Chapter 308: Do You Think It’s an Expensive Lesson?

Ignoring Noh Ik-seon's constant pleas foor forgiveness, I pressed the bell beside me to call for Manager Ma.

When Manager Ma entered through the door, I spoke to him.

"Manager, take this bastard somewhere quiet and make sure he hands over all his assets. Don't leave him with even a single pair of underpants—take everything!",

"Understood," he replied.

"Please, Boss! Just give me one more chance!"

"Shut up, you're driving me nuts. Hurry up and take him out of here," I snapped.

Manager Ma called over his subordinates waiting outside.

The men entered the office, bowed their heads to me, then helped Noh Ik-seon to his feet. But Noo Ik-seon fought back fiercelly, resisting until the very end.

"Boss! You can't do this to me!"

Without hesitation, Manager Ma ruthlessly struck Noh Ik-seon on the nape of his neck. With that, Noh Ik-seon slumped, unconsciouus.

"Now it's quiet at least."

As Noh Ik-seon was dragged out by the subordinates, Manager Ma made a move to follow them.

"Manager,"

At my call, Manager Ma paused and turned back.

"Once you have everything,"

I gestured across my neck with my thumb instead of finishing my sentence.

With a nod, Manager Ma exited the room.

Once the door closed, I turned my attention to Kim Ho-sik, who was now alone with me.

Kim Ho-sik trembled, his head bowed.

"Look up. What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry. Please, just kill me."

"Are you serious about that?"

My voice softened, perhaps from his distraught tone, and Kim Ho-sik dared to raise his head.

Yet, his anxious eyes and fidgeting fingers revealed his deep-seated fear.

"I truly like our Boss Kim."

"…Thank you."

"You know all the bosses outside were accepted because you recommended them, right?"

"Yes, you asked me to recommend trustworthy people, which I did."

He nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Those were decent points.

"Right. Still, the people from the Myeong-dong market have done quite well at their tasks, and I rather liked that about them."

"…"

"Were you thinking of betraying me from the very beginning?"

"No! I absolutely wasn't planning that!"

"Then why did you do it? Don't give me some nonsense about how you were forced to. I can understand Noh Ik-seon, but you remain a mmystery."

Swallowing hard, Kim Ho-sik finally spoke.

"If I'm being honest, I was just greedy."

"Greedy?"

"The people who come to us—what type are they? They're those who've been rejected everywhere else, seeking help. Following the Loan Business Act means many get filtered out during the screening process."

With the Loan Business Act in place, Kim Ho-sik tightened his grip on lending practices more than when he was running an unlicensed loan business.

Because of this, he often found himself rejecting those who would have previously received loans.

Sure, there was some desire for more clients, but it felt like a choice he simply had to make.

This was the best way to uphold the law while operating a lending business.

It seemed that Kim Ho-sik deeply regretted letting those unfortunate clients go.

"I found that incredibly frustrating. They're all customers in need."

"So you weren't satisfied?"

"No, I'm still sufficiently satisfied. But then again, greed is insatiable, isn't it? I learned that this time. It may sound like an excuse, but Noh Ik-seon's whispers sounded very sweet. That's why I made a poor choice. I'm sorry."

I listened silently as Kim Ho-sik bared his soul.

With his gaze fixed downward, unable to look me in the eye, I let out a sigh.

"Even if it's incredibly difficult to earn trust, it's even harder to regain trust once broken. Is it because of simple greed that you resorted to such risky moves? A man of your experience…"

Despite my rebuke, Kim Ho-sik still wouldn't raise his head. I shook mine slightly in disappointment.

"Don't you understand why I'm doing all of this? This is for your own good! Even the thugs need to make a living. So I've handed the dirty work off to them. That way, I can smoothly establish my position in Gangnam. But what happens if they find out what the bosses are up to? While they might not act on it right away because of me, they would definitely build resentment."

Illegal loans would never cease to exist.

After being turned away from the first, second, and third-tier lenders, those in dire need turn to illegal loan sharks as a final resort.

If no one stepped in, it would sprout like a poisonous mushroom. Thus, I'd passed it off to the Heavenly Group.

Except for Myeong-dong and Gangnam, all other illegal loans were managed by the Heavenly Group.

Additionally, we would hand over any illegal debts incurred by our lending company to them.

If a dog's livelihood is threatened, it will bite. Even the faintest bark must be met with mercy.

The thugs didn't avoid the loan sharks out of fear.

When my grandfather was alive, the Myeong-dong loan shark market was untouched because of him.

Once I took charge of unifying the underworld, the bosses of Myeong-dong complied quietly even if they ventured into Gangnam.

But now, if they touch their livelihoods, discontent is bound to surface.

Of course, they won't act out immediately because I'm present, but one day, a major conflict could arise between both factions.

"Boss Kim, if these grievances pile up, something will definitely happen. Even I can't protect you after the fact."

And without my interference, the loan sharks would have no chance but to lose.

"Where on earth did the money come from?"

"That… I'm not quite sure. I've burned through fifty billion, and the other bosses must have lost about ten billion each. Viper was the one who brought in the biggest sum."

It was a larger sum than I had anticipated.

"It seems our Boss Kim is quite wealthy, easily tossing out fifty billion like it's nothing."

"…That's not true."

"Where did Viper even source that amount?"

The fact that Viper secured the largest share indicated that someone was backing him.

"There's no way Viper's assets exceed fifty billion. From the way the accounting ledger seems in order, he likely didn't touch any capital funds. You truly don't know anything?"

I stared at Kim Ho-sik with a suspicious gaze. He shook his head vigorously, showing he was oblivious.

"I genuinely don't know. I have disclosed everything I am aware of. I did the investing, but all the direct dealings were carried out by Viper."

"What led you to trust Viper? Fifty billion isn't a small amount!"

"I feel embarrassed to say it, but I have faith in you, Boss."

"This is driving me crazy."

This is how fearsome human greed can be.

When greed clouds judgment, even the most intelligent person can lose their rational thinking.

I wiped the suspicion away and sighed deeply.

"Boss Kim, I don't wish to kill you."

"Please spare me! I promise it won't happen again! Just give me one more chance!"

"Hmm…"

I swallowed my spit, contemplating Kim Ho-sik's fate.

Initially, I considered killing him over the interest, but it would be hard to find someone as knowledgeable as Kim Ho-sik in the lending business.

So, I thought to give him one last chance. However, that didn't mean I would let him off the hook.

"You said fifty billion, right? That's Kim Ho-sik's investment in this venture?"

"Yes."

"Consider that money gone."

"…"

With Kim Ho-sik at a loss for words, I asked coldly.

"Is it worth more than your life?"

"No, I will forget it."

"Think of it as an expensive lesson. Once Viper has transferred the debts, they all go straight to the Heavenly Group. Keep that in mind and forget about this incident."

"Are you forgiving me?"

Kim Ho-sik's voice trembled, his tension easing as he considered the possibility of living.

"Forgiveness… I don't know. I worry if leaving someone whose trust is broken in their position is wise. So don't forget Hammer's death. I never let traitors go. Do your best to earn back my trust to avoid facing that fate."

"Thank you! I won't betray your trust again!"

Kim Ho-sik repeatedly pressed his head forcefully against the table as he spoke.