Chapter 156: What Was It Like? Did You Read the Room?

“How was it? Did you read the room at all?”

“Isn’t acting tough their defining trait? What about Uncle?”

“He ended it with a perfunctory question. It was obvious he was just going through the motions because Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki asked him to.”

“Then only Aunt is left.”

Oh Se-hyun shook his head with a serious expression.

“He’s pretending to pick apart Vice-chairman Jin Seo-yoon as prey… This feels like a feint.”

“A feint? What do you mean?”

“Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki isn’t targeting his younger sister, but his niece.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. He wants to look into Miracle, which is your backing.”

“He’s curious whether I’m the real owner of Soonyang Automobile and the distribution group.”

“Exactly.”

“If that’s the case, the Financial Supervisory Service should be moving busily by now….”

“I’ll look into that. I’ll also tell the people in New York to be careful, so nothing major should happen. They can’t investigate a perfectly good company without any evidence.”

His expression still held worry. The public authorities don’t always move after securing evidence. They can start an investigation based on suspicion and circumstantial evidence alone.

It seemed like I would have to weather a rough storm at least once.

In return, I felt like my uncle should get a face full of dirt.

Oh Se-hyun, sensing a bit of threat, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Do-jun. Could you ask your grandfather….”

“No. I can’t do anything that would disappoint Grandfather.”

“Disappoint? How so?”

“Isn’t it like getting hit once in a fight and then coming home to bring my older brother out? The moment I make such a request, Grandfather will lower his eyes and look at me like that. Isn’t this a family feud? Grandfather will only look at the results.”

Wouldn’t Oh Se-hyun also have connections?

No, all the high-ranking officials at HW Group could pull strings with the prosecution in their own way. But what reigns supreme over their connections is Soonyang.

It was obvious that everyone would be wary of saying they’d investigate Jin Young-ki, the eldest son of Soonyang Group.

Against the power that controls the mainstream, the only thing to expect is the united power of the non-mainstream. A head-on fight is difficult, but wouldn’t a guerrilla war be possible?

Lee Kang-shik, was it?

Seeing him desperately survive and work in Seoul, he seemed to have tenacity. If I wasn’t mistaken, he’d contact me before the effect of the business card I gave him wore off… Is he timid?

* * *

“I was very rude the other day, Director Jin.”

“It’s nothing. How could it be rude when you’re carrying out your official duties? And I was rude too. Let’s just call it even and forget about it.”

“But this place… ?”

Prosecutor Lee Kang-shik looked around the room and perched on the sofa.

“Ah, I bought it recently. There weren’t any suitable places to avoid prying eyes. It’s a bit small, isn’t it? I’m worried about your comfort….”

“Small? It seems bigger than my apartment.”

I bought a large penthouse in Yeouido, thinking it would be useful in many ways.

Its thorough security and perfect privacy protection caught my eye. I could only guess that it was built for the National Assembly members in Yeouido.

“But seeing that there’s no bed or household furniture, it doesn’t look like you live here.”

“Yes. Just think of it as a cafe. Oh, would you like some coffee?”

“Ah, then I’ll take a cup.”

I made coffee with the coffee machine and placed it on the table.

“You’re quite remarkable. Still a university student… Are all chaebol family members like that? Do you start early because you take management classes from a young age?”

“Don’t you know it well? A third-generation chaebol is considered a good son just for not causing trouble. I’m a bit diligent for a golden spoon. Kind of unusual, right?”

“You’re quite unusual. Enough to make your uncles extremely wary.”

Lee Kang-shik subtly revealed his backing to show that he was sincere about working with me.

“How’s the progress going? It feels like you should be wrapping it up… There isn’t anything particularly noteworthy, right?”

“The orders are to end with just grasping the current situation for you and CEO Oh Se-hyun. The only one left is Vice-chairman Jin Seo-yoon.”

Seeing that they’re stopping at that level, it’s clear that the prosecution is a feint.

“Did you request my aunt’s attendance as a witness?”

“Not yet. We’re investigating the deposit and withdrawal history of the paper companies, but I don’t know the details because it’s not under my jurisdiction.”

Judging by the way he scratched his head, he seemed to know that he wasn’t very useful right now.

But isn’t a person or a tool dependent on the one who uses them?

“Prosecutor Lee Kang-shik.”

“Yes?”

“How many people in the Southern District Prosecutors’ Office are very close to you?”

“Close people….”

It was a question of how many prosecutors would help me. He seemed to have understood perfectly.

“There are a few.”

“Is your and their goal the Prosecutor General, or is it to land a big case and jump to Yeouido?”

“Goal, huh….”

Prosecutor Lee Kang-shik only showed a bitter smile. I knew the meaning of that smile.

Is there anyone who doesn’t think about success when they pass the bar exam, go through the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and become a prosecutor?

But as you get pushed around, your dreams disappear and you only look at reality. Going through at least a senior prosecutor position and opening a law firm in your hometown would be the most realistic goal.

“How about changing that goal?”

“Change the goal?”

“How about this? A huge annual salary as a lawyer.”

Prosecutor Lee Kang-shik asked, his eyes shining.

“When you say huge, how much are you talking about? A third-generation chaebol probably has different standards.”

“The retainer fee for the first year when someone who served as a chief prosecutor or a high-ranking prosecutor starts as a lawyer. Wouldn’t that be huge?”

Considering preferential treatment for former officials, it’s at least over 5 billion won. His eyes started to shine even brighter. Moreover, this person had thoroughly investigated my accounts.

The money I made from New Data Technology stocks alone is over 80 billion won. That money is still in my deposit accounts, so there won’t be any suspicion about the money.

“To receive that kind of annual salary, I’d have to be willing to do some dangerous work.”

“The more dangerous and risky the work, the faster you get promoted. A swordsman shines when he wields his sword, and a hunting dog isn’t treated lightly when it bites fiercely. If you’re compliant, you become a pushover. Just like Prosecutor Lee is now.”

I subtly scratched his pride, but he only bit his lip and didn’t get angry. It was because he knew his own compliancy due to a lack of courage.

If a comfortable future is guaranteed, stabbing and biting shouldn’t be difficult, no matter what happens. He’s a prosecutor, isn’t he?

“Who is the target I need to use my sword on?”

“You should know?”

“Soonyang’s Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki. Is that correct?”

“Yes. But you don’t have to bite him. He also has a few paper companies in his pocket. Just investigating those? That’s enough.”

“As secretly as possible?”

“Just a few useful documents will do. I’ll do the stabbing.”

Prosecutor Lee Kang-shik was silent for a short while before opening his mouth.

“As you know, I’m being transferred to Cheongju in a month.”

He was asking me to resolve his personnel issue. Asking me means he’ll agree to my demands.

“A month is still a lot of time. Find some useful documents within that time. Then you’ll stay in the Southern District Prosecutors’ Office.”

He had to prove that he was a useful person. The deadline was one month.

Prosecutor Lee Kang-shik drank the rest of his coffee and stood up.

“Since time is short, I’ll get going. Oh, I’ll bring my colleagues who will be working with me to visit you sometime.”

“Alright. Let’s have a drink in a nicer place then, instead of here.”

He was still raw, but he had the basics needed for hunting.

How many non-mainstreamers are there in the Southern District Prosecutors’ Office?

And how many usable swordsmen are among them?

* * *

“Thank you, Father.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki patted his tanned son’s shoulder.

“Did you greet your uncle?”

“Yes. I visited him as soon as I arrived in Seoul.”

“Good job. Did you move your luggage?”

“I only took what I needed and gave the furniture to the staff. I bought it when I went down to Geoje Island, so I don’t even want to look at it again.”

“Then start going to work tomorrow. I’ve prepared a spot for you in the electronics strategy planning department. Building the mobile phone Brand Identity is a paramount task, so learn a lot and prepare properly.”

Just as Jin Young-ki felt relieved looking at his son’s bright expression, his secretary cautiously opened the door.

“Vice-chairman, you have a visitor.”

“Tell them to wait!”

Jin Young-ki frowned and shouted. He had specifically told them not to interrupt since it was a rare moment to spend with his son.

However, the man who didn’t wait and barged in was none other than Jin Yun-ki.

“Ah, Uncle.”

Jin Young-jun jumped up and bowed, but Jin Yun-ki didn’t even glance at him.

“Sorry to interrupt your long-awaited father-son reunion, but could you excuse us for a bit?”

“Hey! What’s your problem?”

Jin Young-ki glared at his younger brother and shouted, but Jin Yun-ki didn’t seem to be backing down.

“No, it wouldn’t hurt for you to hear this too. Sit down.”

Jin Yun-ki plopped down on the sofa and gestured to Jin Young-jun with his hand.

“Older brother. You know why I’m here, let’s stop here. Contact the Southern District Prosecutors’ Office and the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office right now and tell them to bury everything.”

Jin Young-jun was completely clueless and just glanced between the two adults, shrinking back.

“Our youngest has grown up a lot. His posture is different. He already exudes the aura of a president.”

Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki was furious at his arrogant youngest brother’s attitude, but he tried his best to appear composed in front of his son.

“It’s not bad to use your in-laws’ media outlet, but isn’t it a bit cowardly to use it against family? And the prosecution too. I’m the only one who wouldn’t have any dust when shaken. Are you trying to brag about who has more dust?”

“You’re not so innocent either, are you? You blocked everything with celebrity gossip. I was a bit surprised. Hehe.”

“That? That’s just the beginning. I’m telling you again, if you don’t stop now, I’ll make it so our older brother can’t even hold his head up. I’m not saying this just for kicks.”

Jin Young-ki’s face hardened at his younger brother’s warning.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about… You think you can do that to me? You’ve been fiddling with some movie company and being called president, so you think you’re some big shot? This is where your bluffing ends.”

“Uncle. I don’t know what’s going on, but please calm down….”

Jin Yun-ki glared at his nephew, Jin Young-jun, who should have kept his mouth shut, and said,

“You rented a special suite at the Hyatt as soon as you came up to Seoul. You booked a long-term stay for six months, but who’s staying in that room? An announcer? A girl group member? Or…? Ah. Lee Kyung-hee, the one you’re so into these days?”

In an instant, the color drained from Jin Young-jun’s face.

“You should be careful with that girl. They’re hyping her up as the next innocent beauty, but she ran away from home in high school and has been through everything. The management company she’s with is also dangerous. The president is a former gangster. Oh, and I don’t know if you know, but she’s also dabbled in drugs. Are you doing it together by any chance?”

A torrent of shocking words poured out of Jin Yun-ki’s mouth.

“Be careful. They might have installed hidden cameras in the hotel room and filmed everything while you’re having sex.”

“U… Uncle.”

Jin Young-jun started stammering, flustered as his father heard things he shouldn’t.

“You can’t squeeze much money out of a rookie actress. Right now, that gangster boss is probably smiling, imagining how much money he can get out of you.”

“Stop it! You bastard!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Jin Young-ki shouted, but his younger brother, who had already started the war, had nothing to fear.