The Discrepancy
After finishing his conversation with Chairman Kang, Min-ho left the headquarters at a leisurely pace. From a distance, a man who had been watching everything picked up the receiver and dialed somewhere.
“Hey! Why are you only calling now after staring at the entrance all day?”
“I was just about to...”
“Spit it out already! What happened?”
“Young Master... he just left headquarters.”
It was unbelievable. Beom-seong couldn't help but doubt his own ears.
“What? What did you say? Say it again.”
“I said he left just a little while ago.”
“Min-ho's been there for over two hours, and you're saying he's leaving now?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
Chairman Kang always issued one-sided orders, so conversations were brief unless something special came up. If the report was true, it meant Min-ho—the wastrel they'd dismissed—had talked with Chairman Kang for around two hours. Beom-seong could instinctively sense what that implied.
No wonder Father didn't call Big Brother... Did Min-ho lie right in front of him? 'No one you can trust in this world,' he said...
Truths hidden in the fog were starting to emerge one by one. Overwhelming anxiety surged like a tidal wave, but he couldn't reveal his inner turmoil to a subordinate. To prepare for any potential trouble, he pulled out a countermeasure first.
“Manager Kim! Go to Busan for me.”
“Pardon? I just went on that Busan trip last week, and I've got a lot on my plate this week too.”
“No backtalk. Just go.”
“Yes... Understood.”
To escape Chairman Kang's scrutiny, he had to hide even the tail's finest hairs. Busan didn't seem enough, so after pondering, Beom-seong came up with another plan.
“No, wait. You said it's been a while since your family vacation, right? Go to somewhere nearby in Southeast Asia for about ten days.”
“Starting today?”
“You think it's next year? I'll handle your work, so go quietly.”
“Ah... Got it.”
“You know that driver's diner over Uijeongbu Pass? Park there openly, then take a taxi from behind it.”
“Understood. I'll head straight to the airport like that.”
The situation was turning out worse than he'd anticipated. After hanging up, he sank into deep thought.
Father and Min-ho talked for two hours... This guy's like an onion, layers on layers...
He wasn't certain yet, but the circumstances kept aligning with Seo Gwang-hun's testimony.
What if... Father picks Min-ho as successor... I'd be totally screwed...
If eldest brother Du-seong rose to vice chairman—or even chairman—Beom-seong's life would likely proceed smoothly. But if Min-ho was steadily building power and eyeing the throne, countermeasures were essential. He picked up the receiver, dialed, then set it down again.
“No, Big Brother would never believe this. I have to go see him myself.”
***
JK Mutual Savings Bank. The door burst open, and Beom-seong strode in. A startled employee jumped up and approached.
“Hello, sir?”
“Yeah, hey. Agent Lee, how've you been?”
“Fine, President.”
Beom-seong tossed out a soulless greeting and headed for the president's office.
“Is big brother inside?”
“Um... he's on a call right now. Sorry, but if you could wait here just five minutes...”
“He's in? Good enough. Is that damn call more important than me? Get me a coffee and cut the chatter!”
“Right away.”
In his urgency, he flung the door open. Du-seong, mid-call and scowling, glared at his younger brother before wrapping up.
“Do it that way. Yes. We'll speak again later.”
This was a public place, brother or not. Rudeness wouldn't fly. Du-seong slammed the receiver down with irritation, his roar filling the office.
“Where'd you learn manners like that?”
Du-seong, the eldest who had filled the void left by their early-departed mother, was sometimes a gentle mom to his siblings and a strict big brother at others. That was why Myeong-seon would come running at the slightest thing, chattering away. Beom-seong was no different. He never talked back to Du-seong.
He bowed his head at the scolding.
“Barging in without knocking during a call? Where'd you pick up that street habit?”
“Sorry.”
“You still think this is Myeong-dong back alleys? I told you to drop those gutter manners!”
“Sorry. I have something urgent to discuss.”
Du-seong instructed the employee. “Two coffees.”
“Yes, President.”
Fixing his gaze on the documents, he said, “Sit. How's things on your end? Can't be slow these days.”
“As you know, Big Brother, JK Card's keeping us swamped. Customers are booming; we need to hire more staff.”
Du-seong nodded and continued. “Father's management skills seem sharper by the day. I'm swamped creating special promotions and managing customers—wish I had two bodies.”
“That's what I came to talk about...”
“I'm busy, so keep it short.”
Beom-seong sipped his coffee and dropped a loaded question. “How much do you know about Min-ho?”
Relations between Min-ho and Du-seong remained icy. He avoided even mentioning the name.
“If you're here with nonsense, drink your coffee quietly and go.”
“It's not that. Min-ho...”
Du-seong, eyes still on his papers, looked up. His heavy tone carried a warning. “If you're here to patch things up with that punk... don't even start.”
“You think I'd forget that? I know full well.”
“I've erased Min-ho from my mind long ago. He's no son of mine anymore.”
“It's not that, actually...”
Frustrated by his brother's hemming and hawing, Du-seong let out a big sigh. “Quit twisting around like some girl! Spit it out. Is it about Father? Or Butler Moon?”
“Truth is, it seems like Min-ho's up to something.”
At the absurd claim, Du-seong gripped his ashtray, face darkening. “Out with it straight. You're not the type to come over nothing. Something you can't handle, right?”
“Big Brother, don't freak out and hear me out.”
“Keep holding back, and you'll regret it.”
“It'll sound like a lie, but Min-ho seems like the real head of Athena. Circumstances point that way big time.”
It was a ridiculous guess about Min-ho, barely spat out after much effort. Du-seong chuckled dryly.
“A-Mart openings, The Times dropping scoops like clockwork—that shrouded company. You saying the famous Athena's true owner is Min-ho?”
“Not certain, but the circumstantial evidence lines up perfectly.”
“Done? Good, I'm busy. Drinks next time.”
Dismissing it as drivel, Du-seong returned to his papers.
“You think I'd come all this way for bullshit?”
“Even bullshit has limits! Who fed you that crap?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but it's real.”
“Get out... Keep peddling that fantasy, I'll hook you up with a publisher. Tell 'em there.”
“Big Brother, just listen to me. Please?”
Du-seong shot his brother a fierce glare and picked up the receiver. “Send in two guards.”
He couldn't be thrown out like this. Desperately, Beom-seong pulled out his sole evidence and witness.
“Wait! Just a sec. You know Seo Gwang-hun? Myeong-seon's right-hand man.”
“You think I don't know Director Seo?”
“Well... Seo Gwang-hun... he's in Pocheon right now.”
Snorting, Du-seong lit a cigarette and exhaled smoke. “You expect me to buy that? If Seo Gwang-hun got dragged to Pocheon Factory, Myeong-seon would've raised hell. We'd have heard the wailing by now.”
“Myeong-seon can't even open her mouth about it. You remember that mess with Gwak Hee-do last year?”
“Why drag up that unlucky bastard?”
“Myeong-seon invested in his bonds.”
Du-seong knew group internals well. Denying knowledge of her investment wouldn't fly even with himself.
“No way. If so, it'd have reached my ears ages ago.”
Thanks to tight control keeping it from leaking, even Du-seong was in the dark.
“I don't know the details, but Father must've taken some measures.”
“Tell me everything! Investment amount?”
“Big... 1.5 billion.”
Du-seong shot up from his seat in shock. “What? 150 million?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“That's nearly wiping out Credit Info's cash... You sure?”
“Yes. Seo Gwang-hun said so in his testimony.”
“Everything. Now.”
“I got suspicious of Min-ho frequenting headquarters, so I snooped and tailed him with one guy.”
This was no longer dismissible as a joke. Du-seong's expression grew more serious than usual.
“So that's why Myeong-seon hasn't called or shown up?”
“Secretariat staff were on the first floor and in the parking lot. She's definitely under control.”
“Go on.”
“When Min-ho arrived at headquarters, Butler Moon came out to greet him, and he talked with Father for two hours before leaving.”
Myeong-seon used to chatter nonstop in the office at every chance. Then suddenly, no visits or calls. Her silence had seemed odd but not major. If Beom-seong was telling the truth, things were definitely going south.
Du-seong tilted his head and asked once more. “If this is bullshit, you're done.”
“Big Brother, trust me. Have I ever joked or lied about stuff like this?”
“Wait... Need to verify first.” He grabbed the receiver and called Pocheon.
“President Ham, it's me. All good?”
“Of course. Factory's running smooth.”
“Heard some bad news. Need you to check something.”
“Anything.”
“Is Seo Gwang-hun really in Pocheon?”
After a pause, Ham replied heavily. “Yes. He is.”
“Why the hell didn't you report? Butler Moon tell you to shut up?”
“Sorry... I know nothing, and I can't say more.”
Beom-seong's story checked out.
Myeong-seon... Seo Gwang-hun... If that happened, she'd have at least called...
Until recently, Chairman Kang consulted Du-seong on major group matters. Lately, summons had dwindled, and even Butler Moon's calls decreased. Clear signs of exclusion from the core.
He had to meet the sole witness, Seo Gwang-hun. Setting down the receiver, Du-seong grabbed his car keys and headed to Pocheon.
Meanwhile, Beom-seong, thinking he'd perfectly erased traces by sending Manager Kim overseas, had made one fatal mistake. He'd forgotten his tail had one too.
And someone had followed that tail purely by chance: none other than Soseonjae President Gu Eun-chae.