The Weight of Balance
Kang Chairman, having completed his discharge procedures, emerged at the main gate of Korea University Hospital. Reporters, clustered together to capture the image of the man who had become the talk of the town, rushed forward like a pack of hounds, bombarding him with questions.
"Chairman, how is your health?"
"Are you being discharged today?"
"You've received so much support from everyone—could you share a word of your thoughts?"
Chairman Kang responded calmly with a generous smile. "The doctors have given me the all-clear with no major health concerns, so I'm being discharged. I offer my heartfelt thanks to all those who worried about me."
After a brief interview, inside the car heading to the restaurant, Min-ho spoke with a face full of concern. "I didn't want you to do the interview, Grandfather, in case it tired you out."
"Kang Jin-gwang has to show everyone he's perfectly fine like this. Only then will they all rest easy, and only then will the group run smoothly, my boy."
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Thanks to you, I got a good day's rest. By the way, our Min-ho must be hungry, eh, Sang-oh? Let's head straight to the restaurant."
"Understood, Chairman."
The first place discharged Chairman Kang visited wasn't his office or Seongbuk-dong—it was a nearby restaurant. As he opened the door and stepped in, not only the staff but every diner in the place lifted their heads to stare at him. It was only natural they'd be shocked to see the very man from the news right in front of them.
"No way... is that... Chairman Kang Jin-gwang?"
"Whoa, it is! That's him!"
"Should I ask for an autograph?"
He could feel the gazes directed at Chairman Kang shift dramatically. After a moment's hesitation, one man pulled a notepad from his bag and approached. "Um... Chairman, if it's not too much trouble, could I get your autograph?"
"What's the use in getting an autograph from this old man?"
"No way, you're so famous! I was really moved watching you on the news. Saving lives and forgiving so generously—you're incredible."
"Aigoo, thank you for seeing me in such a good light."
The man, who received the autograph on his notepad, grinned as if he'd just met his dream celebrity. "I'll treasure this forever."
"You're too kind. I'm the one who's grateful for such a warm welcome."
The dozen or so people watched Chairman Kang with eyes full of admiration and burst into applause.
"You're so cool."
"Chairman, you're the best!"
"I use a JK Telecom pager!"
Chairman Kang bowed his head in thanks, glanced around subtly, and then spoke. "I'm deeply honored by your warm reception. If it wouldn't be an imposition, I'd like to treat everyone here to a meal—what do you say?"
"Whoa, that's the chairman for you!"
"Really? Thank you, we'll dig in!"
"Thank you, Chairman!"
Word that Chairman Kang had arrived spread, and a man who appeared to be the restaurant owner hurried over. "It's an honor to meet you like this. Please, let me show you to a private room inside."
"I'll cover the bill for everyone here, so let them know."
"Yes, Chairman."
The group moved to their seats. Soon, the ordered dishes arrived, filling the table. A staff member bowed deeply and said, "It's an honor to serve you. Please let us know if there's anything lacking."
"Thank you for your care."
Chairman Kang wasn't the type to leave empty-handed. "Hold on... how many staff do you have here?"
"Pardon? Including the kitchen, there are twelve."
He pulled a few checks from his wallet and handed them over. "Have a company dinner."
"No, no. Just meeting you is honor enough. Really, Chairman."
"Don't make me feel embarrassed—take it."
"Thank you, Chairman."
He could sense the stark difference in the people's gazes and attitudes toward Chairman Kang. It was all thanks to Min-ho's flawless handling. Chairman Kang looked at his grandson with eyes full of affection, placing the main dish in front of him. "A true leader of men must fill his belly hearty before tackling big tasks."
"You eat it, Grandfather. I'm fine."
"This old man is full just watching you eat."
"How was the hospital food? No matter how good it is, it never suits your taste, right?"
"So bland I couldn't taste a thing. Eating like this is finally bringing my appetite back."
The meal began. Chairman Kang subtly brought up the earlier incident with Du-seong. "Don't hate your father too much, boy. Everything he does is for your own good, even if it's harsh."
"That's all in the past now. I'm not dwelling on it."
"I've told him time and again not to raise that wicked hand when he gets heated, but age hasn't taught him a lesson."
"I'm really fine. Don't worry about it—eat up. They have your favorite grilled deodeok here too, Grandfather."
Chairman Kang was deeply curious about what lay within Min-ho. He placed a piece of meat on the side dish plate and casually asked, "I thought you'd burn the whole house down in a blaze, but you resolved it without a hitch."
Chairman Kang tossed out a pointed question. Min-ho wasn't one to miss the implication. "Now that the fire's out, it's time to catch the arsonist."
Even a single word, and Min-ho grasped the intent swiftly. Chairman Kang gazed at his grandson steadily and asked, "I'm curious if you have some clever scheme this time too."
"Of course. He dirtied your face, Grandfather—does he think he'll get away with just offering his neck?"
"That's only fair trade. Are you saying you'll cut them down at the root?"
"Show half-hearted mercy, and they'll come at us with blades again someday. I'll make sure they never pick up a pen again."
There was no reason for Chairman Kang to ask such a question outright. If he'd been truly enraged, he'd have torn the three major dailies to shreds without regard for cost or means. Yet he'd brought it up deliberately—the intent was crystal clear. Sensing it, Min-ho laid out his thoughts. "But there's one thing I need in return. Give me that, and I can catch the arsonist."
Chairman Kang had already decided to hand Min-ho the hilt of the sword. Min-ho, too, wanted to use his grandfather's power to uproot the three major papers entirely. The scales of their balance tipped not a fraction off-center. Chairman Kang, inwardly curious how Min-ho would handle it, asked, "So, what does this old man need to do?"
Nodding, Min-ho chose his words with precision. "All the authority you hold, Grandfather. Let me borrow it for a while."
To Moon the butler, who knew Chairman Kang's intentions, this was no surprise. To Lawyer Choi, however, it was shocking. His eyes widened as he stared at Min-ho. He had no inkling of Min-ho's plan. Handing over the chairman's authority was like charging full speed into fog. No matter how he thought about it, it was unprecedented. Shocking as it was, Chairman Kang didn't flinch. Like grandfather, like grandson. He nodded without hesitation. "Take as much as you need, as much as you want. For now, your words carry the same weight as mine."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
He set down his chopsticks and spoke directly to Min-ho. "But if you don't uproot them, there won't be a second chance like this. Remember that."
"Yes, Grandfather. I understand."
***
Meanwhile, Myeong-seon and Du-seong, having moved to another spot, were deep in serious conversation. Myeong-seon scolded her brother with a face full of dissatisfaction. "Min-ho's how old, and you're still laying hands on him?"
"You know I hate it most when that punk glares at me all defiant."
"That's why he went astray. He's better now, though."
"Water's already spilled on the floor. No use crying over it now."
"Your temper is something else, brother."
Du-seong lit a cigarette and asked casually, "How's Min-ho doing at work? Choi says nothing out of the ordinary."
"Nothing much... yeah, nothing out of the ordinary."
Myeong-seon gave a vague, rounded-off answer instead of specifics. Sensing something amiss, Du-seong pressed. "Your answer's half-hearted. You know something, don't you? Spit it out straight."
After a pause, Myeong-seon replied. "No, it's not a big deal. He started showing up sporadically, then suddenly called asking for a transfer out."
"What? He hasn't been going to work lately?"
"Yeah, it's been a while."
"That doesn't match what Jong-hoon said. He said if Min-ho skips work, he heads straight to the site?"
"Seems like he's up to something, but I don't know the details."
"What the hell is he doing out there?"
"No need to worry. Min-ho's good at his job. He's got Choi with him, and he's almost too good—that's the problem."
"Stop beating around the bush and tell me everything you know."
"He's not the Min-ho you think you know. He's changed a lot—sometimes I look at him and it feels like a different person."
Myeong-seon was stoking the fire under her brother, and for good reason. She couldn't outmaneuver Min-ho anyway. If she irritated Du-seong into clashing with him, she'd be the third-party winner. Testing the waters, she tossed out subtle barbs while watching his face closely. "Quit scratching at your temper and talk straight."
"I don't know exactly what he's doing, but it's weird—Dad's been calling him in a lot, to the chairman's office even..."
Being summoned to the chairman's office wasn't commonplace even for Du-seong and Myeong-seon. It proved Chairman Kang now trusted Min-ho differently. "What nonsense is that? Dad summoning Min-ho often?"
"I don't know, I just overheard. Dad suddenly went for that JK Telecom acquisition, right?"
"Yeah, I never saw it coming either."
"Word is Min-ho planned it."
The news that Min-ho, working at JK Credit Info, had pulled off something massive was absurd from Du-seong's perspective. He dismissed it as a laughable joke. "If you're joking, pick the time and place—I told you that how many times? Don't even breathe that crap."
"It's true, brother! Why wouldn't you believe people? You think I'd lie about something like this?"
"Moving the press, stuffing bribe money everywhere—that mess, and Min-ho handled it?"
"Yes, really!"
"Dad heard Min-ho out and went through with it? Are you sane?"
"Bottom line, Min-ho's got Dad wrapped around his finger. That's for sure."
Though he'd heard of Min-ho's changes through Myeong-seon, Du-seong wouldn't budge. He even let out an awkward chuckle, as if it were ridiculous. "Fine, say that's all true—but how many times have you been called to the chairman's office lately?"
"I can count on one hand..."
"Min-ho's been there over three times a week—even after hours, I don't know."
"How do you know that so well?"
"Slipped some cash to the secretary office kids. Told them to let me know when Min-ho shows up."
Chairman Kang always called his most trusted eldest son, Du-seong, to discuss major matters. Even with big group issues, there'd been no summons or call from him. Though denying Min-ho's changes, Du-seong couldn't ignore the shifting tides. Unease began to bubble up from deep in his chest. "I didn't see it myself, but brother, you got played."
"Played by who?"
"You said it yourself—Min-ho was more stubborn than usual."
Du-seong clamped his mouth shut, ruminating on the hospital room incident. "Was Min-ho really just excited? Didn't it feel like he suddenly got defiant out of nowhere?"
"He timed it perfectly for when Dad would return from his walk, provoking you?"
"He'd do it. Forget the drunken troublemaker Min-ho—a sly fox wouldn't have him beat. You might not be able to handle him anymore. Curious? Find out yourself."
Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon's false reports. Min-ho's changes. Myeong-seon's input. Du-seong shook his head in denial, but he couldn't suppress the creeping anxiety. If all these testimonies were true, it meant Min-ho had seized the eldest son's position. That implied his own influence in the group was waning. It felt like even Dad, Min-ho, and his most trusted Lawyer Choi had turned their backs. Irritated, Du-seong flung his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it under his shoe. "I'll look into it myself. If even one thing you said today doesn't check out, you'd better brace yourself. I'm out first."
Du-seong left, burdened with a thorny puzzle. Myeong-seon, whose scheme had worked, watched his retreating back with a sly smile. "This is what they mean by the fisherman profits. Things are about to get really interesting."