A Morning Jog and a Shadowy Proposition
Min-ho, finally catching a brief respite from the frantic collection duties in the lead-up to the showdown, rose at the crack of dawn. He threw on his workout clothes and stepped into the living room, eager for the exercise he'd been putting off.
To avoid waking the sleeping Choi Jong-hoon, Min-ho tiptoed toward the front door and eased it open. Right on cue, Choi—already dressed in his own workout gear—pulled open the door and emerged.
"Why are you up at this hour? Don't tell me..."
"I'm restarting my workouts to keep up with you, young master."
"You're probably exhausted. Sleep in—I'll go alone."
"No, sir. That trip up to the hillside slum last time gave me a lot to think about. I'll do my best to join you every day from now on."
His eyes sparkled with determination, but exhaustion clung to his face like grime. Min-ho proposed a gentle compromise to avoid overdoing it.
"Then let's just do five kilometers. We'll take it slow together."
"Understood. I'll give it my all."
"Keep it light. You can't go all out on a morning jog."
The jogging routine resumed after a long hiatus. It was a breeze for Min-ho, but to Choi, it looked like cruel punishment. The lawyer huffed and puffed, then slowed to a walk, finally collapsing onto the cold pavement and hanging his head.
"Y-Young... master... Go on... ahead... I'll..."
"No rush. Take deep breaths and rest a bit."
"Yes... Understood."
Min-ho handed over the water bottle he was carrying. Choi gulped it down like a man who'd gone days without a sip.
"Feeling better now?"
"Yes. I should be helping you, but here I am getting in the way."
"Nonsense. Having someone run with me is what lets me go farther."
After a quick drink to wet his throat, Min-ho casually dropped a loaded remark.
"You can safely say you're my father's man, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Makes sense. With your top marks from the training institute, it wouldn't have been easy to walk away unless there was some huge incentive."
"I actually turned down the president's offer at first."
"Father's not the type to give up that easily."
He paused, as if recalling the past, then nodded thoughtfully before replying.
"He came to see me himself—not once, but three times. We talked for three full hours, and that's when I decided I could work with him."
"Three visits and won over by emotion—yeah, you're definitely his man."
"Indeed. But young master, why do you ask all of a sudden?"
"I've got a proposal for you."
He'd wanted to move alone, but eyes were on him now more than ever. And if he didn't bring Choi on board, everything would reach Kang Du-seong's ears. Rather than stir up trouble, Min-ho decided to leverage the lawyer and expand his options.
"Just answer me honestly—one question."
"Of course. Ask away."
"Do you still see me as that reckless punk who causes trouble?"
"I did until recently."
"So, no more side-stepping—that means you see me differently now?"
With trust built up in Min-ho, Choi nodded without hesitation.
"Even when I joined Credit Info, I secretly wondered if it was just a temporary fix to dodge the president's scrutiny."
"Fair enough."
"But now, whatever you do, I trust you completely. That's my honest feeling."
Just as a pacemaker was essential for a marathon record, Min-ho's long journey needed someone like Choi Jong-hoon. Without a second thought, Min-ho made his pitch.
"Perfect. Want to work with me on something?"
"Another collection job? I can do that anytime."
"What happens if you gather dust motes one by one?"
"They become a mountain."
Min-ho shook his head firmly and pressed on.
"Dust motes won't make a mountain. That petty cash? I couldn't care less anymore."
"If collections are 'petty cash'... what kind of plan do you have?"
"Something I need to do without Father's knowledge. I need your help—and your silence as a bonus."
Choi lived with Min-ho, commuted to the same office, clocked out together. The constant proximity stemmed from none other than President Kang Du-seong's orders. Up to now, Choi had played the role of informal watchdog, tracking Min-ho's every move. To him, this proposal sounded like a betrayal of that trust.
"I can't do that. A promise to the president must be kept."
"Don't worry—I'm not asking you to betray Father. Just keep quiet about whatever happens over the next few days."
"That much is easy."
"Then we're agreed."
"Understood. Will this be another one where you don't explain a thing?"
"No, this time it's different. I'm laying it all out upfront."
"Where do I start?"
Min-ho grinned wider than ever.
"Take me to Pocheon."
The word—one known only to the royal family and a handful of core aides, not to be uttered lightly—slipped from Min-ho's lips. Choi was so stunned he dropped the water bottle in his hand.
"H-How do you know about... that?"
"I'll explain on the way. There's someone there I absolutely have to meet. Let's eat and head out right after."
***
Seongbuk-dong, Chairman Kang's residence.
Chairman Kang finished his early breakfast. Normally, he'd be off for a stroll by now, but today he stood by the window, staring silently at the distant mountains, hands clasped behind his back.
Moon Sang-oh noted the grim set of his lips and approached cautiously.
"Chairman, it's time for your walk."
"Too many thoughts today—pass. No call from Tokyo yet?"
"No, Chairman. Nothing."
Wealth beyond most men's wildest dreams, perched at the pinnacle of power—yet Chairman Kang's fighting spirit burned as fiercely as ever. Around other conglomerates' leaders, sycophants swarmed, feeding them sweet nothings to milk the cash cow longer. Unwilling to face the world's changes, their minds ossified, their once-sharp wits dulled and faded. The pattern was always the same: like a scripted tragedy, they lost everything they'd toiled to build.
Gazing at the mountains, Chairman Kang reflected once more on those cautionary tales. To stay open-minded, he whipped himself relentlessly, listening to all voices—even the bitter ones. That's why he kept Moon Sang-oh close at hand.
Puffing on his pipe, he sank deeper into thought.
'If he prepared all that just to say those words, there must be a reason. Slim chance, but what if Min-ho's predictions come true...'
At that moment, the phone rang, filling the living room. With a nod, Moon Sang-oh picked up.
"Seongbuk-dong."
"No Jun-hwan from Tokyo. I have something urgent to report to the chairman."
"One moment, please."
Moon covered the mouthpiece lightly and reported.
"Chairman, President No Jun-hwan from Tokyo."
Chairman Kang nodded and took the receiver slowly.
"Yes, President No."
"How have you been, Chairman?"
"Skip the pleasantries—get to the point."
"Yes, sir. I've made contact with Sakai Hiroki—son-in-law to Minister Hashimoto and a Liberal Democratic Party member."
For any contingency, Chairman Kang had ties to Japan's business world. Verifying Min-ho's words hadn't taken long.
"What did he say?"
"Verbal intervention by the Bank of Japan, land surveillance system in the works. Even after two rate hikes, the effects are negligible—they're in real trouble."
"As expected. If the medicine fails, another rate hike is political suicide—no need to spell it out. Did he mention their other cards?"
"Yes. Nothing set in stone, but they're considering a blanket ban on new real estate loans."
A chill ran through Chairman Kang's body. It was the very card Min-ho had warned about—and Japan was toying with it. He'd scraped that intel together with money and connections, but Min-ho had seen it coming ages ago. Unbelievable.
Chairman Kang double-checked.
"Everything you just said is rock-solid fact?"
"Yes, Chairman. The loan ban consideration is the core of this report."
A full month remained until the next rate hike announcement. If the Finance Minister played that card, asset prices would crater.
He handed the receiver back to Moon momentarily and moved to the window, pipe in mouth, lost in contemplation. He sensed the moment of decision had arrived.
Even for Chairman Kang, committing over 300 billion won wasn't simple. Was he missing something? Swayed too much by Min-ho's advice? He pondered deeply. If it was needless panic, he'd forfeit massive gains. But assuming Min-ho was right...
Real estate and land prices had peaked. If it was a bubble, those levels might never return. He couldn't hide in the shadows playing money games forever. For Chairman Kang, eager to venture out, 300 billion was enough to snap up Korea's top firms and have change left. The investor's crossroads had come—and with it, the chairman's dilemma. No one's counsel would do. He alone must decide and face the outcome.
His heavy silence matched heavy sighs. The living room filled with pipe smoke.
Two rate hikes had screamed warning, but the party's music drowned it out. If he backed Min-ho's call, he had about a month left—plenty to liquidate assets. An instant to most, but an eternity to him.
Decision made, he nodded and reached for Moon Sang-oh, who handed over the receiver deferentially.
"President No."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Listen carefully from now on and execute immediately."
"Yes, sir."
"Sell every last bit—land, buildings, stocks, golf memberships. Leave nothing."
"Pardon? Everything?"
"Need me to repeat?"
"My apologies. Loud and clear."
He glanced up, and Moon swiftly fetched the calendar, placing it gently on the table.
"I'll give you a fortnight. Keep mouths shut and clean it up spotless."
"Forgive me, but that's tight. These deals usually take at least three months."
"I sent you lot as my hands and feet. If you can't, things could get very awkward, you know that?"
"I won't disappoint. My all."
Chairman Kang added a gravelly warning in his signature rough tone.
"President No, don't you want to see your family back in Korea?"
"Of course, Chairman."
"Don't just try—deliver results. Drop prices several notches, no hesitation."
"Understood."
"Direction and speed matter most. Don't forget."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Once it's all sold, return to Korea."
With orders given, Chairman Kang rose, exhaling a long sigh from the tough call.
Moon Sang-oh saw it differently, suspecting the judgment premature. He probed carefully, minding his superior's mood.
"Chairman, if I may—dumping all Tokyo real estate and land at once feels a bit excessive."
"True, I've never made a call like this."
"Why not take more time? Real estate, after all..."
"Decision's made! Backing out means wavering resolve—won't happen in my life, now or ever."
"Yes, Chairman. Noted."
Unlike the sharp Min-ho, President No struck him as wishy-washy, watered-down grog. Glaring at the phone, Chairman Kang growled.
"Not one I like. Zero backbone."
His face boiled with pre-explosion fury. More orders followed.
"Sang-oh."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Min-ho's never set foot in Japan, let alone Busan, yet he grabbed my attention and spilled this with every effort. You know that?"
"Yes, Chairman."
"Meanwhile, dozens of rice-eaters doing grunt work bowed and bribed Japs for this one scrap."
It was fact. Min-ho had crafted a precise strategy to reach him. Yet Tokyo branch head No groveled and greased palms for the same info. The contrast was glaring. The more he chewed on it, the hotter his rage burned. At last, he played his final card.
"When No and the rest return, send them all to Pocheon."
"Pardon? Everyone?"
"What's unclear?"
"Nothing, sir. Consider it done."
All commands issued, Chairman Kang stood and muttered to himself.
"Just past his tender years, and his insight's already impressive."
Satisfied, he smiled and headed out for his walk.
At that moment, Min-ho was en route to Pocheon with Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon.