[Preparations and Pawn Placement]
"This... all of this...?"
Hearing the shock in Jo Cheong-woo’s voice, Yoon-gi smiled thinly. "Of course. These are all essential materials. You’re good at English, right?"
The booklets Yoon-gi had handed over weren't even in Korean. They were packed exclusively with English-language tax law texts from Europe and the Anglo-American sphere. Hearing Jo Cheong-woo gulp audibly, Yoon-gi smiled again and dangled the carrot.
"If you memorize all of this within six weeks, I’ll pay you a year’s salary as a bonus. Well, if you can’t, it can’t be helped."
"I'll do it!"
Even with the modest living expenses provided by his father-in-law, it was barely enough to scrape by, let alone live comfortably. In fact, just having their housing provided was effectively a massive monthly allowance. Driven by the promise of a year's salary, Jo Cheong-woo touched the stack of books with both hands, ready to stake his life on it.
"But... how am I supposed to carry all this?"
"Ah, don't worry. I'll have someone deliver them to your home."
"Understood. Then I'll take one for now. I should get going, right? Six weeks is a very tight schedule..."
"Of course. Tell the driver to take you home. From this moment on, every minute and every second is money."
"Thank you."
A few hours after Jo Cheong-woo, already buried in his books, had returned home, the telephone in the mansion began to ring.
"Young Master, it's a call from the eldest brother-in-law."
At the housekeeper’s voice accompanied by a knock, Yoon-gi rose from his seat. 'Seeing as it took this long, it seems the third aunt didn't tell the first aunt, but rather it was relayed through the uncle as I instructed.'
Yoon-gi walked to the living room and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
Unlike Yoon-gi’s relaxed tone, the voice coming from the other end of the line was filled with urgency.
"Yoon-gi! I heard it's been confirmed that you're hiring the brother-in-law as your legal secretary—what is the meaning of this?"
The voice was almost accusatory. There were exactly three people in the Samwoo Group who could speak to Yoon-gi like this, and even they didn't usually do so—those three being his grandfather and his parents. However, Seo Jong-oh, focusing only on the age gap, viewed Yoon-gi merely as a nephew and treated him with this attitude. Yoon-gi was acutely aware of this.
"Ah, that? I just thought the third uncle-in-law was a better fit for that position."
"What? What are you talking about? I told you yesterday I’d think about it for a few days!"
As Seo Jong-oh reached the brink of anger, Yoon-gi deliberately continued with a suggestive tone.
"Uncle-in-law, think about it carefully. Do you really think I hired the third uncle-in-law for no reason?"
"What...?"
"Come to think of it, you’re a sitting Chief Prosecutor, aren't you? Should you really throw away that title to become a legal secretary for a company that hasn't even secured its growth engine yet?"
"That is..."
Seo Jong-oh’s voice began to soften.
"And if my business succeeds, your title as Chief Prosecutor will be incredibly helpful. If you rise from Deputy Chief Prosecutor to District Chief, think of how much you could help me later. And if I’m receiving your help, do you think I’d pretend not to know you?"
Yoon-gi sneered inwardly, certain that the silence on the other end meant Seo Jong-oh was busy calculating his odds.
"...Then the reason you didn't hire me was..."
Seo Jong-oh sought confirmation once more.
"Naturally, just as I said."
"But I'm currently working in the provinces. To return to Seoul..."
Yoon-gi 'deliberately' cut him off.
"Oh, Uncle-in-law. Do you still not know who I know? Just work quietly for about two years. Then the Shining Road will follow."
"Shining Road..."
The sound of swallowing and excited sniffling came through the receiver. When they met in person, Seo Jong-oh had been able to mask his true self, but on the phone, he was completely exposed. 'Given that 99 percent of prosecutors retire as Chief Prosecutors, anyone who studies hard can become one. If he were the type to reach Deputy Chief Prosecutor, he wouldn't be this transparent.'
Yoon-gi stayed silent, and only after a long time did Seo Jong-oh speak again.
"C-can you really pull me back up to Seoul?"
"Not 100 percent, but I can be 90 percent sure. Didn't you just get a call from the second uncle? I told him to explain why the third uncle-in-law was chosen—didn't you hear?"
"Ah, I hung up as soon as I heard it was decided for the brother-in-law and called here immediately..."
"What I'm saying now was originally meant to be relayed through the uncle."
"I'm a bit impatient..."
It was the perfect moment for an apology, but Seo Jong-oh let it slide, mindful of the age gap. A moment later, his voice was filled with both peace and excitement.
"Anyway, I, I'll trust you!"
"Of course. I look forward to working with you."
"Yes! Just trust me! Once I become a District Chief... no, even just a Deputy Chief Prosecutor! Who would dare pick a fight with you, Yoon-gi? Hahahaha!"
"I'll hang up now. I have to step away."
"Yes, understood!"
Thinking of Seo Jong-oh hanging up in high spirits, Yoon-gi shook his head. 'You idiot. I’m far more powerful than you; why would I grant you favors and owe you a debt?'
Yoon-gi hung up and sat down to study the same books he’d sent to Jo Cheong-woo, but turned his head when Choi Deok-bae spoke.
"There are people you must make into definite enemies, and others you don't need to openly antagonize. Seo Jong-oh is merely the latter."
Yoon-gi drew a clear line, calling Seo Jong-oh by his name, and smiled broadly. "Beating an enemy to a pulp is satisfying, but watching an enemy die without realizing they're a frog in boiling water is also fun, isn't it? I’m already looking forward to him throwing a tantrum later, shouting, 'Hey! You said you'd make me a Deputy Chief Prosecutor!' Soda is good when gulped down at once, but sometimes, sipping it is the real charm."
Yoon-gi turned his head back and focused on his books.
Ding-dong!
At the sound of the doorbell, Choi Cheol-kyu spoke. "Yoon-ja, it's your brother."
The apartment door opened, and a woman in her late 20s greeted him. "Brother, you're here?"
"Yeah, where's your husband?"
"He went straight into the room to study as soon as he got back. He asked for toast with jam for dinner, so that's what I gave him. Did you eat?"
"I did. Can I come in?"
"Ah, right." Choi Yoon-ja gave a bitter smile and led him to the living room.
"Apartments really have their own charm." As Choi Cheol-kyu nodded, looking out at the veranda of the 33-pyeong apartment, Choi Yoon-ja sighed.
"If this were our place, we would have sold it and moved out long ago. It’s only because it’s Dad’s house that we can't even dispose of it."
"Were things that difficult?"
"Can't you tell by looking?"
Choi Cheol-kyu sat on the sofa and looked at his sister sitting on the floor. 28 years old. A prime age to be dressing up, yet there was no makeup on her face, and the clothes she wore looked faded from constant washing. Her hair, a mix of perm and natural texture, was a far cry from the stylish younger sister who had been the talk of the town in college.
"You've had a hard time..."
"It was my choice in the end, but I didn't know it would turn out like this. And I was the one who got excited about my husband joining a top-tier law firm."
In truth, Jo Cheong-woo hadn't been Choi Yoon-ja’s 'intended' match. She had been set up with a sitting judge by her father, but she had fallen in love at first sight with Jo Cheong-woo, who was having a blind date at the same place and time. Naturally, the judge date was a bust. Jo Cheong-woo’s date had also fallen through, and Choi Yoon-ja had practically courted him into marriage. Although he wasn't a judge, he was a top-performing trainee, so Choi Ki-hyun had eventually agreed, but with Jo Cheong-woo’s current situation, Choi Yoon-ja had nothing to say to her father.
"But brother, what brings you here? You haven't really been in touch."
At her words, Choi Cheol-kyu looked awkward before speaking in a puzzled tone. "Yoon-ja, has your husband said anything to you?"
"No...? He just locked himself in the room saying he had to study."
"Oh, goodness..." As Choi Cheol-kyu held his forehead, Choi Yoon-ja reacted with confusion.
"What is it, brother? Is something wrong?"
"Keep your voice down and listen. Yoon-gi has hired your husband as his legal secretary. 290,000 won a month, excluding bonuses."
"What?!"
As his sister jumped up, covering her mouth with both hands, Choi Cheol-kyu hurriedly stood up and sat her back down.
"I told you not to make noise. If you get excited over every little thing, how are you going to live as a member of a chaebol family?"
"No, it’s just so unexpected. The landlord was here earlier because we couldn't pay the office rent. It’s already three months overdue..."
"You could have just gone to Dad and been honest; he would have helped you somehow."
"I felt too guilty... This is the result of not listening to Dad..."
Choi Cheol-kyu sighed and spoke again.
"Anyway, the salary is 290,000 won for now, but it will go up much higher later. I can guarantee that."
"R-really?"
Seeing his sister’s face brighten—she was clearly desperate for money—Choi Cheol-kyu nodded with a click of his tongue. He was being quite honest, knowing his sister was a confirmed ally in a succession landscape that was already being carved out.
"Yes. From what I hear, he’s currently studying European and American tax law. So don't disturb him, and don't find it suspicious. Yoon-gi said he’d pay a year’s salary as a bonus if he memorizes it all."
"What? Really?!"
Choi Cheol-kyu sat his sister back down as she jumped up again.
"I told you to keep your voice down..."
"Why didn't he tell me? Come to think of it, a mountain of books was delivered from the main house earlier, and I wondered what was going on, but he just brought them into the room without a word."
"That must be because of the law firm incident. He failed after getting his hopes up, so he probably didn't have the face to tell you. He likely wanted to wait until things were going well. Anyway, I came here to tell you to watch your behavior."
"My behavior?"
Choi Cheol-kyu nodded. "Yes, your behavior. Look at you, swinging between emotions—you must never do that. Especially, never tell the eldest sister what your husband is doing."
"The eldest sister? But she’s helped me out quite a bit..."
"I feel bad for her, but the eldest brother-in-law mocked the eldest brother and acted rudely in front of Yoon-gi. The eldest sister might be fine, but the eldest brother-in-law is already firmly on Yoon-gi’s blacklist."
"Ah..."
Seeing his sister cover her mouth, Choi Cheol-kyu’s expression hardened.
"Don't you dare say anything out of pity for her. The moment you do, your husband is fired, no questions asked. Yoon-gi never trusts someone with a loose tongue. You know what it means to be Yoon-gi’s aide, don't you?"
Having been present when Choi Cheol-min was dealt with harshly, Choi Yoon-ja nodded.
"I feel sorry for her, but I suppose I have no choice... I'll just have to help her later when I'm successful..."
"Yes, that’s it. Remember, being a housewife isn't just about housework. I’ve seen more than one woman ruin her life by bragging about her husband. Every word that comes out of your mouth is information that will be used in political warfare."
Thanks to Choi Cheol-kyu’s sincere advice, Choi Yoon-ja was able to prevent a major mistake she might have made in the future. Her mindset had changed immediately.
"Brother, thank you..."
"Don't mention it. If a capable talent finally joins and gets kicked out, I’ll be the one who suffers..."
"Come to think of it, you have dark circles, brother. I don't think you had those before..."
"That’s because Yoon-gi is like King Sejong. He works his people as hard as he works himself. The rewards are certain, though."
Just as the bitter smile on Choi Cheol-kyu’s face turned into a genuine one, the six weeks passed by incredibly quickly.