Chapter 59: Injung Yeopo
"Whew. Perfect, just perfect."
Seo Seongtae grinned as he drove off. His destination was the rendezvous point.
'Sell off all the data I have here, pocket the cash, and bolt. That's the plan.'
Kim Dongsu had been far too trusting. From that moment on, his downfall was sealed.
Grinning ear to ear like he'd stepped out of a movie, Seo Seongtae soon met a black limousine under a bridge.
"…I've brought all the documents."
"We'll check them first."
"Suit yourself. But if you don't pay up after verifying, things could get messy."
The contact had called himself a police informant. Seo Seongtae didn't fully buy it.
'Police, my ass.'
He figured the guy was probably some underling for a powerful figure tied to those ledgers. No need to poke the bear, then. Seo Seongtae just wanted his money.
"…It's all here."
The man had opened the trunk, rifling through the ledgers, IOUs, and such. He nodded in approval.
As he spoke, the limousine door opened, and another man stepped out. They weren't empty-handed—each carried a thick briefcase.
"Would you like to verify, Mr. Seo?"
"I'm sure you've handled it properly. Let's just swap."
"Very well."
Soon, the men loaded the briefcases into Seo Seongtae's trunk. In exchange, all the documents from his trunk went into the limousine.
Once the transfer was complete, the man who'd finalized the deal spoke up.
"That concludes our business. I'd prefer we never cross paths again."
"Couldn't agree more. If we bump into each other by chance, let's play strangers."
And that was the end of it. The man smiled and parted ways with Seo Seongtae.
Now, as Seo Seongtae climbed back into his car and drove off into the distance, the man pulled out his smartphone and made a call.
"…I've wrapped up the deal with Seo Seongtae. The goods check out."
"Good work, Mr. Choi."
The voice on the other end was cold and crisp—Lee Jinmyeong's.
"Head straight back to base. We'll analyze the documents and figure out how to use them."
He issued new orders to Choi Jincheol.
"Understood. But…"
Choi Jincheol started to reply, then trailed off.
"Something wrong?"
"Are we really just going to let that Seo Seongtae guy walk?"
Choi Jincheol asked Lee Jinmyeong directly. He didn't like loose ends like Seo Seongtae. And who knew?
'Leaving him alive could bite us later…'
But Lee Jinmyeong thought differently.
"Did he see your face?"
"No."
Every time they'd met, and even now, Choi Jincheol had worn a balaclava mask. Even if they crossed paths elsewhere, Seo Seongtae wouldn't recognize him.
"Then no issue. We don't need more trouble in Korea."
Lee Jinmyeong's decision was final. Choi Jincheol nodded in agreement.
"…Got it."
He still felt uneasy, but orders were orders. Deep down, he knew anyway.
'Yeah, no need for us to get involved.'
Kim Dongsu might've been caught off guard this time, but he wasn't powerless yet. He still had loyal underlings and plenty of assets. From now on, Seo Seongtae would have to watch his back around Kim Dongsu—and even that was no guarantee of survival.
"Let them tear each other apart from here on. We just focus on our own business."
Lee Jinmyeong ended his call with Choi Jincheol. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"…This'll wrap up nice and clean."
Shin Jaewoo's order to eliminate Kim Dongsu. Well, not exactly—he hadn't explicitly commanded a hit on Kim Dongsu. But to shake Nemo Entertainment, targeting him was key.
And that wasn't all.
'He holds dirt on Korea's political and business elite.'
Those ledgers. The details on payoffs to lawmakers and ministers. They'd be gold for the foundation's projects.
Take the university acquisition Shin Jaewoo had announced.
'If there's something in there to sway the Ministry of Education… perfect.'
That was the crux. Money alone couldn't buy a university. The process was a nightmare—Education Ministry approval required.
"…I thought it'd be tough without solid footing in Korea, but this should do it."
Soon, Shin Jaewoo could pursue his goals freely here too.
But first, other matters.
'To control both the US and here, the chairman needs someone besides me…'
As chief secretary, Lee Jinmyeong wore many hats. Especially overseeing US operations—the main base—and shadow work. Shin Jaewoo wasn't ready for that himself yet.
'So even if I handle things here, he needs a personal secretary to assist daily…'
He picked up a photo. Lee Sooyoung, the dedicated rep from Panta Bank assigned to Shin Jaewoo.
'Jinshil says she's sharp…'
Not sharp enough. For someone that close, loyalty had to be proven.
He set her photo aside and grabbed another.
"…She's the one."
Muttering to himself, Lee Jinmyeong called his sister.
"What?"
"What's the chairman up to right now?"
Lee Jinmyeong was in the Jamsil Signiel Residence—but not Shin Jaewoo's office. This was the one below it. Lee Jinshil was likely at the Seongbuk-dong Mansion.
"The chairman? Probably… in his room? He's been in there a while. Want me to call him?"
"No, can't disturb his rest."
"Hmm. Maybe blowing star balloons on AsiaTV by now?"
Lee Jinmyeong flinched. Shin Jaewoo could do whatever. But sometimes, he just didn't get the guy's hobbies. Not that his understanding mattered.
Shin Jaewoo had no clue about the outside drama. The clash between Kim Dongsu and Hwang Insu, Seo Seongtae's betrayal—he was oblivious.
Made sense. He'd given Lee Jinmyeong the go-ahead just today. Not even a direct order.
'I want to crush Kim Mincheol.'
And taking out Kim Dongsu as the defensive bulwark. He'd approved the op moments ago. Even knowing the rough plan, he hadn't expected it to move this fast.
So he'd put it out of mind.
'The hotel's sorted…'
The board resolution had promoted Oh Miyoung to room manager for real.
But that wasn't the endgame. Shin Jaewoo had more plans. He could loop in Lee Sooyoung or Han Taeho later.
'Let her gain experience as room manager first…'
Then elevate her to general manager. Of course, his deal with Go Seonggyun ruled out Lumière Seoul. So, branch number two.
The failed second outpost from Lumière Hospitality before. Time for a redo.
'A little red ink won't hurt.'
He was confident it'd succeed. Location? Daejeon.
"…With Baekje University and Lumière branch two, maybe get a place in Daejeon too?"
Should scout ahead. And thinking of Daejeon and Baekje University brought her to mind—the woman who'd mentioned it.
Heck, she'd crossed his thoughts during his chat with Lee Jinmyeong earlier. While pondering the chicken game and Excel.
He'd figured one day helping Kim Minseo was enough—no need to revisit Excel.
'Hmm.'
But plans changed. Without thinking, Shin Jaewoo logged back into AsiaTV.
He'd meant to hit Nyanbyeol's personal stream, but…
'Not on.'
She wasn't broadcasting publicly. Technically, a password-locked private room was up. Just the title visible, to notify fans.
That title was all that showed.
Shin Jaewoo quietly searched for Kuni instead. No need, really—his stream topped the list.
"…Thank you. With Yeopo oppa helping me like this today, I'll give it my all!"
An unfamiliar yeocam held the mic, expressing her thanks.
But Yeopo. Specifically, the nickname on the donation board.
"Injung Yeopo? Rings a bell…?"
The name felt familiar.