yoon Dong-geon’s schedule and get him here quickly too. It’s urgent.”

After several calls, Jin Yun-ki paced around his office. He intended to do everything he could before the family feud escalated.

As a major player in the Korean film industry, even the head of a large management agency and top stars arrived without delay.

“Oh, Hyung-nim, what’s so urgent that you called us so suddenly?”

The middle-aged man who opened the office door and entered joked casually, followed by a man and a woman who walked in arm in arm.

The two hottest stars in Chungmuro bowed deeply to Jin Yun-ki.

“President, is this about a double casting? I haven’t heard of any scripts circulating in Chungmuro lately.”

“Sorry, I didn’t call you here because of a movie.”

Jin Yun-ki started by apologizing as he looked at the two actors’ hopeful faces.

Director Kim sensed that something unusual was happening. It was the first time he had seen the usually composed President Jin so flustered.

“Hyung-nim, I don’t know what it is, but don’t beat around the bush and just tell us what’s going on.”

“I have a really difficult favor to ask.”

“Yes, anything. You’re the one who made Hee-eun and Tae-hyun stars. We owe you any favor.”

The three individuals began to stare intently at Jin Yun-ki’s lips.

“Are you two planning to get married?”

“Huh? Why the sudden question…?”

The two actors looked at each other, their eyes wide.

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. Anyway, let’s break the news of your relationship. As early as tomorrow… no, even today would be good.”

“Hyung-nim!”

The most surprised person wasn’t either of the actors but Director Kim.

The numerous CF and drama castings that were pouring in seemed to vanish into thin air. However, he refrained from immediately refusing.

Anyone else, and he would have left without hearing more, but Jin Yun-ki in front of him was a different caliber of person.

He had once dominated the film industry, but more importantly, his backing was the Soonyang Group. The name ‘Soonyang’ provided enough power to bear any risk or loss. Director Kim quickly calculated the situation.

“I… I was just so surprised that I raised my voice… I apologize.”

Director Kim bowed his head and then looked at the two actors and said,

“This is good. Marriage can come later, and it must be hard to keep your relationship secret. Let’s just announce it.”

“Director Kim!”

The two top stars, surprised by Director Kim’s quick agreement, exclaimed in shock. Director Kim winked at them and said,

“Have you two forgotten that you reached this point thanks to our Hyung-nim? If we help him now, no one will say we rely on those fickle celebrities. Right?”

“Director Kim, don’t push them too hard. It’s a difficult decision for them.”

Jin Yun-ki bowed his head again towards the two actors.

“Hee-eun, Tae-hyun, please. I’ll definitely repay you. Please help me this once.”

“Ah… President Jin. Why are you doing this? Please raise your head. Understood. We’ll do whatever you want.”

Tae-hyun jumped up and helped Jin Yun-ki stand up straight.

“Hee-eun, let’s just think of it as bringing forward something that was bound to happen eventually. Okay?”

“If you’re okay with it, Oppa, then I’m fine with it too….”

Jin Yun-ki’s expression brightened when the two agreed.

“Thank you. I’m in a bit of a rush, so please expedite the announcement. No later than tomorrow morning’s top news story. Director Kim, please put in some effort….”

“Hyung-nim, don’t worry. I’ll plaster the news of the two of them all over newspapers, broadcasts, and the internet.”

Director Kim got up from his seat, as if there was no need for further discussion, and took out his phone.

# # #

“Ugh, what is it? Why are you calling a busy person like me here? If you mess up my screenplay, I’m blaming it all on you, Hyung-nim.”

This time, a man with disheveled hair entered the office, voicing his complaints.

Jin Yun-ki pulled him by the hand and sat him on the sofa.

“Stop talking nonsense and just listen to me. Listen to everything and then answer. And the answer has to be yes. Got it?”

“Hyung-nim, what kind of concept is this? Imitating a mafia boss….”

“Shut up. The screenplay you’re working on is greenlit. I don’t even need to see it. Okay?”

Director Bong just blinked. A movie greenlit without even seeing the screenplay?

Only the synopsis is out. He was exaggerating when he said he was working on the screenplay; everyone knew he hadn’t even started the treatment.

Besides, wasn’t he a rookie director whose debut film flopped spectacularly with only 100,000 viewers? And yet, he was getting a green light?

“Ye-yes!”

The answer burst out of him involuntarily.

“And you can cast Han Seok-kyu, Song Kang-ho, Seol Kyung-gu, Choi Min-sik, Ahn Sung-ki, and Park Joong-hoon. I’ll pay whatever their asking price is.”

Director Bong could only make an incredulous face, unable to even say yes.

“Instead, the production presentation will be held in exactly one week. I’ll handle the preparations, so you just need to bring the lead actors to the event.”

“Huh? That’s unreasonable… What’s going on? Is my movie getting scrapped? Is that why you’re saying such absurd….”

Director Bong stopped talking when he saw the look in Jin Yun-ki’s eyes.

Beyond seriousness, a sense of desperation was seeping out of him.

“It’s not just your responsibility. I’ll make calls and meet people myself. But you know that actors trust the director, not the producer, when they agree to a role, right? You have to persuade them yourself.”

“You said one week?”

“Yes.”

Director Bong got up from the sofa and plopped down in Jin Yun-ki’s office chair. He started scribbling actors’ names on a piece of paper.

“I’m thinking of casting these people. Hyung-nim, make the initial contact. I’ll handle the persuasion.”

Jin Yun-ki, taking the list, immediately picked up the receiver.

“Go quickly. Oh, I’ve already told the production manager, so work together. I’ll start making calls.”

Director Bong rushed out of the office as fast as he could. He knew how short one week was.

But he also knew how urgent the situation was if the president of his film company was this desperate.

# # #

“Director Choi Ki-young, you say?”

“Yeah.”

The handsome Yoon Dong-geon couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

When President Jin Yun-ki called, he had rushed over alone, excited, without his manager. He thought they would have a very important conversation, and he didn’t want his manager to prematurely draw a line in the sand because of money.

He was a star on TV, but he hadn’t reached that level in the movie industry, so he was always hungry for movie roles.

While his peers were making their mark on the big screen, he comforted himself with earning more money from dramas and commercials, but he knew better than anyone that movies and dramas were on different levels.

TV stars receive envious glances, but movie stars receive respect. He had enough money; he wanted to be respected.

“As you know, Director Choi Ki-young is a director who always brings controversy. Your appearing in Director Choi’s movie would be considered unconventional in itself.”

“President, are you just trying to create buzz by….”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Jin Yun-ki waved his hand dismissively.

“Director Choi asked first. Honestly… I was putting it off.”

“Director Choi asked first?”

“Yeah. But Director Choi’s movies are quite dark. It didn’t really fit your image, so I put it off. And….”

“And? What is it? Please tell me.”

“If you take this role, you won’t be able to dream of doing any commercials or dramas for a while. It’s quite brutal.”

Yoon Dong-geon closed his mouth, unable to ask any more questions.

He needed to consider the gains and losses. And he needed to ask himself what he really wanted.

Jin Yun-ki, watching Yoon Dong-geon’s expression, said casually,

“You can refuse. I’m not entirely keen on it either.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Alright. Don’t feel pressured. But I need an answer quickly because of the schedule.”

“How much time do I have?”

“Ten days. Oh, I’ll send the screenplay to your office, so discuss it with your manager.”

As Yoon Dong-geon left, Jin Yun-ki let out a long sigh.

You can’t get to stars like him with money. You have to touch their last bit of pride to make things happen.

After holding out for a while, he’ll probably agree in about two weeks.

Three news articles.

It will keep the internet buzzing for at least a month. No matter how much Hanseong Ilbo shouts, they can’t win. No, even Hanseong Ilbo will have no choice but to write about this gossip.

Whatever my older brother’s plan is, I need to dismantle it first before meeting him. I need to meet him not as a younger brother who just yells and argues, but as someone with a different kind of power.

That’s the only way a conversation or negotiation can begin.

* * *

“These bastards are pulling out all the stops. Tch.”

Chairman Jin tossed the newspaper he was scanning aside with a flick of his wrist.

The dating rumors of the two top stars, and the official press conference acknowledging their relationship.

All the media outlets covered this story extensively, and thanks to it, there were no follow-up reports about Jin Seo-yoon’s embezzlement. Hanseong Ilbo wasn’t stupid.

They knew that no one would pay attention even if they diligently released follow-up reports now.

Is it something new for chaebols to embezzle company funds?

“So, the eldest son started it, and the younger brothers are retaliating?”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Chief of staff Lee Hak-jae replied briefly.

“And the Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office has reportedly started a discreet background check on Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi.”

“Isn’t the mayor of the Eastern District’s hometown Choi’s hometown?”

“Yes. President Jin Seo-yoon seems to have requested it.”

“Look at these bastards! Dragging the prosecution into a family feud?”

Chairman Jin clicked his tongue and looked at the man sitting directly in front of him.

“My family is in this state. I can’t even look the Prosecutor General in the face.”

“Ah, no. Chairman. Not at all….”

The Prosecutor General wore a faint smile and lifted his teacup.