Free Web NovelWith the burning excitement still in the air, the Korea–Japan World Cup came to an end.
The result was slightly different from what I remembered, but it was a pleasant change.
Not only had it lifted the gloomy atmosphere left behind by the IMF crisis, but Joongwoo Group and Taesan Finance had also gained priceless public goodwill—something money couldn’t buy.
Before I knew it, a week had passed since returning to Korea.
It was time to step out of the dream and return to reality.
Kim Hakgwon’s era was over, and the presidential election to choose the next leader was approaching.
The Progressive Party and the Centrist Party began their primaries the moment the World Cup ended.
The election was, of course, important—but I had matters of my own to handle first.
“Han Hyunsoo, this one looks pretty interesting.”
Han Hyunsoo. Third son of Han Sungjin, the head of Heaven’s Church. A man more interested in business than religion.
I murmured softly as I flipped through the file in front of me.
To sever the ties between Daedong Society, Heaven’s Church, and Choi Sunman, I would start by shaking the middle pillar—Heaven’s Church itself.
And my choice was Han Hyunsoo. Since he cared more about business than faith, he might be someone I could reason with.
“He doesn’t resemble his father and relies more on his mother... And his relationship with Han Sungjin is reportedly bad...”
Plenty of angles to exploit. I spent some time mapping things out before closing the file.
“Chief, how much longer?”
“We’ll arrive in thirty minutes.”
I nodded and turned to look out the window.
“Let’s hope this meeting turns out well...”
I exhaled lightly as the landscape flashed by at dizzying speed.
By the time we reached the meeting place, the sun was already sinking low.
Chief Ma opened the car door for me. The moment my feet touched the ground, someone stepped forward to greet me.
“Welcome.”
It was Han Hyunsoo. He was waiting in front of the building with several executives.
He took a step forward alone and extended his hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”
“I know. Of course I know.”
I looked at his outstretched hand for a moment before grasping it lightly.
A smile filled the face of Han Hyunsoo, who looked to be about my age.
“No businessman in Korea could be unaware of Mr. Kim Muhyuk, the master of Myeongdong. Let’s head upstairs rather than talk out here.”
He was far more welcoming than I expected. I smiled and followed him—no need to be on guard just yet.
The executives trailed behind us like shadows.
“You can all get back to work.”
“Yes, Vice President.”
They bowed in unison and waited quietly until the elevator doors closed.
That sight felt strangely familiar. I found myself smiling faintly without realizing it.
Inside the elevator, silence fell. Han Hyunsoo kept his mouth firmly shut.
To break the awkward atmosphere, I spoke first.
“You must trust your executives quite a bit.”
“Oh, did it seem that way? I’ve known them since I was young... They’ve guided me well.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, they’ve worked under my father for a long time.”
“By your father, you mean President Han Sungjin?”
He nodded just as the elevator chimed cheerfully, announcing our arrival.
But the sight that greeted me outside was strange.
Young women stood lined up on both sides of the hallway, bowing deeply.
Not a single man in sight.
What the hell is this? I forced my furrowed brows to relax and followed Han Hyunsoo’s lead.
No one raised their head until we entered the Vice President’s office—except the women who opened the door for us.
Once the door closed, Han Hyunsoo walked naturally to the head seat and sat down.
I thought the gesture arrogant but didn’t show it. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
“So, what do you think of Hwasung’s atmosphere?”
I remained standing for a moment, looking down at him from where I was.
“Doesn’t it feel like family?”
“And the people outside?”
“Employees. They serve as my secretaries.”
The greed in his tone was enough to make me feel disgust, but I kept my expression neutral as I took my seat.
They said he wasn’t on good terms with his father, but the way he behaved—like father, like son.
Once I sat down, one of the secretaries came in and served drinks.
It was a beverage called Maekhwa, produced by Hwasung.
“This is our pride and joy, Maekhwa.”
Maekhwa was made by a company under Heaven’s Church.
Because of that, many Protestant and Catholic believers boycotted it, calling anyone who drank it a cult follower.
In other words, not exactly the kind of drink you’d offer ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) a guest.
Was he provoking me—or was this simply his nature? I’d have to find out.
I picked up the glass and drank it casually.
When I set the empty glass down, I could feel his curious gaze on me.
“Maekhwa doesn’t suit my taste.”
“For something you dislike, you finished it all.”
“There was sincerity in the gesture. I couldn’t leave it unfinished. Even if it doesn’t suit my taste, it’s only polite to drink.”
At my playful remark, Han Hyunsoo burst out laughing.
“Mr. Kim, you’re an amusing man.”
He emptied his own glass of Maekhwa in one go and set it down.
“Well, enough small talk. Why did you ask to meet me? It’s quite an honor for the master of Myeongdong to visit a company like Hwasung, which doesn’t even rank among the major conglomerates.”
His words praised me, but the tone carried no respect.
Just the way he kept repeating “Myeongdong” told me enough.
“What other reason could a man of finance have for visiting a corporation? I’m here because I want to invest.”
“Haha, invest? In us? You must be mistaken. Hwasung has plenty of money.”
Of course, Hwasung had no reason to seek outside investment.
With numerous subsidiaries, it had never once suffered a liquidity crisis.
Donations from countless believers and unpaid labor from church followers filled every corner of their empire.
“Well, since when has that ever belonged to you, Vice President?”
“...What?”
“I mean that such wealth rightfully belongs to President Han Sungjin’s successor. So it’s hard to say that any of it truly belongs to you.”
“......”
I dropped the bomb casually. His gaze sharpened instantly.
“You may be running the company thanks to your business talent, unlike your brothers... but will you still hold that position after President Han passes away?”
A chill settled over the room.
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
“I heard you’re not interested in succeeding Heaven’s Church.”
“Who told you that I’m not?”
“Is it untrue?”
“......”
“If I’m mistaken, I’ll get up and leave right now.”
According to the information I’d gathered, he had no real interest in religion.
But regardless of how he felt, Hwasung could never escape the influence of Heaven’s Church.
In truth, Hwasung itself was practically a smaller version of the Church—most of its executives were believers.
After staring at me silently for a while, Han Hyunsoo shook his head.
“What’s your point in bringing this up?”
“I want Heaven’s Church to falter.”
Sometimes, with suspicious people, it worked best to show your cards first.
So I laid them down without hesitation.
“...What? What did you say?”
His incredulous voice betrayed genuine shock.
“Just what I said. I want to see Heaven’s Church shaken. I plan to back you and complicate the succession line.”
“Heh...”
This was exactly why you had to meet people face-to-face—to see who they really were.
Han Hyunsoo was an ambitious man.
I had chosen the third son for two reasons: his ambition and his relationship with his mother, Kim Geonja.
She held the second-greatest influence in Heaven’s Church, next to Han Sungjin himself.
That was enough leverage.
Even if Han Sungjin was revered as a living messiah, no religion—no matter how ancient—was free from factional strife.
If even the Catholic Church, with its two-thousand-year history, had power struggles and corruption, how could a religion founded only decades ago be exempt?
The followers might be devout, but the inner circle was another story.
They were bound by mutual interest—“symbiosis,” they’d call it, though it was really a fragile truce. When one side shifted, the feeding frenzy began.
And today, I intended to push Han Hyunsoo just enough to start cracking that alliance.
If it didn’t work, I had other methods—but those were tiresome.
“I have no reason to deceive you. There’s no need to complicate things. I’ve shown you my true intentions—now show me your decision, Vice President.”
I leaned back into the plush leather sofa, crossing my legs and arms as I stared at him.
He sat at the head of the table, but the initiative had already shifted entirely to me.
After a pause, he gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
“You’re even more remarkable than the rumors say, Mr. Kim. You do know our group controls several major media outlets, don’t you? That means I know a bit about you.”
Heaven’s Church owned substantial media not only in Korea but in the United States as well.
“Is that so? Then this conversation should be easier.”
“They say the mysterious owner of Dream High Investment appeared out of nowhere on Wall Street—a man whose known assets rank among the wealthiest in the world.”
“That’s correct.”
Normally, I would have denied it, but today I answered boldly, even arrogantly.
With a man like him, it was better to flaunt power.
“So, you’re offering to help me throw Heaven’s Church into chaos. Why? What’s in it for you?”
He’d already done the math, quick to the core. He knew that with my backing, shaking Heaven’s Church wasn’t impossible.
“It’s simple. I need to sever the filthy ties linking Japan, Heaven’s Church, and certain old ghosts in Korea. Once that happens, the Church’s wealth will naturally flow into your hands.”
“......”
He blinked blankly.
“You don’t know? Of course.”
I nodded in exaggerated realization, adding a hint of condescension to my tone.
“So it’s true you’re far from the succession line. I’m disappointed—a man who doesn’t even know this much. Perhaps I chose poorly.”
My expression of disappointment made his face harden.
“Maybe I should have gone to Han Hyunjin instead.”
“Mr. Kim!”
The moment his brother’s name left my mouth, he nearly shouted.
“I already know Han Hyunjin is the leading successor. But I came to you because of your business sense.”
It was true—during the IMF crisis, it was Han Hyunsoo’s management that expanded Hwasung Group significantly.
He might have been the youngest, but he wasn’t without talent.
That was the right nerve to strike. I kept digging into his complex.
“I didn’t realize you were this sidelined. I thought someone with your talent, with my help, could at least take full control of Hwasung Group. But I guess even monkeys fall from trees. Maybe today’s just one of those days.”
Hardly. You’re exactly the man I need.
I kept that thought hidden behind a mask of feigned disappointment.
“I’m not... I’m not inferior to that bastard Han Hyunjin. The only difference is who was born first. He’s a useless parasite basking in Father’s favor, flaunting it around the Church!”
Hearing him spit out the words between clenched teeth, I felt inwardly triumphant.
I’d been right to choose him.
“...What exactly did you mean earlier?”
“The ties between Heaven’s Church, Japan, and those old ghosts in Korea?”
“Yes. I need to hear it all before I decide.”
He had quickly regained composure—showing the sharpness of a true businessman.
I gave him a concise explanation of the web linking Daedong Society, Heaven’s Church, and Korea—carefully omitting Choi Sunman’s name.
“I see... But what does any of that have to do with you, Mr. Kim? You don’t seem to gain anything.”
“What I gain doesn’t matter. What you gain does.”
He shook his head firmly.
“No. Any deal where only one side benefits will eventually collapse. Give and take—that’s business.”
Now that was a satisfying answer. I couldn’t help but smile.
“I like that response. What I’ll gain isn’t something visible, but rest assured—I’ll gain something. So, what do you say? Will you join hands with me and take Heaven’s Church and Hwasung for yourself?”
For a long moment, he said nothing, staring straight into my eyes.
It was a searching gaze, as though he wanted to find a lie there.
I met his eyes steadily. He wouldn’t find one.
I hadn’t spoken the full truth, but I hadn’t lied either. My promise to invest in him was genuine.
Sometimes, investment required taking losses. And this was that moment.
Whether he seized Heaven’s Church or devoured Hwasung—it made no difference to me.
My only target was Choi Sunman.
As long as I could collapse the Daedong Society and turn Choi into a senile relic rotting in a corner, I was ready to use any dirty means necessary.
