“Have you looked into the Mishuki incident? Is there anything suspicious?”
Chairman Chun, who had been looking out the window, suddenly asked.
It was unexpectedly raining, making the outside and even the study room dark.
In the dim darkness, Director Ha’s voice was heard.
“There isn’t enough data left.”
“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”
Chairman Chun muttered in a grave voice.
It was a voice close to lamentation. But in the room where only the sound of rain was faintly heard, that voice sounded particularly loud.
“It doesn’t make sense that I didn’t hear about my daughter’s death. Someone must have interfered.”
“I’ll continue to look into it.”
“...Did the first or second one interfere?”
Chairman Chun’s face looked pained as he asked the question.
“We don’t know anything yet. I’ve sent someone to Busan and instructed them to meet the police who investigated the case and conduct a background check.”
“I’m the sinner. I’m the sinner.”
“Chairman...”
“To think that my daughter could be sold for some fleeting glory, and that a child who was so happy...”
“...”
Raindrops slid down the window, reflecting Chairman Chun’s face.
“Find out the truth. If it’s unjust, it must be resolved. I want to catch the culprit before I die. Understand?”
“Yes.”
The butterfly effect could extend to who knows where.
Chairman Chun began to have doubts about his daughter, Chun Mishuki’s death.
Something was about to happen that didn’t occur in Kim Muhyuk’s previous life.
* * *
After arriving in Seoul, Myeongsoo and Hyunseong were dropped off at the house Myeongsoo had found.
I headed to the house in Pyeongchang-dong where my grandfather lived.
After putting my luggage in my room and coming down, my grandfather said as if he had been waiting.
“Let’s go to the study.”
“Huh?”
“Why? We need to decide the prize for the bet, don’t we? Such talks should be held in the study. Treat me as a business partner, not your grandfather, there.”
“...Yes.”
In the past, I first entered this place after graduating from university.
I felt a strange emotion as I entered my grandfather’s study.
The study was exactly the same as I remembered.
Chairman Chun, who had taken his seat, spoke.
“Alright! Now, tell me what the prize for the bet will be.”
Chairman Chun looked at me with interest.
“I want to learn what you do.”
“Do you know what I do before saying that?”
His sharp gaze scrutinized my expression.
“I don’t know the details, but I know it involves great power.”
“Great power? What will you do with that power?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
I had thought a lot about it.
What should I receive?
Money? People?
In the end, I decided that the best thing would be to pretend to learn from my grandfather while actually manipulating him to do my bidding.
“Is that all you want as the prize for the bet? Are you really satisfied with just that? You could get something bigger.”
“Excess is as bad as deficiency. I think it’s more helpful to learn how to earn money and gain power on my own rather than having excessive greed.”
Chairman Chun’s expression showed satisfaction.
“Haha, that’s a good point. Director Ha! Are you outside?”
Director Ha, who had been waiting outside, opened the door and entered.
“Yes, Chairman. Did you call me?”
“Muhyuk wants to learn the business. What do you think?”
“It’s too early, isn’t it? He can start after graduating from university.”
“True, but he wants this as the prize for the bet.”
Director Ha looked at me with renewed interest.
Grandfather, stroking his chin, gave an order.
“Teach him a bit at a time when you have free time. I planned to start him from the bottom after he graduates, but since he wants this as a prize... start with what you do. Understand?”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Go out. I need to talk more with Muhyuk.”
“Yes.”
Director Ha bowed and left.
Grandfather glanced at me.
“Is this okay?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Why did you apply to law school? Were you planning to take the bar exam?”
“No. I went to law school to build connections. I considered business administration, but for now, law school alumni seem to have more influence.”
“Hmm, isn’t it a waste of your previous studies?”
“I don’t plan to become a judge or prosecutor even if I pass the bar exam, and I’m not studying to become a lawyer...”
“Haha.”
I smiled at the hearty laugh of Chairman Chun.
“Still, be diligent in your school life. Building connections and other things are important, and that time won’t come back.”
“Yes, I’ll try to balance my time and learn as much as I can.”
Chairman Chun, nodding in satisfaction, thought for a moment and continued.
“You should have a car. Not a luxury car for now, but I’ll give you a Grandeur to use for school. Do you have a driver’s license?”
“Yes.”
“You’re well-prepared. You got your license while studying, and you’re doing everything. Haha.”
I had quite a long conversation with my grandfather in the study.
When I came out, Director Ha was waiting.
“Young master, let’s go to your room. I’ll explain your tasks.”
“Yes.”
I went up to my room with Director Ha.
As soon as the door closed, Director Ha got straight to the point without sitting down.
“Do you know exactly what Chairman does?”
“I don’t know the details.”
Of course, I knew, but I pretended not to.
“Chairman’s business is loan sharking. Some call it illegal lending or money manipulation. But the people he meets directly are only the CEOs of major domestic companies.”
“Ah...”
In the past, I started from the bottom after graduating from university.
I started from the ground up when loan sharking companies were flooding in during the IMF crisis.
But this time, I would start by dealing with major corporations.
“Generally, I meet with the lower-level staff to coordinate, and the Chairman meets with the CEOs of major companies to lend money after discussions. What you’ll learn is the preliminary coordination process I handle. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
Director Ha nodded and explained further.
“There’s a lot to learn, such as how to read ledgers, collateral, and related laws. It’s not an easy job, even though it’s called loan sharking. Since large sums of money are involved, the collateral must be solid.”
“I see.”
I nodded, sitting on the bed.
Actually, I was thinking, ‘Wow, Director Ha is standing so straight without leaning on anything.’
“Chairman doesn’t usually accept stock as collateral. He says stock prices are too volatile. If he does accept stock, it’s usually for important shares or control. For example, the Daehyun stock he received three years ago...”
I had never seen Director Ha talk this much.
I looked at his face with renewed interest.
Thinking I was listening intently, Director Ha explained quite enthusiastically.
“The other managers deal with other companies, such as small and medium-sized enterprises and general self-employed people. They usually handle business in Myeongdong.”
I pretended to listen carefully to the basic information Director Ha was giving.
“Besides the two of us, there are four other Myeongdong members. The Chairman is one of them. He has helped former employees who worked hard from the bottom to become independent and lend money. You need to know all this.”
I know. Those four Myeongdong members were the ones who allied with Chunsu Man and Chunsu Han to oppose me.
“Viper, Twin Blades, Hammer, and Bandit. These four are experienced loan sharks in Myeongdong, so they won’t be easy to deal with.”
I smiled slightly at Director Ha’s worried expression.
“Don’t worry. If I have to face them eventually, it’s better to do it sooner.”
“You’re a good one.”
The loan sharking world is a truly dirty place.
People who will do anything to get money.
There were even some who were tougher than organized crime.
Chairman Chun was a legendary figure who survived in this world and reached his current position.
Many loan sharks were like gangsters, even though they weren’t actual gangsters.
‘Well, I’ve already died once, so what’s the worst that could happen?’
In the loan sharking market, where money is power and everything, Chairman Chun is currently a majestic dragon.
But once the dragon ascends, the Warring States period will begin.
In this life, I plan to settle everything before the Warring States period starts.
“Let’s go to the next meeting together. Still, I hope you enjoy your school life a bit and take it slowly.”
“Yes. I’m good at having fun. I’ll go out with friends and do everything, so don’t worry too much.”
Director Ha smiled faintly, bowed, and left.
I lay on the bed and organized my thoughts.
‘First, I need to win my grandfather’s favor and gradually take control of the four major Myeongdong organizations.’
And the next step is already decided.
I sharpened my knife, thinking of the faces of Chunsu Man and Chunsu Han.
‘Uncles, be prepared. I’ll definitely repay you for the last life.’