Family Gathering – Flawless, Save for the Scale
'It's perfect, except the scale feels a bit lacking.'
It's not just because I did it myself. Even objectively, it's an incredible achievement.
"I need to emphasize that my starting point was 100 billion won in cash a bit more. And the stock investment success? It's only happened once so far, so people might chalk it up to luck. No matter what I do, that image sticks, so don't overplay it. I can prove it again later."
"Understood, Master."
"But weave in the nuance subtly. Layer our actions onto the rise in Real Production's stock price. Like how the special prosecution turned Incheon's entertainment scene upside down, tanking entertainment stocks, and the cash that fled then stuck to Real Production, which was surging at the time."
It's not even wrong. That's exactly the analysis that came out.
Mention that, plant the seed of 'could it be?', and that's success enough.
"And that special prosecution became the trigger for Goryeo Entertainment to rise as a mega-agency with over a thousand idols, right? Tie that in too. I need to imprint the idea that I'm strategic."
I kept coaching them. Honestly, I'm no expert. The secretaries might even be better at this, so I incorporated their input too.
The goal of this New Year's briefing? Simple: Leave a stellar impression on Grandpa and my aunts.
Sure, there are tons of side-branch folks, execs, directors—but screw satisfying them. Our worlds don't overlap anyway.
My focus is Grandpa and the aunts alone. The real power players gripping the Goryeo Group's reins and the owner family's everything.
Make them see me right, etch Ko Mu-yeol into their minds.
'Not the junkie Ko Mu-yeol anymore, but the ambitious one.'
That's why I've been steadily making those courtesy calls.
"Take a break, reconvene in an hour."
"Yes."
…
"Alright... The performance report's solid. Now for next year's plans."
What will Ko Mu-yeol do in 2077?
Simply put, accelerate or wrap up what I'm already pushing.
First, finalize the special correctional corporation setup, then kick off prison construction on Mu-yeol Land immediately. Pour in extra manpower and gear if needed—aim to complete the core facility in six months.
Inmate intake after a two-month setup: around August. Business goal? Contributing to Incheon's security normalization. That works.
Plenty more to announce besides. I've got a lot of irons in the fire...
"The real centerpiece is... Namdong Industrial Complex."
Everything else is secondary; this alone could carry the show.
But it demands time and prep, so the pitch isn't bloated. Finish restoration in the key zones, complete integrated HQ design and approvals, start construction by December at latest.
That's the target.
'Damn, it looks glacial on paper...'
Lucky part: Tech makes actual building lightning-fast. Design and approvals might drag longer.
Skip those hurdles quick, and December groundbreaking could become completion.
'Key is the April ward chief by-election.'
Everything Namdong-related hinges on it. Grill the ward chief or plant my own guy, and approvals fly, permits drop, construction rolls.
Current one's on death's door after I crushed him; acting chief's Progressive Innovation Party, stonewalling hard. Stuck pushing via Kim Eun-ji, Namdong Gap assemblyman, and Public Safety Recovery Committee.
'Slot my guy in April, purge the underlings. Then we make real progress this year.'
Announce December groundbreaking as goal, hustle internally for faster.
Don't yap "We'll finish the HQ this year and kick off full Namdong development"—if it flops, I'm the fool.
Standard timelines for plans and pitches: safer.
"And the rest..."
Unleash RK-99? Nuclear cheat card—only if I'm dead sure I can deliver.
Hanging with Go Min-young and Go Min-ji eased worries some. Still, no slacking...
Bag one more aunt and one sister, then prep full reveal. Till then, roll out RK-66, RK-55, build up Mu-yeol Chemicals.
'So the briefing's hooks: Namdong, Mu-yeol Finance, Mu-yeol Chemicals.'
I jotted notes, explained verbally, passed to the secretaries. They nodded, absorbing intently.
"Make it happen."
"Yes."
+++
December 31st. D-day dawned.
D-day's the 1st, right? Yeah, but arrive early. Can't roll up last-minute when all the elders gather.
Morning prep grind: Pyongyang-bound gear locked, final checks.
Performance recap, New Year's goals, resolutions. Flawless.
"Good. This'll do."
Noon hit. Group lunch to fuel up, then wheels up.
Elementary-school-kid-level shit-talk from Go Min-ji. Phone sex the other day she was all "too big"; today it's "too small". Total brat.
Wrapped the chat, hit up the rest of the family with greetings. Shockingly, most were already there.
'I'm the last one? ...'
Mild shock. I hustled too!
Eh, AV ride's quick. Silver lining.
+++
Perfect weather today. Pyongyang's skyline stabbed endlessly skyward, skyscrapers in crisp view—even horizon-edge buildings, not a haze in sight.
Spectacle supreme. And that's not all.
Just nearing Taeyang Palace, AVs swarmed the area. Felt like every AV on the peninsula funneled here.
"Roads are jammed too."
Sky that bad? Ground's hell. Roads to the palace crawled ant-thick with cars, disgorging hordes toward the gates.
'Thank fuck I'm a Ko.'
No way I'd brave that mob.
Slid in comfy via dedicated AV pad. Spotted a familiar face inside.
"Huh? Min Ji-ah?"
"!"
Ran into Min Ji-ah's crew, trudging weary through the hall. Feels like ages!
Wonder how she's been.
"G-Gasp. Y-Young master...!"
She spotted me, hurried over—no run, brisk steps. Heels clicked closer; she bowed 90 degrees right in front.
Her entourage mirrored instantly. Mobster-movie vibes.
'Why so many with her?'
Usually exec-level entourage; hers clocked 30-40 easy.
'Makes sense. Prime side-branch royalty.'
Recently swallowed Daejin Group whole—family wiped after pissing me off. Scale-wise, my Goryeo Entertainment's chump change.