Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The First Thing to Check
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If you're set on acquiring a company, what's the first thing you need to get a handle on?
Financial status?
Sales and profits?
Debt repayment ability?
Corporate valuation?
No.
I'm checking something far more important than any of that.
"Here are the materials you requested, sir."
Im Yun-ah handed over the report with perfect poise. It was filled with intel on one person only: Yoo So-geum.
I scanned the densely packed text and furrowed my brow.
"Is this for real?"
"Yes. We've double- and triple-checked everything."
"Ha, what kind of woman is this?"
Expecting me to get involved with a total wreck like her? Even a psychopath would shake their head at that news.
Yoo So-geum's exploits were laid out in bold, block letters.
[Secret sex and drug party with rookie idols at a hidden villa.]
[Assaulting an employee at Hanmyeong Department Store.]
[Bullying a flight attendant on a Daehan Air flight.]
[Suspicions of embezzlement and breach of trust.]
And that was just the tip—over thirty incidents in total.
This wasn't just human trash; she was the definition of it.
"None of this ever made it to the press, right?"
"Correct. A few reporters tried digging, but they got silenced."
"Figures. In this country, nobody takes down a chaebol."
No wonder they called it the Ilseong Republic.
The saying that chaebols stand above the law wasn't just gossip. Even if they committed crimes, their massive funds bought them ex-chief judge lawyers or a meal with a deputy prosecutor, and suddenly they got miraculous suspended sentences.
All thanks to the power of connections.
"Sir, if this blows up, it'll be a huge scandal."
"I know. It'll dominate the news for a while."
"It could put you in danger."
"We have to do it anyway. Pus like this should have been lanced ages ago."
Even as an ex-basement-dwelling hikikomori loser.
I'm still a citizen of the Republic of Korea.
Best to squash vermin like her cleanly for my own safety.
That said, Im Yun-ah had a point—I'd need to stay cautious.
Yoo Kyung-soo's son was definitely killed by Future Group. If I corner him, he'll come at me with everything he's got.
What to do?
Jin Seol-hwa from Selig and Olivia would arrive in Korea soon.
That would mark the opening salvo of the war.
"We'll handle Yoo So-geum cleanly on our end."
"Are you sure? We have no idea what Yoo Kyung-soo might pull."
"What's the worst? Death?"
Honestly, even if I died, I'd have no regrets.
I'd become a billionaire with trillions in assets, had this stunning woman cook for me at home, and even give me a massage to unwind.
What more could a man want?
"We'll execute in two weeks. Keep gathering dirt. Oh, and line up a reporter. Someone who loves juicy stories, if possible."
"Understood."
Once again, I realized I couldn't share the same sky with monsters wearing human skins.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Starlight Cup Starcraft tournament, offering a 1 billion won prize.
The day before the finals.
I rode in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan with Im Yun-ah, heading to G-Star in Busan. A showdown between Jin-seong's JNU and the DC team led by Ppimpyak.
Who would've thought the win predictions would be a perfect 50-50 split?
Proof of just how fierce it was.
"Who do you think wins, Yun-ah?"
"Well..."
Im Yun-ah, always cool and analytical no matter the situation, looked genuinely stumped, her face deep in thought.
"...Sorry to disappoint you, sir, but I think DC takes it."
"What? DC?"
Her hands twitched on the wheel for a split second.
"It's just... As a Starlight-sponsored event, I've been following closely. JNU's strong, but their players' experience is mostly shorter than DC's."
"...You think?"
She lit up at my agreement, her speech twice as fast as usual.
"The streamers called JNU members average 5 months of playtime. DC clocks in at 8 months."
"So DC started Starcraft three months ahead of JNU."
"Strategy sims like this—experience is king. In friendlies, DC's 9-2 over 11 games; JNU's 7-3 over 10."
Huh?
Did Im Yun-ah love games this much?
Her resume screamed "no time for games, barely home."
"I like games too."
"Really? What'd you play?"
"...Ponglis, a bit."
That was a game over 20 years old.
Service ended long ago; it relaunched on Steam but never recaptured the hype.
Ponglis: arcade battles with cute tanks across maps.
Fond memories bubbled up for me too.
That sparked a question.
"What rank were you, Yun-ah?"
Top rank in Ponglis was Gold Crown.
But her answer shocked me.
"Silver Crown in alpha."
"...Silver Crown?"
Second-highest rank?
Hard to picture Im Yun-ah as a total shut-in gamer.
"Anything besides Ponglis?"
"Diablo III."
Heh, Diablo III—I played that too.
Don't let the looks fool you...
"Hit Paragon 9,000. Just time investment."
"!"
I was about to brag about my "decent gamer" cred, but a true pro was right here.
"I-impressive. Y-you really love games."
"No real hobbies, so. Shooting range, CQC/CQB/SERE training against instructors, or American football—that was it. Child's play compared to you, sir."
Hey.
My routine was just Bubble Gifts on streams from my room?
Silence fell after that.
My mouth shut itself.
Humility really is a virtue.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Not peak season, so Busan was quiet.
Finals tomorrow.
Plenty of time, so we swung toward Haeundae to catch the sea.
"Nice."
"..."
True to her ex-US Special Ops background.
Even facing the ocean after ages, Im Yun-ah stayed utterly serene.
Busan's sea unfolded like a watercolor painting. The sand beach sparkled under warm sun, sparse crowds dotted the shore.
People need the ocean now and then to enrich the soul.
I kicked off my socks, shoes in hand.
Feet in the lapping waves—cool rush cleared my head. Squeezing my brain over problems must've worn me out without noticing.
Good call coming here.
"Yun-ah."
"Yes."
"I want to be remembered by many. But that means I have to sacrifice first."
"..."
"Money buys everything in this world. The rich get perks. Kinda ironic coming from a merchant like me, but I remind myself daily: basic dignity matters."
Why bring this up?
A recent social issue.
[Medical powerhouse Korea crumbles completely in just 8 months...]
Korea's advanced medical hubs: capital area, Busan. Elsewhere, hospitals exist but lag behind big cities.
Everyone wants top care, naturally.
Live long, pain-free—human instinct.
I wanted to keep slinging shit at the wall forever too.
"Rural areas have weaker systems than cities. True anywhere."
Im Yun-ah's eyes widened.
"You're acquiring a hospital, sir?"
"Yeah. Even Ilseong Group has Ilseong Severance. Can't have top US pharma Selig without one."
"!"
Jin Seol-hwa agreed.
If we're building, better in the homeland than America.
Ilseong Severance bleeds 1 billion daily. Yet they keep it running.
Why?
A question any businessman ponders.
"To enter Korea, we shake the 'foreign capital' stigma. Perfect timing with this issue—we can help fix it."
"Do-jun, it'll cost a fortune. Healthcare rarely turns profit."
"Doesn't matter."
Said it already.
I want to be remembered, not just richest.
World's top billionaire? Meh. Lifetime spending power is finite.
I gazed at the blue sky.
Would Mom up there want a son like this?
"Perfect target just hit the market. Hospital's in dire straits—needs our help."
Dinner time approaching.
As I turned to go, a familiar voice hit.
"Um, excuse me... is that you?"
"Huh?"
Turning, there stood Han Yu-jeong from the semis, eyes sparkling, frozen in place.
"Th-thanks for last time. Calmed my nerves. Came to say thanks..."
"No worries."
Words aside, she pressed a warm canned coffee into my hand.
Inside the can grip: a 1,000-won bill too.
"Th-this is for the coffee you bought last time!"
She bit her tongue, winced, face screaming agony.
Pfft!
Laughter escaped.
Streamers' on-air vs. real selves differ, they say.
But one like her existed.
Perfect timing for dinner—might as well eat together.
"Fate brought us here. Grab a bite?"
"!"
"Ah, dinner time anyway. Heard there's a spot nearby. Let's go?"
Han Yu-jeong beamed like a sunflower, suddenly leading the way.
That exciting about dinner?
"Ah! Saw it on a blog. Fills up fast—hurry!"
A smile bloomed on her lips.
Like spring flowers bursting alive.
"Come on!"