106.
It was a short but peaceful time. While he wished such times could continue forever, he knew they couldn’t. It was because of Chairman Jang. Though he had temporarily stopped his actions now, there was no telling where or how he might emerge. Both Haseo and Choi Mujin knew this. So it was natural that related topics came up naturally.
“What kind of person is this Chairman Jang?”
At Haseo’s question, Choi Mujin seemed to ponder for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“He’s someone who considers himself the most precious person in the world.”
Because only he himself was truly precious, he couldn’t realize the importance of others. He had tried to take revenge by harming people around Haseo, but such a method would be impossible from this side.
“Even if those around him are destroyed, as long as he alone can survive, he’s not someone who would care.”
“A psychopath, that kind of feeling?”
“It might be similar.”
“Then is it difficult to stop that person?”
“That’s not the case.”
Chairman Jang, that is, Jang Deokman, was someone who had a lot. Though he had stepped down from the chairman position, he had several companies he operated separately for money laundering and storage. Though he thought he had hidden them well, several of those places had already been exposed by Baek Sira and Choi Mujin.
Moreover, this time Toho Construction had agreed to help completely bring down Chairman Jang. It was probably the work of a woman named Ryu Jiyeon who liked Jeong Heejun. In return, they would have to split about half the profits from that process, but it didn’t matter.
Furthermore, while Haseo was sleeping, when he contacted Baek Sira, he heard such words.
─ You don’t need to give me my share.
Baek Sira said that and told him to use that much money for negotiations with Toho Construction.
“Are you really sure that’s alright?”
When he asked again, Baek Sira’s mind didn’t change.
─ When my feelings for that person turned to hatred, and that finally became loathing. I thought I could do anything to bring him down. So don’t worry about that part.
Baek Sira’s answer was resolute.
─ It’s about time he knew too. What kind of fruit the seeds he sowed have borne.
It seemed that just pulling Jang Deokman down from the chairman position wasn’t enough for Baek Sira. At a time like this, since he had also touched Choi Mujin’s person and Jeong Heejun, his arrogance had gone too far. He seemed to still think he was a king sitting on a throne. As if he could do anything, as if it would actually come to pass.
─ He probably believes he has nothing left to lose. That’s why he can be so cruel. But that’s a misconception. So let him directly realize the feeling of being robbed.
Along with those words, materials about K-Global Investment Corporation were passed to Choi Mujin. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary company investing in overseas assets, but in reality, it was where Chairman Jang had been hiding money he had siphoned from Isaac Finance.
Using Isaac Finance’s affiliates, money was deposited into this company under the pretext of consulting and advisory services, and the company purchased real estate or art with that money. All titles were under the corporation’s name, but the actual owner was Jang Deokman. However, since this was treated as non-personal assets, it wouldn’t be caught even if tax audits came in. After getting through crises like that, later using domestic corporations to recover investment funds would be the end.
With this, even though Jang Deokman was pushed out of Isaac Finance, he was able to protect a large amount of assets. But Choi Mujin hadn’t been idle either. Hadn’t he deliberately sent people under Jang Deokman for this purpose?
‘That doesn’t mean he has all the materials though.’
It was because of Secretary Ahn, who had been loyal to Jang Deokman. He didn’t trust others and had managed most of the work Jang Deokman did. Secretary Ahn, who had grown up receiving scholarships from him, was someone who would do anything for Jang Deokman because of that.
─ But Secretary Ahn is the same kind of person as me. The moment I first saw him, I could tell. He’s not someone who serves purely out of gratitude without any compensation.
Baek Sira spoke in a subdued voice.
─ Just as I wanted his love, Secretary Ahn probably wanted something similar too. The trust and faith that comes back as compensation for offering loyalty.
But what happened to such a Secretary Ahn in the internal audit? He took the blame for most of what Jang Deokman had done and was fired. He received countless criticisms and also incurred massive debt.
‘That can’t be, that can’t be!’
Secretary Ahn desperately struggled and tried to prove his innocence. But even though the momentum had tilted toward Baek Sira and Choi Mujin, it wasn’t as if there were no people loyal to Jang Deokman at all. Secretary Ahn naturally walked the path of downfall just like that. And Jang Deokman ended with just losing the chairman position.
Normally it would have stopped there. But because he tried to harm Choi Mujin’s person, the situation changed.
“Since it’s come to this, we have to completely get rid of him.”
─ Yes. That would be better.
Baek Sira also agreed with Choi Mujin’s words.
─ I thought such a day would come someday. He’s not someone who would stay quiet even after having what he owns taken away. Whatever Director Choi does, I agree with it.
Since old love had already turned to hatred long ago, Baek Sira said so with a low sigh. After that, Choi Mujin received a report about Secretary Ahn. He had been kicked out of the company, become a debtor, and left Seoul. And Choi Mujin had already assigned someone to such a Secretary Ahn.
A small, old little room. In that room, Secretary Ahn was dreaming. It was a dream of the day he was betrayed. People in suits entered his office and forcibly retrieved documents. And before he could do anything, he was branded as a traitor who had embezzled company funds.
Panicked, he ran to Chairman Jang, but the reaction he got back wasn’t what Secretary Ahn had wanted.
‘Oh dear. You shouldn’t have done such things.’
Chairman Jang made a pitiful expression and said that to Secretary Ahn. It wasn’t something I did. It was all because you ordered it, actions done for your sake. He tried to say that, but before that, he was kicked out of the chairman’s office. Among the people who had bowed to Secretary Ahn until then, there was no one who would offer help.
Thus he became a sinner alone.
Sweating profusely and convulsing, he struggled to lift his heavy eyelids. Secretary Ahn, Ahn Sejin. He kicked off the blanket that had become damp with sweat and got up from his spot. Currently, he was staying at a small guesthouse in Gangwon Province. It was so old and dirty that he was the only guest.
Clang clang! The sound of metal being struck came from outside. He slowly got up, opened the door and went out to find a familiar face banging a frying pan.
“Wake up, Sejin oppa!”
It was the guesthouse owner’s granddaughter who had become an adult last year. There was a grandfather too, but since his health wasn’t good, he usually sat quietly in sunny spots.
“It’s morning. You have to eat, eat rice.”
At first, he had come down to the Gangwon Province sea to die. He had heard his birthplace was by the sea in Gangwon Province, so he thought he’d meet his end there too. There, Ahn Sejin met one spirited girl. That was Gye Yeoul, the current guesthouse owner’s granddaughter.
As soon as Gye Yeoul saw Ahn Sejin, she immediately dragged him to stay at their guesthouse. How strong that little thing was. She grabbed his clothes and dragged him along, and he followed because he was afraid they’d tear. When he got there, she gave him food first.
“Do guesthouses provide meals too?”
When he asked that, Gye Yeoul laughed heartily and answered.
“Oppa looked hungry. I was cooking anyway. I just need to set one more rice bowl.”
Honestly speaking, the food wasn’t delicious. Gye Yeoul said she hadn’t been learning to cook for long. Originally grandfather had done it, but since his health wasn’t good, now she did it. Yet that meal was strangely delicious.
“How’s our guesthouse? I’ll make it cheap, so stay here.”
After eating, he was pushed into a small room. The narrow room with tacky floral wallpaper had only a small wardrobe and bedding. When he entered there, the tears he had been holding back poured out.
After that, life like now continued. In the morning, Gye Yeoul would wake Ahn Sejin to feed him, then drag him to the vegetable garden. After working there, if time remained, he helped village residents.
“Work, work. There’s nothing bad about working.”
“No, but no money comes in.”
“Oh my, what do you mean nothing comes in. You got corn, didn’t you?”
He ended up working with just corn, potatoes, and homemade banchan as compensation.
“I’ll boil the corn deliciously for you.”
Yet he didn’t dislike it. Even though the debt in front of him wasn’t all settled yet. When all that was settled, he thought he’d like to live like this here.
That day was such a day too. Dragged by Gye Yeoul, he walked the beach and picked up seaweed washed up by the waves.
“Do we have to pick up things like this too?”
“Aren’t you curious if it’s edible?”
“You’re curious about everything.”
While feeling exasperated, he picked up seaweed and returned to the small guesthouse, where a pretty woman was standing in front.
“It’s been a while.”
One of Choi Mujin’s closest subordinates, a woman whose rank was still low but who was evaluated as likely to rise soon. It was Seo Miso.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
