Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Money Lord (1)
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Three months flew by like an arrow loosed from a protest.
Ammunition Group's massive loan application to the nationwide savings bank consortium. And the Financial Supervisory Service's risk investigation, which they couldn't ignore amid the fallout.
The result of laying out such a grand stage and shining the spotlights down hard was exactly the performance I'd scripted.
Just like the news broadcast playing right now on the TV mounted on one wall of the Chairman's office.
-Ammunition Group proposed loans in the tens of trillions to the national savings banks back in May to secure momentum for new ventures. But now problems have cropped up?
-The savings banks, which boasted solid credit, have been exposed as hollow shells riddled with bad debt. We go now to reporter Kang Hae-rin.
The screen switched immediately.
A reporter who looked like a kitten clutched her mic in front of the JL Savings Bank's headquarters, its front gates locked tight with chains.
-This is JL Savings Bank headquarters in South Jeolla Province, one of the worst offenders in fund management.
The bank had apparently locked itself down after relentless media scrutiny.
The footage cut next to an interview with a man who looked unmistakably like CEO Jo Han-cheol, his voice distorted and face mosaicked.
-Hey, come on! I told you it's not like that! It's just temporary, just temporary!
JL Savings Bank CEO Jo Han-cheol fleeing for his life.
The screen snapped back to the studio anchor.
-And Ammunition Group, the trigger for this crisis, has issued a statement?
-Yes, Chairman Han Seo-jun expressed deep regret toward the savings banks and said this should serve as a wake-up call to society.
Beep, beep, beep. Uncle Kim Won-cheol suddenly grabbed the remote and cranked the volume up three notches.
"Whoa, here it comes. Here it comes."
His giggling excitement was so innocent—or mischievous, maybe.
Then my interview footage began to play.
-It was utterly shocking. To think the savings banks we trusted were so rotten.
"Whoa, not a drop of spit out of line. Our Chairman could go on talent shows."
"Oh, come on, who says 'talent' anymore? It's all actors or celebrities these days."
What can I say... embarrassing as it is to admit, it was a damn good interview.
I'd groomed my appearance for maximum trust and delivered a polished message.
-At least it's a relief. Thanks to Ammunition Group, we nipped it in the bud before it ballooned into a bigger mess. We urge the financial authorities to take strict measures.
The interview wrapped with that final pat on the back.
No need to hear more. I snatched the remote from Uncle Kim Won-cheol and killed the screen.
"Looks like it's wrapped up nicely. The Honam gangsters' window to mess around has passed."
"But didn't we blow it up too big? You think this is okay?"
"Simple. Think of it like... chemotherapy."
To me—and to Ammunition Group—my uncle was no different from cancer cells.
To deal with an uncle who would choke me in the past, present, and future... a seriously potent chemo was only natural.
"There's a saying about burning down the thatched house to kill bedbugs. But what if those bedbugs have to be killed? What if not killing them means they kill you?"
"Hmm, that'd be trouble."
"Then... you burn the house down. Just like chemo kills cancer cells along with healthy ones."
That's why I'd torched the savings banks—that thatched house—a bit excessively.
And I could light the fuse without hesitation. It wasn't my company anyway.
"So, how perfect is that? Not my house, and the bedbugs get exterminated to boot."
"Heh heh, can't argue there."
"Now we just sit back and watch the fire from across the river. Those bloated, rotten savings banks going up in flames."
Thud. I dropped into the chair in front of the desk and swept my palm over the front page of today's morning paper.
A huge headline screamed about the savings bank scandal.
Just like the papers I'd seen in prison around this time in my previous life.
"And anyway... it was bound to blow up."
Jehyeon High School, Gwangju's prestigious academy.
Its tight-knit alumni network of finance elites, so easily swayed by black money.
It had happened back then, too.
I still vividly remembered the conversation with the cell boss when I was in prison.
'Hey, Chairman Han. Looks like some newbies from your industry just rolled in. No need to check 'em out?'
"People from my line of work?"
'Something about those Busan-or-Gwangju savings bank guys who ate big. That's all I know.'
Handcuffed new inmates stumbling out of the transport van, ropes binding them.
Gazing at those finance elites through the bars, I'd pointed out details from the savings bank scandal articles.
"Cooking the books, embezzlement—you name it. Not just that provincial one; a bunch more got nabbed, right?"
'That Jehyeon High in Gwangju? Bunch of ink-stained finance grads pigged out together. I'm too dumb for that stuff.'
So ironic. Unlike back then, I'm here now, and those savings bank crooks will end up right where they belong.
Thinking back made me chuckle. Uncle Kim Won-cheol floated a question mark over his head at my reaction.
"Uh... Chairman?"
"Nothing. Just remembered something funny."
I stretched long and languidly.
Turning my gaze to the Ammunition Group org chart on the wall, I said, thinking of Han Seo-ho in the audit role at the separate entity labeled <Cocoa>.
"First, shall we catch the rat that's outlived its usefulness?"
"Man, he got out just months ago, and now he's headed right back in. Seo-ho the gold horse."
* * *
At the same time.
"Why... why is this happening to me...?"
Han Seo-ho, half out of his mind, drooling and slack-jawed in terror.
"No, it wasn't my fault... it can't be my fault...."
In Han Hwa-gi's home study.
Cowering in the corner, Han Seo-ho plugged his ears, trembling violently.
Desperately trying to block out his stone-faced father on the phone with the gangster boss.
-Do you seriously not get the massive screw-up that just happened?! We trusted you as the big son, and you couldn't spot this one thing—what the hell are we supposed to do!
Jo Seok-gu's bellow shook the study.
He didn't hide his rage toward Han Hwa-gi, the direct hit from the savings bank debacle.
-We scraped together a trillion! Now with my 200 billion and Chairman Joo's 150 billion, that's just 350 billion to work with!
Unlike Jo Seok-gu, Joo Gwae-yul's voice was ice-cold, laced with sharp menace.
-Honorary Advisor Han.
"...I'm listening."
-Guess your ears aren't deaf. Would've been better if you'd shoved iron tongs in 'em.
Like a beast growling low, Joo Gwae-yul started his intimidation.
He'd even dug up the last hidden funds from that garlic field bunker, and he was just as furious.
-My 150 billion. It's out in the world now, so we roll it no matter what. Before some bastard sniffs it out and it vanishes!
Then, as if pre-arranged, Jo Seok-gu took the phone and shifted gears.
-Advisor Han. August 15, Liberation Day amnesty. Two weeks left—you know?
"...Well aware."
-Then let's meet up with Chairman Joo then. Better have some answers to nod along to by then. Got it?
"......"
Click. He hung up without waiting for a reply.
Face flushing purple-red at the crude threat, Han Hwa-gi hurled the nameplate that came to hand.
Crash! He screamed at Han Seo-ho, huddled in the corner.
"You worthless worm! What kind of half-assed job is this!"
"D-Dad, it's not—!"
"Sitting as auditor at <Cocoa> and you can't even check one ledger? What a pathetic disgrace!"
His eyes narrowed like a snake's.
That look meant... total cutoff. Blood ties or not.
"D-Dad! Please calm down and hear me out...!"
"Useless! Always failing when it counts! That blood in your veins is wasted!"
The eviction order fell at last.
"I can't even look at you. Get out!"
As Han Seo-ho's footsteps faded down the hall, Han Hwa-gi sank into the sofa, seething.
"Hoo, driving me mad. Han Seo-jun... was this his aim from the start? Overseeing everything?"
The savings bank mess itself wasn't a huge problem.
He could just pin it all on the useless eldest son.
His real headache was securing the shortfall in funds this caused.
"We need a plan. Even if it kills me."
"No need to go that far, Dad."
A voice from the doorway.
Han Seo-hu, smirking as he watched his brother flee.
"Seo-hu? How did you—?"
"Is that really the priority now?"
He'd apparently just come from the airport, slipping off his sunglasses into their case.
Four years ago, a walking disaster, now he'd matured. He approached his father.
"What matters is what comes next. I can't be a useless fool like some. I've been hopping around a bit."
"You, Seo-hu?"
"Yes. The 650 billion shortfall from that trillion. Where to get it. Especially."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
Out came the words Han Hwa-gi craved.
"Where the money lord is—the one who'll keep those gangsters in line."
"...Sit down first."
Han Hwa-gi exhaled a long plume of smoke, gathering his thoughts.
After the clock ticked on for a while, he met his second son's eyes.
"If you're right, I'll give you everything that fool Seo-ho was due."
"Thank you for the promise. As expected of Father."
Han Hwa-gi lifted his chin slightly, silently urging: Who is this money lord? How do we fix this?
After a brief pause, Han Seo-hu spoke.
"That powerful, filthy rich money lord is none other than...."