Chapter 258: A Heated Confrontation

“Where’s the sniper?”

“They moved him to the hotel after the press conference.”

“Keep a close watch on him. Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“Yes, sir. I have his phone too. But what about inside the prosecution… ?”

“I’ve taken care of it. Everyone will pretend they don’t know.”

Vice-chairman Jang Do-hyung’s face lit up. He’d seemed anxious about what might happen if the higher-ups in the prosecution got involved.

“What about the reporters?”

“I gave the ones at the conference who wrote the articles plenty of cash for drinks.”

“The executives at the broadcasting stations will be walking a tightrope. Tell them to hold on for just a week. It’ll all be over in a week, and make sure they understand the irreversible consequences if they slip.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll meet with them one by one starting this evening. I’ll make sure they understand.”

Vice-chairman Jang Do-hyung spoke confidently but still glanced at me, hinting he needed more ‘ammunition’.

“Security is waiting downstairs. Start working with them from today. They’ll follow you in vans loaded with boxes of apples. Give 1 billion won to the bureau chiefs and 500 million won to the lower-level executives. It’s clean money, so tell them not to worry and spend it freely.”

Jang Do-hyung’s jaw dropped.

“C-Chief of staff. That’s too much. It’s more than ten years’ salary for them….”

“If they get 1 billion, won’t they send back 100 million?”

“Pardon?”

“Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi will definitely offer around 100 million won to stop the reporting. The journalists will have to choose between the two, and a tenfold difference will make their decision easier.”

“Ah, I see.”

“And knowing him, he’ll make a big show of promising a ton of advertising to all the media outlets. But even bureau chiefs are just salarymen. They have to worry about the company making money, sure, but compared to the billion won going into their own pockets, company ads will seem insignificant.”

“So you’re saying we should offer so much that they completely forget about the company’s situation. Enough to bury any hint of conscience.”

“Exactly. Frankly, even 10 billion won feels like it might not be enough. So, keep an eye on the broadcasts and articles, and if any reporter seems to be going off-script, don’t hesitate to give them more money. Whether it’s 100 or 200 million won, give them enough to make their jaws drop. Understand?”

In urgent situations like this, you shouldn’t stick to the usual rates or customs when bribing. You have to offer so much that the recipient thinks you’re insane.

If you give them a reasonable amount, they’ll think they’re doing you a favor and try to play you. But if you give them an obscene amount, they’ll become as docile as lambs.

For the next week, every media outlet in South Korea will write and broadcast the news exactly as I dictate.

I need to control them with money to the point where they’d replace news articles with song lyrics without complaint.

Maybe this is like rewriting the Three Kingdoms into the Chu-Han Contention.

Every penny I spend won’t be wasted.

* * *

“Looks like a real fight broke out, huh? Hahaha.”

“Father. This isn’t some petty squabble between thugs fighting over the rights to a neighborhood nightclub. We’re fighting over a third of Soonyang Group. How can you laugh?”

“A third? What are you talking about! Electronics is half. Even if you add up all the financial affiliates, it’s not more than a fifth.”

“I didn’t come to you to confirm the revenue figures, Father.”

Could it be because he has more now, more to control?

My father seemed more relaxed and confident with each passing day. He was watching the fight over the affiliates like a mere spectator.

“I don’t own a single share of Soonyang stock. What do you want me to do? I can’t even get into the board meeting or convene a shareholders’ meeting.”

“But you can help in other ways.”

“Which way?”

“We might have to engage in a media war with my second uncle.”

My father’s smile faded, replaced by a troubled expression.

“You know I’m more connected to the drama and entertainment departments than the news department. My influence there isn’t that strong.”

“I know. He’s already made his moves there.”

“Already? That’s fast. He paid them off?”

“Yes. An obscene amount.”

My father’s expression brightened again.

“Well, since you’re paying, the least I can do as your father is help with things that don’t cost money. Hehe.”

“And what are those things that don’t cost money?”

“Everyone at the broadcasting stations, high or low, gets into trouble. They act like they’re some kind of royalty just because they work at a broadcasting station. Well… it’s partly because there are people who are crazy about broadcasters.”

“Are you saying you’ll use their weaknesses to threaten them?”

“Threaten? No way. I’m just going to politely ask them not to throw chili powder on my son’s efforts. They’ll understand.”

My father winked with a smile.

“Then I have another favor to ask.”

“What else?”

“You can make a nobody into a star overnight if you set your mind to it, right?”

“A star? You mean you?”

“Aren’t I already a star? Not me.”

“You? Pfft! Fine, whatever. Who are you talking about?”

“It’s fine for now, but my second uncle might try to tear down the prosecutor I’ve put forward. This is in preparation for that. If it looks like a media smear campaign is starting, please get that prosecutor on a talk show or something. And make him a star.”

My father was a changed man, but his drive was still the same.

He immediately picked up the receiver.

“Get all the writers to my office now…. No, all of them.”

After a brief call, my father told me,

“Explain it yourself when the people in charge get here. It’s important to convey your intentions accurately, so a direct approach is better than going through someone else.”

He spoke casually about my current situation, but I could tell he was deeply concerned. When it came to what needed to be done, he was lightning-fast.

I didn’t tell the gathered personnel the full story.

I simply asked them to paint a flattering picture of a prosecutor burning with a sense of justice. I told them to portray him as a principled prosecutor who went against the grain and fearlessly challenged those in power, and they understood immediately.

“We’ll have the script ready by tomorrow. We’ll need a special slot, so please contact us in the morning. That’s the only way we can get it on air during prime time in the evening.”

“Thank you.”

As the PDs and writers left, my father said casually,

“Should I meet with your uncles?”

“No. It won’t do much good. This isn’t a family matter where blood ties matter anymore; it’s a public battle for management control – either we take the company or we’re driven out.”

My father didn’t seem to be blaming himself for not being able to help his son. Instead, he said something unexpected.

“Then I should prepare for when you lose this fight.”

Is it a parent’s heart that makes them think of a safe haven for their defeated child first?

“Come on. Do you really think I’ll lose? And even if I do, I’ll look for a chance to turn things around.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I mean I’ll prepare for when that chance to turn things around comes. I have no intention of comforting a son who lost his first battle.”

Grandfather’s words about me being the most promising son echoed in my mind. Had Grandfather recognized this side of my father early on?

“Do you have something prepared for your beloved son?”

“I always make sure to greet the VIP patients at Soonyang Medical Center. There are quite a few useful people there.”

My father is truly meticulous.

* * *

Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi kept fidgeting with his phone.

In a situation like this, his phone should be ringing off the hook with calls asking for his opinion or confirmation, but not a single call came.

He only heard snippets of bad news from his secretary staff rushing around outside.

“Hey! What’s going on? Is the rumor true?”

Only one person would barge in without knocking and shout.

“What rumor?”

“The Labuan slush fund! Is it true that you pocketed money by disguising it as buying a shell company?”

Seeing his younger brother’s silence and furrowed brow, Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi clicked his tongue.

“If you’re going to steal, you shouldn’t get caught. What are you going to do if news like this breaks during such a crucial time!”

“Who says I’m the subject of the news?”

“Everyone but you! Every damn person walking around this building is grumbling about it. We laid off thousands during the IMF crisis, and now you’ve skimmed off hundreds of billions of won a year. The looks we’re getting aren’t of respect, they’re like we’re bugs!”

“Let’s stop. You’ve got your fair share of skeletons in the closet, Hyung-nim. Just the foreign exchange gains from Soonyang Electronics’ exports that you funneled into your personal accounts amount to hundreds of billions, right? Should I make sure that gets into the news?”

Jin Young-gi sighed at his agitated younger brother’s words.

“Anyway, clean this up quickly. Bury it before the Soonyang name gets dragged into it. If you announce massive personnel changes now? The atmosphere in the group will be a total mess.”

“Stop nagging and get involved yourself, Hyung-nim. If things continue like this, I’ll have to step down at the next board meeting.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Step down from the board meeting?”

“Do-jun, that bastard, is behind this. He’s using my weaknesses to try and protect the financial group.”

Jin Young-gi’s eyes widened.

“Do-jun? How could he?”

“It’s a long story. Anyway, he’s got evidence of my slush funds and even witnesses, and he’s using them to threaten me. And somehow, he’s managed to get the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor General to be lukewarm about it.”

“Those bastards?”

“They said they need a little time to assess the situation. They said it’s difficult to bury it quietly without internal backlash right now.”

“Damn it, we don’t have time to worry about that. Just leave them alone. They’ll calm down eventually. What else can they do?”

This time, Jin Dong-gi let out a long sigh.

“With clear evidence and witnesses in hand, and with money being thrown around to the media? Do-jun isn’t some powerless nobody without connections. He’s someone who can mobilize his network just like we can.”

Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi vigorously shook his head at Jin Dong-gi’s whining.

“You have money, connections, and power too! Handle it yourself. I can’t stand to see the next board meeting fall apart.”

Jin Young-gi delivered his stern warning and fled his younger brother’s office. A strange smile played on his lips.

“He has a powerful trump card, does he?”

Returning to his own office, Jin Young-gi immediately called his chief of staff.

“Chief Secretary Baek, come to my office. Now.”

Jin Young-gi explained the situation with Vice-chairman Jin Dong-gi to Chief Secretary Baek, who had rushed in, and then asked for his opinion.

“What do you think?”

“It seems likely the board meeting will be disrupted. While 100 billion won in overseas accounts isn’t a big deal in itself, the fact that it happened during the IMF crisis is the problem. It’s bound to attract public criticism….”

Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi waved his hand, cutting off Chief Secretary Baek.

“That’s not what I meant. I was wondering if we should use this opportunity to have Dong-gi step down temporarily. If he temporarily relinquishes his vice-chairmanship, who else is there to take over the heavy industries group? It’s only me.”

“Ah……!”

Chief Secretary Baek’s face flushed slightly. He felt ashamed that he, the strategist, hadn’t come up with such an idea first.

“That means you need to secure the evidence Jin Do-jun has against your older brother…. But would he give it up easily? He’s threatening your older brother to keep control of the financial group.”

“So, he’s finally revealed his true, naked ambition, hasn’t he?”

“Yes. We expected it, but now it’s blatant.”

“Then if we satisfy that ambition a little, wouldn’t he move the way I want?” Baek Jun-hyuk’s ability to quickly understand Jin Young-gi’s intentions was one of the reasons he had risen to the position of chief of staff.

“I’ll meet with him. I think we need to find out exactly what he has and how far he’s willing to go.”

A satisfied smile spread across Vice-chairman Jin Young-gi’s face.

“Hurry.”