Chapter 131: Achievements
Seongbuk-dong.
As the chairman, he had no doubt that Min-ho had handled it brilliantly. But as a grandfather, he fretted over his grandson like a child left by the water's edge. He couldn't hide his anxiety. Pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind him, Chairman Kang's gaze was fixed on the window outside.
"That boy should have been here ages ago... Why no word?"
Just then, the phone in the living room rang. Chairman Kang snatched up the receiver in haste.
"Chairman, it's Jeong Dong-gyun."
It wasn't Moon Sang-oh or Min-ho, whom he'd been desperately awaiting, but Jeong the secretary chief. Disappointed but masking it, he replied.
"Yes, Jeong. How did things go on your end?"
"Everything was wrapped up cleanly, as per your instructions."
"All the cars sent to Identical?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll hear the details later. Good work."
They'd cleared the major hurdle of the meeting with presidential candidate Kim Dong-il. Jeong had hoped for some praise, but once again, he was left out in the cold. Resentment and anger welled up in his chest. He ground his teeth, but there was nothing he could do.
"Chairman..."
Kang knew why Jeong trailed off, but he had no need to probe the heart of a mere secretary chief.
"Something to say?"
"No, sir."
"Good work. Rest up—we'll talk tomorrow."
Chairman Kang's face brightened instantly as he set down the receiver. He lit his pipe, but his pounding heart was harder to calm.
"Of course. A fox with a wagging tail couldn't fail. Indeed..."
He'd received the results. Now he was dying to know what proposal Min-ho had made to Candidate Kim—and how.
Still glancing out the window in case Min-ho had arrived unnoticed.
From the kitchen, Mrs. Kim peeked out, gauging the chairman's mood. Unlike his restless fidgeting moments ago, his face now bloomed with smiles. The meal was ready, but she hesitated on when to serve it, then ventured a question.
"Um, Chairman, when should I set the dinner table?"
"He'll be here any minute. You prepared Min-ho's favorites, right?"
"Yes. From beef to rolled omelet—everything the young master likes, I noted with my own eyes and prepared it all."
"Good work. Just a bit longer..."
At that moment, Min-ho and Moon Sang-oh's car pulled up to the Seongbuk-dong residence. Chairman Kang's face lit up again.
"Mrs. Kim, set the table. The kids are here."
"Yes, Chairman."
Min-ho, whom he'd awaited with bated breath, had arrived. From the car to the house took barely three minutes. But even that short wait was too much—Chairman Kang, in his slippers, dashed to the yard and flung open the gate himself.
"My grandson, your old man was about to die waiting this time too."
He'd come all the way to the yard to open the gate. Caught off guard, Moon Sang-oh and Lawyer Choi bowed hastily.
"Chairman... we're back."
He barely noticed them. His eyes were only on Min-ho. Seeing his flushed, excited face, the grandson teased back.
"Grandpa, you weren't worried things went wrong, were you?"
"As if. I was just dying to hear how our Min-ho won over Dong-il. That's why I came running out."
"No matter how urgent, you can't drink sweet rice punch from a well."
With a coquettish whine and an endearing smile, Min-ho shrugged off his outer coat and draped it over his grandfather. His eyes fell on the old man's bare feet.
Bending down, he placed his hand on them.
"It's chilly at night. You'll catch a cold out here. Let's go inside—I'll tell you everything."
A small gesture, but one that could only come from true care. Moved to the brim with affection, Chairman Kang bent down too, grasping Min-ho's hands and pulling him up.
"You rascal, your old man's feet are filthy—no need."
"They're your feet, Grandpa, so it's fine. I wouldn't do this for anyone else."
"Makes me want to count how many tails you've got... Everyone, good work. Let's head in."
Clutching Min-ho's hand tightly, Chairman Kang led him inside. The living room table groaned under Mrs. Kim's spread, as always. His favorite raw beef sashimi glistened, cradling egg yolks. But it wasn't enough to draw his eyes— he burned to hear what Min-ho would say.
"I'm twisting like a pretzel from curiosity. Tell me how you won over Dong-il."
Amused by his grandfather's eager anticipation, Min-ho said nothing, just picked up his chopsticks and plucked a piece of sashimi.
"Grandpa, you haven't eaten dinner yet, have you?"
"Of course not. Haven't even had a sip of water waiting for my grandson."
"Then eat this, and I'll tell you."
It wasn't the tender beef that melted Chairman Kang, but Min-ho's cheeky charm. His liver softened once more at his grandson's loving ways.
"Aigoo, Sang-oh. Our Min-ho's melting this old man's heart."
Moon Sang-oh smiled faintly.
"It seems he won't talk until you eat, sir."
"Right, right. Can't waste what my grandson served. Everyone must be hungry—let's eat and talk."
Min-ho waited calmly for the sashimi to go down his grandfather's throat before replying.
"Before meeting Candidate Kim, I investigated those around him first."
"Naturally. Poor kin management is like holding a time bomb. Sounds like you found something suspicious."
"His relatives weren't a big issue. I focused on someone closer."
Chairman Kang, who knew Candidate Kim from his rookie assemblyman days, smiled as he placed meat in Min-ho's bowl.
"Han Cheong-o. That guy's got a tiny mouth but endless greed—that's his flaw. You took care of Cheong-o?"
"Yes, Grandpa. I uncovered evidence of him taking backroom money from the district for years."
"Exactly. We can't let trouble befall the Dong-il we're backing."
Satisfied with Min-ho's meticulous plan, Chairman Kang took a swig from his glass.
"Forget the small fry—what big fish did you land?"
Setting down his utensils briefly, Min-ho answered.
"I made Candidate Kim one proposal."
"Just one? That's the opposite of what your old man expected..."
"No special interests for JK Group, and no sanctions either—that was my condition."
Chairman Kang, hanging on Min-ho's every word, couldn't hold back admiration for this brilliant, unexpected masterstroke. Joy overflowed; he burst into booming laughter. Moon Sang-oh hurried to the kitchen for a glass of water. Clutching his belly, Chairman Kang laughed long and hard, ending as always with a cough. Moon handed him the water swiftly.
"With my grandson around, I won't live long. Laughed so hard my stomach hurts."
"More water, Chairman."
"Right. Aigoo, I should've seen that fool Dong-il's stunned face..."
Perfectly timed, Moon Sang-oh produced the photos from Soseonjae.
"Evidence shots as Young Master instructed. Should be sufficient."
"Bring my glasses."
"Yes, sir. Here."
Savoring them like fine art, Chairman Kang examined slowly, nodding in satisfaction.
What if he'd sent eldest son Du-seong? He'd have promised a few perks and strutted back proudly. No comparison. Min-ho was brilliant, clever, bold, with exceptional foresight. Chairman Kang sought no mere gains—he wanted the chains hobbling JK Group broken. Min-ho understood perfectly what the group needed and his grandfather truly desired.
Full of praise, Chairman Kang said,
"No sanctions... Yes, just freeing those chains on our group would let us soar."
"Pleased?"
"No need to ask. Your old man wanted that chain off, not handouts."
"I unchained us and leashed Candidate Kim Dong-il tight. You're the master holding it."
"Shake it if he imposes sanctions or gets uppity?"
"Yes. On the surface, no gains—but we've got everything."
The photos captured every Soseonjae moment: Min-ho handing over cash, Kim's shocked reaction, even the main building conversation recorded. JK Group's ace to control the future president.
Draining his glass happily, Chairman Kang asked Min-ho,
"If... Dong-il comes at us hard anyway—what then?"
"If these photos leak, whose damage is greater?"
"Dong-il's, obviously—with all he has to lose."
"Bribery hinges on quid pro quo. I took no promises there."
The sum was huge, but as Min-ho said, no bribery charge. Origin of funds must be clear, of course.
"Might stir embezzlement noise... But Dong-il would be branded an immoral president."
"He won't choose that. Worst case, I cut off the tail at my level. Given his type, who loses more, he won't."
"If it comes to that, your old man will move Seocho-dong to clean it up."
To seize the election, Candidate Kim Dong-il took JK Group's money—unaware of the noose around his neck.
"Dong-il's path to the Blue House is clear now, and any choice he makes will be self-sabotage."
"He'll have to include our group in key policies."
"Yes, with the leash in hand, he'll have to watch his step... Brilliantly done. All this for a mere 50 billion."
"Pleased?"
"Beyond words. Jong-hoon, Sang-oh—good work. Let me pour you all a drink."
Pouring for Moon Sang-oh, Chairman Kang said,
"You know this needs tighter lips than ever?"
"Yes, sir."
"Give the secretary office kids a bag each. Nothing seals mouths like cash."
"Understood."
Now Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon's turn. Kneeling politely, he held his glass.
"Jong-hoon... Always by our Min-ho's side—hard work."
"No, Chairman. Working with Young Master is my greatest honor."
"So humble... Wait a sec."
Chairman Kang rose, fetched two black bags from his study, and set them before Choi.
"A small token for looking after Min-ho."
Each held 100 million won in cash—two meant 200 million. Enough for two houses outright. Choi jolted in shock.
"No, Chairman. I haven't done anything that big."
"One's from me as chairman for this job. The other's reward for heeding your old man's 'no taxis' request. Take it."
"Thank you, Chairman."
"Just keep serving Min-ho well, and you'll get whatever you want."
"Yes, sir. I'll give my all."
Smiling contentedly, Chairman Kang spoke.
"Such a fine day—toast time. Min-ho, give the toast."
Filling his glass, Min-ho called out loudly.
"To Chairman Kang Jin-gwang and JK Group!"
"To that!"
At that moment, Executive Director Seo Gwang-hun clutched his trembling chest and pushed open the door to JK Mutual Savings Bank's Myeong-dong branch.