Chapter 268: An Impossible Demand!

“That’s impossible!”

Despite her loud outburst, my grandmother couldn’t meet my gaze directly.

It wasn’t because she believed me; it was because she lacked the capacity to judge whether I was right or wrong.

The quickest way to escalate this situation was through political channels, but my grandmother was clueless about political machinations. She was just an ordinary old woman who’d never paid much attention to the news or the papers when it came to that.

“Shall I tell you something else? The absolute worst-case scenario?”

If it were my uncle, I wouldn’t even need to say this much; he’d understand instantly.

“The moment the opposition party brings up the Soonyang Gallery’s art smuggling and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ involvement in the National Assembly, this escalates into a diplomatic crisis between Korea and the United States. The US probably never imagined a country like Korea engaging in smuggling, right? You must have used that to your advantage.”

Was that really her own idea? Someone must have told her.

“Now the US has found a pretext to put pressure on our country. They won’t let this slide. They’ll start investigating the Wentworth Art Gallery… and I’ll claim all the paintings are forgeries.”

“The paintings are real!”

“I know. But who’s going to believe the Soonyang Gallery, known for its smuggling? The special prosecutor will launch a full investigation into the Soonyang Art Foundation’s collection. Then, the forgeries they’re holding onto, instead of the paintings they secretly sold off, will surface, proving the Wentworth Art Gallery’s claims true.”

The Soonyang Gallery holding fake paintings.

This would become international news, and the art world would be thrown into chaos. Then, the clients who secretly purchased paintings from the Soonyang Gallery wouldn’t stay silent either.

There would be no way to stop the ensuing wave of international lawsuits.

“Oh, and it’s in the contract, right? The penalty for breach of contract is three times the transaction amount of $600 million… Well, it should be fine, since the insurance company will handle it.”

My grandmother finally grasped the enormity of the situation. The trembling in her clenched hands was uncontrollable.

“You did all this just to get the penalty?”

“Of course not. There are plenty of ways to make money. That’s why I told you, in negotiations like these, the priority is to understand what the other party wants.”

“So… what is it that you want?”

“Let me tell you one more thing. The one holding the knife doesn’t need to say what they want first. If you want to know what I want, you should start by telling me what you can offer. That’s the proper order.”

There was no need to say more. There were still things I needed to find out. The really crucial things.

“I’ll give you time to think. Consult your clever subordinates, or your proud son. That way… we can prevent this from becoming a national scandal.”

She likely understood that the one who stood up from the chair and left the study first was the powerful one. Before leaving, I threw one last remark at my paralyzed grandmother.

“Come on, your grandson is here, and you can’t even offer him a cup of coffee? Are you really my grandmother?”

I left the house, once again taking a leisurely stroll through the garden I had walked through earlier.

Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk and the staff, who had been waiting anxiously, rushed out of the car as soon as they saw me.

“Get more people. From today, we need to monitor everyone entering and leaving this house. If anyone unfamiliar shows up, follow them to the end. We need to identify every single one of them. Understand?”

“Yes, Chief of staff.”

“Then please get to it.”

Whoever comes running the fastest will be Lee Pil-ok’s brain.

* * *

Biting her lip, Lee Pil-ok paced her study. To resolve this chaotic situation, she knew she couldn’t rely on her own strength alone.

“Director Chun. It’s urgent. You need to come to the house right now.”

About thirty minutes after her call, a middle-aged man appeared.

“What’s wrong, Chairman of the board?”

“Ah, Director Chun. You’re here.”

Having rushed over, Director Chun had no time for even a sip of water before having to listen to Chairman Lee Pil-ok’s story.

“Jin Do-jun? Are you saying this is all a trap set by him?”

“It seems so. Look at this.”

Lee Pil-ok handed over a copy of the contract.

“He had this in his possession. He didn’t seem to be lying.”

As soon as Cheon Sang-pil, the director of the Soonyang Art Foundation, saw the copy of the English contract, his face tightened. Having reviewed the contract dozens of times himself, he knew it wasn’t a fake at a glance.

“He said he’d leak this to the opposition party?”

“Yes. He even threatened me with a special investigation, a hearing, and a diplomatic crisis.”

“Not the media, but the opposition party? Well, that’s… haha.”

Director Cheon Sang-pil let out a hollow laugh, seemingly in disbelief.

“That kid’s clever. He knows how to wield the weapon in his hand to achieve maximum impact.”

The corners of Lee Pil-ok’s eyes turned upwards.

“Did I call you here to listen to you praise him, Director Chun?”

“I apologize. Jin Do-jun hit the nail on the head, and I…”

Director Chun bowed his head and fell silent, filling the study with an oppressive quiet.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, Lee Pil-ok spoke.

“Just tell me one thing. If he leaks this to the opposition party, will it really escalate into a diplomatic crisis?”

“The domestic repercussions will be more severe than the diplomatic ones. For the opposition party, which lost the general election, there couldn’t be a better opportunity than this. They’ll exaggerate even non-existent issues.”

“Me, the mistress of Soonyang, with my eyes wide open?”

“There’s a by-election next year. If the opposition party wins then, they could overturn the ruling party’s majority. The current ruling party is only ahead by a precarious two seats, so a reversal is possible.”

“So, what he said is true?”

“Regrettably, yes.”

“Alright. You can go.”

“Yes, Chairman of the board. I’ll try to meet with Jin Do-jun.”

“Of course, you should. Don’t even think about showing your face to me until you resolve this.”

Cheon Sang-pil bowed his head to Lee Pil-ok, who didn’t even look at him, and left the study.

* * *

“Wow, that kid’s a pro. Setting up a $600 million trap to corner your grandmother?”

After hearing my story, Chairman Lee Hak-jae clicked his tongue in amazement.

“Your grandmother’s in deep trouble now. This is beyond Soonyang Group’s ability to cover up. She won’t be able to avoid appearing at the Prosecutor’s Office in a wheelchair, and if the opposition party squawks, it’s a jail sentence. The only ways out are a suspended sentence or release on medical bail. It’s a done deal. Heh.”

“The Soonyang Art Foundation will have to close, right?”

“That’s a bonus.”

Lee Hak-jae stopped chuckling and said.

“But it could take years to go through all three trials. Once next year’s by-election is over, your grandmother’s case will likely fade away… If they liquidate all the shares by then? You won’t gain anything.”

“We need to finish it before it goes to trial.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“My grandmother has a fixer. Take a look at this person.”

I handed him a developed photo. It was taken at night, so it wasn’t very clear, but you could still make out the face.

“Do you recognize him? Who is it?”

Lee Hak-jae studied the photo intently, lost in thought for a while.

“Ah! This fellow. Chun… Sang-pil. Yes, it’s Director Cheon Sang-pil.”

“You know him?”

“Yeah. It’s been a while since he quit, hasn’t it? He was the director of the art foundation, I think?”

“Where’s he from?”

“He was in the group’s legal team before being transferred to the foundation. He was a sharp guy, but he didn’t work there long before quitting. I heard he was sidelined as a non-mainstream figure, so he left?”

“If he was in the legal team, he must be a lawyer.”

“Probably? But why him?”

“He was the first one to rush over as soon as I declared war on my grandmother.”

“Really? So, he’s one of her closest confidants?”

“He’s probably her brain. Just like you’re the first person my grandfather looked for when he was in trouble.”

Lee Hak-jae chuckled, pointing at my hand that was gesturing towards him.

“If you cut off her limbs, Lee Pil-ok will be helpless. She doesn’t have any spares.”

“Probably just one head, right? Director Chun is the brain, after all. It’d be troublesome if she had spares.”

Lee Hak-jae shook his head.

“You ruthless bastard. You’re going to cut off your grandmother’s head and stick it on your spear?”

“Why? Surely Director Cheon Sang-pil doesn’t wield as much power as you, Chairman Lee?”

“Power is relative. The power to manipulate the Soonyang Art Foundation as he pleases, in place of your grandmother who’s just a figurehead, isn’t much different from when I was the second-in-command at Soonyang. No, it’s even greater. I’m the dragon’s tail, while Director Chun is the snake’s head.”

Good. I got all the information I needed.

“To cut off a dragon’s tail, you need a large expedition, but to cut off a snake’s head, a single snake catcher is enough. That’s the limitation of a snake’s head.”

“Do you have a snake catcher?”

“Yes. A fearsome one. Heh.”

Lee Hak-jae waved his hand dismissively.

“Go on, get out of here. Looking at you makes me realize how lucky I was to be the dragon’s tail.”

* * *

– Mr. Jin Do-jun?

An unfamiliar call suddenly came in, and I immediately had a feeling.

This guy is the snake’s head.

“Speaking.”

– This is about Chairman Lee Pil-ok, or rather, your grandmother, Mr. Jin Do-jun… I’d like to meet to discuss this. Would you have some time?”

I briefly forgot my grandmother’s habit of delegating troublesome and annoying tasks to her subordinates.

For a matter of this magnitude, it’s natural to mobilize someone who can resolve it quickly, and such a person would be the brain, not just someone who runs errands.

“I don’t know who you are, but let’s start with basic courtesy. Who are you?”

I needed to make sure the snake’s head clearly understood that I was holding the knife.

– Ah, I apologize. I’m Cheon Sang-pil, the director of the Soonyang Art Foundation.

“Cheon Sang-pil? As far as I know, there’s no Cheon Sang-pil among the foundation’s directors. Who are you, exactly?”

– Ah…. I forgot to add ‘formerly.’ Haha.

This snake belongs to the rat snake family, known for their cunning.

“Alright. I’ll consider you your grandmother’s representative. Think carefully about how much you need to bring, coordinate with your grandmother, and contact me again. I’m hanging up now.”

I hung up, but I could almost hear the snake’s head muttering, ‘This punk has no manners.’

Now, it’s a matter of seeing how big our grandmother and the snake’s head’s ambitions are.

* * *

I rented a room at the Soonyang Hotel. I figured it would be easier for the rat snake to put on a nonchalant act if no one else was around.

Cheon Sang-pil, appearing to be in his mid-fifties, had a sharp look that didn’t quite fit the image of a cunning rat snake.

“Nice to meet you, Chief of staff Jin Do-jun. I’m Cheon Sang-pil.”

“Jin Do-jun. Please, have a seat.”

“You know your stuff. You even know to prepare a private room like this. Haha.”

“Just imitating scenes from dramas about chaebols. Glad you like it.”

Sitting down and seeing the coffee cups on the table, he laughed again.

“Wouldn’t a glass of whiskey be more appropriate for a time like this?”

“If I like the number you bring, I’ll get you a whole case of Balvenie whiskey.”

“You really know your stuff. Looks like I’ll be loosening my belt for a good drink today.”

“Stop with the wishful thinking and let’s hear the number you brought.”

Cheon Sang-pil’s ever-present smile vanished instantly, replaced by a serious expression.

“I’m here to hear what you want. If it’s just about money, I wouldn’t see the reason for setting up such an elaborate trap. Someone who poured $600 million into setting a trap wants money? Stop joking around.”

I addressed him, meeting his gaze directly.

“My apologies, I wasn’t clear during our abrupt phone call.”

“Now we’re talking. So, what is it that you want?”

“It is about a number. It’s just not the number I want. Director Cheon Sang-pil, I meant for you to bring the number you want.”

For a moment, Cheon Sang-pil was speechless, his sharp gaze faltering. He could only blink.