Counterattack
Min-ho's plan was simple. Block his father's strategy in advance while turning Beom-seong into the Seoul Mayor to exploit for the group.
The nephew who showed up out of nowhere spouted the absurd idea that he should become Seoul Mayor. And it wasn't even a suggestion—it was more like a one-sided command.
Knowing Min-ho's brilliance, Beom-seong couldn't help but feel his heart race. He had no idea what he was thinking or what plan he had in mind.
After rolling his eyes around for a long while, Beom-seong swallowed hard and calmly asked back.
"What the hell is this nonsense you're spouting out of the blue? Your uncle has no clue what you're talking about. Spell it out simply."
"Exactly what I said. Uncle, you're going to be the Seoul Mayor next month."
His tone was so certain that Beom-seong was left dumbfounded.
"Me, the Seoul Mayor? Who said that? Did Grandpa mention something? Or since you own a newspaper, did you pick up some rumor?"
"Nothing like that."
There was no reason given—just the conclusion dropped out of nowhere. With a frustrated sigh, he pressed on.
"So what I'm saying is... what makes you think I'm going to be the Seoul Mayor? You must've sniffed something out to come here like this. Right?"
Beom-seong had no real choice anyway.
"Father was just here a little while ago, wasn't he?"
"Huh? How'd you know that? Ah! He called you!"
"You know things are bad between Father and me, and you're still playing dumb? Do I have to spell it out myself?"
"I have no idea what you're getting at. Your uncle's busy, so just cut to the chase."
Glancing at his watch, Min-ho ramped up the pressure with his question.
"Are you going to accept Father's proposal, Uncle?"
Feeling like Min-ho knew everything, Beom-seong tried to brush it off by half-rising from his chair.
"No clue what you're talking about. Anyway, Uncle's busy—let's talk later."
"Father's plotting to stab Grandpa in the back using foreign capital. And of course, you'd be the middleman."
He had already perfectly anticipated Du-seong's next move.
At the unimaginable words, Beom-seong jolted in shock. In his awkward half-standing position, he turned his head, staring blankly as he spoke.
"How... how do you know about that?"
"It's not like we're new to this game—it's obvious. If you accept Father's offer, I'll make you just like Aunt Myeong-seon."
Min-ho never made empty threats.
Startled by the polite yet menacing warning, he shot back.
"H-house... house arrest?"
"I'll turn not just this hard-earned position to dust, but everything you've built up over the years."
To climb to affiliate president, he'd followed Father's orders without question for over a decade. Losing it would be the worst-case scenario for Beom-seong.
"You couldn't flat-out refuse the proposal, Uncle. You must've given him some vague answer about needing time."
The smirk faded abruptly. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his back.
"No... Min-ho... how do you know that?"
In his shock, Beom-seong let the truth slip. He hurriedly clamped a hand over his mouth, but words once spoken couldn't be taken back.
"Father's plan sounds plausible, but it's got zero chance of working. You think Grandpa doesn't know about the share acquisition? I already know, and now you've admitted it too."
Beom-seong needed an excuse to reject Du-seong's offer anyway. He wasn't that dense—he could read the room. To survive, he pivoted sharply.
"So... what do I have to do?"
"Just one thing. Accept my proposal."
"Become... Seoul Mayor?"
"Yes. Just do as I say. Nothing too hard."
"Come on, even if you say that—personnel appointments are the president's call. What can you do about it?"
"I'll handle that. For now, avoid unnecessary meetings, no late-night drinking, and head straight home."
The moment Min-ho whispered to Chairman Kang, all plans would crumble. To survive, he had to follow orders silently.
"Got it... And then?"
"Keep doing what you've always done. Follow Grandpa's orders faithfully. That way, you won't end up like Aunt Myeong-seon, at least."
"That's all?"
"Articles will drop soon. Lawyer Choi here will advise on the details. Not hard, right?"
"Did you talk to Grandpa about this?"
"Everything up to that and beyond. Now, JK Group's future rests in your hands, Uncle."
Beom-seong pressed his index finger to his lips and nodded.
***
JK Group Chairman's Office.
Nothing held Chairman Kang back anymore. He was rapidly expanding the group by adding affiliates left and right.
That meant plenty on his plate too. As he wrestled with a mountain of reports, Butler Moon quietly opened the door and entered.
Without looking up from the reports, he said, "I wonder if I'm being too greedy in my old age. Shouldn't take it easy at this point, but the work just keeps piling up."
"I've brought some ssanghwatang."
"Only you and Min-ho truly understand me..."
After sipping the steaming tea, he moved to light his pipe.
"You know I'm swamped, so coming in means it's something important... What's going on?"
"Three hours ago, Vice Chairman Kang Du-seong visited JK Securities."
His hair was more white than black now, but his eyes still gleamed sharply.
"With his limbs cut off, now he'll borrow Beom-seong's hands?"
"Not confirmed yet, but we suspect a plan to pull in foreign funds. We'll take preemptive measures to prevent any issues."
Exhaling a puff of hazy smoke, Chairman Kang chuckled heartily, as if amused.
"You still need to report it fully, no? Min-ho won't just sit idle..."
"Indeed. Young Master visited JK Securities an hour ago as well."
Nodding as if he'd expected it, he replied, "He'll dismantle his father's scheme, pressure Hyo-ja-dong, and make use of Beom-seong... Low odds, but if it happens, I couldn't ask for more."
"What about Vice Chairman Kang Du-seong?"
"Let that bastard handle it himself—roast or boil. No need for me to meddle."
"Understood."
Gazing out the window, Chairman Kang casually asked, "Any guess what Min-ho's thinking?"
"At present, as you said..."
"I'm asking your take on how Min-ho will deal with Du-seong."
"Vice Chairman Kang Du-seong fired the first shot, but no real battle has erupted yet. His next move is unpredictable for now."
Just thinking of his satisfying grandson made his lips curl up.
"Exactly. No fox like that fox. He's methodically severing his father's limbs and slowly starving him out."
"Grabbing their ankle and pushing one step further?"
"Right. With this ploy exposed, Du-seong's got nothing left."
"What choice do you expect from President Kang Beom-seong?"
Chairman Kang saw the whole board as clearly as Min-ho.
"Beom-seong's vessel is as small as Myeong-seon's soy sauce dish—he'd tuck tail the instant Min-ho bared his teeth."
"So he accepted the Seoul Mayor position?"
"Narrowed his options and squeezed. No need to see it—it's obvious. Anyway, now it's just about pressuring Hyo-ja-dong appropriately..."
"What card do you think he'll play?"
"Who knows... Even my own flesh and blood—can't read his mind. We'll see by watching quietly. No need to reach out first; just wait."
"Understood."
***
The Blue House. The ripple effects of the financial real-name system were enormous.
Most reacted positively, seeing it as a crackdown on corruption.
The fallout was massive. President Kim Dong-il's approval ratings soared, even topping sports stars in popularity polls.
With a rare bright smile, Chief of Staff Cha Jeong-su reported.
"Your Excellency, you've taken first place in the college student poll. Congratulations."
"You've all worked hard. Make sure to pass on my thanks to the ministries, and let's have a lunch with the ministers tomorrow."
"Yes, sir. I'll prepare it."
If things stayed this way, he'd not only fulfill his pledges but go down in history as a great president.
"How's the stock market?"
"Big drop last week, but foreigners are returning, so a slight uptick."
"No harm to the public, black money wiped out... By now, Chairman Kang must be sweating bullets. Right?"
Cha hesitated briefly before replying.
"One correction to yesterday's report on the top ten firms regarding the real-name system."
"Correction? More slush funds uncovered?"
"Apologies, sir—the opposite. We believe JK Group slipped through completely unscathed."
They'd gone all-in on security, even isolating high officials in a camp. No leaks possible.
Stunned by the unbelievable report, President Kim pressed.
"Slipped through? Impossible without prior knowledge."
"That's what puzzles me too."
"Security status?"
"Trash cans sealed, no outside contact—not even windows opened. Info to JK is realistically impossible."
It was a bold policy to leash them. But the snake they'd targeted slithered away like an eel.
"Check again. Post-implementation fund movements?"
"Sorry, sir. Not a single won moved."
"Chief Cha, you'd stake your neck on it?"
"Yes, sir. I'll compile the details and report within the hour."
"And Athena, run by Chairman Kang's grandson?"
"Same story. Spotless."
JK Group, where they'd expected the most dirt. But shaking it out yielded not a speck.
"A winged viper slipped away..."
As he pondered out the window, secretaries burst in hurriedly. Cha warned in a low voice.
"His Excellency is here—what's this?"
The aide, face full of dismay, handed over a newspaper.
"The Times evening edition. You need to see the article."
He took it. The shocking headline left him frozen.
President Kim Dong-il murmured softly.
"Chief Cha, what's going on?"
After a long hesitation, Cha spoke gravely.
"Your Excellency... looks like Athena's gearing up for a counterstrike."
He handed over the paper carefully. President Kim couldn't believe his eyes.
"What the hell have you been doing without muzzling the press?"
"My apologies. I'll handle damage control immediately."
Min-ho's sharp blade was aimed squarely at President Kim's throat.
The Times front page was plastered with corruption scandals on the current Seoul Mayor.
[Is President Kim Dong-il's Personnel Appointments Okay Like This?]
[Seoul Mayor Im Tae-hyuk Smuggling Suspicions Spread Far and Wide]
[Mayor Im's Wife: Korea's Imelda Marcos]
Min-ho's counterattack on the Blue House had begun in earnest.