Chapter 18: President Cha’s Will

As he watched his grandson walk away, President Cha smiled contentedly.

“I’ve raised the boy smart. He’s got guts, he’s got spirit, and he stands his ground.”

Kim Secretary wore a flustered expression, but that hardly mattered.

Director Go was at a loss, staring at the pile of neglected gifts, but that didn’t matter either.

President Cha tapped the photo of Cha Jeonghyeok that had been attached to the report, grinning from ear to ear.

“Everyone scrambles to win my favor when they see me, but that kid isn’t even afraid. He just treats me like some neighborhood grandpa.”

“So does that make you feel disappointed?”

“Not at all. It’s not because he’s clueless, either. Watching his mother fumble, he figured out what kind of person I am. And even so, he stood up to me with guts.”

That was why President Cha was in such a good mood.

“He’s got real nerve. His eyes are sharp, too. Even the way he talks, he’s got bite. Seongjun’s lucky to have a son like that. This is all Seongjun’s good fortune. Hahaha!”

President Cha thought of the report Kim Secretary had submitted.

“He lived in the Kuro-dong Shanty House, didn’t he? The clothes he’s wearing are shabby, and his haircut looks completely outdated. Doesn’t suit that handsome, noble-looking face. Contact the department store and have a membership card issued to him.”

“Yes, understood.”

Every single thing his grandson wore reeked of poverty.

“I heard he nearly died from coal gas poisoning. You can imagine what hardships he’s been through. And yet, he never whined, never complained. Unlike those brats who can’t wait to stick out their hands for money, he didn’t say a single word about wanting cash.”

Kim Secretary wanted to add something, but pressed his lips together.

Because President Cha raised his hand to stop him.

“He doesn’t seem clueless about what it means to be a chaebol. Yet, he just left without a hint of regret, holding his mother’s hand. Hahaha!”

President Cha slapped his knee.

“Right, a man should have at least that much backbone!”

That was a relief.

“But he’s still so young. How can he give up his own future so easily?”

President Cha clicked his tongue.

“If he were really sharp, he would’ve found a way into this family first, then seized the chance to beg me to accept his mother too.”

“He’s not someone who would misjudge the situation that badly.”

“Hm?”

President Cha looked up at Kim Secretary.

“You’re usually not one to say such things. Is it that serious?”

“It’s more than that.”

“Hm.”

Kim Secretary pulled a black file folder from a paper envelope.

“These are the bribery ledgers spread by Ukwang. It’s top-secret, straight from inside the Intelligence Agency.”

“What?”

“As I reported yesterday, this is exactly what Ukwang is desperately searching for.”

President Cha had already heard about it.

He knew Ukwang was in a panic, working over the press and politicians.

He knew even the higher-ups at the Intelligence Agency were involved, scouring every corner.

‘What on earth could make Ukwang go wild like this… hmm!’

Flutter.

As he flipped through the ledger, President Cha’s face grew steadily grimmer.

‘No wonder Ukwang’s gone crazy. Who’s the idiot with a death wish who latched on to Ukwang like this? Not bad work.’

It was a neatly organized ledger.

Whoever had made it, anyone whose name was listed here would break out in a cold sweat.

President Cha’s mind raced, thinking how to use this ledger to his advantage.

“Kim Secretary, where did you get such a valuable item?”

Kim Secretary wouldn’t have just picked up something like this for free.

Clearly, someone had sent it as a gift, an overture of goodwill.

It was also a covert suggestion to join hands with Taeseong.

“Sancheong? Geumsan? Loan sharks or thugs? Or maybe an opposition lawmaker? A mole planted inside Ukwang?”

Contrary to expectations, Kim Secretary brought up an entirely different name.

“It was Young Master Jeonghyeok. He gave this to me, saying it was a bribe for you, President.”

“What?”

Or, did he correct himself earlier, saying it wasn’t a bribe but a beggar’s bowl?

Kim Secretary gave a wry smile.

“I’ll report. That is, today Young Master Jeonghyeok…”

Kim Secretary gave a brief summary of what he’d seen and heard while following Jeonghyeok.

How he bought the house, how he manipulated the elder at Songolmae Pawnshop.

In truth, he was understating it, but even so, President Cha’s jaw dropped.

“How old is our Jeonghyeok again?”

“…He’s seven years old.”

It was a question similar to what the elder at Songolmae Pawnshop had asked.

But while the elder had just forced an awkward smile, President Cha’s face lit up as he burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! That’s my boy, my blood for sure! No doubt about it!”

But that being said.

“President, if you let Young Master Jeonghyeok go now, you’ll regret it and pound the floor in the future.”

President Cha fell silent for a moment.

He had never cared for superstitions or even paid attention to dreams.

And yet, the scene he’d seen in his entire family’s dream that night kept flashing before his eyes, again and again.

‘That kid Jeonghyeok was riding a yellow dragon the size of Nam Mountain, soaring through the sky in the dream. With a single gesture, the earth overturned, rivers turned to oil, and money rained down. If that’s a conception dream, it’s said only extraordinary figures are born.’

He didn’t believe in superstitions, but he trusted his own judgment.

The grandson he’d just met in person was a very tempting talent.

“Kim Secretary, you’ll have to go yourself. Bring my grandson back.”

“President, you’re not going to forcibly tear him from his mother, are you?”

“If necessary.”

“President!”

“He’s my precious flesh and blood! How can I just let him slip away like that? I can’t stand to see my own blood running off like that!”

Kim Secretary shook his head.

“I wouldn’t recommend that approach.”

“Why?”

“If you bring him by force, you’ll end up paying a heavy price. If you try to sever Heavenly Law, you’ll only make an enemy. Young Master Jeonghyeok is no ordinary child.”

President Cha’s brow furrowed.

Hadn’t he himself witnessed the consequences of cutting off Heavenly Law and making enemies?

President Cha’s eyes sank.

His voice, too, dropped lower.

“Then what do you suggest?”

“If you bring in Ms. Lee Sujin, Young Master Jeonghyeok will follow her in naturally.”

Tap, tap, tap.

President Cha drummed his fingers on the table.

“What about the position of concubine?”

“Ms. Lee Sujin is not a woman who would accept such a position. If she were, she would have taken the money envelope long ago and clung to Young Master Seongjun for dear life.”

“I know. I realized that after talking with her. She’s not some snake trying to cling to Seongjun for his money.”

But still, they couldn’t break off the engagement with Ukwang.

It was a business deal worth a whopping thirty billion won.

“Lee Sujin, what sort of family does that girl come from?”

“Nothing special. A family descended from independence activists with some prestige, but they lost most of their assets funding the resistance. Now, they only own about 60,000 pyeong each in Bundang, Pangyo, and Suseo-dong, for a total of 190,000 pyeong.”

“But all that land is tied up as greenbelt now, isn’t it? Basically worthless.”

“Yes.”

“So what does her father do?”

“He farms.”

“So, they’ve got some farmland, but not much cash to their name.”

The government had set up the Five-Year Economic Development Plan and promoted manufacturing as the foundation for national strength and wealth.

To that end, they’d suppressed both workers’ wages and the prices of agricultural and marine products.

If you wanted to make money now, you had to run a factory, not a farm.

“A few hundred or thousand won per pyeong! Even if they sold it all, it can’t compare to Ukwang.”

President Cha sighed softly.

“If only that Sujin girl were a little more pliable. Wouldn’t it be better if she just quietly played the role of concubine?”

At that moment, a group of people entered the Taeseong Hotel coffee shop.

“Why, if it isn’t President Cha?”

The president of Ukwang Construction smiled and greeted him.

Familiar faces followed behind.

The Seoul City development project manager, a Subway Construction Advisory Committee member, a high-ranking official from the Japanese Ministry of Transport, and even the president of Japan Metropolitan Rapid Transit.

“Even though you’re such a busy man, what brings you to the hotel today?”

“Do I need a reason to come to my own hotel?”

The president of Ukwang Construction glanced at President Cha’s table.

There were four coffee cups in all.

Herbal tea, milk coffee, espresso, and cocoa.

Even if President Cha put on airs, it was obvious he’d been meeting someone until just now.

‘A man who’s pushing with all his might to get the subway construction plan approved, and yet finds time to meet someone like this.’

President Cha reached out to the Japanese official.

“It’s been a while, Yoshimoto-san.”

“Yes, it has, President Cha.”

“What brings someone from the Ministry of Transport to Korea? You could have called ahead to Tokyo. I’d have reserved the Taeseong Hotel suite for you.”

“It’s nothing much.”

“When our Taeseong visited Japan, you turned him down flat, saying you were busy. That’s disappointing. And as for the subway construction—”

“Ahem! As you can see, I have things to do. Excuse me.”

The Japanese man deliberately chose a table far from President Cha.

With that, the president of Ukwang Construction and the officials hurried after him.

President Cha returned to his seat and slumped down.

‘It’s about the Subway Line 2 construction after all. Looks like Ukwang’s really going all out this time. To think they’d put so much energy into lobbying.’

President Cha’s irritation began to boil over.

‘But Taeseong is a step ahead of Ukwang. Taeseong’s got superior technology, more experience in civil engineering, and a stronger record.’

That wasn’t all.

‘Thanks to Seongjun winning so many overseas construction contracts, we’re flush with cash. We won’t lose in a bidding war, either.’

But seeing this with his own eyes made his stomach churn.

If they could win the subway bid through fair competition, Ukwang wouldn’t be pulling strings behind the scenes like this.

‘Damn it!’

President Cha raised his hand high.

“Another herbal tea here! Fill it with ice, and bring some cold water too!”

I need to keep my eyes wide open and watch what these guys are up to!

“President.”

Kim Secretary slid the black file folder in front of President Cha.

It was Ukwang Construction’s bribery ledger.

Flip!

As President Cha quickly skimmed through the pages, his hand stopped abruptly.

<Ukwang Construction’s available funds are critically low, so the money for lobbying is being supplemented not by Ukwang, but Tae—

The report cut off right there.

As if a ruler and knife had been used, three whole pages had been neatly cut out.

‘What is Ukwang using to fund those bribes? Taeseong’s what?’

It was like pouring gasoline onto a fire that was already raging inside him.

“Kim Secretary!”

I need to know exactly what was on those missing pages!

Even if it costs money, even if I take a loss!

First, I have to deal with the problem of my own household, where the money is leaking out!