Free Web Novel“Never seen you before. Who are you?”
That was the first thing Lee Saseong said as he entered the lawyer’s visitation room.
Lee Sanggeun stood and bowed.
“I’m here on behalf of President Park Dongsu. My name is Attorney Lee Sanggeun. Please, have a seat.”
Lee Saseong, eyeing him carefully, sat down with suspicion written all over his face.
Once he was seated, Lee Sanggeun gave the prison guard a meaningful glance.
Catching it, the guard nodded and quietly left the room.
“You said Dongsu sent you?”
“Yes.”
Sitting across from him, Lee Sanggeun offered a cigarette.
Lighting one for Lee Saseong as he put it in his mouth, he continued.
“President Park Dongsu was attacked recently. By Heo Gihun, Byun Seongho, and others in the Busan group. You knew that, didn’t you?”
“What are you talking about? Dongsu was attacked? Get outta here.”
Lee Saseong chuckled as if it were the first he’d heard of it—but his eyes trembled.
“Seems like Dongsu can’t even control his boys now. Getting jumped by his own underlings?”
Lee Sanggeun could read the unease in his eyes.
“The ambush was completely repelled. President Park wasn’t harmed at all. Heo Gihun? He’s crippled. And Byun Seongho... committed suicide in prison.”
The word “suicide” made Saseong flinch.
Lee Sanggeun didn’t miss a beat.
“They said it was on your orders, Mr. Lee. That you gave the go-ahead.”
Trailing off, he observed Saseong’s face. Saseong snapped.
“What kind of bullshit is that?! Those fuckers—dragging me into this? You think Dongsu believes that crap? That’s why he sent you?!”
“Yes. I don’t know all the details. I don’t care to. All that matters is that you let it happen.”
Sanggeun’s expression didn’t waver for a second. As he continued, Lee Saseong’s face went pale.
“Someone who wasn’t supposed to get hurt did. We’re in a tough spot because of it. Byun Seongho was cleaned up on your side. President Park didn’t even get involved.”
“You fuckers! Who the hell are you?! There’s no way Dongsu would do this to me. Who sent you?! You trying to drive a wedge between me and Dongsu?! Bastards. This isn’t the kind of bond that breaks that easy.”
Sanggeun simply smiled.
“Let me deliver President Park’s exact words.”
“...”
“Brother Saseong. It’s time to go. If you go quietly, I’ll make sure your wife and family can live in peace. Don’t make this messier than it needs to be. If you say no, things get complicated. And I won’t be able to show you any more mercy.”
The cigarette fell from Saseong’s hand to the floor.
“...He really said that?”
“Yes. Not a single word added or omitted. And if I may add... you’d be wise to accept. That’s the best he can offer you.”
As Lee Sanggeun watched him, he lit a cigarette and passed it to him.
“Dongsu really said that? Our Dongsu...”
It was unclear whether he was asking or just muttering to himself.
Once Saseong finished smoking, Sanggeun stood up.
“Think it over. If we don’t hear from you within a week, we’ll take it as a no. Don’t reject the president’s goodwill.”
“...Give me one more cigarette.”
As Sanggeun turned to leave, he handed him another.
“Stay until I finish this one. You work with Dongsu now?”
“Yes. I’ve joined up with him.”
There was regret in Saseong’s face as he smoked silently. He said nothing more.
After finishing the cigarette, he stood and looked at Sanggeun.
“Tell Dongsu I’m sorry. I’ll handle things on my end. Just... take care of my family.”
“Yes, sir.”
A few days later, Lee Saseong was found hanging from the prison bars—dead.
It was a bitter end for a man who once ruled Busan’s underworld.
* * *
Under dim lighting,
I was in my grandfather’s study.
Sitting at his desk deep in thought, my grandfather suddenly looked up at me.
“They say the government atmosphere is strange. Did you see this coming, Muhyuk?”
“What exactly do you mean?”
“Senior economic officials have vanished. Some took sudden extended leave, others claimed overseas business trips—but not one of them actually left the country. That means they’re doing something in secret. Even the chief economic secretary doesn’t know what’s going on. You follow?”
Top ten chaebol groups and several major financial firms were already sensing something was off.
Even if everything had been planned in secret, the sudden disappearance of those officials would inevitably raise alarms.
I kept a calm expression and nodded.
“It’s probably the Real-Name Financial System. Back in the Fifth Republic, there was the Jang Yeongja promissory note scandal. They tried to introduce real-name finance laws after that, but elite backlash killed it. And the president himself wasn’t clean with # Nоvеlight # political funds, so he backed down. The current president, having seen that, must’ve chosen to push forward in complete secrecy.”
My grandfather sighed, as if he’d already guessed.
“If he’s going to announce it, it’ll be in the New Year’s address. What do you think?”
Instead of answering immediately, I pretended to ponder before responding.
“Knowing the president’s temperament... I’d say there’s a high chance he’ll announce it before August 15. Now that public asset disclosures are done, any more delay would only risk exposure. Secrets can’t be kept for long.”
“Isn’t that too fast?”
“It is fast. But that’s exactly why it’s perfect timing. A sudden strike when no one expects it—exactly what they want.”
He seemed to consider this, then shook his head.
“It’s too soon. Sure, he promised it. But even if he pushes through against elite resistance, Congress won’t pass it easily. Would the president really take on that political burden? More likely next year, after proper discussion. Am I wrong?”
That was what all the other chaebols and politicians believed.
And when the system goes live by presidential order on August 12, they’ll all be blindsided. freёwebnovel.com
He didn’t seem like he could be persuaded further.
“Even so, I felt it necessary to clean up the accounts.”
“Hahaha. Thanks to your warning, I’ve already cleaned up quite a bit.”
“Leaving some in the accounts is fine... but personally retrieving and storing it is another way.”
“All that money? In cash? Impossible. No way.”
I had to nod at his firm tone.
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ve already moved 400 billion won to the U.S. I got the account from Chief Ha, laundered it clean, and wired it out. Now, let’s see how well you can manage it.”
“Thank you, Grandpa.”
I smiled as I spoke.
He, too, allowed himself a faint smile.
Outside the study, Chief Ha was waiting.
“Finished talking?”
“Yes. Can we speak privately?”
I took him up to my room.
After closing the door, I sat on the edge of the bed.
“Please, sit.”
“I’m fine.”
Still standing rigidly in the middle of the room, he listened as I spoke.
“About that U.S. account. I’ll be sending someone to America later this year. Hand everything over to them.”
“All of it?”
“Yes.”
“...Is it someone you can trust?”
His question made me smirk.
“I don’t trust people. I trust money. He’ll be paid well. We’ll set up an investment company, put everything in, and I’ll hold the majority of shares.”
Chief Ha seemed to think it over, then nodded.
“Understood. Just give the word, and I’ll transfer the funds.”
“Thank you. Also, I want a full meeting with the Myeongdong presidents. Can you coordinate that?”
He looked surprised.
“The Myeongdong presidents?”
I nodded.
“We need to know where they stand. Dragging things out only makes it worse.”
“...Got it. Let me know your preferred date.”
Sometime after the Real-Name Financial System launches would be best. That way I could steer them as needed.
“Late August or early September should work.”
“Understood.” freewēbnoveℓ.com
The conversation stalled.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
Just before he left, I called out to him.
“...Chief.”
“Yes.”
He waited patiently as I hesitated.
“...What are you, really?”
“Pardon?”
“No matter how I look at it, everything from how you handled Sledgehammer to how completely my grandfather trusts you—it all makes me wonder. Who are you? Can you tell me?”
He was clearly caught off guard and didn’t answer immediately.
I studied his expression.
“I’ve come to realize that the loan shark world is even filthier and harder than the gang world. And the fact that Grandpa doesn’t rely on any gangs means... you must be powerful enough to suppress all of them.”
His expression hardened.
His gaze analyzed me—as if trying to understand why I was asking.
‘Must be a headache.’
Back then, after my grandfather’s death, Chief Ha remained as my secretary—but never helped with anything.
He did his job obediently, but I never learned anything about his true capabilities.
‘And him dying from a “car accident” was suspicious to begin with.’
My grandfather and Chief Ha—neither of them matched the people I’d known before.
He stared at me for a long time before finally speaking.
“Is that really important?”
“Very much so. Can I trust you? Can I trust someone with secrets too deep to share?”
“As much as the chairman values you, so do I.”
“So if Grandpa turns his back on me, you will too?”
“Yes.”
His answer was so firm, I was momentarily speechless.
His loyalty to my grandfather was stronger than I’d expected.
“Wow. That’s pretty damn harsh, don’t you think?”
“I’m the chairman’s man. That will never change. If you go against him, I’ll move according to his will. Any kindness I’ve shown you is because of the chairman.”
Now I was even more curious about his past.
“So you won’t tell me anything?”
“If the chairman says I can, then yes. But... I doubt he’d ever allow it.”
“Hm...”
“I’m sorry.”
I stared hard at him, but his face didn’t budge an inch.
I gave up.
“Fine. At least I know now—you’ll never betray Grandpa.”
“Thank you.”
He bowed politely—and somehow that only made him seem more trustworthy.
“There’s one more thing...”
“Yes?”
“Could you introduce me to someone like you? Someone I can trust, who’ll get things done no matter what I ask?”
“...”
“You’ll need Grandpa’s permission for that too, right?”
“Yes.”
“So I can take that as a yes—there is such a person?”
“...”
Ah! You frustrating man.
“Go ahead and leave. I’ll ask Grandpa myself.”
“Yes. Apologies.”
After he left, I lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
If someone like that were mine...
* * *
“Hahahahaha!”
The study echoed with Chairman Cheon’s laughter. Chief Ha stood with his hands politely clasped.
“Bet you were thrown off, huh, Myeonghun?”
“...Not really, sir.”
“So tell me—if I hand you over to Muhyuk, will you swear loyalty to him?”
“If you command it, I will follow.”
Chairman Cheon laughed again, as if that answer was impossible.
“No, no. You’d never really do that. I know you too well. You’d never truly follow him.”
“...”
“You got anyone smart enough to introduce to him?”
“Yes.”
“Then do it. Winning that person’s trust will be up to Muhyuk.”
“Understood.”
“Still... Muhyuk must’ve been shaken. You too. I wish I could’ve seen your faces! Hahaha!”
At his laughter, even Chief Ha cracked a faint smile.
< What Are You Really? > End
