“What’s going on? Did something happen?”
“Why is he suddenly yelling like that?”
“…But doesn’t the position of that old man’s hand look a bit inappropriate?”
Unlike the murmurs that were gradually growing louder, everyone’s eyes sparkled with intense interest. It was bound to be entertaining. After all, a scene like this was a rare sight in a place like this.
‘All of these people are influential; no one wants unnecessary rumors spreading.’
Is a stock market tabloid really anything special? It all stems from rumors like this. There was no need to explain how “owner risk” negatively impacts the stock price of a listed company. From the perspective of the person involved, this kind of attention would naturally be a burden.
“Ahem!”
Only then did Chairman Park Jung-mo return his hand to its original position.
“You, young man! What did I do to make you shout like that?”
“Ah, no, that is… I wasn’t shouting at you, sir…”
Seok-gu wore a flustered expression. Then, he immediately glared at me and whispered.
“Seriously! I hate getting this kind of attention.”
“Yeah, leave it to me. I’m not so disloyal that I’d ignore a friend in crisis.”
“…I’m so thaaankful, you jerk.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Soon, my gaze returned to the perverted old man.
‘Chairman Park Jung-mo of Myeongil Holdings.’
He was a familiar face. At the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, we often hosted suspects like chaebol owners and high-ranking politicians. Of course, he wasn’t someone I had personally investigated.
‘Maybe it was the Ire case?’
Yes. If my memory was correct, it was the very incident that earned Seo Ire the label of “nutjob.”
‘He forced a rookie actress to personally bear all the costs the company should have handled—like the manager’s salary, hair, makeup, and styling—and used that to force her into providing entertainment and sexual favors. Eventually, that rookie actress made an extreme choice, didn’t she?’
This case was still vivid in my mind because of the drama the rookie actress had starred in at the time. Not only did it have a high average viewership rating of 20 to 30%, but its soundtrack also swept the top of the music charts. Naturally, the lead actors of that drama rose to top-star status from that one project alone. And…
‘The agency of the deceased at the time was Myeongil Entertainment.’
It was a company where Chairman Park Jung-mo, standing right in front of me, held a 100% stake.
***
‘What’s up with these guys?’
It was a completely unexpected situation. Naturally, Chairman Park Jung-mo was as furious as he could be.
“CEO Shin. Are these people with you?”
“What?”
Shin Hye-seo flinched, her body trembling.
“…Yes.”
Of course, she didn’t deny the relationship. They had surely stepped forward for her sake. If she backed out now, what would that make them?
“Really? So they’re with CEO Shin…”
As expected, Chairman Park Jung-mo’s face twisted grotesquely.
“I guess you’re not in much of a hurry for that investment money?”
“…”
Shin Hye-seo gripped the hem of her clothes in silence. Right then…
“If you want to talk about new investment, why don’t you talk to me instead?”
“!”
A voice suddenly came from the side. Shin Hye-seo looked over in surprise.
“I just finished a call with our representatives, and everyone had nothing but praise for .”
After finishing her sentence, CEO Han Yu-jin gave a faint smile. Of course, there was a specific reason she liked it.
‘I heard Shinhwa Department Store pulled their investment?’
It was because her competitor had discarded the hand. The reason wasn’t a problem with the work itself, but likely an emotional battle during the sale process. If the work became a huge hit under those circumstances, how would the competitor react?
‘Who could pass that up?’
Of course, the investment wasn’t finalized yet. She hadn’t personally checked the filming process or the script. However, if the work was good, she was more than willing to invest.
‘What is this young girl now?’
From Chairman Park Jung-mo’s perspective, watching this was maddening. If he recognized her, he would have found something to nitpick. But given the setting, he couldn’t just jump in recklessly without information.
‘He doesn’t recognize CEO Han Yu-jin, even though she’s young and has a somewhat well-known face in the media?’
At the same time, Baek Seo-jun’s eyes gleamed. He had wondered why the man was acting without any regard for “owner risk.” It seemed he had long since retired from the front lines. If that was the case…
“When you were in your prime, Chairman, it was well before the Real-Name Financial System was implemented, right?”
“!?”
Chairman Park Jung-mo suddenly stiffened. It was because of the voice that whispered right in front of him. Baek Seo-jun was the source.
“Back then, to block the Real-Name Financial System, not to mention the chaebols, even the big-time moneylenders mobilized thugs to protest. They tried to instill a sense of crisis in the public, claiming the country would be ruined and the Korean economy would collapse—as if the nation were on the path to destruction.”
“You, you… what are you talking about right now?”
“Of course, I’m not saying this to chatter about the pros and cons of the policy.”
Baek Seo-jun wore a faint smile.
“It must have been difficult. Avoiding the government’s eyes is key for moneylending that exceeds the legal limit, and ‘borrowed-name accounts’ are essential for that work.”
“!”
When engaging in the business of lending money, one must naturally follow the legal upper limit set by the government. Exceeding it makes one an illegal moneylender. Unless one is a fool, would they receive such money through a company or personal account and leave evidence behind?
“Myeongil Holdings. During an FSS investigation a few years ago, twelve borrowed-name accounts were discovered all at once, weren’t they? I remember the CEO at the time, who was little more than a figurehead, serving prison time for that case…”
Glance.
Baek Seo-jun’s gaze shifted toward Chairman Park Jung-mo’s hand. It was the very right hand that had been placed on Shin Hye-seo’s collarbone.
“…It seems the old saying about an old dog not being able to learn new tricks is true.”
Flinch.
Whether he felt the gaze or not, Chairman Park Jung-mo’s face immediately turned beet red with shame.
“I—I don’t know who you are, but that case has already been settled in court!”
“Yes. The trial must have already ended.”
*Double jeopardy.* Once a judgment has been made on a case, public prosecution cannot be instituted again. However…
“Unless new evidence is discovered, of course.”
“!?”
“What a suspect or a defendant should truly fear isn’t the court’s verdict, but the records. Even when you think it’s all over, the records remain alive. They can be pulled out and read again at any time.”
Gulp.
Chairman Park Jung-mo’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. He was clearly visibly nervous. Under normal circumstances, this kind of threat might not have worked. In a way, this was a kind of “bluff” based on vaguely recollected memories. However…
‘Positions create not only people but also trust.’
Yes. This time. This place. In this special space where everyone present was far from ordinary…
‘A bluff can be quite effective.’
And as expected…
“Are you… threatening me right now?”
Baek Seo-jun shook his head.
“A threat? No. A threat is what you call the behavior you just showed, Chairman.”
Tremble.
Chairman Park Jung-mo’s body shook slightly.
“I am merely giving you advice not to give up on being a human being. It won’t do you any good if more rumors start spreading from here.”
“Who… exactly are you?”
Baek Seo-jun then gave a soft smile.
“I’m just a simple farmer.”
***
Meanwhile, the conversation continued in the private room.
“Professor Choi.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“How long has our acquaintance been?”
At Chairman Han Seung-ho’s question, Professor Choi Jae-hoon wore a faint smile.
“I was the professor in charge of your clever third grandson, so it must have been over ten years.”
“Clever, my foot. He’s just an ordinary man.”
Chairman Han Seung-ho clicked his tongue lightly. His third grandson had gone to Seoul National University’s College of Agriculture. Although he went there for the university’s prestige, the department was disappointing in many ways. In fact, he hadn’t chosen that major because he had any interest in it.
“I know well that you’re the type to speak without reservation. That’s why I’m asking: is that edelweiss flower really that difficult to grow?”
“It is.”
Professor Choi Jae-hoon nodded without a second of hesitation.
“As I mentioned before, Alpine edelweiss is particularly susceptible to climate. It’s a wild species that barely survives only when there’s a temperature difference between cool days and cold nights, combined with limestone gravelly soil.”
“Is it absolutely impossible in Korea?”
“Yes. Summer is especially critical. Korea’s climate is hot and humid, so the roots easily get diseased, and the soil is acidic, so it doesn’t match at all. In winter, the Alps are covered in snow, which protects the roots, but in Korea, the roots die easily due to the snowless cold waves. Especially in South Gyeongsang Province, where CEO Baek intends to grow them, snow rarely accumulates.”
Indeed, the Busan and Gyeongsang region was an area where it was hard to see snow itself.
“Hmm. Then why was CEO Baek so confident with me?”
“That is…”
Stopping mid-sentence, Professor Choi Jae-hoon laughed awkwardly.
“…I don’t know either. Speaking of which, Chairman, do you know anything about CEO Baek? He’s a young man I’ve never seen in this industry.”
“Ah, I’m not that closely acquainted with him myself.”
“Pardon?”
“Should I say he’s a friend of my granddaughter?”
“Ah.”
At this point, Chairman Han Seung-ho dodged the question. It wasn’t a situation where he could tell the whole truth.
‘No way a former prosecutor is trying to scam us.’
The most important thing in human relationships is none other than “trust.” A person who spits out promises they can’t keep isn’t even worth associating with.
‘…I’ve already sufficiently confirmed that his abilities as a prosecutor were solid.’
Honestly, looking at his previous career alone, there was no one quite like him. Isn’t he a prosecutor from the Bar exam era, which now has its own rarity in Korea? To be blunt, if he said he liked her, the Chairman wouldn’t even have a particular reason to oppose him becoming his grandson-in-law.
‘No, why wouldn’t I? If anyone tries to steal my Yu-jin, I’ll half-kill them.’
Anyway, the part that was truly incomprehensible was…
‘Why would a capable guy like him make such a bet with such a low possibility of realization?’
Setting that aside for now…
“Chief Kim.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Chairman Han Seung-ho secretly called for his subordinate.
“The person I asked you to find in the Philippines. You said it’s likely the lawyer who left the country immediately after that death of a suspect at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office?”
“Yes. As of now, it seems so.”
“Tsk. There’s nothing as emotionally draining and unproductive as getting involved in someone else’s family affairs.”
Well, if that “someone else” was a competitor in a game of chicken, it wasn’t exactly unproductive.
‘Honestly, I don’t expect much from your ability as a farmer. Farming isn’t something just anyone can do; no doubt your parents have been the ones growing everything well all this time.’
While suspecting as much, he didn’t want to get angry like before and say, “Good grief, you shameless brat trying to take credit for your parents’ hard work!” Wasn’t he the partner his beloved granddaughter had chosen? At this age, he didn’t want to be hated by that child.
‘So, even if they break up when the relationship fails, it should be enough as a parting gift.’
Conversely… if, by some miracle, Baek Seo-jun kept his promise?
‘Then I’ll have to give him an even bigger gift.’
Because his beloved granddaughter would want that too.
Money? His bank account was overflowing with it. He could give as much as needed.
If the guy had some brains, he would want connections more than money. He could connect him with anyone.
A new foundation as a businessman? Of course. Considering his influence in Korea, that too was nothing.
What if he wanted to be reinstated as a prosecutor? Likewise. It wasn’t just about the prosecution; he could secure a party nomination in a district where a victory was guaranteed just by planting a flag and send him to the National Assembly.
‘Looking at the way he acts, the last one seems unlikely… Well, this is also a story for when you prove you aren’t just a silver-tongued talker.’
After organizing his thoughts, Chairman Han Seung-ho finally gave the order.
“For now, just quietly locate him. That lawyer fellow, I mean.”
“Understood, Chairman.”