Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Royal Family 14-1
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Entering the restaurant and taking a seat for a moment, a full spread of Korean dishes was laid out before Seo Ji-hyeok, while a single bowl of porridge and some dongchimi were set in front of Chairman Kang Wook and Gong Yeon-woo.
Chairman Kang Wook's age might explain his meal, but porridge for Gong Yeon-woo...
He found it a bit odd, but one look at Gong Yeon-woo's face told him his assumption was wrong.
She looked absolutely delighted.
"Red bean porridge."
"Yeah. It reminded me, so I asked for it."
Kang Wook smiled warmly at Gong Yeon-woo's beaming expression.
'She can make a face like that too?'
The expression on Kang Wook's face as he gazed at Gong Yeon-woo felt strangely unfamiliar.
But Seo Ji-hyeok soon focused on his own meal.
Everyone had their soft spots, after all.
Maybe Gong Yeon-woo was Kang Wook's.
As that thought crossed his mind, he took a few bites of rice and side dishes.
"Why haven't you eaten by now?"
"I'm still at that age where fun stuff beats food."
"You'll ruin your health. Eat properly."
"If you were that worried, you should've donated to Cheong-a Orphanage or something."
Seo Ji-hyeok's voice was calm, but his words were laced with thorns.
"Why would I feed a mutt that might turn into a wolf?"
But Kang Wook's retort was no less sharp.
Then, it happened.
Gong Yeon-woo, who had been spoon in mouth listening to their exchange, suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hee hee hee..."
"What's so funny?"
"You're the same."
"Same as what? That guy?"
"Yeah. Guess that's why they say blood runs thick."
"You're blood too."
"Technically, not Kang blood."
Kang Wook fell silent at Gong Yeon-woo's words.
Neither affirmation nor denial...
He chose silence.
After that, none of the three spoke until the meal ended.
As they finished eating and headed out to the stairs, Gong Yeon-woo bowed politely to Kang Wook.
"Thanks for the meal, Grandpa. I'll head out now."
"Yeon-woo."
"Yes?"
"Clear one day a week, three or four hours."
"Got something for me?"
"I'd like you to paint my portrait."
"Portrait? Me? How could I..."
"The pay won't disappoint."
"Grandpa! Do you have to bring up money even for this? Pay? Forget it. I'm not doing it. Find someone else who'll take cash."
Gong Yeon-woo snapped in anger and stormed off down the stairs and out.
Her emotions were plain even from her retreating back—furious.
Kang Wook realized his mistake and let out a small sigh.
"Rest up. I'll head to my room."
"Yeah."
"And don't drag out meals to make it feel cozy. A few shared bowls won't suddenly sprout family bonds."
"Family's built one meal at a time, piling up."
"Sure. But we're not eating ten or twenty meals a day. No rush. And leave Eun-seok alone for a while. I've got him."
"I know."
"Knowing isn't enough—play dumb about it. Rest."
Seo Ji-hyeok bowed slightly and descended the stairs, then climbed the left ones.
The moment he entered his room,
'Just as I thought.'
Nothing had visibly changed since he left.
But Seo Ji-hyeok could tell at a glance that someone had searched the room.
With careful hands, no less.
Yet it was expected, so he wasn't surprised.
He even smiled at how quickly they'd left traces.
It meant they were desperate.
They'd surely been hunting for that blue book.
'Wondering if I even know it exists.'
Figuring out whether he knew about the book would be a huge puzzle for them.
If he didn't, they'd have wide options: recruit him, bribe him, submit, oppose...
But if he did know, it was a straight path.
They knew that too, so a game of twenty questions would drag on for a bit.
Probing, guessing, baiting...
That cycle repeating.
'Yeah. Move. Make it easier for me to find you.'
After scanning the room once, Seo Ji-hyeok hurriedly shed his suit and headed to the bathroom.
He wasn't uninterested in rest, but his day was far from over.
"You're here?"
Seo Ji-hyeok arrived at Dongdaemun just before seven.
The two men scrambled up from their folding bed and sofa to greet him.
"It's fine. Keep resting. How's inside?"
"Threw a fit all night, but it's quiet now—probably asleep. That bastard kept us up too..."
"Hang in a few more days. I'm not the type to just say thanks."
"Yes, sir. No worries."
Having already pocketed a check from him once, their eyes sparkled with anticipation for more.
Leaving them behind, Seo Ji-hyeok unlocked the door and entered the room holding Park Eun-seok.
But at that instant...
- Whoosh!
Park Eun-seok, standing by the door, swung a fierce punch at Seo Ji-hyeok's face.
Such attacks were hard to dodge.
Coming from a blind spot in his vision.
Yet Seo Ji-hyeok, as if expecting it, casually tilted his head back to evade.
Grabbing Park Eun-seok's arm as it passed his face, he yanked lightly then shoved back.
- Thud!
With that simple motion, Park Eun-seok's naked body sprawled pitifully on the floor.
And it began again.
"Gah! Ack! Why! Guh. Why are you... ugh! Tell... tell me!"
"Quiet. You'll bite your tongue talking. Shut your mouth."
Seo Ji-hyeok brushed off Park Eun-seok's thrashing and began beating him with a blank expression.
He emerged twenty minutes later.
Just like yesterday, the two men greeted him with cowed faces.
"Toss in a few water bottles, nothing else."
"Yes, got it."
With that, Seo Ji-hyeok accepted their bows and stepped out.
Time to head to work.
The atmosphere in the Future Strategy Office was changing by the day.
Starting today, Han Ji-young and Cha Dong-hwi would commute to the Life Insurance building for financial division duties.
Life, cards, securities, and asset management were all in one block—easier for on-site oversight and meetings.
Seo Ji-hyeok got a personal secretary for scheduling and a company car.
"Good morning, Executive Director."
"Good morning."
Returning the staff's greetings, Seo Ji-hyeok entered the office and sat at his desk.
To handle urgent approvals.
An hour later, he loosened his tie and sank into the sofa.
He immediately picked up the intercom beside him.
"Have the Management Diagnosis Team Leader come to my office."
A short wait, then a knock—Gong Sa-woo entered.
He tried to hide it, but his reluctance showed as he bowed slightly.
"You wanted me?"
"Yes. Sit."
Gong Sa-woo sat before Seo Ji-hyeok with a touch of arrogance.
The bare minimum of pride...
Expressed that way.
"Need time to get up to speed?"
"Same as what I did at Trading."
"Good. First project: diagnose this place's management."
Seo Ji-hyeok handed over a tablet.
Gong Sa-woo took it, glanced at the first page, and scowled.
"What's this?"
"Got dyslexia? Taesung Trading performance data."
"You think I'm asking 'cause I don't know? I was here until yesterday."
"Want to go back?"
Sparks flew from Gong Sa-woo's eyes at Seo Ji-hyeok's words.
"Trading posted over 800 billion in operating profit every year for three years. Why diagnose?"
"Obviously not from real work. It's resort and golf course revenue from Leisure, plus land value hikes."
"Leisure's part of Trading."
"Right. So I skipped Leisure. I want the core—Trading's merchant division. Be straight: is Trading's merchant side fine?"
Sparks still flew in Gong Sa-woo's eyes, but he couldn't answer this time.
Trading's merchant division hadn't kept pace with the times.
Expectations for comprehensive traders had changed.
No more profiting from export-import brokerage fees between clients and makers.
In an era where individuals sell direct to U.S. stores, that role had no foothold.
Now, traders needed new business development skills.
Leveraging old networks and risk management for group growth areas.
But Taesung Trading had failed at that for three years.
That was Seo Ji-hyeok's target.
Gong Sa-woo knew it too well, hence his silence.
"No answer?"
Even pressed again, Gong Sa-woo just glared fiercely.
Seo Ji-hyeok chuckled and picked up the intercom.
"Connect me to Executive Director Kang Jin-young at Taesung Trading."
He hung up, and bewilderment spread across Gong Sa-woo's face.
"What... what are you... talk... talk to me!"
But Seo Ji-hyeok ignored him this time.
Watching the flustered man with a faint smile, the intercom rang.
"Yes, connect."
"......."
"Hello. This is Future Strategy Office Team Leader Seo Ji-hyeok."
"........."
"Yes, you seem busy and not thrilled to hear me, so I'll cut to it. Told Management Diagnosis Team Leader Gong Sa-woo to audit Taesung Trading, but he refuses. Not sure how to take that. Curious if Gong's always mixed personal and professional, so calling you."
Gong Sa-woo's face twisted more with each word.
Seo Ji-hyeok finished, pulled the receiver away, and gave a knowing look.
"Hung up. Manners..."
Then, Gong Sa-woo's inner pocket buzzed...
Both knew instantly whose call it was from the ring.
"Take it outside. Not sure if it's Mom or Executive Director calling, but answer."
Pure mockery.
Gong Sa-woo got it—his face burned redder—but the insistent phone won out, and he left the room.
'Well, big auntie. What now?'
Gazing at the door after Gong Sa-woo a moment, Seo Ji-hyeok rose from the sofa to his desk.
Checking the monitor, he let out a short whistle.
"Whew!"
Approval docs had doubled in that time.
Sitting, he sighed lightly and started clicking the mouse.
"How today?"
Seo Ji-hyeok visited the Dongdaemun karaoke bar twice daily.
Evenings after work, mornings at the same time.
A week of this, and the two men now rose right on schedule.
"Better than yesterday."
"Yeah?"
"Food?"
"Convenience store lunch boxes—he's eating well now."
Casually dressed for Sunday, Seo Ji-hyeok listened and slowly approached Park Eun-seok's room.