Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Royal Family 1-1
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"Mr. Seo Ji-hyeok. Your major is blank, I see?"
"Yes. Legally, I'm just a high school graduate."
The word "high school graduate" brought rotten smirks to the interviewers' faces.
As if a mere high school dropout dared to apply to Taesung Group...
But not everyone reacted that way.
Among the eight interviewers, the two seated in the center had different expressions.
Director Min Sang-ho and Executive Director Jeong Chan-su.
These two, standing at opposite ends of the company's largest factions, were like a dog and a monkey—growling whenever they crossed paths.
Normally, if one smiled, the other would flare up in anger, but right now, their faces matched perfectly.
It almost looked like fear...
'Royal Family? That means the chairman's family...'
Director Min Sang-ho's mind began spinning at full speed.
And naturally, Taesung Group's owner, Chairman Kang Wook, came to mind.
Just thirty years ago, Taesung Group had barely clung to the bottom of the business rankings.
But under Chairman Kang Wook's leadership, it rose beyond Korea to become a global powerhouse.
Of course, it couldn't all be credited to him alone.
It was undoubtedly a miracle born from the sacrifice and passion of hundreds of thousands of Taesung family members.
But if asked whether it could have happened without him? Ninety-nine out of a hundred would say no.
That was Chairman Kang Wook.
For twenty straight years, he'd been named in Forbes' list of the ten people who move the world—never once left off.
To enemies, he was a ruthless man without a shred of mercy, but to partners, an unparalleled ally who inspired absolute trust.
That made him both an object of reverence and one of dread.
For all he possessed, there was one thing Chairman Kang Wook lacked.
A son.
He had three daughters.
But he hadn't always been without a son.
There had been his only son, Taesung's crown prince—cut down tragically young in a car accident.
Now, Taesung was a brutal battlefield where his three daughters vied for succession, with Executive Director Jeong Chan-seong at the center of one faction—and that's what had turned Min Sang-ho and Jeong Chan-su into dog and monkey.
And now, a man tagged "Royal Family" had appeared.
'Seo Ji-hyeok... who is he? Definitely not one of the daughters' sides. We've got them all mapped out. The chairman's brother? Low odds. No way it's a son. Twenty-eight years old? Chairman would have been fifty-two... ages don't match, and back then he was obsessed with work. Not possible. So what? Which line is he?'
As Director Min Sang-ho racked his brain and glanced sideways, he saw Executive Director Jeong Chan-su with furrowed brows—clearly thinking the same thing.
Meanwhile, the other interviewers, blind to the "Royal Family" label visible only on the board of directors' monitors, pressed on with the interview.
"So, what have you done since graduating high school?"
At the question, Seo Ji-hyeok shifted slightly in his seat.
"Mind if I ask one thing?"
"Pardon? Go ahead."
"The application said age, education, experience—no restrictions. Doesn't 'no restrictions' mean you won't ask about them? But you've asked about my major, experience, career... isn't that breaking the rule?"
"Well... ahem..."
The interviewer who asked paled at Ji-hyeok's sharp retort, face twisting unpleasantly.
He was right.
Ji-hyeok's words were spot on.
But no one else would say it.
Not out of ignorance.
This wasn't a place to debate right and wrong—it was an interview.
No need to point out mistakes and sour the mood.
The room tensed at Ji-hyeok's response, but Director Min Sang-ho spoke up.
"Number 1098, Ms. Park Ho-young, what's the most recent book you've read?"
He figured there was no point tiring the interviewers by questioning the man with "Royal Family, Hiring Confirmed."
Then, at Park Ho-young's bland answer, Executive Director Jeong Chan-su fired a sharp follow-up.
This meant Jeong was on the same page.
And just like that, Ji-hyeok's interview ended.
"Bro! How'd it go?"
Waiting outside the interview room was Jang Woo, the buzzcut guy leaning against a bright red car.
"How'd what go?"
"They tell you to start tomorrow?"
"Results don't come that fast. Takes about a month."
"Eek! That long?"
"That's how it is with these posers pretending to be busy."
"But the chairman here's really your granddad, right?"
"Yeah."
"So why ignore you all this time and call you now?"
To be precise, he hadn't called.
They'd just sent Seo Ji-hyeok a Taesung Group job application form.
And Ji-hyeok, reading the intent, had taken the test.
"You know how fish tanks in sashimi joints have fish in them?"
"Yeah."
"Even with perfect care, fish still die easy."
"True. Go to a deadbeat place, and they're belly-up, floating around."
"But put one little shark in there, and the fish hustle to avoid being eaten—keeps 'em alive longer."
"For real?"
"That's why they called me."
"Huh?"
"To wake up the lazy fish."
"So you're the little shark?"
"Yeah. They think they called a shark that tenses everyone up but can't actually eat them."
"Idiots."
"Yeah. They'll find out soon enough who they let in."
Ji-hyeok grabbed Jang Woo's head and ruffled it.
Natural for them, but anyone else would freak.
A massive snake tattoo coiled from Jang Woo's nape up onto his scalp.
Most folks wouldn't even make eye contact, let alone talk to him.
Right now, Jang Woo grinned dopily as Ji-hyeok tousled his hair, but alone while waiting, he'd been a demon—a coiled viper.
Of course, now he was just beaming innocently...
"Let's roll."
Ji-hyeok hopped in first, and Jang Woo circled to the driver's seat and fired it up.
- Vroom... VRROOOM...
The red car roared like a beast in fury, then tore off from the interview site with an even fiercer growl.
The two headed to Cheongnyangni after leaving the interview.
Their car veered off the main road into alleys, driving a bit before stopping.
Jang Woo got out, pulling a black cap low over his head, while Ji-hyeok ditched his shabby suit for yesterday's new one.
"How's it look?"
"Ooh... bro, you're killing it. Why not wear this to the interview?"
"Not like I'm thanking them for the invite by showing up sharp."
"Fair."
"Pop the trunk."
"Got it."
The trunk brimmed with gifts wrapped in colorful paper, neatly stacked.
They loaded up armfuls and proceeded carefully.
Deep into a narrow alley too tight for cars, their destination appeared.
[Cheong-a Orphanage.]
A rickety wooden sign by a red mailbox read "Child Welfare Facility" in small letters, with "Cheong-a Orphanage" bigger below.
As they neared the mailbox, voices erupted from the orphanage windows.
"It's big bro!"
"Oppa! Oppa!"
"Presents! Presents!"
A dozen kids burst out the door—ages all over, from early elementary to upper grades mixed in.
Basking in their welcome, the pair went inside and handed out gifts, calling names one by one.
And...
"Seon-hee, Jong-su. C'mere."
At Ji-hyeok's call, two older kids approached shyly from the stair railing.
"Tablets. I added online lecture vouchers—study with these."
"Thanks, bro."
"Oppa, thank you."
They gave every kid a gift after that.
Only then did Ji-hyeok approach the elderly woman watching warmly from the kitchen wall.
"Mom, tea please."
"Sure. Wait inside."
Soon, she brought two cups on a tray; Jang Woo took them.
As she sat, Ji-hyeok stood, knelt slowly, and bowed deeply.
She hesitated, then understood, reaching out to hold his hands.
"Won't be coming for a while."
"Good. It's time you took your path."
"Take this."
From his inner pocket, a white envelope.
"What's this?"
"Yeon-hee's leaving soon."
"Why not give it yourself?"
"Say it's from you. Get her a secure one-room nearby, even if it's pricey."
"Got it. Will do."
"You know she's a good kid who just strayed a bit. Help her to college. One year of push should do it."
"I know..."
Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at Ji-hyeok.
Joy that her life at the orphanage wasn't wasted, sorrow at sending him off.
"Don't cry. This is my hometown—you raised me. I'll come back."
She just nodded.
Thus, their brief farewell.
Leaving Cheong-a Orphanage, Ji-hyeok and Jang Woo parked at Cheongnyangni Station's public lot.
Ji-hyeok's outfit had changed again—his usual black tracksuit.
The cap Jang Woo wore earlier was now on Ji-hyeok; Jang Woo bared his buzzcut and fierce snake tattoo.
As they exited the lot, twenty-some men at the entrance bowed deeply.
"You made it?"
"Ready?"
"Yes, bro."
"Let's go."
Ji-hyeok led, Jang Woo close behind, the twenty charging after.
Moments later, they descended the stairs to Golden Night without hesitation.