Disposal
***
Gimpo Airport. Politics, bribery, lobbyists. Despite the all-out assault tying Min-ho to inescapable suspicions, he strolled out from the epicenter unscathed.
Knowing she had to cut off the tail, Myeong-seon urgently ordered her secretary Choi Mi-ok to leave the country. Clutching a thick envelope—whose contents might as well have been her life insurance—Choi headed straight to the airport. Her heart raced at the thought of the America trip she'd dreamed of.
With trembling hands, she handed over her passport.
"Ms. Choi Mi-ok, here's your ticket. Have a wonderful trip."
Just one gate away from boarding that dream flight to America. As she gripped her carry-on handle, a deep baritone voice rang out.
"Secretary Choi Mi-ok."
She turned to find Moon Sang-oh staring at her with razor-sharp eyes.
"America can wait. It seems we have some business to discuss..."
Unlike Myeong-seon, who thought no one knew, the secretary's office was already fully informed. Choi's legs gave out, and she collapsed on the spot.
After leaving the airport and getting into Moon's car, Choi clasped her hands together in desperate pleading.
"Vice Chairman, I don't know anything. I swear. Please believe me."
"If you want to live, you'd better spill every detail—who you met, what you did. If you ever want to see your college-student brother or your bus-driver father again..."
At the mention of her family, Choi broke down and confessed everything in detail. Tears of regret streamed down her face, but they did nothing to sway Moon's decision.
"I'm sorry. Truly sorry."
"How much did they pay you?"
"A plane ticket to America, two months' salary, and vacation time."
"You've been with the company a while, haven't you...?"
"Just over four years."
"Your severance should cover you."
Her frantically rubbing hands now useless, the desperate secretary dropped to her knees.
"I need to go back to the company."
"Your resignation's already processed. Best not to mention JK Group ever again."
"Vi... Vice Chairman."
"Get out of the country now. Don't come back until things quiet down."
Moon drove straight back to headquarters. After a quick stop in the bathroom to straighten his clothes, he headed to the chairman's office to report.
"I'm back."
[A search and seizure is underway at Committee Chairman Kim Cheol-yong's office regarding the recent scandal...]
[Athena CEO Kang Min-ho expressed his commitment to emerging as an even more trusted company through this incident.]
Kang Jin-gwang was watching the good news, but his mood was far from pleased. He scowled deeply, puffing on his pipe.
"We secured her testimony through Secretary Choi. Confirmed her departure—no loose ends."
"I suspected as much... But whose doing is this?"
"Lady Myeong-seon ordered Secretary Choi Mi-ok to meet a Myeongjin Ilbo reporter."
"Her last desperate flail... Myeong-seon couldn't orchestrate this alone; she's no mastermind."
The conclusion was obvious.
Moon cautiously offered his view.
"If the lady cuts off her tail, there's no evidence pointing higher."
"Du-seong's no fool. He's surely accounted for this. Cutting at Myeong-seon leaves only suspicion..."
"It would be wise to take action against President Kang Du-seong."
Unlike the worried Moon, Chairman Kang smiled leisurely.
"Why? Are you concerned?"
"If suspicions flare up again, it could impact the group's credit rating. We dodged this thanks to Young Master, but the future's unpredictable."
Expecting anger, Moon was surprised when the chairman chuckled heartily.
"Credit rating... Important, yes. But you've overlooked something."
"What do you mean?"
"In your eyes, whose stock has risen most? Du-seong's? Myeong-seon's? Or Min-ho's?"
The petty attempt to trip Min-ho had instead shone a brilliant spotlight on him. The media buzzed with hot interest in the young executive controlling trillions in assets across press and distribution.
"Young Master has shed these allegations cleanly, gaining both integrity and trust."
"If Du-seong denies it, any move from me would look emotional."
"Exactly. Circumstantial evidence is strong, but no hard proof."
"Min-ho's managed without his old grandpa's help so far. I trust he'll continue."
"And if it happens again?"
"Whether Du-seong grabs his ankle or his throat, Min-ho must navigate it. That's the price of this seat."
Myeong-seon needed punishment too. Moon asked carefully.
"What of the lady?"
"Put her under house arrest—no stepping foot outside."
"Understood. That leaves the president's seat vacant for a bit. There's a vice president, but..."
"Min-ho would be perfect... But the boy's swamped. Have him come to Seongbuk-dong soon; things to ask."
"Yes, sir."
The chairman, standing by the window, sat for work and picked up the receiver.
"I can't let anyone who touched my boy's face get away with it."
The line connected to Hanseong Enterprise Chairman Song Jeong-pil.
"Kang Jin-gwang here. Hope you've been well."
"Oh, Chairman Kang! What an honor for someone of your stature to call."
"I hear you're advertising with Myeongjin Ilbo."
"We did some business with them before; effectiveness has waned, but we continue. Why do you ask?"
"I'd like to ask you to pull your ads from Myeongjin Ilbo."
Not an easy snap decision. Song tilted his head.
"I get the intent, but we'd need time to find another paper."
"How about our Semin Newspaper? Front-page ads for a full month, and massive discounts if you cooperate."
A discount on ads from Korea's top-circulation daily, plus prime placement—irresistible.
"You mean that?"
"Does Kang Jin-gwang ever speak with a forked tongue? Starting tomorrow."
"Thank you. Must be satisfying these days—no need to eat, you're so full."
"Yes, the situation fills me up nicely."
"A brilliant grandson running a stellar company... And you've met the granddaughter-in-law. Must be the envy of all; my stomach aches."
Grinning at the praise for Min-ho, the chairman bantered back.
"Too kind. He's so sharp, he handles everything himself—peace of mind."
"Group thriving, genius grandson, beauty of a granddaughter-in-law... Time to treat us all big next time?"
"Will do. Thanks for the cooperation."
"Anytime. We owe JK plenty."
Money was Chairman Kang's preferred simple fix. Now, the final hammer to shutter Myeongjin Ilbo.
"Tell all SMEs advertising there starting tomorrow to pull out."
"Yes, sir."
"If uncooperative, cut their notes, choke their funds, threaten new subsidiaries in their industry. Cooperate, and they advertise with our Semin Newspaper."
"I'll call Solhan Paper and Wonnam Ink too."
A single transgression, but fatal. Myeongjin Ilbo, daring to target Min-ho, was as good as sentenced to death. Ads gone, even ink and paper cut off.
"Won't be long before they fold. Anyway..."
The chairman had another curiosity: Gu Eun-chae, known as Min-ho's lover.
He just couldn't fathom Min-ho's intentions.
"Min-ho holding Eun-chae dear... You'd have noticed, surely."
"They haven't talked much; I didn't catch on."
"True. As Song said, she's her mother's spitting image—a national treasure. Wonder if Min-ho's really smitten... Lunch at Soseonjae today."
"Pardon? Soseonjae?"
Smiling contentedly, he replied.
"Not some nosy old codger prying. Just want a casual look at my potential granddaughter-in-law. No worries."
"Understood. I'll prepare the car."
As the ready chairman reached the lobby, a man wailed desperately.
"Chairman! Spare me! I was wrong, Chairman!"
It was Myeongjin Ilbo President Park Cheol-ho. Ads vanished, paper and ink cut off—bankruptcy loomed.
Realizing his mistake too late, he knelt, forehead to the ground, screaming.
"Chairman! Mercy! I'm so sorry. I've committed a mortal sin."
Approaching, Chairman Kang stared him down.
"Bold to swing the sword, now begging for life?"
"Sor... I'm sorry. Truly."
"Mud on my face, I can take. But dust on my precious boy's? Unbearable."
"Pl... Please, spare me. No ads, we're dead."
The blade drawn to kill. Ignoring him, the chairman headed to the car.
"Get this trash out now. Salt the seat where he groveled. Let's go."
"Yes, Chairman."
***
Athena conference room. Financial Real-Name System D-1.
The political suspicions were cleanly shaken off. Now loomed the massive wave of the financial real-name system.
All preparations complete, but they double-checked every detail.
"Tomorrow, the financial real-name system goes live."
Government bureaucrats kept ironclad security. Executive Director Jo, sensing nothing, asked dubiously.
"Usually, a policy this big leaks like smoke. No intel at all?"
"That's how tight security is. This is blatantly a card to kill JK Group. Seoul mayor prep?"
"Can't even talk. A light touch, and dust pours off—toppling him's easy."
The Blue House played the financial real-name system card, wrapped in noble transparency. The contents were different.
President Kim needed chaebol cooperation for economic pledges—cooperation meaning theft. Unilateral corporate sacrifice. Total bosses wouldn't comply meekly. JK Group especially held the leash.
Despite the rhetoric, it was to tame JK and others. Snapping the leash? Perfect.
Min-ho, knowing the rollout date, dodged the storm—but time to remind them who held the leash.
Risky but lethal: topple the Seoul mayor.
"President Kim's approval will tank."
"Real-name spikes it, then personnel scandals... Back to square one or worse."
"Especially sensitive to appointments."
"Yes. Tomorrow's announcement—when?"
"Early morning, before banks open. We just watch the show."
Next day, as Min-ho predicted, President Kim Dong-il stood before cameras at 7:45 a.m. sharp.
The historic financial real-name system was underway.