Free Web Novel“Bringing it aboveboard... Is that really possible?”
Despite my confident claim, they still looked at me with doubt in their eyes.
And honestly, I didn’t blame them.
The laws weren’t properly in place yet, so loan sharking was still a free-for-all business.
But after the IMF crisis, the government would legalize parts of the private lending market under the guise of bringing the underground economy to the surface.
That’s when I planned to raise Grandpa’s business into the light.
“Yes, it’s possible. Just wait and see.”
At my words, Twin Blades—Kim Hosik—stood up and gave a respectful bow.
“Then I’ll follow you, young master. In a few years, my daughter will be old enough to understand things, and I’d rather be called a company president than a loan shark in her eyes.”
I nodded.
But Noh Ikseon remained silent, clearly still mulling it over.
“Then, I’ll wait only for your answer, Boss Noh.”
With that, I left the office.
As the car pulled away, a crooked smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
If Boss Noh still refused to follow, I’d just proceed with the original plan and clean him up.
* * *
While Kim Muhyuk was meeting with the Myeongdong bosses...
Chairman Cheon was having a conversation with Cheon Sooman in his study.
“So, things must be hectic with this Real-Name Financial System, huh?”
“They are.”
Chairman Cheon nodded, understanding, then looked closely at Sooman’s face as he continued.
“Have you gone to see Suhan?”
“Not that often. Just visited him twice. When are you planning to get him out? He looked pretty rough.”
Chairman Cheon frowned in discomfort.
“It’s not going to happen right away. He probably won’t be out until next year. Tell him to hang in there.”
Cheon Sooman replied that he understood but was already thinking:
‘So he’s aiming to get Suhan out next year.’
He didn’t have much brotherly affection, but having Cheon Suhan—who’d always been his right hand—locked up was definitely an inconvenience.
Sooman began thinking of ways to get Suhan released sooner.
The conversation between father and son paused.
Chairman Cheon stared at his son with displeasure as Sooman fell into his thoughts.
“You’re not still chasing after politicians, are you? Didn’t Suhan’s fate teach you anything? I’ve told you—keep your distance.”
“Phew... How can you run a private lending business without political protection? You’ve had ties to those people for decades, so it works for you, but I don’t have that. What happens after you’re gone?”
Chairman Cheon stared at his son, stunned.
This child, who’d never once raised his voice to him, was now almost fifty and finally shouting.
“You brat!”
As Chairman Cheon raised his voice, Sooman flinched, instinctively checking himself.
But he didn’t fall completely silent.
“I have to think about what happens after you’re gone.”
“Why would that be your concern? You think I’m going to die that easily? Are you wishing me dead or something?”
“No, come on... How could you say that? I just want my children to inherit at least half of Ilseong. That’s why I’m doing all this—preparing in advance. You don’t even care about Jiwon or Jisoo, do you?”
“What do you mean I don’t care about my grandchildren? And why are you so obsessed with Ilseong? You’re not lacking in anything.”
“To you, it’s just Ilseong. But to me, it’s everything.”
“What?”
Sooman snapped, voice shaking with emotion.
“Outside, I’m just your son. Chairman Cheon’s son. A man from the Cheon family. I don’t have a name of my own. That’s why I want to pass the Ilseong name down to Jiwon and Jisoo.”
Chairman Cheon looked at Sooman with a mix of pity and silence.
Seeing this, Sooman grew more assertive.
“Just look at now. You don’t even ask about Jiwon or Jisoo, but you always keep Muhyuk by your side!”
“...Misook died, didn’t she.”
“She’s the sister who walked out of this house to marry a man you disapproved of. You were the one who disowned her. Don’t act like you’re all concerned now.”
“Hah...”
The pity vanished from Chairman Cheon’s face.
“You’re right. Maybe you’re right.”
“I’ve always lived by your words. Even married the woman you chose for me. But in the end, you favor Muhyuk over me.”
Sooman’s face was red, filled with resentment.
“Do you know what people are saying in Myeongdong? That Muhyuk is your successor. Does that even make sense? I’m your firstborn son. I’m still alive and well! Yet some kid with the surname Kim, not even Cheon, is being called your heir?”
Chairman Cheon let out a hollow laugh.
“When did I ever tell you that you’d succeed me? Why are you assuming it’s your right? I’ve never said such a thing to you—not even once.”
Sooman’s face twisted in disbelief.
“What...”
“Yes, the rumors going around Myeongdong are true. I plan to leave everything to Muhyuk. I’ll make sure you all have enough to live well, but all my power, money, and people—they’ll go to Muhyuk.”
“Father!”
“What’s the problem? I’m passing down what’s mine.”
Finally, consumed by rage, Cheon Sooman blurted out what he’d long kept bottled up.
“You’ve always been this way. You’d get furious with Suhan and me for even the smallest mistakes, but you forgave Misook endlessly. Why did you even have us if this was how you’d treat us?”
“What?!”
Chairman Cheon’s jaw dropped.
But unlike usual, Sooman didn’t back down.
“You can’t treat me like this. No—you can’t treat your sons like this. I’m the eldest son of the Cheon family. And Jiwon is the first grandson. But you want to make Muhyuk the successor? That kid is only twenty!”
“I told you, I’ll still pass enough on to all of you. You won’t be lacking.”
“I don’t care about money. I want everything you have.”
Sooman finally let his raw ambition show.
Chairman Cheon was at a loss for words as he stared into those burning eyes.
“I won’t let this go. Never...”
With those parting words, Sooman turned on his heel and stormed out of the study.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Outside, seeing Manager Ha waiting, Sooman asked:
“...Manager Ha, do you think the same way?”
Manager Ha said nothing and simply lowered his head.
After glaring at the back of his head for a while, Sooman said nothing more and walked away.
Once inside, Manager Ha quietly observed the Chairman’s expression.
The Iron-Blooded Loan Shark King stood silently by the window, watching Sooman’s car disappear in the distance—no longer a titan, but a sorrowful old man.
After a long pause, Chairman Cheon suddenly asked:
“...Am I wrong about all of this?”
Manager Ha didn’t answer.
Chairman Cheon pressed a palm to his forehead, deep in thought. Only after some time did he speak again.
“Phew... Finish the stock transfer by next month. Before those bastards try to pull anything. Keep it quiet—no leaks. Pay all the taxes properly. I don’t want a single hiccup down the line. Handle it perfectly.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And about surveillance on those bastards...”
Chairman Cheon trailed off mid-sentence.
“...Forget it. What about Muhyuk?”
“He’s meeting the Myeongdong bosses.”
“Alone?”
“Yes. He asked to go alone. Chairman Cheon Sooman also came by today. But I serve you, Chairman. The young master comes after.”
Chairman Cheon gave a slow, heavy nod.
“What about the person we’re introducing to Muhyuk? It’s time he stopped moving alone.”
“They’ll be arriving in Korea next month.”
“Can we trust them?”
“Yes. But earning their loyalty isn’t something I can guarantee.”
“Right, that’s something Muhyuk will have to handle himself. Got it. Anything else to report?”
“No, sir.”
“You may go.”
After Manager Ha left, Chairman Cheon, alone in his study, muttered into the silence.
“I just hope Muhyuk doesn’t end up having to devour his uncles...”
No one knew better than Chairman Cheon that when it comes to money, there’s no such thing as family.
* * *
With his business in Korea wrapped up, Han Kyungyeong departed for the U.S. to begin preparations.
Meanwhile, I was living a fairly normal student life at university.
“Hey! Muhyuk!”
“Huh?”
“What are you thinking about so hard you didn’t even hear me calling?”
“Sorry, were you calling me?”
Myungsoo sighed and said,
“I’m going to take the first round of the bar exam next year. Just for practice. I’m not expecting to pass—just want to get a feel for it.”
I nodded.
“Alright. I’ll take it too then.”
“Huh? You too? Why?”
“I don’t know... I didn’t want you to get nervous alone?”
“Psycho. You’re just going to pass it on your first try and crush my hopes, aren’t you?”
“Haha.”
“Don’t just laugh—are you really taking it with me?”
I nodded.
I hadn’t planned to take the bar exam at first. Thought it’d be a waste of time to go through the law school training course.
But now... I’d changed my mind.
“Yeah. Just the first round. If I pass both, Grandpa might start talking nonsense. I’ll just pass the first round so he can brag to other people. Same with Grandma.”
“God, you’re such a bastard. Starting from the assumption that you’ll pass—so cocky.”
Just then, someone called out to us.
“Muhyuk! Myungsoo!”
We stopped and turned around. Two guys and a girl were waving at us.
They were part of the reason I chose to major in law.
“Where are you two headed?”
The tallest and most outgoing, Oh Hyunwoo, was the first to speak.
Oh Hyunwoo was the eldest son of a prestigious legal family. His grandfather, Oh Jeongseok, was a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court—revered among the judiciary.
Before I died, Hyunwoo had been a top contender for Prosecutor General.
“We were going to grab food. You guys headed to eat too? Want to come? What do you think, Muhyuk?”
I nodded, and Myungsoo smirked.
“Muhyuk’s treating today. Let’s clean him out to his underwear!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny? Did I say something hilarious?”
The only girl in the group, Han Minkyung, chuckled.
“Myungsoo, can’t you drop the dialect? Muhyuk’s practically a Seoul native.” ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
“Hey now, I told you not to diss my accent!”
Han Minkyung waved her hand, laughing. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
“I’m not teasing. It’s cute.”
“Enough chatter—what are we eating?”
Yoon Jaeha, who’d been quiet, shifted the topic smoothly.
Yoon Jaeha was the son of Yoon Hyungmin, CEO of one of the country’s top three law firms.
The five of us drove separately to a family restaurant.
After parking, we gathered in front of the entrance.
“Isn’t this too much, Muhyuk?”
In the 1990s, family restaurants still had a fancy image, with prices far higher than most eateries.
“The most pointless worry in the world is worrying about Muhyuk. Let’s go.”
Myungsoo pushed everyone forward like he was the one footing the bill.
‘Someone might actually believe it.’
Well... he wasn’t entirely wrong.
Clicking my tongue, I followed him inside.
Orange lamps hung from the ceiling, and the dark green walls were covered with little framed pictures. To me, the interior looked charmingly vintage.
After we ordered what we each wanted, Myungsoo brought up the bar exam again.
“Are you guys preparing for the bar? Muhyuk and I are planning to take the first round in February next year. I’m just doing it for practice, but this jerk will probably pass in one shot. Makes me feel like garbage.”
“What? Muhyuk, you’re taking the bar exam?”
All eyes turned to me.
I smiled and said,
“Yeah, I’m thinking of giving it a shot for practice too. What about you guys?”
Oh Hyunwoo and Yoon Jaeha said they were taking it as well.
Han Minkyung gave a sheepish shrug, looking a bit wistful.
“I’m going to pass this year. I don’t have the luxury to focus just on studying like you guys.”
She was the only one among us from a modest background. Despite that, she worked multiple tutoring jobs while attending school.
Later on, she’d pass the bar, become a lawyer, and enter politics in her 30s. By her 40s, she’d be a floor leader of the ruling party.
Just as the mood was about to turn heavy, Myungsoo changed the topic.
“What did you «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» guys do over break? I went to Busan with Muhyuk. But then this jerk left me and ran back to Seoul. Rotten bastard.”
“I’ve never even been to Busan...”
At Minkyung’s comment, Myungsoo jumped in.
“Let’s all go this winter break! What do you think?”
Just then, my phone rang.
“Hold on.”
I stepped outside to answer it.
“This is Kim Muhyuk.”
— It’s Noh Ikseon, young master.
It was the call I’d been waiting for—from Noh Ikseon, who had yet to answer my offer.
< Chairman Cheon and Cheon Sooman > End.
