Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Royal Family 9-5
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Dong-hwi had barely settled into his seat when Kang Heon fixed Seo Ji-hyeok with a glare that could tear him apart.
But Ji-hyeok met that stare head-on, still wearing that infuriating smirk of disdain.
Just as Kang Heon's trembling lips parted to speak...
- Rrrrk!
"Gahk!"
Ji-hyeok shoved the sofa table's leg with his foot, sending the inlaid wooden table sliding straight into both of Kang Heon's knees below.
Anyone who's ever taken a hit to the joint knows the pain isn't light—it's excruciating...
A guttural scream escaped Kang Heon's lips, but Ji-hyeok simply leaned down and placed a USB drive on the table.
- Click!
"These are the records of the funds sold by the Asset Management division. The stated purpose was to generate profits through high-quality securities trading. In line with that, they entrusted Taesung Securities with sales, raising three trillion won across funds of one trillion each. But the actual management deviated from that purpose. A whopping 441 billion—14.7% of the total fund assets—was invested in an unlisted company called TL Place. You know why it's exactly 14.7%, right?"
"You think you can lecture me?"
"Operational reports sent to fund investors typically only list stocks with investments over 5% of total assets. They exploited that loophole, putting just 4.9% from each fund. Anyway, that 441 billion went straight to TL Place, run by Kang Young-woo—your second son, who's also the eldest son of the CEO of Taesung Asset Management."
Ji-hyeok stared at Executive Vice Chairman Kang Heon, who glared back with eyes blazing like flames.
But Ji-hyeok brushed off the fierce gaze without a flinch, leaning back against the sofa and casually crossing his legs.
"The projected return rate advertised to consumers at sale was 5.3%. But TL Place's smart home tech got rejected by Electronics—contrary to expectations—and things started going south. In the end, the funds posted losses."
"Funds aren't savings accounts. Principal losses can happen. That's what you're saying."
"Sure. If it'd been managed as intended. But there are a few illegalities here. First, investing fund money in the asset management CEO's son's company is a conflict of interest, banned by law. Second, TL Place doesn't qualify as a high-quality security, so they misled consumers with false product descriptions. Third, Taesung Securities knew this and sold anyway—incomplete sales, illegal. If this gets out, Taesung Securities has to compensate all investor losses. That'd seriously damage the shareholders' interests."
"So what do you want?"
"You heard about your eldest son, right? All three boys in prison at once—quite the spectacle."
"Puhahaha... Prison? Who? My sons? You know nothing of the world for all that punching."
Kang Heon's laugh was pure mockery.
Anyone else might have quailed at it.
Because it was Taesung.
Because he was Taesung Chairman Kang Wook's brother.
But Ji-hyeok just gazed leisurely at the laughing Kang Heon.
"No one's going to prison?"
"I'm Kang Heon! Kang Heon of Taesung! Who could put my sons behind bars?"
Kang Heon's voice grew louder.
But Ji-hyeok rested his hand on the sofa armrest and propped his chin slowly.
Then he spoke softly.
"Who do you think I am?"
For the first time, surprise flickered across Kang Heon's face at Ji-hyeok's question.
Who are you?
That was supposed to be his question.
Per the original plan, after beating him senseless and forcing him to his knees.
Yet everything had fallen apart. Ji-hyeok sat unscathed before him, turning the tables and asking his question.
Humiliation made Kang Heon's hand tremble on the armrest, but all he could do was infuse his voice with rage.
"Fine. Good question. Who the hell are you? You really claiming to be Wook's son?"
"And if I am?"
"Impossible. No one knows Wook like I do. Him chasing women and having a kid? Laughable. You're no blood of his."
"Then who do you think sent me here?"
- Bam!
Kang Heon slammed the armrest, sparks flying from his eyes.
"You think I don't know this is all that bastard An Chi-hyeon's scheme?"
"Vice Chairman An Chi-hyeon sent me... That's what you want to believe, huh? Wanna bet? Call the chairman right now. I'll stake my entire fortune he doesn't pick up. What'll you stake?"
"No way!"
Kang Heon's voice bordered on hysteria.
But Ji-hyeok just held his chin, staring silently.
As seconds ticked by, Kang Heon's eyes began to waver.
Finally, his head shook feebly side to side.
"No way... Wook wouldn't..."
"Why do you think TL Place got rejected by Electronics? Sure, the product was garbage, but was that really why? If they wanted to push it, they'd have approved an empty tin can."
Kang Heon looked drained, unable to retort.
His empty eyes just denied it weakly.
"Why do you think I saved the life insurance audit for last? It was my final courtesy to you. Now I'm regretting it. Should've started here."
This was sincere.
No other reason.
Kang Heon was eighty-six.
At his age, wealth and power mattered less than how he met his end.
That's why Ji-hyeok hadn't wanted to touch the old man's frail body.
But to think he was this kind of person...
Why hadn't he known?
Because Kang Heon, like Chairman Kang Wook, was shrouded in veils.
Taesung's media control was unparalleled.
Just Taesung Electronics' annual global ad spend was fifteen trillion won.
Taesung Group's total? Forty trillion. South Korea's ad market—forty trillion annually—couldn't function without them.
But Taesung's media stance had evolved from the past.
No more reckless censorship.
Chairman Kang Wook's three daughters, even second- and third-gen heirs, appeared in the press now and then.
Sometimes for misdeeds, sometimes good ones.
But three were exceptions: Chairman Kang Wook, Vice Chairman An Chi-hyeon, and Vice Chairman Kang Heon.
Media outlets got Taesung's approval for their photos before using them.
Or faced ad-budget punishment.
Taesung guarded their exposure with everything they had.
How would people feel knowing Taesung's vice chairman was this?
Ji-hyeok felt it now.
Devastating.
"Choose. If I go after your life, you lose everything."
"Then... what do you want me to do?"
"Give me resignation letters from you and all Financial Division executives."
"And that'll cover up my sons' mess?"
"What are you saying? Crime deserves punishment."
"Kick us out and punish us? Even rats bite cats when cornered. Leave an escape route."
"Is that how you've handled employee corruption so far?"
"What?"
"This is Taesung. Do they show mercy to anyone outside the Royal Family? You know it well."
"I'm Wook's only brother. If I'm not Royal Family, who is?"
Ji-hyeok, who'd been propping his chin throughout, lifted his head, crossed his arms, and smirked.
"That's your delusion. Explains why you can't grasp why I'm here. What king shares power with siblings? Consider this the price of your naivety."
"You... insolent pup! I'm... I'm Kang Heon of Taesung!"
"No. Just one of 1,980 executives across Taesung's affiliates."
"If I hadn't handed over those Electronics shares back then, you'd know nothing of what Taesung would've become!"
"You know they'd have been seized if you hadn't. That's why you handed them over first. Am I wrong?"
With even his last spark extinguished by Ji-hyeok's words, Kang Heon slowly bowed his head.
As if utterly spent...
The aged, weary figure looked a bit pitiable, but Ji-hyeok drove in the final nail.
"It's Friday, so I'll give you the weekend. Come Monday morning, if I don't have those resignation letters from you and all Financial Division execs, prepare for the worst."
With that, he stood.
As he headed for the creaky door, Dong-hwi scrambled after him from afar.
The twenty-sixth floor, once serene and dignified, now buzzed like it'd taken a massive shell hit.
─────
Dong-hwi stayed silent leaving the Taesung Life building.
Even when his wrist was nearly severed, he'd raged.
His mouth opened only after boarding the taxi.
"Hyung, what the hell? Seriously?"
Ji-hyeok turned slowly at Dong-hwi's rare serious tone.
"What?"
"You're really... not?"
"The chairman's son?"
"Yeah."
"Nope."
"Phew... Figured..."
"Grandson."
"Yeah... What? Gah!"
Dong-hwi yelped in shock, clapping a hand over his mouth.
As if he'd heard forbidden words.
He rolled his eyes, checking if the driver heard.
Hand still over his mouth, he stared blankly at Ji-hyeok for a while.
Then...
"Hyung, I love you."
"Shut up."
"I'll find that peach tree somehow, so wanna form the Peach Blossom Oath?"
"I said shut up."
"Damn, doesn't work. But why're we heading to your place? Gonna make me your maid?"
"You saw it yourself—Vice Chairman Kang Heon won't go quietly. Better stick with me today."
"Nah, no way. That trashy?"
Dong-hwi thought Ji-hyeok was wrong this time.
There were lines, even for them...
Looking at him, Ji-hyeok spoke slowly.
"There are many ways to handle things. Some are hard but right. But those who know the easy, fast path stick to it. Kang Heon's quickest, surest fix right now? Silencing you and me. Deal with fallout later."
"Silencing? You mean killing?"
Dong-hwi's face twisted in disbelief.
But Ji-hyeok didn't answer.
"Whoa, fuck. I've met plenty of crazies auditing, but this family's next level. Something wrong in their heads turns the whole clan rotten? Honestly, can't wrap my head around it. Taesung's name alone makes people bow. Even earlier. Why cheapen themselves like that?"
"Bowing isn't enough. They want to see the bottom of anyone before them. Violence is the easiest way to expose it. That's their thrill."
"Fuck! So gross. Taesung makes it worse. Korea's flagship company—don't need noblesse oblige or whatever. But not thugs, right?"
Ji-hyeok turned to the window instead of answering.
He felt the rage deeper than Dong-hwi.
Yeah. It shouldn't be this bad. But it is, so my anger stays lit.
Dong-hwi missed it, but Ji-hyeok's face toward the window chilled.
By the time he faced forward, his expression was blank.
Oblivious, Dong-hwi chattered nonstop till they arrived.
Ji-hyeok, needing to clear his head, humored him.
Soon, they reached Ji-hyeok's officetel. Exhausted from days of marching, Dong-hwi crashed into bed and slept.
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"Dong-hwi."
Ji-hyeok woke him at 2 a.m.
"Urgh... Hyung, you still up?"
"Time to move."
"Huh? Why? I'm... beat..."
Fatigue kept Dong-hwi from waking easily.
But then.
"Hyung, hurry."
At the unfamiliar voice—not Ji-hyeok's—Dong-hwi bolted upright.
What he saw sent chills down his spine: a snake's head.