Chapter 144
Chapter 144
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: If You Cut the Washing Machine's Power (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The play had to be laid on thick.
Even if the series of theatrics unfolding on this construction site came off a bit contrived.
"Let's head up right away."
No, they might even get more excited by the contrived feel. Judging from the character of Prosecutor Park Eun-ji, she'd hate any stain on her prosecutorial pride.
That's why, to ensure Ammunition Group's shadow wasn't even remotely tangled in Joo Gwae-yul's money laundering this time around, some over-the-top acting was necessary. Just like right now.
"Okay… no, yes sir! Chairman!"
The crude stairs, still raw concrete since construction wasn't finished.
As we climbed them step by step, Uncle Kim Won-cheol replied to me formally.
It wasn't just because this was an official work-related spot.
Right behind us was an economic newspaper reporter, camera the size of a cannon slung over his shoulder.
"Chairman! That Han Seo-jun bastard himself is coming here on a private jet!"
The site supervisor's voice dripped with urgency, like he was stomping his feet in panic.
I turned toward the voice—and the sour whiff of soju—and there it was… what should I even call it?
A total mess, perfect trigger for a pretext: a drunken drinking party in plain sight.
"Uh… so, big brother, that Han Seo-jun from Ammunition Group is coming here, of all places…?"
"Yeah! Right here! That slimy, pale-faced parasite-looking fucker…!"
The site supervisor cut himself off mid-sentence, the fine hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
He must've sensed something going wrong behind him.
Like a broken wooden puppet, he creaked around slowly.
"Parasite… no, no. Chairman?"
"Chairman, yes. Parasite? Not sure about that. For now."
I glanced around, and sure enough, it was just as I'd expected.
Soju bottles in black plastic bags. Snacks scattered haphazardly on an overturned cardboard box.
Construction materials strewn everywhere, no sign of organization. Just like Ammunition Infrastructure's domestic construction division management skills these days.
The economic reporter's camera flash popped a few times from behind, Ammunition Group PR staff snapped plenty of shots, and only then did I slowly part my lips.
Delivering the opening shot for this incident.
"Ammunition Infrastructure Construction Division. Gather everyone from division head down to the execs. Right now. Immediately."
* * * *
"What the hell is this commotion? We're already swamped as it is."
Inside the skeletal concrete building, barren and unfinished.
Kim Executive Director of Ammunition Infrastructure Construction Division rushed over from a golf game, decked out in loud colors.
He grumbled to Park Executive Director beside him, lips pursed.
"Those laborers having a shot of booze during work—big deal? Why make such a fuss?"
"Tell me about it. Knocking home runs overseas left and right, now the chairman thinks he's God himself."
"Ugh, they even called in the subcontractor heads?"
"Everyone from Heukryong Construction is coming, no exceptions."
Kim Executive Director pressed a long finger to his lips, signaling quiet.
The economic reporter and Ammunition Group HQ PR team were approaching, so they had to watch their words.
Only after they passed did Kim Executive Director whisper.
"Damn. He's gonna lose face big time in front of the underlings."
"If it's just face, we're lucky… He'll definitely pin blame on us."
"Blame for what? Not stopping the booze?"
"No, no. The booze is just an excuse… The real mess is elsewhere. That officetel lottery flop—buyers all bailed midway."
"Ah."
Kim Executive Director smacked his forehead like it suddenly clicked, fiddling with his cigarette pack like his head hurt.
"Sigh… Suddenly no down payments and 1,000 people left high and dry. What're we supposed to do?"
"That's why it's worse. Heukryong takes the unsold units, and they called their guys here too. Perfect fit, right?"
"…He's gonna dump it all on us in front of them."
"Pretty much the playbook. That young chairman's sharp as hell."
The Ammunition Infrastructure domestic construction execs, sketching their own little picture of the situation.
What they were touching… was just an elephant's leg, in a way.
It loomed large to them, but it was merely a tiny fragment. Few here knew the full shape of that snowball.
And among that rare few at the core, the central figure was approaching from afar.
"Oh, here he comes. Here. Park Executive Director, chairman's coming."
"Heukryong Construction's here too. But… that old guy there."
People with black dragon logos coiled like tattoos on their right arms.
At the center of those rough-looking men, someone with graying hair approached with slow steps.
His face screamed murder.
"Last time I saw him, didn't he have no official title…?"
* * * *
Countless people lined up before me. From Ammunition Infrastructure Construction Division head to nameless low-level execs.
Their tense faces didn't register in my eyes.
Only one filled my vision: hidden among them, glaring at me with bulging eyes. Joo Gwae-yul, boss of the Iljeong Gang.
'Sharp gaze. Even fiercer in person than photos.'
Joo Gwae-yul, planning to launder over 100 billion won through this officetel project.
A hint of unease in his piercing eyes. My words and decisions here would drastically alter his future path.
"To all employees and partner reps who showed up despite the short notice."
"……."
I didn't dodge the feral glare radiating killing intent. Like dominating a beast before the hunt.
"This site… is a clusterfuck from head to toe."
A declaration cloaked in reprimand, closer to a declaration of war.
I hoisted a soju bottle from the black plastic bag high toward the sky and continued.
"Workers boozing mid-shift, materials scattered everywhere… and the massive wave of mid-payment cancellations that followed."
Joo Gwae-yul's face shifted from flushed crimson to deep red. Thin blood trickled from his clenched lower lip.
"Thus, as total overseers of this project, Ammunition Group takes full responsibility for everything."
Silence crashed over the site.
Even the dust swirling in the breeze settled. Murmurs faded, leaving only quiet filling the space.
Then, I slowly spoke again.
"Responsible management— we'll make it happen. Which is why… we won't dump the canceled officetel units on our partners."
Everyone's faces twisted in a rainbow of reactions to my every word.
"What did the chairman just say? Who's covering those busted pre-sales then?"
Execs still not grasping it.
"That dog Han Seo-jun…!"
Joo Gwae-yul, fingering his waistband knife, glaring like he wanted me dead.
They'd all been groping blindly at the elephant's leg. With a few more words, I tore off their blindfolds.
Revealing the picture I was painting. And the landscape unfolding ahead.
That picture pointed to one thing: money laundering—no, brazen external laundering under Ammunition Group's roof—would not be tolerated.
"No more sloppy games! All unsold units will be handled directly by Ammunition Group HQ—we declare it here!"
* * * *
Thud! A white hardhat hurled onto the asphalt.
Its ordeal didn't end there. Joo Gwae-yul's furious kicks rained down, rage unspent.
"Hoo… Nak-gu, come here."
Joo Gwae-yul inhaled deeply, tamping down his boiling excitement.
Only after chain-smoking three cigarettes did he steady his trembling hands.
"Big brother…."
His boss, who never lost his cool—now the total opposite.
Nak-gu approached, shrinking like a scared kid. In an instant, the knife at Joo Gwae-yul's waist hovered at Nak-gu's Adam's apple.
"Did you know?"
"N… no, big brother! How could I…!"
"That Ammunition Group chairman shows up personally for a measly 100-billion project! Every word from that bastard was aimed at me!"
Blood beaded like dew at the blade's tip.
A sharp ache bloomed in Nak-gu's throat, bobbing involuntarily. Joo Gwae-yul growled low.
"A massive money-laundering plan, years in the making—gone up in smoke. All coincidence?"
"…Suspicious, I'll admit. But."
Winter's chill was setting in. Nak-gu exhaled white breath, stepped back, palms out flat.
"At least give me a chance to prove my innocence."
"Innocence? How the hell's a punk like you proving that!"
Nak-gu on his knees, one hand extended. His pinky alone protruded, trembling like a leaf.
"…This is the gangster's way, isn't it?"
Nak-gu bowed his head, eyes fixed on Joo Gwae-yul's shadow.
Clang—like a knife hitting the floor, a dull metallic ring echoed in his ears. With Joo Gwae-yul's ice-cold voice.
"Go on, cut it yourself. You must be prepared."
Nak-gu's shaking right hand barely gripped the knife, turning it toward his finger.
Soon, a stifled groan escaped his clenched teeth, mingled with bitter blood.
"Urk…!"
The ritual ended in agony. He'd barely proven innocence—or just dodged the axe. Nak-gu's left hand felt lighter.
Joo Gwae-yul's verdict on that lighter hand.
"You're in charge of this mess, Nak-gu. On top of the flop, figure out a new laundering method."