Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Old Age Security and Tax Avoidance
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Curious about the house under construction after a long time, I headed to the quiet site on the outskirts of Gyeongsan.
When I arrived at the site, the vast plot had already been neatly leveled, and the workers were bustling about, kicking up sweat and dust.
I found the site foreman and identified myself as the client. He greeted me with a friendly smile and showed me around the place.
"Sir, since the plot is so large, it took a bit longer to level the ground evenly, but it's perfectly settled now. The walls should be up in about a month."
Listening to the foreman's explanation, I slowly toured the roughly 2,000 pyeong site.
The ground was much neater and flatter than I'd expected, and seeing the framework and partition walls already starting to go up filled me with a warm sense of satisfaction.
"Foreman, how much longer until the house is fully complete?"
The foreman thought for a moment before replying with a confident expression.
"You specifically instructed us not to skimp on manpower and to push forward as fast as possible, so it's definitely quicker than our other sites. To finish everything, including the interior fittings... about half a year should do it."
I inwardly cheered at the faster-than-expected timeline.
I'd thought it would take at least a year, so hearing it'd be done in just eight months brought a wave of relief.
'At this pace, I'll get to see my forever home sooner than I thought.'
Living amid the hustle and bustle of the city didn't suit me as much as preparing for retirement in a peaceful spot like this.
It might be called countryside, but just 30 minutes by car to Daegu made it the perfect location.
I pulled out the envelope I'd prepared and handed it to the foreman.
"Foreman, everyone's working so hard. Treat the team to some meat after work with this."
The foreman took the envelope, his face lighting up in surprise as he bowed deeply.
"Oh my, sir! Thank you so much!"
His reaction put a smile on my face too.
After spending about an hour wandering the site, I left with excitement bubbling up as I imagined all the facilities that would soon fill this space.
On my way out, I headed straight to my parents' house.
After catching up on how everyone was doing, I brought up the building purchase.
"Have you decided on a building?"
My parents promptly pulled out the contract, as if they'd been waiting.
"Yes, son. We checked out all the ones you showed us, and this one was the best, so we put down the deposit and signed."
Looking at the contract, it was a building in Sawol-dong, Suseong-gu.
Right in front of the subway station, on the main road bordering Gyeongsan—a sizable structure over 10 stories tall.
Lots of foot traffic, and the monthly rent looked promising.
Checking the details: completed in 2008, 51 units across 9 floors plus 2 basement levels, with various unit sizes.
Total purchase price around 300 billion won, and monthly rent nearing 100 million won—a real gem.
I nodded in approval.
"You picked a great one. Prime location, steady rental income."
My parents reviewed the contract again, looking a bit worried.
"But son, isn't this one too expensive? Even with your money, factoring in gift tax... it'll be at least 50% in taxes."
I chuckled and waved off their concern.
"Come on, why pay gift tax?"
Something clicked, and I asked Dad,
"Dad, did you set up that account I asked you to make before?"
Dad looked a little apologetic.
"Oh, that... It was tough doing it alone, so I asked your brother-in-law to help set it up."
"Good job. Let's log in now."
Dad handed me a piece of paper.
Dad wasn't great with digital devices like smartphones.
What I'd asked for was a crypto exchange account.
Taking the ID and password written on the paper, I logged into Dad's phone. It was a pristine account with no trades.
I copied the wallet address and from my account—out of the 400 billion—I bought 35 billion worth of coins and sent them to Dad's account.
Sold them back at the same price, and 35 billion won landed straight in Dad's account.
After completing the withdrawal request, I explained,
"No taxes this way, so use this to buy the building. The extra 50 billion or so covers any other taxes comfortably."
Dad, a 70-year-old who'd spent his life working, watched me move hundreds of billions without a penny in taxes. He just looked amazed and grateful.
"Son, the world's really changed. Thank you."
I reassured them once more.
"With this building's rent, you two can live out your days worry-free. When you're bored, drop by the building and enjoy being landlords. I'll have the company handle all the management."
Knowing I'd truly secured their peaceful retirement filled me with pride.
"Oh! And I'll come with you when you sign for the building. It's our family property—I should check it out too."
They beamed happily.
"Yes, of course. We have to go together since our son's making it happen."
I added one last thing.
"No more worries about making ends meet, so travel a bit, you two. I remember when I was little—you never traveled, just worked. Go anywhere, domestic or abroad, as much as you want. Everything okay lately?"
They smiled contentedly.
"Son, living this comfortably thanks to you is blessing enough. We're happy just spending time with the grandkids every day."
After that warm family time, I stopped by my sister's on the way home to play with the kids a bit before heading back.
The day left me feeling much lighter.
I smiled, thinking of my parents and family's happiness.
Though Ji-ming and Ye-ji never spoke of it, they were keenly aware of each other.
The reason was simple.
They shared the same chairman: 'Coin King'.
After streams ended, they'd often sneak peeks at each other's broadcasts using alt accounts.
Both were rising stars skyrocketing thanks to the powerhouse sponsor Coin King.
That made them impossible to ignore.
'A streamer picked by the same chairman...'
Fortunately, Ji-ming was a virtual streamer, while Ye-ji did standard cam streams—clearly different fields.
At least on the surface, they weren't direct rivals, a relief they both felt.
Of course, Ji-ming had closely watched Ye-ji's collab with AfreecaTV major streamer Min-jun recently.
And she'd witnessed live as Chairman Coin King crowned Ye-ji 'Queen of Queens'.
Likewise, Ye-ji knew the backstory of how Ji-ming shot to big-corp status among virtuals overnight.
On AfreecaTV, star balloons meant power.
Both early picks of Coin King, with more streamers likely to come, they silently agreed to watch and cooperate amid the rivalry.
They hadn't crossed paths on stream yet, but it was inevitable.
And when it happened, they'd get along—that was already in their minds.
New to streaming, they pondered how to leverage their luck, quietly observing each other.
Instinctively, they knew their early collaboration might be key in Coin King's emerging landscape.
In the virtual streaming world, there's a term called 'red pill'.
It means revealing your real face to viewers. Virtual streamers must preserve that mystique, so they never show their true selves.
Viewers uphold this culture naturally.
I'd lived by those virtual norms.
But watching Ye-ji's recent stream made me feel Coin King's fame on Afreeca anew.
Her crowning as queen was so striking—honestly, I envied it.
'Has Ye-ji seen Chairman's real face?'
As a 'human' streamer among us virtuals, maybe she had.
If so, totally enviable.
Most virtual streamers don't earn much.
My viewers are mostly students and niche subculture fans.
Before Chairman, I'd struggled for nearly a year, so I get how tough it is for others.
Sure, some virtuals have whale sponsors and collab for variety.
But virtuals aren't mainstream yet—stuck in their own league.
Human streamers are majors; virtuals, minors.
I worried daily.
How to keep Coin King by my side?
No contact info, can't chat like cam girls.
I had to hold him with pure charm and wit—but I lacked confidence.
Lately, thanks to his support, I'm taking vocal lessons to boost my singing.
All I can offer is virtual appeal and my voice.
Steady viewer growth, stream improving—no broadcast worries.
Except one: shaking off anxiety about Coin King.
Watching Ye-ji rise, my unease grew.