Chapter 86: The Shifting Sands of Power

“This is going to get interesting. Or perhaps, it’s the dawn of a major upheaval?”

Chief of Staff Lee Hak-jae’s mind raced, a whirlwind of Chairman Jin’s past instructions.

One recent order stood out: the transfer of the medical foundation and human resources development center to his youngest son, Jin Yun-ki.

Perhaps this inheritance wasn’t for the son, but for the grandson. Still, questions lingered.

Neither entity generated significant profit nor held controlling shares within the group. Why these particular assets? What was the underlying reason?

“It’s fortunate that a financially robust entity like Miracle stands as a steadfast ally of the Chairman. This crisis might even present an opportunity.”

Lee Hak-jae refocused on the matter at hand, brushing aside the unnecessary chatter.

“We need to ascertain Miracle’s liquid asset status to determine how many Dae-ah shares we can secure.”

Chief of Staff Lee Hak-jae spread several documents across the Chairman’s desk.

“This outlines Dae-ah Construction’s shareholder structure. President Kang Mu-sung and his family hold 23%, executives hold 7%, creditor banks own 20%, other institutions and major investors possess 35%, and retail investors account for the final 10%. Miracle has already secured 5%.”

“The 10% circulating in the market should be easy to scoop up, then?”

“Indeed. Everyone’s trying to sell before the company completely collapses, leading to a massive sell-off.”

Chairman Jin addressed the people gathered in his study.

“What do you think? A little personal investment opportunity? Buy up all the retail investors’ shares and resell them after the company recovers. It could be quite lucrative.”

Securing management control while generating additional income – a win-win scenario.

Those in the study had to restrain themselves from grinning ear to ear.

“The banks and institutions will likely be supportive once Miracle acquires more shares… Leaving President Kang’s family’s shares as the remaining target.”

President Hong cautiously offered, prompting Chairman Jin to chuckle heartily.

“That’s Miracle’s job. We’ll provide support from the sidelines, then you all can go in and take over Dae-ah Construction. Ha ha.”

Chief of Staff Lee Hak-jae found the prospect of observing the true owner of Dae-ah unfold rather intriguing.

* * *

“In this situation, the best course of action is to lay everything bare and plead for leniency. You understand?”

……

President Kang Mu-sung gritted his teeth, forced to endure the young prosecutor’s mockery in the Western District Prosecutor’s Office interrogation room.

“Our prosecutors… they’re underpaid, overworked, and constantly dealing with late nights. Apparently, the documents seized from your company filled two two-ton trucks. How are we supposed to sift through all that? It’s a waste of taxpayer money.”

“This is an unfair, targeted investigation. It’s a conspiracy by a rival company eagerly awaiting our downfall.”

“Conspiracy, my foot! We have documents here with your signature all over them! Besides, wasn’t your company on the verge of collapse anyway? Who are you calling a rival? Honestly, it’s laughable. Heh heh.”

President Kang didn’t even glance at the file the prosecutor tossed onto the table. Wasn’t the currency arbitrage information something he’d approved?

“I don’t remember. I have no recollection of signing off on that.”

The interrogating prosecutor sighed and stared at President Kang for a moment.

When he spoke again, he dropped the polite honorifics.

“You don’t remember? Shall we refresh your memory?”

“What… what’s your problem? How dare you speak to me like that!”

Kang Mu-sung’s face flushed crimson at the young pup’s impudent tone.

The prosecutor stood up, shoved his hands into his trouser pockets, and nudged Kang’s chair with his foot.

“You son of a bitch. While the country teeters on the brink of collapse, you’re busy siphoning off funds for your own gain and plotting to flee overseas? Someone like you deserves the death penalty without trial. You traitorous bastard!”

The relentless kicking almost overturned the chair, forcing Kang to stand.

At that moment, the prosecutor grabbed the file and slammed it against Kang’s head.

“You little punk! What do you think you’re doing? Using physical force? Get the department head! You little bastard!”

Kang’s indignant shouts only seemed to fuel the prosecutor’s anger.

“Department head? You want to see the department head? Fine. You’ll meet him. But before that, since I’m going to be disciplined as a violent prosecutor anyway, I’ll make sure you really feel it. If I don’t break one of your legs today, I’ll change my name. Brace yourself, you son of a bitch.”

While Kang Mu-sung endured such humiliation, other prosecutors attempted persuasion with honeyed words.

“Even as an executive, aren’t you just a salaried employee? Why jump into the fire with him?”

“Prosecutor, I genuinely have no knowledge of these matters.”

“Come on, now. Your approval seal is right here. What do you mean you don’t know? And listen to me. The country’s running out of dollars and is on the verge of collapse. Yet, you exploited the rising exchange rate to siphon money off? This isn’t just a violation of foreign exchange controls. It’s treason. Even the judge might hand down the maximum sentence. Otherwise, the public might tear you limb from limb.”

Hesitating, unsure whether it was a threat, intimidation, or persuasion, the prosecutor’s expression shifted abruptly.

“You must have gotten your hands dirty with some of that illicit money, right? Falsifying documents, pocketing some profits from the currency arbitrage? Should we dig into all of that and slap you with massive fines? Strip you bare, leaving you with nothing? Huh?”

“P-Prosecutor. It’s not like that…”

Additionally, many subordinates, eager to prove they were merely following orders and completely innocent, spilled everything they knew.

“Prosecutor, I’m in charge of importing high-end interior materials. I know the details of all the import items. These import documents are all fake. Only a few samples were ever brought in. As you know, Dae-ah specializes in plants and large-scale buildings. The only apartments we’ve built are a few low-income complexes. Where would we use these high-end interior materials?”

“Aren’t they used in office buildings? There are many luxury buildings these days.”

“Only in the lobbies. And each floor is sold as a shell. Interior design is the responsibility of the occupants, isn’t it?”

“What about the foreign remittances? We have copies of your resident registration card attached to the bank documents.”

“Prosecutor, does the president personally handle bank transfers? Isn’t it natural for a junior employee like me to prepare the documents?”

“Then take a look at this. Is this everything? Or is there more?”

The employee didn’t even open the file the prosecutor slid across the table.

“There are three or four more boxes like that. I practically lived at the bank since last fall.”

The prosecutor chuckled, pleased to encounter an easy target, anticipating an early departure from work.

Kang Mu-sung’s eyes welled up with tears as he saw the middle-aged man entering the interrogation room, as if seeing his deceased parents.

“Department Head Lee. You heartless man, why are you only coming now?”

“Oh dear, President Kang. What happened to your face…?”

Both of Kang’s cheeks were swollen and red, like balloons.

As Kang glared at the young prosecutor with tearful eyes, the senior prosecutor kicked the junior prosecutor in the shin.

“You little shit! Don’t you know who this is? Where did you pick up the habit of treating petty criminals like this? Get out! Now!”

The junior prosecutor bowed repeatedly and left the interrogation room. Kang immediately grasped the senior prosecutor’s hand.

“Department Head Lee, please save me. I will never forget your kindness.”

“Alright, alright, let’s sit down first.”

Slightly disengaging his firmly held hand, the two men sat facing each other.

“I’ve received all the reports and reviewed the records. However…”

That ominous word. However.

“Let’s skip the trivial details. Miracle Investment first approached Dae-ah Construction five days ago, correct?”

“Yes. How can this be happening? This isn’t the era of military dictatorship; how could this happen under a civilian government!”

“Indeed. How could something like this be possible under a civilian government? In just five days?”

The tone of Department Head Lee’s reply signaled that something unusual was indeed unfolding.

“Are you suggesting this is all under the Blue House’s orders?”

Department Head Lee shook his head.

“His term is almost over. What power does the Blue House have now?”

“Then who? Who’s behind this?”

“President Kang, who do you believe holds the most power in our country right now?”

“Could the next administration be targeting me…?”

“No. Right now, in our country, the one who controls the dollars is king. You know Camdessus? The IMF president. That bastard released a mere 2 billion dollars and is now shaking the entire nation.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Miracle Investment, holding the dollars, is negotiating with the presidential transition team. They’re offering to release the dollars in exchange for taking over the failing Dae-ah Construction. You, President Kang, are just an unfortunate target for their acquisition. Do you understand?”

His vision blurred, and he could see nothing.

Usually, acquisitions target companies that have already failed. The fact they didn’t wait for the collapse suggests another motive.

“And the evidence of your embezzlement is overwhelming. There are testimonies from executives and employees, and a mountain of incriminating documents. There’s no way out.”

The words ‘no way out’ jolted Kang back to reality.

“So, you’re saying I’ll be indicted? Me?”

“I trust you know which connections to leverage if you wish to avoid that.”

Senior Prosecutor Lee slid Kang’s cell phone across the table and stood up.

“Make a decision quickly. The transition from witness to suspect is swift.”

Left alone in the interrogation room, Kang sat in stunned silence for a long time.

* * *

“Can you find a better offer than this, President Kang?”

Kang’s expression was vacant, and it was hard to tell if he was even listening, but the negotiation had to proceed.

“You’ll have enough to live comfortably, you won’t have to flee the country in the dead of night and can return whenever you like. No, you can even stay in your hometown, Korea.”

At the opposite table, two investigators were enjoying their seolleongtang and suyuk while keeping an eye on Kang Mu-sung. Kang, however, didn’t touch the food in front of him.

“Aren’t you thinking about your children? The money transferred under their names is illegal gifting, so you can’t touch it. Your own employees have testified that your children never even came to work. The salaries paid to them are also illegal gifts and will be reclaimed by the company.”

“So? What do you want?”

“Bring back all the company money you embezzled, every last penny. Then, we’ll buy the shares held by you and your family. That money should be enough for your retirement.”

“What about the prosecution’s investigation?”

“It will be closed, of course.”

Whether it was due to not eating properly, he looked haggard and much older. Yet, his appearance didn’t evoke a shred of sympathy.

Shouldn’t the founder of a company be like the captain of the Titanic, rescuing passengers and crew before going down with the ship?

Someone who prioritizes stripping valuable equipment from the ship for their own benefit deserves the consequences, not pity.

“Let’s get up. It seems you need to experience the interrogation room, the detention center, the jail, and finally the prison walls before you can decide.”

Oh Se-hyun’s sharp words spurred the hesitant Kang to wave his hands frantically.

“N-No, Representative Oh. I will do as you say. Just keep your promise.”

“You should have agreed from the start.”

Oh Se-hyun raised his hand, calling over the restaurant server.

“We’re finished eating. Please clear the table.”

He placed a notebook on the clean table.

“Write it all down. Your assets, your family’s assets, and the overseas accounts you’ve hidden under other names. If there’s even a gold nugget buried in your backyard, list it all. If even ten won is missing later, you’ll be eating prison food until your funeral. Be prepared.”

Facing Oh Se-hyun’s firm expression and resolute words, Kang Mu-sung listlessly picked up a pen.