Chapter 55: An Opportunity That Cannot Be Missed

Following behind President Kim of U-Gwang Construction, the Grim Reaper silently approached.

Bang.

At that moment, the door to the Mayor’s office at Seoul City Hall swung open.

The person Mayor Gu personally led out was my father.

Mayor Gu wore an extremely satisfied expression as he burst into hearty laughter.

“Thanks to you, my ideas for Subway Line 3 and 4 are finally starting to take shape.”

Mayor Gu gave my father’s shoulder a light pat.

“It really is enjoyable to have a conversation with someone who’s on the same wavelength. If it weren’t for the district mayors’ meeting, I would’ve liked to talk with you a bit longer. Such a shame. Let’s look forward to next time.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I really like your confident and composed demeanor. How much more are you planning to make me trust you here?”

Mayor Gu smiled contentedly.

“Make sure you prepare the bidding documents for the Subway Line 2 project properly and submit them.”

“Of course.”

“I have no intention of leaving any stains on my record. So you’ll have to be even more careful with the documents you submit. My leaning towards Taeseong and just blindly supporting Taeseong even if your application is half-baked are two very different things.”

“Yes, sir. Taeseong won’t do anything carelessly, so there’s nothing to worry about on that front.”

“Good! That’s exactly what I wanted to hear! Get home safe.”

“I’ll take my leave, then.”

My father bowed politely.

President Kim of U-Gwang Construction and Secretary Choi stopped walking as they saw this.

President Kim’s expression was twisted with displeasure.

“Looks like you’re lobbying the decision-maker before the project starts. That’s collusion between government and business.”

But the reply came not from my father, but from Mayor Gu.

“Collusion? Then why did you come see me?”

His tone was sharp.

“I have ears to listen and eyes to see, you know. It seems you’ve been cozying up to city councilors, district councilors, and even city officials, constantly meddling in my business. I don’t take kindly to that. That’s real collusion. How is this collusion?”

“Mr. Mayor, I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? So you’re saying I’m nitpicking for no reason when I don’t know shit? Well, I’m dumbfounded.”

Mayor Gu walked away without looking back.

My father had already long disappeared in the opposite direction.

President Kim of U-Gwang Construction hurriedly followed after Mayor Gu.

“Mayor, could you spare me a moment? There’s something I need to discuss regarding the Subway Line 2 project.”

“Did you leave your time with me? I’m about to get very busy, so I’d prefer you go on your way.”

“It’s an important matter. I promise it’ll be an offer attractive enough that you’ll be glad you took the time…”

“Is that so. As it happens, I also have a proposal to make. Fair’s fair.”

“Pardon?”

“It’ll take more than 30 minutes for the district mayors’ meeting to finish. It’s the end of the year, so it’ll probably take over an hour.”

“Yes, I’ll wait.”

“Then draw up a route map for Subway Line 2 while you’re at it.”

At Mayor Gu’s signal, his aide immediately handed over a map of Seoul.

President Kim’s eyes widened.

“What’s the meaning of this all of a sudden? You want me to draw up a route map for Subway Line 2?”

“We’ve decided to change the route for Subway Line 2. U-Gwang is one of the strongest construction candidates, so I thought I’d give you a chance to present your opinion on the subway plan.”

Mayor Gu flashed a sly grin.

“Go ahead, draw the subway route of your dreams, U-Gwang. Just mark about 40 stations.”

“How could I possibly draw a subway route in an hour?”

“No need to overthink it. If you do well, there might be bonus points. If not, there won’t be any penalty.”

“Mayor, this isn’t a difficult request—it’s an impossible one!”

President Kim’s crumpled face didn’t smooth out.

“Forty stations? Do you realize how much I have to consider? U-Gwang has to bear all the construction costs, and you’re making such an irresponsible demand…”

“Why, can’t you do it? Are you not confident? Taeseong managed it in thirty minutes. Is it too much for U-Gwang?”

“…What?”

President Kim recoiled in shock.

“What did you just say? Taeseong did what?”

“Taeseong drew up the Subway Line 2 route map in thirty minutes. Even Hyeonmu managed it, yet U-Gwang’s the only one hesitating.”

“T-thirty minutes? Both Taeseong and Hyeonmu?”

Mayor Gu firmly pressed a hand on President Kim’s shoulder.

“If you’re not confident, you can give up. That’s just the extent of U-Gwang’s abilities.”

It looked as if President Kim was barely suppressing a string of curses.

“I don’t think I’d want to work with a partner who lacks ability, vision, and insight.”

“…I’ll do it. I’ll try. I have to pull it off somehow.”

“Good. Since you’re so eager, I’ll trust you and wait.”

Why did Mayor Gu’s smile look so sly?

Mayor Gu left for the meeting room without looking back.

President Kim of U-Gwang Construction, left in the corridor of the Mayor’s office, grabbed at his own hair.

“Dammit!”

As soon as he saw the map of Seoul handed over by Mayor Gu, he let out the curse he’d been holding in.

“How did Taeseong manage to mark forty stations and submit it in thirty minutes? Even at one station per minute, that’s not enough time! What kind of lunatic is this?”

He looked completely lost, not knowing where to start or what to do.

The Grim Reaper giggled.

Then, leaving President Kim of U-Gwang Construction behind, he silently slipped away somewhere else.

It seemed the Grim Reaper now had other people to check up on besides President Kim.

Namely, the underlings from Taeseong Chemicals that Uncle Cheol-gu had singled out.

***

And thus, the shared vision with the Grim Reaper was severed.

‘From the look on President Kim’s face, the subway route map is as good as doomed… Ah! Master!’

I snapped back to my senses.

Wiggling my short legs energetically, I hurried over to Master.

I was curious about that golden-hued document he was holding.

“Hello?”

With both hands together, I bowed politely at my bellybutton.

“Well, who do we have here? Isn’t it our little guest?”

“Please leave out the ‘guest’ bit, since I didn’t come to your pawnshop.”

“Then what should I call you instead of little guest? How about Third Young Master of Taeseong Group?”

Master chuckled.

“I had my suspicions when that secretary fellow started following you around, but I never imagined you’d be Taeseong’s youngest grandson.”

“I’ll introduce myself properly. I’m Cha Jeong-hyeok.”

“Thanks to you, I received the invitation and had a great time. I got to enjoy some expensive liquor courtesy of your grandfather, too. The free booze more than made up for the gas it took to drive over.”

When it comes to free drinks, he’d wake up from his grave.

“Thanks to you, Taeseong was able to attract investment. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I profited plenty, too, so it was a good deal all around. If there’s another good opportunity next time, let’s help each other again.”

“Sure. Veterans should look out for each other.”

“That’s right, in this line of work, we share the good opportunities.”

My master and I exchanged smiles.

“If you’ve got time, would you like to have some tea with me?”

“I was just heading to the hotel café anyway. Ahem!”

“I’ll have Ssanghwa tea, please, with two eggs floating in it.”

“Showing off your rich background, eh? What a refined palate! Drinking it with two eggs floating on top, huh.”

“Well, I am the third grandson of Taeseong Group. That much luxury is allowed, isn’t it?”

“Goodness, but I’m not sure about the time…”

Before Master could check his watch, I shook my coin purse.

“Of course, it’s on me.”

“Looks like I have plenty of time until my next appointment. Then I’ll have Ssanghwa tea, too.”

Really, if it’s free, he’d even drink lye.

Still, I opened my wallet with a happy heart.

“I’ll have them put two eggs in yours as well, sir.”

“Oho, I’ve never had such luxury in my life. I’m already looking forward to what it tastes like.”

The favors Master did for me when I was cold and hungry as a child are too many to count.

It was a blessing when, come spring, he got me new clothes for the new semester.

It was a blessing when, in summer, he’d sneakily light mosquito coils for me.

It was a blessing when, in autumn, he’d give me money for books, telling me to use a pretty autumn leaf as a bookmark.

It was a blessing when, in winter, he’d roast sweet potatoes or rice cakes on the pawnshop stove.

“So, who are you here to meet at the hotel?”

“Would you even know if I told you?”

“I probably would.”

Master seemed at a loss for words, clearing his throat for a long while.

“So what brings you here? You always complain about how everything’s expensive at hotels.”

“You think I wanted to come to an expensive hotel? Those folks with too much money insisted on meeting here, acting all high and mighty. What could I do?”

“Those high and mighty folks, huh?”

I couldn’t help but tilt my head.

Master used to meet such people at the pawnshop, not the hotel.

Most of them came crawling, desperate for quick cash.

“I’m thinking of founding a bank.”

“Pfft!”

Uncharacteristically, I sputtered my Ssanghwa tea.

That’s how shocking Master’s words were.

“You’re founding a bank?”

Master had spent his entire life working the shadows, moving money through the pawnshop.

No matter how much property he owned, no matter how many prime real estate plots he swept up and became a land tycoon,

Master had never once hinted at founding a bank.

So of course, I was surprised.

Why all of a sudden?

“It’s thanks to you.”

That was even more absurd than saying he’d start a bank.

It was so absurd, I had to ask again.

“What do I have to do with a bank?”

“You sent me the invitation, didn’t you?”

Invitation?

“Do you have any idea who I met and what I discussed at the year-end party yesterday? It was like a bolt of lightning—my eyes were opened!”

“You said it was just like when you first discovered loan-sharking in the midst of war, right?”

“That’s right! It made me realize how foolish I was, not seeing such a good thing and scraping along the bottom. I regret having lived such a narrow life!”

Master slapped his knee.

“The words of the people who decide the fate of this country are full of lucrative information! I managed to pick up a real gem in there!”

“What exactly did you hear?”

“Financial reform.”

Master took a sip of Ssanghwa tea, moistening his throat.

His voice grew more secretive and clear.

“Kid, have you ever heard of the private loan freeze order?”

“Yes. That was when the president used emergency powers to turn private loans into worthless scraps of paper overnight.”

With Master, I didn’t have to pretend to be a child, which was a relief.

“In just one week, the reported amount of private loans reached about 360 billion won. That was about 80% of the total currency in Korea and around 34% of all domestic loans.”

“…!”

“It was a drastic measure to eliminate underground finance eating away at the official sector and to absorb private capital into official financial institutions. Thanks to that, the unhealthy official finance sector survived, and the banks’ bad debts could be covered.”

“Ha…!”

“And among the top 83 companies, 45% were unviable, so it was a way for the government to forcibly revive them—a double-edged move, you might say.”

Master stared at me, mouth agape.

Then he let out a hollow laugh.

“You really are just seven years old… No, never mind. Yes, everything you said is correct. Exactly right.”

“So what about the private loan freeze order? Are they planning another round of private finance reform?”

“You’re sharp as well as clever. That’s right, there are rumors that another round of financial regulation is being prepared.”

I doubt it, though.

‘That’s probably a rumor deliberately being spread.’

Even carrying out the loan freeze order once put a heavy economic and political burden on the Blue House.

For the president, pushing through another financial reform shaking up the economy so soon would be too much.

Especially with the presidential election set for next July.

I don’t think they’ll dare to make another reckless move in the financial sector.

“Since the military regime took power, how many major financial regulations have they enforced? Currency reform, currency devaluation, private loan freeze orders—they just keep coming! Whenever the government draws its sword of regulation, underground finance gets slaughtered en masse.”

But Master seemed to think differently.

His lowered voice grew even more secretive.

“They say a regulation will soon be enforced to curb real estate speculation.”

The 8.8 Real Estate Regulation!

That was something they’d definitely enforce to suppress overheated real estate speculation.

“Financial sector regulations inevitably follow real estate regulation.”

Master grinned.

“So, though it may be a little early, I’m thinking of founding a bank and stepping out into the open, before the regulations tie us down. Time to play in a bigger pond.”

Without realizing it, I stared at Master, blankly.

‘Not bad at all.’

Now I understood why that document in his hands was shining gold.

It was a golden opportunity for me, for Master, and for Taeseong.