Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Newspaper Deal
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Seong Yun-su doubted her own ears.
'What did I just hear?'
Acquiring a newspaper?
It wasn't impossible.
Daeguk Ilbo was a mid-sized newspaper.
Including the editorial staff, there were only about thirty reporters and employees.
A large corporation could easily run it.
"Do all chaebol heirs operate on this scale? You're talking about a newspaper like it's some toy."
"It's expensive, but necessary."
Lee Dae-hyuk, who had been gauging Seong Yun-su's reaction, spoke up.
Truth be told, he hadn't planned on buying a newspaper.
But reporting this story meant turning the Seojin Group into an enemy.
'Of course, they'll fail this time too.'
No matter how much they stirred public opinion, completely overturning the Jesong-dong redevelopment was impossible.
Even in his previous life, there had been talks of a special prosecutor, and the police and prosecutors had thoroughly investigated those involved.
And the result?
Failure.
It was inevitable.
The Prosecutor General, Supreme Court Justice, and Police Chief had all received gifts from Seojin Group, and their children worked at Seojin affiliates.
They blocked the investigation completely to avoid ruining not just their own careers, but their kids' lives too.
Of course, a few of Haengmyeong To-gan's associates ended up in prison.
'They cut off the tails.'
They needed some scapegoats to toss to the furious public.
And that was the end of it.
The media shut up, and the real culprits went unpunished.
But this time, it had to be different.
"I've heard Daeguk Ilbo has been struggling lately. If you—no, if 'Daehan Group' becomes your sponsor, it'll give the paper some real strength."
"Does the reporting need more muscle too?"
"You already know from experience, don't you, Reporter Seong Yun-su? The truth alone is powerless."
"......"
Lee Dae-hyuk hit the nail on the head, and Seong Yun-su fell silent.
She had her own experiences.
The Prosecutor General's son bullying students.
A chaebol heir's drunk-driving hit-and-run.
She'd tried to report the crimes of the powerful.
But her superiors wouldn't allow her sense of justice.
However.
"You're just trying to use the newspaper too, right? If you're looking for a mouthpiece to trumpet Yeongbi-eocheon-ga..."
"I'm not looking for a mouthpiece. I need real reporters."
Real reporters.
Thump-!
That single phrase made Seong Yun-su's heart race.
'A real reporter...'
Seong Yun-su repeated Lee Dae-hyuk's words in her mind over and over.
And then.
"......"
Lee Dae-hyuk quietly waited for her response in silence.
He knew what she would say.
'You may not know me, but I know you well.'
Back when he was Kim Gun-woo.
Five years from now.
She covered Yoo Jae-man's son Yoo Dae-sik's abuse of power and violence as his driver.
At the time, Kim Gun-woo had met her to persuade her against publishing.
If she ran the story, it wouldn't just endanger her—it would put everyone around her at risk.
But Seong Yun-su shook her head and left a famous line.
"The truth is always dangerous."
That version of Seong Yun-su had an overwhelming charisma and presence.
Unlike now, where she seemed nervous and clumsy, back then she was the perfect reporter.
She must have gone through a lot in those five years.
But she never published the story.
Two days after meeting him.
She got hit in a hit-and-run.
'The culprit was never caught.'
Lee Dae-hyuk had felt sorrow for the fate of such a fine reporter.
So this time, he saw it as destiny.
If she hadn't been Kim Mi-jin's friend, she wouldn't even be here.
'I wouldn't have thought of buying the paper either.'
But it didn't matter.
Soon, 100 billion won would roll into his hands anyway.
Running a single newspaper would be a piece of cake.
Besides.
'I need ad space too.'
If he and the Daehan Group he was building could advertise freely without extra costs, wouldn't that be a gain?
'To do that, I need to grow Daeguk Ilbo.'
Not as a small paper with thirty staff, but as Korea's top media outlet.
Knowing the future, he could funnel all the scoops to them.
While Lee Dae-hyuk pondered various stories.
Seong Yun-su spoke up.
"Alright. We'll run the story. But on two conditions."
Seong Yun-su felt her lips go dry.
She had a premonition that this one statement, this deal, would change not just her life, but her colleagues' too.
"Go ahead."
When Lee Dae-hyuk asked in a gentle tone, Seong Yun-su carefully laid out her conditions.
"The acquisition isn't really my place to comment on. I'll take it as you promising to protect our paper."
"Yes."
Seong Yun-su backed off on the acquisition issue.
She wasn't the owner of Daeguk Ilbo— no need to meddle in complicated matters.
Instead, if Lee Dae-hyuk agreed to her two key conditions.
"Once the story runs... Seojin Group affiliates will probably pull all their ads. So please place ads from Daehan Group and its subsidiaries with us."
It was a bit of an overreach.
"Yun-su, that's beyond Young Master's authority."
"No, it's fine. We'll compensate you somehow later."
Despite Kim Mi-jin's protest, Lee Dae-hyuk accepted the first condition.
From the paper's perspective, it was a matter of survival.
They needed this insurance.
Seong Yun-su then stated her second condition.
"If Daehan Group people cause trouble, we'll report on it. If you try to pressure us into writing only favorable stories about Daehan or burying specific incidents because of this, I'll walk out right now."
There was steel in Seong Yun-su's voice.
She wasn't some exceptional reporter.
But she loved the job too much and wanted to live as one forever.
To do that, she had to report on all sources and events equally.
"......"
Having stated her second condition, Seong Yun-su fell silent.
Not out of hesitation, but confidently awaiting Lee Dae-hyuk's firm answer.
After a few seconds of brief silence.
Lee Dae-hyuk replied.
"If anyone from Daehan Group does something deserving condemnation, report it anytime."
"Even if it's you, Lee Dae-hyuk?"
"Yes. Of course."
Lee Dae-hyuk nodded at her counter-question.
Accidents are mistakes, but scandals are committed by the greedy.
He had only vengeance—no real greed.
The only desire he had was to finish his revenge and live a normal life.
Naturally, Seong Yun-su couldn't read his mind.
But instinctively, she knew.
This man was telling the truth.
Then it was time for her to live up to it.
"The story runs in two days. Not the headline, but it'll get plenty of space. Look forward to it."
Seong Yun-su spoke with resolute determination.
Once decided, she had to fight as a reporter.
Reading her resolve, Lee Dae-hyuk smiled in satisfaction.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
***
"Sometimes... I worry about Young Master's mental state."
At Lee Dae-hyuk's house.
Watching him sip coffee, Kim Mi-jin voiced her slight concern.
He had definitely become extraordinary.
He pulled off things ordinary people wouldn't dare dream of.
And those risky moves had generated hundreds of billions in profit.
But trying to acquire a newspaper to pressure them? That worried her.
"Even worms wriggle when stepped on. But those guys aren't worms—they're vipers. Vipers that can bite anyone."
Kim Mi-jin had done her own digging on Kim Jin-taek, Min Seung-su, and Park Jung-ki's crew.
With connections in police, lawyers, and prosecutors, she had a rough idea.
Many investigating Kim Jin-taek had died or been injured in accidents.
Park Jung-ki was dangerous too, even if he'd washed his hands of it.
And behind them was Seojin Group.
Unlike before, even Lee Dae-hyuk could be in real danger.
But Lee Dae-hyuk just smiled and brushed off Kim Mi-jin's worried nagging.
"Vipers, huh... Does that make me a dragon? Nah, not yet. A giant serpent fits better."
In Korea, only the likes of Lee Myung-guk and Yoo Jae-man could be called dragons.
To beat Yoo Jae-man, he had to become one first.
"To stop worrying Noona, I need to become a dragon fast."
"That's not what I... Sigh. Are you getting cooler or weirder? I'm confused now."
As Kim Mi-jin fretted genuinely, Yoon Tae-ho, listening from the side, shook his head.
"He's gotten cooler."
He too was a bit worried about Lee Dae-hyuk's actions.
Rubbing shoulders with dangerous people, making fearsome enemies.
But every decision had yielded the best results, so he had to trust him now.
Which is why.
"And Young Master has me by his side. Korea's strongest bodyguard!"
As if there was nothing to worry about, Yoon Tae-ho thumped his chest proudly.
Lee Dae-hyuk, pleased by the bold claim, said with a warm expression.
"I always trust you."
"The best would be no chance to prove it... But if danger strikes, I'll protect you for sure."
Yoon Tae-ho replied boldly, exchanging a heated gaze with Lee Dae-hyuk.
"......"
Kim Mi-jin swallowed her rising irritation as she glanced between the two.
Her husband was grating her nerves for not reading the room.
And no matter how close he was to Lee Dae-hyuk, he was still the boss.
She decided to scold her husband at home for blurring lines.
"Sigh. I have work tomorrow, so I'll head out. Side dishes are in the fridge—eat breakfast."
With that, Kim Mi-jin stood up.
"Honey, you're heading home today too, right?"
Her gaze turned to Yoon Tae-ho.
Feeling his wife's unkind stare, Yoon Tae-ho.
"Huh? Oh, yeah..."
He looked at Lee Dae-hyuk with frightened eyes.
'Young Master!!'
It was a desperate plea for help.
But regrettably... Lee Dae-hyuk took it entirely differently.
"Of course you should head home today. There are other bodyguards, so don't worry."
"Yes?! But even so, I should..."
"I'm not a kid, and I'm home. What could happen? Go on, enjoy a cozy night."
Completely misreading Kim Mi-jin and Yoon Tae-ho's intentions, Lee Dae-hyuk waved them off hurriedly.
Kim Mi-jin beamed and hooked her arm through her husband's.
"Yeah, yeah. It's been ages since I've had fun with my husband. You must be thrilled today, right, honey?"
"Uh-huh."
"Young Master, we'll be off."
"......"
Like a cow led to slaughter, Yoon Tae-ho was dragged to the door by his wife.
Watching them, Lee Dae-hyuk couldn't hide his satisfaction.
'Yeah. My work's important, but I should give them free time sometimes.'
Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Lee Dae-hyuk picked up the coffee cup in front of him and brought it to his lips.
Things were proceeding as he planned.
Once Seong Yun-su's article dropped, the cornered foes would pay the 100 billion.
Then he could proceed with the scheduled investments.
'I can't even imagine how much I'll end up with.'
With 100 billion seed money, Lee Myung-guk would invest too.
Then he'd expand beyond Credit Default Swaps, Apple, and Marvel movies.
'Need direct lines to Facebook and Amazon too.'
Stocks had limits.
To partner with global giants instead of just investing, he'd need to meet their heads personally.
After saving Steven Jobs.
He'd meet other group leaders too.
'I'm gonna be busy.'
From next month, his stage would shift from Korea to America.
Reflecting on his journey since rebirth, he felt a bit tired.
But now the real start began.
'Yeah. Enjoy it.'
Hadn't Yoo Jae-man always said it?
"You have to enjoy it to succeed."
He'd savor this time preparing his revenge.
On the day this joyful time ended.
He'd stand before Yoo Jae-man.
"Wait for me, Chairman Yoo. I'll see you soon."
***
Two days later.
One article targeting the Jesong-dong redevelopment set the world ablaze.
[Behind Park, who swept Busan's redevelopment by spreading bribes?]