Chairman Hwang Man-cheol’s children did not head home right away. They gathered again at the eldest’s house nearby. Of course, this was entirely at the will of the homeowner, President Hwang Chang-il of Shinhwa Construction.
“What are all of you going to do?”
“In the current situation, isn’t this the main point?”
As if he had been waiting, the third child, President Hwang Chang-se of Shinhwa Resort, answered.
“Will Father actually keep his promise?”
“Chang-du already proved that. After spending a few years in prison, he received Shinhwa Chemical, the real prize.”
Shinhwa Chemical was the group’s largest cash generator and cash cow. In fact, all the affiliates walked on eggshells around Chemical. Even though the petrochemical business had been shaky recently, it had traditionally played the role of the group’s bank, lending money to other loss-making affiliates.
“If Father keeps his promise…”
“He’ll try to hand over the shares he holds in Shinhwa Corporation.”
“!”
In an instant, an irrepressible look of expectation rose in the eyes of the siblings. As with any large conglomerate, there was a holding company that controlled the entire group. Like Samsung C&T for Samsung, Hyundai Mobis for Hyundai Motor, or even LG Corp for LG. Naturally, the ‘real’ heir would become the owner of this holding company.
“Honestly, I’m skeptical,” the eldest, President Hwang Chang-il, said again. “I can’t even imagine my father letting go of power before he dies.”
“…”
“Just like this time, there’s no guarantee that the karma he sowed in the past won’t come back to haunt him in the future. He’ll try to hold onto the casting vote until the very end.”
The third son, Hwang Chang-se, quietly added more.
“The person who seems most likely to give us a good answer here is being very quiet.”
“…”
“Brother, what do you think?”
Suddenly, everyone’s attention focused on one person.
“Are you curious about my answer?”
“Yes. Honestly, you’re the only one here with experience.”
“I won’t do it.”
The second son, President Hwang Chang-du of Shinhwa Chemical, replied without a moment’s hesitation.
“In a life that isn’t that long, I would absolutely like to decline going to prison two times.”
“Can I ask for the real reason?”
“…The way my family looked at me after I got out of prison. I don’t have the confidence to endure those eyes again.”
“!”
Hwang Chang-se laughed awkwardly.
“You were more emotional than I expected, Brother. Is it because you’ve grown older?”
“Even if you go on an overseas business trip for just a few months, the father-child relationship grows distant. I may have worked myself to the bone to earn money, but do kids even recognize that?”
“Hmm… that’s a story I both understand and don’t. Isn’t trying to have everything greed in the first place?”
“If that’s the case, I choose family over power now. Especially…”
After a moment of silence, Hwang Chang-du gave a bitter smile.
“I never want to experience that look from my children again — that look as if they were looking at a criminal.”
“…”
A silence followed for quite a while. The one who broke that silence was the fourth child, President Hwang Hye-gyeong of Shinhwa Department Store.
“If none of us are willing to go to prison, what happens then?”
“…Isn’t that what we’re all already thinking? That’s why you gathered here for my talk without complaint.”
Having finished speaking, the eldest, Hwang Chang-il, looked around. The siblings were ten in total. However, those present here totaled nine. In other words, there was one person here whom they had not invited.
“Even if I don’t want to go to prison, I don’t want to see my other siblings doing it either, right?”
“…”
“Then, we’ll have to send one fool and butter him up properly.”
As if they had been waiting, the siblings who had been silent began to speak one by one.
“Is it Young-sik after all? Well, a guy who is young and has no wife or children is better for this kind of work.”
“It’s also easy to create a story. In a situation where the chairman of a conglomerate is approaching retirement, the existence of an illegitimate son is revealed to the world. Then, the youngest heir, fearing his share would be taken away, commissions a murder…”
“If it’s Father, he probably already has all the relevant materials prepared.”
Yes. The answer had been there from the start.
***
I first led the two guests to the annex.
“Director. I don’t know why you’ve come all the way here, but could you wait inside for a moment? This person had a prior appointment.”
“Ah, of course! Actually, I’m so sorry for dropping by so suddenly without contacting you.”
Director Bong Ha-gyun didn’t seem to mind much and went inside. He truly looked apologetic. Of course,
“…”
Assistant Manager Hwang Young-sik, who was left alone, was still casting a suspicious gaze at me.
“Now, let’s talk.”
“About what?”
“Sekyeong recently even invested in a movie. And even in *The Time When the Moon Sets*, a project we discarded.”
“You’re still talking about that spy story.”
“Are you saying it’s not true?”
“There is a major flaw in your logic.”
“And what is that?”
“The one who sought me out first because they needed something was Shinhwa, not me.”
“!”
Only then did Assistant Manager Hwang Young-sik show a disgruntled expression.
‘Of course, it was I who kept giving him an opening.’
It was because I thought it was necessary for now. Why?
‘Because this fool is Chairman Hwang Man-cheol’s biological son.’
Would such a son really welcome the existence of the late An Yu-ra or other illegitimate children?
‘No way.’
I could be certain of this part. What I had felt while working as a prosecutor was that human desire is much more immense than I thought.
“Even so, it was Representative Baek who contacted me first to sign a contract this time, right?”
“Because I thought that was what you wanted.”
“Forget it.”
Assistant Manager Hwang Young-sik stood up with a sneer.
“Now I know Representative Baek’s intentions very well.”
“Excuse me?”
“Like you said, if you’re not really a Sekyeong person, then my guess is even more accurate.”
Assistant Manager Hwang Young-sik spoke with conviction.
“You have no intention of signing a contract with us, and you’re just trying to drive up your price, aren’t you? Just like you’ve been doing until now.”
“My goodness… Do you truly not know? The real reason why I keep trying to get involved with you, Assistant Manager.”
*Flinch.*
Suddenly, Hwang Young-sik’s eyes narrowed.
“What kind of trick… no, what are you trying to say now?”
“I mean, why would I bother trying to stay on your good side, Assistant Manager?”
“That’s what I’m curious about…”
“You’re Royal Family, aren’t you?”
“!”
Hwang Young-sik’s eyes widened.
“How did you…?”
“Well, the Department Manager is so subservient to a mere assistant manager. It’s obvious if you just look.”
“Hmm.”
I saw it. The way Hwang Young-sik’s chin tilted up slightly.
“Even a mere farmer like me should stay on the good side of a future chairman, shouldn’t I?”
“Chairman…?”
“Ah… is it a bit difficult to be Chairman?”
At my words, Hwang Young-sik’s chin tilted up a bit more.
“It’s not impossible.”
“I know you have many siblings.”
“This world is originally all about meritocracy. Simply put, if Representative Baek helps me, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
It seemed his suspicion was finally completely cleared.
‘Fool.’
I chuckled and slowly broached the subject.
“Before the deal, there’s one thing that bothers me.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve been hearing bad things about Shinhwa lately.”
“Bad things…?”
“Owner risk. If that risk spreads into a ‘boycott’ movement, it’ll be very difficult for us as well.”
“That’s just a rumor. Just look at how the prosecution is sitting on its hands…”
“It’s the corporate image that takes a hit from those rumors.”
“!”
My tongue rolled smoothly as if oiled.
“I’m not trying to argue whether someone is guilty or innocent. If the fact itself causes resentment among customers, it’ll naturally hit the sales of Shinhwa’s affiliates. From the customer’s perspective, they can just go somewhere else if it’s not Shinhwa anyway.”
“Hmm…”
“Furthermore, agricultural products aren’t like semiconductors or other manufacturing industries; it’s not like there are no alternatives.”
“That’s not true! There are no alternatives to the crops here. I’m sure of that!”
A smile played on my lips. I was grateful that this fool thought highly of our crops, but…
“That’s the same for me.”
“What?”
“If there are other alternatives besides Shinhwa, would I really need to take the risk? Even when the conditions are better elsewhere.”
“!”
I quickly added more.
“Even so, the reason I’m trying to line up with Shinhwa is entirely because of you, Assistant Manager.”
“Be-Because of me…?”
“Yes! If you become a person of high standing, the conditions for our farm will be much better. It’s a kind of investment looking toward the future.”
This fool. Judging by his expression, he looked very pleased.
“Ahem. S-So, what do you want from me?”
For a moment, my eyes flashed. Because the fool had taken the bait.
“Even if we try to make a deal, there should at least be no additional risks, right?”
Of course, I had to approach carefully until the end. It was an element that not only I but this guy would definitely be curious about. Also, it was the definitive evidence that I-re needed more than anything else.
‘When An Yu-ra died, I was out of my mind deciding whether to book or discipline the person in charge. In the end, I missed the timing, and Chairman Hwang Man-cheol even refused, so I couldn’t even perform a genetic comparison… That’s the biggest difficulty right now.’
It was a suspected murder case, nothing less. Naturally, the prosecution had to take necessary measures, such as searching and seizing the genes of the person suspected as a person of interest. But they didn’t. Why?
‘It’s because they don’t want it to go that way.’
Monopoly of public prosecution. They can do it if they want to, and they don’t have to do it if they don’t want to. The justification is also good. It’s not an era where the information of citizens can be collected recklessly for the reason of an investigation. Just like Shin Hye-seo’s private consultation records from before, at least a minimum justification was needed. Mere ‘personal’ suspicion was not even included in the requirements for a search and seizure.
“So, I should be able to feel certain that such a thing won’t happen again, shouldn’t I?”
***
My brother flew here literally like a bullet.
“I’m here!”
He arrived right in front of the house before the sun even set.
“Brother!”
Coincidentally, Seol-i was still in the middle of playing with the children. My brother tried to approach that way immediately.
*Grab!*
First, I grabbed my brother’s arm.
“What are you going to do? You’re not trying to scold the kids just because you want to look good to Seol-i, are you?”
“You brat. Can’t you even see what’s in my hands?”
Then, my brother sternly rebuked me. Now that I looked, both his hands were full of wrapped gifts.
“What’s all that?”
“Gifts, as you can see. On the way here, I swept up everything the kids might like from the mart.”
“What? Not just for Seol-i, but even for the other neighborhood kids?”
“It’s the insight of a father who has been raising a child alone for a long time.”
Then, my brother glared at the children who were stuck to Seol-i like sticky rice cakes.
“Do you think this is my first time?”
…Well, I’m not saying this just because she’s my niece, but Seol-i would look pretty even to the other kids. She was truly at a level where she could be a child model right now.
“I’m going to put everything the kids like here and set it up as a playroom.”
“Eh?”
“Think about it. Does a daughter stop dating just because you set a strict curfew?”
“…No. They all do it secretly on their own.”
“If you can’t stop it, the best thing is to keep them within my sight.”
Only then did my mouth hang open in a daze.
“I won’t be hated by my daughter or her friends. Isn’t this killing two birds with one stone?”
“…Brother. Have you been living your life like this until now?”
“Of course!”
“Aren’t you tired?”
“It’s okay. That’s why I came back fully recharged.”
At this point, even an exclamation of admiration escaped me. My brother wasn’t just an idler. He really did need a refresh.
“Daddy!!!!!!”
“My princess!”
Just then, Seol-i came running and fell into my brother’s arms.
“Hello!”
The children followed right behind and greeted him. At the same time, my brother wore a smile that made him look like the nicest person in the world.
“Kids. I bought some gifts.”
“Whoaaaaa!”
“Thank you for playing with our Seol-i. I’d like it if you came over often to play with Seol-i in the future.”
“Thank you!!!!!”
I silently gave my brother a thumbs-up. At that very moment…
*Vibrate!*
The cell phone vibrated violently.
“Oh, I-re.”
“Se-Senior! What on earth is this?”
As it turns out, she had only just checked the text message.
“You’ve registered An Yu-ra’s genetic information in the prosecution’s database, right?”
“W-Well, that’s true, but…”
“Even if it’s not her own DNA, paternity can be confirmed with the biological information of a blood relative.”
“!”
For a moment, no voice could be heard from the other end of the receiver.
“Sen…ior. How on earth can I ever repay this favor…”
“Save the greetings for later. Prepare to file for the warrant right now.”
Yes. Step by step. This is how you block the mouse holes the rats might escape through, one by one.