Hey, You Son of a Bitch!
"Did you call for me?" Team Leader Park Hae-soo asked Section Chief Lee Eun-soo, who had summoned him. Section Chief Lee stood by the window, looking out at the night streets of Seoul.
"You have the files on Assemblyman Park Tae-seok, right?"
"...Are you talking about those?"
"Yes. Those."
"Are you really going to use them?" Tension laced Park Hae-soo's voice. The files Lee Eun-soo was referring to were nothing short of a bomb, filled with the corruption of high-ranking politicians—information they had been secretly collecting for just such an occasion.
"The backlash could be massive. They might even start tracking us down to find the source of the leaks." Lee Eun-soo’s eyes flashed.
"Do you think I’m afraid of something like that?"
Park Hae-soo swallowed hard at the look in his eyes. The gaze of the hunting dog he had known in the past had returned.
"...Understood. Then, to what extent should we release them?"
"All of it." Lee Eun-soo’s voice rang out coldly. "From real estate speculation to bribery and hiring irregularities in public enterprises. Remember? The one where he put his own daughter in a director position. Focus on that."
"...Are you going after his family, too?" Park Hae-soo retorted sharply.
"We aren't going after his family. We’re digging up his wrongdoing."
"...Chief. If you leak everything you just mentioned, the political world will be turned upside down. It’s not just one or two people who are involved."
"That’s the point. It’s time to teach them a proper lesson. And show them exactly who they shouldn't have messed with." Lee Eun-soo spoke again. "You know some reliable reporters, right? Spread all these files tonight. I want them on the front page tomorrow."
"Understood. I will make sure not to leave a single trace."
"You can leave traces. I’ll take full responsibility. Team Leader Park, you just do as I say. Is there anything wrong with what I’m saying?"
"...No, sir."
As Park Hae-soo left, Lee Eun-soo’s eyes caught the cross standing tall on a church roof. "Repent for your sins and return to being a commoner, Assemblyman." Lee Eun-soo’s eyes began to turn cold.
This was shortly after he heard that the Yellow Magic Stone had been sent to the research institute on a rental basis.
"So, how much is the rental fee?"
"After negotiations, we agreed to rent it out for 5 billion won."
"5 billion?" Yu-shin’s expression soured. Was his expectation too high? A sense of self-reproach washed over him, wondering if he had trusted the Hunter Management Department too much. Still, even if they say you can name your price, 50 million won would have been too little. 'Shouldn't it be at least 500 million to make it worth it?' That was when Yu-shin was thinking that.
"From now on, 5 billion won will be deposited into your account every month."
"...Excuse me? How much did you say?"
"5 billion won. Since we are in the same government, we couldn't offer a higher price. I apologize." Park Hae-soo bowed his head in apology.
Excuse me? Wait a second? His heart was pounding. He hadn't even felt this way in front of Marcass.
"5 billion... won? Five. Billion. Won??" Cheon Yu-shin said, stressing every single syllable.
"Yes, that’s right. 5 billion won."
Holy crap. Are Yellow Magic Stones that expensive? 5 billion won a month? That’s almost the same amount as winning the lottery jackpot every week. 'At this rate, I could quit being a hunter!' No, no. If I collect a few more Yellow Magic Stones and just run a rental business, that's a huge profit. By the way, what should I do with 5 billion won? Now that a large sum of money was actually coming in, Yu-shin didn't know what to do.
Should I buy a house? No, no! Everyone is talking about how house prices are plummeting these days, so I shouldn't do that. Should I buy a sports car? But I don't have a driver's license. Should I invest in stocks? No, they say that’s the fast track to ruin. Should I save it? But they say interest rates are basically negative these days, so saving might actually be a loss.
He was lost in such happy worries when:
"Um, Hunter? However, the actual amount you receive won't be 5 billion won. There’s the matter of taxes."
"Excuse me? Taxes? Isn't hunter income tax-free?"
"Income under 1 billion won is tax-free. But since it’s an income of 5 billion won, there are obviously taxes. First, there’s income tax. And since it’s rental income, business income tax will apply, um. And then there’s local tax, resident tax..."
Yu-shin stared blankly into space with his soul seemingly drained out of his body. "Taxes, taxes, taxes, taxes..."
"Furthermore, for high-income earners like Hunter Cheon Yu-shin, the comprehensive income tax rate is applied..."
Yu-shin raised his hand high.
"...Wait a minute?!"
"Yes, please go ahead, Hunter."
"So, roughly how much money will I actually receive?"
"To put it roughly, after taxes, I think it will be around 2.5 billion won."
"......?"
What kind of nonsense is this! I rented out a Yellow Magic Stone for 5 billion won, but the money I actually get to keep is half of that, 2.5 billion won?
"W-where is such a law!" Cheon Yu-shin’s voice trembled.
"If you look at Article 39, Paragraph 4 of the Special Act on Hunter Management, the tax-related content is written precisely."
'These damn robbers, sucking the blood out of commoners who have no money.'
"And what about the Assemblyman Park Tae-seok case?"
"...Yes."
"We will handle that well on our own. There will never be any harm coming to Hunter Cheon Yu-shin or your family..."
"Do whatever you want." Cheon Yu-shin was already thoroughly offended. This damn government, it should just disappear. Taxes of 2.5 billion won? That’s absolutely ridiculous! And what? Park Tae-seok? What else do I have to do with that extra-like piece of trash?! Right now, Yu-shin’s head was filled only with the thought that 2.5 billion won would be sprayed into the air every month.
Cheon Yu-shin was lying on his bed, staring at his smartphone. Every time he scrolled through the screen, a smile grew deeper on his face. The internet portal sites were plastered with his name.
After reading each article, Yu-shin started reading the comments.
"Yeah, it's real. It's real. A reality I created." He moved on to the next comment.
"Why would the government lie?" He clicked his tongue and moved to the next comment again.
"This guy is smart? Should I send him to Hankuk University?" Yu-shin muttered to himself.
"Hmph! You don't know what you're talking about! In the end, what I get isn't 5 billion, but 2.5 billion!" Suddenly, stress returned. Taxes, taxes, taxes!
"...Was that it? Was it that amazing?" He learned something new.
"Hehehe. Yeah. I want to hit 'Like' on myself, too." Unlike a moment ago, Cheon Yu-shin was grinning broadly.
"Do you think this is going to make money right now?!" Kim Jeong-hyeon squeezed his eyes shut. The voice of a man violently ringing in his ears. But he couldn't rebel. It was his own father, Kim Il-sun, the president of Cheomdan Happy Industry.
"Magic stones are the new industrial revolu..." Before Kim Jeong-hyeon could even make an excuse, Kim Il-sun threw a pile of documents in front of him.
"You stupid fool! Do you think I didn't do it because I didn't know that?! We are a company that has only just entered the ranks of mid-sized enterprises. Do you really think we have a chance in the magic stone industry that large corporations have already occupied?"
"B-but, surely..."
"Surely what! It’s better to keep receiving subcontracts from Ohsung Group like we are now."
"That doesn't make money, Father. We need our own business, too."
Kim Il-sun shook his head. His son in front of him still didn't know how the world worked. Do you think the guys with lots of money and connections will just sit by while a small company like theirs tries to get a piece of the pie? Not a chance. They might even try to swallow up the company that attempted to enter the market.
"It’s already a red ocean. It’s way too late. Besides, a magic stone research project? How are you going to secure the research funds and facilities?"
"Request support from the government..."
"As if they would. Stop it right now, and just handle the subcontracts well like you are now. And never miss a deadline. Do you understand me?!"
"Yes..."
"Then get out and get to work."
Kim Jeong-hyeon, who had been practically chased out of the president's office, let out a deep sigh. It wasn't that he didn't understand his father's heart. It was a day he really craved a drink. His 50-million-won Vacheron Constantin watch on his wrist was kindly telling him the time. 20:41. He frowned deeply and muttered.
"Ah, damn it. It’s already late."
It was a day he had been chewed out like a dog by his father, and also the day of the company dinner with the manufacturing team. As a result of speeding and violating traffic signals like it was his daily routine, he arrived at the dinner venue in just 5 minutes.
He could see the sign for 'Daebak Samgyeopsal'. It was a place he would never go to with his friends. But it was a place he frequently used for company dinners. Because the price was that cheap. The thinly sliced pork belly at 2,500 won per serving had its own charm. As he skillfully opened the door and entered, thick cigarette smoke and familiar faces, flushed red from drinking, were chatting noisily.
'These guys. Anyway, they go crazy for free alcohol.'
Then, he saw Assistant Manager Joo from the planning team trying to stand up when he spotted him, but he stopped him with a simple shake of his head. Unlike other teams, the field workers like the manufacturing team didn't know his face well. To get close to the woman named Yoo In-sook, it might be better to hide his identity to some extent. The title of Planning Team Leader would be someone too difficult for a mere temporary employee to even talk to.
He turned his head to look for Yoo In-sook. 'Didn't she come?' She wasn't visible. 'They definitely said everyone would attend.' Then, he found her sitting in the furthest corner. Kim Jeong-hyeon, who was walking toward her under the guise of coincidence, had no choice but to stop. And.
'Wait, but that bastard?'
The man next to Yoo In-sook, Manufacturing Team Leader Park Jae-hyeong, had his hand on Yoo In-sook’s shoulder. Yoo In-sook was stiff, as if she didn't like Park Jae-hyeong’s touch.
"Hey. You know there’s a review for conversion to a regular position soon, right?"
"...Yes. I know."
"If you know, why do you keep acting like that? I’m just saying let’s talk and stuff since we’re both lonely people."
"..."
"Are you going to keep ignoring me?"
"I, what did I do?"
Park Jae-hyeong muttered into Yoo In-sook’s ear. "You know, right? You’re not a virgin, you know everything, so why are you acting like that?"
Ha... Kim Jeong-hyeon felt a headache coming on as he watched that scene. He looked for his team members who were scattered. He could see the back of the head of an employee sitting with his back to Park Jae-hyeong. But he was drinking soju alone as if he couldn't hear anything.
'What is this supposed to be?'
Meanwhile, Park Jae-hyeong secretly put his hand on Yoo In-sook’s thigh.
"What are you doing right now!" Yoo In-sook tried to use force to remove his hand, but it was never easy for a woman to overcome a man’s physical strength. Moreover, with the noisy company dinner and being in a corner, the two were out of people’s sight. If you didn't keep a close watch, you couldn't easily discover Park Jae-hyeong’s behavior.
Clang! A beer bottle flew from somewhere, grazed Park Jae-hyeong’s face, and shattered against the wall.
"W-what, what?!" Park Jae-hyeong hurriedly pulled his hand away at the sudden event and jumped up from his seat. And he could see.
"Hey, you son of a bitch!"
The noisy atmosphere turned into silence in an instant.