Chapter 104
“That’s not what you said before!” Park Jong-bum said, his eyes wide.
Kim Min-sik smirked. “I was just testing you. It was a pain in the ass listening to your bullshit.”
Park Jong-bum looked at me, dumbfounded, and I shrugged and approached Kim Min-sik.
“Hello, I’m Park Sol, CEO of Chunha Trading.”
Kim Min-sik looked at me with feigned surprise. “You’re the CEO? I was wondering what kind of lunatic would try something like this, but you look ordinary.”
I was momentarily taken aback by his bluntness. “Lunatic…?”
“Isn’t that right? Who in their right mind would try to bribe me? Did you think you could get away with it?”
Of course, I had considered the possibility of him refusing.
I had assumed he would be loyal to Baek In-hwi and reject Park Jong-bum’s offer, contacting me immediately to discuss the next course of action.
But he had launched a surprise attack without any warning.
I was relieved and bewildered that he hadn’t betrayed us.
“You didn’t like our offer?” I asked, playing along.
I was Park Jong-bum’s boss, and I had to maintain my role.
“Offer? Of course not. You think you can buy me with a measly sum like that?”
“Then how much do you want?”
“The amount doesn’t matter. And I have no reason to tell you. Just prepare to die.”
I glanced at Park Jong-bum, signaling him to continue probing. He nodded with a serious expression.
“Do you really want to do this?”
“What? You still have something to say?”
Park Jong-bum said, “Few people know Baek In-hwi as well as we do. We shared a lot of information with you last time. We told you Hanho Savings Bank is just a temporary tool, and Baek In-hwi is only interested in short-term profits. Do you think we were lying?”
Kim Min-sik narrowed his eyes.
“I was wondering about that. How do you know so much about CEO Baek, information that even the most powerful people in Korea don’t know? I was especially curious about that recording.”
It was a one-minute recording I had made at Park Jong-bum’s request, mimicking a triad boss receiving a report about internal power struggles.
It had been a bit embarrassing to record.
“You must have powerful connections in China to acquire something like that.”
Park Jong-bum nodded vigorously.
“Knowing all that, why are you doing this? You could have made a fortune and disappeared! Do you really want to go back to how you used to be?”
“Go back? To my old life? Are you crazy? I’d rather die!”
“Then you shouldn’t be doing this! It’s 5 billion won! 5 billion won! You could buy several buildings and live off the rental income! You’ll be finished once Baek In-hwi abandons Hanho Savings Bank!”
Kim Min-sik lowered his head and trembled. Then he looked up, his eyes filled with madness.
“What’s the point of earning 5 billion won and living off rental income? How is that different from my old life?”
Park Jong-bum flinched at his gaze.
“What do you mean, ‘how is it different’? It’s completely different…”
“No! It’s the same!”
Kim Min-sik shook his head violently.
“It’s just the pathetic Kim Min-sik with an extra 5 billion won. What’s the point? It’s the worst! It’s terrifying!”
He shuddered, as if he had just imagined something horrifying, and then suddenly said with a joyful voice,
“People bowing their heads before me, their fearful gazes, the trembling in their throats as they swallow their complaints, the chaebols trembling in fear… it’s exhilarating.”
He hugged himself.
“The feeling of power, of looking down on those who think they’re so high and mighty, the thrill of rising from the bottom to the top… I can’t imagine the despair of falling back down. I’d rather die than give up this feeling.”
His crazed behavior intimidated all of us, including me.
This was the first time I had seen him in person, and I finally understood why everyone called him a mad dog.
I didn’t want to deal with him.
Park Jong-bum, also flustered, said through gritted teeth,
“You need Hanho Savings Bank to maintain that power! And Baek In-hwi is going to abandon it! Don’t you understand? Sooner or later, Hanho Savings Bank will be sold! And you’ll lose your position!”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“What?”
“I know Hanho Savings Bank will be abandoned. I’m the president, I know I’m just a pawn, charging forward without looking back. How could I not know?”
He looked at the speechless Park Jong-bum and said,
“That’s why I’m grateful to you.”
He took out a recorder.
“My power comes from CEO Baek. Without him, I’m just the pathetic Kim Min-sik. Who would hire me? Who would acknowledge me? The rival triad factions? Other Korean corporations or the government? No one. The only one who ever gave me a chance was CEO Baek.”
He played the recording, and it was the same one Park Jong-bum had recorded.
“I’ll send this to CEO Baek and prove my loyalty. It’s not about Hanho Savings Bank! I’ll prove my worth, my usefulness, how loyal I am. I’m not like Daemun Group! This is my decision! My loyalty is worth more than 5 billion won. I’ll crush my enemies and show him I’m ruthless. Then he’ll acknowledge me again.”
He looked at the three of us and smiled.
“You’re just pawns.”
Park Jong-bum protested again.
“But Baek In-hwi is Chinese, and you’re Korean…”
“Shut up!” Kim Min-sik shouted, interrupting him. “If I hear another word about Korea, you’ll be more than just dead. I’ll dismember your bodies.”
He said with a murderous glint in his eyes,
“I hate Korea.”
Those were the words I had been waiting for.
Everything he had said perfectly aligned with my philosophy and my view of human relationships.
He hated Korea and would do anything for his own benefit, as long as it was tied to Baek In-hwi.
I was moved.
He was the perfect example of a Park Sol squad member.
“I give up. Kim Min-sik, you’re a worthy opponent.”
I chuckled at Park Jong-bum’s words.
“Isn’t he reliable?”
Maru, looking at the tax officials still busy outside the office, said,
“Hyung, shouldn’t we call Kim Min-sik and stop the audit? They’re going through all our documents.”
I nodded.
“We should. But we have to wait for him to call us. A master doesn’t punish a loyal dog that’s biting hard. We have to wait until he wags his tail, seeking praise.”
Maru said anxiously,
“But what if they find something?”
“That’s why we created Baek In-hwi. We transferred all the illegal operations to him, so don’t worry. Think of it as a free health checkup. But I hope he calls soon. I hate audits and hospitals.”
And that evening,
-
CEO Baek, it’s Kim Min-sik. How have you been?
“Yes, President Kim Min-sik. I’ve been well.”
I remembered our encounter earlier that day, when he had called me a lunatic.
His tone now was polite and respectful, a stark contrast to his earlier behavior.
-
I have something to report.
“What is it?”
-
Have you heard of Chunha Trading?
“Chunha Trading…”
He must have thought I didn’t know them, so he said in a stronger voice,
-
They’re a small company doing secondhand business in Korea and China. We’ve discovered that they’ve been investigating you and Joongang Investment Corporation. They approached me with a proposal to betray you and join forces with them.
“Investigating me?”
-
Yes, they came to me, badmouthing you and talking about triads.
I feigned surprise.
“Is that so?”
-
Yes, they’re despicable and foolish.
I suppressed a smile.
“You didn’t accept their offer, I presume.”
Kim Min-sik said excitedly,
-
Of course not! I would never betray you, CEO Baek. I’m teaching them a lesson. Don’t worry. I’ll crush them so badly they won’t even dare to look at your shadow again. I’ll send you the recording tomorrow.
I could almost picture him wagging his tail, eager for praise. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Hahaha.”
-
Uh… CEO Baek?
“Hahaha, good work, President Kim Min-sik. Chunha Trading, you said? How are you punishing them?”
-
I persuaded the Minister and the government. I thought about reporting to you first, but it was such a trivial matter, and I was angry, so I took care of it myself. But…
He said cautiously,
-
I’m a bit worried that I might have overstepped my authority…
“No, no, you did well. But next time, report to me before taking action against the government or other influential figures, no matter how small the issue.”
-
Y-yes, sir!
“So, Chunha Trading, you said?”
-
Yes!
“Just give them a warning and leave them alone.”
Kim Min-sik was surprised.
-
Just a warning? They’re your enemies! I’ll teach them a lesson…
“President Kim Min-sik.”
I interrupted him.
“Do I have to repeat myself?”
He stammered, flustered,
-
I-I’m sorry. I got carried away…
Ah, what a loyal dog.
I was pleased.
It was time for the carrot after the stick.
“Anyway, leave Chunha Trading alone. Did you think we wouldn’t know about them?”
-
What?
“We intentionally spread the rumor to lure in those who would approach us recklessly. Chunha Trading is just the beginning. So leave them alone. Do you understand?”
Kim Min-sik thought for a moment and then exclaimed in realization,
-
Ah! That’s why they knew so much! You wanted to use Chunha Trading to spread the rumor. I understand.
“I’m impressed that you took such decisive action without consulting me. You have good instincts.”
I could sense his excitement even through the phone.
-
Th-thank you! I’ll work even harder for you, CEO Baek!
“So, President Kim Min-sik, I have a proposition for you.”
-
Anything, just name it. I’ll do anything, even if it means breaking my body.
I smiled.
“How about managing both Joongang Investment Corporation and Hanho Savings Bank?”