Free Web NovelRewinding time—to the day Kim Muhyuk paid his visit.
Choi Woosik secretly called in the head of the legal department without letting anyone know.
“Director Park.”
Choi Woosik poured him a drink as he spoke.
“How many years have you been with me now?”
“It should be about ten years, sir. I’ve been with you ever since you took over KS Group.”
The legal director accepted the glass with both hands, then took the bottle and poured a drink for Choi Woosik as well.
“Longer than I thought. Well—do you have any complaints about me?”
At the sudden question, the legal director’s hand, which had been pouring, froze.
“Pardon? Complaints?”
“Yes. If you have any complaints, don’t keep them bottled up—tell me directly. Understood?”
The legal director smiled affably as he finished pouring.
“Ha ha. I don’t have any complaints, but if I ever do, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
Choi Woosik smiled as well and held out his glass.
“Let’s have a drink first. It’s been a long time since we sat down like this, just the two of us.”
“That’s right, Chairman. It must have been over three years already.”
As their glasses clinked, the legal director’s mind began to race.
What is this about? Why did he call me here without even the chief secretary?
He knew this place. It was a bar Choi Woosik often used when meeting people in secret.
Normally, the chief secretary would accompany him in such meetings.
But today, unusually, he had come alone and summoned him instead.
Did I make a mistake somewhere?
No matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind. And that only made Choi Woosik’s intentions harder to read.
“You’ve got some friends in the prosecution, don’t you, Director Park?”
“...Yes. I do.”
“What do you think will happen with this indictment? It won’t go as far as detention, right?”
The legal director answered immediately.
“It’s already been settled internally as non-custodial. Our legal team strongly argued that detaining you would cause instability in the national economy.”
“As expected of our Director Park. Thanks to you, I avoided detention. And on top of that, those Sovereign bastards are stirring things up... When did this country start getting dragged around by those speculative financial groups?”
Choi Woosik drained his glass in one go and set it down. Then he looked at the legal director.
“Now, let’s get to the main point.”
The legal director also set his glass down and swallowed hard.
“Have you ever met my wife?”
“By ‘your wife,’ you mean...?”
“Director Yoon Hyunju. Do I have another wife worth mentioning? Anyway—have you ever met her privately and talked to her?”
“Why would I have any reason to meet her privately? Aside from official events, I swear to heaven I’ve never met her even once.”
Choi Woosik already knew that, but he asked just in case.
He nodded slowly and continued.
“Director Park. You’re my man, right?”
“Of course I am, Chairman. You placed me in this position, and ever since, I’ve done everything for you. Please do not doubt my loyalty.”
Choi Woosik stared into his eyes for a long moment before speaking.
“I hear my wife has been secretly buying up group shares under borrowed names.”
“...Pardon? Director Yoon?”
“Yes. I suspect she’s already secured a significant stake. Look into it for me.”
“U-Understood. I’ll move on it immediately. But why not the chief secretary—why call me...?”
Before he could finish, there was a knock at the door.
“Your guest has arrived.” freewebnøvel.coɱ
“Ah, they’re here. Let them in.”
The door opened, and an old man with a sly face stepped inside.
Choi Woosik stood up and greeted him.
“Chairman Jo. I see the rumors were true—you’re still in great shape. It’s a pleasure. I’m Choi Woosik.”
“Why did you ask to meet this old man? Do I have any business meeting you privately?”
“Ha ha. Don’t be like that—please, have a seat first.”
As the legal director sat across from Chairman Jo, his eyes shifted.
Who is that old man? Why is Choi Woosik treating him with such respect?
He subtly observed him, trying to figure out his identity, but couldn’t.
“Chairman Jo, please—have a drink first.”
Choi Woosik filled a glass with ice and poured him a drink.
But Chairman Jo only stared blankly at the glass, making no move to pick it up.
“Just get to the point. If the young lady finds out I met you today, I won’t walk away unscathed.”
“In this day and age, you still call someone so much younger ‘young lady’? And besides, the biggest taxpayer in Gangnam doesn’t need to humble himself like that.”
At Choi Woosik’s words, the legal director looked at the old man again.
He’s the top taxpayer in Gangnam? He doesn’t look it at all...
The old man had sharp, rat-like eyes that gave off a sly impression, but everything else about him seemed modest.
His clothes and accessories didn’t look expensive either.
But Choi Woosik wasn’t the type to talk nonsense. If he said it, then it was true.
“I don’t know where you heard such things.”
“Ha ha ha. Your modesty is excessive, Chairman Jo.”
After laughing heartily, Choi Woosik turned to the legal director.
“Director Park, you can leave now. Look into what I asked as quickly as possible.”
It was a dismissal.
Without a word, the legal director stood and bowed.
Before leaving, he glanced once more at Chairman Jo’s face, then exited the room.
“Now that the unwanted guest is gone, drop the act, Chairman Jo. How long are you going to keep living as my wife’s warehouse keeper?”
In an instant, the respectful Choi Woosik from moments ago disappeared.
“...What?”
“Do you know why a servant remains a servant? Because he thinks that’s only natural. You may be old, so fine. But do you intend for your children and grandchildren to live as servants too?”
“......”
Each word from Choi Woosik pierced straight into Chairman Jo’s chest.
“Leave Korea and go into hiding. I’ll liquidate your real estate here as quickly as possible. I’ll make sure every penny ends up in your hands—and guarantee your safety.”
“What are you saying... Are you telling me to betray the young lady?”
Chairman Jo asked, stunned. Choi Woosik burst into loud laughter.
“Ha ha ha! Do you still think this is the Joseon era? Chairman Jo, how many people do you think know that those are the Yoon family’s assets under borrowed names? Even I barely managed to uncover it. No one else will ever know. Decades have passed—it’d be a nightmare to prove they’re under borrowed names. And besides, Yoon Hyunju can never reveal them as such. I can guarantee that.”
Of course, it wasn’t as if there was absolutely no way for Yoon Hyunju to reclaim them.
If she went through a long legal battle and paid enormous fines and back taxes, she could get them back—provided she proved ownership.
But she would never choose that path.
It would drag her late father’s honor through the mud.
And Choi Woosik knew very well that she would never make such a choice.
“So leave Korea and start a new life. Don’t condemn your descendants to live as servants for generations.”
“......”
“I know it’s not something you can answer right away. I’m always ready—contact me anytime. I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
Then, taking out a gold-embossed business card with nothing but a phone number written on it, Choi Woosik placed it in front of him and stood up without a trace of hesitation.
“I’ll be waiting for your call. But remember—opportunities don’t come easily. If you refuse my offer, I’ll expose your secret to the world.”
Having laid out both the carrot and the stick, Choi Woosik left the room first.
Left alone, Chairman Jo picked up the glass in front of him and downed it in one go.
That wasn’t enough—he grabbed the bottle beside him and started pouring it straight into his mouth.
“Damn it. The husband and wife are both completely insane.”
His face quickly flushed red as he cursed, glaring at the door Choi Woosik had just exited through.
* * *
After slapping Chairman Jo, Yoon Hyunju seemed unable to control her emotions.
From the way she stomped her feet and pounded her chest, it was obvious.
It might have been easier for her if he had tried to run away out of greed.
Instead, the worst scenario she could imagine had become reality.
“You filthy traitor bastard! After everything I’ve done for you! I sent both Seonju and Seongyu abroad to study! I even personally chose their spouses and held grand weddings for them!”
When someone you trusted betrays you, it feels like your entire life has been denied in an instant.
I knew that feeling better than anyone.
Because I had died that way—and come back like this.
“I’ll kill you! Not just you—your children too! I’ll kill every last one of them!!”
“M-Miss...”
“Shut your mouth! Who the hell are you calling ‘Miss’?!”
The refined composure of a chaebol matriarch had completely vanished. What stood before me was Yoon Hyunju in her rawest form.
Even Yoon Jaehan, who had been reviewing documents, widened his eyes at the sight of her raging like this.
“Just... just say you got greedy! That would’ve been better! How could you join hands with that son of a bitch? Are you even human?! Huh?!”
Her voice tore through the air, filled with raw, desperate fury.
Her anger was justified. She had been betrayed by two people she trusted.
“Director, please calm down first. Catch your breath and then we’ll hear the rest. After that, you can decide whether to kill him or let him live.”
I spoke calmly, trying to steady her. She looked at me for a moment, then wiped her tears and nodded.
She collapsed onto the sofa as if her strength had given out, and one of Ma’s subordinates brought her a glass of ice water.
After gulping it down, she seemed to regain some composure and forced a smile.
“...How embarrassing. You’ve seen an unsightly side of me.”
“Not at all. If anything, it makes you more human—and better. There’s nothing to worry about. Right, Jaehan?”
“Huh? Me? I’ve seen all kinds of people on the job. This is nothing.”
After answering me, Yoon Jaehan turned to her and added,
“Director, chaebols and politicians are people too. They cry, they get angry, they get hurt. There’s no reason to feel embarrassed about something like this. At the very least, Muhyuk and I aren’t the type to laugh at it.”
At his words, Yoon Hyunju gave a faint smile. Not the forced one from before—but a genuine one.
“Thank you. That helps.”
Leaving the now-calmed Yoon Hyunju behind, I let out a quiet chuckle as I looked at Chairman Jo, who still hadn’t come to his senses.
“I told you not to lie, and yet you lied anyway, Chairman Jo. Did I really look that easy to you...?”
Trailing off, I looked at Yoon Hyunju. She nodded weakly.
Then I turned to Yoon Jaehan.
“How are the documents? Can we proceed without him?”
“Yeah. This should be enough.”
After confirming his response, I spoke to Director Ma.
“Take him away. There’s no need to continue this conversation.”
“Yes, Boss.”
At my command, the subordinates ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ dragged him away. Chairman Jo, one cheek still swollen red, struggled desperately.
“M-Miss! Please—please spare me! I’ll tell you everything! Everything!”
But Yoon Hyunju ignored him.
The subordinates covered his mouth as he kept babbling and dragged him out of the office.
“If we wait, the experts will uncover everything—including what Chairman Jo is hiding. So don’t think about anything and just wait. Now then—shall we proceed with the deal?”
“...All right. Take everything—not just the real estate in Gangnam, but all the land and buildings under Chairman Jo’s name.”
What I wanted was only the properties in Gangnam.
When I didn’t respond immediately, Yoon Hyunju continued.
“I’ll give you a good discount. They’re not all in Gangnam, but there’s valuable land across Seoul, the metropolitan area, and even nationwide. Take all of it. I won’t be able to reclaim any of it anyway.”
It wasn’t a bad offer.
After a brief moment of consideration, I nodded.
“Understood. We’ll do it that way. Do you have a full list of all the assets under Chairman Jo’s name?”
“Of course. Just because there’s a warehouse keeper doesn’t mean the owner doesn’t have the keys. But I don’t remember everything—I’ll need to check the safe.”
“Then let’s handle the Gangnam deal today, and finalize the rest next time.”
Perhaps exhausted from pouring out her emotions, she nodded faintly and added a condition.
“But today’s transaction must be in cash. The next one—settle it not in cash, but in KS stock.”
“Stock? You mean all shares of KS Group?”
“Yes. The shares held by the investment firms connected to President Kim should be roughly equivalent in value. No—actually, I’m confident my real estate is worth even more.”
Considering she held only prime properties, her confidence made sense.
Still, instead of agreeing right away, I shrugged.
“Let’s discuss that after we properly evaluate the real estate.”
“Alright. I’ll send the documents first. Review them and let me know.”
As things were wrapping up, I spoke to Yoon Jaehan, who was organizing the documents.
“Jaehan, take the Director to the firm and finalize the contract. Call me when you’re done—I need to transfer the deposit.”
“Got it.”
As Yoon Hyunju stood up to follow him, she made a request.
“And... President Kim... whatever you learn from that bastard, share it with me as well. Please.”
“Of course. We’ll share the information. But what do you plan to do with Chairman Jo?”
At my question, she hesitated, then spoke in a small voice.
“...For now, let him live.”
With that, Yoon Jaehan and Yoon Hyunju left the office.
“What a complete mess. Don’t you think?”
It was a full-blown battlefield—husband and wife using every card they had to destroy each other.
