‘A bribe always comes with a request. President Cha must have noticed the page I tore out.’
I reached into my pocket.
My fingers touched a neatly folded piece of paper.
‘I’ve already found plenty of treasures in our family’s safe, so I don’t need to beg. But there’s no reason to refuse a thoughtful gesture, especially if it’s to establish dominance.’
Kim Secretary spoke.
“You probably have an idea of what I came to request, Young Master.”
Of course.
I nodded obediently.
It’s comfortable not having to pretend in front of Kim Secretary.
“What I’m curious about isn’t the request itself, but what the bribe is.”
Click.
I opened the front gate.
“Come in. Though whatever bribe you brought can hardly compare to the 2 billion won Ukwang took from me.”
It had only been a few hours since I’d gotten into an argument with President Cha at the Taeseong Hotel coffee shop.
No wonder I couldn’t help but reply bluntly.
“Then, excuse me.”
Kim Secretary bowed politely and stepped inside the gate.
‘He brought quite a crowd.’
There were people from the security team, of course, but also about a dozen people wearing different uniforms.
“They’re here to help with chores.”
Kim Secretary said as he strode into the yard.
“These ladies are maids from Taeseong Hotel. They’re quite skilled.”
I had been worried about my mom cleaning by herself, so this was perfect timing.
“These gentlemen are remodeling experts from Taeseong Construction. They can handle anything from plumbing to electricity with skill.”
“I’m Kim, manager from Taeseong Construction.”
He entered, pushing a cart loaded with a toolbox.
“These are the head sushi chef and assistant chef from Taeseong Hotel’s restaurant. They’ll be preparing dinner for you and Lee Sujin.”
“What about the restaurant at Taeseong Hotel?”
“No worries. We still have the Western, Chinese, and Korean chef teams, so even without Japanese cuisine for a day, we’ll manage just fine.”
Honk! Honk!
A car horn blared outside the gate.
“I’ve also called the fuel truck. I noticed you use an oil boiler, and the house is large, so I thought you might be low on fuel.”
Kim Secretary is really competent!
He’s sharp, I’ll give him that.
What I needed most right now was someone to help around the house.
“Are you satisfied?”
Of course.
But I deliberately replied indifferently.
“Do you really think you can win me over with this?”
“Not at all. This is just a little trick to buy some time for our conversation.”
Kim Secretary politely opened the front door and bowed.
“Young Master, please come inside first.”
I didn’t refuse Kim Secretary’s kindness.
“This is the present President Cha promised.”
At Kim Secretary’s signal, the Bokdeokbang uncle hurried out.
“Meeting the young master twice in one day—what an honor!”
He was the very Bokdeokbang uncle who had brokered the contract for this house, back when Myeongdong was crowded with real estate queens.
“This time you’re looking for an apartment in Gangnam? Couldn’t let a golden opportunity slip by, huh? So I’ve come back!”
The Bokdeokbang uncle began laying out documents for the most luxurious apartments.
“I’ve brought only the best listings. I recommend Hyeonmu Apartments, Cheonma Apartments, and Geumjo Apartment!”
But that wasn’t all.
“There are commercial buildings, too. This one’s in Jongno, this in Euljiro, that one in Namdaemun, and this one in Dongdaemun!”
Every document he laid out shimmered with golden opportunity.
“None of these catch your eye? Just say the word! I’ll search every corner of the country and bring you the perfect property right away!”
The Bokdeokbang uncle rubbed his hands together with a smile.
“Just sign the contract, and I’ll handle everything with the notary and courthouse registration in a one-stop service. Hehehe!”
I snorted.
“Don’t tell me this is the bribe?”
“Of course not. These are presents from President Cha for Lee Sujin.”
My mother, who had been listening quietly, cautiously spoke up.
“Could you put all these apartments and commercial buildings in our Jeonghyeok’s name?”
“That’s possible. Shall we proceed that way?”
Before my mother could answer, I cut in.
“No need for that, Mom. This is your share from President Cha. I’ll take care of mine, so don’t worry.”
I looked to Kim Secretary.
“Please put them in my mother’s name. I won’t accept any other arrangement.”
“As you wish.”
Kim Secretary took out a black card.
“This is a Taeseong membership card. Please use it at Taeseong Hotel, Taeseong Resort, Taeseong Golf Course, and Taeseong Department Store. You’ll be treated as an honored guest.”
Then he handed a Montblanc fountain pen to my mother.
“Whether you gift it to your son or not is up to you as the property owner. Please select your real estate carefully, Ms. Lee Sujin. While you’re deciding, I’ll take care of the young master.”
At Kim Secretary’s signal, the Bokdeokbang uncle started packing up the real estate documents.
“We have plenty of other prime listings at Bokdeokbang. Please take your time and choose to your heart’s content, ma’am!”
The Bokdeokbang uncle gently pushed my mother into a small room.
Kim Secretary adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses.
“Now, at last, I can have a proper conversation with the young master.”
This was when the real bribe negotiation began.
Kim Secretary pulled out a thick envelope.
“Thirty million won in cash.”
“President Cha is more stingy than I expected.”
I didn’t bother hiding my displeasure.
“Does he not care about plugging leaks? The subway construction bid is coming up, and he’s probably busy dealing with poison, but he’s going to turn the ledgers of every affiliate inside out with high-end manpower?”
“Hmm.”
“Is President Cha so calm that he’ll turn a blind eye even though he knows there’s a traitor?”
No way.
If that were true, Kim Secretary wouldn’t have come with all these gifts.
“You’ve brought so many Taeseong security guards. You’re not planning to strong-arm a seven-year-old, are you?”
“Of course not. We’d never dare do such a thing to the precious young master. Maybe someone else, but not you.”
At Kim Secretary’s gesture, a security guard brought someone in.
“Cheolgu Park!”
I jumped up from the sofa.
Cheolgu Park was covered in bruises and bleeding wounds.
The signs of torture.
The bear-like Cheolgu Park couldn’t even walk without being supported by the Taeseong Group’s security guards.
He looked exhausted, utterly worn out.
“Are you alright, uncle?”
I ran over immediately.
“Are you hurt badly? Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”
“Who’s this? The little brat?”
“That’s why I told you to dig more rabbit holes! If you want to hit the bullseye, you have to aim higher, watch the line closely!”
“Kid, what are you doing here…”
“I told you to make copies! What have you been doing? You should’ve gone and threatened everyone on the ledger, not gotten dragged to a Seobinggo basement!”
“Wait, how did you…”
Cheolgu Park looked at me and Kim Secretary in utter confusion.
“Don’t tell me you got caught too?”
“……”
Is this guy really brainless?
He’s got sharp instincts, but no sense for reading the room.
Cheolgu Park sighed deeply.
“I heard several of my acquaintances were dragged in and got messed up…!”
He hung his head low.
“Kid, you weren’t supposed to see this. I told you to forget it. Sorry you got tangled up with me…”
He growled at Kim Secretary like a wounded animal.
“He’s just a seven-year-old kid! What does a child know? Please, just let him go! I beg you!”
“…!”
Kim Secretary looked back at me.
“That’s what he says. What will you do?”
The question was directed at me.
But Cheolgu Park answered first.
“I don’t know anything! I really don’t! But if you just let the boy go, somehow…”
“It’s fine, uncle. You can stop.”
I sighed.
“So if I don’t hand over these documents, Cheolgu Park gets hurt, is that it?”
“That’s likely. President Cha specifically wants to see those three pages.”
Kim Secretary nodded obediently.
“Bring me the person who wrote Ukwang Construction’s bribe ledger. That’s President Cha’s order.”
If President Cha was determined to force Cheolgu Park to talk, there was little chance Cheolgu Park would come back unharmed.
“But before taking Mr. Park Cheolgu to the president, I brought him to you first.”
So this is the so-called bribe?
“Threatening a seven-year-old and shamelessly calling a promised favor a bribe—got to admire the willingness to do whatever it takes to get results.”
“……”
Kim Secretary said nothing.
“You really think threatening me works, when Cheolgu Park isn’t even my dad?”
Life is all about carrots and sticks!
If threats don’t work, you sweeten the deal with a bribe.
I clicked my tongue.
“Your bribe is nowhere near the level of what I gave you. The ledger I handed over was worth at least 180 billion won.”
“……”
“How much money did Ukwang leak? Was it around two billion?”
“……”
“How much more will leak if this keeps up? And what about catching the traitor? What about the Taeseong Group staff who’ll run ragged while investigating the ledgers?”
“……”
“And yet you call bringing Cheolgu Park here a bribe? Honestly, aren’t you just trying to get something for nothing?”
“……”
I folded my arms.
“When you said bribe, I expected more. Not an apology for insulting my mother, or permission for marriage, or anything like that.”
“……”
“Or maybe bringing my dad back from the Middle East.”
“……”
“Or at least handing over a chunk of Taeseong stock. About a hundred million won’s worth?”
I tapped the wooden floor.
“Shouldn’t a bribe at least be that much?”
“You really are bold. Thank you for your enthusiastic cooperation.”
Kim Secretary smiled gently.
“I’ll prepare a bribe that matches your demands. It won’t take long. Just give me three days, Young Master.”
I grinned back.
‘Kim Secretary and I really do see eye to eye. This is what you call a rigged game—customized service!’
With Kim Secretary, I knew everything I’d asked for would be neatly delivered.
I said it out loud earlier, didn’t I?
I admire someone who gets results by any means necessary.
‘So, is it time to hand over my business card?’
It’s a bit tricky to ask for as a bribe.
But if Kim Secretary cooperates, I, President Cha, Kim Secretary, and Cheolgu Park can all win together!
‘I already know exactly what’ll happen in one of Taeseong’s affiliates soon.’
But I can’t explain how I know this information.
So, who do I need?
That’s right—Cheolgu Park.