These were the first words from Lee Saseong as he entered the lawyer's meeting room.
Lee Sanggeun stood up from his seat and greeted him.
"I've been sent by President Park Dongsoo. I'm Lawyer Lee Sanggeun. Please take a seat."
Lee Saseong, who had been looking at Lee Sanggeun intently, sat down with a wary expression.
After confirming that Lee Saseong was seated, Lee Sanggeun gave a nod to the guard.
The guard nodded in response, opened the door, and left.
"Park Dongsoo sent you?"
"Yes."
Lee Sanggeun, sitting opposite Lee Saseong, offered him a cigarette.
He then lit the cigarette for Lee Saseong, who had placed it in his mouth, and continued speaking.
"President Park Dongsoo was recently attacked by people like Heo Gihoon and Byun Seungho from Busan. You know about this, right?"
"What are you talking about? Park Dongsoo was attacked? Oh, my."
Lee Saseong seemed to be joking as if he had never heard of it, but his eyes were trembling.
"Looks like Dongsoo can't manage his people well. Being attacked by his subordinates, huh?"
Lee Sanggeun read the trembling in his eyes.
"The attack was thwarted without any casualties. President Park Dongsoo was completely unharmed. Now, Heo Gihoon is crippled, and Byun Seungho... committed suicide in prison."
Lee Saseong flinched at the word "suicide."
Lee Sanggeun paid no attention to his reaction.
"According to them, they were acting on your orders..."
Trailing off and observing his expression, Lee Saseong suddenly flew into a rage.
"What the hell are you saying! What bastards, trying to drag someone in? Does Dongsoo believe this? Is that why you're here?"
"Yes. I don't know the details, and I don't care. What's important is that you tacitly approved of it."
Lee Sanggeun didn't blink. With a blank expression, he continued, and Lee Saseong's face gradually turned pale.
"And because someone who shouldn't have been hurt got hurt, we're in a lot of trouble. Byun Seungho was also dealt with directly. President Park Dongsoo couldn't intervene."
"Damn it! Who are you? Dongsoo wouldn't do this to me. Who sent you? What kind of guy? Trying to drive a wedge between me and Dongsoo? Bastards. I can't believe you'd think we'd split over this."
At this, Lee Sanggeun smiled.
"I'll relay President Park Dongsoo's exact words."
"..."
"Saseong, come with me. If you do, I'll take care of your wife and family. Don't make things complicated. If you refuse, things will get messy, and I won't be able to help you anymore."
Lee Saseong dropped the cigarette he was holding.
"Really, did Dongsoo say that?"
"Yes. He said it word for word. To add, it's best to accept it. It's the best President Park Dongsoo can offer you."
Lee Sanggeun, who had been watching Lee Saseong's reaction, lit another cigarette and handed it to him.
"Really, Dongsoo said that? Our Dongsoo..."
It was unclear whether he was asking a question or talking to himself.
After confirming that Lee Saseong had finished the cigarette, Lee Sanggeun stood up.
"Think about it carefully. If I don't hear from you within a week, I'll take it as a refusal. I hope you don't reject the president's goodwill."
"Give me one more cigarette."
Lee Sanggeun, who was about to turn away, took out a cigarette and offered it.
"Stay until I finish this. Are you working with Dongsoo?"
"Yes. We're working together now."
Lee Saseong's face, as he quietly smoked, showed a sense of regret. He no longer muttered to himself.
After finishing the cigarette in silence, Lee Saseong stood up and looked at Lee Sanggeun.
"Tell Dongsoo I'm sorry. I'll take care of it, so don't worry. Take care of my family."
"Yes."
A few days later, Lee Saseong was found dead, hanging from the bars of his cell.
It was a bitter end for a man who once dominated the darkness of Busan.
* * *
In a dimly lit room.
I was in my grandfather's study.
My grandfather, who had been sitting at his desk, deep in thought, suddenly looked up and regarded me.
"The government's atmosphere is strange. Did you predict this, Muhyuk?"
"What do you mean?"
"High-ranking officials in the economic sector have suddenly vanished. Some are on long leave, and others claim to be on overseas trips. But not a single one has actually left the country. This means they're secretly doing something. Something even the economic advisor doesn't know about. Do you understand?"
The top ten conglomerates and some financial institutions had already sensed the unusual atmosphere.
Even if they had prepared everything in secret, it would be strange if they hadn't noticed anything with all these officials vanishing.
I maintained a calm expression and nodded.
"It's probably the real-name financial system. After the Jang Yeongja bill incident during the 5th Republic, the real-name financial system was announced once. It faced strong opposition from the privileged class, and the president, who was not free from political funding, eventually abandoned it. But the current president, having observed this, must have decided to proceed in secret."
My grandfather sighed, as if he had expected this.
"He might announce it with the New Year's address next year. What do you think, Muhyuk?"
Without answering immediately, I pretended to think for a moment before speaking.
"Given the current president's character... I think there's a high probability it will happen before August 15th. With the high-ranking officials' asset disclosures already completed, there's no point in delaying, as the secret won't be kept for long."
"Hmm... Isn't that too soon?"
"It is. But because it's too soon, it's the perfect time. They want to announce it unexpectedly when no one is expecting it."
My grandfather seemed to think about it for a moment, then shook his head.
"It's too early. It was certainly in the campaign promises. But even if they manage to announce it despite the opposition from the privileged class, it will be difficult to pass through the National Assembly. Would the president take on such political burden? They'll likely discuss it thoroughly and implement it next year. Am I wrong?"
All the other conglomerates and politicians are probably thinking the same thing.
If the real-name financial system is implemented by presidential order on August 12th, everyone will be shocked.
It seemed impossible to persuade him otherwise.
"Still, we should clean up our accounts just in case."
"Hehe, right. I've prepared and cleaned up to some extent after hearing your advice."
"Leaving some in the account is fine, but storing it directly is also an option."
"All that money? In cash? Impossible. Absolutely."
At my grandfather's firm response, I had no choice but to nod.
"Yes."
"Still, I've sent 400 billion to the U.S. I received the account from Mr. Ha, cleaned it up, and sent it. Manage it well."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
I smiled, and a faint smile appeared on my grandfather's face as well.
As I stepped out of the study, Mr. Ha was waiting.
"Did you finish talking?"
"Yes. Can we talk for a moment?"
Mr. Ha and I went up to my room.
Closing the door and sitting on the bed, I said to Mr. Ha.
"Please, sit down."
"No, thank you."
I finally spoke to Mr. Ha, who stood stiffly in the middle of the room.
"About... the U.S. account. I'll send someone to the U.S. at the end of the year. You can transfer everything to that person."
"All of it?"
"Yes."
"Can you trust that person?"
His question made me twist my lips.
"I don't trust people. I trust money. I'll give him sufficient compensation. I'll set up an investment company and put everything in it, and I'll hold most of the shares."
Mr. Ha, who seemed to be thinking for a moment, nodded.
"Understood. I'll transfer it as soon as you instruct."
"Thank you. And I want to have a meeting with all the Myeongdong managers... Can you arrange it?"
My request seemed unexpected, as Mr. Ha asked for clarification.
"The Myeongdong managers?"
I nodded.
"We need to clearly determine whose side they're on. Dragging it out will only complicate things."
"Understood. Let me know the date you prefer."
The week after the real-name financial system announcement seemed appropriate. That way, I could move them in the direction I wanted.
"Sometime at the end of August or early September would be good."
"Understood."
The conversation ended.
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave."
I stopped Mr. Ha, who was about to leave.
"Mr. Ha."
"Yes."
Mr. Ha patiently waited for me, even though I hesitated to ask.
"Who are you?"
"Excuse me?"
"No matter how I think about it, from the way you handled the hammer to the fact that Grandfather trusts you completely, there are many things that are suspicious.