Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Taming the Subordinate
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Seo Ji-hyeok had no reason to rush, so he took his time heading to the office.
As he stepped into the Future Strategy Office, Han Ji-young approached him.
"Section Chief Gong Sa-woo has been waiting for two hours and twenty minutes. What should I do?"
"Two hours should be about enough. Send him to my office."
"Yes, sir."
It was a little later when Gong Sa-woo entered Ji-hyeok's office.
Han Ji-young had bought him just enough time to take off his jacket and catch his breath once he got inside.
It was a simple gesture, but these small considerations were what built up goodwill over time.
Gong Sa-woo entered the room after a rather forceful knock, looking very different from the man Ji-hyeok had seen at the coffee shop that morning.
His anger was plain as day on his face.
"Have a seat."
"What the hell is this supposed to be?"
"I'm just doing my job. You're free to speak informally to me if you want—nothing to lose there—but don't you think it's better for both of us if we keep up appearances?"
"Hoo... Fine. Executive Director Kang Ji-hyeok. What is the meaning of this personnel change?"
"What meaning? If you take it at face value, it's a promotion, isn't it?"
It was the truth.
Just as Ji-hyeok said, on paper, moving from head of the Trading Division to strategy team leader in the group's core Future Strategy Office was undoubtedly a massive promotion.
One that couldn't even compare to the financial division director position recommended by Kang Jin-young.
Except, of course, for the fact that Ji-hyeok was in charge of the Future Strategy Office.
"Please reconsider this personnel order."
"If you have a valid reason, I'll do that. What's the reason?"
"That's..."
"Other than not wanting to work under me, is there any reason left?"
Gong Sa-woo clamped his mouth shut at Ji-hyeok's words.
But his expression was still full of defiance.
Ji-hyeok stared steadily into Gong Sa-woo's eyes before slowly leaning forward.
"Section Chief Gong Sa-woo, you said you've been under scrutiny for twenty years. But by my standards, that wasn't a real test. Executive Director Kang Jin-young built your career for you. All you did was avoid making any major mistakes. Isn't that right?"
Gong Sa-woo's eyes reddened.
He ground his teeth and growled.
"Are you denying all the work I've done at Taesung?"
"Yes."
"So what do you want from me?"
Gong Sa-woo had finally switched to informal speech.
It meant his patience had run out.
But Ji-hyeok just smiled faintly at him.
"Prove your abilities here in the Future Strategy Office. Just so you don't doubt it—any merits you rack up here will be reported straight to the chairman. Unlike before, though, your faults won't be hidden either."
"You want me to play on a rigged field?"
"Worried I'll get in your way? Even if I do, shouldn't you overcome it and deliver results? And since you might not know—most office workers out there are grinding away under those exact conditions. Not the rose-paved path you've walked so far."
Gong Sa-woo glared at Ji-hyeok with fiery eyes.
Ji-hyeok met his gaze without flinching.
A moment later,
"Fine. I'll do it. I'll show you exactly what I'm capable of."
With that, Gong Sa-woo shot to his feet and stormed toward the door.
But then—
"Section Chief Gong Sa-woo."
Gong Sa-woo half-turned at Ji-hyeok's call, glaring daggers.
"Start reporting here tomorrow. Mutual respect is the baseline in the Future Strategy Office. Speak informally one more time, and you'll regret it."
Gong Sa-woo whipped around and yanked the door open, storming out.
If there hadn't been a spring door closer on it, it probably would have slammed with a bang.
But Ji-hyeok just smiled faintly at the door where Gong Sa-woo had vanished.
'Easier than I thought.'
Ji-hyeok returned to his desk and began reviewing the stack of approval documents piled up on his monitor.
Ji-hyeok returned to the Dongdaemun hideout at eight in the evening.
"You're back?"
The two men, who had been killing time on their phones, jumped up and bowed when they saw Ji-hyeok.
"How's it inside?"
"Quiet. Looks like they gave him a heavy dose. He woke up for a bit earlier, thrashed around, then passed out again. He should be coming to soon."
Ji-hyeok nodded, took off his suit jacket, loosened his tie, and rolled up his shirt sleeves.
He opened the door to the room where Park Eun-seok was being held and immediately wrinkled his nose.
The stench of filth was overpowering.
The silver lining was that Park Eun-seok had apparently rolled off the sofa and was now lying on the floor, where he'd also soiled himself.
Ji-hyeok flipped on the room light and slowly walked over, squatting down in front of Park Eun-seok.
—Rip!
"Kuhk! Hack! Cough! Cough..."
As Ji-hyeok peeled the duct tape from his mouth, Park Eun-seok spat out the sock stuffed inside and hacked violently.
Ji-hyeok ignored it and flipped him over, cutting the tape binding his arms and legs.
And in that instant—
"You fucker!"
The moment his legs were free, Park Eun-seok lashed out with a wild kick at Ji-hyeok.
But to Ji-hyeok, it looked more like flailing than a proper kick, so he easily sidestepped and backed away.
"Y-You fucking... Do you even know who I am...? Huh?"
Park Eun-seok kicked at empty air, scrambled to his feet yelling curses, then froze in shock when he spotted Ji-hyeok.
But only for a moment.
"What the hell? You fucking bastard. What do you think you're doing?"
"Do you even know the origin of that word you're throwing around? Sure, family might curse at each other. But there's a line even with profanity."
"A line? You fucking mutt!"
—Splat...
Naked, Park Eun-seok roared and lunged at Ji-hyeok, only to slip on his own urine pooled on the floor and tumble humiliatingly.
His bare skin slapped wetly against the floor, but he scrambled up and charged again.
—Smack!
"Guuk!"
Ji-hyeok delivered a sharp slap.
Park Eun-seok flew back comically, crashing onto the sofa.
For a split second, even he looked stunned, like he couldn't believe it.
It wasn't because Ji-hyeok had superhuman strength—it was the direction.
Ji-hyeok had used the momentum of Park Eun-seok's charge to send him flying; half the force was his own.
But the daze passed, and Park Eun-seok started screaming.
"Kraaagh! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
—Pow! Pow! Bang! Bang!
Whether from the pain of the slap or uncontrollable rage...
Pounding the sofa with his fists while howling, Park Eun-seok glared at Ji-hyeok again.
"What the hell? What are you doing, you fucking dog?!"
"Shut up. You're not thinking of quitting after just one hit, are you?"
"You son of a bitch! I'm Park Eun-seok!"
—Smack!
And so it began.
Ji-hyeok beat Park Eun-seok thoroughly, methodically, until no more screams came from his mouth.
As he pummeled Park Eun-seok's body, a memory flashed in Ji-hyeok's mind.
The first time he'd met Jang Woo.
'Right. That was the first time someone beat me like this.'
Ji-hyeok unconsciously smiled at the thought of Jang Woo.
But the two men watching breathlessly from the doorway flinched and backed away at the sight of his smile.
They had confidence in their own fighting skills—they made their living with their fists—and knew exactly where to hit for maximum pain.
That's why Ji-hyeok's casual punches and kicks sent shivers down their spines.
And to think he was smiling while beating the man to a pulp.
The word that popped into both their heads was the same.
Psychopath.
They exchanged glances and nodded in unison.
'One wrong move and we're done for. Stay sharp.'
Of course, Jang Woo's special orders had them on high alert already, but Ji-hyeok's display reinforced it.
Ji-hyeok emerged from the room about ten minutes later.
He grabbed his jacket and tie, then faced the men.
"Give him a bottle of water inside, but no food."
"Got it."
"He'll start babbling nonsense now that he's lucid. Something about being Taesung blood or whatever. Ignore it. Don't respond. And no matter how much he whines about needing the bathroom, do not open that door."
"Yes, sir... Understood."
"I'll be back tomorrow morning. Hold the fort till then."
"Don't worry about a thing. We'll guard him tight."
Having witnessed Ji-hyeok's handiwork, the men's attitudes were crisp and disciplined.
Ji-hyeok smiled at them, and they both flinched again.
For a moment, he wondered, Huh? What's that about? But they seemed uncomfortable continuing the talk, so he shrugged and left the karaoke bar.
Thus ended the day that had begun at Taesung Garden.
"Huh?"
It was Gong Yeon-woo who let out a surprised voice as Ji-hyeok parked in the Taesung Garden lot and headed toward the carts.
"What, you tailing me?"
"Me, tail you?"
"Then how do you time it so perfectly? Twice now?"
"Beats me. But doesn't the curator work Mondays too?"
"Nah, just meeting some friends. But isn't Taesung Future Strategy Office's number two leaving way too early?"
"Not the type who sits around just to look busy."
"Figures you didn't study much."
"Korean University, political science major. Think I'd do worse than some arts kid?"
"Oh? Listen to this guy. Trashing fine arts? Do you know how much time I spent at the studio? I can sharpen a pencil in three seconds flat. Why you gotta be like this?"
The banter with Gong Yeon-woo as they rode the cart was enjoyable.
A sense of relaxation setting in, perhaps.
And the reason for that feeling was simple: these two were cleared as suspects.
There were five suspects in total.
At the time of their father's death, Kang Jin-young and Kang Seon-young were married and living at Taesung Garden with Chairman Kang Wook and their husbands.
So, related parties: Kang Jin-young and her husband Gong Kap-su.
Kang Seon-young and her husband Yeo Seong-min.
And Kang Mi-young. Five in all.
'Could be one, or like the Orient Express, all five.'
By then, the cart had arrived in front of Taesung Hall.
They entered together, and Manager Kim Sook-hee greeted them.
"Manager Kim, hi. Can we go up?"
Gong Yeon-woo waved in greeting, and Kim Sook-hee bowed before gesturing toward the right staircase.
"Please go up. He's waiting."
"Okay."
Gong Yeon-woo climbed the stairs familiarly.
Ji-hyeok followed, pondering the absurd family culture once again.
'What is it? What made Chairman Kang Wook so obsessed with his family?'
But then—
"Oh? Grandpa!"
As they reached the top, Gong Yeon-woo's delighted voice rang out. Turning, Ji-hyeok saw Chairman Kang Wook approaching with his cane.
"You eat yet?"
"Yeah, I have. What about you, oppa?"
"Not yet."
"Really? Then let's eat together. You too, Yeon-woo."
"Me too? I already ate."
"You need to gain some weight. Come on."
Gong Yeon-woo's expression suggested this wasn't a common occurrence.
She looked pretty shocked.
And so, the trio's slightly late dinner began.