Donation (2): The Corrupt Chairman's Fall
Gangnam's ultra-luxury nightclub VIP room. Jo Hyung-jun, chairman of the Hope Nursery Foundation, shook an expensive bottle of whiskey while bursting into laughter with the foundation's other executives.
"Hahaha. Everyone worked hard this month too. Let's push a little harder and then go enjoy life."
Jo Hyung-jun took a sip of the amber liquid in his crystal glass and continued.
"Don't worry too much, guys. Honestly, what's the point of letting that land sit idle? Sorry to the kids, but if apartments go up on that prime real estate, our foundation's value skyrockets too."
They all toasted, covering their last shreds of conscience with excuses about the greater good, laughing sleazily.
Watching the scene through hacked phones and cameras from all angles, I was dumbfounded.
"Holy shit, these guys are real pieces of crap."
Stealing money through corruption was bad enough, but knowing it was meant for the kids made me even angrier.
Editing on the affair evidence to send to Chairman Jo's wife is complete. Shall I send it now?
Staring at this nauseating scene was starting to piss me off, but perfect timing.
"Yeah, pick the best shots and send 'em. Make sure it's 4K—no glitches, gotta look crisp."
Sent.
As Athena finished, I watched to see what he'd say next. Then Jo Hyung-jun's phone rang.
The name on his screen: My Love.
"Calling her My Love while cheating? What a psycho."
I shook my head at his incomprehensible behavior. He picked up the phone to check the caller.
"Ugh... ruining the vibe."
I worried he might ignore it, but Athena intervened—the call connected forcibly, speakerphone on.
"Huh? What's wrong with this?"
He fumbled in panic to hang up, but his wife beat him to it, screaming.
"Jo Hyung-jun! You beast! What the hell are these photos on my phone? Where in Gangnam are you right now? Get your ass home NOW?!"
She was no spring chicken, yet she rapped out her rage like a pro, cursing up a storm.
"D-dear? What's this... hold on, misunderstanding!"
Face beet red in front of his underlings, he tried to end the call, but the screen showed a slideshow of affair pics sent to his wife—not "call ended."
Ignoring the other execs struggling to compose their shocked faces, he bolted from the club.
Goddamn it. What the hell happened?
His wife's voice still echoed in his ears. He'd been so careful not to get caught—must be bad luck or heaven's prank. She knew everything.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Deep breaths before starting the car, trying to calm down.
"It's fine. Even divorce, no asset split."
As long as the money he'd siphoned for over ten years was safe, he could handle a divorce.
He turned on his phone to nav home—then an unbelievable alert.
> WARNING: Irregular login detected. Assets freezing in 120 seconds. Connect hardware wallet for verification.
"Wha...?"
The expert swore it was foolproof. Hacked on the verge?
His barely calmed heart pounded wildly again.
Thump-thump—drowning out everything but the alert.
"No... stop, please!"
Desperate, he grabbed the laptop from the passenger seat.
Old model—took forever to boot.
Nails bitten in anxiety over the 120-second timer.
Like answering his prayers, it booted with 60 seconds left.
Trembling hands plugged in the USB hardware wallet, launched the app.
Password in—crypto wallet greeted him, no issues.
10 billion. No, now 12 billion with market rise—Bitcoin intact.
Sigh of relief, slumping into the seat.
"Phew... safe, thank god."
Hardware wallets were invincible. Expert was right—mood lifted from rock bottom.
"Alimony? Whatever, pay it. With this, live like a king in Thailand."
Confirmed safe, wiped cold sweat, hit security update.
[Security protocol running...]
Normal after threat—update needed.
But something went wrong.
> Transfer initiated: 10 BTC... 50 BTC... 100 BTC...
"Huh? Wha?!"
Update bar? No—balance dropping: 12B to 8B, 5B, 2B.
"Wait, stop! Cancel where?!"
Crazed clicks, smacking the screen—numbers kept falling relentlessly.
Dazed, staring—balance hit zero.
Over ten years of dogged saving—kids' meals cut, teachers' pay slashed, land inflated. Blood money.
Gone with one click.
Soul drained, staring—unknown number rang.
Bzzz-bzzz.
Not familiar.
"...Hello?"
Voice hoarse already.
"Is this Jo Hyung-jun? Detective Park Jun-young, police anti-corruption squad. Tip on embezzlement from the foundation where you're chairman."
Heart stopped. Police? Now? How? Questions swirled, lips quivered—no words.
Snapped back, stalled with "busy"—postponed summons.
Tu-tu-tu-tu.
"...Aaaargh!!"
Screamed mad, pounded steering wheel. Lost wife, kids, ten years' hoard.
"Dude's got bipolar or something. Screaming, crying solo?"
Athena's blackbox feed showed the chairman acting insane.
"Anyway, what about that Bitcoin?"
I'll launder it clean, use for foundation takeover, refill legit. Jo gets asset concealment charge too—rotting in prison long-term.
Athena's prison prediction soothed me.
"Guy got every bad break today."
One day: fortune, family, future—all jailed. Couldn't stop laughing.
"Hand Jo and execs to cops, start foundation acquisition."
Got it, Master.
Cleaning rot, normalizing—takes time.
"Anything for me meanwhile?"
I'll give a list of clean folks Jo sidelined. Pick one or appoint external for chairman.
"That's it?"
That's all. Visit the nursery post-normalization if you want.
About a week later, during dinner at home, Athena called me in an unusually excited tone.
Master, want the news on?
"News? Oh, that guy's story hit the media already."
TV on, flipped channels—my usual news station, anchor briefing.
Screen switched: Jo and execs hauled to station. No trace of whiskey luxury—desperately hooded in coats, ignoring reporters.
Reporter explained details.
"Puhahaha!"
Choked on chicken.
Desperately telling truth to cops/prosecutors—no one believes.
"Poor guy's sleepless. Jailbound, broke."
Logs look legit externally. Embezzled crypto hides it—no suspicion from cops/prosecutors.
"Feels so good. Should've had beef tonight?"
Chairman appointment?
"Lee Jin-wook from your list seemed best. Strict audits, good funding—good enough."
Proceeding with Lee Jin-wook as chairman. Strict audits per your order—no more Jo incidents.
Great dinner, gazing out window—Han River cherry blossoms still dancing.
"Keep supporting well. Kids eat good, thrive."
Spending on good causes—rare proud feeling.