Genius Grandson Of The Loan Shark King

All loans requested by Ilseong had been completely blocked. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Private banks were restrained through my deposits, and state-run banks were handled through the Mofia network managed by Eva.

When I shouted, Chief Ma lowered his head and explained carefully.

“The approval just came through, sir. The president of the Industrial Bank issued the order personally.”

“The president? Why? This didn’t come from the Blue House, did it? President Kim Hakgwon promised not to intervene in this matter...”

“I’m sorry, sir. I’m not sure about that...”

Before Ma could finish speaking, I turned to Eva.

“Eva, what the hell happened?”

She looked just as bewildered, clearly caught off guard.

“I don’t know, boss. As of yesterday, there was absolutely no chance the loan would be approved. I have no idea what changed overnight...”

True. Eva had been with me all day—she couldn’t have been part of it.

Still, for a loan that had been blocked for weeks to suddenly get approved overnight—this wasn’t normal.

“Eva, contact the president of the Industrial Bank. I’ll call the President myself. Move quickly.”

She nodded sharply and hurried out ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) of the study.

Once she was gone, I turned to Ma.

“How much did they lend?”

“Exactly five hundred billion won, sir.”

“Five hundred billion... that’s enough to stabilize Ilseong Card’s debt. Damn it, this ruins everything.”

Every event had a cause, but this one had erupted with no warning.

The Industrial Bank was a state-owned institution—meant to uphold national economic policy.

They’d been extending loans to other card companies as part of their public mission to prevent a wider financial collapse.

That was why I’d blocked Ilseong’s access—through Taesan Finance and the Mofia network—and made it clear we’d shoulder any fallout.

And yet, they’d gone around us anyway.

Since taking over Joongwoo Group, our relationship with the Industrial Bank hadn’t been bad.

Still, something was off—something I’d missed.

“Get the Blue House on the line.”

“Yes, boss.”

Ma picked up the phone and called. A few words were exchanged before he handed me the receiver.

“This is Chief Secretary Kim Muhyuk speaking.”

― Ah! Mr. Kim. It’s been a while.

“I heard you were appointed Chief Secretary. My congratulations are late.”

― Haha, not at all.

“I’ll make sure we share a drink soon.”

― I’d like that. What can I do for you?

Even if I was furious, I couldn’t afford to sound hostile. My voice stayed calm and polite.

“I’d like to speak with President Kim Hakgwon directly. Is he available?”

― Ah... that’s difficult at the moment. May I ask what this is about? I can pass along your message.

Avoiding me, huh? End of term or not, he couldn’t hide forever.

I took a slow breath, inaudible over the line.

“The Industrial Bank just issued a 500-billion-won loan to Ilseong Group. Was that the Blue House’s decision?”

― What are you implying? It’s perfectly normal for a bank to extend a corporate loan.

So this secretary didn’t know the nature of my relationship with the President.

End-of-term appointees came in two types: those utterly trusted, and those chosen to take the fall later.

This one was clearly the latter.

“Just relay the message as is.”

― ...That’s rather disrespectful, don’t you think? Even for you, you can’t talk to the President like—

My fist clenched. Arrogant bastard. He’d eaten off my money too, and now he dared talk down to me?

“Just pass the message. I’ll repay the favor later.”

― ...Very well. I’ll tell him.

I slammed the receiver down hard.

“Unbelievable. Some flunky gets appointed Chief Secretary and suddenly he thinks he’s somebody. What a joke.”

“Are you all right, boss?”

“...I’m fine. What about Chairman Ha?”

“He said he’s looking into it. He was completely blindsided too.”

“Right. We need to know where this went wrong before we plan countermeasures. Let’s wait for Eva. You dig deeper too.”

Once Ma left, I sat alone in the study, tapping my fingers against the table.

“President Kim wouldn’t back Seo Jaehoon against me without reason... So where did this twist come from?”

It didn’t make sense. Kim Hakgwon had no reason to take such a risk now.

I tried to suppress the unpleasant suspicion rising in my head, but it wouldn’t go away.

* * *

“Been a while, Governor Heo.”

“Your Excellency, it’s an honor to see you again.”

While I was chasing answers, Industrial Bank President Heo Geun-yong was visiting Choi Sun-man’s mansion.

“So, the Ilseong loan—approved?” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

“Yes, sir. Just as you instructed.”

“Ha! Excellent, excellent.”

Choi laughed loudly, clearly pleased.

“May I ask something, sir?”

At that, Choi’s laughter stopped cold.

“A question?”

“Yes. May I ask why you suddenly decided to support Ilseong Group?”

Choi’s eyes darkened as he slowly looked Heo up and down.

The air in the room turned heavy. Heo swallowed hard.

“Since when do you question my orders? You think I’m just some retired old man now?”

His tone was calm, but his voice carried weight like steel.

Heo realized his mistake instantly and dropped to his knees.

“I apologize. I overstepped.”

“No, no. It’s fine. You’re right, aren’t you? What power does a convicted former president have?”

Heo stayed silent, head still bowed.

“Raise your head.”

When permission came, Heo lifted his eyes—though he couldn’t meet Choi’s directly.

“It’s only natural to be curious.”

“No, sir. My duty is to obey your orders.”

Satisfied, Choi’s expression softened.

“Your term as Industrial Bank President ends soon, doesn’t it? When this administration ends.”

“Yes, next year.”

“I’ll find you a better post. You’ll want to return to the National Assembly, won’t you?”

Heo’s eyes brightened instantly.

“And... Hyuk, come in.”

A side door opened, and Jang Minhyuk stepped in.

“I heard President Heo’s daughter is getting married soon. Prepare a generous gift and hand it over on your way out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jang bowed as Choi continued, his tone mild but suffused with authority.

“I’d like to attend the ceremony myself, but my presence would only spoil the atmosphere. Don’t take it personally.”

“N-not at all, sir.”

“Good. Now go. And if anyone asks...”

“I know nothing. I only approved the loan because Ilseong’s collapse would endanger Korea’s economy.”

Choi chuckled softly and nodded.

“A patriot. That’s what you are, President Heo.”

Heo bowed deeply once more before backing out of the room.

After Jang escorted him out and returned, the warmth vanished from Choi’s face.

“Even a man like that dares to question me now.”

“Don’t worry, sir. He’s harmless—just ignorant.”

“Keep someone on him. If I know Kim Muhyuk, he won’t let this slide. I’ll need leverage when we meet again.”

“Yes, sir. And if anything happens to President Heo?”

Choi’s smile turned chilling.

“Well... he’s not exactly someone worth protecting, is he? Just watch. That’s all he’s good for.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jang bowed low, unquestioning.

* * *

Eva returned to the study.

I opened my eyes and looked at her. She shook her head, expression grim.

“President Heo’s phone is off.”

“...He’s avoiding us.”

“Looks that way. Baek Seongjin said he’ll look into it himself.”

“Baek Seongjin? Didn’t he retire when Chairman Ha took over?”

Eva nodded slightly.

“He did, but he’s still maintaining things from behind the scenes. Being at the top of the Mofia network doesn’t just disappear overnight. I’ve been making sure he’s well compensated every month.”

“Good work.”

Of course—it was Eva. She knew how to handle people.

I forced a thin smile.

“If Baek Seongjin’s involved, we’ll know the truth by tomorrow.”

I nodded. Even without knowing the reason yet, we had to act.

“They lent five hundred billion through Ilseong Card. It won’t reach the non-financial subsidiaries, but that’s more than enough to cover the card company’s bad debt.”

Ilseong Card, unlike others, had relatively stable risk management.

Not as solid as Taesan Card, but still competent enough to keep its non-performing loans low.

This emergency funding would keep them afloat.

“The executives at Ilseong Card are smart. Their default rates are low. Without the loan block, we could’ve dragged Ilseong Life down too...”

I had spent months orchestrating this—blocking every financial vein, slowly tightening the noose until Ilseong suffocated and lost everything piece by piece.

But now, the whole plan was unraveling.

“I’ll have to redesign everything from scratch.”

“Wouldn’t that take too long, boss?” Eva asked carefully.

I shook my head.

“I’m done worrying about appearances. I tried to bring Ilseong down by the book, slowly, to make them suffer. But at this rate, who knows when they’ll actually collapse.”

“If that’s your decision, we’ll move accordingly.”

The phone on the table rang. The number displayed was President Kim Hakgwon’s personal line.

“Yes, Mr. President. It’s Kim Muhyuk.”

― I heard you called? What’s this about the Industrial Bank?

“You didn’t know?”

― I just received the report. The loan to Ilseong Group, correct?

He sounded genuinely surprised—almost offended.

When I said nothing, he added—

― The Blue House issued no such order. I didn’t interfere in your dispute with Ilseong. I merely told the Industrial Bank to discuss countermeasures for the credit card crisis.

Exactly what I expected him to say.

― I never told them to lend or not to lend. I’ve kept my neutrality, as promised.

“...Understood.”

― It’s odd, though. Few people in this country have the influence to move President Heo. He lost the election, so we placed him at the Industrial Bank—but don’t forget, he was a five-term Progressive Party lawmaker.

So it wasn’t Kim Hakgwon. But I’d just been handed a useful lead.

A defeated politician turned bank president. That stank of manipulation.

“Thank you for clarifying, sir.”

― Haha, no problem. Talking with you is always stimulating.

“I’ll let you go now. I have to regroup.”

I hung up, stood, and opened the glass cabinet holding my whiskey collection.

Grabbing a strong bottle, I poured two glasses—one for me, one for Eva.

“Drink?”

She nodded quietly.

I uncorked it, poured, and downed mine in one go.

The unchilled whiskey burned all the way down, clearing my head.

I pressed the bell beside my desk. Chief Ma entered promptly.

“If no one figures out who ordered that loan by tomorrow, bring President Heo to me. By force if necessary.”

“Yes, boss.”

He left swiftly. Eva stared at me, eyes wide, her glass halfway to her lips.

A faint smirk tugged at my mouth as I murmured coldly—

“It’s time they learned who really stands above the law.”