Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: The Old Fox and the Cub Tiger
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Seoul, a private room in an upscale Korean restaurant.
Chairman Cheon Myeong-hwan, who had arrived a bit early for his dinner appointment, gazed at the neatly set table and fell into thought for a moment.
Outside the window stretched the panoramic view of Seoul, but his eyes were fixed on a much larger game beyond it.
Soon, the door opened, and in walked Vice Chairman Park of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry—a titan of the business world with immense influence in politics as well.
"Haha, Chairman Cheon. Have you been waiting long?"
"No, no, Vice Chairman Park. I just got here myself."
The two shook hands and took their seats.
They exchanged pleasantries and discussed recent economic trends over a few rounds of drinks.
Once the mood had ripened, Cheon Myeong-hwan tossed out a topic as if it were idle chatter.
"...You know Blue Sky Investment's CEO Kim Cheolsu, right? Such a vibrant young man. He donated 10 billion won the other day—quite the sight."
Vice Chairman Park nodded as he refilled his glass.
"Of course. He's the most talked-about figure these days."
Cheon Myeong-hwan chuckled lightly and continued.
His tone was that of a senior executive offering concerned advice.
"But here's the thing. Trees that grow too fast often have shallow roots. Especially in fields like finance or biotech, where trust and regulation are everything."
He paused for a moment, locking eyes with Vice Chairman Park.
"We've all built ourselves up over decades, playing by the established rules. New players entering the market need to respect those rules and learn from them too. It's good for the stability of the entire market. The government helping startups grow is fine, but shouldn't they first check if they're sticking to the basics?"
There was no direct call to attack.
No outright declaration of problems.
Just the irrefutable banners of principles, order, and market stability.
Vice Chairman Park, a veteran who had parsed the subtext of such conversations for decades, fully grasped Cheon Myeong-hwan's true intent. He emptied his glass and responded smoothly.
"You're right, Chairman. Principles matter. Young companies get overeager and make mistakes, so it's only natural for the government to keep an eye on them. I have a meeting with the economic ministry heads next week—I'll bring it up as a suggestion for stable market growth."
"Haha, as expected, you get it, Vice Chairman."
With that, their talk shifted back to the weather and golf.
After dinner, Cheon Myeong-hwan's car slipped quietly into the Seoul night.
Gazing at the indifferent city lights flowing past the window, he sank into a satisfied silence.
Now, invisible colossal gears would begin turning—slowly, relentlessly—toward their target: Kim Cheolsu.
In the smoothly gliding car, he pulled out his phone and pressed a shortcut key, as was his habit.
To check the reports that had come in during dinner.
[Yes, Chairman.]
"Anything unusual?"
As always, his secretary-chief's voice was flat and emotionless.
[One development. Blue Sky's Executive Director Han Yura moved to the Pangyo headquarters late this afternoon and hasn't left yet.]
Cheon Myeong-hwan's eyes narrowed.
Pangyo.
Quite a distance from central Seoul, where he was now.
An unplanned detour...
But a seasoned hunter never lets unexpected prey slip away.
He had just cast a massive net.
Cheon Myeong-hwan pondered briefly, then spoke to the driver.
"Head to Pangyo."
To the secretary-chief on the line, he issued an order hinting at his next move.
"Do I have any 'schedule' around Pangyo?"
Cheon Myeong-hwan didn't say it directly.
But his secretary-chief, grasping the intent perfectly, replied without hesitation after a brief pause.
An nonexistent schedule was instantly created.
[Yes, Chairman. In 40 minutes, you have a 'scheduled' tea time with an IT company CEO in Pangyo for urgent discussions. I'll confirm the location shortly.]
"Got it."
The call ended.
The old fox knew well that the best way to slip past Kim Cheolsu's defenses was a perfectly calculated coincidence.
And now, the stage for that coincidence was set in Pangyo.
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Pangyo, in front of Blue Sky Games headquarters.
"Good work, everyone."
Han Yura tossed envelopes stuffed with bonuses—on top of their salaries—to the Blue Sky Games founders, now reduced to the 'pathetic nerd trio' who'd lost their company, like feeding scraps to animals.
As she brushed past their groveling thanks and exited the lobby,
Han Yura involuntarily stepped back at the bizarre scene unfolding before her.
Two top-of-the-line black sedans were parked side by side in front of the headquarters.
And standing before them, two titans—one from Korea's business elite, the other from IT—were engaged in pleasant conversation.
One of them was a man who had no business being here.
Taesung Group Chairman, Cheon Myeong-hwan.
At that exact moment, his counterpart climbed into his car first, and Cheon Myeong-hwan turned.
Click.
His polished shoe hit the asphalt, and the old fox's eyes locked precisely on Han Yura.
A warm, disarming smile of a kindly elder spread across his face.
"Well, what a pleasant surprise... Coincidences like this are rare, aren't they?"
Cheon Myeong-hwan approached her warmly, as if bumping into an acquaintance's child on the street.
"First time meeting, right? I'm Cheon Myeong-hwan of Taesung. You're Blue Sky's Executive Director Han Yura, correct?"
Unlike his relaxed, gentle tone, a cold sweat trickled down Han Yura's back.
In her mind flashed the face of a certain bastard holed up in a postpartum care center.
Fuck, Kim Cheolsu said Cheon Myeong-hwan was different from Cheon Hye-yeon—no special moves!
Kim Cheolsu's prediction had missed the mark spectacularly.
Or was this what passed for a 'special move' for someone of Cheon Myeong-hwan's caliber?
Han Yura masked all her emotions perfectly and bowed.
"...Pleased to meet you, Chairman. I'm Han Yura."
At her greeting, Cheon Myeong-hwan chuckled like a benevolent grandfather. "Hahaha."
But beneath that laugh, his gaze dissecting her was sharp as a blade.
"Unlike CEO Kim Cheolsu, you have manners. I'm old enough to be your grandfather—feel free to speak casually."
"...Y-Yes... of course."
Han Yura stammered despite herself.
It was the seasoned power player's first trap—one she couldn't refuse or afford to.
Cheon Myeong-hwan smiled contentedly and turned to the other man nearby.
"Ah, look at me. This is Park Myung-oh, CEO of the portal site 'Green Gate.' Park, say hello. She's the capable one handling Blue Sky's operations."
As Cheon Myeong-hwan played the gracious elder introducing an IT heavyweight,
Han Yura clenched her fist to hide the cold sweat running down her spine.
Fuck...
Kim Cheolsu had been spot on.
This old bastard...
He was leagues above idiots like Cheon Hye-yeon, who let impulses rule and acted recklessly.
Every action, every word—a chillingly calculated performance.
CEO Park Myung-oh gave a light nod and said to Cheon Myeong-hwan,
"Thank you for the kind words, Chairman. I'll head in first."
He didn't spare Han Yura a proper glance as he got into his car.
A clean exit, his role as a prop in the play complete.
Now, on the dimly lit road in front of the headquarters, only Han Yura and Cheon Myeong-hwan remained.
The old fox flashed another kindly smile as he finally broached the real purpose.
"Since we've run into each other like this, care to join me for dinner?"
This wasn't a question.
It was a polite summons impossible to refuse.
Han Yura ran the calculations in less than a second.
Swallowing a torrent of curses inside, she plastered on the most deferential smile.
"...Yes. It's an honor, Chairman."
"Haha, honor? Nonsense."
Cheon Myeong-hwan turned toward his car with a satisfied smile.
His bodyguard promptly opened the rear door.
In that brief moment, Han Yura pulled out her phone, pretending to tuck it into her bag, and her thumb flew across the screen.
Recipient: 'Kim the Retard'
[Fuck, old man Cheon Myeong-hwan showed up. You bastard!!!]
Sending the message and locking the screen took exactly 3 seconds.
As if nothing had happened, she slipped the phone into her bag and climbed into Cheon Myeong-hwan's car.
The heavy door thudded shut, sealing out the outside world's noise completely.
The car's interior, thick with the scent of aged leather and raw power, felt like the heart of enemy territory—suffocating.
The car pulled away smoothly.
Han Yura desperately racked her brain, trying to guess the old fox beside her true intentions.
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Top-tier postpartum care center, VIP room.
I lay in bed beside Chaewon and Haneul, who were watching a kids' drama, peeling apple slices into bunny shapes for them.
At the same time, my foot gently rocked the cradle in a steady rhythm for Bada, who was sleeping soundly inside.
"Daddy, make the bunny ears bigger!"
My firstborn daughter—not a drop of my blood, but more precious than anything in the world.
The perfect proof of the 'family' I, an orphanage kid, had for the first time.
As I crafted those bunny apple slices amid this quiet, warm peace,
Bzzz—
My phone vibrated briefly on the table.
I popped an apple slice into Haneul's mouth and casually picked it up.
Sender: 'Han the Towel'
[Fuck, old man Cheon Myeong-hwan showed up. You bastard!!!]
The moment I saw Han Yura's desperate text, my hand mid-bunny ear and my foot on the cradle froze in midair.
It felt like ice water dumped over every circuit in my brain.
My fierce expression shift didn't escape my 8-year-old daughter's notice.
"Daddy? What's wrong? Your face looks weird."
At Haneul's words, Chaewon's eyes turned to me too.
My two most beloved beings stared at me with worry.
My post-nut clarity brain calculated the perfect escape scenario in 0.01 seconds.
I clutched my stomach and scrunched my face.
"Ugh... I... gotta poop!!! Bad!!"
At my desperate act, Haneul's face filled with horror.
"Eek, Daddy, go to the bathroom quick! Don't poop here!!"
At her shout, Chaewon burst into incredulous laughter, waving her hands.
Maintaining my pained expression, I backed awkwardly out of the room.
The heavy door clicked shut, leaving me alone in the hallway.
The 'urgent poop' look vanished from my face.
With cold fury etched on it, I immediately dialed a number.
Recipient: 'Cunt House No.7 & Second Wife'.
Two rings, then a tense voice.
[Y-Yes... h-honey... W-what is it... this late?]
Ignoring her forced 'honey,' I cut straight to it.
"Hey, say the name of your father-in-law's favorite 'illegitimate son.'"
A suffocating silence stretched over the line.
Cheon Hye-yeon—the most secret info she'd brought as 'dowry' to win me over.
Time to draw that blade.
[...Why bring that up... suddenly?]
"I've always dreamed of getting along great with my brother-in-law or sister-in-law."
She had no retort to my sarcasm.
I waited no longer.
"Answer."
My voice held zero emotion.
It wasn't a question—it was an unbreakable command.
Cheon Myeong-hwan. That old fox had touched my people: Han Yura.
A declaration of war, slowly tightening around me with his vast network and organization.
If the old bastard's attacking from the periphery? Fine, I'll do the same. Let's play dirty as fuck.
The silence didn't last.
[...Park Seon-woo... He's a sophomore at Taesung University...]
Followed by Park Seon-woo's full profile.
The half-breed who couldn't even take his father's name.
I memorized the name and details perfectly, then hung up without a word.
Park Seon-woo.
My father-in-law's sorest spot, one of his unknown weaknesses.
With a cold smile, I dialed another number.
[Yes, I've got the call.]
"Hey, Sojin. Busy?"
[No, sir. Heading out now.]
"Nah, not that... Name's Park Seon-woo, Taesung University sophomore..."
I relayed everything about Park Seon-woo I'd gotten from Cheon Hye-yeon to Park So-jin, then continued.
"Dig into that bastard's accounts. Get the warrants yourself. You've greased the wheels, right?"
[Yes.]
"Bet there's a ton of shady gifts and shit. Uncover every last one. And unleash all your gangster underlings—find out every drunk fuckup he's had, every girl he's been with. Everything."
[Yes.]
Team leader at the Financial Supervisory Service, boss of Gangnam's underworld.
This was the proper use of 'Cunt House.'
Alright then...
What the fuck is that greedy bitch Han Yura up to right now?
Is she scheming to betray me with that old fox Cheon Myeong-hwan?
Or, true to form as a dick-addicted slut, plotting some way to wriggle out?
Either way, results tomorrow.
I cleared the rough thoughts from my head.
And donned my 'daddy' mask again.
Wiped the anger from my face, swapped it for the relieved look of a man who'd handled big business smoothly.
Creeeak—
I eased the door open and slipped back in. Haneul spotted me from the bed and yelled,
Pinching her nose with tiny fingers, mimicking a nasal voice.
"Eww, Daddy stinks of poop~!"
For a split second, all my brain circuits halted.
The guy who'd just been orchestrating a counterstrike was gone.
Replaced by a pathetic dad getting shit-talked by his 8-year-old daughter for smelling like poop.
While Chaewon beside her laughed herself breathless, of course.