Shadows of Stratagem: The Incriminating Photo
Athena was surging ahead with astonishing growth day by day—spanning media, distribution, real estate development, and even asset management. Kang Du-seong, his father, was increasingly gripped by a creeping unease. He knew full well that doing nothing would mean defeat.
He had to put the brakes on Min-ho's aggressive advances, but no clever plan came to mind. To make matters worse, Chairman Kang's orders to shift funds had thrown his own schemes into disarray. In his impatience, he might have made a rash choice, but Du-seong sat calmly and reassessed the situation.
The chance to swing the sword comes only once. Move too soon, and you'll lose your head...
As long as Chairman Kang lived, there would be just one shot at rebellion—he knew that. First, he needed to drag Min-ho out of hiding. If he could strike a blow at Athena in the process, it would be perfect. Opting for a despicable hands-off strategy, Du-seong drove straight to JK Credit Info, parked nearby, set the side brake, and made a call.
"President Kang Myeong-seon speaking."
"You sound like you haven't eaten. No strength in your voice at all."
"Oh? Big brother? What's up at this hour?"
"Come to the alley next to the pajeon place."
"Suddenly? Right now?"
"Should I wait until tomorrow then?"
"Fine. Coming down now."
Myeong-seon, stripped of her credibility, was like a rat in a trap. The 150 billion won she'd invested with bond king Gwak Hee-do was now mired in lawsuits. Even her shares had fallen into Min-ho's trap, all snatched away. If she contacted the press and slipped up even slightly, the rumors would spread like wildfire. To prevent that, Chairman Kang had dispatched secretary office staff to monitor her every move.
She grabbed her coat, opened the president's office door, and stepped out. A waiting secretary office staffer asked politely.
"I understand you have no schedule this afternoon. Where are you going?"
"Just to the supermarket up the street."
"Tell me what you need, and I'll get it for you."
"I'll go myself."
"I'm sorry, but you can't."
Placing her hands on her hips, she snapped with a face full of irritation.
"I know. I get it... Do we really have to discuss even this?"
"Is something wrong?"
"It's that time of the month, okay? I'm going for pads. Happy now?"
"Name the product, and we'll have a female staffer prepare it."
"I've been watched all day and just want some fresh air! I'm not committing a crime—can't I even pop over to the supermarket? Should I call Dad myself?"
"No, ma'am. Please go ahead. You have twenty minutes."
Putting on an Oscar-worthy performance to meet her brother, Myeong-seon hurried to the rendezvous. Du-seong, hidden in the alley shadows to evade any tails, beckoned quietly. She glanced around frantically before approaching. Convinced no one knew, she asked puzzled.
"Bro. Why meet like a wanted criminal?"
"If you'd handled things right, would I be crouching here at my age?"
"You knew...?"
"No time for ruminating like a cow. Answer my questions."
Oblivious to the gravity, Myeong-seon joked as usual.
"Just like that?"
"You think I'm here to play word games with you?"
"Okay, okay, quit griping and talk. I only have ten minutes."
"How much do you know about Min-ho?"
"Bits and pieces. Why?"
She still had no clue she'd been played by Min-ho's scheme. Du-seong sighed in frustration.
"That dead bond from Gwak Hee-do you invested 150 billion in. Know who set it up?"
"What? Seo Gwang-hun recommended it, and I decided."
"No wonder you don't know, dragging your feet like this... Bottom line: Min-ho orchestrated it. You got played."
"Don't talk nonsense. Sure, your son's smart—I get it. So he knew Gwak Hee-do would die?"
"Can't explain how he knew. But Min-ho did it, that's certain."
Glancing around, Du-seong lit a cigarette urgently and exhaled deeply as he continued.
"Then... right on cue, the share attack hit."
"Yeah, that too. Where'd you hear? Mun butler? Dad?"
"You had someone tail him sloppily?"
Only one person knew such specifics. Finally catching on, Myeong-seon stammered.
"No way... So Min-ho cut my legs out?"
"More like lopping off rotten roots."
Unbelievable, yet undeniable. Overwhelmed by fury upon learning the truth, she snatched the cigarette from his mouth with trembling hands and puffed hard.
"You know how I'm living? I had to make up excuses and act just to step out! Every day is prison!"
"Never should've eyed a tree you can't climb."
"Who told you? Only Seo Gwang-hun knew this much—did you go to Pocheon yourself?"
"One more problem."
"No way... Mun butler didn't handle it?"
"If dead, we'd have a body. He vanished into thin air."
To seal Seo Gwang-hun's lips forever, Min-ho had shipped him off to war-torn Congo in Africa. Even Du-seong couldn't trace him.
"He's useless now anyway. Secretary staff will chase me soon—get to the point."
Du-seong posed a loaded question.
"Wanna bet on me?"
"Stab Dad in the back now? You got the guts?"
"How do we beat Father now? We gotta nip Min-ho in the bud first."
"How? Got a good plan?"
Time was short for him too. He pulled a photo from his pocket.
"Isn't that Gu Eun-chae? No way she's with Min-ho like that?"
"Not the time for that."
"No, just asking—Eun-chae's like a little sister to me."
"Shut up and leak this to the press."
He knew provoking Father again would backfire spectacularly. She waved her hands vehemently, refusing.
"You want me dead? You know my situation? Leak this, and I'll lose even this chair."
"Can't you see Athena growing? Thirty large marts in Seoul alone. One slip, and we're done."
"Bro... I need to keep my head first..."
"If Min-ho becomes heir, we're just wedding crashers anyway. Your call—chance is now or never."
She knew Min-ho's rise well. Her brother's words rang true—this could be her last lifeline. Grab it or turn away? She chewed the cigarette butt with her front teeth, pondering deeply.
Shake Min-ho, brother rises—better than this, right? Even scraps are food. Let's go.
Nothing to lose. She knew her fate once Min-ho solidified power. Anxiety amplified her fears, morphing into reckless arrogance disguised as courage. Eyes fierce, she nodded.
"I'll do it."
"Don't cry and bail later."
"No time—talk fast. Min-ho and Eun-chae aren't celebs; one cozy photo won't do much."
Du-seong smirked slyly, revealing his true intent.
"Heard Yeouido's buzzing about large mart regulations?"
"Yeah. How to tie that in?"
"Judiciary Committee Chairman Kim Cheol-hyung. Bribery scandal's heating up—he's accused but clamming up."
The goal was just to raise suspicions and lure Min-ho out. Evidence? Smoke was enough. The picture emerged. Her lip curled upward.
"I see the story: Eun-chae, with political ties, funnels Min-ho's cash to block the bill via Kim?"
"Exactly. Now you're thinking like my sister."
"Evidence is just this one intimate photo. Too weak, no?"
"One line of suspicion is plenty. Press will fill the rest."
"Got it. You sketched it—I'll color it pretty."
Tucking the photo away, Myeong-seon returned to her office.
***
Athena's conference room. Just five days remained until the historic financial real-name system took effect. All transactions would soon go real-name, like in the 21st century. Min-ho had completed every preparation possible before implementation. His one-trillion-won bet would soon multiply several-fold.
Yet he stayed vigilant—because of Du-seong. The man disregarded all means to achieve his ends. Dirty tricks were inevitable. Having read Du-seong's moves, Min-ho was primed with precise counters.
After reports from President Yang Sang-pil and newly minted President Cheon Dong-gwan, Min-ho addressed the team.
"Financial real-name prep is more than covered. Today, I've got some shocking news."
To their puzzled faces, he said,
"A bombshell article or suspicion about me is about to drop."
The Times President Jo Dong-uk asked, baffled.
"What do you mean? Suspicion?"
"Exactly that. They'll stop at nothing to tarnish me and Athena."
"That's absurd."
"When has politics or business ever been logical? Emotions lead to mistakes. Set it aside."
"Understood."
He coldly reviewed Du-seong and Chief Secretary Jeong's traits and situation. Their cards were few. All within Min-ho's grasp. Composing his thoughts, he spoke.
"As you know, my private life is spotless. If you were Jo, how'd you attack?"
"Considering you and Athena, politics beats petty romance scandals—far more efficient."
"Recent troubled politicians?"
Flipping his notebook, Jo replied.
"Grand National Party's Nam Yun-cheol and Han Sang-bok top the list—real estate speculation and daughter hiring scandals. Ruling Party's Judiciary Committee Chairman Kim Cheol-hyung is noisy with bribery."
"Yeouido's grumbling about regulating our A-Marts. What's the best narrative?"
"If ignoring backlash and just stirring suspicion... they'd tie in Kim Cheol-hyung."
"Bribing one committee head beats wooing dozens to block the bill."
"No way..."
Min-ho nodded.
"Your job, Jo: pinpoint where Kim Cheol-hyung took bribes."
"I'll mobilize every contact."
Unlike the fired-up Jo, Min-ho smiled relaxedly.
"No need to go that far."
"Pardon? Don't hold back?"
"Lawmaker bribes usually happen in districts. Send two reporters there—plenty."
Only Min-ho, with his grasp of the ecosystem, could judge so. He was fully ready for Du-seong's assault and response.
At the same time, back in her office, Myeong-seon quietly summoned her secretaries, pulled the deeply hidden photo from her clothes, and issued secretive orders.