Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Suspicion and Pursuit
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Among domestic media outlets, Daehan Daily was rated the best.
Even late into the night, the office buzzed with activity.
Everyone was on high alert due to the recent news of a massive donation.
"Is it true that Selig and Hanmyeong have joined hands? It's not just a rumor?"
"It's confirmed. I hear Hanmyeong already did an interview."
"Hanmyeong? I heard their situation lately hasn't been great."
"Who knows. They might have other motives. The problem is the donation targets are war veterans."
Cha Se-yeon, a senior reporter who had spent five years in the society and economy sections.
Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she rapidly organized the details.
'N-No way! What kind of bolt from the blue is this?'
Just a short while ago.
A war veteran, unable to endure his financial hardships, had stolen a single loaf of bread and a carton of milk from a convenience store and gotten caught by the owner. The store owner, learning of the veteran's plight, forgave him. Unfortunately, the long-buried issue exploded into the open.
[How long must the heroes who sacrificed for our nation endure this treatment?]
Though they received monthly stipends in recognition of their merits, with inflation soaring after COVID, it barely made a dent.
The government, of course, was aware, but their response was inevitably slow.
Veterans' issues were sensitive on both societal and national levels.
In the end, fed up citizens took matters into their own hands, starting donation drives. But it might not have become a major issue on its own.
If not for the involvement of an American pharmaceutical company.
'Damn it! Selig—that's the U.S. pharma giant!'
She couldn't shake her suspicious gaze.
Selig was world-famous for its philanthropy. Like selling a new leukemia drug for just one dollar, or distributing ALS treatments at bargain prices.
Hanmyeong Group, however, was in the exact opposite situation.
While Selig's immense wealth source was mysterious, they poured it into good deeds. Hanmyeong, on the other hand, had no such luxury.
Yet Hanmyeong was donating to veterans?
Even a stray dog passing by would laugh.
Cha Se-yeon sipped coffee to chase away her drowsiness and zeroed in on one particular name.
'Kim Do-jun?'
A figure popping up frequently in recent news.
Whether dropped from the sky or risen from the earth, he kept appearing everywhere.
'How does the CEO of a mere game company like Starlight know Jin Seol-hwa?'
Who was Jin Seol-hwa?
A name frequently bandied about on Wall Street.
The total value of stocks traded daily on the New York Stock Exchange reached around a trillion dollars. In such a colossal arena, Jin Seol-hwa—hailed as a deity—knew the head of a game company worth mere tens of billions?
Who would believe that?
Even an elementary school kid would shake their head no.
'There has to be something more.'
Though not a conglomerate, Selig's publicly known assets exceeded 100 trillion. The company acquiring Future Distribution was also linked to them.
'There could be secret dealings between the two firms.'
Digging through past articles, she uncovered key information. The timing matched the Future Distribution acquisition date—after which both Kim Do-jun and Jin Seol-hwa appeared.
Daehan Daily, hailed as the nation's top media outlet.
To survive in its sensitive society and economy sections, one couldn't afford to hold back.
Cha Se-yeon jumped up from her seat and stood before the news director.
"Director."
"Hm? You still haven't gone home?"
"It's not that. I think I need to go on a field assignment."
"Field assignment? Where to?"
At the director's question, she spilled everything she'd uncovered. Stories about chaebols were what reporters both dreaded and dreamed of for big scoops.
"I want to investigate Selig."
"What? Selig? No way. That's too dangerous."
"Director!"
"Se-yeon? No, Se-yeon-ah, you haven't heard the news yet, have you?"
"...?"
The news director sighed and pulled a document from his second drawer. It was in English, but fortunately, Cha Se-yeon was fluent.
"...U.S. Forces Korea?"
Shockingly, top-secret info revealed that Jin Seol-hwa had entered Korea not via Incheon Airport, but through a U.S. Air Force base.
She looked flustered at the sudden connection between U.S. Forces Korea and Jin Seol-hwa.
"That's why you should drop it. Don't splash fire on everyone needlessly."
"B-But..."
"Se-yeon-ah, to last long in this business, you need street smarts. Fine, say you uncover it! How do you even publish it as an article?"
"!"
"Say you do publish. It's not just anywhere—it's tied to a U.S. military base. You think the current administration will sit idly by?"
"Director! Two massive corporations with zero connections have teamed up. There could be some shady deal!"
"And what if we find out? That deal might benefit the nation."
The director's words rang true.
If mere speculation backfired, Daehan Daily would be torn apart on the spot.
He couldn't just watch his entire outlet crumble for one senior reporter.
"Se-yeon-ah, let's stop here."
"Director! Since when have we ever bowed to chaebols? You know what I've been through..."
"I know. I know! That's why we've avoided touching them as much as possible. But this? U.S. Forces Korea! With Russia-Ukraine war talk, China invading Taiwan rumors—it's all hyper-sensitive right now. You know that?"
"......"
"The higher-ups are freaking out over U.S. elections and nuclear development bullshit, the left's circling like hyenas for any scrap, and the Middle East is blowing up oil prices sky-high, squeezing civilians dry!"
"......"
"U.S. capital or foreign investment—what's the difference? It's the global era now. No country survives on domestic markets alone. This isn't the '80s!"
Cha Se-yeon's pupils trembled with rage.
Veins spiderwebbed across the whites of her eyes.
Her swollen blood vessels looked ready to burst, dripping red at any moment. Madness flickered in her gaze, chilling to the bone.
"Director!"
"Argh, whatever. Do what you want. But it's got nothing to do with us, so if you screw up and die screaming, that's on you!"
The news director finally averted his eyes from her.
He had mountains of work piled up.
Investigating Selig and Hanmyeong was far too risky.
It was already past 10 PM.
Yet the staff couldn't leave, still wrapping up articles.
The director pondered.
Maybe Cha Se-yeon was onto something.
From what he'd seen and heard, the two companies had no apparent ties. For typical B2B deals, mutual compensation was essential.
Bang!
Watching Cha Se-yeon storm out, the director pulled a cigarette from his pocket.
Cha Se-yeon, Daehan Daily's sole female ace.
A junior he personally cherished.
"Haah, I have no idea what the world's coming to."
Today, more than ever, he regretted entering this industry.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Various articles posted on online communities.
The site was in an uproar over them.
📰 Breaking News U.S. pharma giant Selig teams up with Hanmyeong Group to donate astronomical sum to war veterans... 📰 Breaking News Selig's Jin Seol-hwa reveals this aid package is the largest in history... Selig had already left a huge impression with its previous tens-of-billions donation. But this wasn't the end. They'd partnered with Hanmyeong Group, the nation's third-largest conglomerate.
📰 Breaking News Breaking! Donation exceeds 300 billion, with plans to increase if needed. 📰 Breaking News Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs head Kim Taek-jong welcomes support for Korean War veterans... 💬 Comments — Anon123 Whoa, 300 billion for real? — PatriotFan ㄷㄷ This is historic for our country... — WhaleWatcher U.S. capital power is unmatched. Just click and it's done? — VetSupporter But 300 billion—enough for all veterans? — RealTalk No way it'd cover. It's like pouring water into a broken vase. Just Korean War vets and families number thousands... maybe tens of thousands. — HistoryBuff Eh? That many still alive? — SadTruth Yeah, but they're aging out exponentially. Sad reality. — GratefulCitizen Thanks to Jin Seol-hwa or Kim Do-jun, whoever. Politicians ever care? Only during elections. — Voter99 Agreed. Stealing from a store out of poverty? No country treats heroes like this. Support them! Fierce debates raged on.
While some viewed Selig and Hanmyeong's actions positively...
...plenty saw it negatively too.
But most were positive.
After all, they stepped up voluntarily to donate—nothing but gratitude.
— FutureVoter If those two run for office, my vote's theirs. Better than lawmakers at least? Followers had already begun flocking due to their track records.
Of course, most were retail stock investors.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Today was the day to inspect Starlight and Future Distribution alternately.
Seeing the hardworking employees stirred fresh emotions.
"Everyone's working so hard, it makes me feel guilty just thinking about resting."
"Hahaha, if you just think that way, it's enough. The staff would love to hear it."
Lee Dong-uk laughed like an immortal drifting through the clouds at my words. His face beamed, convinced once again his judgment was spot-on.
As we chatted cheerfully about DJ Group's launch amid the pleasant mood...
Im Yun-ah, at the wheel, alternated glances between the rearview and side mirrors, then furrowed her brow slightly.
"President, there's a tail behind us."
What was this?
Was someone stalking me?
For what reason?
"What do you mean? A stalker?"
"Not sure, but do you see that white sedan in the back?"
A quick glance back revealed a similar vehicle.
"It's been following since 30 minutes ago."
"What? S-Since 30 minutes ago?"
Former USSOCOM operative Im Yun-ah—a battle-hardened soldier.
With an enemy on her radar, the tension eased from my neck muscles.
I almost pitied the pursuer.
"President, what should we do?"
Could be the one who sent threats to the U.S. HQ.
Better to leave it to Im Yun-ah's judgment than decide myself.
"You're in charge of security, Yun-ah. Handle it as you see fit."
"Understood."
Vroooom!
6.75-liter V12 twin-turbo engine.
Peak output around 560 horsepower.
Zero-to-sixty in 5.0 seconds.
True to its price tag, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan's performance was top-class. It surged ahead in an instant, shaking off the tail effortlessly.
Of course, Im Yun-ah didn't forget to memorize the pursuer's model and license plate in that brief window.