Chapter 194: Throwing a Few Photos

I tossed a few photos onto the table with a thud.

“What do you think? Not bad, right? Isn’t this what you’d call a stunning view?”

Once bitten, twice shy, as they say.

The moment I tossed the photos, he snatched them up.

But as he confirmed the pristine white sand and the fiery red sun dipping below the horizon, Department Head Jung let out a sigh of relief.

“I-It’s magnificent.”

“This is Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. A world-renowned resort destination.”

“But why are you showing me these photos…?”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to spend about five years there, just relaxing?”

“Me?”

Department Head Jung Gyu-hwan looked back and forth between the photos and me, a bewildered expression on his face.

“We’re going to build a fantastic resort there around the second half of this year. From design to opening, it’ll take three or four years, and to get it running smoothly, we’ll need a good five years, wouldn’t you say? I’m saying, go there and use your specialty—fund management.”

This is the perfect time to sweeten the deal for him as his eyes dart around.

“Secretly liquidate all your assets and stash them away. You can entrust them to Miracle Investment. We’ll keep them safe where no one can find them. The investment returns will be much better than any bank, too.”

“Are you suggesting I run away?”

I ignored his question and continued.

“Until the resort opens, you can stay in a hotel or rent a nice villa. Oh, and that place is swarming with bikini-clad beauties all year round. Women who are on a completely different level from the female employee you’re seeing now. If you’re the top executive at the resort, one of those beauties might even try to seduce you first, you know?”

Free-spirited backpackers wouldn’t pass up the chance to live for free in a luxurious resort. Don’t they show that kind of thing in movies all the time?

“Of course, since you’d be working abroad, you’d receive a generous special allowance. You’d essentially be saving double your current annual salary. You left without even hearing this great offer, so I had no choice but to send that email, didn’t I?”

His expression shifted slightly.

The frightened look was gone, and the flush of panic on his face returned to normal. The furrow in his brow, born of confusion, smoothed out completely.

World-class resort, executive position, bikini babes, special allowance, double salary.

These sweet words were likely swirling in his mind.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Just meeting with a competitor’s HR rep and getting a job offer is enough to make you look suspicious. Actually, this kind of thing isn’t unusual. Competitors poaching people happens all the time. But why is the spotlight suddenly on you?”

He’d never answer that question himself.

“Either way, you’re already marked as a guy who might betray them at any moment. As the person who handled the Vice-chairman’s secret slush funds, they won’t just let you resign nicely, will they? You know this, but Soonyang Group can be incredibly ruthless when it comes to things like this.”

“S-Slush funds? I don’t know anything about that….”

“I hate wasting time. Save the innocent act for your wife. ‘I never cheated on you!'”

Mentioning his affair made his face flush again, and he shut his mouth.

“During the IMF crisis, Vice-chairman Jin siphoned off 100 billion won. In that massive crisis, how do you think that money was moved? You must know.”

“W-Wait a minute. 100 billion? No. I only sold a 50 billion won paper company….”

Aha, so he sold a non-existent shell company to Soonyang Construction.

“And that paper company was immediately written off as a loss, I presume? Since it was the IMF crisis, there was a convenient excuse to write off bad assets.”

Realizing his mistake, Department Head Jung said nothing. It seems this guy only knows about the 50 billion won; Executive Managing Director Im Jong-yoon probably knows about the other 50 billion.

“Just bring me the documents about that paper company trickery. Then I’ll guarantee your safety. And of course, the resort offer still stands.”

He was silent. His mind was racing, but which side he’d choose was obvious.

The side offering help, or the side suspecting him.

Finally, he spoke.

“Let me ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Isn’t Vice-chairman Jin Dong-ki your great-uncle? Why are you trying to exploit his weaknesses?”

Is this curiosity? Or is he looking for a reason to betray me?

“You know I’m handing over Soonyang Card to the Vice-chairman, right?”

“Yes, I heard you’re selling it.”

“Why would I sell it?”

“Huh?”

“It’s a company that generates hundreds of billions in net profit annually. It’s like a goose that lays golden eggs. Why would I sell it? Especially on credit?”

“How would a salaryman like me know the deeper reasons?”

“There are many reasons, but the main one is that he’s stealing it. A great-uncle taking his nephew’s company for next to nothing. Shouldn’t I have some leverage to fight back?”

Department Head Jung let out a long sigh, then gave an unexpected reaction.

“Shit, I’m screwed.”

That’s an accurate assessment. He’s truly cornered. That’s why you need to prepare an escape route when you get involved in dangerous things.

“If you don’t want to get caught in the crossfire between whales, you should run. Get to Kota Kinabalu. It’s comfortable, peaceful, and safe there.”

“What if I didn’t have the documents?”

“No salaryman forgets to secure their escape route. If you didn’t have that much sense, you wouldn’t be involved in the Vice-chairman’s affairs.”

“You know a lot for a silver spoon.”

Perhaps believing he still had something to bargain with, his tone grew harsher.

“Don’t get cocky, you bastard! Ruining your life is nothing for me. I’ve seen plenty of guys get a little money and act like they’ve made it. How many of those bastards do you think lived comfortably till the end?”

I needed to crush his spirit from the start. If this guy runs to the Vice-chairman in blind loyalty, it’ll be a big problem.

“I’m the benefactor who’s letting a guy headed for a dead-end life live in a paradise-like resort. Where do you get off talking back?”

“I-I have the Vice-chairman’s slush fund documents!”

“Bullshit. You only know half of it, right? There’s someone else too. If I offer him ten times the conditions I offered you, he’d probably lick my toes while saying thank you. So what are you? Just a cheating husband who betrayed the Vice-chairman. Is your wife understanding? Does she just turn a blind eye to your affairs?”

Department Head Jung’s fingertips trembled as he fully grasped his situation.

“What are you doing?”

“Yes?,”

“Go get the documents now. My goodwill expires today. If you bring the documents now, you’ll still be the head of the Kota Kinabalu resort. Hurry!”

Department Head Jung jumped up and dashed out.

Seeing his retreating figure, I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

I was wrong. Or rather, only half wrong.

Igniting desire combined with fear makes things burn faster.

Or is fear the priority? Is desire an effective catalyst for accepting threats?

* * *

“Is this it?”

“Yes. We created shell companies for resource development in Eastern Europe and sold them to Soonyang Construction. They immediately wrote them off as bad assets. It’s a classic tactic.”

What’s infuriating is that this tactic is still rampant ten years later. Even though it happens so frequently, almost no one gets caught.

The big thieves always evade the law.

“There’s still 50 billion won left, right?”

“The proceeds from selling the Eastern European shell companies were deposited in England. The rest was deposited in the US, so the shell companies were probably somewhere in South America.”

“Is the South American one also resource-related?”

“Probably.”

Oh Se-hyun seemed dumbfounded and tossed the documents aside.

“That’s a life sentence in the US.”

“Here, it’s three years with probation.”

“Damn it. I thought Jin Dong-ki was the better of your great-uncles, but this… To think of a financial crisis sweeping the nation as a chance to steal money. Those chaebols are so consistent.”

“Their consistency is what makes things easier for me. Do you think Vice-chairman Jin Young-ki wouldn’t do the same thing?”

Oh Se-hyun’s scowl didn’t fade.

“What about that guy? Are you really going to let him live it up in some resort?”

“He’s just a pawn. He was just following orders. I can’t punish him. But I won’t let him live in peace and comfort. I’ll put him to work.”

“Speaking of which, are you really going to go through with the resort?”

“I’ll go by the results of the on-site investigation team. If they conclude it’s feasible, we’ll proceed. If not, we’ll just build a villa. So my uncle can use it sometimes, too.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Only then did he crack a small smile.

“What are you going to do now? Find the remaining 50 billion?”

“Yes. Executive Managing Director Im Jong-yoon probably handled it. He received management rights to a staffing agency in return, so it’s a sure thing.”

“Executives don’t usually budge for petty temptations, you know?”

“Yes. I felt that firsthand this time. I tried to get what I wanted through smooth negotiations, emphasizing mutual benefit… Sometimes showing force is faster. I plan to use force with Executive Managing Director Im.”

“No role for me this time? I mobilized HW Construction executives for the Department Head Jung situation.”

“I’ll handle this with force. It’s alright.”

“What kind of force? That Executive Managing Director Im is one of Jin Dong-ki’s closest allies. He’ll see you as a kid.”

“Uncle, what kind of force do Soonyang Group executives fear the most?”

“What else? The two Vice-chairmen.”

“No.”

“Then?”

“It’s the Chairman. Not the two of them, just one.”

“You’re not thinking of involving Chairman Jin, are you?”

Oh Se-hyun’s jaw dropped.

“No. I’m just going to borrow his name. I can’t involve Grandfather in something like this.”

***

“Thank you for coming out here. It must have been difficult to make time.”

“Not at all. You’re one of Soonyang’s three pillars, aren’t you? Even if it’s the shortest and thinnest one.”

Oh? He knows how to throw a subtle jab. He’s been around the block, huh?

“Oh, pillars, please… You flatter me. It’s more like I’m temporarily holding onto it. It’s beyond my capabilities to keep it for good.”

First, I played it humble.

“Holding onto it? What do you mean?”

“You know, I’ll be handing over Soonyang Card soon, right? The other financial companies will follow suit.”

Executive Managing Director Im’s eyes gleamed.

“Are you saying you’re creating a buffer because of tax issues?”

“Who knows? It all depends on Grandfather’s will.”

“Chairman Jin?”

“Yes.”

As expected, Grandfather still holds absolute power.

Just mentioning him made Executive Managing Director Im’s posture change. He subtly straightened his crossed legs.

“Then, is Chairman Jin also the one who told you to speak with me? No matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure out why I needed to come here.”

“No. I was wondering whether I should report this to Grandfather, but I decided it was right to talk with you first, Executive Managing Director.”

“Report what?”

“I recently discovered something interesting. And it seems to involve you, Executive Managing Director.”

“Me?”

“Yes. One company has been monopolizing the daily construction workers for Soonyang Construction. And that company happens to be owned by your family….”

Executive Managing Director Im’s expression began to change.

“You know Grandfather’s policy, right? The lucrative positions rotate every two years. Since you can’t stop people from taking kickbacks anyway, his intention is to let everyone earn a little spending money.”

The plum positions like purchasing, materials, and logistics, which oversee subcontractors, don’t have executives who stay for more than two years. It’s Grandfather’s way of saying, ‘Take your cut and move on.’

“But your family’s company has been monopolizing it for over three years now….”

“Listen here. What authority do you have to say such things? This is all under the Vice-chairman’s orders….”

His panic was evident. His voice rose.

“Did Vice-chairman Jin Dong-ki say it was okay to pocket ten billion won a year?”

He stopped shouting and fell silent.