Reeling in the Namdo Strategist
Choi Jong-hoon, the lawyer who had just finished his first meeting with Chairman Kang Jin-gwang, emerged looking far more rigid than usual. Though he gripped the steering wheel, tension still gripped him tightly.
Kang Min-ho, seated in the back, let a sly smile creep across his face. "You still look like the tension hasn't worn off."
"I put on a calm front, but inside, I was shaking. And with the bag you gave me... I couldn't stop wondering if I even deserved it."
"If you'd refused, you wouldn't be sitting next to me right now."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"A real man's man like you would've balked at a measly 100 million won and walked away trembling."
"What a relief."
Choi let out a sigh of relief and refocused on driving. "Where to, young master?"
"Banpo Bridge first."
"You're really planning to meet Yang Sang-pil?"
"He's too valuable to just discard. I'm giving him one shot."
"Understood. Here's his direct line."
Min-ho picked up the car phone and dialed Yang.
Meanwhile, the secretary's office at Namdo Group was pure pandemonium. Min-ho had exposed the Namdo Chemicals phenol spill to the world, and Chairman Han Du-hak, the man at the helm, had been arrested. It was red meat for the press. Reporters hounding the truth rang nonstop.
Even a veteran like Yang Sang-pil had no sharp countermeasures. He just sweated bullets, scrambling to contain the damage.
"Call Minkook Ilbo and beg them to hold that article for a day."
"Sir, I tried earlier—they hung up without a word."
"Keep calling till they pick up! No, forget it—I'll do it!"
"Yes, sir."
The unexpected arrest of the owner had laid bare Namdo Group's sloppy operations. Executives, always kowtowing to Han, now scrambled to save their own skins. To make matters worse, the vice chairman—his eldest son—hadn't even grasped the crisis's urgency. Yang Sang-pil was the only one who could turn this around. Sitting idle meant getting swept away by the tsunami. Desperate to quash the scandal, he snatched the receiver and dialed Myeonggwang Ilbo's desk directly.
"Hey, Manager Park—can you push this article back a few days?"
"Secretary Yang, I've told you a dozen times: that's not in my power."
"You know our situation—block it, and I'll visit you personally next week."
"Come on, sir, this isn't your first rodeo. You know money won't fix this."
"Just think it over one more time?"
"Deadline's looming. I'll call later."
"Park! Park!"
Even as Yang swallowed his pride, a mere reporter shot him down cold. Proof positive that Namdo was crumbling. No turning back now—the crisis snowballed. In frustration, Yang slammed the receiver down, lit a cigarette with ragged breaths.
One name burned in his mind. 'If only Yeonggwang Ilbo hadn't dropped that bomb... It has to be Athena's doing...'
Helpless rage clenched his fists, but he was powerless. Then the phone rang. He snatched it up.
"Yang Sang-pil, Namdo secretary."
"I'm calling with urgent news."
Yang racked his brain, sifting through faces and voices—but this was new.
"Who is this, and where are you from?"
"I'll just say we're not strangers."
"Reveal yourself, or I'm hanging up."
As Yang moved to disconnect, the caller dropped a bombshell. "Do you know you're about to be the sacrificial lamb?"
Yang wasn't some pushover who'd clawed his way to secretary. He grasped the implication instantly. Still loyal to Han Du-hak, he neither confirmed nor denied.
"I don't know who you are, but I've got no time for cheap jokes. State your business."
"Chairman Han's throwing you under the bus as his scapegoat. Do you know? Or are you pretending not to?"
Like any corporate secretary, Yang had been Han's dog—bark on command, bite till the end. He knew he'd be discarded someday, but not like this, not over something so trivial. Brushing it off, he pressed on.
"Whatever your angle, this call ends now."
"Figure it out and meet at Banpo Bridge by 2 p.m. One minute late, and you won't see me."
The line went dead. Yang's mind reeled. Few knew his direct line—prank unlikely. If true, he'd take all the blame and rot in prison. Worst case, but he couldn't dismiss it outright. He had a trusted contact in Seocho-dong. Without hesitation, he called, nodded silently a few times, grabbed his keys, and bolted.
***
Min-ho hung up and glanced out—they were already at Banpo Bridge. Choi checked his watch, voicing concern. "Young master, Yang Sang-pil's loyalty is legendary. You think a man like that will abandon everything?"
"Logically, you're right. But Han Du-hak's no ordinary man. He'll do anything to save his skin."
"And if he doesn't show...?"
Min-ho, gazing out the window, smiled faintly. "He will. Look—he's here."
Disheveled hair unlike his usual polish, shirt rumpled and ignored, Yang scanned frantically.
"Wait here. I'll talk to him."
Min-ho donned sunglasses and stepped out. Yang's sharp eyes spotted him instantly, nodding cautiously as he approached.
"Yang Sang-pil, secretary."
"No time for pleasantries. You know why you're here."
"Yes."
"How much do you know?"
From Yang's view, Min-ho was untrustworthy. He stayed guarded, not spilling first. Reading him, Min-ho smiled leisurely. "How's it feel? Betrayed by the one you trusted? Or endless rage?"
"How much do you know?"
"Han's pinning everything on you. You know the outcome."
Harsh truth, but undeniable. Yang pulled cigarettes from his pocket, offered one. Min-ho shook his head; Yang lit up alone, exhaling a long plume—sigh or smoke?—before speaking heavily.
"You're right. I'll go to prison in his place."
"You're accepting that?"
"I've done plenty I'm not proud of to get here. Call it karma—not so unjust."
"Serve your time, and everything you've built vanishes. Maybe more. Still fine with that?"
Yang had braced for investigation, even jail. But Han framing him completely? Unthinkable. Deep down, betrayal and fury boiled, though his face stayed stone. Min-ho prodded the raw nerve.
"Sitting pretty waiting to die won't earn your revered chairman's gratitude. No one reaches your position without knowing that."
"Get to the point."
"Namdo Group's getting dismantled."
"What? Even arrested, the group can't just dissolve."
"Construction, securities, distribution, chemicals—all carved up. What's left?"
"Someone's using this to snatch affiliates' control?"
Min-ho nodded with a sly smile. "First and last lifeline. Your call."
With the boss gone and defenses weak, a hostile M&A would crush them. Even if Yang took the fall, nothing left. His mind churned. If this was a calculated play, Namdo would barely limp on—he knew it. Events tilted one way; denial futile. Grab Min-ho's hand to survive, or drown in filth and jail. Choice time.
"A moment to think?"
"Anything but tomorrow."
Yang paced, chain-smoking, emotions aside, assessing coldly. Assuming truth, grabbing the rope was best. One check: who was swallowing Namdo? Decision made, he stubbed the last cig and approached.
"I've weighed it all."
"Your conclusion?"
"I must know who's absorbing Namdo."
"Tell me, and you'll decide? That it?"
"Yes."
Snag Namdo cheap, poach the brain trust—perfect for Min-ho. He removed his sunglasses without pause.
"Look in my eyes. You'll see who."
Yang stared long, voice trembling. "Kang... Du-seong... President... Chairman Kang Jin-gwang... JK?"
"Think headless Namdo beats JK? Prosecutors? No worry—grab my hand, it's handled."
If not JK, Yang would've walked. But JK? Unbeatable, no matter the fight. Cold sweat trickled down his spine. He hadn't even pegged Min-ho's identity, yet Min-ho held total high ground pre-battle. Defeat conceded.
Min-ho extended his right hand firmly. No more time. Refuse, and prison beckoned—everything lost. Min-ho's masterstroke forced it. Yang had only one move: grasp it. No fight left. Even resisting, no win, no way. Min-ho loomed like a mountain. No luxury of doubt. Yang took the hand.
"Wise choice."
"What do I do?"
"Bring Namdo's dirt—all of it. The Times will blast it."
"Tank the stock?"
"Sharp as ever. Lower buyout means higher price on your head. You and family? Safe."
"Got it."
Min-ho handed him a prepared pager. "Contact via this for now. Betray me, and jail's the least of it. Remember."
"I'll give my all."
Han locked in Seocho-dong, strategist secured perfectly. All per Min-ho's plan. Peel the final layer, and JK takes a giant stride. Parting with Yang, Min-ho boarded leisurely, heading to Yeouido.