The Mouse in the Tax Office
Choi Deok-bae slapped his forehead as if he had finally grasped Yoon-gi’s intent. "Yes. At the very least, it means the Director of Corporate Taxation isn't the main culprit behind this. The guy whispering in his ear and fanning the flames—that’s the one who will be the core of this whole mess."
Yoon-gi shrugged. "Isn't that obvious? It’s not like they started this attack after putting their heart and soul into a long-term plan; they just suddenly turned hostile. That means most of their schemes are just ad-libbed reactions."
"So, go find out who’s fanning the flames around the Director of Corporate Taxation."
"It doesn't really matter if you don't do it, though."
Yoon-gi flashed a wicked smile at the wide-eyed Choi Deok-bae. "If I go down, do you think I’m the only one who goes down?"
Images of a well-prepared ancestral offering table being smashed to pieces flashed through Choi Deok-bae’s mind.
"Then, I’m counting on you."
Just as Choi Deok-bae was about to depart, a voice came from outside the door. "Young Master, you have a visitor."
"A visitor?"
"Yes. He says he is a secretary to the Director of the ANSP."
Choi Deok-bae paused his departure, and Yoon-gi opened the door to step into the living room. In the direction the housekeeper pointed, a secretary in his forties with an intellectual appearance was sitting.
"Greetings. I have come at the request of the Director of the ANSP."
"Nice to meet you. I am Choi Yoon-gi, the eldest grandson of the Samwoo Group."
They shook hands naturally.
"You are also the actual owner of YK Department Store, aren't you?"
"Wouldn't it be more accurate to consider my grandfather the actual owner?"
At Yoon-gi’s reply, the secretary offered a soft smile. "Only on paper, of course."
"If that’s the case, then yes, you could see it that way. But what brings you here? Please, sit comfortably."
Yoon-gi sat in the seat opposite the secretary, rather than the head seat, and gestured for him to be comfortable.
"I had something to deliver to Chairman Choi, but since he is currently being questioned by the prosecution, I came to find you, Yoon-gi, as you are the person who can be reached most quickly once he is released."
"Wouldn't it be faster to go to my grandfather’s chief of staff?"
"Blood is thicker than water, and family is always more familiar than a stranger."
Yoon-gi returned the secretary’s smiling remark with a smile of his own.
"Understood. I will deliver it for you. What is it?"
"Yes, it is this."
It was a very thick brown envelope. It was clear that there were documents inside.
"Well, I have delivered it, so I shall take my leave."
"How about staying for a cup of tea?"
The secretary, who had risen from his seat, shook his head. "No. The Director of the ANSP has been in a very foul mood lately. I do not wish to be the one to further upset him, so I must return quickly."
"You seem to respect the Director of the ANSP very much."
"He saved my father during the Vietnam War."
"As expected of the Director."
"Indeed. My... I seem to have rambled on too long. Then, I shall take my leave..."
Watching the secretary leave through the balcony window, Yoon-gi only returned to his room after the man had completely disappeared.
"Honestly, I was tempted."
Since Yoon-gi was always suffering from a shortage of talent, he felt a surge of desire the moment he faced the secretary of the JSD.
"It would be possible after you force the JSD to resign."
"It depends on how I force him out. I’m confident."
Knowing that Yoon-gi wouldn't reveal his methods anyway, Choi Deok-bae changed the subject.
"I think so too. Seeing as you don't voice it out loud, it must be because we are extremely friendly with the JSD."
"That’s right. But that won't last forever."
Just as Choi Deok-bae was dying of curiosity, Yoon-gi tore open the brown envelope.
"Ho-ho..."
What came out of the envelope was a list of corruption among current National Tax Service executives, along with the evidence.
"Wow... if I could move directly, I could finish this work really quickly."
"But you can't move yourself, can you?"
"Yes, I can't move right now, and there’s no reason to move myself in the future either."
"Then, what are you going to do?"
"There is someone who is good at this kind of work, isn't there?"
Yoon-gi called Choi Cheol-kyu for the first time in a while.
* * *
Choi Cheol-kyu, who came to the study as soon as he received the call, immediately wore a bright expression toward Yoon-gi.
"Wow, calling me separately like this after such a long time—does that mean there’s work to be done?"
"Yes. I thought you would be the perfect fit for this job, Uncle."
Choi Cheol-kyu’s expression brightened even further.
"Phew, that’s a relief. Honestly, I’ve been really anxious. Tax officials keep coming to the hotel to pick fights, and the guests’ complaints are endless. I even considered closing down, but you told me not to..."
"If we close down, it’ll be hard to pressure the National Tax Service regarding damages later. We should keep operating and then apply massive pressure later on."
"I know that, but phew, experiencing it firsthand isn't as easy as saying it. Of course, you’re the one having the hardest time."
Yoon-gi, listening to him, opened his eyes wide as if to ask what he meant.
"Why would I be having a hard time? That’s why I use middle managers—so I don't have to."
"You little rascal?"
Choi Cheol-kyu pretended to be angry, then burst into a laugh.
"Yeah, it’s because you show that kind of composure that we’re able to hold on. If you were the type to be anxious and not know what to do, the atmosphere would have been completely ruined by now."
"Because it’s really not a big deal."
Watching Yoon-gi maintain the attitude of a leader to the very end, Choi Cheol-kyu’s eyes held the sentiment, 'My choice was right after all.'
"So, what do I need to do?"
Choi Cheol-kyu sat down and picked up a plum from the table. The fact that he did so meant his tension had eased slightly.
With a 'crunch,' his face puckered for a moment due to the sourness, but as the tart acidity swirled in his mouth, his mental fatigue seemed to lift, allowing him to focus more on Yoon-gi’s words.
"Please pressure the Director of the Investigation Bureau."
"The Director of the Investigation Bureau at the National Tax Service?"
"Yes. That person is the middle commander of this operation."
"The newspapers said it was the Director of Corporate Taxation? Oh...!"
Choi Cheol-kyu, who had been looking puzzled, suddenly realized the situation and slapped his palm.
"You understand now?"
"Yeah, I think I do."
Yoon-gi then handed over the list of National Tax Service corruption he had received from the JSD to Choi Cheol-kyu.
"I’ll leave it to you to decide how to utilize this, Uncle."
"I can handle that much on my own. But Yoon-gi."
"Yes?"
"Wouldn't Cheol-jun be better at this kind of work now?"
"Because the third uncle has a fiercer impression?"
At Yoon-gi’s words, Choi Cheol-kyu gave a sheepish smile.
"Yeah. I noticed that even at MEV, he seems to be pressuring the directors with that. He was trained very well by Chief Ma, wasn't he?"
"You might think so, but I think the usage is different."
"Usage?"
Yoon-gi nodded.
"Yes. The third uncle is very effective when you need to create the feeling of a physical threat."
"That’s certainly true. If I were to say things like that, people would just laugh."
Choi Cheol-kyu, who had a youthful and somewhat feminine appearance, definitely had people who tended to ignore him upon first meeting.
"On the other hand, you are effective when you need to toy with people mentally. You know it yourself, don't you? That you can be an angel or a devil depending on the opponent."
"Well, I was a drill instructor at the training camp, after all."
"I can be an angel or a devil depending on how you act."
"Wow, how did you know that?"
"It’s on TV."
"Cough, those are memories."
Choi Cheol-kyu, who trembled for a moment due to the nostalgia, smiled and tucked the documents away.
"Alright, I roughly understand the policy. How far should I go?"
"Internal strife would be good."
"Internal strife... I see. I’ll do my best."
The grin on Choi Cheol-kyu’s face held not just 'best effort,' but confidence in success.
* * *
"If I don't come out in two hours, use any means necessary to break inside."
After giving strict orders to his bodyguards, Choi Cheol-kyu began to walk into the National Tax Service with a dignified gait.
Currently, Choi Cheol-kyu was the president of YK Hotel, which belonged to the YK Group—the primary target of the National Tax Service’s concentrated attack. Naturally, most of the tax officials recognized him, and most of them avoided him. Because they didn't know what would happen if they got on his bad side. Some officials even sent hostile glares toward him. After all, the reason for the all-night shifts that had been going on for over fifteen days was YK.
But Choi Cheol-kyu didn't care at all. It was his own 'My Way.' Walking straight as if on a one-way street, Choi Cheol-kyu’s destination was the office of the Director of the Investigation Bureau. Since he had already notified them of his visit, as soon as he knocked, a polite but arrogant voice replied, "Come in."
"Greetings. I am Choi Cheol-kyu, President of YK Hotel."
Choi Cheol-kyu looked at the nameplate on the Director’s desk.
[Director of Investigation, Kim Ju-ho]
Choi Cheol-kyu’s gaze shifted from the nameplate to Kim Ju-ho’s face. Thin, messy hair, and large, slanted eyes. Through these two features, Choi Cheol-kyu felt that Kim Ju-ho looked just like a 'rat.'
"What are you doing? Sit down."
At Kim Ju-ho’s arrogant remark, Choi Cheol-kyu nodded and sat on the reception sofa.
"Thank you."
"We’re so busy these days that it’s hard to serve tea. You understand, right?"
"Of course. 'I' am fine."
Choi Cheol-kyu’s words had a strange edge, but Kim Ju-ho didn't notice. Because he was overflowing with leisure.
"Then, let’s get straight to the point. I’ll give you five minutes. I’m so busy these days that I can't spare any more time than that."
Choi Cheol-kyu laughed inwardly. The method Kim Ju-ho was using on him right now—it was the exact method he or Chief Ma Seok-il used when doing 'Gap' (superior) business. Of course, this is a very effective method. When you are the 'Gap,' that is. Kim Ju-ho would probably get up in two or three minutes, not five. But it didn't matter to Choi Cheol-kyu at all.
'Because I am the Gap.'
With a sneer, Choi Cheol-kyu got to the point, just as Kim Ju-ho wanted.
"It seems your daughter in Germany is studying very hard, doesn't she?"