Spectating the Fight
Shin Jaewoo got a rough rundown of the situation from Lee Jinmyeong. They'd put pressure on the Daejeon Police Agency, assembled a team of lawyers who'd headed down there, and a civil suit was in the works too.
"We won't... lose, right?"
"The other side's probably panicking hard. Once they figure out who they've pissed off, they won't dare make a move."
Lee Jinmyeong's words put Shin Jaewoo's mind at ease.
How dare they try to slink away?
He'd heard the basics—they'd tried bribing the cops to bury it. But since everything had flipped on them, and they knew how to wield power themselves, they'd bend even easier to someone with greater clout. Han Taeho had folded just like that, hadn't he?
Oh yeah, speaking of Taeho... there was that thing I asked him to handle.
Shin Jaewoo recalled something he'd forgotten. The task he'd given Han Taeho: crushing Kim Mincheol for good.
Should I check in with Taeho?
He was curious how Han Taeho planned to pull it off.
Maybe just shoot him a text?
Shin Jaewoo was mulling it over when his phone buzzed first.
"...Did she catch on too?"
He picked up after a moment's hesitation.
"Hey!"
A high-pitched shout blasted through the second he answered.
"What the hell did you do?"
Strong conviction laced the other man's voice. Shin Jaewoo pulled his smartphone away from his ear. The screen lit up with the caller's name.
[Kim Do-hoon]
His old classmate from Daejeon. The reason for the call was obvious.
"Where the fuck did you get all that money...? You even covered the hospital bills yourself?"
"...You heard?"
"Fuck yeah, how could I not? And what's with the lawyers out of nowhere?"
Kim Do-hoon's words poured out without restraint. Come to think of it, Shin Jaewoo hadn't told them yet.
I mentioned it a bit to Taeksu...
He'd meant to fill in the rest of his friends, but hadn't. The reason was obvious: Kim Do-hoon's dad's accident.
He'd planned to drop the inheritance bombshell right there on the spot.
If they change because of this... well, that's as far as our friendship goes.
Shin Jaewoo laid it out straight to Kim Do-hoon first.
"I came into some serious cash."
"No shit, one look at that car you were driving says it all. Broke-ass you affording a Ferrari? What, you hit it big on crypto?"
It was less a real question and more casual curiosity.
"Turns out I had a grandpa on my dad's side."
"Grandpa?"
"Yeah. The inheritance just came through."
"You... didn't your grandpa die ages ago? Wasn't it just your grandma?"
They'd been tight since childhood, so he knew Shin Jaewoo's story well. They'd even hung out often at his maternal grandma Park Sun-ok's gukbap joint. That's why the question made sense.
"That was my mom's side. My dad's dad was apparently still alive."
"Ah... so that's where the massive payout came from?"
"Huge."
Short and sweet. Kim Do-hoon's reaction was equally blunt.
"Thought you were straight-up dirt-poor, turns out you're a sneaky rich bastard. Next time we grab food, you're paying."
Kim Do-hoon's words flew fast and loose. Buying a meal was no big deal for Shin Jaewoo.
"You got it."
"Fuck, fine, whatever. Pisses me off you said yes so easy. Whatever. I'll mooch off you somehow. Thanks for handling this mess."
Kim Do-hoon mumbled it awkwardly, clearly embarrassed. A smile tugged at Shin Jaewoo's lips. But guy talk like that felt weird, so Kim Do-hoon cut it short.
"Catch you later. Thanks to you, my problem's gonna sort itself out."
It better. Shin Jaewoo had shelled out a hefty sum just for the lawyer fees.
Booking all those top-tier firms cost me eight figures at least.
He'd even overpaid on purpose. Simple reason: win the case, and bill the other side for attorney fees.
Of course, to him, it wasn't a burden—but he'd claim it anyway.
Make 'em pay the full price.
The damages for Kim Sun-woong and the other victim alone would be no small change. The opponents were likely staring down at least ten billion won in payouts. And once it hit court, they'd need lawyers too...
Twenty billion. Squeeze it out of them.
The pity was they hadn't confirmed drunk driving yet. But Song Jin-ho had said it sure looked like it. If true, no mercy.
Shin Jaewoo made a call. The Lamborghini held no more interest. His curiosity had shifted elsewhere.
"Taeho."
He dialed Han Taeho—what he'd heard back in Daejeon had him itching for details.
"Yes, hyungnim!"
Han Taeho's "hyungnim" was old hat now. Shin Jaewoo chuckled and got to it.
"About that thing we talked about..."
"Ah, Kim Mincheol, right?"
"Yeah. Just checking in."
The beatdown on Kim Mincheol.
"Curious how you'd pull it off."
"Kuh... Perfect timing, hyungnim. We're kicking off today."
Han Taeho sounded thrilled, like Shin Jaewoo's call was spot-on. Interest piqued, and then came the unexpected.
"What?"
Han Taeho's method was nothing like what Shin Jaewoo had imagined.
He's really going that route?
Flustered, but Han Taeho pressed on without hesitation.
"You don't need to lift a finger, hyungnim—just watch. That Kim Dong-su level? I got him covered."
Okay, fine, but...
Would this actually work?
"You haven't met the guy, right?"
Shin Jaewoo's puzzled reaction prompted it. Obviously—he only knew of him through Kim Minseo.
"His ego's insane. He'll bite for sure. Might as well bleed his pocket money dry while we're at it, yeah?"
Han Taeho planned to crush Kim Mincheol's cash and pride. A brilliant scheme to strip both.
Can that really work?
Shin Jaewoo still couldn't wrap his head around it. But if Han Taeho said so, he'd watch.
Dansori was a solo female streamer, no crew Excel battles—just her own broadcasts. Still, she consistently hit the Wind Best 1 million mark for yeocam rankings. No need for crews with that title.
The reason? Chairman, Mincheori VP, Kim Dae-mul. Those three kept the star balloons flooding in.
But lately, her expression had soured a bit.
Why hasn't Kim Shin shown up?
Chairman Mincheori still popped in. But the crucial Kim Dae-mul had ghosted.
A quick scan showed he'd dipped from other streams too. Rumor had it he'd rage-quit.
If that's true, this sucks...
Mincheori wasn't broke. But losing Kim Dae-mul could halve her earnings.
Then this annoying crap on top. She scowled at the early donation.
120. The dreaded "gold non-smoke wind"—119 short of lighting up.
"No, Yeopo-oppa. Why all of a sudden..."
"Kyaaah!"
Her face lit up. Then Mincheori's chat dropped.
Strutting his stuff. Confidence oozing, chat exploded.
Praise all around. Exactly what Mincheori (Kim Mincheol) craved.
Trusting him, Dansori relaxed, teasingly covering her face with her character illustration—like hiding a smoke.
Before her e-cig even touched her lips, she had to move the illust again.
"Oppa!"
Oppa meaning Mincheori.
The chairman delivered again. Or so she thought.
Ego clash between the two. Shin Jaewoo watched quietly.
There was a saying: watching fights and fires was the best entertainment.
"Just like Taeho said. He jumped right in."
As these idiots brawled, the assault on Nemo Entertainment was kicking off too. A prelude skirmish.