Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Chaebol's Strongest Weapon
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What is the most powerful weapon a chaebol possesses?
The answer to this question is so simple that even an elementary school kid from the neighborhood could tell you.
It's money.
In English, that's "money."
With this kind of money, if there's someone they don't like, they can bury them in society. And if those people commit crimes, a single meal with the police chief or the prosecutor general makes even existing crimes vanish.
When a massive conglomerate goes up against a mere individual journalist, the outcome is obvious without even looking.
As the old saying goes, fight poison with poison.
To take on a chaebol, you need another chaebol.
Money fights money.
"Who the hell are you? If you're not from HT Group, then where...?"
"You don't need to know that. Or maybe you'll find out naturally later."
"……"
Saying I was from Selig here would give away my identity to the enemies. Better to keep it hidden.
Reporter Lee Dong-wook stared at me blankly for a moment before returning to his seat. As a reporter, he must realize this deal isn't entirely bad for him.
"There's only one thing I want."
"And what's that?"
"Justice."
"!"
"Not some Hollywood-style superhero. Just... doesn't this country need a good spring cleaning to keep running properly?"
The longer this drags on, the more victims there will be.
Like the employee abuse I'd seen at Ilseong Hotel, or the assaults on store clerks at department stores.
They were born with silver spoons in their mouths and abused those privileges from the start.
"Reporter Lee Dong-wook."
"Speak."
"The world is so unfair."
"……"
"What's the point of studying hard to get into college? No money or connections in the family, so you bust your ass to land a good job, right?"
"……"
"But even after getting in, no matter how hard you work, those high-and-mighty types act like they own the place from above. Isn't the term 'perpetual assistant manager' born from exactly this?"
It's only natural for skilled people to rise higher.
But talented folks wither away before they can bear fruit because of the idiots lording over them.
How much of a loss is it for the nation to let such talent slip away...?
Korea is a resource-poor, export-driven country. To survive, it needs talent in abundance, and the groups best positioned to use that talent effectively are corporations.
The problem is those old fogeys and bootlickers squatting at the top, blocking anyone from using their abilities.
"That's why. If I help you, I think you can finally show your true skills, Reporter Lee."
"You think your help will let me achieve what I want?"
"Doesn't the result depend on how you play it? Think of your son in the hospital. How infuriating must it be? That innocent young man, living each day preciously and working hard, gets hit by a car—and the culprit's living it up scot-free."
"!"
"Don't worry about anything else. Just look ahead. Hell, it's hard enough to focus forward—why glance sideways?"
I held out the envelope with 50 million won again.
Unlike before, Lee Dong-wook couldn't refuse.
With trembling hands, he took the envelope.
"If you help me with this, I'll secure the world's top medical team to care for your son. And I'll find a temporary safe house until the storm blows over."
"Is that really possible? The opponent is HT Group, rank eight in the business world. And that Yoo So-geum you mentioned..."
Before I knew it, he was using polite speech with me.
Now he gets it. The guy standing before him isn't ordinary.
Maybe even a noble figure who could resolve the deep-seated grudge in his heart, like a hero from the movies.
"I know. The granddaughter of Future Distribution."
"50 trillion. Future Distribution dominates nearly half the distribution market in this country. Not to mention HT Group..."
"Dinosaurs aren't invincible, are they? They got wiped out by a meteor."
Well, whether it was an asteroid impact, volcanic activity, or climate change doesn't matter.
"Nothing lasts forever in this world. You never know—there might be someone above the high-flyers. A transcendent being who can turn them into dried squid."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Lee Dong-wook headed to Ilseong Sebrance, known as the top hospital in the country. His one and only son was there.
"Excuse me, are you Lee Dong-wook?"
"Who are you?"
"From the billing department."
The house filled with memories of his late wife.
Even that was now on the market to cover his son's medical bills.
His lifetime savings from fixed deposits, and the emergency fund he'd scrimped together just in case—long since drained dry.
Without his reporter status, he'd be no different from a homeless bum on the street.
"Your medical bills are already two months overdue..."
"Here."
"!"
The 50 million won from the man called Kim Do-jun.
With this much, hospital bills wouldn't be a worry for a while.
Lee Dong-wook headed straight to the eighth floor.
A room at the end of the hallway.
As the cold door opened, a familiar face appeared, and tears burst from his eyes uncontrollably.
His son's name was Lee Shin-bin.
He'd been a bright kid since school days.
Not just smart in studies, but cheerful and polite, loved by all the neighbors. The thought of this son following his wife to the heavens was driving him mad.
He dropped to his knees and grasped his son's hand on the bed.
"I'm sorry, son. Your worthless dad can't do this or that..."
"……"
"I wish it had been me instead... Why'd you go buy a pointless birthday gift for this useless old man?"
Hoping for even a response, he talked for a full hour.
The only sound was the beep of the heart monitor.
Seeing his once-healthy son tethered to machines ignited a rage deep inside.
He scraped by in despair day by day, while those bastards fattened their bellies. Lee Dong-wook couldn't accept this injustice.
"Shin-bin, Dad will make sure you're not wronged. Okay? Doesn't matter if you don't study well or if this useless dad isn't worth much. As long as my boy is happy and healthy, that's all I need."
His son, Lee Shin-bin, head shaved for surgery.
He just gently stroked his forehead.
"You know Dad loves you, right?"
Lee Dong-wook kissed his forehead, gazed at his closed eyes for a moment, then left the room.
A twitch!
Unnoticed, the pinky finger of Lee Shin-bin, rigid like a statue, moved slightly...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Republic of Korea plunged into a vortex of chaos.
In the heart of the city, a massive skyscraper pierced the heavens.
The moment sunlight dazzled off its glass walls, a single article began shaking the world. The name "chaebol" was back on the chopping block. The public's gaze was already fixed on them, but this time it was sharper and fiercer than ever.
📰 Breaking News [HT Group's K, drunk driving and crippling an innocent young man wasn't enough...] [Future Distribution's Miss Yoo Mo, drugs and sex scandals...] [Idol P at a secret villa with famous chaebol, doing drugs together—claims innocence...] [Chaebol misdeeds continue. Are they truly beneficial to Korea...?] [Opposition and ruling party ride the wave of criticism simultaneously.] [Unprecedented: The two feuding parties unite in condemnation...] [Drunk driving is murder. Petitions flood the presidential office over suspended sentence for a killer...] An uncontrollable tsunami.
That phrase fit the current crisis perfectly.
HT Group, eighth in the business rankings, entered a state of utmost emergency.
The entire nation, unable to tolerate it, launched a boycott.
HT Group's electronics division, listed after massive investments, saw performance drop over 70% in a row. Food and distribution lines from Future Distribution were shrinking too.
Everyone shouted.
"This too shall pass."
Aren't public backlashes always short-lived?
However.
They had no idea.
No, they should've bowed their heads quickly with a public apology.
💬 Comments — Anonymous Fuck this. Prices rising, life's tough enough, and these assholes pull this shit openly? — Netizen123 Agreed; they have no fear of the public. — OldTimer Didn't someone say it before? Citizens are pigs and dogs lololol — Activist Time to show 'em. Got nothing better to do anyway. Heading to sign the petition. ⭐ Top Comment — Petitioner Me too. It'll hit a million soon, right? — FedUp Sigh, we always called this the Chaebol Republic, but they've crossed the line big time. — RageQuit President, you fuckers! Fix this shit or your party crashes harder in the next election! Grievances erupting everywhere felt like a dormant storm unleashing in an instant. Crowds poured into the streets, eyes cold and sharp. Sweat beaded on foreheads, lips pressed tight—no one spoke first. Rage spoke louder than words, tension crushing the nation in silence.
People who usually just bashed keyboards online.
Why had they taken to the streets in protest?
It was because of one man.
Reporter Lee Dong-wook.
With 15 years in political reporting, he stood before the masses holding a single photo of his son.
Click! Click!
Only the reporters' shutters echoed.
"Crabs stick together," they say.
Fellow journalists bit their lips, all too familiar with such backlash.
Lee Dong-wook at the podium.
Unwashed, sleepless— he looked ready to collapse any second.
"Reporter Lee Dong-wook! One word, please!"
Normally, you'd drop the article and vanish to dodge retaliation. But seeing his son barely breathing in the hospital, Lee Dong-wook made his resolve.
Sacrifice this body to right his son's wrong.
Even if it cost his life.
"My Shin-bin is a good boy. He did odd jobs for his no-good dad's birthday gift. When he'd come home, he'd massage my shoulders saying 'You worked hard,' and... ugh!"
His tears finally fell onto his son's photo.