Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Grandfather's Anniversary Party
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This time around, it wasn't just us participating. The trigger might have been different, but Lee Se-eun shared the same goal as we did.
There was no reason not to team up, so I contacted her, and that very night, Lee Se-eun came to see us.
The other preparations weren't really all that difficult.
You could book a hotel if you had the money. For the casino, we could just stay at the hotel and somehow find a way into the junket room.
The real problem was the alibi.
"We're getting tripped up by the invitations."
They had no intention of bending the rules. More precisely, we could expect to hear that the auction's participant list was already full.
No matter how renowned the headhunter's reputation was, if the slots were filled, there was nothing Blue Wrench Scrap Dealers could do—that was their explanation.
"I get it. The auction's just days away, and they've probably already set everything up based on the headcount."
Jeong Oh-hoon nodded at Han Sang-ah's words.
"Trying to squeeze in three more people now would mean kicking out three others they've already sent invitations to."
That would put Blue Wrench in a bad spot. Plus, I wasn't even contracted with Blue Wrench—I was with Daebak Scrap Dealers. No matter how famous I was, they had no loyalty to shove me into the auction by apologizing to their existing invitees.
"Se-eun noona seems to have secured an invitation, though."
"Yeah."
She was originally contracted with Blue Wrench Scrap Dealers, so of course she'd get one. The issue was us.
"Just tagging along on her trip as 'visiting for fun' feels too flimsy."
If we were really just there to have fun, and nothing happened at that hotel, then sure, saying we were tagging along with Lee Se-eun would raise no eyebrows.
But we were going there to stir up serious trouble. After that, claiming "We were just here for fun and this happened—how wild!" wouldn't be nearly enough to shake off suspicion.
"What about Grandfather?"
All eyes turned to Han Sang-ah at her suggestion. Her grandfather, Han Sang-chul, was the chairman of Geumyang Group. But what did that have to do with anything?
"It's a hunter gear auction."
Han Sang-chul wasn't a corporate hunter. Only hunters participated in hunter gear auctions. Civilians possessing hunter gear was illegal.
"No, the point is to scrap the invitation altogether and create a different alibi."
We fell silent for a moment after hearing her idea. It didn't sound impossible.
If Geumyang Group's chairman Han Sang-chul hosted an event at Playchip Hotel in Hongcheon under some pretext and invited us, that would make for a solid cover.
"And if Chairman Han Sang-chul could even vouch that he was with us when we 'caused trouble'..."
It would be perfect. But there was one problem.
"Would your grandfather actually do us this favor?"
Han Sang-ah gave a curt assessment.
"All Grandfather cares about is money."
Was that a compliment or an insult?
Either way, if we offered him proper compensation, Han Sang-chul would be more than willing to help.
"Plus, his big anniversary is coming up soon. That gives him a perfect reason to host something at Playchip Hotel."
"Like a birthday or something?"
Han Sang-ah shook her head at my question.
"Grandfather doesn't celebrate birthdays. He says there's no point in throwing a party for something everyone does."
Well, when you put it like that...
"Then what kind of anniversary is it?"
"The day Geumyang Group hit number one in global market cap."
That was definitely not something just anyone could pull off.
"So the whole Geumyang family skips birthdays, huh."
It'd be awkward otherwise. Han Sang-ah nodded at my comment.
"Everyone except me."
"You celebrate yours?"
She nodded again.
"When I was little, I begged Grandfather for a birthday party. He said what did his not celebrating have to do with me."
Jeong Oh-hoon, who had been listening, let out a hum.
"How'd he react?"
"He laughed his head off. I don't know why, but after that, he suddenly started having me take heir training classes."
Seemed like Han Sang-ah's attitude had impressed him.
Anyway, enough family drama. Jeong Oh-hoon chimed in.
"Sounds like a good plan. Easier to keep our tracks covered than sneaking into the auction, and if it goes well, her grandfather could even fabricate our alibis."
Yeah, the catch was we had to convince him.
"Set up a meeting for us, then."
"Sure thing."
Since we needed his help, we'd have to prepare thoroughly for a smooth negotiation...
"He's calling us now."
"Damn."
This old man's decisiveness was unreal. I checked my watch and looked at Han Sang-ah.
"Should we head to the headquarters at this hour?"
She shook her head.
"Go to his residence. He said he'd send a car anyway, so just wait."
We did as told, and soon a private car from Han Sang-chul arrived.
"We'll escort you."
"Thank you."
After a quick exchange, we got in, and before long, I arrived at the Geumyang family estate.
Han Sang-chul's mansion was in Seongbuk-dong, one of Korea's classic rich neighborhoods no matter what anyone said.
I was shown to the reception room. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of a meticulously landscaped garden, and a sofa sat near the central fireplace.
"Hunter Yoo Chan-seok."
Han Sang-chul, dressed in comfy pajamas, lounged on the sofa with a whiskey glass in hand.
Side tables held ham and cheese that looked like snacks.
"It's been a while, Chairman."
He nodded at my greeting, downed his whiskey, and gestured to the seat beside him.
"Have a seat and talk."
I sat as instructed. It was incredibly plush.
"A drink before we get to business."
He poured me a crystal glass of scotch and handed it over.
"Thank you."
I knocked it back and set the glass on the table. Han Sang-chul eyed me up and down.
"You've become a big shot. Practically a walking mid-sized company now, aren't you?"
"The money I handle is about that scale, and my reputation? Probably on par with a major corp."
He chuckled lowly at my response.
"Lucky bastard."
"Didn't expect you to be at home. Figured someone like Geumyang Group's chairman would be buried in work at the office even at night."
His reply was icy.
"I hate overtime. It's the last resort for incompetents who can't prove themselves otherwise. I clock out at 6:30 every day."
Fair enough, not my business. He leaned forward slightly and continued.
"Anyone at Geumyang who leaves later than me has to file an overtime justification. If it's not valid, they submit a letter of apology."
Another pour filled his glass with amber liquid.
"Needing more time to finish work means you're not up to the job. No reason to keep you around, right?"
In other words, too much overtime at Geumyang got you fired. Of course, skipping it didn't guarantee job security—you still had to deliver results. Tough old bird.
"Enough of this old man's rambling. Why'd you come?"
"I need to stay at Playchip Hotel in Hongcheon. Could use a solid reason."
He clicked his tongue.
"My anniversary's right around the corner. I get the gist."
Han Sang-chul stroked his chin and took a sip.
"Why you need to sneak into Playchip Hotel isn't my concern. But what you'll do for me in return? That is."
"Agreed."
As I opened my mouth, he raised a hand.
"President Jo Won-hun."
The sudden name left me blanking for a second as I stared at him. Why bring up the president here? No context for it.
After a beat, I spoke.
"He in the way of your profits?"
Han Sang-chul burst out laughing and slammed the sofa arm. Then cut it off abruptly.
"The guy won't listen. Can't rein him in. Hell, he'd try to put a leash on me."
This was intriguing. Suddenly, my mind was bubbling with ideas. So, our Geumyang chairman needed a collar for President Jo Won-hun's neck—or maybe a knife for it.
Let's see. Where to start?
"You know about... well, it was a bit ago now, but the incident in the foreign enclave?"
"Of course. Heard you made a splash. Why bring it up?"
I lowered my voice subtly.
"I suspect the government orchestrated it."
His eyes lit up—not like a puppy's sparkle, but a lion spotting prey.
"Listen, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. Suspicion isn't enough. You know that."
"That's why I need your cooperation at Playchip Hotel."
Blue Wrench was smuggling black ore to China. And that ore's source? Dangun's descendants or the Korean government.
"If we score big this time, we might uncover ties between that enclave incident and the government. Even if it's a little dated now."
"'Might'? Come on."
I frowned at his retort.
"Only one thing's a hundred percent certain in life: we all die."
No way I'd promise certainty, no matter how he pressed. We might dig up links to Dangun's heirs, or they might've hidden it too well.
But demand a guarantee here? That tied straight to liability, and I wasn't taking that on.
"It's about the value of possibility."
The odds of proving government links to the enclave mass mutation.
And the gains from that proof. I met his gaze.
"Simple math, right? Multiply gains by probability for expected value."
If that value satisfied him, he'd take the deal.
"What if I say no?"
"I'd try convincing you, and if that fails, find another way."
Couldn't promise more. I wasn't omnipotent.
He grunted and shifted in his seat.
"Playchip Hotel has no ties to Geumyang Group."
Geumyang had its own hotel brand.
"You know what it means to hold your market cap number one celebration at a rival's hotel?"
"Not no ties—you were one of the contractors."
I knew. Truth was, I was being stubborn. But not without reason.
It'd come down to how much President Jo Won-hun was a thorn in Han Sang-chul's side.
Your move, Chairman.
He rubbed his eyes briefly and spoke.
"This year's Geumyang Group market cap number one celebration will be at Playchip Hotel."
"Thank you."
As I stood to leave, he stopped me and shared his thoughts on what to do at the hotel. I was impressed.