Chapter 163
Chapter 163
Episode 163. Crushed When Already Down (2)
A large, two-story mansion in Seongbuk-dong.
It was the home of Yoo Ji-young of S1 Finance.
As morning arrived, Yoo Ji-young emerged from her room and saw Ahn Seung-joo sitting in a wheelchair in the living room.
“Aren’t you going to rehabilitation today either?”
“…I can’t be bothered.”
Even before being asked, Ahn Seung-joo’s expression was tinged with annoyance.
Yoo Ji-young let out a long sigh.
“So when will you be able to walk properly? It’s inconvenient even to go to the bathroom!”
“What am I supposed to do if it’s hard!”
Both knees had been shattered, and the injuries had healed months ago.
However, Ahn Seung-joo would always curse and quit during rehabilitation sessions.
“Haa—! Are you going to spend your whole life in a wheelchair?”
“I don’t know!”
Ahn Seung-joo then drove his electric wheelchair back to his room, which he had moved to the first floor.
Watching his retreating back, Yoo Ji-young let out a sigh deeper than before.
“Hoo… I really don’t know what he’s thinking.”
But with an important matter looming, Yoo Ji-young composed herself and prepared to leave for work.
Meanwhile, the morning news was playing on the TV Ahn Seung-joo had been watching.
【We have breaking news. A large-scale voice phishing organization that operated in China and domestically has been apprehended. The group, which defrauded 1,930 individuals, was caught through a prosecution investigation. The estimated damage amounts to approximately 210 billion won… and around 3,000 accounts and burner phones used in these voice phishing crimes were also…】
Yoo Ji-young paused the news and reached to turn off the TV.
Just then, her phone rang from inside her handbag.
However, it wasn’t her usual phone, but a burner phone used for contacting Cheon Geum-seong.
“What is it at this hour?”
[There’s a problem.]
“…A problem?”
[The guys who were withdrawing money from the burner accounts have been caught by the police. And all the burner accounts used for the loan shark business have been frozen.]
At that moment, Yoo Ji-young’s expression turned ice cold.
“The police? And frozen accounts, what are you talking about?”
[Upon checking, the burner accounts we use were discovered during the arrest of the voice phishing organization. That’s why they’ve all been frozen.]
As Cheon Geum-seong explained, Yoo Ji-young’s gaze, still holding the remote, shifted to the TV she had almost turned off.
The TV had moved past the news of the largest voice phishing organization’s arrest and was continuing with the next segment.
“So everything is blocked? How much of the secured funds are there?”
[For now, it’s only about 30 billion won.]
Yoo Ji-young still couldn’t believe it.
“…You’re not trying to scam me, are you?”
[Why would I scam you with something like this! Because of the people caught by the police, our organization might also be investigated! That’s why I’m going crazy right now!]
Of course, if Cheon Geum-seong had intended to abscond with Yoo Ji-young’s money, he would have needed a more elaborate plan than this absurd method.
“Only 30 billion out of 200 billion.”
The funds in the burner accounts were generated through illegal loan sharking, making it impossible to claim ownership.
[What are we going to do about this?]
“You’re saying all the accounts used by the voice phishing organization were our accounts?”
[As far as we’ve confirmed so far, yes.]
“Our accounts were managed with extreme care. This situation makes no sense from the start.”
Cheon Geum-seong also understood and murmured quietly.
[Are you saying someone intentionally handed over our accounts to the voice phishing organization?]
“When I think about it, that’s the most suspicious scenario. But who could it be… Has your office or any other loan shark offices been raided? Is there anyone who might hold a grudge against Cheongeumpa or a loan sharking office?”
[Would there be just one or two such people? And the main burner accounts are only at my office. There’s never been a problem before.]
Cheongeumpa was a criminal organization that had established roots in Seoul over several years. Naturally, countless people had been threatened to the point of death or driven to ruin by Cheon Geum-seong during that time.
Yoo Ji-young knew this situation well and her mind raced.
“For now, at least collect all the cash circulating in the loan shark market.”
[But… if we take that money too…]
Yoo Ji-young had a promise with Kwak Chi-young, so she had to gather as much as possible.
“My transaction is more important than your organization’s situation.”
[Who are you even dealing with?]
“…I can’t say. So please gather as much cash as you can. We’ll have to coordinate the remaining funds.”
[Understood, for now.]
After ending the call, Yoo Ji-young took out her original mobile phone.
.
.
.
Kwak Chi-young was sitting in the TSF Investment office. Not long after, the door opened and Yoo Ji-young entered.
“What on earth happened that you had to come here like this?”
In response to Kwak Chi-young’s question, Yoo Ji-young let out a deep sigh and explained the situation she had learned that morning.
Kwak Chi-young, who had been listening quietly, widened his eyes and furrowed his brow.
“…Are you saying someone handed over Cheongeumpa’s accounts to the recently apprehended voice phishing organization, and a portion of the funds has been blocked?”
“That’s right. The accounts were managed with extreme care on our end, so there’s no way they would be used by a voice phishing organization.”
Kwak Chi-young sighed at Yoo Ji-young’s voice, full of indignation.
“So, how much funds can you prepare?”
“I’ll have to check the exact amount, but I think it will be at least 240 billion won.”
The shortfall was 160 billion won. It would be difficult to gather that much capital within the set period without attracting suspicion.
“Are there no other options?”
“At this point, we’ve reached our limit.”
From the beginning, S1 Finance had considered a limit of 100 billion won. That’s why they were pushing to pull in funds from the Cheongeumpa loan sharking side.
“Haa—! So, do you have any suspicions about who orchestrated this? Someone who held a grudge against the loan sharking business or you?”
Kwak Chi-young approached the situation with the same line of thinking as Yoo Ji-young.
“For me and them, wouldn’t there be countless people who could hold a grudge while doing this kind of work? And it’s precisely this timing. If so, we’ll have to include TSF in the scope.”
Suddenly, Kwak Chi-young thought of a place.
However, he couldn’t share that with Yoo Ji-young, so he didn’t show it on his face.
“…We will also investigate. More importantly, we need to figure out how to secure the remaining funds.”
“By the way, what are you planning to use 400 billion won for? The preparation period isn’t long, are you planning to acquire some business?”
Normally, Yoo Ji-young didn’t ask the reason for using money.
But she could sense anxiety in Kwak Chi-young’s demeanor. Moreover, since TSF was involved, her interest naturally grew.
“S1 only needs you to lend the money.”
Yoo Ji-young thought of her personal assets. Of course, it wasn’t enough to cover the entire remaining amount, but she felt something was off about bringing it up now.
“…Alright. For now, only the amount I mentioned earlier is possible. We’ll also need to coordinate collateral for that.”
The collateral was approximately 350 billion won worth of MH Electronics and MH Foods shares, along with real estate.
“Let’s exclude the MH Electronics shares. Then the collateral amount you wanted should be roughly met, shouldn’t it?”
“As expected, you chose that one.”
It was because the MH Electronics shares were the most valuable among them.
“As long as I have collateral, I don’t mind. Since the amount is reduced, I might be able to hand it over to you faster.”
“Please do.”
With the decision made, the written contract was finalized.
Yoo Ji-young then took the signed contract and left Kwak Chi-young’s office.
Left alone, Kwak Chi-young began to worry about the 160 billion won that couldn’t be secured. Of course, that amount wouldn’t hinder the organization’s progress on the Black Ground Project.
The problem was his standing within the organization. Simultaneously, the preparation funds were like a down payment that would determine his position in the Black Ground Project.
Just then, Oh Han-sung, who had seen Yoo Ji-young out, returned.
“I’m back. Branch Manager.”
“…Yes.”
“Did things not go well?”
Oh Han-sung had been outside during the contract signing and didn’t know the situation. He asked because he saw Kwak Chi-young’s displeased expression.
“It’s completely messed up. Apparently, they used a voice phishing organization this time to freeze Cheongeumpa’s burner accounts. Because of that, the funds that were supposed to come to us are tied up.”
“Is it them again?”
“It’s certain. Given the current situation, it’s highly probable that the Oculus Fund is also their pawn.”
Oh Han-sung’s expression also turned grim.
“Should we track Irene Moretti now or go to Monaco to handle it?”
“If something happens there, it will cause an uproar in France. In that case, Bastian won’t stand by idly.”
Oh Han-sung’s expression darkened.
Bastian Marchion. He was the branch manager in charge of TSF Investment’s Southwest Europe region.
“Would the Southwest Europe branch manager concern himself with Monaco?”
“They say the BGP (Black Ground Project) funds for that region were drawn from there.”
“Ah……”
Monaco, smaller in area than Korea’s Ulleungdo, was a place where wealthy individuals from around the world gathered, with about 30% of its population being millionaires.
As a result, it was unofficially known as the wealthiest country in the world.
“Whether unknown individuals knew about this situation and set up shop in Monaco, they are definitely not people to be underestimated.”
“Then what do we do now? Orthros himself even contacted us for confirmation.”
Kwak Chi-young pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
“We’ll have to sell the MH Electronics shares.”
“Are you planning to dispose of them, not use them as collateral?”
“Chairman Yoo is in our hands, so whether we use her shares as collateral or not is not our concern, but what about others? We need to secure funds without giving the impression that TSF is in a precarious situation.”
It was also a matter of pride for TSF Investment, known as one of the top investment firms in the world.
“Which company do you plan to sell them to? Given the current situation, wouldn’t ROPPLE in the US pay a high price?”
ROPPLE was a US-based company, the largest electronics and telecommunications equipment manufacturer in the world.
Especially in the telecommunications sector, it was in a close race for market share with MH Electronics domestically.
“Hmm……”
“Or, perhaps we could use this opportunity to hand over the shares to LAOJIA and create an opportunity to shake MH Electronics. After all, they’ve been waiting for this situation, haven’t they?”
It was not a bad suggestion. Of course, the same applied to ROPPLE.
Ultimately, if something had to be sold, it should be to the highest bidder or the most useful party.
“Since there isn’t much time left, we can’t think about it for too long.”
“Why don’t we put it up for a private auction? Then we might be able to secure additional capital.”
“That would be good too.”
The decision to sell had already been made.
If, as Oh Han-sung suggested, they held a private auction, securing funds would be easier.
With that, Kwak Chi-young thought deeply, considering potential candidates that would yield the most profit.