The Empty Envelope Gambit
Silence hung heavy in the main hall of Soseonjae, where two men were locked in a fierce battle of wits. Min-ho needed to secure Kang Beom-seong's appointment as Seoul Mayor right here, along with exclusive rights to the bottled water business. Secretary Cha, no longer able to let Min-ho steer the ship, aimed to bind him tight using the government's power. Min-ho held the leash. Cha had to snap it. Their intense psychological showdown began.
Min-ho fired the first shot.
"Last time you were a secretary. Now you're Chief Secretary. Congratulations, even if it's a bit late."
"Thank you, but that's not why I'm here to hear it from you, sir."
"I think that's plenty of small talk."
A massive table groaned under delicacies from land and sea, but Cha hadn't touched a thing as he replied.
"You might not remember, but that day, I was standing next to Candidate Kim Dong-il."
"You were wearing a dark red tie, and the suit you're in today is a similar shade."
"I'm honored you remember. Without that day, His Excellency would have retired from politics."
"Sounds like you're saying the right political funds arrived at the right places."
"I admit it. I can't deny the undeniable fact."
A bit frustrated by the circular rhetoric, Min-ho shot back immediately.
"You acknowledge the favor, but are you saying that's enough?"
"The only proposal from JK back then was no regulations. His Excellency has faithfully kept that promise."
"Are you asking how long you'll keep yanking that leash?"
"Even when other companies complain, we haven't laid a finger on JK Group."
He pushed aside the tempting braised short ribs, clearing space to pull out The Times and press on.
"Even so, I can't understand why you're launching such pointed attacks through The Times."
"Let me help you understand. Do you know the intent behind invoking emergency powers for the financial real-name system?"
"As you know, it's a system to ensure transparency in financial transactions, a national..."
It was the predictable canned response. Min-ho cut him off with a hollow laugh.
"No matter how you wrap it in a big ribbon of 'greater good,' the essence doesn't change."
"What do you mean?"
"When I was about ten, I went down to the countryside. Curious about loaches I'd only seen in textbooks, I set traps and poked around with a net all day."
Cha, clueless about the sudden anecdote, could only listen quietly.
"I didn't even notice my face burning black from the sun, but there it was—a loach in my trap, just like I'd dreamed."
Min-ho took a sip of water and continued.
"Not what I intended, but it came with a bunch of minnows too. I still remember how thrilled I was."
"Why bring up old stories all of a sudden...?"
"That's plenty of 'greater good,' approval ratings will soar no question, and snapping JK Group's leash would be icing on the cake for Hyoja-dong, right?"
"You think there's an intent to target JK Group?"
"That's the only way the circumstances add up."
Min-ho had pierced the government's true aim. After moistening his throat with water against the sharp retort, Cha responded.
"Let me be clear: there was never any such intent."
"No intent? That's too obvious a lie, isn't it? You had plenty of time to tip us off."
"I didn't foresee that far. If it's upset you, I ask your generous understanding."
"I can't read your true thoughts, but the fact is President Kim drew his sword."
Judging Min-ho's unyielding stance impossible to sway, Cha shifted strategy to a fallback.
"What would it take for me to resolve this Seoul Mayor mess?"
"You nabbed some corruption to boost ratings, and now your closest ally, the Seoul Mayor, is covered in shit."
"That's deeply regrettable too."
"Spilled water can't be gathered. Think about cleanup next."
Realizing Min-ho's angle, Cha couldn't hide his shock. Personnel appointments for Seoul Mayor were the president's sole prerogative. Even for JK Group, this was blatant overreach.
"Are you saying JK has a nominee?"
"You can check tomorrow's The Times."
"No guess who, but personnel is His Excellency's authority. Encroaching on it is out of the question."
"Would you say that after seeing these?"
Min-ho called out loudly toward the door.
"Attorney Choi, bring in the prepared materials."
***
Meanwhile, outside, President Gu Eun-chae and Attorney Choi were talking quietly.
"Has Min-ho always been like this?"
"What part are you curious about?"
"Sometimes his guts seem to hang out of his belly. I'm worried—why drag a government bigwig here to cook him up?"
"It might look risky to you, President Gu, but Young Master's plans have never failed once."
Eun-chae glanced at Choi and said,
"Wow, that's some serious trust."
"May I ask you something in return?"
"Sure. Anything I know."
With the most serious face imaginable, Choi asked,
"Are you two really lovers?"
"Why ask so solemnly when you know? Wondering if it's real or fake?"
"Yes. Feel free to skip if it's uncomfortable."
"If I had to say, we're right in the middle? On a scale... 5 out of 10? Yeah, for now."
As Choi opened his mouth to reply, Min-ho's order came down. Eun-chae's eyes widened.
"He says bring the prepared materials? You got something extra?"
The unscheduled meeting with Cha left no prepared docs. In that split second, Choi, reading Min-ho's intent, made a clever call.
"President Gu! Got a document envelope?"
"Of course. Why?"
"Stuff 15 sheets of paper in and bring it."
"What are you talking about? He said prepared materials."
"No time. Where are they? I'll get it."
"Wait. I'll grab it quick."
Eun-chae dashed to the office, returned with an envelope of blank paper. Handing it over in confusion, Choi gripped the empty envelope and opened the door.
"The documents you requested, sir."
"Thanks for the trouble."
What could he do with an empty envelope? Flashing a confident smile, Min-ho began.
"Straight to the point: the next Seoul Mayor nominee is JK Group's third son and securities president, President Kang Beom-seong."
Putting Beom-seong in the mayor's seat was tantamount to openly claiming monopoly on the perks.
"President Kang Beom-seong as mayor is impossible. Even if feasible, backlash would be fierce."
"We can steer public opinion where we want. Don't worry about that."
"To be precise, we can't accept this proposal."
"Seems like a misunderstanding—I never proposed anything."
Gripping the envelope, Min-ho ramped up the pressure. Like Joseph McCarthy in 1950, he waved the empty envelope and said,
"If you're planning for the future, shouldn't you make a wiser choice?"
No matter how savvy Cha was, he couldn't know the truth. He had no clue what card Min-ho held. Speaking to the silent, gulping Cha,
"Shaking with the same old stuff looks petty, so I prepared something fresh."
"What's inside?"
"Various scandals on President Kim Dong-il's inner circle. You're no exception, Secretary."
"How much do you know?"
"Faster to figure what I don't know, right?"
Cha had come to snap the leash, cards in hand. But it backfired spectacularly. Trying to remove a wart, he'd grown one instead. Wiping sweat from his brow, he cautiously spoke.
"On President Kang Beom-seong... I'll do my utmost to accommodate."
"Why not take gifts with both hands full?"
"More demands?"
"Financial real-name system hit JK Group and Athena once each. Fair play means I balance the numbers, right?"
The situation was hopeless; only sighs escaped. The blank pages filled with Cha's imagination. Blank to Min-ho, a bombshell to Cha. He knew the chaos if they leaked.
"Unless it's unreasonable, I'll accept."
"Grant Athena exclusive rights to the bottled water business."
"You're asking to lift the domestic sales ban on bottled water?"
"Yes. Promise that, and I'll burn the materials so no one sees."
Mix in a plausible excuse to dodge other companies' eyes—not too demanding. Cha had no choice anyway.
"I'd need to talk to the Minister of Health and Social Affairs, but it's doable on my end."
"Official announcement would trouble you. I trust you'll skip it."
"Understood. Then, the materials?"
He reached out, but no handover.
"Better these never see daylight."
Min-ho opened the door and gestured. Choi brought a basin full of water. Taking a lighter, Min-ho set the envelope ablaze. Black smoke rose; papers turned to ash floating in the basin.
"I kept my promise first. Await good news. Bill's on me."
"No need. Lots to do—I'll head out."
Letting out a long sigh, the troubled Cha boarded his car for Hyoja-dong.
Eun-chae, staring dazed at the basin, couldn't hold back her awe.
"You... just bluffed Secretary Cha with blank paper?"
"More like saved manpower and time."
"What if he opened it?"
"I'd make sure he didn't. That's why I burned it."
"I was shaking outside, but you're cool as ice. Guts or recklessness... Anyway, now I get why Grandpa dotes on you."
Min-ho eyed her curiously.
"But why keep saying 'Grandpa'? Shouldn't it be 'Chairman'?"
"Dense, or playing dumb?"
"Anyway, good work today. I'll call earlier next time."
To her, he had everything—but she saw the heavy burden on his shoulders.
Serious now, she said,
"You barely ate. Have something before you go. I'll prep quick."
"Nah, gotta see Grandpa. Next time."
Leaving the reluctant Eun-chae, Min-ho got in the car and asked Choi,
"No prep talk—how'd you catch on and grab the empty envelope?"
"You know it's empty, so no way you'd order that from me. Then it hit me: Joseph McCarthy's ploy."
"Spot on. Thanks—negotiation nailed."
"Glad. And Young Master..."
Hesitant, Choi finally spoke.
"I asked President Gu directly."
"Asked what?"
"Bottom line: 5 points."
"You play go-stop while waiting outside?"
"N-no... Nothing. Silent till we arrive."
Choi stifled a grin and drove to JK headquarters.