Prelude to War
***
The Times
Jo Dong-uk, president of The Times, was immersed in his work as usual. While reviewing the articles set for tomorrow's edition, he tilted his head and asked his junior.
"Kang-uk, the JK Securities piece is solid... but using the same photo of President Kang Beom-seong every time feels off, doesn't it?"
"You know how he is. He's always holed up in Myeong-dong, so there aren't many public photos of him out there."
"We can't just rotate the same ones forever. Swap it out for something else."
"How about... we just skip the photo altogether? I agonized over it myself."
"Then dig up an old one, or if nothing else, throw in an illustration. Better than leaving the right side empty, right?"
Section Chief Seo Kang-uk let out a sigh and pulled out some aged materials he'd fetched from the archives. The newspaper, marked by the passage of time, had yellowed noticeably.
"I scoured everything for old photos. Picked through it all like this and finally found just this one."
"This looks about fifteen years old? It's yellowed, but well-preserved. Was this really the only one?"
"Yes. This is the only publicly released family photo of the JK Group. It's too old to use, though. Like you said, President, I'll go with an illustration."
"Fine, let's do that... Wait. Hold on a second..."
Jo's gaze locked onto a faded article on one side of the newspaper. Amid the JK Group story was a family photo, and he couldn't tear his eyes from the little boy standing right in the center.
"No way... That's impossible..."
"President, what's wrong? It's not like a creditor just showed up out of nowhere—why the shock?"
"Huh? Nothing... I'll borrow this for a bit."
"Yes, sir."
Looking dazed, as if entranced, Jo grabbed the newspaper and headed to his office. He locked the door tight, lest anyone barge in. Even after checking multiple times, he kept staring. No matter how much he rubbed his eyes and denied it, the boy standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chairman Kang Jin-gwang was unmistakably Min-ho.
It's him, no doubt... That's our president... No wonder he struck me as extraordinary from the first meeting... Wait, is this something only I didn't know?
He'd suspected close ties to JK, but never dreamed Min-ho was part of the royal family. The puzzles of recent events began clicking into place.
No wonder he's always tangled up with JK... How did I never think of this?
He glanced at his watch. Just ten minutes until the meeting. He snatched the materials and hurried to the fifteenth floor. He knew he shouldn't blurt it out recklessly, but as president and journalist, his curiosity was unbearable. Shooting cautious glances around, Jo sidled up to Section Chief Cheon Dong-gwan and nudged his side with an elbow, nodding toward the emergency stairs.
"Cheon, let's talk for a sec."
"What's this all of a sudden?"
"Just a minute."
In the stairwell, Jo whipped out the photo as evidence and pressed him.
"You know about this, right?"
"What are you talking about out of the blue?"
"Look at this photo! That's the president. The eyes, the nose—identical."
Contrary to his expectation that Cheon would be shocked like him, the section chief looked baffled instead.
"You've seriously not known until now?"
"So you knew?"
"I have ties to JK. And the president has done me favors."
"What about Lawyer Choi? Team Leader No Jun-hwan and President Yang Sang-pil?"
"Of course they know. I'm more surprised you didn't, President. He never mentioned it?"
"How the hell did I miss this all this time?"
Cheon burst into booming laughter that echoed through Yeouido.
"That's why the meetings are always the same crew."
"I was completely in the dark. Figured he was just some rich kid with deep pockets—didn't dream it was JK Group."
"Anyway, best not to bring this up. You get that, right?"
"Of course. I've eaten my share of humble pie over the years. No worries."
"Meeting time's up. Quit freaking out and let's go."
***
In the conference room, Myeong-seon had bitten hard on the tantalizing bait Min-ho dangled, snapping up 15 billion won in bonds—more than expected. JK Credit Info's vaults, stuffed with reserves, briefly revealed some breathing room. With the vulnerability exposed, it was time to strike the vital point.
Min-ho immediately called a meeting to launch the next phase. Lawyer Choi was there, along with President Yang Sang-pil, Team Leader No Jun-hwan—everyone.
"Thanks for making time despite your schedules. Straight to the point."
As Min-ho stood to explain, his eyes met Jo's. The president's gaze was markedly different—intense, posture rigid. Min-ho, ever perceptive, couldn't miss it. He tossed out a casual question.
"President Jo, something up?"
"Ah... No, nothing."
"You're even stumbling over words—looks like there is."
Right then, Min-ho spotted the old newspaper on the table in front of Jo. Smiling, he picked it up.
"This is about fifteen years old. Where'd you find it?"
"We archive all published papers neatly in the materials room. Stumbled on it while hunting for photos."
Min-ho's eyes landed on the JK Group article. There, in the photo, was his younger self.
"So, you know now?"
Jo let out a earth-shattering sigh and grumbled like a wronged child.
"President, everyone else knew but me."
"You really had no idea?"
"Feels like a total idiot with everyone here in on it."
"I figured a journalist like you would've sniffed it out ages ago—surprising you missed it."
"I vaguely guessed you were some rich heir. Never imagined this level."
Everyone except Jo was chuckling.
"Better late than never."
"You know my lips are sealed. No need to worry."
Min-ho gave a loaded reply.
"The whole world will know in a few months anyway. Just keep quiet till then."
"Got it."
"Meeting starts now."
Min-ho distributed prepared materials and dove in.
"Real estate first. Team Leader No, site surveys done?"
"Full analysis on all the specified land completed."
"Just need funds ready, then?"
"Yes. Primed to move anytime."
"Good work. Funds next. President Yang, A-Mart construction on track?"
Athena Distribution's President Yang Sang-pil handed over photos for his report.
"On schedule. As you see, JK Construction's going all-in—might even finish ahead."
"JK Construction still cooperating smoothly?"
"Yes. First time I've seen a builder this meticulous. Dare I say, it's wearing me out."
"Great news. No need for every detail—handle what you can."
"Understood."
Today's main topic: funds. Min-ho turned to investment head Cheon.
"Section Chief Cheon, Daegwang Industrial returns?"
Beaming, Cheon passed the report with confident gusto.
"Just as you predicted, over fivefold. Full breakdown in the report."
Daegwang Industrial's chairman had passed; his heirs had waged a months-long share battle for control. Min-ho reaped the biggest windfall from the whales' war. The mudslinging only drove the stock higher. His 60 billion preemptive investment had yielded over five times the return.
Busy as he was, even Lawyer Choi had momentarily forgotten Daegwang. The returns exceeded even his expectations, leaving him awestruck.
"My god... That's 300 billion, right?"
"Enough to cover anything going forward."
"Planning a takeover of Daegwang?"
"No reason to buy a shit-smeared mess. Cheon, contact them—offload via block trade."
"Got it. If they're lukewarm?"
"Dump on the market. They're the ones who'll hurt, not us."
"Will proceed and report."
Min-ho scrawled 300 billion large on the whiteboard.
"So, what'll I do with this? Any guesses?"
No one could read his plans. After deep thought, real estate's No spoke up.
"For the land buys you mentioned."
"Obvious. After that?"
"No clue."
Min-ho smiled slyly.
"I'm taking over JK Credit Info."
It was a nuclear bombshell. Stunned, Lawyer Choi just gaped. Ex-secretary chief Yang knew the massive backlash this could unleash. Win or lose, it risked pyrrhic victory. Reaching for JK Credit Info's control could shape Min-ho's future based on Chairman Kang's reaction.
No need for more thought. Yang objected firmly.
"President, sorry, but this is a no-go. Could spark group infighting."
"Think I haven't considered that?"
"If... the Chairman takes offense—pardon me—he could oust you from the group."
No matter Min-ho's wealth, he couldn't rival the Chairman. Lawyer Choi, face flushed, chimed in.
"Young master, sorry, but I agree. Could be the worst move."
"Catching bedbugs and burning the thatched house?"
"Exactly. President Kang Myeong-seon's tailing is outrageous, no doubt. But this is like betting your neck to take her down."
Their views were commonsense. Min-ho always transcended that. Irk the Chairman and oust his aunt? Seemingly impossible, but he had the perfect ploy. With a relaxed smile, he handed prepped documents to the five.
"See? This way, no offending Grandpa, and we boot President Kang Myeong-seon."
It felt like teetering on a thread over a cliff. Lawyer Choi sighed.
"Possible, but high-risk."
Yang agreed.
"Same as Lawyer Choi. Great if it works, but too risky."
The president was changing soon; financial real-name system incoming. This was the last chance for the method. No opinion would sway the die-cast decision. Min-ho issued orders without pause.
"Cheon, liquidate Daegwang stock ASAP."
"Yes. Then?"
"Start scooping JK Credit Info via proxy accounts. The real fight begins now."
He'd drawn the blade to fell Myeong-seon. The overture to all-out war was rising.