Chapter 96: A Test of Trust

“Come on, man. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? Who here gets to go home every night? You know I’ve been living in a hotel for over two weeks. I’m starting to forget what my kids look like.”

Kam Kwan-hyeok kept his head slightly bowed, waiting for just one word from Go Kyung-yeol. So, he didn’t reply.

“Oh, right. Set up a dinner meeting with the Seoul district representatives and committee chairs. We’re throwing money around, we should at least get some credit for it.”

“Understood.”

The words he was waiting for still didn’t come. Kim Kwan-hyeok bowed his head and turned away.

“Oh, and Kim, Chief.”

“Yes?”

Kim Kwan-hyeok turned back at the sound of his name. His face brightened slightly. With everything going on, maybe he just hadn’t had a chance to ask. Now it was his turn to hear what he wanted.

“Did the approval rating poll from last week come out?”

“Ah, yes.”

The words he had hoped for never came.

“The candidate is ahead within the margin of error. The gap continues to widen, so we should see better results next week.”

Hearing at least some good news seemed to improve Go Kyung-yeol’s mood.

“Good. You’ve done well. You can go.”

Bowing his head again, Kim Kwan-hyeok bit his lip.

As soon as he was outside the door, he let out a sigh.

There was only one thing he wanted to hear.

“What’s wrong?”

He had been clear. A week, he’d said…

In a time when every second was precious, the person in charge of the election campaign had said he’d be away for a whole week. Anyone would know it wasn’t something trivial.

Hadn’t he always put his superiors’ personal matters before his own family and home life?

So, the first thing he should have asked was what was going on. How difficult could that one question be?

Racking his memory, he realized he hadn’t asked for a single favor in the ten-plus years he had served him.

Was that it? Did he think Kim Kwan-hyeok didn’t have any personal issues?

The guilt he felt for testing his superior vanished. Disappointment and a sense of betrayal washed over him.

He didn’t want to jump to conclusions based on this one small test.

Maybe things would be different after today, by tomorrow morning.

“Kim, Chief. No, Kwan-hyeok. I was a bit out of it yesterday… What’s wrong? Is something the matter at home?”

He might say that with a worried expression.

Three days passed, then a week. But the words Kim Kwan-hyeok longed to hear never came from Go Kyung-yeol’s lips. He had clearly forgotten.

“Damn it. Was that all it was…”

He was talking to himself.

Could such a simple question shatter his trust in the man he’d followed for ten years? Or perhaps this was just the excuse he needed to justify selling himself for 20 billion won.

The target of his curse was both Go Kyung-yeol and himself.

They both deserved it.

* * *

It was time to start looking at other options.

More than a week had passed without any contact. A strong bond that wouldn’t even consider a 20 billion won down payment and a high-paying executive position. And loyalty.

That deserved respect.

Whether Kim Kwan-hyeok had unwavering loyalty or Go Kyung-yeol was a man worthy of such devotion, he didn’t know.

But human trust was as fragile as paper.

Like paper tearing with a single drop of water, Kim Kwan-hyeok’s trust had broken.

When they met again, he looked lifeless.

“Is it true that Miracle has close ties with Soonyang Group?”

“Yes, we already absorbed Soonyang Automobile, didn’t we?”

“No, I’m not talking about business relationships. I mean with the owner’s family. Is all of this to get your son-in-law elected as the Mayor of Seoul?”

Was he finally done being a fool who just ate the handouts and took the bait? He wanted to know the whole story.

“It’s unrelated. If the goal was simply to ensure the Soonyang Group’s son-in-law won the election, Soonyang Group has the power to do that without going through such a complicated process.”

Kim Kwan-hyeok nodded.

He’d been in the political arena for ten years.

Those who had benefited from Soonyang’s political slush funds would install Soonyang’s chosen candidate as the Mayor of Seoul. He knew they wouldn’t need to involve someone like him.

“Alright. Then let’s talk frankly. Why are you trying to get Soonyang’s son-in-law elected as Mayor of Seoul?”

“It’s a company secret, I can’t reveal it to outsiders.”

Kim Kwan-hyeok’s expression shifted slightly.

“Outsider? I’m about to become a traitor, and you’re still calling me an outsider? Which side am I on then? Do I even have a place to stand?”

“Once you take our money and Go Kyung-yeol loses the election, you become an insider. Until then, you remain in the grey area.”

He chuckled bitterly and brought the glass to his lips.

“Damn, is this what being a traitor feels like? Only when the bridge is completely burned am I recognized as a traitor? This is a tough gig.”

He needed to offer this man some solace in his miserable state.

“Chief. If I may be so bold, can I say something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Betraying a colleague or a friend’s trust is something you can call betrayal.”

“But betraying the trust of a superior isn’t betrayal?”

“It’s just the end of a business relationship. Were you truly bound by trust with Candidate Go Kyung-yeol? Did you serve him with no personal desires of your own?”

Kim Kwan-hyeok didn’t answer easily, only lifting his glass.

“This isn’t a monarchy or a feudal era. Loyalty is an outdated virtue. Superiors treat their subordinates like dogs, what loyalty are we talking about? Subordinates aren’t dogs. There needs to be mutual respect.”

Kim Kwan-hyeok raised his hand, stopping him.

“Stop. It’s not comforting at all. I was just a money-grubber.”

“Most people are money-grabbers. Unfortunately, they’re money-grabbers who don’t even make any money.”

“So, I’m better because I’m getting a hefty sum?”

“You’re getting money and the chance to pursue your own ambitions. Instead of being someone’s right-hand man, run for National Assembly. Miracle will actively support you.”

“A National Assemblyman…”

“The 16th general election is two years away. Whether it’s with the ruling party or the opposition, a district seat or a proportional representation slot, you’ll have enough time and money to prepare.”

He drank for a while, as if trying to wash away his guilt with alcohol. When the second bottle of soju was almost empty, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Move the money to Switzerland or wherever quickly. And have the reporters ready two days before the election when I contact you. I’ll give you a big scoop.”

“Yes. Don’t worry about the money. I value trust greatly. I would never stab you in the back, Chief.”

The deal was done, but he didn’t offer a handshake. He sensed that Kim Kwan-hyeok wasn’t in the right frame of mind for a comfortable handshake.

* * *

With two weeks left until the election, the approval rating gap had widened to 10%. More than the candidates’ pledges or policies, their image was the biggest factor.

A clean public official versus the son-in-law of the chaebol responsible for the IMF crisis – it was a gap that couldn’t be closed.

“Father, please do something. At this rate, there’s no point in even campaigning.”

Even the opposition party leadership was suggesting they give up this time and aim for the next election, leaving Jin Seo-yoon with no option but to cling to Chairman Jin.

“It’s too late. What do you want me to do, hand out money envelopes to every voter? The final strength of an election lies in the candidate’s ability. What can I do if your husband is only capable of this much?”

Chairman Jin rebuked his daughter with a displeased expression.

“I’ve shaken hands with market grandmothers, those dirty hands, thousands of times! I’ve gone this far… I can’t live with the injustice if I lose.”

His daughter, who had always gotten everything easily.

Even at fifty, she still talked like a child.

“You are responsible for your husband’s election until the end. That election money belongs to your young nephew. We might not be able to return double or triple, but we should at least pay a hefty interest, shouldn’t we?”

Chairman Jin sharply reprimanded his daughter, who seemed to completely disregard the 40 billion won.

“Don’t underestimate Oh Se-hyun of Miracle. He acquired Ajin and swallowed Dae-ah Construction with money from American investors. He’s not ordinary. He has the contract in his hands. Even if we can’t win, if we show a half-hearted campaign or give up, who knows what he might do.”

Only then did Jin Seo-yoon remember where the money came from. And the contract too.

Seeing his daughter’s flustered expression, Chairman Jin clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk. You didn’t know the fear of money, but now you remember? You’d be better off meeting Oh Se-hyun and appeasing him.”

Jin Seo-yoon hurriedly grabbed her bag and rushed out of the study.

* * *

“Despite your great support, Representative, it seems difficult. The approval rating gap just keeps widening….”

Jin Seo-yoon bowed her head as respectfully as possible.

“What is it? We still have ten days left, are you giving up?”

“There’s such a thing as momentum. To reverse this, we need a major scandal, but everything that could come out already has.”

“Is that so? Hmm….”

Oh Se-hyun struggled to maintain a neutral expression. It was ridiculous to see the daughter of a chaebol, someone her age, acting so polite. He also had to hide the fact that he was already planning how to profit from the advantage he had secured.

“So, you’re saying it’s absolutely impossible to win?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“What if I could turn things around?”

“…?”

Jin Seo-yoon didn’t understand Oh Se-hyun’s intention and just blinked.

“Didn’t you just say we need a major scandal? Shall I provide one for you?”

“What are you talking about? A major scandal?”

“Did you think I would pour 40 billion won of company money and simply give up? Perhaps President Jin and Candidate Choi think it’s okay to treat other people’s money so lightly?”

“Oh, no. Not at all. I’m just deeply sorry about the situation.”

She couldn’t lift her head, likely trying to hide her seething anger. This was a woman who had never bowed her head to anyone except her father, Chairman Jin. How humiliated must she feel right now?

“That’s why I’m offering to step in. I never do anything that involves losing money.”

Oh Se-hyun put down his teacup, making his point.

“Forget about losing and do your best until the end. I’ll create the opportunity for a reversal. There will be significant changes by the day before the election. And…”

He glanced at her, and Jin Seo-yoon just stared back, speechless.

“You need to remember our contribution, including all of this. We will be handsomely rewarded for it.”

“Just say the word. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Remember those words.”

Jin Seo-yoon nodded vigorously, meeting Oh Se-hyun’s sharp gaze.

* * *

“Uncle, I’ve got the call.”

“Oh? Where is it?”

“They want all the reporters at the ‘Dami’ Japanese restaurant in Yeouido tonight at 8 PM, room number 4. Kim Kwan-hyeok will probably be in room 3 or 5.”

“Okay. If we’re dropping a bombshell, we need to gather all the major newspapers, right?”

Oh Se-hyun had already started making calls. After finishing calls with half a dozen reporters, he seemed a little tense.

“Will two hundred million won be worth it?”

Oh Se-hyun hadn’t complained about the additional 20 billion won. As someone who had spent his life in stock investments, he knew that pouring more in for success was the right investment compared to losing 40 billion won.

His only worry was whether this was the right time to double down.

“If Uncle loses the election, we’ll definitely recover the money. Kim Kwan-hyeok knows it too. Today is either the day he resets his life and starts anew, or he hits rock bottom and his political career ends. It’s a crucial crossroads for him.”