Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Royal Family 11-2
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Seo Ji-hyeok stared silently at the vice chairman's face without saying a word.
And after a moment, he let out a soft chuckle and slowly leaned back against the sofa.
"Then, in the spirit of sharing secrets, allow me to ask one question."
"Ask away. I'll answer without holding back."
"Have you ever seen a blue book engraved with the character for 'bright' on the cover?"
"'Bright'? A blue book? Doesn't ring a bell. What's that?"
For a fleeting instant, disappointment flickered in Ji-hyeok's eyes, but it vanished just as quickly.
"Well, I came across it while looking into the card operations. Who exactly are you sponsoring?"
In truth, this was a lie.
He had simply made an educated guess because there was a hole in Kang Jun-woo's slush funds.
Perhaps that money wasn't for Kang Jun-woo's personal use but tied to the entire family.
At that, not only Kang Jun-woo but his two sons also glanced subtly at their father.
As if seeking his approval...
In the end, Vice Chairman Kang Heon slowly opened his mouth.
"A few key players at the Financial Supervisory Service, plus some lawmakers from the Min-guk Party and the Jeonghan Party. We've been managing them steadily. And as a result, the new Financial Services Commission chairman is in our pocket. There'll be an announcement on separating finance from industry soon."
"So you want to own a bank."
"Exactly. If we can get our hands on a bank, we'll go from being the tail to the body of the group. A tail can't shake the body, but the body can shake the head."
"Do you think it's feasible?"
"It is. The atmosphere is ripe. Even mom-and-pop shops are launching internet banks these days. There's no reason Taesung Bank can't be born. Especially now, with those three bitches clawing at each other's hair—it's the perfect opportunity."
Vice Chairman Kang Heon spoke with a heavy expression, as if steeling his resolve.
But to Ji-hyeok, they were just dreaming.
A daytime dream, at that.
'The rest of the money must be set aside for that. They'll invest capital under proxy names to somehow secure bank ownership.'
Ji-hyeok nodded as if he understood.
Perhaps excited by the response, Vice Chairman Kang Heon continued with even more enthusiasm.
"On top of that, with everyone and their dog rushing to start banks, the barriers to entry have dropped. The minimum capital is only 100 billion won. Of course, headquarters will want over 51% of the shares, but if we play the current situation right, we can cling to those shares like life itself. And that will be it. Done!"
Was he buoyed by his dreams?
Vice Chairman Kang Heon's face flushed red.
Staring at him silently, Ji-hyeok reached out and picked up the resignation file on the table.
"Thanks for the story. I'll take this with me, then."
"Sure, go ahead. That should give you enough face at headquarters."
With that, Ji-hyeok rose from his seat.
He gave Vice Chairman Kang Heon a faint smile.
"Now that I've heard your secret, it's only fair I share mine. It might be a bit uneven in your favor, but... I'll tell you anyway. I'm the bastard son of Chairman Kang Wook, Kang Woo-young."
"What... what did you say?"
Vice Chairman Kang Heon and the others gaped, jaws dropping in shock.
Their expressions said it all.
What the hell is this guy talking about?
It was pure cognitive dissonance.
Doubt that it could be true, a sliver of possibility that it might, worries about what it would mean if it were—all those tangled, chaotic thoughts played out on their faces.
But Ji-hyeok provided the answer.
"Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. I came to the financial division to claim what's mine. Send me the remaining thirteen resignation letters by tomorrow. If even one is missing, you'll pay dearly for coveting Taesung's assets."
With that, Ji-hyeok turned to leave.
Vice Chairman Kang Heon raised a hand as if to stop him, but no words came out.
And as Ji-hyeok stepped out and took one step forward, the shouts of the three sons echoed from behind.
"Father! Father!"
"Hey! Doctor! Call a doctor!"
"Secretary Kim! Secretary Kim!"
But the commotion didn't bring Ji-hyeok back.
"Manager Kim, what the hell is this?"
Deputy Chief Go Dong-cheon's face was icy as he stared at Kim Seon-ho.
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"You don't know? Weren't you always the straight shooter, Manager Kim?"
"Is this about the personnel shuffle?"
"No. That's not the point. I heard you got on the Taesung line. Straight from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. The chief prosecutor gave the order himself."
In truth, even Kim Seon-ho hadn't expected things to move this fast.
This was the prosecutors' office, after all.
There were procedures and protocols, yet here was the transfer order dropping out of nowhere overnight.
So he neither confirmed nor denied the words of the fourth deputy chief in charge of the Anti-Corruption Division.
"Anyway, you're here now, so what's the deal?"
"What do you mean?"
"Taesung didn't send you here for nothing. We're not touching Taesung in Anti-Corruption right now—what are they asking us to hit?"
Kim Seon-ho hesitated for a moment on whether to speak.
Of course, they'd find out eventually, but he decided to hold his tongue for now.
"I don't know yet myself."
"Fine. I'll be straight with you. Let's coordinate on the sponsors. And while we're at it, I have no intention of finishing out my term as district prosecutor. I'm just taking a taste before heading to Yeouido. So let's keep it nice and smooth. I'll help if you need it. How's that?"
The fourth deputy chiefs who ran the Anti-Corruption Division were always top contenders for the next Central District Prosecutors' Office chief.
As long as they didn't get on the politicians' bad side too early.
That's why Deputy Chief Go Dong-cheon was checking Kim Seon-ho now.
He was openly showing his sense of crisis—that he might get stepped on.
Plus, with his own sponsor being Mirae Group, it was a way to identify friend from foe.
'No reason to make enemies if they don't block me. At least not now.'
Having reached that conclusion, Kim Seon-ho gave Deputy Chief Go Dong-cheon a light bow.
"Looking forward to working with you. I'll push hard from behind the scenes."
"Hahaha, good. When I move up, the spot's yours. Though with the Taesung backing, you might not need my help. Anyway, the more knives, the better. Speak up anytime you need something."
"Thank you."
Kim Seon-ho left the deputy chief's office amid the friendly atmosphere, a sly smile creeping onto his face.
'It's been a while since my blood's run hot. Alright. Let's do this.'
Kim Seon-ho himself had no idea.
What his expression looked like right now.
His face burned with fighting spirit.
The sleeping lion had finally awakened.
A swarm of people burst into Taesung Card's Finance Team just as the afternoon lull set in after lunch.
- Clap! Clap! Clap!
The man clapping to clear the air raised his voice.
"As of now, we are conducting a search and seizure at Taesung Card Co., Ltd. Stop what you're doing and stand up from your seats."
"Search and seizure? Do you even know where you are?"
"Would we come for a search without knowing? You there! Put down what you're holding and step back!"
"Warrant... the warrant?"
"Here, check it. What are you waiting for? Tear the place apart!"
The Anti-Corruption Division's searches were infamous for their ruthlessness.
They trusted in their authority.
The minor scuffles during a raid were just a show of that power, so the investigators rifled through documents and computers with sharp efficiency and strode confidently.
The same was happening at Taesung Asset Management and Taesung Securities.
In short, Taesung's financial affiliates were being turned upside down simultaneously.
The reason was obvious: the remaining thirteen resignation letters hadn't arrived at Ji-hyeok's desk by Tuesday morning.
At the same time, Ji-hyeok had returned to the Special Division for the first time in a while and was sitting in Executive Director Oh Tae-hyung's office with Manager Han Ji-young and Deputy Manager Cha Dong-hwi.
"The staff has grown a lot."
Ji-hyeok was right.
He had been greeted by over forty employees upon arriving at the Special Division.
Their ranks ranged from managers to deputy managers, team leaders, assistants, and staff, and the atmosphere buzzed with energy.
"Just filling out the division. Four departments, twelve teams, total of forty-three people. While you're handling the financial side, the vice chairman has been assigned new duties. As of now, Taesung has 147 affiliates. Ninety-six of them are grandchildren companies. He's been told to do management consulting for those."
"You're talking about internal transactions."
Ji-hyeok caught on immediately to Executive Director Oh Tae-hyung's point.
Most corporate corruption loops happened at grandchildren companies. They were mostly unlisted firms.
Management consulting was code for cutting off the corruption between subsidiaries and grandchildren companies.
"The current headcount is a bit short."
"Exactly. We're planning to double it. With Deputy Manager Cha Dong-hwi joining at a time like this, it's a huge boost."
"Umhahhahaha! Just leave it to me, Executive Director. I was the ace at Seonil Accounting Firm. Tens of millions? I crunch them in my head like child's play. Heh heh heh."
In the short time since, Oh Tae-hyung had apparently seen enough of Dong-hwi to smile faintly, while Han Ji-young looked disgusted.
"Deputy Manager Cha, didn't you say you were going on a Europe trip?"
At Ji-hyeok's question, Dong-hwi feigned surprise, as if hearing it for the first time.
"Me? I dreamed of Europe to find my ideal type somewhere in the world. I've found her—why would I go now?"
"Ugh..."
Han Ji-young shuddered in revulsion.
Oh Tae-hyung smiled faintly again at the sight.
As if this had been the routine in his absence...
The amusing part was that Han Ji-young's expression suggested she didn't truly hate it.
'Interesting.'
But then.
- Ring... Ring...
The phone on Executive Director Oh Tae-hyung's desk rang.
That tone meant an internal call.
Oh Tae-hyung rose from the sofa, went to the desk, and picked it up.
"Oh Tae-hyung speaking."
"........."
"Right now?"
"........."
"Understood. I'll head down."
After hanging up, Oh Tae-hyung's gaze turned straight to Ji-hyeok.
"Mr. Seo Ji-hyeok. Vice Chairman Kang Heon is apparently waiting in the first-floor lobby right now."
"Coming here an hour into the raid? He must be desperate. I thought he'd hold out longer."
"He's asking for you to come down now."
"To the lobby?"
"Yes."
"Then I should go."
As Ji-hyeok stood from the sofa, Dong-hwi and Han Ji-young naturally followed.
Ji-hyeok glanced at Executive Director Oh Tae-hyung.
"If you come along, Executive Director, sparks might fly your way. From what I've seen, Vice Chairman Kang Heon is harsher on executives."
"Fair enough. I'll stay here. Go ahead."
Leaving Oh Tae-hyung behind, Ji-hyeok headed to the first floor.
Passing the offices, he noticed employees' messenger windows sharing real-time updates; everyone stared at him.
Most probably thought he'd get humiliated in the lobby.
They took the vice chairman summoning him there instead of coming up as a bad sign.
But Ji-hyeok boarded the elevator with a completely unperturbed expression.
And the faces of Dong-hwi and Han Ji-young trailing him were the same.