Still Baffled by the Persistent Tail
Kang Beom-seong, still thrown by the tail, sat in the driver's seat tearing at his hair in anguish. If the absurd suspicions he'd dismissed turned out to be true, the fallout would be monumental. If Min-ho really owned Athena, it would be a nightmare for Beom-seong. Chairman Kang trusted Min-ho—if that held, the succession lineup would tangle beyond repair, and his own two sons would be sidelined like yesterday's leftovers. It was plain as day.
"This way, Min-ho sweeps right past us all? Even cold water has its hierarchy—this can't fly..."
He stared blankly at the newspaper Seo Gwang-hun had handed him, muttering to himself.
"Hold on... so that means the A-Mart buildings, this land, and even the newspaper—all Min-ho's? Don't overthink it. Verify first."
Any ordinary person would've floored it straight to JK Credit Info to grill Myeong-seon. But Beom-seong, sharper than most and terrified of his father, made a clever move. To gauge the vibe, he grabbed the car phone first.
He cleared his throat with a couple of coughs, then dialed his younger sister Myeong-seon.
"Kang Myeong-seon speaking."
Unlike her old perky tone that belied her age, she answered in a voice flat as death.
"It's your oppa. What's with the exhaustion? Not like you're scraping through a famine."
"Huh? Oh, just... caught a cold."
She wanted to vent, but couldn't, so she tossed out an excuse.
"Stuffing your face with the best in Seongbuk-dong, and you end up nursing a bug?"
"Whatever. I'm beat, oppa—just get to the point."
Her voice, so starkly changed, confirmed Seo Gwang-hun's words weren't lies. A chill sweat trickled down his spine, but he played it cool.
"Gotta have a reason to call? Just wanted to hear my little sis's voice. Rest up—I'll bring you some prime ginseng from Geumsan later."
"Thanks, oppa. I need a break."
"What glory are you chasing? Go crash early."
He kept it light, but his mind knotted tighter. He hung up, raking both hands through his hair.
"Damn, this feels real. Myeong-seon wouldn't act like this... Seo Gwang-hun nailed it. Gotta check myself."
Beom-seong drove straight to near JK Credit Info. If emotions ruled, he'd barge in on Myeong-seon—but that was suicide, like mounting the scaffold himself.
"Dad's got eyes everywhere; he'd stick a few secretary office guys for sure... Storm the president's office like this, and it'll get reported. Hold up..."
To scope the atmosphere firsthand, he parked on the street, got out, and waved frantically at an oncoming taxi.
"Taxi! Hey, over here!"
"Where to?"
"Driver, I'll pay double—circle this building a few times."
"Pardon? What're you on about?"
"No time— just keep looping it."
"Got it."
Sinking deep into the back seat, peeking out with just his eyes, he scanned JK Credit Info meticulously.
"Driver, take it slow."
"First time for everything with a passenger like you. Double pay, you call the shots."
Beom-seong, face twisted in irritation, yanked 100,000 won from his wallet and tossed it over.
"This cover it?"
"Plenty, sir. Your wish is my command."
"Good—just creep around slow. Eyes front."
"Yes, sir."
He knew exactly how Chairman Kang handled defiance. Spotting headquarters secretary office staff here would say it all—no explanations needed.
He scoured the entrances, parking lot, lobby—rubbed his eyes in disbelief, checked again.
That's Secretary Office's Kim Deputy Director? Guys outside too... Definitely tailed.
So outsiders won't know Myeong-seon's cracked... Media blackout and control? Damn, Dad's thoroughness is top-tier...
With the lay of the land grasped, Beom-seong had no immediate counter. But sitting idle meant he and his sons got benched—obvious as fire burning.
"Driver, that's enough—drop me up ahead."
The driver glanced in the rearview and pulled over.
"No sweat."
Out of the taxi, back in his car, engine roaring, Beom-seong peeled off in a hurry.
***
Gi-yeong Motors conference room.
Riding a boom from the '80s, Gi-yeong shone brighter than ever. Inside, it festered like an abscess ready to burst.
Vehicle sales had plummeted since last year; dusty cars piled up in every warehouse. Clearing the overflow stock seemed impossible.
Executives already gathered clustered in groups, tossing out ideas.
"President called us for the inventory crisis, right? How's no one got a fix?"
"Even Choi Executive Director's stumped—think we've got magic?"
"Subcontractors are taking some off our hands, but it's a drop in the bucket."
"No solutions, and this meeting drags on forever..."
"Since it's out there: we need trillions. Without a national 'Buy Gi-yeong' campaign, I say impossible."
"President entering."
Executives stood. Sang Du-hong, fresh from a tongue-lashing in the chairman's office, stomped in scowling and took his seat.
Knowing thunder was coming, they just watched warily.
Sang scanned them with pitiful eyes, then bellowed.
"Any solutions?"
Even top execs had no stock-clearing plan. Choi Seok-su, Executive Managing Director, ventured cautiously.
"Sales down, inventory up. How about a big discount spree, like charity?"
It poured fuel on his foul mood.
"Hey, Choi."
"Yes, President."
"Here to kill time? Think spewing words fixes everything?"
"Sorry."
"We tried discounts—zero effect, hence this mess. You desk-jockeys with your pens are sinking us."
He flung papers skyward, roaring.
"You executives! Heads up your asses, eyeing me— that's why Gi-yeong's in this shit!"
"Sorry. We'll prep countermeasures ASAP."
"What can you do? Squeeze the underlings more?"
Sang had no better ideas himself. He prodded them hoping for oil, got none.
Gu Bo-hyeon, Executive Director in the corner, spoke up.
"Apologies, but we need fundamental solutions, not shortsighted ones."
"Reciting the textbook! Got a gem?"
"Clearing our inventory demands big money. No single bank or card company can handle it—we need a massive consortium."
The only way out of this dark hole, but pie-in-the-sky.
"I know! Think they'll pool broke-ass funds to peddle our lemons? At least five players?"
"Uh... President, how about lowering installment rates?"
"Chairman nixed that. No card company eats losses like that."
The room filled with sighs and silence.
Inventory wasn't all—payrolls for thousands, subcontractor bills meant billions now.
Cash flow froze, cracks form. Rivals like Daehyeon Motors scoop the sweet fruits.
Banks and card firms, sensing cash buyers dried up, hunkered down—no aggression.
One fix: sell every damn car. But no takers, so Gi-yeong stalled.
Sang slammed the table.
"This it? Fine—I'll chop heads myself."
"Sorry."
"No bullshit! One week—bring breakthrough plans. Got it?"
"Yes, President."
Sighing deeply in frustration, his secretaries slipped in with a report.
"President, urgent call."
"What's more urgent than this?"
"JK Group's Moon Sang-oh Executive Director."
"That viper's spawn sniffs quick... Bet he's calling to spend his money. Human or what? Tell him call back— in a meeting."
"Uh... he insisted it's critical."
Even a president couldn't snub JK Group. He nodded, ending the meeting.
"Heard that? Next week or necks fly! Dismissed."
In his office, Sang grabbed the receiver.
"Sang Du-hong speaking."
"Hello. Moon Sang-oh of JK Group."
No upside in offending. Dropping the tough act, he groveled with a grin.
"Oh, our Moon Executive Director! Music to my ears after so long. All well?"
"Straight to business."
"Yes. What's the matter?"
"JK Card may help Gi-yeong Motors. That's why I called."
Chairman Kang had all but ditched the affiliate. Sang doubted his ears.
"Forgive me, but I know JK Card. Growing, sure—but handling us? Tough."
Moon knew no details, but trusted Min-ho fully. That was it.
"Landscape's shifted—majorly. Can you make Soseonjae by 8 p.m.?"
"Sounds like you've got a plan."
"Details in person. One answer now: can you?"
Nothing to lose for Sang.
"I'll be there."
"Understood. Hanging up."
Moon called Min-ho next.
"Young Master. Moon Sang-oh."
"Gi-yeong president deal?"
"As instructed: 8 p.m., Soseonjae."
"Good work."
Curious inside, Moon added before hanging.
"Another brilliant stroke?"
"Would I move without one? See you later."
Moon pondered Min-ho's intent post-call—drew blanks.
He entered the chairman's office. Kang eyed him smiling.
"Face full of worry... Only Min-ho burdens you."
"Yes. Young Master asked me to set a meet with Gi-yeong's president."
"Gi-yeong, eh... Why?"
"No word. No guesses."
Kang chuckled heartily, nodding.
"Fox wagging its tail again... Let's see the next ace."