The Capitalist Leash

Lucas, a mid-career American lawyer in his mid-forties, felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down from beneath his chestnut-brown curls, though it was absorbed by his hair before it could reach his cheek. He couldn't hide his expression, however. Even a seasoned American attorney like him had never encountered a contract written in a language other than English.

"Uh... Mr. Jo. Is this contract written in the language of your country?"

At Lucas’s polite yet bewildered inquiry, Jo Cheong-woo nodded with the brightest smile in the world.

"Yes!"

A look of utter disbelief naturally washed over Lucas’s face.

"Oh, no, wait a minute. Shouldn't the contract be written in English?"

"Why?"

Lucas was momentarily speechless at the counter-question, delivered with a smile. It was true—there was no law stating a contract had to be written in English. However, writing contracts in English was effectively an unwritten rule. And yet, here Lucas was, holding a contract in Korean.

"Uh... Mr. Jo. When conducting business in the United States, it is standard practice to use English."

"So, 'standard' implies there are special circumstances! This is exactly one of those special circumstances."

If Jo Cheong-woo had been holding a tangerine right now, he surely would have been smiling while peeling off the white strings. Since he didn't have one, he simply twirled his ballpoint pen back and forth while talking to Lucas.

'He’s pretty good at that...'

For a split second, Lucas focused on the pen-twirling before snapping back to reality. 'Wait, what am I thinking about right now?'

Lucas opened his mouth again. "Mr. Jo. We want a standard contract. Therefore, I would like us to rewrite the contract in English."

"No."

It was an immediate refusal. But the incredibly bright smile made Lucas even more flustered.

"No, why?"

"It’s the Chairman's instruction."

"The Chairman's instruction...? Chairman Choi Ki-hyun...?"

"No, Chairman Choi Yoon-gi."

Lucas thought of a puppet CEO, not the actual owner of the YK Group. Of course, the idea of a puppet CEO was a strategic lie itself, but there was no way for Lucas to know that. Thus, Lucas sighed, dismissing it as the stubbornness of a child.

"Mr. Jo. A contract is not a game."

"Who is playing a game right now?"

Jo Cheong-woo wore an expression that suggested he had absolutely no idea what Lucas was talking about. Generally, when companies need to negotiate or sign a contract, they send someone slick and experienced. That’s because it’s the only way to squeeze out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even a little more profit. But Yoon-gi had sent Jo Cheong-woo as the representative for this contract. It was something only Jo Cheong-woo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could do: no matter how slick or experienced the opponent was, he could maintain his own pace absolutely.

Because of this, Lucas felt like his blood pressure was rising to the point of collapse. The opponent was clearly articulate, but nothing was getting through.

"Mr. Jo. We want an English contract."

"That is not possible."

Lucas’s temple bulged at the sight of Jo Cheong-woo smiling brightly once again.

"So, isn't it your duty to persuade Chairman Choi to use an English contract?"

"I told you, the Chairman is the one who told me to use this contract!"

"No, seriously!"

Finally, Lucas couldn't handle his blood pressure and jumped up from his seat.

"Hmm? Are you just leaving?"

Lucas ended up grabbing the back of his neck. He didn't collapse, but that was how infuriated he was. In the end, the contract remained unsigned.

"Hmm? What did you say?"

Reagan, who was receiving Lucas’s report in his office, looked deeply puzzled.

"Don't even ask. I've never seen such a strangely... simple? Stupid...? Anyway, a bizarre person in my life. No, in a different sense, we just couldn't communicate!"

"No, not that."

"Yes?"

Lucas didn't catch what kind of answer Reagan was looking for.

"I mean, what happened in the end?"

"Yes? Ah, I told them to bring an English contract and then I came out."

"So, you didn't sign the contract?"

"That is correct. A contract not written in English..."

"Are you crazy?"

For a moment, Lucas looked completely dumbfounded.

"Yes...?"

"I asked if you were crazy. You just walked out after notifying them, without even adjusting the future schedule, just because the contract was in Korean?"

"No, Mr. President. Using an English contract is a matter of social common sense..."

"No, you crazy bastard. It’s not like we’re co-developing an AIDS treatment; we’re signing a contract for exclusive distribution, and you stormed out of that seat? Huh?"

Reagan grabbed the back of his own neck. If they were signing a contract between two equal parties, Lucas’s actions might have been correct. But this contract was overwhelmingly advantageous to Reagan. From the start, he was essentially receiving what could be called a bribe, disguised as a donation. Furthermore, it was 20 percent. There wasn't just one or two Republican figures involved in this contract. The president of the distribution company was one of Reagan’s relatives, and the executive staff was filled with relatives of other Republican figures. Moreover, although it was a private company, Reagan’s wife was registered as the primary shareholder, allowing them to sweep up dividends, and other senior Republican figures had also stuck their straws in with Reagan’s permission. And yet, on the day they were supposed to sign, he said they hadn't signed.

"Mr. President, the language used in a contract is extremely important..."

"Shut up, you stupid bastard!"

Reagan’s face was already turning beet red. What if the deal fell through because they didn't sign today? Of course, the possibility was slim, but if YK Pharmaceuticals got offended and dragged their feet, or if they changed the target of the contract to the next Republican presidential candidate, Reagan would be left out in the cold like a duck on the Mississippi River. As the saying goes, a profitable contract should be signed as quickly as possible. Reagan suppressed his rising blood pressure and gave Lucas one last chance.

"Go back right now and sign that contract."

"Mr. President, but the language..."

"Take someone who is fluent in Korean if you have to, and get it signed!"

Finally, Reagan threw a palm-sized crucifix at Lucas. With a distinct 'thwack!', Lucas fell backward, and only then did he grasp the situation. Lucas had too much pride in America itself. But even that pride could not defeat capitalism.

Having tasted Reagan’s wrath, Lucas urgently contacted Jo Cheong-woo again. 'Please pick up, please pick up...' Fortunately, when he called the office, Jo Cheong-woo hadn't left for the day yet.

"Ah, Mr. Jo?! It’s Lucas."

"It’s nothing else, but I’d like to draft the contract. Do you have time right now?"

"Yes!"

Lucas brightened at the attitude that suggested it might actually work. However.

The voice was as bright as could be. Lucas grabbed the back of his neck just like Reagan had. It was the same feeling Reagan had when dealing with Lucas, but unfortunately, people rarely know how to put themselves in others' shoes. Still, because Lucas had learned what happened when Reagan got angry, his patience had increased significantly.

"Ah, is it because of the language? Don't worry. A contract in Korean is fine."

"Yes?"

If there had been a mirror in front of Lucas, he would have thought Medusa had returned, so stiff had he become. Lucas grimaced, but managed to keep his voice kind.

"Ah, no. It’s not just anything, it’s a contract..."

"...I will pay the overtime pay."

Lucas sensed that the call was about to be cut off.

"Mr. Jo!"

The call was disconnected.

"..."

Lucas stood there for several minutes, staring blankly while holding the receiver, unable to believe the reality. And a moment later.

"AAAAAAARGH!"

Lucas began throwing everything in his office here and there. It was the ultimate frustration that only an incarnation of innocence could create. It was enough to make a baseball bat pop into Lucas’s head. But what could he do? Jo Cheong-woo was the absolute 'Gap' (superior party). Thus, Lucas had no choice but to go back to Reagan, feeling like he wanted to cry.

"Ah, hello. Yoon-gi?"

Reagan sighed deeply to himself and called Yoon-gi.

Yoon-gi’s attitude was nothing but polite. That made Reagan sigh even more to himself.

"I heard you use Korean in the contract."

'Ah...' How could he find fault with it when it was out of filial piety for his grandfather? Furthermore, since the answer came without a moment's hesitation, there was no room for doubt. Of course, it was a lie, but there was no way for Reagan to know that. Yoon-gi wanted to hold the 'initiative.' Bowing to Reagan was a matter of course. However, he had to limit that bowing to Reagan alone; if he bowed to everyone working around Reagan, it would never be good for his future path. He had to make Reagan’s associates perceive that he was a being who could only be controlled by 'Reagan' or the 'President of the United States.' That was the only way to leave room to gain any benefit in future endeavors. Of course, he was also aiming for the secondary benefit of YK’s use of Korean contracts helping to establish Korean contracts as one of the standards.

"Ah... I see. But we were supposed to sign the contract today, but we couldn't..."

"...Circumstances just turned out that way. So we need to proceed with the contract again, but the person in charge over there has already left work..."

Reagan’s sigh deepened at Yoon-gi’s attitude, which suggested he had been completely unaware of the situation.

"Yes. So, could you make that employee work some overtime? I think it would be better for both of us to finish the contract today."

"Yes... I’m counting on you..."

After the call ended, Reagan threw the entire phone at Lucas. And one hour later, Lucas was able to meet Jo Cheong-woo again, with one eye blackened.

"...You’re ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠back at work?"

Lucas’s prickly words were mixed with a slight growl. Jo Cheong-woo replied with a deep sigh.

"Yes, the Chairman told me to."

Thanks to that, Lucas was able to find some peace of mind. Jo Cheong-woo even had a very dark expression. If Lucas knew about Jo Cheong-woo’s actual working conditions, he would have genuinely pitied him.

The treatment contract between Yoon-gi and Reagan was perfectly concluded. In addition, the AIDS treatment began to sell like hotcakes within the United States. Of course, that didn't mean the majority of the American public bought it. Top stars and high-ranking officials who had contracted AIDS contacted Reagan’s side to use the treatment with clearly superior performance, and the distribution company Reagan operated demanded astronomical sums from them. Since they were taking 20 percent of the net profit, it was only natural. Because some YK Pharmaceutical employees were dispatched to the distribution company, it was impossible to falsify the books from the start. Therefore, the profit of YK Pharmaceuticals currently being recorded in the books was literally hitting the sky.

Thanks to that, it was a very, very peaceful December of 1987. Although he was very busy even in the midst of peace, Yoon-gi took time out for the children’s festival of the 'Christmas season' to visit home. Because he had to give Jung-ah a Christmas present.

"Jung-ah, what would you like to receive from Santa Claus as a Christmas present?"

At Yoon-gi’s question, Jung-ah smiled brightly and replied.

"An amusement park!"

Jung-ah had intended to say, 'I want to go to an amusement park with my brother!', but Yoon-gi understood it in an entirely different direction.