Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

There was much I needed to ask Ha Myeonghun.

Just what had Grandfather’s final order been? And what exactly had he told Cheon Sooman?

“Did Grandfather order you to kill Sooman? Or to send him abroad again?”

But he did not answer.

He only stared at me in silence.

“I know it was Grandfather’s command. But from now on, you must be my man. I do not permit my people to keep secrets.” ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

My words, heavy and sharp, made Ha’s face harden further.

“I have no intention of defying the Chairman’s will. Nor will I stop you from carrying out his last order. But I must know what it was.”

I had to know what final instruction Grandfather gave that weighed on him so gravely.

“Did he mean that I should not become like Sooman... that killing him would mean making the same mistake of killing one’s own blood? Is that why he told you to kill him instead?”

I could never forget Grandfather’s stricken face when he learned that Sooman had ordered my mother’s death.

That day, I had driven a stake through his heart with my words.

So when it came to Sooman’s death, I had hesitated.

Knowing the grief of losing family, I could not bring myself to make Grandfather experience it again.

“But I need to hear it. No matter if it contradicts his will—I must know what he said.”

At last, Ha opened his mouth.

“Can’t you just let it go? You’ll never see Sooman again.”

I shook my head firmly.

I had to know. Otherwise, I felt I might lose Ha himself.

“I’m not saying don’t do it. I just need to know what happened, and why Grandfather abandoned him.”

Whether Sooman was to be killed, imprisoned, or exiled overseas, I didn’t care. I had no intention of stopping it.

But I had to know why Grandfather had given him up.

“...Sir.”

Why such hesitation?

Frustration furrowed my brow.

“Then I’ll hear it directly from Sooman.”

If I wanted to know where he’d been taken, I could find out easily enough.

Grandfather’s men were Ha’s men, and as his successor, they would obey me.

“...It is not something you want to hear.”

“Tell me anyway. I will decide.”

I recalled Ha raging like fire, spitting that Grandfather’s own son was worse than an animal.

What had provoked such fury?

Finally, Ha’s tightly sealed lips parted.

“Promise me one thing first.”

“A promise?”

“Yes. Promise you will not stop me.”

I studied his eyes. In the depths of their calm, determination glowed.

“...I promise.”

I nodded with a long sigh.

Only then did he reveal the truth he had hidden.

“After you went to Pyongyang, Sooman came. He sometimes visited by obligation, so I felt nothing unusual.”

I knew Sooman occasionally came to check on Grandfather’s condition.

“He stayed about twenty minutes, then left. The next morning, the Chairman’s mind cleared.”

Ha explained what happened before my phone call from Pyongyang.

“After finishing his call with you, the Chairman gave me an order. He told me to draw his blood.”

To draw blood?

At once, a grim premonition crossed my mind.

“I did it myself, and arranged a secret blood test.”

“Don’t tell me...”

I prayed my fear was wrong. My voice trembled.

Ha licked his dry lips before answering.

“The test found nothing unusual.”

Beast though he was, perhaps Sooman had not sunk that low.

“Still, the Chairman told me this: if Sooman tried to drive you out of his funeral, or caused a scene, I was to take care of it. He said not to stain your hands, but for me to settle it all.”

So Grandfather had ordered Sooman’s disposal? Did he foresee his actions?

“He said he would carry his own sins, and asked me to do it.”

But that alone did not explain why he had abandoned Sooman, nor why Sooman had offered no resistance.

Nor could it explain Ha’s coldness toward Jiwon and Jisoo.

Sensing my confusion, Ha continued.

“Though the test showed nothing...”

He broke off and suddenly bowed his head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” I echoed, bewildered.

Eyes squeezed shut, he confessed.

“There was a hidden camera in the hospital room. Only I knew of it.”

“A camera...?”

“Yes. When he still had strength, the Chairman instructed me—if he were ever bedridden, I was to record everything in secret.”

My face stiffened.

I had never imagined such an order.

But the words that followed struck like lightning.

“He told me to check Sooman’s visit. If what he saw was true... then I was to kill him. If not, then send him abroad.” frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

“To kill him? What on earth did Grandfather see?”

“The recording showed Sooman injecting something into the Chairman.”

“...”

Ha’s voice, calm until now, shook with rage.

Sooman... you truly had abandoned all humanity.

“I don’t know what the substance was. But I intend to find out—what /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ it was, and who was involved.”

A chilling gleam flashed in his eyes, his low voice heavy with killing intent.

“And if it had even the smallest part in the Chairman’s death, I will kill every last person connected.”

Biting his lip hard, Ha lowered his head.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can ever accept the position of Chairman of Taesan Finance.”

He had resolved to be Grandfather’s sword to the end, to shoulder all of it alone.

“So... Sooman did that to Grandfather, and you meant to carry it all yourself without telling me?”

At last, the puzzle pieces fit together.

Why Sooman had gone quietly. Why Ha had been so cold to Jiwon and Jisoo.

My blood ran cold. This was my failure.

Because I had let Sooman live, at Grandfather’s request, all this had happened.

‘Grandfather...’

How much sorrow had he felt? How much pain?

When he gave the order to kill Sooman, what anguish had weighed on him?

If only I had killed Sooman in Australia. Then Grandfather would have passed cursing me, but without suffering such betrayal.

The thought pierced my chest.

“I judged wrongly.”

“You did no wrong, sir.”

“No. It was my mistake. I should have killed Sooman back then.”

Had I done so, Grandfather would not have suffered.

Suddenly I remembered—Grandfather’s death of a heart attack in my past life.

‘What if it hadn’t been natural? What if Sooman poisoned him then too?’

If so, then in both lives, Grandfather had endured that torment.

Was the grace of a little extra time granted by God—or by the devil?

I tasted blood. I must have bitten my lip unconsciously.

But that pain cleared my raging mind.

“Find out who was involved through Sooman. I’ll leave his disposal to you. But the rest—I will handle myself.”

“You promised not to stop me.”

“Yes. I won’t stop you. I’ll uproot everyone else, but you don’t have to shoulder it all alone.”

I needed Ha. He had become a sharper blade through Grandfather’s death.

“Ilseong is surely involved. You cannot kill Seo Yonggeon without preparation. And you won’t survive.”

To kill a chaebol chairman in Korea, especially Ilseong’s master, was near impossible.

Unless one gave up everything, as Ha was prepared to do.

“The scale doesn’t matter. Even if the President himself were involved, I would kill them. Even if I die, I will drag them down with me.”

His firm face was reassuring.

But I could not let him go to waste.

“I cannot allow that. Revenge, yes—but don’t throw away your life. I will clear the path. You deliver the killing blow.”

If Ha bore it all alone, I could never use him again.

But I did not see him as a disposable tool.

“Trust me. It won’t take long.”

“...”

He hesitated, eyes filled with conflict.

I held his gaze, letting him see my sincerity.

“...But—”

“Trust me. I know why Grandfather left you that order.”

I was grateful for Grandfather’s resolve. But Ha was also precious to me.

“...Very well.”

At last his answer came. Relief washed over me.

“Of course, Sooman cannot be spared. Regardless of Grandfather’s will, I cannot forgive him. Extract everything he knows, then dispose of him.”

Even had Grandfather asked for his life, I would not have granted it.

At least this way, I could believe Grandfather would forgive me.

“Thank you.”

Ha bowed his head. I nodded.

One last question remained.

“...Did Grandfather see the recording himself?”

Ha shook his head with a heavy face.

“No. I confirmed it only after his death.”

Thank God. Doubt and certainty were different.

Grandfather must not have been sure of what he saw.

That was why he left the chance of exile—clinging to a sliver of hope.

“I’m relieved.”

“Relieved? You call that relief?” Ha murmured bitterly. I lowered my eyes, unable to reply.

“Did he leave any words regarding Jiwon and Jisoo?”

“He said to give them a chance. But if they obstructed your path or contested the will, I was to settle them. If they accepted it and withdrew, I was to convey his wish that you forgive them.”

Grandfather had loved his family still. Sooman may have betrayed him, but there was no need to condemn Jiwon and Jisoo as well.

I nodded slightly.

“Understood. For now, I will forgive what they’ve done. But if they hinder me again, they will inherit Sooman’s sins.”

Grandfather... I will never hesitate again.

Because it was my hesitation that killed you.

I closed my eyes, then lifted my head. Having finished the vow in my heart, I opened them again.

“We’ll resume receiving mourners tomorrow. Delay Sooman’s punishment until after the funeral. It would not look right for you to disappear.”

“Yes, sir.”

Was Grandfather weeping?

Beyond the funeral hall windows, sheets of heavy rain poured down.