Chapter 44: Debt Signed in Blood

The Horsehead and the house managers couldn't hide their bewilderment.

"This damned mess!"

Crash, bang, boom!

They had already locked the door tightly, double and triple securing it.

Their hands and feet became tangled, unable to hide their dismay.

"Wait. Freeze, everyone."

It was Uncle Cheolgu.

Quick-witted Yoo Jong-tae had already picked me up and darted behind Uncle Cheolgu to hide.

"Hey, you damn spies. It won't be fun if you resist. Move and I'll shoot."

Uncle Cheolgu was holding a pistol.

It was something he'd seized from a KCIA agent who had barged into our home.

"By the way, I don't plan to take you to a police holding cell. How about a trip to the KCIA basement instead? Ever heard of the Seobinggo water torture room?"

Uncle Cheolgu flashed the KCIA agent's ID with a flourish.

"I'm from the KCIA Public Security Bureau. You lot are the North Korean remittance brokers, aren't you?"

It was an outrageous false accusation and pure bluff.

But in a situation involving the authorities, once an agent from the Public Security Bureau of the KCIA declared it, there was no way to resist.

"Brokers for North Korea? Us?!"

"Absolutely not!"

"This is a misunderstanding! We don't even have money for gambling—why would we send it to the North?"

In the '70s, the government had anti-communism at the forefront.

Armed infiltrators really did cause trouble, even attempting to assassinate the president.

To get arrested as a remittance broker to the North in times like these?

The outcome would be unspeakable.

"Everything comes out in the investigation."

The KCIA effectively wielded investigative and prosecutorial powers.

It was infamous for forcing confessions to crimes you didn't even commit.

"If we bring you in and shake you down, we'll find out whether you're guilty or not."

No one could guess what would happen if they were dragged away.

Once in the hands of the KCIA, the rumors went, you'd come out half-dead or as a corpse.

"Nothing to worry about. If you're innocent, you'll be out soon."

Uncle Cheolgu pulled a silver recorder from his pocket.

It was a recorder issued by the KCIA.

-Bear, what's the point of this money once you're dead and buried on a hill? Gonna use it as a toll for the underworld?

-Choose. Money or your life?

Uncle Cheolgu turned off the recorder.

"So, is this incitement to murder, or is it a death threat? Why don't we let the KCIA figure that out first?"

The Horsehead and house managers turned pale.

With irrefutable evidence out, the pressure was on a different level from mere baseless accusations.

Just as a glint of defiance flashed in their eyes towards Uncle Cheolgu, police sirens began to wail outside.

If they caused any more trouble now, they'd be arrested on the spot as flagrant offenders.

And then, what would happen after that?

The eyes of the gambling den crowd filled with resignation and fear.

That was the whip—threat.

Next, came the carrot—persuasion.

"Hmm, there is a way not to get dragged off to the KCIA right now."

"What is it?"

"Write the IOU first. We need to settle our accounts properly."

What Uncle Cheolgu offered was an IOU already filled out with a Montblanc fountain pen.

"Let's see. All rights to the houses in Maljukgeori, Hyochang-dong, Sinsa-dong, Mugyo-dong, Insa-dong, Seongbuk-dong, and Sinseol-dong. That right?"

"Uncle, you forgot Ojang-dong. Add Ojang-dong."

"Ah, right. Ojang-dong, writing it now. Done."

Uncle Cheolgu grinned innocently and waved the corrected IOU.

"Sign and seal it with your thumbprint. Oh, if you can't decide yet, you can do it later in the Seobinggo water torture room. The ink there is an expensive, vivid red."

The Horsehead silently took the IOU.

His eyes went wide in an instant.

"Annual interest of 89.8%?!"

"Isn't that the rate you use at this gambling den? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I thought I'd apply the same rule. Why, don't like it?"

Gamblers stamp IOUs even at such murderous interest rates.

-I'll pay it back if I win!

-This round, I'm winning!

-I'll flip it all in one go!

Words frequently uttered by those blinded by gambling.

It was also why the Horsehead had boldly shouted, 'All-in, three rounds!'

He'd truly believed he could win within three games.

"Feels fine to take, but a waste when you have to give it up? Thought you said you settled accounts properly here?"

The IOU trembling in Horsehead's hands shook violently.

Even I couldn't immediately calculate the enormous sum involved!

The IOU didn't specify a neat sum, but rather the entire property rights to the mentioned houses.

"In my life, I've never faced such a horrifying gamble... damn it!"

He who thrives by gambling, falls by gambling.

I could practically hear the Horsehead's mentality shattering in real time.

"Hmm, there is a way to lower the rate to the average loan shark interest of 67.8%."

"Fine! What do I have to do?"

He reacted immediately to the offer of lowering the interest from 89.8% to 67.8%.

"At the Year-End Night. Clear your debt there."

Uncle Cheolgu pressed an invitation into Horsehead's hand.

This was why we'd come to the gambling den, and why Uncle Cheolgu was forcing Horsehead to participate.

"Make a declaration in front of the gathered VIPs. Announce you'll invest about 5 billion won in Taeseong Construction. Simple, right?"

"You want me to cough up another 5 billion?"

"You have money to spare here? Just count it as paying off your debt. It'll be wiped there."

Uncle Cheolgu pointed at the IOU.

"Sounds better to call it sponsorship money than gambling debt, doesn't it?"

"So you're making me a clown now?"

"Why? Not interested? Guess you prefer the whip to the carrot."

Uncle Cheolgu grinned.

"Want me to clean out the rest of the gambling dens? About seven more left, right?"

"······!"

"What? Think I can't do it?"

If Uncle Cheolgu hadn't cleaned out the den today, Horsehead would've scoffed at the threats.

But having witnessed Uncle Cheolgu's skills firsthand, and seeing the IOU specifying the business sites exactly, Horsehead had no choice but to submit.

"Fine. Just don't touch any more of my seed money."

"Deal. As soon as you stamp this IOU."

The IOU Uncle Cheolgu now pulled out was at an annual interest of 67.8%.

"Taeseong?"

Horsehead's eyes opened wide.



The new IOU included not just the new interest rate, but also that clause.

The house manager quickly added,

"The errand boy who brought the invitation earlier—didn't I report he was a Taeseong bodyguard?"

"Like I care about that right now? Hey, Dappled Bear! Have you been helping Taeseong?"

"I owe their family a life debt."

"Taeseong, huh. No wonder the police were deployed in such force."

Horsehead let out a hollow laugh.

"For people like us who live in the shadows, a police crackdown is a total disaster. This is a perfect checkmate."

He shut his eyes tight and stamped the IOU.

"Fine. I'll accept. Let's make this settlement clear."

He didn't whine, nor did he beg for a cut.

He just gave a bitter smile as he scrubbed the red ink off his thumb with a tissue.

"Gambling is laughing and crying over a single round. Losing today doesn't mean you'll always lose tomorrow. Since it's a settlement promise, I'll back Taeseong to the hilt."

Horsehead took the invitation.

"Don't think little of me just because I have some debt. As for those houses I turned over today—I'll get them all back soon enough."

I took the IOU that Uncle Cheolgu handed over.

It felt as if the golden glow of the invitation given to Horsehead had moved to this IOU.

It was so dazzling, it felt almost blissful.

Crash, bang, bang!

Right then, the steel door of the house was smashed open with a deafening crash.

The police rushed in as if they'd been waiting for this.

"Hands up! You're surrounded!"

"Don't resist—just surrender quietly!"

Wee-oo wee-oo wee-oo.

The sirens were still blaring outside, and the gamblers were rounded up by the police.

Secretary Kim strode in with Taeseong Group's security guards.

Secretary Kim spoke to the police chief.

"As I mentioned earlier, these are KCIA agents and Taeseong Group security."

"Thank you for cooperating with the investigation. The reward for reporting illegal gambling is—"

"No need for a reward. All we want is to take our people. Is that possible?"

When the police chief nodded, everything went smoothly.

Uncle Cheolgu, Yoo Jong-tae, myself, and even Horsehead were all released.

Horsehead didn't even look back.

"I won't say thanks, nor will I curse you. This is always a risk when you run a gambling den. See you at Year-End Night."

He vanished into the darkness.

Secretary Kim watched his back with a cold gaze.

"Secretary Kim, you must be busy, so why come all the way here yourself?"

"It's a matter of swaying the police chief. No matter how busy I am, I had to take care of it personally."

Secretary Kim wrapped a child's scarf, prepared in advance, around my neck.

"Young Master, what on earth happened? How did you end up in an illegal gambling den like this?"

"I came to get this."

I handed the IOU to Secretary Kim.

"What, this...!"

Secretary Kim's eyes went wide.

"You got this IOU from Horsehead?"

"Taeseong Construction needs to handle the subway project, but there's a big funding shortfall, right? This will help."

"······!"

Secretary Kim scrutinized the IOU once more with sharp eyes.

The corners of his lips turned up.

"This will be a very useful card when dealing with Horsehead."

"Do you plan to run the gambling den yourself, by any chance?"

"No. I'll get rid of it. You can make cash running an illegal gambling den, but it would damage Taeseong's name."

Gambling dens aren't my thing.

I have no intention of making money by taking on troublesome work.

"I'll move quickly before the police seize the den's assets."

That meant I'd intercept the den's funds before they could be confiscated into state coffers.

At Secretary Kim's orders, the Taeseong Group security team hurried out.

"If we hand out enough goodwill, we won't have trouble. With the authorities involved, we'll have to take a loss anyway."

For people like us living in the shadows, a police crackdown was nothing short of a disaster.

"Don't worry, Young Master. That's my area of expertise."

Such reliable support—one couldn't help but feel reassured!

While at it, I pulled another contract from my coin purse.

"Hyunmu Construction will send the balance. I'll add this to my dad's project fund too."

"You even sold this at market price? I assumed you'd have to unload it in a fire sale at a loss."

Secretary Kim's eyes gleamed dangerously.

The look he gave me was full of amazement.

"Actually, President Oh of Hyunmu Construction called. Said Yoo Jong-tae had visited, and the balance would be settled by tomorrow if we'd transfer the land immediately."

"That's great. Please accept the balance tomorrow and transfer the Suseo-dong apartment site. I'm counting on you."

I smiled wryly.

"I can't receive it in my name anyway. My birth hasn't even been registered yet..."

"Young Master, you needn't worry about that. By the Chairman's orders, your birth registration and family registry have all been sorted out."

My eyes widened before I could stop myself.

It was wonderful news.

"At the Year-End Night, the Chairman will formally introduce you and your mother. From now on, you'll be recognized everywhere as Taeseong's direct descendant."

That meant I wouldn't be called an illegitimate child in hiding anymore.

"You've worked hard, Young Master. Your father and grandfather will be very pleased."

"Please keep this under wraps. I have no intention of making it public."

"Pardon? You should be rewarded for your achievements. The Chairman will be generous."

"How do you think I managed to get an IOU out of a gambling den?"

Secretary Kim fell silent.

"If Grandfather found out, there'd be hell to pay. Not to mention Team Leader Yoo and Uncle Cheolgu, who helped me—they might fall out of favor with Grandfather and earn his resentment."

I can't have myself branded a worthless gambler instead of a cherished grandson.

"Let's focus on the result, not the process."

I grinned.

"Along those lines, I just need to show that Taeseong secured an investment from a bigwig using this IOU. At the Year-End Night, of course."

"Young Master, are you sure about this?"

"Of course. That's the surest and most effective way to show Taeseong's strength. What we need to display is the expectation of victory. People cheer for winners."

Secretary Kim nodded.

"If you wish, yes, I understand. I'll keep my mouth shut."

"Please do."

---

The Hannam-dong mansion bustled all day with Taeseong Construction people coming and going.

Driving away all the tireless Taeseong elites,

Cha Sung-joon, Jeonghyuk's father, sat in his study, deep in thought.

"Our financial situation is a mess. We seriously lack funds for the Subway Line 2 project."

This was a truly grave problem.