The Daehan Newsreel?
A minor playing an adult for a fool. It is truly difficult to find anything more unpleasant than that. Because of this, JSD was feeling deeply uncomfortable about the moves Yoon-gi had been making, which were being broadcast through the media. The same went for JD. However, the money flowing in through YK’s mini-department stores, coupled with the fact that Yoon-gi was the grandson-in-law of Guster, was barely keeping JD and JSD’s rage in check. It was the kind of situation where they would strike the moment they caught a single slip-up. Therefore, JSD’s mood as he waited for the soon-to-arrive Yoon-gi was far from pleasant. He tapped his index finger against the armrest of the sofa—a sign of anxiety. Yet, unaware of his own nervous tic, JSD sat in the seat of honor, waiting for Yoon-gi to appear.
And how much time had passed? "Chief of the Presidential Security Service, have you been well?" Despite Yoon-gi’s soft, smiling demeanor, JSD did not relax his rigid expression.
"Sit."
"Thank you."
The atmosphere was so stiff that not even a cup of tea was served. As the silence dragged on, Yoon-gi opened his mouth first.
"Did something happen?"
"Are you asking because you don't know?"
At JSD’s immediate, savage retort, Yoon-gi wore an even more puzzled expression.
"I’m not sure what you mean... Did the kids’ grades drop?"
Finally, JSD slammed his fist onto the armrest of the sofa. Bang!
"Are you really clueless, or are you just pretending?! Do you really intend to act like you don't know that you’ve been playing me for a fool for nearly seven years?"
"I played you for a fool, JSD...? No, how could I ever do that? Do you know how highly I regard you?"
Any ordinary person would have knelt immediately upon seeing JSD like this. However, Yoon-gi intentionally brushed off JSD’s attitude with a mix of feigned intimacy and an innocent, truly clueless expression.
"Damn it all! It’s been revealed in the media that all your businesses, including YK Department Store, were actually your plans all along. Doesn't that mean that everything, starting from Chairman Choi asking you to approach them under the guise of tutoring, was directed by you? You played me for a fool!"
As the words he wanted finally spilled from JSD’s lips, Yoon-gi immediately moved to the next stage of his strategy.
"Ah, was it because of that?"
"'Because of that,' he says! It seems you think you can look down on 'us' just because you have Guster backing you..."
"That was actually something my grandfather insisted on for media play... I apologize. It seems I’ve caused a misunderstanding."
"...What?"
Toward JSD, who let out a somewhat flustered tone, Yoon-gi opened his mouth with a feigned, sheepish smile.
"That’s a lie. I told him it was nonsense and that people wouldn't believe it, but my grandfather insisted it would work."
"...?"
As the confusion on JSD’s face amplified, Yoon-gi put on an even more innocent, sheepish expression.
"I discovered an oil field a while ago. My grandfather said it was an opportunity and that it was time to promote me. So, suddenly, all the achievements, including YK Department Store, became things I had done. I just followed what my grandfather told me to do, but honestly, I’m bewildered too."
"...So, you’re saying all of that was just spreading fake rumors?"
"That’s right. If I had known it would come to this, I would have told you in advance. I just let it slide, thinking, 'Who would actually believe this?' I’m truly sorry."
At the sight of Yoon-gi’s pure, bitter smile, JSD slumped back into the sofa with a look of utter dejection.
"Huh... so it was all just a publicity stunt, is that it? A publicity stunt... huh..."
There was no way not to believe it. Logically, could anyone believe that a 10-year-old founded YK Department Store? Even Yoon-gi’s close associates only believed it because they saw it firsthand, and while Kang Seok-ho believed it without seeing it, it was only because his superior intelligence and deduction allowed him to grasp the truth through Choi Ki-hyun. In such a situation, the probability of JSD reaching the truth was literally zero. Thus, JSD burst into hollow laughter repeatedly. In particular, the fact that Yoon-gi lowered his tone and took an innocent stance, unlike his usual self, played a huge part.
"This is something... I’ve done a disservice to Mr. Yoon-gi."
A sincere apology. Thus, Yoon-gi shook his head with a smile.
"Not at all. Honestly, even I would have felt bad. Anyone would feel bad if they thought they were being tricked by a kid younger than them. Rather, I apologize again for not telling you in advance. I’m sorry."
"No, no. It’s my fault. I’ll compensate you for this in another way."
Yoon-gi shook his head vigorously.
"Oh my, compensation? Do you know how much grace I’ve received until now? I’m satisfied just maintaining a good relationship with the Chief of the Presidential Security Service like this."
It was the kind of flattery that warms the heart. JSD wore a satisfied expression, but soon asked Yoon-gi with a slightly bitter look.
"By the way, I wonder if the business you did in the United States went well. How is it?"
"Thanks to your concern, it went very well. I succeeded in securing exclusive contracts for foreign films to be screened at the theaters I’ll be opening later. I’m just doing as my grandfather tells me, though."
"Oh... that’s a relief. What about the other businesses?"
"I’m currently running the Genesis Project in Japan, and I’m in the middle of the new theater construction project here in Korea. Of course, there are existing businesses like YK Department Store, but that’s the extent of the new projects."
"Hmm, is it alright for you to tell me such things?"
"It’s because I trust the Chief of the Presidential Security Service that much. I trust you more than anyone else."
At Yoon-gi’s lip service, JSD’s somewhat depressed expression was washed over with emotion. However, as JSD’s expression soon clouded with melancholy again, Yoon-gi asked with a feigned tone of curiosity.
"Is something the matter? You seem depressed."
"Ah, that is..."
JSD kept his mouth shut for a moment before continuing.
"It’s nothing else, but I’ve been thinking that perhaps Mr. Yoon-gi or Chairman Choi should be meeting the President directly, not me."
"Pardon?"
Yoon-gi intentionally asked as if he hadn't heard, and accordingly, JSD’s mouth opened again immediately.
"It’s nothing else, but you are already one of the top-tier asset holders in Korea. Furthermore, you are actively working in the U.S. and Japan. You are also the grandson-in-law of a former U.S. four-star general. Even though I am the Chief of the Presidential Security Service, I feel like I’m not in your league."
"That is absolutely not the case."
At Yoon-gi’s firm answer, JSD lifted his head, which he had slightly lowered, and met Yoon-gi’s gaze.
"Hmm...?"
"I don't change how I treat people just because their seat has changed. From the moment I first saw you, JSD, I thought, 'This person can be trusted.' You are not the type of person to abandon me, no matter what situation arises."
"What if that thought is wrong?"
"It is not wrong."
At Yoon-gi’s truly firm words, JSD once again wore an incredibly moved expression. In this world, there had been only one person until now who recognized him to this extent. No, he had thought there was one. Since he couldn't know JD’s true inner thoughts. But JSD now began to think that perhaps it wasn't one person, but two. A ripple occurred in JSD’s heart. No one could know what kind of snowball this would bring when YS took power 10 years later.
"Mr. Yoon-gi, as much as you trust me, I will trust you as well. And... I will never betray your trust."
"You’ve already shown that through your actions until now."
At the 100-point answer, JSD beamed, and Yoon-gi smiled as well. With Choi Deok-bae, who was clicking his tongue, by his side, Yoon-gi and JSD chatted happily for a while, and the distrust regarding Yoon-gi that had briefly spread through the upper echelons of power was cleared away cleanly before long.
Yoon-gi visited the theater once again. This time, it was a visit without Merrill. As Yoon-gi was looking around an ordinary theater in a busy district, not the new one currently under construction, Choi Deok-bae asked him. Hearing the conversation between JSD and Yoon-gi earlier, Choi Deok-bae thought it was a bit excessive, and Yoon-gi shook his head slightly.
'JSD is worth that much.'
'But you’re getting a price for it, aren't you? From the start, it’s stupid to try to maintain a good relationship while only saying things other people don't want to hear.'
'Social skills are something that come back at the cost of one’s own fatigue. If it’s something that doesn't cause me harm, it’s best to say things the other person wants to hear. People who want to hear only good things from others, while they themselves pour out bitter remarks under the guise of "facts," never have people flocking around them.'
Yoon-gi nodded slightly and continued.
'That’s exactly the case. I have absolutely no reason to make an enemy of JSD, at least for now.'
'Yes. And there’s no reason to make an enemy of him in the future, either. To be precise, I intend to screw him over without JSD knowing at all.'
Choi Deok-bae asked with eyes full of curiosity, as if he really wanted to know.
'It’s too far in the future to answer "how," so I’ll tell you just a little. I just intend to make a future where JSD is sent to prison and JD is not pardoned.'
'Do you think it’s impossible even after seeing my conversation with JSD?'
After thinking it over, Choi Deok-bae nodded to himself, saying, "As expected," and then, as if he felt refreshed now that all his curiosity was satisfied, he began to float softly around Yoon-gi.
'You’re bothering me.'
'Should I buy you something?'
Choi Deok-bae stopped moving in an instant and began to float quietly by Yoon-gi’s side like a guard, and Yoon-gi chuckled and entered the theater.
'At first, the bodyguard was a bit uncomfortable, but now it feels empty without him.'
Yoon-gi almost burst into laughter without realizing it.
'Don't you have that kind of experience?'
While they were flirting appropriately, a screen finally appeared on the monitor, and the essential element of theaters in this era began to be screened.
It was something Yoon-gi had briefly explained to Merrill before. It was a video that was screened before movies in theaters from after liberation until 1994, created for people who couldn't know national news due to low TV penetration and high illiteracy rates. Of course, politicians wouldn't just let such a good opportunity pass by. The Daehan Newsreel was also used significantly for the purpose of praising the regime, so it was a video that those who seized power paid a lot of attention to.
The video Yoon-gi was watching now was the same. As Yoon-gi watched with interest the video that heroically portrayed the image of JD, who was shining in many ways, Choi Deok-bae asked with a puzzled expression.
Then Yoon-gi immediately shook his head.
'Am I crazy? That’s not it, I just had a good idea.'